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Presto’s Picks: Big Ten, bigger TV, biggest bucks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:51:08 GMT

College football in the 21st century is all about consolidation. Even though bigger is not always better, it’s the way things are going to trend for the time being. As the Power Five becomes the Power Four (plus whatever is going on out west), there is a new arms race with three of the leagues regarding the TV landscape, and it appears as though the Big Ten will have the inside track.Credit the conference’s vision that branding was more important than accuracy. The league with “ten” in its name has had more than 10 members for over 30 years, setting a trend for the 15-school Atlantic 10 and a Big 12 that will have 10, 14, and 16 schools over a three-year span. Credit the league’s vision for major markets outweighing competition: Maryland and Rutgers gave the conference footholds in D.C. and New York City despite adding little to the on-field football product.And credit the Big Ten for thinking big in becoming a national league by adding two (eventually ...

Stock market today: Wall Street is still stuck in neutral as oil recovers some of its sharp losses

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:51:08 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is still largely stuck in neutral Thursday following its big recent swings.The S&P 500 was virtually unchanged in early trading and seems to be on track for a fourth straight quiet, mixed day. It’s been listless this week, coming off a sharp reversal after months of losses gave way to its best week of the year last week.Even though its recent moves have been modest, if the S&P 500 ends the day with a gain, it would mark a ninth straight for its longest winning streak in 19 years.The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 11 points, or less than 0.1%, as of 9:40 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was virtually flat.The Walt Disney Co. was strong after becoming the latest big U.S. company to report stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. It rose 6% after saying it added more Disney+ streaming subscribers than Wall Street had forecast, while also increasing its target for annual cost savings.Tapestry jumped 5.1% for anoth...

Back in China 50 years after historic trip, a Philadelphia Orchestra violinist hopes to build ties

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:51:08 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Fifty years after the Philadelphia Orchestra’s history-making visit to China in 1973 that helped build then-fledgling U.S.-China ties, Davyd Booth hopes for a repeat performance. The 73-year-old violinist returned to China this week with 13 fellow orchestra members to mark the 50th anniversary of the trip and carry on the ensemble’s decadeslong effort to bring the United States and China closer together despite current political disagreements.“People all over the world are absolutely the same,” Booth said Thursday in Beijing, on the eve of their performance with the China National Symphony Orchestra at the National Centre for the Performing Arts. The orchestra’s return in itself is a sign of improving ties ahead of a highly anticipated meeting between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping.There may be differences in governments and religion but people’s reaction to music is the same, Booth said after playing piano at a hospital with a violinist a...

New Zealand edges closer to semifinal with clinical win over Sri Lanka at Cricket World Cup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:51:08 GMT

BENGALURU, India (AP) — Fast bowler Trent Boult picked up 3-37 as New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by five wickets on Thursday to edge closer to the last remaining semifinal spot at the Cricket World Cup.Boult, who had previously picked up 10 wickets in eight games, roared back to form at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium as Sri Lanka was bowled out for 171 in 46.4 overs.Fit-again paceman Lockie Ferguson claimed 2-35 in 10 overs, including two maidens, while left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner bagged 2-22 as the Black Caps made easy work of a must-win game.In reply, New Zealand hurried to 172-5 in 23.2 overs thanks to Devon Conway (45), Rachin Ravindra (42) and Daryl Mitchell (43).The victory means New Zealand is fourth with 10 points from nine games and a net run-rate of plus-0.922. Pakistan and Afghanistan can still overtake the Black Caps but will need to win their final league games against England (Nov. 11) and South Africa (Nov. 10) respectively.The big winning margin, especially chasing dow...

Live updates | Macron urges Israel to protect civilians in Gaza, calls for a humanitarian pause

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:51:08 GMT

French President Emmanuel Macron has opened a Gaza aid conference with an appeal for Israel to protect civilians, saying that “all lives have equal worth” and that fighting terrorism “can never be carried out without rules.” Macron repeated calls a humanitarian pause in Israel’s operations against Hamas but also stressed that protecting civilians is “non-negotiable.” France wants Thursday’s aid conference that brings together more than 50 nations to address the besieged Palestinian enclave’s growing needs including food, water, health supplies, electricity and fuel. The aid conference coincides with negotiations for a three-day humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza in exchange for the release of about a dozen hostages held by Hamas. Two officials from Egypt, one from the United Nations and a Western diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomatic efforts. said the negotiations were underway.The war, now in its second month, was triggered by the Oct. 7 Hamas a...

Nedbank Golf Challenge Scores

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:51:08 GMT

ThursdayAt Gary Player Country ClubSun City, South AfricaPurse: $6 millionYardage: 7,819; Par: 72First RoundDan Bradbury, England33-33—66Nicolai Hojgaard, Denmark34-32—66Max Homa, United States33-33—66Vincent Norrman, Sweden34-32—66Julien Guerrier, France33-34—67Ryo Hisatsune, Japan34-33—67Adrian Meronk, Poland32-35—67Francesco Molinari, Italy33-35—68Matthieu Pavon, France34-34—68Richie Ramsay, Scotland34-34—68Shubhankar Sharma, India35-33—68Sebastian Soderberg, Sweden36-32—68Jeff Winther, Denmark34-34—68Jorge Campillo, Spain35-34—69Ryan Fox, New Zealand32-37—69Rasmus Hojgaard, Denmark36-33—69Matthew Jordan, England33-36—69Victor Perez, France34-35—69Aaron Rai, England34-35—69Matthew Baldwin, England33-37—70Alexander Bjork, Sweden35-35—70Jens Dantorp, Sweden36-34—70Hennie Du Plessis, South Africa34-36—70Ewen Ferguson, Scotland37-33—70Joost Luiten, Netherlands34-36—70Tom McKibbin, Northern Ireland35-35—70Thorbjorn Olesen, Denmark34-36—70Adrian Otaegui, Spain33-37—70Matthew Southgate,...

Nedbank Golf Challenge Par Scores

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:51:08 GMT

ThursdayAt Gary Player Country ClubSun City, South AfricaPurse: $6 millionYardage: 7,819; Par: 72First RoundDan Bradbury, England33-33—66-6Nicolai Hojgaard, Denmark34-32—66-6Max Homa, United States33-33—66-6Vincent Norrman, Sweden34-32—66-6Julien Guerrier, France33-34—67-5Ryo Hisatsune, Japan34-33—67-5Adrian Meronk, Poland32-35—67-5Francesco Molinari, Italy33-35—68-4Matthieu Pavon, France34-34—68-4Richie Ramsay, Scotland34-34—68-4Shubhankar Sharma, India35-33—68-4Sebastian Soderberg, Sweden36-32—68-4Jeff Winther, Denmark34-34—68-4Jorge Campillo, Spain35-34—69-3Ryan Fox, New Zealand32-37—69-3Rasmus Hojgaard, Denmark36-33—69-3Matthew Jordan, England33-36—69-3Victor Perez, France34-35—69-3Aaron Rai, England34-35—69-3Matthew Baldwin, England33-37—70-2Alexander Bjork, Sweden35-35—70-2Jens Dantorp, Sweden36-34—70-2Hennie Du Plessis, South Africa34-36—70-2Ewen Ferguson, Scotland37-33—70-2Joost Luiten, Netherlands34-36—70-2Tom McKibbin, Northern Ireland35-35—70-2Thorbjorn Olesen, Denmark34-...

AdventHealth Porter hospital reopens after failed boiler

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:51:08 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — After being closed for more than a week due to a lack of hot water and heat from a failed boiler, AdventHealth Porter is back open. AdventHealth Porter, a hospital in Denver, said it reopened its doors for all acute and emergency clinical services at 7 a.m. Elective procedures will resume on Monday, Nov. 13.On Oct. 30, the boiler failed after a cold snap, and patients had to be transported to nearby facilities. According to the hospital, two permanent operational boilers and a temporary boiler are back online. The hospital spent the past few days testing the boilers to ensure they functioned. CU Boulder student in coma after unknowingly taking fentanyl-laced pill Only 15 patients were transferred back to AdventHealth Porter, while the other patients who were transferred out have been discharged. "In partnership with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and other state agencies, we have ensured all quality and safety measures have been met before...

5,000 Role Models of Excellence empower Miami-Dade youth at Regional Tie Tying Ceremony

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:51:08 GMT

In a significant milestone, the 5,000 Role Models of Excellence Project celebrated its Regional Tie Tying Ceremony at North Miami Senior High School, Wednesday night. For three decades, this dropout prevention and mentoring program has positively impacted the lives of minority boys, ages 9-19, in Miami-Dade County schools.The organization’s commitment involves connecting young boys with male mentors from diverse backgrounds, offering guidance, tutoring, and instilling hope.7News’ Tavares Jones was also honored and inducted as a mentor into the program to help those young men.

Pennsylvania woman finds new furry friend wearing late dog’s bandana

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:51:08 GMT

BLOOMSBURG, Penn. (WSVN) — In a tale that proves anything is “paw-sible,” a Pennsylvania woman, Kaitlyn, discovered an unexpected connection while searching for a new canine companion. After losing her first dog, Kaitlyn donated some of his belongings, including a special bandana, to an animal rescue center.Last week, as Kaitlyn embarked on the journey to adopt a new furry friend, she encountered “Ella” at the shelter. Ella had spent seven years awaiting adoption. The connection between Kaitlyn and Ella was instant, and to their surprise, Ella was adorned with the same bandana Kaitlyn had donated when her first dog passed away.