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Largest powwow draws Indigenous dancers to New Mexico

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:40:02 GMT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Tens of thousands of people are gathering in New Mexico for what organizers bill as the largest powwow in North America. The annual Gathering of Nations kicks off Friday with a colorful procession of Native American and Indigenous dancers from around the world moving to the beat of traditional drums as they fill an arena at the New Mexico state fairgrounds.The dancers slowly spiral their way, one by one, toward the center of the venue, making for a spectacular display.This marks the 40th year for the gathering, which has grown from humble beginnings in 1983 into a massive celebration with Indigenous people showcasing their cultures through dancing and singing competitions.Spectators get a chance to see the competitors’ feathered bustles, buckskin dresses, fancy shawls, and beaded head and hair pieces. Many of the dancers’ elaborate outfits are detailed with hand-stitched designs.Most dancers at the Gathering of Nations compete for prize money.More than...

Tokyo plan likened to putting ‘skyscrapers’ in Central Park

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:40:02 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — The Jingu Gaien area in central Tokyo is a cultural and historic treasure, a mostly green space set aside almost 100 years ago with private donations to honor Japan’s famous Meiji Emperor. With the tacit support of Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, a real estate company is planning to redevelop the green enclave with a pair of highrise towers — about 190 meters (620 feet) each — and a smaller 80-meter (260-foot) companion.Plans also call for razing a famous baseball stadium where Babe Ruth played — and demolishing an adjoining rugby venue — and rebuilding them on a reconfigured tract that provides more commercial space.“This is like building skyscrapers in the middle of Central Park in New York,” Professor Mikiko Ishikawa told the Associated Press. Ishikawa is an emeritus professor at the University of Tokyo who did her doctorate at Harvard University, where she studied landscape architecture and Central Park’s history. She said Central Park was an inspirat...

Vermont forms reconciliation panel after eugenics apology

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:40:02 GMT

SHELBURNE, Vt. (AP) — Two years ago, the Vermont Legislature apologized to all Vermonters and their families who were harmed by state-sanctioned eugenics policies that started in the early 1900s and led to institutionalizations and sterilizations, targeting Native Americans, French Canadians and disabled and poor people. Legislators also vowed to do more. Now the state has formed a truth and reconciliation commission with the task of creating a public record of discrimination against certain marginalized populations caused by state laws and policies, as well as making recommendations for repairing the damage and preventing it from happening again.“An apology’s only words,” said state Rep. Tom Stevens, a Democrat. “You have to really follow it up with actions, and we said in the apology that we would.” The three commissioners were appointed last month to three-year terms, with annual salaries of $80,000 each. Last year’s act to create the commission allocated $748,000 in state funds ...

Music takes over New Orleans as Jazz Fest 2023 kicks off

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:40:02 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — This year’s New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival begins its two-weekend run on Friday, filling the air with the sounds of R&B, rock ‘n roll, Zydeco, pop, blues, country, rap, gospel — and of course jazz.Music fans will converge on the Fair Grounds Race Course when gates open at 11 a.m. and dash to find a spot in front of one of the 14 stages or tents featuring some of the best musicians in the world. Friday’s lineup includes performances by Lizzo; Robert Plant & Alison Krauss; Big Freedia; Tank and The Bangas; Wu-Tang Clan + The Soul Rebels; Nicholas Payton; Mavis Staples; Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers; Charlie Musselwhite; and Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience. “I’m super excited for the elevation this year,” said Freedia, whose bounce/rap show is scheduled for the festival’s main stage before Lizzo and Tank and The Bangas. “I love that I get the opportunity to showcase my artistry before a bigger audie...

Democrats introduce bill to make child care affordable and accessible while raising wages for providers

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:40:02 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - Democrats say childcare costs are burdening families across the country and the U.S. needs to do something to make it more accessible and affordable."The cost of childcare has many families like mine living one or two paychecks from financial disaster," said Tiffany Nelms, a mother of 3.Parents like Nelms say they are plagued by the burden of finding affordable child care."We couldn't find high-quality care in our community, so I drive an hour roundtrip twice a day," Nelms said.That's why Senate and House Democrats say it's time to tackle the childcare crisis."This is a crisis for parents, for families, and providers across the country," said Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.)."This is a full-blown economic crisis in every state in every zip code," said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.).The Child Care for Working Families Act would expand the supply of childcare facilities, increase childcare provider wages, and lower childcare costs for parents."Bottom line, working fa...

Slow-moving upper air low pressure forecast to spin up over Midwest this weekend

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:40:02 GMT

Slow moving upper air low pressure forecast to spin up over Midwest this weekend and linger into first days of next with with cool, frequently cloudy weather and instability showersDisturbance moving toward the Chicago areaA northeast-bound disturbance, whose cloud shield can be seen on satellite imagery making a move toward the Chicago area from downstate Illinois and Indiana is to usher clouds into the area Thursday overnight. Its northernmost showers are modeled to spread northward reaching Chicago toward morning and into the early and possibly mid-afternoon hours Friday.PRECIPITATION PROBABILITIES: SaturdayPRECIP PROBS Sat nightPRECIP PROBS SundayPRECIP PROBS Sun nightPRECIP PROBS MonA POWERFUL 165 MPH JET STREAM SPEED MAX IS DIVING SOUTHWARD OUT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA IN WESTERN CANADA AND TO CARVE OUT A STUBBORN UPPER AIR LOWThe reservoir of cold, unstable air aloft accompanying it sets the stage for a long advertised new multi-day round of clouds and instability showers beginni...

Al-Hilal aiming for record 5th Asian Champions League title

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:40:02 GMT

Al-Hilal is potentially 180 minutes away from extending its regional record of continental titles from four to five as it faces Urawa Reds of Japan in the first leg of the Asian Champions League final at Riyadh on Saturday.With the Saudi national team upsetting eventual champion Argentina at the World Cup in Qatar last November, and Al-Hilal eliminating the champions of Africa and South America at the Club World Cup in February before losing the final 5-3 to Real Madrid, expectations are high in the host nation.Al-Hilal is not only the defending continental champion — and trying to become the first team since domestic rivals Al-Ittihad in 2004 and 2005 to win the AFC title back-to-back –but is also facing Urawa in the final for the third time in six years. The Japanese club won in 2017, with Al-Hilal avenging that two years later.“We know that it’s going to be a difficult game but that is what you expect when you reach a final,” Al-Hilal coach Ramon Diaz said. “We ...

Player of the Week: Fauquier’s Cassidy Scott

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:40:02 GMT

Each week, WTOP is picking one student athlete to be featured on-air and online as our Player of the Week. This week’s WTOP Player of the Week is junior Cassidy Scott of Fauquier High School in Warrenton, Virginia.Cassidy’s record-breaking run in track and cross country at Fauquier High School includes a state championship in the 800 and 1600 meter races last spring and a state runner-up at the Division Four Cross Country Championship in the fall.In February, Cassidy became the state champ in the 1000- and 1600-meter indoor meet. Not only did she win and become state champion, she broke the meet record in both 1600 meter races as well.Cassidy has also been chosen as one of 15 females to run the 1600-meter race at the Penn Relays on Friday.In the classroom, Cassidy is a model student athlete with an A+ average while taking a challenging academic curriculum and competing in high school sports at the highest level. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Student Coun...

Saints take Clemson DT Bresee with 29th pick in NFL draft

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:40:02 GMT

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Saints coach Dennis Allen highlighted Bryan Bresee’s perspective, personality and physical attributes when explaining why the former Clemson defensive tackle could help solidify a run defense that slid down the NFL rankings last season.The Saints selected Bresee — who has overcome a major knee injury and lists the memory of his late younger sister as his primary source of inspiration — with the No. 29 overall pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night. “It says a lot about the kid to overcome a lot of the adversity he’s gone through over the last 18 months,” Allen said of Bresee, whose sister, Ella, died of brain cancer last fall. “He’s shown a lot of fortitude.”Bresee, 21, spent draft night wearing a pink T-shirt reading, “Ella Strong,” across the front.“She’d be glowing,” Bresee said while imagining how his sister, who was 15, might have reacted to his first-round selection. “She loved watching me play. She loved being around just the atmosphere...

NYC transit agency ends Twitter alerts, says it’s unreliable

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:40:02 GMT

New York City’s Metropolitan Transit Agency, which for 14 years has provided real-time information on service outages, delays and other important transit updates for its 1.3 million Twitter followers, will no longer do so. The NYC MTA said Thursday that “Twitter is no longer reliable for providing the consistent updates riders expect.” For this reason, the agency tweeted, it will no longer use the platform for service alerts and information. The MTA also listed other ways subway, train and bus riders can get reliable transit information, including through its mta.info site, text alerts and its Weekender newsletter for weekend advisories. Twitter has long been a way for people to keep track of train delays, news and weather alerts or the latest crime warnings from their local police department.But when the Elon Musk-owned platform started stripping blue verification check marks this month from accounts that don’t pay a monthly fee, it left public agencies and other organizations arou...