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March Madness betting guide: Not just about brackets

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:52 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — March Madness isn’t just about filling out — and later trashing — brackets. There are more ways to bet the field in the NCAA Tournament, an event that will consume basketball fans over the next three weeks. Here’s a look at the favorites, underdogs and longshots. WHO’S FAVORED TO REACH THE FINAL FOUR? Top-ranked Houston is the plus-120 favorite to emerge as the Midwest Region representative and play in Houston, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. That means a $100 bet pays $120. The next top team in the region is Texas at plus-450.No. 4 Alabama, which is the No. 1 overall seed, is plus-190 to come out of the South. Next is No, 8 Arizona at plus-440.The most competitive region appears to be the West. No. 3 Kansas is a slight favorite at plus-320, just ahead of No. 2 UCLA at plus-350. No. 9 Gonzaga isn’t far behind at plus-400.No. 5 Purdue is at plus-300 to come out of the East, with No. 6 Marquette next at plus-420.WHO’S FAVORED TO WIN THE TITLE? Oddsm...

BBC says soccer host Gary Lineker will return to air, reversing suspension over tweet criticizing govt asylum policy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:52 GMT

LONDON (AP) — BBC says soccer host Gary Lineker will return to air, reversing suspension over tweet criticizing govt asylum policy.Source

Iran state media report quotes head of judiciary as saying 22,000 people arrested in recent protests have been pardoned

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:52 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran state media report quotes head of judiciary as saying 22,000 people arrested in recent protests have been pardoned.Source

Denver weather: Spring-like start to week with rain, snow mix Thursday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:52 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver’s weather will have a nice warmup to start the week on Monday, before rain, snow, and 40s finish it off. Weather today: Seasonal sunshineMonday will be mild on the Front Range with high temperatures in the mid-50s. State to crack down on late car registrations The average high in Denver this time of year is 55 degrees.Pinpoint Weather: Afternoon highs on March 13. Along with the mild temperatures, conditions will stay dry in eastern Colorado with partly cloudy skies. The mountains will see isolated snow showers with light accumulation.Looking ahead: Thursday rain, snowTemperatures will warm up to the 60s on Tuesday and Wednesday, running about 10 degrees above average. Tuesday will be dry, but the next storm system is right behind. A storm will come in late Wednesday into Thursday. There will be heavy snow west with a chance of rain and snow showers to the east.Pinpoint Weather: Snow totals on March 16. Temperatures will drop from the 60s to the cool 40s on...

Large group in Mexico attempted mass entry into US at El Paso, Texas, border crossing, officials say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:52 GMT

(CNN) — A large group of people in Mexico approached a US border entry point in El Paso, Texas, Sunday in an attempt at mass entry into the country, causing disruptions along the border and authorities to erect barricades, US Customs and Border Protection said.The group made a formation and approached the international boundary at El Paso, “posing a potential threat to make a mass entry,” CBP said in a statement.Customs and Border Protection officers “implemented port hardening measures” at the Paso del Norte International Bridge Sunday afternoon, temporarily halting northbound traffic, CBP said.“CBP is working to maintain the legal and orderly flow of entry to the U.S. while protecting the safety and security of legitimate trade and travel, CBP facilities and the CBP workforce,” the agency said.The agency said it also used physical barriers to restrict entry, and traffic was temporarily halted at the bridge but reopened Sunday evening, CBP ...

Pence says ‘history will hold Donald Trump accountable’ for January 6

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:52 GMT

(CNN) — Former Vice President Mike Pence made his most blistering comments yet about former President Donald Trump’s role in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol during remarks Saturday evening at the annual Gridiron Club Dinner in Washington, DC.Pence began his remarks at the dinner, which traditionally features politicians making jokes about notable Washington figures, with lighthearted comments about Trump, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and several Republicans expected to run for president in 2024, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley.He then took a serious tone, noting the attack on the Capitol was “one thing I haven’t joked about” and calling January 6 “a tragic day.”Pence rebuked Trump for his role in the January 6, 2021 attack, saying he was “wrong” for claiming Pence had the authority to overturn the results of the 2020 election in his role presiding over Cong...

Another atmospheric river is coming for California, where neighborhoods already are flooded and hundreds are in shelters

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:52 GMT

(CNN) — Still reeling from storms that inundated neighborhoods, forced rescues and damaged roads, storm-battered California is bracing for another atmospheric river that threatens even more flooding Monday.More than 17 million people remain under flood watches across California and Nevada early Monday as the storm makes its menacing approach — the 11th atmospheric river to hit the West this winter season.The new storm, arriving on the heels of another atmospheric river, could exacerbate flooding and damage in some places. Already, those in the central and northern parts of California are crowding into shelters and dealing with flooded neighborhoods, along with mudslides, dangerous rushing rivers, collapsed bridges and unusable roads.At least two people have died as a result of the storms, officials said. Atmospheric rivers are long, narrow bands of moisture that carry saturated air thousands of miles like a fire hose.The next ...

Cactus League report: Hayden Wesneski’s strong case to make the Cubs rotation — and Michael Kopech is ‘where I should be’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:52 GMT

The Cubs finally get a day off 3½ weeks into camp.They headed into the one-day break with a 5-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cubs managed just five hits, led by Ian Happ’s two-run homer in the sixth.Oscar Colás hit a solo homer in the first for the White Sox in a 1-1 tie with the Los Angeles Angels at Camelback Ranch. It was Colás’ second consecutive game with a home run.Chicago Tribune baseball writers LaMond Pope and Meghan Montemurro will be providing Cubs and White Sox updates throughout spring training.Hayden Wesneski’s case grows strongerRight-hander Hayden Wesneski wasn’t about to bask in four perfect innings Saturday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.He wasn’t satisfied after self-assessing his third spring start, which ended by striking out the side. Through three Cactus League outings, Wesneski hasn’t allowed an earned run in 8⅔ innings while tallying 11 strikeouts and two walks.“To be honest with you, I...

The free-agent negotiating window opens today. Where will Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears turn their attention first?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:52 GMT

Ryan Poles came away with a plug-and-play wide receiver in D.J. Moore — who is instantly the Chicago Bears’ top target in the passing game — in his blockbuster trade of the No. 1 draft pick Friday.Poles also added a second-round pick this year and future draft capital for sliding back to No. 9 in the deal he struck with the Carolina Panthers. The trade will become official after the new league year begins at 3 p.m. Wednesday.Now attention turns to how Poles can begin to assemble the roster in free agency, in which the Bears general manager was a bargain shopper a year ago.Poles has stressed repeatedly that he believes in building through the draft. He also has talked about seeing the process through with Justin Fields, and after providing the quarterback with a No. 1 receiver, now he has a chance to turn his attention to the offensive line. If the Bears can improve the talent around Fields, they can raise their expectations for the quarterback in Year 3.The defensi...

Column: Ryan Poles checked a big box on the Chicago Bears’ offseason list with his bold trade. Now comes the hard part.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:52 GMT

From the beginning, Ryan Poles has understood this is a process, a methodical grind to, in his words, “stair-step this thing” to where the Chicago Bears not only can experience meaningful success again but sustain it. Poles never has sought shortcuts or tried to unearth some secret potion that could magically revitalize one of the NFL’s worst rosters with a snap of the fingers.Instead, Poles has adopted a brick-by-brick approach to rebuilding the Bears. Which is why he stood in front of an all-staff meeting before last season and handed out tiny blue Lego blocks emblazoned with the Bears name. Each block was a symbol of the philosophy the first-year general manager wanted everyone inside Halas Hall to embrace.“I talked about the entire organization doing what it takes to stick together,” Poles explained in January. “Because I knew how important it was to build a foundation that was rock solid (where) this wasn’t on something that was shaky a...