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Six California counties receive $42 million to create, renovate parks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:48 GMT

The California State Parks Department announced Thursday that it would be giving six counties $41.9 million for new parks and renovations of existing ones. The agency said this fourth round of grants under its Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Grant Program "received the highest amount requested in State Parks’ nearly 50-year history of grant administration."“Having access to outdoor spaces is critical for all Californians and these projects will contribute to the quality of life for many people who seek local parks to improve their physical, mental and social well-being,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “State Parks is incredibly grateful to all the organizations who applied for grant funding this round.” Sierra 2 Green ‘popup’ dog park to close, permanent location proposed for Land Park Fresno County will receive $4 million to renovate existing fields and structures in Camacho Park in Reedley as well as add a new walking path, restroo...

Johnny Gaudreau scores in overtime as Blue Jackets rally past Maple Leafs 6-5

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:48 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Johnny Gaudreau scored 2:56 into overtime, and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-5 on Friday.Gaudreau tapped a rebound past Toronto goalie Ilya Samsonov, stopping a three-game slide for Columbus. Gaudreau’s seventh goal of the season provided the Blue Jackets’ only lead of the night.Columbus rookie Adam Fantilli tied it at 5 with 6:14 left in regulation. It was the 10th goal of the season for the 19-year-old forward.Cole Sillinger, Brendan Gaunce, Dmitri Voronkov and Kent Johnson also scored for Columbus. Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins stopped 14 of 16 shots before leaving after the first period because of an illness. Spencer Martin had 16 stops the rest of the way. Auston Matthews scored his NHL-leading 29th goal and had an assist for Toronto. Samsonov made 15 stops, but he has allowed 21 goals in losing his last four starts.Mitch Marner and William Nylander each had a goal and an assist for Toronto, and Nicholas Ro...

American forward Josh Sargent returns from ankle injury that sidelined him for 4 months with Norwich

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:48 GMT

American forward Josh Sargent returned from an ankle injury that sidelined him for fourth months, entering in the 78th minute of Norwich’s 1-0 loss at Millwall on Friday night in England’s second-tier League Championship.The 23-year-old from O’Fallon, Missouri, was hurt while scoring against Huddersfield on Aug. 26, his third straight league match with a goal. Norwich coach David Wagner said the injury required surgery.Sargent joined Norwich ahead of the 2021-22 season and remained with the club after it was relegated at the end of the season. He has 20 goals in 75 appearances in all competitions for the Canaries, including 18 league goals.Sargent was part of last year’s U.S. World Cup team and has five goals in 23 international appearances.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerSource

Ohio State QB Devin Brown injured in 1st half of Cotton Bowl against Missouri

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:48 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Ohio State quarterback Devin Brown suffered an apparent left ankle injury in the first half of the Cotton Bowl on Friday night, when he started in place of Kyle McCord, who transferred. Brown appeared to get hurt when he was sacked on a third-down play late in the first quarter. He returned when the Buckeyes got the ball back, but true freshman Lincoln Kienholz took over midway through the second quarter while Brown spent rest of the half pedaling on a stationary bicycle behind the Ohio State bench. When the second half started, with the seventh-ranked Buckeyes leading Missouri 3-0, Brown was on the sideline without his helmet. His ankle appeared to be heavily wrapped and he had an obvious limp when walking among teammates. McCord started every game during the regular season, but has since left the program to transfer to Syracuse. He had beaten out Brown for the starting job in a tight preseason competition. With McCord gone, Brown took over as the starter af...

No. 6 USC women, freshman phenom Watkins face No. 2 UCLA, talented sophomores in battle of unbeatens

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:48 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California and most of women’s college basketball has been captivated by the early-season success of undefeated USC and its freshman phenom JuJu Watkins.Meanwhile, just down the road in Westwood, UCLA has somewhat quietly put together an undefeated start of its own — among the best starts in program history that has been spurred by the play of talented sophomores.The two teams will meet Saturday in one of the most anticipated college basketball games in LA in sometime when the second-ranked Bruins host the sixth-ranked Trojans at a sold out Pauley Pavilion. It is the first ranked matchup between the crosstown rivals since 1985 and first in nearly 42 years where both have been in the top 10.UCLA (11-0) has won the last eight meetings in the rivalry, but there’s no masking the “what-about-us” feel from the Bruins. They have something to prove.“I think up until this point and really throughout the beginning of the season, I don’t think as a...

Stewart’s 33 lead South Dakota over North Dakota State 75-66

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:48 GMT

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Kaleb Stewart scored 33 points and South Dakota beat North Dakota State 75-66 in a Summit League opener on Friday night.Stewart was 13 of 22 shooting, including 4 for 6 from 3-point range, and went 3 for 4 from the line for the Coyotes (8-6). Lahat Thioune scored 13 points and added 19 rebounds. Bostyn Holt had 13 points.The Bison (7-7) were led in scoring by Andrew Morgan, who finished with 19 points. Noah Feddersen added 13 points and Boden Skunberg had 12 points and seven rebounds.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

Wells has 30 points and 10 rebounds; McNeese beats Michigan 87-76 for 1st win over Big Ten opponent

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:48 GMT

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Shahada Wells had 30 points, a career-high 10 rebounds, six assists and five steals to help McNeese beat Michigan 87-76 on Friday night, the Cowboys first win over a Big Ten school in program history in 10 tries. McNeese (11-2), which has won six games in a row, is off to its best start since the 1972-73 team also started 11-2, committed a season-low four turnovers. DJ Richards hit four 3-pointers and finished with 15 points, Christian Shumate had 14 points and nine rebounds and Antavion Collum added 11 points for the Cowboys. Terrance Williams II led Michigan (6-7) with 20 points and made 5 of 9 from the field, 4 of 8 from 3-point range and 6 of 7 from the free-throw line. Olivier Nkamhoua and Dug McDaniel, who made four 3s, scored 17 points each and Will Tschetter 11. Wells scored 10 points in a 12-6 spurt over the next four minutes before Richards hit three 3s in a 13-2 run that stretched McNeese’s lead to 35-23. Williams hit two 3s and Tschetter and...

RJ Davis posts 20 points, 10 assists, No. 9 North Carolina routs Charleston Southern 105-60

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:48 GMT

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — RJ Davis had 20 points and 10 assists to lead No. 9 North Carolina to a 105-60 rout of Charleston Southern on Friday night.Davis was one of six Tar Heels (9-3) to score in double figures. Jalen Washington scored a career-high 17 points, Elliott Cadeau added 13, Armando Bacot and Seth Trimble each scored 12, and Harrison Ingram 10.It’s the first double-double of the season for Davis, and the first points-assists double-double of his college career. Davis made his first four shots and scored 10 points in the first four minutes of the game. The senior guard also did not have a turnover in 26 minutes.A’lahn Summer scored 21 points to pace the Buccaneers (4-9). DJ Patrick added 11 points.UNC never trailed and led by as many as 47 points. The Tar Heels were dominant inside, outscoring the Buccaneers 52-12 in the paint and building a 46-25 edge in rebounding.BIG PICTURENorth Carolina: In their final non-conference game of the regular season, the Tar Heels shook off...

The Biden administration once again bypasses Congress on an emergency weapons sale to Israel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:48 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — For the second time this month the Biden administration is bypassing Congress to approve an emergency weapons sale to Israel as Israel continues to prosecute its war against Hamas in Gaza under increasing international criticism.The State Department said Friday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken had told Congress that he had made a second emergency determination covering a $147.5 million sale for equipment, including fuses, charges and primers, that is needed to make the 155 mm shells that Israel has already purchased function.“Given the urgency of Israel’s defensive needs, the secretary notified Congress that he had exercised his delegated authority to determine an emergency existed necessitating the immediate approval of the transfer,” the department said.“The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to ensure Israel is able to defend itself against the threats it faces,” it said.The emergency determinat...

Authorities prepare for New Year’s Eve in Times Square and across the US as Israel-Hamas war presents elevated threats

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:48 GMT

New York (CNN) — Authorities across the US are working to ensure New Year’s revelers’ security this weekend, particularly in New York, where law enforcement officials say the war in Gaza has contributed to the concern of lone-wolf attacks, though they stress there is “no specific reporting regarding any threats.”A joint threat assessment based on an analysis from 10 law enforcement agencies — the FBI, the US Department of Homeland Security and the New York Police Department among them — says the Israel-Hamas war “has created a heightened threat environment.”The “Intelligence Community remains concerned about lone offenders using online platforms to express threats of violence against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities, as well as committing simple, unsophisticated attacks that are difficult to detect in advance,” the assessment obtained by CNN says.The concern may be most prevalent in New York, where the FBI and the police department will monitor for potential threats Sunday ...