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Republicans tweak Brewers stadium repair plan to cut the total public contribution by $54 million

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:30:15 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican legislators in Wisconsin announced Thursday that they have scaled back their plan to help fund repairs at the Milwaukee Brewers’ stadium by $54 million, clearing the way for a vote on the state Assembly floor next week. Reports commissioned by the Brewers and another by a state consultant found American Family Field’s glass outfield doors, seats and concourses should be replaced, its luxury suites and technology such as its sound system and video scoreboard need upgrades, and its signature retractable roof needs repairs. Fire suppression systems, parking lots, elevators and escalators need work, too. Assembly Republicans released a bill in September that called for the state to contribute $411 million and the city of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County to contribute a combined $200 million from 2024 through 2050. The Brewers have agreed to chip in $100 million and extend their lease at American Family Field through 2050, keeping Major League Ba...

Actor and comedian Michael Rapaport revealed as Pickle during ‘Masked Singer’s’ 2000s Night

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:30:15 GMT

This week’s episode of “The Masked Singer” flashed back to the 2000s for another fun themed night. It also ended with another big unmasking, and we spoke with the latest star to be revealed about his time on the show.Nick Cannon: “Tonight, it’s a throwback party on “The Masked Singer,” as we hit up the 2000s.Singer Jewel kicked off 2000s Night on “The Masked Singer.”After the entertainment, it was time to get down to biz.Nick Cannon: “Our Group A contestants are back, and they are fighting for a place in the Group A finals.”First there were the performances.Pickle (singing): “Pickle, Pickle, where I come from isn’t all that great.”Then the big reveal of who would be staying.Nick Cannon: “The results are in. The singer taking the last spot in the Group A finals is S’more!”After that, there was only one more thing left to do.Nicole Scherzinger: “You know who would make an amazin...

GOP’s Scalise ends his bid to become House speaker after failing to secure the votes to win gavel

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:30:15 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Steve Scalise has ended his bid to become House speaker after failing to secure the votes to win the gavel.Scalise told GOP colleagues at a closed-door meeting late Thursday of his decision.Next steps are uncertain as the House is now essentially closed while the Republican majority tries to elect a speaker after ousting Kevin McCarthy from the job.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.WASHINGTON (AP) — Nominated to be House speaker, Rep. Steve Scalise on Thursday ran straight into a familiar, intensifying Republican problem: Skeptical GOP colleagues are refusing to give their support, denying him the majority vote needed to win the gavel.Frustrations mounted as the crisis deepened and Republicans lost another day without a House speaker. Scalise must peel off more than 100 votes, mostly from those who backed his chief rival, Rep. Jim Jordan, the Judiciary Committee chairman favored by hard-liners, who announced he was no longe...

Israel has lost my sympathy, says Croatia’s president

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:30:15 GMT

Croatian President Zoran Milanović said he doesn’t sympathize with Israel because of its reprisal actions in Gaza after last weekend’s Hamas attacks, and criticized displays of the Israeli flag in his country.In comments to media on Thursday, Milanović hit out at Israel over its retaliatory strikes in Gaza, which have so far killed more than 1,500 people according to Gaza’s health ministry, and called the Croatian foreign ministry’s decision to display the Israeli flag outside its building in solidarity with the country “an idiotic move.”“With all my sympathy for Israel, which unfortunately they lost within 15 minutes … there is no place for other flags in Croatia, except in strictly regulated situations,” Milanović said. “I condemned [Hamas’] murders, I even expressed disgust and abhorrence, but the right to defense does not include the right to revenge and the killing of civilians,” he added.Israel’s str...

Two seriously injured after head-on collision in Ipswich

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:30:15 GMT

Two people were seriously injured after a head-on collision in Ipswich, officials said.Sky7HD captured the crash at 330 High Street, where a Subaru and Hyundai collided after one vehicle crossed the center line. The driver of the Subaru, an 83-year-old Maine woman, and one of her passengers were extricated from the vehicle and flown to a Boston hospital.The second passenger of the Subaru, along with the 54-year-old Hyundai driver from Rowley and his 13-year-old daughter, were all transported to local hospitals.The crash remains under investigation, Ipswich police said.

Baltimore-born comedian Stavros Halkias, appearing at The Lyric, is more than his Ravens-loving ‘Ronnie’ persona

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:30:15 GMT

Stavros Halkias wants you to know he’s more than just Ronnie.The comedian, a native of Greektown, has picked up a robust social media following thanks in part to his embodiment of Ronnie, a Ravens-loving, obscenity-spitting, Dundalk- or Essex-residing character who posts video recaps after each of the team’s games. When the Ravens are winning, according to Ronnie, they’re headed straight to the Super Bowl. But when they lose, as they did against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, Ronnie is apoplectic.Ronnie is also the reason, Halkias suspects, that all six Baltimore shows of his new standup act, the Fat Rascal Tour, are nearly sold out. His residence at The Lyric kicks off Thursday night at 7 p.m., with two shows a night scheduled through Saturday. The tour comes as Halkias’ career is skyrocketing, with a debut special, “Live at the Lodge Room,” garnering more than 5 million views on YouTube and more in the works.“I never expected to...

Bruins notebook: All-Centennial team unveiled

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:30:15 GMT

From Stanley Cup winners to the scrappers and everyone in between, the Bruins’ All-Centennial team represented all eras of B’s hockey.Unveiled on Thursday night at the B’s Gala at the Fairmont Copley Plaza, the team of 20 players – 12 forwards, six defensemen and two goalies – consisted of members from all six Stanley Cup teams, some current Bruins and the wildly popular Lunch Pail AC team that was far more talented than the nickname would indicate.The top 20 players came from a paring down of the “Historic 100” that was voted on by Bruins’ media members and hockey historians. The Herald had a vote on the committee. There were some obvious no-brainers – Bobby Orr, Ray Bourque, Phil Esposito, to name a few – but also some tough tough cuts.Current captain Brad Marchand is fifth among Bruins forwards in all-time points – and counting – and is one of the 12 forwards on the Centennial team. But he’s still star-struck at events like the ones that have been st...

1 of 2 Colorado officers convicted in death of Elijah McClain after police stop, ketamine injection

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:30:15 GMT

BRIGHTON, Colo. (AP) — Jurors convicted a Denver-area police officer of homicide Thursday and acquitted another of all charges in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain, a Black man whose name became a rallying cry in protests over racial injustice in policing.Aurora police officer Randy Roedema was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault by a 12-person jury. They found officer Jason Rosenblatt not guilty.Roedema, who kept his head bowed after the verdict was read, faces up to three years in prison on the more serious homicide charge. Rosenblatt hugged his supporters as he walked out of court.McClain’s mother listened to the verdict from the front row, where Attorney General Phil Weiser had his hand on her shoulder. Sheneen McClain held her right hand high in a raised fist as she left the courtroom. She expressed disappointment in the verdict.“This is the divided states of America, and that’s what happens,” she said as she walked away from the court house.Mc...

Unpublished works and manuscript by legendary Argentine writer Cortázar sell for $42,120 at auction

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:30:15 GMT

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — A buyer from Argentina paid $42,120 for a manuscript of works, including seven unpublished stories, by legendary Argentine writer Julio Cortázar at an auction Thursday in the Uruguayan capital, Montevideo.The bundle of 60-year-old sheets bound together with metal fasteners bearing the inscription “Julio Cortázar. Historias de Cronopios y de Famas. Paris. 1952” was the basis for the writer’s iconic “Cronopios and Famas” book, published in 1962.The buyer paid $36,000, plus the auction house’s 17% commission, for the typewritten manuscript containing 46 short stories that make up the heart of what ended up becoming one of Cortázar’s most famous works.Of the total stories, 35 were published in “Cronopios and Famas.” Some were printed exactly as found in the manuscript that was once thought to be lost forever. It was discovered in Montevideo last year, while others underwent editorial changes. Three other stories were published in magazines before Cortáza...

South African authorities target coal-smuggling gang they say contributed to a power crisis

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:30:15 GMT

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — South African authorities said they conducted raids across five provinces Thursday to break up a coal-smuggling syndicate they blamed for stealing more than $26 million in coal, degrading state-owned power plants and contributing to an electricity crisis.The criminal gang diverted trucks carrying high-grade coal to power stations, stealing the coal to sell, and replacing it with sub-standard product, the country’s tax and revenue agency said in a statement. The substandard coal has caused crippling damage to the country’s power plants, authorities said. The South African Revenue Service worked with other law enforcement agencies to carry out the search and seizure operations in the Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and Limpopo provinces. No arrests have been made yet, national police spokesperson Brig. Athlenda Mathe said.Africa’s most advanced economy is in the midst of a power crisis that has resulted in scheduled rolling blackouts...