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Fellow athletes and fans are responding to Thursday's decision by a Russian court to sentence WNBA all-star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison , many renewing their pleas for President Joe Biden to do everything he can to bring the Houston native home. At the end of her month-long trial Thursday, the Olympic Gold medalist was found guilty of drug possession and smuggling for allegedly carrying cannabis oil in her luggage while at an airport in Moscow earlier this year. Griner appeared to react to the sentencing with very little emotion, listening to the verdict with a blank stare on her face. However, shortly after the decision came down, fellow athletes and fans took to Twitter to speak out in support of the Phoenix Mercury player. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued a joint statement Thursday, calling the verdict "unjustified and unfortunate," although they said it was not unexpected. "Brittney Griner remains wrongly … [Read more...] about Sports world, fans react to Brittney Griner’s 9-year prison sentence in Russia

An older man was found dead Thursday near the scene of a grass fire burning in Rosehill area just north of Cypress, which is northwest of Houston, according to the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office. The man's cause of death is currently not known and it's not clear if he was killed in the blaze, officials said. They said they believe the man lives in the area but they've been unable to identify him. Officials said that the fire started at approximately 12:50 p.m. and burned through 20 to 30 acres along Bobcat Trail, which has been closed due to the fire. As of 4 p.m. Thursday, the fire had been about 45 percent contained. "It's still a very active scene," said Harris County Fire Marshal Laurie Christensen during a press conference Thursday afternoon, noting that the area in Harris County has experienced over 450 fires in the month of July. "The fire index is 682 today," she said. "We've been under a burn ban now for over 30 days and the fire weather is very hazardous." At … [Read more...] about One man found dead near scene of Houston-area grass fire, officials say

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 6 WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats have agreed to eleventh-hour changes to their marquee economic legislation, they announced late Thursday, clearing the major impediment to pushing one of President Joe Biden’s paramount election-year priorities through the chamber in coming days. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., a centrist seen as the pivotal vote in the 50-50 chamber, said in a statement that she had agreed to revamping some of the measure's tax and energy provisions and was ready to “move forward” on the bill. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he believed his party’s energy, environment, health and tax compromise “will receive the support of the entire" Democratic membership of the chamber. His party needs unanimity and Vice President Kamala Harris' tie-breaking vote to move the measure through the Senate over certain solid opposition from … [Read more...] about Democrats say they’ve reached agreement on economic package

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 11 WASHINGTON - Senate Democrats voted Saturday to begin debate on a sprawling bill that aims to lower health-care costs, combat climate change and reduce the federal budget deficit, a critical step in a grueling journey to deliver on President Joe Biden's long-stalled economic agenda. The vote, which drew unanimous Republican opposition, came seven months after internal bickering scuttled Democratic efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower prescription drug costs - key parts of a larger package party leaders regard as essential for retaining control of the House and Senate in this fall's midterm elections. "Many have talked about the need to act on climate change, the need to hold drug companies accountable, the need to make the tax code fairer," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Saturday on the Senate floor. … [Read more...] about Senate opens debate on Biden-backed Inflation Reduction Act

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 9 NEW ORLEANS - Arriving at Bayou Bienvenue, Arthur Johnson swings closed the door of his pickup truck and wipes the sweat across his brow. "Says it feels like 108 today," he murmurs. The blistering heat doesn't stand in the way of today's lesson. As daily afternoon storm clouds roll in, Johnson begins hiking up to a platform on the levee that protects the Lower 9th Ward, trailed by nine interns hoping to learn how they can help address the environmental challenges that have decimated - and continue to threaten - this community. Johnson is the chief executive of the Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development (CSED), also known as Sustain the Nine, a nonprofit organization that was formed after Hurricane Katrina to revitalize the badly damaged Lower 9th Ward. The group embraces community as a climate solution, working to teach residents … [Read more...] about In a New Orleans ward ravaged by climate change, leaders nurture the next generation

(Bloomberg) -- New York City Mayor Eric Adams blasted Greg Abbott for using migrants as “political pawns” after the Texas governor bused a group of 50 people to the city on Friday. Abbott, who has been sending state-sponsored busloads of migrants to Washington, D.C. for months, said he wanted to test New York’s commitment to being a “sanctuary city.” “His continued use of human beings as political pawns is disgusting, and an embarrassing stain on the state of Texas,” said Adams spokesperson Fabien Levy in a statement. Adams later called Abbott’s actions “despicable” at an unrelated press appearance. Abbott sent out a press release on Friday morning announcing that Texas had sent what he called the first bus of migrants to New York City’s Port Authority station. “I hope he follows through on his promise of welcoming all migrants with open arms so that our overrun and overwhelmed border towns can find relief,” Abbott said of Adams. Television footage from Fox News appeared to show a … [Read more...] about NYC mayor slams Texas governor for busing migrants in test of sanctuary cities

Listen to this article 61 cars set to start the 60th Rolex 24 At Daytona. Photo by: IMSA The Roar Before the Rolex 24 from Jan. 21-23 saw two days of on-track testing around Daytona’s 3.56-mile road course, followed by a 100-minute qualifying race on the Sunday. That resulted in the saw the Wayne Taylor Racing Acura ARX-05, driven by Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque barely holding off the Tristan Vautier/Richard Westbrook-piloted JDC Miller MotorSports Cadillac DPi-V.R at the checkered flag. That earned the WTR car pole position for the final Rolex 24 to be held under Daytona Prototype international regulations. The top class’s car count has remained the same as in 2021 at seven entries, with a second full-time Chip Ganassi Racing-run Cadillac helping to make up for the loss of the Mazda RT24-P. In LMP2 also, the field has again remained the same as per last year, with 10 entries, including two from G-Drive Racing by APR. The second season of LMP3 cars being part of … [Read more...] about The full 61-car entry list for 60th Rolex 24 at Daytona

WAUKESHA, Wis. - One year ago this month, Wisconsin Republican State Assembly Speaker Robin Vos sat on a private plane with Donald Trump and updated the former president on the investigation he had launched into the 2020 election, even though there was no evidence of widespread fraud. Since then, Trump has repeatedly pressured Vos - privately and publicly - to find a way to overturn the election results, which the state lawmaker has said is impossible and illegal. Wisconsin's 2020 results still stand, showing that Joe Biden won Wisconsin by more than 20,000 votes. The alliance between the two came to a clear end on Friday night as Trump held a rally in the Milwaukee suburbs and urged his supporters to vote for Vos's challenger, Adam Steen, in Tuesday's primary. "Adam Steen is running to defeat your RINO speaker of the house Robin Vos," Trump said, using the acronym for "Republican in name only." "Despite undeniable evidence of rigging and fraud, Speaker Vos has taken no steps … [Read more...] about Trump targets top Wisconsin GOP lawmaker for not overturning election