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Sparks hire former WNBA player Raegan Pebley as new GM. Karen Bryant to focus on business side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:11:58 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Sparks on Friday hired former WNBA player Raegan Pebley as general manager, replacing Karen Bryant who will focus solely on the team’s business operations.Bryant served in dual roles as GM and chief administrative officer last season.Pebley played in the league from 1997-98. She was a TV analyst for the Dallas Wings from 2016-23, and served on the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association board from 2018-23.“The tradition and legacy of the Sparks has played a key role in the current trajectory and growth we are seeing in women’s sports,” Pebley said in a statement. “I am eager to partner with our players, front office, coaching staff and community as we foster a culture where our players are resourced with all the tools they need as they courageously chase the best version of themselves and compete for WNBA championships.”The 48-year-old from Fountain Valley, California, resigned as TCU women’s basketball coach in March. She had two years ...

Senegal’s opposition leader faces another setback in presidential race after application is rejected

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:11:58 GMT

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Senegal’s top opposition leader on Friday suffered major setbacks in his quest to contest the presidency when a top court upheld the defamation conviction against him and the Constitutional Council rejected his application to be a presidential candidate on the basis that it was incomplete.Ousmane Sonko ‘s application case at the council was “examined without his representative (in) a flagrant violation of the law” before it was rejected, his lawyer, Ciré Cledor Ly, told reporters. “From the outset, the government has shown its willingness to invalidate Ousmane Sonko’s candidacy.” The council’s decision came hours after the Supreme Court rejected the jailed opposition leader’s appeal of his conviction for defamation after being sued by a government minister. The trial was seen as the latest twist in a prolonged legal battle involving several charges which the opposition leader has alleged is to stop his presidential bid in the February el...

Five-time All-Star outfielder Michael Brantley retires after 15 seasons with Cleveland and Houston

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:11:58 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — Five-time All-Star and World Series champion Michael Brantley announced his retirement Friday after 15 MLB seasons.The outfielder already has his next job lined up, too: coaching Little League.“I have young kids, and now it’s time to be a dad, first and foremost,” Brantley told MLB.com. “It’s time for me to be home 24/7, watch my kids grow up and not miss important milestones.”Brantley leaves with a .298 career batting average during 10 years in Cleveland and five more in Houston. He hit 129 home runs with 720 RBIs and 125 stolen bases in 1,445 regular-season games. He hit .283 over 62 postseason games, including .327 in two World Series with the Astros.The 36-year-old Brantley was a free agent this winter. He was limited to 15 regular-season games in 2023, returning to play for the final month after a lengthy recovery from a shoulder injury and subsequent surgery. Before his return in late August, he had not played in the majors since June 26, 2022.In 2008, Brantley ...

Hospital workers say they “dread” going to work

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:11:58 GMT

Unions representing Ontario’s hospital workers say nearly half their members are “dreading” going to work everyday, and many are considering leaving their jobs altogether. A survey conducted by Nanos Research on behalf of CUPE’s Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU) polled over 750 hospital workers across the province, with results overwhelmingly displaying a lack of confidence in the province’s plan for healthcare in the near future. Of Kingston workers polled by Nanos, 50% said they had trouble sleeping, and 70% are having anxiety about work on a daily basis – 90% of Kingston workers said they weren’t confident about Doug Ford’s healthcare plan with nearly half those saying they’re considering leaving. Sharon Richer, secretary-treasurer of OCHU/CUPE says the results are disappointing but not shocking to hear and confirm that workers aren’t happy with their working conditions. “The survey is alarming to most, but ...

Red Rocks named 2023 EDM venue of the year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:11:58 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre was deemed the EDM Venue of the Year at the "EDMMYS" ceremony last month in Los Angeles.EDM Maniac, an electronic dance music publication and events production company, hosted the awards for the first time this year. Flipturn band explains why Red Rocks is a ‘dream venue’ for artists Founder Devin Lezama told FOX31 that thousands of people from around the world voted for their favorite artists, festivals, venues and more. "Red Rocks was way up there, it was number 1 for Venue of the Year last year,” Lezama said. “It was by a long shot.”Venue of the Year was among 12 awards. Voters did not have a list to choose from, so options were far from limited."People said Red Rocks specifically, which makes the awards so unique," he said. "There was no nomination round, we don't want to filter our audience or influence them by any means so we kind of left it open-ended."Lezama said voters mentioned some of their favorite things about Red Ro...

NRA chief Wayne LaPierre says he’s resigning days before trial scrutinizing his leadership, spending

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:11:58 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The longtime head of the National Rifle Association said Friday he is resigning, just days before the start of a New York civil trial that’s poised to scrutinize his leadership of the powerful gun rights organization.Wayne LaPierre, the executive vice president and chief executive officer, said his departure is effective Jan. 31. He had been in charge of the NRA since 1991. Andrew Arulanandam will become the interim CEO & EVP, the organization said.“With pride in all that we have accomplished, I am announcing my resignation from the NRA,” LaPierre said in a statement released by the organization. “I’ve been a card-carrying member of this organization for most of my adult life, and I will never stop supporting the NRA and its fight to defend Second Amendment freedom. My passion for our cause burns as deeply as ever.”A trial in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit against the NRA, LaPierre and others who have served as organization executive...

Abortion initiative hits milestone for getting in front of Florida voters

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:11:58 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A petition initiative that would enshrine abortion rights in the Florida constitution on Friday reached the necessary number of verified signatures to qualify for the 2024 ballot, officials said.More than 911,000 signatures have been verified, according to the Florida Division of Elections, surpassing the more than 891,500 petition signatures required by the state to put a ballot initiative before voters.If the measure ultimately makes it on the fall ballot, voters in the third-most populous U.S. state could join citizens of other states in deciding what, if any, abortion protections or restrictions there should be following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022.Since that landmark 1973 case giving constitutional protections for abortion across the United States was overturned in the Dobbs decision, voters in at least seven states have supported ballot measures protecting abortion rights or rejected measures aimed at limiting ac...

Von der Leyen presses ahead for quick solution on EU aid to Ukraine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:11:58 GMT

BRUSSELS — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wants to get to a deal on new Ukraine aid “as quickly as possible,” she said on Friday. The issue of the €50 billion aid package for Ukraine landed back on her plate at the occasion of the start of the Belgian presidency of the Council of the EU — which placed her again in front of the Brussels press corps after the December summit where Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán blocked approving new EU funds for Ukraine. “After the historic decision to launch accession negotiations with Ukraine, we must urgently move forward on stabilizing our financial aid to the country,” von der Leyen said. She also criticized the “brutal” air strikes by Russia on civilian targets in Ukraine. The Commission president acknowledged what EU leaders were already floating right after the European Council in December — that it might be necessary to work around Orbán to get fresh aid to Kyiv. An agreement by t...

NYC sues 17 charter bus companies for $700 million over transporting asylum seekers to the city from Texas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:11:58 GMT

(CNN) — A migrant surge continues to overwhelm authorities at the US-Mexico border — and in US cities where many asylum seekers are being sent.Here are the latest developments:After attempting to pump the brakes on “rogue buses” from Texas dropping off migrants by the thousands, the mayor of New York City has filed a lawsuit against a dozen charter bus companies that transported migrants from Texas to New York City.The lawsuit, which names 17 charter bus companies from Texas, Louisiana, Ohio and Indiana, was filed in New York Supreme Court on Wednesday and is seeking $708 million in damages to cover the care provided for at least 33,600 asylum seekers who have arrived in the city since 2022.CNN has reached out to offices for the 17 bus companies.Mayor Adams’ latest legal action to curb the flow of asylum seekers to New York City aims to tackle the financial burden placed on the city as a result of the mounting migrant crisis that is taxing loc...

66-year-old man located after state, Everett police issue Silver Alert

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:11:58 GMT

A 66-year-old man who was reported missing after he failed to return from a doctor’s appointment in Boston has been located. Massachusetts State Police say a Silver Alert for Mark Rothwell was canceled after authorities were able to locate him on Friday. Rothwell had reportedly last been seen Thursday morning after being transported from Everett to Jamaica Plain for a doctor’s appointment.No additional details were released. https://twitter.com/MassStatePolice/status/1743359203954061587—Originally posted on Friday, Jan. 5 at 1:56 p.m.State and local police are asking for the public’s help as they work to find a 66-year-old man who never returned to Everett after being taken to a doctor’s appointment in Boston.Massachusetts State Police said Mark Rothwell was last seen around 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 4, when he was brought from a medical facility in Everett to a doctor’s office in Jamaica Plain. According to state police, Rothwell did not re...