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Papelbon doubles down on Verdugo criticism: “You’re not a superstar, you can’t pull this”

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:36 GMT

Like many of the great former Red Sox players of the first two decades of this century, Jonathan Papelbon is deeply concerned with the current culture.“There’s no question about that, there’s been a lapse in that culture,” the six-time All-Star closer and franchise all-time saves leader told the Herald by phone on Friday.But while the offseason has been a slow and disappointing one for Boston thus far, Papelbon believes they’ve already made a significant improvement, addition by subtraction:He’s glad they traded Alex Verdugo.When Verdugo gave his first media availability as a Yankee this week, he spoke about being “very, very excited” to work with his new manager, Aaron Boone. “I’ve seen the way (Boone) has his players’ backs. The one that really gets out to me is he’s like ‘these guys are savages and he’s yelling at the umpire,” the outfielder said. “That’s something I want to see out of my head coach, I want to see some f...

2 paramedics found guilty in death of Elijah McClain, who they injected with an overdose of ketamine

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:36 GMT

By COLLEEN SLEVIN and MATTHEW BROWN (Associated Press)BRIGHTON, Colo. (AP) — Two Denver-area paramedics were convicted Friday for giving a fatal overdose of the sedative ketamine in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain – a jury verdict that experts said could have a chilling effect on first responders around the country.The case over the 23-year-old Black man’s death was the first among several recent criminal prosecutions against medical first responders to reach trial, potentially setting the bar for prosecutors in future cases.It also was the last of three trials against police and paramedics charged in the death of McClain, whose case received little attention until protests over the 2020 killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. An Aurora police officer was convicted of homicide and third degree assault earlier this year while two officers were acquitted.The jury found Aurora Fire Rescue paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec guilty of criminally negligent hom...

Boston chamber chief blasts council for not freeing $13.3M anti-terror grant cash

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:36 GMT

The head of the Boston Chamber of Commerce is backing the call for the deadlocked City Council to back $13.3 million in federal counter-terrorism funding.In a letter obtained by the Herald, chamber chief James Rooney said delaying the cash as antisemitism and terrorism threaten the holidays is worry enough.He’s urging the council to “reassemble as soon as possible” and pass the multi-million dollar funding.As the Herald first reported, Boston City Council President Ed Flynn said he’s done with playing “politics with the safety of residents” and is asking the mayor to quickly resubmit her request to allocate the grant money. If not, he vowed to call an emergency meeting next week.Those dollars are for the Metro Boston Homeland Security Region, which includes Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Quincy, Revere, Somerville, and Winthrop.Rooney stressed in his letter supporting Flynn that “last week’s vote by the Boston City Council to reject the  $13....

Mali recalls its envoy in Algeria after alleging interference, deepening tensions over peace efforts

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:36 GMT

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Mali recalled its ambassador in Algeria after accusing it of interference in its internal affairs by meeting rebel leaders, officials said Friday, deepening diplomatic tensions between the two neighbors over efforts to end the armed rebellion in northern Mali.Mali’s junta said it was withdrawing Ambassador Mahamane Amadou Maiga from Algeria “for consultation with immediate effect,” according to a letter from the Malian embassy to the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Algeria has been the main mediator in peace efforts between Mali and the local Tuareg rebels, whose separatist campaign in the north has thrown the country into a violent conflict for over a decade. In 2012, they dislodged the Malian military from the town, setting into motion a series of events that destabilized the country. Algeria was key to the signing of a 2015 peace deal between Mali and the rebels — a deal that collapsed after both parties accused each other of failing to comply with it.Ear...

High school students help local pastor bring Christmas to 2 families in need

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:36 GMT

High school students helped a local pastor bring Christmas a few days early to two South Side families facing hard times.Shonnette Ringgold, who is the matriarch of her 16-person family, said she was grateful for the extra holiday help. Chicago officer helps deliver baby girl in Albany Park Her son, Novajah, was shot and killed outside of their home back in 2017."He was caring, he was giving, fun. He would have been all over the place. So it’s mostly for his babies that I do this. So yeah, I know he watching over me because he loved Christmas," Ringgold said.Thanks to the help of the community, Ringgold was able to provide a Christmas to remember."When I put the word out that I was doing a toy drive, then a young lady reached out to me from Whitney Young High School," Pastor Donovan Price, who hosted the toy drive said. Illinois lottery player turns $5 scratch-off into $400K Pastor Donovan Price hosted the toy drive and was able to bring the holiday cheer partly thanks to a loca...

Illinois lottery player turns $5 scratch-off into $400K

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:36 GMT

BOLINGBROOK, Ill. -- One lucky Illinois resident turned $5 into $400,000 after winning big on a lottery scratch-off ticket purchased in Bolingbrook.While visiting the Tony's Fresh Market in Bolingbrook on the 200 block of Bolingbrook Drive, a lucky player bought a $5 Gold Standard Instant Ticket and ended up winning $400,000. Powerball jackpot climbs to $620M. How much would you actually get in Illinois? Gold Standard Instant Ticket participants have a 1 in 1,992,480 chance of taking home the $400,000 grand prize and only four players will withe top prize.Winners have one year from the date of winning to claim their prizes and players are advised to write their names on the backs of winning tickets and keep them in a safe place until they are ready to claim their prizes.So far in 2023, more than 63 million Illinois Lottery Instant Tickets were sold, winning almost 1.4 billion in prizes. Tony's Fresh Market in Bolingbrook will also receive a selling bonus of $4,000.

Cubs free agency: What's the latest on Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman and Rhys Hoskins?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:36 GMT

CHICAGO — Three high-end free agents still remain in play for the Chicago Cubs so, what's the latest news when it comes to Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman and Rhys Hoskins?Cody BellingerBellinger remains strongly in play to return to the North Side of Chicago, but Major League Baseball's team north of the border are becoming stronger suitors for his talents by the day.According to MLB.com and the New York Magazine's Will Leitch, the Toronto Blue Jays are his No. 1 landing spot for Bellinger after they missed out on Ohtani, with the Cubs coming in at No. 3 on his list."The Blue Jays do make a lot of sense," Leitch told Alanna Rizzo on High Heat Friday. "I think that they could use that kind of extra left-handed bat in the lineup. I think defensively, he works out very well there … If he's going to go somewhere else, I think the Blue Jays are a logical place.""Though, I think it's worth noting, staying with the Cubs I think makes a lot of sense as well," Leitch added. "For all the excite...

FBI: West Ridge bank robbery under investigation

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:36 GMT

CHICAGO -- The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is searching for the suspect who reportedly robbed a bank in the West Ridge neighborhood Friday morning.According to the FBI Chicago Division, the Byline Bank on the 7000 block of North Western Avenue in the city's West Ridge neighborhood around 10 a.m. on Friday. Naperville man sentenced to 10 years for attempted murder of wife A description of the suspect and surveillance camera footage has yet to be released.The FBI are still investigating the incident. No further information has been provided at this time.Stay with WGN-TV as this story develops.

North Dakota lawmakers will miss deadline to redraw map judge said diluted Native American vote

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:36 GMT

Unless North Dakota lawmakers get an 11th-hour reprieve, they will miss the deadline to redraw a legislative map that, according to a federal judge, violated the rights of Native American voters.The North Dakota Legislature on Thursday filed an emergency motion that asked North Dakota U.S. District Court Judge Peter Welte to push back the Friday deadline to finish redistricting. Welte had not filed an answer as of noon Friday.The federal judge ruled on Nov. 17 that a 2021 map approved by the Legislature violated the Voting Rights Act because it “prevents Native American voters from having an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.” The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and the Spirit Lake Tribe brought the lawsuit in February 2022.Welte agreed that lawmakers put the two tribes into separate legislative districts that gave them less of a chance to elect candidates they preferred. Turtle Mountain, which was previously in District 9, was packed into District 9...

Car kills pedestrian on Watervliet Avenue Extension

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:36 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Albany Police Department says a 74-year-old woman was hit by a car and killed on Friday night. They're investigating on Watervliet Avenue Extension. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Just before 6 p.m., officers responded to the area after getting a report that a vehicle hit someone. When they arrived, they found the body of the victim in the road. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say the driver stopped and cooperated with them. No identities have been revealed and no charges filed. Pedestrian, cyclist safety on Central Avenue in question  With the police investigation ongoing, Watervliet Ave. Extension is closed between Everett Road and Watervliet Avenue for now.Related video: Pushing for better pedestrian safety in Albany