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GoFundMe refunds donations to poker player who admits to lying about cancer for tournament buy-in

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:44 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The fundraising platform GoFundMe said Thursday it has refunded money to donors after a poker player admitted to lying about a terminal cancer diagnosis and accepted thousands of dollars in donations so he could play in a World Series of Poker tournament in Las Vegas.GoFundMe said it has also banned Rob Mercer from the platform and removed the poker player’s fundraising campaign from its website.“GoFundMe has zero tolerance for the misuse of our platform and takes swift action against those who exploit the generosity of our community,” the company said in an emailed statement to The Associated Press.Mercer told the Las Vegas Review-Journal he made up a stage 4 colon cancer diagnosis for his GoFundMe page in June, the newspaper reported Wednesday. The California resident was trying to raise enough funds to meet the $10,000 buy-in for the No-limit Hold’em World Championship. He received contributions worth between $30,000 and $50,000, including a stay at a...

Novels from US, UK, Canada and Ireland are finalists for the Booker Prize for fiction

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:44 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Novels from Ireland, the United States, Canada and Britain that explore families, communities and a world in crisis make up the six finalists for the prestigious Booker Prize for fiction.The shortlist announced Thursday for the 50,000 pound ($61,000) award includes Canadian author Sarah Bernstein’s absurdist allegory “Study for Obedience”; U.S. writer Jonathan Escoffery’s “If I Survive You,” a set of interlinked stories about a Jamaican family in Miami, and Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist Paul Harding’s historical novel “This Other Eden,” based on a real interracial island community in the 19th century.Two Irish writers are on the shortlist: Paul Lynch, for post-democratic dystopia “Prophet Song,” and Paul Murray, for tragicomic family saga “The Bee Sting.” The finalists are rounded out by British writer Chetna Maroo’s “Western Lane,” the story of a young athlete grappling with a family tragedy.Canadian writer Esi Edugyan, who chairs the judging panel, said th...

No. 6 Ohio State gets a chance for a big statement in Saturday night showdown at No. 9 Notre Dame

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:44 GMT

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — No. 6 Ohio State has been dogged at times this season by doubts about its firepower. Two lackluster wins to open the season didn’t help even though the Buckeyes have beaten all three of their opponents by at least 20 points and never given up more than 10.They have a chance to silence some of the doubters Saturday night at No. 9 Notre Dame (4-0), a showcase game with potential implications for the College Football Playoff. “You build up in these first few games to figure out where you are going into this game and you go from there,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “I think we got some confidence going into this game. We’ve got a rhythm.”The Buckeyes rank third in total defense, giving up 223.7 yards per game. After struggling early, the offense found its footing last weekend in a 63-10 rout of Western Kentucky. The Fighting Irish also own one of the nation’s top defenses, limiting opponents to 234.3 yards per game, right behind Ohio State. With Wake For...

In a first, Massachusetts to ban purchase of single-use plastic bottles by state agencies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:44 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Maura Healey signed an executive order Thursday that she says will make Massachusetts the first state to ban the purchase of single-use plastic bottles by state agencies.Massachusetts buys about 100,000 of the plastic water bottles each year.The order bars all executive offices and agencies in Massachusetts from purchasing any single-use plastic bottles under 21 fluid ounces except in cases of emergency. Healey, a Democrat, said the executive order takes effect immediately.Healey also signed a second executive order that she said will set state biodiversity conservation goals for 2030, 2040, and 2050 — and develop strategies to meet those targets. She said protections will be among the first to extend to coastal and marine habitats.“Massachusetts has a long history of being first in the nation, and we’re proud to be the first to set long-term targets for biodiversity and to ban state agencies from purchasing single-use plastic bottles,” Healey said Thursday.She sa...

Hot dog! The Wienermobile is back after short-lived name change

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:44 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Some names are just the wurst.Just four months after announcing that the hot dog-shaped Wienermobile was changing its name to the Frankmobile, the one-of-a-kind wiener on wheels is reverting to the original.Oscar Mayer announced Wednesday on Instagram that the Frankmobile is toast. The Wienermobile rides again.The name change announced by The Kraft Heinz Company in May was meant to pay homage to the brand’s 100% beef franks and their new recipe. For fans of the original name, the change was, frankly, ridiculous.“It’s been a franktastic summer!” the Instagram post said. “But like you, we missed this BUNderful icon. Help us welcome back the Wienermobile!”Oscar Mayer was headquartered in the Wisconsin capital, Madison, for nearly 100 years before it moved to Chicago in 2015. The first Weinermobile was created in 1936, and it has gone through several iterations since then.Those who drive the Wienermobile around to promotional events are known as Hotdoggers. Pe...

Cazoo Open de France Par Scores

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:44 GMT

ThursdayAt Le Golf NationalGuyancourt, FrancePurse: $3.3 millionYardage: 7,247; Par: 71First RoundTom Kim, South Korea30-34—64-7Joakim Lagergren, Sweden31-30—61-6Alfredo Garcia-Heredia, Spain34-31—65-6Richard Mansell, England34-31—65-6Matthew Southgate, England31-34—65-6Louis De Jager, South Africa33-33—66-5Ewen Ferguson, Scotland31-35—66-5Simon Forsstrom, Sweden31-35—66-5Kazuki Higa, Japan32-34—66-5Ryo Hisatsune, Japan33-33—66-5Rasmus Hojgaard, Denmark33-33—66-5David Law, Scotland31-35—66-5Adrian Otaegui, Spain33-33—66-5Jordan L. Smith, England32-34—66-5Andrew Wilson, England32-34—66-5John Axelsen, Denmark33-34—67-4Dan Bradbury, England33-34—67-4Daniel Brown, England35-32—67-4Laurie Canter, England35-32—67-4Maximilian Kieffer, Germany33-34—67-4Hugo Le Goff, France34-33—67-4Zander Lombard, South Africa34-33—67-4Renato Paratore, Italy35-32—67-4Yannik Paul, Germany34-33—67-4Connor Syme, Scotland34-33—67-4Marc Warren, Scotland35-32—67-4Andoni Etchenique, France36-28—64-3David Horsey, E...

Cazoo Open de France Scores

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:44 GMT

ThursdayAt Le Golf NationalGuyancourt, FrancePurse: $3.3 millionYardage: 7,247; Par: 71First RoundTom Kim, South Korea30-34—64Joakim Lagergren, Sweden31-30—61Alfredo Garcia-Heredia, Spain34-31—65Richard Mansell, England34-31—65Matthew Southgate, England31-34—65Louis De Jager, South Africa33-33—66Ewen Ferguson, Scotland31-35—66Simon Forsstrom, Sweden31-35—66Kazuki Higa, Japan32-34—66Ryo Hisatsune, Japan33-33—66Rasmus Hojgaard, Denmark33-33—66David Law, Scotland31-35—66Adrian Otaegui, Spain33-33—66Jordan L. Smith, England32-34—66Andrew Wilson, England32-34—66John Axelsen, Denmark33-34—67Dan Bradbury, England33-34—67Daniel Brown, England35-32—67Laurie Canter, England35-32—67Maximilian Kieffer, Germany33-34—67Hugo Le Goff, France34-33—67Zander Lombard, South Africa34-33—67Renato Paratore, Italy35-32—67Yannik Paul, Germany34-33—67Connor Syme, Scotland34-33—67Marc Warren, Scotland35-32—67Andoni Etchenique, France36-28—64David Horsey, England32-32—64Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Thailand34-34—68Ni...

18-year-old charged with murder after Aurora shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:44 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- An Aurora 18-year-old was arrested Thursday, less than a day after a deadly shooting in the city.According to the Aurora Police Department, a 17-year-old was shot around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at a gas station near Tower Road and East Hampden Avenue. The real reason to ‘keep wildlife wild and leave wildlife alone’ The victim was taken to a hospital and later died according to APD.The alleged shooter, 18-year-old Allentina Barroso, was arrested on one charge of second-degree murder.APD said the circumstances of the shooting are still under investigation. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867).

Couple say man in police uniform terrorized them with gun, threatened to shoot; MDPD confirms man is officer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:44 GMT

A South Florida couple said a man dressed in a police uniform terrorized them with a gun in the parking lot of their apartment complex, and police have confirmed the individual in person is, indeed, a police officer.Speaking with 7News on Wednesday, the couple asked not to be identified for safety reasons.The man said he was pulled over on Monday by someone in a white SUV with the police lights in the parking lot of their apartment complex in Southwest Miami-Dade, located off Southwest 89th Court.“I see lights, and I’m like in shock,” he said.The man who was stopped said the individual inside the SUV used a loudspeaker.“[He said], ‘Drop the windows, or I’m gonna drop you, [expletive],'” said the resident.The man who was stopped took a 7News crew in his truck to show what happened in the parking lot where, he said, he was first followed and ordered to get out of his vehicle.The man said a man in a police uniform got out of the SUV and pointed...

Lion Country Safari to hold gender reveal celebration for cub born during the summer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:44 GMT

A brand-new king or queen of the jungle will be making their zoo debut in West Palm Beach.Lion Country Safari on Thursday announced the birth of a cute and cuddly lion cub.The adorable addition to the pride was born on July 13 but has been spending its first few months enjoying quality time with its mom, Leela.In an X post, zoo officials said the cub “is not visible just yet but will start to come out intermittently in the next few weeks.”Experts said the cub is a major milestone in the conservation of one of the world’s most vulnerable species.A gender reveal celebration is being planned for Friday at 10 a.m.