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Brookline makes statement, defeats Newton North in volleyball clash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:24 GMT

BROOKLINE — Much of the Div. 1 title conversation has surrounded fellow Bay State Conference powers Needham, Natick and Newton North all season.But Thursday night, the Brookline boys volleyball team showed why it deserves a seat at that table.With tournament play around the corner, the Warriors (10-5) used a gritty effort for its first win of the year against any of those three conference rivals – outlasting a resilient Newton North squad missing its star setter, 3-1 (26-24, 25-21, 17-25, 27-25).Brookline freshman setter Alec Smagula distributed a sensational 37 assists, finding a three-headed monster of hitters in spurts to more than match the hard-hitting Tigers (12-5).“We feel like we’re still trying to get our footing, and it’s really tough in this conference,” said Brookline head coach Dana Jones. “But we’re trying to work to compete with anyone that’s here. … We wanted to bounce back and show that we’re capable of playing this game, too. They’re a great team, they put up...

SDSU: No former students in civil suit being investigated

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:24 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State University announced Thursday that none of its former students named in a civil suit alleging an off-campus sexual assault are actively being investigated.The civil suit against former SDSU and Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza, along with two of his former Aztecs teammates Zavier Leonard and Nowlin "Pa'a" Ewaliko, is still working its way through the legal system. In December, the San Diego District Attorney’s Office declined to move forward with criminal charges, saying there was “no path to a potential criminal conviction.”"While the university cannot provide specific information related to its student disciplinary proceedings or specific information related to student records, it can confirm that none of the former students named in the civil suit are now the subject of an active investigation," SDSU said in a statement on its Title IX website. "In addition, they are not currently enrolled, active students or affiliated with any athletics ac...

Garth Brooks extends sold-out Las Vegas residency with 2024 dates

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:24 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Country music star Garth Brooks promises no two shows of his new Las Vegas residency opening Thursday night will be the same.From the occasional special guest to a rotating cast of band members, Brooks, in an interview hours before his first show at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, even teased the possibility that fans may hear new music for the first — and last — time at “Garth Brooks/Plus One.”“We’re going to do stuff tonight that they’ll never hear again because it just didn’t work or we just never finish it,” Brooks told The Associated Press with a grin. “We’re going to get very personal, so if you’re not planning on getting some mud on you tonight, don’t show up. It’s going to get down and dirty.”Earlier in the day, Brooks also announced that Caesars Palace had extended his residency with 18 additional dates next year after tickets sold out quickly when they went on sale in late 2022.“When the 2023 shows went on sale, I felt extremely fortunate and blesse...

Salman Rushdie attends PEN America gala, first in-person appearance since stabbing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:24 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Salman Rushdie has made his first in-person public appearance since being stabbed repeatedly and hospitalized nine months ago. The author was in attendance Thursday night for the annual gala of PEN America, the literary and free expression organization for which he once served as president.“I feel great,” said Rushdie, wearing a dark collarless jacket and matching pants. “I have a long association with PEN America and I’m just happy to be amongst writers and book people.”Rushdie, 75, attended the gala, where hundreds of writers and other PEN members gathered for the dinner benefit. “Saturday Night Live” founder Lorne Michaels and Iranian dissident Narges Mohammadi were among those scheduled to be honored. Last August, Rushdie was appearing at the Chautauqua Institution, a nonprofit education and retreat center in western New York, when he was assaulted by a young man dressed in black and carrying a knife. Rushdie sustained multiple wounds, leaving him blind in his ri...

Smith, Notley square off in Alberta election debate, ask voters who do they trust

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:24 GMT

EDMONTON — Alberta’s two main election rivals squared off in a feisty, televised debate Thursday that came down to the topic of who voters should trust.The debate came on the same day the province’s ethics commissioner found United Conservative Leader Danielle Smith, in her role as premier, broke conflict-of-interest rules. NDP Leader Rachel Notley, who was premier from 2015 to 2019, said she has never breached conflict of interest legislation.Notley said voters can’t trust Smith and her actions have created fear.“Every day is a new drama, you just don’t have to put up with this,” Notley said.Smith did not address the conflict-of-interest finding but described herself as “imperfect.”She also said controversial comments she made in her prior career as a radio host and on podcasts are in the past.“Albertans are my bosses now and my oath is to serve you and no one else,” Smith said.A key issue in the report by ethics commissio...

After more than a year, an arrest in fatal shooting on a New York commuter train

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:24 GMT

RONKONKOMA, N.Y. (AP) — A man was arrested Thursday in a deadly shooting on a Long Island Rail Road train over a year ago, police said. The 20-year-old suspect was arrested on a murder charge and is being held for arraignment Friday, the Suffolk County Police Department said in a release.It wasn’t immediately clear whether he had a lawyer who can comment on the charge, and no phone number could immediately be found for his Yonkers home.Yusef Staine, 20, was killed in the shooting on Feb. 16, 2022. It happened aboard a train parked at the Ronkonkoma station at 1:45 a.m. Police said at the time that Staine and his assailant were apparently traveling together. No one else was injured.It’s not immediately clear what led investigators to a suspect now. Law enforcement and transit officials plan a news conference on the case Friday.The Associated Press

G7 stance on China complicated by huge stakes in economic ties, cooperation on global issues

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:24 GMT

HIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) — Leaders of the Group of Seven advanced economies are generally united in voicing concern about China. The question is how to translate that worry into action.Over the past two years, President Joe Biden’s administration has sought to reframe the relationship with Beijing and build support among like-minded nations for a strong response to what officials in Washington and some other Western democracies say is “economic coercion.”But the G7 also needs to cooperate with China on broader global issues such as climate change, North Korea, the war in Ukraine and the debt problems of a growing number of developing economies. And all the G-7 countries have a big stake in strong ties with the world’s second-largest economy.At a summit this week in Hiroshima, U.S. officials say they expect leaders of the G-7 to jointly endorse a unified strategy on “economic coercion,” which they define as economic retaliation for policies deemed contrary to another country’s interests...

SNL's 'Please Don't Destroy' to perform at The Vic Theatre

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:24 GMT

CHICAGO -- Three reasons why Saturday Night Live has been going viral the past few seasons are coming to the Windy City.Ben Marshall, John Higgins, and Martin Herlihy of "Please Don't Destroy" will perform live at The Vic Theatre in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood on Thursday, July 20. Dean’s A-List Interviews: Jason Momoa in ‘Fast X’ The New York-based comedy trio hit the main stream after they became writers and performers on the legendary Saturday Night Live in 2021. Please Don't Destroy also was part of The Hollywood Reporter's "50 Most Influential People in Comedy in 2022."The event will begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 20.For ticket information, click here.

Texas guard Tyrese Hunter to return for junior season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — He tested the waters leading up to the NBA Draft, but Tyrese Hunter has decided he wants another year on the 40 Acres.Hunter made the announcement on social media Thursday with the caption, "Aye, run that back."MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersHunter had until May 31 to withdraw his name from the NBA Draft pool in order to keep his eligibility. He initially made the decision to gather information about where he could possibly be drafted without signing an agent at the end of March, thus maintaining his eligibility on that front.With the addition of Oral Roberts transfer guard Max Abmas, the Longhorns now again have a formidable backcourt duo as they did with Hunter and Marcus Carr. Hunter joined the Longhorns as a transfer from Iowa State after a tremendous freshman season with the Cyclones and being named the Big 12 freshman of the year.Dillon Mitchell ...

With a few days to go, here’s what MN Legislature has left

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:24 GMT

Time is running out for Minnesota lawmakers to strike a big bipartisan deal at the Capitol.The Legislature has to adjourn by midnight on Monday and so far the new Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party trifecta in control of state government hasn’t found much in the way of agreement with Republicans. Lawmakers have passed nearly a dozen budget bills so far and most of them were approved along party lines.That doesn’t mean there isn’t a chance for a deal. There are still significant budget bills that need to be completed, including those dealing with taxes, health and human services, transportation and state infrastructure projects.The infrastructure bill — called a bonding bill because the state typically borrows money to fund capital projects — is the vehicle for a compromise because it requires a super majority in both chambers.In exchange for votes on an infrastructure bill, Senate Republicans have pushed DFLers to return more of the state’s $17.5 billi...