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Tornadoes deadliest in Mississippi since 2011

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:44 GMT

With at least 25 people dead in Mississippi, tornadoes that ravaged parts of the Deep South overnight were the deadliest in the state in more than a decade, according to National Weather Service records.By comparison, 31 people died in Mississippi in April 2011 during tornadoes that tore through several states, mostly in the southeastern U.S., weather service meteorologist Chris Outler said Saturday. Alabama was hit hardest during that so-called “super outbreak” of hundreds of twisters that killed more than 320 people and caused an estimated $12 billion in damage.Just a month later, another deadly twister ripped through Joplin, Missouri, killing 158 people. Outler, in Las Vegas, called 2011 “the headline year for tornadoes for the last 20 years or so.”The sheriff’s office in Morgan County, Alabama, reported one storm-related death on Saturday, bringing the overall total during overnight storms to at least 26. Records show that 12 people died in Mississippi during Easter ...

University of Toronto Mississauga co-hosts inaugural All-Nations Powwow

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:44 GMT

The University of Toronto Mississauga campus and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation partnered on Saturday to celebrate the inaugural All-Nations Powwow.  “The idea for the event came before the pandemic,” said Tee Duke, the director of Indigenous initiatives at the University of Toronto Mississauga campus. “It doesn’t just take one person; it actually takes an entire community to really bring this to fruition and make this successful. We are a very small team here, a tiny office, but it really did take the entire UTM community to bring this entire event to success.”The festivities included traditional signing, detailed dancing to the pounding of the drums by dancers clothed in full regalia, and a Jingle Dress competition.“All of my grandparents and great-grandparents all went to Indian residential schools, so my family has a lot of generational trauma,” said Indigenous dancer Deanna Hupfield from the Ojibwe First Nation. “I’ve spent my life learning and reclaimi...

Johnson, Vallas debate public safety, education and supporting small businesses in latest mayoral forum

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:44 GMT

CHICAGO — Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas squared off in the latest mayoral forum held ahead of Chicago's mayoral runoff election Saturday.The forum, hosted by One Chicago For All, an alliance made up of 28 community organizations around Chicago, asked each candidate questions based on seven topics, which included public safety's effect on the youth, education, affordable housing, and how each candidate would support small businesses, among others."We have to create opportunities for those economic drivers a lot earlier, before you even get to high school," Johnson said. "So, that’s about trades, that’s about manufacturing jobs."Both candidates verbally committed to working with the collective on various topics if elected into office."I already told all 24 unions that are endorsing me that they are going to have to create work study opportunities for both our high school, as well as college students," Vallas said.When asked about small business support — specifically for minority ow...

Non-profit director honored at celebration of life

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:44 GMT

CHICAGO — The director of a local non-profit was honored for her joy, tenacity and infectious energy at a celebration of life on Saturday.No matter what she was going through, Amanda Longe-Asque had a way with words. Ramadan 2023: Everything you need to know "One thing that has been constant. I keep a smile on my face," Longe-Asque said. "That smile. That light illuminates my path, so I don’t give up. I was seeing a cardiologist and urologist, I said I’m a joyologist and I want to bring joy to any person that comes in contact with me."On a Sunday afternoon in January, those who knew and loved her searched for the words to describe what she meant to them. "It was beautiful to work with her, just beautiful," Marge Nykaza said. "She taught me so many things about life, I just loved her, So, she really was the heart of Harmony Hope and Healing." Nonprofit works to improve maternal mortality rate nationwide Nykaza is the founder of Harmony Hope and Healing, which uses the power of mu...

Chicago Red Stars open their 2023 season on Saturday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:44 GMT

CHICAGO - It's been an offseason of change both on and off the pitch for the club, but the time to play has finally arrived for the Chicago Red Stars in 2023.The club will open its National Women's Soccer League regular season on Saturday night as they face San Diego Wave FC at 9 p.m. central time at Snapdragon Stadium. It's the first of 28 matches for manager Chris Petrucelli's team as they look to qualify for the playoffs for an eighth-straight year and make a run for their first NWSL championship. Most of the attention this offseason has been on the team's upcoming ownership change as Arnim Whisler prepares to sell the franchise. This comes after a few reports were critical of his handling of abuse claims made against former Red Stars manager Rory Dames. There are a few veterans who are returning to the club including forward Mallory Swanson, one of the best players in the league, along with goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, one of the best in the world at her position. Defenders Arin Wr...

Trump speaks at his first major rally of the presidential election in Waco

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:44 GMT

WACO (Nexstar) — Months after announcing his third bid for the White House, former President Donald Trump spoke at his first major rally of the presidential cycle in Waco.Trump took center stage Saturday, hitting similar beats, such as decrying top Democratic leaders, bashing the "fake news media" and asserting his innocence in his ongoing criminal investigation."I say again to you tonight: I am your warrior, I am your justice," Trump said. "I am your retribution. We will take care of it."In Waco, Trump makes his first jab at possible 2024 opponent Florida Gov. @RonDeSantisFL, saying "DeSanctis..." (short for his new nickname, DeSanctimonious) "...he isn't doing well in the polls"— Monica Madden (@themonicamadden) March 25, 2023Trump also took jabs at top Republican politicians, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has hinted at a presidential campaign of his own, and U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell. Without naming him, Trump takes another jab at @RonD...

State of Texas: Bills to boost border control could lead to court challenge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:44 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The Texas Senate Committee on Border Security on Thursday heard a bill that would create a state crime for illegally crossing the federal border. It's the latest legislative effort to consolidate border enforcement authority at a time when Texas officials accuse the Biden Administration of ignoring the strain on border communities.Senate Bill 2424 by State Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, would create a Class A misdemeanor for noncitizens who attempt to cross the Texas-Mexico border illegally. Additional offenses would be charged as felonies. The power to patrol and prosecute border crimes is reserved for the federal government. But that's not stopping top Texas Republicans from trying to push the limits of state power."As a result of the federal government's unwillingness to enforce federal immigration laws and secure our southern border, the State of Texas has stepped up and devoted time and resources to combat the unprecedented border crisis that the state is f...

State boys basketball: Albany edges Minnehaha Academy for Class 2A crown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:44 GMT

Minnehaha Academy played the game of its season Friday in the Class 2A state semifinals, knocking off top-seeded Holy Family in an overtime thriller. Topping Albany in Saturday’s state final roughly 17 hours later would require an equally excellent performance — and the Redhawks couldn’t quite muster it.Minnehaha Academy wasn’t as sharp from the field nor on the glass as second-seeded Albany came away with a 72-65 victory for its first state title at Target Center.“Our game was pretty emotional yesterday,” Redhawks coach Lance Johnson said. “I think those were the biggest things for me, the rebounding side of it and the fact we didn’t shoot like we normally do. … We had a little bit more fight in us (Friday) night, on the boards especially.”Jerome Williams played all 40 minutes Friday. Rolyns Aligbe and Lorenzo Levy both played 37-plus minutes in the semifinals. Williams admitted his legs weren’t fully there Saturday as the Redhawks shot 37 percent from the floor and were outrebound...

Ryan Hartman scores late goal to lift Wild to 3-1 win over Blackhawks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:44 GMT

Wild coach Dean Evason was none too pleased with the sloppiness from his players earlier this week. He felt some bad habits had crept back into their game on Thursday night as the Wild looked disjointed in a shootout loss to the Flyers in Philadelphia.Minnesota Wild right wing Ryan Reaves (75) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 25, 2023, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)Not ideal with 10 games left in the regular season. In that sense, the way the Wild bounced back on Saturday afternoon was a good sign.Ryan Hartman scored the game-winner with 1 minute, 11 seconds left, and the Wild looked more like themselves in a 3-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at Xcel Energy Center.The game-winner was a tremendous play by Hartman as the winger worked to spring himself loose on a breakaway, then waited out Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock before depositing the puck into the back o...

The Cure’s Robert Smith took on Ticketmaster … and won

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:44 GMT

The decades-long case of The American People vs. Ticketmaster has gained an unlikely ally in Robert Smith.Earlier this month, the goth rock icon announced his band the Cure was hitting the road for a summer tour. And bucking the current pricing trends that have resulted in $5,000 seats for Bruce Springsteen, the 63-year-old Smith vowed there would be no dynamically priced or platinum tickets for the shows, which are priced “to benefit fans.” Would-be ticket buyers were told to sign up for Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan program, which supposedly adds a layer of protection to ward off bots and scalpers.Ross Raihala(Dynamically priced tickets are akin to airline seats and hotel rooms in that the higher the demand, the higher the ticket price. Ticketmaster calls them platinum tickets, although they don’t come with any extra perks and they’re not necessarily great seats in the first place.)Some folks were delighted when they were actually able to snag seats for the Cure at...