Text Of Pope Benedict’s Christmas Day Message

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin committed Monday to keeping U. S. weapons moving to Ukraine as Kyiv faces one of its toughest moments against a renewed assault by Russia. Austin and as many as 50 defense leaders from Europe and around the world were meeting Monday to coordinate more military aid to Ukraine, as Kyiv tries to hold off a Russian offensive in the northeast while launching its own massive assault on the Russia-occupied Crimean Peninsula. “We’re meeting in a moment of challenge,” Austin said, noting that Russia’s new onslaught of Kharkiv showed why the continued commitment by the countries was vital to keep coming.

Republicans in the Colorado statehouse demonstrated that they are capable of winning while Republicans in the Colorado state party showed they deserve to lose. Republicans in the General Assembly worked with moderate Democrats to block some far left proposals and with Democrats to pass bipartisan legislation on housing, water, taxes, and education.

The body of a 3-year-old boy with special needs who was reported missing Saturday morning from Rocky Ford was found in a canal, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Amari Galan was last seen around 4 a.m. Saturday. Officials believed he left his home near the 900 block of Washington Street on foot wearing only a diaper, according to a CBI endangered missing person alert posted around 3:30 p.m.

In an emptying locker room of players who had forgotten what it feels like to end a season with a loss, nobody was in uncharted territory as much as Christian Braun. Towel draped over his head, eyes red underneath it, the second-year guard was in a state of disbelief that replicated the entire Nuggets fanbase.

Numerous severe storms with large hail and damaging winds are possible across the plains this afternoon and tonight with isolated tornadoes possible this evening, according to the National Weather Service. Scattered thunderstorms will develop across the plains this afternoon and continue overnight. Severe storms with large, golf-ball sized hail, damaging winds and heavy rainfall are possible, especially from Fort Morgan to Limon.

The suite of landmark zoning and land-use reform laws passed by Colorado lawmakers this year should help alleviate the housing crisis, national experts say, while catapulting the Centennial State into the ranks of other housing pioneers. But those experts cautioned that the reforms seeded this winter and spring will take years to bear fruit.