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Frederick historian pens book on local history

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 12:12:45 GMT

FREDERICK, Md. (AP) — John Ashbury jokes that his memory isn’t what it once was now that he’s reached his 80s. But you wouldn’t know that if you watched him flip through a copy of his recently published book.Every few pages, he stops. His eyes light up. And he begins to rattle off facts and figures with the dexterity of a man who has spent most of his life immersed in the study of history.Ashbury, a local author and historian, just released his fourth book. It’s called “Reflections,” and it’s billed as a collection of “eclectic selections from the archives of Frederick Magazine.”Since 2006, Ashbury has written a regular column for the magazine called Reflections. In each piece, he profiles a person, place or event that in some way shaped Frederick County’s history. The new book compiles all 86 columns that Ashbury has published over the years, plus one that’s due to run in May.The 87 subjects in the book “run the gamut,” Ashbury said.There’s Morton Mower, who grew up downtown in the...

Latinas form cleaning co-op for safety, fair wages

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 12:12:45 GMT

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (AP) — For almost 20 years, a group of women who fled Latin American countries because of violence against them have been supporting each other in the Fredericksburg area, throughout Virginia and into Washington and Maryland.The Latinas call themselves Madre Tierra, or Mother Earth. Since 2004, they’ve connected about 500 immigrants with lawyers who helped secure their legal status or application for political asylum. Group members also have provided emotional support after domestic violence or sexual assault, human trafficking or forced marriages or persecution because of their sexual orientation.“They didn’t migrate for the American dream,” said Dilcia Molina, the group’s founder and president. “They migrated to save their lives.”Once in America, some discovered similar problems as those they’d tried to escape. Younger women, especially those who don’t have driver’s licenses or speak English, sometimes were expected to give sexual favors in return for jobs and ...

Police: one dead after fiery crash in Norton

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 12:12:45 GMT

A Randolph man died in a crash in Norton early Saturday morning when his car rear-ended another vehicle, flipped over and caught fire, according to the Massachusetts State Police.Jeffrey Tagger, 52, was found dead at the scene of the crash around 2:30 a.m. Saturday after the Norton Fire Department extinguished the car fire. Tagger was heading northbound on Route 495 when he lost control of his Nissan Maxima after hitting a Toyota RAV 4 which was traveling in front of him. The Toyota swerved left and hit the guardrail, while Tagger’s Nissan rolled over off the road and caught fire. The Toyota’s driver, a 48-year-old Brockton man, and his passenger were transported to the hospital with apparent minor injuries.The crash is still under investigation by the Massachusetts State Police and other officials. 

Sunday showers, some sun Monday

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 12:12:45 GMT

7Weather- It’s the type of morning to pour an extra cup of coffee and stay inside, am I right? Drizzle this morning, before scattered showers move back in later today. Tomorrow looks nice! Then it turns unsettled and cooler once again.We’re in a bit of break between steady rain. Scattered showers fell overnight and continue to lift northeast. Behind this we’re left with light rain, drizzle and fog. This is how it’ll stay through the early afternoon. By mid afternoon, scattered showers develop again. Rain turns steadier this evening and remains unsettled through tonight. There will be downpours late tonight into early tomorrow morning. There’s a chance for a rumble of thunder too, especially across western and central Mass. This second round of rain is quick to move out. We’ll be left with puddles tomorrow morning, but the rain will be out of here.You’ll notice the breeze pick up out of the southeast around sunset this evening. The wind will ...

Nestor Cortes talks silencing doubters, success and sustainability

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 12:12:45 GMT

Back on April 14, just after Nestor Cortes threw seven innings of two-run ball against the Twins, the pitcher fielded a question about his high level of consistency since forcing his way into the Yankees’ rotation in 2021.Cortes, once a 36th-round pick and Rule 5 Draft returnee on his third stint with the Yankees, used the query to make a point.“The big question for me from everybody else has been, ‘Can he continue to do it?’” Cortes replied. “So I’m out there proving myself that I can and not allowing the noise to dictate who I am or who I can be.”A follow-up wondered if those doubters annoy Cortes, who recorded a 6.72 ERA over the first three seasons of his major league career from 2018-2020. That mark sits at 2.70 since 2021.“I don’t blame ‘em,” Cortes continued. “I know those first three years were tough, but I think it’s about time that people start turning that corner, just like I have.”C...

This famous ramen restaurant from Tokyo is expanding to San Diego

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 12:12:45 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A famous ramen restaurant from Japan is gearing up to open its first San Diego location this summer.The Tokyo-based chain, Ramen Nagi, will be expanding to Westfield UTC, bringing its traditional and fusion flavors to America's Finest City.“There is a tremendous demand for authentic Japanese ramen in San Diego County," Chef Satoshi Ikuta said in a statement to FOX 5. "We are very excited to introduce our ramen noodles to an entirely new audience."Ramen Nagi was founded in 2004 by Ikuta as a pop-up. Since then, it has gained a "cult-like" popularity, with nearly 40 locations around Japan, China, Taiwan, Singapore and the Philippines. Brunch spots to celebrate Mom at this Mother’s Day in San Diego The spot gained notoriety for its customizable bowls with both traditional and fusion broth flavor options, from a classic tonkotsu to black squid ink and spicy red. Once guests pick their ramen base, they can build out the rest of the bowl with proteins like pork loin or pork...

Tornado flips cars, damages homes in coastal Florida city

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 12:12:45 GMT

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — A tornado touched down in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, on Saturday as a powerful storm system brought intense rain and powerful winds to the state, overturning cars, damaging homes and snapping tree branches.The National Weather Service in Miami said the tornado hit late Saturday afternoon with winds of 100 mph (160 kph) near Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center and headed northeast toward the coast. Storm damage forced authorities in the coastal city to close major roadways in the city as workers cleared debris and inspected wreckage. Images from the scene showed cars flipped over on top of each other, cracked tree limbs resting on vehicles and homes, as well as other debris littering streets. The Palm Beach Gardens Police Department has not reported any major injuries or fatalities. A spokeswoman for the city said officials have deactivated emergency protocols and were working through lingering issues Sunday.The National Weather Service had placed a la...

Basketball legend Rivers, longtime Globetrotter, dies at 73

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 12:12:45 GMT

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Larry “Gator” Rivers, who helped integrate high school basketball in Georgia before playing for the Harlem Globetrotters and becoming a county commissioner in his native Savannah, died Saturday at age 73.Rivers died from cancer, Chatham County Commission Chairman Chester Ellis told the Savannah Morning News. Campbell and Sons Funeral home said Rivers died at a hospital in Savannah.Rivers was a sophomore on the all-Black Beach High School team that won the first Georgia High School Association basketball tournament to include Black and white players in 1967. He blossomed into an all-state player, graduating from the Savannah high school in 1969 and going on to be a small college All-American at Moberly Junior College in Missouri and an all-conference guard at what is now Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph.He went on to play and coach for 16 years with the Harlem Globetrotters, reuniting for a time with high school coach Russell Ellington.Rivers once ...

UCP, NDP paint dystopian portraits of rivals ahead of expected election writ drop

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 12:12:45 GMT

EDMONTON — The writ is expected to drop Monday in Alberta for an election campaign that effectively began weeks ago with both Danielle Smith’s United Conservatives and Rachel Notley’s New Democrats warning of the dystopian future should their opponents triumph. Polls suggest the battleground for the May 29 vote is clearly defined.  The UCP was bleeding support in its traditional rural strongholds over former premier Jason Kenney’s COVID-19 health restrictions and vaccine mandates. The bleeding has stopped, with support flooding back under Smith’s strong stance against COVID-19 rules along with her decision to fire the board of Alberta Health Services and dismiss the former chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw. Edmonton remains an NDP stronghold, leaving battleground Calgary as the pathway to victory or defeat. The NDP would need to win big in a city that is traditionally conservative blue. Polls suggest it is possible, but the NDP would need help elsewhere to eke out a...

‘It’s our highway:’ Researchers, Indigenous guardians monitor lake ice in N.W.T.

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 12:12:45 GMT

LUTSEL K’E, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES — Iris Catholique says over the past two decades, she’s noticed the waters of Great Slave Lake surrounding Lutsel K’e, N.W.T., taking longer to freeze in the winter. “In the past, the lake used to freeze by November, December and by early December, we’re able to travel through traditional trails and different small lakes between here and our traditional hunting grounds,” she said. “Now we can’t do that. We have to wait until after the lakes start to freeze in January.” The ice is not as thick in some areas at it used to be, Catholique added, and people from the community also have to travel farther to find caribou and muskox. Catholique is manager of Thaidene Nene, meaning “the land of the ancestors” in Denesuline Yati, an Indigenous protected area larger than 26,000 square kilometres on the East Arm of Great Slave Lake near Lutsel K’e. The community, home to more than 300 peopl...