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Storms, flooding deal farmers in Northeast a devastating blow

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:47 GMT

By Steve LeBlanc | Associated PressWell before it was warm enough to plant seedlings in the ground, farmer Micah Barritt began nursing crops like watermelon, eggplant and tomatoes — eventually transplanting them from his greenhouse into rich Vermont soil, hoping for a bountiful fall harvest.Within a few hours last week, those hopes were washed away when flood waters inundated the small farm, destroying a harvest with a value he estimated at $250,000. He still hopes to replant short-season crops like mustard greens, spinach, bok choy and kale.“The loss of the crops is a very tangible way to measure the flood, but the loss of the work is hard to measure,” said Barritt, one of five co-owners of Diggers’ Mirth Collective Farm in Burlington, Vermont. “We’re all grieving and heartbroken because of this.”That heartbreak was felt by farmers in several Northeast states after floods dealt a devastating blow at the worst possible time — when many plants were...

Emergency halts eastbound traffic on Richmond-San Rafael Bridge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:47 GMT

Traffic on the eastbound Richmond-San Rafael Bridge was halted Friday afternoon because of a person threatening to jump off the span, according to the California Highway Patrol.Negotiators were working to resolve the crisis, the CHP reported. Traffic monitors showed heavy congestion on Interstate 580 in San Rafael, northbound Highway 101 in San Rafael, East Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Larkspur and westbound Interstate 580 in Richmond.Check back for updates.

VP Harris: Florida rules on Black history pushed by Gov. DeSantis are ‘propaganda’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:47 GMT

By CHRIS MEGERIAN and BRENDAN FARRINGTONWASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris said extremists want to “replace history with lies” as she traveled to Florida on Friday to assail Republican efforts to overhaul educational standards, plunging into a battle over schooling that has rippled through classrooms around the country.“They dare to push propaganda to our children,” she said in Jacksonville. “This is the United States of America. We’re not supposed to do that.”Her trip came two days after the Florida Board of Education approved a revised Black history curriculum to satisfy legislation signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican presidential candidate who has accused public schools of liberal indoctrination. The new standards include instruction that enslaved people benefited from skills that they learned.“How is it that anyone could suggest that in the midst of these atrocities that there was any benefit to being subjected to this level of dehumanization?” Harris asked.She did ...

San Francisco mourns death of legendary singer Tony Bennett

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:47 GMT

(BCN) -- While fans around the world mourned the death of Tony Bennett Friday, the news hit his adopted hometown of San Francisco particularly hard. The legendary singer's iconic connection to the city was cemented in 1961 when he first performed his hit "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" at the Fairmont hotel. Since then, it's become the song most associated with "the city by the Bay" and continues to be played every time the San Francisco Giants baseball team secures a home win. On Friday, Mayor London Breed ordered the flags at City Hall to be flown at half-mast to honor the dulcet-toned crooner's love of the city, his artistic legacy and his life. Taylor Swift concerts at Levi’s prompts bracelet policy change "Tony Bennett provided us with a song, a spirit, and a magic that is intertwined with the history of San Francisco and who we are," Breed said. "Today we honor his memory and celebrate his legacy that will stay with us forever." The city has long embraced its ...

Testifying Against Texas, Women Denied Abortions Relive the Pregnancies That Almost Killed Them

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:47 GMT

When Samantha Casiano learned she was pregnant last year, she and her husband felt excitement. The 29-year-old mother of four and lifelong Texas resident began collecting baby toys and a bassinet for her fifth child. During a routine ultrasound at 20 weeks, she was chatting up the technician when the room suddenly grew silent. Casiano’s doctor delivered grim news: Her baby had anencephaly, a lethal condition in which the skull and brain fail to develop.“My first thought was, maybe surgery can fix this, but I was told, ‘Sorry, your daughter is incompatible with life, she will be born without a skull,’” Casiano said in a Texas district court hearing on Wednesday. “She was going to die inside or outside of my womb.”Her doctors bluntly told her she had “no options” in Texas as a result of the state’s abortion laws, handing her only a prescription for antidepressants. Casiano considered traveling to New Mexico for pregnancy termination, but the barriers were too steep. She could not take...

Knight and Szokol shoot tournament-record 62 in alternate shot to take lead in team event

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:47 GMT

MIDLAND, Mich. (AP) — Cheyenne Knight and Elizabeth Szokol birdied six of the last eight holes in alternate-shot play for an 8-under 62 and a three-stroke lead Friday in the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, the LPGA Tour’s lone team event.Knight made a 25-foot birdie putt on the par-3 18th in windy conditions at Midland Country Club to break the tournament alternate-shot round record and 54-hole scoring mark at 18-under 192.“It’s so awesome,” Szokol said. “We love this event. It’s so fun that Dow does this for us. It’s such a unique format, and this is the only (team) event we get to play this year. It’s amazing to be in the record books at this event.”Matilda Castren and Kelly Tan were second after a 68. They finished second last year.“We’re just going to really try and go out and have fun tomorrow,” Tan said. “It’s best ball, so we’re going to make birdies and hopefully we’ll see where it puts us at the end of the round.”Knight won the 2019 Ascendant LPGA for her lone tour title,...

A sunny Friday expected to lead into a ‘phenomenal’ weekend of weather, ahead of record-breaking heat next week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:47 GMT

Listen to WTOP for weather updates on the 8s.Rain and storms passing through the D.C. area tapered off ahead of the morning commute, making way for a sunny Friday.According to 7News First Alert meteorologist Veronica Johnson, a “phenomenal” weekend of weather likely awaits the region, with sunshine, low humidity and no hazy skies.Mornings should be comfortable, with temperatures in the 60s that are expected to peak in the mid- to upper 80s during the afternoon — before potentially reaching record highs next week.“Enjoy this weekend as next week’s heat begins to build with the hottest air of the season potentially moving through Wednesday through Saturday,” Johnson said. “First Alert Weather may be on Heat Alert as we are forecasting afternoon temps 95-98 degrees with heat index values in the triple digits.”Listen to WTOP online and on the radio at 103.5 FM or 107.7 FM.Current traffic conditionsWeather forecastSign up for WTOP email alertsFor...

Browns WR Marquise Goodwin to miss start of training camp with blood clots in legs, lungs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:47 GMT

CLEVELAND (AP) — Browns wide receiver Marquise Goodwin will miss the start of his first training camp with Cleveland due to blood clots in his legs and lungs.Goodwin signed a free agent deal with the club in February, giving quarterback Deshaun Watson a much-needed deep threat. The 32-year-old Goodwin dealt with discomfort in his legs and shortness of breath during spring practices. A checkup revealed the blood clots.“It was really alarming at first because I’ve experienced injury throughout my career, but it’s never been anything like this that could turn into something detrimental if it’s not taken care of,” Goodwin said in a statement released by the team. “It was frightening at first, but now I’m at ease with it. I’ve prayed and just given it over to God. It’s out of my control, and the only thing I can control is my effort and attitude and how I approach each day moving forward.”Goodwin was with Seattle last season. He’s played in 102 NFL games and recorded 187 receptions...

Phillies slide star Bryce Harper over to first base as team evaluates trade deadline options

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:47 GMT

CLEVELAND (AP) — Bryce Harper has another career first.Philadelphia’s star slugger is making his first start at first base Friday night for the Phillies, who want to see if Harper can handle the position before they make any moves ahead of the trade deadline.Manager Rob Thomson said the initial plan is for the two-time MVP to play in the field every other game. Harper will be the designated hitter when he’s not at first.Harper, who has made a quick recovery from Tommy John surgery last year, has played 1,258 games __ mostly in the outfield. He had not played any defense this year while his elbow recovers.“I’m excited to see how he does,” Thomson said before the opener of a three-game series with the Guardians. “We’ve prepared him and now it’s just about getting used to game speed and getting used to those situations.”Thomson also joked he’s happy to not have to answer any more questions about Harper’s move.Harper has been getting in extra infield work lately, and a...

Chiefs keen to upgrade aging Arrowhead Stadium rather than building anew

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:47 GMT

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs believe Arrowhead Stadium remains structurally sound and prefer to renovate their famous facility in the coming years, even if the neighboring Royals go through with plans to build a new ballpark elsewhere.The NFL franchise and its Major League Baseball counterpart have played at the Truman Sports Complex since the early 1970s, when Arrowhead opened just across the parking lot from Kauffman Stadium. Both have undergone massive renovations over the years, the most recent tying them to a new lease with Jackson County that expires in January 2031.Yet the Royals have made it clear that they intend to build a new stadium, either in downtown Kansas City or neighboring Clay County, and that they are aiming for a spring vote to renew a sales tax that would help to fund the construction.That leaves the Chiefs to decide whether they will pursue more renovations to Arrowhead Stadium or likewise build anew.“If the Royals decide to stay in Jackson Co...