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It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and Santa is done checking his list and deciding who’s been naughty and nice. Of course, whenever he stops by the U.S. Capitol, he finds evidence of a lot of naughty fiscal irresponsibility that has given us a budget and government that overflow with inefficiency and waste. So my holiday wish is that, one way or another, we get some fiscal cheer by putting a few government-run programs under the privatization tree. Let’s unwrap the possibilities!When it comes to deliveries, Santa’s sleigh reigns supreme. The U.S. Postal Service, on the other hand,…

SAN FRANCISCO — Star big man Anthony Davis had an early exit from the Lakers’ Christmas Day matchup against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center because of a left ankle injury.Davis turned his left ankle at the 6:49 mark of the first quarter Wednesday after Warriors forward Draymond Green missed a corner 3-pointer.He fell to the floor and momentarily held the ankle before getting up but not crossing halfcourt on the Lakers’ following three offensive possessions before the Warriors called timeout midway through the first.Davis played another minute before leaving the game at the 4:48 mark of the first,…

Lamar Jackson breaks NFL QB rushing record, accounts for 3 TDs in Ravens’ 31-2 romp over TexansBy KRISTIE RIEKEN AP Sports WriterHOUSTON (AP) — Lamar Jackson broke the NFL career rushing record for quarterbacks in Baltimore’s 31-2 victory over the Houston Texans on Wednesday, bolstering his case for MVP as the Ravens moved closer to the AFC North title. Jackson threw for 168 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 87 yards and another score. He pushed his career rushing total to 6,110 to move past Michael Vick, who had 6,109. The Ravens (11-5), have already wrapped up their third…

By KEN MORITSUGU and MARI YAMAGUCHIBEIJING — China and Japan agreed Wednesday to set up talks on often contentious security issues as they seek to improve a relationship riven in recent years by a range of issues, from territorial disputes to the discharge of water from Japan’s tsunami-wrecked nuclear power plant.Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, on his first trip to China since assuming the post in October, sounded positive after meetings with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, saying the talks were “very candid” and wide-ranging.“I feel we were able to build a personal relationship that would…

Mahomes throws 3 TDs as Chiefs clinch AFC’s top seed by breezing past the skidding Steelers 29-10By WILL GRAVES AP Sports WriterPITTSBURGH (AP) — Patrick Mahomes passed for 320 yards and three touchdowns and the Kansas City Chiefs locked up the top seed in the AFC for the fourth time in seven seasons with a 29-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The two-time defending Super Bowl champions raced to an early 13-point lead and were never really threatened by the Steelers (10-6). Pittsburgh has dropped three straight to see its chances of capturing the AFC North take another hit. Travis…

Oh, by gosh and by golly; it’s time for mistletoe and holly. It’s also time for the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association naughty and nice list. We made a list. We checked it twice. Time to find out who’s naughty and nice to California taxpayers this year.First, let’s start with the nice list. Well, it’s you! The voters of California. You defeated Proposition 5 by 10 points! That’s a huge win for taxpayers because Prop. 5 would have made it easier to raise property taxes by making it easier for local governments to take on new debt, by issuing bonds. Local…

The U.S. Coast Guard resumed searching Wednesday for two men who went missing early Tuesday while fishing in heavy waves off the Palos Verdes coast. The wreckage of a boat that is believed to be theirs was found later Tuesday, but there was no sign of the men. Tuesday’s search effort began at first light and included a helicopter, which arrived at the scene at 8:30 a.m., according to a U.S. Coast Guard spokeswoman, who gave no numbers in respect to manpower. THE SEARCH: 2 men go missing in Palos Verdes, overturned boat found The Coast Guard was notified just…

ARCADIA — Santa Anita begins its 90th-anniversary season of thoroughbred racing Thursday with Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan trying to add to his résumé by winning the Malibu Stakes.Yes, the competition on opening day in Arcadia is so strong that a victory in the main event would enhance the reputation of even the winner of America’s greatest race.“It’s an ideal race for him,” said Ken McPeek, Mystik Dan’s trainer.The $300,000 Malibu, a 7-furlong sprint, is the year’s final Grade I race restricted to 3-year-olds, making it an inviting way for a sophomore to cap the current season and vault into…

For Christians, Christmas is a day of worship, a day of miracle and mystery, the day the baby Jesus arrived in his unique incarnation as God-made-man. This paradox of Jesus’ nature as both fully God and fully human only adds to the sense of mystery, awe, joy and love with which he is worshipped. Philippians 2:6-8 explains the mystery of God-made-man this way: “Although He existed in the form of God he did not consider equality a thing to be grasped, but instead emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men. He…

“Swift swings” takes a quick peek at one economic trend.The number: California shoppers seem wary of the upcoming White House switch, as one measurement of consumer confidence has dropped 11% since Donald Trump won another presidential term.The source: My trusty spreadsheet looked at the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index for December, tracking the nation and eight states.The curveConfidence in the very Democratic-leaning state dipped 1% in December after an 10% dive in November following Republican Trump’s victory. The index had been at a 14-month-high in pre-election October, but now sits only 8% above its average score since 2007.Looking inside the…