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March Madness betting guide: UConn, Texas new favorites

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:56:42 GMT

By MARK ANDERSON (AP Sports Writer)LAS VEGAS (AP) — March Madness is down to eight teams, and often by this point, nearly all the expected top teams are still playing. All the No. 1 seeds are gone, and Texas is the only No. 2 that still has a shot at the Final Four. All the unpredictability has made betting even more dicey than usual. Here’s a look at what to expect this weekend — but keep in mind the numbers listed change regularly.WHO’S FAVORED TO REACH THE FINAL FOUR?Based on the FanDuel Sportsbook lines for the Elite Eight games, No. 2 seed Texas, No. 3 Kansas State, No. 4 UConn and No. 6 Creighton. All the betting lines are within 3 1/2 points, so if No. 3 Gonzaga, No. 5 seeds Miami and San Diego State and No. 9 Florida Atlantic win, it wouldn’t be a shock. Especially this year.WHO’S FAVORED TO WIN THE TITLE?UConn at plus-330 and Texas at plus-370 are the clear favorites. Someone betting on the Huskies would win $330 on a $100 bet if they tak...

Ticker: Renamed Horseshoe to host Poker World Series

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:56:42 GMT

A name paired with poker and Las Vegas lore now has a place on the neon-lit Strip following the rebranding of an iconic hotel with a memorable history at a crossroads shared with some of the most recognizable casinos in the world.The Horseshoe Las Vegas Hotel & Casino and its corporate owner, Caesars Entertainment Corp., hosted ceremonies Friday to mark the name change from Bally’s Las Vegas, before it again hosts the upcoming 54th annual World Series of Poker.Canada pledges Great Lakes fundingCanada has pledged a significant increase in spending to improve water quality in the Great Lakes following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, whose administration also has boosted funding for the shared waters.Following their discussion Friday in Ottawa, Trudeau said his government would spend $420 million — about $306 million in U.S. dollars — over the next decade on the lakes, still suffering fron 20th century industrial pollution and newe...

Israeli defense minister calls for halt to judicial overhaul

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:56:42 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called on Saturday for an immediate and temporary halt to the far-right government’s contentious plan to overhaul the judiciary, the first public dissent from within Prime Minister Benjamin’s coalition. Citing the need for dialogue with the opposition, Gallant asked Netanyahu’s coalition to wait until after the Jewish passover holiday that begins on April 5 before pushing ahead with its divisive plan to overhaul the judiciary. He said he is worried that the overhaul plans pose a threat to the country’s security. The plan has sparked the largest protest movement in Israel’s history, bringing thousands to face off against police in the streets weekly. “I will not take part in this,” Gallant said, although did not elaborate on what would happen if the government pressed on. His statement indicated the first crack in Netanyahu’s coalition, the most right-wing government in Israeli history. In rece...

2 Cuban migrants fly into Florida on motorized hang glider

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:56:42 GMT

KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) — Two Cuban migrants used a motorized hang glider to fly the approximately 90 miles (145 kilometers) from the communist island to Key West on Saturday, Florida officials said. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said the duo landed safely at Key West International Airport at about 10:30 a.m. and were turned over to the U.S. Border Patrol. Border Patrol officials in South Florida did not answer a phone call Saturday seeking comment. Overwhelmed by Cubans and other migrants arriving at the Mexican border and into Florida by boat, the Biden administration in early January implemented a policy change that makes them request a permit, or parole, online before arriving with the sponsorship of a relative or acquaintance in the U.S.Those who arrive without doing that risk deportation. The Associated Press

Putin says Russia will station tactical nukes in Belarus

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:56:42 GMT

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans on Saturday to station tactical nuclear weapons in neighboring Belarus.Putin said the plan was in response to Britain’s decision this past week to provide Ukraine with armor-piercing rounds containing depleted uranium. Russia falsely claimed these rounds have nuclear components.Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has long asked for the weapons, Putin said, speaking in an interview on Russian state television. He said construction of storage facilities for the weapons in Belarus would be completed by July 1. Russia used the territory of Belarus as a staging ground to send troops into Ukraine, and Moscow and Minsk have maintained close military ties.The Associated Press

French activists wield axes, machetes at reservoir protest

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:56:42 GMT

PARIS (AP) — French police and environmental activists fought violent pitched battles Saturday around a giant agricultural irrigation reservoir in rural western France. The interior minister reported more than 30 people injured and said police detonated more than 4,000 non-lethal dispersion grenades as they fended off hundreds of protesters, some armed with machetes, axes and gasoline bombs.The clashes around the reservoir being built in the rural community of Sainte-Soline highlighted increasing pressure on precious water resources in the face of climate change.French authorities argue that giant irrigation reservoirs are necessary to allow farmers to continue growing food crops when droughts are becoming more common. Critics say the reservoirs sustain ecologically unsustainable types of industrial farming and imprison water that would otherwise naturally irrigate soils and feed rivers and streams.Video footage showed protesters advancing in clouds of tear gas, police vehicles burn...

1 dead in DuSable Lake Shore Drive hit and run crash

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:56:42 GMT

CHICAGO — One person is dead after a hit and run crash that took place on DuSable Lake Shore Drive in Lake View East early Saturday morning.According to police, a driver, 36, was travelling southbound in an SUV near the 4300 block of North DuSable Lake Shore Drive when after changing lanes, an unknown driver in a white DUV travelling in the same direction, struck his vehicle and fled the scene. Several thefts, carjackings minutes apart on Back of the Yards street Police say the male passenger, 31, was transported to Illinois Masonic Hospital where he was pronounced dead.The driver was also transported to the hospital with unknown injuries. Police are still investigating the incident.

'You can't detain me': Oklahoma lawmaker arrested after telling officer he can't be arrested

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:56:42 GMT

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Oklahoma City police have released body camera footage of the arrest of a state lawmaker early on Thursday morning.Police said Rep. Dean Davis (R) of the Oklahoma House of Representatives was among a group of people who had remained on the patio of Skinny Slim's, a pub in downtown Oklahoma City, at around 2:11 a.m. on Thursday. Officers told everyone on the patio to leave since it was a violation for a bar to allow people to continue drinking after 2 a.m., which is when the bar closes. After telling one man to put his drink down and leave the premises three times, the man, who was identified as Rep. Dean Davis, became argumentative, according to an arrest affidavit. The report states that he showed officers a credential and said something along the lines of, "You don't know how bad you messed up. You will find out tomorrow." In the body camera footage released Friday, police officers are seen taking Davis into custody outside of the bar. Fake AI images of ‘...

'Madness': Driver attempts to hit pedestrian during chaotic road rage incident in San Diego

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:56:42 GMT

SAN DIEGO (KSWB) – A violent scene unfolded at an intersection in downtown San Diego after the driver of an SUV and a woman got into a shouting match, which resulted in the car jumping the curb and the woman's friend attacking the vehicle with a bat.Video of the incident shows the gold Toyota Highlander drive up onto the curb, nearly hitting two homeless people. A man is then seen taking a bat to the car, smashing the windows.“They started the argument right there and escalated into madness,” said Howard Rexroad, a homeless man who witnessed the incident. That's when the SUV attempts to hit the man who smashed out his windows, making several passes and trying to maneuver through a parking area where the man was shielding himself and wielding the bat.After several passes, the gold Toyota eventually speeds off. ‘A couch!’: Video shows furniture flying through the air in San Francisco The San Diego Police Department arrested one of the people involved in the altercation — the driver ...

What is the Marburg virus? Another country reports outbreak of 'highly virulent' disease

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:56:42 GMT

(NewsNation) – The African country of Tanzania reported its first-ever outbreak of Marburg disease, which has so far resulted in eight total cases and five deaths. The Ebola-related virus was also responsible for additional lab-confirmed illnesses stemming from a February outbreak in Equatorial Guinea, which has so far sickened nine patients, seven of which have died.In a statement issued earlier this week, the World Health Organization has said an additional 161 people — all considered "contacts" of those sickened — were being monitored for symptoms.“The efforts by Tanzania’s health authorities to establish the cause of the disease is a clear indication of the determination to effectively respond to the outbreak," said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO regional director for Africa, was quoted as saying in a recent news release. "We are working with the government to rapidly scale up control measures to halt the spread of the virus and end the outbreak as soon as possible."The "highly vi...