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Meet this year’s MacArthur ‘genius grant’ recipients, including a hula master and the poet laureate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:10 GMT

A scientist who studies the airborne transmission of diseases, a master hula dancer and cultural preservationist, and the sitting U.S. poet laureate were among the 20 new recipients of the prestigious fellowships from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, known as “genius grants,” announced on Wednesday.MacArthur fellows receive a grant of $800,000 over five years to spend however they want. Fellows are nominated and endorsed by their peers and communities through an often yearslong process that the foundation oversees. They do not apply and are never officially interviewed for the fellowship before it’s awarded.Each year, the foundation calls the new class of fellows in advance of the public announcement and fellows described being shocked and stunned by the news after receiving a call from an unknown number, which they had sometimes initially ignored. Ada Limón, who recently began her second term as the country’s poet laureate, said she first missed a call the d...

A man charged with voter fraud in Florida blames rivalry between Trump and DeSantis supporters

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:10 GMT

THE VILLAGES, Fla. (AP) — A man has been charged with forgery and fraud after authorities say he cast a ballot in Florida for his deceased father in the 2020 election, though the suspect says the charges were motivated by a local, internal GOP political rivalry between former President Donald Trump advocates and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis supporters.Elections officials in Sumter County did not count the ballot because it was postmarked four days after the father died in mid-October 2020, according to a criminal complaint brought by William Keen, the Sumter County elections supervisor. An examination of the father’s ballot showed the signature on resembled that of his son’s and not any of the father’s previous ballot signatures, the complaint said.Robert Rivernider was arrested and charged last week with felony forgery of a public record and fraud, according to court documents. He has since been released from custody.Reached by telephone Wednesday, Rivernider said he planned to ...

Rudy Giuliani: ‘I have never had an alcohol problem’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:10 GMT

Former Trump lawyer and adviser Rudy Giuliani vehemently denied having a drinking problem Wednesday, following a report from the New York Times detailing the former New York City mayor’s drinking habits.“I do not have an alcohol problem. I have never had an alcohol problem,” Giuliani said during a press conference in Concord, New Hampshire in response to questions about the Times report.“[If] I have an alcohol problem, I should be in the Guinness Book of World Records,” Giuliani said, citing his various accomplishments and his job history as evidence refuting the report.“Nobody could have achieved that if they did [have a drinking problem]. … I was working 24 hours a day. It’s a big damn lie,” Giuliani told reporters, who had gathered outside Merrimack County Superior Court to hear the former mayor announce his plans to sue President Joe Biden over a comment Biden made about him during the 2020 presidential race.According to the Times, those close to Giuliani have be...

Scalise and Jordan launch bids for House speaker after McCarthy ouster

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:10 GMT

(CNN) — House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Rep. Jim Jordan both jumped into the race Wednesday to become the next House speaker, setting up a fight to replace Kevin McCarthy after his historic ouster.House Republicans are even more bitterly divided in the aftermath of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s ouster and his decision not to run again. It remains to be seen whether the conference can coalesce around a viable successor to the California Republican.The stakes are extremely high as Congress faces down a looming shutdown deadline in mid-November. The House is essentially paralyzed while it lacks a speaker.Republicans are slated to hear from speaker candidates at a forum next Tuesday, setting up the next possible House-wide speaker vote next Wednesday, October 11.Jordan and Scalise are on a growing list of possible McCarthy successors. Oklahoma Rep. Kevin Hern, who chairs a conservative group known as the Republican Study Committee said Wednesday he is still looki...

Moderna’s flu-Covid combo vaccine elicits ‘strong’ immune response in Phase 1/2 study, company says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:10 GMT

(CNN) — In a Phase 1/2 clinical trial, Moderna’s combination vaccine appeared to elicit “strong” immune responses against both influenza and Covid-19 and was found to be safe, the company announced Wednesday.The investigational vaccine, named mRNA-1083, was developed to offer some protection against both flu and Covid in a single shot, and in Wednesday’s announcement, the company said that it plans to begin a Phase 3 trial of mRNA-1083 among adults 50 and older this year.The ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trial involves comparing safety and immunogenicity results from a standard flu shot in adults ages 50 to 64 against results from the combination vaccine in adults ages 65 to 79. For both age groups, mRNA-1083 was also compared against the updated Covid-19 vaccine.Moderna announced that in the Phase 1/2 study, mRNA-1083 appeared to achieve antibody titers similar to or greater than both the licensed flu shot and the updated Covid-19 vaccine. The t...

Nichols College president accused of sexting former student at Coast Guard Academy resigns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:10 GMT

(CNN) — A retired US Coast Guard captain stepped down as president of a college in Massachusetts on Tuesday after CNN revealed that he had been accused of sexual misconduct involving several students he taught at the prestigious Coast Guard Academy a decade ago.Glenn Sulmasy, who had been president of Nichols College since 2021, resigned amid an ongoing investigation by the college, which was prompted by CNN’s report. That story detailed how Coast Guard attorneys in 2016 recommended that Sulmasy be prosecuted in a military court-martial for conduct unbecoming an officer and willful dereliction of duty even though he had retired from the service months earlier. The proposed charges stemmed from hundreds of sexually suggestive texts he exchanged with an academy student, according to a memo obtained by CNN.Coast Guard leaders rejected the prosecution recommendation despite attorneys warning that failing to do something would be viewed as the academy “sweeping the case under the ru...

Chase Claypool won’t be with the Chicago Bears in Week 5, coach Matt Eberflus says. And perhaps beyond.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:10 GMT

Chase Claypool’s days with the Chicago Bears appear to be numbered.During a news conference Monday at Halas Hall that was at times tense and awkward, coach Matt Eberflus said Claypool has been asked to stay away from the team this week — and perhaps permanently — as the Bears face a short turnaround before Thursday’s game against the Washington Commanders.Eberflus said he and general manager Ryan Poles collaborated on that decision.“In the building, we feel like that’s best for the team,” Eberflus said. “And really it comes down to this: When you’re evaluating players in meetings, in practice, in walk-throughs and all those things, it’s important you evaluate the entire body of work, right? We just feel that right now Chase is going to be out of the building. It’s best for our football team.”After the Bears informed Claypool he would be inactive for Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos, he...

Mike Preston’s report card: Position-by-position grades for Ravens’ 28-3 win over Browns | COMMENTARY

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:10 GMT

Here’s how the Ravens (3-1) graded out at each position after a 28-3 win over the Cleveland Browns (2-2) in Sunday’s Week 4 game at Cleveland Browns Stadium:QuarterbackLamar Jackson threw two touchdown passes and rushed for two scores, finishing 15 of 19 for 186 yards. He was involved in two fumbles, including a high handoff to running back Justice Hill in the second quarter, but overall played a complete game. He made two exceptional passes to tight end Mark Andrews, including one for a 36-yard gain in the second quarter and the other a high throw that Andrews snared over three defenders for a 7-yard touchdown shortly before the end of the first half. Jackson finished with a passer rating of 142.5, one of the best marks of his career. Grade: B+Running backsThe Ravens were relentless with their rushing attack, pounding Gus Edwards (15 carries for 48 yards) inside and then using Hill as an outside threat. Hill had a couple of nice runs where he bounced outside and finis...

Anatomy of a 21-point Chicago Bears collapse: A controversial Matt Eberflus decision, two Justin Fields turnovers and big Russell Wilson moments

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:10 GMT

Nineteen minutes, 11 seconds.That’s all the game time that stood between the Chicago Bears and their first victory in 342 days Sunday at Soldier Field.Bears quarterback Justin Fields, having the game of his NFL career to that point, had just danced around two Denver Broncos defenders to deliver a 2-yard touchdown strike to Khalil Herbert.Bears players and fans — even general manager Ryan Poles caught on camera wearing a wide smile in his suite — emanated joy at a 21-point Bears lead, the end to their taxing losing streak within reach.And then, thread by thread, it all unraveled.A pair of Russell Wilson touchdown passes. A Fields fumble that the Broncos returned for a score. A Matt Eberflus decision to go for it on fourth-and-1 that went awry. Another big Wilson play against a Bears rookie cornerback. And a game-sealing interception thrown by Fields.When the final seconds ticked off the clock, the Broncos were the ones who left Soldier Field with their first vict...

Chicago Bears Q&A: Can Justin Fields solidify himself as the future starter? Could he be traded? What was with the 4th-and-1 call?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:10 GMT

Despite a career-best game Sunday against the Denver Broncos, many questions still surround Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields. What could the Bears be planning for his future?Plus, do the Bears have a clock management issue? And how could the line change upon Teven Jenkins’ return? Brad Biggs answers questions in his weekly Bears mailbag.Is there a way Justin Fields solidifies himself as the starter for next year if the Bears get out of the first overall pick but the Panthers deliver the No. 1 pick to the Bears? — @tylernipper2792Personally, I don’t believe so. I think the window has closed on Fields as the team’s starting quarterback in 2024. For something to change, it would require a dramatic series of events. Fields would have to get red hot after what everyone acknowledges was his best game as a passer in the NFL last Sunday against the Denver Broncos. Something very unfortunate would have to happen to USC quarterback Caleb Williams, and the ot...