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NATO unity will be tested at upcoming summit. Ukraine's possible entry may be the biggest challenge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:14 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues with no end in sight, NATO's much-celebrated unity faces fresh strains when leaders gather for their annual summit this week in Vilnius, Lithuania.The world’s biggest security alliance is struggling to reach an agreement on admitting Sweden as its 32nd member. Military spending by member nations lags behind long-standing goals. An inability to compromise over who should serve as NATO’s next leader forced an extension of the current secretary-general's term for an extra year.Perhaps the most difficult questions are over how Ukraine should be eased into NATO. Some maintain admitting Ukraine would fulfill a promise made years ago and be a necessary step to deter Russian aggression in Eastern Europe. Others fear it would be seen as a provocation that could spiral into an even wider conflict."I don’t think it’s ready for membership in NATO," President Joe Biden told CNN in an interview that aired on Sunday. He said joining NA...

Possible proof of oldest human-occupied site found in Oregon, dating back over 18K years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:14 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — An Oregon field research team believes it has uncovered evidence that indicates humans roamed the state at least 18,000 years ago. This could be proof of North America’s oldest human-occupied site yet.Since 2011, the Bureau of Land Management and the University of Oregon’s Museum of Natural and Cultural History Archaeological Field School have partnered to excavate the Rimrock Draw Rockshelter near Riley, Oregon.According to the BLM, archaeologist Patrick O’Grady led the team that had a major discovery back in 2012. The archaeologists unearthed camel teeth fragments that were initially hidden by volcanic ash from a Mount St. Helens eruption roughly 15,000 years ago.The researchers also found an orange agate scraper with bison blood residue in 2012, and an additional scraper later in 2015. Experts with the BLM said the "natural layering of the rockshelter sediments" hints that the scrapers date back even further than the volcanic ash and camel teeth.After cond...

Do we have some summer time heat coming?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:14 GMT

ST. LOUIS – After a few morning showers, Sunday turned out pretty nice. Plenty of sunshine and lower humidity made for a nice July day.Hope you enjoyed it, because there are some changes coming.High temperatures on Monday should be back to near 90 as the humidity starts a comeback. But mid-week, it’s back to the mid-90s.We are getting into a new and active pattern, so there are some rain chances coming this week; and some storms, too.

Rockies’ Kyle Freeland injures right shoulder in 1-0 loss to Giants

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:14 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — The Rockies’ agonizing, frustrating, how-bad-can-it-get season just got significantly worse.Veteran left-hander Kyle Freeland injured his right shoulder, perhaps seriously, while trying to make a diving play on Brett Wisely’s infield squibber near the mound during the seventh inning of Sunday’s game at Oracle Park.The Giants, led by a complete-game shutout by right-hander Logan Webb, beat the Rockies 1-0 to clinch the three-game series.#Rockies Kyle Freeland on his right shoulder injury. Not a lot of athletes would talk in this situation. He’s a class act. pic.twitter.com/ZiVbP5VIAK— Patrick Saunders (@psaundersdp) July 9, 2023Freeland stayed on the ground for several minutes and was in obvious pain as he departed the field, cradling his right arm. He is the fourth Rockies starter to go down with an injury this season, joining right-handers German Marquez (elbow, Tommy John surgery), Antonio Senzatela (sprained elbow ligament) and Ryan F...

Five Weeknight Dishes: Corn and coconut soup, but make it lazy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:14 GMT

By Emily Fleischaker, The New York TimesA co-worker recently used the phrase “spiritually out-of-office” to describe the vibe of summer. That slowing-down feeling applies to weeknight cooking, too. It’s hot. It’s vacation season. I say it’s normal to crave a few extra shortcuts and a little more time on the couch.Below are some ideas (should I call them confessions?) to alter recipes when cooking dinner feels like scaling a 6-foot wall. A note of warning: These recipes simply won’t be as delicious as initially written. But they will still be much better than ordering overpriced takeout, and can help you manifest the lazy summer you deserve.1. Spicy Corn and Coconut SoupA good corn soup is creamy and naturally sweet; an even better corn soup is spicy, refreshing and addictive. In this recipe, it’s the combination of shallots, garlic, ginger, chiles and coconut milk, rather than heavy cream or butter, that makes the soup at once cooling and rich. It’s a dinner in a bowl (and a vegan o...

‘Suspicious’ fire breaks out at Los Angeles City Hall 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:14 GMT

Arson investigators are looking into what caused a “suspicious” fire to break out at Los Angeles City Hall on Saturday night. According to the LAFD, firefighters responded to City Hall – located at 200 N. Main Street in downtown L.A. – around 8 p.m. Preliminary reports indicated that an object was apparently thrown into the building, causing the fire to start. Fire crews arrived on scene and responded to an activated alarm on the second floor of the building. A sprinkler helped contain most of the fire, LAFD said.  "LAFD firefighters found evidence that the fire was started suspiciously,” a spokesperson for the LAFD confirmed to KTLA.  Monrovia woman wakes up to dead bear in front yard A fire department spokesperson told the LA Times that the fire started in the office of Chief Legislative Analyst Sharon Tso. Tso later confirmed that there was a fire in her office, but also said that she could not comment further on the matter. Arson investigators with th...

SF Giants ride Logan Webb to shutout victory over Colorado at All-Star break

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:14 GMT

SAN FRANICSCO — Camilo Doval and Alex Cobb are going to the All-Star Game, but the horse the Giants rode in on is Logan Webb.If the Giants are going to do any postseason damage in 2023, it will be Webb anchoring the rotation as the No. 1 starter. Webb looked the part of the dominant postseason pitcher he was in 2021 Sunday, shutting out the Colorado Rockies 1-0 Sunday at Oracle Park.A festive crowd of 36,050 on a partially overcast day was treated to Webb’s first shutout and complete game after 95 previous starts.Heading to the mound in the ninth to a standing ovation, Webb (8-7) finished things off by striking out Kris Bryant (on appeal), Ryan McMahon and Elias Diaz to finish it off.Webb finished with 10 strikeouts, no walks and threw 103 pitches, 75 of them strikes in a game that was over in an hour and 56 minutes.The Giants scored against Colorado starter and hard-luck loser Kyle Freeland on a home run by J.D. Davis, his 10th, leading off the fourth inning.The Giants ...

Choi slugs 2-run homer as Pirates beat Diamondbacks 4-2 to end 4-game losing streak

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:14 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Ji Man Choi hit a two-run homer, seven Pittsburgh pitchers combined on a four-hitter and the Pirates ended a four-game losing streak with a 4-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.Choi homered off Zach Davies (1-5) in the second inning and the Pirates bullpen took turns shutting down the Diamondbacks, a day after giving up a late lead in a 3-2 loss to Arizona. Osvaldo Bido (1-1) allowed a hit in 1 1/3 innings and All-Star closer David Bednar worked around a walk in the ninth inning for his 17th save in 18 chances after Jared Triolo hit a run-scoring single in the top half.Alek Thomas homered for the second straight game for the Diamondbacks, who head into the All-Star break tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers atop the NL West at 52-39.Davies gave up four runs on two homers in a no-decision against the New York Mets in his last start.The long ball hurt him again on Sunday when Choi hit his third homer of the season out to center. Jack Suwinski put the Pirates up ...

Cubs score 6 runs late to rally for 7-4 win over Yankees

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:14 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Yan Gomes hit a tying pinch-hit two-run single in the seventh inning following a fielding error by second baseman Gleyber Torres and Seiya Suzuki hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the eighth and the Chicago Cubs rallied for a 7-4 victory over the New York Yankees on Sunday.Mike Tauchman opened the eighth with a single off Ron Marinaccio (4-4) before Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ walked.Suzuki, who homered in the fifth for Chicago’s only hit off Domingo Germán, followed with a sacrifice fly off Clay Holmes as the Yankees deployed a five-man infield and Tauchman easily scored when right fielder Giancarlo Stanton’s throw was slightly up the line.“I just wanted to get that run in from third and as you can see there were five infielders,” Suzuki said through a translator. “So the best I could do was hit that sacrifice fly. I was glad I was able to do that.”Hoerner scored the sixth run when Holmes threw a wild pitch over catcher Kyle Higashioka’s glove to the backstop and Tucker...

Sinclair leads Canada’s squad into the Women’s World Cup

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:14 GMT

Christine Sinclair will lead the Canadian women’s national team at the upcoming Women’s World Cup. Sinclair, international soccer’s all-time leading scorer among men and women with 190 career goals, is playing in her sixth World Cup. The 40-year-old is captain of the 23-player squad announced by coach Bev Priestman on Sunday. Sinclair will be joined by fellow veterans Sophie Schmidt, playing in her fifth World Cup, and Allysha Chapman, Kadeisha Buchanan, Adriana Leon, Jessie Fleming and Ashley Lawrence, who will all be making a third appearance in the tournament. “I know every single person has given their all to make this squad. It’s a great mix of veterans, experienced and new players who can all bring something different this summer,” Priestman said in a statement. “I’m naturally devastated for the players who have missed out, especially due to injuries, but I know every player will be with us on our journey and have been pivotal in getting us to this poin...