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Biden on Memorial Day lauds generations of fallen US troops who ‘dared all and gave all’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:48 GMT

By AAMER MADHANI and REBECCA SANTANA (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden lauded the sacrifice of generations of U.S. troops who “dared all and gave all” fighting for their country and called on Americans to ensure their “sacrifice was not in vain” in Memorial Day observances at Arlington National Cemetery.Biden was joined at the traditional wreath-laying ceremony by first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Harris’ husband, Douglas Emhoff, for the 155th National Memorial Day Observance. He had a moment of contemplation in front of the wreath, which was adorned with flowers and a red, white and blue bow, and then bowed his head in prayer.“We must never forget the price that was paid to protect our democracy,” Biden said later in an address at the Memorial Amphitheater. “We must never forget the lives these flags, flowers and marble markers represent.””Every year we remember,” he ...

Report: Former Raptors head coach Nurse hired as 76ers new bench boss

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:48 GMT

Former Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse has reached an agreement to become the next bench boss of the Philadelphia 76ers, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.In April 2023, Nurse, 55, was fired by the Raptors after five seasons as their head coach. He was with the organization for 10 years, starting as an assistant under Dwane Casey.Terms were not made clear.In 2019, Nurse guided the Raptors to an NBA championship in his first season as head coach.The 76ers had a coaching vacancy after dismissing veteran Doc Rivers from the position earlier in the month. Philadelphia and MVP Joel Embiid were eliminated from the postseason in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals by the Boston Celtics.It was the third-straight NBA semi-finals elimination for the 76ers.The 76ers reported hiring of Nurse comes after the Milwaukee Bucks agreed to terms with long-time Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin as their new head coach.The Raptors have not yet named Nurse’s replacement aft...

‘The house can be rebuilt.’ Toll taken by Halifax wildfire hits home for residents

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:48 GMT

HALIFAX — As firefighters spent a second day battling a wildfire in suburban Halifax, some residents from evacuated subdivisions received the grim news that their homes were among those destroyed by the wind-driven flames.Katherine Tarateski was one of them.“The RCMP called me this morning to say they went to see our house and it was burned down and they couldn’t find the pets there,” she said in an interview Monday afternoon.Tarateski said she was with her husband Nick and their young daughter Mia at a family gathering on Sunday when they heard about the approaching fires and rushed back to their home in Hammonds Plains to save their dog and cat. But when they arrived police had already blocked their street.“The house can be rebuilt,” she said. “But my pets … I’m just devastated. It’s hard.”Fire officials said the out-of-control fire, which started Sunday in nearby Upper Tantallon, has destroyed or damaged dozens of homes, though there hadn’...

S&P/TSX composite makes modest gain Monday, U.S. markets closed for long weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:48 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index ticked upwards Monday, with broad-based gains led by battery metals and energy stock as U.S. markets were closed for a long weekend south of the border. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 47.64 points at 19,967.95. The gains came with U.S. stock markets closed for the Memorial Day holiday.Canadian markets typically take their direction from U.S. markets, so absent major news for investors to react to, it was a quiet day on the TSX, said Lesley Marks, chief investment officer of equity at Mackenzie Investments. However, on Tuesday U.S. investors will have a tentative debt-ceiling deal to retroactively react to after weeks of negotiations. On the weekend, President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy struck an agreement to avoid a government default. “Markets were positive heading into the weekend,” noted Marks, on rumours that a deal was closed, though she thinks that the achievement of a deal was to be expected. While the deal ...

Motorist with sign claiming to have an explosive device drives to Canadian border

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:48 GMT

HOULTON, Maine (AP) — The driver of vehicle with a sign indicating there was an explosive device on board led Maine State Police on a chase on Interstate 95 to the Canadian border on Monday, officials said.A trooper fired shots after the motorist attempted to maneuver the truck toward the Canadian port of entry in Woodstock, New Brunswick, and the man surrendered without injury, state police said.The border crossing was temporarily closed, and crime scene technicians and the Maine State Police Bomb Squad were expected to be at the scene through the night, officials said. Officials said there was no danger to the public.A state trooper noticed the sign on the vehicle indicating the motorist had an explosive device of some sort after attempting to stop the motorist around 10:40 a.m. Monday. Tony Holford, 42, of Providence, Rhode Island, was charged with aggravated reckless conduct, terrorizing, and failure to to stop, state police said. State police said the man was taken to the Aroos...

Police fire tear gas and protestors burn vehicles near home of Senegal’s main opposition leader

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:48 GMT

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Police fired tear gas and demonstrators burned cars Monday near the home of Senegal’s main opposition leader, as tensions rise in the capital days before a court verdict is expected on charges against the politician. Ousmane Sonko is being tried for rape and death threats against a woman working at a massage parlor, and could face up to 10 years in prison. If convicted, he would would be barred from running in next year’s presidential elections. Sonko and his supporters maintain his legal troubles are part of an effort by President Macky Sall’s government to derail his candidacy.The clashes came a day after police stopped Sonko’s “freedom caravan,” traveling from his hometown of Ziguinchor, in the south and where he is the mayor, to the capital, Dakar, where he was forced into a home he has in the city.The interior minister, Antoine Felix Diome, said Sonko had not been arrested but was caught breaking the law — partaking in an unauthorized car...

Medical billing transparency legislation signed by Gov. Abbott

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:48 GMT

This report is an update to KXAN's "Medical Debt Lawsuits" investigation. Our team followed this bill during Texas' legislative session. AUSTIN (KXAN) — Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill into law that will require hospitals requesting payment from patients to provide a written, understandable itemized invoice before sending them to collections. The Senate approved SB 490 in May, sending it to Abbott for his signature. This was the second session the bill was filed. Medical billing transparency legislation passed, heads to governor The legislation was amended to only include health care facilities and hospitals but not doctors or federally qualified health care centers. The bill explained that a health care provider may issue the itemized bill electronically, including through a patient portal. Rep. Caroline Harris, R-Round Rock, and Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, worked together to pass medical billing transparency legislation that will require hospitals and other health care fac...

Orioles’ Cedric Mullins exits game vs. Guardians with right groin strain

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:48 GMT

Cedric Mullins, the Orioles’ center fielder and primary leadoff man, exited Monday’s 5-0 loss to the Cleveland Guardians in the eighth inning with a right abductor groin strain, manager Brandon Hyde said.Mullins pulled into first base slowly on a ground ball to shortstop, stutter-stepping into the bag behind Amed Rosario’s throw. He exited the game with assistant athletic trainer Mark Shires at his side, and Terrin Vavra replaced Mullins in the lineup while Ryan McKenna moved from right field to center.“It’s the last thing you want to see,” Hyde said. “He’s a huge part of our team, and if we’re gonna miss him for a little while, we’ll see, but if we have to, then other guys step up, and this is part of the game. We’ve been pretty fortunate so far this year, and these things happen.”Mullins is hitting .264 with an .839 OPS while appearing in all but one of Baltimore’s first 54 games, missing a contest last ...

Gov. Hochul commemorates opening of first State Veteran's Cemetery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:48 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Governor Kathy Hochul delivered remarks on May 29 during a ceremony commemorating Memorial Day and the recent establishment of New York's first ever State Veterans Cemetery. The site was established earlier this year and ensures the State can provide dignified burial options for New York's veterans and their families. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The cemetery serves to pay tribute to the brave service members who sacrificed their lives for the state and the nation. There are more than 1,000 veterans buried at the cemetery, representing every conflict from World War II to the present day. "Memorial Day is a sacred reminder of the profound debt of gratitude we owe to our fallen heroes," Governor Hochul said. "The first State Veterans Cemetery honors brave men and women and the sacrifices they made to defend our freedom, preserve our democracy and ensure our safety, and I am proud to commemorate th...

Opinion: Medicare and Medicaid are denying Alzheimer’s patients like me time

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:48 GMT

“Live with joy.”You probably wouldn’t expect to see those words on a prescription from your health care provider, but this is exactly what my neurologist prescribed to me when I was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2017.I was 67.Up to that point in my life, I had made a living specifically through my brain. A career academic and the first female chancellor to serve at the University of Denver, you could even say I was known for my brain. It was the strongest muscle I had.Facing the diagnosis of a disease that is slowly destroying my memory and cognitive abilities was at first unthinkable — but this diagnosis has ushered in a new way of thinking altogether.Now, I’m focused on time. Alzheimer’s is a disease that robs us of the time we have to be ourselves while we are still alive. I don’t know how much time I have ahead of me, which is why I am choosing to focus on time filled with light and doing the things I love.But because I’m focused on time, I am also acut...