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Twins stop record 18-game postseason skid on strength of Royce Lewis home runs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:59 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Royce Lewis smashed Minnesota’s 18-game postseason losing streak into the seats, homering in each of his first two at-bats to carry the Twins to a 3-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in the opener of their AL Wild Card Series on Tuesday.Lewis hit a two-run shot off Kevin Gausman in the first inning and a leadoff drive in the third, sending the home dugout and the sellout Target Field crowd into a frenzy. The bigger celebration occurred a few hours later when Jhoan Duran pitched a hitless ninth to close the first victory in the playoffs for the Twins since Oct. 5, 2004. They had the longest postseason losing streak in major North American professional sports. It was the first home win for the Twins in the playoffs since Game 1 of the ALCS in 2002 at the Metrodome.Lewis was a 3-year-old then. He’s the type of big-time player — with five grand slams in 70 career games — that could lead the Twins on an actual postseason run instead of just hanging a div...

Canada’s House of Commons elects first Black speaker

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:59 GMT

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Canada’s House of Commons on Tuesday elected Greg Fergus as its new speaker, making the Liberal lawmaker the first Black Canadian to hold the position.The election was triggered by the resignation of Anthony Rota, who stepped down last week after he invited — and honored — a man who fought for a Nazi military unit during World War II.Just after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke before the Canadian parliament last month, Canadian lawmakers gave 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka a standing ovation when Rota drew attention to him. Rota introduced Hunka as a war hero who fought for the First Ukrainian Division.Observers later began to publicize the fact that the First Ukrainian Division also was known as the Waffen-SS Galicia Division, or the SS 14th Waffen Division, a voluntary unit that was under the command of the Nazis. Rota later apologized saying he had not been aware of that.Fergus, 54, is a Quebec Liberal lawmaker.After lawmakers elected him to the ro...

Burnley strikes late to beat Luton 2-1 and get its 1st Premier League win of the season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:59 GMT

LUTON, England (AP) — Jacob Bruun Larsen’s dramatic strike snatched Burnley its first Premier League win of the season with a 2-1 victory at Luton on Tuesday.The Dane’s goal-of-the-season contender came after Lyle Foster’s opener had been canceled out by Hatters striker Elijah Adebayo.Burnley went ahead in first-half stoppage time. Sander Berge did well to find Foster who tucked his effort away. Adebayo grabbed Luton the goal it deserved after 84 minutes. Reece Burke got on the end of a deep cross and provided the knockdown to the striker, who sorted his feet out and tapped home to level.But Luton’s joy was short-lived as Burnley scored a second a minute later to stun Kenilworth Road into silence. Bruun Larsen cut inside and produced an outstanding curled effort which found the top corner in front of the away fans.“It was a complete performance in the first half and in the second half it was a battle and we showed character. From our defenders to our midfielders, coming in for...

Aaron Rodgers says he also has an ankle injury, still won’t rule out return this season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:59 GMT

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers said Tuesday he has an ankle injury in addition to the torn left Achilles tendon that he is rehabbing after surgery.During his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” the New York Jets quarterback said he is dealing with a deltoid issue. The deltoid is the main ligament of the inner ankle. Rodgers was wearing an ankle brace while walking with crutches on the sideline before the Jets’ Sunday night loss to Kansas City.The 39-year-old Rodgers reiterated that he has not ruled out returning this season. Jets coach Robert Saleh said after the injury that it was season-ending.Rodgers had surgery on Sept. 13, two days after the injury. Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed the procedure in Los Angeles. There were reports Rodgers had a “speed bridge” procedure, which is designed to accelerate the rehabilitation process.A typical recovery period from a torn Achilles tendon is six to nine months. Rodgers said he’s “well ahead of the normal protoc...

Judge issues gag order and rebukes Trump after social media post attacking his clerk

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:59 GMT

(CNN) — Judge Arthur Engoron rebuked Donald Trump after the former president attacked his clerk in a social media post on Tuesday and forbade the parties from making any future comments about his staff.“This morning one of the defendants posted on (a) social media account a disparaging untrue and personally identifying post about a member of my staff. Although I have since ordered the post deleted and apparently it was, it was also emailed out to millions of other recipients,” the judge said in court.“Personal attacks of any member of my court staff are unacceptable, inappropriate and I will not tolerate them,” the judge said.Trump looked straight ahead at the judge as he issued the order.The judge then said all parties must not speak publicly about any members of the court staff.“Consider this statement an order forbidding all parties from posting, emailing or speaking publicly about any members of my staff,” Engoron said. “Failure to abide by this … will result in serious sanction...

C-3PO ‘Star Wars’ head goes on sale in huge movie memorabilia auction

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:59 GMT

(CNN) — In a galaxy not-so far away, “Star Wars” fans will soon have the chance to buy the head of C-3PO when it goes under the hammer next month as part of a huge movie memorabilia auction.However, you’ll need more than just the force on your side, as the item is expected to fetch up to a staggering £1 million ($1.2 million).The head is one of more than 1,800 pieces of movie and TV memorabilia that will be available at an auction held by Propstore in London and online between November 9 and 12.The item, complete with light-up eyes, comes from the personal collection of C-3PO himself, Anthony Daniels, who played the droid the “Star Wars” movies.Other items from Daniels’ collection that are up for sale include C-3PO’s hands and feet, hand-annotated scripts and an unopened cereal box used as a prop by C-3PO.“I trust that the pieces will go into the right hands,” Daniels said in a press release. “I hope this can bring pleasure to Star Wars fans and collectors all ar...

An oceanside Florida highway may be named after the late Jimmy Buffett

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:59 GMT

(CNN) — Soon, you may be able to cruise down a Florida highway named after singer Jimmy Buffett while listening to his A1A album named after the road.A Florida lawmaker filed a bill Friday to rename State Road A1A, a coastal highway that spans from Key West in the south to Fernandina Beach in the north, in honor of Buffett.The singer, who blended the sounds of the tropics with country, died a month ago from Merkel cell cancer. The 76-year-old entertained audiences for more than five decades with his tales of the people and places he encountered on the road.His audiences subscribed to his vision of a life filled with flip-flops, beaches, boats and booze.State Rep. Chuck Clemons, a Republican, filed House Bill 91 on Friday to give “honorary designation” of certain portions of State Road A1A in specified counties, according to the bill.If the bill gets passed, the state road will be renamed “Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway” in all Florida counties on the East Co...

Boston Mayor Wu backs Weber in District 6 City Council race

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:59 GMT

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is working to influence a fourth City Council race, by throwing her support behind Benjamin Weber, a labor attorney seeking the District 6 seat held by outgoing Councilor Kendra Lara.“I’m proud to endorse Ben Weber to represent District 6 on the City Council,” Wu said in a Tuesday statement. “As a BPS dad, youth soccer coach, neighborhood council member and attorney fighting for workers’ rights, Ben has spent many years actively working for a bright future for our city.“He’ll be an effective partner on the policies and constituent services for Boston to be the best city for families,” she added.Weber, of Jamaica Plain, was the top vote-getter in a September preliminary that eliminated Lara. He will face off against William King, an information technology specialist from West Roxbury, in the Nov. 7 general election.“I am deeply honored to earn the support of Mayor Wu,” Weber said in a Tuesday statement. “We share the same progressive ideals and, if elected, I...

Columbus Day vs. Indigenous Peoples Day fight gets joint hearing, again

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:59 GMT

With Columbus Day around the corner, indigenous residents and supporters of their efforts again asked a joint committee of the Legislature to do away with the holiday in the Bay State.The Spanish-sponsored Italian ship captain born Cristoforo Colombo, known in King Ferdinand’s court as Cristóbal Colón, is not the hero many Americans may think him to be, according to dozens of people who appeared to testify before the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.“Christopher Columbus, as you know, did not discover the Americas. That myth, steeped in racism and violence, has allowed generations to credit a European man with discovering a land already teeming with societies,” state Sen. Joanne Comerford told her colleagues to start Tuesday’s hearing. “Indigenous communities and tribal nations in the Commonwealth and across the United States call us to act.”Comerford and state Rep. Christine P. Barber have offered S.1976/H.2989, or An Act establishing Indigenou...

Pigskin pampering

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:59 GMT

The Patriots Foundation gave 18 cancer survivors a day of pampering at Gillette Stadium Tuesday as part of the NFL’s Crucial Catch Campaign. The day involved candle and jewelry making, manicures, facials, massages, and a visit to the field. Plus, a lot of smiles.Deborah MacEachern works at the jewelry making station as cancer survivors get a “Patriots Day of Pampering” at Gillette Stadium. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)