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Biden inaugural poem moved to middle school section at Bob Graham Education Center library after complaint from parent

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:58 GMT

There was a classroom controversy at a South Florida school. Several books and a poem that was read at President Biden’s inauguration were pulled from the elementary student section of the school’s media center.The poem, “The Hill We Climb,” was read by Amanda Gorman.“We, the successors of a country and a time where a skinny Black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream of becoming president, only to find herself reciting for one,” Gorman read during President Biden’s inauguration. The poem was written in the wake of the attack on the Capital in January of 2021. Now, the poem is at the center of a book battle at a Miami Lakes school.“It’s about indoctrination, [Critical Race Theory] and gender ideology,” Daily Salinas said. Salinas said that those were her concerns when she filed complaints related to five books that were in the Bob Graham Education Center Library, which serves grades K-8.“I...

Boston bats still MIA, waste Brayan Bello’s strong start in Anaheim

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:58 GMT

Put out an all-points bulletin for the Red Sox bats.Dating back to Saturday night in San Diego, they’ve scored one run over their last 32 innings. Entering Sunday, they’d only been shut out once this season; they’ve now had two goose-egg games in three days.To make matters worse, the cold spell coincided with a pair of strong starts by Tanner Houck (6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K) and Brayan Bello (7 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 2 HR) in the first and second games of the series in Anaheim, which is now officially lost.Bello is on a streak of more-than-solid starts, and put together another on Tuesday. After giving up a combined eight earned runs over his first two starts, he extended his streak of starts with no more than a pair of earned runs to five. It was his first start of the season in which he didn’t issue a walk.The righty’s 7-inning performance also extended the team’s impressive record of starters going five or more innings to 24 of their last ...

Russia extends arrest of US journalist Evan Gershkovich by 3 months

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:58 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian court on Tuesday extended the arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich by three months in a closed-door hearing emblematic of the secrecy that has marked the case against the first United States correspondent since the Cold War to be detained in Russia on spying charges.Gershkovich, a 31-year-old American citizen, was ordered held until Aug. 30. He was arrested in March on espionage charges on a reporting trip in Russia. He, his employer and the U.S. government have denied the charges.Tuesday’s pre-trial hearing wasn’t announced in advance, and the entire case has been wrapped in secrecy.Russian authorities haven’t detailed what — if any — evidence they have gathered to support the espionage charges. Various legal proceedings in the case have been closed to the media. No details immediately emerged about what was said at Tuesday’s hearing. State news agency Tass said the session was closed because the r...

Here’s what to grill for your Memorial Day weekend cookout

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:58 GMT

Hopefully, Memorial Day will be sunny and bright, warm with gentle breezes and hungry guests. It’s a great opportunity to dust off the ‘cue and host an alfresco celebration. I’m going to use it as motivation to spruce up the yard and put out splashy, outdoor party fare. The dishes will be  bursting with flavor, much of which will be fresh off the grill.Ah, come on sunshine. The barbecue needs a refresher.Louis Lamb Chop ‘Lollipops’Ten years ago, Personal Chef Katherine Louis Boucher joined me in my kitchen to show me how to turn lamb chops into irresistible Greek style “lollipop” appetizers. The chops are cut from the lamb rack, and each has a curved bone that is meat-free at the bottom making it the perfect handle for finger food grazing. She told me to offer guests napkins and stand back to watch the chops disappear.Growing up in a Greek American family in Santa Ana, her maiden name was Louis, an Ellis Island adaptation of the original Louizo. Marinated first and then grilled lamb...

Tuesday’s high school roundup/scores: Arlington Catholic’s Anna Corcoran nets 100th career goal in win

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:58 GMT

GIRLS LACROSSEAnna Corcoran tallied her 100th career goal (five for the game), and Emma Hirsch added a hat trick for Arlington Catholic (8-10) in an 18-13 Catholic Central League win over St. Joseph Prep.Brooke Waters (three goals), Abby Eichler (two goals, two assists), Avery Laundry (two goals, assist) and Coco Clopton (two goals, assist) paced things offensively for Swampscott (11-5) in a 10-8 Northeastern Conference win over Gloucester.Megan Doyle (eight points, 13 draw controls), Cameron Flaherty (seven points, six draw controls), and Kendall Rogers (four points) set the tone on the attack for Weymouth in an 18-10 Bay State Conference win over Newton North. … Jamie Constantino and Emily Picher buried four goals apiece, and Paige Crowley found the net twice as Tewksbury edged Dracut 12-11 in Merrimack Valley Conference action.BASEBALLIn nonleague action, Jason Kelly went the distance with five strikeouts and Stephen Nardelli went 2-for-4 with two RBI as Cardinal Spellman t...

Dear Abby: Should I get back with my cheating ex?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:58 GMT

Dear Abby: I married a recovering addict, and for years he did great. We made a lovely home and family together.Then one of my husband’s drug buddies (a woman) resurfaced. My husband had an affair, went down that nasty road again and did some very cruel things to destroy our marriage. We have been married 19 years and separated for the last three, with a divorce pending.My husband now wants to make amends. He’s in a rehab program, but I’m reluctant. We have been on a few dates, and I have real concerns about what will happen when we run into the other woman. I asked her at least six times to go away and stay away.How should I expect him to react when we run into her? She’s deeply embedded in his social circle, far more than I ever was because I don’t care for the debauchery lifestyle. He promises he has cut ties with everyone in that circle. But I know it’s only a matter of time until we run into her. — Angry and Hurt in GeorgiaDear Angry: Y...

Carlsbad City Council fails to pass flag policy that would include commemorative flags

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:58 GMT

CARLSBAD, Calif. -- Carlsbad City Council decided the city will stick to flying only the United States and State of California flags outside city hall.A flag policy was on the agenda Tuesday night that could have allowed for commemorative flags to also be flown, but that policy did not receive enough votes to pass.“We welcome people from around the state, country and world to our beaches, restaurants and beautiful city. Let’s let them know that Carlsbad is an inclusive city,” Katrina Waidelich said.While the policy would have allowed for the consideration of any commemorative flag, the conversation largely centered around the pride flag.“The city of Encinitas flies it, Vista flies it, Oceanside School District and our own CUSD will be considering it next month as well,” Nikki Faddick said. Carlsbad High assistant principal shares opposition to district ‘diversity, equity, inclusion’ efforts “The flag policy is a no-brainer and any vote to the contrary, is a vote of exclusion.” Sar...

Ecuador election council sets presidential vote for Aug. 20

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:58 GMT

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador’s National Electoral Council announced on Tuesday that early presidential elections would be held on Aug. 20 after President Guillermo Lasso dissolved the National Assembly by decree last week and brought forward the vote scheduled for 2025.Lasso’s decision to dissolve the opposition-led legislature came as lawmakers tried to impeach him for not stopping a deal between the state-owned oil transport company and a private tanker company, accusations he denies. In disbanding the assembly, the president made first use of an option available to him under the constitution in conflicts with the legislative branch. Elections had to be called within three months, for both the assembly and presidency, and the winners will serve out what would otherwise have been the remainder of the terms of those elected officials. If there is no outright winner a runoff vote will be held in October. Lasso can choose to run in the presidential election. In the meanti...

Tatum scores 33, Celtics stave off elimination by topping Heat 116-99 in Game 4

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:58 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Down nine early in the third quarter, down 3-0 in the series, the Boston Celtics knew their season was completely on the brink.Three minutes later, everything looked different.Jayson Tatum had 33 points and 11 rebounds, Jaylen Brown added 17 points and the Celtics staved off elimination in the Eastern Conference finals by running away in the second half to beat the Miami Heat 116-99 in Game 4 on Tuesday night.“We were just trying to save our season,” Tatum said.They most definitely found a way to do that. The two big differences: a 30-point edge for the Celtics on 3-pointers, and an 18-0 run in that three-minute, third-quarter spurt that changed the game and — they hope — might end up changing the series.“We can’t relax,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “We have to keep the same level of intensity, the same mindset, the same focus in the next game.”Derrick White scored 16 points, Grant Williams had 14, Al Horford added 12 and Marcus Smart scored 11 for the ...

Cambodian land activists arrested for allegedly inciting farmers to hate the rich

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:58 GMT

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Three Cambodian land rights activists who were arrested on charges of plotting against the government planned to provoke a peasant revolution by teaching farmers about class divisions between rich and poor, an official said Tuesday.Theng Savoeun, president of the Coalition of Cambodian Farmer Community, and his colleagues Nhel Pheap and Than Hach were charged Monday by a court in the country’s northeast with plotting against the state and incitement to commit a felony, said Am Sam Ath of the local rights group Licadho.He said plotting against the government carries a possible prison term of five to 10 years, while incitement to commit a felony is punishable by six months to two years. He described the charges as sending “a message of intimidation” to civil society groups.The three suspects were not available for comment and their lawyers were not immediately reachable.A senior government official likened their nonviolent activities to what the communist K...