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Column: Adbert Alzolay growing more comfortable as the Chicago Cubs’ de facto closer

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:29 GMT

Back in spring training when the Chicago Cubs’ bullpen picture was still fuzzy, manager David Ross said he never felt the need to label anyone as his closer.When you don’t have a closer, you can’t have a closer controversy.Still, it was assumed veteran Michael Fulmer would inherit the role based on his recent experience closing games, and that generally was how the season unfolded in April.But 2 1/2 months in, the look of the back end of the bullpen has changed dramatically. It now appears Adbert Alzolay has taken the closer’s role and run with it.Or has he?“He’s at the back end of our game, for sure,” Ross said. “Is he our closer? You could say at the moment, if it matches up best … him and (Mark) Leiter, we’ve kind of flipped through those pockets. It just seems to be as of late, Leiter’s pocket has been coming in the eighth.”It’s understandable if Ross doesn’t want to mess with success. But no one...

O’Bryant teachers pen opposition to proposed West Roxbury move ahead of first community meeting

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:29 GMT

Two teachers at the O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science wrote an open letter outlining broad concerns with the proposal to move the school to West Roxbury announced weeks ago.“We understand that many students, staff, and families have conflicting feelings about this proposal, but as long-time BPS teachers, we believe moving Boston’s most diverse exam school to the least T-accessible neighborhood in the city is not in the best interests of our students,” wrote history teacher Aparna Lakshmi and English teacher Robert Comeau in a letter published on Schoolyard News.The letter comes nearly two weeks after Mayor Michelle Wu and Superintendent Mary Skipper announced a proposal to move the O’Bryant to a West Roxbury Educational Complex and expand Madison Park Technical Vocational High School — two schools that currently share a campus.Officials noted the proposal will take several years to implement. The first remote community meeting on the O’Br...

Four kids found hidden in filthy South Boston apartment where a man died: ‘Sickening’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:29 GMT

Four children living in squalid conditions while being hidden from first responders were found in an apartment filled with “alcohol, drugs, sex toys” and a dead man, according to an incident report and outraged officials.“This is sickening,” said At-Large City Councilor Michael Flaherty. “I was informed by people at the scene that there were drugs, alcohol, sex toys all around the apartment as well as a dead body on the floor.”That fire department report, obtained by the Herald and confirmed by police response, states that a BFD crew was sent to Old Colony Avenue Saturday morning for a call that a man had gone into cardiac arrest and required medical attention. That address is the Mary Ellen McCormack Housing complex run by the city.However, according to the incident report, firefighters found more than just a routine medical emergency.“The apartment was in extremely unsanitary conditions. Approximately 6 adults, who appeared to be males, were see...

Some MTS bus drivers back on road after 5-week strike

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:29 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Teamsters Local 683 has reached a resolution to their strike against Transdev and many MTS buses were seen back on South Bay roads Monday. But while many buses are moving again, not all of the strikes have been resolved, as Teamsters Local 542 is still in its 29th day on strike. “As far as how it feels for us to be out here and them going back, I think it fuels our fire,” said Matthew Snyder with Teamsters Local 542. VIDEO: Baby seal climbs onto Pacific Beach surfers’ boards About 210 union workers have blocked traffic to the paratransit system, demanding pay increases closer in line compared to other bus driving unions. While riders are skeptical of the bus routes, they are happy to see the familiar red vehicles swinging into position with its doors opening wide. “He’s here and I’m going to be soon on my way to Plaza Bonita. I am pleased,” said LJ, a longtime MTS rider from Chula Vista. "Friday I wasn't. I jumped right back on the trolley and started heading for...

City of San Diego commemorates Juneteenth

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:29 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Hundreds of people gathered Monday to witness history as the City of San Diego formally recognized Juneteenth.  Mayor Todd Gloria and members of the San Diego City Council officially proclaimed Juneteenth in the city in a celebration of unity at the George Stevens Senior Center.The mayor shared a poignant memory of his grandfather’s experience with racism -- how he wore a suit every day of his life, even while mowing the front lawn of his Clairmont home, to try to gain respect in a community that did not accept him. Mom of children killed in SR-78 crash suspected of DUI “He’s not a Black man but I share his story with you because there’s a commonality in experiences that we have all had," Gloria said. "A feeling as though this city does not see us, does not care about us, is not willing to invest in us. And so you better believe -- in two generations when he goes from him mowing that lawn in that suit, to his grandson wearing that suit and serving as ma...

Police investigating fatal Etobicoke shooting

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:29 GMT

Toronto police are investigating a fatal shooting in Etobicoke on Monday night.Police were called to Dundas Street West and Avonhurst Road at around 7:03 p.m. for reports of someone shot.Police located a victim who was later pronounced dead at the scene.A suspect is in custody, but police have not released any further details or announced any charges at this point.SHOOTING:Dundas St W & Avonhurst Rd7:03 pm– reports of someone shot– police o/s located victim– @Toronto_Fire o/s– @TorontoMedics o/s– victim has been pronounced deceased on scene– suspect in custody– Homicide will take carriage of the investigation#GO1411799^sc— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) June 19, 2023

Injured employees had complained of long commutes before B.C. bus crash: union

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:29 GMT

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — The union representing housekeepers at a pipeline camp who were involved in a bus crash near Prince George, B.C., on Friday says they’re awaiting a grievance decision over complaints about the long ride to get to work.Unite Here Local 40 spokesperson Michelle Travis said Monday that Horizon North, which runs the lodge as part of the Coastal GasLink pipeline project, decided in March to move the housekeepers from on-site to Prince George to make room for pipeline workers.That meant a four-hour round-trip ride each workday, which the union argued goes against a collective agreement requirement that they be housed on site. Travis said most of the people on the bus were women and many were immigrants from Somalia and Ethiopia. “Our concern was that in order to make more room for the pipeline workers, they needed to move somebody out,” she said.“So, Horizon North chose to move these workers two hours away … probably the lowest paid workers on...

Himalayan glaciers could lose 80% of their volume if global warming not controlled, study finds

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:29 GMT

BENGALURU, India (AP) — Glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates across the Hindu Kush Himalayan mountain ranges and could lose up to 80% of their current volume this century if greenhouse gas emissions aren’t sharply reduced, according to a new report.The report Tuesday from Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development warned that flash floods and avalanches would grow more likely in coming years, and that the availability of fresh water would be affected for nearly 2 billion people who live downstream of 12 rivers that originate in the mountains.Ice and snow in the Hindu Kush Himalayan ranges is an important source of water for those rivers, which flow through 16 countries in Asia and provide fresh water to 240 million people in the mountains and anther 1.65 billion downstream.“The people living in these mountains who have contributed next to nothing to global warming are at high risk due to climate change,” said Amina Maharjan, a migration spe...

LGBTQ+ pride flags vandalized at Stonewall National Monument 3 times during Pride month

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:29 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Dozens of LGBTQ+ pride flags were damaged and ripped down at the Stonewall National Monument over the weekend, the third such bout of vandalism at the LGBTQ+ landmark during this Pride month, police said. The latest occurrence happened Sunday, after others on June 9 and last Thursday. No arrests have been made in any of the incidents, and it’s unclear whether they were connected. The New York Police Department’s Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating. On Sunday, officers were called around 8 a.m. and found about 33 pride flags broken and tossed to the ground, police said. Park volunteer Steven Menendez told New York’s Fox 5 News that, in all, 68 flags — nearly a quarter of those displayed — were damaged in some way. “We have so much hatred and anger in the air right now,” Menendez told the station. “We really need to reverse that and replace it with love compassion and acceptance.” The Stonewall National Monument, the first U.S. national monument d...

Here's how retailers are responding to retail crime

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:29 GMT

(NewsNation) — As American retailers continue to grapple with theft, some are integrating new security technology while others are relying on more tried-and-true methods to address crime.According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), retailers lost close to $95 billion in 2021 due to "shrink" — which accounts for various inventory losses but is primarily driven by external theft. Retailers reported a 26.5% increase in organized retail crime from the year prior, NRF found. Some of those incidents have been brazen "smash and grab" robberies in the nation's largest cities. Smash-and-grab crew uses car to plow into store In New York City, there were more than 63,000 shoplifting complaints last year — a 45% jump from 2021, according to a recent New York Post analysis.In response, some local retailers started using facial recognition software to identify repeat offenders. But that technology has also received pushback from various city council members who are concerned about p...