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It’s England vs Spain in World Cup final. But where are Sunak and Sánchez?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:14 GMT

It’s a time-worn World Cup photo opportunity — prime ministers and presidents gurning away high in the stands beside stone-faced football officials. But when Spain and England meet in Sydney on Sunday to determine who will be champions in the Women’s World Cup, neither country’s leader will be there.For some, the implication is clear: The women’s game is being disrespected.“It would be unthinkable for them to miss a men’s final,” Ed Vaizey, a former U.K. Conservative MP who was Culture Secretary from 2010 to 2016, wrote on social media on Friday, referring to the no-show in Sydney by U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Prince William, who is president of the English Football Association.To be sure, it is a very long flight from Britain to Australia. But if Sunak were concerned for his carbon footprint, he might have reconsidered his recent visit to Los Angeles to go to Disneyland and — rumor has it — a Taylor Swift concert. Or perhaps refrained fr...

Passenger who survived fiery crash that claimed 4 lives in Maine is facing charges

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:14 GMT

ELLSWORTH, Maine (AP) — A woman who survived a fiery crash that claimed the lives of four Maine Maritime Academy students has been charged as an “accomplice or co-conspirator” in connection with the tragedy.Noelle Tavares, 20, of North Falmouth, Massachusetts, pleaded not guilty this week to charges of manslaughter, aggravated operating under the influence, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, driving to endanger and reckless speed.Hancock County District Attorney Robert Granger said Friday the grand jury found probable cause of “accomplice liability” attached to the charges, meaning she’s accused of facilitating the conduct that led to the tragedy even though she wasn’t the driver. Granger declined in an email to comment on Tavares’ actions that provided the basis for the charges.Tavares’ lawyer didn’t immediately return a call from The Associated Press seeking comment.The driver, Joshua Goncalves-Radding, of North Babylon, New York, was traveling...

Some clouds today, nicer Sunday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:14 GMT

After yesterday’s severe weather, including at least 4 tornado touchdowns in Southern New England, calmer weather is in store for the weekend. Today, expect a mix of sun and clouds, with more clouds north and west of Boston and less cloud cover south of the city. A spot shower is possible but concentrated to higher terrain today (mainly above 500ft in elevation). On Sunday less clouds are in the forecast and with sunshine and winds out of the southwest, temperatures are expected to jump back up into the upper 70s and low 80s by afternoon. Our next opportunity for rain arrives Monday evening, with an isolated shower and/or thunderstorm possible.

Suspected Palestinian shooting attack at West Bank car wash kills 2 Israelis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:14 GMT

BALATA REFUGEE CAMP, West Bank (AP) — Two Israelis were killed in a suspected Palestinian shooting attack on a car wash in a volatile stretch of the occupied West Bank on Saturday, the latest outburst of violence to rock the region.The Israeli military said it was searching for suspects and setting up roadblocks near the town of Hawara, a flashpoint area in the northern West Bank, which has seen repeated shooting attacks as well as a rampage by Jewish West Bank settlers who torched Palestinian property.The shooting attack came after Palestinian official media said a 19-year-old Palestinian died of his wounds following an Israeli military raid into the West Bank on Wednesday.The deaths are part of a relentless spiral of violence that has fueled the worst fighting between Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank in nearly two decades. Nearly 180 Palestinians have been killed since the start of this year and some 29 people have been killed by Palestinian attacks against Israelis du...

Kids Again: MLB makes strides in attracting younger fans, ticket buyers in growing the game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:14 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bryce Harper wants to get to Cooperstown.Sure, what baseball player, especially a two-time NL MVP such as Harper, doesn’t dream of induction into the Hall of Fame. But Harper’s hopes extend well beyond a call to the Hall — the Philadelphia Phillies slugger would love for Major League Baseball to stick one of its yearly attraction games — akin to recent “Field of Dreams” and London trips — in Cooperstown, New York, as part of Hall of Fame weekend.“I think it’s pretty cool being able to play in different areas and different countries,” Harper said. “The next one we were all talking about would be a Hall of Fame Game. … I grew up playing in Cooperstown, at Cooperstown Dreams Park. That was the travel ball place to go, kind of like Williamsport. It’s a little bit of a different level than Williamsport, but it’s pretty cool.”Harper and the Phillies hit Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on Sunday to play the Washington Nationals in the annual Major Le...

Yellowknife veterinarian helps pets flee fires, supports animals left behind

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:14 GMT

Yellowknife veterinarian Michelle Tuma was having a hectic month even before an encroaching wildfire forced the mass evacuation of her home community.Nothing prepared her for the chaos of getting thousands of people out of the city, but Tuma focused her efforts on making sure evacuees could take their animals with them and on protecting at least some of those left behind.“I know how much pets mean to people,” Tuma says.“I can’t even imagine having to evacuate and not being able to take your pets, and it’s the least I can do to be here and help support those people who are already so stressed and so anxious.”The 20,000 residents of the capital of the Northwest Territories were told late Wednesday that they to be out by noon Friday. They packed up their bags, vehicles and furry friends and started to stream out of the city. But fleeing the North with a pet isn’t simple.Born and raised in Yellowknife, Tuma is the northern Canada veterinary specialist with Veterinarians With...

As Maui rebuilds, residents reckon with tourism’s role in their recovery

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:14 GMT

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Long before a wind-whipped wildfire blasted through the island of Maui, tension existed between Hawaii’s kamaaina, or longtime residents, and the visitors some islanders resent for turning their beaches, mountains and communities into playgrounds. It’s a love-hate relationship that dates back generations. But now that tension is building in the aftermath of a blaze that killed over 100 people and scorched the historic town of Lahaina, making it the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century.A week after the fire, a state flag blew upside down in the breeze along a road leading to a neighborhood designated for residents of Hawaiian descent, signifying that the community is in distress. Beneath the flag, a sign scrawled in blue paint ordered tourists to “KEEP OUT.”“Tourism has definitely been a hinderance at this point, because we need to take care of our families – our ohana,” said Kapali Keahi, who lives in the neighborhood. Keahi said those affected...

After a hazy start, temperatures start to rise Saturday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:14 GMT

CHICAGO — We'll have a bit of a haze to start Saturday with some wildfire smoke from Northwestern Canada still filtering in as temperatures start to rise as a hot stretch begins in the Chicago area.The haze will clear out by the afternoon and we'll see partly to mostly sunny skies. Winds will be a bit breezy out of the southwest with gusts up to 25 miles per hour. We'll also start to see that humidity rise later in the day. Highs are expected into the mid-80s this afternoon. Temperatures continue to climb Sunday with highs into the low to mid-90s. We'll see humidity increase and heat index values into the triple digits. A heat advisory is in effect from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

DeSantis tied with Ramaswamy for second in GOP primary: poll

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:14 GMT

(The Hill) – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy are tied for second place in the Republican presidential field in a new poll. An Emerson College poll showed DeSantis and Ramaswamy tied at 10% each, trailing former President Trump, who leads with 56%. DeSantis kept his position in second place from previous polls, but he registered a big drop from the 21% he had in June Ramaswamy rose from just 2% then. Biden to travel to Maui next week The poll’s release comes as a leaked memo from the super PAC supporting DeSantis’ candidacy, Never Back Down, urged DeSantis to “take a sledgehammer” to Ramaswamy. Some polling has shown Ramaswamy closing in on DeSantis for second place, and the memo appears to acknowledge a few other candidates also gaining momentum behind the Florida governor. "Another boring, establishment attack from Super PAC-creation 'Robot Ron' who is literally taking lame, pre-programmed attack lines against me for next week’s de...

Evanston's Art & Big Fork Festival enters its 10th year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:14 GMT

CHICAGO — For the tenth time, a festival in a north suburb will get the chance to see art that is made both locally and nationally. The Evanston Art & Big Fork Festival has started in Evanston, opening up on Friday and continuing through Sunday afternoon, located at the corner of Church Street and Sherman Avenue.It features over 130 juried artists and artisans during the three-day event with a variety of items for visitors to see or purchase. There will also be live music, food trucks, and activities for kids during the three-day event. Amy Amdur, the producer of the Evanston Art & Big Fork Festival, joined WGN Weekend News on Saturday to talk about the event. She also brought some of the art in studio to show host Sean Lewis along with the audience.You can watch that show from the August 19 show in the video above. The Evanston Art & Big Fork Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and you can see more about the event here.Love the WGN Morning News?...