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Texas spellers gear up for 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:38 GMT

AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) - From May 30 through June 1, Texas will send the most competitors of any state to the Scripps National Spelling Bee for its 95th annual competition in National Harbor, Maryland. The 231 qualifying spellers, said the organization, include nine to 14-year-olds from all 50 states, as well as 11 from neighboring countries and territories. However, Texas will boast the largest contribution to the pool with 21 competitors. The high number of spellers isn't Texas's only distinction, either. Among the 21 headed northeast from the Lone Star State, Kirsten Tiffany Santos from Houston is among two returning finalists from the 2022 national competition, when she tied for fifth with Surya Kapu from Salt Lake City. Meanwhile, Akash Vukoti from San Angelo is returning to the competition for a record sixth time. RELATED: Two Austin students head to Scripps National Spelling Bee As noted by the organization, Texas is also home to one of three special recognitions for t...

Literary calendar: Poems from a UMN professor and a Pulitzer winner

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:38 GMT

RAY GONZALEZ: Professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota celebrates release of “Suggest  Paradise,” a collection of complex poems that embody the Southwest and the borderlands. He will be joined by Jose Felipe Ozuna, Merle Geode, Kathryn Savage and Michel Torres. Gonzalez, author of 16 books of poetry, has won three Minnesota Book Awards and received a 2017 Fellowship in Poetry from the Library of Congress. Free. 6 p.m. Saturday, June 3, Milkweed Books bookstore in the Open Book building, 1011 Washington Ave. S., Mpls. For reservation information go to: milkweed.org/event.LYNETTE REINI-GRANDELL: Discusses “Wild Things: A Trans-Glam-Punk-Rock Love Story.” 7 p.m. Thursday, June 1, Magers & Quinn, 3038 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.NASH JENKINS: Presents “Foster Dad Explores the Cosmos.” 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 31, Magers & Quinn, 3038 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.LUIS ALBERTO URREA: Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for his nonfiction “The Devil...

Boy scouts to honor fallen soldiers with Memorial day flags

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:38 GMT

In salute to fallen soldiers, the Boy Scouts of America, Western Los Angeles County Council,  annual Memorial Day flag placement ceremony is taking place at the Los Angeles National Cemetery on Saturday. More than 300 Boy Scouts of America will help place over 90,000 flags on grave sites during the ceremony at 8 a.m. The ceremony will include speeches from the boy scouts and other groups honoring service members who died serving the country during significant moments in history including World War I and the Civil War. “Civic responsibility is an important part of scouting so every scout needs to understand and recognize the sacrifice that folks have made for this country and how they can contribute to their service to the community as well,” says Lee Harrison, CEO of Boy Scouts of America, Western Los Angeles County Council. Following the ceremony, Harrison says the boy scouts will visit each grave, plant a flag, and take a moment to recognize the soldiers’ contributions. &nb...

One killed, three wounded in Oakland shootings

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:38 GMT

OAKLAND — One man was killed and three other men wounded in separate shootings that happened within four hours Friday night in different areas of the city, authorities said.None of the shootings appear to be related, police said.An arrest was made in one of the non-fatal shootings, police said.The fatal shooting happened about  11:55 p.m. Friday outside in the 8400 block of International Boulevard.Officers responding to a gunshot detection system alert found a 37-year-old Berkeley man bleeding and unresponsive from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.  His name has not yet been released.Police don’t have a motive yet for the shooting and are trying to determine if the man was shot by someone who approached him on the street or fired at him from a passing vehicle. No arrests have been made.Police believe the man was in Oakland to attend a social function in the area.The killing is the 40th homicide investigated by Oakland police...

Rent bargains in California: What you get for $1,500 a month

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:38 GMT

”Survey says” looks at various rankings and scorecards judging geographic locations while noting these grades are best seen as a mix of artful interpretation and data.Buzz: Look inland if you’re seeking a rental bargain in California.Source: My trusty spreadsheet reviewed a curious study by RentCafe comparing city rents. It looked at how much space you typically get when spending $1,500 a month.ToplineHow expensive is California? The study tracked apartments in 200 U.S. cities with an average of 782 square feet for $1,500 a month. Only three California cities offer larger living quarters, relatively speaking: Fresno, Bakersfield and Visalia.The three cities offer the typical renter at least double the space of the state’s costliest place, San Francisco, for that benchmark $1,500 rent.DetailsWe divided the 44 California cities tracked by geography and found the best “bargains” – space for $1,500 rent – were farthest from the coast. Ponder the landscape …...

Saratoga crime report for the week of June 2

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:38 GMT

MAY 16Residential burglary: At 9:03 p.m., unknown suspects entered a residence in the 12000 block of Palmtag Drive by breaking a rear sliding glass door, but then quickly fled the scene upon realizing the residents were home at the time. Nothing was reported stolen.MAY 18Commercial burglary, vandalism: At 1:30 a.m., someone entered Classic Ca wash on Prospect Road by prying a window open. The suspect damaged cabinets, door hinges and surveillance equipment. Nothing was reported stolen. The total amount of damage was estimated at over $400.MAY 19Theft by false pretenses: A Saratoga resident reported that someone contacted them in response to an item posted for sale online, claimed to be interested in purchasing the item and ultimately tricked the victim into sending money for a total loss of about $1,945.MAY 20Vehicle tampering, grand theft: Someone tampered with a vehicle parked in the driveway of a residence in the 18000 block of Cyril Place and stole a catalytic converter for a to...

Dusty Baker explains why Oakland remains dear to his heart as A’s relocation looms

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:38 GMT

OAKLAND – Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker sat in one of the photographer wells at the Coliseum late Friday afternoon. As his players began their stretching routines, Baker caught up and exchanged hugs with some longtime friends, reminiscing about the good times he experienced at the now 55-year-old facility.“Thinking about the great A’s teams and thinking about when I played for the A’s and also the city of Oakland having many championships,” Baker said. “Now it looks like they’re not going to have any more — unless somebody else comes to town.”Like many others with ties to Oakland, Baker, who turns 74 on June 15, saw the Warriors leave what was then Oracle Arena in 2019 for the gleaming new Chase Center in San Francisco, and the Raiders leave the aging Coliseum for indoor 65,000-seat Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas the following year.And just a few hours after the A’s organization released the first artist renderings of its proposed new Las Vegas ballpark, Baker...

Buffalo Sabres sign Minnesota defenseman Ryan Johnston to 2-year rookie contract

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:38 GMT

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Sabres ended a lengthy wait by signing Ryan Johnston to a two-year, entry level contract on Saturday, more than a month after the defenseman completed his senior college season at Minnesota.Johnston will report immediately to the Sabres’ American Hockey League affiliate in Rochester, whose best-of-seven Eastern Conference final playoff series against Hershey is tied at 1.From Southern California, Johnston is listed at 6-feet and 170 pounds and was selected 31st in 2019 draft.His puck-moving skills fit Buffalo’s style of play, Johnston finished his college career with nine goals and 59 points in 143 career games, including four goals and 18 points in 40 games this year. He reached the NCAA’s Frozen Four in each of his final two seasons, with the Gophers losing in the semifinals last year, followed by a 3-2 overtime loss to Quinnipiac in the championship game last month.He also had a goal and three assists in seven games representing the U....

18-year-old Adam Fantilli scores as Canada advances to final of ice hockey worlds

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:38 GMT

TAMPERE, Finland (AP) — Teenage forward Adam Fantilli scored the go-ahead goal as Canada edged Latvia 4-2 and advanced to the final of the ice hockey world championship.The United States plays Germany in the other semifinal later Saturday.The 18-year-old Fantilli, who is expected to be one of the top picks in the NHL draft, fooled a defenseman before netting his first goal of the tournament with 11:04 to go as Canada took a 3-2 lead.Samuel Blais, Jack Quinn and Scott Laughton also scored for Canada whose goaltender Samuel Montembeault made 20 saves.Canada had to twice come back from a goal down to reach its fourth straight final.Dans Locmelis scored 8:18 into the game to put tournament co-host Latvia 1-0 ahead on a rebound.Blais one-timed a shot to the roof of Latvia’s goal with 4:28 to go in the middle period for his fourth goal at the tournament to tie the score at 1-1.Rudolfs Balcers restored the lead for Latvia from the left circle only 1:06 later in the frame.Quinn levele...

Britney Spears se reencuentra con su madre después de tres años

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:38 GMT

(CNN) — Britney Spears compartió que ella y su madre, Lynne Spears, ahora están en mejores términos.La cantante publicó una foto retrospectiva de sí misma cuando era niña en su cuenta verificada de Instagram, y escribió en el pie de foto: “Mi dulce mamá apareció en mi puerta ayer después de 3 años… ha pasado tanto tiempo… con la familia siempre hay cosas que hay que resolver… pero el tiempo cura todas las heridas!!!”.“Y después de poder comunicar lo que he retenido durante mucho tiempo, ¡me siento muy bendecida de haber podido tratar de hacer las cosas CORRECTAMENTE!”, decía el pie de foto. “Te quiero mucho [emojis de corazón]!!!”.Lynne Spears y Britney Spears en 2002. (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images)Spears agregó: “Psss… ¡Estoy tan bendecida de que podamos tomar un café juntas después de 14 años! ¡¡¡Vamos de compras después!!!”.Según los informes, ella y su madre se habían distanciado, y la joven Spears publicó negativamente sobre su madre en el p...