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Toppled White House Christmas tree is secured upright, and lighting show will happen as scheduled

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:39 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Christmas Tree in front of the White House fell down during high winds but later was hoisted back upright, and its lighting ceremony will go ahead as scheduled.The tree, a 40-food-tall (12-meter-tall) Norway spruce from West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest, had been planted just two weeks ago on the White House Ellipse, an area known as President’s Park. According to the National Park Service, it fell over around 1 p.m. Tuesday during heavy wind gusts that reached as high at 46 mph (74 km/h) at nearby Reagan National Airport.NPS spokeswoman Jasmine Shanti said in an email that after “replacing a snapped cable,” the tree was back upright by 6 p.m. Tuesday. The lighting of the tree is an annual White House holiday tradition with a countdown and musical performances. This year’s tree is a new one, replacing an older tree that, according to the NPS, developed a fungal disease known as needle cast, which caused its needles to turn b...

LSU star forward Angel Reese is rejoining the No. 7 Tigers in advance of their match-up with ninth-ranked Virginia Tech

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:39 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — LSU star forward Angel Reese is rejoining the No. 7 Tigers in advance of their match-up with ninth-ranked Virginia Tech.Source

Poland’s new parliament brings back state financing for in vitro fertilization

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:39 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s new parliament on Wednesday reinstated government funding for in vitro fertilization, previously banned by the conservative party which lost control of the legislature in the country’s recent general election.The parliament, which began its term this month, has made a point of reversing the ban in one of its first moves as it sets on changing various controversial or restrictive laws introduced by the conservative government. Following a heated debate, lawmakers voted 268-118, with 50 abstentions, to guarantee state funding for IVF procedures, estimated at some 500 million zlotys ($125 million) a year.An aide to President Andrzej Duda, who is an ally of the conservative government, suggested last week that Duda may not use his power of veto against the new law. However, Marcin Mastelerek stressed that the final decision was with the president. State funding of IVF was introduced in 2013 by a liberal government led by Donald Tusk, but the conserva...

IOC lines up French Alps to host 2030 Winter Olympics and Salt Lake City for 2034 edition

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:39 GMT

Salt Lake City being preferred as a shoo-in to host the 2034 Winter Olympics was expected. The surprise was the IOC favoring the French Alps bid for the 2030 edition on Wednesday.Aiming to finalize back-to-back Winter Games hosts next year, the International Olympic Committee executive board has decided to enter exclusive talks with Olympic officials in France and the United States for Salt Lake City.Salt Lake was alone in the 2034 race to bring the games back to Utah, which hosted the 2002 Winter Games, and the American bid’s support from all levels of government up to President Joe Biden was praised Wednesday.“He would guarantee all the expenses,” said IOC member Karl Stoss, who chaired the Olympics panel assessing potential candidates, adding “and they stand really in a strong, strong status behind these games.”A French bid uniting the snowy Alps region and the French Riviera resort Nice came together only in the past few months to compete with Sweden and Switze...

Rosalynn Carter is eulogized before family and friends as husband Jimmy bears silent witness

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:39 GMT

PLAINS, Ga. (AP) — Her frail husband a silent witness, Rosalynn Carter was celebrated by her family and closest friends Wednesday at her funeral in the same tiny town where she and Jimmy Carter were born, forever their home base as they climbed to the White House and traveled the world for humanitarian causes.The former first lady, who died Nov. 19 at the age of 96, had her intimate funeral at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, where she and her husband spent decades welcoming guests and where a wooden cross Jimmy Carter fashioned in his woodshop is displayed. Earlier tributes were held in nearby Americus and in Atlanta.The former president was in attendance in his wheelchair, with her one last time in his life.Maranatha Pastor Tony Lowden told the service that Rosalynn Carter wasn’t just the first lady but “served every nation around the world.”Describing her competitive nature, the pastor spoke to the mourners in what he imagined to be the voice of Rosalynn Carter: “She wou...

David Ragan to enter Daytona 500 as part of new #Stage60 program with RFK Racing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:39 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — RFK Racing will enter a third car in next year’s season-opening Daytona 500 for David Ragan, who will pilot the No. 60 Ford as part of a new program for the organization.The #Stage60 program will bring the No. 60 to the Cup Series and RFK plans to use it in additional races that were not part of Wednesday’s announcement. The number is part of Jack Roush’s heritage and was used in nearly 600 races in the second-tier Xfinity Series by Carl Edwards, Mark Martin, Greg Biffle, Chris Buescher and others.The No. 60 won 94 Xfinity races for what was then called Roush Racing, and Biffle won the 2002 Xfinity title in the car.“The 60 car represents an opportunity for us to honor our past and look forward to the future of RFK Racing,” said Steve Newmark, president of RFK Racing.#Stage60 will feature a “modern retro” font for the Ford and use a logo that pays homage to the classic Roush Stage III Mustang.Ragan, who is from Georgia, competed for 13 full s...

Live: Biden speaks at Pueblo wind tower manufacturer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:39 GMT

PUEBLO, Colo. (KDVR) — On Wednesday, President Joe Biden is visiting CS Wind in Pueblo to highlight how "Bidenomics" is creating jobs and opportunities in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District. CS Wind is a South Korean-based company and is the largest wind tower manufacturer in the world. The investment to expand will create 850 new jobs by 2026.  Biden targets GOP Rep. Boebert in her district in a fresh political attack on Republicans While at the facility, the White House said Biden will deliver a speech promoting the impact of “Bidenomics” on clean energy manufacturing and job creation.“As a consequence of all of that historic legislation, we're now seeing absolutely historic levels of private sector investment, including over $5 billion of private sector investment coming directly back to Colorado. And along with that 1000s of good paying jobs for which you don't necessarily need a four-year degree,” said White House spokesperson Olivia Dalton. Pueblo is in Col...

DPD addresses officers shooting, killing man with long gun and man dying in custody

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:39 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The Denver Police Department is addressing two separate "critical incidents" from November in a media briefing on Wednesday.The department released body-worn footage of the two incidents. 13-year-old boy kills teen girl in accidental shooting in Aurora Two separate officers' footage was shared of police responding to Commons Park on Nov. 20 for a report of a man chasing and yelling at people while carrying a rifle, and one officer's footage was shared of a medical event suffered by a man in police custody on Nov. 15.According to DPD, the footage is being shared to increase transparency. Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas and DPD Major Crimes Division Commander Matt Clark are expected to speak during the press conference.Officers shoot, kill man in Commons ParkBody-worn camera footage was released of two officers who responded to Commons Park and shot and killed a man on Nov. 20 after he was reportedly chasing and yelling at people while carrying a rifle.According to T...

Police investigating homicide in Wheat Ridge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:39 GMT

WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. (KDVR) -- One person was killed in a homicide that occurred Wednesday morning near 38th Avenue and Teller Street in Wheat Ridge. Police were called to the area after shots were heard around 11:19 a.m.No suspect information was known as of 1 p.m., but police said there was no danger to the public.There are three schools located near the crime scene, but police said they did not feel it was necessary to put the schools on lockout or secure status based on the information they had. Download the FOX31 App: Breaking news alerts & Pinpoint Weather However, police said a school resource officer was advising the schools on the latest information.FOX31's Evan Kreugel is on the scene and gathering additional information.

Women outnumber men across the US. That's not the case in Colorado

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:39 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- If you've noticed more men around you in the Centennial State than in decades past, you aren't wrong. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, as of 2022, there were 102.8 men for every 100 women in the state of Colorado.According to estimates, that's around 81,866 more men than women across the state, or a little higher than the estimated 80,192 people that live in Castle Rock.Only five other states have a higher ratio of men to women: Alaska with 110.9, Wyoming with 105.1, North Dakota with 104.8, South Dakota with 103.4 and Utah with 103.1 men for every 100 women. These are the top songs in Denver in 2023, according to Spotify Wrapped Nationwide, there are more women than men: According to the data, for every 100 women nationwide, there were 98.3 men.This phenomenon of there being more men than women in the state isn't new, although the numbers have changed over the years.In 2012, the numbers were pretty even, with 100.6 men for every 100 women. However, that rati...