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Donald Trump, allies plan effort to steal Ron DeSantis’ 2024 moment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:22 GMT

By Kristen Holmes | CNNDonald Trump and his allies are planning a coordinated effort to upend the media cycle around the presidential campaign launch of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, which will include videos and a social media blitz leaning on high-profile, Trump-aligned conservative commentators, sources familiar with the plans told CNN.The messaging strategy will involve some Trump surrogates appearing in Miami, where DeSantis is set to gather with donors beginning Wednesday. Make America Great Again, Inc., the Trump-aligned super PAC, will also have a presence in the city. The group plans to have a box truck playing a new attack ad as it circles the Miami hotel where DeSantis will be. The 60-second digital ad hits DeSantis on his tenure as a congressman in Washington, painting the Florida governor as a Washington “swamp creature” who was trying to cut entitlements while Trump was entering the White House. The ad presents a side-by-side comparison of Trump’s and DeSantis’ time in DC...

Where’s Diggs? Von Miller not concerned by Bills receiver skipping voluntary practices

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:22 GMT

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Von Miller isn’t the least bit concerned about Buffalo Bills teammate Stefon Diggs missing voluntary spring practices. Nor is the veteran pass rusher reading anything into the cryptic messages the receiver posted on his social media accounts this offseason.Miller is far too familiar with Diggs’ competitive drive, commitment to football and close relationship with quarterback Josh Allen in being able to confidently say he’ll be back in Buffalo when the time is necessary.“He’s not here right now, but I don’t think it should ever be a question is football No. 1 on his mind,” Miller said, noting he anticipates Diggs to be present for Buffalo’s three mandatory practices scheduled to open in three weeks.“He’s going to show that he’s a better version of Stefon Diggs on and off the football field. And for me and my point of view as a teammate … those are really the things that matter to me,” he added. “Is he going to be better than last year? Is he going to c...

Family of Georgia woman who died after falling from moving patrol car files wrongful death lawsuit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:22 GMT

DECATUR, Ga. (AP) — The family of a Georgia woman who died last year after she fell from a moving patrol car has filed a civil rights lawsuit, saying sheriff’s deputies improperly arrested her and ultimately caused her death, attorneys announced Wednesday.The deputies who put Brianna Grier in the back of a patrol car to take her to the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office failed to close the rear passenger-side door before driving away, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation found. The 28-year-old woman suffered brain trauma when she hit her head in the July 15 fall and was in a coma until she died July 21 at an Atlanta hospital, her family said.The federal wrongful death lawsuit filed Tuesday accuses Hancock County Sheriff Tomlyn Primus, his brother Lt. Marlin Primus and Deputy Timothy Legette of gross negligence leading to Grier’s death. A message seeking comment was left with a person who answered the phone in the sheriff’s office Wednesday.Grier was arrested after sher...

Tennis player Mikael Ymer disqualified for outburst during match in Lyon

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:22 GMT

LYON, France (AP) — Swedish tennis player Mikael Ymer was disqualified after slamming his racket into the umpire’s chair during a match at the Lyon Open on Wednesday.The 24-year-old Ymer was upset that the umpire refused to check a line call in the 11th game of the first set of his second-round match against Arthur Fils.Ymer thought the ball went wide and pleaded for the umpire to check.“You saw it clearly bounce on the line, then show me the mark on the line,” the 53rd-ranked Ymer said. “I’ve never witnessed that a ref says ‘I’m not going to go down and check the mark.’ It doesn’t happen.”After that, Fils broke Ymer with a cross-court backhand to take a 6-5 lead.Ymer then twice slammed his racket into the bottom of the umpire’s chair, leaving the stand damaged and his racket in tatters. He was then defaulted.___AP Tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

Israeli military court sentences 3 soldiers to prison for abusing Palestinian man, obstructing probe

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:22 GMT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — An Israeli military court has sentenced three soldiers to prison time for abusing a Palestinian and obstructing an investigation into the incident, the army said Wednesday, in a rare punishment against army forces.Two soldiers were convicted of abuse and a third was additionally convicted of exceeding his authority and endangering the man’s life or health, the army said. Military police investigators served up the indictment after the men were arrested last month.The indictments said the three soldiers, as well as a fourth, took the Palestinian man in a military jeep and drove to an unidentified “distant location.” During the drive and afterward, “violence was used against the victim” and he was left in a remote location, the statement said.The soldiers, whose identities were withheld, then “hid the details of the incident from their commanders in an attempt to prevent (military officials) from opening an investigation and coordinated their versio...

UN warns against losing sight of South Sudan peace process amid Sudan crisis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:22 GMT

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — The United Nations Mission in South Sudan has warned the country’s leaders not to lose sight of the pending implementation of the peace deal that could “make or break” the country” amid the ongoing crisis in neighboring Sudan.The head of UNMISS, Nicholas Haysom, on Wednesday said even though South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir was mediating in the Sudan crisis, he should also focus on the peace deal in his own country.“This is not the time to take our eyes off the ball,” Haysom said. “What we can learn from Sudan is how quickly matters can unravel if neglected.”Local media had reported that there were concerns that the conflict in Sudan was undermining the peace process in South Sudan, with Kiir now focused on mediation as opposed to implementing the peace deal.South Sudan’s civil war started in 2013 and ended in a peace deal in 2018 leaving nearly 400,000 people dead and more than four million others displaced.Sudan is a guarantor of the South Sudan pe...

Tribunal de Apelaciones confirma política de admisión de la escuela Thomas Jefferson en Virginia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:22 GMT

Una corte federal de apelaciones dividida confirmó el martes la constitucionalidad de una nueva política de admisión en una escuela secundaria pública en Virginia que, según los críticos, discrimina a los asiático-estadounidenses altamente calificados.El fallo de 2-1 de la Corte de Apelaciones del Cuarto Circuito de EEUU en Richmond anula un fallo del año pasado de un juez federal que determinó que la Junta Escolar del Condado Fairfax se involucró en un “equilibrio racial” inadmisible cuando revisó la política de admisiones de la Escuela Secundaria de Ciencias y Tecnología, Thomas Jefferson.La escuela se cita con frecuencia entre las mejores de la nación, y los padres compiten y se preparan durante años para que sus hijos sean admitidos. Pero durante décadas, los estudiantes negros e hispanos han estado lamentablemente subrepresentados, mientras que los estadounidenses de origen asiático constituían más del 70% del alumnado.En 2020, la junta escolar renovó significativam...

ACC backs plan to offer increased payouts to schools for postseason success

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:22 GMT

The Atlantic Coast Conference is moving forward allowing schools to earn more money generated from their own postseason performances, a move coming as the league tries to find ways to close a growing financial gap with two power-conference peers.The ACC announced Wednesday that its board of directors have endorsed a “success incentive initiative,” with details being worked out in the coming months for implementation for the 2024-25 season. The league has long distributed revenue evenly among its membership, including money coming from revenue-generating postseason events like the College Football Playoff and the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.The timing of the change would coincide with CFP expansion to 12 teams. The rest of the equal revenue-distribution structure — which would cover money tied to an ESPN TV contract running through 2036 — remains unchanged.In a statement, Duke president Vincent E. Price said league leadership is still “committed to exploring all pote...

Canada, Saudi Arabia restore ties 5 years after spat over women’s rights activists

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:22 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — Canada and Saudi Arabia agreed Wednesday to restore full diplomatic relations and appoint new ambassadors, five years after a dispute over women’s rights activists damaged relations and trade between the two countries.In 2018, Saudi Arabia expelled Canada’s ambassador to the kingdom and withdrew its own ambassador after Canada’s foreign ministry, Global Affairs Canada, tweeted support for women’s right activists who had been arrested, but who have since been released. The Saudis also sold Canadian investments and ordered their citizens studying in Canada to leave.The foreign ministries of the two countries issued statements saying Wednesday’s decision stemmed from discussions between Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last November on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum. Canada’s ministry said there is “desire for both sides to restore diplomatic relations between the two countries on ...

Iconic rock and soul singer Tina Turner dies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:22 GMT

(NEXSTAR) - Iconic rock and soul singer Tina Turner has died, according to multiple reports. The 83-year-old singer died at her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland, Deadline and SkyNews have reported, citing a statement from her spokesperson. “With her, the world loses a music legend and a role model,” Bernard Doherty said. A post on Turner's official Facebook page confirmed her death but did not list a cause."It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner. With her music and her boundless passion for life, she enchanted millions of fans around the world and inspired the stars of tomorrow. Today we say goodbye to a dear friend who leaves us all her greatest work: her music. All our heartfelt compassion goes out to her family. Tina, we will miss you dearly."Turner's death follows the deaths of her sons, Ronnie Turner, who died late last year at the age of 62, and Craig Turner, who died in 2018 by suicide. Turner, who became a Swiss citizen a decade ago, wa...