Team meeting spurs changes as Twins embark on second half of season

Published Sun, 01 Dec 2024 05:16:21 GMT

Team meeting spurs changes as Twins embark on second half of season BALTIMORE — The message was placed in a prominent spot, written on the dry erase board near the entrance to the visitor’s clubhouse at Oriole Park at Camden Yards for all to see.“Let the season begin,” it said in black ink. A rectangular red box had been drawn around it, helping reinforce the note. The Twins’ lineup, as usual, was posted right next to it. But there was something unusual about that, too, a familiar name occupying an unfamiliar spot to him.A frustrated Rocco Baldelli talked of changes — some that would be visible, some that might not — after the Twins lost to the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. That loss capped off a sweep in which the team scored just three runs in three games and went a collective 0 for 23 with runners in scoring position.A visible change: Shortstop Carlos Correa, for the fourth time in his career, batted leadoff in Friday night’s game against the Baltimore Orioles, an idea that the manager said he’s been thinking about “for a while.” The shortst...

St. Paul school’s beloved pet goat ‘Hazelnut’ is stolen from pen, then found dead Friday

Published Sun, 01 Dec 2024 05:16:21 GMT

St. Paul school’s beloved pet goat ‘Hazelnut’ is stolen from pen, then found dead Friday A beloved goat that was stolen from a St. Paul school earlier this week was found dead Friday morning, police said.The goat, a 2-year-old, 120-pound female named “Hazelnut,” was reported missing Tuesday morning from Great River School at 1326 Energy Park Drive. Security video showed people around her pen the night before, authorities said.The Montessori charter school asked the public for help in locating Hazelnut, saying its student body was heartbroken about the theft of the trained and friendly Oberhasli goat, said Sgt. Mike Ernster of the St. Paul Police Department.About 9 a.m. Friday, police responded to a report of “suspicious items” in the 300 block of Lafond Avenue, some two miles southeast of the school, and found the remains of a goat in a plastic storage box, Ernster said.“Preliminary investigation revealed that there is a high likelihood that this goat is, unfortunately, the one that was stolen,” he said.No arrests have been made. The ...

Cohoes stabbing, assault suspect pleads not guilty

Published Sun, 01 Dec 2024 05:16:21 GMT

Cohoes stabbing, assault suspect pleads not guilty COHOES, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A 39-year-old man accused of attacking two people in Cohoes appeared in court on Friday. Thomas Spears pleaded not guilty to four counts, including Attempted Murder in the Second Degree.He was remanded to jail pending an application for bail and is due back in court in August. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Spears is accused of stabbing someone in the neck with a screwdriver at the Stewart's Shop on Columbia Street. The victim suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries. He also allegedly attacked a woman in the Columbia Gardens apartment complex.Orders of protection were issued for the victims.

Avalanche’s Denis Malgin, Ryan Merkley to become unrestricted free agents

Published Sun, 01 Dec 2024 05:16:21 GMT

Avalanche’s Denis Malgin, Ryan Merkley to become unrestricted free agents The Colorado Avalanche extended qualifying offers to all of their restricted free agents except Denis Malgin and Ryan Merkley by the deadline to retain negotiating rights to those RFAs.The list of players who have been extended qualifying offers is made up of Bo Byram, Ben Meyers, Justus Annunen, Sampo Ranta, Alex Newhook (who was traded to Montreal) and new trade acquisition Ross Colton.Malgin and Merkley, both acquired in midseason trades during 2022-23, will become unrestricted free agents Saturday as a result of not receiving qualifying offers. Merkley didn’t appear in an Avalanche game, but Malgin scored 13 goals in 65 games and even slotted into Colorado’s top-six forward group when the team was dealing with injuries.The deadline for eligible RFAs to file for salary arbitration is July 5. Malgin was arbitration-eligible, so the Avalanche allowing him to go to the open market is a sign that the process might have led to an average annual value Colorado wouldn’t have felt comfor...

LAX bans single-use plastic water bottles to reduce waste 

Published Sun, 01 Dec 2024 05:16:21 GMT

LAX bans single-use plastic water bottles to reduce waste  Beginning today, travelers will no longer be able to use plastic water bottles in the Los Angeles International Airport, the company announced. The company tweeted, “Effective today, LAX will ban the sale of single-use plastic water bottles.” The ban comes two years after the L.A. Board of Airport Commissioners announced in 2021 that they’d be phasing out single-use plastic bottles at LAX and Van Nuys airports to move toward zero-waste in their facilities and fight climate change. "Eliminating single-use plastic water bottles is the right thing to do for our airports, our communities and our environment," said Justin Erbacci, Chief Executive Officer, LAWA. "We thank L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti for leading the city’s vision for a better, more sustainable future and our Board of Airport Commissioners for taking action to achieve zero waste at our airports by 2045."To aid the transition of banning single-use plastic water bottles, the L.A. Department of Water and Power part...

Lakers bring back Hachimura on 3-year deal: reports

Published Sun, 01 Dec 2024 05:16:21 GMT

Lakers bring back Hachimura on 3-year deal: reports A late season acquisition for the Los Angeles Lakers who contributed some critical scoring performances in the NBA Playoffs is returning on a new deal. Hours after the NBA Free Agency window opened on Friday, the Lakers agreed to a deal with Miami Heat point guard Gabe Vincent. The team followed that transaction by agreeing to a deal that brings back forward Rui Hachimura into the Lakers rotation.Hachimura, 25, is returning to the Lakers on a three-year, $51 million deal, according to the Athletic's Shams Charania. Hachimura was acquired by the Lakers in a mid-season trade with the Washington Wizards. The former Gonzaga product was traded by Washington to L.A. for Kendrick Nunn and multiple second-round picks.The No. 9 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Hachimura appeared in 33 games for the Lakers, averaging 9.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game for the Purple and Gold in the regular season. But it was the Western Conference Playoffs where the former Bulldog made his presence known...

Extreme heat, wildfire threats cover July 4th festivities in Southern California

Published Sun, 01 Dec 2024 05:16:21 GMT

Extreme heat, wildfire threats cover July 4th festivities in Southern California As an excessive heatwave warning covers July 4th festivities in SoCal, fire officials are concerned as scorching temps amid wildfire season may be a recipe for disaster.The threat of fireworks or explosives igniting a wildfire remains high as Inland Empire fire crews remain on alert throughout the holiday weekend.Earlier on Friday, the Lantz Fire in Moreno Valley promoted evacuations as it grew to about 15 acres. Video from the scene shows air crews overhead working to extinguish the flames which had grown dangerously close to Russ Holt’s home.“My kids are the ones who called the fire department,” said Holt. “You can see the smoke right over the hill, so they ran over there to see what was going on and they see the homeless camp burning.”“The fire started in an area that we see a lot in Riverside County,” said Rob Roseen with Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire. “It’s an area that’s got a lot of light, grassy fuels.”A home burns in the Juniper Fire in Riverside County, California. J...

Single-family residence in Danville sells for $2.3 million

Published Sun, 01 Dec 2024 05:16:21 GMT

Single-family residence in Danville sells for $2.3 million 826 Ackerman Drive – Google Street ViewA 2,226-square-foot house built in 1977 has changed hands. The spacious property located in the 800 block of Ackerman Drive in Danville was sold on June 12, 2023, for $2,295,000, or $1,031 per square foot. The property features four bedrooms, two bathrooms, an attached garage, and two parking spaces. It sits on a 0.4-acre lot, which also has a pool.These nearby houses have also recently changed hands:On Matadera Circle, Danville, in June 2022, a 2,065-square-foot home was sold for $1,650,000, a price per square foot of $799. The home has 2 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.A 2,065-square-foot home on the 800 block of El Cerro Boulevard in Danville sold in June 2022, for $1,850,000, a price per square foot of $896. The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.In August 2022, a 3,055-square-foot home on Turrini Drive in Danville sold for $2,300,000, a price per square foot of $753. The home has 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. 

VanVleet to Houston; many big names stay put as NBA free agency opens

Published Sun, 01 Dec 2024 05:16:21 GMT

VanVleet to Houston; many big names stay put as NBA free agency opens Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma (33) dribbles during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors, Thursday, March 2, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)(AP/Nick Wass) Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma (33) dribbles during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors, Thursday, March 2, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)(AP/Nick Wass) Fred VanVleet bet on himself, and the Houston Rockets are the beneficiaries.On an opening night of free agency where most big names — Kyrie Irving, Draymond Green, Khris Middleton, Kyle Kuzma and more — stayed put, VanVleet is headed to a new home. He agreed to a three-year deal Friday with the Rockets that’...

Steer’s two-run shot in 11th gives Reds wild 7-5 win over Padres

Published Sun, 01 Dec 2024 05:16:21 GMT

Steer’s two-run shot in 11th gives Reds wild 7-5 win over Padres CINCINNATI (AP) — Spencer Steer hit a game-winning two-run home run in the 11th inning and the Cincinnati Reds overcame Alexis Díaz’s first blown save of the season in a wild 7-5 win over the stumbling San Diego Padres on Friday. Elly De La Cruz doubled to drive in Jonathan India with the tying run and De La Cruz tried to score from third on Nick Senzel’s grounder to third off Drew Carlton, but was called out because he touched catcher Gary Sánchez’s left foot — a call that survived video review. Steer followed with his homer off Drew Carlton (2-1).“It was pretty cool that it worked out there,” Steer said. “We think we have a win and then the call doesn’t go our way. I know I kind of said one of those moments. It was a weird situations. I probably won’t have another one in my career. You wait to see what happens.”Sánchez drove in Xander Bogaerts from second base in the top of the 11th to put the Padres up 5-4, but they couldn’t avoid their sixth straight loss. David Duarte (1-...