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Powerball, Mega Millions barrel towards record highs, hit combined $1.5B

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:00 GMT

The Powerball jackpot hit a sky-high estimated $900 million jackpot following Saturday’s winner-less drawing, just as the Mega Millions hit $640 million — only the third time ever both jackpots broke $600 million simultaneously.“Numbers like this are crazy,” said Ted Griffith, walking away from a Jamaica Plain 7-Eleven counter with his tickets Sunday morning. “I had to try my luck.”The combined total of the major lotteries is now an estimated $1.54 billion. The next Powerball drawing will happen Monday night. The next Mega Millions takes place Tuesday.The Powerball cash option would be $465.1 million. The Mega Millions cash prize is $328 million.The Powerball jackpot is the game’s third largest jackpot ever, following $2.04 billion won by a California ticketholder in November 2022 and $1.586 billion won by ticketholders in California, Florida and Tennessee in 2016.The $900 million jackpot has built up through 38 drawings, since the last winn...

Suspect in 4 Georgia deaths is killed in shootout with police, 3 officers wounded, authorities say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:00 GMT

HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — Officers on Sunday shot and killed a man wanted in four weekend killings near Atlanta during an exchange of gunfire, with a sheriff’s deputy and two police officers wounded while trying to take the suspect into custody, authorities said.Officials said Andre Longmore was shot during an intense manhunt for the 40-year-old suspect. The exchange of gunfire came a day after Saturday morning’s shootings rocked a bucolic subdivision in Hampton, south of Georgia’s main city.Officials said Longmore was killed about 15 miles (25 kilometers) to the north of Hampton in suburban Jonesboro. A Henry County sheriff’s deputy and two Clayton County police officers were injured at separate locations in the attempt to arrest Longmore, they said.One officer was shot in the back and was taken by helicopter to an Atlanta trauma center, Henry County Sheriff Reginald Scandrett said. “He is conscious, breathing and talking at this time,” Scandrett said of that offi...

Golden Gate Fields racetrack in Northern California to close this fall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:00 GMT

It’s the end of an era for Northern California horse racing.Golden Gate Fields will permanently close after its final racing date later this year at the San Francisco Bay area horse track.The track’s owner, The Stronach Group, said Sunday it will “double down” on its racing at Santa Anita and training at San Luis Rey Downs in Southern California.After the Golden Gate Fields meet ends, The Stronach Group said it will focus on moving horses from the Bay Area to Arcadia, with a goal of increasing field sizes and adding a fourth day of racing to the weekly schedule at Santa Anita beginning in January.“The Stronach Group remains steadfastly committed to racing in California,” company CEO and president Belinda Stronach said in a statement. “Focusing on Santa Anita Park and San Luis Rey Downs as state-of-the-art racing and training facilities that offer enhanced program quality, increased race days, expanded wagering opportunities, and premier hospitality and entert...

1 injured in shooting near Pelham Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:00 GMT

One person has been injured in a shooting near Pelham Park Sunday evening. Toronto police were called to the Pelham Park Gardens and Osler Street area just before 6:30 p.m. The victim is being transported to hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.Officers are looking for a male suspect with cornrows, wearing a black bandana. The vehicle is described as gray with a high spoiler.A significant police presence is expected in the area as officers investigate. Davenport Road is also closed from Laughton to Gillespie Avenues.

Saint Sabina hosts mass for newly-arrived migrants

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Saint Sabina Catholic Church hosted a special mass Sunday to welcome new migrants into the South Side community.About 50 refugees attended Sunday service at the Auburn Gresham church after fleeing danger from various central American countries, such as Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico and Venezuela, for a fresh start in the Chicago area.The idea for today's visit came from a conversation between father Michael Pfleger and the charity organization 'United Giving Hope.' 5 people shot, 1 fatally, in Garfield Park drive-by: CPD "Something that we all know, that we are all people and people of God," said Julie Contreras, from United Giving Hope. "And when we enter into the home of Saint Sabina, the table of God is open to all of us to worship."In a show of solidarity, some of Saint Sabina's youngest members joined refugee children near the altar.Refugees said they felt honored to receive the invitation to pray and give thanks, and to show their appreciation, they presented a gift...

'Leaders for a New Chicago' program honoree talks creating a platform for people with disabilities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Every year, the Field Foundation's Leaders for a New Chicago program recognizes a number of individuals making an impact in the fields of art, justice, media and storytelling.Vanessa Harris, a 2023 nominee of the program and retired engineer, sat down with WGN to discuss the inspiration behind the Strategy for Access Foundation, and the website 'Fun 4 the Disabled,' platforms she created for people with disabilities."I have multiple disabilities myself and I have found the media doesn't address people with disabilities that much," Harris said. Smart Agriculture Equity Expo aims to educate Chicago youth on urban farming Harris said she took a documentary class at the Hyde Park Art Center that sparked a new passion for inclusive, positively-charged storytelling."People with disabilities, there is a negative association with them," Harris said. "And I'm trying to bring joy."More than 500,000 Chicagoland residents report having a disability. The mission behind Strategy for A...

Actor, singer and style icon Jane Birkin dies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:00 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Actor and singer Jane Birkin, who made France her home and charmed the country with her English grace, natural style and social activism, has died at age 76.The London-born star and fashion icon was known for her musical and romantic relationship with French singer Serge Gainsbourg. Their songs notably included the steamy “Je t’aime moi non plus" ("I Love You, Me Neither"). Birkin's ethereal, British-accented singing voice interlaced with his gruff baritone in the 1969 duet that helped make her famous and was forbidden in Italy after being denounced in the Vatican newspaper.The style Birkin displayed in the 1960s and early 1970s — long hair with bangs, jeans paired with white tops, knit mini dresses and basket bags — still epitomizes the height of French chic for many women around the world.FILE - British-born movie actress Jane Birkin, left center, and her then constant companion, French actor Serge Gainsbourg, right center, pose while they attended the Inter...

Child thrown from carnival ride in Illinois, flown to hospital

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:00 GMT

ANTIOCH, Ill. (WGN-TV) — A 10-year-old child was thrown from a carnival ride on Sunday in Antioch, Illinois, police said. Around 2:40 p.m., police said the child was thrown from the Moby Dick ride at the Taste of Antioch festival. The 10-year-old was flown to a local hospital. Their condition was not released Sunday afternoon. Another kid who was on the Moby Dick ride said the bar for his seat was coming over his head several times, and he had to re-secure it."My bar was coming up over my head, so every time I went up because it was going up and I was almost about to fall out, I would slam down to close it so that way I would not fall out," Elliott Johnson said. "Then as soon as it started slowing down and it was about maybe rocking on the floor, I was able to push it up and slide out."Johnson said he then ran to find help for the injured child. Antioch Mayor Scott Gartner used his executive authority to close the rides while a safety review of each ride is completed, according to t...

Dallas Keuchel, Jorge Polanco getting closer to being with Twins

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:00 GMT

The focus on Sunday at CHS Field was on a pair of veteran major league players and their quest to soon be in a Twins uniform.Starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel, who signed with the organization in late June with the aim of resuming his big league career, started for the Saints and pitched six innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on eight hits. He struck out six.Jorge Polanco, the Twins’ starting second baseman, made his first rehab start with the Saints and went 2 for 3 as the designated hitter in the Saints’ 5-3 loss to the Durham Bulls.After four starts with the Saints, Keuchel’s earned-run average stands at 0.90, proving at the very least that he can get Triple-A hitters out. The former Cy Young Award winner’s deal with the Twins includes an opt out should the Twins elect not to bring him up by a certain date.According to Keuchel, that date is July 21, which will be one month after he signed.“I really haven’t talked to my guys or with the team,” Keuchel said. “I’m sure in the c...

Alex Kirilloff drives in four as Twins sweep Oakland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:00 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. — Alex Kirilloff went 2 for 4 with a solo home run and a go-ahead, bases-clearing double as the Twins beat the A’s, 5-4, in front of 9,335 at Oakland Coliseum.Christian Vazquez was 3 for 4 with a solo home run and two runs scored, and Joe Ryan gutted out 5⅔ innings, giving up three earned runs on five hits and three runs and struck out seven for Minnesota, which returned from the break with a sweep of baseball’s worst team.Jorge Lopez (3-2) earned the victory, relieving Ryan and giving up a run on 1 hit and a walk. Lucas Erceg (2-1) earned the loss after giving up a one-out, bases-clearing double to Kirilloff in the seventh inning.Jhoan Duran, pitching for a third straight day, pitched the ninth for his 15th save.Jordan Diaz hit a solo home run and plated another run with a sacrifice fly as the A’s took a 3-0 lead after four innings.