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Heat-Bulls with plenty of subplots, but desperation ultimately at Friday’s forefront

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:19 GMT

As they waited to see if their season would continue, the Chicago Bulls received reaffirmation Tuesday night as they watched from Toronto: The Miami Heat are vulnerable.Friday night, the Bulls will get the opportunity to test the degree of that vulnerability, when the teams meet in a winner–take-all NBA play-in tournament game at Kaseya Center.The winner gets the No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks starting Sunday at 5:30 p.m. in an Eastern Conference best-of-seven opening-round series.The loser goes to the lottery.“It’s going to be a desperate game,” Chicago forward Alex Caruso said after the Bulls eliminated the Toronto Raptors 109-105 Wednesday night in a game played for the right to face the Heat for the East’s final playoff berth. “They didn’t play great the last game against Atlanta, who punched them in the mouth early. I think they’ll be a little bit more prepared to fight from the beginning.”How the teams got to this moment is a contra...

US jobless claims rise but remain at historically low levels

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:19 GMT

By MATT OTT (AP Business Writer)U.S. applications for jobless benefits rose to their highest level in more than a year, but remain at relatively low levels despite efforts by the Federal Reserve to cool the economy and job market in its battle against inflation.Jobless claims in the U.S. for the week ending April 8 rose by 11,000 to 239,000 from the previous week, the Labor Department said Thursday. That’s the most since January of 2022 when 251,000 people filed for unemployment benefits.The four-week moving average of claims, which evens out some of the week-to-week fluctuations, rose by 2,250 to 240,000. That’s the most since November of 2021.Last week, the Labor Department unveiled revised estimates of the number of weekly applications for jobless benefits under a new formula it is using to reflect seasonal adjustments. The new formula, which led to an increase in its weekly tally, is intended to more accurately capture seasonal patterns in job losses.Applications for unemploymen...

Kevin Hart to perform at San Diego County Fair Summer Concert Series

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:19 GMT

DEL MAR, Calif — Actor and comedian Kevin Hart will be taking the stage this summer at the San Diego County Fair.Hart, the latest act added to the fair's Toyota Summer Concert Series, will have the crowd laughing out loud on Friday, June 9.Tickets for the Kevin Hart performance go on sale Friday, April 14. Artist presale tickets will also be available starting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 12.Tickets for the stand-up comedy show can be purchased here. Snag tickets to the 2023 San Diego County Fair Concert Series The performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Corona Grandstand Stage, located inside the Del Mar Fairgrounds.The Kevin Hart announcement comes off the heels of fair officials releasing the lineup for the Summer Concert Series earlier this month.Hart is the first comedy act to be announced for the upcoming Summer Concert Series. Fair officials teased they would have more lienup announcements this week. Laugh it up with comedian Ali Wong in San Diego Some other big...

3 suspects sought after $19,000 worth of goods stolen from North York store

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:19 GMT

Toronto police are searching for three suspects who allegedly stole thousands of dollars worth of goods from a shopping centre in North York.On March 22, police were notified of a theft that occurred at a store in the mall, located in the area of Bayview Avenue and Sheppard Avenue East, a week earlier on March 16.Investigators say around 7 p.m. two of the suspects went into a store while the third suspect remained outside to keep watch.The two suspects allegedly stole around $19,000 worth of items.Police say the three suspects then left the shopping centre in a Red Dodge Caravan.Investigators released security camera images of the suspects on April 13, and are asking anyone with information to contact them.Open Gallery4 items

DeRozan’s daughter goes viral for heckling Raptors in season-ending loss

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:19 GMT

DeMar DeRozan helped the Chicago Bulls in dispelling his former team in an NBA play-in game on Wednesday night — ending the Toronto Raptors season in the process.But it was another member of the DeRozan family who made headlines following the game. Diar, DeMar’s nine-year-old daughter was trending on social media and being lauded as the Bulls’ X-factor in their win at Scotiabank Arena.Diar could be heard over the broadcast, screaming every time the Raptors attempted a free-throw. The tactic appeared to work, with the Raptors missing 18 free throws on their way to squandering a 19-point third quarter lead and ending their season.Diar DeRozan deserved her own highlight reel tonight ???? pic.twitter.com/nUMNKrGtVQ— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 13, 2023“She went viral,” DeMar acknowledged after the win when asked about his daughter’s impact on the game. “I kept hearing something during the game. Somebody missed, I looked back an...

Italy vows help with IMF in bid to stabilize Tunisia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:19 GMT

ROME (AP) — Italy on Thursday vowed a host of investments in Tunisia and help negotiating an International Monetary Fund bailout as Rome seeks to stabilize the North African country’s economic crisis and stem the increased number of migrants coming to the European nation.Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani outlined Italy’s efforts and pledges during a meeting with his Tunisian counterpart, Nabil Ammar, who insisted that Tunisia has seen growing numbers of African migrants arriving from the Libyan border and needs economic help.The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development says Tunisia is experiencing its worst crisis in a generation, with inflation hovering around 11% and food increasingly scarce. The government is negotiating a $2 billion to $4 billion loan with the IMF to cope with a budget deficit aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic and fallout from Russia’s war in Ukraine. But in return for a deal, Tunisia would have to commit to painful reforms, including shrinkin...

Indiana shooting suspect dead after overnight standoff

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:19 GMT

KENDALLVILLE, Ind. (AP) — A man who opened fire at a northeastern Indiana apartment complex, shooting at officers during an hours-long overnight standoff, died early Thursday after being taken into custody, police said.The suspect, who police said fired hundreds of rounds Wednesday night from a second-floor apartment in Kendallville, died while receiving medical treatment shortly after he was taken into custody at about 6 a.m. by SWAT team members, said Sgt. Brian Walker with Indiana State Police.The man “ended up succumbing to his injuries while he was in the ambulance,” Walker told The (Kendallville) News-Sun. Walker said he did not know the nature of the man’s injuries, telling The Associated Press that “they were not readily apparent.” He said the Noble County coroner would determine the man’s cause of death and also confirm his identity.He said no officers or members of the public were injured.Officers were called to the scene about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday on repo...

Average rent sees first monthly increase since November in March: report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:19 GMT

Rentals.ca and Urbanation’s latest rent report says average rents across Canada were up one per cent between February and March – the first monthly increase since November.They say rents reaccelerated in the spring after a brief moderation during the winter, bringing the average rent to $2,004 in March.That total amounts to a 10.8 per cent increase from the prior March.Asking rents for purpose-built and condominium apartments similarly increased 1.5 per cent from February and 10.9 per cent from the previous March, reaching an average of $1,937.Rentals.ca and Urbanation also found average asking rents increased by $196 over the last year.They say this indicates that rental housing demand is strongly outstripping supply.This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 13, 2023.The Canadian Press

Lebanese judge lifts travel ban for central bank governor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:19 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — A Lebanese judge on Thursday rescinded a travel ban she had placed on the country’s embattled central bank governor, clearing the way for him to travel to Paris for a scheduled hearing with French prosecutors next month.Judge Ghada Aoun issued a travel ban against Riad Salameh in January 2022, against the backdrop of a lawsuit accusing him of embezzlement and dereliction of duty during the country’s financial meltdown.The ban could have prevented Salameh from traveling to Paris to appear at a scheduled hearing on May 16 before French prosecutors, who have opened their own investigation into alleged money laundering involving the governor.Aoun had told The Associated Press on Wednesday that she planned to rescind the ban. On Thursday, a judicial official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press, confirmed that she rescinded the ban and that the General Security agency, responsible for border control, had been notified...

HARDY, Lainey Wilson lead ACM Awards nominees

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:19 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Country artist HARDY drove the success of his hit song “Wait in the Truck” with Lainey Wilson all the way to the Academy of Country Music Awards, where he is the leading nominee.And his duet partner was not far behind, as “Yellowstone” actor and singer-songwriter Wilson earned six nominations including female artist of the year and album of the year during nominations announced Thursday.The awards show will be held in Frisco, Texas, on May 11, hosted by Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks and airing on Prime Video.Among Hardy’s seven nominations are two in the song of the year category: “Wait in the Truck” and “Sand in My Boots,” a song performed by Morgan Wallen and co-written by HARDY, Ashley Gorley and Josh Osborne.The most awarded artist in ACM history made another record when Miranda Lambert received her 17th female artist of the year nomination. She surpassed Reba McEntire, who had 16 nominations in that category, and Lambert, the Texas native, has four...