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A whirlwind week for Montez Sweat — including a life-changing contract extension — ends with the Chicago Bears’ 7th loss

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:21:01 GMT

Forgive Montez Sweat if his enthusiasm wasn’t exactly flowing late Sunday afternoon.A day after signing a life-changing contract extension with the Chicago Bears — four years, $98 million with more than $72 million guaranteed — Sweat’s first public comments about that deal and his football future came in the minutes after his new team suffered its seventh loss of a wayward season.With a tough-to-swallow 24-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, the stumbling Bears had a lot more on their minds than the continued orientation of their new standout pass rusher. And Sweat, who started the week on the practice field in Washington and finished it with a modest two-tackle effort for the Bears against the Saints, was still too caught up in the whirlwind to give much of a deep breakdown on all that has happened to him and for him in recent days.“It’s been a fast week,” he said. “I’ve really just been taking ...

Rookie QB Tyson Bagent commits 4 of 5 turnovers in loss as Chicago Bears ponder when Justin Fields will return

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:21:01 GMT

The Chicago Bears’ offensive unraveling started with about 11 minutes to play in the fourth quarter Sunday at the Caesars Superdome.Trailing the New Orleans Saints by a touchdown, rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent sent a pass toward Darnell Mooney in the middle of the field, but safety Marcus Maye jumped in front of it for an interception.Bagent hopped a few times and then dropped to the ground for a few seconds as he processed the turnover.There were far too many of those moments in the Saints’ 24-17 win.Maye’s interception was one of five Saints takeaways, including four off Bagent. In what could be one of his last starts in place of injured starter Justin Fields — if not the last — Bagent threw three interceptions and lost a fumble. He committed three of those turnovers on the Bears’ final four drives of the fourth quarter — with the game within reach thanks to some big defensive stops.“It really just all comes down to myself in that ...

Patriots’ Bill Belichick answers whether he believes he’s coaching for his job

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:21:01 GMT

Patriots coach Bill Belichick deflected Monday morning when asked if he believed he could be coaching for his job this Sunday against the Colts.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots WR JuJu Smith-Schuster takes blame for game-sealing INT in latest loss New England Patriots | Callahan: The Patriots lost to a tanking team, so what does that make them? New England Patriots | Mac Jones acknowledges difficulties with Patriots changing personnel New England Patriots | Bill Belichick addresses why Patriots rookie Kayshon Boutte was a healthy scratch New England Patriots | Patriots have no answer for J.C. Jackson, Jack Jones playing time decision “I’m going to control what I can control and I’m going to get ready for the Colts,” he said.Belichick also deflected when asked if he had received any assurances about his job from team ownership.“My focus is on getting ready for ...

Climate activists smash glass protecting Velazquez’s Venus painting in London’s National Gallery

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:21:01 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Two climate change protesters smashed a protective glass panel covering a famous Diego Velázquez oil painting at London’s National Gallery, the group Just Stop Oil said Monday. The two activists targeted Velázquez’s “The Toilet of Venus,” also known as “The Rokeby Venus,” with small hammers. Photos showed the protective glass panel punctured with several holes.Just Stop Oil, which has previously led similar protests targeting famous artworks and public buildings, said Monday’s action was to demand Britain’s government immediately halt all licensing for the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels in the U.K. The group said the two activists chose to target the 17th-century oil painting because it was previously slashed as part of the suffragette movement calling for women’s rights in 1914. Just Stop Oil said the protesters hammered the glass panel, then told people at the gallery: “Women did not get the vote by voting....

How one woman’s fight for justice empowered a city

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:21:01 GMT

In today’s Big Story Podcast, Jane Doe was assaulted by a police officer. That’s never an easy case to win, but she wasn’t without allies. Even still, her case was lost. At least, at first.Lindsay Jones is the Atlantic Canada reporter for The Globe and Mail, but she reported on this story for The Walrus. She says that since Jane came forward with her allegations, the cultural landscape has shifted in favour of survivors.“I think now people do believe women over a police officer,” says Jones.This is a story of what happens when you don’t stop fighting for justice. When you end up at the Supreme Court, with an officer from a 300-year-old police force on the other side, and you don’t waver.You can subscribe to The Big Story podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google and Spotify.You can also find it at thebigstorypodcast.ca.

South Africa recalls ambassador and diplomatic mission to Israel and accuses it of genocide in Gaza

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:21:01 GMT

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa’s government has recalled Monday its ambassador and diplomatic mission to Israel in condemnation of the bombardment of the Gaza Strip, which has killed over 9,700 Palestinians, calling it “a genocide”.The government also threatened action against the Israeli ambassador to South Africa over his recent remarks about the African country’s stance on the Israel-Hamas war. No further details were given about the remarks. The war broke out after the Palestinian militant group’s attacks on Israel on Oct.7 left over 1,400 people dead. “The South African government has decided to withdraw all its diplomats in Tel Aviv for consultation,” said minister in the presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni. She added the cabinet noted the “disparaging remarks of the Israeli ambassador to South Africa about those who are opposing the atrocities and genocide of the Israeli government” and that the department of international relations has been instructed t...

Hungary has fired the national museum director over LGBTQ+ content in World Press Photo exhibition

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:21:01 GMT

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary’s cultural minister on Monday fired the director of the Hungarian National Museum in Budapest, accusing him of failing to comply with a contentious law that bans the display of LGBTQ+ content to minors.The dismissal of Laszlo L. Simon, who became director of the museum for a five-year term in 2021, came after Hungary’s government determined in late October that five photos on display at the prestigious World Press Photo exhibition violated the law restricting children’s access to content that depicts homosexuality or gender change.The museum subsequently put a notice on its website and at the entrance to the World Press Photo exhibition — which showcases outstanding photojournalism — that the collection was restricted to visitors over 18.Writing on his Facebook page on Monday, Simon — a member of Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party and a former secretary of state with the cultural ministry — said that neither he nor the museum had deliber...

New Edition announces Las Vegas residency dates starting in late February after touring for 2 years

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:21:01 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — R&B group New Edition will bring their New Jack Swing tunes to Las Vegas early next year.The Grammy-nominated sextet announced Monday that New Edition: Las Vegas will kick off Feb. 28. The group confirmed six residency shows at the Wynn Las Vegas’ Encore Theater, where acts like Diana Ross, Duran Duran, Lionel Richie and Brad Paisley have taken the stage.“We just caught lightning in a bottle,” said Ronnie DeVoe, a founding New Edition member— which includes Michael Bivins, Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill, Ralph Tresvant and Ricky Bell. Monday’s announcement came after days after the group performed a tightly-choreographed tribute to the Spinners at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in New York City.DeVoe said the band heard fans countless requests — particularly through social media — for them to perform in Sin City. “We’re looking to touch that stage and continue on with the legacy,” he said. After two consecutive North American tours, ...

Republican Peter Meijer, who supported Trump’s impeachment, enters Michigan’s US Senate race

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:21:01 GMT

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Peter Meijer, a Republican who served one term in Congress before being ousted by voters following a vote to impeach then-President Donald Trump, announced Monday that he will run for an open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan.Meijer joins a field of more than a dozen candidates vying for a seat that’s been held by Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow for more than two decades. Stabenow shocked many in the state in January by announcing her retirement, creating a wide open race in the battleground state. “My wife and I prayed hard about this race and how we can best serve our state and our nation. We considered every aspect of the campaign, and are confident we have the best chance of taking back this seat for the Republicans and fighting hard for a conservative future,” Meijer said in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.“We are in dark and uncertain times, but we have made it through worse. The challenges are great, but so is our country. If we are to see another...

Victory Auto Wreckers to close this month

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:21:01 GMT

CHICAGO — A legendary Chicago area business has announced it is closing its doors forever.Victory Auto Wreckers' owner Kyle Weisner told Dean Richards during an interview on WGN Radio Sunday that the longtime auto salvage yard will close on November 18.Victory Auto Wreckers, located in Bensenville, has been in business since 1945. Weisner's family has owned it since 1967.The auto salvage yard is known for it's iconic commercial, "that old car is worth money" — that Dean Richards has voiced since 1991. SkyRise Chicago returns with thousands climbing steps of Willis Tower Weisner told Richards it was time to shut down and "take it a little easier."