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Windy conditions cancel farewell mass ascension at Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Windy conditions delayed and then cancelled Sunday’s farewell mass ascension at the 51st annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.It was the final day of this year’s event. The mass ascension was scheduled to begin at 7 a.m.Organizers said balloon pilots were on standby for more than two hours due to brisk winds from the north before the cancellation.According to launch directors, winds of more than 10 mph can be dangerous for ballooning.The fiesta draws pilots and spectators from across the globe to New Mexico’s high desert and is one of the most photographed events in the world.Over nine days, local residents and visitors are treated to a cavalcade of colorful and special-shaped balloons.Since its start in 1972, the fiesta has grown to include a cadre of European ballooning professionals.More than 20 countries were represented this year, including Switzerland, Australia, Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Taiwan and Ukraine.The event also serves as the ...

Female frogs fake death to avoid unwanted male attention, study shows 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — While "ghosting" is common in getting out of an unwanted relationship for humans, female frogs will fake their own death in order to avoid mating advances from male frogs, according to a recent study. Researchers discovered that female frogs escape males by rotating their bodies, releasing calls, and faking their death, according to the study published Wednesday in the journal Royal Society Open Science. How long have humans lived in North America? These footprints challenge old belief "During these mating events, several males cling to a female, which are mostly unable to get rid of the unwanted males," authors of the study wrote.This clinging is often aggressive, which can actually lead to the female's death if she is unable to get rid of the males.Faking their own death, also known as tonic immobility, is mainly interpreted as a defensive strategy against predators, the study noted. However, it is also used as a stress response to an immediate threat.Tonic ...

Vikings turned to Creed before win over Bears. Will it become a new tradition?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

CHICAGO — About a half hour after the Vikings escaped with a 19-13 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field, quarterback Kirk Cousins addressed reporters like he does every week, win or lose. He praised the defense for stepping up, challenged the offense to be better, then gave starting center Garrett Bradbury a shoutout for starting what could become a new tradition.“He made sure that Creed got played before we went out on  the field,” Cousins said. “I felt like that may have made the difference.”The rock band that rose to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s has experienced a resurgence over the past month largely due to the Texas Rangers blaring the band’s music in the clubhouse before playoff baseball games. It seems as if the Vikings are trying to replicate the good vibes.“You know, the Rangers have been playing Creed, and they’re rolling in the playoffs,” Cousins said. “The music is banging on...

Vikings linebacker Jordan Hicks was driving force in win over Bears

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Jordan Hicks is an unquestioned leader for the Vikings. The veteran linebacker has more experience than anyone on the defense other than veteran safety Harrison Smith. Together, the tandem of Hicks and Smith are the old heads on that side of the ball.So the fact Hicks was the driving force for the Vikings in Sunday’s 19-13 victory over the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field was rewarding to him. He finished the game with 10 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery that he returned 42 yards for a touchdown.“It felt good,” said Hicks, 31. “I felt young.”After starting his NFL career nearly a decade ago out of the University of Texas, Hicks said he always feels like he has had to prove himself to some of the younger players on the roster. He doesn’t want to be relied upon solely because of his voice. He wants to make a difference with his play as well.“You want to show them that there’s a reason why I’m still here,”...

Photos: Sobering scenes from ninth day of Israel-Hamas war on Sunday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

As the Israel-Hamas war entered a ninth day on Sunday, scenes showed both an expanding offensive and the conflict’s sorrowful results.Buildings turned to rubble. Body bags in the streets. Wailing sirens and shrieking rockets. Flag-draped coffins carried by mourners at funeral processions.The images of the devastation on the ground in Gaza showed windows shattered by bullets and neighborhoods leveled by blasts.Approximately 2,670 Palestinians have been killed and 9,600 wounded, and more than 1,400 Israelis were killed, the vast majority of them civilians, in Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault,Desperate Palestinians scrambled for escape from northern Gaza on Sunday or huddled by the thousands at a hospital in the target zone in hopes it would be spared, as Israel intensified warnings of an imminent offensive by air, ground and sea following last week’s deadly rampage in Israel by Hamas, which has been designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and other governments.The evacuation dir...

49ers’ loss to Browns means little in the big picture … if injury report is favorable

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

Sunday will be remembered as the day Brock Purdy returned to earth and the 49ers were suddenly exposed as vulnerable, as opposed to a buttoned-up powerhouse headed toward a seemingly inevitable sixth Lombardi Trophy.Or maybe a 19-17 road loss to the Cleveland Browns will be forgotten as easily as a Week 6 loss a year ago.Last year the 49ers went to Atlanta and got manhandled 28-14. They gave up 168 yards rushing and were pushed around physically by a team quarterbacked by Marcus Mariota.So before despairing, keep in mind an NFL season has a lot of twists and turns. Just ask the Philadelphia Eagles, 20-14 losers to the New York Jets as both NFL unbeatens were knocked off on the same day.The 49ers appeared to accept the defeat in the proper spirit, declining to place blame on some questionable officiating or a missed 41-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds by Jake Moody.Had Moody split the uprights, the 49ers would have been 6-0 but still come home with a laundry list of corre...

Kurtenbach: The 49ers’ woeful loss to Cleveland is a necessary gut check for Purdy, Shanahan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

The 49ers almost escaped Cleveland with a win.It’s probably better they didn’t.What lesson would this team learn from an undeserved victory?After the Niners’ 19-17 loss, the lesson is undeniable: The 49ers underestimated their opponent, committed a month’s worth of penalties, and never found an offensive rhythm. And if this team is serious about winning a Super Bowl, a performance like Sunday’s needs to be a one-off.Sure, Niners kicker Jake Moody’s missed 41-yard field goal in the final seconds might have been the difference, but San Francisco was roundly outplayed by Cleveland Sunday.The shocking result — the Niners were favored by more than a touchdown — was comeuppance for 60 minutes of sub-standard football.So, with a 17-0 season out the window and vulnerability replacing confidence, how will the 49ers respond?Related ArticlesSan Francisco 49ers | 49ers’ Studs and Duds: Brock Purdy and Jake Moody need to wear the Niners’...

Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints lament missed chances in 20-13 loss to Houston Texans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — Time after time on Sunday, Derek Carr and the New Orleans Saints had chances to score against the Houston Texans.And time and again they failed to do so in a 20-13 loss.“I was livid coming off the field,” Carr said. “I had to calm down a little bit. We as an offense (missed) too many details. If we just do those things right, we would’ve scored 28 points.”The Saints (3-3) had already missed two field goals when they got the ball back trailing by 7 in the fourth quarter. Carr threw a 51-yard pass to Rashid Shaheed to get them to the Houston 35.Five consecutive runs by Alvin Kamara got them to the 14. But Carr’s pass to Kamara on fourth-and-4 was short to give Houston the ball back with 4½ minutes to go.Shaquill Griffin and Blake Cashman combined to take Kamara down near the Texans sideline where coach DeMeco Ryans celebrated with his defense.Houston (3-3) couldn’t move the ball after that and punted it back. New Orleans got to the Houston 24 on the next drive, but Carr...

Clark’s triple-double highlights game at Kinnick. Women’s basketball record crowd of 55,646 shows up

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Lisa Bluder’s idea turned into history.The Iowa’s coach came up with the plan for her team to play an outdoor game at Kinnick Stadium, with the hope of setting an all-time women’s basketball single-game attendance record.Iowa did that, and more.The Hawkeyes’ 94-72 exhibition win over DePaul in the “Crossover at Kinnick” on Sunday drew 55,646 fans, almost doubling the previous record of 29,619 set by Connecticut and Oklahoma in the 2002 NCAA championship game at San Antonio’s Alamodome.“You know, you can have an idea and it could fall flat if nobody shows up,” Bluder said. “But, man, Hawk fans showed up today. Fifty-five thousand, breaking the record, getting to play outside … It was a dream. It really was. It was just fabulous.”“Fifty-five thousand? That’s pretty incredible,” said Iowa guard Caitlin Clark, the reigning national player of the year who put up a triple-double of 34 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. “It’s hard...

Raiders hold off Patriots 21-17 after losing QB Garoppolo to back injury

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Brian Hoyer relieved an injured Jimmy Garoppolo to throw for 102 yards in the second half, and Daniel Carlson made four field goals and Las Vegas handed the reeling New England Patriots a 21-17 loss on Sunday.Garoppolo played the entire first half before being ruled out with a back injury. He completed 14 of 22 passes for 162 yards with a touchdown and interception.The Raiders have won back-to-back games to move to .500 at 3-3 and ended a six-game streak going back to last season of not scoring at least 20 points. This was their Raiders’ 500th regular-season victory as a franchise, 10th best all time.Patriots coach Bill Belichick remains at 299 career regular-season wins, losing to his former longtime offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels.Josh Jacobs rushed for 77 yards for the Raiders, rookie tight end Michael Mayer caught five passes for 75 yards and former Patriot Jakobi Meyers had five receptions for 61 yards.Patriots quarterback Mac Jones was 24 of 33 for...