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Final Four: Last year’s bluebloods are this year’s no-names

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:46 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — One short year ago, college basketball was getting ready for the game of a lifetime: North Carolina vs. Duke at the Final Four. And this year? Well, to put it kindly, who the heck are these guys? The NCAA Tournament, the annual event that has told and sold and made marketing gold out of the story of underdogs and busted brackets has, for 2023, produced an extreme rendition of what happens when all that cherished unpredictability plays itself out to the end.In one Final Four meeting Saturday, it will be San Diego State against Florida Atlantic. In the other, it will be Miami vs. UConn. “I expect the prognosticators to pick us fifth at the Final Four,” Florida Atlantic coach Dusty May said in a nod to the reality that nobody really expected the Owls, or any of these teams, to be here. Of the four programs descending on Houston this week, only one has ever sniffed a Final Four before. It’s the first time in 53 years that has happened. With its four national titles ...

Bubba Wallace rebuilds confidence on track, community off it

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:46 GMT

A slow start to the NASCAR Cup Series season — two crashes and an engine failure through six races — has Bubba Wallace looking internally for the steadiness he needs to pull himself out of this early slump.It was his mother who encouraged Wallace to do some self-reflection.“It’s day by day, right? Just got to be a better version of myself,” Wallace told The Associated Press this week. “My mom had said to me, ‘You know, if you want things to change, you got to change yourself.’ So I’m just trying to change myself and be more active, working out, eating better, and just trying to have a better mindset so Richmond should be good for us.”Yes, Wallace and NASCAR head next to Richmond Raceway for a Sunday short track race at a venue that has not been one of Wallace’s stronger tracks. His career-best finish at Richmond was 12th in 2019 when he drove for Richard Petty. He was 13th last fall in his new 23XI Racing ride.But this weekend represents more to Wallace than a chan...

Policía arresta a mujer que estuvo atrincherada 36 horas en la autopista Richmond

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:46 GMT

Una mujer fue detenida el jueves a la medianoche después de un enfrentamiento con las autoridades en Richmond Highway (Ruta 1) en el área de Hybla Valley que cerró la carretera durante 36 horas, informó la policía del condado de Fairfax.Cuando la mujer salió del vehículo, los transeúntes celebraron y uno gritó: “¡Te amamos!”. La mujer se acercó a la policía y se rindió, según muestra un video de la escena.La mujer fue puesta bajo custodia policial y abandonó el lugar en una ambulancia. El nombre de la mujer no fue revelado de inmediato.El tío de la mujer atrincherada en el vehículo confirmó que estaba publicando en las redes sociales desde el interior de la camioneta, y los familiares le enviaron mensajes de audio alentándola a salir del vehículo.La policía confirmó que el enfrentamiento estaba relacionado con el caso de la persona desaparecida que involucra a Lauren Kingsbury, de 25 años, de Laurel, Maryland. No se había visto a Kingsbury desde el 24 de marzo antes de que la encont...

Montgomery Co. gas stations required to post credit card prices under bill OK’d by county council

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:46 GMT

The Montgomery County, Maryland, Council approved legislation Tuesday requiring gas stations to post the price that drivers who use credit cards have to pay — instead of just the lowest price.The bill was introduced by Council member Gabe Albornoz last month, who said residents found it “misleading and frustrating” that gas stations were only required to post the lowest price of regular gas and not the higher amount that people using credit cards pay.According to an AAA Mid Atlantic study, almost 90% of Maryland residents use a credit card to buy gas.“We have all experienced that moment of noting the posted price of a gallon of gas, pulling up to the pump and then realizing that the credit price is much higher,” Albornoz said in a news release. adding that the legislation is a “proactive approach” to protect residents from rising gasoline costs.More Montgomery County NewsMore Maryland NewsMore Local News“I’m grateful to my fellow councilmemb...

Myanmar resistance says military bombing kills 8 civilians

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:46 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Air strikes by Myanmar’s military on a village in the country’s northwest on Thursday killed at least eight civilians, including two children, according to members of a rebel ethnic minority group and independent media reports.The attack on Khuafo village, just north of Thantlang, a major town in Chin state near the Indian border, also wounded 20 people, they said. It came three days after Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the head of Myanmar’s ruling military council, said in a speech for Armed Forces Day that the military needs to take decisive action against the forces challenging its control.The country’s independent online media reported the aerial bombardment, but there were no immediate reports about it in the state-controlled media.Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military overthrew the elected government of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, triggering widespread popular opposition. After peaceful demonstrations were put down with lethal force...

Woman killed, man arrested in Arapahoe County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:46 GMT

ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) -- A woman was killed in a shooting Thursday morning in Arapahoe County, the sheriff's office said.The shooting occurred in the 5200 block of South Geneva Way, which is just south of Cherry Creek State Park. High fire danger, red flag warning for next 48 hours A man who allegedly left the scene was arrested about one mile away at the intersection of East Orchard Road and South Havana Street.It's unclear from the sheriff's tweet if or how the suspect or victim knew each other.FOX31's Lisa D'Souza is heading to the area to learn more. She will have updates from the scene during FOX31 Morning News.

Rockies' opening day game delayed due to rain

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:46 GMT

SAN DIEGO (KDVR) — The Colorado Rockies' 2023 opening day game has turned into an opening night game thanks to some wet weather in California. The Rockies were slated to start the 2023 season at 2:10 p.m. over at Petco Park in San Diego. However, California's spring weather had different plans.The Rox will now face the Padres at the new tentative start time of 7:40 p.m.The San Diego Padres announced the time change Wednesday evening citing the National Weather Service forecasting rain throughout the afternoon. Who is the most famous baseball player from Colorado? According to FOX31's Dave Althouse, this type of weather is pretty rare in San Diego. In Petco Park's 19-year history, there have only been three rainouts and eight rain delays. Thursday’s sold-out game will mark the first Petco Park opening day game to be played at night since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, and the first with fans in attendance since the Padres beat the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday Night Baseball t...

Relocating 70 of Pablo Escobar’s ‘cocaine hippos’ to cost around $3.5 million

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:46 GMT

(CNN) — Colombia’s plans to relocate 70 “cocaine hippos” descended from drug trafficker Pablo Escobar’s private menagerie will cost approximately $3.5 million, officials said in a press conference Wednesday.It will form part of a deal that the local Antioquia government signed with various institutions including the Colombian Agricultural Institute, the Colombian Air Force and the Ostok Sanctuary in Mexico where 10 hippos will be transported, a statement released on Wednesday said.A sanctuary in India will provide a new home for the other 60 hippos since it is impossible to transport them back to their native Africa and risks upsetting the local ecosystem there.The deal will allocate resources to build boxes and cover air transport costs for the hippos, whose population has boomed despite the efforts of authorities to control it using castrations and “shots” of contraceptive darts.There are now between 130 and 160 of the hippos, according to...

Enjoy Virtual Vacation Day from the comfort of your couch

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:46 GMT

If you’ve been longing for a break but are hesitant to spend a fortune on travel expenses, you’re in luck! March 30 marks Virtual Vacation Day, the perfect day to indulge in your wanderlust without breaking the bank.Thanks to free virtual reality apps, you can explore the vacation destination of your dreams without leaving your couch. From taking a stroll on a tropical beach to wandering through ancient ruins, the possibilities are endless. For an even more immersive experience, virtual reality headsets offer a realistic and interactive way to explore the world.To make the most of Virtual Vacation Day, National Day Calendar suggests trying out different virtual reality tours, from visiting famous landmarks and museums to going on a thrilling adventure or attending a virtual concert. There’s something for everyone, no matter what your interests are.

EU Parliament moves to end gender pay gap — this time for good

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:46 GMT

The European Parliament on Thursday approved binding pay-transparency rules in a bid to tackle the gender salary gap across the EU. That will put pressure on employers, who will now have to take more responsibility in being transparent about salaries and fixing gender-based inequalities.Under the new rules, employers will have to provide employees with access to information on how they determine salaries, broken down by gender. “Companies with more than 100 employees will have a reporting duty,” Samira Rafaela, a Dutch lawmaker from the Renew Europe group and lead MEP on the file, told POLITICO. If the reporting shows that the gender pay gap exceeds 5 percent, the company will have to rectify it. Member countries will be able to fine employers violating the new rules and workers will have a right to compensation, the legislation says.The adopted directive, which was proposed by the European Commission in March 2021, will now have to be formally adopted by the Council of the EU this ...