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What to know about Fourth of July holiday origins and traditions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:22 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Fourth of July is Americana at its core: parades and cookouts and cold beer and, of course, fireworks.Those pyrotechnics also make it an especially dangerous holiday, typically resulting in more than 10,000 trips to the emergency room. Yet fireworks remain at the center of Independence Day, a holiday 247 years in the making.Here are five things to know about July Fourth, including the origin of the holiday and how fireworks became part of the tradition.WHAT’S THE ORIGIN OF INDEPENDENCE DAY?The holiday celebrates the Second Continental Congress’ unanimous adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, a document announcing the colonies’ separation from Great Britain.One year later, according to the Library of Congress, a spontaneous celebration in Philadelphia marked the anniversary of American independence.But across the burgeoning nation, observations didn’t become commonplace until after the War of 1812. It quickly took of...

Atlanta police motorcycles burned in fire started by ‘incendiary devices,’ officials say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:22 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Police Department motorcycles were damaged in an intentional fire caused by devices set inside a training facility early Saturday, officials said. The Atlanta Fire and Rescue Department responded to reports of a multi-vehicle fire around 2:20 a.m. and found multiple motorcycles on fire, WANF-TV reported.Firefighters at the scene found “incendiary devices” used to start the fire, officials said.The fire department was investigating but there was no immediate information about any arrests or whether the fire was classified as arson, WANF reported.The city’s fire and rescue department and police department did not immediately respond to emails from The Associated Press seeking additional information.Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said in a written statement that the fire was an “outrageous and completely inexcusable” planned destruction of property that put lives and community assets in danger.“Those are the tactics of organized criminals, not protestors, and thei...

2 possibly armed suspects at large in Little Tokyo

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:22 GMT

Two possibly armed suspects remain at large following a destructive pursuit that ended in the Little Tokyo district of Los Angeles Saturday night.The pursuit began around 5:30 p.m. and led L.A. County Sheriff’s Deputies across L.A. County before the suspects crashed near 1st Street and Central Avenue.The suspects jumped out of the car and fled on foot before entering the Japanese Village Plaza. A popular shopping and dining area, the suspects prompted crowds of bystanders to flee as panic ensued. Patrons flee as two possibly armed suspects remain at large following a pursuit that ended in the Little Tokyo district of Los Angeles on July 1, 2023. (Sushi Gala)Two possibly armed suspects remain at large following a pursuit that ended in the Little Tokyo district of Los Angeles on July 1, 2023. (Citizen)Surveillance video from a sushi restaurant captured the chaos as shoppers and diners ran away in fear while the suspects sprinted through the crowd. Citizen video showed patrol cars spee...

Thieves escape with over $700,000 worth of rare wines from Venice shop

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:22 GMT

Surveillance video captured thieves breaking into a wine shop and escaping with over $700,000 worth of rare wines on Saturday morning.Nazmul Haque Helal, the owner of Lincoln Fine Wines, said the heist took place around 1 a.m. as security video captures the thieves arriving in a white pickup truck.The truck drives around the back parking lot several times before a masked suspect is seen exiting and walking towards the shop.The suspect quickly climbs on top of a metal container while holding what appears to be a large knife or sharp metal tool.Surveillance video captures thieves breaking into a wine shop and escaping with over $700,000 worth of rare wines on July 1, 2023. (Lincoln Fine Wines) Long Beach suspects arrested in over $1.5 million drug bust Helal said the thief proceeded to cut a hole in the ceiling above the shop’s cellar where their most prized and expensive wines were stored.The thief reportedly scaled down into the cellar using a rock climbing rope before covering in...

Wife of Sonoma County sheriff charged with DUI following Tesla crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:22 GMT

SONOMA COUNTY, Calif. (BCN) -- The wife of the Sonoma County sheriff was charged with two felonies plus enhancements Friday following a DUI arrest in May, according to court documents. Natasha Whittinghill-Engram, 47, has been charged with felony DUI resulting in bodily injury and felony DUI resulting in bodily injury with a blood alcohol content exceeding .08%. Prosecutors also added two enhancements to the charges for allegedly having a blood alcohol content of over .20%. Authorities: Sonoma County Sheriff’s wife arrested on DUI suspicion after Tesla crashes into Santa Rosa home Whittington-Engram was arrested by police in Santa Rosa on May 5 after her vehicle allegedly crashed through the wall of a house near Calistoga Road and Beaumont Way and nearly struck a resident inside. Whittington-Engram was not injured but the woman inside the home suffered cuts and bruises. Whittinghill-Engram is married to Sonoma County Sheriff Eddie Engram, who was elected in Nov...

Boating safety urged during hot holiday weekend in East Bay

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:22 GMT

ANTIOCH, Calif. (KRON) -- The high heat is drawing people to the water in the East Bay.The Antioch Marina is a popular spot for boaters, and emergency officials urge caution for those hitting the delta this holiday weekend.Boats backing into the water at the Antioch Marina Saturday a fraction of what is expected on the Fourth of July. These major retailers in downtown SF have closed their doors for good Jill Henderson, her husband Steve and dog Pearl are going to the delta -- a few days before Independence Day to work out the kinks ahead of the big day.Mike Scott, a jet skier, says you can never be too cautious."Everybody has to wear a life jacket. We've got a laniard that has to be attached to the driver at all times, so that if you fall off the ski will stop," Scott said.Scott gives his friends and family a brief safety tutorial before powering the jet skies."We've got a full safety kit onboard that's got flares, things like a whistle for signaling and an anchor so we have all t...

Rookie Tanner Bibee, 3 relievers combine on five-hitter as Guardians beat Cubs 6-0

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:22 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Rookie Tanner Bibee and three relievers combined on a five-hitter, and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Chicago Cubs 6-0 on Saturday night.Bibee (5-2) tossed three-hit ball into the sixth while outpitching Marcus Stroman, and the Guardians came out on top in a game delayed 2 hours, 45 minutes at the start because of rain.Amed Rosario lined a two-run single in the third. Andrés Giménez chased Stroman (9-6) with an RBI single in a four-run sixth, and the Guardians bounced back after getting pounded 10-1 the previous night. The Cubs had matched a season high with their five straight losses after winning 11 of 13.Bibee went 5 2/3 innings and matched a season high with nine strikeouts while walking two. The 24-year-old right-hander threw 96 pitches — 63 strikes — and improved to 4-1 in his past five starts.Sam Hentges, Nick Sandlin and Eli Morgan combined to finish Cleveland’s seventh shutout.Stroman dropped his second straight start after winning seven in a row. The right...

Nelson, Fletcher and McCarthy power the Diamondbacks to a 3-1 win over the Angels

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:22 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Ryne Nelson worked 7 1/3 strong innings and Dominic Fletcher and Jake McCarthy had RBIs as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-1 on Saturday night.The Diamondback scored all their runs against the Angels’ bullpen and clinched first series win since taking two of three against Cleveland in mid-June. Nelson (5-4) was catalyst for Arizona, giving up one run, three hits and one walk while striking out six.On Sunday, the Diamondbacks will go for their first series sweep since taking three games from Detroit on June 9-11.Anthony Rendon hit his second home run of the season for Los Angeles, which has lost four in a row. Shohei Ohtani was hitless in four at-bats and Mike Trout went 0 for 3.Arizona took the lead in the sixth inning against Angels reliever Sam Bachman (1-2), who gave up a leadoff single and hit a batter after replacing Tyler Anderson. Dominic Fletcher hit a ground ball to short that his brother, David, couldn’t field despi...

Espinoza scores late to help Earthquakes tie Galaxy 2-2

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:22 GMT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Cristian Espinoza scored late in the second half to help the San Jose Earthquakes earn a 2-2 draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday night.Espinoza’s ninth goal of the season came when he took a pass from Jackson Yueill and scored in the 81st minute to earn the Earthquakes (7-7-7) a point.The Galaxy (3-9-7) grabbed a 1-0 lead when Raheem Edwards used an assist from Douglas Costa in the 31st minute to score his first goal of the season.Jack Skahan took a pass from Carlos Akapo and scored his first of the season to knot the score in the 42nd minute.LA retook the lead two minutes into the second half on a goal by Preston Judd. Costa and Riqui Puig had assists on Judd’s third netter of the campaign.Jonathan Bond finished with two saves for the Galaxy. Daniel de Sousa Brito saved four shots for the Earthquakes.The Galaxy have a victory and four straight draws in their last five matches. The club record is five straight ties set in May of 2009.Ther...

Bader, Volpe help Yanks beat Cards 6-2 for doubleheader split after losing opener 11-4

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:22 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Harrison Bader got a 30-second standing ovation in his return to St. Louis.“I put a lot of years in here. The love and appreciation for that, that’s why I do it,” Bader said after helping the New York Yankees beat the Cardinals 6-2 Saturday night. Bader played in St. Louis for the first time since the Yankees acquired him at last year’s trade deadline in a deal for left-hander Jordan Montgomery.A crowd favorite who made his big league debut with the Cardinals in 2017, Bader spent Friday visiting children at Cardinals Glennon Hospital. He went 0 for 3, hitting a first-inning sacrifice fly,“That was amazing,” he said. “I tried to keep my emotions in check, tried to reserve as much emotion as possible and just focus on going out there and just playing the game.”St. Louis won the rain-interrupted opener 11-4 behind Paul Goldschmidt’s go-ahead, three-run homer off Luis Severino in a five-run third. Jack Flaherty pitched six shutout innings, Goldschmidt had fo...