Orioles acquire pitcher Jack Flaherty from the Cardinals and hold onto their top prospects

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:48:11 GMT

Orioles acquire pitcher Jack Flaherty from the Cardinals and hold onto their top prospects St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jack Flaherty throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, July 26, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)(AP/Matt York) St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jack Flaherty throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, July 26, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)(AP/Matt York) The Baltimore Orioles face a daunting task down the stretch as they try to hold off the rest of a loaded AL East.Their rotation has been adequate so far, but there are a lot of innings still to come. So they added right-hander Jack Flaherty in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals.“We need help with the inn...

Castellanos slugs 2-run homer in 9th inning as Phillies rally to beat the Marlins 3-1

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:48:11 GMT

Castellanos slugs 2-run homer in 9th inning as Phillies rally to beat the Marlins 3-1 MIAMI (AP) — Nick Castellanos slugged a tiebreaking two-run homer in the ninth inning to rally the Philadelphia Phillies to a 3-1 win over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night.Castellanos, who has been mired in an 8-for-68 skid in the second half of the season, drilled a slider from Marlins closer David Robertson over the wall in left-center to punctuate the three-run outburst in the inning.Robertson (4-3) relieved starter Sandy Alcantara and allowed a leadoff walk to Kyle Schwarber. After a strikeout, Bryce Harper hit an opposite field double that scored pinch-runner Jake Cave from first. Alcantara followed up his second complete game in his last start by limiting the Phillies to four hits over eight scoreless innings. He allowed a walk and had five strikeouts.Garrett Cooper and Jean Segura were in Miami’s original starting lineup before being traded shortly before gametime. Cooper was dealt to San Diego, and Segura went to Cleveland.Philadelphia acquired All-Star right-hander Michae...

Dose of ‘Double Swaby’ has Jamaica on cusp of Women’s World Cup history against Brazil

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:48:11 GMT

Dose of ‘Double Swaby’ has Jamaica on cusp of Women’s World Cup history against Brazil SYDNEY (AP) — Lennox Swaby couldn’t see who put the ball in the net to give Jamaica its first Women’s World Cup win, 1-0 over Panama. After the video board showed the replay, the fans surrounding him in the Perth stadium stands began to cheer and congratulate him.One of his daughters – and yes, he had two on the field – had scored the goal.“There’s hardly words to explain,” said Swaby, reached by phone Wednesday morning. “It’s just so real.”On Wednesday night, Allyson and Chantelle Swaby and the rest of the Reggae Girlz were playing No. 8 Brazil in Melbourne for a chance to make more Jamaican soccer history. A win would advance 43rd-ranked Jamaica past the group stage for the first time. Jamaica’s defense against Brazil was likely to rely once more on the Swaby sisters, a pair of defenders coach Lorne Donaldson likes to call “Double Swaby.”Jamaica played No. 5 France to a 0-0 draw in its opener and both teams had four points heading ito the last of the Group F games. Wedged between ...

Will universal pre-K save Colorado's low rankings for early childhood education?

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:48:11 GMT

Will universal pre-K save Colorado's low rankings for early childhood education? DENVER (KDVR) -- Colorado's universal pre-K system starts in a matter of weeks, and it could maybe save the state's otherwise poor rankings for early childhood education.The Colorado General Assembly passed a bill in 2022 that will give all Colorado families a chance to access 10 hours of free preschool per week for all 4-year-olds beginning in 2023. According to one study, however, Colorado's early education access is one of the nation's worst in the years before the bill kicks in. Colorado Day brings 2 new state license plates Financial adviser WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 12 early childhood education metrics, including the share of school districts that offer a state pre-K program, the number of pre-K quality benchmarks met and the total reported spending per child enrolled in pre-K.Colorado ranks 11th lowest among U.S. states and the District of Columbia for its overall early education offerings. This is the weighted score across three ...

Jets' Hackett says Broncos' Payton broke a coaches' code with his disparaging comments

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:48:11 GMT

Jets' Hackett says Broncos' Payton broke a coaches' code with his disparaging comments FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Nathaniel Hackett isn't expecting a phone call from an apologetic Sean Payton any time soon.The New York Jets offensive coordinator was disappointed by disparaging comments made by the Denver coach last week in a story published by USA Today in which he called Hackett’s 15-game stint with the Broncos last season ”one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL.”Hackett, hired by the Jets during the offseason, said Payton — without ever mentioning him by name — broke an unwritten code among coaches with his public criticism.“Before we get started, I just want to say something real quick,” Hackett said Tuesday to open his first news conference of training camp. "Obviously, last week has been a very unique week, I think, for this organization. And, I’ve been involved in this business my whole life, 43 years. And as a coach, as a coach’s kid, we live in a glass house. We know that. We all live in different rooms. We've all got a key for it.“And it’s on...

Police search for hit-and-run driver in SW Miami-Dade

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:48:11 GMT

Police search for hit-and-run driver in SW Miami-Dade Police are looking for a driver who crashed his SUV, left his vehicle and took. The vehicle was seen traveling down the road, hitting several cars and was flipped.It happened Monday morning near Southwest 137th Avenue and 260th Street. The driver got out and walked away. He was wearing white pants and a blue jacket.If you have any information on this crime, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

The Schemer: Inside French commissioner Thierry Breton’s plot to run Europe

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:48:11 GMT

The Schemer: Inside French commissioner Thierry Breton’s plot to run Europe BRUSSELS — When Thierry Breton first floated the idea of becoming European Commission president, not even he seemed to take the idea very seriously.“I may be able to consider a new Plan B assignment,” the internal market commissioner replied with a smile, when asked at a POLITICO event whether he wanted the top job, prompting laughter.But as the European Parliament election draws closer, Breton’s “Plan B” pitch to take over leadership of the EU executive is coming into greater focus.A former minister and tech CEO who was France’s second choice for European commissioner, Breton amassed a vast amount of power within the Berlaymont building where the commissioners sit, putting his stamp on everything from COVID vaccines to artillery shells for Ukraine’s war effort to enforcement of the EU’s digital rules. His job — overseeing the hallowed single market of the 27 EU member countries — is one of the most critical portfolios in Brussels, and previous occupants of the post have includ...

The British public’s mounting food price anxiety

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:48:11 GMT

The British public’s mounting food price anxiety Liv Walsham is an associate director at Public First.“The cost of the food shopping. That has just gone up by a stupid amount.’’These are the words of a woman from Bolton who voted Conservative in 2019 and is now thinking about voting Labour. It was also the sentiment of every single voter I spoke to for a report on boosting Britain’s agriculture to make its food system more resilient. And this palpable anxiety about rising prices was echoed in our Public First poll too, with 94 percent of the British public reporting they’re concerned about food prices — similar to the level of concern they have about energy prices and wait times for the National Health Service.The British public are feeling out of pocket, and they’re highly stressed about the cost of their weekly shopping. So, while many in government might feel comforted by recent inflation figures showing a small drop, it’s worth remembering that for the people we spoke to, prices will still be going up. And that when the prime ...

China found influence in Europe’s west — not east

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:48:11 GMT

China found influence in Europe’s west — not east Andreea Brinza is vice president of the Romanian Institute for the Study of the Asia-Pacific.Soon after its inception in 2012, China’s then 16+1 mechanism for cooperation with Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) was deemed by some observers as a divide et impera strategy against the European Union.But what a difference a decade makes, as it is, ironically, Western Europe that’s now putting the Continent’s unity on China to the test.Regarded as small, in need of money, plagued by democratic issues and easy to influence, CEE countries were once seen as Beijing’s Trojan horse in Europe. And there were fears that a flood of Chinese investment would buy political influence, threatening the bloc’s cohesion when it comes to China — but that’s not how it happened.Firstly, China didn’t deliver on its promises. With CEE countries only getting around 10 percent of promised investments between 2000-2022, China had a negligible economic footprint in most of these nations. But more importantly, most...

Excitement builds for fans as Beyoncé takes the stage at Gillette Stadium for first local show since 2018

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:48:11 GMT

Excitement builds for fans as Beyoncé takes the stage at Gillette Stadium for first local show since 2018 The stage is set in Foxboro where Beyoncé is scheduled to take the stage at Gillette Stadium Tuesday night for her first local show since 2018. Beyoncé will be making her fourth appearance in Foxboro as she brings her Renaissance tour to town.As fans prepare for the concert, crews were making final preparations on Monday, setting up the stage and other equipment. Parking lots were scheduled to open for Beyoncé’s show at 4 p.m. The show itself is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. and fans are encouraged to arrive early because there is no opening act. Fans expressed excitement for seeing Beyoncé live, citing her emotional lyrics, fashion and artistic concerts.