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Phoenix finishes clearing downtown homeless encampment after finding shelter for more than 500

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:56 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — The city of Phoenix has successfully cleared out a massive downtown homeless encampment by Saturday’s court ordered deadline by helping more than 500 people find beds in shelters and motels.The hundreds of tents that once lined blocks of streets in the area are now gone, with just a few people milling about or pushing shopping carts filled with their belongings.“I was staying with a friend in a tent but he’s now gone to a shelter,” said Lily Bitsui, 33, who looked a bit lost. Bitsui said she was not around when city workers were offering to help people find a place to stay inside.“They’ve really cleaned up things, and there’s a lot less crime around here now,” said Rudy Soliz, the operations director at the area’s Justa Center, which provides daytime services for older homeless people, including meals and housing assistance. “I’m glad that a lot of those people have gone to shelters.”Soliz said the move had also cut down on neighbor...

Chiefs want to be ‘world’s team’ by going global with star power and Super Bowl success

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:56 GMT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Patrick Mahomes circled the Frankfurt game on his calendar when the NFL schedule was announced.“It’s really cool just to be on this stage, the world stage, in Germany,” the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback said Friday. “I’m excited to be able to play out here.”The Chiefs are excited, too, because the game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday at Deutsche Bank Park is a big step for an organization with global ambitions to become the “world’s team.”The blueprint is simple enough. They have won two of the past four Super Bowls, they have dynamic stars in reigning MVP Mahomes and All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce, and the NFL has prioritized international growth. Taylor Swift just adds to their good timing.“We feel like this is our era,” Chiefs president Mark Donovan said. “Based on the timing, the success and the stars, it’s a responsibility to take advantage of this. If we don’t aggressively take advantage of this, that’s a failure.”The Chiefs have com...

Police investigating 2nd report of needle in Halloween chocolate bar in Mississauga

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:56 GMT

Peel Regional Police are investigating a second report of a needle found lodged in a chocolate bar that was handed out while trick-or-treating in Mississauga.Authorities said they believe that this “Aero” chocolate bar is from the Lorne Park area neighbourhood in the area of Indian Road and Indian Grove. On November 1, a needle was found in a different “Oh Henry!” chocolate bar that investigators believe was handed out on Halloween in the area south of Mississauga Road between Portway Avenue and Gatley Road, now marking two reported incidents. Peel police said a needle was found in a second chocolate bar (left) in the Mississauga area. The first incident was reported on November 1. Photo: Peel Regional Police.Police said it is unknown at this time if both incidents have any connection. No one was injured or harmed, and the chocolate bars were not consumed. In a news release, a police spokesperson said officers are reminding parents and children to check throu...

Tens of thousands of ancient coins have been found off Sardinia. They may be spoils of a shipwreck

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:56 GMT

ROME (AP) — A diver who spotted something metallic not far from Sardinia’s coast has led to the discovery of tens of thousands of ancient bronze coins.Italy’s culture ministry said Saturday that the diver alerted authorities, who sent divers assigned to an art protection squad along with others from the ministry’s undersea archaeology department. The coins dating from the first half of the fourth century were found in sea grass, not far from the northeast shore of the Mediterranean island. The ministry didn’t say exactly when the first diver caught a glimpse of something metallic just off shore Sardinia, not far from the town of Arzachena.Exactly how many coins have been retrieved hasn’t been determined yet, as they are being sorted. A ministry statement estimated that there are at least about 30,000 and possibly as many as 50,000, given their collective weight.“All the coins were in an excellent and rare state of preservation,” the ministry said. The few coins that were...

Report: Bears ink Montez Sweat to massive extension

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:56 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago bears have signed newly-acquired defensive end Montez Sweat to a massive multi-year extension, making him the sixth highest paid defender in football.According to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the extension is a four year deal worth $98 million in new money, averaging out to $24.5 million a year over the life of the contract. Sweat netted $72,865,360 in guaranteed money, and incentives could push the total deal up to $105 million.With the new contract, Sweat is now the sixth-highest paid defensive player in football, just ahead of New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams ($24 million per year) and just behind Cleveland Browns' defensive end Myles Garrett ($25 million per year). How does Jaylon Johnson feel about not being traded by the Bears? Before arriving in Chicago, Sweat notched 6.5 sacks with the Washington Commanders this year, which is as many sacks as the Bears' entire defensive line has accumulated on the season.The Chicago Bears travel dow...

Virginia fisherman sentenced for illegally harvesting $37K worth of striped bass

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:56 GMT

NORFOLK, Va. (WRIC) -- A Virginia fisherman has been sentenced for illegally harvesting striped bass over the course of several years.52-year-old commercial fisherman Keith J. Martin was sentenced to four months in prison on October 26. He was required to begin his sentence by noon December 12. It was recommended by the court to the Bureau of Prisons that Martin be incarcerated in a medical facility.Upon his release, Martin was sentenced to three years of supervised release. On the condition of and for the duration of his supervised release, Martin will be prohibited from participating in any form of commercial fishing unless approved by the U.S. Probation Office and will be required to participate in an approved mental health treatment program.In June, Martin pleaded guilty to violating Virginia state law and the Lacey Act by fishing striped bass above his quota, failing to report the amount and completing at least one sale of striped bass with a commercial purchaser without using ...

'Alarming': Unexpected pathogen spread by infected chiggers found for 1st time in North Carolina

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:56 GMT

GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) -- Wildlife researchers at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro found a novel pathogen for the first time in North Carolina that is carried by chiggers.Bacteria called Orientia tsutsugamushi causes the disease scrub typhus, which is spread to people through bites of infected chiggers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 5 dog breeds this veterinarian says he’d never own — and why "That is a disease that has never been described in North America or in the Americas altogether," Dr. Gideon Wasserberg, an infectious disease expert who works in the UNCG Department of Biology, said.Symptoms include: a dark scab at the site of the biteconfusionfeverchillsheadachebody achesrashlarger lymph nodesIn some extreme cases, it can lead to organ failure.There is no vaccine available to prevent scrub typhus, but the antibiotic doxycycline can be given to anyone. People treated with doxycycline tend to recover quickly. The antibiotic will ...

Gophers running back Zach Evans upgraded to questionable for Illinois game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:56 GMT

The Gophers’ backfield got a bit of good news going into Saturday’s game against Illinois at Huntington Bank Stadium.While Darius Taylor remains out, Zach Evans has been upgraded to questionable to return against the Illini, per the U’s status report filed two hours before kickoff.Backup tailback Jordan Nubin climbed the ranks last week and rushed 40 times for 204 yards and two touchdowns in the 27-12 win over Michigan State. Sean Tyler is healthy but has had fumbling issues this season. Bryce Williams is out for the season.Cornerback Justin Walley appears good to go after missing the end of the Spartans win with an injury.Gophers starting guard Tyler Cooper is out for a second straight game.Gophers’ opening drivesThe Gophers averaged nine plays on their first four opening series this season, but have been off the field for three or less snaps in the last four games.Offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh identified three reasons.“It’s a little bit of execution and me continuing t...

Albany Tulip Festival planting begins

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:56 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — We are still months away from the Albany Tulip Festival, but the planting has begun. Volunteers were at Washington Park on Saturday morning, planting hundreds of bulbs that will spring into bloom by May of next year. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! “The idea of putting those in at the end of the season after all of the beautiful summer colors have come out,” Jeff Crumpton, President of Washington Park Conservancy, said. “It puts the park in a bit of hibernation.”And each bulb is planted carefully on the ground to help create each design.“So then once we come into spring, this coming year…it’s going to look fantastic. It always does,” Crumpton said.Jenna Ditinno, City Gardner for Albany, is behind the designs that make the festival look fantastic. And she says that she will soon start designing for the Tulip Festival in 2025.“So we get done with the tulips in November, and then from December to February, ...

What to know for St. Louis CITY SC's second playoff match

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:56 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - The stakes have never been higher for St. Louis CITY SC. Starting with Sunday, CITY needs to win every game ahead of them, or else their inaugural season is over. St. Louis CITY SC is set for the second match Sunday in a best-of-three playoff series against Sporting Kansas City. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. CT. Sporting KC spoiled St. Louis CITY SC's playoff debut last week with a 4-1 road defeat. Sporting took advantage of CITY's early mistakes, scoring three goals in a matter of roughly 35 minutes and their final three tallies unanswered in near-freezing conditions. St. Louis needs two consecutive wins over Kansas City, this Sunday and the following Saturday, to keep its first season alive. Each round after that switches to a single-elimination format, so basically, CITY will play its remaining slate of games on the brink of elimination. Here's what else to know ahead of Sunday's match: ScheduleSporting Kansas City has a 1-0 series advantage after their victory la...