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DeSantis ups ante in Disney fight, floats nearby prison

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:10 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Florida Legislature will reassert that the state has control of Disney World’s Reedy Creek Improvement District, Gov. Ron DeSantis declared in the theme park’s backyard Monday.At a news conference in Lake Buena Vista, DeSantis also said lawmakers would take away the company’s self-inspection of rides and monorails and also allow the state to examine a ride if someone is seriously injured on it.He then mused about potentially selling off utilities, and even developing Reedy Creek land that Disney doesn’t own.“People are like, ‘Well, there’s what should we do with this land?” said a smiling DeSantis. “ … Maybe create a state park, maybe try to do more amusement parks? Someone even said, ‘Maybe you need another state prison?’ Who knows? I just think that the possibilities are endless.”He also claimed the last-minute moves by the outgoing board to grant Disney wide-ranging powers over the district had a “plethora of legal infirmities” and that a provision of st...

All eyes now on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s bruised back in Heat-Bucks, coach ‘optimistic’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:10 GMT

It might not have appeared that way Sunday, but the Milwaukee Bucks have already shown this season they can have their way with the Miami Heat even when Giannis Antetokounmpo is not fully healthy.That is especially meaningful at the moment, with the Bucks All-Star forward dealing with a back contusion and Milwaukee down 1-0 to Heat in this best-of-seven Eastern Conference opening round NBA playoff series that continues Wednesday at 9 p.m. at Fiserv Forum.X-rays on Antetokounmpo’s back came back negative Sunday, with the coach Mike Budenholzer confirming Monday that the MRI came back clean. Like the Heat, the Bucks did not practice Monday, limited to film and non-court work.On March 24, despite Antetokounmpo being lost 6:28 into the game due to a knee injury, the Bucks throttled the Heat 128-99.Now, after falling 130-117 Sunday to the Heat, it may have to again be Antetokounmpo’s supporting cast stepping forward in a similar fashion.With 4:13 left in Sunday’s first ...

Miami Hurricanes standout Isaiah Wong enters NBA draft

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:10 GMT

One of the best basketball players in Miami Hurricanes history will try his luck in the professional ranks.Miami guard Isaiah Wong will enter the NBA draft, the team announced Monday.“Coaching Isaiah Wong has been one of the most enjoyable experiences of my career,” Hurricanes coach Jim Larrañaga said in a press release.“My staff and I are so happy for Isaiah for all he has accomplished. We are excited for him as he continues to pursue his dream of playing in the NBA and look forward to supporting him in any way we can to make that a reality. We will continue to be here for him for whatever he may need, not just as he makes this step to the next level, but well beyond. We are so grateful to Isaiah for all he contributed to the University of Miami, both as a basketball player and as a human being.“It is rare to find someone like Isaiah, who was not just a star on the court during his four years at The U, but also an incredibly hard worker who improved eac...

Evans Chebet captures second straight Boston Marathon title

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:10 GMT

On a day when the world’s greatest marathoner was to be celebrated over the oldest and most prestigious 26.2 mile race in history, it was Evans Chebet who broke the tape first on Boylston Street.The savvy Kenyan made his final push with a mile to go, pulling away from Tanzanian Gabriel Geay to successfully defend his title in the rain and chill with a time of 2:05:54 in the 127th running of the Boston Marathon.Chebet became the sixth runner in history to capture back-to-back wins as he averaged a 4:49 per mile pace in wet, chilly conditions. Chebet’s victory came on the heels of his New York City Marathon win last November.“I’m happy because I know this race because I won it last year and this year,” said Chebet. “So maybe next year I’ll come back and win it, too. Last year I ran 2:06 and this year I ran 2:05, so I’m happy.”Geay held on for second in 2:06:04 and Kenyan Benson Kipruto, Chebet’s teammate, was third in 2:06:06...

San Diego residents can file their taxes after the April 18 deadline

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:10 GMT

The 2022 tax filing season is ending on Tuesday, but most Californians can still file their returns after the cutoff date.Most Californians have received a federal tax filing extension due to the severe winter storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides that plagued the state over the winter. The new tax deadline is Oct. 16. IRS extends tax deadline to Oct. 16 for disaster areas in California The tax extension also applies to Californians who need to file federal business tax returns or make tax payments.Here is a list of the California counties that are eligible for the filing extension:AlamedaAlpineAmadorButteCalaverasColusa Contra CostaDel NorteEl DoradoFresnoGlennHumboldtInyoKingsLakeLos Angeles MaderaMarinMariposaMendocinoMercedMonoMontereyNapaNevadaOrangePlacerRiversideSacramentoSan BenitoSan BernardinoSan DiegoSan FranciscoSan JoaquinSan Luis ObispoSan MateoSanta BarbaraSanta ClaraSanta CruzSiskiyouSolanoSonomaStanislausSutterTehamaTrinityTulareTuolumneVenturaYoloFor Califo...

Nothing Bundt Cakes offering $4.18 Bundtlets for Tax Day

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:10 GMT

SAN DIEGO — Looking to celebrate filing your taxes with a sweet treat? Nothing Bundt Cakes has you covered.On Wednesday, April 18, Nothing Bundt Cakes is offering customers a deal on their individually packaged Bundlets in celebration of Tax Day.The miniature bundt cakes will be discounted to $4.18 for eClub members at all San Diego area bakeries, the company announced. City of San Diego holding free paper shredding this week You can sign up for the Nothing Bundt Cakes eClub here.The Tax Day dessert deal can be claimed at any of the following San Diego County Nothing Bundt Cakes locations.5950 Village Way, Suite 104, San Diego, CA, 9213011704 Carmel Mountain Road, Suite 140, San Diego, CA, 921285624 Mission Center Road, Suite B, San Diego, CA, 921083225 Sports Arena Blvd, Suites 102-3, San Diego, CA, 921109836 Mission Gorge Road, Suite C, Santee, CA, 92071595 Grand Avenue, San Marcos, CA, 92078965 Palomar Airport Road, Suite 102, Carlsbad, CA, 92011872 Eastlake Parkway, Suite 414,...

Suspected smuggling incident thwarted near Sunset Cliffs

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:10 GMT

SAN DIEGO — A suspected human smuggling incident was stopped Sunday near Sunset Cliffs, according to the U.S. Border Patrol.Around 10 p.m., U.S. Coast Guard crews spotted a recreational-style vessel traveling north in the water near Sunset Cliffs, said CBP spokesperson Eric Lavergne.The vessel made landfall near Garbage Beach, which is located near Ladera Street in Point Loma. San Diego among cities where inflation is increasing the most: study After making landfall, Border Patrol agents responded to the area and apprehended 10 people who were on the boat, seven men and three women, Lavergne said.According to CBP, all 10 individuals were Mexican nationals. They were taken to the Imperial Beach Border Patrol Station to be processed.The vessel was seized by CBP's Air and Marine Operations.No further information regarding the incident was immediately available.

Russia’s Lavrov thanks ‘Brazilian friends’ on Ukraine stance

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:10 GMT

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov traveled to the Brazilian capital Monday and expressed gratitude for Brazil’s approach in pushing for an end to hostilities in Ukraine — an effort that has irked both Kyiv and the West.Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has refused to provide weapons to Ukraine while proposing a club of nations including Brazil and China to mediate peace. On Sunday, Lula told reporters in Abu Dhabi that two nations – both Russia and Ukraine – had decided to go to war, and a day earlier in Beijing said the U.S. must stop “stimulating” the continued fighting and start discussing peace. Earlier this month, he suggested Ukraine could cede Crimea to end the war, which the spokesperson for Ukraine’s foreign ministry, Oleg Nikolenko, and others rejected.After meeting Brazil’s foreign minister on Monday, Lavrov told reporters in a short press conference that the West has engaged in “a rather tough struggle” to maintain its dominance i...

US helicopter raid in Syria kills Islamic State leader

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:10 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — A helicopter raid by U.S. forces in northern Syria early on Monday killed a senior leader of the militant Islamic State group, the U.S. military said. The U.S. Central Command said in a statement that the IS leader, Abd-al-Hadi Mahmud al-Haji Ali, was “responsible for planning terror attacks in the Middle East and Europe.” Two other alleged IS members, were killed along with al-Haji Ali who was the target of the raid, CENTCOM said. The statement said no civilians or U.S. troops were hurt in the operation.It said the raid was launched after intelligence uncovered a plan by IS to “kidnap officials abroad as leverage for (IS) initiatives.”Syria’s White Helmets, a civil defense group operating in opposition-held areas of northern Syria, said it transported two people wounded during the raid to a local hospital, which later said they had died. A third person was killed when the U.S. forces landed for the raid, the White Helmets said.The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic F...

Macron says he hears people anger but pension law was needed

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:10 GMT

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that he heard people’s anger over raising the retirement age from 62 to 64, but insisted that it was needed to keep the pension system afloat as the population ages.In many cities, opponents to the pension law took to the streets to bang pots and pans during Macron’s televised address to the nation, with the rallying cry: “Macron won’t listen to us? We won’t listen to him!”In Paris, the gatherings quickly turned into spontaneous demonstrations in several neighborhoods, with some people setting fire to trash cans as police attempted to disperse the crowd. Hundreds of people also started marching in the western cities of Rennes and Nantes.In many other places across France, the protests remained peaceful, with people chanting and dancing in front of city halls to the sound of pots and pans used as drums. Many are rejecting the changes as unfair, arguing the government could have raised taxes on the wealthy or employers in...