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Celtics VP of public relations Heather Walker dies at 52

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:49:34 GMT

Longtime Celtics Vice President of Public Relations Heather Walker has passed away. Walker lost her battle with glioblastoma Wednesday morning. She was 52. Walker’s passing was announced on social media accounts for the Move4Heather organization.“She isn’t fighting anymore and can finally rest,” the statement said. “She is with so many who have gone before her that I’m sure she was welcomed with open arms.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Stephen Walker (@move4heather)The Celtics also issued a statement, saying Walker boosted spirits and displayed exceptional courage throughout her battle. “Heather Walker was a boundlessly charismatic, giving, and selfless soul,” the team said. “Every room she entered was brighter for her presence.”“As anyone who knew...

Orioles beat Red Sox, 6-2, to take series behind unleashed Tyler Wells, unhittable Yennier Cano

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:49:34 GMT

Throughout 2022, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde routinely pulled Tyler Wells before he truly wanted to. Three years removed from last pitching as a starter — losing a season each to Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery, the coronavirus pandemic and time in Baltimore’s bullpen as a Rule 5 draftee — Wells faced strict limitations in each outing.Consider him unleashed. In Baltimore’s 6-2 victory to take a series from the Boston Red Sox, Wells followed his career-high seven innings last week against the Detroit Tigers with his first major league outing of 100 pitches.Wells’ 102 offerings were not only seven more than he had thrown in any outing since arriving in the majors in 2021, but also the most of his professional career, which began in 2017. He hadn’t reached triple figures in any outing since August 2018 in a start for the Minnesota Twins’ Double-A team.Wells was not particularly efficient in reaching that benchmark, with those pitches t...

Yankees’ bats breakout to salvage series finale vs Twins in 12-6 win

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:49:34 GMT

MINNESOTA — The Yankees only scored two runs in Tuesday’s loss to the Twins, yet Aaron Boone viewed the evening as a step forward amid his team’s offensive drought.A Minnesota error made one of those runs possible, but Boone came away pleased with the Yankees’ approach and aggression. On Wednesday morning, the manager hoped the previous night would serve as a stepping stone as the Yankees sought to hang the “crooked numbers” that Boone desperately craved.“When you’re going through a stretch where we haven’t swung the bats great, we gotta build on things like that,” Boone said before the Yanks’ series finale against the Twins. Hours later, the Yankees beat Minnesota, 12-6, after scoring five runs in the second inning and six in the fourth.The Yankees had some help to begin the second inning, as a hustle double turned into a man on third after a Twins throwing error. Torres then scored when ex-Yankee Joey Gallo couldn&#...

Dolphins’ Durham Smythe throws playful jab at longtime friend Mike Gesicki over departure to Patriots

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:49:34 GMT

Mike Gesicki and Durham Smythe are best friends from five years together on the Miami Dolphins.The two tight ends came into the organization together as members of the same 2018 draft class. They grew up as professionals together in the same positional group and remained together through two coaching changes and more offensive coordinator alterations.After one season under coach Mike McDaniel and his offense, though, Smythe was deemed to fit as the capable blocker while Gesicki, a talented pass-catcher lacking blocking ability, was not. Smythe was given a contract extension while Gesicki was allowed to walk in free agency.But of all the teams Gesicki could’ve gone to, he heads to the division rival New England Patriots. And Smythe threw some playful jabs at Gesicki for making that move in a Tuesday web conference with reporters.“I thought it was a direct shot at me,” Smythe cracked. “Because, if he’s not staying here, that he’d try to get at me in...

Biden, Yoon warn N. Korea on nukes, unveil deterrence plan

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:49:34 GMT

By AAMER MADHANI, COLLEEN LONG and ZEKE MILLER (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and South Korea’s Yoon Suk Yeol unveiled a new plan Wednesday to counter North Korea’s nuclear threat, with the U.S. leader issuing a blunt warning that such an attack would “result in the end of whatever regime” took such action.The new nuclear deterrence effort calls for periodically docking U.S. nuclear-armed submarines in South Korea for the first time in decades, bolstering training between the two countries, and more. The declaration was unveiled as Biden hosted Yoon for a state visit at a moment of heightened anxiety over an increased pace of ballistic missile tests by North Korea.“A nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies and partners is unacceptable, and will result in the end of whatever regime were to take such an action,” Biden said during afternoon Rose Garden news conference with Yoon.Yoon said th...

Review: ‘Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love’ is an old-school NBC special for an old-school talent

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:49:34 GMT

Nina Metz | Chicago TribuneNBC’s “Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love” is a throwback to the kind of old-school specials that rarely air on television anymore.But it’s fitting. Carol Burnett is old-school herself.She’s also one of the executive producers here and her influence on the show’s pacing is evident. In the 11 years that she made “The Carol Burnett Show” from 1967 to 1978, Burnett kept things moving: “I never wanted to reset and retape anything,” she recently told The Hollywood Reporter. “We taped our show in an hour and 15 minutes.”Burnett isn’t on stage this time out, she’s in the audience, but the same philosophy has carried over. Even with careful editing, these kinds of things can sag. She didn’t want that to happen: “I want people to feel like they’re seeing a Broadway show, not sitting around waiting for scenery or costume changes.”Her showbiz instincts have always been razor sharp and they remain so even at age 90.Other details are hazy. Her original show air...

Two UCF men’s basketball players file for early entry to NBA Draft

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:49:34 GMT

The NBA released a list of 242 players from colleges and professional teams who have applied for early entry into the 2023 draft and two members of UCF men’s basketball appeared.Taylor Hendricks, a projected top-10 pick in the June 22 draft, was included as expected.A name that’s somewhat surprising to see listed is UCF guard Ithiel Horton.While Hendricks had already publicly declared for the draft more than a month ago — first by telling ESPN and then sharing a graphic on social media — Horton’s decision to file for early entry comes with little to no fanfare.The redshirt senior guard was one of two Knights to start all 34 games this past season. Hendricks, the program’s first one-and-done, was the other player to do so.It’s unclear when Horton made the decision to enter the draft early but the deadline was Sunday night.If Horton wants to return and join the Knights in the Big 12 Conference for his final year of eligibility, the NCAA’...

Woman hospitalized after being struck by vehicle

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:49:34 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A pedestrian was critically injured after being struck by a vehicle on Wednesday morning, authorities said.The San Diego Police Department told FOX 5 the incident happened around 7 a.m. at the intersection of Westmore Road and Camino Ruiz in the Mira Mesa neighborhood. Workers strike could impact MTS routes Police say the driver of a truck hit a woman who authorities say was in critical condition at the scene. The pedestrian was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The circumstances surrounding the collision have not yet been determined and SDPD is investigating.This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

One year after taking on new name, Toronto Metropolitan University reflects on change

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:49:34 GMT

A year after Ryerson University was reintroduced to the public with a new name – a major move in addressing problematic colonial legacies – its president says the school’s updated identity has helped bring a previously divided campus community together.But some Indigenous faculty say they’re worried progress on reconciliation has slowed considerably since Toronto Metropolitan University took on its new name.University president Mohamed Lachemi said renaming the school has been an important part of its commitment to reconciliation.“The new name proved to be a source of unity,” he said in an interview. “A couple of years ago, the old name was a source of division and frustration, and I’m not feeling that anymore.”The university had faced calls for years to change its name and cut ties with its former namesake, Egerton Ryerson, considered an architect of Canada’s residential school system.Those demands ramped up in 2021 follow...

Montana transgender lawmaker faces possible discipline

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:49:34 GMT

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Republican leaders in Montana are voting Wednesday on whether to discipline transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr for saying her colleagues would “see the blood on your hands” over votes to ban gender-affirming medical care for children.Lawmakers began their session shortly after 1 p.m.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.Republican leaders in Montana will vote Wednesday on censuring or expelling transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr for saying her colleagues would “see the blood on your hands” over votes to ban gender-affirming medical care for children.For the past week, Zephyr has been forbidden from speaking on the House floor. A protest against lawmakers silencing Zephyr disrupted Monday’s House session. Authorities arrested seven people in a confrontation that Republicans claim Zephyr had encouraged. The first-term Democrat received notice from House leaders Tuesday night informing her of the plan to consider disciplinary action a...