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ASK IRA: Are Bulls or Raptors the Heat’s preferred opponent in Friday’s winner-take-all game?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:27 GMT

Q: Ira, if Toronto beats Chicago that is a tough matchup for the Heat. – Joel.A: And if Chicago beat Toronto on Wednesday night, that’s a tough matchup for the Heat. I understand what you’re saying about Toronto’s length being a concern, particularly considering what the Hawks did to the Heat on the boards. But Chicago has a pair of players in DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine that can singularly will their team to victory. Of the three potential play-in opponents, I thought the Hawks were the best draw for the Heat. And then we saw what happened there.Q: I think this was more about the Hawks and less about the Heat. They really do have a good team. Two All-Star guards, good length on the wings and a great rim protector. Give Erik Spoelstra this team and they make it to the Eastern Conference finals. Next up the No. 8 spot. – Douglas.A: Which just shows with Quin Snyder the difference a quality coach can make. And yes, even going in, the Heat had the best p...

Howie Carr: RFK Jr., the outcast Kennedy, has Dems reeling

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:27 GMT

The more state-run media call Robert F. Kennedy Jr. a crackpot and a lunatic and an “anti-vaccine quack,” the more I’m thinking I like this guy.Bobby Jr. is coming to Boston next week to formally announce his candidacy for the 2024 Democrat nomination for president.At age 69, he’s the youngster on the Democrat side, after incumbent president Dementia Joe Biden (80) and spiritual nut Marianne Williamson (71 in July).It tells you something about modern politics that for most of his dissipated life, despite the most appalling sorts of behavior – hard drugs, booze, philandering to the max — Bobby Junior was a well-respected member in good standing of the Democrat party.He began slowly drifting off the Democrat plantation years ago, but he always had that Kennedy thing going for him, especially the famous name of his martyred father.But then he committed the ultimate blasphemy – he profaned the sainted Dr. Anthony Fauci, wrote a best-selling expose about him. And after that he was,...

OBF: Terrorism at Boston Marathon failed to break city’s spirit

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:27 GMT

Ten years after he bombed the Boston Marathon with his brother, the lone surviving murderer and one-time pride of Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School continues to decay in federal prison.His death penalty sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2022. But the editorial board of John Henry’s broadsheet can take comfort in the fact that a ban on federal executions remains in place.We mention Rolling Stone’s favorite cover boy (never by name) here because the 127th running of the Boston Marathon on Monday is another reminder of just how badly he and his brother failed.A decade later and the terrorists still lost.We are big on names here when it comes to the innocent lives lost on Marathon Monday 2013: Martin Richard, Krystle Campbell and Lingzi Lu. Nor can we forget Sean Collier, murdered by the two bombers two nights later. And unlike the producers of “Patriots Day,” we will always include Boston Police Officer Dennis Simmonds in any tribute. He died in April 2014 from head inju...

Pedestrian fatally struck by GO train in East Gwillimbury; Barrie trains delayed

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:27 GMT

Trains on the Barrie GO line are currently stopped north of Aurora after a pedestrian was fatally struck during the Wednesday morning commute.York Regional Police received reports someone was hit by a train around 5:30 a.m. near Yonge Street and Holland Landing Road in East Gwillimbury.Metrolinx confirmed a person was killed on the tracks north of East Gwillimbury GO station and trains cannot move through the area until an investigation is complete.“Customers at Allandale, Barrie South, Bradford, East Gwillimbury and Newmarket GO stations can proceed to the bus loop for service,” reads a tweet from GO Transit. “Customers at Aurora GO can expect a GO train in approximately one hour.”Riders are encouraged to check GO Transit’s service updates for the latest.Emergency personnel have reported a fatality, and service on your line has been modified. Customers at Allandale, Barrie South, Bradford, East Gwillimbury and Newmarket GO stations can proceed to the b...

Taliban say there’s no obstacles for UN work in Afghanistan

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:27 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The Taliban’s chief spokesman said Wednesday there are no obstacles for the U.N. to function in Afghanistan, after they barred Afghan women from working at the global body.Last week, the country’s Taliban rulers took a step further in the restrictive measures they have imposed on women and said that female Afghan staffers employed with the U.N. mission can no longer report for work. The ban is being actively enforced by the country’s intelligence agency, which reports to the Taliban’s leadership in Kandahar. The U.N. says it cannot accept the decision, calling it unlawful and an unparalleled violation of women’s rights. It says women are crucial for the delivery of life-saving aid to millions of Afghans, and has instructed its national staff, male and female, to stay at home. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban-led government’s chief spokesman and part of the supreme leader’s inner circle, denied authorities were to blame for Afghanis...

Double shooting in Vaughan sends two men to hospital

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:27 GMT

Police are investigating after an overnight double shooting in Vaughan that sent two men to hospital.Police tell CityNews the shooting occurred around 1 a.m. Wednesday in a parking lot on Islington Avenue north of Steeles Avenue.Officers from York Regional Police located two victims conscious at the scene with non-life-threatening injuries. They were both transported to hospital.No suspect descriptions have been released.Anyone with information or dashcam video of the area is being asked to contact investigators.

Syria and Tunisia restore diplomatic ties after a decade

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:27 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Syria will reopen its embassy in Tunisia after the North African country announced the appointment of a new ambassador to Damascus, Syrian state media reported Wednesday.Tunisia has become the latest Arab state to reestablish diplomatic ties with Syria, after cutting off relations a decade ago.The move by Tunisian President Kais Saied to appoint a new ambassador was immediately approved and reciprocated by the Syrian government, a joint statement from the two countries’ foreign ministries read, according to Syrian state news agency SANA.The announcement is the latest step in a regional trend of rapprochement with the war-torn country, which has picked up pace since the deadly Feb. 6 earthquake in Syria and Turkey and the Chinese-brokered reestablishment of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran.Syria was widely shunned by Arab governments over Syrian President Bashar Assad’s brutal crackdown on protesters and later civilians in an uprising-turned-civil war that began...

Trump says he wouldn't drop out of 2024 race if convicted: 'It's not my thing'

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:27 GMT

(The Hill) – Former President Trump said in a new interview that he wouldn't drop out of the 2024 race for any legal reason as he faces a possible conviction in a case involving hush-money payments. "Is there anything they could throw at you legally, that would convince you to drop out the race? If you get convicted in this case in New York, would you drop out?" Fox News' Tucker Carlson asked Trump in an interview that aired Tuesday night. "No, I'd never drop — it's not my thing. I wouldn't do it," Trump responded. Trump was arraigned last Tuesday and charged with 34 felony counts in connection to hush-money payments made to adult-film star Stormy Daniels to cover up an alleged affair. Trump has repeatedly denied any affair and has denounced Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's investigation as politically motivated. New York law states that falsifying business records escalates to a felony when an individual’s "intent to defraud includes an intent to commit another crime or to...

White House says fentanyl laced with 'tranq' drug is 'emerging threat'

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:27 GMT

(The Hill) – The Biden administration is declaring xylazine-laced fentanyl an official emerging drug threat to the nation, the first time any drug has been given that label.Xylazine, also known as “tranq,” is an easily accessible veterinary drug approved for use in animals as a sedative and pain reliever. But it is also being used by drug dealers as a low-cost cutting agent in drugs like fentanyl as a way to extend a user's high."I'm troubled about what I've learned about the devastating impact of the fentanyl xylazine combination, which is growing in youth across the nation," said Rahul Gupta, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).The agency is going to prioritize specific action areas, including increasing testing capacity. Tranq making ‘deadliest drug threat’ in US ‘even deadlier,’ DEA warns "Testing for xylazine is uneven across the United States, which makes it hard to get the national picture. Many communities are not even aware of this threat in the...

Hwy 71 shut down near FM 620 due to 18-wheeler crash, diesel spill

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:27 GMT

LAKEWAY, Texas (KXAN) -- All lanes of Hwy 71 near FM 620 were shut down around 5:20 a.m. because of an 18-wheeler crash and diesel spill on the roadway. Lakeway Police tweeted that all lanes of Hwy 71 were shut down between Great Divide Drive and Bee Cave Parkway. That area is near the Hill Country Galleria. Bee Cave Police said the 18-wheeler hit a 500-gallon tank of diesel on Hwy 71 near Great Divide Drive, and the diesel spilled all over the road. Police said it's not clear why the tank was there. Real time traffic map No injuries were reported. Police said to expect significant delays. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.