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Blue Jackets fire coach Brad Larsen after 2 seasons

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:28 GMT

The Columbus Blue Jackets have fired coach Brad Larsen after two seasons without a playoff appearance.General manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced the move Saturday after the team finished last in the Eastern Conference and 31st out of 32 NHL teams. While the Blue Jackets were ravaged by injuries throughout the season after beginning it with expectations to contend, the decision was made nevertheless to move on from Larsen, who had a contract through next season.Goaltending coach Manny Legace also will not be back after five seasons on the job.“This season has been extremely disappointing and the responsibility for that lies with all of us,” Kekalainen said in a statement. “These decisions were difficult and not made lightly given our respect for both Brad and Manny as coaches and people. Brad has been part of our organization for more than a decade, and we are extremely thankful for his hard work and many contributions — both on and off the ice — during that time.”Columbus lost 102 o...

Driver strikes, kills DC man changing tire on I-495 shoulder

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:28 GMT

A man who pulled over to change his tire on the Capital Beltway in Maryland was struck and killed by a driver Friday afternoon, according to authorities.Maryland State Police said that 55-year-old Olumide Stephen, of D.C., was fatally struck around 2 p.m. while on the right shoulder of Interstate 495, just before the Baltimore Avenue exit near College Park.Stephen had his hazard lights on while changing out his right rear passenger-side tire when police said that 21-year-old driver Surya Padmanabhan went off the road and crashed into Stephen “for reasons unknown at this time.”Police said that the crash is still under investigation. Padmanabhan, of Boyds, Maryland, has not been charged in relation to the crash. WTOP’s Jessica Kronzer contributed to this report.Source

United States wins figure skating World Team Trophy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:28 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Reigning world pairs silver medalists Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier finished first in free skate on Saturday to lead the United States to its fifth figure skating World Team Trophy.Knierim and Frazier, first after the Friday’s short program, received 147.87 points in the free skate to finish 4.18 points ahead of Japanese skaters Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara to give their team a 17-point lead.Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii of Italy were third with 130.22 points.The United States finished with 120 points, 25 ahead of South Korea. Host Japan was third with 94 points. Italy was fourth with 83 points followed by France (80) and Canada (68).Jason Brown landed a triple axel, double axel sequence and six more triple jumps to receive 183.43 points and finish third in the men’s free skate. The 10 points he received was enough to secure the gold for the Americans.“It’s been so fun getting to talk on behalf of my team the last few days, but I’m just going to let the skatin...

How much does a wedding cost in Colorado?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:28 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — Getting hitched this year? Wedding site The Knot recently released its 2022 Real Weddings Study to determine the average cost of a wedding in each U.S. state. The results show wedding expenses are adjusting back to pre-pandemic prices, as the average wedding now costs around $30,000. That's a $2,000 year-over-year increase, likely attributable to overall inflation, the Knot says. Colorado taxpayers paid how much for weddings in Vail? The most expensive wedding state for yet another year? New Jersey, where a wedding will cost an average of $51,000. The least expensive weddings, on average, can be thrown in Kansas, Oklahoma and Utah — average wedding costs in these states are well below the national average at $16,000.Take a look at this interactive map to see the average wedding cost in your state.Curious how wedding costs break down?The Knot also breaks down the average wedding budget — not including honeymoons. The five biggest expenses are venue, live bands...

Not as warm this weekend, showers around

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:28 GMT

7Weather – It’s been a pleasant start, minus a lot of clouds this morning. Those clouds helped to keep morning low temperatures in the upper 40s/near 50°. Temperatures won’t be near record or record-breaking highs today. It’ll still be mild in the upper 60s/near 70° inland with more breaks of sun. The coast will stay in the upper 50s/near 60° with an onshore breeze. Dinner plans in the city? It’ll be cool with a chance for an isolated shower.You might be able to dodge the raindrops tonight. Anything that does fall will remain light. Overnight, there’s a better chance for rain showers. There could be a rumble of thunder early tomorrow morning around the South Coast, Buzzard’s Bay, Cape and the Islands. Here’s a closer look below. Showers linger through mid/late morning. The morning hours will be the best time for us to get rain. Amounts will stay light. There’s an isolated shower chance through the rest of Sunday. A lot of cloud...

The Jets’ 5 biggest areas of need heading into the ‘23 NFL Draft

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:28 GMT

Less than two weeks before the 2023 NFL Draft, many questions still surround the Jets’ future.A month after saying he intends to play for them, the Jets still have yet to agree to a trade with the Packers for superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers. That complicates matters with the draft looming.Green Bay certainly wants draft capital for Rodgers, as they could ask for picks this year and in 2024. Currently, the Jets have six picks in this year’s draft.No matter if and when the Rodgers trade takes place, the Jets have needs to address on both sides of the ball heading into the draft. The significant questions begin on the offensive line, as the Jets had 11 different linemen start games for them in 2022.TACKLEThe Jets have drafted a few tackles over the last few seasons, but the left and right spots remain a question this offseason. Veteran Duane Brown was the Jets starting right tackle but he dealt with shoulder issues all last year (missing five games) and he had offseason...

Motorcyclist killed in East County crash identified

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:28 GMT

EL CAJON, Calif. — A motorcyclist who was killed in a crash last weekend in the El Cajon area has been identified by authorities. According to the San Diego Medical Examiner's Office, Anthony Peel, a 47-year-old El Cajon resident, was driving a Ducati motorcycle that collided with a pickup truck that was backing out of a driveway within the 1600 block of Pepper Drive on April 2. Woman suspected of stealing mail, hundreds of unused gift cards Authorities say the driver of pickup truck driver stopped and called 911 to report the accident. Responding paramedics attempted lifesaving measures on Peel while transporting him by ambulance to the Sharp Memorial Hospital Emergency Department.According the Medical Examiner's Office, medical staff at the hospital pronounced the motorcyclist had died following the crash. His cause of death was noted as blunt force injuries of the head.California Highway Patrol said the driver of the pickup truck was not injured during the collision.

New affordable housing in San Diego opens for families, homeless youths and veterans

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:28 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Army veteran Mathew Barge is thankful to finally have a place to call home."I’m just overwhelmed with just being able to have my own place," Barge said. "I was homeless for 10 years on the streets.”He lived out of a suitcase and shelters with his dog Bojangles. They moved home in a unit at Amanecer Apartments when the building first opened in January."I have my own toilet and shower, and to me that is all part of living that’s health a person cannot be healthy without shelter," Barge said.Amanecer Apartments in Linda Vista have 96 affordable units, including 10 for young adults and another 10 for veterans facing homelessness.The apartments were built by nonprofit developer Community HousingWorks.“We have people that are working hard, but can't quite earn enough to pay for quality housing," said Anna Slaby at VP of Development, with Community HousingWorks. Slaby says they also provide wrap around services to residents. "We offer financial literacy programs, after school ...

Poland prohibits food imports from Ukraine to soothe farmers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:28 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s government said Saturday that it has decided to temporarily prohibit grain and other food imports from Ukraine as it seeks to soothe the rising anger of Polish farmers, who say they are losing huge amounts of money to a glut of Ukrainian grain on the market.Ruling party leader Jarosław Kaczyński said at a party convention in eastern Poland that the Polish countryside is facing a “moment of crisis,” and that while Poland supports Ukraine, it was forced to act to protect its farmers.“Today, the government has decided on a regulation that prohibits the importation of grain, but also dozens of other types of food, to Poland,” Kaczyński said.The government announced that the ban on imports would last until June 30. The regulation also includes a prohibition on imports of sugar, eggs, meat, milk and other dairy products and fruits and vegetables.Farmers in neighboring countries have also complained about Ukrainian grain flooding their countries and cre...

Azerbaijan weightlifters leave Armenia after flag burned

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:28 GMT

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — Azerbaijan withdrew from the European Weightlifting Championships on Saturday in the capital of Armenia a day after a man ran onto the stage at the competition’s opening ceremony, seized an Azerbaijan flag and set it on fire.Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Youth and Sports said the incident Friday night in Yerevan showed that “when such an atmosphere of hatred reigns in Armenia, security is not ensured, the normal participation of Azerbaijani athletes in competitions is impossible due to psychological pressure.”The ministry said the athletes and those accompanying them have left Armenia.Armenian officials said the man who seized the flag was an employee of Armenian public television who was invited to the opening ceremony. He was taken to a police station after the incident but freed without charges.Animosity between Armenia and Azerbaijan has risen in recent months with the blockade of the only road leading from Armenia to the ethnically Armenian region...