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No longer the ‘sport of kings,’ horse racing is facing challenges in its long evolution

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:34 GMT

When the crowd roared to a fever pitch at the 2015 Belmont Stakes to celebrate American Pharoah becoming the first Triple Crown winner in nearly four decades, the scene was a throwback to the days when it was common for the grandstand to be full and horse racing was squarely in the spotlight.The moment was fleeting, as it was when Justify won the Triple Crown three years later. The joy of such a lofty accomplishment — the Triple Crown has been just 12 times since the first one in 1919 — was soon replaced by headlines mostly for the bad: Bob Baffert’s 2021 Kentucky Derby winner, Medina Spirit, failing a postrace drug test and the Hall of Fame trainer being suspended. Disturbing clusters of horse deaths — at Santa Anita in 2019 and most recently 12 more at Churchill Downs, prompting the storied track to close to investigate.Known in its heyday as the “Sport of Kings” when the likes of Seabiscuit, Man o’ War and Secretariat were stars featured first newspapers and radio rep...

County leaders in Georgia reject election board nominee who challenged voters’ eligibility

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:34 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Elected leaders in Georgia’s most populous county — a Democratic stronghold — on Wednesday rejected a Republican nominee for the county elections board who had challenged the eligibility of thousands of voters.The Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 to reject Jason Frazier, one of two nominees put forth by the county Republican Party for a seat on the county Board of Registration and Elections. The commissioners voted 7-0 to approve the appointment of the other Republican nominee, Mike Heekin, as well as the reappointment of two Democratic nominees, Teresa Smith Crawford and Aaron Johnson, for two-year terms that begin July 1.Fulton County has a history of election problems, including long lines to vote and delays in reporting results. After a particularly troubled primary in 2020, an independent monitor was appointed to observe the general election that year as part of a consent agreement between the county and the State Election Board. The monitor s...

Man convicted in 2018 California state park killing sentenced to 119 years to life in prison

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:34 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A man convicted last month in the shooting death of a father who was camping with his daughters at a Southern California park was sentenced on Wednesday to 119 years to life in prison. A jury found Anthony Rauda guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Tristan Beaudette and of the attempted murders of the two young girls. Rauda fatally shot Beaudette in the head while the 35-year-old father camped in a tent with his daughters on June 18, 2018 in Malibu Creek State Park, roughly 30 miles (48 kilometers) west of downtown Los Angeles. He was taken into custody in late 2018 in a ravine near the park with a rifle in his backpack.Rauda’s attorney, Nicholas C. Okorocha, declined to comment on Wednesday’s sentencing but said he appreciated the “deeply moving” victim impact statement delivered by Beaudette’s wife, Erica. Beaudette’s daughters, then ages 2 and 4, were not injured in the shooting but were considered victims of attempted murder. The jury con...

World Cup winner Lionel Messi says he has chosen Inter Miami of MLS after 2 seasons at Paris Saint-Germain

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:34 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — World Cup winner Lionel Messi says he has chosen Inter Miami of MLS after 2 seasons at Paris Saint-Germain.Source

Ranked choice voting in Arlington: What to know for the June primary

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:34 GMT

<p>Privacy screens displaying American flags stand near a voter casting a ballot at a polling station in McLean, Virginia, U.S., on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. Today’s midterm elections will determine whether Republicans keep control of Congress and will set the stage for President Donald Trump’s bid to win re-election in 2020. </p> <p>Privacy screens displaying American flags stand near a voter casting a ballot at a polling station in McLean, Virginia, U.S., on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. Today’s midterm elections will determine whether Republicans keep control of Congress and will set the stage for President Donald Trump’s bid to win re-election in 2020. </p> Arlington Count...

What kind of surgery did Pope Francis have, and why?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:34 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Pope Francis emerged from a three-hour abdominal surgery at a Rome hospital on Wednesday evening, with no known complications, the Vatican said. The procedure was necessary to repair a painful hernia the pontiff developed, linked to a 2021 operation to remove a significant portion of his large intestine. Here’s a look at what we know about the operation and what potential complications doctors will be watching for in the 86-year-old pontiff.WHAT KIND OF SURGERY DID THE POPE HAVE?Pope Francis had a laparotomy, a surgery that involves opening up the abdomen, and doctors also inserted some prosthetic mesh to strengthen his colon.“The surgery and general anesthesia were carried out without complications,” the Vatican said in a statement. Authorities said Francis was alert and responsive and that he had “responded well.”Doctors not linked to the pope’s care said hernias were a known risk after previous operations and typically only become problematic when patien...

Suspect shot, killed by deputies in Conifer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:34 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Police have shot and killed a person in Jefferson County Wednesday afternoon and an investigation is now underway into the use of force.According to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, the shooting happened near Callae Drive and Piano Meadows Drive in Conifer.It's unclear what the initial police response was for, but the sheriff's office said the suspect shot at deputies before they returned fire and killed him.Roads were closed nearby but there was no threat to the public as of 1:44 p.m. Wednesday.Police were on the scene investigating a police shooting in Jefferson County on Wednesday afternoon. (KDVR)Police were on the scene investigating a police shooting in Jefferson County on Wednesday afternoon. (KDVR)Police were on the scene investigating a police shooting in Jefferson County on Wednesday afternoon. (KDVR)A spokesperson for the sheriff's office told FOX31 that no deputies were injured.A critical incident response team from the First Judicial District will...

16 women accuse local man of sexual assault

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:34 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- A 35-year-old man is now accused of drugging and sexually assaulting more than a dozen women according to the Denver District Attorney's Office. A total of 16 women have accused Stephen Matthews of sexually assaulting them and he now faces 34 counts of felony charges. Matthews was initially arrested in April after a woman accused him of drugging her on a date, which the two arranged through a dating app. 10 women accuse man in date rape case Following that arrest, police encouraged other victims to come forward. Another nine women did so and Matthews was arrested for a second time on May 15. He was facing 16 felony charges from the 10 women at the time. The charges against Matthews now include:sexual assault – victim helplesssexual assault – no consentsexual assault – overcome will, druggingsexual assault – victim incapable of appraising condition, druggingsecond-degree assault – druggingMatthews remains in jail and his next scheduled court appearance is...

CHECK YOUR TICKETS: Lottery ticket sold in Miami set to expire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:34 GMT

The owner of an unclaimed lottery ticket sold in Miami has until midnight on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 to claim their prize.A FANTASY 5 prize-winning ticket worth $94,289.60 remains unclaimed, the Florida Lottery said in a news release.The winning FANTASY 5 numbers for the December 16, 2022, drawing were:08 – 09 – 11 – 25 – 35The winning ticket was purchased at Publix, located at 15771 Southwest 152nd Street in Miami. Players who may have purchased a FANTASY 5 ticket from this retail location are encouraged to check their tickets from the December 16 drawing. While any Florida Lottery retailer can validate the winning ticket, the FANTASY 5 top prize must be claimed at a Florida Lottery District Office.According to the Florida Lottery, if there is no top prize winner, the money in the top prize pool rolls down and is shared among players who match 4-of-5 or 3-of-5 winning numbers.

Michelle Wu speaks about car crash she was involved in, says there was no emergency as driver drove with lights and sirens

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:34 GMT

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu spoke on Wednesday one day after she was a passenger in one of two vehicles involved in a car crash in Hyde Park. Officials said no one was seriously hurt in the crash. But questions have remained surrounding what caused the incident. The crash happened Tuesday morning at the intersection of Blakemore Street and Hyde Park Avenue.Speaking on Wednesday, Wu told 7NEWS there was no emergency when her driver drove through a red light and was hit by the second car driving across the intersection with a green light. Wu said she didn’t even know the lights and sirens were on. “I was on my phone and not really seeing what was happening as the lights were turned on in that intersection,” she said. “I know my team and the officers who are on our detail team are of the utmost professionalism and training. I have full faith in the care and diligence with which they do their job.” A woman and child were in the other car. Wu, meanwhile, said she felt st...