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Kentucky Derby runs into more obstacles ahead of big race

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:39 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The cast of characters for the 149th Kentucky Derby was rewritten again hours before the race Saturday when early favorite Forte was scratched.It was the fifth scratch from the Derby in the days leading up to the $3 million race for 3-year-olds. Five horses have died at Churchill Downs in recent days.Forte had been the early 3-1 favorite; his absence reduces the field to 18 horses for the 1 1/4-mile race.Mike Repole, co-owner of Forte, said veterinarians from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission had concerns about a bruised right front foot.Forte stumbled during a workout on Thursday, although trainer Todd Pletcher had downplayed it. He still has two horses in the race: Tapit Trice and Kingsbarns.A crowd of about 150,000 is expected to jam Churchill Downs to wager and watch the Derby. Post time is 6:57 p.m. EDT.The horse deaths included Derby contender Wild On Ice. Two of the horses were trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. He was indefinitely suspended by the track, ...

Off-duty Chicago police officer fatally shot after her shift

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:39 GMT

An off-duty Chicago police officer was shot and killed early Saturday as she headed home on the city’s Southside after her shift.The officer, whose name was not released, was shot about 1:42 a.m. in the city’s Avalon Park neighborhood, police said.She was found wounded by another officer who responded to an alert from the city’s gunshot detection system, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.The second officer rushed her to a hospital where she was pronounced dead. The slain officer had been with Chicago police about three years.No arrests have been made.The Associated Press

Queen or queen consort? What to know about Camilla’s title

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:39 GMT

Now that she has been crowned alongside her husband, King Charles III’s wife is officially known as Queen Camilla.While it sounds more official than “queen consort,” the changing of titles does not signify any practical difference in the role of the 75-year-old royal.Queen consorts do not formally share the sovereign’s powers, and dropping the “consort” part of the title does not change that. Nonetheless, the change marks a milestone in Camilla’s decadeslong road to rehabilitating her image — from someone once reviled as the other woman in Charles’ first marriage to Princess Diana, to a senior royal member largely accepted by the British public.The question of what title Camilla would hold when Charles became king has long been a subject of contention, due to sensitivity about her status as Charles’ second wife.Camilla and her first husband, Andrew Parker-Bowles, divorced in 1995, shortly after Charles gave an explosive television interview admitting his rela...

Another Friday night of storm weather

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:39 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Parts of Central Texas had another Friday night of severe weather. Storms arrived in San Saba County between 3:30 and 4 p.m. They marched across our northern and eastern counties before exiting Lee County around 1 a.m. Saturday.Most of the storm reports documented by the Storm Prediction Center were from hail 1.00" (quarter-size) to two reports of 2.50" (hen egg-size) in diameter. So far, there have been 20 reports of large hail. Hail at Lake Buchanan Courtesy: Michael and Jennifer KuhlBurnet County bore the brunt of the hail with eleven of the 20 reports. Those two reports of 2.50"-diameter hail came from these counties. The first, at 6:35, cracked a windshield 4 miles northeast of Inks Lake State Park. The second, a half hour later, was reported at Burnet Municipal Airport.1.50" hail in Burnet Courtesy: Lewis EckerA peak wind gust of 64 mph was clocked at a location 3 miles north of Point Venture. Gusts of 60 mph were reported at the airport in Cameron (Mi...

Soucheray: What was that mysterious creature outside my door?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:39 GMT

Joe SoucherayA shriek. I know a shriek when I hear one, like when the property tax bill arrives in the mail or my car craters into a pothole. But those shrieks come from me.This was female.The CP was at the back door quivering and stammering, “Whhhhat is that?”I joined her at the door.“Whoa!”“What is that?” she said.It was an animal, ugly, fetal in its posture, new to me in the pantheon of urban wildlife.“Go out and check,” I said.“Me?”That never works.“It’s a possum,” I said, having absolutely no idea why that creature sprang to mind. I had never seen one in person. I’ve seen bears. Once I saw a moose standing on the gravel road near my friend Leo’s cabin up north. And here in the city, I’ve seen turkeys, fox, coyotes, deer and once, in civil twilight, I saw a creature so frightening I turned for home.I opened the door and stepped outside. I don’t know why. That’s what men do. They go outside to confront alien creatures and storms and passing fir...

Working Strategies: Getting the write stuff right

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:39 GMT

Amy LindgrenAre you a good writer?In my experience, most people are poor judges of their own writing. Some of the most competent writers seem keenly aware that they could be better, while others who self-describe as strong writers consistently send emails with illogical content. Not judging, mind you, just saying.Earlier this week I spent an enjoyable evening at a regional book awards ceremony, watching writers in a variety of genres collect accolades for their hard work. Seeing their genuine delight at being recognized reminded me that writers frequently toil in solitude, perhaps unaware of how much or whether they’re improving at their craft.If you’re writing for work — and especially if the writing itself isn’t your company’s product — you might be in the same boat. When writing is the product, multiple levels of checkpoints tell you how you’re doing. Editors, proofreaders, co-workers and clients are all part of the formal or informal team of critics that let you see ...

Fatal accident on I-170: two pedestrians killed by pickup truck

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:39 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Just after midnight last night, a man and a woman were walking on I-170 northbound when a pickup truck hit both pedestrians. Both were declared dead at the scene. We are working to learn more about this accident and will update as new information becomes available.

Botticelli's Venus is an 'influencer' and Italy is not happy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:39 GMT

The Italian tourism ministry thought it had a sure-fire way to bring travelers into the country: turning a 15th century art icon into a 21st century “virtual influencer.” The digital rendition of Venus, goddess of love, based on Sandro Botticelli’s Renaissance masterpiece “Birth of Venus,” can be seen noshing on pizza and snapping selfies for her Instagram page. Unlike the original, this Venus is fully clothed. The influencer claims to be 30, or “maybe just a wee bit (older) than that.”But the new ad campaign is facing significant backlash — with critics calling it a “new Barbie” that trashes Italy’s cultural heritage.The tourist campaign “trivializes our heritage in the most vulgar way, transforming Botticelli’s Venus into yet another stereotyped female beauty,” Livia Garomersini, an art historian and activist with Mi Riconosci, an art and heritage campaign organization, said in a response to the project last month.The yearlong campaign, produced by national tourism agency ENIT and...

Tropical butterflies on exhibit at South Coast Botanic Garden 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:39 GMT

The SOAR – Tropical Butterflies exhibit has returned to the South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes, allowing visitors to immerse themselves amid hundreds of tropical butterflies that aren’t normally seen in Southern California. The exhibit started on May 1 and runs through August 31 at the South Coast Botanic Garden located at 26300 Crenshaw Boulevard. Guests will have the chance to watch a butterfly emerge from its pupa in the Emergence Chamber, and for an extra $6, you can feed the butterflies as you walk through the pavilion. Tickets and more information on the exhibit are available at the South Coast Botanic Garden website. 

Taylor Swift announces release of 'Speak Now (Taylor's Version)' during concert in Nashville

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:39 GMT

Taylor Swift is planning to drop her latest re-recorded album — "Speak Now (Taylor's Version" — over the summer, KTLA sister station WATE reports. The "Anti-Hero" singer made the announcement during her "Eras Tour" concert in Nashville on Friday night."I'm not wearing sleeves but I have some tricks up them," she told crowd, before directing their attention to a large screen above the stage to reveal the news."'Speak Now' comes out July 7th," she confirmed for her screaming fans. Cat that loves Taylor Swift music up for adoption Swift has been in the process of re-recording six of her earlier albums, citing her dissatisfaction with former label Big Machine Records and their decision to sell the original master recordings against her wishes. By re-recording the albums, Swift now maintains ownership of the new masters (aka, the "Taylor's Versions") of her older catalog.Taylor Swift performs during "The Eras Tour" on Friday, May 5, 2023, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. (AP ...