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Building up: How Lego sets have helped Orioles rookie Gunnar Henderson ‘decompress’ through early-season struggles

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:40:34 GMT

For Gunnar Henderson, “Star Wars” Lego sets aren’t only a way to compete with Orioles prospect Colton Cowser, though their 2023 race is set to begin soon. They’ve also helped Baltimore’s prized rookie put his mind at ease amid a relatively slow start to his first full major league season.Hits have been hard to come by for Henderson, a 21-year-old infielder who began this year as baseball’s unanimous top prospect and a favorite to be American League Rookie of the Year. That’s why many nights, he’s found himself piecing together a Lego Imperial Star Destroyer.“Everybody has their own way to decompress, and it’s just something that just kind of gets your mind off everything,” Henderson said. “You just go back home, build for a little bit, and then eventually you come out with something fully made. It’s definitely different, but I enjoy it.”Modeling the triangular spaceship from the opening scene of the ...

N.Y. AG James launches investigation into NFL workplace discrimination, harassment

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:40:34 GMT

The NFL is under investigation for workplace discrimination, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Thursday.James and her California counterpart, Rob Bonta, are investigating the league’s corporate offices after numerous women reported harassment and unequal practices during their time working for the most powerful sports league in America.“No person should ever have to endure harassment, discrimination, or abuse in the workplace,” James said. “No matter how powerful or influential, no institution is above the law, and we will ensure the NFL is held accountable.”The league and its 32 franchises have been accused of various forms of harassment and discrimination in the past half-decade. Most notably, Congress issued a 79-page report on how owner Dan Snyder and the Washington Commanders “covered up decades of sexual misconduct.”However, James and Bonta’s investigation does not focus on the individual franchises, but the NFL&#...

Shaquil Barrett’s wife shares first message after 2-year-old daughter’s drowning death: ‘Our world will never be the same’

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:40:34 GMT

The wife of NFL star Shaquil Barrett shared an emotional message to their 2-year-old daughter in her first public comment since the child’s death.Arrayah drowned after falling into a swimming pool on Sunday, according to the Tampa Police Department, which said the “tragic incident” appeared to be accidental.“Our world will never be the same,” Jordanna Barrett wrote Wednesday in an Instagram post. “Arrayah was the apple of my eye, and my heart will forever be with hers. I love you so much my baby. I am so so sorry. Until we see each other again, please watch over your siblings and momma and dada. We love you forever and ever and always.”Shaquil Barrett, who plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Jordanna married in 2012 and have three other kids together.“I can’t wait to see that precious smile again, and just hug you so close,” Jordanna wrote. “I would do absolutely anything. There is no Barrett 6 without you, and we...

Prince William pours a pint, meets public before coronation

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:40:34 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Prince William has poured a pint of ale and taken a ride on the subway with his wife Kate as part of a royal ramble in central London before King Charles III’s coronation. With just two days to go until Saturday’s coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey, William and Kate took time to chat with royal fans, tourists and Londoners on Thursday in the U.K. capital’s bustling Soho entertainment district.The pair took their first trip on the Elizabeth line, named after Queen Elizabeth II and the latest line on London’s busy train network. They then stopped at the historic Dog and Duck pub, where William went behind the bar and poured a pint of Kingmaker, a pale ale brewed to celebrate the coronation. William joked that he would have to watch how much he drank and “get back into work mode.”Hundreds of royal fans — some hailing from China, Canada and the United States — lined the streets of Soho, hoping for a glimpse of the couple, a handshake or ...

Ex-NBA star Shawn Kemp pleads not guilty to shooting charge

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:40:34 GMT

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Former NBA star Shawn Kemp pleaded not guilty Thursday to an assault charge after prosecutors accused him of shooting at a man while attempting to retrieve a stolen cell phone.Kemp was released without bail following the arraignment in Pierce County Superior Court in Washington state.He was arrested after the shooting in a parking lot outside the Tacoma Mall on March 8 and released the following day pending further investigation. No one was injured, and Kemp’s lawyers insisted he returned fire in self defense after tracking and trying to retrieve a cellphone that had been stolen from him earlier that day.However, a probable cause statement by Tacoma police, filed along with first-degree assault charges last month, did not indicate Kemp was shot at. It said some of his statements were not corroborated by surveillance video, and that just 13 minutes before he arrived at the mall, he sent a text message saying, “I’m about to shoot this (expletive).”The document sai...

Weddings, funerals, coronations: A look at the history of royal live broadcasts

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:40:34 GMT

Few live news events capture global attention like a Royal Family milestone, and the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday promises to be a strong draw for royal and history buffs.Canada’s major networks are planning live broadcast coverage when the King and Queen Consort, Camilla, are crowned in a ceremony at London’s Westminster Abbey on Saturday at 6 a.m. ET.The last coronation took place 70 years ago with the crowning of Queen Elizabeth II. The elaborate three-hour ritual was the first coronation to be televised.Buckingham Palace says that event drew 27 million TV viewers in the United Kingdom alone – out of a population of 36 million at the time – while 11 million listened on the radio.Since then, multiple royal funerals, weddings and tell-all interviews have captivated audiences, even as many viewers shifted to digital streaming platforms in recent years. Here’s a look at past royal events that were beamed across the globe. Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, Sept. 19, 20...

Environment Canada opens Fisheries Act investigation into Kearl tailings releases

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:40:34 GMT

EDMONTON — Environment Canada is opening an investigation into whether Imperial Oil broke federal laws with two releases of tailings from its Kearl oilsands mine in northern Alberta.The federal agency’s enforcement branch says it is looking into whether the releases broke the Fisheries Act, which forbids putting hazardous materials into waters inhabited by fish. In May 2022, Imperial workers discovered what they at first called discoloured water seeping from one of the mine’s tailings ponds. The substance was later found to be groundwater mixed with mine tailings.Another release in February sent 5.3 million litres of contaminated surface water overflowing from a containment pond. Environment Canada has confirmed the presence of hydrocarbons and naphthenic acids in a small fish-bearing lake located almost entirely within Imperial’s leaseFederal inspectors have already said they believe the tailings-contaminated groundwater and surface water to be hazardous to wildl...

As cities recover from flooding, Quebec premier warns not enough money to go around

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:40:34 GMT

MONTREAL — Quebec Premier François Legault says the province doesn’t have enough money to satisfy all the demands from cities for climate change-related projects.Legault made the comments today as cities and towns across the province clean up after severe flooding washed out roads and cut off communities from basic services.Quebec municipalities are asking for $2 billion in new money over five years to deal with climate adaptation, noting that each dollar invested now will save taxpayers in the long term.But Legault told an annual meeting of municipal leaders that his government has already committed $1.4 billion for climate change adaptation.He says Environment Minister Benoit Charette will soon announce $500 million in new money to help cities adapt to the changing climate.About 100 municipalities have been affected by recent bouts of heavy rain, with about 1,000 homes flooded and 3,000 cut off by water.This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 4, 2023.The Ca...

Harris meets with CEOs about artificial intelligence risks

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:40:34 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris met on Thursday with the heads of Google, Microsoft and two other companies developing artificial intelligence as the Biden administration rolls out initiatives meant to ensure the rapidly evolving technology improves lives without putting people’s rights and safety at risk.The Democratic administration announced an investment of $140 million to establish seven new AI research institutes.In addition, the White House Office of Management and Budget is expected to issue guidance in the next few months on how federal agencies can use AI tools. There is also an independent commitment by top AI developers to participate in a public evaluation of their systems in August at the Las Vegas hacker convention DEF CON.The Thursday meeting was designed for Harris and administration officials to discuss the risks they see in current AI development with the CEOs of Google, Microsoft and two influential startups they support: Microsoft-backed Ope...

Shopify to reduce workforce by 20% as it narrows focus to core e-commerce business

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:40:34 GMT

TORONTO — Shopify Inc. says it will reduce its head count by about 20 per cent and sell its logistics business as it aims to reduce distracting “side quests” in the latest big change by the Canadian tech company.The changes come despite Shopify president Harley Finkelstein saying in February that there were no more cuts in the works.Finkelstein told The Canadian Press on Thursday that the company has no further plans to cut more workers.“We think on the other side of this, we’re going to be in really, really good shape,” he said.The Ottawa-based e-commerce giant is selling its logistics business to Flexport, a supply chain management company. It announced the moves as a way to help it focus on its main goal: making commerce easier.Achieving that feat means reducing “side quests” which chief executive Tobi Lutke described as “always distracting because the company has to split focus.” “Technological progress always arcs towa...