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Ticker: Botticelli’s Venus is an ‘influencer’ and Italy is not happy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:42 GMT

Sandro Botticelli’s iconic goddess of love in his 15th-century masterpiece “Birth of Venus” has now become a “virtual influencer” in a new Italian tourism campaign.The campaign has sparked a widespread backlash — with critics arguing that the project plays into Italian stereotypes and disrespects the country’s cultural heritage. Some also point to the campaign’s poor execution, including a promotional video that features a winery in Slovenia instead of Italy.IRS offering better picture on looming debt ‘X-date’The funding Congress approved last year to shape up the beleaguered IRS has helped the agency catch up on processing new and backlogged tax returns and to allow the agency to provide a more precise picture of when the Treasury could run out of money — the so-called X-date. The nation is stepping uncomfortably close to an unprecedented default that could have catastrophic effects on the global economy because it is bumping up against its legal limit for b...

Kentucky Derby races on amid 7th death, scratched favorite

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:42 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Two more horses died, making it seven in all, before the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, and early favorite Forte was scratched with an injury in another series of blows to a sport already reeling from doping suspensions and breakdowns.“This is part of racing and it’s the cruel part,” Mike Repole, co-owner of Forte, said in an interview with FanDuel TV.Chloe’s Dream, a 3-year-old gelding, and Freezing Point, a 3-year-old colt, were injured in their races on the Derby undercard, becoming the sixth and seventh horses to have died at Churchill Downs in recent days. Forte was the fifth scratch from the Derby in the run-up to the $3 million race for 3-year-olds.The string of horse deaths cast a pall for some Derby-goers on a mostly cloudy and warm day.“It’s concerning, and I hope they’re quickly trying the best they can to correct whatever’s going on,” said Michael Freeze, who along with his friend dressed up as jockeys. “They need to do whatever is best for the ...

Texas panel says lawmaker should be expelled for misconduct

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:42 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas legislative committee recommended Saturday that GOP Rep. Bryan Slaton be expelled for inappropriate sexual conduct with a 19-year-old intern. Slaton, from Royse City, could face an expulsion vote by the full House as early as Tuesday. Slaton, 45, has declined to comment on the allegations, and did not immediately respond to a phone message left by The Associated Press Saturday afternoon, but his attorney last month called the claims “outrageous” and “false.” The House General Investigative Committee’s recommendation was first reported by The Texas Tribune. In the written investigation report, the committee said Slaton gave the 19-year-old intern and another young staffer alcohol at his home, that he had sex with the intern after she was intoxicated, and that he later showed the intern a threatening email but said everything would be fine if the incident was kept quiet. Slaton also asked a fellow lawmaker to keep his behavior secret, the commi...

Navy commissions USS Cooperstown; honors war veteran players

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:42 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. Navy on Saturday commissioned the USS Cooperstown in honor of 70 Major League Baseball Hall of Fame players who served in the military during wartime.The littoral combat ship is named after the village in New York state where the Hall is located. Hall of Famers Joe Torre and Johnny Bench took part in the ceremony, with Torre delivering remarks and Bench presenting a long glass, a nautical telescope.“It is critical that we honor the legacy of these Hall of Famers,” Torre said, “not just for what they did on the field, but for what they sacrificed and what they accomplished off the field. Their legacy lives on with the USS Cooperstown and with the sailors here today and in the years to come.”The 70 players honored served in conflicts from the Civil War through the Korean War. The ship’s motto is “America’s Away Team.”Torre, a former player and longtime New York Yankees manager, was elected to the Hall in 2014. Bench, a catcher for the Cincinnati Re...

Quebec public security officials say 89 communities affected by spring flooding

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:42 GMT

MONTREAL — Quebec public security officials say 89 municipalities are dealing with spring flooding with more than 660 people across the province forced to leave their homes. The regions hardest hit are Outaouais, in western Quebec, the Mauricie region in central Quebec, as well as the Laurentians, Lanaudière and Montérégie regions that surround Montreal.Officials say more than 1,200 homes have been flooded. In Gatineau, across from Ottawa, authorities say the water levels have begun to stabilize overnight, and a slow and gradual decline could begin to start the week.In the provincial capital area, which includes Charlevoix region, 364 people were listed as unable to return home. That region northeast of Quebec City is where two volunteer firefighters died Monday after they were swept away during a rescue operation.The coroner’s office identified the firefighters as Régis Lavoie and Christopher Lavoie.Their bodies were found two days later about 500 metres apart in the Rivière ...

1 person taken to hospital after suffering heat-related illness on trail in northwest Austin, ATCEMS says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One person was hospitalized after suffering from a heat-related illness on a trail in northwest Austin Saturday, Austin-Travis County EMS said on Twitter.Shortly after 3 p.m., ATCEMS medics and the Austin Fire Department responded to the rescue at a trail located near the 15300-15400 block of N US-183 in the northbound lanes, medics said.The adult patient, who was not identified, was believed to be approximately a half mile down the trail, medics said. Hasty teams made contact with the patient, who was taken from the trail via UTV by the Cedar Park Fire Department, who was also assisting with the rescue, medics said.The patient was taken to Cedar Park Regional Medical Center with non-serious injuries and heat-related complaints, medics said.

Tommies football: Uncertainty remains at quarterback spot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:42 GMT

Talented and experienced across the offensive line, at wide receiver and at running back, St. Thomas’ offense will be relying on an inexperienced quarterback this season to allow the unit to be all it can be.Based on Saturday’s spring game at O’Shaughnessy Stadium, there is work to be done at that vital position.Sophomore Amari Powell is in line to replace last year’s starter, Cade Sexauer, who was lost to graduation. While he made some good throws in the controlled scrimmage, Powell’s lack of accuracy was glaring.“If I hadn’t seen a high level of accuracy through the first four weeks of spring ball it would have been a major concern,” head coach Glenn Caruso said. “I didn’t think Amari had his best day. Most of his inaccuracies come from the waist down, and the footwork — or the lack there of. We’ve got to work on that.”Powell didn’t disagree with his coach’s assessment.“Today we weren’t really clicking, in terms of the receivers and running backs,” he said. “I definitely have to d...

Loons star Emanuel Reynoso ends holdout, returns to Minnesota

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:42 GMT

The end of the saga is in sight.After nearly four months, Minnesota United said Saturday that midfielder Emanuel Reynoso has traveled from his native Argentina to Minnesota. A process will begin for the two-time All-Star to reintegrate into the Loons, work toward having his MLS-issued suspension lifted and eventually play in league matches.MNUFC has been looking forward to Reynoso’s return since he didn’t report to preseason training camp in Blaine in early January. Then MLS suspended Reynoso without pay in mid-February and that status remained as Reynoso missed the opening nine matches this season.The Loons have tried to be proactive in ending Reynoso’s absence with multiple virtual meetings and physical trips to Argentina over the last few months. Chief Soccer Officer Manny Lagos had traveled to Argentina to meet with Reynoso during preseason, and Loons technical director Mark Watson went there as part of a scouting trip in mid-April.As Reynoso’s holdout dragged on, the club had g...

Off-duty DeSoto firefighter died in highway crash Friday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:42 GMT

CRAWFORD COUNTY, Mo. - An off-duty firefighter who served the DeSoto community died in a highway crash Friday afternoon. The DeSoto Rural Fire Protection District announced that Tommy Seegers, a part-time firefighter, died in a crash on Interstate 44. He also worked part-time for Valle Ambulance District. Top Story: St. Louis residents react to deadly downtown shootings "Please pray for Tommy and his entire family during this difficult time, Tommy will be greatly missed by all that knew him. Tommy died as a result of an off-duty vehicle accident on I-44 ... Rest easy brother," said the DeSoto Rural Fire Protection District via Facebook.A crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol states Seegers died after a crash on Interstate 44 in Crawford County. Investigators say Seegers was heading westbound on the highway when his vehicle went off the right side of the roadway. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. ...

Illinois leads nation in tornadoes this year, nearly twice above state average

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:42 GMT

ILLINOIS - If it seems like you're preparing for tornado threats a little more than usual lately, there's some truth to that, at least if you live in Illinois. According to the National Weather Service, Illinois is leading the nation in tornadoes this year. Eighty-six tornadoes have already rolled through the Prairie State in 2023, nearly double the state's average of 50 twisters per year. According to the National Weather Service, Illinois is leading the nation in tornadoes this year. (NWS Severe Weather Report)The National Weather Service reports, as of Saturday, Illinois has braced through more than double the number of tornadoes in any other state this year aside from Alabama (80) and Georgia (45). Per NWS, Illinois also leads every state in severe weather reports (466) this year aside from Texas. That number represents the total of confirmed tornadoes, plus hail and wind damage reports. Among this year's tornadoes, some have posed threats east of St. Louis. On March 31, an EF-1...