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‘They feel connected’: Loudoun Co. pilots sports at 4 middle schools

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:10 GMT

Eighth grader Julian Henry really wanted to play football last year after he finished classes at Seneca Ridge Middle School in Loudoun County, Virginia, so he thought it would be a good idea to start a club, because the county didn’t offer organized sports at middle schools.There was a significant amount of interest, and Henry was satisfied with how it turned out. But, he said it’s been even more rewarding now that it’s a county-organized intramural sport at some middle schools.Loudoun County Public Schools has launched a middle school pilot program at four schools, including Seneca Ridge, with the possibility to expand it to all county middle schools. In the first quarter, middle school students were given the chance to join a coed flag football team, and volleyball, soccer and basketball will be offered later this year.Just weeks into the new school year, leaders at Seneca Ridge say the pilot program has produced promising results, giving students the chance to participate in an a...

Have University of Md. researchers made the perfect apple for our region?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:10 GMT

Chris Walsh, a professor emeritus at the University of Maryland, has spent decades growing apple trees. He grew up in Montgomery County, but worked on apple orchards in the Northeast after college.For more than 30 years, Walsh has worked fields at the school’s research farm in Keedysville, Maryland — near the Potomac River and Antietam Creek in southeastern Washington County — trying to grow a better apple tree. Better for farmers, and better for you.This week, the U.S. Patent Office issued patents to the university for a yellow apple known, for now, as “MD-TAP1,” and a red apple known, for now, as “MD-TAP2.” “TAP” stands for Maryland Tree Architecture Program.For more than 30 years, Chris Walsh has worked fields at the school’s research farm in Keedysville, Maryland, trying to grow a better apple tree. (WTOP/John Domen)And the best part is these apples will thrive in this region because he’s bred them to be resistant to the chan...

Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno bruises right hand on foul tip, leaves NLDS Game 3

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:10 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno left Game 3 of the NL Division Series in the fifth inning because of a bruised right hand on Wednesday night.The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Chris Taylor fouled off a bunt attempt while batting against Joe Mantiply. Moreno took the foul off his throwing hand, shaking the hand in pain. Moreno stayed in the game after consulting with manager Torey Lovullo and medical staff, then was removed for pinch-hitter Pavin Smith in the bottom half.Moreno has three homers in the postseason, including one of four solo shots against Lance Lynn in the third as Arizona became the first team to hit four home runs in a postseason inning.Backup catcher José Herrera entered the game in the sixth.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlbSource

Bruce Bochy is back in the postseason with the Texas Rangers. He missed it while he was away.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:10 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Bruce Bochy was home the past three Octobers, doing a little fishing and hitting a few golf balls after stepping away from a 25-year managerial career that included three World Series championships.As enjoyable and relaxing as that all was, he found himself missing more and more where he preferred to be this time of the year. Bochy is back in the dugout for the postseason in his first season with the Texas Rangers, whose general manager is one of his former pitchers who lured him out of his brief retirement. “I’m having the time of my life,” said the 68-year-old Bochy, who is going to his first American League Championship Series. The Rangers were mired in a string of six consecutive losing seasons. With Bochy in charge, they went 90-72 before sweeping the first two rounds in these playoffs against the AL’s winningest teams this year — Tampa Bay in the Wild Card Series, then Baltimore in the Division Series.“You look at a man like Boch that’s done...

Teen stabbing victim and family kicked out of Denver hotel shelter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:10 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The mother of a teen stabbed at a Denver hotel shelter for families said their family is now getting kicked out.The stabbing happened Tuesday evening at a former Comfort Inn hotel near Interstate 70 and Quebec Street. Three people were hurt, including the teenage son of Jessica Watson."He got stabbed in his leg and his muscle was severed," Watson told FOX31. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox She said they were told they now have to leave the home they've known since February."On our way to go pick him up from being discharged, hotel staff, Salvation Army staff, all of them came out here and told us that we were being discharged whether we were victims or not," Watson said.Denver Police say the three people wounded, including Watson's son, were stabbed on the second floor of the building. No arrests had been made as of Wednesday night.Hotel shelter for families has rules against violenceThe low-barrier shelter property is leased by D...

Smoky Hill seniors overcome obstacles to become part of marching band together

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:10 GMT

AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — A lesson in the power of friendship and compassion is coming from two local high school seniors.In a marching band, where every musician plays a part, staying in sync makes the performance.“Every student has their own unique spot,” said Zak Ruffert, director of bands at Smoky Hill High School. So when we're missing somebody, there's quite literally a hole in the band, a blank spot on the field."At Smoky Hill High School, two seniors make the marching band whole together: Nolan Dauer and Donovan Light.“Donovan plays the trumpet and Nolan moves them where he needs to be,” Ruffert said. "Together, it completes the picture." From Black Hawks to brewery owner, Castle Rock veteran continues to give back The friendship between Dauer and Light goes back to middle school."We hung out during lunches and talked to each other then,” Dauer said.A school later, those conversations evolved into harmony.“Freshman year, I was still very interested in the marching band, but I...

Pembroke Pines metaphysical shop Qunubus is hosting 3-day aura photography event

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:10 GMT

It is a colorful world out there, but there are some colors we can’t see with our own eyes … like our auras. Now you can learn more about your aura and even get pictures of it. Can’t be any worse than your driver’s license photo, right?Forget a psychedelic trip. All you need to do to see colors this weekend is get your aura photos taken.The metaphysical shop Qunubus is hosting a three-day aura photography event.Ilena Romero: “On this three-day event, it’s for everyone to come in, they can take their aura photo. It’s going to teach them what energy they’re putting out into the world, and for them to grow spiritually.”Your aura is the energy frequency your body gives out that we can’t see with the naked eye, but in simpler terms…Atena de Jong: “You can think of the aura as kind of a snapshot of where you are on your soul’s journey.”The only way to see it is with special equipment that takes a picture of your aura....

Israeli envoy: Hamas ‘animals’ must be destroyed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:10 GMT

Israel’s Ambassador to Berlin Ron Prosor said the Western world must stand with Israel as it fights the “bloodthirsty animals” of Hamas. Speaking to POLITICO’s transatlantic podcast Power Play, the diplomat said militants from the armed Palestinian group “will pay a price” for their recent terror attack against Israel, which left more than 1,200 people dead in what Prosor called the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.“This is civilization against barbarity. This is good against bad,” Prosor said. “This is people who basically act as animals and do not have any, any respect for children, women.”Prosor was doubling down on language by Israel’s Defense Minister Yoan Gallant, who sparked controversy by saying Israel was fighting “human animals.” Talking about Israel’s retaliatory measures against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Prosor said the goal can no longer be containment, as trying to contain Islamic jihadists “does not and will never work.”Isra...

What’s in a name? Why unmet medical needs are riling the pharma industry 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:10 GMT

This article is the product of a POLITICO Working Group presented by Sanofi. The debate over how to make pharmaceutical companies treat all European markets fairly is raging. But there’s a second front opening in the industry’s fightback against the European Commission’s pharmaceutical reform: the category of unmet medical need. The idea seems innocent enough. It’s an incentive that rewards new drugs for patients with serious diseases who don’t have any other treatments and whose medical needs are, well, unmet. But it’s already provoking strong reactions in some corners, with objections spanning from accusations of more red tape to worries that it will actually stymie innovation.“Having another step of evaluation [in the drug approval process] would just add complexity, and create unbelievable discussions between member states,” said Christian Deleuze, deputy managing director for innovation at Sanofi, who was speaking at a working group on rare...

Going to war: Ambassador Ron Prosor on Israel’s fight with Hamas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:10 GMT

Listen on Spotify Apple Music Google Play EN_Google_Podcasts_Badge Created with Sketch. Acast Amazon Music The horrific events unfolding in Israel have sent shockwaves around the world. As the death toll mounts from Hamas’ deadly attacks and Israel’s retaliatory strikes on Gaza, how will the ensuing conflict alter the power balance of the Middle East and its alliances?In...