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DC Auditor report says half a billion in federal COVID money was spent without approval

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:39 GMT

In a new report, D.C.’s chief auditor points to failures in how nearly half a billion dollars in federal COVID-19 relief funds were appropriated without the required approval by the city council.In a 52-page report released Thursday, the Office of the District of Columbia Auditor (ODCA) said that while Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Administration had complied with federal requirements on how the 2020 CARES Act funds could be spent, the $495 million in relief was appropriated without approval from the D.C. Council.D.C. Auditor Kathy Patterson told WTOP that skipping that approval process “is in fact a violation of the Home Rule Act, which is our Constitution, congressionally enacted almost 50 years ago.”In addition, Patterson said that D.C.’s Chief Financial Officer failed to exercise his independent role when the appropriation went from the U.S. Treasury to D.C.’s treasury — without the council’s approval.“An independent CFO was one of the che...

Astros’ Framber Valdez holds Tigers hitless through 7 innings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:39 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Framber Valdez of the Houston Astros pitched seven no-hit innings against the Detroit Tigers on Friday night, then was removed after matching his career high with 114 pitches.Bryan Abreu relieved Valdez starting the eighth with the Astros ahead 1-0.Valdez, a 29-year-old left-hander, no-hit the Cleveland Guardians on Aug. 1 on 93 pitches. Making his fourth start since then, he struck out six, walked five and hit a batter. He threw 64 pitches for strikes.Valdez also threw 114 pitches at Oakland on May 30 last year.Valdez nearly allowed a second-inning homer to Miguel Cabrera, but right fielder Kyle Tucker made a jumping catch against the fence.Jose Altuve’s RBI infield single on a slow roller in the third inning was the only hit of the game.Tigers manager A.J. Hinch was ejected by plate umpire Laz Díaz for arguing after a called third strike to Javier Báez for the second out of the seventh.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlbSource

Residents ‘nervous’ as Montgomery Co. sees increase in carjackings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:39 GMT

It’s not the news Montgomery County officials want to hear. The number of carjackings is on rise, and so are the concerns for county residents.“I’m always a little nervous about being exposed because you never know,” said Abrilla Mackey of Takoma Park.Mackey says she has anxiety when she hears about a carjacking in the county. Now, she makes sure to be vigilant when she’s out shopping or pumping gas.“I’m pretty cautious about my surroundings. I make sure I lock my car before I go in,” Mackey said. “I never leave my keys in the car and I always hide my purse.”That’s because the number of carjackings in Montgomery County is on track to reach another record year. According to recent data from the county, 74 carjackings have been reported so far this year. That’s compared to 80 for all of 2022.Also, Montgomery County saw 49 carjackings from January through March in a record high for the first quarter of the year, ac...

Big Ten to require football teams to report which players are available to play on gamedays

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:39 GMT

ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) — The Big Ten announced Friday that it will require its football teams to provide an availability report of its players to the conference office no more than two hours before kickoff as part its efforts to safeguard the integrity of games amid the growth of legalized gambling.The conference also announced a partnership with U.S. Integrity, a company that monitors sporting events for illegal or improper gambling activities, to provide enhanced monitoring and additional educational resources to help prevent student-athletes, coaches and staff from engaging in prohibited sports wagering.No other Power Five conference has a league-wide availability report, though the Atlantic Coast Conference tried a loosely run midweek injury report several years ago.College sports has been hit with multiple gambling-related scandals this year, including in the Big Ten. Several Iowa athletes in multiple sports are facing NCAA discipline for online gambling on sporting events.At Iowa...

El estreno de “Dune: Part Two” se pospone hasta 2024 debido a las huelgas en Hollywood

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:39 GMT

(CNN) — “Dune: Part Two”, la tan esperada secuela de la épica película de ciencia ficción “Dune”, de Denis Villeneuve de 2021, se pospondrá, anunció Warner Bros. este jueves.Originalmente estaba previsto que la película, protagonizada por Timothée Chalamet y Zendaya, se estrenara el 3 de noviembre de este año.En un correo electrónico enviado a CNN este jueves, el estudio confirmó que la secuela será pospuesta “debido a la huelga en curso de SAG-AFTRA”. (Warner Bros. y CNN son parte de Warner Bros. Discovery).Investigadora descubre el fósil de un gusano de 500 millones de años y lo nombra en honor al monstruo de “Dune”Los actores de ese sindicato, el Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, han estado en huelga desde el mes de julio después del fracaso de las negociaciones con los estudios y las plataformas de transmisión sobre un nuevo convenio.Los puntos conflictivos en esas negociaciones incluyen...

Data Doctors: Hard drive maintenance tips everyone should know

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:39 GMT

Q: What should I be doing to monitor my hard drive?A: Of all the components that make up your computer, the hard drive should be considered the most important to maintain and monitor because it stores your valuable data.Recognizing signs that it may be faltering can help you avoid a catastrophic event that could result in the complete loss of your critical data.Depending upon the age and type of hard drive, the potential failures can be mechanical or electronic, so the first thing to do is pay attention!Free SpaceOne item that you should regularly monitor is the amount of free space on your drive. Your computer constantly uses empty hard drive space for temporary memory, so it’s not just about having space to save your data.Follow these links to learn how to check the free space on your hard drive.Windows UsersMAC UsersAs your drive approaches 80-85% capacity, consider purging programs and files (especially video) or replacing it with a much larger drive.Strange NoisesComputers with...

Harrison opts out of minor league contract with Rangers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:39 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Veteran infielder Josh Harrison opted out of his minor league contract with the Texas Rangers, the team announced Friday.Harrison, 36, signed with the Rangers on Aug. 16. He appeared in 40 games with Philadelphia this season, batting .204 with two homers and 10 RBIs in 114 plate appearances. The Phillies released Harrison on Aug. 2.After signing with Texas, Harrison played in six games with Triple-A Round Rock, going 6-for-27 (.222) with a home run and a double.In 13 major league seasons, Harrison has hit .270 with 73 homers and 388 RBIs. He was an All-Star in 2014 and 2017 with Pittsburgh.“I’ve always admired the way he plays and how much he enjoys the game, too,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “He plays with a lot of passion.”___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlbSource

Angels’ Shohei Ohtani batting as designated hitter vs Mets after tearing elbow ligament

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:39 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani’s right elbow was fine until he tore his ulnar collateral ligament with a 94 mph fastball to Cincinnati’s Christian Encarnacion-Strand on Wednesday, according to Los Angeles Angels manager Phil Nevin.Baseball’s two-way superstar was back in the Angels’ lineup as a designated hitter Friday night against the New York Mets, two days after the injury ended his season as a pitcher and clouded his future months before potentially becoming a free agent. He received huge cheers from the crowd on Japanese Heritage Night when he walked to the plate in the first inning and tipped his helmet twice in response. He then walked on four pitches from Kodai Senga, a fellow Japanese player, and hit a 115 mph double that keyed a two-run third.Ohtani hasn’t spoken with media since the injury, and it remains unclear whether he will have a second Tommy John surgery. The Angels have said he plans to seek a second opinion before deciding.“Him and h...

Denver weather: Flood watch ends, but rain chances continue

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:39 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Rain showers continue until late Friday night for the Denver weather forecast before heading south and ending.A flood watch that was in effect ended Friday evening for all of Colorado. Watch out for standing water and ponding on the roads as rain continues Friday night, according to Pinpoint Weather, Colorado’s Most Accurate Forecast.Flood Watch for areas in green through Saturday morningWeather tonight: Showers and cool tempsShowers will continue until just after midnight before slowly ending. There will be good moisture along the Front Range and in metro Denver, especially given the recent hot and dry stretch.Skies will remain cloudy overnight and temperatures will cool into the 50s and 60s across the state.Overnight lows by Saturday morning across ColoradoWeather tomorrow: Only a few storms late dayThe forecast for Saturday is not looking as dreary as it did Friday. There will be some cloudiness to start the day in the wake of Friday night's rain. The sun will ret...

'I went through hell': Denver man was trapped in Hawaii fire zone for days

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:39 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — A Denver native recently returned to Colorado after surviving days in the Maui wildfires.Jack Rhue, or “Denver Jack” as he was known in Lahaina, still has the scars to show what he went through. He was in the center of the fires on the Hawaiian island. He was one of many who didn't have much warning about the fire coming."I went through hell, and I mean hell. I was in the epicenter, the center of it. I swear I was coming home in a body bag to Denver," Rhue said.The hall of historic Waiola Church in Lahaina and nearby Lahaina Hongwanji Mission are engulfed in flames along Wainee Street on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Matthew Thayer/The Maui News via AP)He was experiencing homelessness at the time the flames erupted, living with a group of about four people. After the fires started, he told the group they needed to get out and get to safety, but the flames kept following them. Federal disaster declared after June storms, Highlands Ranch tornado "The wi...