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Fighting against the USSR didn’t necessarily make you a Nazi

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:00 GMT

Keir Giles is an author and commentator. His most recent book, “Russia’s War on Everybody,” looks at the effects that Russia’s malign influence around the world has on ordinary people.Everybody knows that a lie can make it halfway around the world before the truth has even got its boots on.And the ongoing turmoil over Canada’s parliament recognizing former SS trooper Yaroslav Hunka highlights one of the most important reasons why.Something that’s untrue but simple is far more persuasive than a complicated, nuanced truth — a major problem for Western democracies trying to fight disinformation and propaganda by countering it with the truth, and one reason why fact-checking and debunking are only of limited use for doing so.In the case of Hunka, the mass outrage stems from his enlistment with one of the foreign legions of the Waffen-SS, fighting Soviet forces on Germany’s eastern front. And it’s a demonstration of how when history is complicated, it can be a gift to propagandists...

Chicago Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts backs manager David Ross as team finishes 83-79: ‘He’s our guy’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:00 GMT

The Chicago Cubs will have plenty of time to ponder the “what ifs” of a season that fell short of their postseason goal.Adding to the sting of finishing one game out of playoff position: the Cubs received the help they had needed coming into the weekend with the Arizona Diamondbacks getting swept by the Houston Astros. The Cubs, though, didn’t take care of business by dropping two of three games to the Milwaukee Brewers, including a 4-0 loss in Sunday’s season finale.They closed the season by losing 15 of their last 22 games. Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts described the up-and-down 83-79 year as “four different seasons” from getting off to an OK start and the subsequent slump that nearly derailed the season to rallying back over .500 and the rough final three weeks in September.“It’s tough to not achieve your goal,” Ricketts said Sunday. “It’s tough when you’re just a couple of games away from making the...

Mac Jones takes blame for worst loss of Bill Belichick era: ‘I let my team down’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:00 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas — The worst game of Mac Jones’ NFL career ended with a benching late in the third quarter.Its start was even worse.On his second possession, the Cowboys stopped Jones on a fourth-down quarterback sneak. Turnover on downs.The next drive, he took a strip sack that resulted in a Dallas touchdown.After an ensuing three-and-out, Jones fired a pick-six across the field in one of the early lowlights of the NFL season.Naturally, he took the blame for the Patriots’ eventual 38-3 defeat, the most lopsided loss of the Bill Belichick era.“I’m very competitive, and I put a lot into it and I feel really bad,” Jones said post-game. “I let my team down, let the coaches down, the whole organization. Everybody. We’ve got a great fan base, and I got to put a better product out there to beat good teams.”Jones finished 12-of-21 for 150 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions. His 39.9 passer rating registered as the third-lowest of hi...

Roof of a church collapses in northern Mexico, and Catholic officials say 49 injured, some dead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:00 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The roof of a church collapsed in northern Mexico during a Mass on Sunday, killing an undetermined number of people, injuring around 50 and leaving approximately 30 parishioners trapped in the rubble, authorities said.Rescuers probed beneath the fallen roof into the night, and officials brought in dogs to help search for possible survivors.The Tamaulipas state police said that about 100 people were in the church at the time of the collapse and that about 30 were thought to still be trapped. Civil officials gave no information on any casualties. But the Mexican Council of Bishops issued a statement early in the evening saying that “we join in prayer at the tragic loss of life and those injured,” though it did not say how many had died.Bishop José Armando Alvarez of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tampico said the roof caved in while parishioners were receiving communion at the Santa Cruz church in the Gulf coast city of Ciudad Madero, next to the port city of Tampico...

Donald Trump says he will be in courtroom for New York trial scrutinizing his business practices

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — With control over some of his most prized real estate holdings in jeopardy, former President Donald Trump says he will make a rare, voluntary trip to court Monday for the start of a civil trial in a lawsuit that has already resulted in a judge ruling that he committed fraud in his business dealings.“I’m going to Court tomorrow morning to fight for my name and reputation,” Trump wrote Sunday night on his Truth Social platform.Trump lashed out in his post at New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is suing him, and Judge Arthur Engoron, who is presiding over the non-jury trial and made the fraud ruling last week.“THIS WHOLE CASE IS SHAM!!!” Trump wrote. “See you in Court – Monday morning.”The trial is the culmination of a yearslong investigation by James, who accused Trump and his company of habitually lying about his wealth in financial statements.Last week, Engoron resolved the lawsuit’s top claim before the trial even began, ruling that Trump routin...

3 local groups form coalition to help provide housing, furniture & clothing for those in need

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Three Chicago groups are coming together to help people with permanent housing, furniture, clothing and supplies. The coalition comes as resources have been stretched thin as the city works to manage the recent influx of asylum seekers.The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless estimates that nearly 70,000 people were experiencing homelessness in Chicago in 2021 and the critical need for housing has surged in the past year, with the arrival of more than 15,000 migrants and asylum seekers.The new coalition includes New Life Centers, which is working directly with the city and the state to ramp up efforts to transition families from shelters into permanent housing, Craddels to Crayons, which is collecting essential supplies and new or gently used clothing in all sizes, and the Chicago Furniture Bank, which is accepting donations to help furnish the homes.Last year the Furniture Bank served more than 4,000 homes. They expect that number to climb to 6,000 this year and say they ar...

Harrison Smith puts in vintage performance to secure Vikings their first victory

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:00 GMT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The first time head coach Kevin O’Connell chatted with defensive coordinator Brian Flores last winter, veteran safety Harrison Smith came up in conversation. If the Vikings were going to turn things around on defense, O’Connell and Flores agreed it was going to be with Smith leading the charge.“We started talking about the possibilities of that safety group as a whole,” O’Connell said. “It was an exciting conversation that all centered around No. 22 and getting him around the line of scrimmage and getting him involved in the rush and getting his hands on balls in coverage.”That discussion between O’Connell and Flores regarding everything Smith could do for the defense was brought to life on Sunday afternoon as the veteran safety led the Vikings to a 21-13 victory over the Carolina Panthers. Smith was a terror on defense for the whole game, lining up all over the field, and spooking rookie Panthers quarterback Bryce Yo...

Helping the homeless outside St. Louis City Hall

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS – This week, the issue of homelessness in St. Louis City was front and center as the spotlight was on a homeless encampment right under Mayor Tishaura Jones’ window at city hall.Our You Paid For It crew spoke with some of the unhoused gathered at city hall, including a wife who is seven months pregnant, and another woman is without a home because no one would accept her service dog.After our initial reporter, Mary Carter and her dog got a huge break.“I got an apartment. A landlord reached out to me. He heard my story, he felt the sentiment to give me an apartment and give me a chance. And I haven’t let him down,” she said. “…It made me feel good. Made me feel like there’s worth out here there’s people with worth in their heart.”But Carter still laments the plight of others who are still unhoused.Those like William Clay and his wife, Erica. She’s seven months pregnant. The couple lives in tents at the encampment in front of city hall. They have three tents here. William has...

Hollywood actors, studios to resume negations this week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:00 GMT

On Sunday, a day before negotiations are set to resume between striking actors and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, some actors joined members of Medieval Times Performers United, who have been on strike for seven months, to picket outside one of the restaurant’s locations in Buena Park.  The American Guild of Variety Artists, a sister union to SAG-AFTRA, represents Medieval Times performers.  “It’s incredibly heartening to see the AMPTP finally ready to seriously bargain with the writers and actors,” says Erin Zapcic, a strike captain for Medieval Times Performers United. “And as happy as we are for our union brothers and sisters, the reality is that Medieval Times has never once tried to end our strike and it’s been over seven months. We’re just as fired up as we’ve ever been, and we’re thrilled and honored to have SAG-AFTRA join us on our picket line to show this company we’re not going anywhere.”  As for SAG-AFTRA members, negotiators ...

On an ‘almost perfect’ day for 49ers QB Brock Purdy, one throw stands out

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:00 GMT

SANTA CLARA — Things are going so well for Brock Purdy right now that even his bad throws are yielding positive results.It was in the second quarter of the 49ers’ 35-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday that Purdy tossed up a deep ball that might’ve given instant heartburn to anyone rooting for the home team.Brandon Aiyuk was in the middle of double coverage about 40 yards downfield. If there was any opening to fit a ball in there, it required a telescope to find it. But that didn’t stop Purdy from launching one, a ball that could’ve been described as underthrown, but a ball that Purdy described as an “opportunity ball.”Aiyuk noticed it just in time, darted in front of two defenders and seized the opportunity with a fingertip catch that pushed the 49ers into scoring position.“I was trying to lead him to the right but there was a backside corner who came into the picture,” Purdy said. Aiyuk “did a great job adjusting ...