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Yankees fire hitting coach Dillon Lawson

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:54 GMT

The Yankees fired hitting coach Dillon Lawson on Sunday, marking the first time a coach has been let go in-season under general manager Brian Cashman.The team has not named a replacement for Lawson, who assumed the hitting coach role before the 2022 season and has been with the Yankees organization for five years.The Yankees have a team batting average of .231 through 91 games, which ranks 28th out of the 30 MLB teams. Only the 39-50 Detroit Tigers and 25-67 Oakland A’s are worse.“It has been well documented that I have been reluctant in the past to make changes to our coaching staff in the middle of a season,” Cashman said in a statement Sunday. “I am a big believer that successes and failures are collective efforts. However, I ultimately felt that a change was needed and that a new voice overseeing our hitting operations would give us the best chance to perform closer to our capabilities as we move forward into the second half of our season.”This is a...

Boston Police make arrest tied to Mattapan mass shooting, recover loaded gun

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:54 GMT

Boston Police have arrested a man who was wanted on warrants tied to the recent mass shooting in Mattapan and recovered a loaded gun, according to police.Officers on Saturday night were continuing the investigation into the shooting from July 5 when five people were shot and arrested three suspects in the area of Edgewater Drive and Rivers Street.The arrests began with a traffic stop when police officers spotted a vehicle with “excessively dark tinted windows” with its headlights off, police said. Officers then put on their emergency lights and sirens to stop the vehicle.Police approached the vehicle and found Traequon Duncan, 26, of Boston, who was wanted on arrest warrants from the incident on July 5.He was placed under arrest for the outstanding warrants: assault to murder; firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm (Suffolk Superior Court); assault to murder; and firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm (Dorchester District Court).Related ArticlesCrime & Pu...

Iga Swiatek finally reaches the Wimbledon quarterfinals. Novak Djokovic’s match was suspended

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:54 GMT

By HOWARD FENDRICH (AP Tennis Writer)WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Twice, Iga Swiatek was a single point from exiting Wimbledon on Sunday, a single point from the sort of confounding defeat at the place that gives her so much more trouble than any of the other Grand Slam tournaments.Down a set and 6-5 in the second against Belinda Bencic, the No. 1-ranked Swiatek steeled herself and dispensed with the pair of match points. She erased the first with a booming forehand, the second with a forceful backhand, and soon enough, Swiatek was not just back in the contest, she was controlling it.Frustrated in the late afternoon sunshine at Centre Court, so close to defeat in the early evening shadows, Swiatek managed to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time by coming back for a 6-7 (4), 7-6 (2), 6-3 victory over the 14th-seeded Bencic.“I threw everything I could at her,” Bencic said, “and I pushed her to the limit.”Swiatek, a 22-year-old from Poland who...

Red Sox notebook: Houck has unique memento to remember injury, a 3-D printed model of his own skull

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:54 GMT

Tanner Houck is back in the Red Sox clubhouse, and three weeks after being hit in the face by a line drive he’s feeling back to his old self and will soon begin working his way back to the mound.But while his facial fracture will heal, Houck will always carry the experience with him. He’ll also have a vivid reminder to display on his shelf too.Houck got a unique memento from the doctors after undergoing surgery — a 3D-printed model of his own skull, facial fracture and all. The print was created from a scan and was used by the doctors to examine his injury and help perform the surgery, and afterwards Houck got to bring it home. It’s now displayed in his locker.“It’s amazing what medical technology can do,” Houck said.Houck suffered the injury on June 16 when he was struck by a 89.7 mph line drive off the bat of Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka. He said he remembers being hit and everything that happened afterwards, and he recalled initially checkin...

Hundreds rally in Vancouver to support striking B.C. port workers

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:54 GMT

VANCOUVER — Hundreds of people gathered in Vancouver today for a rally to support striking British Columbia port workers as their job action stretches into its second week.Representatives from labour groups as far away as Australia and New Zealand spoke in support of the strikers, who continue to push for improved wages amid the growing cost of living and protection from what they see as an overuse of contractors for maintenance work.About 7,400 members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada employed at more than 30 B.C. ports have been on strike since Canada Day.ILWU Canada vice president Pat Bolen told the crowd the collective agreement lays out “very clearly” that anything to do with the movement of cargo on docks or ships is the jurisdiction of the union, but says those powers have eroded over several years as more contractors with “no skin in the game” have been brought in.Bolen says that while the union can’t prevent automation ...

Ukraine and the environment will top the agenda when Biden meets with UK politicians and royalty

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:54 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A dash of pomp and a dose of politics are on the agenda during a stopover visit to the U.K. where President Joe Biden will discuss the environment with King Charles III and the war in Ukraine with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.Biden landed in London late Sunday on his way to a NATO summit in Lithuania. He is scheduled to hold talks with Sunak at 10 Downing St. on Monday before heading to Windsor Castle to meet with Charles for the first time since the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September.Though this is not a full state visit with carriage procession and palace banquet, the royal imprimatur and backdrop of the 1,000-year-old castle help underscore the importance of the trans-Atlantic “special relationship” — tested by Brexit but reinforced by unity over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.Sunak and the president will hold Ukraine-focused talks before both attend this week’s NATO meeting in Vilnius, which will discuss how far the military alliance should open the door ...

Nine shot in downtown Cleveland, one man seriously wounded as police search for suspect

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:54 GMT

CLEVELAND (AP) — An early morning shooting in a nightclub area of downtown Cleveland sent nine people to the hospital, but no fatalities were reported, authorities said.Police said preliminary information indicated someone opened fire toward a group of people in the Warehouse District shortly before 2:30 a.m. Sunday as the clubs were closing. The suspect apparently fled.Chief Wayne Drummond of the Cleveland police department said seven men and two women between the ages of 23 to 38 were struck. One of the men was seriously wounded while injuries to the others were minor, he said.Officers assigned to the district’s weekly detail arrived quickly to help the victims, after which they were taken to MetroHealth Medical Center. A suspect was being sought and investigators were looking for surveillance video from the many cameras in the area.Police said there was no indication a confrontation at any of the area clubs preceded the gunfire.No arrests were immediately reported. Police asked a...

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus booed at Wimbledon after loss to Elena Svitolina of Ukraine

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:54 GMT

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Victoria Azarenka said it “wasn’t fair” that she was booed at Wimbledon after her loss to Ukrainian rival Elina Svitolina on Sunday.Azarenka, who’s from Belarus, had just lost a third-set tiebreaker and — knowing that Svitolina does not shake hands with Russian and Belarusian players after matches in protest of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — walked directly to the umpire to shake hands.The two-time Grand Slam champion also seemed to give a slight wave to Svitolina, who won 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (9).But as she gathered her equipment and began walking off No. 1 Court — where the crowd had been rooting for Svitolina — boos rained down.“I can’t control the crowd. I’m not sure that a lot of people were understanding what’s happening,” Azarenka said, suggesting the crowd had been drinking. “It wasn’t fair. It is what it is. What can I do?”It wasn’t clear if fans thought Azarenka snubbed Svitolina, but the Belarusian shook her head as she walked of...

Boil water advisory lifted for Hawthorn Woods, Kildeer in Lake County

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:54 GMT

Aqua, the essential utilities company, announced the boil water advisory that was originally placed back on July 3 for Hawthorn Woods, Kildeer and Lake County Public Works has been lifted.Aqua released an update Sunday confirming the boil advisory being lifted after water quality tests from a third-party lab indicated water in the areas is now safe for use and meets the necessary approval levels set by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Water boil advisory issued for Hawthorn Woods While the boil advisory has been lifted, Aqua did say that the lawn watering ban will remain in place for another 48 hours, at which point it too will be lifted.More information on the water situation in Hawthorn Woods, Kildeer and Lake County can be found on Aqua's website.

NATO unity will be tested at upcoming summit. Ukraine's possible entry may be the biggest challenge

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:54 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues with no end in sight, NATO's much-celebrated unity faces fresh strains when leaders gather for their annual summit this week in Vilnius, Lithuania.The world’s biggest security alliance is struggling to reach an agreement on admitting Sweden as its 32nd member. Military spending by member nations lags behind long-standing goals. An inability to compromise over who should serve as NATO’s next leader forced an extension of the current secretary-general's term for an extra year.Perhaps the most difficult questions are over how Ukraine should be eased into NATO. Some maintain admitting Ukraine would fulfill a promise made years ago and be a necessary step to deter Russian aggression in Eastern Europe. Others fear it would be seen as a provocation that could spiral into an even wider conflict."I don’t think it’s ready for membership in NATO," President Joe Biden told CNN in an interview that aired on Sunday. He said joining NA...