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AUTO RACING: McDowell’s second victory in a racing jewel earns him the latest NASCAR playoff berth

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:16 GMT

All Times Eastern NASCAR CUP SERIES Go Bowling at the GlenSite: Watkins Glen, New York.Schedule: Saturday, practice, 12:30 p.m., and qualifying, 1:30 p.m.; Sunday, race, 3 p.m. (USA).Track: Watkins Glen International.Race distance: 90 laps, 220.5 miles.Last year: Kyle Larson won after starting second.Last race: Michael McDowell inherited the lead on Lap 53 and never trailed again as he drove the most dominant race of his career to win in Indianapolis.Fast facts: McDowell beat Chase Elliott by 0.937 seconds for his second NASCAR crown jewel victory while also securing a playoff spot. McDowell’s only other victory in 453 starts came in the Daytona 500 in 2021. … The race was under a green flag for 77 of the 82 laps. … Shane van Gisbergen, who won his Cup Series debut on the streets of Chicago, finished 10th in his second career start. … Pole-winner Daniel Suarez was third, followed by Tyler Reddick and Alex Bowman. … Non-winners outside the top 16 in poin...

Oprah, Meryl Streep, Michael B. Jordan to be honored at Academy Museum Gala

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:16 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will pay tribute to Meryl Streep, Oprah Winfrey, Michael B. Jordan and Sofia Coppola in its annual fundraising gala on Oct. 14, the museum announced Tuesday. The Academy Museum Gala has become a key fundraising event for the Los Angeles movie museum since its opening in 2021. This year’s event, the third such gala, received a greenlight from the striking actors and writers guilds. SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild have limited what promotion activities their members can do during the ongoing work stoppages.Streep, Winfrey, Jordan and Coppola will each be given awards celebrating their careers at the gala, which is being co-chaired by Ava DuVernay, Ryan Murphy, Halle Berry and museum trustee Eric Esrailian.“We are excited to gather again at our third annual Academy Museum Gala to celebrate the power, global impact, and indelible importance of cinema,” said Jacqueline Stewart, director and president of the Academy Museum, in...

Two Connecticut deaths linked to bacteria found in raw shellfish

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:16 GMT

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Two Connecticut residents have died this summer from infections linked to a bacteria found in raw shellfish or seawater, the state Department of Public Health said Tuesday.Three people in the state are known to have been infected with the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria, which doesn’t make an oyster look, smell or taste any different. The state Bureau of Aquaculture said it does not believe any of the infections are linked to Connecticut shellfish.Two of the three cases were wound infections not associated with seafood, the health department said, and the third infection was a Connecticut resident that consumed raw oysters not harvested from Long Island Sound at an out-of-state establishment. All three victims were between the ages of 60 to 80 and the two deaths occurred in July, the department said, adding that it’s first time Connecticut has seen a Vibrio case in three years.Connecticut is home to a thriving oyster industry, and conducts regular tests for the bac...

Former 2-time All-Star Josh Harrison signs minor league deal with AL West-leading Texas Rangers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:16 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The AL West-leading Texas Rangers signed former two-time All-Star infielder Josh Harrison to a minor league contract on Tuesday, two weeks after he was released by the Philadelphia Phillies.Harrison hit .204 with two homers and 10 RBIs in 40 games this season for the Phillies, who designated him for assignment and then released him when making moves to clear a spot on their roster for newly acquired right-hander Michael Lorenzen.The 36-year-old Harrison is a .270 career hitter with 73 homers and 388 RBIs over 1,208 games with six different teams during his 13-year big league career. He was an National League All-Star in 2004 with Pittsburgh, when he hit a career-best .315, and was an All-Star again in 2017, when he hit .272 with 16 homers for the Pirates.Harrison began his big league career with the Pirates from 2011-18, and he has played for five teams over the past five seasons: Detroit, Washington, Oakland, the Chicago White Sox and the Pirates.___AP MLB: ...

Colorado River water cuts eased for 2024, despite long-term challenges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:16 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal officials said Tuesday they will ease water cuts for Western states reliant on the Colorado River in 2024, thanks to a slightly improved outlook, but long-term challenges remain.The river serves seven U.S. states, Native American tribes and two states in Mexico. It also supports a multibillion-dollar farm industry in the West and generates hydropower used across the region. Years of overuse by farms and cities, and the effects of drought worsened by climate change have meant much less water flows today through the Colorado River than in previous decades. Work to begin on underground fire near Marshall Fire ignition point The U.S. government announces water availability for the coming year months in advance so that cities, farmers and others can plan. The first mandatory cuts that magnified the crisis on the river went into effect in 2022, followed by even deeper cuts this year due to drought, poor precipitation and less runoff from the headwaters in the R...

Douglas County sheriff warns of scammers meeting with victims, bilking thousands

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:16 GMT

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) -- Douglas County investigators say they are very concerned about a new scam they are seeing that has an added layer of danger.They've received multiple reports from victims over the age of 70 who have lost large amounts of money after meeting with suspects in person.Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly says the scam starts with a pop-up error message on a computer or iPad."This latest version says it's from Microsoft. They are told to contact a phone number," the sheriff said. Is there any rhyme or reason to Denver’s street names? When the victims call the number, he said, they are told elaborate stories about why they need to withdraw large amounts of cash or buy gold."These suspects are more brazen, and they are actually meeting with our victims," Weekly said.$58K in cash stolen, along with $125K in goldAccording to investigators, there are multiple suspects who may wear medical masks and sunglasses.The DCSO released surveillance pictures that show ...

John Fielder's 5 tips for outdoor photographers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:16 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- A famed, award-winning outdoor photographer from Colorado, John Fielder, died over the weekend after a battle with cancer. Fielder, 73, took hundreds of thousands of photos during his career, documenting quite literally each of Colorado’s 104,984 square miles, according to a press release from History Colorado. Colorado nature photographer John Fielder dies He was a guest on FOX31 and Channel 2 many times in past years, leaving tips for others interested in capturing the beauty of Colorado in a photo.Here are some of Fielder's secrets to landscape photography.The golden hourFielder said outdoor photographers make a living one hour after sunrise and one hour before sunset, when shadows are broad, to add depth to an image. "Photographers do not sleep in," Fielder said. "Pushing the saturation slider to the right in Lightroom to edit your photos is not the same as getting up at 5:30 a.m." Watch: More tips for outdoor photography from John Fielder He said the warm l...

Owners seek return of sentimental photo frame stolen from Vinos Wine Bar on Las Olas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:16 GMT

The owners of Vinos Wine Bar on Las Olas are on a quest for answers after a bold act of photo theft was captured on video.The incident unfolded Friday evening at the bar’s Sidecar Speakeasy, just moments before midnight.“Every bartender, restaurant owner in America has this problem of people stealing stuff,” said co-owner Clayton Chelley. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vinos Wine Bar On Las Olas (@vinosfortlauderdale)Seated at a corner table and after sharing a few glasses of wine with her friends, a woman nonchalantly helped herself to a photo on the wall.“It’s like walking into your house and taking a picture off the wall,” said Clayton. “I’m disturbed by this. I mean, I lose sleep over this.”“I feel more disappointed,” said co-owner Valerie Chelley. “You kind of expect the best from people.”The whole scene was caught on camera, detailing her maneuver to secure the frame in her purse. Her friends playe...

Pembroke Park town commissioner speaks out after investigation details pattern of improper behavior

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:16 GMT

A commissioner in one South Florida town is firing back after being investigated for bad behavior. Former Pembroke Park town attorney, Melissa Anderson, explained the way, she said, Commissioner Geoffrey Jacobs treated her.“He went after me like I have never had in my 35 year career had anybody, I mean it was shocking,” Anderson said. “I tried to actually smooth things over with him one night and he, this is when he screamed at me from across the parking lot to leave him the expletive alone, and I was like, I thought this just went from weird to weird scary.”Anderson met with the attorney who was hired by the town to look into allegations against the commissioner.“Hostile work environment and potential violations of code of conduct for the Town of Pembroke Park,” said the attorney. Commissioner Jacobs is now responding to the allegations and the report, which he said, is lopsided.“There was not one person interviewed in there that was benef...

Westford’s Molly Smith earns medalist honors at Massachusetts Women’s Amateur

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:16 GMT

Westford’s Molly Smith earned medalist honors at the 120th Massachusetts Women’s Amateur Championship.The 18-year-old, a recent graduate of Westford Academy, fired a sizzling 2-under par 68 to finish the two days of stroke play with a 143 (3-over), which was five shots better than Mekhala Costello of Blue Hill CC (73-75-148) at Dedham Country & Polo Club.Smith, 18, is trying to duplicate the formula used by her oldest sister, Morgan, 19, who also won stroke play by five shots last summer en route to winning the championship.The Smiths were well represented atop the leaderboard heading into Wednesday and the first day of match play. Maddie Smith, 15, was in third (+9) after rounds of 76-73-149. Morgan Smith (78-73-151) was tied for fourth with Shannon Johnson of Thorny Lea, Isabel Brozena of Indian Ridge and Allison Paik of The Cape Club of Sharon.All three Smiths are representing Vesper CC of Tyngsboro.This year’s champion will be crowned Friday.