Brayan Bello says he’s ready after strong rehab start with WooSox

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:00:34 GMT

Brayan Bello says he’s ready after strong rehab start with WooSox WORCESTER — Heading into this week the hope was Brayan Bello would only need just one more rehab start before he’d be ready to make his big league return.He sure looked ready Tuesday night.Bello was sharp in what should be his final rehab start with the Worcester Red Sox, allowing one run over six strong innings of work. The second-year right-hander struck out four, allowed four hits and no walks, and threw 81 pitches (50 for strikes) in Worcester’s 10-3 loss to the Columbus Clippers.“I think this is my last start here,” Bello said afterwards via translator Jesus Quinonez. “It’s their decision, I don’t know the plan or what they’re thinking but I think I’m ready to go back.”The lone blemish on his line was a fourth inning solo home run surrendered to Zack Collins, but other than that Bello was in control, with his fastball topping out at 97 mph. All of his strikeouts were swinging, and Bello also generated lots of weak cont...

B’s win to set points record, lose Linus Ullmark to injury

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:00:34 GMT

B’s win to set points record, lose Linus Ullmark to injury The Bruins won their 64th game of the season in their regular season Garden finale on Tuesday, but they did not escape their 5-2 victory over the Washington Capitals without a major concern.Linus Ullmark had to leave the game with 9:39 left in the third period. Just a little bit earlier in the game, he had gotten up slowly after he slid into the post in attempt to make the save. There was no immediate word on his condition.Ullmark, the clear Vezina Trophy favorite, is arguably the team MVP. And as good as Jeremy Swayman has been this year, especially lately, any potential loss of Ullmark would be devastating.Otherwise, the B’s checked a few boxes in the home finale:*Get Brad Marchand off the schneid? Check. He snapped a 16-game goal-less streak.*Continue rebuilding the power play? Check. They went 2-for-2 and looked good doing it.*Set the record for most points in a season? Check. They earned their 132nd and 133rd point, surpassing the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens. That Habs tea...

Gallery: Bruins win another, 5-2 against the Capitals

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:00:34 GMT

Gallery:  Bruins win another, 5-2 against the Capitals The Boston Bruins beat the Washington Capitals 5-2 at the Garden

What a wildflower bloom looks like from space

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:00:34 GMT

What a wildflower bloom looks like from space SAN DIEGO -- The extremely wet winter Southern California endured this year has been extraordinarily beneficial for plants, especially wildflowers.A superbloom, which occurs when mass amounts of wildflower grow in a barren landscape, can be found across the Golden State for the 2023 spring season. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) released satellite images comparing an arid April 2022 desert in Carrizo Plain National Monument, located just west of Bakersfield, to a blooming one on April 6.The images were captured by NASA's Operational Land Imager-2 on Landsat 9.Satellite image shows a desert blooming in Carrizo Plain National Monument in Central California on April 6, 2023. (NASA)Satellite image shows a desert blooming in Carrizo Plain National Monument in Central California on April 6, 2023. (NASA)Los Angeles-based nonprofit, The Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers & Native Plants, described the natural phenomenon at Carrizo Plain during Calif...

Tim Scott to unveil 2024 White House exploratory committee

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:00:34 GMT

Tim Scott to unveil 2024 White House exploratory committee COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina is taking the next official step toward a bid for president in 2024.Scott is set to announce the formation of an exploratory committee, according to a person familiar with his plans who spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday night ahead of the official announcement.In an email to supporters, Scott teased that he would be making a “major announcement” during an appearance on Fox News on Wednesday morning.“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking the past few months,” Scott wrote. “I’ve been thinking about my faith. I’ve been thinking about the future of our country. And I’ve been thinking about the Left’s plan to ruin America.”For months, Scott has been developing the infrastructure to accompany a bid for the White House, building out his political action committee and visiting early voting states. This week, Scott returns to New Hampshire and Iowa for roundtable discussions and meet-and-greets with voters, before heading ba...

Biden aide, Saudi leader discuss efforts to end Yemen war

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:00:34 GMT

Biden aide, Saudi leader discuss efforts to end Yemen war WASHINGTON (AP) — White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan spoke by phone with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday amid signs that the Saudis and Iran-allied Houthis in Yemen are making “remarkable progress” toward finding a permanent end to their nine-year conflict, according to the Biden administration.The crown prince, often referred to by his initials MBS, has had a strained relationship with President Joe Biden over human rights and oil production concerns. But the de facto Saudi leader and the president’s top national security adviser decided to talk amid encouraging signs on winding down the long and bloody war, a top priority for Biden.The call came after Saudi diplomat Mohammed bin Saeed al-Jaber met with Houthi officials in Yemen’s capital Sanaa on Sunday for talks that were aimed at accelerating negotiations on ending the war.The White House said in statement that Sullivan “welcomed Saudi Arabia’s extraordinary efforts” to purs...

RoboCop? No, RoboDog: Robotic dog rejoins New York police

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:00:34 GMT

RoboCop? No, RoboDog: Robotic dog rejoins New York police NEW YORK (AP) — New York City officials unveiled three new high-tech policing devices Tuesday, including a robotic dog that critics called creepy when it first joined the police pack 2 1/2 years ago.The new devices, which also include a GPS tracker for stolen cars and a cone-shaped security robot, will be rolled out in a manner that is “transparent, consistent and always done in close collaboration with the people we serve,” said police Commissioner Keechant Sewell, who joined Mayor Eric Adams and other officials at a Times Square press conference where the security robot and the mechanical canine nicknamed Digidog were displayed.“Digidog is out of the pound,” said Adams, a Democrat and former police officer. “Digidog is now part of the toolkit that we are using.”The city’s first robot police dog was leased in 2020 by Adams’ predecessor, former Mayor Bill de Blasio, but the city’s contract for the device was cut short after critics derided it as creepy and dy...

‘BLK: An Origin Story’ takes home five Canadian Screen Awards on first day

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:00:34 GMT

‘BLK: An Origin Story’ takes home five Canadian Screen Awards on first day TORONTO — A docuseries exploring the untold stories of Black Canadians was among the big winners Tuesday at the Canadian Screen Awards.Episodes of “BLK: An Origin Story,” which aired on Global and is streaming on StackTV, took home five trophies, including best direction for a documentary series and best photography for a documentary or factual.It also won CSAs for best photography, best writing and best original music for a documentary.Meanwhile, the apocalyptic Crave series “We’re All Gonna Die (Even Jay Baruchel)” won four statuettes: best factual series, along with best picture editing and best direction for a factual program, as well as the Barbara Sears Award for best editorial research.Nisha Pahuja’s documentary “To Kill a Tiger,” about a father’s journey following his daughter’s rape, won the Ted Rogers best feature-length documentary award, along with best original music in a feature-length documentary and best edi...

Hearing pushed back for Alaska illustrator on threat charge

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:00:34 GMT

Hearing pushed back for Alaska illustrator on threat charge JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A court hearing was pushed back until next week for an Alaska children’s book illustrator charged with terroristic threatening after authorities said he posted around the capital city transphobic notes that referenced shooting children.Mitchell Thomas Watley, 47, was scheduled for a preliminary hearing Tuesday, but Assistant District Attorney Rexene Finley asked that it be moved to April 21. She said she expected an indictment prior to that date. State District Court Judge Kirsten Swanson granted the request.Watley’s attorney, Nick Polasky, declined comment to reporters. Watley spoke a few words in court, acknowledging that Swanson had pronounced his name correctly. Court records show his wife posted $10,000 bond in his case last week.Watley is accused of leaving business card-size notes at a grocery store, state office building and a Costco with an image of an assault rifle, the colors of the transgender flag and the text “Feeling Cute Might Shoot ...

Canadian economy a ‘black cloud with no silver lining’: Maru index

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:00:34 GMT

Canadian economy a ‘black cloud with no silver lining’: Maru index A monthly index that tracks how Canadians feel about their personal finances and the broader economy plummeted in April to its lowest ever level.The Maru Household Index Report for April 2023 is at 83, down dramatically from its high-point of 107 back in July 2021. April’s number is the lowest since it began tracking two years ago.“On a personal level, Canadians are more pessimistic this month when it comes to their job security, desire to invest, and ability to put money away for long term savings,” the monthly report reads.“As for the economy, two thirds share an increasingly persistent view that it’s on the wrong track and with no prospect of improving any time soon.”“Clearly, the recent federal budget had no positive impact on the outlook for the country’s economic improvement…”More Canadians are worried about personal job loss, with one in seven saying it’s likely they will lose their job over the next two months.Confidence ...