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Austin Wells’ college coach Jay Johnson expects another MLB success story: ‘The best hitter on the field’

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:46 GMT

HOUSTON — When the coronavirus outbreak shut down the college baseball season, and everything else in 2020, a scary thought crossed Jay Johnson’s mind.“The world is ending,” Johnson, then the head coach at Arizona, told the Daily News. “COVID happens, they canceled the College World Series, and my first thought was, ‘Austin Wells ain’t gonna be on my team anymore.’”Indeed, Wells’ sophomore season with the Wildcats lasted just 15 games. The Yankees’ first-round pick in 2020, Wells saw his playing career at Arizona end with the start of the pandemic.Johnson, now running the show at LSU, lamented the loss of one of his favorite pupils.“He’s one of the best players that I’ve ever recruited and coached, and [that includes] a lot of guys in the major leagues right now,” Johnson said. “So that tells you what I think of Austin.”There’s quite a bit of talent on Johnson’s resume. ...

Chicago Cubs call up prospects Alexander Canario and Shane Greene as rosters expand

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:46 GMT

The Chicago Cubs are bringing up one of their top hitting prospects with rosters expanding Friday.Before Friday’s doubleheader against the Reds, the Cubs called up outfielder Alexander Canario and right-handed Shane Greene from Triple-A Iowa.Canario was scorching in August, producing a 305/.356/.632 slash line with seven home runs and 10 doubles in 23 games. He returned in June from a devastating freak injury from hitting first base while playing winter ball that required surgery to repair a fractured left ankle and separated left shoulder.Canario, 23, was acquired from the San Francisco Giants at the 2021 trade deadline for Kris Bryant. He is ranked the Cubs’ No. 14 prospect by MLB.com and Baseball America.Greene took one of the two open 40-man roster spots. Greene, 34, appeared in two big-league games in 2022 with the Dodgers and Yankees.Greene owned a 2.16 ERA in five starts with Iowa where he walked nine and struck out 20 in 16 2/3 innings. ()

Ohio police release video showing officers’ fatal shooting of pregnant Black woman Ta’Kiya Young

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:46 GMT

By SAMANTHA HENDRICKSON (Associated Press/Report For America)COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio authorities on Friday released bodycam video showing police officers fatally shooting Ta’Kiya Young in her car in what her family denounced as a “gross misuse of power and authority” against the young pregnant Black woman.The 21-year-old from Columbus was pronounced dead shortly after the Aug. 24 shooting outside a grocery store in the suburb of Blendon Township. Her unborn daughter did not survive.The footage, which comes more than a week after her death, shows another officer at the driver’s side window, repeatedly demanding that Young “get out of the car.”The officer by her window tells Young she had been accused of theft. She protests, and he repeats his demand that she get out of the car. She turns the steering wheel to her right and accelerates toward the officer standing in front of it. The officer in front of the vehicle fires through the windshie...

What you should know before visiting California State Parks Labor Day weekend

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:46 GMT

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (KSWB) -- Labor Day weekend has arrived with many setting their sights on outdoor adventures at California State Parks. Park officials say they are excited to welcome nature enthusiasts to the state’s diverse landscapes of trails, beaches, lakes, mountains and deserts. There's just one thing they wanted to encourage ahead of long-weekend festivities -- safety.“This Labor Day weekend, make the most of your outdoor adventures by putting safety first,” stated California State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “By adhering to responsible recreation practices, safety and leveraging innovative tools, you can create unforgettable memories while preserving the natural beauty of California's state parks.” Exploring California State Parks just got easier — it’s as simple as three words The department is offering up safety tips to parkgoers as well as things to know before you go. Plan and preparePark officials say it's best to check for any current park updates, trail closu...

CRA fires 120 employees for claiming CERB benefits while still working

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:46 GMT

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) says dozens of its employees have been fired after they claimed pandemic benefits while still working.In a statement put out Friday, the CRA reports that 120 people are no longer employed after an internal review found they inappropriately claimed the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).The agency began a case by case investigation at the end of June after noting 20 employees had been let go at the time due to reviews.“Out of the approximately 600 cases we can report that 120 individuals are no longer with the (CRA) as a result of this internal review,” reads a statement providing an update on the investigation. “The investigations and disciplinary processes continue.”The statement says police could be notified for certain cases if further investigation reveals an element of criminality.The CRA notes the 120 employees will all need to repay the amounts claimed if they haven’t already.Related:More than 1,000 Canadians...

Juri Vips gets 2nd chance in racing after use of racial slur nearly ended his career

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:46 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing knew its latest driver would be controversial, so much so that the social media manager turned off the ability to comment on posts announcing the hiring.Juri Vips, a 23-year-old from Estonia, will make his IndyCar debut this Sunday at Portland International Raceway and finish the season in the No. 30 Honda for RLL. He will also race next week’s finale in Monterey, California.Vips has been out of racing since June 2022 for using a racial slur while playing an online racing game with live viewers. He was a Formula One test driver and in the Red Bull system at the time, but was fired after an investigation.The transgression didn’t scare off Bobby Rahal, who tested Vips at Sebring last year, at Barber earlier this season, and has used him for simulator work for RLL.“It’s no secret that he made a mistake and paid a huge price,” Rahal said after announcing Vips’ hiring. “But people in Europe who I knew were very,...

Mom’s recipes at the heart of popular dumpling restaurant in Toronto’s Chinatown

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:46 GMT

Mother’s Dumplings, a family-owned restaurant located on Spadina Avenue in Toronto’s Chinatown, is known for its homemade dishes.Husband and wife duo, Zhen Feng and Richard Stuart, first opened the restaurant in 2005 on Huron Street, in a basement that housed a few tables.As it grew in popularity and rent increased, the owners decided to change spots to their current location.“[My wife] wanted to do a restaurant, and my statement was ‘no way, you don’t know what you’re doing, you don’t know what you’re getting into, over my dead body,’ and I’m still alive. So she won,” says Richard.Mother’s Dumplings on Spadina Avenue in Toronto’s Chinatown. CITYNEWSZhen used her mother’s homemade recipes from China to craft the perfect dumplings and dishes and named her restaurant Mother’s Dumplings in her honour.“When I was a teenager, I didn’t go out. I didn’t like to go out, hang around, p...

More than 85,000 highchairs are under recall after two dozen reports of falls

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:46 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — More than 85,000 highchairs sold at major retailers across North America are being recalled l over a fall hazard after a handful of injuries were reported, according to federal regulators.Toy and nursey product company TOMY International Inc. is recalling about 83,000 of its Boon Flair and Flair Elite Highchairs sold in the U.S. — and another 2,850 in Canada, the Oak Brook, Illinois-based distributor and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.According to this week’s recall notice, the bolts securing the seat of the now-recalled highchairs can loosen and allow the seat to detach from its pedestal. TOMY has received 34 reports of the chair separating from the base to date, the CPSC said Thursday, including two dozen falls that resulted in 11 injuries like bruising or scratches.The highchairs under recall were sold in-person and online through retailers like Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, Toys ‘R’ Us, Amazon and Walmart, TOMY and the CPSC said. The “Fla...

Online News Act could see Google, Meta pay combined $234 million to Canadian media

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:46 GMT

OTTAWA — The federal government has put a price tag on how much it would like to see Google and Facebook spend under an act requiring the tech giants to compensate media for news articles.Federal officials estimate Google would need to offer $172 million and Facebook $62 million in compensation to satisfy criteria they’re proposing be used to give exemptions under the Online News Act.The criteria listed as part of a draft set of regulations would allow compensation provided by tech giants to be both monetary and non-monetary.While the guidelines do not specify what non-monetary contributions would count, officials say training and advertising could wind up meeting the criteria.The draft regulations laying out the implementation of the law are subject to public consultation.However, in anticipation of the regulations Meta has already stripped Canadian news from its Facebook and Instagram platforms, while Google has made similar threats they’ve yet to act on.This report by...

Things to know about the latest court and policy action on transgender issues in the US

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:46 GMT

On Friday, Texas became the most populous state with a ban in effect against gender-affirming care for minors.The law was allowed to kick in after a court ruling on Thursday, part of a flurry of action across the country on policies aimed at transgender people and their rights. A separate Texas ruling blocked a law that drag show performers feared would shut them down.Here’s a look at the latest developments and what’s next.TEXAS GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE BAN TAKES EFFECTIn its ruling Thursday, the Texas Supreme Court allowed a law banning gender-affirming care including puberty blockers, hormones and surgery for minors.The ruling is not final, but allows enforcement of the law while courts determine whether it’s constitutional. The decision is also a reversal of a lower court from the week before, when a state judge had said the law should be put on hold while it’s sorted out.Since 2021, 22 Republican-controlled states have passed laws restricting access to gend...