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Panthers fire Frank Reich after 11 games and name Chris Tabor their interim head coach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:40 GMT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Frank Reich era in Carolina is over after only 11 games.The Carolina Panthers fired their coach on Monday following the team’s NFL-worst 1-10 start in his first year at the helm.Panthers owner David Tepper announced the move hours after several news outlets reported that he used a profanity as he was leaving the locker room following a 17-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.Tepper hired Reich to fix one of the league’s worst offenses over the past few seasons and develop Bryce Young, the No. 1 overall pick whom he gave up four draft picks and top wide receiver D.J. Moore to acquire this past offseason in the hopes of winning multiple Super Bowls.Instead, the Panthers are assured a franchise-record sixth straight losing season.The Panthers are 30-63 since Tepper bought the team from Jerry Richardson in 2018 for $2.275 billion and have never made the playoffs.Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor will take over as interim head coach. Offensive coordina...

Oshkosh and Dutch firms awarded a $342 million contract to produce equipment trailers for US Army

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:40 GMT

OSHKOSH, Wis. (AP) — An Oshkosh-based company and a Dutch firm have been awarded a $342 million contract to produce equipment trailers for the U.S. Army. Oshkosh Defense announced Monday that it will partner with Broshuis, B.V., to produce an estimated 557 Medium Equipment Trailers. The six-axle trailer and its tractor can transport military equipment weighing up to 60 tons. The five-year contract includes an option for two additional years. The Army awarded Oshkosh Defense a $263.2 million contract last year to produce an estimated 466 heavy equipment trailers, which can transport up to 90 tons of equipment. The Associated Press

Montana man intends to plead guilty to threatening US Sen. Jon Tester

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:40 GMT

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A Montana man intends to plead guilty to threatening to kill Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester under the terms of a deal filed Monday by federal prosecutors.Anthony James Cross of Billings faces up to 10 years in prison at sentencing if the plea agreement is accepted by the court. A second charge based on allegations that Cross also threatened to kill President Joe Biden would be dismissed at sentencing, according to a court filing by his defense attorney.A court date has not yet been scheduled.Cross, 30, has been jailed since late April, when he was arrested on a state charge for allegedly threatening a neighbor with a pellet gun. He has pleaded not guilty to that charge and was scheduled to go on trial in late October but the proceeding has been delayed, according to court records.Threats against public officials in the U.S. have been steadily climbing in recent years, including against members of Congress and their spouses, election workers and local elected ...

Minnesota Wild fire coach Dean Evason, assistant Bob Woods after losing 14 of first 19 games

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:40 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild fired coach Dean Evason and assistant Bob Woods on Monday after losing seven straight games and 14 of their first 19 to start to the NHL season.General manager Bill Guerin announced the moves without confirming Evason’s replacement. According to multiple reports, former New Jersey and Nashville coach John Hynes will take over. The Wild planned a news conference with Guerin and the next coach for Tuesday, prior to their game against St. Louis.Evason, 59, had three full seasons in charge of the Wild, who gave him his first head coaching job in the NHL on Feb. 14, 2020, when Bruce Boudreau was fired and he was promoted from his assistant role. He went 147-77-27 in 251 regular season games and 8-15 in the postseason without winning any series.During the pandemic break, Guerin decided to drop the interim tag and give Evason the job once the Wild resumed practice. They lost a best-of-five series to Vancouver in the qualifying round that year, the...

Campaign 2024: Illinois election filings begin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:40 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. —  Ready or not, Campaign 2024 officially kicked off Monday in Illinois.Bright and early, at the Board of Election office in Springfield, candidates in local, state and judicial races turned in petitions to get on the ballot. Pate Philip, towering figure in Illinois Republican politics, dies Among the candidates who spoke with WGN News was Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lisa Holder White, who filed to maintain her seat. There's also a marquee matchup in the Republican primary in Illinois’ 12th Congressional district, which covers 34 southern counties: Former gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey is challenging veteran Congressman Mike Bost. On Monday, both men turned in their petitions and spoke about their reasonings for running."People’s voices are not being heard and opportunity has been lacking," Bailey said. "You need someone to understand how policy works and how the rules work," Bost added.Also filing on day one was Democratic Congressman Da...

Migrants awaiting shelter placement face frigid temperatures as winter weather sets in

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:40 GMT

CHICAGO — Migrants across the city are feeling the impact of the frigid temperatures as winter weather sets in around Chicagoland.Many, not knowing what to expect, arrived in the city in sandals and shorts and are grateful for organizations and volunteers who have dropped off winter gear.Jacie Sanghil, a migrant who was sleeping outside up until only a few days ago, said the cold weather is horrible, adding that she and her daughters are more accustomed to the heat. Gov. Pritzker, IDHS announce plans to get migrants off the streets, into shelters They have since been moved to an indoor shelter and said it is something they are grateful for.The same can not be said for more than 1,300 people currently awaiting placement and 1,198 people who are waiting at Chicago police districts.A number of volunteers and organizations have stepped in to help, like New Life Centers."It’s super cold. They’re not used to this weather. Those at the police stations are trying to stay indoors, go to Mc...

A paw-fect gift: TSA releases 2024 canine calendar

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:40 GMT

CHICAGO — The Transportation Security Administration released its 2024 canine calendar on Monday.  The annual tradition honors the agency's explosives detection canines working nationwide. The calendar features photos and fun facts about each TSA dog.  Sunday air travel set record: TSA Those that appear in the calendar were selected from dozens of entries submitted by TSA canine teams from around the country. Anyone interested in downloading the free calendar may click here.  The 2024 calendar features the 2023 Cutest Canine Contest winner, Dina, a 3-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer explosives detection canine at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. Dina was one of several TSA canines who worked at Super Bowl LVII in Phoenix in February.

Wild's Ryan Hartman gets suspended 2 games for tripping Red Wings' Alex DeBrincat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:40 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman has been suspended two games for a dangerous trip of Detroit's Alex DeBrincat.The NHL's department of player safety announced the ban after a hearing with Hartman. This is Hartman's second suspension of 2023 after getting one game for interference in April. Jake Neighbours scores 2 goals as St. Louis Blues beat Chicago Blackhawks 4-2 As a repeat offender under the collective bargaining agreement, he'll forfeit over $41,000 in salary.The Wild have lost seven in a row and on Monday fired coach Dean Evason and assistant Bob Woods.

Vikings star Justin Jefferson misses seventh straight game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:40 GMT

The plan has always been to get star receiver Justin Jefferson back to 100% before he returned to the field. That meant not cutting any corners during the recovery process. No matter what.It shouldn’t come as a surprise then that the Vikings decided not to activate Jefferson from injured reserve before hosting the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. Though he has slowly started to ramp things up in practice over the past couple of weeks, Jefferson is still in the final stages of rehabbing his hamstring injury, and the Vikings ultimately decided to err on the side of caution with their best player.This is the seventh straight game Jefferson has missed for the Vikings since hobbling to the sidelines on Oct. 8 during a home loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He’s watched his team go 5-1 in his absence (not including the primetime game between the Vikings and Bears) to get themselves back into the playoff picture.There seemed to be some optimism last week that Jefferson mig...

St. Paul’s Park Square Theatre announces new executive artistic director and plans to mount season next year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:40 GMT

St. Paul’s Park Square Theatre announced Monday the hire of new executive artistic director Stephen DiMenna and plans to reopen its doors for the 2024-25 season.“Stephen brings to Park Square Theatre a wealth of expertise over the last three decades,” said board president Mark Howlett in a news release. “After a time of strategic assessment by our organization, we are now in a place to execute our proactive vision, and Stephen is the right person to lead us going forward.”Park Square canceled five of its planned shows this year, citing the pandemic and slow ticket sales. The company’s sole 2023 play was “The Revolutionists,” a co-production with PRIME Productions that ran in April.DiMenna has theater experience in both the Twin Cities and New York City and currently teaches acting for musical theater at the University of Minnesota. He was associate artistic director of St. Paul’s History Theatre from 1989 to 1995 and has directed productions for numerous local thea...