KANSAS City Chiefs coach Andy Reid has provided an injury update on star quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

The signal caller suffered a sprained ankle in the Week 15 win over the Cleveland Browns.

Reuters

Patrick Mahomes suffered an injury in the Week 15 win at the Cleveland Browns[/caption]

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The quarterback hurt his ankle – but has been a full participant in practice all week[/caption]

Mahomes was replaced by Carson Wentz late in the 21-7 win and he looked in visible pain as he limped off the field.

But Reid announced this week that Mahomes will be ready to go in Week 16.

The Chiefs were handed a short week as they take on the Houston Texans on Saturday.

Mahomes was a full participant in practice on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

“He did look good out there,” Reid said.

“He moved around pretty good. So, you’re always looking to make sure they can get out the way, not to further any harm to them.

“So that’s what I look at.

“I’ve been through it with him before, and he amazed me every time he does it.

“The guy, he’s been so mentally tough and just puts it into a mindset that he has going into it from where he was a few days ago.”

News of Mahomes’ injury recovery is a boost for television networks over the holidays.

The Chiefs have been handed a special slot on NBC on Saturday afternoon in Week 16.

The game against Houston will also be broadcast with an alternative Madden-themed version on Peacock.

And Kansas City is also part of a Netflix doubleheader on Christmas Day.

Mahomes and the Chiefs visit the Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 pm ET on December 25.

And both networks will breathe a sigh of relief that Mahomes is ready to play.

The Chiefs are 13-1 and have already won the AFC West division.

They need two wins from their final three games to guarantee the No. 1 seeding in the playoffs and a first round bye.

Kansas City finishes the season against the Denver Broncos, who are 9-6 and in playoff contention.

The Buffalo Bills are second in the AFC standings with an 11-3 record.

But if they win out and the Chiefs lose two more games, they will edge Mahomes’ men to the No. 1 seed thanks to their head-to-head win.

SHOPPERS have been given a helping hand by one retailer as we head into the final run up to the holidays.

Target is staying open until 8 pm on Christmas Eve so there’s still time to grab those last-minute gifts.

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Target is open for last-minute shopping on Christmas Eve until 8 pm[/caption]

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Target has extended its opening hours until December 23 for Christmas shoppers[/caption]

And while this means they’re closing early – locations are usually open until 10 pm – it’s still a full two hours later than Walmart, which will shut its doors at 6 pm the day before Christmas.

Until then shoppers can take advantage of Target’s extended opening hours in which to finish their present buying, as all locations are currently trading from 7 am until midnight.

The retail giant is also closing its 1,963 stores on Christmas Day in order to give employees the opportunity to celebrate with their families.

It’s the perfect time to relax and recharge for shop staff after the hectic holiday shopping season.

But it does mean consumers will have to complete shopping for presents on Christmas Eve, though purchases can still be made through the website for delivery or collection after the holidays.

CHRISTMAS CLOSURES

The retail giant isn’t alone in shutting its doors for 24 hours on Christmas Day.

Across the country other brands, including Dollar Tree, Costco and Trader Joe’s are taking part in the festive retail blackout.

Department stores closing for the holidays include Macy’s, Burlington and Kohl’s.

As well as closing for the holidays, retailers are also operating to reduced opening hours on Christmas Eve.

However, because times may well vary between locations, it’s best to check your local store’s holiday hours before setting out on your shopping trip.

OPEN FOR BUSINESS

For anybody finding themselves desperately in need of a final gift or missing a vital ingredient for Christmas dinner, all is not lost.

Select stores are opening on December 25, though they are likely to be working to shorter hours.

Walgreens, Bravo Supermarkets, Duane Reade, Giant and CVS are all open for business, as are some Safeway locations.

Convenience stores including 7-Eleven, Casey’s General Stores and Wawa are trading on Christmas Day.

Meanwhile a number of restaurants and fast-food outlets will be open as usual, including McDonald’s, Starbucks, Domino’s, Dennys and Hooters.

As well as holiday opening times, shoppers sending gifts by mail should check on last posting dates.

Many deadlines for arrival by December 25 have already passed, including those for sending through the USPS.

There are still a few options available to Americans however, through carriers such as FedEx and UPS.

With FedEx consumers can still opt for 1-day, overnight and same day delivery to get their parcels to their destinations by Christmas Eve.

While with UPS, the cut off for domestic next day air delivery is December 23.

For those still frantically looking for last-minute gifts, many retailers are offering great deals, such as these stocking stuffers and classic Christmas cookies from Dollar Tree.

WHATSAPP has upgraded the app with a secret emoji feature that’s only available for 15 days.

After that, the festive surprise will vanish from the app for good.

WhatsApp

WhatsApp is rolling out a major New Year update[/caption]

WhatsApp says that for a limited time, reacting with select emoji will trigger a special animation.

The upgrade is meant to help you “celebrate New Years on WhatsApp”, with the app maker saying it will add “a little extra excitement to holiday conversations”.

There are five emoji that can trigger a special animation between December 20 and January 3.

If you react with any one of them, it’ll cause a confetti animation to appear.

This will show up for both the sender and recipient of the reaction.

The list of emoji that support the feature include:

• Confetti Ball
• Face with Party Horn and Party Hat
• Party Popper
• Bottle with Popping Cork
• Clinking Glasses

If you can’t get it to work, make sure that you’ve updated your app.

You can check for WhatsApp updates in the Apple App Store on iOS for iPhone or the Google Play Store on Android.

Just react with one of the emoji to trigger the effect.

To do that, hold down on a message that you’ve received.

Look for the emoji panel that pops up and then press the plus (+) icon on the far-right.

You can then scroll down through the list to find the emoji that you’re looking for.

Alternatively, you can just type the emoji’s name into the search bar that pops up.

The Sun / Unicode Consortium

You can react with these five emoji to trigger a special New Year chat effect[/caption]

That’s not the only new perk coming to WhatsApp in the New Year update.

Meta, which owns WhatsApp, is adding “NYE calling effects” for your video calls.

“Make video calls during the holidays more special with a festive background, filter, or effect that celebrates the new year,” Meta explained.

Lastly, there’s a curated NYE sticker pack designed for the New Year.

All of these features will vanish after January 3, so make sure to try them before they go.

Be aware that sometimes WhatsApp features can take a little while to roll out, so don’t worry if you don’t see them immediately after updating the app.

ERNIE Johnson was absent from Inside the NBA on Thursday after a death in his family.

Johnson’s sister, Christine, died on Wednesday.

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Ernie Johnson was absent from Inside the NBA after a death in the family[/caption]

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Johnson’s sister, Christine, died of cancer at 72 years old[/caption]

Johnson did not star on Inside the NBA after the tragic death, and Adam Lefkoe filled in for him.

He shared the news with live TV viewers from the desk of NBA on TNT.

“Tonight we’re going to pause for a moment to step away from basketball,” Lefkoe said.

“We’re going to send our deepest condolences to our friend and mentor Ernie Johnson.

“Yesterday Ernie’s beloved sister Christine Johnson passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 72 years old.

“Ernie we are thinking of you, we’re praying for you and your wonderful family.”

Charles Barkley chimed in with his condolences after Lefkoe shared his opening message.

“Ernie is the leader of our family and our family leader is going through pain,” he said.

“So man we love you, we miss you, you stay at home and take care of your family.”

Shaquille O’Neal was next to share his message.

“I definitely feel his pain. We’re brothers, we feel the hurt,” he said.

“When I got the text it made me shed a tear.”

Fans of Inside the NBA overwhelmingly supported Johnson on social media, sending their thoughts and prayers to his family.

“Sending prayers to @TurnerSportsEJ and his family,” one fan said.

“People know ernie is a real one,” another fan said.

“Love you Ernie. Rest in Peace Christine,” a third fan said.

“Prayers and condolences to Ernie and his family,” a fourth fan said.

“So sorry for your loss,” a fifth fan said.

There is no indication of when Johnson might return to the set of Inside the NBA.

His cohosts urged him to take as much time as he needs, and he could be off the show for multiple days.

CONVICTED double murderer Richard Allen has been sentenced to 130 years in prison for the gruesome 2017 Delphi killings of best friends Liberty “Libby” German and Abigail Williams.

Allen, who declined to address family members or the court during Friday’s sentencing, rolled his eyes at the judge before he was handed the maximum penalty of 65 years for each murder charge.

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Liberty ‘Libby’ German, 14, (left) and Abigail Williams, 13, were found dead on the Monon High Bridge in Delphi, Indiana, on February 14, 2017[/caption]

FBI

Prospectors said Richard Allen was the ‘bridge guy’ who ordered Libby and Abigail down the Monon High Bridge before slitting their throats[/caption]

In November, a jury determined without a reasonable doubt Allen, 52, was the “bridge guy” that prosecutors ordered Libby, 14, and Abigail, 13, down the Monon High Bridge before slitting their throats on February 13, 2017.

Judge Frances Gull described Allen’s offenses as among the “most hideous” of her 27 years on the bench.

“You rank right up there with the most hideous crimes,” Gull said, according to radio station WIBC.

“You sit here and roll your eyes at me as you’ve rolled your eyes at me the entire trial.

“These families will deal with your carnage for generations,” the judge snapped at Allen.

The families of Libby and Abigail delivered heartbreaking impact statements during the sentencing hearing – the first time the loved ones have spoken about the murders for over seven years.

“I was left with a hole in my soul,” Carrie Timmons, Libby’s mom, painfully said, according to NBC affiliate WTHR.

“I’ll never understand how you were able to get away with this for so long,” Timmons said directly to daughter’s killer.

Prosecutors did not seek the death penalty.

‘MORE LIKE SISTERS’

For over five years, Allen camouflaged himself in Delphi, the small county seat of Carroll County that’s home to fewer than 3,000 residents.

He hid in plain sight, sheltered by his life as a husband and father who worked as a pharmacy technician at a local CVS, state prosecutors argued during his trial.

“[February 13, 2017] is a day this community will never forget – a day Abigail Williams and Liberty German went to the trails for a walk and never came back,” Carroll County prosecutor Nick McLeland said during closing arguments.

Horrifying crime scene photos showed during the trial showed how Libby and Abigail’s bodies were found with branches placed on top.

Libby was fully nude, while Abigail wore her best friend’s sweatshirt and jeans.

McLeland described Libby and Abigail’s relationship not as best friends but “more like sisters.”

It would not be until October 28, 2022, that investigators arrested Allen and charged him with the grisly murders that held a dark cloud over Delphi for a half-decade.

Investigators linked a .40 caliber bullet found near the bodies of Libby and Abigail to a gun owned by Allen.

More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.

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THE United States of America has a series of complex processes, in times of budgetary crisis, which trigger a “shutdown”.

As of December 20, 2024, the US government faces a shutdown thanks to a divisive budget, backed by Donald Trump, failing to pass in Congress.

AP: Associated Press

AFP

Government shutdowns explained

If the US congress, which is composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate, don’t agree to a spending plan then non-essential services begin to shut down. 

Public employees also stop getting paid.

Any worker whose services are deemed essential are required to work without pay. 

Essential services include air traffic control, law enforcement and border protection. 

Non essential services include food-assistance programmes, federally funded pre-school and the opening of national parks. 

The possible 2024 shutdown

A government shut down looms at the end of 2024 as a Republican spending plan failed to pass. 

Dozens of Republicans joined with Democrats in voting against a spending plan which had been backed by Donald Trump. 

The bill was the second budget which had been put before congress, after the first was squashed by Trump despite being agreed by both Republicans and Democrats. 

That first bill had also been heavily criticized by tech billionaire Elon Musk. 

Musk and Trump have called to raise the debt ceiling, which determines how much the government can borrow to pay its bills. 

The second bill, which was backed by Trump and Musk, was criticized by Republicans for increasing government spending and by Democrats for giving tax cuts to the super-rich. 

Midnight December 20, 2024

If the bill doesn’t successfully pass by midnight December 20, 2024, then the government shutdown will begin. 

The situation poses a problem for Trump too, who needed the support of congressional Republicans ahead of his second presidency. 

The president-elect has suffered a number of setbacks in his preparation plans for his White House return.

Several of his nominees for government positions, including Tulsi Gabbard and Matt Gaetz, have been extremely controversial. 

Ahead of the possible shutdown, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris cancelled their holiday plans in order to remain in Washington DC. 

SIR Keir Starmer has triggered a fresh cronyism row by packing the House of Lords with 30 new peers – despite vowing to slim it down.

The controversial move sees ex-MPs, union chiefs, and his sacked former chief of staff Sue Gray handed life peerages.

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Sir Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff Sue Gray[/caption]

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Meanwhile, the Tories have named six new peers, including ex-Deputy PM Thérèse Coffey and free-speech warrior Toby Young.

Ms Gray, controversially sacked after fewer than 100 days in her role, joins a list of nominees that includes former Labour MPs Thangam Debbonaire, Luciana Berger, Julie Elliott, and Kevin Brennan.

The former civil servant’s promotion comes after her controversial role in the Partygate investigation that helped topple Boris Johnson.

A string of union barons were also nominated, including hard-left former teaching union boss Dr Mary Bousted.

The new appointments come as Sir Keir pushes legislation to axe the remaining 92 hereditary peers from the chamber, branding them “outdated.”

Labour insiders argue the new peers are necessary to “redress the balance” in the Lords, where the Tories currently dominate with 273 members compared to Labour’s 187.

A Labour source said: “The Tories stuffed the House of Lords, creating a serious imbalance in the chamber. This needs to be corrected to drive through the government’s plan for change and deliver on our mandate from the British people.

“We are committed to an overdue programme of reform and have already laid legislation to remove the right of hereditary peers to sit and vote in the Lords.”