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States opt against changes to embattled voter roll system

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:09:25 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Election officials from states enrolled in a bipartisan effort to ensure accurate voter lists decided Friday against making changes to the rules that had been pushed by Republicans, some of whom had already decided to leave the system after it was targeted by conspiracy theories tied to the 2020 election. The Electronic Registration Information Center, known as ERIC, has a record of combating voter fraud by identifying those who have died or moved between states. Yet it also has drawn suspicion among conservatives after a series of online stories last year questioning its funding and purpose.Earlier this month, Republican election officials from Florida, Missouri and West Virginia said they planned to withdraw from the group, joining Louisiana and Alabama. Former President Donald Trump, on social media, has called on every Republican-led state to leave, characterizing it as a “terrible Voter Registration System that ’pumps the rolls’ for Democrats and does...

Michigan State muscles past USC 72-62 in March Madness

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:09:25 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Joey Hauser scored 17 points and No. 7 seed Michigan State clamped down defensively on No. 10 seed Southern California in the second half on Thursday for a 72-62 win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament’s East Region.Coach Tom Izzo’s Spartans (20-12) will face the winner of the Vermont-Marquette matchup on Sunday for a spot in the Sweet 16. Marquette coach Shaka Smart sat on press row for part of the second half to get a closer look at what could be his next opponent.Smart watched as Michigan State ramped up its defensive intensity after halftime to muzzle the streaky Trojans (22-11), who were knocked out in the tournament’s first round for the second straight year.Tyson Walker and Jaden Akins added 12 points apiece for Michigan State, which held USC to 34% shooting in the second half. It felt like every possession was a challenge for the Trojans, who only stayed within range with some late 3-pointers and some atrocious free-throw shootin...

Washington State’s March Madness soundtrack? Shania Twain

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:09:25 GMT

VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) — Man, the Washington State women’s basketball team has felt like big winners since they adopted Shania Twain’s monster 1997 hit “Man, I Feel Like A Woman” as the their theme song on their run into March Madness.The Cougars sing Twain’s song in the locker room before games. And after they unexpectedly won the Pac-12 Tournament title, the opening riff blared on the speakers and the team about drowned out Twain, gleefully singing along about men’s shirts, short skirts — and becoming the lowest-seeded team to ever win the conference tourney.“We truly are a team of karaoke,” forward Ula Motuga said Friday. “The bus ride, there’s no doubt someone’s got a speaker going and then other people will sing along. Some can sing, some cannot. But it’s fun. It’s something that bring us together.”Motuga, who’s from Australia, has even used the opening line, “let’s go, girls” as a team anthem. Twain, on tour and unavailable for comment, has become a fan. T...

South Florida women rally to beat Marquette 67-65 in OT

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:09:25 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu scored 22 points and Elena Tsineke’s jumper with 31.2 seconds left in overtime put South Florida ahead for good in a 67-65 victory over No. 9 seed Marquette to start the women’s NCAA Tournament on Friday. The Golden Eagles (22-11) had a final look to win, but Mackenzie Hare’s 3-pointer went inside the rim and rolled out with a second to play. The Bulls (27-6), who didn’t lead for the game’s first 38 minutes, rallied several times including from 47-36 down in regulation to tie their mark for wins in a season.Breaking the record this year won’t be so easy as South Florida is likely to face the No. 1 overall seed and defending champion South Carolina, undefeated on the year and a huge favorite to advance over No. 16 seed Norfolk State in the Columbia pod’s late game.The Bulls appeared to have the game won at the end of the fourth quarter, ahead 59-55 after Tsineke’s 3-pointer with 31.7 to play. But ...

K-9 detects 13 pounds of fentanyl pills, 128 grams of cocaine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:09:25 GMT

EAGLE COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) -- Several pounds of illegal fentanyl pills and 128 grams of cocaine were seized during a traffic stop near the town of Gypsum last week, the Eagle County Sheriff's Office said in a release. The Gore Range Narcotics Interdiction Team pulled over a car traveling eastbound on Interstate 70 for traffic violations on the morning of March 8. The Sheriff's Office said "indicators of further criminal activity were observed," at which point a K-9 was brought in to investigate the vehicle. $800K worth of cocaine seized in Summit County The K-9 alerted its handler to the driver's side door where 128 grams of cocaine were found in a backpack. Thirteen pounds of M30 fentanyl pills were also found in the spare tire compartment, the Sheriff's Office said. Thirteen pounds of fentanyl pills and 128 grams of cocaine were seized in a traffic stop in Interstate 70 near Gypsum (Photo credit: Eagle County Sheriff's Office)Thirteen pounds of M30 fentanyl pills were seized in...

Did you see the sun pillar light up the sky?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:09:25 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- If you were looking up at the sky during sunrise on Friday morning and noticed a ray of light shooting up from the sunrise, you were not alone.Several viewers shared with FOX31 that they saw the pillar of light in the sky. 10 breathtaking spring hikes to take in Colorado Here are some of the photos we received:Sun pillar on March 17, 2023 (Gil Ochoa)Sun pillar on March 17, 2023 (Gil Ochoa)Sun pillar March 17,2023 (Tim Deger)What is a sun pillar?The National Weather Service said that a sun pillar can appear as a shaft of light extending vertically above the sun, most often at sunrise or sundown."They develop as a result of ice crystals slowly falling through the air, reflecting the sun’s rays off of them," the NWS said.If you are hoping to spot one on another day, the NWS said to look to the horizon when the sun is low and cirrus clouds are present. Cirrus clouds are the thin, wispy clouds.

Stocks tumble again as chaotic week of bank fears closes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:09:25 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street’s week of turmoil is closing with sharp drops for stocks on Friday as worries worsen about the banking industry and fears rise that it could drag the economy into a recession.The S&P 500 was 1.2% lower in late trading, cutting into its gain for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 441 points, or 1.4%, at 31,805, as of 3 p.m. Eastern time, while the Nasdaq composite was 1% lower.This week has been a whipsaw for markets around the world as worries rise following the second- and third-largest U.S. bank failures in history. Just a day earlier, markets rallied in relief after two banks on both sides of the Atlantic tapped into tens of billions of dollars of cash to bolster their finances.But on Friday, some of the hope was washing out, and the pair were back to falling. In Switzerland, Credit Suisse shares dropped 8%. On Wall Street, shares of First Republic Bank sank 32.3% and were on their way to a 71% plunge for the week.The two ban...

Police search for 3 accused of armed robbery at Lauderdale Lakes pawn shop

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:09:25 GMT

There was a smashing steal after three men held up a pawn shop in Lauderdale Lakes at gunpoint. The employees at the Cash America Pawn store, located at 2880 FL-7, were frozen in fear when the thieves walked in, just before 5 p.m., March 10. Surveillance video showed one suspect drawing his gun and pointing it at an employee. The first crook entered the store and posed as a customer, appearing to shop when the other two men walked in within seconds. All three men rushed behind the counter, forcing employees to open the registers.The crooks were seen attempting to bash open the glass counter to take anything they could from the display cases.According to police, the trio left in a blue four-door Kia with the tag QFPL03. If you have any information on this crime, you are urged to contact Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477(TIPS).

Cambridge hires consultant to review police department protocols, including handling of Jan. 4 officer-involved shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:09:25 GMT

The City of Cambridge has hired a consultant to conduct a third-party review of its police department and its policies, including a review of an officer-involved shooting in January that killed a 20-year-old man.The city and police department announced on Friday that they would bring in the Washington, D.C.-based Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) for an independent review of Cambridge PD’s training and protocols.“A recognized leader in the industry with more than 40 years of experience, PERF has assisted state, county, and local police departments and sheriffs’ offices, as well as federal and international law enforcement agencies,” an announcement from Cambridge PD stated. “Their breadth of experience includes evaluating law enforcement agencies to ensure they are employing the best and most progressive practices.”The announcement came two months after an officer shot and killed Sayed Faisal of Cambridge during a confrontation on Jan. 4.The shooti...

Patriots’ free agent All-Pro punter visiting with Dolphins

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:09:25 GMT

The Miami Dolphins are bringing in New England Patriots punter Jake Bailey for a visit, according to a report from ESPN.Bailey had an All-Pro and Pro Bowl season in 2020 and is considered among the league’s best. Miami could be moving on from veteran punter Thomas Morstead, who is a free agent after punting for the Dolphins in 2022.Bailey has a 45.9 yards-per-punt average in his career with 45.9 percent of his boots landing inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.He signed a four-year contract for $13.5 million with the Patriots last offseason, but while on injured reserve, he was placed on the suspended list late last season, voiding his guarantees. Bailey’s agent, Doug Hendrickson, filed a grievance contesting the suspension.“While Jake Bailey was on IR, he never missed a single treatment, meeting or practice,” Hendrickson said in a statement released at the time. “He was hoping to come off IR to play last weekend, but Jake was informed he was being ...