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A look back at Louisiana Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards’ eight years in office

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:11:02 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — It was 2012 and Louisiana was spiraling toward a historic budget crisis, with public colleges bracing for another round of cuts that campus leaders said were chasing away students and shuttering programs. John Bel Edwards, then-a rural state representative, had had enough. He turned to a fellow lawmaker and said, “I’m running for governor.” The Democrat went on to shock the country, defying near-universal predictions and winning Louisiana’s gubernatorial election in the reliably red state twice.Edwards, currently the lone Democratic governor in the Deep South, has reached his final two days in office after eight years. His tenure has been marked by successes — expanding Medicaid, joining climate change initiatives, climbing out of a budget deficit and investing in education — while navigating historical crises and facing challenges from a GOP-dominated legislature. A decade ago, Edwards, a lawyer from a 4,000-person town in eastern Louisiana, had little name ...

Orthodox mark Christmas, but the celebration is overshadowed for many by conflict

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:11:02 GMT

Orthodox Christians packed churches Saturday night for Christmas Eve services, a holiday overshadowed for many believers by conflict.Traditions vary, but typically the main worship service for Orthodox Christians takes place the night before Christmas, which is Jan. 7.Patriarch Kirill, leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, the world’s largest Orthodox denomination, led elaborate and well-attended services at Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral. In ornately decorated vestments, dozens of priests and officiants took part, swinging smoking incense censers and chanting the liturgy. In his Christmas message, broadcast just before the service Saturday night, Kirill spoke on the theme of sacrificial love, noting that Jesus Christ “saved us from the wrong path in life, from the wrong life orientation.” He also called for prayers for Russia, so that “no alien evil will could disrupt the peaceful flow of life.”Russian President Vladimir Putin was joined by families of military personnel who...

Man upgraded to stable after dispute led to shooting at Bridgeport restaurant

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:11:02 GMT

CHICAGO — A man has been upgraded to stable condition after a verbal dispute led to a shooting at a restaurant in Bridgeport Friday night. Police said a 32-year-old man was in the restaurant Buffalo Wings and Rings near the 3400 block of South Halsted around 11:25 p.m. when two unidentified men approached him and began a verbal dispute. Service suspended temporarily at O’Hare Blue Line after body found on track One of the individuals pulled out a gun and shot the 32-year-old man before fleeing the scene. 11th Ward Alderwoman Nicole Lee issued the following statement Saturday after the shooting:“I was notified of the shooting at a restaurant on the 3400 block of South Halsted by 9th District Police just after midnight. Our office has maintained constant communication with law enforcement throughout the day as they continue to investigate the incident.“The shooting appears to be an isolated incident stemming from a dispute between two parties. I am relieved to share that the victim ...

Pro-Palestinian protest near home of Sen. Dick Durbin brings portion of DuSable Lake Shore Drive to a halt

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:11:02 GMT

CHICAGO — Portions of DuSable Lake Shore Drive were brought to a halt on Saturday afternoon as thousands of pro-Palestinian protestors rallied outside of the North Side home of U.S. Senator Dick Durbin.Traffic has since begun moving, but up until about 4:30 p.m., drivers headed southbound were stuck in standstill traffic, as protestors gathered to demand that Senator Durbin, and other elected officials, call for a ceasefire in Gaza.As the number of people killed by Israeli forces in Gaza continues to climb, protestors thousands of miles away in Chicago aren't backing down. For more coverage of the Israel and Hamas Conflict, click here "It's important to be out here because there is a genocide going on in Palestine, and our tax dollars are funding that genocide. So if you're not out here, then there is blood on the hands of all of us," said Jena Kanan, who joined Saturday's protest.The group is hoping to get the attention of Senator Durbin, who organizers say has a residence along ...

The United States on Jan. 6, three years later

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:11:02 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — In the follow-up to their 2018 bestseller “How Democracies Die,” authors Daniel Ziblatt and Steven Levitsky write about three rules that political parties must follow: accept the results of fair elections, reject the use of violence to gain power and break ties to extremists.In the aftermath of the 2020 election, they write, only one U.S. political party “violated all three.”Saturday marks the third anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, and Donald Trump, the former president, is far-and-away the leading Republican candidate in 2024. He still refuses to acknowledge his earlier loss to President Joe Biden. Far from rejecting the rioters, he has suggested he would pardon some of those who have been convicted of violent crimes. Rather than distance himself from extremists, he welcomes them at his rallies and calls them patriots.And Trump is now backed by many of the Republican leaders who fled for their lives an...

Storms and wind for the start of the work week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:11:02 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After a beautiful Saturday we'll be in for a clear and cold night. While low temperatures should stay above freezing in Austin, we'll see at least some of the Hill Country dropping down below 32º by Sunday morning.Sunday will have plenty of sun with clouds drifting in from time to time. High temperatures should reach the low 60s to finish up the weekend. Wind will gradually increasing making for a breezy afternoon.A pair of cold fronts come through Monday afternoon and late Monday night bringing storms, wind and colder temperatures.Storms and showers look fairly widespread Monday morning, especially for the Austin Metro and our eastern counties. Parts of the western Hill Country may miss out on the rain on Monday.The morning rain will get about 70% of us wet, but rainfall amounts should be less than a quarter of an inch for most of us.A few isolated storms may redevelop Monday afternoon and again Monday night, mainly for our eastern counties. A Marginal (1 out of 5)...

Adam Raska becomes ninth Iowa player to suit up for Wild this season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:11:02 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio — There are a lot of numbers that can be used to define the underwhelming season the Minnesota Wild are having, from record (16-17-4) to salary cap space ($40,000), to longest losing streak (7) and head coaches employed (2).Just as revealing is the number of players recalled so far from top minor league club Iowa, nine and counting, with goaltender Jesper Wallstedt expected to be called up for his first NHL games sometime over the next few days.Injuries have been a major problem this season, and almost exclusively for players the salary cap-strapped Wild were counting on to play a lot of games this season, such as Kirill Kaprizov, Mats Zuccarello, Jared Spurgeon, Jonas Brodin, Freddy Gaudreau, Matt Boldy, Ryan Hartman and Filip Gustavsson.Adam Raska on Friday became the ninth player the Wild have called up from Iowa this season to help plug holes left by a large handful of injuries to key contributors. On Saturday, he was set to become the eighth of those players to g...

East Colfax Aurora apartment construction fire was largest in fire department history

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:11:02 GMT

The Dec. 16, 2023 apartment construction fire in East Colfax in Aurora that produced a smoke plume seen across the Denver area was the largest in Aurora Fire Rescue’s history, the department reported Friday.It took five days and more than 50 apparatuses to fully extinguish the blaze, and the estimated value of property losses exceeded $150 million.Colfax Avenue and Peoria Street are still closed, department officials said, but the streets will reopen within the next week as a phased demolition process started this week.Fire officials are still investigating, so the phased approach enables them to investigate while clearing debris.Fire officials do not believe this fire is connected to a similar fire just two days prior at an apartment building under construction in southeast Aurora. That fire is being investigated as a potential criminal act, according to the department.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Apartment complex fire at East Colfax Avenue, Peoria St...

A look at Coach Prime’s upgraded roster for the CU Buffs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:11:02 GMT

With the season opener nearly eight months away, the Colorado football roster certainly isn’t complete.Last year, head coach Deion Sanders and his staff made significant roster moves in the winter and again in the spring and even made some tweaks as late as August.There won’t be as many changes this year as last year, but the Buffaloes’ roster is already different and, they hope, better than it was during a 4-8 (1-8 Pac-12) campaign in 2023.Related Articles Five people charged in threats against CSU’s Henry Blackburn following Rocky Mountain Showdown hit to Travis Hunter Football: CU Buffs WR Willie Gaines transferring Report: DC Charles Kelly leaving CU Buffs for Auburn Football: Transfer Chidozie Nwankwo eager to help CU Buffs take next step in 2024 Football recruiting: Former Florida State linebacker DJ Lundy commits to CU Buffs For now, the Buffs unofficially have 79 of 85 scholarship spots fill...

NBA reinstates Draymond Green from indefinite suspension after 12 games

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:11:02 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — Draymond Green was reinstated from his indefinite suspension after missing 12 games, the NBA announced on Saturday.The Warriors expect him to rejoin the team on Sunday, but he is unlikely to play against the Toronto Raptors or the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday as he has not been participating in team practices or been around for team activities since the suspension came down on Dec. 14. Green is expected to need a few days to ramp up after nearly a month out.“Green completed steps that demonstrated his commitment to conforming his conduct to standards expected of NBA players,” the NBA’s statement read. “He has engaged in meetings with a counselor and has met jointly on multiple occasions on representatives with representatives of the NBA, the Warriors and the National Basketball Players Association.”Related ArticlesGolden State Warriors | Warriors crowd begs for Moses Moody, delivers standing ovation upon his return ...