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How a family buying ‘too many wreaths’ created Wreaths Across America at Arlington National Cemetery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:22 GMT

Tens of thousands of people honored members of the armed forces that have been laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery with Wreaths Across America on Saturday.This annual event would not have been started without a surplus of wreaths back in 1992.“We bought too many wreaths and it was at the end of the season and there was no market for them,” said Wreaths Across America founder Morrill Worcester.Worcester said he and his family tried to figure out “where they would do the most good, and we decided on Arlington National Cemetery.”Making this an annual event was not the original plan. Worcester, who has been in the wreath business for 53 years, said the project was so well-received that he and his family didn’t want to stop.Karen Worcester, co-founder of Wreaths Across America and Morrill’s wife, said this means so much to him that even a stroke two years ago wouldn’t stop her husband from going to Arlington National Cemetery for the laying of the wreaths.“The d...

Griffin scores 25, No. 17 UConn dominates 2nd half to defeat No. 18 Louisville 86-62

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:22 GMT

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Aubrey Griffin scored a season-high 25 point s and Aaliyah Edwards added 22 on a combined 19-of-23 shooting and No. 17 UConn pulled away from No. 18 Louisville for an 86-62 win on Saturday.It was the second straight win over a ranked team for the Huskies, who have used six different starting lineups and are 2-3 against teams now in the Top 25. The Cardinals gave up a season high in points and had their six-game winning streak snapped.Paige Bueckers hit four 3-pointers and scored 20 points for the Huskies (7-3), with a career-high five blocks. Nika Muhl had 10 of UConn’s 24 assists on 32 baskets. UConn shot 59% and made 15 of 20 free throws, 11 of 12 in the fourth quarter. The Huskies outscored Louisville 40-20 in the second half with Griffin, who had four steals, Bueckers and Edwards combining for 32 points. KK Arnold had the other eight points.Kiki Jefferson had 20 points for the Cardinals (10-2), Sydney Taylor had 13 and Olivia Cochran 12. The game tur...

Alexandria residents voice concerns as approval process for new sports arena begins

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:22 GMT

A first step in the approval process for a new sports arena in Alexandria, Virginia, is already being met with backlash from some area residents.Alexandria City Manager Jim Parajon gave a full presentation to the city council on Saturday, outlining details of the new arena and additional facilities for Monumental Sports, which owns the Washington Capitals and the Washington Wizards.“No formal decision has been made on this project,” Parajon said.The 70 acres adjacent to the new Potomac Yard Metro station would become the sports arena, as well as the headquarters and practice facilities for Monumental Sports & Entertainment, including housing their sports network.It would also include a mixed indoor and outdoor performing arts venue and a 2,500-space underground garage.The partnership was announced Wednesday by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Alexandria City Mayor Justin Wilson and Ted Leonsis, majority partner at Monumental.“We have an amazing and world class city and the value that this d...

No. 2 Kansas comes back in final 5 minutes to beat Indiana 75-71

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:22 GMT

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Kevin McCullar Jr. scored 21 points, including four crucial free throws in the final minute, and Hunter Dickinson had 17 points and 14 rebounds as No. 2 Kansas rallied in the second half for a 75-71 win at Indiana on Saturday.The Jayhawks (10-1), who picked up their first victory at Assembly Hall, trailed by as many as 13 and did not take their first lead of the game until Dickinson scored in the post to make it 62-61 with 4:53 remaining.Trey Galloway scored a career-high 28 points for Indiana (7-3), Mackenzie Mbako had 14, Malik Reneau finished with 13, and Kel’el Ware added 11 points and 15 rebounds.KJ Adams Jr. had 14 points for Kansas and Dajuan Harris Jr. contributed 12 points and five assists.NO. 4 HOUSTON 70, TEXAM A&M 66HOUSTON (AP) — Emanuel Sharp scored 21 points, L.J. Cryer added 17 and unbeaten Houston held off Texas.Cryer has scored in double figures in 10 straight games, and Sharp has reached double figures in nine of 11 games this season.J...

Chargers owner Dean Spanos had no choice but to clean house after rout by Las Vegas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:22 GMT

COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) — Dean Spanos was left with only one choice as he watched his Los Angeles Chargers get pummeled 63-21 by the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night.The Bolts’ owner needed to immediately clean house.Friday’s firings of coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco could not wait until after the Chargers walked off the field on Jan. 8 against Kansas City or the morning of Jan. 9. Not with three games remaining in another disappointing season and after two flat performances in a five-day span against division opponents, including last Sunday’s 24-10 loss to Denver.Not after allowing the most points in a game in franchise history and the third-worst defeat by margin.Not when the game was 42-0 at halftime and 63-7 29 seconds into the fourth quarter.“We wasn’t ready to play and it showed out there today,” safety Derwin James said after Thursday night’s game. “It was a complete team loss.”Linebacker Khalil Mack was even more direct...

Miles’ 22 lead North Florida over Trinity Baptist 113-72

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:22 GMT

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jasai Miles scored 22 points as North Florida beat Trinity Baptist 113-72 on Saturday.Miles also added nine rebounds for the Ospreys (7-5). Ametri Moss added 17 points while shooting 6 of 9 from the field and 5 for 6 from the line, and they also had seven rebounds and nine assists. Jah Nze was 6 of 8 shooting, including 4 for 6 from 3-point range, and went 1 for 3 from the line to finish with 17 points.Zach Kiadii finished with 15 points for the Eagles. Trinity Baptist also got 15 points from Brandon Hill. Diego Fernandez also recorded 13 points.North Florida visits Florida State in its next matchup on Tuesday.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

Freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley scores 18 points to lift No. 1 South Carolina over Presbyterian 99-29

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:22 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley had 18 points and No. 1 South Carolina pulled away early to beat Presbyterian 99-29 on Saturday.The Gamecocks improved to 10-0 for a third straight season.Chloe Kitts finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Gamecocks and Ashlyn Watkins had 10 points and 12 rebounds. Freshman Tessa Johnson had 13 points, Kamilla Cardoso and Sakima Walker scored 12 apiece while Bree Hall added 10.Tilda Sjokvist led Presbyterian (8-4) with 15 points. NO. 17 UCONN 86, NO. 18 LOUISVILLE 62HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Aubrey Griffin scored a season-high 25 points and Aaliyah Edwards added 22 and UConn pulled away to beat Louisville.It was the second straight win over a ranked team for the Huskies, who have used six different starting lineups and are 2-3 against teams now in the Top 25. The Cardinals gave up a season high in points and had their six-game winning streak snapped.Paige Bueckers hit four 3-pointers and scored 20 points for the Huskies (7-3), w...

David Jones scores 22 points and Memphis holds on to beat No. 13 Clemson 79-77

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:22 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — David Jones scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half, Jahvon Quinerly added 17 points and six assists, and Memphis held on to beat No. 13 Clemson 79-77 on Saturday.Nick Jourdain added 11 points for Memphis (8-2).PJ Hall led Clemson (9-1) with 21 points, while Chauncey Wiggins finished with 19 and Chase Hunter had 13.Hunter hit the first of two free throws with 1.3 seconds left to cut the Memphis lead to 79-77, but his miss of the second was grabbed by Memphis’ Malcolm Dandridge, preserving the Tigers’ win.The second half was tight with the difference rarely getting beyond one possession. Clemson, off to its best start since starting the 2008-09 season at 16-0, had the lead until a pair of free throws by Quinerly with 4:29 left. A pair of free throws with 13.5 seconds left by Jaykwon Walton helped Memphis close it out.After a couple of early runs by both teams, the first half settled into a closely played affair highlighted by tight defense, res...

Barcelona held at Valencia for third game without a win. Sevilla fires coach Diego Alonso

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:22 GMT

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona was held at Valencia to 1-1 in the Spanish league on Saturday, remaining winless for a third straight game and falling further behind in the title race.João Félix put Barcelona ahead in the 55th minute. He had to only tap in a cross by Raphinha after Frenkie de Jong played the Brazil forward clear with a precise lobbed pass with the tip of his boot.Barcelona looked close to adding to the lead but midfielder Hugo Guillamón pulled Valencia level in the 70th by scoring from the edge of the box after the visitors failed to clear a cross.Coach Xavi Hernández called the game “a final” after losing to Girona last weekend and then falling at Antwerp midweek in the Champions League — despite already qualifying for the knockout rounds.The stalemate at Mestalla Stadium means surprise leader Girona is six points ahead of third-placed Barcelona before it hosts Alaves on Monday. Real Madrid is four points clear of Barcelona before hosting Villarreal on Sunday.“An...

Georgetown gets clutch 3 from Massoud, huge block from Cook to defeat Notre Dame 72-68 in OT

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:22 GMT

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Ismael Massoud hit a go-ahead 3-pointer, Supreme Cook preserved the lead with a blocked shot, and Georgetown defeated Notre Dame 72-68 in overtime on Saturday.Massoud hit a high-arching jumper from deep on the left wing to give the Hoyas a 70-68 lead with 1:16 remaining. Neither team scored on the next several possessions, and Cook blocked what otherwise looked like an open 3-point try by Kebba Njie with three seconds left.Rowan Brumbaugh finished the scoring with two free throws for Georgetown in the final second.Drew Fielder made four 3-pointers and led Georgetown (7-4) with 16 points. Brumbaugh added 15 points, Massoud 13, Dontrez Styles 10 and Jay Heath 10.Markus Burton scored all six of Notre Dame’s points in overtime and led the Fighting Irish (4-6) with 17 points, although he was 6-of-20 from the field. Julian Roper II and J.R. Konieczny added 13 points each and Braeden Shrewsberry had 10 points.Styles hit a 3-pointer to give Georgetown the first...