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More than a million celebrate LGBTQ pride as parade makes a return in Boston

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:19 GMT

After a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a pride party took to the streets of Boston.Around a million people lined the streets from Copley Square to the Common on Saturday to watch 10,000-plus parade participants — many wearing colorful colors, some scantily clothed and wearing interesting costumes — celebrate LGBTQ pride.“Given the state of national politics, the discourse around being queer, I felt like it was helpful for me to show up,” said Skylar Singer, a gay 24-year-old Cambridge resident.“Here, I feel like I can be as queer as I want, and nobody is going to give me (expletive) for it,” he added.Saturday’s parade marked the first organized by the group Boston Pride For The People.The group formed last year after Boston Pride, an LGBTQ+ group that led the festivities for 50 years, dissolved in 2021 amid a boycott over issues relating to race, transgender inclusion and fundraising efforts. Many LBTQ residents across the city and region called this year’s festivit...

BC High gets better of Xaverian, advances to Div. 1 state lacrosse semifinals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:19 GMT

Dating back to the first days of tryouts, BC High boys lacrosse coach Marcus Craigwell has attempted to instill a team mentality. A mindset, where it is all or nothing for the Eagles. Falling short of a Div. 1 state championship once again was not going to be accepted.A lofty goal? Sure, yet with each passing day, they are becoming closer and closer to making it a reality.Will Emsing (hat trick, two assists) and Patrick Maroney (hat trick, assist) led the attack, while Cooper Chapman (two goals, three assists) also had a banner afternoon as second-seeded BC High punched its ticket to the state semifinals for a third straight season with a convincing 14-5 victory over No. 7 Xaverian.The score appear lopsided, but this game was essentially a tale of two chapters. For the entirety of the first quarter, the two Catholic Conference foes traded swings, with BC High (18-2) taking a 5-4 lead into the second.With 8:44 to play in the half, Xaverian (12-7) turned in arguably one of the plays o...

9 people wounded in San Francisco mass shooting; 1 remains in critical condition

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:19 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Nine people were wounded in a mass shooting in San Francisco’s Mission District on Friday night in what police said appeared to be a “targeted and isolated” incident. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the shooting happened shortly after 9 p.m. during a party hosted by a clothing store near the intersection of 24th Street and Treat Avenue.The San Francisco Police Department initially said that all of the victims were “expected to survive their injuries.” But a statement from the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital said one of the victims remained in critical condition as of Saturday afternoon. Another was said to be in serious condition, four were in fair condition and three had already been discharged. The victims were eight men and one woman ranging in age from 20 to 34, the hospital said.Police Chief William Scott called the violence “unacceptable.”“People should feel safe to go out in San Francisco without fear of being victims of gun viol...

DeSantis argues he’s top Trump alternative even as ex-president’s indictment overshadows 2024 race

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:19 GMT

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Republican White House candidate Ron DeSantis plowed ahead Saturday with efforts to portray himself as his party’s staunchest national conservative leader, even as the 2024 GOP race has been disrupted by drama surrounding the 37-count felony federal indictment for mishandling classified documents against former President Donald Trump.The Florida governor sought to project strength amid the turmoil by campaigning in Oklahoma — one of more than a dozen states scheduled to hold its Republican primary on Super Tuesday, weeks after the earliest states vote. He also notched the endorsement of the state’s Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, the first governor to formally announce his support for DeSantis, while appearing at a rally in the state’s second-largest city of Tulsa. DeSantis has argued that his record in Florida has put him at the cutting edge of the next generation of Republicans. But Saturday, before a sweat-soaked audience fanning themselves with yard ...

Mission completed: Man City beats Inter Milan to end wait for first Champions League title

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:19 GMT

ISTANBUL (AP) — Billions of dollars have been spent and many tears shed on Manchester City’s journey to the summit of European soccer. The mission was completed in Istanbul’s Ataturk Olimpiyat Stadium on Saturday as the Abu Dhabi-backed club won the Champions League title for the first time and perhaps heralded the start of a new era of dominance in the competition. “It was written in the stars. It belongs to us,” said Pep Guardiola after the 1-0 win against Inter Milan, as tears flowed again from the manager, his players and a sea of blue-shirted fans.On this occasion, the emotion was pure ecstasy. The victory, courtesy of Rodri’s 68th minute goal, has been 15 years in the making since Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan transformed City into one of the richest teams in the world overnight.This was the final frontier for Pep Guardiola’s team, which also completed a rare treble of trophies after winning the Premier League title and FA Cup this season. The Cham...

Arcangelo wins Belmont Stakes to make Antonucci first female trainer to win

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:19 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Arcangelo took the lead at the top of the stretch and won the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, making Jena Antonucci the first female trainer to win the race in its 155 years.After the horse crossed the finish line, Antonucci doubled over and rested her arm and her head on the back of a chair. She kissed the horse on the nose when it returned to the area in front of the winner’s circle.Arcangelo finished the 1 1/2-mile race in 2:29.23 and by 1 1/2 lengths in front of favoured Fotre, with Tapit Trice third.“I give all the credit to the horse,” said jockey Javier Castello, who rode Mage to victory in the Kentucky Derby and got this mount when that colt did not run in the Belmont.“This is a wonderful horse. I’m really happy for her, you know, she’s a really good woman. She’s a good horseman.”The heartwarming victory put a positive note on a Triple Crown series marred by deaths of horses at Churchill Downs in the weeks around the Kentucky Derby and another on Preakness day fo...

McGregor knocks out Heat mascot in bizarre promotion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:19 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Conor McGregor knocked out the Miami Heat mascot in a mid-game bit that went wrong.Burnie — more specifically, the man who occupies Burnie’s costume — briefly sought medical attention Friday night after taking two punches from McGregor during a third-quarter stoppage of Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Heat and the Denver Nuggets.The Heat said Saturday that the employee, who was not identified, received pain medication and was resting at home.McGregor was there as a promotional gimmick for a pain-relief spray — and was booed by many in the Miami crowd even before the bit started. The flame mascot was wearing oversized boxing gloves and a robe akin to what a fighter would wear entering the ring for a bout.McGregor hit Burnie with a left hook, knocking him down, then punched the mascot again after he hit the floor.McGregor then tried to “spray” the mascot with the pain-relief product, while several members of the Heat’s in-game promotional team dragged Bur...

Bally's holds first Chicago job fair

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:19 GMT

CHICAGO — Job seekers went to McCormick Place Saturday, as Bally's hosted its first job fair to staff their future Chicago casino location.A temporary casino is set to open later this summer inside the Medinah Temple in River North, while Bally's plans to build a permanent, nearly-$2 billion casino — including a hotel and theatre — along the river between Grand and Chicago avenue. Judge: Diamond Sports must pay full value of contracts to Diamondbacks, Guardians, Twins, Rangers WGN's Judy Wang reports on the job fair and how prospective employees are looking at the opportunities sitting in front of them.

Billboards in Denver designed to attract birds — here's why

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:19 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — There are some billboards in Denver, Colorado, that may be drawing some (feathered) crowds — but why would a billboard be designed to attract birds?It's part of a campaign by the Colorado-based Generation Wild, which aims to remind parents to motivate their kids to love the outdoors, according to the organization. Red Lobster Crabfest back after 4 years — with $5 martinis The project includes several billboards that integrate natural elements relating to the unique billboard's surroundings, and some of them are specifically designed to attract birds."It's going to show kids that this is one of the really cool things that you can do outdoors:to see and to watch birds," Mike Sukle, the founder of the advertising agency said.The billboard blends in with the sky, featuring light clouds and tree branches that are arranged to read the project's theme, "share this wonder-full world."It features actual branch-like perches that stick out of the board and some even have some...

State of Texas: ‘We are not backing down,’ Patrick digs in for special session property tax fight

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:19 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Nearly two weeks into the first of a promised several special sessions by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, there are no signs of breaking the impasse on property taxes. In fact, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick appears to be digging in.“That's a negotiation that we are not backing down from ever,” said Patrick at a news conference he called to mark a week into the special session. ‘Priced out:’ Texans fed up with the politics of property taxes The same day, at a separate event, Abbott reiterated his commitment to his competing plan, the same plan supported by Speaker of the House Dade Phelan. The House passed it, and immediately adjourned from the special session a day after the Governor called everyone back.Abbott wants the legislature to spend $17.6 billion on lowering school district property tax rates, “solely by reducing the school district maximum compressed tax rate.” That strategy, known as compression, simply gives school districts more money in return for lower tax rates.“...