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Biden celebrates LSU women’s and UConn men’s basketball teams at separate White House events

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:20:54 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — All of the past drama and sore feelings associated with Louisiana State’s invitation to the White House were seemingly forgotten or set aside Friday as President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcomed the championship women’s basketball team to the mansion with smiles, hugs and lavish praise all around. The visit had once appeared in jeopardy after Jill Biden suggested that the losing Iowa team be invited, too. But none of that was mentioned as both Bidens heralded the players for their performance and the way they have helped advance women’s sports.“Folks, we witnessed history,” the president said. “In this team, we saw hope, we saw pride and we saw purpose. It matters.” The ceremony was halted for about 10 minutes after forward Sa’Myah Smith appeared to collapse as she and her teammates stood behind Biden. A wheelchair was brought in and coach Kim Mulkey assured the audience that Smith was fine.LSU said in a statement that Smith felt...

It’s complicated: ‘X-date’ calculations aim to zero in on when the US may run short of cash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:20:54 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — For all the concern over just when the government might run short of money to pay its bills, it turns out that no one can be absolutely sure exactly when the country will default — what officials are calling the “X-date” — if there’s no deal to raise the debt limit.Calculating when the country is going to run out of money requires monitoring major fluctuations in cash flowing into and out of the Treasury and factoring in the timing and size of big payments coming due, among other factors. Now, with only days left for the White House and congressional leaders to negotiate a deal that would allow the government to borrow more money before the U.S. hits the statutory debt ceiling, knowing the drop-dead date is crucial.And amid all the squabbling over the debt, the X-date itself has inevitably become a subject of political rancor. WHAT IS THE “X-DATE”?The X-date arrives when the government no longer has enough of a financial cushion to pay all its bills, having e...

Actor Danny Masterson’s rape retrial sees deliberations drag on again

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:20:54 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jurors have deliberated for more than a week without reaching a verdict in the rape retrial of “That ’70s Show” star Danny Masterson, and will have to return and resume talks after the long holiday weekend.The Los Angeles County jury of seven women and five men went home Friday without reaching a verdict on any of the three counts of rape against the 47-year-old, who could get up to 45 years in prison if convicted of all three. The jury got the case as closing arguments ended May 17. With planned time off, they have been talking for a total of 6 1/2 days and have had relatively few questions for the judge. Jurors have asked for the reading back of some testimony — including part of the cross-examination of Masterson’s former girlfriend, who is one of the three accusers. But the requests have shed little light on the state of deliberations.Jurors will return to court Wednesday morning after taking the weekend, Memorial Day and another planned day off. I...

UBC faculty of medicine mourns loss of colleague who died climbing Mount Everest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:20:54 GMT

VANCOUVER — A Vancouver man has died while trying to pursue his lifelong dream of climbing Mount Everest.The University of British Columbia’s faculty of medicine says it is mourning the unexpected death of Dr. Pieter Swart, an anesthesiologist and associate professor at the school.Dr. Hamed Umedaly, one of Swart’s colleagues in the university’s anesthesiology department, says Swart was a “beloved friend” who had an “insatiable wanderlust.” In a post shared online by the university, Umedaly says Swart died Thursday due to a “respiratory event” while descending the mountain.  It says he was pursuing a childhood dream of “being on top of the world” and describes Swart as a respected and caring doctor.The post says a memorial will be arranged with Swart’s family.This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2023. The Canadian Press

EU official says Twitter abandons bloc’s voluntary pact against disinformation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:20:54 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Twitter has dropped out of a voluntary European Union agreement to combat online disinformation, a top EU official said Friday.European Commissioner Thierry Breton tweeted that Twitter had pulled out of the EU’s disinformation “code of practice” that other major social media platforms have pledged to support. But he added that Twitter’s “obligation” remained, referring to the EU’s tough new digital rules taking effect in August.“You can run but you can’t hide,” Breton said.San Francisco-based Twitter responded with an automated reply, as it does to most press inquiries, and did not comment.The decision to abandon the commitment to fighting false information appears to be the latest move by billionaire owner Elon Musk to loosen the reins on the social media company after he bought it last year. He has rolled back previous anti-misinformation rules, and has thrown its verification system and content-moderation policies into chaos as he pursues his goal ...

Jury finds man guilty of second-degree murder in 2018 California state park killing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:20:54 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Los Angeles jury on Friday found a man guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting death of a father who was camping with his daughters and of the attempted murders of the two young girls, all at a popular park in Southern California.Anthony Rauda fatally shot Tristan Beaudette in the head while the 35-year-old father camped in a tent with his daughters on June 18, 2018. The jury exonerated Rauda on a first-degree murder charge but convicted him on a second-degree offense. He faces 40 years to life in prison and will be sentenced next month.A conviction for first-degree murder requires the government to prove intention and premeditation. Second-degree murder does not.Beaudette was killed at Malibu Creek State Park, roughly 30 miles (48 kilometers) west of downtown Los Angeles. His daughters, then ages 2 and 4, were not injured but were considered victims of attempted murder. The jury convicted Rauda on the counts related to the girls but ruled that Rauda had ...

ISP seizes nearly 130 pounds of fake pills on I-57

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:20:54 GMT

CHICAGO — Illinois State Police announced a massive bust of fake drugs on Friday. Police intercepted a vehicle parked with almost 130 pounds of counterfeit drugs on northbound Interstate 57 overnight. More than 500,000 pills were discovered. MedWatch Daily Digest: DEA revokes license of drug distributor — and more Many of them were laced with fentanyl. The counterfeit drugs have a street value of one and a half million dollars. Police say they saved countless lives by getting these dangerous pills off the street. 

Students pour cement into toilets in 'senior prank' at NC high school, district says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:20:54 GMT

BURLINGTON, N.C. (WGHP) — A North Carolina school district is investigating a "senior prank" at Williams High School in Burlington — which caused over $4,000 in damages. The school system says students "gained entry" overnight and poured cement into the toilets and urinals.Alamance-Burlington School System says Williams was not its only school that suffered damages, either. This sport is most commonly linked to lightning deaths Maintenance crews are cleaning up overturned desks, damaged lockers, graffiti, eggs and trash at several other high schools. Other acts of vandalism were also reported across the district."We believe in celebrating milestones in a responsible and respectful way, without crossing the line and causing harm or damage," ABSS said in a statement.The district says students involved in the vandalism face potential suspensions and legal charges. Any seniors that were involved will be forbidden from participating in graduation ceremonies.

Indiana police sergeant, resident save driver from car fire after crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:20:54 GMT

LAKE STATION, IN. -- An Indiana police sergeant and a local resident are being hailed heroes after pulling a driver from a car that caught on fire after crashing onto a bridge embankment Thursday night.According to the Lake State Police Department, Sgt. James Lamprecht was on duty in his unmarked patrol vehicle, parked in the police parking lot around 11 p.m. on Thursday, May 25 when he observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed westbound on Fairview Avenue and turning south onto Grand Boulevard, disregarding the stop sign there. Suspect dead after 48 hour crime spree, shootout with police in Batavia Lamprecht immediately pulled out and attempted to catch up to the vehicle. He lost the driver for a short time before a citizen called authorities stating that a vehicle had gone over the bridge and it was on fire.When Lamprecht arrived at the bridge on Grand Boulevard near Riverside Drive, he was flagged down by a resideny, Kevin Gaskin. Indiana police sergeant then saw a d...

These billionaires have more money than the US Treasury right now

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:20:54 GMT

(The Hill) — As time winds down on how long lawmakers have to reach a deal to raise the debt ceiling to avoid the U.S. defaulting on its debt, the Treasury Department’s cash balance has been dropping. Data from the department’s website shows that its cash balance fell to $49.473 billion on Wednesday, a drop from about the $76.5 billion that it had at the close of Tuesday.  J.D. Vance says Target ‘decided to wage war’ on customers with Pride Month collection The White House and congressional Republicans are in the midst of negotiations to try to raise the debt limit before it is reached, potentially as soon as June 5. As the Treasury’s cash balance drops, an increasing number of individuals in the United States and other countries throughout the world are worth more than what the government has.The Bloomberg Billionaire Index, which issues a daily ranking of the world’s wealthiest people based on net worth, lists 24 individuals as having a higher net worth than the amount of m...