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Five storylines centered around the upcoming Knicks, Cavaliers first-round playoff matchup

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:54 GMT

It’s all set.The most intriguing first-round matchup in the East, a series that will center around a juicy storyline — the summer of Donovan Mitchell — and represent a chance for New York to advance to the conference semis for the first time in a decade.There’s still plenty of time before Game 1 of the No. 5 Knicks against the No. 4 Cavs in mid-April, but it’s also the only thing worth discussing as the remaining meaningless regular season games finish.Here’s an early look at the five things to watch in the series, starting with the obvious:TO MITCHELL, OR NOT TO MITCHELLFair or not, the series will serve as an indictment on the trade that didn’t happen. We don’t need to rehash the entire saga, only that the Knicks wanted Donovan Mitchell and watched him go to Cleveland. Since then, Mitchell further ascended into one of the league’s best guards — a strong candidate for First Team All-NBA — and averaged over 28 points....

Ticker: New Ram EV gets 500 miles on a charge; FedEx to combine operations  

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:54 GMT

An electric Ram pickup truck with up to 500 miles of range and a battery-powered people-hauling Kia SUV are among the new vehicles being introduced at the New York International Auto Show now underway.The Ram 1500 Rev looks more like the current gas-powered model than a more futuristic concept vehicle the company showed off in January.The Rev will come with a choice of two battery packs, the standard one with up to 350 miles of range and an optional larger pack with an expected range of 500 miles.The company says it also can tow up to 14,000 pounds and carry 2,700 pounds in its bed. The 654-horsepower truck also can travel from zero to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, exceptionally quick for a vehicle that size.The truck isn’t due in showrooms until the fourth quarter of 2024. The price will be announced closer to the on-sale date.FedEx to combine operationsFedEx will combine almost all of its ground, air and other operations by next year as part of a $4 billion cost cutting plan.The pa...

Mets suffer series sweep in Milwaukee after Adam Ottavino gives up walk-off homer

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:54 GMT

MILWAUKEE — The last time Corbin Burnes gave up six earned runs in one outing was nearly four years ago. Funny, since it felt like it had been four years since the Mets had scored any runs at all coming into Wednesday’s series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers.After being outscored 19-0 over the first two games of the series, Pete Alonso made the sure Mets wouldn’t be shut out in the Badger State, belting two home runs off the 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner Wednesday afternoon at American Family Field. But the pitching problems persisted and Garrett Mitchell hit an absolute moonshot off Adam Ottavino (0-1) in the ninth to walk it off for the home team.The Brewers (5-1) won 7-6 to complete the sweep of the Mets (3-4). Devin Williams earned the win with a scoreless inning of relief.Alonso tied the game in the third inning with a two-run homer off of Burnes. The Mets went up 1-0 in the first but a blowup by David Peterson in the second left them down 3-1. After Star...

DraftKings seeeks to take bets on Boston Marathon

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:54 GMT

The Boston Marathon will bring thousands of runners and spectators together along its historic 26.2-mile course from Hopkinton to Boylston Street on April 17 for its 127th running, and a sports betting company headquartered just the other side of Copley Square from the finish line is asking state regulators to let people bet on it legally for the first time.“Due to its traditions, duration, and qualification-based entry system, the Boston Marathon has established itself as the premier event in the sport of road racing. The Boston Marathon was originally a local event, but its fame and status have attracted runners from all over the world,” Boston-based DraftKings wrote in a request that the Mass. Gaming Commission is expected to hear more about at its meeting Thursday.The meeting agenda includes a potential vote on the request to add the Boston Marathon to the catalog of events approved for wagering in Massachusetts.DraftKings told the commission in a request to add the ...

Brazil’s Bolsonaro questioned about gifts of diamond jewelry

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:54 GMT

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Former President Jair Bolsonaro underwent questioning Wednesday about diamond jewelry gifts when he was in power, as part of an investigation into whether he engaged in any irregularities in bringing the items into Brazil.The case has added to the legal jeopardy already surrounding the far-right politician’s time as president. He is also under investigation for any involvement in a rampage by his supporters through the national capital after he left office and for numerous actions during the presidential election campaign he lost last fall.Federal police and prosecutors are investigating whether three sets of jewelry brought into the country from Saudi Arabia were public gifts that Bolsonaro improperly tried to prevent from being incorporated into the presidency’s public collection or were private gifts that Bolsonaro tried sneak into Brazil without paying taxes.Brazil requires its citizens arriving by plane from abroad to declare goods worth more than ...

Prospect of tax fraud could be key to Bragg’s strategy in Trump indictment: experts

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:54 GMT

WASHINGTON — Court documents in the case against Donald Trump, unveiled Tuesday after the former president’s historic court appearance, have so far provided little clear insight into the prosecution’s underlying legal strategy. A single phrase in the statement of facts — “for tax purposes” — may offer an important clue.Trump and his operatives designed a hush-money scheme to protect his 2016 campaign against claims of extramarital sexual encounters, the documents allege — a plan that was carried out by former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen. Trump now faces 34 counts of falsifying business records “to conceal criminal conduct that hid damaging information from the voting public during the 2016 presidential election,” reads the statement of facts. It’s that “criminal conduct” that elevates what would otherwise be misdemeanor charges to the level of a felony. But neither the documents nor Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg have...

Only ‘silent’ praying allowed in Quebec schools as province moves to ban prayer rooms

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:54 GMT

Quebec’s education minister said Wednesday it will soon be forbidden to have prayer rooms in the province’s public schools.Bernard Drainville told reporters in Quebec City he has learned of at least two Montreal-area schools that have permitted students to gather for prayer.Drainville said he would issue the directive to all school service centres, adding that prayer rooms in schools are not compatible with Quebec’s policy of official secularism.The minister, however, isn’t prohibiting prayer altogether, saying that students who want to pray should do so “discreetly” and “silently.” “There are all kinds of ways to pray,” Drainville said. “I can’t ban prayer. I ban prayer in classrooms. Now, if someone wants to pray silently, that’s their basic right.”Drainville’s position had hardened since Tuesday, when he said schools could not reserve rooms for a single religion and had to ensure prayer spac...

States and companies compete for billions to make hydrogen

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:54 GMT

As fossil fuel emissions continue warming Earth’s atmosphere, the Biden administration is turning to hydrogen as an energy source for vehicles, manufacturing and generating electricity.It’s offering $8 billion to entice the nation’s industries, engineers and planners to figure out how to produce and deliver clean hydrogen. States and businesses are making final pitches Friday as they compete for a new program that will create regional networks, or “hubs,” of hydrogen producers, consumers and infrastructure. The aim is to accelerate the availability and use of the colorless, odorless gas that already powers some vehicles and trains. How can enough hydrogen be produced to meet demand — in ways that don’t worsen global warming? And how can it be moved efficiently to where users can get it? Such questions will be tackled by the hubs. Nearly every state has joined at least one proposed hub and many are working together, hoping to reap the economic development and jobs they would br...

Dealer pleads guilty in death of actor Michael K. Williams

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:54 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A Brooklyn drug dealer pleaded guilty Wednesday to providing “The Wire” actor Michael K. Williams with fentanyl-laced heroin, causing his death.Irvin Cartagena’s plea to a charge of conspiring to distribute drugs was entered in Manhattan federal court. Sentencing was set by U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams for Aug. 18, when Cartagena will face a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and the possibility of as many as 40 years.The famed actor, who also starred in films and other TV series including “Boardwalk Empire,” overdosed in his Brooklyn penthouse apartment in September 2021. Authorities said he died hours after buying the heroin from Cartagena on a Brooklyn sidewalk in a deal that was recorded by a security camera.Cartagena, 39, signed a plea agreement with prosecutors stipulating that the mix of heroin and fentanyl he sold Williams resulted in his death. His lawyer, Sean Maher, declined comment.U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, who is not related to the...

Idaho to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:54 GMT

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Starting next year, anyone in Idaho who provides gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth could end up a convicted felon, after the state’s Republican governor signed legislation banning the treatment late Tuesday.At least one organization has already promised to sue over the new law. The American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho announced Wednesday it was looking for potential plaintiffs for the lawsuit and asked anyone impacted by the legislation to reach out. Idaho is one of at least 13 states to enact a law restricting or banning gender-affirming care for minors, and nearly two dozen more are considering similar bills. Under Idaho’s new law, physicians will face up to 10 years in prison if they provide hormones, puberty blockers or other gender-affirming care to people under age 18. Opponents of the legislation say it will likely increase suicide rates among teens, but proponents say the bill is necessary to “protect children” from medical or s...