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First a snake fell from the sky. Then a Texas grandma found herself inside the chaos of a hawk after its prey

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:53 GMT

(CNN) — All Peggy and Wendell Jones wanted was to end their day of yard work in Texas’ triple-digit summer heat by getting cleaned up and going to the casino.The couple – married 45 years next week – routinely splits up the three-hour job of mowing the lawn of an investment property in Silsbee, north of Beaumont, that’s been in the family since 1850, they told CNN.The work is nothing out of the ordinary.It’s what happened while they were at it last month – an encounter that left them at a hospital dressing blood-soaked wounds – that now has them pressing pause.Peggy was riding a mower in the back of the property, far from the trees that line it, when “all of a sudden, out of the clear blue sky, a snake fell … and landed on my arm,” the 64-year-old recalled.There was no mistaking it: The reptile was dark-colored and 4 1/2 feet long, she estimated.It had fallen from nowhere and clutched her right arm.And it wouldn’t let go.“I immediately began thrusting my arm...

Thieves foiled in attempt to steal high-value violin at Pompano Beach music store

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:53 GMT

Quick-thinking staff at a Pompano Beach music store prevented a thief from making off with a nearly $7,000 violin in a daring morning incident. The thwarted theft occurred Wednesday at Fiddlershop, at 2703 Gateway Drive in Pompano Beach.The suspect, seen on surveillance cameras dressed in all black, had previously targeted the store, according to store owner Pierre Holstein. During Wednesday’s incident, the thief, accompanied by a second individual wearing a colorful bucket hat, entered the store. “Well he rang the doorbell, he came in and asked to see some instruments and violins and Charlie, who was helping him, asked him what kind of instrument he was looking for, and he was kind of stumbling and didn’t know what to say and he said ‘My daughter,'” said Holstein. This marked the second time the store had been targeted by the same individual. The initial incident occurred in May when the suspect stole a nearly $1,000 guitar. During that incident, the thief struggl...

Sweet and Sour Mushrooms / Minty Z, Miami

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:53 GMT

If you’re not a fan of mushrooms, you might become a fan after trying tonight’s dish. It’s time to grab a Bite with Belkys.The Chef: Alex FalcoThe Restaurant: Minty Z, MiamiThe Dish: Sweet and Sour MushroomsIngredients:Sweet & Sour Sauce:3 tbsp White vinegar1/4 cup Sugar1 tbsp Ketchup2 tbsp Pineapple juice1 tbsp Soy Sauce1/2 tbsp SrirachaMushrooms:2lb Oyster mushrooms1 Red bell pepper4 Garlic cloves2pc Scallion2 tbsp Roasted cashews3/4 cup Potato starch1/2 cup AP flour2 tbsp Rice flour or cornstarch1 tbsp Baking Powder1/2 tsp Salt1¼ cup Soy milk1/3 cup +1 tbsp Grapeseed OilMethod of Preparation:Combine all ingredients for the sauce in a sauce pot and mix thoroughly. Bring to a simmer over high heat, then reduce the heat and allow to simmer. Once the sauce is reduced by 25-30%, remove from the stove and cool.In a bowl, combine potato starch, flour, rice flour, baking powder, and salt. Sift them together and set aside.Remove the seeds from the bell pepper and cut...

Ninth annual ALS Ice Bucket Challenge honors Beverly native Pete Frates as family continues fight for cure

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:53 GMT

Dozens of people poured cold water over their heads during the ninth annual ALS Ice Bucket Challenge outside the Massachusetts Statehouse. The challenge honors Pete Frates, the inspiration behind the ice bucket challenge. The Beverly native and former Boston College baseball player died following a battle with ALS in 2019.“Pete’s presence is with us. He’s such an inspiration he’s such a hero to so many people especially those suffering from this disease,” John Frates, Pete’s father, said.Pete’s parents, wife and daughter all took part in the challenge.“It’s a mixed emotion day,” Pete’s mother Nancy Frates said. “We are committed to this mission to find a cure for this disease so we’re going to come back every August until a cure.”This is the ninth year the Frates family has put on the event to help raise money for ALS research.“Look at all the progress that has been going on,” John Frates said. “My hope and prayer is that this mig...

Ian Hamilton to open Wednesday’s game against White Sox; struggling Luis Severino expected to pitch

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:53 GMT

Yankees reliever Ian Hamilton is set to open Wednesday night’s series finale against the Chicago White Sox, starting in place of the struggling Luis Severino, the team said in its pre-game notes.The Yankees said Severino is expected to pitch in relief after Hamilton, who hasn’t thrown more than three innings in an outing this season.Severino allowed nine runs, including seven in the first inning, against the Baltimore Orioles on July 30. He followed that blowout by surrendering five runs, including three in the opening frame, to the Houston Astros last Friday.Manager Aaron Boone didn’t rule out moving Severino to the bullpen after his latest rough start, saying, “Everything’s on the table.” Following Tuesday’s game, Boone said the team would discuss its pitching plans for Wednesday, when Severino was lined up to start on regular rest.Severino, a two-time All-Star and impending free agent, entered Wednesday with a 7.74 ERA. He said Friday he ...

Ticker: ESPN enters sports betting; Florida ticket wins $1.58B Mega Millions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:53 GMT

Disney-owned ESPN has licensed its brand for use in a sports betting app, striking a deal in which it will receive $1.5 billion and other considerations from Penn Entertainment.In return, Penn will rebrand its existing sports betting app as ESPN Bet, which ESPN has agreed to promote across its online and broadcast platforms in order to generate “maximum fan awareness” of the app.Penn also announced that it sold Barstool Sports, an irreverent sports media site, back to its founder Dave Portnoy. Penn took a 36% stake of Barstool Sports in February 2020 for about $163 million and subsequently acquired the remainder of the company for about $388 million in February 2023. Neither Penn nor Portnoy disclosed terms of the divestment deal.In a video posted on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, Portnoy radiated excitement over the site’s regained independence.The regulated gambling industry, he said, “was probably not the best place for Barstool Sports and the kind of content ...

Patriots fill 90-man roster by signing free-agent linebacker

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:53 GMT

The Patriots’ 90-man roster is once again full.The Patriots filled their roster Wednesday by signing free-agent linebacker Joe Giles-Harris. The 6-foot-2, 234-pound linebacker spent the last two seasons with Buffalo Bills.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots extra points: Rookie WR Demario Douglas explains his impressive weight gains New England Patriots | Patriots training camp Day 14: Mike Gesicki dazzles, Trent Brown returns and will the starters sit in preseason? New England Patriots | Patriots rookies making wide receiver depth chart interesting in training camp New England Patriots | Patriots CB Marcus Jones tight-lipped about offensive role, but ‘way ahead’ on defense New England Patriots | Source: Patriots signing ex-DL Trey Flowers after workout Giles-Harris, 26, came into the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars out of Duke in 2019. He has 26...

Orioles’ success raises memories of the past and hopes for the future | GUEST COMMENTARY

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:53 GMT

The National Pastime takes on an added dimension when your team is doing well, becoming a soul-massaging diversion from the ubiquitous bad news of the day. The Orioles’ recent success has shaken loose memories of glory days gone by — and spurred hope for the future.Sitting with my grandkids on a muggy summer day, I recall going to my first game, in 1953, a minor-league affair in the old one-level Municipal Stadium on 33rd Street. I had just turned 10. The Orioles were playing birds of a different feather, the Rochester Red Wings. I felt a mild burst of anticipation as I walked up the gray concrete ramp, and a slight sense of wonderment at the sudden sight of a vividly emerald-green field and a rickety old scoreboard.At that age, I certainly wasn’t aware that Baltimore had been a minor-league powerhouse in the 19th century, both in the American Association and later the National League, which won championships in three consecutive seasons (1894 to 1896). Nor was I c...

US to send $200 million in military aid to Ukraine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:53 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon will provide Ukraine with $200 million in weapons and ammunition to help sustain Kyiv’s counteroffensive as troops on the front lines face significant hurdles against a well-entrenched Russian defense, according to two U.S. officials. This latest package will include missiles for the High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and the Patriot air defense system, munitions for howitzers and tanks, Javelin rockets, mine-clearing equipment, 12 million rounds of small arms ammunition and demolition munitions, said a U.S. official. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the aid has not yet been publicly announced.The aid comes as the U.S. funding for Ukraine is nearly all spent and the Biden administration is expected to request a new package of supplemental aid from Congress to continue that support. Ukraine has already received more than $43 billion from the U.S. since Russia invaded last year. Those funds have provided weapons systems l...

Person shot and wounded by South Dakota trooper in Sturgis, authorities say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:53 GMT

STURGIS, S.D. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the shooting of a person by a South Dakota Highway Patrol trooper at a convenience store Wednesday in Sturgis, where a big annual motorcycle rally is underway.Sturgis Police Chief Geody VanDewater issued a brief statement confirming that one person was shot and wounded by a trooper, and said more information would be released later, the Black Hills Pioneer reported.“We’re not releasing details at this time other than all the officers are safe and there is no threat to public safety,” he said at his daily briefing.The Sturgis Police Department said the shooting happened around 10 a.m. Wednesday at a gas station just off Interstate 90. There was no immediate word on the condition of the person who was shot or what led to the shooting.Initial statements from authorities did not say whether the incident might be linked to the 10-day Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, which draws hundreds of thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts to the Black Hills ...