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Chains and pains: How one Mexican town celebrates Holy Week

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:14:08 GMT

ATLIXCO, Mexico (AP) — Barefoot, half naked and blindfolded, throngs of middle aged men groan as they drag their bodies along blazing cobblestone streets.Pieces of cactus sit lodged on their arms and legs, and 70-pound chains hang around their necks and clatter around their ankles as crowds watch them pass.For these men, it’s not a form of torture, but rather a cherished tradition that has played out for more than a hundred years in the Mexican town of Atlixco.Every year on Good Friday in the small Mexican town of Atlixco, more than a hundred men make the trek known as the Procesión de los Engrillados — the Procession of the Chained.In this country where nearly 80% of the people are Roman Catholic, the participants believe it’s a way to give thanks or to pay penance for their sins.“It’s an act of gratitude for all that God has given me, and a way to ask for forgiveness for all the bad I’ve done to be a better person,” said Martín Cazares, 42, who has participated in the march for tw...

Judge in Washington orders feds to keep abortion pill access

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:14:08 GMT

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — A federal judge in Washington state on Friday ordered U.S. authorities not to make any changes that would restrict access to the abortion medication mifepristone in 17 Democratic-led states that sued over the issue, countering a ruling by a judge in Texas on the same day that ordered a hold on federal approval of the drug.The dueling decisions threw into question access to the nation’s most common method of abortion, one that scientists have approved for use for decades.U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk, a Trump administration appointee in Amarillo, Texas, signed an injunctio n directing the Food and Drug Administration to stay mifepristone’s approval while a lawsuit challenging the safety and approval of the drug continues. That ruling came in a lawsuit brought by the conservative group Alliance Defending Freedom.In Washington state, Spokane-based Judge Thomas O. Rice, an Obama administration appointee, partially granted a request from 17 states and the...

NHL to have ‘busiest day’ in league’s history Saturday

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:14:08 GMT

With 16 games on the schedule for April 8, the National Hockey League (NHL) is gearing up for a historic Saturday.All 32 teams in the NHL are set to play in the same day, marking the first time this has happened, the league says.On the eve of the first 16-game day in NHL history, #NHLStats can guarantee one thing about tomorrow: your team is in action. Rest up. pic.twitter.com/8hjoSMbiXa— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 7, 2023The earliest game is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. PT/12:30 p.m. ET, with the Carolina Hurricanes facing off against the Buffalo Sabres.Meanwhile, puck drop for the latest game of the day, between the Colorado Avalanche and LA Kings, is set for 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET.There are a number of crucial wild card races to keep an eye on. In the Western Conference, the Calgary Flames will play the Vancouver Canucks, and the Nashville Predators will face the Winnipeg Jets.In the Eastern Conference, the Pittsburgh Penguins will play the Detroit Red Wing...

Rockies’ sidearmer Justin Lawrence evolving into dependable reliever

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:14:08 GMT

Justin Lawrence’s sidewinder delivery has bite and venom. Just ask the heart of the Padres’ order.On opening day, the Rockies’ right-hander fanned Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts and Jake Cronenworth on a combined 14 pitches. And while it’s early in the season, Lawrence appears to be evolving into a dependable weapon in the bullpen.“It’s about comfort level and confidence and knowing that he belongs in the big leagues,” Rockies manager Bud Black said before Friday night’s game against the Nationals at Coors Field.Lawrence’s sidearm style confounds hitters, especially right-handers who feel like the ball is coming to the plate from behind their backs. Add in the movement on Lawrence’s fastball and slider and he’s difficult to hit.Over his first three appearances, Lawrence held opponents scoreless, allowing two hits with one walk and five strikeouts over 3 1/3 innings. He’s in a very good place, and with closer Dan...

Ex-student charged with attempted murder in alleged Colorado Springs school shooting plot

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:14:08 GMT

A former student has been charged with two counts of criminal attempt to commit murder in connection to threats targeting Colorado Springs schools.Lilly Whitworth, 19, faces multiple charges following an investigation into threats involving schools in Colorado Springs Academy District 20, according to the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.On March 31, a deputy with the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office was sent to 13915 Double Tree Ranch Circle in Elbert on a report of a disturbance and that the suspect had threatened to “shoot up a school.”Chrysann Whitworth, 21, the suspect’s sister, greeted a deputy at the residence and said that her sister was upstairs and “was very upset” and had punched holes in the walls, according to an arrest affidavit.Deputy Mike Watters, in the affidavit, described the residence as being cluttered and filled with trash. Whitworth was contacted in her room, which was also in a state of disarray. The suspect had...

Man barricades himself inside West Hollywood apartment after shooting neighbor through wall: LASD

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:14:08 GMT

A man who allegedly shot his neighbor through a wall in a West Hollywood apartment Friday morning is now barricaded inside the building, authorities said. The incident was reported around 8:15 a.m. in the 7100 block of Santa Monica Boulevard and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to a noise complaint, officials said. A woman in her 50s was eventually transported to a hospital with two gunshot wounds, one to her upper torso and one to her lower extremities, Deputy Miguel Meza detailed. The injuries were not life threatening. The victim was believed to be alone in her kitchen when the bullets went through the wall and struck her, Meza said. It is unclear if the shooting was accidental or if the victim was targeted, he added.Seven apartments near where the shooting occurred were evacuated as a precaution. Authorities have tried to contact the man believed to be holed up inside the apartment where the shots came from, to no avail. Amid the response, a Sheriff’s D...

Kurtenbach: Empty promises, empty seats. The Giants home opener was all about who wasn’t there

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:14:08 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — It was a mucky day by the Bay.The kind of day — 57 degrees and drizzling — when only the die-hard fans go to the ballgame.The problem for the Giants is that there are no longer enough die-hard fans to fill Oracle Park for a Friday afternoon Opening Day game.Don’t get me wrong; it was a great crowd. The lower bowl was filled with engaged and optimistic fans.And it was a good time out, save for the weather, the cost of concessions, the lack of star players, and the Giants losing 3-1.But there were not 40,711 butts in the seats — a sell-out crowd, as the Giants’ announced in the 7th inning.I’m not naive enough to buy that.Some old-fashioned, boots-on-the-ground journalism says the upper deck was three-quarters full with the mosaic featuring a whole lot of green seats among the black and orange. Plenty of seats were available on the Giants’ official website at first pitch.A “sellout” crowd watches the Giants and Royals in the fourth in...

Former 49ers star Aldon Smith gets jail time for Redwood City DUI

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:14:08 GMT

(KRON) -- Former San Francisco 49ers star pass rusher Aldon Smith will serve 12 months in jail for a 2021 DUI, court records show. He was also given a five-year term of supervised probation.San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe told KRON4 that Smith, 33, rear-ended a Recology work truck at 1:28 p.m. on Dec. 6, 2021, on an Interstate 280 off-ramp at Farm Hill Boulevard. He was found with marijuana in his pockets and empty bottles of rum and vodka in his pickup truck, Wagstaffe said. Here are the walk-up songs for the 2023 SF Giants lineup Smith asked the driver of the truck if he was ok before offering him $1,000 for a ride home instead of calling police, according to Wagstaffe. The driver declined and called California Highway Patrol.Smith originally denied driving the vehicle but was identified by the truck driver, per Wagstaffe. He refused a field sobriety test at first, but a later test revealed his blood-alcohol level was .288. The legal limit to drive is .08. The...

Sports on TV for April 8-9

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:14:08 GMT

(All times Eastern)Schedule subject to change and/or blackoutsSaturday, April 8AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL5:30 a.m.FS1 — AFL: Port Adelaide at SydneyAUTO RACING4:30 p.m.FS2 — NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Qualifying, Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt, Bristol, Tenn.6 p.m.FS2 — NASCAR Cup Series: Qualifying, Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt, Bristol, Tenn.8 p.m.FS1 — NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: The Weather Guard Truck Race on Dirt, Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt, Bristol, Tenn.10 p.m.FS1 — NASCAR Cup Series: Qualifying, Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt, Bristol, Tenn. (Taped)BOXING10 p.m.ESPN — Top Rank Main Card: Shakur Stevenson vs. Shuichiro Yoshino (Featherweights), Newark, N.J.SHO — Showtime Championship Main Card: Sebastian Fundora vs. Brian Mendoza (Super-Welterweights), Carson, Calif.COLLEGE BASEBALL12 p.m.BTN — Iowa at Indiana2 p.m.ESPN2 — Florida at Tennessee3 p.m.BTN — Rutgers at MarylandSECN — Arkansas at Mississippi4 p.m.ACCN — NC State at Wake Forest6 p.m.ESPNU — Mississippi St. at Alab...

Super spike: Chiefs’ Kelce bounces first pitch before opener

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:14:08 GMT

CLEVELAND (AP) — Travis Kelce showed why he’s best known for catching passes from Patrick Mahomes.Kansas City’s star tight end threw a comically wild ceremonial first pitch Friday before the Guardians’ season opener against the Seattle Mariners.After unbuttoning his jersey to unveil an “I’m From Cleveland” T-shirt, Kelce wound up and then bounced his pitch halfway to the plate. Guardians pitcher Shane Bieber jumped out of the way to avoid injury as the ball rolled to the backstop.Kelce ran down from the mound as if he was about to cover home plate and hugged Bieber to make sure he was OK.Guardians manager Terry Francona was asked if he had any trepidation about putting his ace in such a precarious position.“There would be the next time,” Francona said. “I’m glad he didn’t tackle him.”Kelce joked that his baseball skills were a little rusty.“Been spiking a football for the past 10 years,” Kelce wrote on Twitter. “Can you tell?”Kelce immediately joined the pant...