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Trump asks Iowans to help him ‘win big’ in 2024 caucuses to set the tone for the general election

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:50 GMT

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Donald Trump on Saturday called for a show of strength in Iowa, arguing before big audiences that dominating in the Republican presidential caucuses in January would signal to voters around the country his strength in the November election next year.“We have to win big,” Trump told about 2,500 in a downtown Cedar Rapids hotel ballroom on his second of stops, part of a fall push to lock in supporters. “I think we’re in great shape in the primary. But it sets a tone for the general election.”Trump’s afternoon stops in Waterloo and Cedar Rapids were his third and fourth in a little more than two weeks, part of a stepped-up campaign schedule as the opening contest for the 2024 Republican nomination approaches. Late-summer polls of likely GOP caucus attendees showed Trump well ahead of his opponents.Trump, who has drawn big audiences to eastern Iowa events in recent weeks, is expected to return again in mid-October, as Florida Gov...

Sunshine returns Sunday, but it’ll be cooler

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:50 GMT

After the rain pulls out overnight tonight, crisp fall air is back in the forecast Sunday after a mild week. Temperatures will fall into the 40s and 50s overnight, but only recover to the upper 50s and low 60s by afternoon. It’ll also be windy at times with gusts up to 20mph. Sustained winds should be around 7-15mph. The upcoming week also remains cool but seasonable, with lows in the 40s and highs in the 60s all week.

Bo MacCormack, Knights run past Governor’s Academy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:50 GMT

BYFIELD — They always say that when you don’t succeed, try and try again.While things were a struggle for Bo MacCormack and his BB&N teammates early Saturday, the Knights have always remained steadfast in their approach, and it paid off again.The junior halfback racked up 32 carries for 170 yards and three total touchdowns, as BB&N remained perfect on the season with a 43-27 victory over ISL rival Governor’s Academy.“The Governor’s football program is always tough,” said BB&N coach Mike Willey. “They will never quit. They are a great, great program. So, hats off to Jim O’Leary and his team today. I think we challenged our guys to play really tough on both sides of the line. The linebacker spots, the fullbacks, the tight ends … I think those guys played great, and when we needed plays, big plays, the quarterback and the receivers all came up really big.”While this bout ultimately turned into a shootout as time progressed, BB&N (3-0) found itself in a defensive slugfes...

In a bruising defensive battle, St. Paul’s slips past Dexter, 12-9

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:50 GMT

BROOKLINE — With the size, strength, and talent of the Dexter offensive line, St. Paul’s knew that if it held up against the run, the Big Red would have a chance in Saturday’s Evergreen League showdown.Behind a stalwart defensive effort, and some big plays from Teigan Pelletier on both sides of the ball, St. Paul’s earned a tough 12-9 victory over host Dexter.And the Big Red did it in front of a star-studded audience, as Penn State coach James Franklin was in attendance to see Nittany Lions verbal commit Liam Andrews, Dexter’s offensive and defensive star.Dexter falls to 3-1 with the loss, while St. Paul’s improves to 2-1.“Their line’s so big,” St. Paul’s coach Craig Vandersea said. “Being able to just be a team defense, and knowing our D-line had to sacrifice, take on blocks, get them down on the ground so our linebackers could make tackles. We just changed up a little bit of coverage. Our (defensive backs), we didn’...

Northboro superintendent rescinds ban on Halloween in schools

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:50 GMT

Get the spooky lights and candy ready! Elementary students in Northboro will be allowed to dress up as Power Rangers and princesses, and listen to the Monster Mash, at school this Halloween after all.Superintendent Gregory Martineau has agreed not to be a goblin as he’s decided to bring back the popular Halloween parade this year. The reverse of course comes after he initially decided to ban all spooky-related activities due to them not aligning with his district’s “core values of equity and inclusion.”“The principals and I have taken the time to read the emails from Northboro parents and citizens,” Martineau said in a letter Friday. “With the feedback we received, we recognize that, with this decision, the district did not seek input and share its process with families. … As a result, the principals and I have decided to hold Halloween parades at each Northboro elementary school.”There will be some changes to how festivities are held, Martineau said. The parade will shift to the fi...

Two Chilliwack plane crash victims identified as pilots in training from India

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:50 GMT

Two of the three people killed in Friday’s plane crash near the Chilliwack airport have been identified in reports from Indian media outlets.Reports say Abhay Gadru and Yash Vijay Ramugade were both Indian nationals from Mumbai who were training to become pilots when their plane, a Piper Seneca, crashed near the Chilliwack Motor Inn around 2 p.m.Related story: 3 people killed in plane crash near Chilliwack airportThe plane is owned by SkyQuest Aviation, a flight school based in Langley. SkyQuest told CityNews it is investigating what happened, but declined to comment any further.The Indian consulate has confirmed with CityNews that it was contacted by RCMP Friday night, and an official with the consulate says they are now working to get the bodies back to India. The official added it was contacted by a family member of one of the victims late Friday night. The official says the consulate will have more information on Monday.Meantime, Chilliwack RCMP say they are investigating ...

Powerful earthquake and aftershocks kill dozens and injure many more in western Afghanistan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:50 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A powerful magnitude-6.3 earthquake followed by strong aftershocks killed dozens of people in western Afghanistan on Saturday, the country’s national disaster authority said.The United Nations gave a preliminary figure of 320 dead, but later said the figure was still being verified. Local authorities gave an estimate of 100 people killed and 500 injured, according to the same update from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The update also said 465 houses had been reported destroyed and a further 135 were damaged. “Partners and local authorities anticipate the number of casualties to increase as search and rescue efforts continue amid reports that some people may be trapped under collapsed buildings,” the U.N. said.Disaster authority spokesperson Mohammad Abdullah Jan said four villages in the Zenda Jan district in Herat province bore the brunt of the quake and aftershocks. The United States Geological Survey said the quake’s epi...

Center for Native Futures aims to honor past, while building future for indigenous peoples

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:50 GMT

CHICAGO — The Center for Native Futures Gallery officially opened earlier this month and features the work of contemporary Native American artists that focus on honoring the past, while emphasizing the future for indigenous peoples in America.Found near West Adams and South Dearborn Street in the Loop, the center is run by Debra Yepa-Pappan, one of the facility's co-founders who previously worked at the Field Museum."These are all depictions of pottery," Yepa-Pappan said while walking around the center. "[These] have been at the field museum for 100 years on public displays in one of the older exhibitions." Chicago City Council votes to raise tipped worker minimum wage Yepa-Pappan said her work at the center is directed toward confronting and challenging the colonial practices of American institutions."I call this a visual repatriation," Yepa-Pappan said. "I can’t take those physical items out of the museum, but I can rescue their essence."Fellow co-founder and artist Monica Ricke...

What are these huge mounds growing in Ohio yards?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:50 GMT

LAKEWOOD, Ohio (WJW) — Odd-looking growths as big as basketballs are sprouting up in yards all over Northeast Ohio — but what are they?The ball of brown mushrooms, named armillaria, thrive in wet conditions. "We had a lot of rain and torrential downpours over the summer leaving the ground soggy for long periods of time creating perfect conditions for fungus growth like all of these huge mushrooms and there's a lot more of them this year," said Matt Misenik from Cahoon Nursery in Westlake. What are the scariest non-horror movies? Armillaria mushrooms sprout in early fall when the ground gets more damp, but this year there's extra dampness in the ground in many places from excessive summer rain. This type of mushroom starts growing underground in wet tree roots that are "diseased, decaying or dead," urban forester Larry Figart told Fox 8 News.Lakewood resident Patty McLaughlin told Fox 8 News her yard was covered with the "massive mushrooms" so she dug them up because they were unsi...

State of Texas: Third special session set to focus on 'education freedom', border security

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:50 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s agenda for the third special session for the 88th Legislature lays out what he wants lawmakers to tackle. It includes items hinted at for months, as well as a few surprises. Border security, ‘education freedom’ top Abbott’s special session call; teacher pay absent The first item he labeled “Education Freedom.” The agenda specifically calls for lawmakers to provide legislation for education savings accounts. The governor has called on Texans to contact their state representative to advocate for “school choice.” While we don’t know what any bill would look like, opponents of the idea claim this is just the “school voucher” plan talked about for decades wrapped in new branding. In September, the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) and Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) met for their annual convention in Dallas. They affirmed they will oppose any plan that means less money for public schools.“We're not interested in comp...