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DC residents vote on new name for Dave Thomas Circle in NoMa

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:25 GMT

D.C. residents have voted on a new name for the intersection of Florida Avenue and New York Avenue NE in the NoMa neighborhood — which is undergoing major renovations to house new public spaces — Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Wednesday.The intersection, which was previously known unofficially as “Dave Thomas Circle,” will now be called “Mamie ‘Peanut’ Johnson Plaza,” after the first female pitcher to play in the African American baseball league. She died in 2017.The name change comes after more than 4,300 residents cast their vote during a community input process led by the NoMa Business Improvement District. There were four other options for voters to choose from: Douglass Crossing, Three Stars Plaza, Tiber Gateway and People’s Plaza.“Our community is ready to start a new chapter at this intersection, and we are off to a strong start by naming it after such an iconic woman,” Bowser said. “Mamie ‘Peanut’ Johnson was a pioneer. Now, it is fitting that her name...

Sean McVay says Rams traded Van Jefferson partly to help the receiver in his impending free agency

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:25 GMT

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — Sean McVay admits the Los Angeles Rams didn’t improve their team when they traded veteran receiver Van Jefferson to the Falcons.The coach also says Rams fans shouldn’t expect any major additions this season to counter the steady subtraction of the past several months, culminating in Jefferson’s departure for a late-round 2025 draft pick swap.McVay said Wednesday that the timing of the trade was in deference to Jefferson, who is in the final year of his rookie contract. The Super Bowl-winning receiver was a steady contributor when healthy in past seasons and a well-liked player in the locker room, but he had also fallen down the Rams’ depth chart with 12 games left in the season.“He was nothing but a class act, nothing but a pro, but I think he probably wanted to have a bigger role,” McVay said. “That’s understandable.”Jefferson played only two snaps in last Sunday’s loss to Philadelphia, and his chances of returning to the Rams in...

Maestra del Año de DC se destaca por su trabajo con niños migrantes

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:25 GMT

La alcaldesa Muriel Bowser dió a conocer la mañana del miércoles a la maestra de todas las escuelas secundarias del Distrito que más se ha destacado en su trabajo y ha hecho la diferencia en la vida de sus estudiantes.La ganadora es una amante de la diversidad y cree en el potencial de los niños migrantes.Beth Barkley enseña inglés en la academia internacional en Cardozo Education Campus en Columbia Heights, pero su entrega sin límites la llevó a convertirse en la Maestra del Año 2024 de las escuelas secundarias de Washington, DC.“Ellos tienen mucho amor. Son seres humanos con tanto amor y pues yo también de corazón los amo a ellos. Son como mis hijos y apoyamos a cada uno. Es una bendición trabajar con ellos”, dijo. Barkley ha enseñado en la escuela durante los últimos ocho años. Una de sus principales responsabilidades es enseñar a estudiantes de habla hispana que llegaron en autobuses desde Texas y Arizona.La Alcaldesa Muriel Bowser exaltó su labor, diciendo que ha más que supera...

AP PHOTOS: Rockets sail and tanks roll in Israeli-Palestinian war’s 5th day

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:25 GMT

A Palestinian mother kneels beside the body of her dead son. Israelis crouch beside stone walls to shield themselves from rockets.As Israelis and Palestinians endured a fifth day of bloodshed Wednesday, sorrow and fear were evident on both sides of the conflict.Israeli tanks rolled toward the Lebanese border as rockets sailed toward Israel from the Gaza Strip. Entire Palestinian neighborhoods were reduced to smoldering shells of buildings and those injured in Israeli airstrikes were rushed off on stretchers. In Israel, the bereft gathered for funerals of those killed in weekend Palestinian attacks that spurred the war.Nightfall plunged much of the Gaza Strip into darkness, hiding scenes of mounting suffering as the territory’s only power station ran out of fuel. Source

Mets owner Steve Cohen hopes to build casino adjacent to Citi Field

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:25 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Mets owner Steve Cohen hopes to construct a casino adjacent to Citi Field as a way to attract people to the area near the ballpark.Cohen, who bought the Mets before the 2021 season, wants to create attractions near the stadium in Queens in the manner of other teams.“There’s nothing going on. The only thing you can do at Citi Field is get your hubcap changed or maybe get back a catalytic converter,” he said Wednesday during the closing session of Sportico’s Invest in Sports conference. “The way I would describe it is 50 acres of cement.”New York State this year authorized three casino licenses for New York City, Long Island and Westchester, and many groups have discussed proposals.In addition, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced plans last November to build a stadium adjacent to Citi Field for Major League Soccer’s New York City team, owned by the parent company of England’s Manchester City.“The fans want something to do before the game, a...

2 Colorado girls recognized at the White House

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A charitable act by twins Brooke and Breanna Bennett to help give menstrual products to girls in Alabama public housing led them to start an organization that aims to end “period poverty” by ensuring broad access to the items women and girls need when it is that time of the month. The sisters helped lobby for a state law passed earlier this year to provide sanitary pads and other menstrual products to students. And on Wednesday, the 16-year-old twins were among a group of young women recognized at the White House by first lady Jill Biden for their advocacy on this and other issues, from pushing for tighter gun laws and against book bans to encouraging civic engagement and combating antisemitism. President Biden to visit Colorado on Monday “Brooke and I wanted to make it our mission to destigmatize periods and menstrual hygiene and the female reproductive system,” Breanna told a reporter after the ceremony. Brooke said the issue is one that people, especially men,...

‘We have an opportunity to make a difference’: FLFR captain to begin 2-week deployment to Israel amid war

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:25 GMT

A South Florida firefighter who is answering the call for volunteers is preparing to head to Israel to help people there.Speaking with 7News on Wednesday, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Capt. Jason Friedman said he felt compelled to travel overseas following Hamas’ early Saturday morning’s surprise attack out of Gaza.“I’m a very firm believer that this is the path that was chosen for me,” he said.And that path will take Friedman to the Middle East.“Right now, they need our help, so that’s my motivation for going over there,” he said.Friedman is a member of Emergency Volunteers Project, or EVP, a group that provides Israel with emergency services support. This is his first deployment with them.Friedman will be gone for two weeks. He said he will take his full gear with him, and once in Israel, he will be provided a bulletproof vest and a helmet.He said he will learn exactly what he’ll be doing while he’s over there.“We...

Man killed in police-involved shooting near Miami Edison High School; 2nd armed subject in custody

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:25 GMT

An armed subject who was rushed to the hospital after an officer-involved shooting near Miami Edison High School has died, police said, an incident that led officers to take a second armed subject into custody.City of Miami Police and Fire Rescue units responded to the scene of the incident in the area of Northwest Second Avenue and 62nd Street, at around 5:15 p.m., Wednesday.Police said the call initially came in as a man in his 20s found shot in a field.Investigators said the man suffered injuries to his head and leg.Paramedics transported the patient to Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition. Police later confirmed he later succumbed to his injuries.Back at the scene, 7News cameras captured several officers in the field, part of which was cordoned off by crime scene tape.Investigators said they have taken a second armed subject into custody. Detectives have not provided further details about what led to the shooting. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating.I...

Woman who was told her health insurance was accepted receives surprise doctor’s bill

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:25 GMT

Before she went to the doctor, she asked if they accepted her insurance. They said yes. A few days later, she got a bill for the visit, and then things got worse. That’s when she called Help Me Howard with Patrick Fraser.Maryanna takes good care of herself: exercise, eating right. But of course, she still gets aches and pains.Maryanna Healy: “My shoulder has been bothering me. It’s probably just an age thing, rotator cuff.”She called her primary care office, where she was told a new doctor would see her.Maryanna Healy: “They told me, ‘Yes, your insurance is going to cover this. Oh, yes.'”The appointment went well … and then she was hit with a new ache.Maryanna Healy: “About two weeks later, I get a bill for $548.”Turns out the doctor she saw had not yet been approved by her insurance. She called the office.Maryanna Healy: “‘And it’s all going to work out. And we’ll – we will redo it, and it’ll ...

Europe should be unequivocal and support Israel against Hamas

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:25 GMT

Yohan Benizri is the former president of the Belgian Federation of Jewish Organizations.When it comes to Israel, a nation grappling with a new terrifying wave of brutal terrorist acts, Europe’s moral compass needs adjusting.For too long, any defense of the Israeli population against terrorism has had to be prefaced by some form of apology or criticism of Israeli policies, as well as calls for restraint. Terrorists have been presented as combatants, their actions sometimes explained or justified.This is wrong.Israel, like any sovereign nation, must protect its citizens from terrorism, and Europe should help in any way it can — without reservation.Of course, nuance and intellectual humility are required when facing complex phenomena, including the origins of the conflicts in the Middle East, the evaluation of certain policies and the search for lasting solutions. We can legitimately engage in open debate on each of these issues, and hope that our disagreements will lead to a dee...