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Pope to visit Mongolia at end of summer in visit rich in geopolitical significance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:45 GMT

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis is traveling to Mongolia at the end of the summer, a visit that will be a first for a pontiff and one rich in geopolitical significance given its proximity to Russia and China.The Vatican on Saturday confirmed the Aug. 31-Sept. 4 trip to the landlocked U.S-allied country sandwiched between Russia and China, two countries popes have never visited.The visit comes as Francis is trying to toe a diplomatic line in his relations with both countries: With Moscow, Francis is seeking an opening for a peace envoy to nudge Russia and Ukraine to negotiations to end the war. With China, the Vatican has seen its landmark 2018 accord over bishop nominations violated, with Beijing making unilateral decisions.Francis will be ministering to a tiny Christian community in Mongolia, part of his focus on visiting far-flung Catholics on the peripheries of the church’s main centers of influence. According to statistics by the Catholic nonprofit Aid to the Church in Need, Mo...

Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum highlights dinosaurs, European influence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:45 GMT

CANYON, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Nestled on the campus of West Texas A&M University in Canyon is a museum that tells the rich history of the High Plains region: the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum."Our local history involves a global perspective," said Renea Dauntes, Research Assistant and Archivist for the museum. "We were taught, many of us, about cattle and livestock and that it was formative in this region. Something that isn't always talked about is the influence of European countries on this region." Caldwell Zoo offers animal encounters with penguins, giraffes Although the High Plains can tend to feel isolated from the rest of the world at times, much of that European influence, Dauntes explained, was evident in places like the famous XIT ranch."We know that their syndicate — a lot of the funding came from England and we have actual ranch owners that came from Scotland and Ireland, and they were a big part of what formed our area," Dauntes explained.The museum also tells ...

Stillwater: Have a great idea? You could get $10,000 to make it happen.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:45 GMT

The Stillwater Area Community Foundation is once again accepting applications for its annual Great Idea Competition.The foundation will award up to $10,000 to a person, organization or business from the Stillwater area that is prepared to undertake a civic-minded project and needs funding to make it happen.Last year, the Cimarron Community Farm was the winner for its free summer youth program, “Growing Youth, Growing Food.”Other past Great Idea winners include: “Wild River Journey,” a program from Wild Rivers Conservancy to bring more than 500 students onto the St. Croix River via paddle boat field trips; Friends of Fairy Falls, Power of the St. Croix Utility Box Mural Project, Beautification of the Stillwater Stairs, River City Sculpture Tour, Pollinator Friendly Alliance of Stillwater and Friends of Stillwater Area Dog Park.Guidelines for the Great Idea contest are “intentionally vague to encourage creativity,” foundation officials said. “The selection committee ...

Excitement builds as 'Enjoy Illinois 300' NASCAR Cup series race draws near

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:45 GMT

MADISON, Ill -- With just one day remaining until the "Enjoy Illinois 300" at the World Wide Technology Raceway, anticipation is high as the NASCAR Cup Series race prepares to welcome a massive crowd. Remarkably, for the second consecutive time, the event is completely sold out, ensuring that the once-empty stands will soon be filled with enthusiastic fans. As attendees make their way to the venue, they can rest assured that there are certain items they are allowed to bring in: closed non-alcoholic beverages and a small soft cooler.The grandstand seats, accommodating 1,200 people, along with numerous hospitality suite areas, will be bustling with activity come Sunday. While tickets for Saturday's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Toyota 200 are still available, it's important to note that there will be no walk-up ticket options or general admission. All tickets can be acquired through Ticketmaster. Furthermore, in addition to the thrilling NASCAR Cup Series qualifying, the Confluence Mu...

Near record highs and isolated showers forecasted for weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:45 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Today, temperatures reached near record highs, soaring into the mid 90s, just a few degrees shy of the previous record of 96 set back in 2011. Fortunately, the humidity remained relatively low, with dewpoints in the 50s, alleviating any potential discomfort. As we move into the night, the warmth persists, with overnight lows in the 60s. Despite the continuing heat on Sunday, the day promises some relief as clouds gradually gather throughout, bringing along with them a chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. Looking ahead to the work week, temperatures are expected to drop back down to the more comfortable 80s.

June means the Five Points Jazz Fest and Jazz in the Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:45 GMT

June is the month the Five Points Jazz Festival and City Park Jazz return to Denver. That means there will be plentiful free expression, and free concerts, in the Mile High City.The Five Points Jazz Festival, taking place June 10, celebrates 20 years as a local, multi-venue party, mostly along Welton Street, but including some other neighborhood locales.The history of jazz talent in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood was so rich that it became known as the “Harlem of the West.” There was a time when legends like Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday would perform in the area’s storied hotels.In an attempt to recapture the energy of that legacy, the annual Five Points Jazz Festival will present numerous Colorado artists, like the Annie Booth Big Band, a tribute to the well-loved late pianist Joe Bonner, and Vincent Wiggins and Latin Soul, with special guest trumpeter Hugh Ragin.A longtime local fixture, Ragin established his name on the world stage long ago. He currently performs with the...

Grading the Week: No rush, CU Buffs. The Big 12 will wait as long as it takes for Pac-12 to implode.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:45 GMT

Another week has come and gone, and with it another smattering of CU-to-the-Big 12 rumors.The noise emanating from the Boulder has gotten so loud that, coupled with near-total silence from the Pac-12, the Grading the Week staff can no longer bite its tongue.CU to Big 12 — C-For those Buffs fans who envision a return to the Big 12 as a resumption of the good old days, we have a message: This isn’t your father’s Big 12. Or even your slightly older sibling’s.No, the Big 12 of the future is a sprawling collection of moderately like-minded institutions that, if commissioner Brett Yormark has his way, will cover four time zones, thousands of miles and one continental divide.Many of the rivalries that once defined the conference have splintered. And its regional and cultural ties — outside of the plains states of Kansas, Iowa and Oklahoma — are tenuous at best.There’s no Nebraska, no Oklahoma and no Texas. Only two of its members (Kansas and West Virginia) would be ...

NBA Finals roundtable: Is Nuggets center Nikola Jokic better than Celtics legend Larry Bird?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:45 GMT

Kiz: After Denver’s dominating victory in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, it feels as if the Heat is a prop in the championship coronation of the Nuggets. Sure, we could debate how Miami can play bigger in the paint with adjustments by coach Erik Spoelstra, or how difficult it will be for Denver to continue to keep Heat forward Jimmy Butler down. But I want to ask you geniuses to comment on a recent Twitter post comparing Nuggets center Nikola Jokic to Celtics legend Larry Bird by our old pal and former Nuggets coach George Karl. In the past week, Karl tweeted this bold prediction: “If Jokic wins a couple championships, all U Bird fans are going to need to accept Nikola > Larry … Start preparing yourself in advance.” Our little Joker is now being mentioned in the same breath as Larry Legend? Holy. Moly. I’m all for it. And I’m ready to boldly project Jokic will go down as one of the 20 greatest players in NBA history. But better than Bird? Is that cr...

Nuggets vs. Heat: Three keys to victory in Game 2 of NBA Finals 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:45 GMT

The Nuggets are close to dropping a dime.One more win and they’ll be a perfect 10-0 at home in the 2023 playoffs. A victory over the Miami Heat in NBA Finals Game 2 on Sunday (6 p.m. MT, ABC) would also give Denver a 2-0 lead for the fourth consecutive series.Here are three keys to Game 2.1. Winning whistles: Game 1 presented a pleasant twist of fate for the Nuggets. In the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers attempted more free throws in all four games. Maybe it’s that LeBron James is out of the picture and Denver is the heavy favorite, or maybe the Nuggets were simply more aggressive Thursday, but they attempted 20 foul shots to the Heat’s two. “That was pretty interesting,” Miami’s Haywood Highsmith said. “I think we were aggressive, but we did shoot a lot of jump shots because we were open. It’s weird having two free throws. I’ve never seen that before.” Bam Adebayo subsequently quipped: “We made history.”...

Nuggets Podcast: Breaking down Denver’s NBA Finals Game 1 rout of Heat, and looking ahead to Game 2

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:45 GMT

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat reporter Mike Singer is joined by sports reporter Bennett Durando to break down Game 1 of the NBA Finals and preview Game 2 between the Nuggets and Heat. Among the topics covered:How did the Nuggets fare against the Heat’s famed zone defense? Can Denver again stifle Miami’s offense, which saw star Jimmy Butler struggle despite a terrorizing run through the Eastern Conference Playoffs?Durando and Singer are joined by Broncos beat reporter Parker Gabriel, who weighs in on the sights and sounds of Ball Arena, which like Los Angeles’ Crytpto.com Arena, was filled to the brim with local celebrities including Peyton Manning, Sean Payton and Ken Jeong.The trio look ahead at the likelihood that the Nuggets have already faced their toughest foe in the second round, the Phoenix Suns, much like their local NHL counterparts the Colorado Avalanche, who faced their stiffest competition in round two against the St. Louis Blue...