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Red Sox notebook: Alex Cora has high hopes for rookies Enmanuel Valdez, Ceddanne Rafaela

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:53 GMT

Over the last month of the season three of Boston’s top prospects — Ceddanne Rafaela, Enmanuel Valdez and Wilyer Abreu — got extensive playing time in their first taste of the big leagues.Red Sox manager Alex Cora frequently praised all three rookies throughout September, and towards the end of Monday’s year-end press conference he offered his thoughts on what could be next for two of them.Valdez and Rafaela both have impressive tools, Cora said, but need to improve in crucial areas if they’re going to become reliable everyday big leaguers. For Valdez, the defense needs work, while Rafaela has to improve the quality of his at bats or he could be exposed by big league pitchers.One of the prospects acquired in last summer’s Christian Vazquez trade, Valdez could potentially have an opportunity to earn regular playing time at second base next season. Over the final month he largely platooned at the position with Pablo Reyes, and as things stand he’s in line...

Pence calls Trump’s attacks on Milley ‘utterly inexcusable’ at AP-Georgetown foreign policy forum

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:53 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday criticized his former boss-turned-rival, Donald Trump, for calling retired Gen. Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a traitor over phone calls he made to China in the final stormy months of their administration. “Frankly what Donald Trump said about him in that tweet, about treason and death, was utterly inexcusable,” Pence said at a national security and foreign policy forum at Washington’s Georgetown University.Pence also reacted to the news that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy had been ousted from his post by a contingent of hard-right conservatives, saying, “Chaos is never America’s friend.”The event was the first in a series of conversations with 2024 Republican presidential candidates on the topic co-hosted by The Associated Press and Georgetown’s Institute of Politics and Public Service. Trump, in a recent social media post, lashed out at Milley over calls he made to his Chinese ...

Kevin McCarthy is out as speaker of the House. No one knows for sure what comes next.

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:53 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House of Representatives is entering uncharted territory after a far-right effort to remove fellow Republican Kevin McCarthy from the speakership succeeded thanks to support from Democrats. A resolution — titled a motion to vacate — from Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. passed Tuesday with the support of eight Republicans and all the Democrats present and voting. The vote made McCarthy the first speaker in history to be removed from office, a bitter humiliation that comes after less than nine months in the job.It was a stunning outcome in the House that shocked lawmakers of both parties and left them wondering what the future will bring.Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry, who is now the acting speaker, declared the House in recess until both parties can decide on a path forward. There is no obvious successor to lead the House Republican majority, should McCarthy opt not to run for the job again.Here’s a closer look at what could happen next:WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE HO...

Cowboy Junkies postpone tour dates after COVID-19 outbreak in band

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:53 GMT

TORONTO — Alternative country band Cowboy Junkies say they’re postponing the remainder of their Ontario concert tour after an outbreak of COVID-19 within the band.The Toronto act says stops in Toronto, Kingston and Peterborough that were set to run from Tuesday through Thursday of this week will all be rescheduled.The “Sweet Jane” performers say they expect to announce replacement dates soon.Tickets for the scheduled shows will be valid for the new dates.The band’s postponements come as COVID-19 case numbers continue to rise and other music acts face similar situations.In September, Metallica postponed the second of two shows in Arizona after lead singer James Hetfield tested positive, while punk musician Jeff Rosenstock postponed his September tour dates in North America after he and members of his crew contracted the virus.Cowboy Junkies launched their Ontario tour last week to promote their latest album “Such Ferocious Beauty,” which came out e...

US automakers’ sales rose sharply over the summer, despite high prices and interest rates

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:53 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Automakers posted big increases in new vehicle sales during the summer, despite high prices, rising interest rates and even a limited strike against Detroit companies.Industry sales rose 16.3% from July through September as consumer demand stayed strong, even given an average new vehicle loan rate of 7.4% and an average vehicle price of more than $45,500.Vehicle supplies also continued to recover from shortages of computer chips and other parts that began during the pandemic and are finally abating. With increased selection, more people bought vehicles, despite an average monthly payment of $736.“I think this is 100% replacement purchases and needs-based,” said Ivan Drury, director of insights at Edmunds.com. Pent-up demand has been building since the pandemic started in 2020, with many people delaying purchases while waiting for prices to come down and supplies to increase. But then the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates. “Unfortunately some of the people i...

B.C. man takes one-tonne pumpkin on road trip to win California weigh-off

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:53 GMT

VANCOUVER — An enormous pumpkin nicknamed “Mama” grown in a Richmond, B.C., backyard has won first place in one of North America’s most prestigious pumpkin weigh-offs, tipping the scales at more than a tonne.Grower Dave Chan, 78, says “a lot of good science” went into his victory on Saturday in the National Pumpkin Weigh Off in Wheatland, Calif., where Mama weighed in at 1,003 kilograms, or 2,212 pounds.The retired dentist says he and his wife Janet Love analyzed soil samples throughout summer to ensure the pumpkin was receiving the right nutrients.They loaded Mama and another giant pumpkin onto a trailer and drove more than 1,300 kilometres to attend the weigh-in, which organizers say has been held since 1921.Chan, who’s been growing giant pumpkins for more than 40 years, won $28,000 – that’s US$9 per pound – as well as a flashy championship belt, worthy of a heavyweight champion.He says he and his wife will use the money for a trip to Ital...

Detroit-area mayor indicted on bribery charge alleging he took $50,000 to facilitate property sale

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:53 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — A suburban Detroit mayor was indicted Tuesday on a federal bribery charge for allegedly demanding $50,000 in bribes to facilitate the sale of a city property to an outside party.Inkster Mayor Patrick Wimberly allegedly accepted the bribes from September 2022 through this past April, the indictment said. The bribes began at $5,000 monthly until Wimberly demanded more and they rose to $10,000 monthly, prosecutors said in a news release.Wimberly, 49, could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 if convicted.“Elected public officials owe a duty to their community to act in the citizens’ best interest,” U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison said in a news release. “Our office is committed to prosecuting those public officials who betray the public trust by accepting bribes.”A telephone message seeking comment was left Tuesday at Wimberly’s office. Online court records did not list an attorney who might comment on his behalf.Wimberly, a former city council member and mariju...

Quebec man shot by police now charged with threats against Trudeau, Legault

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:53 GMT

SHERBROOKE, Que. — A Quebec man shot by police during an investigation into threats against Premier François Legault and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is now charged with uttering death threats against the two politicians.Germain Lemay, 30, faces a total of six new charges, including making death threats against police officers and an agent with the province’s workplace health and safety board.He is also charged with pointing a firearm at a police officer as well as improper storage of a firearm.Quebec’s police watchdog is investigating the Sept. 27 police shooting that occurred during an operation in Scotstown, Que., about 180 kilometres east of Montreal.The watchdog says an officer shot Lemay because the accused was allegedly pointing a gun from inside a home toward officers.The Crown says Lemay faces a total of seven charges, having initially been charged with possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 3, 20...

US announces sweeping action against Chinese fentanyl supply chain producers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:53 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration took aim Tuesday at the fentanyl trafficking threat, announcing a series of indictments and sanctions against Chinese companies and executives blamed for importing the chemicals used to make the deadly drug.Officials described the actions, which include charges against eight Chinese companies accused of advertising, manufacturing and distributing precursor chemicals for synthetic opioids like fentanyl, as the latest effort in their fight against the deadliest overdose crisis in U.S. history. The moves come one day before senior administration officials are set to visit Mexico, whose cartels are part of the global trafficking network, for meetings expected to involve discussion of the drug threat.“We know that this network includes the cartels’ leaders, their drug traffickers, their money launderers, their clandestine lab operators, their security forces, their weapons suppliers, and their chemical suppliers,” Attorney General Merrick Garlan...

Chicago Migrant Crisis: 17K asylum seekers transported since August 2022

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:53 GMT

CHICAGO -- The recent surge of migrants continuing an upward trend in Chicago as 10 more buses arrived on Tuesday.According to city records, 17,000 new arrivals since the city started receiving busloads of asylum seekers in August 2022. With 224 of the 332 buses delivering migrants to Chicago just in the last five months.2,300 asylum seeker still remain at Chicago Police Department district headquarters waiting for shelter placement. Another 678 migrants are reportedly camped out at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Residents discuss plans for migrant shelter at Amundsen Park during community meeting Transported with little advance warning from Texas, the Chicago Office of Emergency Management with the support from the fire department and social service specialists have their focus on those arriving at what's become known as the "landing zone" at Jefferson Street near Vernon Park. Tuesday's arrivals came from El Paso, Texas, after a 23 hour journey to Chicago.Mayor Brandon J...