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Yankees’ catching coordinator pleased with Austin Wells’ defensive growth

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:57 GMT

Ever since the Yankees drafted Austin Wells 28th overall in 2020, there have been questions about the catcher’s defense.Even the Yankees’ catching coordinator, Tanner Swanson, acknowledged that those concerns existed when Wells left the University of Arizona. But Swanson, who gets progress reports on all of the organization’s catchers and keeps up with what Wells is doing on a daily basis, is pleased with the strides the farmhand has made.“Sometimes it’s hard to shed those narratives or the stigma. As an industry, we’re pretty quick to label guys, especially early, as soon as you acquire them,” Swanson told the Daily News of Wells. “He definitely had question marks defensively when we got him, but he’s done nothing but perform defensively since he’s been in our system. So there’s been a lot of really, really positive signs of his growth as a receiver, a blocker. The arm has come a long way since college.”Swanson...

Ticker: American Airlines sues a travel site to crack down on consumers who use this trick to save money; FEMA has paid out more than $5.6 million to Maui survivors, a figure expected to grow significantly

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:57 GMT

American Airlines is suing a travel website that sells tickets that let people save money by exploiting a quirk in airline pricing.American sued Skiplagged Inc. in federal court in Fort Worth, Texas, this week, accusing the website of deception. It threatened to cancel every ticket that Skiplagged has sold.In a practice called skiplagging and hidden-city ticketing, travelers book a flight that includes at least one stop, but they leave the plane during a layover. Generally skiplagging is not illegal, but airlines claim that it violates their policies.FEMA has paid out more than $5.6 million to Maui survivors, a figure expected to grow significantlyThe Federal Emergency Management Agency said Friday it has approved more than $5.6 million in assistance to nearly 2,000 households in Maui so far as the federal government tries to help survivors of the devastating wildfires.The White House and FEMA approved a one-time payment of $700 per household for needs like clothing, food, or transp...

Jermaine Wiggins Era begins at Brockton High with high expectations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:57 GMT

BROCKTON — If there were any motto to define what Jermaine Wiggins wants to see as the new Brockton coach, it was on the back of T-shirts worn by coaches and players for Friday’s practice.Spread across in white lettering on the black shirts, it read “Nothing Goes Unnoticed.”That idea, a pledge to detail and accountability, acts as Wiggins’ main message as he replaces Peter Colombo. Before Colombo, Peter’s late father, Armond, led the Boxers, as the program had a Colombo leading the way every year since the late 1960s.But now, it’s a new day, and Wiggins, a former New England Patriots tight end, knows there isn’t anything he will do as coach of the Boxers that will go unnoticed. After practice Friday, Wiggins seemed excited to get started.“And it’s ‘Nothing Goes Unnoticed’ good or bad. So if you’re doing good things, it’s being noticed. If you’re doing bad things, it’s being noticed,” Wigg...

New beginning for Justin Flores, Everett High football program

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:57 GMT

EVERETT – Justin Flores’ first audible wasn’t the most popular one, but proved to be the most prudent course of action.The first-year Everett football coach debated whether to tempt fate and hold the team’s first practice outdoors as regularly scheduled or play it safe and move things indoors in the event of rain. Flores opted for the latter and it turned out to be a wise move as the skies opened up just as practice began and rained for the better part of 45 minutes, flooding some of the roads around Everett Memorial Stadium.“It was 9:30 in the morning and I was thinking where to practice because of the weather,” said Flores, who accepted the job in late June. “When I told the guys we were going to be in the gym, they weren’t happy because they wanted to practice outdoors, but I explained the situation and that we needed to reserve the gym then or someone else would take it.”The opening day wasn’t as fluid as Flores would have liked, but the 31-year-old...

A family, a beloved sister, 2 senior housing residents. These are some of the lives lost in Maui

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:57 GMT

By MICHAEL CASEY, PAT EATON-ROBB and BEATRICE DUPUY (Associated Press)Wildfires devastated parts of Maui in Hawaii last week, leaving a trail of destruction and devastation, decimating a historic town. While many still wait in agony for news on whether their friends and family are safe, more than 100 people have been pronounced dead — making it the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than 100 years. Here are the stories of some of those who died. ___BEST FRIENDSVirginia Dofa, 90, and Louise Abihai, 98, were best friends who lived in the Hale Mahaolu Eono senior housing facility on Lahaina, said Clifford Abihai, who is Abihai’s grandson. Authorities have confirmed the death of Dofa, who Clifford Abihai said was the mother of his uncle’s wife. Dofa was found in her apartment, he said. Louise Abihai remained missing. Clifford Abihai said Dofa and his grandmother went to the same church and would go out to eat at McDonald’s. They were confidants and “always tog...

Federal judges rule against provisions of GOP-backed voting laws in Georgia and Texas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:57 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Federal judges in Georgia and Texas have ruled against key provisions of two controversial election laws passed two years ago as the Republican Party sought to tighten voting rules after former President Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 presidential contest.U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez struck down a provision of Texas’ law requiring that mail voters provide the same identification number they used when they registered to vote. He ruled the requirement violated the U.S. Civil Rights Act because it led to people being unable to cast ballots due to a matter irrelevant to whether they are registered.The change led to skyrocketing mail ballot rejections in the first election after the law passed in September 2021 and was targeted in a lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice.“This ruling sends a clear message that states may not impose unlawful and unnecessary requirements that disenfranchise eligible voters seeking to participate in our democra...

Officials identify IRS agent who was fatally shot during training exercise at Phoenix firing range

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:57 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — An Internal Revenue Service agent who was shot and killed during a routine training exercise in Phoenix was identified by the agency Friday.Special agent Patrick Bauer, 47, was fatally wounded Thursday at a firing range in north Phoenix, the IRS said in a news release.Bauer was a retired master sergeant in the Arizona Air National Guard. He leaves behind a wife and four children.Charlotte M. Dennis, a spokesperson for the IRS Phoenix field office, said he died shortly after arriving at HonorHealth Deer Valley Medical Center.No other injuries were reported. IRS officials have not given any details on the nature of the exercise and how many other agents were taking part. The range is on property that belongs to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. But because of an interagency agreement, other law enforcement agencies typically use the facility.Officials with the FBI’s Phoenix field office said they will oversee the shooting investigation. The results will be turned ove...

Dufferin Grove neighbourhood shows how preserved heritage buildings are being reused

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:57 GMT

As many Toronto neighbourhoods continue to see a boom in developments, Dufferin Grove isn’t excluded. However, for those who want to step back in time and enjoy heritage buildings, the neighbourhood is one to check out.Along Sterling Road, east of Dundas Street West and south of Bloor Street West, lies a collection of historical structures worth exploring. At the centre of this Dufferin Grove street is Ethica Coffee Roasters.The business, dedicated to selling single-origin coffee by the glass or by the bag from countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia and Kenya, is in an old industrial warehouse property that was constructed in the late-1800s near multiple rail lines. Liza Dobrokhodova, a spokesperson for the company, said the owners leaned into the building’s heritage in order to help build the brand.“I think in our community people who come to Ethica, when they think about Ethica, they definitely feel think about the exposed brick walls and window...

‘Like 100 years of firefighting in one night’: The battle for West Kelowna, in quotes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:57 GMT

WEST KELOWNA, B.C. — Here’s what some people are saying about the unfolding wildfire disaster in the Okanagan, where the McDougall Creek fire has forced thousands of people to evacuate from West Kelowna. The blaze has destroyed a significant number of properties.“It was a devastating night last night, probably the toughest of my career. We fought hard last night to protect our community. It was like 100 years of firefighting in one night.”— West Kelowna fire Chief Jason Brolund“To see the fire jumped a lake like that was unreal … And within eight minutes, it felt like a quarter of the mountain was on fire …“There were people that can’t go anywhere. They think their houses burned down, but they are not sure. You can just see this look on their face.”— West Kelowna photographer Darren Hull“’It’s probably the worst wildfire I’ve ever recorded just because of the human impact … It’s a bit like spitting on a campfire when you have a fire th...

Planned Parenthood appeals ruling that let Nebraska abortion ban stand

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:57 GMT

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Planned Parenthood of the Heartland has appealed a judge’s ruling that left a new Nebraska law intact that bans abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy and imposes restrictions on gender-affirming surgery.Planned Parenthood filed its appeal Friday with help from the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska, one week after a judge sided with the state and rejected the challenge to the law Nebraska lawmakers approved earlier this year.The lawsuit had argued that the law violated a Nebraska constitutional rule that bills cannot contain more than one subject, but the judge disagreed. Lawmakers added the abortion ban to an existing bill dealing with gender-related care.The law outlaws abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy with exceptions for rape, incest and to save the life of the mother. As of Oct. 1, it also will prevent people under 19 from receiving gender-affirming surgery and restricts the use of hormone treatments and puberty blockers for minors.Ruth Richa...