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A ‘hard time’ from manager David Ross ignited a big day for Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:17 GMT

Dansby Swanson wouldn’t reveal what manager David Ross said to him Sunday before the Chicago Cubs shortstop hit his first Cactus League home run.But we can probably make an educated guess based on Swanson’s .081 spring average going into the final game and Ross’ penchant for spraying sarcasm to all fields.“‘Rossy’ gave me a hard time today, so it kind of got me going,” Swanson said after the 5-0 win over the Kansas City Royals. “It felt great obviously. Starting to feel like you’re getting right on track for the start of the season is a big deal, so I’m just excited I felt like I contributed a little bit.”What did Ross say?“I can’t share that,” Swanson said.Ross gave Swanson a bear hug as the shortstop returned to the dugout in the third inning, squeezing him like a son on graduation day. Swanson’s opposite-field home run on a 1-for-3 afternoon left him with four hits in 40 spring at-bats, an e...

Red Sox Notebook: Chris Sale completes healthy spring training, rookies make roster

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:17 GMT

Chris Sale made his final start of spring training, going five innings in Sunday’s 7-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins.The lefty, who turns 34 on Opening Day, allowed two earned runs on five hits, walked two, and struck out three.But those numbers don’t matter at all, and not just because these games don’t count.Christopher Allen Sale made it through an entire spring training without missing any time due to injury or illness. And now, the seven-time All-Star gets to be on the Opening Day roster for the first time since 2019. Since then, he’s undergone and rehabbed from Tommy John surgery, suffered rib, pinky, and wrist fractures, and had coronavirus multiple times. He also lived through Hurricane Ian, which devastated his home state of Florida last September.For months, Sale has spoken of gratitude, joy, and perspective. He’s just happy to be here, really, truly here, for the first time in years.The fiery southpaw will start the second game of the season, a...

Protests erupt after Netanyahu fires defense chief

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:17 GMT

JERUSALEM — Tens of thousands of Israelis poured into the streets of cities across the country on Sunday night in a spontaneous outburst of anger after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu abruptly fired his defense minister for challenging the Israeli leader’s judicial overhaul plan.Protesters in Tel Aviv blocked a main highway and lit large bonfires, while police scuffled with protesters who gathered outside Netanyahu’s private home in Jerusalem.The unrest deepened a monthslong crisis over Netanyahu’s plan to overhaul the judiciary, which has sparked mass protests, alarmed business leaders and former security chiefs and drawn concern from the United States and other close allies.Netanyahu’s dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant signaled that the prime minister and his allies will barrel ahead this week with the overhaul plan. Gallant had been the first senior member of the ruling Likud party to speak out against it, saying the deep divisions were threaten...

Art or porn? Italians invite Floridians to see for themselves

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:17 GMT

ROME — The Florence museum housing Michelangelo’s Renaissance masterpiece the David on Sunday invited parents and students from a Florida charter school to visit after complaints about a lesson featuring the statue forced the principal to resign.Florence Mayor Dario Nardella also tweeted an invitation for the principal to visit so he can personally honor her. Confusing art with pornography was “ridiculous,” Nardella said.The board of the Tallahassee Classical School pressured Principal Hope Carrasquilla to resign last week after an image of the David was show to a sixth-grade art class. The school has a policy requiring parents to be notified in advance about “controversial” topics being taught.The incredulous Italian response highlighted how the U.S. culture wars are often perceived in Europe, where despite a rise in right-wing sentiment and governance, the Renaissance and its masterpieces, even its naked ones, are generally free of controversy. Sunday...

Investigators find origin, not cause of Scituate blaze

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:17 GMT

Investigators have narrowed down the origin of the catastrophic fire that destroyed five seaside Scituate homes Friday, a state fire spokesperson said Sunday, though the cause is still unknown.“Preliminary evidence suggests that the fire started in the area of 72 Glades St. and spread from there,” said Department of Fire Services spokesperson Jake Ward. “Investigators returned to the scene (Saturday) with heavy machinery to assist in examining the scene.”Investigators from the Scituate Fire Department, Scituate Police and State Fire Marshal’s office jumped in to investigate the catastrophic fire early Saturday after the blaze consumed five seaside homes along Minot Beach and damaged three more through Friday night.Firefighters initially responded to the blaze along Glades Road in Scituate after 8 p.m. Friday, the Scituate Fire Department reported previously, and the two-alarm fire quickly elevated to a five-alarm.Sixty firefighters from Scituate, Duxbury, Kin...

Mass protests erupt after Netanyahu fires defense chief

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:17 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Tens of thousands of Israelis poured into the streets of cities across the country on Sunday night in a spontaneous outburst of anger after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu abruptly fired his defense minister for challenging the Israeli leader’s judicial overhaul plan.Protesters in Tel Aviv blocked a main highway and lit large bonfires, while police scuffled with protesters who gathered outside Netanyahu’s private home in Jerusalem.The unrest deepened a monthslong crisis over Netanyahu’s plan to overhaul the judiciary, which has sparked mass protests, alarmed business leaders and former security chiefs and drawn concern from the United States and other close allies.Netanyahu’s dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant signaled that the prime minister and his allies will barrel ahead this week with the overhaul plan. Gallant had been the first senior member of the ruling Likud party to speak out against it, saying the deep divisions were thr...

South Korea says North Korea test-fired another missile

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:17 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s military says it detected North Korea firing at least one ballistic missile toward the sea off its eastern coast, adding to a recent flurry in weapons tests as the United States steps up its military exercises with the South to counter the North’s growing threat. Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff on Monday didn’t immediately say how far the missile flew or where it landed. Japan’s coast guard said in a statement that the missile is believed to have already landed. The launch was the North’s seventh missile event this month as it steps up its military demonstrations in a tit-for-tat response to U.S.-South Korea military exercises. The allies last week completed an 11-day exercise that included their biggest field training in years, but North Korea is expected to further step up its testing activity as the United States reportedly plans to send an aircraft carrier in coming days for another round of joint drills with the South.North Korea has fired ...

Proximity: New Lyric opera grapples with gun violence in Chicago 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:17 GMT

CHICAGO — A new production at the Lyric Opera explores the impact of gun violence in Chicago based on the real stories of people who are working for peace.'Proximity,' premiering at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, is three new operas weaved together against the backdrop of an immersive curved video wall.“The core of these stories and the title ‘Proximity’ ties it all together is a connection and is understanding things that are outside yourself,” Opera singer Zoie Reams said.Zoie Reams is a Mezzo Soprano who grew up on the city’s South Side.The leading piece of the production ‘The Walkers,’ tackles the issue of gun violence in Chicago.Acclaimed actress and playwright Anna Deavere Smith wrote the Libretto for ‘The Walkers.’ She says she dedicates it to the people she calls ‘The Walkers.’“The people who will walk with individuals who are in a possible transformation and not give up on them. And so that's very hopeful, and it's also very beautiful,” Deavere said.Using her pioneering d...

Passenger detained at LAX after opening plane's emergency exit, deploying slide: police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:17 GMT

(KTLA) - A passenger was detained at Los Angeles International Airport Saturday morning after they allegedly opened the emergency exit door as their plane was preparing for takeoff.The unidentified person allegedly opened the exit door as the Delta aircraft was being pushed away from the gate, which caused the emergency slide to deploy, Capt. Karla Rodriguez of the Los Angeles Airport Police told Nexstar's KTLA in a statement. "Airport Police responded and detained the passenger for further investigation. Due to the circumstances, FBI has been notified," Rodriguez added. You can bring alcohol on a flight, but can you drink it? After the door was opened, the plane returned to the gate, and the other passengers were able to board another plane and continue their flight to Seattle. Earlier this month, a Massachusetts man was charged for allegedly trying to open an emergency exit door and attempting to stab a flight attendant multiple times. The Federal Aviation Administration invest...

Daniel Radcliffe, longtime partner Erin Darke expecting their first child together: reports

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:17 GMT

(WJW) — For people who grew up watching Daniel Radcliffe as the main character in the "Harry Potter" films, it can be hard to think of him as a full-blown adult. But the British actor, now 33, is not only continuing to embody beloved characters (as seen in the recent "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story") but has just announced he's going to be a new dad. Radcliffe's representative confirmed to People and CNN that he and longtime partner Erin Darke, 38, are expecting their first child together. Lindsay Lohan, others hit with SEC charges for endorsing cryptocurrencies Darke, an actress from Michigan, has appeared in multiple television series, including "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," "Miracle Workers," and "Moonshine," according to her IMDb page.The pair met playing love interests in the 2013 film "Kill Your Darlings" and have since acted in multiple productions together. Radcliffe previously told the outlet he and Darke are very happy together. Last year, Radcliffe told Newsweek that whil...