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Dansby Swanson stars in his Chicago Cubs debut, a 4-0 opening-day win: ‘I’m really soaking up these moments’

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:56 GMT

Dansby Swanson needed only one game to understand how “Go, Cubs, Go” hits differently when the tune resonates at Wrigley Field while wearing the home pinstripes.Swanson’s Chicago Cubs debut Thursday encompassed exactly what the organization expected in the all-around shortstop when they signed him to a seven-year, $177 million contract in the offseason. He became the first Cub to have three hits in his team debut since, fittingly, Nico Hoerner on Sept. 9, 2019. The duo teamed up to turn an inning-ending double play in the top of the third inning to help right-hander Marcus Stroman escape the bases-loaded jam.Swanson also drove in a run, the Cubs’ first of the season, to spark a four-run third en route to a 4-0 opening-day win against the Milwaukee Brewers. A day that began with an early wake up and prayer ended with Swanson putting a rough offensive spring performance behind him to lead the Cubs to a complete win in front of contingent of supporters that incl...

Bruins’ top prospect Mason Lohrei signs ATO with Providence

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:56 GMT

The Bruins’ top amateur prospect took the next big step in his career on Friday.Defenseman Mason Lohrei eschewed two years of NCAA eligibility at Ohio State and signed an amateur tryout contract to play for the Providence Bruins. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound should get some valuable pro experience while playing for the playoff-bound P-Bruins.A late bloomer, the 22-year-old Lohrei had an excellent career in Columbus after the B’s chose him in the second round (58th overall) in the 2020 draft when he was still a member of the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers.The Verona, Wisconsin native spent another season with the Gamblers before moving on to the Buckeyes, for whom he had 4-25-29 totals in 31 games his freshman season. In his sophomore season, which ended on Sunday when OSU was ousted by Quinnipiac from the NCAA tournament, he had 4-28-32 totals in 40 games after starting slowly while bouncing back from a knee injury.It is difficult to see Lohrei — a big, offensive-minde...

Man killed in two-car crash identified

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:56 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A man who was killed in a two-vehicle crash last week has been identified by authorities. According to the San Diego County Medical Examiner's office, 53-year-old Spencer Ross, a San Diego resident, was driving his Chevrolet pick-up truck northbound in the 8100 block of Mission Center Road in the Serra Mesa neighborhood when he lost control of his vehicle. Deadly rollover crash prompts lane closures on SR-94 Officials say Ross collided with a Land Rover SUV traveling southbound along the same roadway and first-responders found him unconscious.Despite lifesaving attempts, the medical examiner's office confirmed Ross was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. His cause of death was listed as multiple blunt force injuries.The driver of the SUV was transported to a nearby hospital with injuries, officials said.The circumstances that led to the crash are still under investigation by the San Diego Police Department’s Traffic Division.

Man killed in motorcycle crash after failing to stop at red light: police

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:56 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A man was killed Thursday after crashing his motorcycle in the Otay Mesa West neighborhood, authorities said.According to the San Diego Police Department, a man, whose age is unknown, was riding his 2007 Suzuki motorcycle eastbound on Palm Avenue at a high rate of speed shortly before 7 p.m. at the time of the incident. Deadly rollover crash prompts lane closures on SR-94 Meanwhile, an 89-year-old woman was driving her 2017 Toyota Corolla westbound on Palm Avenue and made a left turn onto southbound Hawaii Avenue on a green light, said police. Authorities say the motorcyclist failed to stop for the red light and struck the Corolla broadside.SDPD says the man sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene. The San Diego Police Traffic Division is investigating the crash.

Toronto police investigate hate-motivated graffiti at mosque in Weston

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:56 GMT

Toronto police are investigating a case of possible hate-motivated graffiti at a mosque in the northwest end of the city.Police chief Myron Demkiw says the hate crimes unit is reviewing an incident at the Towfiq Islamic Centre on Oak Street, in the Weston Road and Highway 401 area.Demkiw says they’re committed to investigating every potential hate crime and encourage the reporting of any suspected hateful act to the police.Mosque members tell CityNews the walls were vandalized with hateful and violent words.“The mosque leader was met with a shock when he came to the mosque this morning to open the doors for morning prayer,” Dania Elmi told CityNews.“During the holy month of Ramadan, which is one of the few holidays Muslims get. This month is about spiritual discipline, community togetherness and prayer.”No injuries were reported.We’re investigating possible hate-motivated graffiti at the Towfiq Islamic Centre. @TPS12Div & our Hate Crimes Unit are en...

Officials say arson behind most wildfires in northern Spain

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:56 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Officials in the small northern Spanish region of Asturias claimed Friday that unspecified arsonists were behind most of the 100 or so wildfires raging in the heavily wooded and mountainous area.Unusually high spring temperatures and gusting winds have helped spread the fires over the past two days, with some 400 people needing to be evacuated from villages and small towns and several roads cut off for safety.Asturias regional President Adrián Barbón said the “full weight of the law” would be applied to what he described as “fire terrorists.” He said the fires were started in an organized way by criminals taking advantage of the adverse weather conditions. He didn’t explain what the alleged arsonists’ motives might be. No arrests have been made.Firefighters in the region reported early Friday they were dealing with 116 fires in 35 areas. By midafternoon, the number of blazes had dropped to 97.Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez contacted Barbón from Beijin...

Not just Trump’s VP: Pence touts time as governor, US Rep

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:56 GMT

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Mike Pence is best known as Donald Trump’s vice president, someone who, apart from one dramatic rejection of his boss ’s effort to overturn their 2020 election defeat, served as a steadfastly loyal, mostly uncontroversial No. 2 during his four years in the White House.But as Pence approaches a likely 2024 run for president, he’s hoping to project the record of a conservative fighter, opening up to audiences about the parts of his career before he served as Trump’s vice president — his 12 years as a congressman and four years as Indiana governor.While traveling the country and visiting early nominating states such as Iowa, Pence doesn’t hide his time in the former president’s White House. But the new emphasis on his earlier years in politics marks an effort to flesh out his profile as he moves closer to taking on Trump himself. He wants to make sure voters know there’s a lot more to him.“I’m well known but not known well,” he sa...

Planned Parenthood sues over transgender care investigation

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:56 GMT

Associated Press (AP) — Missouri’s state attorney general is investigating gender-affirming care provided by Planned Parenthood, according to a lawsuit filed by the St. Louis health provider.Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri sued Attorney General Andrew Bailey Friday in St. Louis Circuit Court, according to court documents. Bailey’s office demanded records from Planned Parenthood on March 14 as part of an investigation into treatments provided to transgender youths at an unrelated St. Louis clinic run by Washington University, the lawsuit claims.Planned Parenthood argues in its lawsuit that its clinic has nothing to do with the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, which came under public scrutiny following allegations of mistreatment by a former employee. Planned Parenthood is trying to block access to its records and asked Judge Elizabeth Hogan to tell Bailey he has no authority to investigate the clinic, w...

Tech sector helps lead S&P/TSX composite higher, U.S. stock markets also rise

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:56 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index was up nearly 200 points in late-morning trading as strength in the technology sector helped lead stocks higher, while U.S. stock markets also gained ground.The S&P/TSX composite index was up 183.32 points at 20,124.31.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 254.31 points at 33,113.34. The S&P 500 index was up 33.67 points at 4,084.50, while the Nasdaq composite was up 122.41 points at 12,135.88.The Canadian dollar traded for 73.90 cents US compared with 73.89 cents US on Thursday.The May crude contract was up 18 cents at US$74.55 per barrel and the May natural gas contract was up eight cents at US$2.18 per mmBTU.The June gold contract was down US$5.30 at US$1,992.40 an ounce and the May copper contract was down a penny at US$4.08 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 31, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD=X)The Canadian Press

Greece: Suspects in foiled Passover attack appear in court

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:56 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Two men accused of planning a Passover attack on a Jewish center in central Athens appeared in court Friday to answer to terrorism charges and were ordered to remain in pre-trial detention, authorities said.Greek officials announced the suspects’ arrests earlier this week and described the men as being of Pakistani origin.Police alleged they were planning to attack the Chabad of Athens center, which is part of Judaism’s international Chabad-Lubavitch movement. The center hosts religious services, as well as a kosher restaurant and grocery.Passover, one of the most important Jewish holidays, starts next Wednesday at sundown.Investigators are trying to determine whether the suspects were planning attacks at other locations. Police have searched multiple sites in Athens as well as in southern Greece and on the western island of Zakynthos.The two men appeared before a public prosecutor, who ordered their detention in prison pending trial.A third man, wh...