New 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire gunsORLANDO — Ramiro Enrique scored a first-half goal and that was all goalkeeper Pedro Gallese would need to lead Orlando City to a 1-0 victory over rival Atlanta United in an Eastern Conference semifinal at Inter&Co Stadium on Sunday. No. 4 seed Orlando City, in its first trip to the conference final, will host the seventh-seeded New York Red Bulls next Saturday with a trip to the MLS Cup final on Dec. 7 on the line. The Red Bulls have made the playoffs in 14 straight seasons but never won the Cup. Orlando City grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 39th minute on an unassisted goal by Enrique , who scored off a corner kick that struck the chest of teammate César Araújo near the goal. It was the first goal contribution for Enrique in seven playoff appearances. He scored eight times in the regular season – his second in the league. Gallese did not have to make a save in his 10th career postseason start — all with Orlando City. Three of his five shutouts in the playoffs have come in the past two seasons. He had eight clean sheets during the regular season. Brad Guzan saved three shots for Atlanta United. He has started 18 times in the postseason for Atlanta United following four starts for Chivas USA in 2006-07. Atlanta United lost Daniel Ríos to concussion protocol four minutes into the second half and Ronald Hernández replaced him. Atlanta United has had the upper hand in the series during the regular season, posting an 11-4-7 record. Atlanta United won both matchups this regular season — 2-1 on the road and 2-0 at home. The two clubs had never met in the postseason.
President Joe Biden detailed some initial next steps his administration will take following the extraordinary fall of the Assad regime in Syria, offering a blueprint for how the US plans to support to the region amid a moment of instability. In remarks from the White House on Sunday, Biden called the regime’s fall “a moment of risk” and of opportunity. “It’s a moment of historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria to build a better future for their proud country. It’s also a moment of risk and uncertainty. As we all turn to the question of what comes next, the United States will work with our partners and the stakeholders in Syria to help them seize an opportunity to manage the risk,” he said. The US will “support Syria’s neighbors, including Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Israel, should any threat arise from Syria during this period of transition,” Biden said during his remarks from the Roosevelt Room. Biden said he plans to speak with his counterparts in the region “in the coming days” and that US officials will deploy to the region. The US will work to “ensure stability in eastern Syria,” he said, vowing to protect US personnel and continue its mission against ISIS. The US is prioritizing efforts to prevent the resurgence of ISIS, Biden said, adding that he is “clear-eyed about the fact that ISIS will try to take advantage of any vacuum to reestablish its capability to create a safe haven,” but starkly saying, “We will not let that happen.” Biden noted that those efforts include securing detention facilities where ISIS fighters are being held as prisoners,” as well as a “dozen precision strikes” in Syria targeting ISIS. The Biden administration also plans to engage with Syrian groups as the country transitions toward a new government, he said. “We will engage with all Syrian groups, including within the process led by the United Nations, to establish a transition away from the Assad regime toward (an) independent, sovereign ... new government that serves all of Syria,” he said. “This process be determined by the Syrian people themselves,” Biden continued. “The United States will do whatever we can to support them, including through humanitarian relief, to help restore Syria after more than a decade of war and generation of brutality by the Assad family.” Biden warned that the US will “remain vigilant” and closely watch the rebel groups’ actions. One of the key rebel groups leading the offensive, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, has been designated by the US as a terrorist organization. “We take a note of statements by the leaders of these rebel groups in recent days, and they’re saying the right things now, but as they take on greater responsibility, we will assess not just their word, but their actions,” Biden said.
The story of Operation Holiday began 34 years ago in Pottstown with The Mercury and the newspaper’s leadership goal of giving something meaningful to children whose families were struggling financially. Since its beginning, the program has grown to include The Times Herald , The Reporter , Daily Local News and Reading Eagle , allowing us to serve more children in more towns throughout Montgomery, Berks and Chester counties. We’ve also learned ways to better serve those we are helping, providing gift cards earlier in December to give families the opportunity to buy what their children need or want. During the 2020-21 pandemic, we suspended our previous practice of packing boxes of food and switched to grocery gift cards, a decision that our partner agencies have told us is appreciated. Families are able to buy holiday foods that they enjoy — their choices, not ours. Our program has grown in fundraising as you, our readers, have continued to respond with overwhelming generosity. Last year, we raised just over $90,000. We provided $100 gift cards to 419 children and $200 grocery gift cards to 184 families. We also made cash donations to eight area food pantries so that shelves would remain stocked with food during the winter months when donations are typically low and demand typically high. As we begin this year’s campaign, we are acutely aware of the need in the world around us from devastating storms to ongoing humanitarian crises from war. But we maintain as a priority our close relationship to the communities we serve. We have seen the rise in food prices, rent and child care costs that have created extreme difficulty for working poor families in our towns. Our focus is local to help the families who live in our communities — those struggling to keep a roof over their heads and food to eat. The mission of Operation Holiday is to give children in difficult circumstances some semblance of a normal Christmas with food and gifts. Our list this year includes 189 families and 366 children referred by our partner nonprofit agencies. There is no overhead with Operation Holiday. Funds are collected and audited in a nonprofit foundation account managed by staff members of MediaNews Group who volunteer their time. Nineteen partner agencies assist with identifying families in need and distributing gift cards that we provide. Business partnerships with Weis Markets, Redner’s and Boscov’s make the dollars we collect go further. All gifts stay local, assisting families in the communities where we do business and where our readers live and work. The project is truly one that connects people, neighbor to neighbor, from those who give to those in need. Our donations are from individuals, families, businesses, churches and organizations. We are not funded or supported by nonprofit foundations or corporations. Today begins our fundraising campaign to bring a smile to a child’s face, to help a local family have food to eat, and to give back with the blessings that grace our lives this holiday season. Join us in this local endeavor with your gift to Operation Holiday. Online donations are being accepted in a secure portal in partnership with TriCounty Community Network. Visit https://tcnetwork.org/ and click on the link for Operation Holiday. Contributions can be mailed with checks payable to Operation Holiday to PO Box 1181, Pottstown PA 19464; The Reporter, 34 Susquehanna Ave., Suite 100, Lansdale PA 19446; Operation Holiday, 1440 Lacrosse Ave., Reading, PA 19607.Relive your childhood summer holidays at these 10 retro Victorian stays