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Trump’s dominance in GOP frustrates some in Iowa eager for a competitive campaign

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:09:16 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa frenzy is typically in full force by now.With less than three weeks until the Iowa caucuses formally usher in the presidential nomination process, White House hopefuls are usually in a heated competition. They fan out across the state and pack as many events into a single day as is humanly possible — all in a bid to appeal to undecided voters and lock down support that could lift them to victory in Iowa and keep them in the race for months to come. But as the campaign intensifies ahead of the Jan. 15 caucuses, the normal frenzy is subdued. While the schedule is filling up, former President Donald Trump is such a commanding force in the party that some voters worry the contest that normally transforms Iowa into the center of the political world may turn out to be something of a snooze. “It’s kind of frustrating,” said Jenna Maifeld, a 19-year-old student at the University of Iowa who is eager to participate in her first caucus but is disappointed with...

Retirements could tip control of the House majority. It’s Republicans who have the early edge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:09:16 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A chaotic year for the House is coming to a close with more Democrats than Republicans deciding to leave the chamber, a disparity that could have major ramifications in next year’s elections.About two dozen Democrats have indicated they won’t seek reelection, with half running for another elected office. Meanwhile, only 14 Republicans have said they are not seeking another term, with three seeking elected office elsewhere.More retirements can be expected after the holidays, when lawmakers have had a chance to spend time with families and make decisions ahead of reelection deadlines. But so far, the numbers don’t indicate the dysfunction in the House is causing a mass exodus for either party.“Members sort of knew that this is what the institution is currently like when they chose to run for office,” said Molly Reynolds, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, a think tank that maintains a database of vital statistics on Congress, including retireme...

California is expanding health care coverage for low-income immigrants in the new year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:09:16 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — More than 700,000 immigrants living illegally in California will gain access to free health care starting Monday under one of the state’s most ambitious coverage expansions in a decade. It’s an effort that will eventually cost the state about $3.1 billion per year and inches California closer to Democrats’ goal of providing universal health care to its roughly 39 million residents.Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers agreed in 2022 to provide health care access to all low-income adults regardless of their immigration status through the state’s Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal. California is the most populous state to guarantee such coverage, though Oregon began doing so in July.Newsom called the expansion “a transformative step towards strengthening the health care system for all Californians” when he proposed the changes two years ago. Newsom made the commitment when the state had the largest budget surplus in its history. But as...

States set to enact new laws on guns, pornography, taxes and even fuzzy dice

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:09:16 GMT

Fuzzy dice finally will be free to dangle in Illinois. Starting Monday, police there no longer will be allowed to pull over motorists solely because they have something hanging from the rearview mirror of the windshield. That means air fresheners, parking placards and, yes, even those dice are fair game to hang. The revised Illinois windshield rule is one of hundreds of new laws taking effect with the new year in states across the U.S. While some may seem a bit pedestrian, others have real practical effects or touch on controversial issues such as restrictions on weapons and medical treatments for transgender people.Though the original Illinois windshield law was meant to improve roadway safety, it came to be seen by some as an excuse for pulling over drivers. The new law still prohibits objects that obstruct a driver’s view but forbids law enforcement officers from conducting stops or searches solely because of suspected violations.“With this new law, we are sending a powerfu...

Shorthanded CU Buffs dominate late to top Washington in Pac-12 opener

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:09:16 GMT

Fast breakWhy the Buffs won: CU outrebounded Washington 49-31 and held the Huskies to a .385 mark from the floor.Three stars:CU’s KJ Simpson: Posted his first double-double of the season and second of his career with 21 points and a career-high-tying 10 rebounds. Simpson also had seven assists and three steals.CU’s Eddie Lampkin Jr.: Finished with his third consecutive double-double and his fourth of the season with 17 points and 12 rebounds.UW’s Keion Brooks Jr.: Scored 15 of his team-high 20 points in the second half and went 4-for-8 on 3-pointers.Up next: CU completes the first homestand of the Pac-12 schedule against Washington State on Sunday (noon, Pac-12 Network).When Colorado suddenly found itself without freshman standout Cody Williams ahead of one of the biggest nonconference games of the season earlier this month, the Buffaloes responded by toppling nationally-ranked Miami away from home.When the Buffs suddenly were without senior leader Tristan da Silva...

Ryan Johansen and Devon Toews lead Avalanche past Blues 2-1

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:09:16 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Ryan Johansen and Devon Toews scored and the Central Division-leading Colorado Avalanche beat the St. Louis Blues 2-1 on Friday night.Alexander Georgiev made 28 saves for Colorado, which won for the sixth time in nine games.“I like the fact that we got better defensively as the game went on, and Georgiev played the best game I’ve seen him play in a while, especially the first period,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “As the game went on, I thought we really tightened it up on the defensive side of it, took care of the house pretty well, too. If they were going to get a scoring chance as the game went on, it was more to the outside.”Robert Thomas scored and Jordan Binnington made 21 saves for St. Louis, which had its three-game winning streak halted. The Blues slipped to 5-2 under interim head coach Drew Bannister.“I’ll take that effort every night,” Bannister said. “I thought we competed, we played well. Maybe 10 minutes of the second period I t...

Marvin Harrison Jr. opts out of playing in Cotton Bowl for Ohio State vs Missouri

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:09:16 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Two-time AP All-America receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. opted out of playing in the Cotton Bowl for seventh-ranked Ohio State, though the junior has not revealed whether he will declare for the NFL draft.Harrison wore his No. 18 jersey over a black hoodie when he ran out on the field with his Buckeyes teammates before Friday night’s 14-3 loss to No. 9 Missouri. He immediately went to the sideline and picked up a football, and held on to it throughout the game. Ohio State was also without starting linebacker and leading tackler Tommy Eichenberg, the fifth-year player who had been questionable because of an arm injury. Eichenberg missed two games in the regular season, although he returned for the finale against Michigan.If the 21-year-old Harrison declares for the draft, the Heisman Trophy finalist is expected to be one of the top picks in April.The 6-foot-4 Harrison had 67 catches for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. He has 155 catches for 2,613 ...

No. 9 Missouri beats No. 7 Ohio State 14-3 in the Cotton Bowl

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:09:16 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — All-America running back Cody Schrader rushed for 128 yards and bulled into the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown to open the fourth quarter with Missouri’s first score, and the ninth-ranked Tigers capped an 11-win season with a 14-3 win over No. 7 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night. In a game with almost as many total punts (16) as points, the Tigers (11-2) suddenly scored touchdowns on consecutive drives after punting eight times before that. Brady Cook threw a 7-yard TD to Luther Burden III with 5:12 left in the game. Ohio State (11-2), which was undefeated before losing its regular-season finale to Michigan, played without two-time All-America receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. The standout junior was on the sideline, but opted out of playing. He hasn’t announced yet if he will enter the NFL draft. The Buckeyes were already without starting quarterback Kyle McCord, who left the program earlier this month to transfer to Syracuse. Devin Brown took over a...

Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero help Magic beat Knicks 117-108

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:09:16 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Franz Wagner had 32 points and nine rebounds, Paolo Banchero added 29 points and 10 rebounds and the Orlando Magic held off the New York Knicks 117-108 on Friday night Jalen Suggs had 21 points and six assists before a franchise-record home crowd of 19,587.Julius Randle had 38 points, 12 rebounds and six assists for the Knicks, who finally got some shots to fall in a frantic fourth-quarter comeback attempt.“It was a tough back-and-forth game at the end,” New York forward RJ Barrett said. “I think we adjusted well in the second half, but we’ve got to start better.”Jalen Brunson had 20 points and eight assists for the Knicks and made all 12 of his free throws. The problem, according to Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, is that he should have had more attempts.“What this guy is going through is ridiculous,” Thibodeau said. “He gets hammered time and time again and I’m sick and tired of it. No one drives the ball more to the rim than this guy does, and if you rake a...

Hintz completes hat trick with 7.9 seconds left in OT as Stars beat Blackhawks 5-4

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:09:16 GMT

DALLAS (AP) — Roope Hintz completed a hat trick with 7.9 seconds remaining in overtime giving the Dallas Stars a 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night.Hintz stood at the crease behind Blackhawks goalie Petr Mrazek and tapped home a pass from Jason Robertson for the winner.“I just tried to park there back door, and he gave me a great pass,” Hintz said of Robertson, one of his regular linemates. “I had an empty net there. That was great.”Hintz is the fifth player in Dallas Stars history to complete a hat trick with an overtime goal. The others are Jason Robertson (March 4, 2022), Dino Ciccarelli (March 17, 1986), Tom McCarthy (March 12, 1984) and Neal Broten (Nov. 26, 1983).Three of Hintz’s five career hat tricks are against Chicago.Joe Pavelski, Hintz’s other linemate, and Jamie Benn each had a goal and an assist for the Stars, who have won five consecutive home games.The Stars are 13-3-4 in one-goal games and have a league-best 13 comeback wins.“Sometimes we have to fi...