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Rejuvenated LeBron James enters 21st NBA season eager to chase title with Lakers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:54 GMT

Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt poses for photos during the team’s preseason media day on Monday at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)Lakers star Anthony Davis reacts during the team’s preseason media day on Monday at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)Lakers forward Rui Hachimura poses for photos during the team’s preseason media day on Monday at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)Lakers forward Taurean Prince waits to take photos during the team’s preseason media day on Monday at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)Lakers star LeBron James speaks with reporters during the team’s preseason media day on Monday at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)Lakers star LeBron James poses for photos during the team’s preseason...

Walters: California fast food battle resolved, but car battle remains

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:54 GMT

The California Legislature devoted much of its time this year to a battle over regulating wages and working conditions of fast food workers.Last year, legislators and Gov. Gavin Newsom created a state agency that would oversee the fast food industry, which fought back with a referendum asking voters to overturn the new law, arguing that it would undermine the franchise business model.With the referendum qualified for the ballot, the battle was rejoined this year with a proposal to make parent companies liable for labor law violations, further eroding the franchise model.Ultimately, the clash was resolved with a compromise that gave sponsors of the legislation, unions mostly, what they wanted, including a new $20 minimum wage, but removed the threat to the franchise system. Newsom signed the compromise legislation, Assembly Bill 1228, last week, and the fast food industry will remove its referendum from the 2024 ballot.“Signature of AB 1228 preserves the franchise business model in t...

Douthat: Trump’s GOP rivals must unite or die

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:54 GMT

I’m not sure that an assembly of presidential candidates has ever given off stronger loser vibes, if I may use a word favored by the 45th president of the United States, than the Republicans who recently debated at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.A snap 538/Washington Post/Ipsos poll and a CNN focus group showed Ron DeSantis as the night’s winner, and that seems right: After months of campaigning and two debates, DeSantis is still the only candidate not named Donald Trump who has a clear argument for why he should be president and a record that fits his party’s trajectory and mood.On the stage with his putative rivals, that makes him the one-eyed man in the kingdom of the blind. Against Trump, that’s probably going to be good for an extremely distant second place.The path that I (and others) once saw for the Florida governor, where he would run on his political success and voters would drift his way out of weariness with Trump’s destructive impact on Republican fortunes, has ...

Hanson: America should help Ukraine resist Russian aggression

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:54 GMT

Most Americans understandably favor the Ukrainian resistance against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s naked 2022 aggression.Yet for Ukraine to break the current deadlock — our generation’s Verdun with perhaps 600,000 combined casualties so far — and “win” the war, it apparently must have the military wherewithal to hit targets inside Russia.Such strategically logical attacks might nevertheless provoke a wounded and unpredictable Russia finally to carry out its boilerplate and ignored existential threats.From the last 75 years of big-power rivalries, the operational “rules” of proxy wars are well known.In Vietnam, Korea, and Afghanistan, Russia supplied America’s enemies — sometimes even sending Russian pilots into combat zones.Thousands of Americans likely died due to our adversaries’ use of Russian munitions and personnel.Likewise, Russia lost 15,000 fatalities in its decade-long misadventure in Afghanistan. In part, Moscow’s defeat may have been due to deadly American weapons, i...

India & Pakistan on track for cricket gold-medal showdown at Asian Games. Could foreshadow Olympics

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:54 GMT

HANGZHOU, China (AP) — India and Pakistan moved closer to a potential Asian Games showdown for the gold medal in cricket after picking up victories on Tuesday in the quarterfinals.Any match between Pakistan and India draws a massive television audience and will be influential as the International Olympic Committee ponders cricket being added to the program for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The cricket final on Saturday, however, could be overshadowed by the start of the Cricket World Cup in India, which opens on Thursday.The IOC has given no clear timetable when a decision about cricket will be made.Cricket appeared in the Olympics for the only time at the 1900 Paris Games.Baseball and softball are also in the running to again be included in the Olympic program.India managed a 23-run victory over Nepal on Tuesday. Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a century from 49 deliveries to help India reach 202-4 from its allotted 20 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat.“I’m really proud and...

Top-ranked Sabalenka, Gauff get through tough matches to advance at China Open

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:54 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff navigated tricky second-round opponents to advance at the China Open on Tuesday.Sabalenka, making her debut at No. 1 in Beijing, came from a break down in each set to see off qualifier Katie Boulter 7-5, 7-6 (2). “In the key moments I played a little bit better than her,” said Sabalenka, who will play 36th-ranked Jasmine Paolini in the last 16. “I think it was all about the last games in each set. I mean, she had the opportunity. I’m super happy that I didn’t give her easily those sets.”The third-ranked Gauff had to rally from a break down in the deciding set to defeat Petra Martic 7-5, 5-7, 7-6 (2). The 48th-ranked Martic served for the match after breaking Gauff for a 5-4 lead, but the American broke back and then dominated the tiebreaker. Fourth-seeded Jessica Pegula came from a set down to beat 39th-ranked Anna Blinkova 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-1 in just over two hours. The American, who was a finalis...

Three people are dead in a Bangkok mall shooting, and police say a suspect is in custody

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:54 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Three people are dead in a Bangkok mall shooting, and police say a suspect is in custody.Source

Cane back to lead much-changed New Zealand in last Rugby World Cup pool outing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:54 GMT

LYON, France (AP) — Sam Cane has reassumed the captaincy of a much-changed New Zealand side tasked with clinching a quarterfinal spot at the Rugby World Cup against Uruguay on Thursday.The bonus-point win from their first meeting with Los Teros should not be too much trouble for an All Blacks side with nine changes.After demolishing Italy 96-17 last Friday, the All Blacks chose on Tuesday to give fringe players game time and rest front-liners in preparation for an expected quarterfinal next week.Cane makes his first start in the pool stage after a back twinge. He proved his fitness off the bench in the last quarter against Italy. Luke Jacobson at No. 8 gives Ardie Savea his first test off all year.Tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax starts for the first time in four tests after accidentally gashing his thigh. He had 30 minutes off the bench against Italy.There’s a new second row of Sam Whitelock, who will play his 150th test, and Tupou Vaa’i. Brodie Retallick was rested and Scott Barre...

Phones, TVs and radios will alert nationwide on Oct. 4, here's why

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:54 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — On Wednesday, Oct. 4, at approximately 12:20 p.m., two odd-sounding national alerts will go off on all TVs, radios and phones.This is only a test. The messages are part of a nationwide test conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Communications Commission.The point of these alerts is to test out the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency System. No more warnings: Drive over the line, pay the fine The alert will only last a minute on the radio, television broadcasts, cable systems, satellite radio, television providers and wireline video providers. The message will read:“This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 14:20 to 14:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public."In an actual emergency, this system provides the president with the capability to address Americans within 10 minutes.Meanwhile, the Wireless E...

Could Taylor Swift come to Denver when the Chiefs are in town?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:54 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The last time Taylor Swift was in Denver, her concert was seen from space. Lucky enough for the Mile High City, Broncos Country has a shot at seeing Swift for the second time this year.Swift "hard launched" her relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce after she sat next to Kelce's mother during the Chiefs vs. Chicago Bears game in late September. Originally a Philadelphia Eagles fan, she was spotted representing red all over. Swift's appearance broke the internet, sparking skyrocketing sales for Kelce apparel. According to sportswear and fan merchandise company Fanatics, Kelce was one of the top-selling NFL players on Sunday. Kelce “saw a nearly 400% spike in sales throughout the Fanatics network of sites, including NFLShop.com,” a spokesperson told The Associated Press via email. Taylor Swift watches Travis Kelce’s Chiefs take on the Jets at MetLife Stadium After Swift made another appearance at MetLife Stadium, fans are clamoring to see where s...