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Illinois General Assembly passes bill preventing animal insurance restrictions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:40 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WMBD)-- The Illinois General Assembly passed HB 1049 on Thursday, preventing dog breed discrimination by insurance companies.Spearheaded by Best Friends Animal Society and rep. Rita Mayfield, the text of the bill is that; No insurer shall refuse to issue or renew, cancel, or charge or impose and increased premium or rate for a policy or contract, or exclude, limit, restrict or reduce coverage for a policy or contract based soley upon harboring or owning any dog of a specific breed or mix. It does not prohibit an insurer from refusing to issue or renew or from cancelling a policy or imposing an increased fee based upon the designation of an individual dog of any breed or mix as a dangerous or vicious dog under the Illinois Animal Control Act. Prior to the legislation, a majority of Illinois insurance companies could dictate what breed or mix of dog owners can keep regardless of behavior. Furrever Friends Friday 3/17/23 Part 2 Studies have show...

Northern Lights spotted over Missouri in rare solar storm

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:40 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Northern Lights chasers in some areas of Missouri didn't have to leave home to see the spectacular sight early Friday morning.The severe solar storm is the strongest in the world since 2017, and allowed people as far south as Texas and Arizona to catch a glimpse of the lights.A storm of this magnitude only happens once or twice each decade, according to experts.The Northern Lights were not spotted over Kansas City because of the cloud cover. But, people north of the metro were treated to an amazing sight. Patrick Mahomes, celebrities shoutout K-State’s Markquis Nowell Pictures taken by MissouriSkies.org and tweeted by FOX4 Meteorologist Jacob Lanier show the Northern Lights over Albany, Missouri.Incredible! The Northern Lights are visible in MISSOURI tonight!! Biggest solar storm in 5+ years… Beautiful captures from Albany, MO by @missouri_skies. @fox4wx @fox4kc #StormHour #MOwx #NorthernLights pic.twitter.com/fCLpUDugIC— Jacob Lanier (@JacobLanierWx) Mar...

Gwyneth Paltrow takes the stand in Utah ski collision trial

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:40 GMT

By SAM METZ (Associated Press)PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Gwyneth Paltrow takes the stand to testify about a 2016 ski collision at a Utah ski resort where a man is suing her, saying he’s since suffered from broken ribs and brain damage. Paltrow says that the 76-year-old Utah man is the culprit for the collision at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, and her legal team has raised questions about whether the lawsuit is motivated by an attempt to exploit her wealth and celebrity. After a judge threw out an earlier, $3.1 million dollar lawsuit, the man is now seeking at least $300,000. In a counterclaim, Paltrow is seeking a symbolic $1 and attorney fees.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Gwyneth Paltrow took the stand on Friday to testify in a trial over a 2016 ski collision at a Utah ski resort, where a man claims that the movie star’s recklessness on the slope caused broken ribs, brain damage and lasting physi...

Domo Japanese restaurant will reopen, despite closure last year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:40 GMT

Four months after Domo Japanese Country Restaurant owner Gaku Homma announced he was permanently closing the business, he’s decided to give it another go.Homma said on Facebook this week that he will return to the kitchen after a brief hiatus and plans to reopen the restaurant, 1365 Osage St., although, he didn’t specify exactly when because of inspections and other necessary processes, like cleaning the backyard garden.In his Facebook post, Homma, 73, also said he has been using his time off to take a series of trips to Turkey, Nepal and Thailand to teach the practices of Aikido, a modern Japanese martial art. During his visit to Thailand, he cooked some of Domo’s popular curry, which he has been serving in support of the Monthly Meals Project in Denver for the last 32 years, for children at Bilay House, a humanitarian aid and education facility.In this March 21, 2014 photo, a traditional Japanese meal sits on a tray after being served to a customer at Domo, in Denver. (Brenn...

Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic tired of MVP conversation: “I don’t think about it anymore”

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:40 GMT

Sorry debaters and hot-takers. Nikola Jokic has better things to worry about than the MVP race.Personally, he’s got a young family he misses whenever the Nuggets hit the road. Professionally, he’s got an NBA championship to win. Both pursuits have lapped his interest, twice over, in discussing or even contemplating the MVP race.“I don’t think about it anymore,” he said earlier this week as the team concluded a 10-day road trip in Washington. “It’s past.”At one point during his first two MVP runs, it entered his frame of mind. But now, when the conversation has devolved and both he and the Nuggets are onto bigger and better things, Jokic doesn’t have time for it. (Don’t make the mistake of assuming the award doesn’t matter to him; just accept that, for him, the conversation isn’t worth indulging nor does he have anything to add.)Some of the NBA’s MVP voters may be swayed this upcoming week, when Denver hosts Milwaukee and Giannis Antetokounmpo on Saturday or Philade...

Bloated “John Wick: Chapter 4” is a lot of everything the action-filled franchise does and doesn’t do well

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:40 GMT

Will there be a fifth installment in the “John Wick” franchise? It’s a bit murky.While there once had been talk of shooting a fourth and fifth “Wick” back to back, that didn’t happen. Plus, series director Chad Stahelski recently said he and star Keanu Reeves are “done for the moment” and that they’re going to give the character “a rest.”Well, Stahelski directs and Reeves performs in “John Wick: Chapter 4” — in theaters this week — as if this is indeed their going-away party.With a runtime that, if you include the closing credits, sniff three hours, “Chapter 4” is an action romp that’s over-the-top even by “Wick”-ian standards.The fighting.There’s so much fighting.Even if you appreciate the elaborate and undeniably impressive choreography of the fight scenes that are the calling card of these movies, you may feel a bit pummeled by “Chapter 4.” Not as beaten as Reeve’s titular assassin-turned-angel of revenge — John is punched, kicked, stabbed, shot and, repeatedly, hit b...

Colorado hiring rebounds in February after losses in January

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:40 GMT

After a weak start to the year, hiring rebounded strongly in Colorado in February. But the number of people joining the labor force outpaced the number of jobs added, resulting in a slightly higher unemployment rate, according to a monthly update from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.The state lost a revised 700 jobs in January, reversing the initially reported gain of 800 jobs and putting Colorado in a group of only four states to suffer a decline in nonfarm payroll jobs that month.Those losses were likely caused by a colder and snowier start to the year, said Ryan Gedney, a senior economist with the CDLE on a press call Friday morning. Employers went back to hiring in February, adding an estimated 6,200 jobs, continuing a bouncing pattern seen across much of last year of alternating months of strong and weak hiring.“It is great that employment increased by 6,200 in February, but the gains were concentrated in four sectors,” said Broomfield economist Gary...

Bellarmine football coach steps down after three seasons

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:40 GMT

SAN JOSE — In a surprise move, Bellarmine football coach Jalal Beauchman has stepped down after three seasons in charge of the storied San Jose program, the school announced Friday.No reason was given for the announcement and Beauchman did not immediately return a request for comment.Beauchman took over the varsity program in 2020 from his own high school coach, Mike Janda, who led the Bells to six Central Coast Section and 14 WCAL championships in 36 seasons. Janda retired as the section’s all-time winningest coach with 286 victories.Beauchman finished with an 18-14 record. He went 2-3 during the pandemic-shortened spring 2021 season, 8-4 in the fall of that year and 8-7 last season when Bellarmine captured CCS Division II and NorCal Division 3-A championships.Before becoming a coach, Beauchman played at Bellarmine and San Jose State. He was the West Catholic Athletic League’s receiver of the year in 2005.Bellarmine athletic director Kevin Saldivar said in a state...

NBA fines Dallas star for his ‘inappropriate’ gesture toward refs during Warriors game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:40 GMT

NEW YORK — Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic was fined $35,000 on Friday for directing a money sign toward officials in the final seconds of a loss to the Golden State Warriors.Doncic walked toward officials while rubbing his fingers together with 1.7 seconds left in the 127-125 loss on Wednesday night. The four-time All-Star apparently was upset that a foul wasn’t called when he missed a layup.Dallas was trailing 125-122 when Doncic caught a pass under the basket and his layup bounced off the back of the rim. After the Mavericks committed a foul to stop the clock, Doncic made the gesture.The NBA said the fine was for “an inappropriate and unprofessional gesture toward a game official.”Officials didn’t give him a technical over the gesture. Doncic frequently complains to officials and is one technical foul away from 16 this season, which would trigger a one-game suspension. The count doesn’t carry over into the playoffs.Dallas owner Mark Cuban said he planned to protest the loss to ...

Oakland A’s: Muller named Opening Day starter against Angels, Ohtani

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:40 GMT

MESA, Ariz. — Kyle Muller entered spring training uncertain whether he would even make the Oakland A’s roster amid a crowded rotation competition.Friday, the 25-year-old was named the A’s Opening Day starter, drawing the March 30 assignment opposite Angels and World Baseball Classic star Shohei Ohtani.A’s manager Mark Kotsay lauded Muller’s work ethic and the passion that he displayed throughout the spring, citing those qualities as main reasons why he named the 6-foot-7 left-hander to be on the mound when Oakland opens the season at the Coliseum. The second-year skipper said he called Muller into his office earlier this week to inform him of the decision.“He’s a competitor, you can tell that,” Kotsay said. “His work ethic is great, and attitude and enthusiasm. When I told him he was going to be the Opening Day starter, the excitement and energy and just drive of the emotion was exactly what you want when you tell a guy, ‘Hey, you’re going to be an Opening Day starter.’ ...