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Marlins finalizing deal with Rays GM Peter Bendix to lead front office, AP source says

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:53:28 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Marlins are hiring Tampa Bay general manager Peter Bendix to head their baseball operations department, a person with knowledge of the decision said Sunday night.The move is expected to be finalized in the coming days, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Marlins had not announced the deal. It could be completed in time for Tuesday’s start of baseball’s annual general managers’ meetings in Scottsdale, Arizona.The Athletic first reported the agreement.Bendix will take over the department previously overseen by Kim Ng, who had been general manager of the Marlins for the last three seasons. Ng elected to leave the team last month after she and Marlins owner Bruce Sherman evidently could not agree on the structure of the department going forward; the Marlins had exercised a contract option to keep Ng in 2024, but Ng declined.Bendix spent 15 seasons with the Rays, starting as an intern and gettin...

Giants QB Daniel Jones to undergo MRI after injuring right knee vs. Raiders

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:53:28 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones will undergo an MRI on Monday after injuring his right knee in Sunday’s 30-6 loss at the Las Vegas Raiders.Coach Brian Daboll said an X-ray showed “nothing wrong,” but would wait until the results of additional tests before making any definitive judgments.“We’ll see where it’s at,” Daboll said.Jones went down awkwardly on the first play of the second quarter and untouched while dropping back to pass and then grabbed his knee. He first injured it on the final play of the first quarter, going down untouched before Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby touched him down.Daboll said Jones said at the time it “felt like it buckled,” but nevertheless thought he could return to open the second quarter.Jones was taken to the blue injury tent and replaced by Tommy DeVito. He later walked to the locker room with head trainer Ronnie Barnes. Jones signed a $160 million, four-year extension with New York in the offseason. Thi...

China Premier Li seeks to bolster his country’s economic outlook at Shanghai trade fair

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:53:28 GMT

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Sunday pledged to continue deepening reforms, expand free trade zones and relax market access for foreign investment while seeking to generate excitement around a largely lackluster economy. Li made the remarks when delivering a keynote speech at the opening of the 6th China International Import Expo in Shanghai, seeking to draw thousands of foreign businesses shopping for Chinese products and looking to expand trade and investment with the world’s second-largest economy. China’s economy expanded at a 4.9% annual pace between July-September, beating analysts’ forecasts of about 4.5%, official data show. But that was much slower than the 6.3% annual growth rate of the previous quarter.The Chinese government has adopted various policies to help the economy; raising spending on building ports and other infrastructure, cutting interest rates and easing curbs on home-buying. But economists say wider reforms are needed to addre...

Gaza has lost telecom contact again, while Israel’s military says it has surrounded Gaza City

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:53:28 GMT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Gaza lost communications Sunday in its third total outage of the Israel-Hamas war, while Israel’s military said it encircled Gaza City and divided the besieged coastal strip into two.“Today there is north Gaza and south Gaza,” Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters, calling it a “significant stage” in Israel’s war against the Hamas militant group ruling the enclave. Israeli media reported troops were expected to enter Gaza City within 48 hours. Strong explosions were seen in northern Gaza after nightfall.The “collapse in connectivity” across Gaza, reported by internet access advocacy group NetBlocks.org and confirmed by Palestinian telecom company Paltel, made it even more complicated to convey details of the new stage of the military offensive.“We have lost communication with the vast majority of the UNRWA team members,” U.N. Palestinian refugee agency spokesperson Juliette Touma told The Associated Press. The first Gaza outage lasted 36...

El debate sobre el aborto y las elecciones en Virginia

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:53:28 GMT

Las curules de la Asamblea General de Virginia están en juego en las elecciones del 7 de noviembre, y la mirada de la legislatura hacia temas como el aborto podrían ser exponencialmente distintas dependiendo de quien se alza con el control de la cámara y el senado local. “Virginia es un estado clave porque es el único estado del sur donde actualmente no hay una restricción o prohibición del aborto, entonces no solo protege los derechos reproductivos de las personas en Virginia sino de toda una region”, dijo Alejandra Soto, de la organización Planned Parenthood Action Fund. El debate continúa, y el estado hoy más que nunca es protagonista.“Yo soy provida, y pienso que el aborto despues de ciertas semanas es un crimen porque los bebes pueden sentir el dolor”, dijo Art Estopinan, un analista republicano. “Los democratas no estamos promoviendo el aborto. Queremos que la mujer haga sus propias decisiones, que no sea una política machista diciéndole que es lo que tiene que hacer...

Fans roar for Brittney Griner before Team USA routs Lady Vols in exhibition

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:53:28 GMT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Fans of the Tennessee Lady Vols never forget where someone played college, especially not a player that beat their beloved team. On Sunday night, they roared when Brittney Griner was introduced as a starter for the U.S. women’s national team before an exhibition. “I actually talked to people that said they were coming specifically to see her and to watch her play,” Tennessee coach Kellie Harper said. “And they had become fans throughout her challenges in the last year or so, and I was really happy for that team to feel that from our fans.”The only other player to come close to a similar ovation was five-time Olympic gold medalist Diana Taurasi despite her playing in college at UConn — the biggest rival for the No. 11 Lady Vols.Sunday night marked Griner’s first time playing a game with “USA” on the front of her jersey since celebrating winning her second Olympic gold medal in August 2021 at the Tokyo Games. The reception Griner would r...

Panthers rookie QB Bryce Young places blame squarely on himself after throwing two pick-6s in loss

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:53:28 GMT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Bryce Young isn’t playing the blame game.Yes, the rookie quarterback has been under constant pressure all season, sacked 26 times and hit 53 times in his seven NFL starts. And outside of veteran Adam Thielen, the depth is thin at wide receiver and tight end. And the Panthers’ running game has been sporadic at best this season.All of that would make it easy for the No. 1 overall pick to complain about his current circumstances.But Young said Sunday’s 27-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, a game in which two of his three interceptions were returned for touchdowns by Kenny Moore, are squarely on him.“I turned the ball over three times and two of them turned into 14 points, and that’s how you lose a game,” Young said. “Everyone else around me did a great job and it’s on me. It is what it is, and I have to be better. But no one is going to feel sorry for me and no one is going to feel sorry for us.”The last part is certainly true for Thursday nigh...

Poetry Emotion: Sentiments drive work of Prince William County’s youngest Poet Laureate

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:53:28 GMT

Prince William County Poet Laureate Michelle Garcia Woodbridge seen at Woodbridge Senior High School's unveiling ceremony for The Origin Project on May 24, 2023. (Courtesy, Michelle Garcia. Photo by Cathy Hailey) Prince William County Poet Laureate Michelle Garcia Woodbridge seen at Woodbridge Senior High School's unveiling ceremony for The Origin Project on May 24, 2023. (Courtesy, Michelle Garcia. Photo by Cathy Hailey) Michelle Garcia loved books as a child, and a love for writing quickly followed. In fact, she wrote her first nonfiction piece at age 11, memorializing the day her grandfather passed away from cancer.“I’ve always been a writer before I was even old enough to know it,” she said. “It’s been innate ...

Chapman, Kiermaier win 4th Gold Gloves; rookies Volpe and Doyle also win

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:53:28 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Toronto third baseman Matt Chapman and outfielder Kevin Kiermaier won their fourth Gold Gloves, while New York Yankees rookie shortstop Anthony Volpe and Colorado rookie center fielder Brenton Doyle were among 13 first-time winners of the fielding honor.Toronto, Texas and the Chicago Cubs tied for the high among clubs with three winners each, Rawlings announced Sunday.Cleveland second baseman Andrés Giménez and left fielder Steven Kwan won their second Gold Gloves, along with Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson and left fielder Ian Happ and Arizona first baseman Christian Walker.First-time AL winners included Texas catcher Jonah Heim, first baseman Nathaniel Lowe and right fielder Adolis García, Toronto pitcher José Berríos, Houston utilityman Mauricio Dubón and Volpe.In the NL, first-time winners included San Diego right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. and utilityman Ha-Seong Kim, Philadelphia pitcher Zack Wheeler, Arizona catcher Gabriel Moreno, Cubs second baseman Nico Hoer...

Dak Prescott and Dallas lament missed chances in 28-23 loss to Philadelphia

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:53:28 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Dak Prescott got all the help he needed — thanks to a startling 56 yards of Eagles’ penalties — to deliver the Cowboys to the brink of an extraordinary victory that would have kept them in the mix for the top spot in the NFC.The Cowboys fell oh-so short.About 5 yards shy, in fact, of the go-ahead touchdown when CeeDee Lamb was wrapped up by Darius Slay in the final seconds that sealed Dallas’ 28-23 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night.The Cowboys (5-3) needed a major comeback to even try and pull this game out — and they’ll need an even bigger resurgence to make a run at the NFC East crown.The 49ers already blew out Dallas 42-10 last month. This loss — in a game stuffed with close calls that never went their way — left the Cowboys 2½ games behind the Eagles (8-1) for first in the division.Sure, nine games are left, including a Dec. 10 primetime home rematch against the Eagles, but two losses already to two of the top teams in the conference have left D...