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Cut your own Christmas tree at this Maryland family-owned farm

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:23 GMT

With Thanksgiving over, you might start to see more cars topped with Christmas trees hitting the streets.The day after Thanksgiving is a “busy, busy day” for Jerry, the “fresh-cut guy,” running the chain saw at Butler’s Orchard farms in Montgomery County, Maryland.“I love it out here, this is the best time of year for us. I get all the sap all over me and smell like Christmas trees for days,” said Jerry.“You can’t have a candle that fakes the smell. It’s just not the same,” said Ben Butler, one of the brothers who works at Butler’s Orchard family-owned and operated farms.Ben is part of the third generation of Butlers to work on the land. He now enjoys watching other families experience the joy of cutting down their own Christmas trees — trees he spent years growing.“It’s a piece of the Christmas puzzle that you have to have. The tree, of course, is so important, but the family memory and the experience of going out to the field looking through thousands of trees to...

Pick-6 on failed Hail Mary swings the momentum in the Jets’ 34-13 loss to the Dolphins

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:23 GMT

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets were back in the game after forcing another turnover by the Dolphins. And they were feeling lucky.Then it all went wrong with one failed Hail Mary.After D.J. Reed intercepted Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa to give New York the ball at its 49 with 2 seconds left and trailing 10-6, Jets coach Robert Saleh opted to have Tim Boyle launch a pass into the end zone instead of taking a knee.“I put it on me,” Saleh said.Boyle’s throw was picked off by Jevon Holland, who snagged it at the 1 and took off down the field, weaved his way past some would-be Jets tacklers — including Boyle — and took it in untouched for a 99-yard interception return.It was the turning point in the Jets’ 34-13 loss in the NFL’s first game played on Black Friday.“I’ve never really seen or been a part of anything like that,” Boyle said. “But it’s a good learning experience. You have to have a cover plan just in case interceptions happen like that.”With Miami lea...

“La primera luz”: la NASA recibe un mensaje de rayo láser a 16 millones de kilómetros de distancia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:23 GMT

(CNN) –– Un innovador experimento a bordo de la misión Psyche de la NASA acaba de alcanzar su primer hito al realizar exitosamente la demostración más lejana de comunicaciones láser. La prueba tecnológica algún día podría ayudar a las misiones de la agencia a profundizar en la exploración espacial y a descubrir más sobre el origen del universo.Lanzada a mediados de octubre, la misión Psyche se dirige a captar el primer vistazo de la humanidad a un asteroide metálico entre las órbitas de Marte y Júpiter. La nave espacial pasará los próximos seis años viajando unos 3.600 millones de kilómetros para llegar al asteroide con su mismo nombre, ubicado en la parte exterior del cinturón de asteroides principal.La NASA enviará una misión al asteroide Psyche, un mundo de metal. ¿Cuáles son las razones?A la travesía se sumó la demostración tecnológica de Comunicaciones Ópticas del Espacio Profundo (DSOC, por sus siglas en inglés), que realizará su propia misión durante los primeros dos años del...

Crisis diplomática entre España e Israel tras crítica de Pedro Sánchez a “matanza indiscriminada” de civiles en Gaza

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:23 GMT

(CNN Español) –– El malestar se ha hecho presente en la Oficina del primer ministro de Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, tras las declaraciones de este viernes del presidente del Gobierno de España, Pedro Sánchez, quien aseguró desde el paso de Rafah ―frontera de Gaza y Egipto― que Israel no está respetando “los parámetros y límites establecidos dentro del derecho humanitario internacional” en su guerra contra Hamas.Según el mandatario español, se debe respetar el derecho de Israel a defenderse de los ataques “terroristas” de Hamas, pero “la matanza indiscriminada de civiles inocentes, incluidos miles de niños y niñas, es absolutamente inaceptable”, agregó.Estas declaraciones han sido complementadas por el primer ministro de Bélgica, Alexander de Croo, quien ha acompañado a Sánchez en su viaje por Medio Oriente y quien ha asegurado que “han muerto demasiados civiles en este conflicto”. “La operación militar que Israel está llevando a término para frenar los ataques terroristas debe respet...

A look at the final drive for Pac-12 football through the eyes of fans, coaches, players

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:23 GMT

The final football season for the Pac-12 with its current membership is coming to a thrilling conclusion.The conference wraps up regular-season play this week before the title game in Las Vegas on Dec. 1. Washington and Oregon still have hopes of getting the Pac-12 its first College Football Playoff berth since 2016.Even though there is plenty of excitement on the field, there remain some who are sad about the breakup of the conference, along with the end of traditional rivalries The Associated Press is taking a look at the final weeks through the eyes of players, coaches, broadcasters and longtime fans.FAMILY LEGACYOregon State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei is a California kid who grew up watching the Pac-10, and then the Pac-12.Next season, Oregon State will be left alone with Washington State in the once-proud Conference of Champions. The 10 other schools have bolted in realignment.That means that Friday night’s rivalry game between the Beavers and the Ducks might be the last f...

Kitley scores 31 as No. 9 Virginia Tech holds on to beat Kansas 59-58

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:23 GMT

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (AP) — Elizabeth Kitley had 31 points and 18 rebounds to help ninth-ranked Virginia Tech edge Kansas 59-58 on Friday in the Cayman Islands Classic.Georgia Amoore hit a 3-pointer with 2:57 left to give the Hokies (4-1) a 59-58 advantage in a game that featured 17 lead changes and seven ties. “It’s November and we’re still trying to figure ourselves out,” Virginia Tech coach Kenny Brooks said. “If you can win while trying to figure yourselves out, it’s a bonus.”Kansas (2-2) had a few chances to take the lead after that, but Taiyanna Jackson missed two free throws with 1:46 left. The Jayhawks then turned it over on their next possession.Amoore missed a jumper with under 30 seconds left and then the Hokies had a shot clock violation that gave Kansas one final chance. Ryan Dobbins attempt with a second left fell short.“I think we just competed really hard and never fragmented,” Kansas coach Brandon Schneider said. “We tried to stick with the plan and stay aggr...

The Vikings are playing close games again. The Bears have lots of lessons to learn from theirs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:23 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings made a habit last season of going down to the wire, setting an NFL record in the process by winning all 11 contests that were decided by eight points or fewer.Those close games, predictably, haven’t broken their way in 2023 nearly as often. They’ll find no sympathy from the Chicago Bears.“I understand what it feels like to lose a game that you feel like you should’ve won, but at the end of the day, the only thing you can do in this league is grow,” said Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards, reflecting on his team’s 31-26 loss at Detroit last week. “As soon as you start to feel sorry for yourself and start to point fingers and things like that, that’s when stuff gets really bad. We don’t have the guys in here that are doing that. We don’t have the coaches that are doing that. We’ve got the right guys in here to build this thing and keep growing.”The Bears (3-8) blew a 12-point lead with about three minutes left to the NFC Nort...

Troy beats Grambling 80-67, finish second in first Trojan Classic tournament

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:23 GMT

Troy, Ala. (AP) — Christyon Eugene scored 23 points and Troy rebounded from an overtime loss to Sam Houston Monday to beat Grambling 80-67 on Friday night to finish second in the first Trojan Classic tournament.The Bearkats capture the tournament title after knocking off Grambling 86-80 Wednesday.Eugene contributed four steals for the Trojans (3-3). Jackson Fields scored 13 points and added five rebounds and five steals. Tayton Conerway finished 4 of 8 from the field to finish with eight points.The Tigers (2-5) were led by Terrence Lewis, who recorded 11 points and six rebounds. Grambling also got 10 points from Jalen Johnson. Mikale Stevenson also put up nine points and two steals.NEXT UPTroy plays Monday against Eastern Kentucky on the road, and Grambling visits Dayton on Saturday.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

No. 9 Duke erases a 10-point first-half deficit to beat Southern Indiana 80-62

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:23 GMT

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Kyle Filipowski had 21 points and 14 rebounds while No. 9 Duke waited until the second half to push ahead for good in Friday night’s 80-62 win against pesky Southern Indiana.’Jeremy Roach added 18 points for the Blue Devils (5-1), who fell behind by 10 points six times before halftime and trailed 35-31 at the break against a team that that had yet to beat a Division I opponent this season. But Duke closed the first half with better energy and aggression at both ends, then rode that wave to build its own double-digit lead.The Blue Devils trailed 32-22 with 5:02 left before going on a 25-5 run through 9 1/2 minutes. That included the first 11 points out of the break, including two 3-pointers from freshman Jared McCain and back-to-back two-hand flushes from Filipowski at the 15:34 mark.That margin got no closer than nine again, with Duke shooting 60.7% after halftime.Jeremiah Hernandez scored 15 points for the Screaming Eagles (1-6), who spent the first ...

Ravens’ Zay Flowers ‘ready to go,’ Odell Beckham Jr. ‘game-time’ decision Sunday night vs. Chargers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:23 GMT

The Ravens could have their full complement of wide receivers when they face the NFL’s worst pass defense Sunday night in Los Angeles.Rookie Zay Flowers missed Thursday’s practice with a hip injury but was back on the field Friday in Owings Mills. He said he’ll play against the Chargers despite being listed as questionable.“I feel good,” said Flowers, who leads Baltimore with 53 catches for 588 yards. “I’m ready to go.“That wasn’t even a question. I had to take a little break really quick. Now, I’m back.”He might not be the only one.Fellow receiver Odell Beckham Jr. injured his shoulder in the Ravens’ win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Nov. 16 and was limited in practice all week. The 31-year-old former All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowl selection said he is a “game-time” decision but hopes to be on the field.“I’m trying my best each and every way,” said Beckham, who is coming off a 11...