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Ojibwe woman makes history as North Dakota poet laureate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

By TRISHA AHMED (Associated Press/Report for America)North Dakota lawmakers have appointed an Ojibwe woman as the state’s poet laureate, making her the first Native American to hold this position in the state and increasing attention to her expertise on the troubled history of Native American boarding schools.Denise Lajimodiere, a citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band in Belcourt, has written several award-winning books of poetry. She’s considered a national expert on the history of Native American boarding schools and wrote an academic book called “Stringing Rosaries” in 2019 on the atrocities experienced by boarding school survivors.“I’m honored and humbled to represent my tribe. They are and always will be my inspiration,” Lajimodiere said in an interview, following a bipartisan confirmation of her two-year term as poet laureate on Wednesday.Poet laureates represent the state in inaugural speeches, commencements, poetry readings and educati...

Disability rights advocacy groups file complaint against Metro Transit for cutting Call-A-Ride service

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A controversy over transportation for those with disabilities is going to the Department of Justice.Paraquad, a disability advocacy group, has filed a complaint against Metro Transit's plans to cut Call-A-Ride service.Aimee Wehmeier, president of Paraquad, has been with the company for at least 10 years. She said she knows firsthand how Metro Call-A-Ride's plan to cut services in some areas will have an impact on riders who need it the most.“Folks with disabilities have not been receiving the services they need to be independent in the community," Wehmeier said. "We all want to live a typical life, so we can go to work, go to the doctor, recreation, and see friends, and that's not possible with the current transportation system." Top Story: Fenton clerk recounts terrifying gunpoint robbery and assault On Friday, leaders of several organizations serving people with disabilities and additional community allies also filed a complaint regarding Metro's Call-A-Ride paratran...

Historic low inventory continues to push Denver metro home prices up

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

Although the number of homes for sale at the end of March increased 19.5% from February and doubled the number of homes available a year ago, at 4,516 active listings, that number is about 67% below the historical average number of listings for the month, according to the March report from the Denver Metro Association of Realtors.The continued limited supply pushed prices up again in the 11-county Denver metro. At $620,000, the median sale price for a single-family home increased by 3.3% in March over February, although prices remained about 6.1% below March 2020.“At the start of the year, gloomy predictions for the real estate market were broadcast far and wide,” says Michelle Schwinghammer with RE/MAX Alliance, a DMAR Market Trends Committee member. “Everyone was waiting to see what would come in spring. The latest numbers are in and confirm, perhaps to the surprise of many, that the luxury market in the Denver metro area is alive and well.”Sellers received...

Avalanche navigating Cale Makar’s health again with Norris Trophy winner day-to-day as NHL playoffs near

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

LOS ANGELES — The downside of a world-class defenseman logging NHL-leading minutes isn’t difficult to figure out.More ice time means more wear and tear. More opportunities to sustain injuries.The Avalanche are navigating Cale Makar’s health again as the NHL playoffs near. The defending Norris Trophy winner has missed Colorado’s last two games with a lower-body injury and didn’t skate with the team here Friday at the Kings’ facility. The Avs (47-24-6) are preparing for a back-to-back Saturday (8:30 p.m. MT) at Los Angeles and Sunday (6:30 p.m.)  at Anaheim.“I would consider him day-to-day at this point,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar told The Post when asked if there’s any long-term concern. “But we’re just going to wait for him to feel good before he plays, so I don’t have a timeline.”This is the fifth time Makar has missed a string of games due to an injury this calendar year. He was out four games in Janu...

Masters Live Updates | Play suspended at Masters for the day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Live updates from the second round Friday of the Masters (all times local):5:50 p.m.The second round of the Masters is done for the day after storms moved in and three pine trees toppled near spectators left of the 17th tee. Augusta National says no one was injured.The round is scheduled to resume at 8 a.m. on Saturday, with more wind and rain in the forecast.Brooks Koepka is the clubhouse leader at 12-under par, four shots ahead of U.S. Amateur champion Sam Bennett. Among those still on the course was Jon Rahm at 9 under through nine holes. Tiger Woods was hovering around the cut line through 11 holes.It’s the first time since the November 2020 Masters the second round was not completed until Saturday morning. That was due to a three-hour delay earlier in the tournament.___4:30 p.m.Play has been suspended for a second time due to weather at Augusta National, where two large pine tress have fallen on the course apparently due to high winds. It is uncl...

Ahead of Easter, Consumer Reports calls for ban of chemical used in select Peeps candies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

Consumer Reports, a non-profit organization, is warning consumers about the dangers of eating the pink and purple Peeps candy, a popular treat during the Easter holiday, since it contains Red Dye No. 3.“Parents should know that the purple and pink colored Peeps they may be putting in their kids’ Easter basket are made with an ingredient that is a known carcinogen,” Michael Hansen, senior staff scientist for Consumer Reports, said in a statement.“Just Born Quality Confections should stop making its iconic marshmallow treats with this dangerous food chemical since other less risky alternatives are readily available.”Just Born Quality is the maker of Peeps candy. California bill would require schools to notify parents if their child identifies as transgender In a statement to KTLA, Just Born Quality said in part that they manufacture their candies in compliance with FDA regulations.Consumer Reports delivered a petition with 35,000 signatures to the Food and Drug Administration callin...

Stormy Daniels: Melania Trump’s absence from Trump’s side ‘speaks volumes’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

Melania Trump may not appreciate hearing from Stormy Daniels at this time in her life, but the porn star has said she truly feels “bad” for the former first lady and would testify at her divorce proceedings.Following Donald Trump’s arraignment Tuesday on 34 felony counts related to hush-money payments and his alleged 2006 affair with Daniels, the adult-film star gave interviews in which she recounted her dealings with the former president, explained why she took money to keep quiet about her encounter with him in the weeks before the 2016 election and reflected on how the prosecution by the Manhattan district attorney’s office might be affecting his wifeIn an interview with Good Morning Britain, Daniels said that Melania Trump’s “silence speaks volumes.”US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive for the 60th Annual Red Cross Gala at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach on February 4, 2017. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) (Phot...

Christian McCaffrey gets engaged to Olivia Culpo, former Miss Universe

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

Christian McCaffrey is no free agent.The star running back is signed with the 49ers through the 2025 season, and he is now engaged to former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo.Culpo posted photos Friday to her Instagram account showing McCaffrey proposing to her. McCaffrey shared the post, too, and the couple received comments of congratulations from several Niners teammates.The couple has been dating since 2019.Christian McCaffrey, left, and Olivia Culpo arrive at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Culpo, 30, was Miss Rhode Island, Miss USA and Miss Universe in 2012. She and her family were the subjects of the reality series “The Culpo Sisters”, which aired on TLC last year but will move to HBO Max for season two — though no date has been announced.No date has been announced for a wedding either.McCaffrey, the 26-year-old All-Pro fr...

Animated map: Watch 30-plus atmospheric rivers slam into California

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

Try as you might, you’ve probably lost track of the more than 30 atmospheric river storms that barreled into the the Golden State since Oct. 1. But we haven’t.The animation above shows every atmospheric river storm, which has hit the West Coast since the start of the water-year on Oct 1. The data used in this animation was provided by the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E). The color of each storm signifies its associated strength, with black being the strongest level.And this year has been a doozy: In Northern California, we’ve already had 7 strong or greater-strength storms hit the region, according to data from CW3E. That’s considerably above the average of 4.7 for this time of year based on data going back to 2012.In Central and Southern California, where atmospheric rivers are generally less common, this season has been even more unusual. In a typical year, the two regions are hit by an average of 1.7 strong or greater-strength storms. ...

SF: World-champion cyclist killed in crash at Presidio

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

Bay City News ServiceA world-champion cyclist was struck and killed by the driver of a vehicle in San Francisco’s Presidio earlier this week.Ethan Boyes, a reigning Masters Track world champion, died in the collision reported around 4 p.m. Tuesday.U.S. Park Police responded to Arguello Boulevard south of Washington Street for a report of a collision between a vehicle and bicyclist. The bicyclist, later identified as Boyes, died at a hospital while the vehicle’s driver was also hospitalized but is expected to survive.No other details about the collision were immediately available from U.S. Park Police as of Friday afternoon.USA Cycling on Friday issued a statement mourning the death of Boyes, who was the current world champion in the Masters Track Men’s 40-44 Time Trial and Sprint events held last fall. He was a 10-time national champion during his career and still holds a world record for men ages 35-39 in the 1,000-meter time trial event.“Beyond Ethan’...