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Signing day: Georgia has top class after 5-star flip; Ohio State sigh of relief on No. 1 player

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:50 GMT

The early signing period in college football opened Wednesday with some five-star drama.Georgia likely locked up the top recruiting class by flipping an in-state blue-chip player away from Florida State. The consensus No. 1 recruit in the country had Ohio State’s Ryan Day literally sighing with relief, and then made the coach wait hours before officially becoming a Buckeye. Florida managed to hold on to a couple of five-stars amid a flurry of late de-commits.Meanwhile, the long and winding recruitment of Dylan Raiola ended bright and early with the highly touted quarterback signing a national letter of intent with Nebraska, the school where his father was an All-American offensive lineman.College football’s early signing period, jammed into what has become an overloaded December calendar with postseason games and players transferring, has become the signing period.“The schedule is not good. It’s chaotic,” Penn State coach James Franklin told reporters.The big schoo...

4 months later, still no word on return of SoxFest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:50 GMT

CHICAGO — While the Chicago Cubs recently announced the lineup for Cubs Con 2024 this winter, their South Side counterparts have remained silent on whether SoxFest will return for the first time in nearly four years.Back in August, my former-colleague here at WGN — Larry Hawley — posed a question to the Chicago White Sox organization."Will SoxFest return in 2024?"Much like the conversation now, the question coincided with the Cubs making an announcement on their own festival that annually celebrates fans — they announced the dates for Cubs Con 2024.The White Sox's answer at the time was, "No official plans for SoxFest to announce at the moment, but we are working on plans to celebrate fans this winter.”Fast forward to Tuesday of this week, I followed up to see if anything had changed."I was wondering if there were any plans from the Chicago White Sox to bring back SoxFest ahead of the 2024 MLB regular season?" I asked. "... Any information you can provide on the return of SoxFest, o...

Passenger hid 17 bullets in baby diaper at New York airport

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:50 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — It was a loaded diaper, but not like you would think.Security officers found 17 bullets concealed inside a disposable baby diaper Wednesday at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, the Transportation Security Administration said.Officers pulled the otherwise clean diaper from a passenger's carry-on bag after it triggered an alarm in an X-ray machine at an airport security checkpoint, the TSA said. Passengers could get $75 for delays under Southwest settlement According to the agency, the passenger initially claimed he didn't know how the bullet-filled diaper ended up in his bag. Later he suggested his girlfriend put it there, the agency said.The TSA identified the passenger as a man from Arkansas who was ticketed for a flight to Chicago’s Midway Airport, but did not disclose his name. Port Authority police cited him for unlawful possession of the 9mm ammunition.This combination of photos provided by the Transportation Security Administration shows 17 bullets security offic...

DeMar DeRozan stars as the Chicago Bulls knock off the Los Angeles Lakers 124-108

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:50 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — DeMar DeRozan had 27 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, and the Chicago Bulls beat LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers 124-108 on Wednesday night.Chicago shot 54.5% from the field and had eight players score in double figures. Coby White had 17 points and reserve Ayo Dosunmu added 14. Nikola Vucevic had 13 points and 10 rebounds for his 16th double-double of the season.Despite the continued absence of All-Star guard Zach LaVine due to right foot inflammation, the Bulls opened a six-game homestand with their third win in four games. They also played without forward Torrey Craig after they announced Tuesday that he could miss up to 10 weeks with a right plantar fascia injury.James had 25 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists for Los Angeles, falling just shy of a second consecutive triple-double. Anthony Davis had 19 points and 14 rebounds in his hometown.The Lakers have dropped four of five since winning the NBA In-Season Tournament.Trailing by as much as 18 p...

Alabama backup QB Tyler Buchner heading back to Notre Dame for lacrosse, degree

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:50 GMT

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama backup quarterback Tyler Buchner is returning to Notre Dame as a lacrosse player.Buchner announced Wednesday on social media that he plans to return to South Bend, Indiana, after one season at Alabama and finish his degree. He plans to stay with the Crimson Tide through the College Football Playoff. Alabama faces Michigan on Jan. 1 in the Rose Bowl. Art mystery solved: Owner of Wrigley Field painting meets artist behind it thanks to WGN “I am excited to return to ND to play lacrosse and graduate in May," Buchner posted on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter. “Prior to that, I’ll be continuing my initial commitment to Alabama Football through the playoff and finishing what I started. I can’t thank everyone enough for their continued support.”Buchner followed first-year offensive coordinator Tommy Rees to Tuscaloosa after beginning the 2022 season as Notre Dame's starter. He started the third game of the season against South Florida, completing ...

Texas adds 24 on 1st day of early signing period, No. 5 class in country so far

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Longhorns added 24 players to the 2024 roster on the first day of the early signing period for Division I football programs Wednesday.Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian said his staff, "did a heck of a job," when putting everything together. UPDATED: Local football players make college commitments official during early signing period "They recognized the needs we have on the team, some immediate and some long-term predicated on depth issues," he said, "and also players who fit who we are from their style of play and character. They fit our culture."The 2024 class includes four 5-star recruits according to 247Sports including Duncanville linebacker/edge rusher Colin Simmons and wide receiver Ryan Wingo out of St. Louis, Missouri. Other 5-star recruits are offensive tackle Brandon Baker from powerhouse high school program Mater Dei in Santa, Ana, California and late flip Xavier Filsaime from McKinney. Filsaime, a safety, had verbally committed to Florida ...

Embiid dominates as Timberwolves fall in Philadelphia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:50 GMT

The Timberwolves’ defense has been an unsolvable Rubik’s Cube for most NBA offenses this season.Joel Embiid cracked the code Wednesday in Philadelphia.The reigning MVP poured in 51 points to go with 12 rebounds as the 76ers downed Minnesota 127-113 and snapped the Wolves’ three-game winning streak. The performance marked one of the few times this season the Timberwolves truly didn’t have an answer for something the opponent was presenting.The Wolves were visibly upset with the officiating throughout the contest. Embiid did shoot 18 free throws — and he made 17 of them. But he dominated in every way imaginable. The big man went 17 for 25 from the field, including 9 for 12 from the mid-range.Minnesota stayed in the game for much of the night with its offense. Karl-Anthony Towns was able to make hay on the interior to the tune of 23 points and 13 rebounds. Anthony Edwards added 27 points, while Jaden McDaniels scored 21.Rudy Gobert finished with eight points and...

St. Paul Paul Public Schools athletics director resigns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:50 GMT

A St. Paul Public Schools athletics administrator has resigned from his post.Monroe Denarvise Thornton’s last day with the school district was Nov. 18, according to documents released ahead of the St. Paul school board’s Tuesday meeting. His departure is described in human resources disclosures as a resignation.He did not immediately return a Wednesday call seeking comment on his resignation. Members of the St. Paul school board didn’t immediately return requests Wednesday for comment on the resignation.Thornton, 54, had been accused of sex discrimination and harassment by subordinates.Details on any possible separation deal, including severance pay or the reason for the resignation, were not immediately available Wednesday.There is no public record of Thornton facing discipline for allegations of harassment or discrimination based on sex, and the district had already closed investigations of the complaints against him when they became public this summer.No immediate plans to ...

Dozens of Ellis Hospital nurses protest for fair contracts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:50 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — On Wednesday, the frigid temperatures didn’t stop these nurses from coming out with their families to ask Ellis Hospital to ensure their contracts include the state-mandated patient ratios and fair benefits. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Fred Durocher is a Registered Nurse (RN) at the Ellis Hospital Emergency Room in Schenectady.“They wanna sell off the pension plan, and that is right now on hold for people who are retired or vested in it,” Durocher said. “And it’s not even a current thing. They kind of want to let that go off their books.”As of August 2023, it’s now a requirement in New York to have a minimum of one nurse for every two critical care or intensive care patients. However, some report getting as many as four or even five patients per nurse.Assemblymember Angelo Santabarbara said it took years for the legislation to pass. He said the mandate was implemented to improve patient care and prevent ...

SLMPD: Officer distracted by car radio before crashing into LGBT+ bar

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:50 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Even Missouri's governor is asking why police bodycam footage can't be released after a St. Louis police SUV crashed into an LGBT+ bar, which ended with the owner's arrest.The FOX Files pushed for answers and accountability Wednesday, two days after the crash and arrest of Bar:PM co-owner Chad Morris.St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Robert Tracy has not answered any questions related to the incident and was unavailable for an interview on Wednesday. That was the same case for Mayor Tishaura Jones.Around noon though, St. Louis police held its weekly scheduled media briefing and reporters were lined up to ask questions.St. Louis Police Lt. Colonel Renee Kriesmann said the officers in the SUV were working an overtime detail and the officer admits to being distracted by his in-car radio."Immediately after the accident, the involved officer who was driving expressed remorse to the owner of the bar, who had come down from his residence after the collision," Kries...