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Brady Dwyer, Newton North knock off Natick in volleyball

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:56 GMT

NATICK — Newton North boys volleyball coach Nile Fox wasn’t even sure at the beginning of the season if he would carry sophomore Brady Dwyer on varsity.But when missing star setter Tyler Randall for a second straight game due to injury Thursday night, it was Dwyer’s name the Tigers loudly chanted following their biggest win yet this season.With 20 assists and three signature blocks, Dwyer helped lead a scrappy Newton North effort to edge out a 3-1 (25-22, 25-23, 23-25, 25-17) win over Natick as revenge for a loss to the RedHawks earlier in the year. He paired with fellow setter Joaquin Cuevas-Torres (21 assists, ace) to feed star hitters Simon Vardeh (21 kills, two blocks) and Adam Christianson (13 kills), while a large cast of characters similarly stepped up to overcome the fellow Div. 1 title contender.Considering an hour-late arrival due to bus issues contributed to slow starts in each of the first two sets, Fox was thoroughly impressed with his team.Especially Dwyer.“I think Tyl...

Chris Stapleton wins top honor at Academy of Country Music Awards; Lainey Wilson triumphs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:56 GMT

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Chris Stapleton topped the Academy of Country Music Awards, winning entertainer of the year on a night that saw HARDY, Cole Swindell and Lainey Wilson win multiple honors.“I am shocked, truly,” Stapleton said. “By any imaginable metric, I don’t deserve this. … I’ve never thought of myself as somebody who would win this award.”He dedicated the award to his children at home, saying they sacrifice a lot of time with him and his wife because of his career.Wilson was one of the night’s biggest stars, performing, collecting awards and delivering heartfelt speeches. She won album of the year for “Bell Bottom Country,” accepting the honor slightly breathless after performing her song “Grease.”Wilson called the album a “labor of love” and said she wrote 300 songs during the pandemic. She said people often tell her how much the album means to their lives, and she said writing them “saved mine.”Wilson won female artist of the year, and co-host Dolly Parton handed her the t...

Supreme Court backs California law for more space for pigs. Producers predict pricier pork, bacon

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:56 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Thursday backed a California animal cruelty law that requires more space for breeding pigs, a ruling the pork industry says will lead to higher costs nationwide for pork chops and bacon.“While the Constitution addresses many weighty issues, the type of pork chops California merchants may sell is not on that list,” Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in an opinion for the court. Industry groups have said the law would mean expensive, industry-wide changes even though a majority of the farms where pigs are raised are not in California, the nation’s most populous state, but instead in the Midwest and North Carolina.A majority of the high court agreed that lower courts had correctly dismissed pork producers’ challenge to the law. Both liberal and conservative justices were a part of the majority, though they were not united in their reasoning.Gorsuch said the pork producers challenging the law were asking the justices to “fashion two new and more aggr...

Don’t miss this week: Jonas Brothers, Muppets, Zelda and a Bennifer double feature

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:56 GMT

New music from the Jonas Brothers, a double feature of Ben Affleck/Jennifer Lopez films and the latest installment in the highly popular Zelda games are among the entertainment titles coming to a device near you this weeke Associated Press’ entertainment journalists break down what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music and video game platforms this week.NEW MOVIES TO STREAM— After successfully doing the rounds in theaters, “Air” is finally making its debut on Prime Video on Friday. The film, directed by Ben Affleck and written by Alex Convery, tells the origin story of the Air Jordan sneaker and how Nike’s then-struggling basketball department defied the odds and signed rookie Michael Jordan in an unprecedented deal. It’s the first time Affleck has directed his pal Matt Damon, who plays Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, and it’s the first film from their joint company Artists Equity. They brought in a starry cast, including Viola Davis as Michael Jordan’s mother, De...

Balloon release held at vigil for CPD officer Aréanah Preston

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:56 GMT

CHICAGO -- A balloon release vigil was held on Thursday to honor the life of Chicago Police Office Aréanah Preston, who was shot and killed over the weekend.Hundreds joined Preston's family and friends at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center in Chicago's Washington Park neighborhood Thursday evening."Aréanah always saw the best in everything," Dionne Mhoon, Preston's mother said. "She had so many goals (and) dreams. She was a super kid." ‘It was my work’: Teen bragged to friend after officer Aréanah Preston’s slaying, prosecutors allege During Thursday's vigil for Officer Preston, her mother shared how deeply hurt she is, but said she has plans to meet with leaders in Washington D.C. to make changes, so that her daughter's murder is not in vain.Preston was set to graduate with a master’s degree in Law from Loyola University Chicago on Saturday, May 13 — with dreams one day of joining the FBI to further a career investigating sex crimes, according to Loyola Law Pro...

'I'm just so grateful': Abandoned at hospital chapel as a baby, woman’s life now comes full circle

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:56 GMT

CHICAGO — It is a full circle moment three decades in the making.This story is called this one lost and found. A young mother, lost after delivering a tiny baby, found a way to give that child a bright future. And the baby found her purpose in life back at the very spot where she was left in 1992.Nestor Hermogino started each shift at Ascension Saint Mary in Chicago at the hospital chapel.“I pray for everyone,” he said. “My kids, my family.”He worked at the hospital at the West Side hospital as a secretary in the ICU.On March 20, 1992, he was in the chapel when he discovered an infant, wrapped in a blanket.“And I say ‘Wow, it’s a baby! It’s a baby!’” he said.The infant left in the hospital chapel made the news.Enter Ivorye and Donald Riesterer.“I fell in love with that baby I didn’t even know her,” Ivorye Riesterer said.The former teacher and her husband, a retired police officer, did know they wanted to add to their family. With two grown sons, Donald Riesterer said they were consi...

Lawsuit aims to stop migrants from moving into old Chicago high school

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:56 GMT

CHICAGO — The group South Shore Neighbors filed a lawsuit Thursday, a temporary restraining order, to try to block the City of Chicago from moving migrants to the old South Shore High School.Last week, the city said last week they wanted to use the old school as a respite site. See where you can help migrants arriving in Chicago Hundreds of residents attended a city-led community forum last week where members of Mayor Lori Lightfoot's administration were supposed to give a presentation, but were interrupted by angry outbursts. City meeting over housing migrants turns heated The attorney representing the community believes the city and Chicago Public Schools would be in violation of a lease by moving forward with the plan."The lease is a contract, a legal document and going outside the terms of the legal document," Frank Avila said. "Number two, it's a zoning issue. This is not zoned for residential housing."The city said between 250 to 500 migrants would be housed at South Shore...

Man charged after stabbing, critically wounding man in Loop park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:56 GMT

CHICAGO — A man has been charged after he stabbed and critically wounded another man Tuesday evening at Pritzker Park in the Loop.According to Chicago police, the man, 37, was stabbed around 8:20 p.m. in Pritzker Park in the 300 block of South State Street. CPD: Man critically injured in Loop park stabbing About 45 minutes later, police arrested Elvis Betancourt, 27, in the 300 block of South Plymouth Court in connection with the stabbing. He was charged with aggravated battery using a deadly weapon, a felony, and is due in bond court on Friday, police said.The man who was stabbed multiple times in the torso was taken to Northwestern Medical Center in critical condition.

Unaccompanied Veteran burial taking place in Killeen May 17

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:56 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery will conduct an unaccompanied Veteran burial for US Navy Veteran Richard James Betti, according to a news release from the Texas General Land Office.The burial will take place at 11 a.m., Wed., May 17, at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, the release said.Betti was born June 26, 1953 and served from August 1972 to May 1974, the release said. Betti also received the National Defense Service Medal.According to the release, Betti is not expected to have any next-of-kin attend his burial. Members of the Killeen community are encouraged to attend.Betti will receive military honors, the release said. If no next-of-kin is at the burial, a Veterans Lands Board representative will accept the United States flag on his behalf, the release said."The Texas Veterans Land Board works with the local communities and fellow Veterans service organizations to ensure that NO Veteran is EVER left behind," the release said.

Longhorns' series with Spartans to start with Friday twinbill due to stormy forecast

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:56 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — With heavy rain and storms expected in the Austin area over the weekend, Texas and San Jose State are going to frontload its 3-game series with a Friday doubleheader.The first game is scheduled for 2 p.m. with the nightcap at 6:30 p.m., leaving Saturday open as that is when the forecast calls for the heaviest rain and potential flash flooding around the area. The weather Sunday is forecast to be a little better, and the teams will figure out when or if they'll play a third game on Sunday.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersSevere weather season in Central Texas can get erratic and unpredictable, and Longhorns head coach David Pierce knows that."You gotta be a weatherman right now," Pierce said. "A lot of people are dependent on the schedule."Weather caused Texas and Oklahoma to play a doubleheader to end their Big 12 Conference series April 22, and that led...