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Biden’s approval rating on the economy stagnates despite slowing inflation, AP-NORC poll shows

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has devoted the past several weeks to promoting the positive impacts of his policies — but his efforts have yet to meaningfully register with the public.Only 36% of U.S. adults approve of Biden’s handling of the economy, slightly lower than the 42% who approve of his overall performance, according to the new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.Both figures are close to where Biden’s approval numbers have stood for about the past year and a half, including just two months ago. Signs of an improving economic outlook have done little to sway how people feel about the Democratic president as he gears up for a 2024 reelection campaign that could pit him against his predecessor and 2020 opponent, Republican Donald Trump. Job growth has stayed solid with the unemployment rate at 3.5%, while the pace of inflation has slowed sharply over the past year to the annual rate of 3.2%.Both Biden and Trump have weaknesses as ol...

US Army soldier accused of killing his wife in Alaska faces court hearing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A U.S. Army soldier accused of killing his wife in Alaska after a night out celebrating his 21st birthday is set to be back in court Thursday, according to court records.Zarrius Ray Hildabrand faces murder and evidence tampering charges in the death of his wife, Saria Hildabrand, of Utah, whose body was found in a storm drain in Anchorage, Alaska.Hildabrand first reported his wife missing Aug. 7. Police arrested him after finding Saria Hildabrand’s body as well as the mattress in their home “saturated” by blood, according to a complaint filed in the case.A judge during a court hearing Aug. 11 set bail for Hildabrand at $500,000 and appointed a public defender for him, the Anchorage Daily News reported. He is scheduled for a pre-indictment hearing in Anchorage on Thursday.A message seeking comment from an attorney representing Hildabrand was not returned.According to the complaint, Hildabrand reported his wife missing the evening of Aug. 7. He said they had been...

Concert review: Despite sexually charged new image, Sam Smith still sang sad songs at Xcel Energy Center

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

When the lights went out at the start of Sam Smith’s concert Wednesday night at St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center, red horn-shaped lights littered the crowd of about 10,000.Smith, who uses them/they pronouns, has been exploring their devilish side as of late and was selling light-up horn crowns at their merch tables. Prior to the release of Smith’s fourth album “Gloria,” they announced they had taken creative control over the record and its various promotions, including the current tour.That has meant gender bending and provocative outfits and music videos that sometimes come across as ridiculous rather than revolutionary. Both the album cycle and Wednesday’s show culminated with “Unholy,” a sexually charged song they wrote and recorded with pop singer Kim Petras. It hit No. 1 and won a Grammy, firsts for both the nonbinary Smith and trans Petras. At the Grammys, the pair delivered a campy, Satan-themed performance that had some online right-wingers whipped up in...

Popular KBBQ chain Baekjeong opens first Bay Area location at Valley Fair

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

(KRON) -- A popular Korean barbecue chain is coming to the South Bay. Baekjeong opened its first Bay Area location on Wednesday at the Westfield Valley Fair in San Jose, the restaurant and mall announced on social media. Baekjeong is located right outside Bloomingdales. The location's hours are 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday to Thursday. Friday is from 11:30 a.m. until midnight. Saturday is from 11 a.m. to midnight. Sunday is from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Starbucks no longer offering disposable cups at these North Bay locations Baekjeong opened its first U.S. location in Los Angeles in 2012. It has since expanded to eight total restaurants nationwide: one in New York, one in Lynnwood, WA and six Southern California locations.The Korean BBQ chain has been well-received by food critics across the country. Baekjeong has been featured in national outlets, including the New York Post, Wall Street Journal, Insider and Forbes.Baekjeong's location in Los Angeles was named among the best barbec...

Residents ordered to evacuate the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories as wildfires near

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

YELLOWKNIFE, Northwest Territories (AP) — Residents in the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories were ordered to evacuate Wednesday night as wildfires neared the city of 20,000 people.People in the four areas of Yellowknife at highest risk should leave as soon as possible and residents in other areas have until noon Friday to leave, the Northwest Territories government said.“I want to be clear that the city is not in immediate danger and there’s a safe window for residents to leave the city by road and by air,” Shane Thompson, environment minister for the Territories, told a news conference. The fire was burning about 17 kilometers (10 miles) outside the city. “Without rain, it is possible it will reach the city outskirts by the weekend,” Thompson said.If smoke limits visibility, those leaving Yellowknife by highway will be escorted through the active fire zone.More than 200 wildfires have already burned a widespread area of the Northwest Territories. There were 1,06...

Two catcher’s interference calls help Dodgers beat Brewers 7-1 for 10th straight win

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mookie Betts went 3 for 4 and scored four runs, and the Los Angeles Dodgers benefitted from two catcher’s interference calls to win their 10th in a row, beating the Milwaukee Brewers 7-1 on Wednesday night.The Dodgers increased their NL West lead to 10 games over second-place San Francisco. They’ve outscored the opposition 61-22 during their winning streak.Freddie Freeman ended an 0-for-14 skid with a 3-for-5 performance to go with stellar defense on a night when the Dodgers turned three double plays.Five of the Dodgers’ seven runs came with two outs, including Chris Taylor’s solo shot in the seventh.Clayton Kershaw (11-4) allowed one run and three hits in five innings, struck out two and walked two in his second start since coming off the injured list. The left-hander’s 208th victory moved him within one of tying Don Drysdale for second on the franchise’s all-time wins list.Brewers catcher William Contreras was called for interference in t...

La familia de Leonard Bernstein defiende la interpretación de Bradley Cooper en “Maestro”

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

(CNN) — Los hijos de Leonard Bernstein, compositor y director de orquesta, defendieron la interpretación que hizo el actor Bradley Cooper de su difunto padre en la película “Maestro”, que se estrenará próximamente.Luego de que se conociera el primer tráiler de la producción esta semana, alguno críticos en redes sociales manifestaron su preocupación de que el maquillaje que utilizó Cooper para interpretar a Bernstein en la película reforzara los hirientes estereotipos antisemitas.Otras personas plantearon dudas sobre la selección del elenco, teniendo en cuenta el legado del que proviene Bernstein. Nació en Massachusetts, hijo de inmigrantes judíos de Rusia. En contraste, no se conoce que Cooper sea de ascendencia judía.Carey Mulligan como Felicia Montealegre y Bradley Cooper como Leonard Bernstein en “Maestro”. (Jason McDonald/Netflix)Sin embargo, los tres hijos de Bernstein, Jamie, Alexander y Nina, compartieron en Instagram una declaración sobre la res...

Cubs RHP Marcus Stroman has a rib cartilage fracture, and there is no timetable for his return

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Cubs right-hander Marcus Stroman has a right rib cartilage fracture, and there is no timetable for his return.The new injury for Stroman, who was placed on the 15-day injured list Aug. 2 because of inflammation in his right hip, is a blow for the Cubs as they try for the franchise’s first playoff appearance since 2020.“He’s been an important part of our success when he’s healthy, and you know, it stinks. Bad news,” manager David Ross said. “But we’ll continue on. This game moves on.”Stroman was slated to come off the IL and start Wednesday against the White Sox, but he experienced some discomfort in the rib area after throwing a bullpen session Sunday in Toronto. He visited a doctor Monday and had an MRI that showed the cartilage fracture.“We had no idea what it was,” President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer said. “It’s not your usual pitching injury. It’s not an arm. It’s not a shoulder. It’s not an elbow.”The...

Dean Kremer bests Manny Machado, but Padres top Orioles, 5-2, in rubber match

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

Five years later, determining the winner of the Manny Machado trade is a matter of nuance. The Los Angeles Dodgers reached but lost the World Series after the Orioles parted with the star infielder’s final half-season before free agency. The Orioles certainly would have liked to have done better in the deal, but even though only one member of Baltimore’s five-player return is still with the organization, he’s provided more value by himself than Machado did for the Dodgers.Right-hander Dean Kremer was not the centerpiece of that July 2018 trade, but he’s grown into that role for Baltimore, partly by default. The other four prospects the Orioles received in that trade never amounted to much for them, but Kremer has developed into a reliable starter.He showed as much Wednesday, when he faced Machado, now in his fifth year with the Padres, for the first time but took the loss in a 5-2 Orioles defeat. Machado, a six-time All-Star, went 0-for-3 against the 27-year-...

Orioles catcher James McCann took his own advice for scoreless pitching debut: ‘Throw it slow as you can for strikes’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

Whenever a position player has pitched with James McCann behind the plate, he gives the same piece of advice. He followed it when he took a major league mound himself for the first time.Pitching the bottom of the eighth inning Tuesday night in the Orioles’ 10-3 loss to the San Diego Padres, the 10-year veteran did what he’s told other position players who have pitched to him: “Throw it slow as you can for strikes.” In a scoreless inning, only one of McCann’s 14 pitches exceeded 50 mph, and nine of them were in the zone or put in play.“I think I threw harder in the cage warming up than I did on the field,” McCann said. “There’s no such thing as throwing it above hitting speed, but there’s something to throwing below hitting speed. If you’re just kind of out there playing catch, well then it’s like batting practice. I’m a big believer in position players, just see how slow you can throw it and let your defen...