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Chicago Bulls extend Nikola Vučević’s contract, further limiting their flexibility as NBA free agency opens this week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:21 GMT

The Chicago Bulls front office stayed true to its offseason refrain of continuity by announcing Wednesday that it extended the contract of center Nikola Vučević.The extension — reported as a three-year, $60 million deal by The Athletic and ESPN — will maintain a key veteran presence in the Bulls locker room.Vučević, 32, averaged 17.6 points, 11 rebounds and 3.2 assists over the last two seasons for the Bulls and started all 82 games last season. After struggling early with the transition following his March 2021 trade from the Orlando Magic, where he was the centerpiece of the offense, Vučević carved out a more functional role for himself last season in which he shifted his focus away from 3-pointers.At the end of the season, both Vučević and the front office voiced a shared goal to keep the center in Chicago for the near future.“I’m excited to continue my journey as a Chicago Bull,” Vučević said in a st...

Bottle shock: Lawmakers debate expanded deposits

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:21 GMT

Forty years after the state added a five-cent deposit on some plastic bottles in order to encourage recycling, climate advocates say it’s “the right moment” to expand state’s bottle redemption law.Proposals before the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy would increase the bottle deposit from its current five cents to 10 cents and add more types of beverage containers to the program, putting a deposit on water bottles, vitamin drinks, nips and bottles for other drinks that weren’t contemplated when the initial law was adopted in 1982.Efforts to update this bill have failed in the Legislature for years, and voters in 2014 shot down a ballot question to tack the five-cent bottle deposit onto drinks besides beer and soda.Without success in expanding the deposit, advocates told lawmakers at two Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy hearings Wednesday (as House and Senate members continue to hold separate hearings amids...

Yankees welcome Ian Hamilton back to one of MLB’s best bullpens

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:21 GMT

The Yankees’ bullpen received a boost — not that it needed one.The team activated Ian Hamilton prior to its Wednesday game against the Athletics in Oakland. Jhony Brito, who held the A’s to two earned runs over 5.2 innings in Tuesday’s loss, was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.Hamilton hasn’t pitched in the majors since suffering a right groin strain on May 16. The righty had been enjoying a breakout campaign up to that point, recording a 1.23 ERA and one save while striking out 34.1% of batters and setting career-highs with 16 games and 22 innings pitched.A non-roster invitee, Hamilton made the Yankees’ squad out of spring training after enduring some unfortunate injury history earlier in his career.Now he’s looking to pick up where he left off in a bullpen that’s been a bright spot for the third-place Yankees.Entering Wednesday, the Yankees had the second-best relief ERA (2.38) in baseball since Hamilton got hurt. Overal...

Andy Jones hired as Bentley University’s head hockey coach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:21 GMT

UMass Lowell associate head coach Andy Jones was named Wednesday morning as Bentley University’s head hockey coach.The 45-year-old Jones was a valued member of Norm Bazin’s coaching staff for eight seasons, the last five as associate head coach. The River Hawks qualified for the NCAA Tournament three times and captured a Hockey East championship in his tenure.“I’m extremely excited,” Jones said of the Bentley hiring. “It’s a terrific school with a great business program. I think the program has a lot of room to grow. I think it’s going to be a fun journey to build it up. I think it’s a university that has a lot to offer. I’m excited. It’s probably a roster that’s eager for something a little different.”A Minnesota native, Jones was a two-sport athlete (hockey, baseball) at Amherst College, graduating in 2000. Prior to joining the UML staff, he was a five-year assistant with Sioux Falls of the USHL and a fo...

Construction worker freed from trench at site in La Jolla Shores

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:21 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A construction worker had to be rescued from a trench at a home construction site in La Jolla Shores on Wednesday.The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department confirmed just before 9 a.m. that crews were working to rescue the trapped man in the 8000 block of El Paseo Grande. Fire officials said the worker was conscious and alert.The man was stuck from the waist down, about 8 to 10 feet below ground, officials said. Fire crews administered pain medication to the worker through an IV. 13 live parrots seized at US-Mexico border Around 1:30 p.m., rescuers successfully freed the worker from the trench.A construction worker became stuck in trench from the waist down at the site of a single family home in La Jolla Shores. (KSWB)A construction worker became stuck in trench from the waist down at the site of a single family home in La Jolla Shores. (KSWB)It was not immediately known how the worker became stuck in the trench.Alani Letang contributed to this report.

Officers injured after driver of stolen truck crashes into cruisers in Mississauga

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:21 GMT

Peel Regional Police officers were injured after attempting to contain a driver that had stolen a truck in Mississauga.Authorities were called to Rathburn Road and Mavis Road just before 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday for reports of a stolen vehicle.After responding officers tried to apprehend the driver, the vehicle intentionally struck two police cruisers, leading to the officers sustaining minor injuries.A police spokesperson says the vehicle had stolen plates, described as a black Dodge Ram pickup truck with the Ontario licence plate BL56559. The truck has front-end damage due to the collision.There is no description of the driver.POLICE OPERATION:-Rathburn/Mavis #Mississauga -Officers attempted to contain a stolen truck -Driver intentionally struck cruisers -Two PRP vehicles damaged -Officers suffered minor injuries -Black Ram pickup outstanding -Ont plate *BL56559*-Front end damage -PR230209619— Peel Regional Police (@PeelPolice) June 28, 2023

Muslims at Hajj brave intense heat to cast stones at pillars representing the devil

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:21 GMT

MINA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims on Wednesday braved intense heat to perform the symbolic stoning of the devil during the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.With morning temperatures rising past 42 degrees Celsius (107 degrees Farenheit), huge crowds of pilgrims walked or took buses to the vast Jamarat complex just outside the holy city of Mecca, where large pedestrian bridges lead past three wide pillars representing the devil.Using pebbles collected the night before at a campsite known as Muzdalifa, the pilgrims stone the pillars. It’s a reenactment of the story of the Prophet Ibrahim — known as Abraham in Christian and Jewish traditions — who is said to have hurled stones at Satan to resist temptation.The ceremony was marred by tragedy on a number of occasions in the 1990s and 2000s, when hundreds died in stampedes during the stoning ritual. Saudi authorities have since built an expanded network of massive pedestrian bridges and redesigned the...

In Uruguay’s capital, salty water coming out of taps exasperates residents

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:21 GMT

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Residents of Uruguay’s capital are increasingly exasperated after two months of salty-tasting tap water that has damaged water heaters, boosted demand for bottled water and reportedly caused stomach ailments.The water “comes out saltier and saltier so you can’t drink it, but you’re thirsty and so you need to drink it,” said homemaker Natalia Moreira, 33, who lives in one of Montevideo’s poorer neighborhoods. She added that she and her children have been suffering stomach aches and diarrhea. “Now I have a coffee and go straight to the bathroom. Before, that didn’t happen to me,” Moreira said.People in Uruguay have always been able to safely drink the water that comes from their taps, unlike in some other Latin American countries. But the country is now suffering its most severe drought in 44 years, following decades without investment in freshwater reservoirs. The reservoir behind Uruguay’s largest dam, Paso Severino, is only 2.6% filled. The Sa...

4 males threaten TTC employee with knife at Warden Station: police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:21 GMT

Toronto police say they’re investigating after four males threatened a TTC operator with a knife at Warden Subway Station on Wednesday.No injuries have been reported, and police say one person is in custody.The other suspects remain at large, but no descriptions are currently available.Trains were temporarily bypassing the station, but regular service has since resumed.The investigation is ongoing.Line 2 Bloor-Danforth Regular service has resumed at Warden. https://t.co/e7kBd9P8F8— TTC Service Alerts (@TTCnotices) June 28, 2023

Federal judge temporarily blocks part of Kentucky law banning gender-affirming care for trans youths

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:21 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A federal judge temporarily blocked Kentucky’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youths on Wednesday, taking the action shortly before the measure was set to take effect.In issuing the preliminary injunction, U.S. District Judge David Hale sided with seven transgender minors and their parents, who sued the state officials responsible for enforcing the provisions banning the use of puberty blockers and hormones.“Justice is served today as the most egregious parts of Kentucky’s anti-trans law are struck down by a federal judge,” said Chris Hartman, executive director of the Fairness Campaign, a Kentucky-based LGBTQ+ advocacy group.Kentucky Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron called it a “misguided decision” that “tramples the right” of state lawmakers to make public policy for the state. Cameron said his office will continue doing “everything in our power” to defend the measure.At least 20 states have now enacted laws restricting or banning gen...