Author: Reporter

Japan is giving the United States 250 new cherry trees to help replace the hundreds that are being ripped out this summer as construction crews work to repair the crumbling seawall around the capital’s Tidal Basin. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made the announcement as President Joe Biden welcomed him to the White House on April 10 for an official visit and state dinner. Biden said the gift is meant to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. in 2026, adding, “Like our friendship, these trees are timeless, inspiring, and thriving.” In 1912, first lady Helen Herron Taft and...

N.C. State’s Jannah Eissa and UC Irvine’s Diaba Konate are bringing visibility and inspiration to some Muslim women by wearing hjiabs while they play basketball. They were not the first women to do it in NCAA Tournament play, but with record viewership and attendance they certainly got noticed. “Representation really matters,” said Konate, whose team lost in the first round of the tournament to Gonzaga. “Just having people, young Muslim women wearing the hijab, we’re not there yet. Just seeing us play, I think it makes me really happy because I used to have people that I was looking...

Muslims around the world will bid farewell to the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and start celebrating the holiday of Eid al-Fitr. Eid is marked with congregational prayers and festivities that typically include family visits, gatherings, and new clothes. This year, Eid will come just after the Israel-Hamas war crosses the somber milestone of having stretched on for half a year. During Ramadan, as Muslims around the world savored the traditions of their diverse communities, advocacy, prayers, and charity for Palestinians in Gaza were high on the minds of many. What is Eid al-Fitr? It’s an Islamic holiday marking...

Bob Uecker received a hearty ovation from fans chanting “Ueck” when the legendary broadcaster appeared on the American Family Field video board early in the Milwaukee Brewers’ home opener on April 2. Brewers fans do not know how many more times they will get to continue cheering the presence of “Mr. Baseball.” Uecker was back at the ballpark handling play-by-play on the radio broadcast of Milwaukee’s game with the Minnesota Twins as team officials remained circumspect about the 90-year-old’s workload for the rest of the year. This will be Uecker’s 54th season broadcasting Brewers baseball, though he has limited...