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Here’s what’s in the debt ceiling deal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:31 GMT

(CNN) — After several weeks of tense negotiations, President Joe Biden and House Republicans have reached an agreement in principle to raise the debt ceiling and cap spending.The drama is by no means over. Congressional leaders in both parties have to convince enough of their members to vote for the agreement, which contains provisions that lawmakers on each side of the aisle don’t support.Not all the details of the agreement are available yet. And the information made public Saturday evening shows some discrepancies. The bill text is scheduled to be released on Sunday.Here’s what we know about the deal, based on a fact sheet circulated by House Republicans and a source familiar with the negotiations.Raises the debt ceiling: The agreement would increase the debt limit for two years.Caps non-defense spending: Under the deal, non-defense spending would remain relatively flat in fiscal 2024 and increase by 1% in fiscal 2025, after certain unspecified adjustments to appropriat...

Kelly strikes out 10 in Diamondbacks’ 4-2 win over Red Sox

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:31 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Merrill Kelly struck out 10 while pitching effectively into the seventh inning and Corbin Carroll hit a two-run homer, helping the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Boston Red Sox 4-2 on Sunday.Carroll hit a two-run homer off Tanner Houck (3-4) in the first. Geraldo Perdomo added a solo shot in the second to stake Kelly to a 4-0 lead.Kelly (6-3) matched a career high by striking out six batters looking, one short of the Diamondbacks’ record. He allowed a run and four hits in 6 1/3 innings.Justin Turner hit a solo homer for Boston in the eighth inning against Kyle Nelson, but Miguel Castro worked around an infield single in the ninth for his fifth save in six chances.Arizona had three hits in a 2-1 loss to Boston on Saturday night, but it got to Houck right at the start.Ketel Marte hit a hard single to extend his on-base streak to 27 games — tied for third-longest in Arizona history — in the first inning and Carroll followed with his eighth homer. Josh Rojas added a ...

Paul Walker honored by brother Cody who names newborn son after the ‘Fast & Furious’ star

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:31 GMT

(CNN) — It’s been nearly 10 years since Paul Walker died tragically at the age of 40 in a car accident, but his brother Cody is keeping the late actor’s memory alive.As seen in People, Cody Walker and his wife Felicia have named their newborn son Paul, in tribute to the fallen “Fast & Furious” star. Paul Barrett (“Bear”) Walker was born late last month.“This November will mark 10 years since we lost my brother, Paul, and I just felt now was the appropriate time,” Cody Walker told the publication.“My brother, Paul, was Paul William Walker IV and that name goes back four generations,” he continued. “Within the family, he went by ‘little Paul’ or ‘Paul 4,’ even though he quickly outgrew our father in height. It was important to me to have that name carry on.”CNN has reached out to representatives of Cody Walker for confirmation.Paul Walker died in late November 2013, while “Furious 7” was still in production. After a production hiatus, filming continue...

3-alarm fire at Everett warehouse is under investigation: State Fire Marshal’s Office

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:31 GMT

An early morning blaze at an Everett warehouse is under investigation by local and state fire officials, according to the State Fire Marshal’s Office.Everett firefighters responded to the fire at 152 Beacham St., at around 5 a.m. on Sunday.“It went to three alarms and the cause is under investigation by Everett FD and State Police assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s office,” a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services said in a statement Sunday afternoon.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Hull officials receiving heat for extending voting hours due to massive fire; judge says election not valid Crime & Public Safety | Fire at New Zealand hostel kills at least 6 people, officials say Crime & Public Safety | Massachusetts faces elevated fire weather conditions, Lynn firefighters battle brush fire in Lynn Woods Crime & Public Safety | Quincy restoring ladder tru...

What’s in the deal: 2-year debt limit lift; veterans health care protected 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:31 GMT

WASHINGTON — President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have reached an agreement in principle on legislation to increase the nation’s borrowing authority and avoid a federal default.While the text of the legislation is still being written, a few general details have emerged. Here’s a look at what’s in and out of the deal, based on what’s known so far:TWO-YEAR DEBT INCREASEThe agreement would keep nondefense spending roughly flat in the 2024 fiscal year and increase it by 1% the following year, as well as provide for a two-year debt-limit increase — past the next presidential election in 2024. That’s according to a source familiar with the deal who provided details on the condition of anonymity.VETERANS CAREThe agreement would fully fund medical care for veterans at the levels included in Biden’s proposed 2024 budget blueprint, including a fund dedicated to veterans who have been exposed to toxic substances or environmental hazards. Biden sought $...

Mass. congressional delegation quiet after Biden-McCarthy debt deal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:31 GMT

Mum’s the word among Bay State democrats.After railing against inaction on the part of conservative colleagues as Congress moved to recess ahead of the holiday weekend, a collective diatribe which continued at home and on social media through Friday and Saturday, the state’s congressional delegation grew oddly quiet the day after news spread that President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy had struck a deal to avoid a national default.FACT CHECK: MAGA right-wing extremists are pushing phony “facts” to demonize people living in poverty. So let’s set the record straight. SNAP helps veterans, seniors, kids, and other vulnerable adults afford food. The average benefit is a measly $6 per person, per day.— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) May 27, 2023Ahead of the “agreement in principle” negotiated between the White House and Speaker’s Office, most of the state’s congressional representatives and senators were loudly calling on Republicans to move on from their dema...

Eloy Jiménez returns, but the Chicago White Sox suffer another tough loss, falling 6-5 in 10 innings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:31 GMT

Eloy Jiménez had a message for Chicago White Sox manager Pedro Grifol.“He texted me when he had the surgery: ‘I’ll be back soon,’” Grifol said Sunday.Jiménez underwent an appendectomy May 6 in Cincinnati. He returned Sunday and helped put the Sox in position to split their four-game series against the Detroit Tigers.Jiménez was a key figure during a four-run seventh, driving in two with a double and scoring a run to give the Sox the lead.But the Tigers tied it in the ninth and won it an inning later as Spencer Torkelson scored on a Eric Haase’s sacrifice fly to center to hand the Sox a tough 6-5 loss in front of 22,644 at Comerica Park.The Sox couldn’t hold a late lead for the second consecutive game and lost three of four in the series.“Tough game,” Grifol said. “We did a great job hanging in there the last two games. We felt we had the right matchups out there and we did some good things, just didn’t ...

Biden and McCarthy reach a final deal to avoid US default and now must sell it to Congress

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:31 GMT

By LISA MASCARO, MARY CLARE JALONICK, FARNOUSH AMIRI and MICHELLE L. PRICE (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — With days to spare before a potential first-ever government default, President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reached final agreement Sunday on a deal to raise the nation’s debt ceiling and worked to ensure enough Republican and Democratic votes to pass the measure in the coming week.The Democratic president and Republican speaker spoke with each other Sunday evening as negotiators rushed to draft and post the 99-page bill text so lawmakers can review compromises that neither the hard-right or left flank is likely to support. Instead, the leaders are working to gather backing from the political middle as Congress hurries toward votes before a June 5 deadline to avert a damaging federal default.“Good news,” Biden declared Sunday evening at the White House.“The agreement prevents the worst possible crisis, a default, for the first tim...

Red Sox end sluggish west coast swing with 4-2 loss to Diamondbacks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:31 GMT

It certainly wasn’t a game for the history books, that’s for sure.Frankly, the same could be said about this west coast trip as a whole.As has often been the case throughout the nine-game road swing, the Red Sox left their offense at the team hotel on Sunday, wrapping up the trip with an uninspiring 4-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.Merrill Kelly, a late-bloomer who has become one of baseball’s most productive pitchers in his mid-30s, kept the Red Sox guessing all night. The 34-year-old Arizona starter tallied 10 strikeouts, six of them looking, while allowing one run on four hits over 6.1 strong innings of work.Red Sox manager Alex Cora offered high praise for Kelly afterwards.“He can pitch, and in an era where people talk about overpowering stuff and all that, his command is perfect,” Cora said. “Similar to back in the day like (Greg) Maddux, he could put it wherever he wanted to.”The only real opportunities the Red Sox got came once Ke...

Debt ceiling catastrophe potentially averted after WH, Republicans reach deal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:31 GMT

A proposed deal on the nation’s debt ceiling struck Saturday night between negotiators with the House GOP and the White House reverberated on Capitol Hill Sunday, with conservative Republicans calling it ‘insanity’ but both President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy confident the plan will pass.The “agreement in principle,” as it was described, comes just days before the nation was due to run out of money and fail to meet its debts and obligations, according to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who last week updated the so-called X-date for default to June 5.Negotiators worked at a feverish pace after lawmakers went home early for the holiday, announcing the deal, the text of which is still being drafted, after 9 p.m. Saturday.“At the end of the day, people can look together to be able to pass this,” said McCarthy in comments Sunday.“I think we’re in good shape,” Biden later said, projecting perhaps optimistic confidence the deal might make it to his desk on time.No...