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Civil rights groups issue travel advisory about Florida

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:18 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. — The NAACP over the weekend issued a travel advisory for Florida, joining two other civil rights groups in warning potential tourists that recent laws and policies championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida lawmakers are “openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals.”The NAACP, long an advocate for Black Americans, joined the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), a Latino civil rights organization, and Equality Florida, a gay rights advocacy group, in issuing travel advisories for the Sunshine State, where tourism is one of the state’s largest job sectors.The warning approved Saturday by the NAACP’s board of directors tells tourists that, before traveling to Florida, they should understand the state of Florida “devalues and marginalizes the contributions of, and the challenges faced by African Americans and other communities of color.”An email was sent Sunday morning to DeSantis’...

Scherzer looks solid for second straight outing despite thumb issue

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:18 GMT

The most ace-like performance the Mets have received this season came from a pitcher who is currently in Triple-A. Joey Lucchesi authored the kind of masterpiece one might expect from Max Scherzer or Justin Verlander a month ago in San Francisco. Verlander himself has pitched like that only once, doing so against the lowly Cincinnati Reds two turns ago.But Max Scherzer came close Sunday in the Mets’ 5-4 win over the Cleveland Guardians at Citi Field. He tossed six scoreless innings and struck out five to earn a quality start, limiting the Guardians to only three hits and a walk. His last two starts have been, more or less, what’s expected of him, even if the three-time Cy Young Award winner has higher expectations for himself.“You really don’t take anything from this other than how you compete and how you win,” Scherzer said.Six innings and a 4.01 ERA isn’t where the bar is set for an ace, but this isn’t the same Scherzer from a few years ag...

Hundreds join Writers Guild in picketing Warner Bros. CEO commencement speech at BU

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:18 GMT

The writers’ strike hit Boston in force Sunday — with hundreds boisterously joining Writers Guild of America members to protest Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s commencement speech at Boston University.“(Zaslav) is a very misguided choice as a commencement speaker,” said Nikole Beckwith, the WGA’s Boston area strike captain, on the picket line outside of the ceremony on BU’s Nickerson Field. “I know he’s a BU alum, but to hold an exploitative capitalist CEO up as a model of success is very dangerous.”Picketers represented the guild, as well as many other Boston area unions and the BU community, and marched around two entrances to the field through the ceremony Sunday afternoon. Between 350 to 400 people showed up, Beckwith said.Sunday’s protest comes nearly three weeks into the WGA’s national strike. The guild’s 11,500 writers in the union are currently striking around the country, demanding a new...

Kluber struggles with command again as Red Sox drop finale to Padres 7-0

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:18 GMT

Corey Kluber has put the Red Sox in a really tough place.Signed in large part for his track record of limiting walks, the two-time Cy Young Award winner’s command appears to have completely abandoned him. The 37-year-old has been walking batters at an alarming rate all season, and Sunday he was flat out uncompetitive in Boston’s 7-0 loss to the San Diego Padres.“Frustrating for me, frustrating for everybody, just doing a poor job of finding the correct adjustment to make,” Kluber said. “Trying different stuff to get it done when I’m out there and not being able to do it.”Right from the jump it was clear Kluber didn’t have it. The righty walked the leadoff batter, booted a routine chopper to the mound for an error and then walked Xander Bogaerts to load the bases with no outs. He then walked Matt Carpenter to drive in a run, but while he was almost able to escape the jam, Rougned Odor ultimately punished him with a back-breaking three-r...

Smoke cooled air and helped slow weekend wildfire spread in Alberta, officials say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:18 GMT

EDMONTON — Wildfire activity in Alberta wasn’t as bad over the holiday weekend as officials had feared when they saw the initial hot and dry weather forecasts because of smoke cover and limited rain in some areas.But it’s not all good news because while smoke cools the air, it limits the ability to fly firefighting aircraft and it harms the health of everyone having to breathe it.“It’s a mixed bag, certainly, with smoke,” Christie Tucker of Alberta Wildfire said during a news conference Sunday.“I couldn’t say one outweighs the other. We will take advantage of any opportunity we have, and if it’s providing an opportunity for more on-the-ground firefighting, then that’s what we’re able to do.”Officials reported Sunday that a wildfire that’s a part of the Eagle Lake complex of fires near Fox Creek, Alta., saw some precipitation overnight Saturday, allowing firefighters on the ground and heavy equipment operators th...

Austin FC 'growing and discovering' who they are after 1-0 win over Toronto FC

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — While captain and star midfielder Sebastian Driussi is out with an injury, Austin FC is playing well and is back above the playoff line after a 1-0 win Saturday over Toronto FC at Q2 Stadium. Gyasi Zardes scored his second goal of the season in the first minute of second-half stoppage time to steal victory from the jaws of a scoreless draw. It's the second consecutive win for Verde and Black after ending a winless streak of eight matches with a 2-1 victory over Seattle. Austin FC is now 2-1-2 in its past five matches across both MLS and U.S. Open Cup play in May alone, and they still have three more matches this month. Austin has MLS’ 5th-highest payroll; who makes the most? Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff said the team is trying to find its identity, and Saturday night's win went a long way in that quest."This has been coming," Wolff said. "They are growing and discovering who this 2023 version is. It's next-man-up, real character and grittiness ... knowing it's g...

Debt ceiling: Biden, McCarthy to meet Monday as negotiators ‘keep working’ to resolve standoff

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:18 GMT

By STEPHEN GROVES, ZEKE MILLER and JOSH BOAK (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House and House Republicans wrapped up another round of debt ceiling talks Sunday as Washington races to strike a budget compromise along with a deal to raise the nation’s borrowing limit and avert an economy-wrecking federal default. President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy spoke by phone Sunday while the president was returning home on Air Force One after the Group of Seven summit in Japan. Upbeat, McCarthy, R-Calif., told reporters at the Capitol that the call was “productive” and that the on-again, off-again negotiations between his staff and White House representatives are focused on spending cuts.Biden and McCarthy are set to meet for a pivotal meeting Monday at the White House.Negotiators for the Democratic president and Republican speaker met for 2 1/2 hours as talks appear to be narrowing on a 2024 budget year cap that would be key to resolving the ...

Consistent playing time, new outlook helps Kyle Farmer settle in as Twins’ third baseman

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:18 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Maybe it’s the consistent playing time helping him get into a rhythm at the plate. Maybe it’s all the time he had to reflect while he was on the injured list that helped give him new perspective.Whatever it is, third baseman Kyle Farmer has given the Twins everything they could have hoped for since he stepped into the role full-time. Farmer, who suffered a gruesome injury after being hit by a pitch on the face last month, came back on May 10, took over at third base for a slumping Jose Miranda, who was demoted to Triple-A. He’s hitting .381, .983 with OPS since that day, collecting 15 hits, including a pair of home runs, in his first 11 games back.“Kyle Farmer is a heck of a baseball player. I like it when the ball is hit at him, and I like it when he’s coming to the plate with a bat in his hands,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “I like relying on him. He handles what comes with this job very, very well.”Farmer was hitting .226, bouncing around the infield befo...

Man fatally struck by light rail train in downtown Minneapolis after falling onto tracks during fight

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:18 GMT

A man was struck and killed by a light rail trail in downtown Minneapolis early Saturday after he fell off the platform during a fight with another man, police said.At about 1 a.m. Saturday, authorities received reports of a man who was trapped and injured at the Hennepin Avenue/Warehouse District train station near Fifth Street and First Avenue in downtown.Investigators said the man fell onto the tracks and into the path of an oncoming train during a physical altercation. He was struck by the train and pronounced dead at the scene.Forensic scientists from the police department processed the scene and collected evidence. Homicide detectives are investigating.The man’s identity and cause and nature of death will be released by the Hennepin County medical examiner’s office.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Shooting death on East Side early Saturday marks St. Paul’s 15th homicide of year Crime & Public Safety | Truck driver sen...

Pathfinder Church donates $40K to 3 local nonprofits

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:18 GMT

ELLISVILLE, Mo. – The historic Pathfinder Church is giving back directly to those in need here at home, divvying up $40,000 to be distributed among three local organizations.Each church member had a say in where their charitable donation should go. Three local organizations—Hilltop, the St. Louis Area Foodbank, and the Adult and Teen Challenge St. Louis—were named recipients of the Light of St. Louis Award.“There are a lot of great nonprofits here in St. Louis, but these are three that we have good relationships with, who we have seen their work and how it’s been a true part of our community, so we want to come alongside them, help with their mission as well,” said Annmarie Wallis, board member at Pathfinder.Regardless of the number of votes cast by church members, each of the three nonprofits will receive a minimum of $5,000 to help the most vulnerable.“Our region’s got some struggles, but there’s also so much good that’s happening through these organizations,” Pastor Dion Garrett,...