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New York stunned and swamped by record-breaking rainfall as more downpours are expected

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — One of New York’s wettest days in decades left the metropolitan area stunned and swamped Friday after heavy rainfall knocked out several subway and commuter rail lines, stranded drivers on highways, flooded basements and shuttered a terminal at LaGuardia Airport for hours.Some 8.65 inches (21.97 centimeters) of rain had fallen at John F. Kennedy Airport by nightfall Friday, surpassing the record for any September day set during Hurricane Donna in 1960, the National Weather Service said.Parts of Brooklyn saw more than 7.25 inches (18.41 centimeters), with at least one spot recording 2.5 inches (6 centimeters) in a single hour, according to weather and city officials. More downpours were expected Saturday. The deluge came two years after the remnants of Hurricane Ida dumped record-breaking rain on the Northeast and killed at least 13 people in New York City, mostly in flooded basement apartments. Although no deaths or severe injuries have been reported, Friday...

Colorado laws that add 3-day wait period to buy guns and open paths to sue gun industry take effect

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

DENVER (AP) — When two Colorado gun control laws take effect Sunday, purchasing a firearm will require a three-day waiting period — meant to curtail suicide attempts and shootings — and gun violence victims will have an easier path toward filing lawsuits against the firearm industry.The laws, pushed through Colorado’s Democrat-controlled legislature this year, come as violent crime and mass shootings surge nationwide — including last year’s bloodshed at an LGBTQ+ nightclub in Colorado Springs, where a gunman killed five people and wounded 17 others.The new laws edge the once-purple Colorado nearer the Democratic bastions of California and New York. But gun groups have vowed to challenge the restrictions in court, encouraged by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that expanded gun rights last year.The Colorado laws were spurred by waves of protests over gun violence this year. Students flooded the Colorado Capitol’s halls in March after a high school student was shot and ki...

Video provides first clear views of WWII aircraft carriers lost in the pivotal Battle of Midway

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

Footage from deep in the Pacific Ocean has given the first detailed look at three World War II aircraft carriers that sank in the pivotal Battle of Midway and could help solve mysteries about the days-long barrage that marked a shift in control of the Pacific theater from Japanese to U.S. forces.Remote submersibles operating 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) below the surface conducted extensive archeological surveys in September of the Akagi and the Kaga, two of the four Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carriers destroyed during the June 1942 battle, as well as the U.S.S. Yorktown.The high-quality video includes the official identification of the Akagi, while also providing new clues about the final hours of the aircraft carriers. The footage shows how the island, or the tall structure that rose above the Yorktown’s wooden deck, was damaged by extremely high heat and how the crew went to great lengths to keep the American ship from sinking.Julian Hodges, one of the last living veterans who s...

Maldivians vote in a runoff presidential election that will decide whether India or China holds sway

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

MALE, Maldives (AP) — Maldivians were voting Saturday in the runoff presidential election which has turned into a virtual referendum on which regional power — India or China — will have the biggest influence in the Indian Ocean archipelago nation.Neither main opposition candidate Mohamed Muiz nor incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih got more than 50% in the first round of voting earlier in September, triggering a runoff election. Solih, who was first elected president in 2018, is battling allegations by Muiz that he had allowed India an unchecked presence in the country. Muiz’s party, the People’s National Congress, is viewed as heavily pro-China. Muiz secured a surprise lead with more than 46% of votes in the first round, while Solih secured 39% votes.Abdullah Yameen, leader of the People’s National Congress, made the Maldives a part of China’s Belt and Road initiative during his presidency 2013 to 2018. The initiative is meant to build railroads, ports and highways to e...

China’s factory activity expands for first time in six months, in latest sign economy is recovering

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — China’s factory activity in September recorded its first expansion in six months, an official survey said Saturday, providing another sign that the world’s second-largest economy is gradually improving following its post-pandemic malaise.According to the government statistics bureau and an official industry group, the monthly purchasing managers’ index rose to 50.2 this month from 49.7 in August measured on a 100-point scale. Numbers above 50 indicate activity is increasing.Measures of production, new orders and employment all rose from August, the National Bureau of Statistics and the China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing said. But the bureau’s senior statistician, Zhao Qinghe, said the manufacturing industry still faces some difficulties in its recovery and development.Since China lifted its tough COVID-19 restrictions, its leaders have been trying to boost the economy with a series of measures and promising to support entrepreneurs who generate...

The Loop Fantasy Football Update Week 4: Panthers will have Young, not Dalton, facing Vikings

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

UPDATE: 12:36 a.m. Saturday The Loop, for one, was all excited about the prospect of watching ancient Andy Dalton face the Vikings’ defense on Sunday in Carolina. Even made him our Deepest Sleeper. But alas, No. 1 draft pick Bryce Young has been cleared to play in Sunday’s battle of The Winless in Charlotte, N.C.While the rookie QB is good to go, Panthers RB Miles Sanders is still considered questionable. If he cannot go, then look for more work for Chuba Hubbard. Not good work, but more work.Two top-tier running backs are still very iffy for this week. The Chargers are listing Austin Ekeler as doubtful, while the Giants say Saquon Barkley is questionable. But with the prospect of a Monday night game against San Francisco not too appealing anyway, we’d suggest you keep Saquads on the bench.Baltimore will be without two of its top receivers this week: former Gophers standout Rashod Bateman and former Pro Bowler Odell Beckham Jr.Players listed as questionable as of this morning includ...

Ryder Cup: Europeans know job is ‘not done’ after drubbing U.S. on day one

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy — Europe swept the opening session of the Ryder Cup for the first time in its history, a beating so thorough that none of the foursomes matches reached the 18th hole.And then somehow it got even worse for the Americans.Right when they were on the verge of escaping Friday with a manageable deficit, Europe delivered one punch after another on the 18th hole at Marco Simone. It left the Americans without a single win on opening day for the first time in Ryder Cup history, and it gave Europe a record-tying lead in its bid to regain the cup.Three fourballs matches came to the 597-yard closing hole, all of them looking like a red American point on the board.And then Viktor Hovland made a 25-foot birdie putt. Jon Rahm made a 35-foot eagle putt that slammed into the back of the cup. Justin Rose finished it with an 8-foot birdie putt, all those matches ending in a tie.For a moment, it looked like the day would end with Europe holding a 5-3 lead.Instead, it was 6 1/2...

Freddie Freeman hits 59th double of season in Dodgers’ 6-2 win over Giants

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Freddie Freeman hit his 59th double of the season and scored on a three-run homer by J.D. Martinez, and the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Francisco Giants 6-2 on Friday night.Wilmer Flores homered and hit an RBI single for the Giants, who were managed by bench coach Kai Correa. San Francisco fired manager Gabe Kapler earlier in the day, three games before the end of his fourth season.Freeman doubled with one out in the sixth inning, matching Todd Helton in 2000 for the most doubles in a season in the majors since 1936 and the seventh-most all-time. Will Smith was hit by a pitch before Martinez delivered his 33rd home run, chasing Giants right-hander Keaton Winn (1-3).Smith hit a two-run homer in the first, and Freeman went deep in the third.Lance Lynn (13-11) allowed two runs on two hits, struck out four and walked four over six innings to win his third straight decision after he didn’t factor into a 10-inning win against the Giants his...

J.P. Crawford’s grand slam leads Mariners to 8-0 win over Rangers

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — J.P. Crawford hit his third career grand slam, Ty France and Josh Rojas hit solo homers and the Seattle Mariners stayed in the thick of the American League playoff race with an 8-0 win over the Texas Rangers on Friday night.A night after possibly saving Seattle’s playoff hopes with a two-out, two-run double in the ninth inning to pull out a 3-2 victory against the Rangers, Crawford again came through with a big swing to keep Seattle right on the heels of Houston in the chase for the final wild card spot in the American League.Seattle (87-73) remained one game behind Houston (88-72) the wild-card standings with two games left, while Texas (89-71) still needs a victory or an Astros loss to wrap up a playoff berth. There also still remains the possibility of a three-way tie for the division title.Crawford’s slam – his 19th homer of the season — was off reliever Brock Burke who came in specifically to face Crawford after Nathan Eovaldi faltered. Burke fell behind 3-1 in t...

Chicago Cubs tragic number hits 1 after a 4-3, 10-inning loss to the Milwaukee Brewers: ‘We’ve got to win every game’

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

Christopher Morel folded his arms and leaned on the dugout railing, taking in the Milwaukee Brewers’ raucous celebration across the field.Morel stayed locked in on the scene as Chicago Cubs coaches and teammates grabbed their stuff to head into the clubhouse. The Brewers, with the division title wrapped up and nothing to play for this weekend, poured onto the field and mobbed walk-off hero Carlos Santana, who helped serve the Cubs another one-run heartbreaker Friday in a 4-3 loss in 10 innings.The same game has played out far too often over the last three weeks. Sporadic offensive production. Defensive miscues. Close games that don’t go in their favor. The Cubs (82-78) have lost four straight, and their season is down to survival mode — and even that is a generous description of their nearly nonexistent playoff hopes.They are on the brink of elimination. Everything must go the Cubs’ way to close out the season, the byproduct of going 6-14 since completing...