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Menendez gains a primary opponent as calls for his resignation grow after indictment

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Andy Kim of New Jersey announced on Saturday that he will run against Sen. Robert Menendez in the state’s Democratic primary for Senate next year, saying he feels compelled to run against the three-term senator after he and his wife were indicted on sweeping corruption charges.Kim’s surprise announcement came as a growing number of Democrats are calling for Menendez to step down. Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman became the first Democratic senator to do so, and several members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation, along with the state’s Democratic governor, have said he should resign.“This is not something I expected to do, but I believe New Jersey deserves better,” Kim said in a statement. “We cannot jeopardize the Senate or compromise our country’s integrity. I believe it’s time we restore faith in our democracy, and that’s why I am stepping up and running for Senate.”The calls for Menendez, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Com...

Sikh groups ask Canadian political parties to present ‘united front’ against India

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:25 GMT

Two groups in the Canadian Sikh diaspora are calling for Canada’s political parties to “present a united front” on India after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a “potential link” between the shooting death of a local leader and the Indian government.In a joint statement, the Ontario Gurdwaras Committee and the British Columbia Gurdwaras Council say that “Canadian parties of all stripes must be unequivocally clear” about their opposition to possible foreign interference relating to the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June.Trudeau revealed in Parliament on Sept. 18 that Canadian intelligence services were investigating possible ties between the Indian government and the fatal shooting of Nijjar in Surrey, B.C., outside of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara.India, which had issued an arrest warrant against Nijjar for his advocacy for an independent Sikh state, has denied the accusation as “absurd and motivated.”Federal leaders hav...

Several street closures to take effect for Chicago Half Marathon and 5K

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:25 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago Half Marathon and 5K makes a return this weekend which could mean some headaches for drivers.The Chicago Half Marathon and 5K will take place in Jackson Park, Hyde Park and along DuSable Lake Shore Drive on Sunday. According to the city's Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC), several streets will be closed this weekend to accommodate the event.  Chicago Traffic: Visit the WGN News traffic map for the latest real-time updates While some of the street closures will begin on Saturday, Sept. 23, most of the closures will begin in the early-morning hours on Sunday, Sept. 24.Saturday Street ClosuresThe OEMC says two streets will be closed starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday before reopening at 3 p.m. on Sunday:East Hayes Drive will be closed from DuSable Lake Shore Drive to South Cornell Drive.South Richards Drive will be closed from East Hayes Drive to East Marquette Drive starting.Sunday Street ClosuresThe OEMC says several street closures will be...

Sen. Ted Cruz says there is no domestic issue he cares more about than 'school choice'

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, told a lively crowd at the Paramount Theater on Sunday that “there is no domestic issue I care more about than school choice." Cruz, who is seeking a third term in the U.S. Senate in 2024, answered questions posed by Texas Tribune Political Reporter Patrick Svitek about several hot topics Texans care about during a TribFest appearance. READ MORE: Gov. Abbott will call special session for school vouchers in October “I look at every vote the state legislature has taken on ‘school choice.’ If you’re a state legislator [who] voted in favor of ‘choice,’ and you are otherwise relatively conservative, you are quite likely to get my support,” Cruz said. “If you voted against ‘choice,’ then the chances of my supporting you are essentially zero." On Tuesday, Gov. Greg Abbott announced he intends to call a special session next month to pass “school choice” legislation. He has proposed a school voucher-like program where eligible famil...

After clinching division, Twins turn attention towards playoffs

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:25 GMT

The carpeting in the Twins’ clubhouse still smelled of beer and champagne Saturday morning and was still slightly damp, reminders of the raucous celebration that had taken place there just hours earlier. The Twins achieved their first goal — a division title — on Friday night.So, what’s next?There are still seven games remaining after Saturday’s 1-0 loss the Los Angeles Angels, and the Twins will use those days preparing for the playoffs.That means setting their rotation — Pablo López and Sonny Gray appear in line to start games one and two, respectively — for the postseason. That means resting players as needed and throwing others in situations they may be unaccustomed to as a result — Josh Winder and Dylan Floro pitched in the final innings of Saturday’s tight game, for example. That likely will mean bringing back some players who have been on the injured list and thrusting them back into action.“We’re going to probably have a good balance of we’re going to go out there and ...

For Lakeville’s Nick Swaney, a chance to lodge in Wild’s ‘memory banks’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:25 GMT

Every player who reaches the highest levels of ice hockey has talent, athletic ability, skill and likely some smarts. Eventually, they discover they have something else. A role.That’s something Wild coach Dean Evason brought up before training camp started this week at TRIA Rink, and Nick Swaney was listening. He describes his role as that of an energy player, but it goes beyond that with the Wild staff.“Kind of like a Swiss Army Knife,” said Brent McLean, a longtime Wild assistant who will start his first season as Iowa’s head coach after camp ends Oct. 11.Swaney, 26, will be in the lineup for Sunday afternoon’s preseason opener against the Avalanche in Colorado, playing on a line with Rasmus Kumpulainen and Servac Petrovsky.“He can kill penalties, he can play on the power play, he goes to the net, he skates well, fantastic kid,” McLean added. “That’s why we like him.”Swaney, 26, re-signed on a one-year, two-way contract in June and now is aiming to take the next step during camp t...

Arlen Erdahl, former Minnesota secretary of state and congressman, dies at 92

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:25 GMT

Arlen Erdahl, a former Minnesota secretary of state and U.S. state congressman, died this week after a long battle with Alzheimer’s, his family members said Saturday.A farmer and lifelong public servant, Erdahl died Thursday at the age of 92.He and his twin brother, Lowell, were raised on a farm near Blue Earth, Minn. Erdahl’s earliest political experience was campaigning with his dad for Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party gubernatorial candidate Floyd B. Olson.He attended St. Olaf College where he participated in three sports and was captain of the track team. He went on to serve in the U.S. Army and run for the army’s track team.After his military service, he worked on the family farm and married Ellen Syrdal in 1958. Along with raising six children, the couple “campaigned and traveled back and forth from the farm to political and fellowship posts in St. Paul, Boston, Washington, D.C., and Kingston, Jamaica,” per a news release from Erdahl’s family.Du...

CU Buffs vs. Oregon quick hits: Coach Prime gets humbling many thought — and some hoped — they’d see three weeks ago at TCU

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:25 GMT

Initial observations from the CU Buffs’ 42-6 loss to the Oregon Ducks in head coach Deion Sanders’ Pac-12 debut at Autzen Stadium on Saturday in Eugene, Ore.Running on empty: The Buffs’ first nine plays of the game? Eight passes, one run (the latter for one yard). Clearly, offensive coordinator Sean Lewis does not trust CU’s run game, and it’s hard to blame him. Shedeur Sanders is special. That much we knew after three weeks. But the offensive line? That’s a work in progress — as evidenced by the Ducks’ seven sacks. Right now, the Buffs offense is way too one-dimensional. While that might work against the likes of TCU, Nebraska and CSU, it falls to pieces against college football’s upper echelon. Until CU can threaten defenses with a run game that churns out 4-5 yards per carry, there’s only so much its star quarterback can do.Faked out: In a game where the Buffs were 21-point underdogs, somehow it was the Ducks who were taking t...

Kickin’ It with Kiz: Where can the crazy-rich Waltons get a $4.65 billion refund for these broken Broncos?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:25 GMT

Now that our dusty old cowtown’s favorite football team is owned by the Walmart family, I’m curious to know if they have a return policy for quarterback Russel Wilson and this entire NFL franchise. Just how does the Walton-Penner ownership group go about getting a refund on the $4.65 billion they paid for the Broncos? Do family members merely show the original receipt at their local Walmart, then wait for a refund to be posted on the same credit card they used to make the purchase? Or do they just end up getting a store credit?Buddy, AuroraKiz: Well, it seems unlikely the bickering Bowlen kids will offer even a partial refund, so how do the crazy-rich Waltons begin to recoup some of that $4.65 billion? Perhaps they could interest you in buying an entire rack of orange No. 3 jerseys, all at 50% off.Should the Broncos tank for a shot at drafting quarterback Caleb Williams of Southern Cal? I hate it when I agree with you, Kiz. But some nice folks out there in Broncos Country don&...

How it happened: Colorado gets blown out in Pac-12 opener at Oregon

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:25 GMT

Game headlinesCU Buffs vs. Oregon quick hits: Coach Prime gets humbling many thought — and some hoped — they’d see three weeks ago at TCUFINAL: Ducks 42, Buffs 6Say goodbye to the Heisman hype. Time to shutter those Rose Bowl dreams.Reality hit the CU Buffs on Saturday afternoon in a 42-6 loss to the Oregon Ducks. And it hit HARD.The Buffs still have a ways to go before they enter the same stratosphere as college football’s elite. That Coach Prime couldn’t get them there by Week 4 of his first season in Boulder is hardly an indictment. It’s simply the reality of the sport. It takes more than one offseason to build the sort of quality depth needed to win in a place like Autzen Stadium. Maybe even more than two.CU has work to do up front. If that wasn’t apparent after last Saturday night’s Rocky Mountain Showdown, it’s painfully obvious now — especially for quarterback Shedeur Sanders.USC and Big Noon Kickoff await next Saturday in Boulder. We’...