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Verdugo’s bases-clearing triple helps Red Sox beat Twins 9-3, win fifth straight

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:50:13 GMT

Jovani Moran is probably sick of seeing Alex Verdugo at this point.When the Minnesota Twins reliever last faced Verdugo back on April 18, the Red Sox outfielder got ahold of an 84 mph changeup and barely kept it fair down the right field line for a walk-off single.Facing off once more Monday with two outs and the bases loaded in a 3-3 game, Moran got ahead 0-2 before Verdugo took him down the right field line again for what wound up being the game-winning three-run triple. Verdugo tacked on a fourth RBI later to lead the Red Sox to a decisive 9-3 win.The Red Sox (38-35) have won five straight and now stand only 1.5 games behind the idle New York Yankees for the final American League Wild Card spot. Verdugo’s play has been a big reason for the club’s recent surge, and Red Sox manager Alex Cora said he’s excited by the way Verdugo has responded since being benched last week for not hustling on a ground ball.“I want Dugie to play at (a high) level, I do believe ...

Poor villagers risk their lives in danger zone as Philippines’ most active volcano erupts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:50:13 GMT

CALBAYOG, Philippines (AP) — Delfina Guiwan’s heart was pounding as she snuck back to her village, now abandoned and eerily quiet, in the fertile foothills of gently erupting Mayon volcano in the northeastern Philippines.When patrolling police spotted her, they warned that the village is off-limits because of the danger of a violent eruption at any time. Guiwan, 47, said she knew the risks but begged to stay a few minutes more to get her daughter’s school uniform from their shack and feed her pigs.“I’m scared. We saw lava flowing down one night and a boulder rolled down, sounding like thunder,” Guiwan told The Associated Press. “I’m praying this eruption won’t get worse because our livelihood is here and it’s difficult to stay in the evacuation camp with few toilets for so many, and the heat. Children are getting sick there.”Her village, Calbayog, lies in Mayon’s northeastern foothills and is well within the 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) radius from the volcano’s crater that official...

Ex-PM Cameron says the UK focused too much on flu rather than other potential pandemics before COVID

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:50:13 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Britain made a mistake in focusing too much on preparations for a flu pandemic rather than considering other types of pandemic in the years before the COVID-19 outbreak, former Prime Minister David Cameron told a public inquiry Monday. Cameron, who led Britain’s Conservative government from 2010 to 2016, was the first politician to be questioned by the wide-ranging inquiry into the U.K.’s preparedness for the coronavirus pandemic, how the government responded and what lessons can be learned for the future.The U.K. had one of the highest COVID-19 death tolls in Europe, with the virus recorded as a cause of death for almost 227,000 people.Giving evidence under oath, Cameron said that during his time in office, officials were too narrowly focused on the dangers of an influenza pandemic. Not enough questions were asked about the possibility of an outbreak of other highly infectious respiratory diseases, he said.“So much time was spent on a pandemic influenza an...

Macron urges Europe to develop its own air defense systems and not rely on the US

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:50:13 GMT

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron called on European nations Monday to seek more independence on airspace defense and advocated against relying too much on the U.S., a long-divisive issue that takes on new urgency because of Russia’s war in Ukraine.Macron made his case for Europeans building their own airspace protection strategy in the closing speech of a conference in Paris gathering defense ministers and other representatives of 20 European countries.The talks included anti-drone combat and ballistic missile defense, French organizers said, noting that Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has shown the importance and effectiveness of such equipment. Nuclear weapons deterrence was also on the agenda.“We need to know what the threat situation is … And then, what are we, Europeans, able to produce? And what do we then need to buy?” Macron said.He warned against purchasing immediately “what’s on the shelves.”Among nations who took part in the meeting ...

Police investigating fatal shooting at Etobicoke apartment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:50:13 GMT

Toronto police are investigating a fatal shooting at an apartment complex in Etobicoke on Monday night.Police were called to Dundas Street West and Avonhurst Road at around 7:03 p.m. for reports of someone shot.Police located a victim who was later pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not said if the suspect and victim knew each other.A suspect is in custody, but police have not released any further details or announced any charges at this point.Investigators say a gun has been recovered.SHOOTING:Dundas St W & Avonhurst Rd7:03 pm– reports of someone shot– police o/s located victim– @Toronto_Fire o/s– @TorontoMedics o/s– victim has been pronounced deceased on scene– suspect in custody– Homicide will take carriage of the investigation#GO1411799^sc— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) June 19, 2023

Fusing a foot bone: A look at the surgery that sidelined Tiger Woods

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:50:13 GMT

Tiger Woods was absent from the U.S. Open this weekend as he continues to recover from an April procedure on his damaged right foot – the result of a serious car accident in 2021.But when he is back on his feet, he may not be standing the same.After grinding through the early rounds at Augusta, Woods headed to the operating room to address pain lingering from his February 2021 car accident that left his right leg severely damaged.Dr Simon Lee is a surgeon with Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush Hospital.“All that energy hits your heal bone and when it hits your heal bone, it basically kind of bangs into all the bones in the leg,” Lee said. “(The) whole bone bangs into the one above it and everything in between gets damaged.”Including the subtalar joint, which helps the foot move from side-to-side.“That’s a pretty significant injury for a golfer,” Lee said.Eric Bryant is a biker, not a golfer. But he, too, felt constant pain after falling from a ladder several years ago. More from Medica...

Connor Bedard latest award before NHL Draft is a first

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:50:13 GMT

CHICAGO - Once again, one of the most talented prospects in years is getting an award before he's likely the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.This time, it's a first for Connor Bedard, who is expected to become a member of the Blackhawks on June 28.The center, who enjoyed a great season both in juniors and internationally for Canada, was named International Ice Hockey Federation's 2023 Male Player of the Year this week. It's the first time the award has been given by the IIHF and honors Bedard for his play in world competition for his country. This comes after Bedard became the first in the history of the CHL to win Player of the Year, Prospect of the Year, and Top Scorer in the same season. As a member of the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League, Bedard had 71 goals and 72 assists in 57 games.“This is such a huge honour,” said Bedard in a statement that was posted to the IIHF website. “I’m not sure how to compare it to others I’ve received, but it’s pretty incredible to...

'A tranquil space': Sober living apartment complex opens in Hays County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:50:13 GMT

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) -- An apartment complex in Hays County said its the first sober living facility of its kind in the area. The Vibe just opened in San Marcos as a place for people with at least a year of sobriety. Stephanie Ramirez Pelletier is the founder. She is seven years sober herself. "I wanted to give them a tranquil space worthy of healing," Pelletier said. It's a space where drugs and alcohol are not allowed. Pelletier said she wanted to create a positive environment for people in long term recovery."You have your own apartment," she said. "You have your own space, but you can also knock on the doors of anyone at any time and say, 'Hey, I need some help tonight. I'm not doing okay.' "It's a resource she said is needed in Hays County at a time when law enforcement said there's been an increase in fentanyl related overdoses. Kyle PD: 16-year-old overdoses on fentanyl first week into summer break "There's very limited meetings," Pelletier said. "There's very limited ...

Walks help doom Twins in series-opening loss to Red Sox

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:50:13 GMT

It seemed evident, by the way he raised his right arm and pointed towards the sky as he rounded first base, by the way he jumped up to high five third base coach Tommy Watkins, by the way he grabbed the Twins’ Paw Patrol fishing pole, raised both arms in the air and hopped up and down, that Christian Vázquez’s first home run as a Twin carried a little extra meaning for the catcher.The Red Sox drafted him and developed him. He became a World Series champion in Boston. And then, last season, he was traded away from the only organization he had ever known at the deadline. But the excitement from Vázquez’s big swing was fleeting. Because while it tied the game up at the time, the Red Sox would then go on to score six unanswered runs in their series-opening 9-3 win over the Twins on Monday night at Target Field.Twins pitchers issued seven free passes in the loss and most of them wound up being particularly costly with the Red Sox (38-35) taking advantage. The first walk of the night, a P...

Clifton Park Town Assessor denies over 16 first responder property tax exemptions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:50:13 GMT

In February, Clifton Park was among the first in the area to approve the 10% property tax exemption for volunteer first responders. But last week, Clifton Park’s Town Assessor recently denied tax credits for over a dozen volunteer firefighters who live in the town but serve in other communities.They responded to a state law allowing the exemption to boost the declining numbers of volunteer firefighters and ambulance corps members. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Right now, the disagreement is about whether or not the tax exemption should go to only Clifton Park residents who serve Clifton Park… or to any volunteer firefighter within the area who chooses to help another department.The state law says applicants for exemptions should reside in the city, town, or village served by the fire department or ambulance service.“Give the volunteers serving the community what the state said they wanted to give us as an incentive and a ...