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Vermont, ranked as one of the safest states, sees dramatic spike in gun violence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:25 GMT

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — The recent shootings of three college students of Palestinian descent in Vermont’s largest city come as the small rural state, often ranked as one of the nation’s safest, is grappling with a spike in gun violence.Two days after the students were shot and seriously wounded during their Thanksgiving break, Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger said it “was one of the most shocking and disturbing events in this city’s history.”Statewide, Vermont has had 10 homicides and one suspicious death since October, including a double homicide in Burlington, Weinberger said. Burlington has seen 16 gunfire incidents so far this year, he said, adding that Vermont’s largest city is not alone.“Many communities are experiencing an alarming rise in gun violence with recent shootings happening in Newport, Danville, St. Johnsbury, Brattleboro, Castleton, Leicester, Brookfield,” Weinberger said at the time.The shooting deaths around the state this fall have taxed the short-staffed ...

New Mexico State seeks fifth bowl victory. Fresno State playing for missing head coach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:25 GMT

Isleta New Mexico Bowl: New Mexico State (10-4) vs. Fresno State (8-4), Saturday, 5:45 p.m. Eastern (ESPN)FanDuel Sportsbook College Line: New Mexico State by 3½ Series record: Fresno State leads 18-1WHAT’S AT STAKEIn its sixth bowl game in program history, the Aggies are looking to improve to 5-0-1 in those games, winning four straight. A win would match the Aggies’ 1960 team with 11 wins, the only two times the program has reached the double-digit victory mark. With head coach Jeff Tedford temporarily away from the program with health issues, the Bulldogs are seeking a victory under assistant head coach and linebackers coach Tim Skipper.KEY MATCHUPThe New Mexico State passing game, which averaged almost 225 yards game and less than one interception per game, against the Fresno State defense, which fifth in the nation in interceptions with 16 while being tied for seventh in the nation in turnover margin with a plus-10 margin.PLAYERS TO WATCHNew Mexico State receiver Trent Hudson ca...

Max Scherzer has back surgery and will miss start of 2024 season for World Series champion Rangers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:25 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Max Scherzer had surgery for a herniated disk in his lower back and will miss the start of next season for the World Series champion Texas Rangers. General manager Chris Young said Friday that Scherzer, who was removed from the roster during the World Series because of back discomfort, had surgery Thursday after injections and other less-evasive treatments didn’t relieve the pain. Young said the team is hopeful that that the three-time Cy Young Award winner will be fully healed and recovered by June or July. Scherzer said in a statement released by the team Friday that the back pain got worse after he returned to his offseason home in Florida, and that he got the got the diagnosis of a herniated disk. “After several conservative treatments and consulting with multiple specialists, I made the decision to have the recommended surgery,” Scherzer said. “Getting this procedure done now will give me the best chance to pitch as much as possible for the R...

Panthers to place veteran TE Hayden Hurst on injured reserve after amnesia resulting from concussion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:25 GMT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers are placing tight end Hayden Hurst on injured reserve, according to a person familiar with the situation.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Friday because the move has not yet been announced.The Athletic was first to report the news.The decision comes just weeks after the veteran tight end’s father, Jerry Hurst, posted on social media that his son was diagnosed with post-traumatic amnesia following a concussion sustained on Nov. 9 against the Chicago Bears.Shortly after his father’s concerning post, Hurst took to X, formerly known as Twitter, and wrote that he suffered a “pretty nasty concussion” and didn’t remember up to four hours after the game.Hurst called it a “scary situation” but added that “While it was scary, it is NOT career ending. I’m starting my return to play this week, so fingers crossed I make it back for the last few weeks!”Hurst has been in the concussion protocol since and has not play...

Chargers fire coach Brandon Staley, general manager Tom Telesco in midst of disappointing season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:25 GMT

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)(AP/David Becker) Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)(AP/David Becker) Coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco were fired by the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday morning after one of the worst losses in franchise history.The Chargers made the playoffs last season but are one of this year’s biggest disappointments at 5-9, with losses in five ...

Va. ABC official files whistleblower suit, alleging retaliation for reporting millions in losses

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:25 GMT

toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Michelle Murillo reports on Virginia ABC whistleblower's lawsuit. $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); if( typeof gtag === "function" ){ gtag('event', 'post_audio', { 'play': audio_filename, 'permalink': window.location.href }); } }); }); A high-level official with the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority has filed a lawsuit claiming she was wrongly pu...

Police: Man was drunk during Broomfield crash that killed mom, son

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:25 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — A 37-year-old man is facing charges of driving under the influence in a crash that killed a mother and her teenage son near Broomfield High School on Tuesday. Melissa Powell, 47, and her son, 16-year-old Riordan Powell, died in the crash on Main Street. Riordan was a student at nearby Broomfield High School and Boulder TEC.Witnesses said driver was speeding at 100 mphAccording to an arrest affidavit obtained by FOX31, Jose Menjivar was driving a Toyota Tundra southbound on Main Street towards Miramonte Boulevard when witnesses noticed he was speeding at a high rate. 3-year-old injured in Longmont drive-by shooting, suspects wanted One witness told police that Menjivar was speeding at an estimated rate of 100 mph in a 40 mph zone. Other witnesses said Menjivar passed several cars that were also on southbound Main Street by passing through the double yellow line in the center median.When Menjivar arrived at Miramonte Boulevard, he allegedly struck a 2016 Mazda CX-5, ...

Judge yet to rule on cattle industry's request to delay wolf reintroduction

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:25 GMT

Editor's note: The Associated Press has withdrawn its story about a ruling in a lawsuit regarding the reintroduction of gray wolves in Colorado. A judge has not yet ruled on a request that would delay Colorado’s plan to begin the program this month. A report from Thursday's court hearing is located below in place of an earlier story saying there had been a ruling.DENVER (AP) — A federal judge said she would decide by Friday whether to temporarily halt the impending reintroduction of gray wolves to Colorado under a voter-approved initiative, after representatives of the state's cattle industry went to court to try to stop the predators' release.If the judge sides with the industry, the decision would scramble Colorado Parks and Wildlife's plans of searching for, capturing and transporting up to 10 wolves from Oregon starting Sunday.The wolves are supposed to be released by Dec. 31, the deadline imposed under a 2020 ballot proposal that passed by a narrow margin. The animals...

Donald Trump says LIV Golf is headed back to his Doral course in April

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:25 GMT

DORAL, Fla. (AP) — Donald Trump is getting another LIV Golf event at one of his courses.Trump posted on the Truth Social site that his Trump National Doral near Miami would host a LIV Golf event in April. He did not mention the date, but the only opening on LIV’s schedule is for April 5-7, the weekend before the Masters.LIV Golf did not immediately confirm Trump’s post that his Doral course had signed a deal. “The event they had at Doral in October was a major success!” he posted.Trump courses were missing from the list when the 2024 LIV Golf schedule was announced, presumably to steer clear during an election year in which Trump is campaigning to regain the presidency he lost in 2020.Doral had been on the schedule as the season-ending event in 2022 and 2023. Trump National in Bedminster, New Jersey, was used by LIV each of the last two years, and this season included a stop at his course in northern Virginia.LIV went to Orlando, Florida, a week before the Masters this y...

Brussels to announce US tariff truce Monday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:25 GMT

The European Commission is expected to announce it is renewing a trade truce with Washington on Monday, a European official with knowledge of the schedule told POLITICO. EU countries threw their weight on Wednesday behind the Commission’s plans to extend a pause on retaliatory tariffs on approximately $6 billion worth of American exports from January 1, two European diplomats said. The EU and the U.S. have been racing to find an agreement to prevent tariffs on billions of dollars of trade kicking in on both sides of the Atlantic to resolve a steel and aluminum dispute dating back to 2018 triggered by former U.S. President Donald Trump. The tariffs were suspended two years ago by the Biden administration while Brussels and Washington sought a new “global arrangement” on steel aimed at reducing global carbon emissions and excess capacity.The diplomats, granted anonymity to speak on the sensitive issue, said that the tariffs truce will extend from January 1 and will l...