Latest news with #Spurgeon
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Wichita historian says first American pope brings unique qualities
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Chicago-born Robert Prevost was introduced to the crowd in Vatican City as Pope Leo XIV. He is also a citizen of Peru and lived there for years, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop. He was a strong candidate to head the Catholic Church despite a long-standing taboo against a U.S. pope. KSN sat down with a historian in Wichita, who said he was shocked that a man, originally from Chicago, was selected as the leader of the Catholic Church. Wichita-based historian Ken Spurgeon calls this a day millions of Catholics won't soon forget. He said Pope Leo XIV has unique qualities that make him an interesting and promising selection. White smoke billowed, and cheers echoed, as an American cardinal was named pope for the first time in history. Local Catholics express hope, joy over Pope Leo XIV's election 'You think about 2,000 years, and there's never been an American, and here we are, 267 popes, and finally an American,' Spurgeon said. Spurgeon said Pope Leo XIV was not a frontrunner, but a healthy relationship with the late Pope Francis could have played a role. He said that even in tense times across the globe and with divided views of America, this move could be therapeutic. 'It's kind of an interesting time for an American to be chosen, sort of world spokesperson. Maybe time will tell on that,' Spurgeon said. 'It could be a wonderful thing, and it could be a great, even healing thing. I think it is great.' He believes picking the name, meaning lion, could play off the longevity and good feelings of Pope Leo XIII, as the pope, during an unheard-of quarter-century run, from 1878 to 1903. 'Is he selecting it because of the name or because of the history and legacy of Leo XIII? I mean, either would be great and interesting,' Spurgeon said. Pope Leo XIV has a backstory that Spurgeon said could make him the perfect fit. 'Thirty-something years working in South America and Peru, that's unique. I mean it's unique to have him be American, from Chicago, but it's unique to have someone who has spent 30 years in the mission field,' said Spurgeon. Spurgeon expects Pope Leo XIV to be very similar to Pope Francis. He thinks he will be more moderate and centrist. Spurgeon also believes Pope Leo XIV could be someone who can reach people from all walks of life. Time will tell the legacy of the first-ever American elected pope. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Minnesota Wild notes: Jared Spurgeon's scary injury, Zeev Buium's arrival
The Wild's disappointing loss to the Calgary Flames on Friday night included a scary moment for their captain and longest-tenured player. Veteran defenseman Jared Spurgeon took a puck to the throat early in the second period and lost his breath, which caused him to panic a little bit and get light-headed. He was looking around and asking for help, and the nearest player was Calgary's Yegor Sharangovich. 'Yeah, it was sort of serious,' Sharangovich said, via The Athletic's Michael Russo. "I was not understanding what he was saying to me. I thinks it's my English. … I feel bad because I should help him. He (held) me and the referee helped him after." Eventually, a ref did assist Spurgeon in getting to the bench, where the Wild's athletic trainers grabbed him and took him to get evaluated. Spurgeon missed the rest of the second period. He was able to return in the third period but did not end up finishing the game. Head coach John Hynes said Spurgeon was doing better after the game, and the Wild hope he's good to go for Saturday's game against the Canucks. "It's always scary" when a player takes a puck to that area, Marcus Foligno said. Had the Wild won on Friday, they would've clinched a playoff berth. Now they've still got a bit of work to do over their last two games. The Wild will get a boost in their regular season finale with the expected debut of defenseman Zeev Buium, their top prospect whose historic collegiate career just ended with Denver's double-overtime loss to Western Michigan in the national semifinals on Thursday. Buium is heading to Minnesota on Saturday. He'll likely practice with the team for the first time on Monday and will be set up for his NHL debut in Tuesday's game against the Ducks at Xcel Energy Center. Buium played an absurd 51:41 during the Pioneers' loss to WMU. He's a special talent who scored 98 points in 83 games in two seasons with Denver, the most by a defenseman under 20 years old in the last 45 years. The 12th overall pick in the 2024 NHL draft, Buium is a 19-year-old with a chance to be a franchise-altering player for the Wild moving forward. He also has a chance to be a legitimate difference-maker in the playoffs this year, even though he'll have just one regular season game under his belt.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Yahoo
Cannon chopped into pieces, believed to have ties to President Roosevelt
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A convicted felon was arrested, accused of stealing a Spanish-American War Cannon from Wichita's Riverside Park. A representative with the City of Wichita said the cannon was recovered and chopped into pieces, but the city's park and recreation department has yet to lay eyes on the cannon. The Wichita Police Department is withholding the pieces of the cannon as evidence until the case is presented to the district attorney. KSN's Derek Lytle spoke to a local historian, who said the cannon is irreplaceable. A piece of world history, a hidden gem in Wichita's backyard. 'It's almost unbelievable Wichita had it. 'That's the kind of thing you can't replace,' said Friends University History Professor Ken Spurgeon. Spurgeon, a historian and filmmaker for 30 years, said a veteran from Wichita may have served with President Theodore Roosevelt when the cannon was apprehended. He believes that's why it could have been awarded to the city. 'It would've been captured by the first US volunteer cavalry under the command of Theodore Roosevelt, on July First, 1898, at the battle of San Juan Hill, so this is captured cannon, made in Spain, makes it extremely rare,' said Spurgeon. The county historical museum said the cannon's rarity is the reason it was hidden in park buildings in 1942, so it was not sent with the city's three others to be turned into modern guns to aid the WWII effort. 'It's one of a kind in many ways, it's priceless, it's also become a part of our community,' said Spurgeon. Spurgeon, taken aback by the news of its damage, knows the city may lose a gem. 'Speaks to the rarity of it, Derek, between you and me, that may be the only one surviving today, or maybe there's 20, but if we find out, that's the only one, and it got destroyed in the last 24 hours, that's sickening,' said Spurgeon. Spurgeon shares, this story has sparked his interest to drive deeper into this cannon's history. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
College housing plan expected to be refused
Plans by a college to build 54 homes on a disused playing field are expected to be rejected. East Durham College wants to build the homes on an old running track at Willerby Drive in Peterlee, but a planning officer from Durham County Council has recommended the projected be refused permission. George Spurgeon pointed out a number of problems with the scheme and said it would result in a loss of playing fields in the area. However, Easington MP Grahame Morris has supported the application because it would bring the land back into use. He said the plans would "repurpose a neglected area and generate revenues to enable the college to continue to deliver high-quality academic and sports provision, as well as much-needed housing". The site was last used as a playing field in 2019, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. In its planning statement the college said the field was overgrown and it had no "surplus funds or intention" to reuse it as a playing pitch. In his recommendation to the council, Mr Spurgeon said the proposed development would lead to the loss of about two hectares (7.4 acres) of playing fields and the application did not show a surplus of such facilities in the area. Sport England objected to the plans for the same reason. Mr Spurgeon said the development was of a "poor design" when assessed against the council's County Durham Plan Building for Life Supplementary Planning Document. He said it "would not be possible for an appropriate layout for something numerically close to 54 dwellings" to be built while adhering to the guidelines. The plans would also require prominent trees to be cut down and the development would cause significant harm to biodiversity in the area, Mr Spurgeon said. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@ College in £10m expansion plan East Durham College Durham County Council
BBC News
10-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
East Durham College housing plans expected to be refused
Plans by a college to build 54 homes on a disused playing field are expected to be Durham College wants to build the homes on an old running track at Willerby Drive in Peterlee, but a planning officer from Durham County Council has recommended the projected be refused Spurgeon pointed out a number of problems with the scheme and said it would result in a loss of playing fields in the Easington MP Grahame Morris has supported the application because it would bring the land back into use. He said the plans would "repurpose a neglected area and generate revenues to enable the college to continue to deliver high-quality academic and sports provision, as well as much-needed housing". 'Poor design' The site was last used as a playing field in 2019, according to the Local Democracy Reporting its planning statement the college said the field was overgrown and it had no "surplus funds or intention" to reuse it as a playing his recommendation to the council, Mr Spurgeon said the proposed development would lead to the loss of about two hectares (7.4 acres) of playing fields and the application did not show a surplus of such facilities in the England objected to the plans for the same Spurgeon said the development was of a "poor design" when assessed against the council's County Durham Plan Building for Life Supplementary Planning said it "would not be possible for an appropriate layout for something numerically close to 54 dwellings" to be built while adhering to the plans would also require prominent trees to be cut down and the development would cause significant harm to biodiversity in the area, Mr Spurgeon said.
