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Why don’t the Dolphins have a first-round pick in Thursday’s draft?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

Amid an abundance of excitement surrounding the Miami Dolphins’ offseason, the 2023 NFL draft is a painful reminder that the team was stripped of its first-round pick due to tampering violations.That’s why Thursday night’s first round will only consist of 31 picks, instead of the usual 32 — one for every NFL franchise. The league found Miami had “impermissible communication” with quarterback Tom Brady and coach Sean Payton while they were employed by other teams.The NFL, in August, docked the Dolphins their 2023 first-round draft selection and 2024 third-round pick. Owner Steve Ross was fined $1.5 million and suspended for the first six weeks of the 2022 regular season for the tampering findings.The Dolphins once held two first-round selections in the 2023 draft. They had another one from a previous trade with the San Francisco 49ers, but that one was later sent to the Denver Broncos at last season’s trade deadline for Pro Bowl outside lineb...

‘A beauty in the grind’ as Heat move on to Milwaukee with stunning 3-1 series lead

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

To fully appreciate this moment, the magnitude of this moment, this 3-1 lead in this best-of-seven opening-round Eastern Conference playoff series against the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks is to appreciate the road, the recent rocky road, that led the Miami Heat to this moment.On March 29, it was walking off the court at Madison Square Garden after a 101-92 loss to the New York Knicks, any shot of a top-five playoff seed all but gone as the losing streak reached three.On April 7, it was a road loss with a shorthanded roster against the Washington Wizards that eliminated the possibility of a top-six finish, dropping Erik Spoelstra’s team into the harrowing play-in round for the first time.On April 11, it was a humbling 116-105 home loss to the Atlanta Hawks in the play-in opener that reduced the season to one final winner-take-all game in order to make the playoffs.And on April 14, it was a fourth-quarter deficit to the visiting Chicago Bulls in that winner-take-all game before ra...

Trump accuser in court for rape lawsuit trial jury selection

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

By LARRY NEUMEISTER and JENNIFER PELTZ (Associated Press)NEW YORK (AP) — For decades, former President Donald Trump has seemed to shake off allegations, investigations and even impeachments. Now his “Teflon Don” reputation is about to face a new test: a jury of average citizens in a lawsuit accusing him of rape.Jury selection is scheduled to begin Tuesday in a trial over former advice columnist’s E. Jean Carroll’s claim that Trump raped her nearly three decades ago in a department store dressing room. He denies it.The trial is in a federal civil court, meaning that no matter the outcome, Trump isn’t in danger of going to jail. He isn’t required to be in court, either, and his lawyers have indicated he most likely won’t testify.But the trial, which comes as Trump is again running for president, still has the potential to be politically damaging for the Republican. The jury is poised to hear a reprisal of stories of sexual misconduct tha...

135 cats saved by Toronto non-profit from ‘hoarding situation’ inside home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

A non-profit animal rescue team in Toronto says 135 cats “in need of immediate medical attention” were saved from a hoarding situation inside a home.Toronto Cat Rescue says the cats were discovered living in overcrowded conditions, with many suffering from respiratory infections.A group of 80 cats are being transferred to the rescue team in Toronto, including 11 mothers nursing 41 kittens and five advanced pregnant females, set to arrive on Tuesday.The remaining 55 cats will be transferred to Toronto within the next couple of weeks. The non-profit says the cats will be placed in temporary foster homes until they are ready for adoption.“We are grateful to have been able to rescue these cats from such a challenging situation,” said Cassandra Koenen, Communications Director at Toronto Cat Rescue.“Our team of volunteers will work tirelessly to ensure every cat receives the care and attention they need. We’re thankful to be able to give these cats a se...

A play about the making of ‘Jaws’ swims toward Broadway

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A stage play about the making of the blockbuster movie “Jaws” will soon take a huge bite out of Broadway.“The Shark is Broken” — co-written and starring the son of one of the film’s stars, the late Robert Shaw — will land on The Great White Way this summer, fitting for a play about a Great White Shark.“It is a comedy mostly. We dip into the serious elements, but our intention is to entertain,” said Ian Shaw, who will play his father and whose theater credits include “War Horse” and “Common” at the National Theatre and “Much Ado About Nothing” in the West End. The play is a behind-the-scenes look at the three main actors in the Steven Spielberg movie — Robert Shaw as shark hunter Quint, Roy Scheider as the police chief and Richard Dreyfuss as an oceanographer. The three actors had a tense time, with many frustrating delays due to the mechanical shark malfunctioning.“It was a grueling, difficult shoot,” said Shaw. “And there was a clash of personalities, particul...

US consumer confidence falls for 3rd time in 4 months

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

Consumer confidence dipped again in April as anxiety over a slowing economy and possible recession weighed on American households.The Conference Board reported Tuesday that its consumer confidence index fell to 101.3 in April from 104 in March. It’s the third time in four months that overall U.S. consumer confidence has declined.Optimism about current economic conditions ticked up again, although consumers are less positive about the short-term future. The index remains below 2022’s average level of 104.5.The business research group’s present situation index — which measures consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions — inched up to 151.1 from 148.9 last month.The board’s expectations index — a measure of consumers’ six-month outlook for income, business and labor conditions — fell to 68.1 this month from 74 in March. A reading under 80 often signals a recession in the coming year. The Conference Board noted that reading has come in below 80 every mon...

Feds: Man tried to firebomb Ohio church to stop drag show

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

CLEVELAND (AP) — An eastern Ohio man told investigators that he tried to burn down an Ohio church because he wanted to prevent a drag show that was scheduled to take place there, federal prosecutors allege in newly unsealed charges.Aimenn Penny, a 20-year-old from Alliance who is a member of a “white lives matter” group that espouses racist and neo-Nazi views, tried to burn down the Community Church of Chesterland early on March 25, authorities allege in court documents unsealed Monday. Chesterland is a small community east of Cleveland.According to the criminal complaint, Penny said he tried to burn down the church using Molotov cocktails because he wanted to “protect the children and stop the drag show event.” He also regretted that it didn’t work, authorities said.The FBI said the church, which was unoccupied at the time, sustained minimal damage and had scorch marks on the front door. According to court documents, investigators found broken glass from a vodka bottle and a beer b...

WATCH: Fire breaks out after explosion on tracks at Bloor-Yonge station

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

Fire crews are on scene after an explosion and fire on the subway tracks at Bloor-Yonge station.A large fire ignited on the southbound tracks just north of the Line 1 platform around 10 a.m. Tuesday.Video from the scene shows a crowded station witnessing a bright explosion followed by a wall of flames on the tracks. Witnesses say the station was evacuated shortly after.Toronto Fire tells CityNews the blaze is under control and smoke has been clear from the tunnel. Crews remain on scene for the investigation and clean up.No injuries were reported.The TTC says there is no train service between St. Clair and College as cleanup continues. Shuttle buses have been ordered and are running between the two stations.Line 2 trains were initially not stopping at Bloor-Yonge but regular service has resumed.Line 1 Yonge-University: No service between St Clair and College while we respond to a report of a fire.Shuttle buses have been ordered and will operate between St Clair and Bloor stations.&md...

Harry Belafonte, singer, actor and activist, dies at 96

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Harry Belafonte, the civil rights and entertainment giant who began as a groundbreaking actor and singer and became an activist, humanitarian and conscience of the world, has died. He was 96.Belafonte died Tuesday of congestive heart failure at his New York home, his wife Pamela by his side, said Paula M. Witt, of public relations firm Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis.With his glowing, handsome face and silky-husky voice, Belafonte was one of the first Black performers to gain a wide following on film and to sell a million records as a singer; many still know him for his signature hit “Banana Boat Song (Day-O),” and its call of “Day-O! Daaaaay-O.” But he forged a greater legacy once he scaled back his performing career in the 1960s and lived out his hero Paul Robeson’s decree that artists are “gatekeepers of truth.”He stands as the model and the epitome of the celebrity activist. Few kept up with Belafonte's time and commitment and none his stature as a me...

Melissa McCarthy fronts People magazine's 'Beautiful Issue'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Melissa McCarthy is out front on this year's People magazine “Beautiful Issue.”The “Bridesmaids” star says being on the cover "felt like it was saying something really lovely to my younger self, to my 20-year-old self. Maybe to other people, too.”People on Tuesday revealed McCarthy's selection and the cover for the issue that hits magazine racks on Friday.McCarthy, 52, recounted for the magazine her upbringing on a farm in rural Illinois and how she went through a punk phase, complete with a mohawk and blue hair, when she was in high school.“I was fascinated because when I walked down the street and I looked like that, it was the first time that I’d ever had people kind of make fun of me or say really mean things to me, even adults,” she told the magazine. “I just kept thinking, you don’t know me, I didn’t do anything to you. It was a real big eye-opener that people are just judging left and right." Harry Belafonte, singer, actor and activist, dies at 96 Mc...