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Biden, McCarthy agree to talk on debt crisis, one GOP negotiator says ‘thorny issues’ remain

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy agreed to speak Saturday evening as they race to strike an agreement that would resolve the looming debt crisis ahead of a June 5 deadline, or risk a catastrophic U.S. default.Biden spoke earlier in the day with Democratic leaders in Congress to discuss the status of the talks, according to three people familiar with the situation, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. But the two sides have not reached a deal yet.“Big, thorny issues remain,” one of the top negotiators, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., told reporters in the evening.The Republican House speaker gathered top allies behind closed doors at the Capitol as negotiators pushed for a deal that would raise the nation’s borrowing limit and avoid a catastrophic default, while also making spending cuts that House Republicans are demanding.As he arrived at the Capit...

5 firefighters injured battling multi-alarm blaze in Manchester, NH

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

Five firefighters suffered minor injuries while battling a blaze in Manchester, New Hampshire on Friday night, official said.Crews responding to a reported structure fire on Pearl Street around 10:45 p.m. were told by bystanders that numerous kids were still in the building on the upper floors, according to Manchester fire officials. During a search of the building crews uncovered five of the six cats that lived in the home and a large lizard and returned them to their owners.The 10 residents of the home made it out safely.The cause of the fire appears to be accidental but remains under investigation.

Division 5 track: Giuliana Ligor, North Reading run away with state title

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

NORWELL — Giuliana Ligor admitted she treated herself to an “active rest day” before Saturday’s finale of the Division 5 Track Championships. After defending her title in the 400 hurdles on Thursday, an easy day seemed to be the best course of action.The talented sophomore from North Reading proved to be more than ready for a strong race in the 400. Pumping her arms furiously, Ligor had a strong stretch run and surged across the finish line in a new personal best of 56.31 seconds after taking second last year. Breanna Braham of Dennis-Yarmouth was just over a second back in 57.33 to take the silver medal. Ligor finished the day by anchoring the Hornets to a win in the 4×100 relay in 49.40.With Ligor’s wins, along with gold medal performances from Ava McIntyre in the long jump (18-5-1/4), the Hornets never relinquished their team lead from Thursday, easily taking the crown with 125 points.Ligor is hoping for another big day at next weekend’s Meet of...

MTS chair calls to end union strike

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Chair Stephen Whitburn spoke out for an end to an ongoing workers' strike that's impacting bus routes.Whitburn made that announcement Friday, calling on Transdev, the company that is contracted by MTS, to take the necessary steps to immediately restore full service to MTS riders. "We are deeply concerned about the failure of one of our contractors Transdev to provide transit service to many of our MTS customers," Whitburn said. "Thousands of bus riders say the South Bay and East County are having difficulty getting to work or school or medical appointments or other destinations because of the disruptions in bus service. And many people with disabilities have been left without any transportation at all due to the lack of access para-transit service."The public transit service provider advised riders Saturday the following bus routes could be affected: Spike strip ends police pursuit in San Diego; suspect in custody Copley Pa...

Timeline of events leading to the impeachment of Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A timeline of events that have led to three-term Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, 60, being impeached Saturday. The vote by the GOP-controlled Texas House of Representatives also means Paxton is immediately suspended from office.2015Paxton takes office as attorney general after more than a decade in the Texas Legislature. He is indicted on felony securities charges by a grand jury in his hometown near Dallas, accused of duping investors in a tech startup. He pleads not guilty to two felony counts, but there has still been no trial. Paxton opens a legal defense fund and accepts $100,000 from an executive whose company was under investigation by his office for Medicaid fraud. An Arizona retiree donates $50,000 to the fund, and Paxton later hires the donor’s son for a high-ranking job that ends with his firing after the man showed child pornography in a meeting.2020Several of Paxton’s top aides tell the FBI about concerns that the attorney genera...

2 horses die from injuries at Churchill Downs, bringing total to 12 at home of Kentucky Derby

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Two horses have died the past two days following injuries at Churchill Downs, the 11th and 12th fatalities over the past month at the home of the Kentucky Derby.Filly Kimberley Dream was euthanized after sustaining a distal sesamodean ligament rupture to her front leg during Saturday’s first race. Lost in Limbo was euthanized following a similar injury just before the finish line in Friday’s seventh race.The track stated in a release that both injuries were “inoperable and unrecoverable.”As team members mourn the loss of the animals, the statement added, the track is working to determine cause and appropriate investments to minimize risk to the sport and its property.“We do not accept this as suitable or tolerable and share the frustrations of the public, and in some cases, the questions to which we do not yet have answers,” the statement added. “We have been rigorously working since the opening of the meet to understand what has led to this spike and have yet...

Hamilton police investigating double homicide; suspect barricaded in home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

Police in Hamilton are investigating a double homicide in the area of Jones Road and Barton Street in Stoney Creek. “This is an active situation as police deal with a barricaded person believed to be involved with the incident,” they said in a tweet posted around 7 p.m. Saturday. No additional details were provided about the homicides.Police are asking residents who live nearby to remain in their homes and all others to avoid the area. Drivers are being asked to use an alternate route. More to comePolice are investigating a double homicide in the area of Jones and Barton in #HamOnt.This is an active situation as police deal with a barricaded person believed to be involved with the incident. Stay out of the area. Anyone living nearby must remain in their residence.— Hamilton Police (@HamiltonPolice) May 27, 2023

SKATE for Girls program helps girls gain confidence on the ice and in the classroom

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

WILMETTE. Ill. — Mathematics and figure skating came together Saturday to help young girls develop their skills on the ice and in the classroom.Just as Chicagoland celebrated the unofficial start of summer and warmer weather with the opening of beaches across the area Friday for Memorial Day weekend, nearly two dozen girls took to Centennial Ice Rink in Wilmette, pairing pirouettes with the Pythagorean theorem."I’m here to say that girls can do math, girls can do whatever they put their minds to," said Mayumi Suzue-Pan, founder of SKATE for Girls. "They can do whatever they put their mind to."A four week course that takes place once a week, Suzue-Pan created the program with the intention of not only teaching young girls how to move on the ice, but also enriching their math skills off of it."When I was put into advanced math classes in middle school, it was always super tough looking around the room and seeing that I was really like one of a few girls," Suzue-Pan said. Already a c...

Soul Survivors: Chicago mom promotes mental health and wellness after son dies by suicide

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

CHICAGO — A local mother is on a mission to raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention.Jamal Clay was a helper who loved to do volunteer work. Doctors warn as data shows suicide threat among kids is swelling Three years ago Saturday, he died by suicide at 19 years old.His mother, Rafiah Maxie-Cole, said weeks later she went into his room and saw his show.It gave her the idea to start Soul Survivors of Chicago. "I said to myself, wouldn't it be great if I could take Jamal's shoe, sanitize it and clean it and put his name in it and gift it to someone with the understanding to walk in my son's shoe," Maxie-Cole said.She's received nearly a hundred pairs of shoes from people all over.Many of them are carrying the stories of loved ones who died by suicide. She's working with other organizations to donate them.At the launch of the Walk In Purpose Project on Saturday at The Quarry in South Shore, Maxie-Cole presented a pair of her own son's shoes to another teen facing me...

Nearly a third of way through season, Twins don’t believe they’ve hit their stride

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

The Twins crossed the 50-game threshold earlier this week and are nearly a third of the way through their season, as one of the best pitching teams in the majors — bolstered by a starting staff led by earned-run average leader Sonny Gray (1.82) and Joe Ryan (2.21 ERA) — with an offense that they believe is better than it has shown.The Twins, now 27-25 and in first place in the American League Central by two games, have gotten to this point largely on the backs of their starting staff, which has kept them in nearly every single they’ve played, despite weathering a pair of injuries to Kenta Maeda and Tyler Mahle, the latter of which was season ending.Still, Twins leadership doesn’t feel like the club has played up to its full potential during the first 50 or so games, a sentiment that has been echoed within the clubhouse throughout the season.“I don’t think we’ve hit our stride yet as a group,” manager Rocco Baldelli said Saturday afternoon before the Twins’ 9-7 win over the Blu...