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Focus falls on Sabres coach Don Granato after Buffalo is embarrassed in 9-4 loss to Columbus

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:35 GMT

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The highlight for the Buffalo Sabres came 30 seconds in, when a festive but small holiday crowd rose to its feet to cheer defenseman Rasmus Dahlin for scoring the opening goal.Some two hours later, the few who remained were left chanting “Fire Donnie,” in reference to Sabres coach Don Granato following a 9-4 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night.In a season already filled with low points before Christmas’ arrival, the floundering Sabres reached a new depth. A team that’s won consecutive games just once this year, and sits 14th in the Eastern Conference standings, gave up seven consecutive goals in 21 minutes and 52 seconds, spanning the first and second periods to the East’s 15th-place team.“It’s an unforgiving league. If you are off at all, it is gonna get shoved down your throat really hard and that’s exactly what happened tonight,” captain Kyle Okposo said. “That’s on everybody in this room. Everybody. Probably myself more, and I’ll take the blam...

Police investigation unfolds as man barricades himself in Fort Lauderdale’s Grand Hotel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:35 GMT

An intense police investigation is underway at the Grand Hotel, located at 4900 Powerline Road, following a Wednesday morning incident where a man barricaded himself. The situation led to a temporary closure of the street as Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies, and SWAT units worked to resolve the standoff.At around 4 a.m., police successfully apprehended the individual, who had reportedly fired shots before being taken into custody. Video footage captured the moments as law enforcement escorted the man in handcuffs.Fortunately, there are no reports of injuries at this time, as no ambulances were present at the scene. The police presence remains active, with the hotel’s parking lot cordoned off with caution tape.Authorities are actively working on providing more details regarding the incident. Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.

Roman Abramovich loses bid to overturn EU sanctions 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:35 GMT

The European Union’s top court rejected a legal challenge from Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich against sanctions imposed on him in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, ruling that the measures were rightful and should continue. “The General Court dismisses the action brought by Mr Abramovich, thereby upholding the restrictive measures taken against him,” the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled on Wednesday. Abramovich “failed to demonstrate” that he was unlawfully put on the list of sanctions against Russia, the court found. Former Chelsea Football Club owner Abramovich had challenged the sanctions, asking for €1 million to make up for damages to his reputation. The court declined Abramovich’s claims for compensation, ruling that the sanctions were not an “unjustified and disproportionate infringement of his fundamental rights.” In March 2022, sanctions were brought against Abramovich for allegedly benefit...

Commission takes first step toward allowing wolf hunting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:35 GMT

The European Commission on Wednesday announced its intention to change the international status of wolves from “strictly protected” to “protected” based on “new data on increased populations and impacts.”Wolves are a strictly protected species under the EU Habitats Directive and the Bern Convention, meaning their capturing and killing are prohibited unless the animals pose a danger to humans or livestock.If wolves’ status were to shift from “strictly protected” to “protected,” their hunting can be authorized.The EU executive will now seek the approval of member countries before officially presenting its proposal to the Bern Convention.Hunting and farming associations have been calling on Brussels to change wolves’ protection status to allow them to kill more of the animals, arguing that farmers are “under enormous pressure” to protect their livestock.Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s Eur...

EU strikes ‘historic’ migration deal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:35 GMT

BRUSSELS — The European Union on Wednesday broke years of political deadlock by agreeing on a deal that will significantly change how the bloc processes migrants, moves them around EU countries and effectively makes it easier to remove unsuccessful asylum seeker applicants.European Parliament President Roberta Metsola hailed the deal as historic. Negotiators from the Parliament, Council and Commission worked through the night to agree on the overhaul of the EU’s asylum procedures. It came after years of failed attempts, with regulations aiming to balance the concerns of both border countries that want help handling asylum seekers and inland countries that argue too many migrants are arriving in one EU country, and then moving on to others. Under the agreement, which is preliminary and still needs to be formally ratified by the European Parliament and Council, frontline countries in Southern Europe will institute a stricter asylum procedure at their non-EU borders and will...

Chillier Air, Dry Weather Ahead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:35 GMT

Feel the difference outside this morning? We’re running about 10 degrees colder than yesterday morning as temps run in the upper 20s to low 30s to start the day. Add in a breeze, and wind chills run near 20. With quite a bit of sunshine in place, we’ll warm into the lower 40s, close to average for the time of year. The breeze gusts 15-20mph from time to time today. Tomorrow, we’ll keep the sunshine, but the breeze picks up, gusting to 30mph. The stronger winds, combined with highs topping out in the low to mid 30s, will certainly give us a winter feel to the air. The chilly air is still with us Friday, however, the breeze won’t be nearly as strong. We’ll moderate the temps into the weekend and approach 50 degrees by Christmas Day. The pattern stays dry through Christmas too, allowing for great weather to wrap up holiday errands or travel. The next chance of rain doesn’t arrive until Tuesday night or Wednesday of next week.

Dozens of documents naming Jeffrey Epstein’s victims and associates to be made public in 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:35 GMT

(CNN) — A federal judge in New York has ordered the names of dozens of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged victims and associates to be made public in 2024, according to documents.The order, issued Monday by Judge Loretta A. Preska, is the latest filing in a settled case by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, an American woman who claimed Epstein sexually abused her while she was a minor and that Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former girlfriend and longtime accomplice, aided in the abuse.Epstein was indicted in 2019 on federal charges of operating a sex trafficking ring in which he allegedly sexually abused dozens of underage girls.The multi-millionaire died by suicide in jail while awaiting trial. Prosecutors in New York indicted Maxwell on sex trafficking charges involving multiple victims. She was convicted last year.While the 2015 defamation lawsuit brought by Giuffre was settled in 2017 and placed under a protective order, parts o...

White House slams new Texas immigration law as feds mull possible challenge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:35 GMT

Washington (CNN) — A new law that makes it a state crime in Texas to enter the state illegally is “incredibly extreme,” the White House said Tuesday, a day after Gov. Greg Abbott signed it into law.Asked about the measure, Senate Bill 4, during a news conference Tuesday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters the law “will not, and does not, make the communities in Texas safer.”“It just doesn’t,” Jean-Pierre added.Under the law, which takes effect in March, local law enforcement in Texas has the power to arrest migrants and judges have the ability to issue orders to remove them from the United States.The law has sent ripples of fear throughout the Latino community in Texas, who make up about 40% of the state’s population, and raised concerns about racial profiling from civil rights organizations and immigration advocacy groups.It comes amid a surge of migrants on the southern border that has placed pressure on local, state an...

Division 3-5 girls basketball preview: St. Mary’s looks to reload

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:35 GMT

They have been arguably the reigning queens of girls basketball in Massachusetts for the last four years but 2023-24 brings a whole new look and a lot of new competition for St. Mary’s in Division 3.The Spartans graduated the talented troika of Yirsy Queliz, Kellyn Preira and Niya Morgan so it may be a down season for the Lynn program. Not so fast, says Jeff Newhall.“Yes, we have a young team but we have some kids who have been in a lot of big games,” Newhall said.Leading that group is freshman Bella Owumi, who has already started nearly 60 varsity games. Freshman Lily Norton steps in to assume the point guard duties while Jillian Roberts also is expected to have a bigger role.The Spartans’ quest for another title is made tougher this season thanks to a realignment of divisions by the MIAA. That reshuffling has turned Division 3 into a deep and talented group.Leading those trying to bounce the Spartans from their perch is reigning Division 2 champion Foxboro. The Warriors retu...

OBF: Imagine if Bill Belichick was visited by the GOAT of Christmas Pass

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:35 GMT

Charles Dickens was the Taylor Swift of his day. He lived at the Parker House in Boston for fivemonths starting in November 1867. His readings of “A Christmas Carol” were the hottest ticketin town. They played a major role in making Christmas a big deal in Massachusetts. The holidaywas banned in the Bay State during the 17th century and not celebrated as an official event there until 1856. We thank him for his inspiration.A cold, wind-swept, snowy Christmas Eve has visited Denver.The Patriots rest aboard Kraft Force One, aloft over the Plains pondering a lost season punctuated even deeper by another listless defeat, this one to Colorado’s equine-themed NFL franchise. After a typically turbulent ascent from Denver International Airport, the Patriots’ 767 won’t stop until it lands at T.F. Green Airport.God willing.2023 has been more arduous than any other year for Ebenezer Belichick and his Patriots. On Christmas Eve, joy has been replaced by relief. Only two more games to go before t...