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Biden celebrates LSU women’s basketball team, UConn men’s team due next at White House

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:10 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — All of the past drama and sore feelings associated with Louisiana State’s invitation to the White House was seemingly forgotten or set aside Friday as President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcomed the championship women’s basketball team to the mansion with smiles, hugs and lavish praise all around. The visit had once appeared in jeopardy after Jill Biden suggested that the losing Iowa team be invited, too. But none of that was mentioned as Biden heralded the players for their performance and the way they have helped advance women’s sports.“Folks, we witnessed history,” Biden, said. “In this team, we saw hope, we saw pride and we saw purpose. It matters.” The ceremony was halted for about 10 minutes after forward Sa’Myah Smith appeared to collapse on stage as she and her teammates stood behind Biden. A wheelchair was brought in and coach Kim Mulkey later told the audience that Smith was fine.Since the passage of Title IX in 1972, Bi...

ConocoPhillips to exercise pre-emptive right; will buy rest of Surmont project

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:10 GMT

CALGARY — U.S. oil company ConocoPhillips said Friday it will exercise its right of first refusal and purchase TotalEnergies’ 50 per cent stake in the Surmont oilsands project for $4 billion.The Houston-based oil company is currently the operator and the 50 per cent owner of the in situ oilsands asset near Fort McMurray, Alta.In a news release, ConocoPhillips’ CEO Ryan Lance said Surmont is an important asset within the company’s diverse, low-cost portfolio.“We look forward to leveraging our position as 100 per cent owner and operator of Surmont to further optimize the asset while progressing toward our overall interim and long-term emissions intensity objectives,” Lance said.The U.S. company’s move to buy the remaining stake is a blow to Calgary-based Suncor Energy Inc., which announced in April its intention to acquire Total’s share of Surmont as part of a larger $6.1-billion deal that would also see Suncor acquire French company TotalR...

Lawsuit brought by man who said he was sexually abused by Roman Catholic bishop settled

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:10 GMT

A lawsuit brought by a former altar boy who said he was raped as a child in the 1960s by a now-deceased Roman Catholic bishop in Massachusetts has been settled, the sides announced Friday.The plaintiff identified in court papers as John Doe alleged in the suit filed in February 2021 that not only was he abused by former Diocese of Springfield Bishop Christopher Weldon as well as two other clergy, but also that the church engaged in a yearslong coverup to protect the bishop’s reputation and legacy.The suit also said that even after abuse allegations against Weldon were found to be credible, diocesan officials as late as 2019 denied them.The diocese’s current bishop in a statement announcing the settlement apologized.“Mr. Doe’s allegations were determined to be credible, therefore, any public statement made on behalf of the Diocese in May or June of 2019 that is inconsistent with that is withdrawn,” Bishop William Byrne said. “We apologize to Mr. Doe for any harm tho...

North Dakota Gov. Burgum expected to announce GOP campaign for president, Republican allies say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:10 GMT

Two-term North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a former computer software entrepreneur, is expected to announce his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, two Republican operatives familiar with knowledge of the plans told The Associated Press on Friday, putting him in an already crowded field dominated by ex-President Donald Trump.The sources said Burgum plans to announce his candidacy on June 7, at a midday event in Fargo, Burgum’s home town. The Republicans spoke on the condition of anonymity because the event had not been publicized yet.The 66-year-old Burgum would be jumping into a field that includes fellow Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, seen by some Republicans as the strongest alternative to Trump. Other candidates include former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Former Vice President Mike Pence is also considered a likely presidential candidat...

Serbian border troops on high alert after ethnic clashes inside Kosovo

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:10 GMT

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Serbian troops on the border with Kosovo were put on high alert Friday following clashes inside Kosovo between police and ethnic Serbs that injured more than a dozen people.Ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo, who are a majority in that part of the country, had tried to block recently-elected ethnic Albanian officials from entering municipal buildings earlier Friday. Last month’s snap election was largely boycotted by ethnic Serbs and only ethnic Albanian or other smaller minority representatives were elected in the mayoral posts and assemblies.Kosovo police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd and let the new officials into the offices. Several cars were set ablaze. Kosovo Serb hospital officials said about 10 protesters were injured. Police said five officers were injured as protesters hurled stun grenades and other objects. A police car was burned.In response to the clashes, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he put the army on the “highest state of...

Stock market today: Tech leads more gains on Wall Street

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:10 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Technology stocks powered solid gains for Wall Street on Friday after another chipmaker reported strong demand related to artificial intelligence.The upbeat finish to the week for major indexes comes amid lingering anxiety over persistently high inflation, the risk of a U.S. debt default and broadly weak corporate earnings.The S&P 500 rose, 54.17 points, or 1.3% to close at 4,205.45. It notched a small gain for the week and is in the green as May nears its close.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 328.69 points, or 1%, to 33,093.34.The tech-heavy Nasdaq notched the biggest gains, rising 277.59 points, or 2.2%, to 12,975.69. The index rose 2.2% for the week as artificial intelligence became a big focus for investors.Marvell Technology surged a record-setting 32.4% after the chipmaker said it expects AI revenue in fiscal 2024 to at least double from the prior year. That follows Thursday’s report from fellow chipmaker Nvidia, which gave a big forecast for upcoming...

S&P/TSX composite rises almost 150 points Friday, U.S. markets also gain

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:10 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index gained almost 150 points Friday amid broad-based strength, while U.S. markets also rose as tech continued to outperform. Markets closed the day in the green as negotiators at the debt ceiling talks appeared to be closer to a deal before the U.S. government runs out of cash. The talks have been adding uncertainty to the market as a deadline looms, since the nation could go into a potentially catastrophic default if a deal isn’t reached. The S&P/TSX composite index was up 146.23 points at 19,920.31.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 328.69 points at 33,093.34. The S&P 500 index was up 54.17 points at 4,205.45, while the Nasdaq composite was up 277.59 points at 12,975.69.“Right now the market is looking for any excuse to go up,” said Pierre-Benoît Gauthier, assistant vice-president of investment strategy at IG Wealth Management.However, even though markets ended the week on a positive note, new data came out Friday tha...

Louisiana lawmakers pressed to resurrect bill banning gender-affirming care for minors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:10 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A longtime Republican lawmaker, in rural Louisiana, is facing national backlash following his tie-breaking vote to kill a bill that would ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender youths in the state.State Sen. Fred Mills told The Associated Press Friday that he stands by his decision. But state Attorney General Jeff Landry — who is a GOP gubernatorial candidate — and the Republican Party of Louisiana are pressing lawmakers to resurrect the bill and pass it. Mills’ decisive vote Wednesday poises Louisiana to be one of the few southeastern states that hasn’t enacted a ban or restrictions on gender-affirming care. Proposals are pending in North Carolina and South Carolina’s legislatures, and federal judges have temporarily blocked bans in Arkansas and Alabama.“While the topic of transgender rights is immensely complicated and socially polarizing, the bill before me was not,” Mills, a pharmacist, said in a written statement Friday. Mills is also the chai...

New York City mayor signs ban on weight and height discrimination

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:10 GMT

New York City Mayor Eric Adams signed legislation Friday that will ban discrimination based on body size by adding weight and height to the list of protected categories such as race, sex and religion.“We all deserve the same access to employment, housing and public accommodation, regardless of our appearance, and it shouldn’t matter how tall you are or how much you weigh,” said the mayor, who joined other elected officials as well as fat-acceptance advocates at a City Hall bill-signing ceremony.Adams, a Democrat who published a book about reversing his diabetes through a plant-based diet, said the ordinance “will help level the playing field for all New Yorkers, create more inclusive workplaces and living environments, and protect against discrimination.”Exemptions under the ordinance, which the city council passed this month, include cases in which an individual’s height or weight could prevent them from performing essential functions of a job.Some business leaders expr...

Most unique ice cream treats for your Chicago summer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:10 GMT

CHICAGO — There is no shortage of ice cream options throughout the City of Chicago, so how does one choose where to indulge? One way to narrow it down is seeking out some of the more unique cream-based creations.WGN has compiled a dozen such shops through the collective effort of readers' suggestions, digital team experiences and old fashioned research. We've organized them into four categories of uniqueness: presentation, combination, ingredients, and flavor(s).Use the following to choose your experience du jour, or perhaps plan a full-out ice cream crawl. Top 5 Italian beef sandwiches in Chicago area — according to Chicagoans Unique PresentationEli's ArkThis Wicker Park gelato shop first opened summer 2018 and is known for crafting cones of cuteness. Eli's Ark's cool critters can help you beat the heat and are a hit with kids and adults alike.Address: 1843 W. North Ave., ChicagoHours (change throughout the year): Tue-Fri 3-8 p.m. | Sat 1-9 p.m. | Sun 1-8 p.m.Website: Eli's Ark C...