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Readers and writers: Check out 4 new books featuring local history

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:52 GMT

It’s been a while since we’ve dipped into nonfiction. Today it’s all about history.“Eastcliff: History of a Home”: by Karen Fults Kaler (University of Minnesota Press, $29.92)(University of Minnesota Press)Eastcliff, the 20-room estate on the banks of the Mississippi River in St. Paul, has been home to University of Minnesota presidents since 1961. This year, interest was revived in the stately residence, built in 1922, because it has been rented to Gov. Tim Walz and his family while the official Governor’s Residence on Summit Avenue is undergoing a $6 million renovation. Eastcliff was without a tenant when former U President Joan Gabel moved out.Kaler knows her way around the big house, having lived there from 2011 to 2019 as spouse of the university’s 16th president, Eric W. Kaler. She takes readers through the residence, donated in 1958 by the family of Edward Brooks, from the foyer to the bathrooms and back stairs, and discusses menus fo...

Jamelle Bouie: When it comes to disdain for democracy, Trump has company

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:52 GMT

It makes perfect sense to treat Donald Trump as the most immediate threat to the future of American democracy. He has an ambitious plan to turn the office of the presidency into an instrument of “revenge” against his political enemies and other supposedly undesirable groups.But while we keep our eyes on Trump and his allies and enablers, it is also important not to lose sight of the fact that antidemocratic attitudes run deep within the Republican Party. In particular, there appears to be a view among many Republicans that the only vote worth respecting is a vote for the party and its interests. A vote against them is a vote that doesn’t count.This is not a new phenomenon. We saw a version of it on at least two occasions in 2018. In Florida, a nearly two-thirds majority of voters backed a state constitutional amendment to effectively end felon disenfranchisement. The voters of Florida were as clear as voters could possibly be: If you’ve served your time, you deserve your ballot.Rath...

Skywatch: Jupiter’s jumped in

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:52 GMT

The king of the planets of our solar system has entered our late autumn night sky and will continue to dominate the early evening heavens through next March. In early November, Earth and Jupiter reached their closest approach to each other. Back then, Jupiter was a little over 370 million miles away, but it’s still plenty close this week at 375 million miles. Its equatorial diameter is about 88,000 miles, dwarfing our Earth’s 7,900 miles. If Jupiter was a hollow sphere, you could fill it with over 1,000 Earths.Towards the end of evening twilight, Jupiter resembles a bright star rising in the low eastern sky. It’s available in our heavens all night as it takes a long arc across the celestial dome through the night. Jupiter is still close to what astronomers call opposition, which means the Earth is lined up between the sun and Jupiter. Because of that, Jupiter and the sun are at opposite ends of the sky, and that’s where the term opposition originates. Like a ...

Marc Champion: Where is outrage against Hamas over Gaza’s death toll?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:52 GMT

It’s something close to a law of nature that the farther people are from a conflict, the more simplistic their views about its causes and solutions. That couldn’t be more apparent now in Gaza, where Israel’s invasion is drawing howls of outrage around the world.That outrage is well-deserved. There is no question that the Israel Defense Forces could and should be doing more to avoid civilian casualties. Yet the fact that the anger of so many is directed only at Israel is disturbing, because there are two armed forces responsible for the deaths of Palestinians in Gaza. The other is Hamas.Hamas invited the Israeli invasion with the barbarism of its terrorist attack on Oct. 7, and it has been open about how it fully expected Israel to retaliate. Recent reporting by the Washington Post would, if verified, underscore that this was the purpose of its attack, dubbed operation al Aqsa Flood, and that Palestinian deaths weren’t a bug in that plan but an essential part ...

Ask Amy: Deep division leaves spouse in the middle

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:52 GMT

Dear Amy: My spouse and a close friend of ours recently had a heated and deep argument. This involved philosophic and even theological differences, which had never before been revealed.This unresolved conflict left my spouse unwilling to discuss the subject any further, and our friend hurt and dismayed at the lack of willingness on my spouse’s part for a continued debate on the issue.I am feeling caught in the middle.I am trying hard to stay neutral because both people are important to me. Obviously, I am loyal and supportive to my spouse.However, over the years, I have also become a close confidant to our friend.At this point, my spouse just wants to move on. But our friend, who we see often, is obviously hurting and feeling betrayed.That said, as of late, my neutrality has started to feel forced and uncomfortable.Do I say something to my friend to try to assuage the problem, and yet be disloyal to my spouse?Or do I remain neutral and risk losing a good friend?— Trying to be ...

Bridge: Nov. 19, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:52 GMT

“You and Wendy might get along if you knew her better,” I told Cy the Cynic in the club lounge. “You should keep asking her out.”Wendy, our resident feminist, and Cy are relentless adversaries, even when – and especially when – they cut as partners in our penny game.“The last time I tried,” Cy shrugged, “she said she couldn’t go because her third cousin was coming to visit.”“That’s better than when she told you she had to check the freshness dates on the dairy products in her fridge,” I sighed.Wendy and Cy were today’s East-West, and against four spades Cy led his singleton heart. Wendy took the ace and returned the queen, and Cy ruffed declarer’s king with his four of trumps.The Cynic next led a club, and South won with the jack and led a trump. Cy took his ace and led another club, but South won and cashed the king of trumps, dropping Wendy’s queen. South then ran the diamonds, discarding his last heart, and claimed.“Thank you, partner,” Wendy growled. R...

McMiracle? McDonald’s in Potomac to remain open

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:52 GMT

The McDonald's in Cabin John Village on Nov. 10, 2023. (WTOP/Scott Gelman) The McDonald's in Cabin John Village on Nov. 10, 2023. (WTOP/Scott Gelman) The McDonald’s restaurant in Potomac, Maryland, which was due to close by the end of year, will be staying open after a petition gathered enough signatures.“I honestly cannot believe I am saying this, but I think the community pressure and the petition WORKED!!!! The landlord called and was eager to sign with us. We are staying open,” said Kari Swenson, owner of the McDonald’s in Cabin John Village, in a statement on Facebook.The fast food restaurant, which was described by a number of customers as a cornerstone of the community, was scheduled...

Gaza’s Health Ministry says 30 premature babies have been evacuated from Shifa hospital

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:52 GMT

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Gaza’s Health Ministry says 30 premature babies have been evacuated from Shifa hospital.Source

Md. Gov. Moore orders increased police presence in work zones, will ask for higher fines

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:52 GMT

Motorists across Maryland may see an increased police presence around highway work zones as part of an effort to increase safety.Gov. Wes Moore (D) announced the increased presence of both state and local police on the same day the state Work Zone Safety Work Group released more than a dozen recommendations, which include increased fines for motorists to reduce crashes and fatalities.“These recommendations, they’ll save lives,” Moore said. “And we have no time to spare in order to make sure that these recommendations are actually actionable. And it’s in that spirit that I’m proud to announce that we’ll begin implementing a few of these recommendations starting right now.”In addition to an increased police presence, Moore ordered the State Highway Administration to spend $500,000 on work zone safety commercials. He said the state will also work with the Maryland State Department of Education to implement a similar campaign in public schools.“Now, everything that I just mentioned is j...

Only ‘minor’ obstacles blocking Israel-Hamas deal on hostages: Qatar PM

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:52 GMT

The deal to release hostages kidnapped by Hamas during its terrorist attack on Israel now only depends on “minor” practical issues, the Qatari prime minister said on Sunday in Doha. His comments came after the White House denied that an agreement had been reached, following a report by the Washington Post that Hamas was close to agreeing to free 50 hostages in exchange for a five-day pause in fighting from Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also denied that a deal had been reached.“The challenges facing the agreement are just practical and logistical,” Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani told a press conference in Doha, alongside the EU’s foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell. Negotiations toward an agreement have seen “ups and downs from time to time throughout the last few weeks,” he said. “I’m now more confident that we are close enough to reach a deal that can bring the peopl...