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Bridge: March 31, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:42 GMT

Opening the bidding (“striking the first blow”) may be beneficial for both offense and defense. But skimpy opening bids impede accuracy in constructive bidding.In the Soloway Knockout Teams at the Fall NABC, both Norths opened one diamond with sub-minimum high cards and a hand bereft of winners. The resulting four-heart game with a combined 20 HCP and a shaky trump suit was an underdog.SECOND CLUBAt one table West led a trump, and East took the ace (not best) and returned a spade to the ace. West then cashed the ace of clubs and led a club to dummy. Declarer picked up East’s queen of trumps and ruffed a club in dummy to set up the suit. Plus 420.In the replay, West led the ace of spades, then a low club (not best). South might have guessed right. If to have a chance he assumed East had the A-Q of trumps, he could have given West the ace of clubs for his overcall. (South could have played East for specifically Q-x in trumps and the ace of clubs.) But South played lo...

Vatican says Pope Francis to leave hospital on Saturday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:42 GMT

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis is expected to be discharged on Saturday from the Rome hospital where he is being treated for bronchitis, the Vatican said. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a written statement on Friday that the pope’s recovery has been “normal” and that he ate a pizza Thursday for dinner. Francis, 86, was hospitalized on Wednesday at Gemelli Polyclinic, where doctors said the pontiff was receiving antibiotics intravenously to treat his bronchitis.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.ROME (AP) — Pope Francis spent his second night in a Rome hospital “serenely” as he receives antibiotics intravenously to treat bronchitis, the Vatican said Friday. A Vatican official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the information wasn’t a formal Holy See statement, indicated there would be an update on the pope’s hospitalization later in the day. The 86-year-old pontiff was taken to Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic on Wednesday after he returned to...

Vatican says Pope Francis will be discharged on Saturday from a Rome hospital

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:42 GMT

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Vatican says Pope Francis will be discharged on Saturday from a Rome hospital.Source

Memphis shooting leaves 2 police officers, suspect wounded

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:42 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Two Memphis police officers and a suspect were wounded in a shooting during a foot chase in the city, authorities said.The shooting occurred after officers responded to a report of a person with a gun at a convenience store shortly before 7:30 p.m. Thursday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said in a statement.The two officers and the suspect, who was outside the business before the chase began, all were transported to hospitals for treatment, the bureau said.The officers and the suspect were in critical condition following the shooting in the Whitehaven neighborhood, the Memphis Police Department said on Twitter.The bureau said it has launched an investigation at the request of Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy. The bureau typically investigates shootings involving police officers in Tennessee.Source

Acusan de un nuevo cargo de homicidio a Bryan Walshe, esposo Ana Walshe, tras su desaparición

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:42 GMT

(CNN) — Un hombre de Massachusetts fue acusado de un cargo de homicidio este jueves por la desaparición de su esposa Ana Walshe, gerente de bienes raíces corporativos y madre que desapareció a principios de este año, dijo un fiscal de distrito.Brian Walshe ya había sido acusado de homicidio y otros cargos en enero en relación con la desaparición de su esposa, cargos por los que se declaró inocente, después de que las autoridades dijeron que encontraron evidencia de que la mató, desmembró y se deshizo de sus restos de manera espantosa.La acusación de este jueves por parte de un jurado investigador del condado de Norfolk traslada el caso de un tribunal de distrito a un tribunal superior del condado, y se llevará a cabo una nueva lectura de cargos, dijo el fiscal de distrito del condado, Michael W. Morrissey.El jurado investigador acusó formalmente a Brian Walshe, de 48 años, de cargos de homicidio, de engañar a los investigadores y transportar indebidamente un cuerpo humano, dij...

FIRST ON WTOP: Former U. Md. student cleared of sex assault claims sues school, 2 ex-members of campus advocacy group

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:42 GMT

A two-and-a-half-year drama has moved from a local campus disciplinary panel to a federal court room.It involves a former University of Maryland student accused and later exonerated of a sexual assault accusation who has now filed a civil lawsuit against the school, two Title IX coordinators and two former students who were part of a campus sexual assault advocacy group. The suit is asking for at least $1 million in damages.More Maryland NewsMore Local NewsAccording to the lawsuit, on Oct. 27, 2020, a student referred to in the suit as “Jane Roe” accused two students — including the plaintiff in this case who uses the pseudonym of “John Doe” — of sexually assaulting her.After an investigation and a hearing conducted by the University of Maryland’s Office of Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct on Sept. 1, 2021, the hearing officer found “Roe” lacked credibility and found both “Doe” and his friend “Jacob Poe” were not responsible for the two claims that she made, according to “Do...

Denver weather: Fire danger, high winds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:42 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — High winds are back across Denver on Friday, meaning there is enhanced fire danger along the southern Front Range and southern Eastern Plains from noon through 7 p.m. in the Denver weather forecast. Pinpoint Weather: Advisories on March 31. Weather today: Red flag warningsFriday has a mix of sun and clouds with below-average highs in the middle 50s. High winds are back and coming out of the northwest at 25-35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph this afternoon. 1,000-acre wildfire forces evacuations in Park, Teller counties With dry conditions, there is an enhanced fire danger Friday.Pinpoint Weather: Daily forecast for March 31. Weather tonight: Slower winds, coolSkies will slowly clear overnight Friday with lighter winds. Overnight lows will dip into the upper 20s with a southwest wind at 5-10 mph.Pinpoint Weather: Overnight forecast on March 31. Looking ahead: Nice weekend, snow and rain aheadThe weekend ahead looks great with mostly sunny skies and warm temperatures. D...

Pope to be discharged from hospital on Saturday, Vatican says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:42 GMT

(CNN) — Pope Francis is expected to be discharged from hospital on Saturday, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Friday in a statement.Francis, 86, was hospitalized on Wednesday for the treatment of a respiratory infection.The Pontiff had pizza for dinner on Thursday together with medical and police staff, and Friday “after breakfast, he read some newspapers and resumed his work. His Holiness’s return home to Santa Marta is expected tomorrow, following the results of the latest tests this morning,” Bruni said.Bruni had earlier revealed that Francis was given antibiotics to treat infectious bronchitis during his stay in hospital.He spent a second “restful” night at the Policlinico A. Gemelli Hospital in Rome, Vatican sources told CNN on Friday.The pontiff — who as a young man suffered from severe pneumonia and had part of a lung removed — has had a recent history of medical issues.He has often been seen with a walking stick and sometime...

Tennis legends to compete in pickleball tournament for $1M prize

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:42 GMT

Some tennis legends are trading in their rackets for pickleball paddles on Sunday. John McEnroe, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, and Michael Chang are competing in a pickleball tournament in Hollywood, Florida for a split of a one million dollar prize. The 2023 Pickleball Slam is at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and airs on ESPN starting at noon Sunday. The slam is a multi-year partnership with the Hard Rock. It features two single matches and a double match. Pickleball is now considered a cultural phenomenon that combines tennis, ping pong, and badminton. Promoters say the idea for the tournament is for big names in one racket sport to help promote another racket sport.

Chelmsford wildlife sanctuary caring for baby porcupine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:42 GMT

Newhouse Wildlife Rescue in Chelmsford is caring for a baby porcupine named Sammy. Sammy was born at the facility and recently became popular for a video of her squealing while being cleaned. Porcupines are known to be very vocal animals and can be drama queens, according to rescuers. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Newhouse Wildlife Rescue (@newhousewildliferescue)