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Biden is welcoming far-right Italian Prime Minister Meloni for White House talks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:55 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is set for talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday, welcoming the far-right leader who has won praise from the U.S. administration for her strong backing of the U.S.-led effort to assist Ukraine as it tries to fend off the Russian invasion.The warm reception comes after initial trepidation in the Biden administration about Meloni, who rose to power last year as the head of Italy’s most far-right government since the end of World War II. Biden administration concerns about her ideology have been eased by her support for Ukraine and her seeming openness to pull back from Italy’s participation in China’s infrastructure-building Belt and Road Initiative. Her visit comes as Italy prepares to take up the presidency next year of the Group of Seven industrialized nations.White House officials said that in addition to discussing Ukraine and China, the two leaders were expected to discuss migration from North Africa to Eur...

Trump once condemned the Jan. 6 rioters. Now he’s become one of their biggest supporters

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:55 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The day after Jan. 6, 2021, then-President Donald Trump denounced the rioters who violently stormed the Capitol building, breaking through barricades, battling law enforcement and sending members of Congress — who were set to formally certify his reelection loss — running for their lives.“Like all Americans, I am outraged by the violence, lawlessness and mayhem,” he said in a video, condemning what he called a “heinous attack.”That condemnation was delayed and only offered amid widespread criticism — including from fellow Republicans — for his role in sparking the mayhem. But 2 1/2 years later, any sign of regret or reprimand from Trump has vanished as he prepares to face federal criminal charges for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.Now the early but commanding front-runner in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, Trump regularly downplays the violence, lionizes the rioters as patriots and spreads false claims about who was involved. He has n...

A Michigan judge will decide if a teenage school shooter will spend his life in prison

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:55 GMT

PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — There is no dispute that Ethan Crumbley killed four fellow students and wounded others at Michigan’s Oxford High School in 2021. The next step: Should the 17-year-old spend the rest of his life in prison for the mass shooting?Prosecutors will argue in favor of that punishment Thursday during a unique hearing in suburban Detroit. Crumbley’s lawyers will argue that he should be allowed to seek parole some day, claiming that the violence was the catastrophic climax of the teen’s untreated mental illness and “abhorrent family life.”Oakland County Judge Kwame Rowe has set aside at least two days for the hearing but isn’t expected to make an immediate decision. A life sentence is rare for Michigan teens convicted of first-degree murder since the U.S. Supreme Court in 2012 said minors must be viewed differently than adults.Life in prison “will only be imposed on a juvenile who’s believed to be incorrigible, unredeemable and with no reasonable e...

US economy likely slowed in April-June quarter but still showed its resilience

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:55 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The most aggressive streak of Federal Reserve interest rate hikes in 40 years has slowed the U.S. economy. But to the surprise of many, it hasn’t derailed it.The economy’s resilience has been on display for months, and on Thursday the government could provide another encouraging snapshot: Its first estimate of growth in the April-June quarter is expected to show that the gross domestic product — the economy’s total output of goods and services — expanded at a modest 1.5% annual rate, according to a survey of forecasters by the data firm FactSet. A pace of roughly that size would reflect a continuing slowdown from a 2% growth rate in the January-March quarter, 2.6% for the October-December period and 3.2% for July through September of last year. But it would still point to consistent growth.In fighting inflation, which last year hit a four-decade high, the Fed has raised its benchmark rate 11 times in 17 months, most recently on Wednesday. The resu...

White Sox make first major trade before deadline in 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:55 GMT

CHICAGO - On Wednesday night, after another difficult loss in a difficult season, the White Sox became officially sellers ahead of the Major League Baseball trade deadline.Oddly enough, they sent away two of the pitchers who were originally part of a major rebuild nearly seven years ago. The First White Sox Trade Before the 2023 Deadline..Pitchers Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez are headed to the Angels in exchange for minor league catcher Edgar Quero and left-handed pitcher Ky Bush. .@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/DojHMnXun5— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) July 27, 2023After a 10-7 loss to the Cubs at Guaranteed Rate Field on Wednesday, the White Sox traded pitchers Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez to the Angels. In exchange, the club got two of the top three prospects in the Los Angeles system - catcher Edgar Quero and left-handed pitcher Ky Bush.It's the first trade for the White Sox where they sent talent at the major league level to a team for minor league prospects since before...

Chicago Area Braces For The Summer's Hottest, Most Humid Air

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:55 GMT

The Heat is On—Heat Indices Headed For Triple Digits Thursday & Friday. Lake Breeze Will Suppress Temps A Bit in Shoreline Areas and Chicago Beaches Thursday—but Lake Breeze Weakens Friday. Storms raced at highway speed across northern Illinois Wednesday producing damage with some 60 to 70 mph wind gusts in the counties either side of the Wisconsin line. The storms, which raced along at 55 mph, produced outflows of rain-cooled air which tempered the heat--but only modestly here in Chicago. Wednesday highs still managed a 91-degree high at Midway and 90 at O'Hare--the 10th and 11th 90s of the season at the sites respectively. But, had t-storms not occurred, the day's highs might well have surged to the mid to upper 90s.The expanding heat dome will "cap"( i.e. "suppress") thunderstorm development Thursday—temps will surge to 2023 highs amid tropical humidity levelsChicago's official O'Hare dew point, a measure of atmospheric moisture, surged to 76° Wednesday, making the air mass t...

Diamond Miller, Nikolina Milic make up for star’s absence late in Lynx win over Mystics

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:55 GMT

Its top player on the bench in crunch time, the Lynx did not panic.Diamond Miller and Nikolina Milić came up with big plays in the final three minutes, and Minnesota overcame an awful defensive performance early to beat Washington 97-92 Wednesday night at Target Center.Napheesa Collier led the Lynx with 24 points and 11 rebounds but left with an ankle injury with 3:51 to go. Coach Cheryl Reeve had no postgame update on the team’s captain and top scorer at 21.7 points per game.It’s potentially the latest impairment in a season that has seen multiple players miss lots of time.“Whatever it takes, our team kind of has that mentality through the adversity we’ve had this season,” said Kayla McBride, who scored 15 points. “… Just finding ways to win. Nina came in and made a couple big plays, Diamond made a couple great plays down the stretch. We have confidence in one another.”Up 89-87, Miller and Milić each scored four of the team’s final eight points. Milić added a couple of key rebounds...

116-year-old home L.A.'s latest historic landmark

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:55 GMT

A 116-year-old craftsman-style home in Altadena has been designated Los Angeles County’s latest historic landmark, officials announced earlier this week.  The two-story single-family residence, located at 931 New York Drive, was constructed in 1907 for local journalist Alvick Pearson, according to the L.A. County Department of Regional Planning. Mr. and Mrs. Pearson commissioned the firm Bragdon & Sullivan to build the home.  The primary residence, which is 2,627 square feet, sits on a 14,000-square-foot lot. There is also a 227-square-foot detached garage. Craftsman-style architecture was born out of the arts and crafts movement that originated in England in the late 19th century. The movement, according to the landmark designation, was a “counter to the mass production and materialism of the Industrial Revolution.” Ideals of the movement focused on using natural materials, simple forms, quality craftsmanship and attention to detail. The Pearson Home, in Altadena, was...

Video: Bears enjoy summertime dip in La Cañada Flintridge hot tub

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:55 GMT

As the triple-digit heat brings sweltering weather to Southern California, one homeowner captured a rare sight of a mother bear and her baby enjoying a cool dip in their hot tub.The La Cañada Flintridge homeowner said the surprising moment was captured in her backyard on Wednesday afternoon around 1:45 p.m.In the video, two brown bears — a baby bear and a mother bear — are seen splashing around in a hot tub as they enjoy playtime together.The two bears share a lively exchange before the mother jumps into the refreshing water.As the summer months heat up, bear sightings will be more common for humans who like to spend time outdoors.A baby bear and its mother enjoy a refreshing dip in a La Cañada Flintridge hot tub on July 26, 2023. (Vicki Land)A baby bear and its mother enjoy a refreshing dip in a La Cañada Flintridge hot tub on July 26, 2023. (Vicki Land)A baby bear and its mother enjoy a refreshing dip in a La Cañada Flintridge hot tub on July 26, 2023. (Vicki Land)A baby bear and ...

Lindsey Horan scores as US ekes out 1-1 draw with the Netherlands at Women’s World Cup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:55 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Lindsey Horan, angry over being knocked down minutes earlier by Danielle Van de Donk, scored a revenge goal minutes later in the second half Thursday to help the United States squeeze out a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands at the Women’s World Cup.The Dutch struck first with a goal from Jill Roord in the first half to surprise the Americans, who remained unbeaten in 19 consecutive matches with Horan’s second-half score.Horan’s goal on a header off a corner kick from Rose Lavelle in the 62nd minute followed several minutes of jawing between the two teams: Horan was angry after she was knocked off her feet and even cursed in the direction of Van de Donk — her teammate for club team Lyon.“Honestly, me and Dan always go up against each other and it’s a physical battle. I respect her so much because that’s how it should be, it should be competitive at all times,” Horan said. “Once we got through that tackle, all I wanted to do was score.”The Americans tried to calm...