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Business Highlights: Target slammed for removing LGBTQ+ items; Sides in debt talks still far apart

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:39 GMT

___ Target on the defensive after removing LGBTQ+-themed productsNEW YORK (AP) — Target once distinguished itself as being boldly supportive of the LGBTQ+ community. It risked losing that status on Wednesday after removing some LGBTQ+-themed products, and hiding Pride Month displays in certain Southern locations. The company is addressing online complaints and in-store confrontations that it says were a threat to employees’ well-being. Target now faces a potential second backlash from customers who are upset by the discount retailer’s reaction to aggressive, anti-LGBTQ+ activism, which has also been sweeping through Republican state legislatures. Civil rights groups chided the company for caving to anti-LGBTQ customers who tipped over displays and expressed outrage over gender-fluid bathing suits.___A June pause in rate hikes would be a close call for Fed officials, minutes of last meeting showWASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve officials were divided earlier this month on whether to ...

Reeder hits grand slam, Kansas knocks off top-seeded Texas 6-3

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:39 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Janson Reeder hit a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning and No. 8 seed Kansas knocked off top-seeded Texas 6-3 on Wednesday in the Big 12 Tournament.Kansas (25-30) advances to the winners’ bracket to play No. 4 seed TCU on Thursday, while Texas (38-19) faces elimination against No. 5 Kansas State. The Longhorns received the No. 1 seed after sharing the regular-season title with West Virginia and Oklahoma State.Chase Jans got his 50th RBI of the season in the third inning to open the scoring and Kodey Shojinaga, the Big 12 freshman of the year, gave Kansas a 2-0 lead with an RBI single to left field. Shojinaga finished 3 for 4.Starter Collin Baumgartner (6-1), who also beat Texas earlier this season, helped Kansas win its first game in the conference tournament since 2019. He only allowed one earned run across six innings, with five strikeouts. Thaniel Trumper picked up his second save of the season.Jack O’Dowd went 4 for 4 with two solo homers, bu...

Best and worst travel times around the DC area this Memorial Day weekend

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:39 GMT

Thousands of D.C.-area residents will be setting out to enjoy the blue sky and green wilderness this Memorial Day weekend, but first they just might be seeing red on the roads.Nationwide, an estimated 42.3 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home this Memorial Day weekend. That’ll be an increase of 2.7 million people from last year for what AAA is projecting to be the third-most traveled Memorial Day weekend since 2000.The vast majority are expected to be traveling by car — more than last year and just shy of pre-pandemic numbers, according to AAA’s estimation.Best, worst times to leaveMore than 1 million of those 42.3 million travelers are expected to be D.C. metro-area residents. Overall, AAA forecasts more than 900,000 D.C.-area residents will travel by land; 85,000 by air.“The best time to leave is the most inconvenient time to leave — say 2 a.m.,” said Dave Dildine in the WTOP Traffic Center. “But you don’t need to ...

Semien homers, Pérez throws 7 strong innings, Smith picks up 100th save as Rangers top Pirates 3-2

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:39 GMT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Texas Rangers reliever Will Smith popped into Bruce Bochy’s office on Tuesday night and told his manager he was growing antsy for a chance to get back to work following an unexpected week off.Not that Smith was complaining. Texas’ offense has been so hot of late, there’d been little need for Smith to come in and shut the door.Sure, Bochy said, telling Smith he better be prepared to throw multiple innings since he was so fresh.Bochy was sort of kidding at the time. He wasn’t kidding when he asked Smith to inherit a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the eighth against Pittsburgh on Wednesday with the Rangers protecting a one-run lead.One flyout, one strikeout and one perfect ninth inning later, the Rangers had a 3-2 win, Smith had his 100th career save, and surging Texas had some serious momentum before heading to Baltimore for a weekend series between two of the American League’s better teams.“What a job (Smith) did to bail us out,” Bochy sa...

AEK beats PAOK in Greek Cup final after police ban traveling fans

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:39 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Police issued a ban on traveling fans ahead of the Greek Cup final Wednesday because of fears of violence, despite an order for the match to be played without supporters in the stadium.League champion AEK Athens beat PAOK 2-0 in the central city of Volos after the authorities took several months to find a venue. No violence was immediately reported.Regional police chief Giorgis Dizes thanked the two clubs for publicly requesting that fans respect the ban.“We are carrying out continuous inspections in the stadium area, in the city and outside the city,” Dizes said. “We hope that fans respect the guidance and that we have a good final. That will send a positive message to Greek society.” The Greek Football Federation, which organizes the competition, had requested assistance from counterparts in Albania, Cyprus, Poland, Serbia, Australia, Germany and England in seeking an overseas venue. But it eventually reached an agreement with regional authorities to host the...

1stBank Center in Broomfield will close, be torn down

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:39 GMT

BROOMFIELD, Colo. (KDVR) -- A unanimous vote was made Tuesday by the Broomfield City Council to close 1stBank Center.After closing, the building will be torn down.It first opened in 2006 as the Broomfield Event Center and was originally used to host minor league hockey and basketball games, ice shows, concerts and other events.According to the resolution to close it, the number of annual shows was originally estimated to be around 180 to 190. However, it has never actually hosted anywhere near this many annual events. Polis signs property tax bill into law In 2009, the original operator terminated its contract and a new operator was brought in. The busiest year since then was 2016 when 33 concerts were held.As of May, only 10 concerts and events had been held there this year, with three publicly scheduled for the remaining six months.The center was constructed for $45 million in 2006. A $59.8 million bond was originally issued for the construction, but by the time Broomfield pays ...

Lightning hits Wheat Ridge home, causes holes in roof and ceiling

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:39 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Lightning hit a home in Wheat Ridge Wednesday, causing a hole in the roof, multiple holes in the ceiling, as well as other damage.Photos shared by West Metro Fire Rescue showed the damage done to the home, which is located in the 3800 block of Everett Street.The force of the strike also blew out the plugs of an electrical outlet, charring the wall.Aftermath of a lightning strike on a Wheat Ridge home (Credit: West Metro Fire Rescue)Aftermath of a lightning strike on a Wheat Ridge home (Credit: West Metro Fire Rescue)Because the strike also compromised the wiring, the family living in the home will have to stay somewhere else until it is fixed.How common is lightning in Colorado?According to the National Weather Service, the Centennial State ranks 19th in the nation between 2009-2018 for the number of cloud-to-ground lightning flashes.Lightning strikes have been known to cause wildfires, knock out power and even cause death. "Based on data since 1980, lightning cause...

Denver builds 137 miles of new bikeways in 5 years

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:39 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and his administration rolled up their sleeves and put up a few more bicycle signs today in north Denver. They were celebrating a major bicycle milestone. “My administration ushered in the bike revolution in Denver. We didn’t have bike lanes before I became mayor,“ said Hancock.We do now. According to Hancock, Denver installed 137 miles of new bike lanes in five years. This surpassed the original goal of 125 miles set by the mayor in 2018. But according to Hancock, it is just the beginning.“It’s the only option. I don’t think we have the old single mode of transportation system in Denver. It no longer applies. We have grown exponentially over the last decade,“ said Hancock. Polis signs property tax bill into law Of the 137 miles of new bike lanes installed by the city, it breaks down like this: 24 miles for bike lanes.45 miles are buffered bike lanes.23 miles are protected bike lanes.34 miles are neighborhood bikeways.11 miles are shar...

Report: Miami Mayor Francis Suarez accused of misusing position to help real estate developer secure $70M for Coconut Grove project

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:39 GMT

A South Florida mayor has been reportedly been accused of using his position to get paid tens of thousands of dollars for a project.Miami Mayor Francis Suarez holds a mostly ceremonial post, working part-time.He has received clearance from the city attorney to do outside work as long as it doesn’t conflict with his governmental duties.But a new report from The Miami Herald is alleging that the line may have been crossed.Suarez is facing allegations he misused his influence as a city leader in order to help a real estate developer cut through red tape and secure permits for a $70 million project in Coconut Grove that is at risk of being delayed.The Herald also reported that Suarez, who was hired as a paid consultant, received at least $170,000 from the real estate firm over the past two years.The Miami Herald said it’s obtained corporate documents from developer Location Ventures that chronicled meetings that were held last summer and fall between Location Ventures CEO Ri...

17-year-old Tampa girl graduates high school with 8.7 GPA

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:39 GMT

A Florida teenager graduated with a very impressive GPA.Jasmine Mazard-Larry’s grade point average was an astonishing 8.7The 17-year-old was the valedictorian at a Tampa high school and she had to overcome disabilities, which included hearing loss. She also lost her home during a fire. Mazard-Larry told fellow graduates in her speech to never give up on your dreams.She not only received her diploma, but also an associate’s degree from a community college.