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Jared Goff, Baker Mayfield aim to keep first-place Lions, Buccaneers headed in right direction

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Like Jared Goff, Baker Mayfield is discovering how a change of scenery can make a big difference in a quarterback’s career.Goff’s stellar play is one of the reasons the Detroit Lions are aiming for their best start in more than a decade.Mayfield’s improved performance with his fourth team in just over two years has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers off to a promising start, too.The first-place teams meet Sunday, with the Lions (4-1) looking for a fourth straight win and the Bucs (3-1) trying to take four of five to begin a season for just the sixth time in franchise history.Goff was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2016 draft with the Los Angeles Rams. He’s in his third year with the Lions, who’ve six of their last seven road games dating to last fall and are eyeing Detroit’s first 5-1 start since 2011.The Lions are one of the league’s highest scoring teams, averaging 29.6 through Week 5 and riding a team-record stretch of 14 consecutive games with 20-plus points.“He is...

Chiefs have Travis Kelce available; Broncos get Greg Dulcich back for AFC West matchup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce was active for the Kansas City Chiefs against the Denver Broncos on Thursday night after hurting his ankle before finishing out last weekend’s win over the Minnesota Vikings.Kelce was limited in practice Tuesday and there was some question whether the quick turnaround from last Sunday would be enough time for his ankle to heal sufficiently. He was listed as questionable on the final injury report but on the field for pregame warmups, giving quarterback Patrick Mahomes his most reliable and productive option in the passing game.“He’s always been honest with me on things like that,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said this week, “so we’ll just see how he does. But he’s doing OK out there (in practice) so we’ll see how it goes.”The Broncos also had their top tight end after activating Greg Dulcich from injured reserve. A third-round pick out of UCLA a year ago, Dulcich had not played since Week 1, when he had two catches for 22...

Idaho officials order brief evacuation of about 10,000 people after reported gas pipeline explosion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

MIDDLETON, Idaho (AP) — Authorities briefly ordered evacuations for most of the town of Middleton, Idaho, after they said a gas pipeline exploded at nearby rural intersection late Thursday morning. The explosion happened when a worker using an excavator ruptured a 22-inch (56-centimeter) natural gas pipeline near the town of about 10,600 people, said Chief Deputy Douglas Hart of the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office. The excavator driver was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. The ruptured line is part of an interstate pipeline that carries natural gas through several states in the northwestern U.S. owned by the Williams Companies, a natural gas distributor. The pipeline had about 750 pounds of pressure per square inch (53 kilograms per square centimeter), so authorities evacuated an area of about 4 square miles (10.4 square kilometers) surrounding the break, Hart said, including the entire town of Middleton.In an emailed statement, the Williams Companies disputed the local ...

Republicans tweak Brewers stadium repair plan to cut the total public contribution by $54 million

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican legislators in Wisconsin announced Thursday that they have scaled back their plan to help fund repairs at the Milwaukee Brewers’ stadium by $54 million, clearing the way for a vote on the state Assembly floor next week. Reports commissioned by the Brewers and another by a state consultant found American Family Field’s glass outfield doors, seats and concourses should be replaced, its luxury suites and technology such as its sound system and video scoreboard need upgrades, and its signature retractable roof needs repairs. Fire suppression systems, parking lots, elevators and escalators need work, too. Assembly Republicans released a bill in September that called for the state to contribute $411 million and the city of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County to contribute a combined $200 million from 2024 through 2050. The Brewers have agreed to chip in $100 million and extend their lease at American Family Field through 2050, keeping Major League Ba...

Actor and comedian Michael Rapaport revealed as Pickle during ‘Masked Singer’s’ 2000s Night

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

This week’s episode of “The Masked Singer” flashed back to the 2000s for another fun themed night. It also ended with another big unmasking, and we spoke with the latest star to be revealed about his time on the show.Nick Cannon: “Tonight, it’s a throwback party on “The Masked Singer,” as we hit up the 2000s.Singer Jewel kicked off 2000s Night on “The Masked Singer.”After the entertainment, it was time to get down to biz.Nick Cannon: “Our Group A contestants are back, and they are fighting for a place in the Group A finals.”First there were the performances.Pickle (singing): “Pickle, Pickle, where I come from isn’t all that great.”Then the big reveal of who would be staying.Nick Cannon: “The results are in. The singer taking the last spot in the Group A finals is S’more!”After that, there was only one more thing left to do.Nicole Scherzinger: “You know who would make an amazin...

GOP’s Scalise ends his bid to become House speaker after failing to secure the votes to win gavel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Steve Scalise has ended his bid to become House speaker after failing to secure the votes to win the gavel.Scalise told GOP colleagues at a closed-door meeting late Thursday of his decision.Next steps are uncertain as the House is now essentially closed while the Republican majority tries to elect a speaker after ousting Kevin McCarthy from the job.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.WASHINGTON (AP) — Nominated to be House speaker, Rep. Steve Scalise on Thursday ran straight into a familiar, intensifying Republican problem: Skeptical GOP colleagues are refusing to give their support, denying him the majority vote needed to win the gavel.Frustrations mounted as the crisis deepened and Republicans lost another day without a House speaker. Scalise must peel off more than 100 votes, mostly from those who backed his chief rival, Rep. Jim Jordan, the Judiciary Committee chairman favored by hard-liners, who announced he was no longe...

Israel has lost my sympathy, says Croatia’s president

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

Croatian President Zoran Milanović said he doesn’t sympathize with Israel because of its reprisal actions in Gaza after last weekend’s Hamas attacks, and criticized displays of the Israeli flag in his country.In comments to media on Thursday, Milanović hit out at Israel over its retaliatory strikes in Gaza, which have so far killed more than 1,500 people according to Gaza’s health ministry, and called the Croatian foreign ministry’s decision to display the Israeli flag outside its building in solidarity with the country “an idiotic move.”“With all my sympathy for Israel, which unfortunately they lost within 15 minutes … there is no place for other flags in Croatia, except in strictly regulated situations,” Milanović said. “I condemned [Hamas’] murders, I even expressed disgust and abhorrence, but the right to defense does not include the right to revenge and the killing of civilians,” he added.Israel’s str...

Two seriously injured after head-on collision in Ipswich

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

Two people were seriously injured after a head-on collision in Ipswich, officials said.Sky7HD captured the crash at 330 High Street, where a Subaru and Hyundai collided after one vehicle crossed the center line. The driver of the Subaru, an 83-year-old Maine woman, and one of her passengers were extricated from the vehicle and flown to a Boston hospital.The second passenger of the Subaru, along with the 54-year-old Hyundai driver from Rowley and his 13-year-old daughter, were all transported to local hospitals.The crash remains under investigation, Ipswich police said.

Baltimore-born comedian Stavros Halkias, appearing at The Lyric, is more than his Ravens-loving ‘Ronnie’ persona

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

Stavros Halkias wants you to know he’s more than just Ronnie.The comedian, a native of Greektown, has picked up a robust social media following thanks in part to his embodiment of Ronnie, a Ravens-loving, obscenity-spitting, Dundalk- or Essex-residing character who posts video recaps after each of the team’s games. When the Ravens are winning, according to Ronnie, they’re headed straight to the Super Bowl. But when they lose, as they did against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, Ronnie is apoplectic.Ronnie is also the reason, Halkias suspects, that all six Baltimore shows of his new standup act, the Fat Rascal Tour, are nearly sold out. His residence at The Lyric kicks off Thursday night at 7 p.m., with two shows a night scheduled through Saturday. The tour comes as Halkias’ career is skyrocketing, with a debut special, “Live at the Lodge Room,” garnering more than 5 million views on YouTube and more in the works.“I never expected to...

Bruins notebook: All-Centennial team unveiled

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

From Stanley Cup winners to the scrappers and everyone in between, the Bruins’ All-Centennial team represented all eras of B’s hockey.Unveiled on Thursday night at the B’s Gala at the Fairmont Copley Plaza, the team of 20 players – 12 forwards, six defensemen and two goalies – consisted of members from all six Stanley Cup teams, some current Bruins and the wildly popular Lunch Pail AC team that was far more talented than the nickname would indicate.The top 20 players came from a paring down of the “Historic 100” that was voted on by Bruins’ media members and hockey historians. The Herald had a vote on the committee. There were some obvious no-brainers – Bobby Orr, Ray Bourque, Phil Esposito, to name a few – but also some tough tough cuts.Current captain Brad Marchand is fifth among Bruins forwards in all-time points – and counting – and is one of the 12 forwards on the Centennial team. But he’s still star-struck at events like the ones that have been st...