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Capitol physician medically clears McConnell after health scares prompt new questions over his leadership position

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:42 GMT

Washington (CNN) — Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell is medically cleared to continue his schedule, the US Capitol physician said Thursday, after he froze for the second time in as many months in public.The statement comes as McConnell moved behind the scenes to reassure his allies and donors he can do his job – even as questions persist over how long the 81-year-old Kentuckian will stay as Republican leader.“I have consulted with Leader McConnell and conferred with his neurology team. After evaluating yesterday’s incident, I have informed Leader McConnell that he is medically clear to continue with his schedule as planned,” Dr. Brian Monahan, the attending doctor for the Capitol, said in a statement released through McConnell’s office.“Occasional lightheadedness is not uncommon in concussion recovery and can also be expected as a result of dehydration,” added Monahan. McConnell’s office has previously said that his freezes were due to lightheadedness and dehydration....

Squeezing in one last summer trip over Labor Day weekend? Expect crowded airports and full flights

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:42 GMT

By DAVID KOENIG (AP Airlines Writer)DALLAS (AP) — By some measures, air travelers have enjoyed a less stressful summer than last year, but canceled flights remain elevated as airlines face their last big test of the prime vacation season: Labor Day weekend.The Federal Aviation Administration predicts that this will be the third busiest holiday weekend of the year so far, behind only the Juneteenth weekend, which included Father’s Day, and the Presidents Day break. Hurricane Idalia weakened and headed out to sea Thursday. While the storm left damage and power outages, its impact on travel eased. Airlines canceled several dozen flights in Florida and Georgia on Thursday but expected to operate at full strength Friday. Travelers can check conditions where they are going on the FAA website.Thursday figured to be the busiest day in U.S. airspace, with 52,203 flights scheduled, followed by 49,111 flights on Friday, according to the FAA. After a lull on Saturday and Sunday, fli...

Yankees outfielder Harrison Bader claimed off waivers by Cincinnati Reds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:42 GMT

Harrison Bader is headed to Cincinnati, the Yankees announced Thursday.The Reds claimed the speedy center fielder off waivers, ending the New York native’s tenure with the Yankees after only 98 regular season games.Bader, 29, batted .237 with seven home runs, 46 RBI and 19 stolen bases over the past two seasons with the Yankees, who had acquired the 2021 Gold Glove Award winner ahead of last year’s trade deadline.“It just means so much to me to be a New York City kid playing in the Bronx for the Yankees,” an emotional Bader, who is from Bronxville, said Thursday. “It’s just really special for a lot of reasons. There’s a lot of good moments. … Regardless of the situation, no one can ever take the fact that I put that uniform on.”Bader provides a boost to a Cincinnati team that entered Thursday at 69-66, six games out of the National League Central and a game out of the third and final NL Wild Card spot. The Reds will pay Bader les...

Orioles to add outfielder Colton Cowser, reliever Joey Krehbiel to expanded September roster

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:42 GMT

The Orioles have chosen their initial reinforcements for the extra two roster spots they will have for the rest of the regular season.Baltimore will call up outfielder Colton Cowser and reliever Joey Krehbiel on Friday, a source confirmed to The Baltimore Sun. Both have appeared for the Orioles already this season and were already on the club’s 40-man roster.Baltimore’s No. 2 prospect according to Baseball America, Cowser struggled in his first major league stint, going 7-for-61 (.115) with a .433 OPS. But the 23-year-old has hit .314/.440/.524 with Triple-A Norfolk. A left-handed hitter, Cowser provides depth at all three outfield spots. Once Cowser officially returns, all of the Orioles’ top six prospects entering the 2022 season will be on their major league roster.The Orioles may well have used both additional spots on pitchers if they weren’t limited to a maximum of 14 on the roster. Krehbiel, a 30-year-old right-hander, has retired all five major league...

Gov. Healey activates National Guard to help emergency shelter hotels without providers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:42 GMT

Gov. Maura Healey issued an executive order Thursday activating up to 250 members of the National Guard to provide basic services at emergency shelter hotels that do not currently have a contracted service provider.The Healey administration said there are about 40 emergency shelter hotels where displaced families — including migrants — are staying that Guard members could be deployed at. But state officials said they will evaluate which sites require members and deploy them next week.“Massachusetts is in a state of emergency, and we need all hands-on deck to meet this moment and ensure families have access to safe shelter and basic services,” Healey said in a statement. “… While we work to implement a more permanent staffing solution, the National Guard will provide an efficient and effective means of delivering these services and keeping everybody safe.”The mobilization comes weeks after Healey declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts because an ...

Trial underway for Iowa teenager accused of murdering 2 students at school for at-risk youth

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:42 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines teenager accused of murdering two fellow students inside an alternative school has admitted he pulled the trigger, but claims he did so because he feared for his life, his lawyer said in the trial’s opening statements Thursday.Preston Walls, 19, shot and killed the students because he was convinced they planned to kill him, attorney Glen Downey said. “Preston Walls decided he didn’t want to die,” Downey said during the brief opening statements. “Preston decided he didn’t want to go home to his family in a pine box.”The shooting killed students Gionni Dameron, 18, and Rashad Carr, 16. Prosecutors hace alleged the shooting was prompted by a dispute between rival gangs but the families of Dameron and Carr denied they were involved in gangs.Walls is the first of two teens to go on trial for the shooting, which took place on Jan. 23 at the Starts Right Here school. The gunfire also seriously wounded program founder Will Keeps, who re...

Spain’s Bonmatí wins UEFA best women’s player award and stands up for teammate amid Rubiales crisis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:42 GMT

MONACO (AP) — Spanish soccer star Aitana Bonmatí used her acceptance speech at a UEFA awards ceremony on Thursday to voice support for her teammate who was forcibly kissed by the country’s soccer federation president after the Women’s World Cup final.Bonmatí was named women’s player of the year at the annual gala held amid a crisis for European soccer’s governing body caused by the behavior of its vice president Luis Rubiales at the Women’s World Cup final.Rubiales has refused to resign as Spanish soccer federation president despite a furor over his behavior toward Jenni Hermoso at the trophy presentation after Spain’s victory over England in Sydney, Australia.“As a society, we cannot allow the abuse of power in a working environment or disrespect,” Bonmatí said on stage as UEFA leaders watched in the convention hall in high-end Monte Carlo. “To all women who are suffering the same thing as Jenni, we’re with you.”Rubiales could not attend the even...

Oil and gas sector says new data shows it can both hike output and lower emissions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:42 GMT

CALGARY — Canada’s oil and gas sector is pointing to new government numbers that it says proves the industry can increase production and lower emissions at the same time.The analysis by industry group Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) of the most recently available federal production and emissions data shows emissions from the country’s conventional oil and natural gas sector fell 24 percent in the last decade.For natural gas, methane emissions fell by 38 per cent between 2012 and 2021 although production rose by 35 per cent.Conventional production refers to all oil and natural gas production outside of Canada’s oilsands.The CAPP analysis did not examine oilsands emissions, but a report by S&P Global earlier this month showed absolute greenhouse gas emissions from Canadian oilsands production were flat in 2022 even as total production grew.S&P Global said that marks the first year total emissions from the oilsands sector did not rise, excluding a...

A suicide bomber has attacked a security convoy in NW Pakistan, killing 9 soldiers, says military

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:42 GMT

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — A suicide bomber riding on a motorcycle targeted a security convoy in northwest Pakistan on Thursday, killing at least nine soldiers and wounding 20 others, the military and three security officials said, a sign of increasing militant violence.The attack happened in Bannu, a district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, the military said in a statement. It said five soldiers were wounded in the attack.However, security officials put the number of wounded persons at 20. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media on the record.There was no immediate claim from any group, but the suspicion is likely to fall on the Pakistani Taliban, who have stepped up attacks on security forces since 2022. Authorities say the insurgents have found sanctuaries and have even been living openly in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover, which also emboldened them,Bannu is located near the former militant stronghol...

Man in mass stabbing at B.C. library gets life sentence with no parole for 15 years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:42 GMT

NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. — A man who killed a woman and wounded six other people in a mass stabbing at a library in North Vancouver, B.C., has received a life sentence with no chance of parole for 15 years.Yannick Bandaogo, 30, pleaded guilty on May 29 to one count of second-degree murder and six counts of attempted murder over the March 2021 attack in and around the public library in Lynn Valley.Bandaogo, who did not know the victims, has not explained his motives to the court in New Westminster, although defense lawyer Georges Rivard has said his client “accepted his responsibility.”Prosecutor Dan Loucks said outside court on Thursday that he hopes the sentencing brings some closure for victims, families and the community, but it may never be known what motivated Bandaogo.Bandaogo apologized to each of his victims in a July hearing, as he described his “story of self-destruction,” involving a troubled childhood and heavy drug use before the attack Second-degre...