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Federal Reserve likely to skip interest rate hike at its next meeting in June, hike later

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:33 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Leading Federal Reserve officials are sending out stronger signals that they will forego an interest rate increase at the central bank’s next meeting in June, though they indicate hikes could resume later this year. “Skipping a rate hike at a coming meeting would allow (Fed policymakers) to see more data before making decisions” about whether to further increase rates, said Fed Governor Philip Jefferson in a speech Wednesday. Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker made similar comments Wednesday.Jefferson has been nominated by President Joe Biden to be the Fed’s vice chair, though he has yet to be confirmed by the Senate. But his nomination places him close to the center of Fed policymaking. Including Jefferson, three top Fed officials have been united in support of the idea of skipping a rate hike in June, despite a slew of tough talk from other Fed policymakers and a disappointing inflation report last week. On May 19, Fed Chair Jerome Powell hinte...

Ronaldo absent with injury as Saudi soccer season ends

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:33 GMT

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo’s first season in Saudi Arabia came to an end on Wednesday, although the star forward was absent as Al-Nassr beat Al-Fateh 3-0 to finish in second place in the league.Ronaldo, who signed for the Riyadh club in December before scoring 14 goals in 16 league games, picked up a muscle injury four days previously and was rested ahead of Portugal’s European Championship qualifiers against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iceland in June.In the 38-year-old Ronaldo’s absence, Anderson Talisca took center stage to score twice. He also assisted Mohammed Marwan for a third.Al-Ittihad, which had already secured the league championship in the penultimate round, celebrated a first title since 2009 with a 2-0 win against Al-Tai. Abderazzak Hamdallah of Morocco opened the scoring with a second-half penalty that also secured the golden boot with his 21st goal of the season. Former Leeds United and Wolverhampton winger Helder Costa added the second in injury ...

Albies homer helps Braves beat Oakland 4-2, drop A’s to 12-46

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:33 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Ozzie Albies hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in a three-run fifth inning, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Oakland Athletics 4-2 on Wednesday to deny the Athletics’ bid for their first three-game winning streak this season.The victory came at the end of a grueling stretch for the NL East-leading Braves. Atlanta played 19 games in 20 days, going 9-10 during that stretch heading into Thursday’s day off.“These guys deserve this off day,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “This is a rough go here with all the teams we played. Coming out here, I’m not making excuses but that did probably punch us in the gut a little bit.”Oakland drew just 6,429 to the Coliseum, the 22nd time in 31 home games attendance has been under 10,000.Jared Shuster (2-2) allowed two runs, three hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings to win consecutive decisions for the first time this season. Jesse Chavez, A.J. Minter, Nick Anderson and Raisel Iglesias combined to retire Oakland’s last 11 batters...

Sánchez wears 99 in honor of Manny Ramirez

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:33 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — With his preferred jersey number taken, Gary Sánchez opted for a unique second option but one he values dearly.The catcher, who made his San Diego Padres debut on Tuesday night and homered on Wednesday, is wearing No. 99 in honor of Manny Ramirez. During his six years with the New York Yankees, Sánchez wore No. 24 but Padres infielder Rougned Odor has the number.“I like the combination of 24 and 99 because of Manny Ramirez,” Sánchez said in Spanish before Wednesday night’s game at Miami. “I have always been a fan of his since I was a kid and those are the two numbers he wore.”Ramirez wore No. 24 with Cleveland and Boston, then switched to No. 99 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who retired 24 for former manager Walter Alston. Ramirez stayed with No. with the Chicago White Sox, then went back to 24 with Tampa Bay.A two-time All-Star, Sanchez looks forward to a longer stay with the Padres after short stints with the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets.“The past coup...

Texas girl’s killer faces new murder charges, with more possible, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:33 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A man run out of multiple cities and towns across Texas after he served prison time for the slaying of an 8-year-old girl in the 1980s has been arrested in connection with two other murders, and police say they are reopening several cold cases that could be linked to him.Raul Meza Jr., 62, was arrested Monday in the deaths of Jesse Fraga and Gloria Lofton, Austin police announced Tuesday. He remained jailed Wednesday and is facing charges including capital murder.Travis County Clerk’s Office records list Russell Hunt as Meza’s lawyer. Hunt said they just got the case and are still reviewing the facts and declined to comment further.Police in the Austin suburb of Pflugerville said May 23 they were looking for Meza in connection with the death of his roommate, 80-year-old Fraga. Officers found Fraga’s body May 20 while doing a wellness check after loved ones hadn’t heard from him for several days.Austin police said Meza called them May 23 a...

Air Force picks Colorado for more Space Force missions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:33 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Air Force announced the permanent location for many more U.S. Space Force units Wednesday — and none of them are in Huntsville, Alabama, suggesting the service may be moving ahead with at least part of the design it originally sought for the new force before it became entangled in politics.Four more Space Force missions will now be based in Colorado Springs, a notable choice during a larger and now politicized battle over where to locate the permanent headquarters of U.S. Space Command. Colorado Springs, which is housing Space Command's temporary headquarters, was the Air Force’s preferred location, but Donald Trump, in the final days of his presidency, selected Alabama instead. Biden arrives at Peterson Space Force Base before commencement speech While the Pentagon and White House have said the decisions are not directly linked, Alabama has strict anti-abortion laws, and its Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville earlier this year announced he would hold up all mi...

McConnell: Senate could pass debt bill as soon as Thursday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:33 GMT

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) says he hopes the Senate will pass legislation to raise the debt limit Thursday or Friday, as conservative Republican senators now say they won’t hold the bill up as long as they get to vote on amendments. The strong support among House Republicans for the deal negotiated between President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has influenced the political calculus in the Senate, and right now there’s little appetite among GOP senators to drag out debate and votes through the weekend.  “I can tell you what I hope happens is that those who have amendments, if given votes, will yield back time so that we can finish this Thursday or Friday and soothe the country and soothe the markets,” McConnell told reporters Wednesday.  The prospective timeline for passing the debt limit bill sped up considerably Wednesday when Utah Sen. Mike Lee (R) told reporters that he would not hold up the legislation — as he had previously threatened to — as ...

Young pregnant woman has stroke and now wants to raise awareness

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:33 GMT

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (KDVR) — Briena Grant was 24 years old and 24 weeks pregnant when she had a stroke. "I felt like I was having a migraine," she said.Grant doesn't remember much but said she woke up on the bathroom floor with a droopy face, unable to move her left side.  Police pose for silly picture to highlight serious staffing problem Somehow, she was able to call her friend for help. She was airlifted from her hometown of Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Swedish Medical Center in Englewood. "All I kept asking was, is my baby boy OK? Is he OK? Then I would go in and out of consciousness," she said.Stroke risk increases during pregnancyGrant had a blood clot on the right side of her brain and doctors were able to open the artery quickly."What we do is we snake a very small hollow tube up from the artery in the groin up into the brain and basically suck the clot out," said Dr. Richard Bellon, a neurointerventional surgeon at Swedish Medical Center. ‘Car surfing’ trend linked to 1...

‘The Flash’ star Sasha Calle reflects on being first Latina to play Supergirl

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:33 GMT

DC fans, you’re in for some superhero-sized surprises. The Scarlet Speedster finally has his very own movie, “The Flash,” and boy, did it take long enough.Ezra Miller plays Barry Allen, but Supergirl went to Sasha Calle. She is the first Latina to play that character, and she plays it super well. You know how we say, back in a flash? Well, when Barry Allen does, he means it.In “The Flash,” he’s so fast, the Scarlet Speedster can literally time-travel. But just like a lightning bolt gave this forensic chemist his extraordinary power, the long-awaited DC comic book movie is giving actress Sasha Calle her dream role.Sasha Calle: “It was incredible. It was insane. It’s a lot of work, obviously, a lot of training. You look like you work out, yourself.”Alex Miranda: “Once a year, definitely. And it’s a good workout.”Sasha Calle: Well, you look great.”Alex Miranda: “Never. Literally never.”Kara, aka m...

New York’s Bondi Sushi opens up its exclusive spot in Miami Beach

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:33 GMT

Looking to spice up your go-to restaurant list? Then there’s a brand-new sushi spot you’re going to want to visit.Bondi Sushi from New York is opening its first location in Miami, and they’re ready to maki your meal plans. Soy, if you have a love for sushi, we got a peek at everything the new location has to offer.You don’t have to be afraid to try the sushi at Bondi Sushi.Aiden Carty: “Bondi Sushi is a neighborhood, fast casual, fresh sushi restaurant. We specialize in bringing affordable, high-quality sushi to local neighborhoods.”The new Miami Beach venue is the sushi spot’s first outside of New York, and the bar concept lets you get a prime view of your food.Aiden Carty: “Everyone is able to sit around a sushi bar and is able to watch the chef preparing the food, so it provides a real element of theater to your dinner.”That way you can let the good times roll.Aiden Carty: “Some of the most popular menu items at Bondi wo...