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Scotty Bowman embracing hockey retirement role

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:58 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — When Scotty Bowman left the Chicago Blackhawks a year ago, he was open to taking another job.During the course of this season, the 89-year old Hall of Famer discovered not working for a team can be a good thing.Now, the record-holding, nine-time Stanley Cup winning coach is ready for his next chapter.When asked if he is now unemployed or retired, Bowman said with a smile, “I’m retired.”Retired, but not slowing down.Bowman remains active in the game, even after his departure as a senior adviser with the Blackhawks where he won the final three of his five additional Stanley Cups as an off-ice official.A longtime regular at Tampa Bay home games, Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois made sure Bowman kept his parking spot in the player’s lot and regular seat in the second row of the north press box.Whether it is Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery seeking Bowman out pregame in the media room, Calgary Flames coach Darryl Sutter sitting down with h...

'Careless actions' of homeowner may have caused Park County wildfire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:58 GMT

PARK COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) -- The Park County Sheriff's Office says criminal charges will be pursued in the Badger Creek Fire.The fire started on Wednesday near Hartsel and burned 41 acres. The fire is fully contained, but fire crews are monitoring hot spots. Smoke may still be visible in the area.The sheriff's office said that after an investigation, they believe the fire was the result of a homeowner's careless actions on their private property, which were in violation of the fire ban. Fire danger: These areas are under a red flag warning The fire spread quickly and out of control due to the dry weather conditions.No structures were lost in the fire, but the sheriff's office said a firefighter suffered superficial burns during the response but did not require further medical attention.Stage 1 fire banPark County is currently in a Stage 1 fire ban. During a Stage 1 fire ban, the following are prohibited:Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire except within a ...

Florida Legislature passes 6-week abortion ban, DeSantis supports

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:58 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Republican-dominated Florida Legislature on Thursday approved a ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, a proposal supported by GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis as he prepares for an expected presidential run.DeSantis is expected to sign the bill into law. Florida currently prohibits abortions after 15 weeks.A six-week ban would give DeSantis a key political victory among Republican primary voters as he prepares to launch a presidential candidacy built on his national brand as a conservative standard bearer.The policy would also have wider implications for abortion access throughout the South in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last year overturning Roe v. Wade and leaving decisions about abortion access to states. Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi have banned abortion at all stages of pregnancy, while Georgia forbids the procedure after cardiac activity can be detected, which is around six weeks.Democrats and abortion...

Rescue crews work to save residents affected by severe floods in Fort Lauderdale

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:58 GMT

Residents in Fort Lauderdale were pulled to safety after severe floods affected Broward County. Most South Florida residents had never faced a flooding emergency like this one.“We were hit last night with a deluge of rain,” said Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Chief Michael Kane.Parts of Fort Lauderdale woke up under several feet of rain Nearly a third of the year’s worth of rain fell only on Wednesday. Entire neighborhoods are now under water.Residents were trapped in their homes as firefighters use boats in the rush to rescue the most vulnerable ones, which included kids and dogs.Traffic was also a big problem for residents who tried to resume their lives Thursday morning..This road near Atlantic Shores Boulevard looked more like a parking lot and flooding along Marina Mile Boulevard just off of Interstate 95 in made for a traffic nightmare for morning commuters.Official have an important call.“Please continue to stay off the roads,” Fort Lauderdale Mayor...

Gov. DeSantis issues State of Emergency for Broward County following severe rainfall and flooding

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:58 GMT

Hours after South Florida was hit with unprecedented showers and thunderstorms, Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a State of Emergency for Broward County.As a result, the Florida Department of Emergency and Management deployed staff to support local officials throughout the county. https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1646599973876781059?s=20Rainfall totals of 4-8 inches have fallen over southeastern Broward County and northeastern Miami-Dade County, with the heaviest rainfall amounts of 15-25 inches estimated through the Fort Lauderdale metro area.Other state efforts include:Department of TransportationFDOT is pumping flood waters at multiple locations including the New River Tunnel (US 1).FDOT is providing maintenance of traffic for roadway closures and working with Broward County on traffic signal outages.FDOT has posted messaging to digital signage advising of the airport closure and road closures caused by flooding in downtown Fort Lauderdale.FDOT is activating damage assessment ...

Drug busts in Mass. & RI lead to 13 arrests, seizure of massive amounts of methamphetamine, other substances

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:58 GMT

Authorities executing nearly 20 search warrants across Massachusetts and Rhode Island Thursday morning arrested over a dozen suspects as local and federal officials busted a “large scale” drug trafficking operation, according to the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office.The DA’s office announced the arrests of 13 suspects as part of a multi-agency investigation involving federal, state and local authorities over the course of two years.According to a news release from the office, the investigation culminated in 19 search warrants being executed Thursday in communities that included Framingham, Worcester, Lawrence, Ashland, Peabody, Northbridge and Woburn, Mass., as well as North Smithfield, Rhode Island.Arrested were 13 suspects across eastern and central Mass. who now face numerous drug-related charges. The arrests and charges include:Sandy Marte-Caraballo, 34, Woburn, charged with: Trafficking Fentanyl, Trafficking Cocaine, Trafficking Methamphetamine...

Protest, counter protest expected in Newton around planned drag performance 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:58 GMT

A protest and a counter protest are expected in Newton Thursday afternoon as a guest invited for an LGBTQ awareness day at Newton North High School has left some people upset.Students at Newton North High School invited drag performer Missy Steak to take part in the school’s annual Transgender, Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Awareness Day on Friday. As word has spread, though, several Newton School Committee members said they were contacted. “A lot of the students are very glad we have this safe space to talk about LGBTQ issues and kind of show their pride for being in the community,” Newton North Senior Olivia Schpeiser said.Speaking this week, Newton School Committee member Cove Johnstone Davis said she received “many, many emails.”He continued, saying she received, “quite honestly some threatening emails and texts as well, which I didn’t appreciate from the community.”At a meeting Monday, the school district’s interim superintendent explained the event was planned by student...

Edna Kiplagat officially named as new winner of 2021 marathon

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:58 GMT

Just days before runners hit the road for the 2023 Boston Marathon, officials on Thursday officially named a new winner of the 2021 marathon. Edna Kiplagat was in town to officially take the title two years after she initially came in second place behind Diana Kipyokei. Kipyokei was later involved in a doping scandal that resulted in her losing her 2021 title. Kipyokei was also banned for six years.The Boston Athletic Association announced Kipyokei’s suspension in October of last year. The Associated Press later reported a urine sample from Kipyokei taken after the 2021 Boston Marathon had traces of triamcinolone acetonide, described as an anti-inflammatory substance banned at races unless an athlete has permission to use it as a medication.Kiplagat said it is critical for athletes to have a fair competition. “All athletes now are appreciating the system because it’s working well,” she said.Kiplaga is now a two-time Boston Marathon winner, having previously won t...

Biden administration declares fentanyl laced with xylazine ‘an emerging threat’ in the US

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:58 GMT

(CNN) — The White House has declared that the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl combined with xylazine — an animal tranquilizer that’s increasingly being used in illicit drugs — is an “emerging threat” facing the United States due to its role in the ongoing opioid crisis.Administration officials call the threat FAAX, for fentanyl-adulterated or -associated xylazine.The move, announced Wednesday, marks the first time in history that any administration has declared a substance to be an emerging threat to the country, said Dr. Rahul Gupta, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. The SUPPORT Act of 2018 established that the office has authority to declare such “emerging threats,” and no administration has used it until now. Last year, Congress declared methamphetamine an emerging drug threat but none have been declared by an administration previously. Under other agencies or in separate circum...

Red Sox outclassed by Rays in four-game sweep, lose finale 9-3

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:58 GMT

We knew going in this series would tell us a lot about both the Red Sox and Rays.For Boston this week was an opportunity to prove it could hold its own against a real contender. For Tampa Bay it was a chance to show its hot start wasn’t just a flash in the pan.Well, we sure know where the teams stand now.Facing their first big test against a playoff-proven division rival, the Red Sox got splattered like a bug on a windshield. The Rays completed the four-game sweep Thursday afternoon, riding a seven-run fifth inning to a 9-3 victory.The Rays are now 13-0, matching the 1982 Atlanta Braves and 1987 Milwaukee Brewers for the best start in MLB history, while the Red Sox limp home last in the AL East and facing serious questions.“Right now they’re playing great baseball, playing good defense, running the bases, pitching well, they are who they are right now,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “Obviously disappointing for us to come here and get swept but weR...