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Falcons’ Smith reinstates Ridder as starting QB for key NFC South game against Saints

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:49 GMT

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons returned from their bye facing a must-win game against NFC South rival New Orleans.Coach Arthur Smith says Desmond Ridder gives the Falcons their best chance to win on Sunday and for the remainder of the season.As expected, Smith reinstated Ridder as the starter on Monday as the Falcons (4-6) try to end a three-game losing streak. Atlanta is only one game behind New Orleans (5-5), but even in the weak NFC South, another loss would be difficult to overcome.The Falcons were 4-4 with Ridder as the starter, but the second-year quarterback was benched because of his inability to avoid turnovers and sacks. Taylor Heinicke started the last two games but suffered a hamstring injury in Atlanta’s 25-23 loss at Arizona on Nov. 12.Heinicke was not available for Monday’s practice, but Smith said the decision to name Ridder as the starter was “absolutely” intended to last the remainder of the season and was not based on Heinicke’s h...

The leader of a Dutch far-right party gets assaulted with a beer bottle 2 days before election

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:49 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The leader of a far-right Dutch populist party was hit on the head with a beer bottle Monday in an attack that took place two days before the Netherlands holds a general election.Thierry Baudet, leader of Forum for Democracy, was taken to a hospital in the northern city of Groningen after the assault at a local event, the party said in a message on X, formerly Twitter.“It looks like everything will all be alright,” the party said. It later said Baudet, 40, was treated by a trauma surgeon after being hit on the back of the head and next to his eye with a beer bottle. It said a security guard also was injured.Video on social media showed Baudet in a bar when his attacker lunged at him. Baudet was quickly taken away and the attacker overpowered.Police spokesman Thijs de Jong said a person was arrested on suspicion of involvement in the attack. He said the motive was under investigation.“What we can say at the moment is that Mr. Baudet was hit on the head, ...

Another losing season may be testing the patience of Panthers owner David Tepper

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:49 GMT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers aren’t showing improvement — and that has to be testing the patience of owner David Tepper.Tepper hired head coach Frank Reich to fix one of the league’s worst offenses over the past few seasons and develop Young, the No. 1 overall pick whom he gave up four draft picks and top wide receiver D.J. Moore to acquire this past offseason with the self-proclaimed goal of winning multiple Super Bowls.But the Panthers (1-9) couldn’t be further away from hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. They have the worst record in the league and are coming off an embarrassing 33-10 home loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.If anything, Carolina’s offense has gotten worse.The Panthers are 31st in the league in yards per game and 29th in scoring.The team has allowed 39 sacks in 10 games and, perhaps most concerning, Young has regressed with three pick-6s in the past three games. He continues to have one of the worst QB ratings in the league with nearly...

Denver airport parking: Several lots full Monday morning

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:49 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The biggest travel week of the year is upon us, and the 785,000 travelers expected to travel through Denver International Airport's TSA checkpoints will mean an influx of cars parking at the airport.The busiest travel days are projected to be Wednesday, Nov. 22 and Sunday, Nov. 26, and travelers should be prepared to spend extra time parking and getting a shuttle to the airport. 5 tips for surviving holiday travel at Denver International Airport As of 12:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 20, several lots were already full or near capacity.Economy East: FullEconomy West: Nearing capacityPikes Peak Lot: FullLongs Peak Lot: Closed Garage East: OpenGarage West: Open61st and Pena: OpenWhile the Longs Peak Lot is currently listed as closed, DIA's holiday travel guidelines said it will be open. Denver International Airport prepares for busy holiday travel week Free shuttle buses from the Pikes Peak and Longs Peak lots run every seven to 10 minutes when the lots are open. Those park...

MDPD officer grazed by bullet in Miami Gardens shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:49 GMT

A Miami-Dade Police officer was grazed by a bullet in a shooting in Miami Gardens, officials said. The incident occurred just after 10:30 a.m., Monday, in the area of NW 152nd Street and 22nd Avenue. 7Skyforce hovered over the scene where heavy police presence was visible as well as a large perimeter set up in the vicinity. A red pickup truck could also be seen at the scene of the shooting. It is unclear if the truck was being driven by the officer or suspects involved. WATCH: Officials give an update on the case during a news conference, Monday afternoonAccording to police, the incident occurred after an altercation between two men escalated, resulting in the officer being grazed in the cheek by a bullet. The suspects fled the scene at the time of the incident. During a news conference on Monday afternoon, Stephanie Daniels, Director of the Miami-Dade Police Department confirmed that five people had been detained. https://twitter.com/MiamiDadePD/status/1726663742765818223?s=20SWAT ...

Hidden belly fat linked to brain inflammation and dementia, study finds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:49 GMT

(CNN) — Inflammation from belly fat may be linked to the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease decades before symptoms begin, new research has found.“We’ve known for a while that as the belly size gets larger, the memory centers in the brain get smaller,” said Alzheimer’s disease researcher Dr. Richard Isaacson, a preventive neurologist at the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases of Florida.“This study shows a brain imaging marker of neuroinflammation which I had not seen before,” said Isaacson, who was not involved in the new study. “The brain imaging links the belly fat, or visceral fat, to the brain dysfunction through an inflammatory cascade.”The study found individuals in their 40s and 50s with a greater amount of hidden belly fat “had a higher amount of an abnormal protein called amyloid in a part of the brain that we know is one of the earliest places where Alzheimer’s occurs,” said senior author Dr. Cyrus Raji, associate professor of radiology at ...

Lifelong toy maker offers his take on what inspires children

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:49 GMT

Rocket shoes.Plastic teeth that go Yakity-Yak.A monkey that flings banana scented poo. It’s obvious toymakers have a great sense of humor but even the most imaginative person would have trouble coming up with an idea for a toy every child might like for Christmas.So, how do they do it?“I wish I could tell you more about the creative process but so much that I do I’ve been doing for so long,” said Eddy Goldfarb, who invented more than 800 iconic toys during a career that spans 80 years and is now the subject of a new award-winning short documentary “Eddy’s World.”As he explains in the film airing on PBS stations throughout the country and streaming on PBS.org and the PBS App starting Dec. 2., when he sees something, an idea pops into his head or when he sees a need, he will invent something to fill that need.  His Merry Go Sip is a good example. In 1949, when mothers were having trouble getting their children to drink their milk Goldfarb came up with the idea for a drinking-cup-and-s...

‘Barbie’ and other hit movies inspire a spike in toy sales

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:49 GMT

Red and green might be the traditional colors for the holidays but this year toyland will be lit up in pink.Barbies.Care Bears.Moosh-Moosh plush buddies, miniature cats and pink slime.The blockbuster hit movie starring Margot Robbie as America’s iconic doll has not only been a smash hit for Mattel but has helped to boost the sales for other toymakers offering something in Barbie pink.“It’s always that way with toys,” said Julie Everette, co-owner of the Whistle Whistle Stop Hobby and Toy shop in St. Clair Shores. “If they really love the movie they want to immerse themselves in it.”Related ArticlesEntertainment | Dear Abby: Woman wants all the gifts that can’t fit Entertainment | Music bridges differences in ‘The Band’s Visit’ Entertainment | Dear Abby: Son’s unstable ex tries blackmail Entertainment | American Repertory Theater moving to Allston Entertainment | Artist Bashi resp...

Disneyland guest hospitalized, others injured after lamp post falls due to high winds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:49 GMT

Multiple Disneyland guests were injured and one was taken to the hospital after a lamp post on Main Street U.S.A. fell over due to high winds, a Disneyland official confirmed to KTLA.Anaheim Fire and Rescue responded to the scene just before 8:30 a.m. and discovered that three people were injured due to the lamp post falling down. Personnel treated three patients at the scene. The person who was transported to the hospital sustained serious injuries, according to Anaheim Fire and Rescue. The incident occurred after strong winds moved into the Southland on Sunday. They are expected to stay until Tuesday.The lamp post was located in the flowerbed around the Disneyland flagpole and is used for stage lighting during parades and shows along Main Street U.S.A., the Orange County Register reported.Disney blog, WDW News Today, reported that the lamp post was removed just after 10 a.m., and Disneyland used vehicles to block off half of the Town Square area at the park.The park remains open a...

Colleges ask Ontario for 5% tuition hike, funding boost

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:49 GMT

Ontario’s colleges want the province to immediately end its five-year-long tuition freeze.Colleges Ontario says it would like the province to allow for a five per cent tuition increase for next September.It is also calling for a 10 per cent increase in operating grants and the lifting of a cap on “high-demand” programs to allow for more student enrolment.Last week, an independent panel found that colleges and universities across the province were struggling financially.It recommended the province lift the tuition freeze that it implemented in 2019 and increase per-student funding to post-secondary institutions.Colleges and Universities Minister Jill Dunlop says the government is reviewing the report and asking the institutions to be as efficient as possible.