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No ‘joke’: Biden celebrating LSU, UConn champion basketball teams at White House

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:02 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s sports Friday at the White House.President Joe Biden was hosting the NCAA championship men’s and women’s basketball teams at separate events. His wife, Jill, planned to join the celebration for Louisiana State’s women’s team. After the Tigers beat Iowa for the title in April in a game the first lady attended, she caused an uproar by suggesting that the Hawkeyes also come to the White House.LSU star Angel Reese called the idea “A JOKE” and said she would prefer to visit with former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, instead. The LSU team largely is Black, while Iowa’s top player, Caitlin Clark, is white, as are most of her teammates.Nothing came of the first lady’s idea and only the Tigers were invited. Reese ultimately said she would not skip the White House visit. “I’m a team player,” Reese said. “I’m going to do what’s best for the team.” Reese and Emily Ward, both team captains, were presenting team jerseys to...

U.S. cities reporting fewer killings hope crime strategies promote peace this summer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:02 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — An expected bump in violent crime this summer has mayors and police officials around the U.S. rolling out familiar strategies of making officers more visible and engaging with community groups, in some cases leaning on civilians to enforce curfews and keep the peace.Chicago is among the U.S. cities under scrutiny following a mayoral race that focused on public safety in response to demands for change. Violence often surges during summer months, so this holiday weekend will undoubtedly ramp up pressure on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s new administration to deliver short-term improvement along with the long-term strategies that the former union organizer advocated while campaigning to lead the nation’s third-largest city.“It’s going to take all of us, not just the police, not just city government, to ensure that our communities can live and thrive in peace and safety,” Johnson said at a lakefront press conference promoting the city’s Memorial Day weekend strategy. Most large ...

2-time Olympic figure skater Keegan Messing announces retirement

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:02 GMT

OTTAWA, Canada (AP) — Two-time Olympian Keegan Messing, one of the most popular figure skaters of his generation, announced Friday that he was retiring from competition after a career that spanned nearly three decades and included two Canadian championships.Messing was born in Alaska and began his career skating for the U.S. before switching to Canada, where he achieved his greatest success. He competed in five world championships and twice medaled in Grand Prix events, but his popularity came largely from his effervescent and free-spirited attitude on the ice rather than his results.“I don’t feel burdened with what I couldn’t achieve but fulfilled with what I’ve gained and accomplished,” Messing said, “I can step away knowing that I’ve truly made a difference in the sport and that I’ve accomplished all I set out for.”In an era of high-flying jumps, where the quad has become a staple among men’s skaters, Messing was able to keep pace. This past season, the 31-year-old was seco...

French Open 2023: How to watch, what to know, betting guide before play begins Sunday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:02 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Play in the year’s second Grand Slam tournament begins Sunday at Roland Garros, and for the first time in nearly two decades, Rafael Nadal will not be competing in the French Open.The 14-time champion had entered the clay-court major every year since making his debut there in 2005, but he is out with a hip injury and isn’t sure when he will return to the tour. That leaves everyone wondering who will walk away from Paris with the men’s trophy a little more than two weeks from now.Current No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, former No. 1 Daniil Medvedev, 22-time Grand Slam champ Novak Djokovic and talented 20-year-old Holger Rune are the names most commonly mentioned as contenders for the men’s title. There are other players who consider themselves up to the task, including Stefanos Tsitsipas, the runner-up to Djokovic at the French Open in 2021 and again at the Australian Open this January. Defending champion Iga Swiatek, who also won at Roland Garros in 2021 an...

New photos give an inside look at Casa Bonita

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:02 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- When will Casa Bonita finally open? That is the question on the minds of many people. And while the official reopening date has yet to be announced, Casa Bonita released new photos from inside the restaurant on Friday.Here is a look at the photo gallery:Casa Bonita's Lagoon, seen after renovations for 2023's reopening. (Photo: Casa Bonita)Casa Bonita's Black Bart's Cave, seen after renovations for 2023's reopening. (Photo: Casa Bonita)Construction work at the Dia de los Muertos Bar at Casa Bonita for 2023's reopening. (Photo: Casa Bonita)Construction work at the Mayahuel Bar at Casa Bonita for 2023's reopening. (Photo: Casa Bonita)Lighting work at the Bridge at Casa Bonita for 2023's reopening. (Photo: Casa Bonita)Casa Bonita's Lagoon, seen after renovations for 2023's reopening. (Photo: Casa Bonita)We also got a look at the new menu and some photos of the food items.Casa Bonita opening: Latest updatesFacts you may not know about Casa BonitaMore than sopaipillas: Wh...

More than sopaipillas: What's on Casa Bonita's opening menu

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:02 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The long-awaited opening of Casa Bonita is finally here! And the newly anticipated menu has been rolled out. Executive Chef Dana Rodriguez kept it simple, but make no mistake, the quality will be an extremely noticeable improvement. From Mexican staples such as enchiladas and carnitas to mole and a kid-friendly menu, Casa Bonita's options should keep the kitchen running efficiently for the large-capacity restaurant. And the best part? Chips and salsa and sopaipillas are included with every meal. Casa Bonita's Bee's Knees, Paloma, Mexican Firing Squad cocktails (Photo credit: Casa Bonita)Casa Bonita's camarones entree (Photo credit: Casa Bonita)Casa Bonita's chips and salsa fresca (Photo credit: Casa Bonita)Casa Bonita's Christmas enchiladas entree (Photo credit: Casa Bonita)Casa Bonita's green enchiladas entree (Photo credit: Casa Bonita)Casa Bonita's I Wish You Mayahuel cocktail (Photo credit: Casa Bonita)Casa Bonita's margarita cocktail (Photo credit: Casa Bonita)...

Facts you may not know about Casa Bonita

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:02 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The anticipation has been building as many have waited for the reopening of a Colorado institution. Casa Bonita has built quite the following over the years, but there are plenty of facts you may not have known about the Lakewood staple.You may know that back in 2021, "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone purchased the Lakewood location after it had been closed since 2020 due to the pandemic. Want to have an event at Casa Bonita? You can starting in August However, here are some fun facts you probably don't know that you can now whip out while you enjoy those delicious sopaipillas and watch the cliff divers.Casa Bonita opening: Latest updatesFacts you may not know about Casa BonitaMore than sopaipillas: What's on Casa Bonita's opening menuNew photos give an inside look at Casa BonitaDid you know ...Colorado is not the original home of Casa Bonita. In fact, the restaurant was founded in 1968 in Oklahoma City and later expanded to Tulsa, Oklahoma; Little R...

Heat still lead East finals, but Celtics roaring back with eye on history

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:02 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Maybe Kevin Garnett was right. Maybe, as he screamed in celebration of Boston’s 2008 NBA championship, anything truly is possible.Even the impossible.The Celtics are halfway to history, and that alone has gotten them entry into a very small club. Of the first 150 teams that trailed a best-of-seven series 3-0 in NBA history, just 14 — 9.3% — found a way to extend the matchup to Game 6. None of them have won the series, and most are usually eliminated by now.Not the Celtics. They have cut the deficit in the Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat to 3-2, simultaneously trailing the series yet seeming to have all the momentum going into Game 6 in Miami on Saturday night.“Obviously, we didn’t imagine being in this position, being down 3-0, but when adversity hits, you get to see like what a team is really made of,” Celtics forward Jaylen Brown said. “I mean, it couldn’t get no worse than being down 3-0, but we didn’t look around, we didn’t go in separate ...

A real ‘smoking gun’: TSA agents come across ‘replica pistol hookah’ at Logan Airport

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:02 GMT

TSA agents at Logan International Airport came across a literal smoking gun this week during a security screening.A spokesperson for TSA New England shared an image of what appeared to be a turquoise-colored replica handgun designed for a different kind of “hitman.”“Yesterday @TSA officers @BostonLogan detected this replica pistol hookah during security screening,” Dan Velez said on the @TSA_NewEngland Twitter account. “This smoking gun never made it onto the aircraft! #travelfail”The discovery was made on Thursday, as TSA agents continue to see an uptick in air travel ahead of Memorial Day weekend. AAA reported that 42.3 million Americans plan to travel more than 50 miles from home, which is 2.7 million more than 2022. This is projected to be the third busiest Memorial Day weekend since AAA began tracking holiday travel in 2000.https://twitter.com/TSA_NewEngland/status/1662095642372583424

Pope Francis cancels meetings due to fever

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:02 GMT

Rome (CNN) — Pope Francis canceled all of his scheduled meetings on Friday morning due to a fever, the Vatican said, again raising concerns about the 86-year-old pontiff’s health.The Vatican press office didn’t provide any further details on the Pope’s illness.The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said Francis was “tired” after a “very intense day” on Thursday, according to Italian news agency ANSA.“The Pope was tired. Yesterday he had a very intense day and saw many people. There was the meeting with Scholas Occurrentes and he wanted to greet each person individually. At a certain point, one becomes less resistant,” Parolin said.Francis was seen looking well Thursday afternoon at a live-streamed event from the Vatican for Scholas Occurrentes, an international education network that he founded, according to CNN’s team on the ground.He was hospitalized in March for bronchitis but responded well to antibiotics.Leaving hospital on that occasion, the Po...