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New Speaker Mike Johnson grasps for a funding plan with a government shutdown rapidly approaching

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:38 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — With just a week left to avert a government shutdown, new House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing his first big test as he tries to win House Republican support for a short-term funding plan — a task that looks increasingly difficult amid stubborn divisions in the party over federal spending.Federal agencies are making plans for a shutdown that would shutter government services and halt paychecks for millions of federal workers and military troops.It’s a disruption that Johnson — just two weeks into his job running the House — has said he wants to avoid. Yet House lawmakers left Washington for the weekend without a plan in hand after several setbacks. Johnson is still sounding out support among Republicans about what to do and is expected to unveil funding legislation over the weekend, according to Republicans granted anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.The shrinking calendar gives Johnson, a Louisiana Republican who has vaulted from ...

Patriots QB Mac Jones seems to want to throw deep more often

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:38 GMT

FRANKFURT, Germany — It seems that Patriots quarterback Mac Jones praises a question when he likes the subject matter.It happened twice Friday when Jones held court at DFB Campus, where the German national soccer team trains, ahead of Sunday’s game against the Colts at Frankfurt Stadium.The first time was when a reporter asked pointed out that the offensive line was improving before asking if Jones felt more comfortable in the pocket.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Bill Belichick addresses ‘personal’ Patriots player absences from Germany trip New England Patriots | Bill Belichick sees Patriots rookie Kayshon Boutte ‘trending in the right direction’ New England Patriots | Patriots look healthy at lone Germany practice before international game New England Patriots | Patriots mailbag: What is Mac Jones’ future beyond 2023 season? New England Patriots | Patriots offense gets bad news bef...

Bill Belichick keeps it light in Patriots press conference in Germany

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:38 GMT

FRANKFURT, Germany — A different Bill Belichick showed up for work on Friday, and even reporters who have watched the coach for 20-plus years from 3,000 miles away could see it.“In my 23 years, I’ve been a Patriots fan, I’ve never seen you laugh so much,” a German reporter observed. “I think Germany is good for you. How are you feeling in Germany?Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Bill Belichick addresses ‘personal’ Patriots player absences from Germany trip New England Patriots | Bill Belichick sees Patriots rookie Kayshon Boutte ‘trending in the right direction’ New England Patriots | Patriots look healthy at lone Germany practice before international game New England Patriots | Patriots mailbag: What is Mac Jones’ future beyond 2023 season? New England Patriots | Patriots offense gets bad news before flight to Germany Belichick walked up to the formal press conference area set up...

Thousands sheltering at Gaza City’s hospitals flee as Israel-Hamas war closes in

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:38 GMT

By WAFAA SHURAFA, ISABEL DEBRE and JACK JEFFERY (Associated Press)DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Thousands of Palestinians sheltering from the Israel-Hamas war at Gaza City’s main hospital fled south Friday after several reported strikes in and around the compound overnight. They joined a growing exodus of people escaping intense urban fighting in the north — including near other hospitals — as Gaza officials said the territory’s death toll surpassed 11,000.The search for safety across the besieged Gaza Strip has grown desperate as Israel intensified its assault on the territory’s largest city.The Israel army says Hamas’ military infrastructure is set up amid Gaza City’s hospitals and neighborhoods. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after its deadly Oct. 7 surprise incursion. Hamas has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, Canada and the European Union.More than 100,000 Palestinians have fled south over the past two days, according to Israel...

Barbie’s Ken left out again as Cabbage Patch Kids and Fisher-Price Corn Popper make Toy Hall of Fame

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:38 GMT

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — Fans have pushed the Fisher-Price Corn Popper into the National Toy Hall of Fame, elevating it from perpetual finalist to 2023 inductee, alongside baseball cards, Cabbage Patch Kids and NERF foam toys, the hall announced Friday.But Barbie’s kind-of boyfriend, Ken?He was left out, despite having a huge year and a hit song due to his portrayal by Ryan Gosling in the summer blockbuster “Barbie.”The Fisher-Price popper, a push toy that encourages babies to walk, was chosen by fans who were invited to celebrate the Toy Hall of Fame’s 25th anniversary by voting for one of five toys that had made it to the finals more than once but were passed over. The rest of the so-called “Forgotten Five” included the pogo stick, My Little Pony, PEZ dispensers and Transformers.Baseball cards, Cabbage Patch Kids and NERF toys were voted in in the usual way from among a field of 12 finalists, with input from a panel of experts. “These ...

Local election workers have been under siege since 2020. Now they face fentanyl-laced letters

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:38 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — While workers were counting ballots for primary elections in August, the elections office in King County, Washington, received a suspicious envelope that turned out to contain trace amounts of fentanyl.It happened again this week, and not just in Washington state, where the office was processing ballots from the general election and had to be evacuated. Election offices in at least five states were sent threatening mail, some containing the potentially deadly drug, authorities say.The letters were just the latest worrisome disruption for election workers in Seattle and across the country who have been besieged by threats, harassment and intimidation since the 2020 presidential election.“There’s certainly a toll that occurs emotionally and mentally with our elections administrators, and it’s devastating,” said Julie Wise, the King County elections director. “But we’re not going to be paused or impacted by these individuals who clearly want to break us.”Election offices...

Israeli national team arrives in Kosovo for soccer game under tight security measures

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:38 GMT

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Israel’s national soccer team arrived in Kosovo on Friday amid tight security measures at the airport ahead of a postponed European Championship qualifier.The team’s two buses were accompanied by several police vehicles and armed officers as it left the airport.There was also tight security at the hotel where the team was staying ahead of Sunday’s game. Police officers created a security perimeter at the hotel that the public and journalists were not allowed to cross.The Israeli soccer federation posted video on X, formerly known as Twitter, showing players getting off the team bus on its way to the airport in Israel to take cover by the roadside, apparently amid nearby rocket fire. “Nothing will stop us on our way to Euro 2024,” the federation wrote. It is the first match Israel plays since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas and the ongoing war in Gaza. It had originally been scheduled for Oct. 15.Israel is third in Group I of Euro 2024 qualifying, behin...

2024 Grammy nomination snubs and surprises: No K-pop, little country and regional Mexican music

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:38 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — With new categories, SZA, and “Barbie” — there’s a lot to discuss regarding the 2024 Grammy Award nominations. Who didn’t make the cut? What were the best surprises of all? Let’s take a look.NEW BLOOD?There’s a lot to love about the nominations for the 66th Grammy Awards — and quite a bit to be a little confused by. Reneé Rapp, Peso Pluma and PinkPantheress are absent from the best new artist category despite having remarkable years. Rapp’s “Snow Angel” was the biggest debut solo album from a female artist this year.Rapp and PinkPantheress were both shut out and Peso Pluma only picked up one nomination: best música Mexicana album (including Tejano) for his third studio album, “Génesis.”LATIN LOOKED OVERIn fact, in a year dominated by música Mexicana, it is surprising to see no nods for Eslabon Armado or Grupo Frontera, particularly for their songs “Ella Baila Sola” with Peso Pluma and “Un x100to” with Bad Bunny, respectively. Na...

Washington Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz drops out of governor’s race to run for Congress

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:38 GMT

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington state Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz is dropping her bid for the governor’s office to run for Congress.Franz, a Democrat who lives in Grays Harbor County, is running to replace retiring Rep. Derek Kilmer, who has served the 6th Congressional District since 2013. In an announcement Friday, Franz said she decided to run for Congress after speaking with voters across Washington and learning of their concerns: rising prices, reproductive freedom and women’s rights, the future of democracy, the support of veterans and military families and the climate crisis. “The challenges we face extend beyond the borders of Washington, and so must our solutions,” Franz said in a statement Friday. “I am running for Congress to bring my vision for bold, transformative action to our nation’s capital and keep fighting for families across our region.”Franz has spent the last seven years leading the department responsible for millions of acres of public lands ...

Officer tickets TTC streetcar operator for blocking Toronto intersection during rush hour

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:38 GMT

Toronto police say while they stand behind an officer’s decision to ticket a TTC streetcar operator for blocking an intersection during rush hour, traffic congestion should have been considered.A Toronto Redditor garnered attention for a post shared on the platform Wednesday describing a chaotic scene in the King Street and York Street area of the city’s Financial District. The post alleges that a Toronto police officer ticketed the TTC streetcar operator for blocking the busy intersection, causing over a dozen other streetcars to be held up as a result.“If you’re familiar with this stretch during rush hour, it’s almost impossible for the streetcar to move because single-occupancy cars keep turning into the very short intersections,” the Redditor and original poster wrote. It’s alleged that the officer was aggressive toward another TTC streetcar operator who asked him why the intersection was blocked. CityNews could not independently confirm...