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Column: Dansby Swanson’s forgettable spring continues, but the Chicago Cubs aren’t worried about their $177 million man

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:54 GMT

After signing a seven-year, $177 million deal in December to be the centerpiece of the Chicago Cubs lineup, Dansby Swanson entered the final weekend of Cactus League play hitting .059.It wasn’t just a subpar spring. No one in spring training with 30 or more at-bats had a lower batting average than the new Cubs shortstop.In his first at-bat Friday in a 5-3 win against the Texas Rangers at Sloan Park, Swanson hit a slow roller to the right side but legged out an infield single thanks to a poor defensive play. He finished the day 1-for-3 to increase his average to .081.There’s no shortage of stories of players putting up abysmal numbers in spring training and starting the season red-hot and vice versa. Swanson’s slow start shouldn’t be cause for concern — unless it carries over into the season.Manager David Ross said he wasn’t worried about Swanson’s spring.“I don’t want to single out Dansby, but everybody in camp is always working ...

Dylan Cease named opening-day starter for Chicago White Sox: ‘It’s definitely one of those really incredible honors’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:54 GMT

Dylan Cease looked ready for the regular season in his final spring tuneup Friday against the Oakland Athletics.His next outing will be on opening day for the Chicago White Sox.The right-hander officially was named the starter for Thursday night’s nationally televised game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.“It means a lot,” Cease said Friday at Hohokam Stadium. “I’ll definitely being doing a lot of reflecting tonight and this coming week, thinking about my journey. It’s definitely one of those really incredible honors and I’m very excited for it.“Just going from being a kid and playing and then playing in high school and getting through the minor leagues. Just a lot of steps and just one of those things where when you make it, it almost doesn’t feel real. It’s definitely one of those special things.”It’s the first time Cease, 27, has received the first-game opportunity.“Getting to the big leag...

Harvard, Merrimack eliminated from NCAA hockey tournament

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:54 GMT

The day began with such promise as the Harvard and Merrimack College men’s hockey teams were set to open the NCAA Tournament as two hungry teams in the 16-team tournament.But the Massachusetts squads were emphatically ousted before 4,462 fans at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.Harvard was toppled 8-1 by Ohio State in the afternoon game, while Merrimack was blanked 4-0 by Quinnipiac in the nightcap.Boston University is the lone Massachusetts school still in the hunt for the national title.Ohio State 8, Harvard 1: Only a late goal prevented Harvard (24-8-2) from getting shut out.The nation’s fourth-leading scorer, Harvard junior Sean Farrell, was held to an assist by a determined Ohio State (21-15-3) squad. Farrell entered the game with 53 points.Trailing 8-0, Harvard got on the board with 3:14 left in regulation when Farrell and Ian Moore set up a goal by John Farinacci.Ohio State dominated the opening two periods, outshooting the Crimson Tide by a wide 34-8 marg...

SDSU beats Alabama to advance to Elite 8

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:54 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego State University Aztecs men's basketball team will continue to dance in the NCAA Tournament after defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide Friday in the Sweet 16 round, 71-64.The Aztecs advance to the Elite 8 where they'll play the winner of the Creighton vs. Princeton matchup.Full story coming soon.

Drag community shows up to protest Nebraska drag show bill

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:54 GMT

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill that would criminalize exposing anyone 18 or younger to a drag show in Nebraska was the last one to get a public hearing in this year’s legislative session late Friday. But those opposed to the bill made sure the final hearing went out with a flash of glitter and sequins.Among scores of people who showed up to voice their opposition were more than a dozen dressed in drag, including heavy makeup, wigs and evening gowns.The bill’s main sponsor, conservative Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil, said the legislation is intended to protect children “from being exposed to overly-sexualized and inappropriate behavior far too early.”The bill defines drag as a performance by someone presenting a gender identity that is different than the performer’s gender assigned at birth. It would make exposing a minor to a drag show a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail. The bill comes amidst a national push by conservatives to restrict drag shows, transgender h...

Coyotes minority owner suspended by NHL following arrest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:54 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Arizona Coyotes minority owner Andrew Barroway was suspended indefinitely by the NHL on Friday following his arrest for domestic violence in Colorado.Barroway spent Thursday night in Pitkin County Jail after police arrested him at an Aspen hotel on a felony strangulation charge, according to a police report obtained by the Aspen Daily News.“The National Hockey League is aware of the arrest of Arizona Coyotes’ minority owner Andrew Barroway,” the NHL said in a statement. “Pending further information, he has been suspended indefinitely.”The 57-year-old Barroway was arrested after a verbal altercation with his wife turned physical, according to the police report. He is prohibited from having contact with his wife, except when it involves their children, and can’t consume alcohol under a court order.Barroway faces a Class 4 felony charge of second-degree assault related to strangulation and a third-degree assault charge, according to a court affidavit.A...

Los Angeles schools, union leaders reach contract deal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:54 GMT

The Los Angeles Unified School District and union leaders said Friday they reached a deal on a new contract for workers after a strike that shut down the nation’s second-largest school system for three days.The agreement includes a pay raise for workers such as bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers, special education assistants and other support staff. Union leaders from Local 99 of the Service Employees International Union say that will raise the average pay for those workers significantly. The deal must still be voted on by the full union. The roughly 30,000 workers represented by the union walked off the job from Tuesday to Thursday amid stalled contract talks. Classes resumed Friday.District superintendent Alberto Carvalho, SEIU Local 99 Executive Director Max Arias and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced the deal together.Members of United Teachers Los Angeles, the union representing 35,000 educators, counselors and other staff, joined the picket lines in solidarity.The...

Gwyneth Paltrow testifies she initially feared ski collision was a sexual assault

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:54 GMT

PARK CITY, Utah (KTVX) — In a non-traditional twist, Gwyneth Paltrow was called to the stand by her opposition this afternoon in the Deer Valley Ski Resort crash injury case involving Dr. Terry Sanderson.Sanderson's attorneys spent most of their direct examination trying to replay the crash, which Paltrow repeatedly testified was Sanderson's fault. Neurologists, Sanderson’s daughter take the stand in ski crash case against Gwyneth Paltrow Paltrow testified that she was skiing downhill with her children, Apple and Moses, when a man skied up behind her, with his skis sliding between hers, moving her legs apart. He "pressed" his body against hers, making a "grunting noise" before the two fell to the ground several seconds later.Paltrow told the court that, in the moment, she originally thought she might have been in the midst of a sexual assault due to the confusion. Sanderson's defense attorney, Kristin van Orman asked why she might have thought it was a sexual assault."Was he ...

Texas communities with the best public schools in 2023: report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:54 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – When it comes to buying a home, the quality of the area's public schools can play a major role in the planning decision – even if you don't have young children, proximity to quality districts can affect home values.Niche, a data site that specializes in education rankings, weighed a number of factors, including academic performance, diversity, parent/student surveys, sports, clubs and more to determine which communities in Texas have the best public schools in 2023. Chick-fil-A discontinuing longtime side dish to ‘help simplify’ menu When it comes to the top 20 places in Texas, communities in the greater Austin area took the top two spots, Niche found:PlaceMetro areaState2023 ranking2022 ranking2021 rankingRollingwoodAustin AreaTexas111West Lake HillsAustin AreaTexas222CoppellDallas-Fort Worth AreaTexas344University ParkDallas-Fort Worth AreaTexas433SouthlakeDallas-Fort Worth AreaTexas566Highland ParkDallas-Fort Worth AreaTexas655FriscoDallas-Fort Worth AreaTexas797Fl...

Walkout ceremony held for longtime Troy detective

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:54 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A longtime detective with the Troy Police Department honored with a walkout ceremony on Friday. Det. Colleen Goldston retired after serving the city for nearly 40 years.She led the city's Drug Education for Youth Program for 12 years but said her favorite memories were spent working downtown building relationships with business owners and community members. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "I never could have imagined the things I've seen, done and learned and all the great people I've met over the years," she said. "I'm sure at some point, somewhere, I've done some good here, and I'm hoping that anyone young and newer that saw anything I did that they thought was good continues that."Goldston said she is looking forward to spending some well deserved time with her family.