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This simple hack yields the best mashed potatoes

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:06 GMT

By Vaughn Vreeland, The New York TimesMashed potatoes, while buttery and delicious, can also be a little uninspired. To me, they’ve always felt like filler on my Thanksgiving plate — an afterthought, more vehicle for gravy than anything else.I wondered: How could I turn a “just fine” side dish into something more exciting?The answer may be brown butter.In the hopes of discovering my platonic ideal, I started testing reader suggestions accompanying a blueprint recipe from Julia Moskin (at nytcooking.com), playing with potato variety, cooking and mashing methods, and flavors.I had a few essential findings: All cooks think their version is supreme (all were delicious!). How you mash is up to you (one reader suggests finding a teenager “with a strong arm and a good heart who loves hanging out in the kitchen”). And, at the end of the day, you can make just about anything taste good with enough butter and salt.In the end, my favorite version emerged from a 2-year-old Thanksgiving me...

Rosalynn Carter, outspoken former first lady and global humanitarian, dead at 96

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:06 GMT

By BILL BARROW and MICHAEL WARREN, Associated PressATLANTA — Former first lady Rosalynn Carter, the closest adviser to Jimmy Carter during his one term as U.S. president and their four decades thereafter as global humanitarians, has died at the age of 96.The Carter Center said she died Sunday after living with dementia and suffering many months of declining health. The statement announcing her death said she “died peacefully, with family by her side” at 2:10 p.m. at her home in the rural south Georgia community of Plains. It said a schedule of memorial events and funeral preparations would be released later.“Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished,” Carter said in the statement. “She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me.”The Carters were married for more than 77 years, forging what they both described as a “full partnership.” Unlike many previous first lad...

Property tax bill clears Colorado Senate, now heads for House

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:06 GMT

Updated at 1:10 p.m.: The Senate passed the most contentious bill of the session on third reading with a technical amendment this afternoon.SB23B-001 will increase the residential property value deduction for taxes to $55,000 for multifamily and single-family residential properties and decrease the residential assessment rate. It would also widen criteria for local taxing districts that would qualify for full reimbursement of lost property tax dollars because of state cuts to the formula.The amendment that the Senate passed before the third reading vote was a technical one, at the request of the bill drafters. But that didn’t stop Republicans from voting against the amendment — and of course, the bill itself.The bill will now work its way through the House before any final votes.Updated at 11:30 a.m.: Two of the seven Democratic-backed priority bills are headed to Gov. Jared Polis’ desk after the state Senate voted to approve them Sunday morning. HB23B-1002 doubles the e...

Cal football: Bears reveal secret weapon in Big Game victory

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:06 GMT

As it turns out, the Cal Bears carried a little extra “juice” into the 126th Big Game.It was provided by Cal offensive lineman Barrett Miller. Miller, who came to Berkeley last spring after four seasons as a starting offensive lineman at Stanford, gave his Cal teammates some inside information leading up to the Bears’ 27-15 victory Saturday.“Players like Barrett, that have been on the other side . . . they kind of taught us what’s going on over at Stanford, about how they look down upon us,” said Bears running back Jaydn Ott. “So that just fueled us going into this game. Made us want to come out and throw the first punch.”Miller, a fixture at left tackle this fall, certainly has made the full transition from Stanford to Cal.“At Stanford all four years we had a couple big games with Cal but we always played Notre Dame. That’s something we always looked forward to,” said Miller, believed to be the first Stanford player to defect across the Bay. “So it’s like, `Cal or...

49ers-Buccaneers updates: Purdy finds McCaffrey to open scoring

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:06 GMT

The 49ers are facing the Buccaneers in a rematch of Brock Purdy’s first career start last December, except Tampa Bay’s starting quarterback is former No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield, not surefire Hall of Famer Tom Brady.Here are updates from the game:1Q, 3:55 – 49ers 7, Bucs 0: The 49ers didn’t score on their first drive as they have so many times, but they did on the second possession. Christian McCaffrey, one week after his 17-game touchdown streak ended, continued his streak of scoring against Tampa Bay. He snuck through the line and caught a pass in the right flat for a 4-yard touchdown catch that finished off a 12-play, 80-yard drive.Below is our report from before kickoff:SANTA CLARA — There are no surprise scratches from the 49ers’ lineup for today’s game, but intrigue remains at how they’ll approach a couple of positions.At cornerback, keep an eye on who the 49ers deploy at nickel back to cover the Bucs’ slot receiver, ...

California State scientists strike, demand equal pay

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:06 GMT

(BCN) -- Hundreds of scientists working for the state of California to protect water supplies, respond to oil spills, study wildlife and track foodborne outbreaks marched in Sacramento Wednesday in what's being called the first-ever strike by state civil servants. Wednesday was the first day of a three-day "Defiance for Science" rolling strike by more than 4,000 rank-and-file state scientists, who are seeking to close pay gaps with their counterparts in local, federal and other parts of state government. Rosalynn Carter, outspoken former first lady, dead at 96 "This is something that needed to happen. And it's unfortunate that the state put us in this position," recently-elected union president Jacqueline Tkac, 29, a state scientist who works on water quality in the Central Coast, said over the din of chants and rattles. "We want equal pay for equal work."Many of the workers picketing at the headquarters of the California Environmental Protection Agency carried signs reminding Ca...

Who Was Napoleon’s Wife, Joséphine Bonaparte?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:06 GMT

This week, theaters around the country will begin to screen “Napoleon,” a historical drama film based on the story of Napoleon Bonaparte. The film, starring Joaquin Phoenix in the titular role, chronicles Bonaparte’s rise to power and his relationship with Joséphine Bonaparte, his first wife, played by Vanessa Kirby. This week on Deconstructed, author Sandra Gulland joins Ryan Grim to talk about Joséphine Bonaparte and her life during major moments of French history. Gulland has written a series of historical novels based on the life of Joséphine Bonaparte, chronicling her life and rise to become empress. Gulland discusses Joséphine Bonaparte’s time in prison, her positioning within the French Revolution, and her relationship with Napoleon Bonaparte.Transcript coming soon.The post Who Was Napoleon’s Wife, Joséphine Bonaparte? appeared first on The Intercept.

Pack scores 28 against former school, No. 12 Miami tops Kansas State 91-83 for Bahamas title

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:06 GMT

NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Nigel Pack scored 20 of his 28 points in the first half against his former school, and No. 12 Miami topped Kansas State 91-83 on Sunday to win the Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas championship.Norchad Omier scored 23 for the Hurricanes (5-0), who are essentially assured of tying a school record by being in the AP Top 25 for the 17th consecutive week when the new poll comes out Monday. Miami also had a run of 17 consecutive appearances in the 2015-16 season.Wooga Poplar and Matthew Cleveland each scored 15 for Miami.Cam Carter scored 28 points and Arthur Kaluma had 18 points and 12 rebounds for Kansas State (3-2), which fell to 0-2 against ranked opponents this season. The Wildcats started the year with a loss to then-No. 21 USC in Las Vegas.Tylor Perry and David N’Guessan had 10 apiece for Kansas State.The difference was 3-point shooting — Miami was 12 of 24 from beyond the arc, Kansas State just 4 of 28.Pack spent his first two college seasons at Kansas State, av...

Former Maryland town commissioner charged for domestic abuse against 13-year-old son

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:06 GMT

A former town commissioner for Emmitsburg, Maryland, was arrested Friday on charges of abusing his 13-year-old son, according to Frederick County Sheriff’s Office.In an incident report posted by FCSO, police say deputies responded to a domestic violence call on Friday at the home of 47-year-old Joseph Anthony Ritz III on North Seton Ave.Police say that during investigation they observed visible marks on Ritz’s 13-year-old son and found “probable cause” that Ritz had committed assault in the first degree,Emergency medical personnel were called in to examine the child. However, his mother declined to have him transported to the hospital, deputies said.Ritz was taken into custody and charged with first and second-degree assault on Nov. 17.Ritz served as one of Emmitsburg’s commissioners from 2014 until earlier this year. He chose not to run for reelection ahead of the town’s vote in 2023.Emmitsburg is about 30 minutes north of Frederick, close to the...

NFC North-leading Lions rally from 12-point deficit late to beat Bears 31-26 on Montgomery’s TD run

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:06 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — David Montgomery’s go-ahead 1-yard touchdown run with 29 seconds left against his former team lifted the Detroit Lions to a 31-26 comeback victory over Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears on Sunday.The NFC North-leading Lions (8-2) overcame four turnovers, including Jared Goff’s season-high three interceptions, and a 12-point deficit over the last 3:06 to rally for the win.Detroit has its best record through 10 games since 1962, giving the franchise a shot to win a division title for the first time in three decades.The Bears (3-8) blew chances to win consecutive games for the first time in nearly two years.Fields mostly played well in his first game in a month, but slightly overthrew Tyler Scott on a deep pass late in the game. He also fumbled on his last snap when Aidan Hutchinson sacked him and the football went out of the end zone for a safety.Fields, who was out with a dislocated right thumb, threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to DJ Moore late in the third...