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‘Let’s Fly,’ the latest exhibition from the Balloon Museum, awakens childlike wonder in all of us

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:29:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The first thought that comes to mind when you enter the Balloon Museum for the “Let’s Fly” exhibit is the massive scale of the art.It’s easy to think of such an environment as having either professional-level balloon art or installations that rival the scale of a Thanksgiving Day Parade float, and that would be true. But it’s the adventure of a theme park attraction that can awaken the childlike wonder in all of us.That’s definitely the intention according to Chiara Caimmi, who serves as the artistic production coordinator. She wants every installation to provide “some kind of interaction” with the audience.“Sometimes it’s a relationship with the space where you enter a new world, or you have a different perception of the space you are in. You feel little or you feel big,” Caimmi said.She calls it “an immersive experience through inflatable artwork.”“We have 14 artists involved in our New York City exhibition, and so you are going to see all of thes...

French league suspends Atal for 7 games for sharing an antisemitic message on social media

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:29:00 GMT

NICE, France (AP) — The French soccer league suspended Nice defender Youcef Atal for seven matches on Wednesday after he shared an antisemitic message on social media.Nice had already suspended Atal last week until further notice and said that he apologized for his actions. After the matter was reviewed by the French soccer federation’s ethics committee, the French league’s disciplinary commission suspended Atal.Atal’s suspension comes after the Nice public prosecutor’s office opened a preliminary investigation targeting Atal on charges “of defending terrorism” for sharing the message online. The prosecutor’s office said Atal is also being investigated for “public incitement to hatred or violence because of a particular religion.”The 27-year-old Atal, who also plays for Algeria’s national team, apologized after reportedly reposting and then deleting a video in which a Palestinian preacher made an antisemitic statement.Writing on Instagram, Atal said he understood that his post was s...

Venezuela’s attorney general opens investigation against opposition presidential primary organizers

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:29:00 GMT

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s chief prosecutor on Wednesday announced a criminal investigation into organizers of this past weekend’s primary election that was meant to let voters choose an opposition candidate to run against President Nicolás Maduro next year.Attorney General Tarek William Saab told reporters the probe would look at allegations including that the independent National Primary Commission that organized Sunday’s balloting was illegally usurping the duties of a government entity.The announcement came hours after the opposition-organized commission released updated results showing participation of more than 2.4 million voters, the overwhelming majority of whom supported longtime government foe María Corina Machado. Saab said his investigation also would look into allegations of identity theft, money laundering and conspiracy.“As we know, an act of buffoonery took place Sunday, a kind of theater to deceive both national and international public opinio...

Canada Growth Fund invests $90M in Calgary geothermal company

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:29:00 GMT

CALGARY — A geothermal energy company is the first recipient of funding from the Canada Growth Fund, the federal government’s new $15-billion arm’s-length public investment vehicle.Calgary-based Eavor Technologies Inc. has developed a proprietary closed-loop geothermal system that the company says can be used to produce clean, reliable baseload heat and power.The Canada Growth Fund has committed $90 million of Series B preferred equity in the company, to help Eavor grow its business while retaining intellectual property and creating jobs in Canada.Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced the creation of the Canada Growth Fund in the 2023 federal budget.The fund is meant to help Canada’s economy transform and grow on the path to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. Its mandate is to invest in Canadian clean technology businesses that are developing technologies at the commercialization stage.One of the goals of the fund is to help bridge the liquidity gap in the Canadia...

Former NBA star Dwight Howard denies sexual assault lawsuit filed by Georgia man

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:29:00 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Dwight Howard has denied accusations by a Georgia man who says he was sexually assaulted by the former NBA star and another person.Stephen Harper filed a state civil suit against Howard in July, alleging assault and battery, false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress.In a response filed this week by his attorney, Howard described the 2021 encounter at his home in the Atlanta suburbs as consensual and requested that the case be dismissed.Harper’s lawsuit says he met Howard through Instagram and they exchanged explicit text messages before arranging to meet at Howard’s home on July 19, 2021.While on his way to the Gwinnett County residence, Harper says Howard texted him to ask if another man or woman could join their planned sexual encounter. Harper says he told Howard he was not interested.Once at Howard’s home, Harper claims they were joined by a man dressed as a woman who identified only as “Kitty.” Harper says he tried to r...

White House wants more than $23 billion from Congress to respond to natural disasters

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:29:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is asking lawmakers for more than $23 billion in emergency funding to help the government respond to the tornadoes, wildfires, hurricanes and other natural disasters that have ripped through the U.S. this year.That request is part of a broader package being sent to Capitol Hill Wednesday that asks for additional investments in child care programs and broadband expansion. And that’s on top of the separate, nearly $106 billion request the Biden administration made last week for aid to Ukraine and Israel, as well as other national security priorities.The White House says the request for additional disaster relief – parsed out among the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other federal agencies that cover housing, transportation and agriculture needs – is based on estimates from communities that have been hit by disasters this year, such as the August wildfires in Hawaii, hurricanes in Florida and flooding in California and Vermont, among other extr...

Police seize 5 guns, including 3D printed handgun, during raid in King Township

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:29:00 GMT

A King Township man is facing numerous charges after a raid at a rural property netted five illegal guns, including a 3D printed handgun, police say.Officers executed a warrant at the home on Highway 9 between 11th Concession and 15th Sideroad on October 20, 2023.Police say they also seized a silencer, ammunition and high-capacity magazines.George Zagouris, 51, of King, is facing fifteen total charges.Police say the investigation is ongoing.“York Regional Police recognizes the devastating impact that illegal guns have on the communities we serve,” police said in a release. “Our members are committed to combatting this type of crime and taking illegal guns off our streets through the Guns, Gangs and Violence Reduction Strategy.”

Police identify man found dead in Nebraska apartment building chimney

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:29:00 GMT

NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) — Police in Norfolk, Nebraska, have identified a man whose body was found inside an apartment building chimney, but they’re still not sure about the circumstances that led to his death.The victim was 29-year-old Zachariah Andrews of Norfolk, the Norfolk Daily News reported Wednesday. His body was found Oct. 19.Police Capt. Michael Bauer said Andrews was identified by scars, marks, tattoos and an identification card found with his body.Andrews was last seen alive on Sept. 15. Police received a call on Sept. 16 from a tenant of the apartment building who said he heard a man yelling for help. By the time officers arrived, the yelling had stopped, and officers couldn’t locate anyone.On Sept. 20, a parking warning was placed on Andrews’ vehicle that was parked nearby. A missing-person report was taken on Oct. 3, Bauer said.Police have said they believe the death was an accident, but an investigation is ongoing.The Associated Press

Bud Light to return as the UFC’s official beer next year as it recovers from a conservative backlash

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:29:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Bud Light is set to return as the official beer of the UFC in the U.S. next year as the brand tries to recover from a conservative backlash to a promotion with a transgender influencer.Under a new multiyear marketing deal between the promoter of mixed martial arts fights and Bud Light maker Anheuser-Busch, the brewer will become the UFC’s “Official Beer Partner” in the U.S. starting Jan. 1, the two companies announced. Outside the U.S., AB InBev, the parent of Anheuser-Busch, will be UFC’s official global partner.Financial details of the deal were not disclosed — but, citing a person familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported that the global agreement marks the UFC’s largest sponsorship ever, surpassing a $175 million fight-kit deal signed with Crypto.com back in 2021.A UFC spokesperson declined to comment on the financial terms of the partnership. Anheuser-Busch did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.This isn’t the f...

Swastika found carved into playground equipment at Downers Grove school

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:29:00 GMT

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. (AP) — A suburban Chicago elementary school district has asked police for extra patrols after a swastika was found carved into a piece of playground equipment early Tuesday.Superintendent Kevin Russell of Downers Grove Grade School District 58 sent parents a letter confirming a swastika was found on the playground at Lester Elementary School. He called the finding “deeply disturbing."“The swastika serves as the most notorious symbol of hate and antisemitism and has no place in our community,” Russell wrote. ‘He was my best friend’: Mother recuperates after 6-year-old boy killed in attack police call a hate crime He said the swastika was reported to Downers Grove Police and has since been removed.“We have no evidence that this symbol was made by a Lester student," Russell wrote. “Further, we do not believe that any Lester student saw the symbol. This likely occurred after school when the students had left for the evening.”The discovery occurred amid a rise in an...