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Biden celebrates Juneteenth, the newest federal holiday, at the White House

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:53 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden hosted a massive concert on the South Lawn of the White House to commemorate Juneteenth, the country’s newest federal holiday which the president said will “breathe a new life in the very essence of America.” “To me, making Juneteenth a federal holiday wasn’t just a symbolic gesture. It was a statement of fact for this country to acknowledge the origin of the original sin of slavery, to understand the war was never fought over it, it wasn’t just about a union, but it was most fundamentally about the country and freedom.” Vice President Kamala Harris said Juneteenth is an occasion to “honor Black excellence, culture and community.”“America is a promise — a promise of freedom, liberty and justice,” Harris said. “The story of Juneteenth as we celebrate it is a story of our ongoing fight to realize that promise. Not for some, but all.”The concert also commemorated Black Music Month, and featured artists such as To...

Trump turns his day in court into a campaign event despite serious political and legal threats

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:53 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s four years in the White House, even on some of the most consequential days of his presidency, were punctuated by the spectacle and attempts at showmanship he cultivated from years as a tabloid fixture and reality star.The former president’s history-making appearance Tuesday as a criminal defendant in a Florida federal court was no different.The former commander in chief, accused of being careless with some of the country’s most sensitive secrets and obstructing authorities as they tried to recover critical documents, pleaded not guilty to 37 charges. But he treated the day like a campaign event, even as he faces serious threats to his political ambitions and his freedom.Takeaways from Trump’s day in federal court:ALWAYS CAMPAIGNINGDespite the seriousness of the charges, Trump, ever the showman, sought to maximize any political benefits from the day. The Republican had encouraged supporters to show up at the federal courthouse — and hundreds...

Tour boat capsize in underground cave wasn’t the first, agency says; passenger recounts ordeal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:53 GMT

LOCKPORT, N.Y. — Soon after a tour boat flipped over during a tour of a dimly lit cavern system, leaving one passenger dead, members of another group recalled a similar experience while taking the same tour eight years ago and questioned whether anything had been done since then to make the attraction safer.News of the 2015 capsizing emerged as the investigation into Monday’s accident continued — and a passenger who survived the most recent ordeal recounted how he fought to breathe under the upside down craft.The flat-bottomed boat carrying local hospitality workers capsized during a tour of a historic underground water tunnel off the Erie Canal in the western New York city of Lockport.Eight years earlier, clients and staff of the former Baker Victory Services ended up in the water when their boat also flipped, said John Pitts, spokesman for the agency, which has since been renamed OLV Human Services.Few details about the incident were available, according to Pitts, who arrive...

Chinese man arrested over graffiti at US Consulate in Hong Kong, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:53 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong police on Tuesday arrested a man who allegedly spray-painted graffiti on the wall and gate of the U.S. Consulate, according to media reports and the police.Photos from the South China Morning Post and other local media showed the English word “hegemony” and the Chinese words for “double standards” painted in white on the gate and a nearby wall.The protest in paint came amid a deterioration in US-China relations as the nations clash over trade issues and tensions over Taiwan, a self-governed island that China claims is part of its territory. Police said the consulate reported an act of vandalism at 5.22 a.m. Officers arrested a 47-year-old man from mainland China and surnamed Wen on suspicion of criminal damage.Offenders found guilty of destroying or damaging property face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. “The United States champions freedom of expression,” the U.S State Department said in a statement. “While we do not support the destruction of pro...

Pride Toronto director: Connection with Blue Jays still strong after Anthony Bass incident

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:53 GMT

Pride Toronto executive director Sherwin Modeste feels the organization’s relationship with the Blue Jays remains strong but notes there are still “mixed feelings out there” as a result of the Anthony Bass saga.“The entire community has not let go and has not forgiven,” Modeste said. “It’s going to take time. For some folks, it may take two weeks. For some folks, it may take a year.“But we have to allow people to deal with this as individuals.”Bass was designated for assignment last Friday before the start of Pride Weekend festivities at Rogers Centre. The move came nearly two weeks after the pitcher shared a social media post that supported anti-LGBTQ boycotts.“I think the Jays did what they should have done, which was provide opportunities for Anthony to really reflect on his behaviour,” Modeste said. “Clearly, I think Anthony as an individual has (his) own personal beliefs and the issues that (he) needs to wo...

Person critical after falling onto CTA tracks at Garfield Red Line Station

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:53 GMT

CHICAGO — A person is in critical condition after falling onto CTA tracks Tuesday evening, according to the Chicago Transit Authority.According to the Chicago Fire Department, they responded to a call of a person hit by a train at around 7:30 p.m. near the Garfield CTA Red Line Station on 55th Street. Suburban man charged after accidentally shooting himself while dreaming When firefighters arrived, they found one individual with injuries and took them to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition.According to the CTA, the injured individual fell onto the tracks, but did not hit the third rail. It is unclear at this time if they came into contact with a train.No other information is available at this time.

Cooling centers now open in Austin: How to find a location

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Cooling centers opened Tuesday in Austin with heat index values expected to range between 103°-113°, according to a City of Austin alert. First Warning Weather: No immediate end to dangerous heat and humidity A heat advisory was in effect from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Central Texas. Tuesday afternoon highs were expected to be near 100°."Due to extreme heat, all Austin Parks and Library facilities will serve as cooling centers during normal operating hours," the city's alert reads.Service animals will be permitted in the facilities.The addresses and hours for Austin Public Library facilities and Austin Parks are listed online.Severe temperatures audit It's the first week the city will see consecutive triple digit days since an audit came out about the city's response to severe hot and cold weather. The audit found the city's special operations plan for heat emergencies hadn't been updated since July 2020. But it also found that city facilities used for cooling cente...

Hutto QB Will Hammond competing in Elite 11 finals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The search to find the top high school quarterback in the country takes a turn through Hutto.Will Hammond, a senior for the Hippos and Texas Tech recruit, will take part in the Elite 11 finals — a high-level, invite-only quarterback camp held June 14-16 in Los Angeles. Hammond is one of 20 finalists who are competing to be named one of the Elite 11 signal-callers in the Class of 2024.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersElite 11 alumni include Quinn Ewers, Cade Klubnik, Austin Novosad, Sam Ehlinger, Hudson Card and Bryce Young among others. This year's field features three quarterbacks from the Lone Star State — Aledo's Hauss Hejny and Frisco Emerson's Michael Hawkins Jr. — along with Hammond.Hammond racked up 2,763 passing yards and 30 touchdowns for the Hippos last season, adding 828 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the ground as the team finished 5-5 ...

State golf: Eastview leads Class 3A boys team competition after Day 1; McCauley, VanArragon battle again for girls title

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:53 GMT

The past two Class 3A girls golf state champions are entwined in a two-way duel heading into the final day of the 2023 state tournament.Blaine senior Kathryn VanArragon, the 2022 champion, leads by two strokes after firing a 6-under, 66 on Day 1 at Bunker Hills Golf Club in Coon Rapids. In her immediate vicinity is Simley junior Reese McCauley, the 2021 champion who finished third a year ago. McCauley shot a 4-under round of 68 on Tuesday.Lakeville South junior Jovie Ordal is in third place, five shots off the pace after an opening 71. Maple Grove leads the team competition after Day 1 with a score of 315, outpacing Wayzata by five.Eastview leads the Class 3A boys team competition with a cumulative score of plus-9, one shot better than second-place Edina.Spring Lake Park junior Jake Birdwell leads the individual portion of the boys tournament after firing a 6-under 66 on Tuesday. That leaves him two shots ahead of Cretin-Derham Hall sophomore Joe Honsa, and three up on Eastview seni...

State girls lacrosse quarterfinal: Lakeville South 19, Elk River/Zimmerman 9

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:53 GMT

Lakeville South senior Emily Moes controls against an Elk River/Zimmerman defender in the second half of a state girls quarterfinal matchup Tuesday in White Bear Lake. (Frank Rajikowski – Special to the Pioneer Press)Emily Moes and her teammates on the unbeaten Lakeville South girls lacrosse team haven’t been pushed all that often this season.But the defending state champions were for a fair chunk of Tuesday’s 19-9 victory over Elk River/Zimmerman in the state tournament quarterfinals at White Bear Lake High School.And Moes said that’s a positive.“I think this pushes us and adds some fuel to our fire,” said Moes, the 2023 East Metro girls player of the year and the state’s top goal-scorer. “It makes us go out there hungry for more.”More comes Thursday when the Cougars (17-0) meet No. 5 seed Benilde-St. Margaret’s in the semifinals at 5 p.m. at Stillwater High School. The Red Knights beat No. 4 seed Chanhassen 17-6 in another quarterfinal Tuesday in White Bear Lake.No. 3 seed S...