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Small town Pride event, including drag show, given go-ahead

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:44:00 GMT

NORTH BROOKFIELD, Mass. (AP) — A Pride celebration that includes a drag performance scheduled for a small Massachusetts town has the proper authority to take place as originally planned, the town’s lawyer wrote in a letter to the American Civil Liberties Union, ending weeks of uncertainty about the event.The clarification Friday from a lawyer for the town of North Brookfield came two days after the three-member select board rescinded a previous vote to deny a permit for the event organized by the Rural Justice Network because it included a drag show, which two members of the board found objectionable.The board then held another vote on whether to give the green light to the event, but those two members abstained, meaning the measure failed.The Rural Justice Network and the ACLU of Massachusetts were unclear if that meant the Pride event could go on.But the town’s lawyer in Friday’s letter said the event — drag show included — could take place on the ...

Bidens host glamorous state dinner to cap off visit from South Korean president

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:44:00 GMT

(CNN) — President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden capped South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s official state visit with a glamorous state dinner at the White House Wednesday night to celebrate the two nations’ 70-year alliance.“This visit is about reaffirming all that unites our two nations. It’s about a commitment to bear one another’s concerns and listen to each other’s dreams. It allows us to overcome every difficulty with great determination. That allows us to move further and faster in space, cyber, technology and all areas that matter most to our future,” Biden said in remarks at the beginning of the dinner.Biden wrapped his short speech with a toast: “To our partnership, to our people, to possibilities, and to the of the Republic of Korea and the United States will create together. May we do it together for another 170 years.”But Biden wasn’t the only leader who took the mic. Following...

Chicago Bears in the 2023 NFL draft: Day 3 begins with a trade for more picks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:44:00 GMT

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles is off and running with his draft weekend to-do list, looking to improve a last-place roster and accelerate the team’s return toward playoff contention.In a demanding and busy offseason, Poles has expressed eagerness to do his heaviest lifting through the draft. That process began in Thursday night’s first round and will continue through Saturday evening.Bears remaining picks in 2023 NFL draftRound 4: Nos. 115 and 133Round 5: Nos. 148 and 165Round 7: Nos. 218 and 258As Poles and the Bears navigate the weekend, we will offer you a comprehensive look at each of the players the team selects.Catch up on our draft coverageBears trade down again and select Tennessee offensive tackle Darnell Wright with the No. 10 pick in the NFL draftColumn: Drafting Darnell Wright the latest item on the checklist so the Bears can better evaluate Justin FieldsDay 2 of NFL draft: Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles hits the defense with pair of DTs and CB Tyriqu...

Everything at stake for Bruins in Game 7

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:44:00 GMT

SUNRISE, Fla. — The Bruins are staring down two vastly different scenarios on Sunday night when they face the Florida Panthers in a Game 7 at the Garden that already has B’s fans white-knuckling their arm chairs.Behind Door No. 1? It’s the opportunity to prove they are the better team, which they are. They have a  chance to learn from their mistakes, from the coaching staff on down (there have been a few whoppers), and come out on the other side stronger and smarter for having gone through the fire.What is behind Door No. 2 is decidedly less palatable. From a local perspective, a loss in Game 7 would join this team at the hip with the 1971 Bruins as a colossal playoff flop. Of a more recent vintage, it would link them to the 2019 Tampa Bay Lightning. Both teams had record-setting regular seasons only to be bounced in the first round.But there is a big difference between these B’s and both the ’71 Black and Gold ’19 Bolts. The latter two teams were still...

Series of earthquakes reported near El Centro

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:44:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO – A series of earthquakes rattled the area south of El Centro Saturday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.The first quake was reported at 5:07 a.m. at a depth of about 6.5 miles, USGS data shows. The epicenter was about 2 miles from Heber, California. Officials say it was a 4.1-magnitude quake. Repair work on North County sinkhole extended Just two minutes later at 5:09 a.m., USGS says a second quake occurred in the same area at a depth of about 4.2 miles. This quake was reported to be at 3.4-magnitude.A third quake, according to USGS, struck 1 mile from Heber at 7:48 a.m. This 3.0-magnitude quake had a depth of about 6.3 miles, say USGS.About 17 minutes later at 8:05 a.m., a fourth quake also struck 1 mile from Heber and was recorded to have a depth of 6.6 miles, according to USGS. Officials say this was a 2.5-magnitude quake. This series of earthquakes comes less than 24-hours after a 3.0 magnitude quake rattled this same area near El Centro on Friday af...

Man kills 5 in Texas after family complained about gunfire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:44:00 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas man went next door with a rifle and began shooting his neighbors, killing an 8-year-old and four others inside the house, after the family asked him to stop firing rounds in his yard because they were trying to sleep, authorities said Saturday.San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers told reporters at the scene that authorities were still searching for 39-year-old Francisco Oropeza following the overnight shooting in the town of Cleveland, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of Houston. He said Oropeza used an AR-style rifle in the shooting.“Everyone that was shot was shot from the neck up, almost execution-style,” Capers said during an earlier news conference at the scene.Capers said there were 10 people in the house and that no one else was injured. He said two of the victims, all believed to be from Honduras, were found laying over two children inside. “The Honduran ladies that were laying over these children were doing it in such an effort as to prote...

Wrongfully convicted Kansas man to get $7.5 million payment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:44:00 GMT

OSKALOOSA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man who spent 16 years in prison for a rape and murder he didn’t commit will receive $7.5 million from the county where he was arrested and convicted of the crime.Jefferson County commissioners approved the settlement last week with Floyd Bledsoe, who was released from prison in 2015 after DNA evidence showed he could not have been the killer of 14-year-old Camille Arfmann in Oskaloosa.Bledsoe will receive $1.5 million initially, with the rest to be paid over the next 10 years, The Kansas City Star reported. Bledsoe, who is now 46, was 23 when he was convicted in 2000 of killing the girl. He was arrested even though his brother, Tom, confessed to the killing in 1999, turned himself in and led authorities to the girl’s body.According to a lawsuit Floyd Bledsoe filed in 2016, Jefferson County authorities persuaded Tom Bledsoe to recant his confession and “framed” his brother by hiding evidence of his innocence.In 2015, DNA testing revealed T...

Canada to continue air evacuations from Sudan, navy vessels on standby

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:44:00 GMT

OTTAWA — The federal defence minister says efforts to evacuate Canadians stranded in Sudan will continue today even as conditions deteriorate in the war-torn East African country.Anita Anand says the military intends to conduct at least one evacuation flight today for Canadians and other residents of allied countries looking to leave.She says a total of 375 Canadians have been airlifted out so far, either on Canadian flights or those operated by allies.Anand says the window for future air evacuations is closing, adding that two naval vessels set to depart for the Indo-Pacific region have been ordered to stay near Sudan’s main port for the time being.A total of four Canadian military flights have left the Sudanese capital of Khartoum since Thursday amid escalating clashes between the Sudanese army and a paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces.Gunfire continued in the capital today despite a formal ceasefire between the two sides, and the Sudanese Doctors’ Syn...

Antioch man charged with allegedly making violent threats towards synagogue, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:44:00 GMT

ANTIOCH, Ill. — Antioch police arrested a man Friday evening who they said allegedly made threats towards Jewish organizations across the country and then made repeated direct violent threats toward a local synagogue.Christopher Williams, 33, of Antioch, was charged by the Lake County State's Attorney's Office with Hate Crime, a Class 4 Felony, and Electronic Harassment, a Class 4 Felony, according to a news release from the village. 81-year-old woman killed in Antioch crash Christopher WilliamsAntioch police and federal law enforcement partners started the months-long investigation after Williams allegedly made threats towards Jewish organizations across the country, according to the release.He then made "repeated directed threats of violence" towards a synagogue in nearby Lindenhurst, according to the release.In November, the Department of Homeland Security issued a terrorism threat bulletin saying the country remains in a "heightened threat environment."According to DHS, lone o...

Saturday Forecast: Cloudy and afternoon rain

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:44:00 GMT

Saturday's forecast is looking mostly cloudy & mid-morning to early afternoon rain likely. W 10-15 mph. High 59, cooler lakesideSaturday Night: Scattered evening showers, breezy. W 10-20 mph. Low 41 Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Sunday: Mostly cloudy, breezy, & PM showers likely. Cold for the season. W 10-20, G30 mph. High 47 Full forecast details at the WGN Weather CenterExtended outlook calls for showers, breezy and cold for Monday as well with highs in the mid to upper 40s. Still a chance of some rain on Tuesday with temps a bit milder back in the mid 50s. Wednesday and Thursday back to near 60 with a chance of some showers.