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France’s Foreign Ministry says one of its officials has been arrested in military-run Niger

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:19:39 GMT

PARIS (AP) — France’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that one of its officials has been arrested in military-run Niger, and called for the junta to immediately release him.Military officers in Niger deposed elected President Mohamed Bazoum in July and later ordered French officials to leave the country — an order that France has refused to heed, saying that Niger’s junta is not the country’s legitimate authority.The ministry said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that Stephane Jullien, counsellor for French citizens abroad, was arrested last Friday, and called for his “immediate release.”French President Emmanuel Macron has said that France’s ambassador would stay at his post in Niger despite being asked to leave, Addressing ambassadors in August, Macron dismissed concerns that standing up to the junta could be dangerous.Source

More about culture than competition, HBCU classics are like a family reunion in the Black community

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:19:39 GMT

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — As a crowd made its way into the nearby football stadium, a father watched his two sons toss a ball back and forth. Hot dogs sizzled on a smoky charcoal grill nearby. The music from a DJ’s live set a few yards over was so loud it reverberated off the ground as lyrics from “Before I Let Go,” the hit by the soul band Frankie Beverly and Maze, prompted tailgaters to break out in dance.This particular intersection of sports and culture was outside Hard Rock Stadium, where the historically Black universities Florida A&M and Jackson State were playing in the annual Orange Blossom Classic. The outcome of the game meant bragging rights for the next year, of course, and the tailgating here had many of the same trappings you might find at a game in the Southeastern Conference or Big Ten.The reasons for attending this multi-day event are about much more than that.HBCU Classics are a beloved staple in the Black community. More than just competitions, they ar...

For HBCUs, the bands are about much more than the show to the Black community: ‘This is family’

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:19:39 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — It’s almost 10 p.m. and still a sweltering, sticky 95 degrees when Texas Southern’s Ocean of Soul band marches onto the top of a parking garage a stone’s throw from downtown Houston.The glittering skyline is close enough to provide some illumination to the dimly lit structure. It reveals beads of sweat dripping off many faces as the students near the end of a 10-hour rehearsal day. One of the three drum majors, Dominique Conner, speeds through his bandmates, handing out kudos when earned and criticism when needed.Band director Brian Simmons climbs to the top of a nearby ladder and lifts a bullhorn.“Everything you do matters,” he barks.Just why more than 100 student musicians are honing their routines on a giant slab of concrete in the brutal August heat of a Houston summer is a microcosm, in many ways, of life at a historically Black college or university like Texas Southern. They are here because it’s the best available option at a school where resources are rarely p...

3 Colorado towns among best in the country for fall colors

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:19:39 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Peak leaf-peeping season is just around the corner, and if you're still looking for places to take in the beautiful autumn scenery in Colorado, you might want to look to these towns.While a lot of the most popular fall spots in the country are in the northeast, Colorado boasts some gorgeous scenery, especially in the fall.And with the state seeing one of the wettest years on record, colors could be even more vivid than usual.Country Living magazine compiled a list of the 55 best towns in the country for fall foliage, and the Centennial State was home to three.Breckenridge Breckenridge, located in Summit County, was named the No. 6 town for fall foliage.Country Living recommends that people time their trip to the area with Breckenridge Oktoberfest, which happens Sept. 15-17 this year. When and where to see peak fall colors in Colorado Boreas Pass Road was also given a mention. It is a popular stretch of road for drivers, cyclists and hikers to traverse that starts ...

5 former officers charged in death of Tyre Nichols are now also facing federal charges

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:19:39 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Five former Memphis police officers were charged Tuesday with federal civil rights violations in the beating death of Tyre Nichols as they continue to fight second-degree murder charges in state courts arising from the killing.Tadarrius Bean, Desmond Mills, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin and Justin Smith were indicted in U.S. District Court in Memphis. The four-count indictment charges each of them with deprivation of rights under the color of law through excessive force and failure to intervene, and through deliberate indifference; conspiracy to witness tampering, and obstruction of justice through witness tampering.The new charges come nine months after the violent beating of Nichols by police officers during a Jan. 7 traffic stop near his home in Memphis. Nichols died at a hospital three days later, and the five officers have pleaded not guilty to state charges of second-degree murder and other alleged offenses in connection with the case. The five officers ...

10 ‘guest splashers’ who would make waves in the Orioles’ Bird Bath

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:19:39 GMT

When the Orioles debuted the Bird Bath Splash Zone in mid-May, the team also unveiled a new mascot: “Mr. Splash,” a hose-wielding, flamingo floaty-wearing hype man.But his identity has remained a mystery, his voice seemingly distorted and face obscured in a rare — and dramatic — video shared by the Orioles soon after his conception.Since then, Mr. Splash’s job has been handed off on two occasions, to Orioles alum Adam Jones, who became “Captain Splash” at the end of July; and to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, who played “Governor Splash” during ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball” broadcast soon after.But the Orioles haven’t tapped out the pool of celebrities fit to become Mr. (or Ms.) Splash. Here’s a roster that would make waves in the Splash Zone.1. John WatersEligibility to become a guest splasher is in filmmaker John Waters’ name. Sports isn’t his usual “field,” said Waters, the 77-y...

At impeachment, lawyer recounts Texas AG Ken Paxton supervising his investigation into FBI and judge

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:19:39 GMT

By PAUL J. WEBER and JAKE BLEIBERG (Associated Press)AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A junior lawyer testifying at Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial said Tuesday that he kept Paxton informed through encrypted communications of every step he took in launching a criminal investigation into law enforcement officials at the behest of one of the attorney general’s wealthy donors.The testimony on the sixth day of the historic proceeding addresses a central charge against Paxton: that the Republican abused his office to help a local real estate developer resist FBI investigation by hiring an outside lawyer to look into the agents, a judge and other officials involved in the probe. That lawyer, Brandon Cammack, told the jury of state senators who could decide Paxton’s political fate within days that he consulted with the attorney general about how to proceed. Cammack also said he kept Paxton apprised as he obtained a series of grand jury subpoenas with guida...

Patriots WR coach explains JuJu Smith-Schuster’s smaller-than-expected role in Week 1

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:19:39 GMT

The Patriots opted to sign JuJu Smith-Schuster instead of bringing Jakobi Meyers back this offseason. But why wasn’t the new wide receiver playing as much as expected in Week 1?Smith-Schuster played just 43 of the Patriots’ 80 offensive snaps in Sunday’s loss to the Eagles, which was 12 fewer than rookie Kayshon Boutte. A source explained to the Herald on Monday that Smith-Schuster’s more limited role was due to his inability to play the role left vacant by the absence of DeVante Parker and heavy rotation inside between Kendrick Bourne and Demario Douglas.Source explains JuJu Smith-Schuster’s lack of snaps for Patriots in Week 1But it was still puzzling to see a diminished role for Smith-Schuster after the Patriots signed him to a three-year, $25.5 million contract. Patriots wide receivers coach Ross Douglas was asked about the receiver’s Week 1 role on Tuesday.“The one good thing is JuJu himself, we have a lot of good players on this team, so to get the best five skill players on t...

NASA technology can spot wine grape disease from the sky. The world’s food supply could benefit

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:19:39 GMT

Grace Toohey | (TNS) Los Angeles TimesCutting-edge NASA imaging technology can detect early signs of a plant virus that, if unaddressed, often proves devastating for wineries and grape growers, new research has found.While the breakthrough is good news for the wine and grape industry, which loses billions of dollars a year to the crop-ruining disease, it could eventually help global agriculture as a whole.Using intricate infrared images captured by airplane over California’s Central Valley, researchers were able to distinguish Cabernet Sauvignon grape vines that were infected but not showing symptoms — before the point at which growers can spot the disease and respond.The technology, coupled with machine learning and on-the-ground analysis, successfully identified infected plants with almost 90% accuracy in some cases, according to two new research papers.“This is the first time we’ve ever shown the ability to do viral disease detection on the airborne scale,”...

In Splash Zone, Orioles fans aren’t fazed by prospect of chilly fall games: ‘You can always wear a wetsuit’

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:19:39 GMT

At the end of August, sitting in Camden Yards’ Section 86, Kathy Glass wore a clear rain poncho over her orange Orioles T-shirt to keep at least partially dry from the spray of “Mr. Splash.”“He’s gotten so much crazier with the water,” Glass, 54, said. “You get a lot more wet.”Glass, a season ticket holder, normally sits nearby in Section 85. It was her third time venturing over to the Bird Bath Splash Zone this season as she watched the team defeat Chicago’s White Sox, 9-0, on Aug. 28.In the Splash Zone, fans like Glass have come to expect a deluge of water no matter the weather, as the section’s mascot hoses them down anytime the Orioles hit doubles, triples and home runs (or whenever the mood strikes).Love for the section has remained steady through the summer — and Splash Zone enthusiasts don’t plan on receding to drier sections come fall. Instead, cooler temperatures may inspire some creativity.“You c...