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What Poland’s surprise election winner means for the world

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:28 GMT

You’ve got to hunt for news about the most consequential election in Europe this year. Israel has pushed even the war in Ukraine far down the headline scroll.But Sunday’s surprising vote in Poland deserves attention — for what it says about domestic small-d democratic politics and for what it means geopolitically for the U.S. and Europe.Let’s start with the first and the man of the moment: Donald T. — T is for Tusk — who both shares some qualities with his namesake and represents a rejection of Trumpist politics.Tusk led his center-right Civic Platform and two likely coalition partners to an unexpected victory over the ruling Law and Justice Party. Over eight years, PiS, as the governing party is known, blended social Catholic conservatism, nationalism bleeding into jingoism and state patronage. Its detractors saw in it an existential threat to Poland’s thirtysomething democracy and raised doubts about the election’s fairness.We’ve become so downbeat that the outcome came as a shock...

Celtics work out the kinks in pre-season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:28 GMT

Could this be the year the Celtics go all the way?Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) pushes up against New York Knicks guard DaQuan Jeffries (8) as the Celtics take on the Knicks at the Garden on October 17, BOSTON, MA. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) smooshes the nose of New York Knicks guard Miles McBride (2) as the Celtics take on the Knicks at the Garden on October 17, BOSTON, MA. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) drives the lane against New York Knicks guard DaQuan Jeffries (8) as the Celtics take on the Knicks at the Garden on October 17, BOSTON, MA. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives to the basket against the defense of New York's Jericho Sims on Tuesday night. (Staff Photo/Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) and New York Knicks center Jericho Sims (45) battle for the rebound as the Ce...

Chicago police say they’re looking into viral brawl between Bears fans at Soldier Field

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:28 GMT

Chicago police on Tuesday confirmed that investigators were looking into a viral video of a Sunday game day brawl at Soldier Field.The attack took place around 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the stadium, according to police, as the Bears played a game they would lose to the Minnesota Vikings.In one 17-second clip posted to the social site formerly known as Twitter, an unidentified man wearing a Justin Fields jersey and a Bears pom cap punches a shorter man from behind, knocking him to the ground. The man then appears to pull another man backward by his sweater, allowing a second man to climb atop and pummel the second victim.Videos and still images of the brawl were posted to the social media sites of several outlets after the game, including Barstool Sports and TMZ.In a media release, police said the victims, ages 27 and 50, began quarreling with three other men when they were assaulted. Both victims took themselves to area hospitals.No arrests had been made as an investigation by Belmont Are...

Fijian prime minister ‘more comfortable dealing with traditional friends’ like Australia than China

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:28 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Fiji’s prime minister said Wednesday on a visit to Australia’s capital that his government was “more comfortable dealing with traditional friends” such as Australia as China pursues closer security ties in the Asia-Pacific region.Sitiveni Rabuka and Australia’s Anthony Albanese met during the Fijian’s first state visit to Australia since he most recently came to power in December last year. The 75-year-old former army colonel and coup leader had previously been Fiji’s prime minister from 1992 until 1999.Rabuka sided with Australia in what he described as the “rivalry” and “one-upmanship“ between the United States and China.“We’re more comfortable dealing with traditional friends, that we have similar systems of government, that our democracies are the same brand of democracy, coming out of the Westminster system,” Rabuka told reporters.“Our justice system, our policing system — we’re more comfortable with friends that we have had ov...

Jackson State University community remembers student shot and killed on-campus

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:28 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. — A balloon release was held Tuesday at Jackson State University in Mississippi to remember a 21-year-old man shot and killed on campus who was from Country Club Hills.Jaylen Burns was just months away from graduating with a degree in Industrial Technology at Jackson State University. ‘A light to everybody’: Student from Chicagoland killed in shooting at Jackson State University But Jackson, Mississippi police said Burns died after being shot multiple times at an apartment complex on campus Sunday.Burns graduated from Hillcrest High School in Country Club Hills before heading to JSU.His father said witnesses told him his son was just trying to break up a fight."I was just in disbelief, I was crying, my wife was crying," Jason Burns, Jaylen's father, said. "I just didn't understand it."University classmates, staff and family members held a balloon release Tuesday to honor Jaylen.

School board approves sports bra for female runners during practice

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:28 GMT

GUILDERLAND, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The school board in Guilderland voted on a policy to change the dress code to allow female students wear a sports bra as a shirt during athletic practices. The vote passed 8 to 1 to allow it. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! During public comment Tuesday night, many pointed out that male athletes practice shirtless in order to stay cool while running. The new policy states students must continue to comply with standard dress code requirements once outdoor sports practice is complete.

Victim's family outraged after defendant in deadly hit-and-run gets probation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:28 GMT

ST. LOUIS – A victim's family is outraged after finding out a St. Louis man charged in a deadly 2020 hit-and-run won't serve any prison time.It happened in October 2020 on North Broadway near Bellefontaine Cemetery.On Tuesday, a St. Louis city judge sentenced Anthony Allen Jr. to seven years of probation for running over Shanell Jamison, 37, and leaving the scene of the crime. Police said Jamison was trying to cross the street when Allen hit her with his white Dodge Avenger.Jamison's sister, Candice, said the family is devastated because they don't feel justice was served. When should Missouri expect the first snow? "My niece and nephew, they really miss their mom," Jamison said. "They just want their mom back. And I know she can't come back. So, they want justice."Her husband, Jonathan Crews, was very critical of the St. Louis City justice system."St. Louis does not know how to prosecute cases," Crews said. "The attorneys, those judges down there. It's getting real gimmicky. The ...

Israel, Hamas point fingers after hospital destroyed in bombing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:28 GMT

FOX 2 is following the very latest out of the Middle East in the war between Israel and Hamas. Hundreds of people are dead after a Gaza hospital was bombed Tuesday in one of the deadliest attacks of the war thus far.The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry says at least 500 people are dead following the blast.The Israeli government denies hitting the hospital. Senior Advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Mark Regev said they are investigating the incident."Israel does not target places like hospitals," Regev said. "They're not a target for us, and we wouldn't have deliberately hit a hospital."Israel continues to target Hamas militants. They're also urging Palestinian civilians to evacuate Gaza. In central Gaza, strikes leveled an entire block of homes near a refugee camp. They also killed a top Hamas military commander. Ayman Nofal was in charge of Hamas activities in the central Gaza Strip. He's the most high-profile Hamas militant known to have been killed so far.Israel has blocked water, f...

Hundreds of fans line up to meet Jason Momoa at Des Peres Schnucks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:28 GMT

DES PERES, Mo. - Movie star Jason Momoa kicked off his St. Louis tour Tuesday afternoon at a Des Peres Schnucks.Momoa’s on a six-state tour promoting his new vodka, Meili. Hundreds of fans lined up outside the Schnucks to grab a photo and buy an autographed bottle of vodka.“We are huge superhero fans with an 8-year-old,” Denise Berlekamp said.Momoa will be making stops Wednesday at two more St. Louis locations: the Crestwood Dierbergs and Total Wine & More in Chesterfield. St. Louis County Council passes tax freeze for seniors Kirkwood’s Logan Echols began lining up about two hours before the start of Tuesday’s event."I’m here to meet a celebrity for the first time,” Echols said. “I’m a little nervous.”One fan, Zach Welty, brought some gifts of his own to give to the star actor.“I know he’s into skull art, so I brought some skull art coins for him,” Welty said. “I’m hoping to gift him with it and bless him with it. It would be a cool guy to have my art in his collection.”Momoa...

Woman waiting weeks for unemployment back pay after winning appeal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:28 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A north St. Louis County resident who won a battle against Missouri unemployment officials says she’s not getting a fair deal.Taylor Brown won her case on appeal to get unemployment benefits. But that was a month ago, and she still hasn’t received the money she’s entitled to.“I have been waiting. This is going on week four. I’ve been unable to receive any kind of explanation, any kind of time frame, just anything from Missouri unemployment,” she said.Brown was released from her job in a call center in June of this year. Her employer said it was for bad conduct related to the job. The Missouri Department of Employment Security denied her benefit based on that allegation from her employer.She appealed to a department tribunal and won. St. Louis County Council passes tax freeze for seniors “What that means is that although I was at one point disqualified, that was overturned. And all of the weeks that I filed for unemployment are due to me,” Brown said.She say...