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‘Our cultural fabric’: Calgary Stampede gets ready to kick off Friday with parade

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:49 GMT

CALGARY — After a few years of uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic, officials with the Calgary Stampede say they’re happy the advice they’ll be handing out this year is to simply wear a cowboy hat and stay hydrated.“It’s certainly a nice change to feel like we’re getting back to a little bit normal here and having a full-on Stampede this year. We’re really excited about that,” Kerrie Blizard, the event’s director of public safety, said at a news conference Tuesday.The 10-day celebration of cowboy life, called the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, kicks off with a downtown parade Friday morning. The Stampede was cancelled for the first time in its history in 2020. It returned the following year with a scaled-down version that included rapid COVID-19 tests being required to enter some tents, a limit on how many people could be at Stampede Park and physical distancing guidelines. Last year, many who attended wore masks.“The s...

Revelers across the US brave heat and heavy downpours to celebrate Fourth of July

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:49 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Revelers across the U.S. braved heat and heavy rain to take part in Fourth of July activities Tuesday — celebrating the nation’s founding with parades, fireworks and hot dog eating contests at a time of lingering political divisions and concerns about the country’s future.In Boston, people dodged raindrops to nab a coveted space on the grassy oval in front of the Hatch Shell along the Charles River ahead of the traditional Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular. Hundreds of thousands of partygoers typically line both sides of the river for the fireworks spectacular that follows a concert.At another longstanding celebration, fans of competitive eating crowded to watch Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest held in the Coney Island section of New York City.In many states, weather factored into events. The 10-kilometer Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race that typically draws thousands of runners in humid summer weather was cut short due ...

Folk singer lends name to program giving healthy food to rural N.S. children

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:49 GMT

HALIFAX — A Nova Scotia folk singer is lending his name to a program that provides healthy food to students at rural schools in the province, saying he wants to raise awareness about an often invisible problem.Dave Gunning’s music has included tunes such “Coal From the Train” — co-written with artist Bruce Gouthro — with lyrics describing how Gunning’s grandfather would shovel coal from his passing train onto the properties of people struggling to heat their homes in Pictou County.Now, the Pictou County recording artist is becoming the sponsor of a funding drive to set up centres — referred to as School Free Stores — that will stock rural schools in Nova Scotia with food and necessities. He says he intends to push for the cause as he tours folks festivals around the country, adding that the song about his grandfather will give him a chance to mention the fundraising drive. “It ties in perfectly with the cause. If everybody shovels a little bit of coal f...

MLB’s Sarah Langs, who has ALS, honored at Yankees game on anniversary of Lou Gehrig’s famous speech

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:49 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Sarah Langs tried on Lou Gehrig’s cap, a joyous moment and also a reminder of the link they share.Langs, a beloved member of the baseball community in her role as a reporter and producer at Major League Baseball Advanced Media, revealed last October she had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as Lou Gehrig’s disease or ALS. She was honored at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, the 84th anniversary of Gehrig’s famous “luckiest man on the face of the Earth” speech, along with six other women who have the disease. “I don’t think I’ve processed any of this from the day that I pressed send on that tweet to share this with the world and all of the kindness I’ve received even beforehand,” Langs said. “But, I mean, I love baseball so much. I’m so grateful for it. It’s the one thing in my life that absolutely will not change at all.”ALS is a progressive disease that attacks nerve cells that control muscles throughout the body. It became known as Lou Gehrig’...

See how the Brewers honored Highland Park shooting survivor Cooper Roberts this week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:49 GMT

MILWAUKEE — Nearly a year to the day of the first anniversary of the Highland Park shooting, one of its survivors got to enjoy a day at the ballpark with his favorite team. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)Cooper Roberts, who was paralyzed in the mass shooting on July 4, 2022, got the opportunity to throw out the first pitch ahead of the Brewers' game against the Cubs on Monday afternoon. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)With members of his family by his side, the nine-year-old tossed the pitch to Milwaukee outfielder Christian Yelich ahead of the start of the contest at American Family Field. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)The crowd gave Roberts a loud ovation as Yelich posed for a few pictures with the family ahead of the start of the first of a four-game series with the Cubs. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)This is not the first gesture by the Milwaukee franchise towards Roberts since he was paralyzed in the shooting in Highland Park. On July 8, 2022, when finding out that h...

Man hospitalized after Winnetka water rescue

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:49 GMT

WINNETKA, Ill. -- A man was rushed to a hospital in Evanston after a reported water rescue in Winnetka Tuesday.According to authorities, Winnetka's police and fire departments responded to a call at Elder Beach before 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Man in critical condition after pulled from Lincoln Park lagoon First responders report an adult male, who was part of a boating group on the lakefront, had jumped into the water to assist some kids that were tubing, struggled to swim, and drowned.He was pulled back onto the boat and CPR was started immediately. The boat made its way back to shore, at which point Winnetka medics took over CPR and provided advanced life support as the individual was transported to Northshore Evanston Hospital.The man's condition is unknown at this point in time.Stay with WGN as this story develops.

Twins run away from last-place Royals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:49 GMT

Max Kepler drove in the Twins’ first four runs with a single and a three-run home run, and Carlos Correa collected the 1,000th hit of his career as Minnesota beat the Kansas City Royals, 9-3, on Tuesday in front of a holiday crowd of 25,033 at Target Field.Donovan Solano and Byron Buxton hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning to break open a tight game and the Twins won for the fourth time in five games to climb back over .500 for the first time since June 23 and assure themselves of another day atop the American League Central.Minnesota improved to 7-1 against the last-place Royals this season.Kenta Maeda (2-5) pitched his third straight successful start since returning from a 51-day injured list stint because of a triceps strain. The veteran right-hander gave up two runs, one earned, on three hits and a walk in a season-high seven innings and struck out nine.Since his return for a 4-1 victory at Detroit on June 23, Maeda is 2-1 with a 1.06 earned-run average in three start...

Capital Rescue Mission celebrates Independence Day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:49 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – People formed a line that stretched down the block at the Capital City Rescue Mission for its Independence Day picnic. Roughly 500 meals were served at the lunchtime celebration. Executive Director at the Capital City Rescue Mission Perry Jones says they look forward to doing special celebrations, like Tuesday’s picnic. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! “The gospel of Christ is good and he loves them and we’re sharing his love very tangibly,” Jones said.Perry has helped serve the community at the organization for 42 years.“The lord called me and I came out of seminary to be a pastor, and he said – in my heart, he told me – ‘You’re going to serve the poor, and you’re gonna be a pastor to the streets’,” Jones said.He says homelessness is on the rise, making the services they provide more important than ever before.Executive Chef Maxwell Ansong says the Capital City Rescue Mission looks forward to serving...

Valley Park extends budget for 2 weeks, continuing city services

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:49 GMT

VALLEY PARK, Mo. - One day after Valley Park citizens noticed a disruption of city services over a local financial crisis, the board of aldermen extended the prior budget while the leadership works on a budget for the current fiscal year.On Monday, residents who visited city hall throughout the day were met with an empty parking lot and locked doors.Residents said they were kept in the dark about why services had been suspended. Only later did they learn of the budget crisis. The Valley Park Board of Aldermen had failed to pass a budget before July 1, which is the start of the 2024 fiscal year. Residents still without power frustrated with Ameren response  Valley Park Mayor Chandra Webster said the city's Finance Ways & Means Committee had unanimously recommended a budget to the eight-person board. However, a simple majority is not enough to pass the budget. Five votes are needed to approve the budget, with the mayor acting as a potential tiebreaker.Webster claims certain alde...

Roundup Fire breaks out in San Bernardino County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:49 GMT

A brush fire ignited in San Bernardino County late Tuesday morning.The blaze, called the Roundup Fire, was reported by the San Bernardino County Fire Department at 11:50 a.m., and it began near Rattlesnake Canyon east of Hesperia and south of Apple Valley, the agency said on Twitter. Cal Fire reported at about 1:15 p.m. that the fire had grown to 5 acres, though about 10 minutes later, that figure was 15 acres.By 1:35 p.m., fire officials said it had grown to 31 acres.Smoke from the fire is "visible from across the high desert," fire officials added, though the rate of spread is slow.