Judge rejects Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell's bail bid

NEW YORK (AP) — A judge rejected a $28.5 million proposed bail package for Jeffrey Epstein’s former girlfriend Monday, saying her incarceration is necessary to ensure she faces trial on charges she recruited teenage girls for the late financier to sexually abuse.

Blackhawks F Kirby Dach undergoes right wrist surgery

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Blackhawks forward Kirby Dach could miss the upcoming season after he had wrist surgery on Monday.

Dillon's big night gives Packers more reason for optimism

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — This hasn’t been the type of rookie season that Green Bay running back A.J. Dillon anticipated, but the second-round pick from Boston College demonstrated Sunday why the Packers drafted him.

The Latest: Rising COVID-19 cases taxing Georgia's hospitals

ATLANTA — Georgia has more than 4,000 people hospitalized with COVID-19, and officials say hospital admissions are increasing at a pace that raises questions about the health system’s ability to handle demand.

NY set to pass law to limit evictions, closures in pandemic

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York will freeze evictions and certain foreclosures for two months under a bill the state's governor said Monday he plans to sign.

Alamo Bowl pits Colorado's Broussard vs depleted Texas D

Alamo Bowl: No. 20 Texas (6-3) vs Colorado (4-1) , Dec. 29, 9 p.m. Eastern (ESPN)

AP News in Brief at 6:04 p.m. EST

Bomber to neighbor: The world is 'never going to forget me'

House approves Trump's $2K checks, sending to GOP-led Senate

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House voted overwhelmingly Monday to increase COVID-19 relief checks to $2,000, meeting President Donald Trump’s demand for bigger payments and sending the bill to the GOP-controlled Senate, where the outcome is highly uncertain.

Giants still have a shot despite 5-10 record and 3-game skid

With a 5-10 record and a three-game losing streak heading into the final weekend of the regular season, it can be said without reservation the New York Giants don't deserve to be in the playoffs.

Eagles coach Doug Pederson confident he'll return in 2021

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Eagles aren’t going to the playoffs for the first time since Doug Pederson’s first season as coach in 2016 and he’s confident he’ll stick around to get them back to the postseason.

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Union: Ohio officer fired in fatal shooting of Black man

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) —

Browns fumble away first shot at playoffs amid wild weekend

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Browns had handled so many of 2020's obstacles, navigating the coronavirus minefield and overcoming injuries while becoming one of the NFL's biggest surprises.

Another late-season collapse keeps Raiders out of playoffs

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Derek Carr will need to wait at least another year to make his first playoff appearance.

COVID-19 hospitalizations rise rapidly in Georgia

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia now has more than 4,000 people hospitalized with COVID-19, with hospital admissions increasing at a pace that raises questions about hospitals' ability to handle demand.

Mississippi defends initiatives in medical marijuana lawsuit

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A mayor's lawsuit is making baseless arguments as it seeks to overturn a medical marijuana initiative that Mississippi voters approved, state attorneys said in court papers filed Monday.

Dead, frozen whale buried on NJ beach; removal was too hard

BARNEGAT LIGHT, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey beach is the final resting place for a 15-ton (13,600-kilogram) whale whose lifeless body washed ashore on Christmas day.

Prosecutors waiting on debris testing in AG crash

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A team of prosecutors is waiting for testing results on a piece of debris that may indicate where the South Dakota attorney general's car was when he struck and killed a man over three months ago, a prosecutor said Monday.

No help needed for Ravens, who earn playoff spot with win

BALTIMORE (AP) — A year ago, the Baltimore Ravens had already wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs as they headed toward the final week of the regular season.

Seeds of hope: Cowboys alive and kicking in woeful NFC East

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys won a game thanks to a watermelon kick and are now 2-0 after smashing said fruit as a motivational tactic the night before each victory.