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The Iron Sheik, pro wrestling villain that fans loved to jeer, dies at 81

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:14 GMT

By Adrian Sainz | Associated PressThe Iron Sheik, a former pro wrestler who relished playing a burly, bombastic villain in 1980s battles with some of the sport’s biggest stars and later became a popular Twitter personality, died Wednesday, the WWE said. He was 81.The wrestling organization posted an article confirming his death, and a statement about his passing also was posted on his Twitter page giving details of his life. Neither statement mentioned a cause of death nor where he died, but the Twitter post said he “departed this world peacefully.”The Iron Sheik, whose real name was Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, grew up in a small village in Iran where he embraced wrestling in his youth.During his pro wrestling career, he donned curled boots and used the “Camel Clutch” as his finishing move during individual and tag team clashes in which he played the role of an anti-American heel for the WWF, which later became the WWE.The mustachioed, barrel-chested br...

Former UK leader Boris Johnson to step down as lawmaker

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:14 GMT

By Jill Lawless | Associated PressLONDON — Former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson shocked Britain on Friday by quitting as a lawmaker after being told he will be sanctioned for misleading Parliament.Johnson quit after receiving the results of an investigation by lawmakers over misleading statements he made to Parliament about “partygate,” a series of rule-breaking government parties during the pandemic.In a lengthy resignation statement, Johnson accused opponents of trying to drive him out — and hinted that he might try to return.“It is very sad to be leaving Parliament — at least for now,” he said.Johnson said he had “received a letter from the Privileges Committee making it clear — much to my amazement — that they are determined to use the proceedings against me to drive me out of Parliament.”He called the committee investigating him a “kangaroo court.”“Their purpose from the beginning has been to find me guilty, regardless o...

California outmigration jumps 135% in 2 years, Census says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:14 GMT

”Survey says” looks at various rankings and scorecards judging geographic locations while noting these grades are best seen as a mix of artful interpretation and data.Buzz: The gap between Californians relocating across America and the smaller number of newcomers more than doubled between 2019 and 2021.Source: My trusty spreadsheet reviewed the Census Bureau’s state-to-state migration report for 2021, as it compared with 2019 data. The bureau skipped a 2020 report as pandemic limitations prevented a more accurate tabulation.Note that the Census tracks residents, age 1 and older, and whether they moved to another state, relocated within the same state, or just stayed put.ToplineLet’s look at California’s relocation mismatch, noting that interstate moves nationwide rose by 6% in these two years.More outbound: California lost 841,065 residents to other states in 2021, up 29% from the 653,551 exits in 2019.Fewer incoming: The state attracted 433,402 people from across the nation i...

Suspected Pittsburg killer identified 16 years after homicide

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:14 GMT

(KRON) -- A suspected Contra Costa County killer was identified and arrested Thursday in connection to the death of Larry Abercrombie, a father of three. "Nearly 16 years after the killing of a Pittsburg man, DNA evidence has led to the arrest of his killer," the Pittsburg Police Department wrote Friday. Abercrombie, 33, was found suffering from gunshot wounds in front of his home on Catamaran Circle on June 8, 2007. No arrests were made. The cold case remained unsolved until advances in DNA technology were utilized by a detective and the Contra Costa County Crime Lab this year. "Recently, a Pittsburg Police Department Cold Case detective, who has been actively working this case, submitted evidence collected from the crime scene to the Contra Costa County Crime Lab for additional DNA testing. Utilizing modernized technology ... the crime lab was able to get a DNA match for the suspect. Detectives obtained a warrant for Blake’s arrest," PPD wrote. Just a day before the 16th anniversa...

Panthers are finding overtime to be the right time in Stanley Cup playoffs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:14 GMT

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — When the Florida Panthers are headed to overtime in the playoffs, the routine basically goes like this: The horn sounds to end the third period, the team retreats to the locker room for intermission, and the discussion starts.There’s only one topic.“Chirpin’ who gets to score the goal,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said.Turns out, the Panthers don’t really care who scores it — as long as they score it. And in these playoffs, no team has been anywhere near as good as the Panthers have in extra time. They’re 7-0 in overtime in this postseason, the most recent of those wins coming Thursday when they rallied to beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.“Overtime wins are more fun,” Maurice said. “They are, right? We’ve had a whole bunch of them. And we haven’t over-celebrated but they are more fun, right? You win a game in regulation, half your team kind of walks off the bench, and they skate and they tap pads and it...

A list of the Florida Panthers’ dramatic moments in recent weeks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:14 GMT

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — A list of some of the Florida Panthers’ comeback moments in recent months:___March 29 vs. Toronto: Sam Reinhart scores with a minute left in regulation to tie the game at 2-2, and Brandon Montour wins it 1:41 into overtime.April 8 vs. Washington: Matthew Tkachuk scores for a 3-2 lead with a minute left, Reinhart adds an empty-netter 20 seconds later as the Panthers get a critical win in their playoff push.April 26 vs. Boston: Tkachuk scores 6:05 into overtime and Florida staves off elimination by winning 4-3 at Boston in Game 5.April 28 vs. Boston: Florida gets goals from Zac Dalpe, Tkachuk, Eetu Luostarinen and Reinhart in the final 12:39 to rally past Boston 7-5 in Game 6 to keep its season alive again.April 30 vs. Boston: Montour scores with a minute left, Verhaeghe scores 8:35 into overtime and the Panthers beat the Bruins 4-3 on the road in Game 7 to reach the second round.May 7 vs. Toronto: Reinhart scores 3:02 into overtime for a 3-2 win in Game 3 a...

Storm caps eighth-inning rally, Duke beats Virginia 5-4 in super regional opener

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:14 GMT

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Damon Lux hit a two-run home run, Luke Storm drove in the go-ahead run with an eighth-inning single, and Duke defeated Virginia 5-4 on Friday in the opening game of the Charlottesville Super Regional.Duke trailed 4-3 entering the eighth inning before Jay Beshears led off with a single and later scored the tying run on a bases-loaded grounder by Tyler Albright. Storm then singled to left field, scoring Giovanni DiGiacomo for a 5-4 lead.Virginia threatened with two out in the ninth when Griff O’Ferrall singled and Ethan O’Donnell drew a walk, but Duke reliever James Tallon got Jake Gelof to fly out.Duke’s Fran Oschell III (6-0, 0.69 ERA) pitched 2 2/3 innings of relief, striking out three, and was credited with the win. Tallon, who has a 1.64 ERA, pitched the ninth and picked up his 12th save.Lux’s home run gave Duke a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Virginia later went ahead 4-3 with three runs in the sixth when Gelof scored on a sing...

Haze from Canadian wildfires eases as reinforcements from abroad arrive

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:14 GMT

MONTREAL (AP) — The hazardous haze from wildfires in Canada’s northeast eased there and throughout much of northeastern United States on Friday, but Canadian officials warned it could be a marathon fire season and welcomed the help of firefighters arriving from other countries. A contingent of 100 French firefighters landed in Canada and was en route to the fire region Friday. Hundreds more are expected to arrive from the U.S., Portugal and Spain in the coming days, and there should be about 1,200 people fighting fires in the province of Quebec by Monday, said Public Security Minister François Bonnardel. The thick wildfire smoke that loomed over daily life this week for millions of people in Canada and parts of the U.S. East Coast has mostly dissipated, U.S. and Canadian officials said. “We’re doing a lot better,” U.S. National Weather Service meteorologist Bryan Putnam said. “It looks like there is less smoke being produced in in Canada.”He said the weather pattern seems to be the ...

Muere Mike Batayeh, actor y comediante de “Breaking Bad”, a los 52 años

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:14 GMT

(CNN) — Mike Batayeh, el comediante y actor que interpretó al gerente de lavandería Dennis Markowski en “Breaking Bad”, murió, confirmó su manager a CNN.Tenía 52 años.La noticia fue reportada por primera vez por TMZ, citando a la hermana de Batayeh, quien le dijo al medio que su hermano sufrió un paro cardíaco en su casa de Michigan el 1 de junio.FOTOS | Los famosos que han muerto en 2023Se planea un servicio conmemorativo para Batayeh en Plymouth, Michigan, la próxima semana, según su manager.The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.Source

DC retail rebounds, with openings outnumbering closings 2-to-1 since 2022

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:14 GMT

Since 2022, 259 retailers have opened in the District while 118 have closed, according to a report by real estate firm JLL. (Courtesy Kraken Courts)The pandemic ravaged retail businesses in the District, especially bars and restaurants. However, the retail category in general, including the hospitality sector, has shown strong signs of recovery in the past year, according to a report by real estate firm JLL.Since 2022, 259 retailers have opened in the District, while 118 have closed, according to its report. Retail sales in D.C. have recovered faster than the national average, with monthly sales up 7% from a year ago, compared to a 5% gain nationally.While hospitality was hardest hit during the pandemic, the JLL report said 74% of new retailers opened in D.C. in the past year were bars and restaurants.By submarket, Georgetown has seen the biggest net gain in retail business. In the past year, 59 retailers have opened in Georgetown and only four have closed. JLL said 13 more Georgeto...