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Analysis: This Hall of Fame class could be an all-time great

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:39 GMT

The Springfield Symphony Hall lists a capacity of 2,611. This is going to be a problem when the basketball world heads to western Massachusetts on Aug. 12.Act surprised on Saturday when the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announces its class of enshrinees for 2023. Among the finalists: Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol, Dwyane Wade, Tony Parker and Gregg Popovich. It’s widely assumed that they’ll enter the Hall this summer, in what will be a most star-studded event.“We might need a stadium for that one,” Brooklyn coach Jacque Vaughn said.He’s not wrong. More than 2,611 people will want to go to this. Probably more than 261,111 people will want to go to this.It was never a question that the biggest names — the Nowitzki, Gasol, Wade, Parker group — would get into the Hall. The question was about Popovich. Not if. But when.The NBA’s all-time winningest coach, a five-time champion and the coach of the team that won Olympic gold at the Tokyo Games quietly rejected overtures ...

Handmade blankets welcome refugees, immigrants to US

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:39 GMT

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — “Welcome to the USA,” says a note attached to a hand-crocheted blanket of purple, white and gray stripes.Hollie Shaner-McRae, of Burlington, who made the blanket as a gift for a refugee, wrote of her great-grandparents coming to the United States from Ukraine, Russia and Poland. One great-grandfather was a tailor and the other was a barrel maker, she wrote. “Both were so brave and came to America as teenagers,” she wrote in the note. “I hope you make friends and feel safe here,” Shaner-McRae wrote to whomever would receive the blanket. “Vermont is blessed to have new families arrive and enrich our world.”The quilt was one of at least 86 artistic blankets that crafters sewed, crocheted and knitted as gifts for refugees and immigrants to make them feel welcomed in their new community in Vermont. The handmade creations were on display at the Heritage Mill Museum in Winooski, Vermont, before they were given away to refugees last week. The effort ...

Denver weather: Slow warm-up before another snow chance

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:39 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver’s weather will be dry and mild for the next couple of days. The next system moves in Thursday night with a chance of a rain and snow mix. Weather today: Cool sunshineThe Pinpoint Weather team forecasts sunshine and dry weather Tuesday with breezy afternoon winds. Denver’s high temperature will climb to 51 degrees.Pinpoint Weather: Afternoon highs on March 28. Snow photos from late-March snowstorm With sunny skies and temperatures well above freezing, the snow that is left on the ground from Monday's storm will see significant melting.Looking ahead: Another chance of snowWednesday will stay dry and a touch warmer with highs in the mid-50s.The next storm system on the Front Range will move in late Thursday into Friday morning. Pinpoint Weather: Snow totals by March 31. As of now, it looks like this storm will be spotty rain and snow showers with minimal accumulation for the metro. Mountains will pick up most of the snow. Snowfall totals: Here’s how much sno...

Denver Zoo offers free access to East High School students, staff, family

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:39 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Following last week’s shooting at East High School, the Denver Zoo is offering students, staff and family members free access.The zoo, which is located just across City Park from East High School, posted on Twitter saying, “As the school’s next-door neighbor, we stand in solidarity with the Angels community and offer our support. ‘It keeps getting closer and closer’: Students react to shooting at Denver East High School In the announcement, the zoo said those who are part of the school community can present their East High School ID at the main entrance for unlimited free access until May 1.“It’s our sincerest hope that we serve as a place of comfort, safety, gathering and healing for everyone in our beloved community, and especially those coping with acts of senseless gun violence,” the zoo said on Twitter.

EU ministers pass 2035 car engine ban law

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:39 GMT

EU ministers on Tuesday formally — and finally — signed off on legislation phasing out sales of new polluting cars and vans by 2035, ending last-minute resistance from Germany and a small group of allies.The price for Tuesday’s agreement was a backroom deal last week between the European Commission and Berlin that will see extra technical legislation published later setting out a workaround for e-fuels — a synthetic greener alternative to gasoline that does emit CO2 from the tailpipe.However, such a loophole will still have to be approved by the EU institutions. A Commission pledge to revise its CO2 emission standards if the technical fix is rejected will also be dependent on approval by the European Parliament and member countries.The 2035 rules are a critical part of the EU’s Fit for 55 package of green legislation, aimed at addressing rising road transport emissions.In addition to setting the 2035 clean car target, the legislation raises the interim 2030 emi...

Mass. lawmakers consider changing gendered language in state’s constitution

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:39 GMT

Massachusetts lawmakers are considering changing some of the gendered language in the state’s constitution.Right now, the Massachusetts Constitution refers to the governor and lieutenant governor with male pronouns. Proposed changes would replace them with “he/she” and “his/her.” The Joint Committee on the Judiciary is taking public testimony on the changes Tuesday afternoon.

TSA agents at Logan Airport confiscate musket from passenger’s luggage

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:39 GMT

TSA agents at Logan Airport confiscated a musket from a passenger’s luggage over the weekend. Officials say the musket was not packed properly and the 71-year-old passenger didn’t declare it. Agents took the musket and the man was allowed to continue on.

One Boston Day events taking shape for 10th anniversary of Marathon bombing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:39 GMT

One Boston Day events are taking shape for the 10th anniversary of the Marathon bombing. On April 15, there will be a private wreath laying at the memorial for families who lost loved ones. Later that afternoon, Gov. Maura Healey and Mayor Michelle Wu will dedicate a new finish line and unveil a One Boston Day marker.There are also volunteer events throughout the city to encourage acts of service in honor of those killed. “One Boston Day honors those forever impacted on April 15, 2013 and recognizes the greatest strength of this City—our people,” Mayor Wu said in a statement. “We will never forget the people whose lives were lost, the many injured and forever changed, and the spirit of humanity displayed that day and beyond for those most in need. One Boston Day is a living demonstration of our strength when we come together as one.”For more information on this year’s One Boston Day events, click here.

Healey, Driscoll to testify on $742M tax relief package

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:39 GMT

Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll are set to testify Tuesday before the Joint Committee on Revenue on their $742 million tax relief package.They say the package will take the state more affordable, competitive, and equitable.The proposal includes a $600 credit per dependent with no cap on dependents. It also increases the rental reduction up to $4,000 and doubles the senior Circuit Breaker tax credit for low-income seniors from $1,200 to $2,400.

Column: Nico Hoerner’s 3-year, $35 million extension was a small step forward in the Chicago Cubs’ future

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:39 GMT

The Chicago Cubs signed second baseman Nico Hoener to a three-year, $35 million extension, according to multiple reports — a small but important step toward the team’s future.The deal with Hoerner, who had a .281 average and 10 home runs in 2022, buys out two years of arbitration and the first year of free agency.Cubs President Jed Hoyer had yet to sign a prospect to a multiyear deal before free agency, a strategy many other large-market teams have adopted to gain cost certainty while rewarding players they consider part of their future.While it pales in comparison to deals like the eight-year, $100 million extension Ronald Acuña Jr. signed with the Atlanta Braves four years before he was eligible for free agency, it was the Cubs’ first multiyear signing of a prospect since David Bote’s five-year, $15 million extension in 2019. Hoerner was deemed talented enough to take a short-term risk on, but has not proven himself long-term enough to get a megadeal.H...