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UK pledges attack drones, more missiles as Ukraine’s Zelenskyy meets prime minister on European tour

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:46 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pressed the British government at the end of a whirlwind European tour Monday to join a “fighter jet coalition” that would help strengthen his country’s aerial capabilities, but instead secured a commitment for attack drones and hundreds more missiles.Prime Minister Rishi Sunak greeted Zelenskyy with a handshake and hug after the president’s helicopter landed at Chequers, the British leader’s official country retreat. It was Zelenskyy’s second trip to the U.K. since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, but the fifth European country he visited in three days..He is seeking more military aid as Ukraine prepares a long-anticipated spring offensive to retake Russian-occupied territory. The Ukrainian leader also visited Italy, the Vatican, Germany and France.Russia reacted to the U.K.’s new pledge “extremely negatively,” but also doubts the missiles and drones would drastically change the course of the war,...

Writers strike felt in missing NBC stars, absence of Fox schedule for TV sales pitches

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:46 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The impact of the Hollywood writers strike was felt as major television networks began their annual week of sales presentations to advertisers on Monday, with news personalities like Willie Geist and Stephanie Ruhle left to hawk comedies and dramas for NBC Universal.Fox declined to announce a fall television schedule on Monday, citing uncertainties created by the strike.Some 11,500 members of the Writers Guild for America, saying the rise of streaming has hurt their earning power, walked off the job two weeks after talks on a new contract broke down, and haven’t returned to the negotiating table since.Network late-night shows immediately shut down. Picketing writers targeting some of the few shows shooting episodes forced the shutdown, at least temporarily, of programs including Showtime’s “Billions,” “Severance” on Apple TV+ and the new Marvel show, “Daredevil: Born Again” on Disney+.The network sales presentations, known as upfronts because TV executive...

Pelé’s mausoleum in Brazil opens to public

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:46 GMT

SANTOS, Brazil (AP) — The mausoleum built for the golden casket of Pelé was opened for visitors on Monday.On the second floor of a vertical cemetery in Santos, outside Sao Paulo, the mausoleum welcomes fans with two golden statues of Pelé; the floor is artificial grass; the walls are images of fans in a stadium; and there’s an endless soundtrack of cheers, as if Pelé was still playing. The ceiling above the casket of the three-time World Cup champion is blue.Pelé was laid to rest here on Jan. 3, five days after he died at age 82 of colon cancer.“This was made with a lot of love by people who knew him, who lived with him. It has the essence of what he was,” an emotional Edson Cholbi do Nascimento, one of Pelé’s sons, said after a small ceremony with family and friends.The mausoleum was planned by the owner of the cemetery, Pepe Alstut, who died in 2018.Alstut hoped the mausoleum would be on the ninth floor, overseeing the Santos club’s Vila Belmiro Stadium, where Pelé sta...

Brookfield Zoo announces summer concerts series featuring Macy Gray, Vertical Horizon and more

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:46 GMT

CHICAGO — Brookfield Zoo will host summer concert series, Concerts for Conservation, over two weekends in July, with Macy Gray and Vertical Horizon slated to appear.Held July 14-15 and 21-22 at Brookfield Zoo's East Mall, the concert series provides "four incredible evenings of live music while relaxing in our beautiful park surrounded by wildlife and nature."Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. and include:Friday, July 14 – Soul Asylum with special guests The Verve PipeSaturday, July 15 – Macy GrayFriday, July 21 – Vertical HorizonSaturday, July 22 – Plain White T’sSEE ALSO| Smash Mouth headlining 2023 Pierogi FestAlong with the sounds of music, sights for visitors include a meet-and-greet with some of Brookfield Zoo’s animal ambassadors from 6:30 to 7 p.m. The zoo's Big Cat walkway will also be accessible, offering guests an up-close look at African lions, Amur tigers, and snow leopards until 7 p.m.Macy GrayVertical HorizonPlain White T’s Soul AsylumThe Verve Pipe 50 Cent coming to ...

New $500M federal grant aims to expand tech hubs outside of Silicon Valley

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:46 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – The commerce department has launched a new grant program meant to infuse up to half a billion dollars into the nation’s technology hubs.The program aims to help grow the tech industry outside of Silicon Valley.“We are going to make investments all over the country,” Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said. “You shouldn't have to move from your hometown to San Francisco or New York City to get a great job in technology.”To apply for the government grants, regions, states or cities need to partner with colleges and companies in the tech industries.Michael Wallace with the National League of Cities says there are many related industries that could qualify.“Rochester, Minnesota is home of the Mayo Clinic. Medical technology is certainly one of the eligible categories,” Wallace explained.Secretary Raimondo says the types of eligible projects also vary from testing labs and upgrading facilities to worker training programs.Congresswoman Susan Wild introduced the bill t...

Reba McEntire to be next coach on 'The Voice'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:46 GMT

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - Although Blake Shelton is leaving his coaching position on NBC's 'The Voice', Oklahoma won't be without representation among those illustrious chairs.Shelton announced his departure in October 2022, making Season 24 the first without his guidance since the show began in 2011."Alas, our cowboy has decided to hang up his Voice coaching hat to spend time with family on his Oklahoma ranch," wrote Christopher Rosa with NBC Insider. "He more than deserves the break, but he will be sorely missed." Smash Mouth headlining 2023 Pierogi Fest Now, as Shelton's final season wraps up, the next country music coach has been revealed.Reba McEntire is joining Niall Horan, Gwen Stefani, and John Legend to be Season 24's coach quartet."There's a new Coach in town! See you all this Fall!" the singer wrote on Twitter Monday. McEntire joined Shelton in Season 23 as a 'Mega Mentor' and was even asked before Shelton to be a coach during the show's inaugural ...

The worst of spring allergies are over — Here's what's ahead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:46 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Spring is the most active season for pollen in Central Texas. The month of April in particular is one of the most intense months of the year for allergy sufferers — in terms of allergen variety. NEXT: Austin allergy tracker The main culprit: trees. Oak is the main tree allergen that many people are often bothered by. Austin Allergy CalendarLuckily after oak peaked with a "very high" count of 1,291 g/m3  on April 22, it has drastically declined. We started off the month of May with oak in the "medium" category but it has recently continued to fall. In fact, tree allergens as a whole have been decreasing dramatically and have remained in the 'low' category. It is safe to say the worst of the season is behind us.Here's what to expect aheadPollen June ForecastWhile grass pollen usually lasts from March through October, the highest counts typically occur in May and June. While grass has generally been fairly tame for the month of May so far, we are expecting a spi...

St. Paul’s Shepard Road to remain closed as officials brace for the Mississippi River to flood — again

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:46 GMT

Brace yourself, Twin Cities. The Mississippi River is rising again.Days after announcing that a three-mile stretch of Shepard Road would reopen to vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians, St. Paul Public Works officials have had a change of heart. Heavy rain this past weekend in central Minnesota is feeding the Mississippi River. As a consequence, the river in downtown St. Paul could again surpass moderate flood stage by Saturday.Downtown St. Paul river levels, which had fallen to little more than 9 feet as of Monday morning, could reach the minor flood stage of 14 feet by Friday and crest at 16.1 feet on May 22, according to the National Weather Service. That’s despite a dry spell projected to take temperatures into the low 80s on Tuesday.As a result, the city is keeping Shepard Road closed, as it has been since April 16, and additional flood measures are more than likely, even with a bit of a scorcher in the works over the next few days. Low-lying parks and trails are still close...

NYS Leaders call for federal action in migrant crisis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:46 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)--The New York State Association of Counties said more needs to be done by the federal government when it comes to the migrant crisis."The current situation is failing," said Steven Acquario, Executive Director of the New York State Association of Counties.This comes after Governor Hochul sent a letter to President Biden on Friday requesting FEMA to direct the Department of Defense and the National Park Service to help construct and operate temporary shelters on federal land. According to the letter, the governor anticipates several thousand asylum seekers to arrive in New York City every week."I have not heard a response back, but I’ll be speaking with them again, and again and again," said Hochul at a press conference on Monday.The association of counties would like the federal government to declare a federal state of emergency as well as to reform a waiting period for work authorization, something Hochul supports."If they would simply allow these individuals ...

Lake George run keeps teachers' memories alive

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:46 GMT

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Every year, the Lake George community gathers at the elementary school to run - for a good reason. The 22nd annual Randy's Run and Murphy's Mile carves a path around Lake George on Saturday, May 20 - keeping a memory alive, and a student body thriving. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "It's turned into a community-wide event," said Lake George Junior-Senior High School Principal Fran Cocozza. "Hundreds of people now attend, within and outside of Lake George. For the last 22 years (minus two during the COVID-19 pandemic) it has been the third Saturday of May."Randy's Run carries on the legacy of Randall Madison, a former Lake George Elementary School teacher who died suddenly of a brain aneurysm at the age of 31. The school and his family quickly conceived the run as a way to remember a man for whom teaching was a gift.That gift was shared, too, by Ed Murphy, another Lake George teacher who passed...