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Catcher interference on the rise as big league backstops squeeze in for pitch framing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:47 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Trying to make the most of his powerful swing, White Sox slugger Luis Robert Jr. lets the ball run deep into the strike zone sometimes.That’s when it happens.“When I do that, the catchers, they might think that I am not swinging (for) the ball and they try to reach the ball while I am swinging,” Robert said through a translator. “I think that’s the reason why in my case.”The end result is often interference, putting Robert on first base and handing an error to the catcher. It has happened to Robert five times already this season, and he is far from alone.Through Thursday’s big league games, there have been 57 catcher interference calls, up from 38 at the same point last year. The number was 35 through June 29 in 2021 and 30 in 2019, according to Sportradar. The 2020 season started on July 23 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.Since 1974, the highest single-season total for catcher interference calls is 74 last year, followed by 62 in 2021.The increase ...

Five year plan released for KFL&A healthcare

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:47 GMT

Healthcare providers in the Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington have released a new five year plan that aims at tackling the gaps that exist in the local healthcare system. It’s part of a province wide effort to build Ontario Health Teams (OHT) that can look to build community oriented partnerships to pursue healthcare solutions that fit within the landscape of individual regions. The FLA OHT is one of 54 teams that blanket Ontario, and the area was one of the first to adopt the the Ministry of Health initiative in 2021. FLA OHT combines over 300 healthcare and wellness providers in the region, including large partners like Queen’s University, Providence Care and Kingston Community Health Centres.The local health team’s Executive Lead, Kim Morrison, says this is really the first opportunity the province has given communities to build solutions from the ground up. She says it’s no secret that the state of the healthcare system is not enviable, but this c...

$80K worth of fireworks confiscated by Denver police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:47 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The Denver Police Department seized about $80,000 in illegal fireworks on Monday, the department posted on its Facebook page with a video of what was confiscated. As officers are focused on cracking down on illegal fireworks before the Fourth of July holiday, a tip led them to a residence in southwest Denver. DPD said officers found approximately $80,000 in fireworks being illegally sold from the home. Colorado’s fireworks laws have a wide range. Here’s what you need to know The DPD District 4 narcotics team and the bomb squad were able to collect all the fireworks for safe disposal."As a reminder, ALL fireworks are illegal to sell, purchase, possess and light in Denver," the post on the Facebook page read.DPD asks anyone with information about the illegal sale of fireworks in the Mile High City to call 720-913-2000 and press 2 or Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867).

Road construction to stop for July 4th weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:47 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The Colorado Department of Transportation is reminding people to prepare for traffic on one of the year's busiest travel weekends. Colorado is one of the nation's best places to find a getaway considering its ready access to the outdoors and in-state recreational destinations. Traffic will be even worse than usual this year according to AAA, which predicts a July 4 travel record. Coors Field covered in hail after storm in Denver "AAA projects 50.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this Independence Day weekend, setting a new record for the holiday," according to a release. "Domestic travel over the long weekend will increase by 2.1 million people compared to 2022. This year’s projection surpasses the previous July 4th weekend record set in 2019 of 49 million travelers."To help minimize potential traffic delays, CDOT is suspending all construction and maintenance projects from midday Friday until Wednesday, July 5. The only exception is...

Police arrest 36-year-old woman accused of killing husband in 2019 shooting in Miami

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:47 GMT

Miami-Dade Police on Friday arrested a woman accused of fatally shooting her husband during a 2019 confrontation in Miami. Aimee Martinez, 36, was charged with first-degree murder.According to investigators, on March 10, Martinez called 911 and told the operator that she shot her husband several times during the confrontation. Once officers arrived at the scene at 4730 SW 67th Ave., they discovered Martinez’s husband, 34-year-old Osmanny Montano, suffering from gunshot wounds. When Miami-Dade Fire Rescue arrived to the home, they pronounced Montano deceased at the scene. During their investigation, detectives were able to determine that statements provided by Martinez were refuted by physical evidence. The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s office then determined there was probable cause to believe that Martinez committed first-degree murder.

Bike ride event “Critical Mass” to impact Miami and Miami Beach traffic

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:47 GMT

Critical Mass, a popular bike ride event that draws in hundreds of cyclists, will be taking over the streets of Miami and Miami Beach once again. The ride is scheduled for tonight, starting around 7:15 p.m.The event isn’t officially sanctioned or permitted by the city, but to keep everyone safe, the Miami Beach Police Department will have officers stationed at important intersections along the route.https://twitter.com/MiamiBeachPD/status/1674791583965941761?s=20Be prepared for some traffic disruptions as this event will have an impact on the roads for at least three hours.The cyclists will enter Miami Beach by riding across the 79 Street Causeway, and then they’ll continue along Indian Creek Drive. From there, they’ll make a right turn onto W 41 Street, followed by a left turn onto Pine Tree Drive, and finally merge onto Dade Boulevard. At Dade Boulevard, they’ll head west towards the Venetian Causeway, where they’ll exit Miami Beach and continue ...

Baked Garlic Pasta / Belkys

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:47 GMT

Ingredients:1 8-ounce block of feta cheese1 cup garlic cloves1/2 cup olive oil2 cups fresh spinach2 cups uncooked orzo1/2 lemon, juicedMethod of Preparation:Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Prepare orzo according to directions on the box- making sure to save at least one cup of pasta water when straining.Next, add garlic, feta, olive oil, salt and red pepper flakes to a baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes.Remove from heat and lightly mash up the garlic and then stir the feta into it. Add the spinach, pasta, lemon juice and stir. If it’s dry, add leftover pasta water, stirring in 2 tablespoons at a time to make the sauce creamier. Plate and top with a sprinkle of lemon juice.Enjoy!

France braces for more violence with armored vehicles, extra cops deployed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:47 GMT

PARIS — The French government is scrambling to find a way to curb the violence that has rocked the country for three nights in a row after a teenager was shot dead by police during a traffic stop.After French President Emmanuel Macron chaired a government crisis meeting Friday, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said armored vehicles and extra police forces would be deployed in an attempt to curtail riots, as authorities geared up for another night of violent outbursts.Speaking on French TV Friday evening, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced that 45,000 police officers would be mobilized — 5,000 more than Thursday. He added that 917 people were arrested on Friday. Several suburban cities around Paris have brought in night-time curfews through to Monday. Many school events that were scheduled to take place over the weekend, a week away from the summer break, have been cancelled. Buses and trams will stop circulating after 9 p.m. throughout France.There has been unrest across Fran...

Walgreens is closing 450 locations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:47 GMT

New York (CNN) — Walgreens expects to close 150 locations in the United States and 300 locations in the United Kingdom, Walgreens Boots Alliance CFO James Kehoe said in the company’s earnings call this week.The pharmacy chain reported lower earnings on Tuesday compared to the same quarter last year – $118 million, or 14 cents a share, compared to $289 million, or 33 cents a share, a year ago. The company is facing muted consumer spending and a pullback in demand for Covid vaccines.CEO Rosalind Brewer said the company was increasing its cost-savings efforts to $4.1 billion and “taking immediate actions to optimize profitability for our US healthcare segment.”Kehoe told analysts the company will have saved $3.3 billion by the end of this year, and is projecting to save “at least” $800 million in 2024. These store closures are part of its cost-cutting effort.Kehoe said the company also eliminated more than 500 roles, or around 10% of its corporate and US office support workforce. ...

State Department failed to plan or respond fast enough in Afghanistan collapse, new US report finds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:47 GMT

By MATTHEW LEE and NOMAAN MERCHANT (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department failed to do enough planning before the collapse of the U.S.-backed government in Afghanistan, according to a Biden administration review of the department’s performance during the chaotic evacuation of Americans and Afghan allies. The review repeatedly blames the administrations of both former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden for their efforts before and after the August 2021 departure of U.S. forces from Kabul. Republicans have in turn accused Biden of not taking responsibility for intelligence failures leading up to the Taliban’s seizure of the country and for the scenes of chaos at Kabul’s airport, where 13 Marines died in a suicide bombing. The Biden administration released sections of the long-awaited State report, which was completed in March 2022, on the Friday before the July 4 holiday weekend, though it withheld most of the report from public re...