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White House strategy on government funding meets serious test this week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:44 GMT

(CNN) — President Joe Biden and his top aides at the White House plan to hammer away at a blunt message as the US government inches closer to a shutdown this week: A handful of extremist Republicans are entirely to blame for the havoc that would be unleashed across the country.For Biden, there’s a lot riding on that message getting through to Americans.Biden’s advisers have been assessing for weeks how involved to get in lawmakers’ deliberations to fund the government ahead of the end-of-month deadline, and ultimately decided to take a hands-off approach. The expectation: Should the Republican-led House struggle to reach consensus, they would ultimately shoulder the blame for any disruption.“Watch the GOP struggle and force them to govern or be blamed for shutdown,” a Biden administration official said, summing up the strategy.The White House is planning to dispatch a number of Cabinet officials this week to help lay out the broad range of ramifications ...

Rare tickets to Ford’s Theatre on the night Lincoln was assassinated auction for $262,500

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:44 GMT

A pair of front-row balcony tickets to Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865 — the night President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth — sold at auction for $262,500, according to a Boston-based auction house.The tickets are stamped with the date, “Ford’s Theatre, APR 14, 1865, This Night Only.” They bear the left-side imprint “Ford’s Theatre, Friday, Dress Circle!” and are filled out in pencil with section (“D”) and seat numbers “41” and “42”, according to RR Auction.The handwritten seating assignments and the circular April 14th-dated stamp match those found on other known authentic tickets, including a used ticket stub in the collection of Harvard University’s Houghton Library, auction officials said.The Harvard stub, which consists of just the left half of the ticket, is the only other used April 14th Ford’s Theatre ticket known to still exist, with similar seat assignments fil...

Sauce Gardner posts ‘proof’ of Mac Jones’ low blow in Patriots’ win over Jets

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:44 GMT

Sauce Gardner brought receipts.The Jets cornerback, who accused Patriots quarterback Mac Jones of delivering a low blow Sunday, posted a video to social media of the exchange with the caption, “posting this so I don’t get fined lol.”Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Bill Belichick compares Patriots rookie to elite NFL defender New England Patriots | Patriots RB Ezekiel Elliott opens up about facing Cowboys New England Patriots | Bill Belichick not losing faith in Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson through early-season struggles New England Patriots | Patriots TE Pharaoh Brown becomes unlikely hero in 15-10 win over Jets New England Patriots | Callahan: Beating the Jets buys the Patriots time, but little else Posting this so I don’t get fined lol pic.twitter.com/2KjcAVTNsW— SAUCE GARDNER (@iamSauceGardner) September 25, 2023Gardner shoved Jones to the ground early in the fourth q...

MUST-WATCH: Assassins, mercenaries, and spy kids, oh my!

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:44 GMT

Whether it’s a return to the world of John Wick, or another action filled adventure with the Expendables, there’s tons of great stuff in the MUST-WATCH Top 10 this week! But will reign supreme? You’ll have to keep reading to find out!Spy Kids: ArmageddonWhere to watch: NetflixFirst up this week, it’s time for the return of the Spy Kids!Robert Rodriguez (the director of From Dusk till Dawn and Alita: Battle Angel) returns as the director of the fifth film in this franchise. Spy Kids: Armageddon stars Zachary Levi (from Shazam!) and Gina Rodriguez (from Jane the Virgin) as spies and parents of two unknowing children. The kids are both fans of a video game, and they accidentally unleash the game’s code which takes over technology all over the world. After their parents are captured, the two children have to learn how to becomes spies all on their own while figuring out how to save the world. This film also stars Billy Magnussen (from the Many Saints of New...

US military captures key Islamic State militant during helicopter raid in Syria

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:44 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military said Monday it had captured an operator for the Islamic State extremist group during a helicopter raid in northern Syria.The operator, Abu Halil al-Fad’ani, “was assessed to have relationships throughout the ISIS network in the region,” U.S. Central Command said in a statement.His capture on Saturday increases the chance that U.S. counterterrorism operations there will be able to target additional members of the group, command spokesman Lt. Col. Troy Garlock said.The U.S. has approximately 900 troops in Syria focused on countering the remnants of the Islamic State group, which had held a wide swath of Syria until 2019. News of the capture came as U.S.-backed Kurdish-led forces imposed a curfew after continued skirmishes with rival Arab militiamen. According to reports from Syrian media and activists, the Syrian Democratic Forces imposed the curfew Monday in several towns in Deir el-Zour province, including in Ziban, close to the Iraqi border where...

Trump campaigns in South Carolina after a weekend spent issuing threats and leveling treason claims

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:44 GMT

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump ramped up his campaign schedule with a visit to South Carolina on Monday after a busy weekend online that included threats to the media, multiple accusations of treason and a claim he could design a better fighter jet than the military.The Republican presidential front-runner, who has spent far less time on the campaign trail than his leading rivals, began his trip to small-town Summerville with a meet-and-greet with volunteers at a local campaign office and a visit to a local gun store, where he admired a Glock.He later addressed supporters outside a boat manufacturing facility, where he showed off a slew of new South Carolina endorsements, including from the state’s attorney general, its secretary of state, its House majority leader and other members of the South Carolina House of Representatives.While his rivals have been busy holding town halls and visiting local diners, Trump has spent much of the last months respondi...

Police investigating after taxi driver critically injured in St. Catharines

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:44 GMT

Police in Niagara Region are investigating after a taxi driver was found suffering from critical injuries in St. Catharines over the weekend.Authorities were called to Eastchester Avenue near Lorne Street at around 4:45 a.m. on Sept. 23 after a taxi driver was found beside his parked cab.Police noted that the taxi door was opened and in the roadway while the driver was unconscious, suffering from a critical injury. The initial investigation determined that a civilian had been driving in the area and discovered the driver lying on the road.The male driver was rushed to an out-of-region hospital, where he remains in critical condition.Investigators are appealing to members of the public to come forward with viable evidence in this incident. Residents or businesses in the area are also asked to review surveillance footage for suspicious activity between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Sept. 23.Police said the taxicab was a silver Toyota Camry. There is no suspect information at this time.The inve...

Firefighter’s 3-year-old son struck and killed as memorial walk for slain firefighters was to begin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:44 GMT

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — The 3-year-old son of a firefighter was struck and killed in Delaware over the weekend shortly before a memorial walk was to begin to honor three firefighters killed in an a blaze seven years ago, authorities said.The Wilmington fire chief’s office said a group of off-duty Wilmington firefighters, family members and friends were gathering just before 10 a.m. Sunday for the walk to honor three city firefighters killed in the line of duty at a structure fire on the same day in 2016.Capt. Matthew Marsella said in a statement that the child, the son of an off-duty firefighter, was struck by a vehicle driven by another off-duty firefighter trying to park to take part in the memorial event. The boy was taken to Wilmington Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His name and the name of the driver were not immediately released.Wilmington police are investigating and are asking anyone with information to call them.Wilmington Mayor Michael Purzycki said in a sta...

Music Review: Martin Simpson and Thomm Jutz revive folk songs on ‘Nothing but Green Willow’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:44 GMT

Folk artists Martin Simpson and Thomm Jutz combine to offer a real oldies collection, with ballads that date back generations and have roots on both sides of the Atlantic. They’re mostly sad songs about class divide, unfaithful lovers and family strife, where bloody dreams come true and even the valleys are lonesome.It’s music that still resonates today, as shown in these compelling new interpretations by Simpson and Jutz. “Nothing But Green Willow: The Songs of Mary Sands and Jane Gentry” will be released Friday.Simpson and Jutz mined the material from a book published in 1917 by English folklorist Cecil Sharp, who transcribed traditional British songs he heard while visiting Appalachia to document a transoceanic cultural connection. North Carolina residents Sands and Gentry helped Sands’ research by performing the tunes for him.If that makes the album sound like a dry academic exercise, it’s not. Intricate melodies are beautifully sung by Simpson, Jutz and a parade of guests, incl...

Indigenous group in N.B. signs deal with companies behind proposed nuclear reactor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:44 GMT

SAINT JOHN, N.B. — A group of First Nations in New Brunswick has signed agreements with two companies developing small nuclear reactor technology for the province’s electric utility.The North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council held a joint news conference Monday with Moltex Energy Canada Inc. and ARC Clean Technology Inc., to announce that its seven First Nations are making financial investments in both Saint John-based companies.Jim Ward, the council’s general manager, said Indigenous leaders are keen to support a sustainable project that will benefit future generations. “With this investment, we are building a legacy for our youth, as well as our communities and the environment,” he said in a statement. “We are laying the groundwork for a prosperous future.”Under the deal, the communities will receive $2 million in share value from Moltex Energy and $1 million in share value from ARC Clean Technology, but the actual number of shares will depend on future va...