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State of Texas: ‘We are not backing down,’ Patrick digs in for special session property tax fight

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:18 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Nearly two weeks into the first of a promised several special sessions by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, there are no signs of breaking the impasse on property taxes. In fact, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick appears to be digging in.“That's a negotiation that we are not backing down from ever,” said Patrick at a news conference he called to mark a week into the special session. ‘Priced out:’ Texans fed up with the politics of property taxes The same day, at a separate event, Abbott reiterated his commitment to his competing plan, the same plan supported by Speaker of the House Dade Phelan. The House passed it, and immediately adjourned from the special session a day after the Governor called everyone back.Abbott wants the legislature to spend $17.6 billion on lowering school district property tax rates, “solely by reducing the school district maximum compressed tax rate.” That strategy, known as compression, simply gives school districts more money in return for lower tax rates.“...

Trump blasts federal indictment as ‘baseless’ at first events since charges were unsealed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:18 GMT

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Former President Donald Trump blasted his historic federal indictment as “ridiculous” and “baseless” Saturday during his first public appearances since the charges were unsealed, painting the 37 felony counts as an attack on his supporters as he tried to turn dire legal peril to political advantage.Speaking at Republican state conventions in Georgia and North Carolina, Trump cast his indictment by the Department of Justice as an attempt to damage his chances of returning to the White House as he campaigns for a second term.“They’ve launched one witch hunt after another to try and stop our movement, to thwart the will of the American people,” Trump alleged in Georgia, later telling the crowd that, “In the end, they’re not coming after me. They’re coming after you.”The strategy is a well-worn one for Trump, who remains the front-runner for the 2024 GOP nomination despite his mounting legal woes, which also include criminal charges filed against him in March in New Y...

Kiszla: While first championship will be sweet, Nuggets’ lofty ambition is to win not one, not two …

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:18 GMT

MIAMI — The look in Nikola Jokic’s eyes went from murderous to euphoric in the second required for a long jump shot to leave the fingertips of Nuggets teammate Bruce Brown and rip a hole in the heart of the Miami Heat.“When (Brown) did a step-back three, I almost … I wanted to punch him. But when he made it, I was so happy,” Jokic admitted in the early minutes of Saturday morning, after the clock struck midnight on the Cinderella dance by Miami through the NBA playoffs.The Nuggets beat the Heat 108-95 to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals and move within one victory of the first championship in franchise history.As Brown put the exclamation point on Game 4 by drilling a 3-point shot with one minute, 21 seconds, remaining in the fourth quarter, the reaction of Jokic was priceless. Standing on the baseline near Denver’s bench, the two-time MVP shrugged his massive shoulders with upturned palms that shouted “What the heck are you thinking?” when Brown launched his...

Report: San Jose man dies while snorkeling during Hawaii honeymoon

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:18 GMT

A San Jose man died while snorkeling during his honeymoon on the Hawaiian island of O’ahu, and a thief took advantage of the commotion by stealing his widow’s belongings while others were giving him CPR, according to published reports.The man, identified as 49-year-old Steven Phan, was snorkeling when he suffered medical distress and was brought to shore. While some attempted to resuscitate him with CPR, a thief grabbed a bag containing Phan and his wife’s belongings and ran off, Honolulu news station KHON reported.A GoFundMe page for Phan’s newlywed widow Brittany says the couple was married just three months before Phan died on June 1, and describes him as a “true friend and amazing husband.”“We are all shocked, in disbelief, and heartbroken at the loss of such a great man as Steven. Steven always found a way to be a part of everyone’s lives, no matter the distance,” the page says.Police have not announced any arrests of the bag thef...

Conor McGregor knocks out Heat mascot in bizarre promotion at NBA Finals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:18 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Former UFC champion Conor McGregor knocked out the Miami Heat mascot in a midgame bit that went wrong.Burnie — more specifically, the man who occupies Burnie’s costume — briefly sought medical attention Friday night after taking two punches from McGregor during a third-quarter stoppage of Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Heat and the Denver Nuggets.The Heat said Saturday that the employee, who was not identified, received pain medication and was resting at home.McGregor was there as a promotional gimmick for a pain-relief spray — and was booed by many in the Miami crowd even before the bit started. The flame mascot was wearing oversized boxing gloves and a robe akin to what a fighter would wear entering the ring for a bout. McGregor hit Burnie with a left hook, knocking him down, then punched the mascot again after he hit the floor.McGregor then tried to “spray” the mascot with the pain-relief product, while several members of the Heat’s in-game promotio...

NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:18 GMT

SaturdayAt Bristol DragwayBristol, Tenn.Sunday’s first round pairingsTop Fuel1. Leah Pruett, 3.745 seconds, 322.42 mph vs. 16. Spencer Massey, 3.928, 308.50; 2. Brittany Force, 3.747, 334.48 vs. 15. Antron Brown, 3.907, 292.90; 3. Steve Torrence, 3.753, 329.10 vs. 14. Shawn Langdon, 3.842, 323.97; 4. Justin Ashley, 3.755, 327.74 vs. 13. Doug Foley, 3.841, 287.66; 5. Mike Salinas, 3.762, 327.35 vs. 12. Josh Hart, 3.819, 321.12; 6. Doug Kalitta, 3.764, 319.22 vs. 11. Clay Millican, 3.808, 327.11; 7. Dan Mercier, 3.768, 317.72 vs. 10. Tony Schumacher, 3.797, 323.58; 8. Austin Prock, 3.787, 326.08 vs. 9. Cameron Ferre, 3.795, 322.11.Did Not Qualify: 17. Lex Joon, 4.095, 248.16.Funny Car1. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.938, 321.35 vs. 16. Alex Laughlin, Dodge Charger, 4.182, 302.08; 2. Ron Capps, Toyota Supra, 3.962, 318.92 vs. 15. Dave Richards, Ford Mustang, 4.160, 294.24; 3. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.969, 322.50 vs. 14. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.125, 297.55; 4. Bob Tasca III, Musta...

Gelof has 4 RBIs, Virginia hits 4 HRs, beats Duke 14-4 to avoid elimination at super regional

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:18 GMT

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Griff O’Ferrall led off the game with the first of Virginia’s four home runs Jake Gelof went 3 for 5 with a double, a home run and four RBIs, and the Cavaliers set a program record for runs in a super regional game in their 14-4 win over Duke 14-4 Saturday. The decisive Game 3 is set for Sunday with the winner earning an automatic berth into the College World Series. Connelly Early (12-2) scattered nine hits — and a hit by pitch — over seven innings while allowed three runs, none earned, with eight strikeouts to get the win. Luke Storm hit a two-RBI double and scored and Damon Lux followed four pitches later with another double to pull Duke within a run in the bottom of the fourth inning but Ethan Anthony hit a three-run shot and Anthony Stephan added a solo homer in the fifth to make it 8-3. Gelof hit a two-run double in the sixth and a two-run homer that sparked a four-run eighth that gave Virginia a 14-3 lead. Storm and Lux each had two RBIs for ...

Pan leads Canadian Open, with McIlroy 2 shots back on crowded leaderboard

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:18 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — Days after being blindsided by the PGA Tour’s partnership with Saudi Arabia’s wealth fund, Rory McIlroy put himself in position for a run at a third straight Canadian Open title.McIlroy, the strongest voice against Saudi-funded LIV Golf who said Wednesday he feels like a “sacrificial lamb,” shot a 6-under 66 on Saturday at tree-lined Oakdale, leaving him two strokes behind leader C.T. Pan.The four-time major champion from Northern Ireland won in 2019 in at Hamilton, then — after the event was canceled for two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic — won last year in Toronto at St. George’s amid a flurry of LIV Golf controversy. He was asked if it meant a bit more again — with the news Tuesday.“Look, I would love to win the Canadian Open for the third time. I’ve never won a tournament three times in a row,” McIlroy said. “I felt like last year the win wasn’t just for me it was for a few other things. But this one, this year, if I were able to get over the line, w...

A’s win 4th in row for 1st time this year, beat Brewers 2-1 in 10 innings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:18 GMT

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Oakland Athletics stretched a winning streak to four for the first time since last season, beating the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 on Saturday behind Aledmys Díaz’s RBI single in the 10th inning.Even with the winning streak, the A’s (16-50) are on pace to finish 39-123, the most losses since the 1899 Cleveland Spiders went 20-134.Paul Blackburn and four relievers combined on a six-hitter for Oakland, which has a major league-high 6.40 ERA. The A’s had not won four straight since ending last season with a victory at Seattle followed by a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels.Shintaro Fujinami (3-6) pitched around a walk in the ninth, and Sam Long got three straight outs in the 10th for his first save this season and the second in his big league career.JJ Bleday hit a run-scoring forceout in the fifth and pinch-hitter William Contreras tied the score in the eighth with a home run off Richard Lovelady. After Contreras’ eighth home run this se...

“Esta acusación ridícula y sin ninguna base”: Trump sale al contraataque tras ser imputado

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:18 GMT

WASHINGTON – El expresidente Donald Trump repitió este sábado sus dichos y acusaciones sin sustento sobre una “caza de brujas” en su primer evento electoral después de haber sido imputado por haberse llevado a su mansión de Florida decenas de cajas con material clasificado.Lee aquí el documento de la acusaciónTrump, que sigue siendo el favorito para la nominación presidencial republicana para las elecciones de 2024, se retrató como una víctima ante cientos de sus seguidores en un mitín en el estado de Georgia.“Esta acusación ridícula y sin ninguna base que ha lanzado contra mí el Departamento de Justicia de Joe Biden acabará siendo recordada como el peor abuso de poder de la historia de nuestro país”, dijo el exmandatario en un discurso repleto de afirmaciones falsas. Quién es Jack Smith, el hombre clave detrás de la acusación contra Trump Caso por documentos clasificados: revelan el procesamiento judicial contra...