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Massachusetts House leaders unveil $56.2B state budget plan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:33 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts House leaders unveiled a $56.2 billion state budget plan Wednesday that proposes spending on universal school meals, an expanded scholarship program for in-demand jobs, and competitive grants to encourage renewable energy projects in public schools.The plan also outlines how the state would spend an estimated $1 billion in additional revenue from the new “millionaire’s tax” approved by Massachusetts voters last year.The $1 billion would be split evenly between education and transportation initiatives.The $500 million for education would include $161 million for the universal school meal program, $100 million for the installation and maintenance of “clean energy” infrastructure projects in schools, and $50 million for Massachusetts students looking to work in high-demand jobs.The students would have to study at community colleges or state colleges or universities and commit to working in their chosen industry for five years.Half of the $500...

Were Diar DeRozan’s screams the Chicago Bulls’ secret weapon as the Toronto Raptors missed 18 free throws?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:33 GMT

As the tide turned in the favor of the Chicago Bulls during Wednesday’s 109-105 play-in tournament win over the Toronto Raptors, one constant sound was like a metronome for the game — the well-timed screams of DeMar DeRozan’s 9-year-old daughter, Diar.From her front-row seat, Diar saw an opportunity and snatched it. She was positioned directly under the basket, almost perfectly in the sight line of every player lining up for a free throw.A basketball player herself, Diar knew when to time an ear-splitting shriek, hitting an especially shrill note each time a Toronto player launched a foul shot.“I kept hearing something during the game,” DeMar DeRozan said. “And then there was one free throw somebody missed, and I looked back and was like, ‘Damn, that’s my daughter screaming?’”At first the sound was just an annoyance slicing through the otherwise quiet arena during Raptors free throws. But as the game progressed, it accompan...

Ravens draft preview: With veteran leader gone, defensive line needs reinforcements

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:33 GMT

The calendar has officially flipped to April, which can only mean one thing: It’s time to get ready for the NFL draft.The first round begins April 27 in Kansas City, but until then, the Ravens have plenty to figure out. Most notably, their contract stalemate with star quarterback Lamar Jackson, who has requested a trade while under the $32.4 million nonexclusive franchise tag. If he gets his wish, the Ravens’ draft could look a lot different.Baltimore owns five picks: Nos. 22 (first round), 86 (third round), 124 (fourth round), 157 (fifth round) and 199 (sixth round). A blockbuster deal for Jackson would significantly increase the size of that haul, but the Ravens are guaranteed at least one additional first-rounder this year if Jackson signs an offer with another team before the draft and Baltimore declines to match it.As we get closer to the draft, The Baltimore Sun will examine which players at each position of need (quarterback, wide receiver, cornerback, defensive l...

Chicago Bears storylines for the NFL draft: Ryan Poles’ ‘long journey,’ more help at receiver and a case for Darnell Wright

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:33 GMT

We’re two weeks away from the NFL draft with the Chicago Bears eager to attack the next stage of their roster rebuild. General manager Ryan Poles has been active over the past six weeks, trading away the No. 1 pick in March and adding a dozen free agents.Much more heavy lifting is ahead. And with draft buzz getting louder, here’s our inside slant on three notable storylines.‘This long journey’Ryan Poles will have two big responsibilities when the NFL draft starts in two weeks. The first will be to find some real difference makers — impact starters and role players who can contribute early. The second will be to land a bunch of them.For all the hypotheticals that have swirled through the pre-draft process, for all the speculation of what the Bears might do, their mission this spring is really that simple. It’s not only about nailing the first first-round pick of Poles’ tenure. It’s about assembling an entire class that creates belief an...

Toronto could break nearly 50-year temperature record as summer-like sizzle continues

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:33 GMT

It is expected to be another sizzling day in Toronto as temperatures are set to hit the high 20s, potentially breaking a record for the second straight day.The summer-like conditions started earlier this week and ramped up on Wednesday with the temperature soaring to 26 C at Toronto Pearson, breaking the record 25.8 C for April 12 set in 2001.Thursday will be the fourth day in a row that temperatures will be into the 20s for Toronto and much of the GTA.CityNews 680 meteorologist Jill Taylor says it will be sunny and even warmer on Thursday with a high near 28 C but it will feel more like 31 C with the humidity. The record temperature high for April 13 is 27.1 C, which was set 46 years ago in 1977.Toronto and the GTA could also break an 85-year-old temperature record on Friday. The forecast calls for a high of 24 C — the Toronto Pearson record for April 14 was 23.9 C set in 1938.Record Highs could be broken in many areas again today and Friday. Expect a change for the weekend with cl...

Taliban share rare audio message from supreme leader

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:33 GMT

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban have shared a rare audio message from their supreme leader, who says justice is an instrument for the Afghan government’s survival.Hibatullah Akhundzada, an Islamic scholar, almost never appears in public and hardly ever leaves the Taliban heartland in southern Kandahar province.He surrounds himself with other religious scholars and allies who oppose education and work for women. Only one known photo of him, years old, exists. Akhundzada has traveled to Kabul only once since the August 2021 Taliban takeover to give a speech to a gathering of clerics, although he was not shown in media coverage at the closed event and appeared with his back to the audience.In his audio message, shared on Twitter Wednesday by the Taliban’s main spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, Akhundzada said justice is an instrument for the government’s survival.“But if there is no justice, and there is oppression, selfishness, murders and revenge, as well as killi...

Official: Russia may discuss swap involving WSJ reporter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:33 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia may be willing to discuss a potential prisoner swap involving jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich with the U.S. after a court delivers its verdict, a top Russian diplomat said Thursday.Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told state news agency Tass that talks about a possible exchange could take place through a dedicated channel that Russian and U.S. security agencies established for such purposes.“We have a working channel that was used in the past to achieve concrete agreements, and these agreements were fulfilled,” Ryabkov said, adding that there was no need for the involvement of any third country.However, he emphasized that Moscow would only negotiate a possible prisoner exchange after a court delivers its verdict in the espionage case against Gershkovich, 31.In December, American basketball star Brittney Griner was freed after 10 months behind bars in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.Another American, Michigan corporate secu...

1 dead, 3 hurt at Indiana park during memorial for slain man

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:33 GMT

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) — One person died and three people were wounded in a shooting at an Indiana park during a memorial, police said.The shooting occurred around 6:45 p.m. Wednesday during a balloon release at McCormick Park in Fort Wayne, Officer Anthony Krock told The Journal Gazette.One woman and three men were taken to a hospital. Krock said one of the men died. He did not have additional information on the conditions of the others.Krissy Williams told the newspaper that the memorial was held to honor Tyreece Vachon, 19, who was fatally shot Tuesday outside an apartment complex. Police did not immediately return a message from The Associated Press seeking comment.The Associated Press

Corus Entertainment reports $15.5M Q2 loss, revenue down from year ago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:33 GMT

TORONTO — Corus Entertainment Inc., the parent company of Global Television, reported a loss in its latest quarter compared with a profit a year ago, as its revenue fell five per cent.The television and radio broadcaster says its loss attributable to shareholders was $15.5 million or eight cents per diluted share for the quarter ended Feb. 28 compared with a profit of $16.2 million or eight cents per diluted share a year earlier.Revenue in what was the company’s second quarter totalled $343.9 million, down from $361.7 million in the same quarter last year.Corus chief executive Doug Murphy says the results reflect the impact of current global advertising market conditions on advertising revenue, partially offset by significant growth in its owned content business.The company says its overall television revenue totalled $321.5 million, down from $339.7 million a year ago, as the advertising segment fell to $169.1 million from $184.7 million and subscriber revenue slipped to $124...

Drama plagues bid to restrict changes to Ohio Constitution

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:33 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio’s constitution is caught in a high-stakes tug-of-war. With an effort to enshrine abortion rights looming this fall, an influential mix of Republican politicians, lobbying organizations and business interests is positioning to try to make another change to the state’s founding document first. They’re pushing an amendment that would raise the threshold for passing future constitutional changes, including the abortion question, from the current 50%-plus-one to 60% of Ohio voters.“This issue isn’t just about abortion,” said Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis, who represented a cross-section of conservative causes at recent strategy talks on the subject. “This is about family farming. This is about small businesses. This is around Second Amendment rights, setting the minimum wage.”Despite that powerful line-up of conservative support, getting the 60% question to the ballot this August has been fraught with complications.First, there&#...