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Longtime NY House Democrat Brian Higgins to step down over frustrations in Congress

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:51 GMT

Rep. Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.) announced on Sunday he plans to resign from Congress in February after 19 years, citing frustrations in Congress during a particularly tumultuous year for the chamber.Higgins, who represents New York’s heavily Democratic 26th Congressional District, cited growing dysfunction.“I’ve always been a little impatient, and that trait has helped us deliver remarkable progress for this community,” Higgins said in a statement. “But the pace in Washington, D.C. can be slow and frustrating, especially this year.”“Therefore, after thoughtful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to leave Congress and explore other ways I can build up and serve Buffalo and Western New York,” he continued.Higgins, 64, began his 10th term in office in January 2023. He serves on the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Budget Committee. Higgins is co-chair of the Northern Border Caucus and the Canada-U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group. He is the co-chair of the Bipartisan ...

Five Weeknight Dishes: Chickpeas to the rescue

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:51 GMT

By Emily Weinstein, The New York TimesI’ve been on a chickpea kick lately, enabled by a stockpile of dried chickpeas and Ella Quittner’s extremely thorough guide to cooking them well. Her guide includes pressure cooker times — exactly what I needed.But canned chickpeas are one of the great gifts of the supermarket, something to always keep on hand at home if you aren’t a dried-bean person (or if, like me, you often forget to plan ahead). If you have a can or two, you can easily make a number of great chickpea recipes for dinner.1. Coconut Curry Chickpeas With Pumpkin and LimeCanned pumpkin purée and coconut milk, heavily seasoned with curry spices and lots of fresh lime juice, make a sweet-sharp sauce for chickpeas. It’s a rich, creamy curry that you can eat on its own, or serve over rice or couscous. If you want to incorporate more vegetables, stir in some spinach, baby kale or sliced green beans during the last few minutes of cooking, letting them soften in the sauce.By Meli...

Vallejo: Man shot near Elks Lodge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:51 GMT

A man was shot and killed near the Elks Lodge in Vallejo on Saturday night, the city’s 21st homicide of the year.According to police, officers responded to reports of a shooting near the intersection of Alabama Street and Broadway at 8:30 p.m.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | What to know about the Trump fraud trial defense and Donald Trump Jr.’s testimony Crime and Public Safety | Teenager stabbed during fight in Moss Beach Crime and Public Safety | Minor arrested for allegedly making threats against Brentwood middle school Crime and Public Safety | Fremont: Police find dozens of cats, some dead, at home of suspected animal hoarder Crime and Public Safety | Alameda man, 50, charged with sending lewd image to person posing as 14-year-old girl When they arrived, they found a man who had been shot at least once. Police say they provided medical assistance, but the victim died before he could ...

Football recruiting: Top Bay Area quarterback commits to Oklahoma State

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:51 GMT

Serra quarterback Maealiuaki Smith announced, via social media, that he has committed to Oklahoma State.Smith posted a highlight video with him wearing Oklahoma State apparel on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday afternoon. Committed!@coachwalsh20 @DariusBell_3 @RonOrtiz77 @CoachMattVinal @CoachDanny10 @Greg_Panelli @StvnBrrn @btweenxthelines @JwPalms @PadreFootball_ pic.twitter.com/Gc9nQFeelL— Maealiuaki Smith (@maealiuaki) November 12, 2023Smith is a three-star recruit according to 247Sports.com and is ranked as the 38th best quarterback in the class of 2024. The 6-foot-4 passer is the top-ranked prospect in Oklahoma State’s recruiting class. “Congratulations Maealiuaki,” Serra coach Patrick Walsh wrote on X. “@CowboyFB (Oklahoma State), you are getting a GREAT one! We are all excited to watch you play big-time football in the Big XII.”Smith has started the past two seasons for the San Mateo school, going 24-1. He quarterbacked the team to a CCS Open...

Sharks’ play-by-play announcer talks Hall of Fame journey, unexpected aftereffects of near-death moment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:51 GMT

In many respects, Dan Rusanowsky is the first San Jose Shark to have a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.Of course, several players who have worn the Sharks uniform are in the Hall, with former San Jose goalie Mike Vernon among the Class of 2023. Former Sharks general manager and captain Doug Wilson was inducted two years ago.But those ex-Sharks players were largely voted in because of their accomplishments with other teams. Rusanowsky has been the Sharks’ radio play-by-play voice since he and Dennis Hull broadcasted the franchise’s first game in Vancouver against the Canucks on Oct. 4, 1991.Now, close to 2,500 games later, he’s receiving hockey broadcasting’s highest honor, the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award, given in recognition of members of the radio and television industry who made outstanding contributions to their profession and the game during their careers. Award winners are selected by the NHL Broadcasters’ Association.“I’m representing the San Jose Shar...

I Joined Gaza’s Trail of Tears And Displacement

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:51 GMT

Palestinians flee Gaza City and other parts of northern Gaza to the southern areas amid Israel’s ongoing bombardment of the region, on Nov. 11, 2023.Photo: Mohammed Talatene/picture-alliance/dpa/APIt was Thursday night when we started to negotiate. Do we need to evacuate to the south or not? The F-16s did not leave the sky, the bombing did not stop, the live ammunition was very close. The sky was foggy, gas bombs and white phosphorus filled the sky. It was hard for us to even breathe.Our job is to document the war, to let the world know what is happening. How could we leave? For hours, we asked the question. I had a headache from overthinking. “What if they kill us? What if they arrest us?” one guy asked. “I am not leaving, I prefer dying here,” another said. “We should leave, we have kids and families.”“We did everything we can. We reported everything.” Despite the sound of the bombs, I urged myself to sleep. I wondered if this might be my last night in the off...

France’s poorest island is parched because of drought and underinvestment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:51 GMT

MAMOUDZOU, Mayotte (AP) — Drop by disappearing drop, water is an ever more precious resource on Mayotte, the poorest place in the European Union. Taps flow just one day out of three in this French territory off Africa’s eastern coast, because of a drawn-out drought compounded by years of underinvestment and water mismanagement.Diseases like cholera and typhoid are on the rebound, and the French army recently intervened to distribute water and quell tensions over supplies. The crisis is a wakeup call to the French government about the challenges and cost of managing human-caused climate change across France’s far-flung territories.Racha Mousdikoudine, a 38-year-old mother of two living in Labatoir, washes dishes with bottled water, when she can get it. When the water taps run, she says, “I have to choose between taking a shower or preserving my water supply.”“This shortage will be global in a few years. This is an opportunity for all French people to stand in solidarity w...

Muhammad, Harmon score 14 points each, No. 13 Texas women defeat Liberty 75-57

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:51 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Amina Muhammad and Rori Harmon scored 14 points each and the No. 13 Texas women outlasted upset-minded Liberty 75-57 on Sunday.The Longhorns had trouble breaking free from the Flames and led by just 44-37 near the 5-minute mark of the third quarter. A 15-2 run led by Madison Booker with six points and Taylor Jones with five points put Texas in control 58-39 after three.The Flames outscored Texas 9-5 through the first six minutes of the fourth quarter but never got closer than 15 points.Jones had 13 points and seven rebounds off the bench for Texas (2-0) and Booker scored 11.Led by 11 points from freshman Ella Wigal and 10 from Elisabeth Aegisdottir, another freshman, Liberty’s reserves outscored the starters 37-20.Liberty committed 15 turnovers in the first half but kept it close by shooting 52% from the field compared to 33% for the Longhorns. Harmon led Texas with 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting and added four assists.The Flames finished with 35 turnovers, ...

Taylor Swift cambia en Argentina la letra de “Karma” en un guiño al “chico de los Chiefs” Travis Kelce

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:51 GMT

(CNN) — Taylor Swift hizo un guiño a su romance con Travis Kelce, ala cerrada de los Kansas City Chiefs, durante su concierto del “Eras Tour” este sábado en Buenos Aires, Argentina, cuando cambió la letra de una línea de su exitosa canción “Karma”, y Kelce estaba entre el público para verlo.Según un video publicado en TikTok desde el show, Swift cantó: “Karma is the guy on the Chiefs, coming straight home to me”, cambiando la palabra original “screen” por “Chiefs”.Kelce está en su semana de descanso con los Chiefs, y fue visto en otro video publicado en X (antes Twitter) reaccionando al momento mientras veía el concierto en una carpa VIP con el padre de Swift, Scott Swift.Taylor Swift aplaza uno de sus conciertos en Argentina y la nueva fecha coincide con el último debate presidencialEl bicampeón del Super Bowl sonrió inmediatamente cuando escuchó el giro de la cantante de “Anti-Hero” en su última canción ...

Browns rally to stun Ravens behind Watson’s passing, pick-6 by Newsome, field goal by Hopkins

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:51 GMT

BALTIMORE (AP) — Dustin Hopkins kicked a 40-yard field goal as time expired to cap a furious Cleveland rally in the fourth quarter, and the Browns edged the Baltimore Ravens 33-31 on Sunday.Cleveland (6-3) trailed 31-17 before Deshaun Watson delivered the type of victory the Browns have been waiting for from their high-priced quarterback.Watson threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Moore with 8:57 remaining. Then one of Lamar Jackson’s passes caromed high into the air and was picked off by Greg Newsome II, and he returned the interception 34 yards for a TD just 41 seconds later.The Ravens stayed ahead 31-30 because Hopkins missed the extra point, but Cleveland got the ball back and drove 58 yards for the winning kick.Baltimore (7-3) had a four-game winning streak snapped, and the victory by Cleveland tightened the race in the AFC North significantly.Watson got off to a terrible start — his first pass of the game was picked off and returned for a touchdown by Kyle Hamilton — but h...