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How did Minnesota become the nation’s top turkey state?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:25 GMT

By Christopher Vondracek, Star TribuneMinnesota is a turkey powerhouse.Minnesota has been a national leader in the production of this flightless bird since the late 1950s, ranking No. 1 among states for the last two decades. Today, one in five turkeys grown commercially in America hail from Minnesota, which produced about 37 million birds last year.So this Thanksgiving, there is a good chance the turkey on your plate (if you’re a traditionalist) was raised on one of Minnesota’s more than 650 turkey farms. Two special birds from Jennie-O in Willmar will even receive official Thanksgiving pardons at the White House this year.Related ArticlesBusiness | Bay Area scientist with bees in his bonnet gives Gov. Newsom a buzz in his ear Business | What’s behind E. coli in Point Reyes National Seashore? Beef grows between ranchers and environmentalists Business | Minnesota braces for wild ‘super pigs’ from Canada Business | ...

LB Sinclair available for Stanford vs. Notre Dame after Pac-12 rescinds targeting penalty

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:25 GMT

Stanford received bittersweet news this week when fifth-year linebacker Tristan Sinclair’s targeting penalty against Cal was overturned.On the one hand, it meant that the team’s defensive leader and second-leading tackler will be available to play the entire game Saturday when the Cardinal closes its season against No. 17 Notre Dame at Stanford Stadium (4 p.m., Pac-12 Network) instead of being forced to sit out the first half.On the other hand, it meant Sinclair was ejected based on an erroneous call midway through the third quarter of last Saturday’s Big Game loss to Cal. At the time, Sinclair had a game-high 10 tackles and had almost forced a first-quarter fumble (the ruling was changed to an incomplete pass after further review).“We wish that they would have overturned it immediately,” fellow fifth-year linebacker Spencer Jorgensen said. “Tristan played for one half and was defensive player of the game, in my opinion – leading tackler, he laid all the best hits. So initially all ...

Fan’s death, tour ‘chaos’ may keep Taylor Swift from Travis Kelce on Thanksgiving

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:25 GMT

Earlier this week, a report suggested that America’s favorite lovebirds, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, would try to be together on Thanksgiving. The report from TMZ said they hoped to take the next step in their relationship by not only celebrating the national holiday as a couple but by bringing their families together as well.But Page Six has raised doubts about the Thanksgiving reunion because the South America schedule for Swift’s Eras Tour has been the thrown into “chaos,” following the death last Friday of a 23-year-old fan who attended Swift’s concert in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, amid an extreme heat wave.“She doesn’t know her holiday plans yet,” a source told Page Six on Monday.“The Brazil concerts … She is devastated about a fan dying,” the source also said. “The weather is extreme. It’s a mess she didn’t expect. It’s been a traumatic experience. It’s been a lot.”Ana Clara Benevides Machado fell sick during Swift’s concer...

Daly City man who molested child relative found guilty on 11 charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:25 GMT

REDWOOD CITY — A Daly City man who terrorized a family member throughout her childhood, was convicted of 11 felony child molestation counts by a San Mateo County jury on Tuesday, according to prosecutors.Antonio Mandilag Oliveros, 58, could face a sentence of life in prison, prosecutors said.The family member first reported the abuse when she was 13 but said that it began when she was in the second grade, escalating from touching at night, while the family was asleep, to more serious acts of molestation in the fourth grade. The victim told authorities that Oliveros would tell her that he’d reward her with trips to the mall for complying with the abuse.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | San Francisco resident charged with murder of man whose body was found in the Presidio Crime and Public Safety | Peninsula man convicted on felony sex trafficking, pimping charges Crime and Public Safety | Jury signs off on aggravating factors fo...

Brad Pitt won’t react to son calling him ‘awful human being,’ prefers ‘dignified silence’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:25 GMT

Because Brad Pitt has “great respect for all of his children,” he will continue his stance of generally not commenting on them to the media, even after news broke Monday that his second son Pax Jolie-Pitt allegedly called him a “world-class a-hole” and an “awful human being” in a resurfaced social media post.Page Six cited a source close to the Oscar-winning actor who said that he has “no reaction” to a Daily Mail report, which published a screenshot of Pax Jolie Pitt’s private 2020 Instagram post. According to the screen shot, the then-16-year-old slammed Pitt on Father’s Day of that year, penning a screed over a photo of the actor accepting his Oscar several months earlier for his best supporting actor performance in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”FILES – A picture taken 12 November 2006 shows US actors Angelina Jolie (L), daughter Zahara (2L), husband Brad Pitt (R) and son Maddox taking a stroll on the seafront promenad...

American University Called on the FBI to Investigate Defaced Posters

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:25 GMT

American University in Washington, D.C., brought in the Federal Bureau of Investigation to probe the defacement of posters on campus, according to an email sent to students last week.“No community member should remove or deface any poster,” administrators wrote in the November 16 email. “We are investigating incidents of poster defacement, including in some cases with our FBI partners, and they will be addressed through our policies and conduct process.”The notice went out the same day a university official sent an email about a recital poster in the campus performing arts center that had been vandalized with “antisemitic language and symbols.” American University students told The Intercept they have seen other posters and campus materials vandalized and taken down, including ones critical of Israel’s killing of civilians in Gaza and U.S. backing for the war.The FBI’s involvement at American University comes as college campuses across the country witness a heightened presence of la...

10 More Things to Be Grateful for This Thanksgiving

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:25 GMT

A painting of the first Thanksgiving by Jennie Augusta Brownscombe made in 1870.Photo: Corbis/VCG via Getty ImagesIn both 2021 and 2022, I wrote a Thanksgiving article listing 10 things for which Americans should be grateful. Now I have 10 more things, 21 through 30, for which we can give thanks this holiday.Scientific studies have found that focusing on gratitude doesn’t just make you more pleasant to be around. It’s good for you, physically and psychologically. It even makes you sleep better.One thing for which I’m personally grateful is that I can get away with writing pieces like this. I’m actually paid money to do it, which I then exchange for broccoli seeds. (See No. 3 below.) Did you know there are approximately 137,600 individual seeds in one pound of broccoli seeds? Please write to my editors and tell them how much you value this kind of information, so I can continue producing these pieces and buying broccoli seeds indefinitely.References to the First ThanksgivingThe “fir...

Maryland man sentenced to life in prison in fatal 2021 Applebee’s shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:25 GMT

The victim's mother speaks at a news conference on Nov. 21, following the sentencing hearing. She's accompanied by other members of the family as well as Prince George's County State's Attorney Aisha Braveboy. (Courtesy Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office) The victim's mother speaks at a news conference on Nov. 21, following the sentencing hearing. She's accompanied by other members of the family as well as Prince George's County State's Attorney Aisha Braveboy. (Courtesy Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office) A Suitland, Maryland, man who shot and killed an Applebee’s employee and wounded two others more than two years ago was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison, plus 80 years.The fa...

UCF hopes to keep bowl streak alive in season finale vs. Houston

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:25 GMT

Houston (4-7, 2-6 Big 12) at UCF (5-6, 2-6), Saturday, 12 p.m. EST (FS1)Line: UCF by 13 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: UCF leads series 7-3WHAT’S AT STAKE?With a win, the Knights can secure their eighth straight trip to a bowl game. Houston is looking to end its first season in the Big 12 on a high note and take at least a share of the best record among Big 12 newcomers this season.KEY MATCHUPHouston’s quarterback vs. UCF’s pass rush. UCF’s defense has struggled against the run this season, but the Knights lead the Big 12 in pass defense and have given up the fewest passing touchdowns in the conference. The Knights’ defense is seventh in the conference in sacks with Tre’Mon Morris-Brash and Malachi Lawrence ranking third and fourth in the conference. Houston quarterback Donovan Smith has thrown for 21 touchdowns and an average of 240 pass yards per game. He is also second on the team with 404 yards rushing and leads the team with si...

No. 14 LSU-Texas A&M clash pits the nation’s top offense against a top-10 defense

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:25 GMT

Texas A&M (7-4, 4-3 SEC) at No. 14 LSU (8-3, 5-2 SEC, No. 14 CFP), Saturday, 12 p.m. EST (ESPN)Line: LSU by 11 1/2 according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: LSU leads 35-23-3.WHAT’S AT STAKE?While both teams are out of contention in the SEC West, they are bowl-eligible and will want the best possible bid. Meanwhile, LSU has several players — QB Jayden Daniels and WRs Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas — up for major national awards and will want to showcase them in their offensive and defensive game plans.KEY MATCHUPThe dynamic dual-threat Daniels and LSU’s nation-leading offense (562.2 yards per game), against Texas A&M’s defense, which ranks eighth nationally in yards allowed per game (286.5). LSU also is the highest-scoring team in the country, averaging 46.8 points.PLAYERS TO WATCHTexas A&M: WR Moose Muhammad III had 104 yards and a touchdown receiving last week, highlighted by a leaping one-handed catch, after which he hurdled a tackler.LSU: Daniels is a...