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Dozens of POWs freed as Ukraine marks Orthodox Easter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:50 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — More than 100 Ukrainian prisoners of war have been released as part of a major Easter exchange with Russia, a top official said Sunday, as Orthodox Ukrainians marked the holiday for a second time since Moscow unleashed its brutal full-scale war last February. While celebrations were subdued due to security risks, with a curfew barring the faithful from customary all-night services, Ukrainian authorities and ordinary people shared messages of hope, linking the story of Jesus’ resurrection to their longing for peace and a Ukrainian victory. Dozens of families had special reasons to rejoice, as presidential adviser Andriy Yermak announced that 130 soldiers, sailors, border guards and others captured by Moscow were on their way back home following a “big Easter prisoner exchange.”Yermak said in a Telegram post Sunday that those released included troops who fought near Bakhmut, the eastern mining city which has for months been the focus of Russia’s grinding offensive...

Syria’s FM to Algeria, Tunisia to revive diplomatic ties

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:50 GMT

ALGIERS (AP) — Syria’s chief diplomat has started a visit to Algeria and Tunisia as part of efforts to revive diplomatic relationships in the Arab world, more than a decade after his country was globally isolated amid President Bashar Assad’s brutal crackdown on mass protests against his rule.Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad was welcomed on Saturday in the lounge of Algiers airport by his Algerian counterpart Ahmed Attaf. In remarks broadcast by Algerian public television. Mikdad insisted that “relations between the two brotherly countries exist and will continue to exist … beyond the vicissitudes of the situation.” “My visit will be an opportunity for discussions between the two countries on the latest developments in the region. We need to strengthen this bilateral relationship,” he added.Algeria is one of the few Arab countries that did not cut off relations with Syria during the civil war that followed the 2011 uprising.Mikdad notably praised Algeria’s help after the d...

2 teens shot in the Loop during large disturbance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:50 GMT

CHICAGO — Two teens were shot Saturday night during a large crowd disturbance in the Loop.Chicago police said a 16-year-old male and a 17-year-old male were in the 0-100 block of East Washington around 9 p.m. when shots were fired from an unknown person or persons.The 16-year-old was taken to the hospital in fair condition with a gunshot wound to the arm. The 17-year-old was taken to the hospital in fair condition with a gunshot wound to the left leg.A heavy presence of police officers was seen responding to the disturbance.WGN-TV News crews heard shots fired. Cars were damaged after reports of teens jumping on cars. A car was damaged on Saturday in the Loop.The CTA reported service disruptions on several lines due to the ongoing police activity in the Loop.Saturday was the second night in a row Chicago police officers responded to reports of teens creating disturbances. A 14-year-old boy was shot in the left thigh around 8:50 p.m. Friday near the 31st Street beach. 4 teens shot, ...

‘Thursday Social Club’ helps Living Well residents and Dakota County students find community

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:50 GMT

Nearly every Thursday this year, the Black Box Theatre in Inver Grove Heights has been full of art supplies, board games and, on occasion, a banjo.Each Thursday throughout Inver Hills Community College’s spring semester, students and folks who are supported by Living Well Disability Services have gathered to play games, laugh, learn from each other and create community.Aptly named the Thursday Social Club, the events are hosted by the intercultural communications class and each week’s activities are led by a student. The 10-week project has included an art show, a Bob Ross-style painting class, games in the gym and poetry writing, to name a few.The intercultural communications class has been taught by Amy Zsohar since 2007 and first partnered with Living Well in 2018, but this is the inaugural semester for the social club.Zsohar said the class is designed to help students communicate and interact with people who come from different cultures and backgrounds across race, religion, soc...

Sunday Bulletin Board: He was just out for a little bike ride on a beautiful spring day …

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:50 GMT

Life (and death) as we know itTHE DEUCE of Eagan writes: “Subject: Beyond the Next Curve.“Adhering to my weekend ritual, I was on my usually enjoyable morning one-hour bicycle tour of Little Canada, of which I was a resident — each jaunt normally a different route. I was thinking what a beautiful spring day it was and daydreaming of a possible picnic with my wife in the afternoon. She had decided to go grocery shopping instead of biking together, as we normally would. I was wishing she had joined me in what I felt was the beginning of ‘the perfect day.’“About 15 minutes into the bike ride, I could hear the sound of a siren which seemed to be getting louder by the minute. Then, traveling toward me, I could see the red flashing lights of a Ramsey County Sheriff vehicle clearly on an emergency run. The squad turned onto another artery road about a block away from my location. I decided to follow; however, I lost sight of the flashing lights after a few blo...

St. Paul mayor, council member propose citywide requirement for safe gun storage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:50 GMT

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and City Council Member Rebecca Noecker announced Thursday they are jointly proposing an amendment to city ordinances that would require safe gun storage.The goal is to reduce the harm caused by unlawful discharge of unsecured firearms. The proposed ordinance amendment would require firearms to be safely stored and secured, with ammunition stored separately. It will come before the city council for its first of at least three readings on Wednesday.City ordinances surrounding weapons specify that violations of the chapter in city code may be punishable by criminal misdemeanor charges, weapons confiscation and revocation of all registrations, permits and licenses.Minnesota has no law that requires unattended firearms to be stored in a certain way or locked with a locking device when not in use. However, it is against state law to leave a loaded firearm where a child under age 18 is likely to gain access to it.A statement from the St. Paul mayor’s off...

Possible storm damage reports from the National Weather Service, lingering showers continue Sunday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:50 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Keep an eye out for additional storm damage reports from the National Weather Service. We'll probably start getting more after daylight. We have lingering showers Sunday morning. These showers will continue, mainly north of I-70, as the morning progresses. St. Louis radar: See a map of current weather here Temperatures are expected to be much cooler Sunday, not making it out of the 40s. Winds will be gusting up to 35 miles per hour out of the west, and we're set for cloudy skies. Temp lows are down to the 30s and low 40s. It's going to be breezy and milder by Monday, with highs in the 60s. Tuesday temps will be back up to the 70s. 

Nuggets can only prepare for revamped Timberwolves so much ahead of Game 1: “They’re a new team.”

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:50 GMT

When Game 1 tips off late Sunday night, in many ways, the Nuggets will be flying blind.But that lack of familiarity cuts both ways against a Timberwolves team that revamped at the trade deadline and got Karl-Anthony Towns back from injury ahead of the postseason.Towns wasn’t available for any of the four matchups against the Nuggets due to a significant calf strain. When Minnesota landed guards Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker on Feb. 8 in a blockbuster trade involving the Lakers and Jazz, its season series against Denver (2-2) was already finished.“No, not really,” reserve guard Bruce Brown said Saturday when asked whether much could be gleaned from the season series. “They’re a new team.”Furthermore, it was only late Friday night that the No. 1 vs. No. 8 matchup was secured. According to Brown, once the Nuggets knew it would be Minnesota or Oklahoma City earlier in the week, Denver prepared for both accordingly.But Saturday marked the Nuggets’ first practice with a definit...

Keeler: CU Buffs fans should thank Mel Tucker for Deion Sanders, Chris Fowler, ESPN and Ralphie running to relevance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:50 GMT

BOULDER — You know what? Thanks, Mel Tucker. Seriously. Because of you, Ralphie’s getting ready to run live, on ESPN, before a full house at Folsom Field. In late April.See all those people wearing CU black and gold again? Couldn’t have happened without you.Without you taking the money and running, Buffs football doesn’t crash, then burn. There’s no Karl Dorrell, no mass transfers, no scraping rock bottom, no 1-11. And no Coach Prime.Without you grabbing the cash, CU isn’t bringing Chris Fowler home to call a game at 2400 Colorado Ave., for the first time in over a decade.Without you rolling in dough, Saturday’s party doesn’t happen. The Buffs aren’t the only college football program whose spring game is featured live on ESPN. A scrimmage at Folsom Field isn’t sold out weeks in advance.“And they paid to get in,” Fowler told me earlier this month, “and that’s something else that’s unusual for a spring game. When Alabama and Georgia are drawing those record crowds, they’re (gett...

How Nikola Jokic maintains healthy basketball obsession amid glare of MVP spotlight: “Nothing really rattles him”

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:50 GMT

Nikola Jokic waltzed through the drab visitor’s locker room in Houston in early April when he overheard something that piqued his interest.“He’s the most even-keeled superstar I’ve ever been around,” DeAndre Jordan mused to a reporter, prompting Jokic to lean in and inquire.Jordan, a heady 15-year veteran, wasn’t about to miss the layup.“No, not you,” Jordan said, swatting Jokic away like a gnat. “I’m talking about Bruce (Brown).”Content with Jordan’s wit, Jokic barely reacted before ambling on toward his locker room stall.On the eve of the most important postseason of his career to date, Jokic is more at ease than one might think after wading through the mud of a toxic MVP race, carrying a franchise for consecutive seasons, and fighting to protect his humility in the face of increasing celebrity.Even as the noise got louder, and the possibility Jokic could join a club currently occupied by only Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell and Larry Bird grew more pr...