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Why Patriots’ coaching braintrust is optimistic after ‘really beneficial’ week

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:19 GMT

There’s an air of positivity around the Patriots more than three weeks deep into training camp.The team is still stationed in Green Bay after two days of joint practices with the Packers and preceding their second preseason game of the summer. Wednesday’s practice had some up-and-down moments. At best, it felt like a draw between the Packers and Patriots.But something clicked in the time following Wednesday’s practice and before Thursday’s session. The Patriots came out energized and looking like a new team. The sideline was bringing energy. Mac Jones was hitting deep passes. Young defensive backs were forcing incompletions. Trash talk was flowing.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Where is Patriots CB Jonathan Jones? Assistant coach answers Friday New England Patriots | Patriots-Packers joint practices Day 2: Mac Jones shines, Ezekiel Elliott ramps up, defense fights New England Patriots | Patriots safety Jabril...

Where is Patriots CB Jonathan Jones? Assistant coach answers Friday

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:19 GMT

Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones has not practiced for two weeks.Or, for that matter, even been spotted near a football field.Jones was last seen at an in-stadium practice on Aug. 4, when he wore street clothes and walked the sideline. Prior to that night, he had been a staple of the Patriots’ top defense during team periods in training camp. Jones again projects to start this season, after logging 16 starts, 69 tackles, four interceptions and three forced fumbles last year.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots-Packers joint practices Day 2: Mac Jones shines, Ezekiel Elliott ramps up, defense fights New England Patriots | Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers made his presence known in chippy joint practice with Packers New England Patriots | Jahlani Tavai urges fans to support Hawaii after Patriots lend help New England Patriots | Patriots encouraged by early returns on Ezekiel Elliott signing New England P...

West Kelowna evacuations triple, as City of Kelowna declares wildfire emergency

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:19 GMT

WEST KELOWNA, B.C. — A state of emergency has been declared in the City of Kelowna, B.C., and thousands more West Kelowna residents have been ordered to leave their homes in the face of a fast-burning wildfire.The “very active and unpredictable” McDougall Creek wildfire has now destroyed structures and put more than 2,400 West Kelowna properties under evacuation order, up from about 800 Thursday afternoon, after a frightening night that saw hills surrounding the Okanagan community ablaze.Spot fires sparked on the east side of Lake Okanagan prompted the declaration of a state of emergency for the City of Kelowna around midnight.A local state of emergency was already in place in West Kelowna because of the fire that’s threatening suburbs, schools and businesses in the city. Fire crews are bracing for what the operations director with the BC Wildfire Service predicts will be the most challenging days of the provincial wildfire season.A further 4,800 West Kelowna prope...

Russia arrests the leader of a prominent election watchdog

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:19 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — A Moscow judge has formally arrested and detained one of the leaders of a prominent independent election monitoring group on suspicion of being involved with an “undesirable” organization, his lawyer said Friday.The case against Grigory Melkonyants, co-chair of Russia’s leading election watchdog Golos, is the latest in the monthslong crackdown on Kremlin critics and rights activists that the government ratcheted up after sending troops into Ukraine.Melkonyants’ was charged and detained Thursday in Moscow and appeared in the city’s Basmanny District Court on Friday where a judge arrested him, his lawyer told The Associated Press. Russian media report he has been detained until Oct. 17. He faces up to six years in prison if convicted.Golos has not been labeled “undesirable” — a label that under a 2015 law makes involvement with such organizations a criminal offense. But it was once a member of the European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations, a group...

Vina Morales replaces Lea Salonga in Broadway’s ‘Here Lies Love’ to spotlight Filipino stars

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:19 GMT

As Tony Award winner Lea Salonga prepares to depart the first ever all-Filipino Broadway cast this week, her role will become a revolving door to showcase other well-known talent from the Philippines.Actor and singer Vina Morales, also beloved in the Philippines, will take over as Aurora Aquino in “Here Lies Love” for a month-long engagement starting Sept. 22, the production exclusively told The Associated Press on Friday. Producers say they are committed to highlighting the country’s “abundance of talent,” allowing guest performers a Broadway debut.“To be able to perform on Broadway is a dream come true for any artist,” Morales said in a statement. “I am grateful to ‘Coach Lea’ Salonga for guiding me along the way.”Salonga, who has been with the show since previews in June, called her friend Morales “a wonderful addition to our cast.” Her final show will be the matinee Saturday. Another cast member will fill in until Morales’ arrival.“Here Lies Love” chronicles th...

Video shows drivers breaking no vehicle access rules at High Park

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:19 GMT

It’s been almost two weeks since the City of Toronto implemented phase one of the High Park Movement Strategy, but pictures and videos posted to social media appear to show a lot of drivers breaking the rules.City council approved the strategy in May, resulting in a new main vehicle entrance, reduced parking, and new bike lanes installed inside the park.Among the changes in effect since August 5 include the West Road and parts of Colborne Lodge Drive, south of Grenadier Café, being car-free at all times, and the primary vehicle entrance at Parkside Drive and High Park Boulevard being open Monday to Friday but closed on weekends and holidays.Visitor vehicles are not permitted to enter through Bloor Street West.One “X” user, formerly known as Twitter, posted a video showing a line of cars parked in bike lanes and said he witnessed drivers moving fences to get into areas where they’re not allowed.“High Park is better with less cars, but some people move th...

Neighbors Ukraine and Romania sign accord to boost Kyiv’s grain exports through Romanian territory

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:19 GMT

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Ukraine and neighboring Romania signed an agreement Friday to work together to boost Kyiv’s export of grain through Romania after Moscow broke off a key wartime shipping agreement that allowed safe passage through the Black Sea.The accord was signed during a trip by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal to the Romanian capital, Bucharest, for talks with his Romanian counterpart Marcel Ciolacu. The two leaders discussed ways to ramp up the war-torn nation’s key grain exports, and improve infrastructure for transportation across river, rail, road, sea, including at border crossings. Ukraine’s economy is heavily dependent on farming, and its grain is crucial for world supplies of wheat, barley, and sunflower oil.Ciolacu told a news conference after the meeting that he hopes Romania can transport more than 60% of Ukraine’s grain exports. He also noted the “ambitious” target to double the transport of Ukrainian grain through Romania that was set last week...

A woman interrupts a Quran-burning protest in Sweden by spraying activist with a fire extinguisher

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:19 GMT

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Swedish police detained a woman Friday who sprayed an anti-Islam activist with a fire extinguisher as he staged a Quran-burning protest outside the Iranian Embassy in Stockholm.Video of the scene showed the woman rushing up to Salwan Momika and spraying white powder toward him before she was intercepted by plainclothes police officers who led her away. Momika, who appeared stunned but unhurt, then resumed his demonstration, which had been authorized by police.Police spokeswoman Towe Hägg said the woman, who was not identified by police, was detained on suspicion of disturbing public order and violence against a police officer.Momika, a refugee from Iraq, has desecrated the Quran in a series of anti-Islam protests that have caused anger in many Muslim countries. Swedish police have allowed his demonstrations, citing freedom of speech while filing preliminary hate speech charges against him.Prosecutors are investigating whether his actions are permissible under Sweden...

Study: One-third of Americans have a tattoo

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:19 GMT

Look at the person to your left. Look at the person to your right. Odds are one of you have at least one tattoo.A new Pew Research Center survey shows sporting some ink has become broadly accepted among Americans in recent decades. What's more, it's a trend which seems to span fairly evenly across a variety of demographics. NOAA releases fall weather predictions for Chicago, Illinois The survey found 32% of adults have a tattoo with 22% have more than one. This can be roughly compared to a 2010 survey which showed 23% of adults had a tattoo, however it can't be a direct comparison because of noted changes to the center's survey mode.As for who is most likely to have a tattoo, the survey broke down their results by: gender, race and ethnicity, age, education, income, religion, and sexual orientation. Those demographics were further broken down by likelihood to have one tattoo versus more than one tattoo. Though the combined percentages show a decent amount of variance, single tatto...

Northwestern provides update on Ryan Field renovation plans

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:19 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. — Despite the fact that controversy is surrounding the stadium's main tenant, Northwestern isn't going to pause its plans for Ryan Field.They will, however, make a few changes in hopes of earning more support from the Evanston community.In a letter to the Northwestern community late Thursday night, president Michael Schill announced that the school is moving forward with its $800 million renovation of its football stadium. While mindful of the current hazing allegations and lawsuits that surround the Wildcats' football program, the school believes it's best to move forward with the project with a few changes. Pat Fitzgerald will work with another football team this fall "The redevelopment of Ryan Field is a generational decision that is tied directly to our commitment as a founding member of the Big Ten, and our commitment to our student-athletes," said Schill in the letter. "The rapidly decaying condition of Ryan Field will require a major investment by the Univers...