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Sure, the big game is the main event, but your Super Bowl party can be a real celebration! Make your at-home bash unforgettable by keeping your guests laughing, playing, and entertained from kickoff to the final whistle. Shop our top picks of Super Bowl party games.
Pop-A-Pass Electronic Arcade Football Toss Game
Pop-A-Pass Electronic Arcade Football Toss Game
Let your guests compete for party champion with this fast-paced electronic football toss. It features multiple targets with different point values, electronic scoring, a countdown timer, and announcer commentary. Start the competition and see who wins.
Inflatable Football Throwing Target with Blower
Let your guests throw like the pros with this stadium-style inflatable target that looks like a football field. It has three target holes, side netting, and mesh backing for nonstop play and easy ball pickup. It inflates quickly so you can start playing right away.
Cornhole Bean Bags Set with Tote Bag
Cornhole Bean Bags Set with Tote Bag
Set up a football-themed cornhole game and see who comes out on top. This set will fit right in with your party decor, and guests of all ages can play to see who reaches 21 points first.
Inflatable Receiver Touchdown Toss Game
Inflatable Receiver Touchdown Toss Game
Host a football showdown at home with this touchdown toss game. Guests compete for MVP by throwing the best touchdown pass. Players take turns throwing four footballs and keep score on the dry-erase board.
FlikIt Football Tabletop Game
They can try tabletop football with this fun FlikIt game. Players take turns flicking their ball toward the opponent’s end zone. It’s a game that can be played by sports fans, young and old.
Your City’s Sports Trivia Game
Your City’s Sports Trivia Game
Test your knowledge of your hometown sports team with this trivia game. Each deck has over 500 questions and fun facts, so everyone will have a real challenge.
Partico Football Bingo Game
Anyone can win this game! Choose a Bingo master to call out numbers between the actual game plays, and guests can race to fill in the winning pattern. Get ready for some lively competition.
Guess Who? NFL Edition Board Game
Guess Who? NFL Edition Board Game
See who can prove their football knowledge first. In this game, players guess their opponent’s mystery NFL player by asking the right questions and using their detective skills.
XXL Giant Football Toss Game & Tailgating Chair Combo – 8′ Tall
Invite your guests to try this football toss game, which works like cornhole. After tossing the football, try for extra points by kicking it between the posts. If you’re playing indoors, clear any breakables first. The game and chair combo stands 8 feet tall.
2-in-1 Football Party Cards
Use these game cards with a pen or pencil. Guests can write their predictions and score commercials and plays during the game. The cards are double-sided with prompts for playing.
Sinkoo Football Squares Pool Poster
These pool posters make tracking the game more fun. Guests pick numbered squares that match possible final scores, and the poster shows who wins.
Pin The Football on The Goalpost Poster with Stickers
Try pinning the football on the goalpost instead of the tail on the donkey. Put on the blindfold, stick the sticker on the poster, and whoever gets closest to the outline wins.
Drinking Game for Adults
This drinking board game brings plenty of laughs with 89 prompts to keep everyone entertained, and maybe a bit tipsy, while you watch the game. Two to eight people can play at once.
Franklin Sports NFL Football Target Toss Game
Franklin Sports NFL Football Target Toss Game
Step into the quarterback role with this football target toss game. Aim for touchdowns to score big. Play solo or in teams using the mini football target, and keep track of points with the built-in two-player scoring.
Franklin Sports NFL Football Target Toss Game
This game sets up in a minute and is a fun way to introduce kids to football. Players race to get rid of their cards by using action cards to challenge their opponents and empty their hands.
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For the last 40 years, the third Monday in January has been a national holiday honoring the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
For the last 40 years, the third Monday in January has been a national holiday honoring the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
King’s connection to the nation’s capital runs deep. On Aug. 28, 1963, a quarter of a million people gathered at the Lincoln Memorial to hear him deliver his “I Have a Dream” during the March on Washington. The speech is believed to have been written in the lobby of the historic Willard Hotel.
Less than two years later, King was back in D.C., sitting in the East Room of the White House as President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Johnson presented King with one of the ceremonial pens used in the signing.
Today, a short walk Lincoln Memorial stands the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the Tidal Basin. It is the first memorial honoring an African American on the National Mall. The 30-foot-tall granite sculpture of King at 1964 Independence Avenue in Southwest sits among other influential U.S. figures: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
Monday will offer several ways to honor the slain civil rights leader in the District.
The 21st annual MLK Holiday D.C. Peace Walk and Parade starts at 11 a.m. at Firth Sterling Avenue and Sumner Road in Southeast and goes to Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, ending on Marion Barry Avenue. Organizers said this year’s parade theme, which is also a wellness fair, is “The Struggle is Real! The Fight is Still!”
If you would rather celebrate inside, the National Museum of African American History and Culture will host a birthday party at 11 a.m. with creative crafts, balloon art, and a sing-along to Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday” song. There will be live musical performances by Rex Carnegie and the House Band at 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. in Heritage Hall. While the event is free, you’ll need to RSVP.
The singing continues later in the day, starting at 6 p.m. at the Let Freedom Ring! Celebration at the Howard Theater, featuring rapper/actor Common.
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After Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro’s capture, social media users rapidly shared videos showing Venezuelans celebrating.
But many of these videos predated his arrest by the U.S. military. One in particular — from conspiracy theorist Alex Jones — stood out, receiving 2 million views as of Jan. 5.
“Millions of Venezuelans flooded the streets of Caracas and other major cities in celebration of the ouster of Communist dictator Nicholas Maduro,” Jones posted Jan. 3 on X along with a video showing hordes of people gathered outside, chanting and waving the Venezuelan flag.
The same video was shared July 30, 2024, on X and Instagram. It shows people protesting election officials’ declaration that Maduro had won the country’s presidential election. Venezuelan politician Tomás Guanipa also shared the footage in a 2024 Instagram post in which he called on the National Electoral Council to publish the presidential election results. A Dominican Republic news outlet also reported on the footage.
Maduro and wife Cilia Flores were both forcibly taken into U.S. custody Jan. 3 and made their first appearance in U.S. federal court Jan. 5, facing charges related to cocaine trafficking. Maduro and Flores each pleaded not guilty.
In some parts of the world, Venezuelan expatriates celebrated Maduro’s ousting. He led an authoritarian regime for 13 years and declared victory after a 2024 election that international observers described as fraudulent. The country’s opposition candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, received about 70% of the vote.
However, anti-Maduro sentiments were muted in Venezuela’s streets following the U.S. raid and capture, reporting from the country shows. Maduro’s inner-circle, including his vice president, who has now been sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president, appeared to remain in leadership roles, raising citizens’ concerns about possible retaliation. Fortune reported that the streets of Caracas were largely quiet in the days following the U.S. attack that led to Maduro’s capture, save Maduro supporters who publicly condemned his arrest. The Associated Press shared footage of a quiet Caracas after the U.S. operation.
Jones wasn’t alone in sharing outdated or out of context video as proof Maduro’s capture had sparked widespread celebration inside Venezuela.
President Donald Trump shareda video Jan. 5 of Venezuelans gathering with the caption, “Trump just showed every liberal Democrat what a real No Kings celebration is supposed to look like.” But the footage was first shared in 2024 and showed people in El Vigía, Venezuela, cheering Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado’s movement.
YouTuber Nick Shirley posted a video on X Jan. 3 that he also said showed celebrations in Venezuela. But the Miami Herald and other local news outlets said the scene was filmed Jan. 3 in Doral, Florida.
And a widely shared Jan. 3 X post showed video of someone tearing a Maduro poster from a Venezuela billboard. But that scene was captured in July 2024 in an Aragua, Venezuela, protest against election fraud, according to a Venezuelan news outlet.
Our ruling
Jones said a video showed “millions of Venezuelans flooded the streets of Caracas” to celebrate Maduro’s capture.
The footage dates back to 2024 when citizens protested election officials’ declaration that Maduro had won the country’s presidential election. News coverage shows Venezuelan streets were largely quiet following U.S. attacks in Caracas.
Axel Clavier felt like he was suffocating inside the Swiss Alpine bar where moments before he’d been ringing in the new year with friends and dozens of other revelers.The 16-year-old from Paris escaped the inferno, which broke out after midnight Thursday, by forcing a window open with a table. But about 40 other partygoers died, including one of Clavier’s friends, falling victim to one of the worst tragedies in Switzerland’s history.The blaze also injured about 115 people, most of them seriously, as it ripped through the crowded Le Constellation bar at the ski resort of Crans-Montana, police said.Clavier told The Associated Press that “two or three” of his friends remained missing hours after the disaster.Fire’s cause remains under investigationValais Canton police commander Frédéric Gisler said during a news conference that work is underway to identify the victims and inform their families, adding that the community is “devastated.”Authorities did not immediately have an exact count of the deceased.Beatrice Pilloud, Valais Canton attorney general, said it was too early to determine the cause of the fire.“At no moment is there a question of any kind of attack,” Pilloud said.She later said the number of people who were in the bar is “unknown,” and its maximum capacity will be part of the investigation.“For the time being, we don’t have any suspects,” she added, when asked if anyone had been arrested over the fire. “An investigation has been opened, not against anyone, but to better understand the circumstances of this dramatic fire.”An evening of celebration turns tragicClavier, the Parisian teenager, said he didn’t see the fire start, but did see waitresses arrive with Champagne bottles with burning sparklers. He lost his jacket, shoes, phone and bank card while fleeing, but “I am still alive and it’s just stuff.”“I’m still in shock,” he added.Two women told French broadcaster BFMTV they were inside when they saw a male bartender lifting a female bartender on his shoulders as she held a lit candle in a bottle. The flames spread, collapsing the wooden ceiling, they told the broadcaster.One of the women described a crowd surge as people frantically tried to escape from a basement nightclub up a narrow flight of stairs and through a narrow door.Another witness speaking to BFMTV described people smashing windows to escape the blaze, some gravely injured, and panicked parents rushing to the scene in cars to see whether their children were trapped inside. The young man said he saw about 20 people scrambling to get out of the smoke and flames and likened what he saw to a horror movie as he watched from across the street.“This evening should have been a moment of celebration and coming together, but it turned into a nightmare,” said Mathias Reynard, head of the regional government of the Valais Canton.Crans-Montana is less than 5 kilometers (3 miles) from Sierre, where 28 people, including many children, were killed when a bus from Belgium crashed inside a Swiss tunnel in 2012.Resort town sits in the heart of the AlpsIn a region busy with tourists skiing on the slopes, the authorities have called on the local population to show caution in the coming days to avoid accidents that could further strain athe area’s lready overwhelmed medical resources.With high-altitude ski runs rising around 3,000 meters (nearly 9,850 feet) in the heart of the Valais region’s snowy peaks and pine forests, Crans-Montana is one of the top venues on the World Cup circuit. The resort will host the best men’s and women’s downhill racers, including Lindsey Vonn, for their final events before the Milan-Cortina Olympics in February. The town’s Crans-sur-Sierre golf club stages the European Masters each August on a picturesque course.Swiss President Guy Parmelin, speaking on his first day in office, said many emergency staff had been “confronted by scenes of indescribable violence and distress.”“This Thursday must be the time of prayer, unity and dignity,” he said. “Switzerland is a strong country not because it is sheltered from drama, but because it knows how to face them with courage and a spirit of mutual help.”___Dazio reported from Berlin and Leicester reported from Paris. Geir Moulson in Berlin and Graham Dunbar in Geneva contributed to this report.
CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland —
Axel Clavier felt like he was suffocating inside the Swiss Alpine bar where moments before he’d been ringing in the new year with friends and dozens of other revelers.
The 16-year-old from Paris escaped the inferno, which broke out after midnight Thursday, by forcing a window open with a table. But about 40 other partygoers died, including one of Clavier’s friends, falling victim to one of the worst tragedies in Switzerland’s history.
The blaze also injured about 115 people, most of them seriously, as it ripped through the crowded Le Constellation bar at the ski resort of Crans-Montana, police said.
Clavier told The Associated Press that “two or three” of his friends remained missing hours after the disaster.
Fire’s cause remains under investigation
Valais Canton police commander Frédéric Gisler said during a news conference that work is underway to identify the victims and inform their families, adding that the community is “devastated.”
Authorities did not immediately have an exact count of the deceased.
Beatrice Pilloud, Valais Canton attorney general, said it was too early to determine the cause of the fire.
“At no moment is there a question of any kind of attack,” Pilloud said.
She later said the number of people who were in the bar is “unknown,” and its maximum capacity will be part of the investigation.
“For the time being, we don’t have any suspects,” she added, when asked if anyone had been arrested over the fire. “An investigation has been opened, not against anyone, but to better understand the circumstances of this dramatic fire.”
An evening of celebration turns tragic
Clavier, the Parisian teenager, said he didn’t see the fire start, but did see waitresses arrive with Champagne bottles with burning sparklers. He lost his jacket, shoes, phone and bank card while fleeing, but “I am still alive and it’s just stuff.”
“I’m still in shock,” he added.
Two women told French broadcaster BFMTV they were inside when they saw a male bartender lifting a female bartender on his shoulders as she held a lit candle in a bottle. The flames spread, collapsing the wooden ceiling, they told the broadcaster.
One of the women described a crowd surge as people frantically tried to escape from a basement nightclub up a narrow flight of stairs and through a narrow door.
Another witness speaking to BFMTV described people smashing windows to escape the blaze, some gravely injured, and panicked parents rushing to the scene in cars to see whether their children were trapped inside. The young man said he saw about 20 people scrambling to get out of the smoke and flames and likened what he saw to a horror movie as he watched from across the street.
“This evening should have been a moment of celebration and coming together, but it turned into a nightmare,” said Mathias Reynard, head of the regional government of the Valais Canton.
Crans-Montana is less than 5 kilometers (3 miles) from Sierre, where 28 people, including many children, were killed when a bus from Belgium crashed inside a Swiss tunnel in 2012.
Resort town sits in the heart of the Alps
In a region busy with tourists skiing on the slopes, the authorities have called on the local population to show caution in the coming days to avoid accidents that could further strain athe area’s lready overwhelmed medical resources.
With high-altitude ski runs rising around 3,000 meters (nearly 9,850 feet) in the heart of the Valais region’s snowy peaks and pine forests, Crans-Montana is one of the top venues on the World Cup circuit. The resort will host the best men’s and women’s downhill racers, including Lindsey Vonn, for their final events before the Milan-Cortina Olympics in February. The town’s Crans-sur-Sierre golf club stages the European Masters each August on a picturesque course.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin, speaking on his first day in office, said many emergency staff had been “confronted by scenes of indescribable violence and distress.”
“This Thursday must be the time of prayer, unity and dignity,” he said. “Switzerland is a strong country not because it is sheltered from drama, but because it knows how to face them with courage and a spirit of mutual help.”
___
Dazio reported from Berlin and Leicester reported from Paris. Geir Moulson in Berlin and Graham Dunbar in Geneva contributed to this report.
Dozens of people are presumed dead and about 100 injured, most of them seriously, following a fire at a bar in a Swiss Alps resort town during a New Year’s celebration, police said Thursday.“Several tens of people” were killed at the bar, Le Constellation, Valais Canton police commander Frédéric Gisler said during a news conference.Work is underway to identify the victims and inform their families but “that will take time and for the time being it is premature to give you a more precise figure,” Gisler said, adding that the community is “devastated.”Beatrice Pilloud, Valais Canton attorney general, said it was too early to determine the cause of the fire. Experts have not yet been able to go inside the wreckage.“At no moment is there a question of any kind of attack,” Pilloud said.An evening of celebration turns tragicOfficials called the blaze an “embrasement généralisé,” a firefighting term describing how a blaze can trigger the release of combustible gases that can then ignite violently and cause what English-speaking firefighters would call a flashover or a backdraft.“This evening should have been a moment of celebration and coming together, but it turned into a nightmare,” said Mathias Rénard, head of the regional government.The injured were so numerous that the intensive care unit and operating theater at the regional hospital quickly hit full capacity, Rénard said.Helicopters and ambulances rushed to the scene to assist victims, including some from different countries, officials said.Swiss President Guy Parmelin said in a social media post that the government’s “thoughts go to the victims, to the injured and their relatives, to whom it addresses its sincere condolences.”Thursday was Parmelin’s first day in office as president as the seven members of Switzerland’s government take turns holding the presidency for one year. Out of respect for the families of the victims, he delayed a traditional New Year address to the nation meant to be broadcast Thursday afternoon, Swiss broadcasters SRF and RTS reported.A witness who spoke to French broadcaster BFMTV described people smashing windows to escape the blaze, some gravely injured, and panicked parents rushing to the scene in cars to see whether their children were trapped inside. The young man said he saw about 20 people scrambling to get out of the smoke and flames and likened what he saw to a horror movie as he watched from across the street.Resort town sits in the heart of the AlpsIn a region busy with tourists skiing on the slopes, the authorities have called on the local population to show caution in the coming days to avoid any accidents that could require medical resources that are already overwhelmed.With high-altitude ski runs at around 1.86 miles in the heart of the Swiss Alps, Crans-Montana is one of the winter sports centers of Switzerland’s ski-crazy Valais region, also home to Zermatt, Verbier and other resorts nestled in the snowy peaks and pine forests drawing winter sports enthusiasts from across the planet. The resort is one of the top race venues on the World Cup circuit in Alpine skiing and will host the next world championships over two weeks in February 2027.In four weeks’ time, the resort will host the best men’s and women’s downhill racers for their last events before going to the Milan Cortina Olympics, which open Feb. 6.Crans-Montana also is a premium venue in international golf. The Crans-sur-Sierre club stages the European Masters each August on a picturesque course with stunning mountains views. Le Constellation bar is about 273 yards down the street from the golf club.Crans-Montana is less than 3 miles from Sierre, Switzerland, where 28 people including many children were killed when a bus from Belgium crashed inside a Swiss tunnel in 2012.The Swiss blaze on Thursday came 25 years after an inferno in the Dutch fishing town of Volendam on New Year’s Eve, which killed 14 people and injured more than 200 as they celebrated in a cafe.
CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland —
Dozens of people are presumed dead and about 100 injured, most of them seriously, following a fire at a bar in a Swiss Alps resort town during a New Year’s celebration, police said Thursday.
“Several tens of people” were killed at the bar, Le Constellation, Valais Canton police commander Frédéric Gisler said during a news conference.
Work is underway to identify the victims and inform their families but “that will take time and for the time being it is premature to give you a more precise figure,” Gisler said, adding that the community is “devastated.”
Beatrice Pilloud, Valais Canton attorney general, said it was too early to determine the cause of the fire. Experts have not yet been able to go inside the wreckage.
“At no moment is there a question of any kind of attack,” Pilloud said.
An evening of celebration turns tragic
Officials called the blaze an “embrasement généralisé,” a firefighting term describing how a blaze can trigger the release of combustible gases that can then ignite violently and cause what English-speaking firefighters would call a flashover or a backdraft.
“This evening should have been a moment of celebration and coming together, but it turned into a nightmare,” said Mathias Rénard, head of the regional government.
The injured were so numerous that the intensive care unit and operating theater at the regional hospital quickly hit full capacity, Rénard said.
Helicopters and ambulances rushed to the scene to assist victims, including some from different countries, officials said.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin said in a social media post that the government’s “thoughts go to the victims, to the injured and their relatives, to whom it addresses its sincere condolences.”
Thursday was Parmelin’s first day in office as president as the seven members of Switzerland’s government take turns holding the presidency for one year. Out of respect for the families of the victims, he delayed a traditional New Year address to the nation meant to be broadcast Thursday afternoon, Swiss broadcasters SRF and RTS reported.
A witness who spoke to French broadcaster BFMTV described people smashing windows to escape the blaze, some gravely injured, and panicked parents rushing to the scene in cars to see whether their children were trapped inside. The young man said he saw about 20 people scrambling to get out of the smoke and flames and likened what he saw to a horror movie as he watched from across the street.
Resort town sits in the heart of the Alps
In a region busy with tourists skiing on the slopes, the authorities have called on the local population to show caution in the coming days to avoid any accidents that could require medical resources that are already overwhelmed.
With high-altitude ski runs at around 1.86 miles in the heart of the Swiss Alps, Crans-Montana is one of the winter sports centers of Switzerland’s ski-crazy Valais region, also home to Zermatt, Verbier and other resorts nestled in the snowy peaks and pine forests drawing winter sports enthusiasts from across the planet. The resort is one of the top race venues on the World Cup circuit in Alpine skiing and will host the next world championships over two weeks in February 2027.
In four weeks’ time, the resort will host the best men’s and women’s downhill racers for their last events before going to the Milan Cortina Olympics, which open Feb. 6.
Crans-Montana also is a premium venue in international golf. The Crans-sur-Sierre club stages the European Masters each August on a picturesque course with stunning mountains views. Le Constellation bar is about 273 yards down the street from the golf club.
Crans-Montana is less than 3 miles from Sierre, Switzerland, where 28 people including many children were killed when a bus from Belgium crashed inside a Swiss tunnel in 2012.
The Swiss blaze on Thursday came 25 years after an inferno in the Dutch fishing town of Volendam on New Year’s Eve, which killed 14 people and injured more than 200 as they celebrated in a cafe.
Auckland rang in 2026 with a downtown fireworks display launched from New Zealand’s tallest structure, Sky Tower, making it the first major city to greet the new year at a celebration dampened by rain.South Pacific countries are the first to bid farewell to 2025. Clocks strike midnight in Auckland, a population of 1.7 million, 18 hours before the famous ball drops in New York’s Times Square.The five-minute display involved 3,500 fireworks launched from various floors of the 787-foot Sky Tower. Smaller community events were canceled across New Zealand’s North Island on Wednesday due to forecasts of rain and possible thunderstorms.Australia plans defiant celebration after country’s worst mass shootingAustralia’s east coast welcomes 2026 two hours after New Zealand, but in Sydney, the country’s largest city, celebrations will be held under the pall of Australia’s worst mass shooting in almost 30 years. Two gunmen targeted a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach on Dec. 14, killing 15 and wounding 40.A heavy police presence monitored the thousands who thronged to the downtown waterfront on Wednesday to watch a fireworks show centered on the Sydney Harbor Bridge. Many officers openly carried rapid-fire rifles, in a first for the annual event.An hour before midnight, the massacre victims will be commemorated with one minute of silence while images of a menorah are projected on the bridge pylons. The crowd has been invited to show their solidarity with Australia’s Jewish community by shining their phone torches across the harbor.New South Wales Premier Chris Minns urged Sydney residents not to stay away through fear, saying extremists would interpret smaller crowds at New Year’s Eve festivities as a victory.“We can’t be in a situation where this horrible, criminal, terrorist event changes the way we live in our beautiful city,” Minns told reporters on Wednesday.“We have to show defiance in the face of this terrible crime and say that we’re not going to be cowered by this kind of terrorism,” he added.Indonesia and Hong Kong hold subdued eventsIn Indonesia, one of Australia’s nearest neighbors, cities scaled back New Year’s Eve festivities as a gesture of solidarity with communities devastated by catastrophic floods and landslides that struck parts of Sumatra island a month ago, claiming more than 1,100 lives.The capital, Jakarta, will not ring in 2026 with its usual fanfare, choosing instead subdued celebrations with a calm and reflective program centered on prayers for victims, city Gov. Pramono Anung said last week.Makassar Mayor Munafri Arifuddin urged residents of one of Indonesia’s largest cities to forgo parties altogether, calling for prayer and reflection instead. “Empathy and restraint are more meaningful than fireworks and crowds,” he said.Concerts and fireworks on Indonesia’s tourist island of Bali have been canceled and replaced with a cultural arts event featuring 65 groups performing traditional dances.Hong Kong, too, will ring in 2026 without the usual spectacular and colorful explosions in the sky over its iconic Victoria Harbor, after a massive fire in November killed at least 161 people.The city’s tourism board will instead host a music show featuring soft rock duo Air Supply and other singers in Central, a business district. The facades of eight landmarks will turn into giant countdown clocks presenting a three-minute light show at midnight.Many parts of Asia welcome the new year by observing age-old traditions.In Japan, crowds will gather at a Buddhist temple in Tokyo for a bell striking at midnight. In the South Korean capital Seoul, a bell tolling and countdown ceremony will be held at the Bosingak Pavilion.Berliners celebrate in snowTourists and Berliners alike marked the end of 2025 by enjoying snowfall, taking selfies and making snowmen in front of the German capital’s cathedral and the iconic Brandenburg Gate. The famous Berlin TV Tower was nearly invisible thanks to the falling flakes and fog.___Associated Press writers around the world contributed to this report.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand —
Auckland rang in 2026 with a downtown fireworks display launched from New Zealand’s tallest structure, Sky Tower, making it the first major city to greet the new year at a celebration dampened by rain.
South Pacific countries are the first to bid farewell to 2025. Clocks strike midnight in Auckland, a population of 1.7 million, 18 hours before the famous ball drops in New York’s Times Square.
The five-minute display involved 3,500 fireworks launched from various floors of the 787-foot Sky Tower. Smaller community events were canceled across New Zealand’s North Island on Wednesday due to forecasts of rain and possible thunderstorms.
Australia plans defiant celebration after country’s worst mass shooting
Australia’s east coast welcomes 2026 two hours after New Zealand, but in Sydney, the country’s largest city, celebrations will be held under the pall of Australia’s worst mass shooting in almost 30 years. Two gunmen targeted a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach on Dec. 14, killing 15 and wounding 40.
A heavy police presence monitored the thousands who thronged to the downtown waterfront on Wednesday to watch a fireworks show centered on the Sydney Harbor Bridge. Many officers openly carried rapid-fire rifles, in a first for the annual event.
An hour before midnight, the massacre victims will be commemorated with one minute of silence while images of a menorah are projected on the bridge pylons. The crowd has been invited to show their solidarity with Australia’s Jewish community by shining their phone torches across the harbor.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns urged Sydney residents not to stay away through fear, saying extremists would interpret smaller crowds at New Year’s Eve festivities as a victory.
“We can’t be in a situation where this horrible, criminal, terrorist event changes the way we live in our beautiful city,” Minns told reporters on Wednesday.
“We have to show defiance in the face of this terrible crime and say that we’re not going to be cowered by this kind of terrorism,” he added.
Indonesia and Hong Kong hold subdued events
In Indonesia, one of Australia’s nearest neighbors, cities scaled back New Year’s Eve festivities as a gesture of solidarity with communities devastated by catastrophic floods and landslides that struck parts of Sumatra island a month ago, claiming more than 1,100 lives.
The capital, Jakarta, will not ring in 2026 with its usual fanfare, choosing instead subdued celebrations with a calm and reflective program centered on prayers for victims, city Gov. Pramono Anung said last week.
Makassar Mayor Munafri Arifuddin urged residents of one of Indonesia’s largest cities to forgo parties altogether, calling for prayer and reflection instead. “Empathy and restraint are more meaningful than fireworks and crowds,” he said.
Concerts and fireworks on Indonesia’s tourist island of Bali have been canceled and replaced with a cultural arts event featuring 65 groups performing traditional dances.
Hong Kong, too, will ring in 2026 without the usual spectacular and colorful explosions in the sky over its iconic Victoria Harbor, after a massive fire in November killed at least 161 people.
The city’s tourism board will instead host a music show featuring soft rock duo Air Supply and other singers in Central, a business district. The facades of eight landmarks will turn into giant countdown clocks presenting a three-minute light show at midnight.
Many parts of Asia welcome the new year by observing age-old traditions.
In Japan, crowds will gather at a Buddhist temple in Tokyo for a bell striking at midnight. In the South Korean capital Seoul, a bell tolling and countdown ceremony will be held at the Bosingak Pavilion.
Berliners celebrate in snow
Tourists and Berliners alike marked the end of 2025 by enjoying snowfall, taking selfies and making snowmen in front of the German capital’s cathedral and the iconic Brandenburg Gate. The famous Berlin TV Tower was nearly invisible thanks to the falling flakes and fog.
___
Associated Press writers around the world contributed to this report.
BY MOSCOW AND KYIV. WELL, TODAY MARKS THE FIRST DAY OF KWANZAA. IT’S A CELEBRATION THAT HONORS AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE. THE ANNUAL CELEBRATION HAS DEEP ROOTS HERE IN CALIFORNIA. KCRA 3’S CECIL HANNIBAL IS LIVE IN RANCHO CORDOVA, WHERE THE COMMUNITY IS GATHERED TONIGHT. DEEP ROOTS IS FOR SURE. THIS IS THE FIRST DAY OF KWANZAA, OF COURSE, AND IF YOU DIDN’T KNOW, IT WAS ACTUALLY CREATED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NEARLY 60 YEARS AGO. NOW, THIS SEVEN DAY CELEBRATION, THIS HOLIDAY IS CELEBRATED BY PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD OF AFRICAN DESCENT. THIS EVENT IS STILL GOING ON RIGHT NOW. FOR A CLOSER LOOK INSIDE, I WANT TO SHOW YOU THIS VIDEO. IF YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SCREEN FOR ME REAL QUICK. EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO THIS EVENT, REGARDLESS OF RACE OR CULTURAL BACKGROUND. IT’S A CHANCE TO, OF COURSE, COME LEARN, BUT ALSO TO BUY THINGS FROM HANDMADE NECKLACES TO CLOTHING AND EVEN BOOKS THAT TEACH ABOUT BLACK HISTORY IN THE PAN-AFRICAN MOVEMENT. THERE’S A NUMBER OF SPEAKERS TONIGHT FROM THE MAYOR OF RANCHO CORDOVA. RIGHT NOW, A PASTOR IS SPEAKING. WE ALSO HEARD FROM THE ORGANIZER, MICHAEL HARRIS, WHO SAYS HE STUDIED UNDER THE ORIGINAL CREATOR OF KWANZAA, DOCTOR MAULANA KARENGA, AND EXPLAINED WHY THIS HOLIDAY IS SIGNIFICANT TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND HIS NOTION OF A HOLIDAY THAT CELEBRATED AFRICAN CULTURE IN A TIME WHERE BLACK FOLKS DIDN’T HAVE NO CLUE WHO THEY WERE. WITH NO BLACK STUDIES PROGRAM, AND FOR PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT TO DO A DEEP DIVE AND ASK THOSE QUESTIONS. WHO ARE YOU? WHO ARE YOU REALLY? ARE YOU? WHAT IS AFRICA TO YOU? WHAT IS AMERICA TO YOU? SO BACK OUT HERE LIVE. THEY ARE ALSO HAVING LIVE CULTURAL PERFORMANCES, REFRESHMENTS AND ARTS AND CRAFTS FOR KIDS. NOW THERE ARE SEVEN DAYS OF KWANZAA. TODAY IS UMOJA, WHICH STANDS FOR UNITY. SO THE HOPE OF THIS EVENT IS TO REALLY BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER ALL IN ONE ROOM AND TO CELEBRATE THIS HOLIDAY TOGETHER. RANC
Sacramento region celebrates Kwanzaa with unity and cultural festivities
Sacramento region celebrates Kwanzaa with unity and cultural festivities
The city of Rancho Cordova celebrated the first day of Kwanzaa with a cultural event inviting people from across Sacramento County to city hall on Friday.It’s part of the 27th Annual California State Capitol Kwanzaa celebration, organized by Michael Harris, president and CEO of the California Black Agriculture Working Group.Harris, who studied under Kwanzaa’s original creator, Dr. Maulana Karenga, emphasized the holiday’s significance to the Black community. “We carry the oldest, largest, most accurate notion of authentic California Pan African Ancestry,” Harris said. The event, which began on the first day of Kwanzaa, Dec. 26, features a variety of activities, including live cultural performances, arts and crafts for children, and a “Farm to Fork Friday” event offering samples of Pan African cuisine. The celebration includes speeches from notable figures such as Pastor Carl Dee Amattoe and Rancho Cordova Mayor Garrett Gatewood, along with other regional community leaders.Guests can also purchase handmade items like necklaces and Afrocentric clothing. The event aims to bring people together from diverse backgrounds to honor African culture and the seven principles of Kwanzaa, starting with Umoja, which means unity. The celebration continues throughout the week, offering a chance for reflection, dialogue, and shared creativity in the spirit of unity.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. —
The city of Rancho Cordova celebrated the first day of Kwanzaa with a cultural event inviting people from across Sacramento County to city hall on Friday.
It’s part of the 27th Annual California State Capitol Kwanzaa celebration, organized by Michael Harris, president and CEO of the California Black Agriculture Working Group.
Harris, who studied under Kwanzaa’s original creator, Dr. Maulana Karenga, emphasized the holiday’s significance to the Black community.
“We carry the oldest, largest, most accurate notion of authentic California Pan African Ancestry,” Harris said.
The event, which began on the first day of Kwanzaa, Dec. 26, features a variety of activities, including live cultural performances, arts and crafts for children, and a “Farm to Fork Friday” event offering samples of Pan African cuisine.
The celebration includes speeches from notable figures such as Pastor Carl Dee Amattoe and Rancho Cordova Mayor Garrett Gatewood, along with other regional community leaders.
Guests can also purchase handmade items like necklaces and Afrocentric clothing.
The event aims to bring people together from diverse backgrounds to honor African culture and the seven principles of Kwanzaa, starting with Umoja, which means unity.
The celebration continues throughout the week, offering a chance for reflection, dialogue, and shared creativity in the spirit of unity.
Kwanzaa has become a nationally recognized celebration of African culture and community in the United States since its founding in 1966, and also is celebrated in countries with large African descendant populations. The holiday, which serves as a nationwide communal event reinforcing self-determination and unity in the face of oppression, spans seven days from the day after Christmas through New Year’s Day. It is observed in large, city-sponsored events as well as in smaller communities and homes across the nation. Kwanzaa has grown in popularity in the decades since its founding and is celebrated by 3% of the country, according to a 2019 AP-NORC survey. Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama all released statements commemorating the holiday, and in 1997, the U.S. Postal Service began issuing Kwanzaa stamps. It is not recognized as a federal holiday. Kwanzaa emerged during the Black Freedom Movement of the 1960s as a way to reconnect Black communities in the U.S. with important African cultural traditions that were severed by the trans-Atlantic slave trade. It also promotes unity and liberation.”It was also shaped by that defining decade of fierce strivings and struggles for freedom, justice and associated goods waged by Africans and other peoples of color all over the world in the 1960s,” Maulana Karenga, the holiday’s founder, wrote in his annual Kwanzaa address in 2023. “Kwanzaa thus came into being, grounded itself and grew as an act of freedom, an instrument of freedom, a celebration of freedom and a practice of freedom.”Karenga, an African American author, activist and professor, founded Kwanzaa following the Watts Riots, also known as the Watts Rebellion, in Los Angeles in 1965.Karenga described Kwanzaa as a “political-motivator holiday” in an interview with Henry Lewis Gates Jr. for PBS. “The idea is for African and African descended people to come together around family, community and culture so we can be in spaces where, in Dr. Karenga’s words, we feel fully African and fully human at the same time,” said Janine Bell, president and artistic director at the Elegba Folklore Society in Richmond, Virginia. Many people who observe Kwanzaa, which is a secular holiday, celebrate it alongside religious festivals such as Christmas. People of any faith, race or ethnic background can participate.The name Kwanzaa derives from “mutanda ya kwanza,” a Swahili phrase meaning “first fruits” or “first harvest.” The final “a” was added to the name to accommodate the seven children present at the first Kwanzaa, each of whom was given a letter to represent.The holiday is governed by seven principles, known collectively as the Nguzo Saba, and a different principle is celebrated each day: umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self-determination), ujima (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity) and imani (faith). The Nguzo Saba is represented by a candleholder with seven candles called a kinara. Each night, one of those candles is lit. The candles are the same colors as the Kwanzaa flag: Black representing the people, red their struggle and green their hope.Large Kwanzaa celebrations happen across the country every year in cities including Los Angeles, Atlanta and Detroit. These events often feature storytellers, music and dance. The holiday is also observed in individual homes, often focusing on children because they are key to the survival of culture and the development of community. This concept of children and the future they embody is often represented symbolically by corn.”The intention is that it’s 365 (days a year),” Bell said. “The need for the principles and the strengthening value of the principles don’t go away on January 2nd.”Family celebrations also involve giving gifts and sharing African American and Pan African foods, culminating in the Karamu, a feast featuring dishes from across the African diaspora. Typical meals include staples of Southern cuisine like sweet potato pie or popular dishes from Africa like jollof rice. Activities over the seven days are geared toward reaffirming community bonds, commemorating the past and recommitting to important African cultural ideals. This can include dancing, reading poetry, honoring ancestors and the daily lighting of the kinara.
Kwanzaa has become a nationally recognized celebration of African culture and community in the United States since its founding in 1966, and also is celebrated in countries with large African descendant populations.
The holiday, which serves as a nationwide communal event reinforcing self-determination and unity in the face of oppression, spans seven days from the day after Christmas through New Year’s Day. It is observed in large, city-sponsored events as well as in smaller communities and homes across the nation.
Kwanzaa has grown in popularity in the decades since its founding and is celebrated by 3% of the country, according to a 2019 AP-NORC survey. Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama all released statements commemorating the holiday, and in 1997, the U.S. Postal Service began issuing Kwanzaa stamps. It is not recognized as a federal holiday.
Kwanzaa emerged during the Black Freedom Movement of the 1960s as a way to reconnect Black communities in the U.S. with important African cultural traditions that were severed by the trans-Atlantic slave trade. It also promotes unity and liberation.
“It was also shaped by that defining decade of fierce strivings and struggles for freedom, justice and associated goods waged by Africans and other peoples of color all over the world in the 1960s,” Maulana Karenga, the holiday’s founder, wrote in his annual Kwanzaa address in 2023. “Kwanzaa thus came into being, grounded itself and grew as an act of freedom, an instrument of freedom, a celebration of freedom and a practice of freedom.”
Karenga, an African American author, activist and professor, founded Kwanzaa following the Watts Riots, also known as the Watts Rebellion, in Los Angeles in 1965.
Karenga described Kwanzaa as a “political-motivator holiday” in an interview with Henry Lewis Gates Jr. for PBS.
“The idea is for African and African descended people to come together around family, community and culture so we can be in spaces where, in Dr. Karenga’s words, we feel fully African and fully human at the same time,” said Janine Bell, president and artistic director at the Elegba Folklore Society in Richmond, Virginia.
Many people who observe Kwanzaa, which is a secular holiday, celebrate it alongside religious festivals such as Christmas. People of any faith, race or ethnic background can participate.
The name Kwanzaa derives from “mutanda ya kwanza,” a Swahili phrase meaning “first fruits” or “first harvest.” The final “a” was added to the name to accommodate the seven children present at the first Kwanzaa, each of whom was given a letter to represent.
The holiday is governed by seven principles, known collectively as the Nguzo Saba, and a different principle is celebrated each day: umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self-determination), ujima (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity) and imani (faith).
The Nguzo Saba is represented by a candleholder with seven candles called a kinara. Each night, one of those candles is lit. The candles are the same colors as the Kwanzaa flag: Black representing the people, red their struggle and green their hope.
Large Kwanzaa celebrations happen across the country every year in cities including Los Angeles, Atlanta and Detroit. These events often feature storytellers, music and dance.
The holiday is also observed in individual homes, often focusing on children because they are key to the survival of culture and the development of community. This concept of children and the future they embody is often represented symbolically by corn.
“The intention is that it’s 365 (days a year),” Bell said. “The need for the principles and the strengthening value of the principles don’t go away on January 2nd.”
Family celebrations also involve giving gifts and sharing African American and Pan African foods, culminating in the Karamu, a feast featuring dishes from across the African diaspora. Typical meals include staples of Southern cuisine like sweet potato pie or popular dishes from Africa like jollof rice.
Activities over the seven days are geared toward reaffirming community bonds, commemorating the past and recommitting to important African cultural ideals. This can include dancing, reading poetry, honoring ancestors and the daily lighting of the kinara.
A proper celebration of Dia de los Muertos requires pan de muerto.
Some families might bake a few loaves and leave them at the gravestones of their deceased loved ones. Others might simply leave the bread on the homemade altars, “ofrendas,” to provide nourishment for their late relatives.
No matter the delivery method, the recommendation is to always make extra for yourselves, and save the leftovers to drink with your coffee the next morning. Better yet, use it to make French toast.
“I’m from Guadalajara, Jalisco, so my bread represents small towns where the flavor has a lot of Mexican canela (cinnamon), Flor de Azar (Mexican liqueur) and orange zest,” Ruiz said. “And it’s a very rich bread. It’s not this fluffy bread that you can find at bakeries on this side of the border. This bread, you can dunk it in chocolate, and it will absorb all the delicious chocolate.”
Some folks start baking the bread a week or two in advance and keep on baking it through November.
Ruiz’s recipe (see below) takes two days to make, but she said it won’t be too difficult for anybody who has baked bread before.
For beginners, she recommends reading the recipe over two or three times and to plan ahead.
“It takes a bit of practice,” she said. “But I can assure you that you will have a delicious pan de muerto.”
Mariana Nuño Ruiz and Ian McEnroe wrote “Dining With the Dead: A Feast for the Souls on Day of the Dead — A Mexican Cookbook” together. (Photo by Ian McEnroe)
Pan de Muerto: Bread of the Dead
Makes 6 medium (6- to 7-inch) breads or 12 to 14 small (4-inch) breads (the recipe also works well for half a batch)
Dough: 7 cups (850 g) unbleached all-purpose flour 1 cup (150 g) whole wheat or rye flour 1 cup (200 g) white sugar 2 teaspoons (10 g) fine sea salt 4 teaspoons (8 g) ground canela 1 cup (8 oz/227 g) European-style butter, room temperature 4 large whole eggs 2 large egg yolks 1 tablespoon (15 ml) orange blossom water** 1 teaspoon (2 g) orange zest** **Orange blossom water is easy to find in Middle Eastern specialty markets and is absolutely delicious in this bread! Valencia oranges have the best zest flavor for baking
Sugar topping: 1 stick (4 oz/115 g) butter, melted 1 cup granulated white sugar 1 to 2 pinches ground canela
DIRECTIONS
First day:
1. Make the sponge. Warm the milk to lukewarm. In a small bowl, combine warm milk, sugar and flour, and mix to avoid any lumps. Sprinkle the yeast over milk mixture and gently mix in. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let this mixture bloom in a warm place for 15 to 20 minutes, until the mixture looks foamy and creamy and the top resembles a sponge.
2. Make the dough. In the bowl of your stand mixer, add all of the dry dough ingredients — flours, sugar, salt and canela. Set on slow speed and mix well. Add butter to the flour bowl in small chunks and mix in for a few seconds. Add eggs, egg yolks, orange blossom water, orange zest and the foamy yeast sponge. Using the hook attachment of your stand mixer, mix dough on medium-low speed for 2 to 3 minutes until it forms a ball in the center. Then mix for 5 minutes on medium and at last crank your mixer to medium-high speed and mix dough for 2 to 3 more minutes. If making dough by hand, knead for 25 to 30 minutes, until dough is smooth, soft, elastic and does not stick to the surface. Dough should have a shine and should not be sticky to the touch.
3. Gently remove the dough from hook and place it into a lightly oiled, large bowl. Knead dough briefly to shape into a ball. Place dough in a large lightly buttered bowl, cover with plastic wrap and then with a clean kitchen towel, and place it in the refrigerator overnight. I’ve tried different methods, but 8 to 10 hours overnight is the right amount of time for the dough to develop. This method allows you to develop flavor in the dough without having to keep an eye on it all day.
“Dining With the Dead: A Feast for the Souls on Day of the Dead,” by Mariana Nuño Ruiz and Ian McEnroe, shows the process of making pan de muerto. (Photo by Ian McEnroe)
Second day:
1. Pull the dough out of refrigerator, gently punch and reshape the dough, kneading gently, and briefly transfer to a baking tray and cover with plastic wrap and then a kitchen towel. Place in a warm place for about 2 to 2½ hours to come to room temperature. At that point, your dough should be soft, malleable and ready to be shaped.
2. Over a lightly floured surface, divide the dough in half. Shape one half into a ball, cover with plastic wrap and set aside. Then divide the other half into 4 equal parts. Reserve one part for the skulls and bone shapes, cover with plastic wrap and set aside. Shape the other 3 pieces each into a ball by taking the piece of dough and wrapping the edges underneath itself to form a round ball. Place rounded dough on the table, and using your hand, create a concave shape and gently cup your hand over the dough ball. Gently, create a circular motion with the dough under your hand by rubbing against the table until you have formed a smooth, round, tighter ball. Refer to the photos for help.
3. Place each of the 3 large formed balls onto either a buttered pan or a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Using your fingers, press the center of each ball to flatten to about ½-inch thick, and flatten the edges of the round ball against the baking sheet.
4. Using the fourth small reserved piece of dough, divide and make 3 balls the size of a key lime and 3 logs 1-inch across, then equally divide the rest of the dough into 3 balls about the size of a small plum, about 2½ inches around.
5. To make the skull: Take one small key-lime-sized dough ball and make one round ball and set aside. To make the crossbones for each top: Take one small plum-sized dough ball and divide dough into two equal portions. Roll one portion into a small cylinder. Roll the other portion into another cylinder. Using your fingers, roll the two logs against the table. As you roll, spread your fingers to create four bumps. These bumpy strips will represent the bones. Place the two bone strips one across the other over the top of each large dough ball, forming a cross shape.
“Dining With the Dead” details the steps to making pan de muerto. (Photo by Ian McEnroe).
6. Now we are ready to place the round center ball that represents the skull on the main bread portion top. Use your fingers to make a deep indentation in the center of the shaped dough about halfway to the bottom of the dough, being careful not to tear the dough, and place the small skull ball in the center. Do not worry about pushing the center down a bit; this will prevent the ball from falling off when baking. There is no need to add water or eggwash to glue the dough decorations over the dough; just make sure you flatten them against the body of the main dough ball so they stick together.
7. Now, do the same to decorate the other two dough rounds this way. Then cover the three with plastic wrap and then a kitchen towel. Place the tray in a warm place in your kitchen and proof them for 25 to 30 minutes, and then double in size. Time of proofing will depend on how warm your kitchen is. Check on them after 15 minutes to avoid overproofing, and decide if they need more or less time.
8. Adjust oven rack in the middle and preheat oven to 350°F.
9. In the meantime, shape the second large half of the dough in the same way. By the time you finish shaping the second batch of dough, the first batch should be doubled in size and ready to bake. Place the tray in the oven and bake for 20 to 22 minutes, until bread is golden brown and produces a hollow sound when tapped gently. Take into consideration that you can make smaller size breads, too, or even extra large. I love to make little breads for kids or individual sizes for adults to give as gifts during the celebration. If making smaller sizes, make sure to place same sizes of shaped dough in baking trays for even baking. Also adjust baking times. Bake small breads for 15 minutes and medium breads for 18 minutes.
10. Once baked, let them cool on the tray for about 10 minutes. In a small bowl, mix granulated sugar and canela. While the bread is still slightly warm, brush them generously with melted butter and coat liberally with the sugar and canela mixture, then hold the bread top side down and tap the bottom to remove the excess sugar. Place bread on a rack to keep cooling. Prepare a pot of hot chocolate or café de olla and eat your freshly baked bread because it’s time to celebrate!
Notes: Please plan ahead and make this bread over the weekend. For example, make the dough on Saturday night, and then wake up Sunday and shape and bake your bread. You will have it warm and ready for breakfast. This bread can be made about 1 to 2 days before the celebration and will last soft and fresh for about 4 to 5 days when kept in an airtight container.
Pan de muerto is just one of the recipes in “Dining With the Dead: A Feast for the Souls on Day of the Dead — A Mexican Cookbook” by Mariana Nuño Ruiz and Ian McEnroe. (Photo by Ian McEnroe)
— Courtesy of “Dining With the Dead: A Feast for the Souls on Day of the Dead — A Mexican Cookbook,” by Mariana Nuño Ruiz and Ian McEnroe (Rio Nuevo Publishers, $40)
On this day in 1803, all masters and journeyman shoemakers in the area interested in planning a celebration of the birth of St. Crispin should come to Union Hall at 6:30 that evening. Crispin, a Christian martyr, is the patron…
AMID IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT FEARS. YES, IT’S SMALLER, BUT STILL POWERFUL. STILL POWERFUL BECAUSE AS AS LONG AS THERE’S ONE MEXICAN, THERE’S COMMUNITY, THERE WILL BE POWER, THERE WILL BE PRIDE. A NIGHT OF MEXICAN HERITAGE BEING CELEBRATED AT THE STATE CAPITOL. MEXICO, EL GRITO RINGING AT SUNDOWN. THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL CULTURE. AS THE CONSUL GENERAL OF MEXICO IN SACRAMENTO WAVES THE MEXICAN FLAG OVER THE BALCONY. IT’S A TRADITION THAT KICKS OFF MEXICO’S INDEPENDENCE DAY. I CAME OUT HERE TO REPRESENT FOR OUR PEOPLE. I THINK RIGHT NOW, MORE THAN USUAL, IT’S VERY IMPORTANT TO SHOW OUR PRIDE AND REALLY BE HERE TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO ALSO SHOW NUMBERS. THIS YEAR’S CELEBRATION, NOTABLY SMALLER THAN YEARS PAST. THE GENERAL CONSUL SCALING DOWN THE EVENT OVER FEARS OF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT. I UNDERSTAND THAT WE’RE LIVING VERY INTERESTING MOMENTS IN TERMS THAT PEOPLE COULD HAVE FEAR. THEY COULD HAVE ANXIETY, THEY COULD FEEL STRUGGLING ABOUT THE NARRATIVES AROUND MIGRATION. THAT’S WHY OTHERS FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS CAME TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY AND CELEBRATE THE MEXICAN HOLIDAY. IT’S JUST IT’S NOT RIGHT. I’M JUST HERE TO SUPPORT. I LOVE THEIR FOOD AND I LOVE THEIR LIKE, OUTFITS. AND I LOVE HOW THEY DRESS. DESPITE THE SCALED DOWN CELEBRATION, MANY CAME OUT FOR THOSE WHO COULDN’T. BUT I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE’S CONCERNS AND I THINK I’M A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE END OF LIKE, KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE AND THOSE THAT CAN SHOW UP MY COLORS NEVER GOING TO CHANGE MY HEART. ALWAYS IS IN MY COUNTRY. THEY ARE NOT ALONE. WE ARE NOT ALONE. AND WE ARE TOGETHER. EVEN IN MOMENTS LIKE THESE ONES. AND HEY, EVEN OUT HERE FOR THE PAST HOUR OR SO, THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE COMING OUT HERE WITH THEIR MEXICAN FLAGS, TAKING PICTURES IN FRONT OF THE STATE CAPITOL. NOW, THE ENTIRE CELEBRATION DID LAST FOR ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO, AND THEY DID HAVE SOME MARIACHIS PLAYING AS WELL. WE’RE LIVE HERE IN DOWNTOW
Mexican Independence Day celebrated at California’s State Capitol amid immigration fears
The State Capitol in California was illuminated in the colors of the Mexican flag Monday to celebrate Mexico’s Independence Day. But despite the bright display, other aspects of the special day were toned down.Monday night’s celebration of “El Grito” was scaled back by organizers amid immigration enforcement. “It’s maybe much smaller, but even more special, I would say, because the people that decide to show up can celebrate. It’s also about showing up about their identity, about their roots, about being proud of being Mexican,” said Christian Tonatiuh González Jiménez, the Consul General of Mexico in Sacramento.During the civic ceremony, the Consul waved the Mexican flag over the balcony, a tradition that marks the beginning of Mexico’s Independence Day celebrations. Despite the scaled-down event, the spirit of Mexican heritage was celebrated at the State Capitol.”It’s smaller but still powerful. Still powerful, because as long as there’s one Mexican, there’s community, there will be power, there will be pride,” Jiménez said.The celebration, which lasted about an hour, included vendors selling Mexican flags and food. Many attendees expressed their support for the community and the importance of showing pride in their heritage.”I came out here to represent for our people. I think right now, more than usual, it’s very important to show our pride and really be here together as a community to also show numbers,” said Karen Izquierdo.The Consul General noted the scaled-down event was due to fears of immigration enforcement.”I understand that we’re living in very interesting moments in terms that people could have fear, they could have anxiety, they could be struggling with the narratives around migration,” he said.Others from different backgrounds also came to support the community.”It’s just it’s not right. I’m just here to support,” said one supporter.Another added, “I love their food and I love their outfits, and I love how they dress.”Despite the smaller celebration, many came out for those who couldn’t.”I understand, you know, people’s concerns. And I think I’m a little bit more on the end of like keep everybody safe and those that can show up,” said Izquierdo. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
The State Capitol in California was illuminated in the colors of the Mexican flag Monday to celebrate Mexico’s Independence Day. But despite the bright display, other aspects of the special day were toned down.
“It’s maybe much smaller, but even more special, I would say, because the people that decide to show up can celebrate. It’s also about showing up about their identity, about their roots, about being proud of being Mexican,” said Christian Tonatiuh González Jiménez, the Consul General of Mexico in Sacramento.
During the civic ceremony, the Consul waved the Mexican flag over the balcony, a tradition that marks the beginning of Mexico’s Independence Day celebrations. Despite the scaled-down event, the spirit of Mexican heritage was celebrated at the State Capitol.
“It’s smaller but still powerful. Still powerful, because as long as there’s one Mexican, there’s community, there will be power, there will be pride,” Jiménez said.
The celebration, which lasted about an hour, included vendors selling Mexican flags and food. Many attendees expressed their support for the community and the importance of showing pride in their heritage.
“I came out here to represent for our people. I think right now, more than usual, it’s very important to show our pride and really be here together as a community to also show numbers,” said Karen Izquierdo.
The Consul General noted the scaled-down event was due to fears of immigration enforcement.
“I understand that we’re living in very interesting moments in terms that people could have fear, they could have anxiety, they could be struggling with the narratives around migration,” he said.
Others from different backgrounds also came to support the community.
“It’s just it’s not right. I’m just here to support,” said one supporter.
Another added, “I love their food and I love their outfits, and I love how they dress.”
Despite the smaller celebration, many came out for those who couldn’t.
“I understand, you know, people’s concerns. And I think I’m a little bit more on the end of like keep everybody safe and those that can show up,” said Izquierdo.
WHAT. HOPE YOUR DAD’S OKAY. ALL RIGHT, WELL, IN FAIR OAKS, ONE MARINE VETERAN MARKING A MILESTONE MOST OF US CAN ONLY HOPE TO SEE. HE’S TURNING 100 YEARS OLD. THE CELEBRATION WASN’T JUST ABOUT AGE, BUT HONORING A LIFE OF SERVICE AND WISDOM. A CENTURY LATER, KCRA 3’S CORTEZ TAKES US TO THE CELEBRATION. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. A CENTURY OF LIFE. A LIFETIME OF SERVICE. I WAS STATIONED WITH THE FOURTH MARINES. AND A SALUTE THAT HASN’T FADED WITH TIME. STUART MCINTYRE IS ONE OF JUST 66,000 WORLD WAR TWO VETERANS. STILL WITH US. AND AT 100 YEARS OLD, THIS BIRTHDAY MARKS A MILESTONE OUT OF THE 16.4 MILLION WHO ONCE SERVED. I WAS VERY YOUNG WHEN I JOINED THE MARINE CORPS, AND THEY HAD JUST PULLED THE MARINES THAT HAD BEEN SERVING IN CHINA. I’VE HAD MEMORIES FROM EUROPE AND MEMORIES FROM ALL OVER, BUT THE ONES THAT COME BACK TO ME MOST ARE THE LITTLE ISLAND. MCINTYRE ENLISTING INTO THE MARINES AT 16 YEARS OLD ON DECEMBER 1941. NOW, DECADES LATER, IT’S HIS COMMUNITY SERVING HIM. I REALLY AM SHOCKED THAT SO MANY PEOPLE WOULD TAKE THE TIME. THEY DON’T EVEN KNOW HIM TO STOP AND WISH HIM A HAPPY BIRTHDAY BECAUSE HE’S A MARINE, YOU KNOW? ONCE A MARINE, ALWAYS A MARINE. HIS STORY, MORE THAN JUST LONGEVITY, BUT LEGACY. AND WHILE REACHING 100 IS NO SMALL LIFE BATTLE, THE MILESTONE ISN’T JUST ABOUT LOOKING BACK, BUT INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION. IT MEANS A LOT TO ME BECAUSE MY PARENTS ARE FROM THE GREATEST GENERATION TOO, SO. AND HE’S SHARING HIS LIFE STORIES WITH US AND THE COMMUNITY. FOR HIM TO STILL STAY ENGAGED AND WANT TO SHARE IS REALLY, REALLY AWESOME. I’M THE LAST ONE TO BE GIVING PEOPLE ADVICE ABOUT ANYTHING. I’VE LED A. I’VE LED MY LIFE KIND OF THE WAY I WANTED TO. WITH THE BAGPIPES. LEADING THE WAY. HIS 100 YEARS REMIND US THAT A LIFE WELL LIVED. IS A MELODY WORTH HEARING. AND MCINTYRE RETIRED FROM THE MARINES WITH THE RANK OF GUNNERY SERGEANT. WHEN I ASKED HIM, WHAT’S THE SECRET TO LONGEVITY? BREATHE. SUCH A SIMPLE TASK
Fair Oaks WWII Veteran celebrates his 100th birthday
A Fair Oaks community is celebrating a WWII veteran’s special moment, sharing his wisdom and stories with the next generation.
Surrounded by friends and fellow veterans, Stuart McIntyre walked into the American Legion Post 383 on Wednesday in salute formation. American flags were displayed proudly.McIntyre, a World War II veteran, celebrated his 100th birthday, marking a milestone many hope to achieve. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs statistics, less than 1% percent of the 16.4 million who served in WWII are still alive. McIntyre, who enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 16 in December 1941, reflected on his service, saying, “I was very young when I joined the Marine Corps, and they had just pulled the Marines that had been serving in China.”He recited the poem “Mandalay” by Rudyard Kipling, a poem about a soldier recounting his time in Burma. It’s a piece of poetry that reminds McIntyre of his time of service.His community gathered to honor him, with longtime friend Candace Duva expressing surprise at the turnout.”I really am shocked that so many people would take the time that don’t even know him to stop and wish him a happy birthday, because he’s a Marine. You know, once a Marine, always a Marine,” Duva said.”I’m inspired by his patriotism, his positive outlook on life. And I mean, I think that’s part of, probably is part of what’s kept him going. When you’re a positive person and you stay active, I think that means a lot. And he’s sharing his life stories with us and the community,” MaryAnne Povey, executive director of Orangevale Live, said. Despite his age, McIntyre remains humble about his life experiences. “Well, I’m the last one to be giving people advice about anything, I’ve lived my life kind of the way I wanted to,” he said.
FAIR OAKS, Calif. —
Surrounded by friends and fellow veterans, Stuart McIntyre walked into the American Legion Post 383 on Wednesday in salute formation. American flags were displayed proudly.
McIntyre, a World War II veteran, celebrated his 100th birthday, marking a milestone many hope to achieve. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs statistics, less than 1% percent of the 16.4 million who served in WWII are still alive.
McIntyre, who enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 16 in December 1941, reflected on his service, saying, “I was very young when I joined the Marine Corps, and they had just pulled the Marines that had been serving in China.”
He recited the poem “Mandalay”by Rudyard Kipling, a poem about a soldier recounting his time in Burma. It’s a piece of poetry that reminds McIntyre of his time of service.
His community gathered to honor him, with longtime friend Candace Duva expressing surprise at the turnout.
“I really am shocked that so many people would take the time that don’t even know him to stop and wish him a happy birthday, because he’s a Marine. You know, once a Marine, always a Marine,” Duva said.
“I’m inspired by his patriotism, his positive outlook on life. And I mean, I think that’s part of, probably is part of what’s kept him going. When you’re a positive person and you stay active, I think that means a lot. And he’s sharing his life stories with us and the community,” MaryAnne Povey, executive director of Orangevale Live, said.
Despite his age, McIntyre remains humble about his life experiences.
“Well, I’m the last one to be giving people advice about anything, I’ve lived my life kind of the way I wanted to,” he said.
It was more than 60 years ago this month that the Dodgers beat the Chicago White Sox and won their first World Series in front of more than 90,000 baseball fans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
At the time, the Coliseum lit its torch to honor the team’s win, and now, after the Dodgers won their eighth World Series Championship, the Coliseum has once again lit its torch. And for the next two nights, the Coliseum’s peristyle will be illuminated in blue light.
Ever since the Dodgers’ miraculous comeback victory Wednesday night, some of L.A. County’s best-known buildings and attractions have been finding ways to celebrate the Boys in Blue, from the Pacific Wheel on Santa Monica’s Pier to L.A. City Hall.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, whose father, Supervisor Kenneth Hahn, helped bring the Dodgers from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in 1958, called for the Coliseum torch to be lit.
“I thought it would be fitting to light the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum’s torch in celebration of the Dodgers’ victory at the venue the team played their first World Series winning season,” Hahn said. “We love our team.
“Every corner of Los Angeles is celebrating today,” she said.
Up in the hills of Griffith Park, the letter “D” on the Hollywood sign was lighted in blue.
In Inglewood, a spokesperson for SoFi Stadium said the building’s rooftop Thursday night will display “2024 World Series Champions L.A. Dodgers” in blue lighting. A similar message was already on display on its Samsung infinity screen inside the stadium.
MONTEBELLO, Calif. — Chapala Bakery, a family-owned bakery that has been handed down over several generations, is renowned for their mouthwatering pan de muerto, a traditional Mexican sweet bread enjoyed especially during the Day of the Dead. While the bakery produces pan de muerto year-round, their output significantly increases in the weeks leading up to the holiday, as families and friends gather to honor their loved ones.
“Around October and November we definitely get a big demand,” said Daniella De la Torre, who manages Chapala Bakery in Montebello, California. “The different versions that we sell are the ones that have just sugar or the ones that have sesame seeds on them.”
“Food’s important for any holiday,” said local resident Jovita Escobar. “We love to have turkey for Thanksgiving. For Christmas, if you’re Hispanic, you love to have tamales. And for Dia de los Muertos, you have to have your Dia de Los Muertos bread.”
Brewers rookie Jackson Chourio could not fully enjoy the celebratory champagne in the team’s clubhouse Wednesday night.This is not because he does not drink, but the rising star cannot legally consume alcohol because he will not meet the legal drinking age until March 2025.Video above: MLB player joins in on neighborhood wiffle ball game Still, the organization made sure the young outfielder could still be a part of the celebration while poking fun at his age at the same time.The team filled a baby stroller with non-alcoholic champagne, beer and bobbleheads in front of his locker before the celebration began.Chourio definitely played a big role in the team’s success this season, especially after Christian Yelich was shut down for the rest of the season to undergo back surgery in August. Before Thursday night’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chourio had a .312 batting average, .961 OPS with 12 home runs and 10 stolen bases in the second half of the season. He became the youngest player in MLB history to reach 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a season on Sept. 12.Chourio and the Brewers agreed to an 8-year contract worth $82 million before the season. His deal includes team options for 2032 and 2033. He’s eligible to become a free agent in 2034.The Brewers announced tickets for the first round of the postseason will be available starting at 10 a.m. on Sept. 20. Additionally, the team is holding a drive-thru postseason rally from 6 to 9 a.m. Friday at American Family Field. There, fans will get a special QR code for early access to purchase postseason tickets. Tickets will be available to the general public starting at 10 a.m.Wisconsin sports figures, including Brewers Hall of Famer Robin Yount, Packers Hall of Famer Donald Driver, Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Sidney Moncrief among others, will be at the rally.
Brewers rookie Jackson Chourio could not fully enjoy the celebratory champagne in the team’s clubhouse Wednesday night.
This is not because he does not drink, but the rising star cannot legally consume alcohol because he will not meet the legal drinking age until March 2025.
Video above: MLB player joins in on neighborhood wiffle ball game
Still, the organization made sure the young outfielder could still be a part of the celebration while poking fun at his age at the same time.
The team filled a baby stroller with non-alcoholic champagne, beer and bobbleheads in front of his locker before the celebration began.
Milwaukee Brewers
Baby stroller for Jackson Chourio.
Chourio definitely played a big role in the team’s success this season, especially after Christian Yelich was shut down for the rest of the season to undergo back surgery in August.
Before Thursday night’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chourio had a .312 batting average, .961 OPS with 12 home runs and 10 stolen bases in the second half of the season.
He became the youngest player in MLB history to reach 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a season on Sept. 12.
Chourio and the Brewers agreed to an 8-year contract worth $82 million before the season. His deal includes team options for 2032 and 2033. He’s eligible to become a free agent in 2034.
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The Brewers announced tickets for the first round of the postseason will be available starting at 10 a.m. on Sept. 20. Additionally, the team is holding a drive-thru postseason rally from 6 to 9 a.m. Friday at American Family Field.
There, fans will get a special QR code for early access to purchase postseason tickets. Tickets will be available to the general public starting at 10 a.m.
Wisconsin sports figures, including Brewers Hall of Famer Robin Yount, Packers Hall of Famer Donald Driver, Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Sidney Moncrief among others, will be at the rally.
Hundreds of people gathered in front of the California state capitol to mark Ukraine’s Independence Day on Saturday. It was a somber celebration as the war between Ukraine and Russia continues.“It’s a hard time for us,” Lesya Dashkevych said. Dashkevych came with her husband and her three children to the celebration. While she’s from Ukraine, her children have never been. Still, she said it’s important for them to learn the culture of the country.”I wish someday when there is no war in Ukraine, they’re going to visit the country,” she said. Dmytro Morozov, a Ukrainian veteran, also moved with his family to Sacramento from Ukraine. Not long before, he said he was in Russian captivity — being held as a prisoner of war. “In captivity, they made me a surgery, two surgeries. I almost die. I have lost 40 kilograms,” he said. “It was difficult days there.”But a gathering like Saturdays, is an important reminder of what their country is fighting for.“So basically, it’s not more about celebration today. It’s more about statement. Making the statement that Ukraine is unbroken. No matter how hard Russia will try to destroy us, Ukraine will stand. Ukraine will win,” Olga Noshyn with the Sunflower Society said. The event raised money for the Ukrainian military. There were also opportunities to send letters and drawings to Ukrainian soldiers.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Hundreds of people gathered in front of the California state capitol to mark Ukraine’s Independence Day on Saturday.
It was a somber celebration as the war between Ukraine and Russia continues.
“It’s a hard time for us,” Lesya Dashkevych said.
Dashkevych came with her husband and her three children to the celebration. While she’s from Ukraine, her children have never been. Still, she said it’s important for them to learn the culture of the country.
“I wish someday when there is no war in Ukraine, they’re going to visit the country,” she said.
Dmytro Morozov, a Ukrainian veteran, also moved with his family to Sacramento from Ukraine. Not long before, he said he was in Russian captivity — being held as a prisoner of war.
“In captivity, they made me a surgery, two surgeries. I almost die. I have lost 40 kilograms,” he said. “It was difficult days there.”
But a gathering like Saturdays, is an important reminder of what their country is fighting for.
“So basically, it’s not more about celebration today. It’s more about statement. Making the statement that Ukraine is unbroken. No matter how hard Russia will try to destroy us, Ukraine will stand. Ukraine will win,” Olga Noshyn with the Sunflower Society said.
The event raised money for the Ukrainian military. There were also opportunities to send letters and drawings to Ukrainian soldiers.
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol Chief Gloria Chavez and another Border Patrol official are under investigation following an attempt to collaborate with a Mexican tequila maker, NBC News reported.
The two leaders were seen partying in Jalisco, Mexico with distiller Francisco Javier González of the Tequila Casa de los González, his family’s distillery complex, an NBC report stated. Photos of the trio began to circulate on social media in February.
According to NBC, a relationship between distiller González, Chavez and Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens began when Border Patrol discussed making a Border Patrol-branded tequila for its 100th anniversary. The Border Patrol’s centennial celebration will take place later this month in El Paso, Texas, without the anticipated tequila.
From Left: Jason Owens and Gloria Chavez (Photos from AP News)
The collaboration never came to fruition due to questions raised about whether the officials involved divulged their contact with a foreign national — “a requirement for those who receive top security clearances, and whether they accepted anything that could be a violation of ethical rules,” NBC stated in its report.
An internal investigation of the Border Patrol’s part in this tequila visit is being conducted by the Customs and Border Protection Office of Professional Responsibility.
ValleyCentral reached out to CBP for comment and received the following statement from a CBP spokesperson:
“CBP has confidence in our senior leaders and holds them to the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. Consistent with our commitment to accountability, we thoroughly investigate all allegations and take appropriate action to address any issues identified throughout the course of investigations. CBP will continue to reinforce our commitment to the agency’s standards at all levels.”
According to an NBC report, the relationship between the three dates back to July 2023 when González hosted a party for CBP leaders in Laredo. It was there that the idea for a Border Patrol-branded tequila was allegedly born.
“González is the grandson of the founder of Don Julio tequila, a major international brand, and his family remains prominent in the industry,” the report stated.
NBC News reported that a spokesperson for CBP did not say whether Owens and Chavez disclosed their contact with González, or how they paid for their travel to Mexico.
In a statement, a spokesperson for CBP stated, “The Border Patrol Centennial week poses unique ethical considerations, as a number of entities including non-profit organizations, private corporations, elected officials, and others are observing the occasion at a variety of public and private events scheduled over the centennial week. CBP leadership, including the Office of Chief Counsel, is working closely with event organizers within the agency to ensure all official planned events meet the highest ethical standards. This has included providing ethics advice as well as proactive briefings to senior CBP personnel who may be invited to other privately run Centennial related events.”
The centennial event is still a go for May 25, according to the USBP website. The Border Patrol-branded tequila will not be on the menu.
They are the first team to go 5-for-5 and win the ACC Tournament, then followed with four NCAA wins in a row to get back to the sport’s biggest stage before falling to Purdue in the Final Four 63-50.
The celebration begins on Monday at the bell tower on NC State’s campus at 8 p.m.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Couples flocked to Glenwood South to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year.
“I was in charge of choosing where we were going out to dinner tonight, she’s been working super hard, paying for my law school, we’re married, we’ve been married for two and a half years,” Caleb Fischer, “So I’m using all her money to take us out to dinner tonight, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Fischer is already making big promises about future Valentine’s Day.
Plus, Mal and Jo dive into the Season 2 premiere of ‘Invincible’
We do love your mother, but she’s more like a … a pet to us.Invincible is back and so are Jo and Mal, who are suiting up to soar into Amazon Prime’s bloody adaptation. First, they discuss Invincible’s comic book origins and role in the superhero critique era (11:00). Then, they revisit some of Season 1’s most memorable highlights (43:00). Finally, they dip into the anticipated Season 2 premiere (1:30:00)!
Hosts: Mallory Rubin and Joanna Robinson Producer: Jonathan Kermah Additional Production: Arjuna Ramgopal Social: Jomi Adeniran
