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Ravens draft pick Zay Flowers always felt like an ‘underdog.’ His journey from South Florida shows why.

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:01:57 GMT

The NFL draft and Lamar Jackson’s long-term extension with the Ravens were still a few months away when general manager Eric DeCosta visited Jackson in South Florida in January. One of the topics of discussion was the upcoming class of wide receivers — a major position of need and perhaps an overture to the star quarterback about providing him with another playmaker.“If you’re from South Florida, he’s going to know who you are,” DeCosta said of Jackson on Friday. “He gave me a full breakdown of every receiver in the draft from South Florida.”Jackson had strong opinions on all of them, including Zay Flowers, who grew up in Fort Lauderdale, one town over from where Jackson starred in Pompano Beach in high school. “He was very, very excited that we got him last night,” DeCosta said of the Ravens’ selection of Flowers with the 22nd overall pick on Thursday night. Indeed, Flowers was a star long before becoming the first B...

Nevada governor’s support for ambitious bills is uncertain

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:01:57 GMT

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — At the end of a hearing for a bill that would further expand coverage for gender-affirming medical care, transgender rights advocate Brooke Maylath shifted her focus from the majority-Democratic senators before her to the Republican governor who likely will decide the bill’s fate.“This bipartisan support has been described as ‘The Nevada Way,’” Maylath said, repeating Gov. Joe Lombardo’s mantra coined during his January inaugural address. In the speech, Lombardo vowed broadly to push conservative tenets like school choice and bolster criminal penalties while working with the Democratic-controlled Legislature.Five months later, little more is known about how Lombardo will respond to several ambitious policy proposals advancing in the Legislature. He has declined to comment publicly on most bills, setting the stage for last-minute deals and conflicts as the final month of the session nears.The stakes are high in one of the few Legislatures meeting every other ...

Ukraine welcomes EU deal on continued farm exports

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:01:57 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — Ukraine on Saturday welcomed the European Union’s hard-fought deal to keep farm exports flowing into and through the bloc to world markets, saying that the Middle East and Africa would specifically stand to benefit from it. Late Friday, the 27-nation EU ended a damaging internal standoff over a destabilizing glut of Ukraine farm imports by granting five eastern member countries the right to temporarily ban the most problematic produce while allowing all farm products to transit onward.Resolving the issue allows the EU to maintain a unified stance in the face of Russia’s invasion of its neighbor. “We welcome that we resolved this issue,” Ukrainian Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko said at a meeting of EU finance ministers in Stockholm.Under the deal, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania can keep four farm products that make up the overwhelming mass of exports from Ukraine out of their local markets but must guarantee unfettered access to the rest of the blo...

First statewide gun buyback event today

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:01:57 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The first-ever statewide gun buyback event will be held on Saturday, April 29. This is a one-day, statewide initiative that will feature nine simultaneous gun buyback events across New York. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Unloaded firearms, working and non-working, will be accepted for compensation on-site with no questions asked. There is no limit to the number of firearms each person can bring. All guns must be unloaded and placed in a bag or a box.Each event will be working with local law enforcement agencies and will be present at the following locations:Family Life Academy in the Bronx – 14 West 170th St, Bronx, NY 10452. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.All Saints Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn – 115 Throop Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11206. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.OAG Suffolk Regional Office in Suffolk County – 300 Motor Parkway, Hauppauge, NY 11788. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.Watervliet Dome in...

Horoscopes April 29, 2023: Uma Thurman, don’t let what others say or do blind you

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:01:57 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Andre Agassi, 53; Uma Thurman, 53; Michelle Pfeiffer, 65; Jerry Seinfeld, 69.Michelle Pfeiffer (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Happy Birthday: Emotions will be close to the surface. Recognize your motives before you make a move. Having a clear-cut strategy will help you avoid making a hasty decision. Opportunities are apparent, but doing your homework is a necessity. Don’t let what others say or do blind you. Facts and truth matter and will protect you from making mistakes this year. Your numbers are 8, 12, 17, 25, 36, 38, 41.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Deal with sensitive issues first and clear the way for progress. Pick up the pace, and what you accomplish will put your mind at ease. Your insight will help filter through the possibilities and downfalls. Romance is favored. 5 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t go overboard. Restraint will be necessary if you are with indulgent people or those trying to convince you to do somethin...

Ask Amy: They lied to me about their wedding. Should I confront them?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:01:57 GMT

Dear Amy: We learned that my long-divorced nephew — my brother’s son — had gotten engaged to his girlfriend, whom we have not met.In a congratulatory card we asked them to inform us when they set the wedding date so we could book the flights.A month ago, my nephew informed me they were planning to elope. I told him we would love to meet them for dinner on a trip we plan for later this year, and they agreed.This month, invitations were received by my many siblings for a summer wedding. We did not receive one – and I doubt it was lost in the mail.Knowing that I am not a favorite of this nephew’s mom (since her developing early dementia), it was not a surprise – except for his story about eloping.While I am prepared to send $1,000 like we gave to a niece on my wife’s side, my wife disagrees because we were invited to and attended her niece’s wedding.Should I contact my nephew or his dad? I am inclined to just let it go and send the gift, but what’s your take?Disappoin...

Harriette Cole: My friend’s mom didn’t recognize me at my job, and she was very rude

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:01:57 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I work in fast food. On a recent shift, I recognized my friend’s mother as one of our customers. I believe she did not recognize me, as she was very rude to me and the other staff before I could even greet her. It was awkward and uncomfortable.I’m sure to run into her again when I see my friend, and I think that because of our most recent interaction, she’ll definitely remember me now. What should I do?Tricky SituationDEAR TRICKY SITUATION: You did nothing wrong. Be sure to remember that.When you see this woman, greet her in a friendly and respectful manner. You can say that you saw her the other day at your job, and leave it at that. No need to add any commentary.If she remembers her bad behavior, that may inspire her to apologize. Perhaps she was in a bad mood or something happened to set her off. Who knows? She could also be oblivious to her behavior.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: How long until I can ask my grieving roommate...

Pope visits refugees, urges Hungary to show charity to all

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:01:57 GMT

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Pope Francis thanked Hungarians on Saturday for welcoming Ukrainian refugees and urged them to help anyone in need, as he begged for a culture of charity in a country where the prime minister has justified firm anti-immigration policies with fears that migration threatens Europe’s Christian culture.On the second day of a visit to Hungary, Francis met with refugees and poor people at St. Elizabeth’s church, which was named for a Hungarian princess who renounced her wealth to dedicate herself to the poor as a follower of the pope’s namesake, St. Francis of Assisi. Speaking in the white-brick church in Budapest, Francis recalled that the Gospel instructs Christians to show love and compassion to all, especially those experiencing poverty and pain and “even those who are not believers.”“The love that Jesus gives us and commands us to practice can help to uproot the evils of indifference and selfishness from society, from our cities and the places where we ...

Leclerc hits wall but on pole again for Azerbaijan sprint

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:01:57 GMT

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — Charles Leclerc hit the wall and still qualified on pole position for Saturday’s sprint race in Formula One’s first “sprint shootout” qualifying session.The Ferrari driver, who also qualified on pole Friday for the main Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sunday, set a fast time midway through the last segment of the shootout but then veered into a barrier and broke his front wing. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen each had another lap to beat Leclerc’s time but fell short, with Perez placing second and Verstappen third.The new “shootout” event is a shortened version of the usual qualifying format which decides the grid for the 17-lap sprint race. Previously, F1 race weekends had a standard qualifying session for the sprint race, then used the sprint results as the grid for the main Grand Prix. The format change is designed to encourage drivers to take more risks in the sprint race because they won’t risk being penalized for the Gr...

‘Completely unacceptable’: 6 DC firefighters put on leave, man arrested after brawl caught on camera

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:01:57 GMT

A man was taken into custody after he and a group of D.C. firefighters got into a physical fight on Tuesday night, according to an incident report from the Metropolitan Police Department of D.C.In a police report, officials claim Charles Simpkins II, of no known address, was acting aggressively toward a firefighter out on a 911 call at 14 Florida Avenue NW when the fight began. According to the report, the 43-year-old punched the firefighter in the face, beginning the altercation.A video of the fight that was posted on Twitter the next day shows multiple firefighters punching and kicking Simpkins as another tackled him to the ground.According to the police report, officers arrived on the scene and placed Simpkins under arrest after the incident.The DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department released a statement that called the actions of the firefighters in the video “completely unacceptable” and are not reflective of “the behavior we require of our members....