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AP source: Biden, McCarthy reach ‘agreement in principle’ to raise debt ceiling as default looms

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:10 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reached an “agreement in principle” late Saturday as they raced to strike a deal that to limit federal spending and resolve the looming debt crisis ahead of a June 5 deadline, a person familiar with the situation said. A deal would avert a catastrophic U.S. default.The Democratic president and Republican speaker reached the agreement after the two spoke earlier Saturday evening by phone, said the person, who was speaking on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. The country and the world have been watching and waiting for a resolution to political standoff that threatened the U.S. and global economy.With the outlines of a deal in place, the legislative package could be drafted and shared with lawmakers in time for votes early next week in the House and later in the Senate.Biden also spoke earlier in the day with Democratic leaders in Congress...

Hundreds run Dick Hoyt memorial race in Hopkinton days after Rick Hoyt’s death

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:10 GMT

The inaugural Dick Hoyt Memorial “Yes You Can” Run Together was held in Hopkinton on Saturday, just days after the death of Rick Hoyt. Rick was part of the father-son duo who were staples of the Boston Marathon for decades, and Team Hoyt is continuing to carry on their legacy.Rick passed away earlier this week at the age of 61 due to complications with his respiratory system. There was some debate on whether the race should go on, as Rick was the race organizer, but the family decided to go forward as planned. Rick wanted to honor his father with this race, race organizers said.Team Hoyt, with Dick pushing son Rick, who lived with cerebral palsy, finished the Boston Marathon 32 times together. They competed in their final marathon in 2014. Dick died at the age of 80 in 2021 of heart failure. The pair inspired others to believe in themselves, set goals and push the limits of what can be done.We’re going to do our best to make him proud of the work he’s done to honor his d...

Temperatures keep rising, 80s for most Sunday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:10 GMT

After a fantastic start to the holiday weekend, with sunshine and temps in the 70s, even warmer weather is on the way on Sunday. High pressure slides just off the coast Sunday afternoon, leading to a stiff southwesterly breeze ushering in warm air. Temperatures will rise into the upper 80s away from the coastline, while conditions are expected to remain cooler along the coast, especially Cape Cod and the Islands. Overnight Sunday night a backdoor front pushes through the area, leading to much cooler weather on Memorial Day.

Celtics’ Malcolm Brogdon ruled out of Game 6 against Heat due to right forearm injury

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:10 GMT

MIAMI — Malcolm Brogdon tried playing through his right forearm injury but he was experiencing too much discomfort to play in the Celtics’ biggest game of the season.The Celtics guard went through pregame warmups but was ultimately ruled out about an hour before tip off of Boston’s do-or-die Game 6 against the Heat on Saturday night. Brogdon reportedly suffered the injury in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. According to The Athletic, the C’s guard had a partial tear in the tendon coming out of his right elbow and leading to his forearm.It didn’t seem to bother Brogdon initially as he scored 19 points in 37 minutes in Game 1 but the injury apparently worsened, and so did his play. Wearing a black sleeve on his forearm, Brogdon went scoreless on 0-for-6 shooting in 18 minutes in Game 3, then scored just two points in Game 4. Brogdon played eight minutes in the first half of Game 5 but left the game in the second half and did not return.“He gave us the best he could, and ...

Mission Bay crash prompts road closure

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:10 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A two-vehicle crash Saturday prompted a road closure in Mission Beach, authorities said.The collision occurred around 4:15 p.m. at 1000 West Mission Bay Drive, according to the San Diego Police Department.As of 5:01 p.m., Eastbound West Mission Bay Drive, between Mission Boulevard to the Ingraham Street connector, will be closed for several hours due to the crash involving a vehicle and motorcyclist, police said. Woman dead after cement bags fall from overturned truck on I-805 Authorities did not say who was hurt, but did confirm there were "serious injuries.""At this time, Westbound West Mission Bay Drive remains open, however traffic is severely impacted," SDPD tweeted.Check back for updates on this developing story.

Ed Ames, pop singer and TV star, dies at 95

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:10 GMT

Ed Ames, the youngest member of the popular 1950s singing group the Ames Brothers, who later became a successful actor in television and musical theater, has died. He was 95.The last survivor of the four singing brothers, Ames died on May 21 from Alzheimer’s disease, his wife Jeanne Ames said on Saturday.“He had a wonderful life,” she said.On television, Ames was likely best known for his role as Mingo, the Oxford-educated Native American in the 1960s adventure series “Daniel Boone” that starred Fess Parker as the famous frontiersman. He also was the center of a bit on “The Tonight Show” that — thanks to his painfully uncanny aim with a hatchet — became one of the show’s most memorable surprise moments.Ames had guest roles in TV series such as “Murder, She Wrote” and “In the Heat of the Night,” and toured frequently in musicals, performing such popular songs as “Try to Remember” and the song that became his bigg...

Naperville unveils Gold Star monument on Memorial Day weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:10 GMT

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — While nothing can take the place of a service member who died in the line of duty, those who have lost a loved one that served in the armed forces saw a new monument unveiled in their honor over Memorial Day weekend.Gold Star families were honored at Naperville's Veteran's Park with a new memorial being unveiled Saturday, the culmination of which was years in the making and the brain child of a former Medal of Honor recipient."After Woody retired, he said there has got to be something we can do for Gold Star families" said Mike King, from the Woody Williams Foundation. "And that’s where him and another guy got together and designed the monument."Hershel "Woody" Williams was a World War Two veteran who served with the United States Marines in the Pacific Theater of the war. Williams was awarded the Medal of Honor on Oct. 5, 1945, for his 'valiant devotion to duty' in the Battle of Iwo Jima.After returning home from World War Two, Williams dedicated his life to hono...

Most Americans say they would support stricter gun control laws: poll

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:10 GMT

(The Hill) — A majority of Americans in a new poll released on Friday said they would support stricter gun control laws.Sixty-four percent said they were in favor of stricter laws, while 36 percent said they were opposed, the CNN-SSRS poll found.  Texas House votes to impeach AG Ken Paxton A slightly smaller portion — 54 percent — said that such gun control laws would reduce gun-related deaths in the country, and 58 percent said they believe the government is able take effective action to prevent mass shootings.Some 59 percent in the survey said they were in favor of banning semi-automatic rifles, while 94 percent said they would support taking measures to prevent convicted felons and those with mental health issues from owning guns.Eight in 10 also said people under the age of 21 should be barred from purchasing any type of gun, the poll found.However, those in the survey were nearly evenly divided on whether allowing gun owners to carry their firearms in public places makes thos...

Texas lawmakers find consensus on bill banning diversity, equity and inclusion offices in public universities

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:10 GMT

AUSTIN (The Texas Tribune) — Texas public universities’ diversity, equity and inclusion offices likely have six months left before they’re banished. Previous: Texas bill banning Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in public universities closer to being signed by Gov. State lawmakers came to an agreement Saturday on legislation that would ban DEI offices, programs and training at publicly funded universities, largely adopting the version that the Texas House approved a week ago, with some minor changes.Notably, the conference committee of lawmakers appointed to hash out the differences between the two chambers’ versions of the bill removed the House provision that would ensure universities reassign DEI office employees to new positions with similar pay.Both chambers must concur on the final draft of Senate Bill 17 before it heads to Gov. Greg Abbott. If he signs the bill or allows it to become law without his signature, it will make Texas the second state in the country, after Florida,...

An effort to ban faculty tenure in public universities has failed in the Texas Legislature

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:10 GMT

AUSTIN (The Texas Tribune) — A year and a half ago, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick shocked the higher education world when he pledged to eliminate tenure for faculty at Texas public universities, a century-old practice that provides continuous employment so professors can teach without fear of political interference or retribution. Previous: Texas professors petition for keeping tenure system Last month, the Texas Senate passed a bill to kill tenure. Faculty members around the state, some university leaders and House Speaker Dade Phelan panned it as a bad idea that would hurt faculty recruitment and retention, reduce protections for conservative faculty who might have unpopular opinions, and damage the prestige of Texas’ research universities.On Saturday, in a surprise move, senators backed off their position and accepted the House’s counterproposal, which solidifies tenure in state law and places more power to make future changes to tenure in the hands of state lawmakers rather that indivi...