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WTOP Top Kid: Reston teen helps remove performing arts barriers for kids

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:03:55 GMT

WTOP’s TOP Kids program is sponsored by Northwest Federal Credit Union. In addition to being featured on-air and online, winning kids also get a chance at $500.August Gabriel Rivers’ love of theater started at an early age. The 17-year-old from Reston, Virginia, was able to hone his craft through theater enrichment programs, many of which he participated in outside of school. Joining those extra programs took money.“Performing art programs tend be very expensive,” Rivers said.In his case, he said he was fortunate his parents could cover the costs for joining camps and other programs, but he said it was not lost on him that for some kids, the cost was a barrier that kept them from participating in what they loved.“We just don’t want people to miss out on getting into theater for financial reasons,” Rivers said.So, to help some kids overcome that barrier, Rivers, a senior at South Lakes High School, worked with other students to create “Reston Stars,” which gives out schol...

Player of the Week: Elizabeth Seton’s Morissa Hall

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:03:55 GMT

Morissa Hall is an accomplished competitor in rodeos, competing for Elizabeth Seton High School in Bladensburg, Maryland.(Courtesy Morse Hall) Morissa Hall is an accomplished competitor in rodeos, competing for Elizabeth Seton High School in Bladensburg, Maryland.(Courtesy Morse Hall) Each week, WTOP is picking one student athlete to be featured on air and online as our Player of the Week. This week’s WTOP Player of the Week is Morissa Hall of Elizabeth Seton High School in Bladensburg, Maryland.Hall is a senior at Elizabeth Seton competing in rodeos around the state and the country. She does barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying and breakaway roping. In her first year of competing in high school rodeo, Ha...

Commercial Bank Qatar Masters Par Scores

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:03:55 GMT

ThursdayAt Doha Golf ClubDoha, QatarPurse: $3.3 millionYardage: 7,466; Par: 72First RoundDaniel Hillier, New Zealand31-34—65-7Scott Jamieson, Scotland33-32—65-7Ewen Ferguson, Scotland32-34—66-6Stephen Gallacher, Scotland31-35—66-6Robert Macintyre, Scotland32-34—66-6Santiago Tarrio, Spain33-33—66-6Rikuya Hoshino, Japan35-32—67-5Sean Crocker, United States33-34—67-5Joshua Grenville-Wood, England32-35—67-5Pablo Larrazabal, Spain32-35—67-5Thriston Lawrence, South Africa35-32—67-5Kalle Samooja, Finland35-32—67-5Andy Sullivan, England32-35—67-5Sami Valimaki, Finland35-32—67-5Rasmus Hojgaard, Denmark36-32—68-4Jordan L. Smith, England33-35—68-4Alejandro Del Rey, Spain33-35—68-4Nacho Elvira, Spain35-33—68-4Ryo Hisatsune, Japan35-33—68-4Daan Huizing, Netherlands34-34—68-4Edoardo Molinari, Italy31-37—68-4Aaron Rai, England34-34—68-4Tapio Pulkkanen, Finland33-35—68-4Thomas Aiken, South Africa34-35—69-3Zander Lombard, South Africa34-35—69-3Jorge Campillo, Spain36-33—69-3Alexander Knappe, Germany...

Commercial Bank Qatar Masters Scores

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:03:55 GMT

ThursdayAt Doha Golf ClubDoha, QatarPurse: $3.3 millionYardage: 7,466; Par: 72First RoundDaniel Hillier, New Zealand31-34—65Scott Jamieson, Scotland33-32—65Ewen Ferguson, Scotland32-34—66Stephen Gallacher, Scotland31-35—66Robert Macintyre, Scotland32-34—66Santiago Tarrio, Spain33-33—66Rikuya Hoshino, Japan35-32—67Sean Crocker, United States33-34—67Joshua Grenville-Wood, England32-35—67Pablo Larrazabal, Spain32-35—67Thriston Lawrence, South Africa35-32—67Kalle Samooja, Finland35-32—67Andy Sullivan, England32-35—67Sami Valimaki, Finland35-32—67Rasmus Hojgaard, Denmark36-32—68Jordan L. Smith, England33-35—68Alejandro Del Rey, Spain33-35—68Nacho Elvira, Spain35-33—68Ryo Hisatsune, Japan35-33—68Daan Huizing, Netherlands34-34—68Edoardo Molinari, Italy31-37—68Aaron Rai, England34-34—68Tapio Pulkkanen, Finland33-35—68Thomas Aiken, South Africa34-35—69Zander Lombard, South Africa34-35—69Jorge Campillo, Spain36-33—69Alexander Knappe, Germany35-34—69Mike Lorenzo-Vera, France35-34—69Fabrizio Za...

Review: Bill Burr directs himself in Netflix comedy ‘Old Dads,’ a defiant Gen X middle finger to Gen Z

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:03:55 GMT

Bokeem Woodbine, Bobby Cannavale and Bill Burr appear in a scene from "Old Dads." (Courtesy Netflix) Bokeem Woodbine, Bobby Cannavale and Bill Burr appear in a scene from "Old Dads." (Courtesy Netflix) Comedian Bill Burr has carved a prolific “get off my lawn” place in the standup business with Rolling Stone ranking him No. 17 on its list of the “50 Best Stand Up Comics of All Time.”Now, he makes his directorial debut in the R-rated comedy “Old Dads,” a title that’s a bit misleading considering where the plot ultimately goes, but which is still funny enough to premiere as the No. 1 movie on Netflix.Set in modern-day Los Angeles, the story follows three longtime best friend...

The sudden death of China’s former No. 2 leader Li Keqiang has shocked many

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:03:55 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — The sudden death of former China’s No. 2 leader Li Keqiang has shocked many people in the country, and they are paying tribute to the ex-official who promised market-oriented reforms but was politically sidelined. Li, who died Friday of a heart attack, was China’s top economic official for a decade, helping navigate the world’s second-largest economy through challenges such as tensions with the United States and the COVID-19 pandemic.He was known for his advocacy of private business but lost much of his influence as President Xi Jinping accumulated ever-greater powers and elevated the military and security services in aid of the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”A hashtag related to his death on the Chinese social media platform Weibo drew over 1 billion views in just a few hours. On posts about Li, the “like” button was turned into a daisy — a common flower for funerals in China, and many users commented “rest in peace.” Others called his death...

To the resc-EU? Von der Leyen likely to attend Sunak’s AI summit as snubs pile up

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:03:55 GMT

LONDON — Trust one of the European Union’s most senior politicians to spare Brexit Britain’s blushes.After French President Emmanuel Macron became the latest world leader to snub Rishi Sunak’s much-hyped global artificial intelligence event, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to give the Brits at least one big EU cheese besides Italy’s Giorgia Meloni to parade around Bletchley Park next week. The German politician will attend next week’s event, according to two EU officials who were granted anonymity to speak candidly about von der Leyen’s plans.“The President hopes to be able to go and attend the Summit,” a European Commission press officer told POLITICO, adding that Brussels would confirm Von der Leyen’s agenda Friday.One consideration driving a potential trip across the Channel for the Commission president, according to two EU officials, one of whom is cited above, is for Von der Leyen to show support after the United Kingdom rejoined the E...

Everett’s Christian Zamor a leader in every sense

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:03:55 GMT

EVERETT — One phrase demonstrates the respect Everett coach Justin Flores has for senior standout Christian Zamor.“Oh my God, yes. The running joke right now is, I always tell guys is if something’s going wrong, or you’re struggling, or something in school happens, just think: what would Christian do?” Flores said. “Usually if you do that, you’re going to end up in the right situation. I’ve used that a couple times myself. What would Christian do here, you know what I mean? He (has a) very cool demeanor. I can be a little hot sometimes when things go wrong. Sometimes, just, what would this kid do?”“He actually has used that once,” Zamor said. “We were at a dinner with the guys, and he mentioned that. Yeah, I appreciate coach, and we have a great relationship. I strive to be the best person that I can be, and I appreciate the way that he supports me, and acknowledges the things that I do.”On the field or off, Zam...

A Red Sox fan’s guide to the World Series

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:03:55 GMT

The World Series is here, and the Red Sox won’t be involved. Instead, the baseball world will watch as the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks square off to determine this year’s champion.You know, just like we all predicted.It’s hard to imagine many World Series matchups as improbable as this one. Entering the year both Texas and Arizona were coming off losing seasons and on multiple occasions each looked like it was cooked. Things were especially dire after the two clubs fell behind 3-2 in their respective league championship series, but then both went on the road and won two straight to deny their opponents a second (or third) consecutive pennant.It should be an exciting series, but if you’re from New England why should you care?Even if the Red Sox aren’t playing there are still plenty of relevant storylines that should interest fans. Here are a few to watch as the Fall Classic kicks off.Old friends on big stageNathan Eovaldi is no stranger to the...

‘One of the best players in the world’: Maple Leafs’ Nylander is money in the bank

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:03:55 GMT

All right, just pay the man.William Nylander will tell you that his uncertain future, the possibility of bumping his own stock and leveraging his bargaining stance, is not the major motivation behind his torrid beginning to 2023-24.But as far as aligning your most dominant start with your most important money-making campaign, it’s hard to deny that Nylander has struck the perfect time to reach yet another level with his performance.“I mean, obviously, it’s there. But I think the mindset that I’ve always had is to be better every year,” said Nylander, looking like 10 million bucks in his all-black suit before strolling out of Dallas with another key contribution to a Maple Leafs win and another point on the streak. “So, I mean, that’s there. But I don’t think that I’d be playing any different if it wasn’t a contract year.”The great Fat Joe once said: “Yesterday’s price is not today’s price.”...