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Three officials have left a pro-DeSantis super PAC in the group’s latest shake-up, AP sources say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:09 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Three senior members of a super PAC backing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis left the group on Saturday, the latest sign of instability within the 2024 hopeful’s political operation just six weeks before the Iowa Republican caucuses. Kristin Davison parted ways with Never Back Down just after she took over leading the group following the departure of CEO Chris Jankowski less than two weeks ago. Also leaving Saturday were communications director Erin Perrine and director of operations Matt Palmisano, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss Never Back Down’s internal operations. Davison’s departure was first reported by Politico.Longtime DeSantis ally Scott Wagner, who had been a member of the group’s board, was named interim CEO and board chairman. Never Back Down has carried the bulk of DeSantis’ presidential organizing duties and advertising loads since he announced his candidacy in May...

Kiss say farewell to live touring, become first US band to go virtual and become digital avatars

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:09 GMT

On Saturday night, Kiss closed out the final performance of their “The End of the Road” farewell tour at New York City’s famed Madison Square Garden.But as dedicated fans surely know — they were never going to call it quits. Not really.During their encore, the band’s current lineup — founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons as well as guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer — left the stage to reveal digital avatars of themselves. After the transformation, the virtual Kiss launched into a performance of “God Gave Rock and Roll to You.”The cutting-edge technology was used to tease a new chapter of the rock band: after 50 years of Kiss, the band is now interested in a kind of digital immortality.The avatars were created by George Lucas’ special-effects company, Industrial Light & Magic, in partnership with Pophouse Entertainment Group, the latter of which was co-founded by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus. The two companies recently teamed up for the “ABBA Voyage” show in London, in whic...

A suspected bomb blast kills at least 4 Christian worshippers during Mass in southern Philippines

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:09 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A powerful explosion believed caused by a bomb ripped through a Catholic Mass and killed at least four people and wounded dozens of others Sunday in a predominantly Muslim city in the southern Philippines, officials said.The morning Mass was underway in a gymnasium at the state-run Mindanao State University in Marawi city when the explosion happened, causing panic among dozens of students and teachers and leaving the victims bloodied and sprawled on the ground, said Taha Mandangan, the security chief of the state-run campus.At least two of the wounded were fighting for their lives, Mandangan said.“This is clearly an act of terrorism. It’s not a simple feud between two people. A bomb will kill everybody around,” Mandangan told The Associated Press by telephone.Regional military commander Maj. Gen. Gabriel Viray III said at least four people were killed by the explosion, including three women, and 50 others were brought to two hospitals for treatment o...

White scores season-high 31 as Bulls beat Pelicans 124-118

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:09 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Coby White scored a season-high 31 points, DeMar DeRozan added 24 points and 10 assists, and the Chicago Bulls beat the New Orleans Pelicans 124-118 on Saturday night.DeRozan missed the previous game with a left ankle sprain but took charge of a Bulls team missing Zach LaVine, helping them turn around the game in the third quarter en route to their second straight victory. White helped Chicago put it away with an alley-oop to Patrick Williams for a six-point lead with 20 seconds left.Torrey Craig and Ayo Dosunmu each scored 15 points off the bench for the Bulls, combining to hit four of the team’s 17 3-pointers. Williams added 14 points along with a pair of blocks.Troubled by a long history of injuries, Zion Williamson played on back-to-back nights for the first time all season, after resting for three previous opportunities this year. Williamson scored eight of his team-high 27 points in the final three minutes of the second quarter. The scoring flurry helped the Pel...

Texas high school football playoff scores for Saturday, Dec. 2

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:09 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Westlake prevailed in the second Battle of the Lakes rivalry game this season 21-14 Saturday at The Pfield in Pflugerville to claim the 6A Division I Region IV championship and move on to the state semifinals.The Chaparrals will play Galena Park North Shore, the team that defeated them last year in the semifinals, at 2 p.m., Dec. 9, at The Pfield. Dripping Springs fell to Cibolo Steele 28-21 in the 6A Division II Region IV final at the Alamodome. Texas high school football playoff scores for Friday, Dec. 1 Check out the rest of the regional final scores from around Texas. The sites and times for the state semifinal games should be solidified by Sunday.Regional finals scores from around TexasClass 6A Division IRegion INorth Crowley 49, Allen 37Region IIDuncanville 70, Spring Westfield 28Region IIIGalena Park North Shore 34, Humble Atascocita 28Region IVWestlake 21, Lake Travis 14Class 6A Division IIRegion I Southlake Carroll 56, Trophy Club Byron Nelson 7Region IIIH...

The Loop Fantasy Football Update Week 13: Last-minute moves

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:09 GMT

UPDATE: 10:49 p.m. Saturday We’ve got some Saturday fantasy updates while wondering just how loud the decibel level of plaintive wailing will be when the College Football Playoff pairings are announced in … say … Tallahassee, or Athens, or Columbus.The fantasy headline is that a guy nearly our age, Joe Flacco, will be starting at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns this week. But since it’s a bye week, there will be SOME people who throw caution to the wind and start the aged gunslinger. Good luck to them!Two noteables will be back this week: Miami running back De’Von Achane and Bengals wideout Tee Higgins. You can mostly ignore the latter with the state of the Cincinnati offense.Ruled out for Week 13 are Green Bay RB Aaron Jones, Saints WR Rashid SHaheed and Houston tight end Dalton Schultz.ORIGINAL POST: 11:59 a.m. Wednesday We’ve only got a couple of weeks left in the fantasy football regular season. A very good time to have all your standout players in action. And a very bad ti...

Saint Rose music program may carry on its tune

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:09 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -Inside the Hearst Communications Center at the College of Saint Rose, students are working on their final projects of the semester. The building will close its doors once the college shuts down in June 2024, though an adjunct music professor is hoping to keep the center running.Kelly Bird is a professional musician: alumna turned adjunct professor at the College of Saint Rose. She is looking into saving the Center for Communications and Interactive Media. College of Saint Rose closing June 2024 "I’ve thrown the idea out there to some of the alumni. What could we do to buy the building and maybe create some kind of center?" thought Bird.NEWS10 reached out to The College of Saint Rose regarding the matter. They responded with: Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "We have no knowledge of anyone seeking to buy the building, and no current plans to sell or donate music equipment. At the appropriate time, the Col...

Santa Ana Winter Village returns with outdoor skating rink, free holiday activities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:09 GMT

The Santa Ana Winter Village celebrated its grand opening for the holiday season on Saturday night, bringing free wintry activities.The winter village marks the return of an outdoor skating rink, holiday light shows, entertainment, food trucks, a large Christmas tree and a special visit with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus.From Dec. 2 to Dec. 31, the holiday village is open to the public. It's located in the heart of downtown Santa Ana at the Orange County Civic Center’s “Plaza of the Flags.” The event is celebrating its third consecutive year.Admission to the village is free with some activities requiring an additional fee. Children can enjoy story time with Mrs. Claus and a variety of free performances.The first three Saturdays of the event on Dec. 2, 9 and 16, will host “vendor days” that offer shopping from local crafters, unique food offerings and more.The Santa Ana Winter Village offers holiday activities including an outdoor ice skating rink, visits with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus...

Car crashes into home in Alameda County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:09 GMT

(KRON) -- Crews responded to a car that went into a home on Saturday in Cherryland, the Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) said on X. Officials said the home was occupied at the time of the crash but did not specify how many people were inside.However, the only injury ACFD reported was to the driver. It took firefighters more than 20 minutes to get the driver out of the vehicle. The driver was taken to Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley; their condition is unknown. Police activity shuts down all I-580 lanes in Oakland going eastbound Officials did not say whether alcohol and/or drugs were a factor in the crash. Cherryland is a census-designated place in Alameda County.ACFD posted a photo of the damage (above). No other information was immediately available.

Virginia health department launches new webpage to track syphilis cases

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:51:09 GMT

The Virginia Department of Health launched a new webpage to keep track of and shed light on rising syphilis cases in the state.The new webpage has vital information about the infection such as symptoms, prevention and treatments. It also features a dashboard of up-to-date information of total early syphilis cases.“Virginians can use this information to better protect themselves and their communities from syphilis,” state health officials said.So far this year, there has been a 21% increase of reported syphilis cases from last year. The state’s health department said that, from 2018 to 2022, cases of early stage syphilis went up 14%.Close to 1,300 new cases of syphilis were diagnosed in 2020 in the commonwealth, with 25% of those in Northern Virginia.A majority of these cases are from men, but cases involving women are also increasing. State heath officials said there’s a rise in syphilis diagnoses among persons who misuse substances as well as congenital syph...