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5 takeaways from the Chicago Cubs’ 2023 MLB draft, including an offensive power infusion and an intriguing 16th-round arm

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

The Chicago Cubs’ latest draft class is in the books.The organization has until July 25 to sign its 20 picks, led by first-round selection and Maryland shortstop Matt Shaw.“There’s always a chance that there’s some surprises that crop up between now and the signing deadline and potentially a little leakage in certain places,” vice president of scouting Dan Kantrovitz said Tuesday. “But for the most part, I wouldn’t expect the signing process to be too eventful, in a positive way.”1. A balanced but college-heavy class.By the time Kantrovitz and the Cubs completed the 20-round draft Tuesday, 17 of their selections came from the collegiate level.Of the college group, it was a nearly even split with nine pitchers and eight position players (six infielders, one catcher and one outfielder). Kantrovitz said the Cubs didn’t necessarily go into the draft planning for a big emphasis on college players, but he noted their 2023 bonus pool ($...

Sean Casey talks Yankees’ woes, expectations and more during introductory Zoom call

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

Sean Casey made an energetic first impression on Wednesday.The Yankees’ new hitting coach spent about 25 minutes with reporters over Zoom. While doing so, the former first baseman and MLB Network analyst spoke emphatically about hitting, why he’s well-suited for the gig, the Yankees’ offensive struggles, and more. And he did so while sporting what he called the first mustache of his life — a tribute to his childhood idol, Don Mattingly.“The history, the storied franchise, all of the players who’ve had the opportunity to wear the pinstripes; I think it’s a dream for any player in this industry,” Casey said in an opening statement.He went on to say that winning a World Series — and his first-ever ring after 12 seasons in the majors – is “the ultimate goal” before answering questions and talking about his career to this point.CASEY THE CONNECTORCasey said that he’s looking forward to getting to know the Yanke...

Turbulence aboard Allegiant flight injures 2 passengers, 2 flight attendants

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Two passengers and two flight attendants were injured when a plane plunged nearly a mile (1.6 kilometers) during severe turbulence Wednesday while flying from North Carolina to Florida, officials said.The Allegiant flight was traveling from Asheville Regional Airport to St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, where it landed normally and taxied to the gate under its own power, the airline said in a statement. The plane was carrying 179 passengers and six crew members.The Airbus A320 dropped about 5,000 feet (1.5 kilometers), from an elevation of about 18,000 feet (5.5 kilometers) to 13,000 feet (4 kilometers), in less than two minutes, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware.Airport paramedics met the plane to assess the four injured people, Allegiant said. They were taken to a nearby hospital, but officials didn’t immediately provide details about their injuries.Allegiant said it was working with the Federal Aviation Administration ...

A story about a deadly TikTok boat-jumping challenge went viral. Then it fell apart

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

As the July 4 holiday approached, a local news report in Alabama warned of a deadly TikTok challenge that involved jumping from a speeding boat.“Last six months, we have had four drownings that were easily avoidable,” Jim Dennis, captain of the Childersburg Rescue Team, told the local ABC affiliate station in Birmingham, Alabama, in a story that aired July 3.“They were doing a TikTok challenge.”National and international news outlets snapped up the report, cautioning about the trend. But Alabama’s main public safety agency says while there have been boating fatalities this year, no such deaths have been reported.A spokesperson for TikTok also says no boat jumping challenge is trending on its platform.A closer look at the factsFour people attempting a viral TikTok challenge have died jumping from moving boats in Alabama recently.The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, which oversees the state’s public safety agencies, tweeted on Monday to dispel the vi...

Lawyers cast doubt on phone data linking Ali to alleged scene of B.C. teen’s killing

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

VANCOUVER — Lawyers for Ibrahim Ali, who’s accused of murdering a 13-year-old girl in a Burnaby, B.C., park six years ago, have been trying to cast doubt on the reliability of cellphone data suggesting his phone was in the vicinity at the time of the killing.The jury in the British Columbia Supreme Court trial has heard testimony over the past two weeks about cellphones associated with Ali and the girl, who cannot be identified because of a publication ban.Don Calpito, an expert in cellular coverage with Telus Communications, says things like tall buildings or capacity issues might degrade a signal and cause a phone to connect through different cell towers.The jury heard earlier this week from a Bell employee that the number police say belonged to a phone Ali was carrying when he was arrested made calls that were connected through a tower near Central Park on the night the girl was found dead there in July 2017. David Mak, a senior investigator with Rogers Communications, mean...

Prosecutor in Argentina launches investigation into alleged human rights crimes in Venezuela

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — A prosecutor in Argentina has launched an investigation into potential crimes against humanity in Venezuela following a criminal complaint filed by the Clooney Foundation for Justice.Federal prosecutor Carlos Stornelli noted that the complaint pointed to the responsibility of several high-ranking members of the Venezuelan National Guard in human rights abuses during 2014 street protests against the government of President Nicolás Maduro.The move by the foundation set up by actor George Clooney and his wife, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, marks the latest effort to use Argentina’s legal system and the principle of universal jurisdiction to prosecute crimes against humanity committed elsewhere.The foundation chose Argentina to file its complaint because the country’s justice system has already applied the principle of universal jurisdiction to investigate alleged crimes against humanity committed in Spain and Myanmar.The Clooney Foundation for J...

Northern lights might be visible this week, but most of the U.S. won’t see them

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The northern lights could put on a show this week — though the audience will be much smaller than some early forecasts had suggested.The sky spectacle will be fairly typical: Stretches of Canada have a chance to spot the shimmering curtain of the aurora borealis, while a few in the U.S. could see a faint reddish glow on the horizon. Here’s what to know about the updated predictions.WHO CAN SEE THE LIGHTS THIS WEEK?An early forecast by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, using data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, suggested that the northern lights could be visible much farther south than usual this week. But that forecast was based on long-term predictions about the solar activity responsible for the display. Forecasts using more current data from NOAA predict nothing special for the U.S. “For the same reasons that it’s hard to predict weather on Earth, it’s hard to predict weather in space,” said Northeastern Univ...

Interior Department official with key role in Colorado River talks is stepping down

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A senior Interior Department official who has had a key role in negotiations over the shrinking Colorado River plans to step down from the job next week. Tanya Trujillo told the department of her intention to resign as assistant secretary for water and science about six weeks ago and her last day is Monday, she told The Associated Press. Trujillo, who has served in the role since June 2021, said it made sense to leave now as the Biden administration gears up for a reelection campaign. “It’s a normal transition time, either committing to staying to the end of the (presidential) term or leaving before the campaign really gets fired up,” she said. “I am really, really proud and happy about all the accomplishments that we put into place and made.” The Interior Department declined to offer further comment on her departure. Trujillo oversaw the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and played an important role in discussions between the federal government, seven U.S. states and Nat...

A heat wave has baked parts of the Southwest for weeks. Forecasters warn it’s not cooling soon

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Millions of people across the Southwest are living through a historic heat wave, with even the heat-experienced desert city of Phoenix being tested since temperatures have hit 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) for more than a dozen consecutive days.More than 111 million people across the United States were under extreme heat advisories, watches and warnings, The National Weather Service reported Wednesday. Huge swaths of Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California were experiencing temperatures above 90 degrees F (32 C).“To underscore just how expansive this heat is, based off the current forecast approximately 27 million people across the Lower 48 (states) will experience an air temperature or heat index above 110 (degrees F) over the next 7 days,” the National Weather Service said in a separate bulletin. “It is imperative users take action to limit their exposure to the oppressive hot weather as it looks to stick around for the time being.”Forecast...

Messi mania engulfs Miami ahead of Argentine soccer superstar’s arrival

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — A hamburger and drink combination called the Lionel Messi. A huge sketch of the soccer star’s smiling face on a restaurant wall beside a viral meme from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. A beer with a pink label matching the color of the Inter Miami jersey he will wear.Wherever you turn in Miami these days something reminds you of the imminent arrival of the Argentine soccer legend.There is no hiding the euphoria generated by Messi in Miami as he begins the new Major League Soccer phase of his career in one of the most Latino cities in the United States. But his arrival is also bringing a note of sadness as fans know that at age 36 he is nearing the end of his career.Messi announced on June 7 that he will play for Inter Miami in a move that is expected to revitalize soccer in the United States and South Florida with one of the sporting world’s best-known figures. More than 100,000 Argentines live in Miami, which will host World Cup matches in 2026.The seven-time winner of th...