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Fall means wildfire season at Shenandoah National Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:55 GMT

Amanda Swasta, who lives near Shenandoah National Park, told WTOP that she was outside her home in downtown Luray Friday afternoon when she saw light and smoke coming from the mountains. (Courtesy Amanda Swasta)Many head out to Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park in the fall to see the changing leaves, but this year, it might be hard to see through the haze of wildfire smoke.Park officials spent the weekend battling the Millers Head wildfire, which they believed was ignited by natural causes.“Plants are very dry and with the drought conditions we have had, they’re extremely dry,” said Carly Adams, spokesperson for the Shenandoah National Park.According to Adams, recent rain showers brought some relief to the area. “We’ve had some rain over the weekend, which was definitely something we were excited about,” she said.However, a dry summer means the area needs more than just a weekend rainstorm to reduce the risk of fires.“With moderate t...

Josh Allen’s turnover troubles too much to overcome in Bills season-opening loss

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:55 GMT

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The many assurances Bills quarterback Josh Allen provided in April and repeated throughout the summer over how he was placing an emphasis on cutting down on turnovers suddenly seem like empty promises entering Week 2 of the season.There, in the early hours of Tuesday morning, an emotionally drained Allen sat at the podium having to explain how his four-turnover outing ultimately cost Buffalo in a 22-16 overtime loss to the New York Jets.“Trying to force the ball. “Same (stuff), same place, different day,” the player who graces this year’s Madden video game cover said glumly, spiking his words with a profanity. “I can’t. I hurt our team tonight.”This was hardly the first time Allen has been required to explain himself in front of cameras following an error-filled performance.And it may not be the last for someone who is just as capable of throwing three or more touchdowns — he’s 19-1 when he does that — as he is committing two or more turnovers (9-12) in an ...

Bellingham stars as England beats Scotland 3-1 in international soccer’s oldest rivalry

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:55 GMT

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — Scotland vs. England is international’s soccer’s oldest rivalry. Jude Bellingham is one of the sport’s brightest young stars.And on Tuesday the Real Madrid midfielder continued his outstanding start to the season by inspiring England to a 3-1 win at Hampden Park.Bellingham scored a goal and provided an assist for Harry Kane after Phil Foden had fired the Three Lions ahead in the game that celebrated the 150-year anniversary of the Scottish Football Association. A Harry Maguire own goal provided the only moment of cheer for the hosts.Bellingham is back with his England teammates after making a sensational start to life at Madrid, where he has scored five goals in four games since joining from Borussia Dortmund in June for a fee that could reach $139 million.He is quickly establishing himself as one of the world’s elite players and is likely to be central to England’s bid to win next year’s European Championship.“He’s so mat...

New Blue Jackets coach Mike Babcock blasts report suggesting he was invading his players’ privacy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:55 GMT

New Columbus Blue Jackets coach Mike Babcock said Tuesday he had done nothing wrong in asking players to show him photos off their phones, clarifying he was trying to get to know them after a report emerged criticizing him for invasion of privacy.Paul Bissonnette said on the ‘Spittin’ Chiclets’ podcast he was told by an unidentified player that Babcock asked captain Boone Jenner to show him photos. Bissonnette, a former NHL player-turned-analyst for TNT, relayed he was informed Babcock told Jenner: “Let me see the photos in your phone. I want to know the type of person you are.”Babcock and Jenner in a joint statement released by the Blue Jackets called it “a gross misrepresentation of those meetings and extremely offensive.” Jenner said the meeting was a good start to his relationship with Babcock and expressed disappointment.“While meeting with our players and staff I asked them to share, off their phones, family pictures as part of the process of getting to know them better,”...

Demolition work begins on Olde Towne Inn in Manassas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:55 GMT

This article was written by WTOP’s news partner InsideNoVa.com and republished with permission. Sign up for InsideNoVa.com’s free email subscription today.With the site’s ultimate fate still up in the air, crews in Manassas have begun the teardown of the Olde Towne Inn.Last week, the city announced that the parking lot would be closed off for good as workers began the demolition process. The first step, Manassas Communications Director Patty Prince said, will be asbestos removal.Built in 1965, the increasingly dilapidated motel-style lodging was a target for redevelopment for years until officials announced in February that they’d agreed to purchase the 1-acre property for $5.75 million. Now, after over 50 years at the heart of Old Town Manassas, the building is coming down.“We don’t know how long it’s gonna take because they’re removing asbestos,” Prince told InsideNoVa. “We’re hoping the next couple of weeks and then the building will go down.”While there’s no firm timeline on how...

Spain routs Cyprus 6-0 in Euro 2024 qualifying after judge issues Rubiales order

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:55 GMT

GRANADA, Spain (AP) — Spain’s men restored normal service on the field Tuesday, beating Cyprus 6-0 in a European Championship qualifying game two days after disgraced soccer federation president Luis Rubiales resigned.Rubiales still managed to cast a further shadow over Spanish soccer that has been in turmoil because of his conduct at the Women’s World Cup final on Aug. 20 and in the fallout since.At almost exactly the time Gavi gave Spain an 18th-minute lead Tuesday, a television interview given by Rubiales began broadcasting on a British cable news channel. Excerpts from the interview on TalkTV aired Sunday and were widely reported.The full interview aired hours after it was reported Rubiales has been summoned by a judge to a Madrid court on Friday as part of a criminal investigation into him kissing star player Jenni Hermoso at the trophy ceremony in Australia.Spain kept on scoring to keep its fans focused on the soccer action and Mikel Merino doubled the lead in the ...

Man sentenced to probation after wife recorded fight that ended with her found dead near stadium

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:55 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A newlywed prison guard was sentenced Tuesday to probation after his wife recorded a fight that ended with her being found dead at the bottom of a parking garage near the stadium where the St. Louis Cardinals play.Bradley Jenkins, of Taylorville, of Illinois, was initially charged with third-degree felony domestic assault after 27-year-old Allissa Martin’s 2019 death. Court documents say a video taken on Martin’s phone recorded Martin yelling at Jenkins to stop punching her in the face before she dropped the phone. Jenkins was a lieutenant for the Illinois Department of Corrections at the time.But after a grand jury declined to indict him, he was recharged with a lesser count of misdemeanor assault. He pleaded guilty to that charge before he was sentenced, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.In June 2022, Martin’s mother sued a bar, the parking garage operator and Jenkins for the wrongful death of her daughter. She argues that the bar overserved alcohol...

Torres’ 2-run single helps Yankees outlast Red Sox 3-2 in doubleheader opener

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:55 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Gleyber Torres had a go-ahead, two-run single in the sixth inning and started a game-ending double play with the bases loaded, helping the New York Yankees hold on to beat the Boston Red Sox 3-2 on Tuesday in a day-night doubleheader opener. DJ LeMahieu added an RBI double as New York earned just its second victory in 10 meetings with Boston this season and got back to .500 at 72-72. The Red Sox, just one game ahead of the Yankees at 73-71, have lost five of their last six as their hopes fade of securing the AL’s final wild-card berth. The doubleheader was scheduled after Monday’s series opener was rained out. The change contributed to an announced paid attendance of only 30,029, the lowest at Fenway Park for a Red Sox-Yankees game since May 27, 1999, not including pandemic-restricted crowds in 2020 and 2021.“The end of the season is about having the discipline to go out there and still be at your sharpest and put your best foot forward,” said Yankees catcher Kyle Higa...

Failing to obey Colorado's new roundabout law could cost you $70

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:55 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- If you want to avoid a potential fine on the road come Oct. 1, you'll need to be aware of a new law going into effect across the state.HB 23-1014 was passed earlier this year and signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis in March. Neighbors fed up: Crashes continue on problem Denver streets This new law gives the right-of-way in roundabouts to larger vehicles — specifically, trucks, buses, emergency vehicles and recreational vehicles longer than 35 feet or wider than 10 feet.Essentially, any normal vehicles that want to enter, exit or drive in a roundabout have to yield to these larger vehicles if they're also entering, exiting or already in the roundabout. So, if you find yourself about to enter a roundabout at the same time as a large vehicle, you have to yield to them.Yielding on Colorado roundaboutsNotably, however, if you're entering a roundabout and a larger vehicle is only approaching the roundabout, you do not have to yield. You also do not have to yield to any ...

Biden plan would overhaul 151-year-old mining law, make companies pay royalties

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:55 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is recommending changes to a 151-year-old law that governs mining for copper, gold and other hardrock minerals on U.S.-owned lands, including making companies for the first time pay royalties on what they extract.A plan led by the Interior Department also calls for the creation of a mine leasing system and coordination of permitting efforts among a range of federal agencies. This comes as The White House has been pushing to boost domestic mining for minerals needed for electric vehicles, solar panels and other clean energy. How much could Prop HH save you in property taxes? Try this calculator Under terms of an 1872 law, the U.S. does not collect royalties on minerals extracted from federal lands, a fact Democratic lawmakers and environmental groups have long lamented. The White House plan would impose a variable 4% to 8% net royalty on hardrock minerals produced on federal lands. The proposal needs approval by Congress — unlikely when th...