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Pope urges Easter prayers for Ukrainian, Russian people 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:31 GMT

VATICAN CITY — In an Easter message highlighting hope, Pope Francis on Sunday invoked prayers for both the Ukrainian and Russian people, praised nations which welcome refugees and called on Israelis and Palestinians wracked by the latest surge in deadly violence to forge a “climate of trust.”Francis, along with dozens of prelates and tens of thousands of faithful, celebrated Easter Mass in a flower-adorned St. Peter’s Square, affirming the Christian belief that Jesus rose from the dead days after his crucifixion.The 86-year-old pontiff topped the celebration with a traditional speech about troubled places in the world. Encouraging “trust among individuals, peoples and nations,” Francis said Easter’s joy “illumines the darkness and gloom in which, all too often, our world finds itself enveloped.”The pope’s Easter message is known by its Latin name, “Urbi et Orbi,” which means “to the city and the world.”Sin...

Magic drop season finale to Heat, wind up with 6th-best draft lottery odds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:31 GMT

With multiple regular-rotation players sitting out or playing limited minutes on the final day of the regular season, the Orlando Magic fell 123-110 at the Miami Heat on Sunday to finish 34-48.After being eliminated from contending for a spot in the play-in tournament with their Tuesday loss to Cleveland, the Magic shifted their focus to trying out different rotations to close out the season.Orlando started with the lineup of Markelle Fultz (7 points in 11 minutes), Jalen Suggs (8 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists in 15 minutes), Caleb Houstan, Franz Wagner (10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in 15 minutes) and Wendell Carter Jr. for the first time, with most of the starting lineup playing 16 or fewer minutes.Houstan scored a career-high 21 points on 6-of-14 shooting (5 of 11 on 3-pointers).Kevon Harris had a career-high 22 points (7-of-12 shooting, 4-of-7 on 3s) and 8 rebounds off the bench. Chuma Okeke had 14 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds in 33 minutes.“Whoever...

Cambridge firefighters battle massive fire at church on Easter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:31 GMT

Cambridge firefighters were battling a heavy blaze at a church on Easter, according to officials.The Cambridge Fire Department had ordered a 6th alarm Sunday evening for the massive fire at Faith Lutheran Church located on Broadway near Prospect Street.Heavy fire was reported, and heavy smoke could be seen pouring out of the church’s steeple.Firefighters were ordered out of the building due to the unsafe conditions, so it was an all-exterior effort to extinguish the blaze. A “collapse zone” was established.The church had an Easter service Sunday morning, and it was reportedly vacant when the fire spread during the late afternoon.“My heart goes out to the congregation and staff at the Faith Lutheran Church,” State Rep. Mike Connolly tweeted, along with a video of the fire. “Just this morning they celebrated Easter. Praying that no one gets hurt. Thank you to @CambridgeMAFire and to all of the first responders working to put down this five-alarm fir...

Jon Rahm rallies to win the Masters as Spanish stars align

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:31 GMT

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Jon Rahm turned the longest day into his sweetest victory, starting Sunday with a four-shot deficit in the morning chill and finishing in fading sunlight as the fourth Spaniard to become a Masters champion.Rahm closed with a 3-under 69 to pull away from mistake-prone Brooks Koepka. He won by four shots over Koepka and 52-year-old Phil Mickelson, who turned in a tournament-best 65. He is the oldest runner-up in Masters history.It was Mickelson who declared Rahm would be among golf’s biggest stars even before the Spaniard turned pro in 2016. Rahm now has a green jacket to go along with his U.S. Open title he won in 2021 at Torrey Pines.Rahm made up two shots on Koepka over the final 12 holes of the rain-delayed third round and started the final round two shots behind. He seized on Koepka’s collapse and then surged so far ahead that Mickelson’s amazing closing round — the best final round ever at Augusta National for the three-time Masters champion...

DeSantis to make 1st public appearance in South Carolina

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:31 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to make his first public appearance in South Carolina, a state where votes will be critical if he launches an expected 2024 presidential bid.State Sen. Josh Kimbrell told The Associated Press on Sunday that he would host DeSantis for an event on April 19 in Spartanburg, in South Carolina’s heavily Republican Upstate.DeSantis’ first public visit to South Carolina, home of the leadoff presidential primary in the South, comes amid a brisk travel schedule during which the governor has taken his “Florida Blueprint” tour to Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan in recent weeks. With an anticipated presidential bid in the offing, the travel has opened up an avenue for DeSantis to lay out some of his policy achievements in Florida, setting up possible contrasts with potential GOP rivals, including former President Donald Trump.On Sunday, Kimbrell told the AP that he had been hoping to bring DeSantis to South Carolina for month...

Man, 58, attacked by shark while surfing off Honolulu

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:31 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — A surfer was in serious condition after being bitten in the leg by a shark Sunday morning off Honolulu, authorities said. The 58-year-old man was attacked shortly before 7 a.m. near Kewalo Basin, according to Honolulu Emergency Medical Services. Paramedics responded and “administered life-saving treatment to a patient who was surfing and suffered shark bite to right leg.” EMS said in a statement. The surfer was not identified.“Honolulu Ocean Safety will continue to patrol the waters off of Kewalo Basin and Ala Moana after this morning’s shark bite. Lifeguards posted signs in the area,” EMS spokesperson Shayne Enright said in an email to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.The Associated Press

Despite two ejections, No. 21 Longhorns top Kansas State 8-2 to win Big 12 series

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas came up big when they needed to, scoring seven of their eight runs with two outs in an 8-2 win over Kansas State on Easter at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.The No. 21 Longhorns hit .429, 6-for-14, with two outs coming off Saturday's loss in which the Wildcats came back from a 5-2 deficit to beat Texas 6-5. The Longhorns pushed two runs across each in the first two innings, claiming a 4-1 lead early and holding it.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersAfter starting pitcher Charlie Hurley surrendered a run in the top of the first inning, his battery mate Garret Guillemette picked him up with a 2-run home run that smashed against the batter's eye in dead center field. The blast came off his bat at 109 mph and was projected at 421 feet according to the program's Trackman software, but Guillemette said he wasn't so sure he got all of it."I was lucky to put a good s...

Cubs take series finale from Saints in Simeon Woods Richardson’s first start

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:31 GMT

The St. Paul Saints lost 11-2 to the Iowa Cubs on Sunday afternoon at CHS Field, but for those with a rooting interest not on hand to view the gory details, a check of the box score provided at least a sigh of relief when it comes to 22-year-old starting pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson.Woods Richardson took the loss, but not the brunt of the Cubs’ 12-hit onslaught, and his six strikeouts in less than four innings of work offer proof that his outing was not as bad as it may have appeared to be at first blush.Woods Richardson left the game with two outs in the fourth with the Saints trailing 3-0. After getting the Cubs out in order in the third, including two on strikeouts, he appeared to be settling into a groove after giving up an unearned run in the second. But he gave up a long leadoff homer in the fourth when he hung a slider to the Cubs’ cleanup hitter.After retiring in the next two batters, he gave up a walk and an RBI double to end his day.For Woods Richardson, the best part o...

Skidmore resident assistants plan to unionize

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:31 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10)  — Resident life student workers at Skidmore college join the rising tide of those looking to unionize. Since starting their campaign in February, these student workers are now taking things to the next level. March 31st, Skidmore received an official union petition from the Service Employees International Union, but current and former student staff say they still can't get a meeting with the school's administration. Current and past  resident assistants share that they have seen their line of work become heavier as the semesters go by, with no improvements. RPI RAs win union vote 55 to 9 "Post-covid Skidmore looks completely different prior to covid hitting. That has transformed the workforce. We're put through a very emotionally and physically laborious training process, as well as having no professional staff in the beginning of the year." explained former RA, Von Richardson, speaking on the conditions they faced.Current RA, Anna B...

Charges filed in Creve Coeur shooting; suspect still at large

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:31 GMT

CREVE COEUR, Mo. - The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office has charged a man in connection with last Friday's shooting at a Creve Coeur shopping center.According to Captain Jon Romas, a spokesman for the Creve Coeur Police Department, the shooting happened around 2:15 p.m. outside a pizza parlor in the 12500 block of Olive Boulevard.The shooter and victim, who were acquaintances, met at the pizza parlor and got into a dispute outside the business, which led to the shooting. Trending: A Missouri barbecue spot shows up in ‘Ted Lasso’ episodes: This is why The 34-year-old victim, 34, ran across the street and into a grocery store to seek help. That person was taken to the hospital and is said to be in stable condition. No one was else was injured in the shooting.Azar Thompson (Courtesy: Creve Coeur Police Department)On Sunday, police identified the shooter as 30-year-old Azar Thompson of Granite City. He's described as a Black man, approximately six-feet tall, weighing 150...