Ingested Articles

Chasing Dreams: From UNC linebacker to country music star

Like many young football players growing up in North Carolina, Chase Rice had his sights set on the NFL. After an outstanding sophomore season with the Tar Heels, that goal seemed realistic. Then the linebacker who tore up the ACC in 2006 tore up his left ankle in the season opener as a junior. Though he returned in 2007, Rice already knew pro football player was not going to be on his resume. Country music star would be.

Figure Skating in Harlem finds ways to deal with pandemic

For months last year, Figure Skating in Harlem included no figure skating. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the members of the 24-year-old organization that serves young women of color in New York City didn’t see the ice from late winter until fall. Once they returned, with strict coronavirus-prevention protocols, it was a major step toward normality. The challenges for the girls extended far beyond the absence of ice time. The program’s objective for nearly a quarter-century has been helping girls of color transform their lives by growing in confidence, leadership and academic achievement.

Canucks top Leafs 3-2 in OT in return from COVID layoff

Bo Harvat scored his second goal of the game 1:19 into overtime to give the Vancouver Canucks a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in their return from a nearly four-week layoff because of a COVID-19 outbreak. Horvat also had an assist, Nils Hoglander had a goal and an assist, and Braden Holtby made 37 saves as the Canucks played their first game since March 24. At least 21 players and four members of the coaching staff tested positive for the coronavirus. William Nylander and Auston Matthews scored for Toronto.

'Mad Max' prequel shot in Outback to be released in 2023

SYDNEY (AP) — A prequel to the “Mad Max” movie franchise starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth will be filmed in Australia, officials said on Monday. “Furiosa” is slated for release in mid-2023 and is expected to become the biggest…

Remote Alaska villages boast high vaccination rates

Alaska’s highest COVID-19 vaccination rates have been in some of its remotest, hardest-to-access communities. Health officials say local leaders have helped share information. And they cite the importance of residents getting the shots from providers they know and at convenient locations. Tribal health organizations had flexibility in deciding how best to distribute vaccine allocations they received from the federal Indian Health Service. And they played a significant role in Alaska’s overall vaccine rollout, sharing doses with outside communities and in some cases expanding eligibility faster than the state.

Braves OF Ronald Acuña Jr. departs with abdominal strain

Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. left the team's 13-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs with an abdominal strain. Acuña led off the fourth with a walk. Kyle Hendricks threw over a couple times while he was on first, and it looked as if Acuña did something to his midsection on a dive back to the bag. He was checked by a trainer while he was on second, but he stayed in. He got up slowly after he scored on Travis d’Arnaud’s sacrifice fly and was replaced in the field in the bottom half.

Freeman, Braves pound Cubs 13-4, lose Acuña to injury

Freddie Freeman crushed one of Atlanta’s four homers in the first inning against Kyle Hendricks, leading the Braves to a potentially costly 13-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Travis d’Arnaud, Ehire Adrianza and Guillermo Heredia also connected during Atlanta’s fast start, and Heredia added his first career grand slam in the sixth for his first multihomer game. But the Braves’ offensive performance was overshadowed by the status of Ronald Acuña Jr. after he departed in the fourth due to pain in his lower abdominal muscles.

Key events since George Floyd's arrest and death

George Floyd's death after his arrest by police officers in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020, sparked widespread anger after millions of people saw video of the event. The four officers at the scene were quickly fired and charged in his death. The agonizing bystander video shows Floyd repeatedly crying “I can't breathe" and eventually going still as Officer Derek Chauvin presses his knee on Floyd's neck. The video's release sparked immediate protests and sometimes violent riots nationwide and around the world. Closing arguments are set for Monday in Chauvin's trial on murder and manslaughter charges.

India's electric vehicles face practical, technical hurdles

India has ambitions to expand use of electric vehicles to wean itself from polluting fossil fuels, but EVs are still a rarity on its congested highways. A lack of charging stations and poor quality batteries are discouraging drivers from switching over. EVs remain a niche: only about 10% of the 25,640 electric vehicles sold across the country in March were actual automobiles, with the rest two and three-wheelers. To encourage more investment in domestic manufacturing, the government has raised tariffs on imports of EVs and their parts, including all-important and expensive lithium-ion batteries. Some companies, both domestic and foreign, have taken heed and dozens of projects are in the pipeline. 

List of winners at the 2021 Academy of Country Music Awards

A list of winners in the top categories at Sunday’s Academy of Country Music Awards, held Sunday at various locations in Nashville, Tennessee. Luke Bryan has been named Entertainer of the Year, while Maren Morris is the winner of the female artist of the year. Thomas Rhett won male artist of the year. Chris Stapleton took home the album of the year honor for “Starting Over.” Morris is a double winner, also taking home song of the year for “The Bones,” a piece she wrote for her husband when they were dating. Dan + Shay is the winner of the duo of the year, and Old Dominion was named group of the year.

LEADING OFF: Patriots' Day at Fenway, Twins still on pause

The Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox begin at 11:05 a.m. at Fenway Park in the annual Patriots’ Day game. The event usually coincides with the Boston Marathon -- in past years, fans in the Green Monster seats would turn around to catch a glimpse of the leaders while others headed over after the final out to cheer on the runners in Kenmore Square, about a mile from the finish line. This year, the famous race has been moved to Oct. 11 due to coronavirus concerns. Chicago ace Lucas Giolito is slated to start the series finale against Nathan Eovaldi.

European soccer split as 12 clubs launch breakaway league

A group of 12 elite clubs has dramatically split European soccer by announcing plans to walk away from the Champions League. The 12 intend to create a breakaway midweek competition called the Super League. That has drawn an angry response and the threat of legal action from UEFA. Clubs involved in the move to quit the existing structures in an apparent grab for more money and power include Real Madrid, Barcelona and the American owners of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United. The other teams are Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Manchester City and Tottenham. The Super League organizers hope for three more teams to join. No German or French clubs have signed up.

Hosmer delivers late for Padres in 5-2 win over Dodgers

Eric Hosmer delivered the tying and go-ahead RBIs in the seventh and eighth innings, helping the San Diego Padres beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-2 to avoid a sweep in the first series of the year between the NL West rivals. Dodgers starter Trevor Bauer handed off a 2-1 lead to Los Angeles’ bullpen after six innings in tight duel with another Cy Young Award winner, Blake Snell. Hosmer doubled in the tying run in the seventh off Brusdar Graterol, then delivered the decisive blow in the eighth. San Diego scored three unearned runs in the inning stemming from shortstop Corey Seager’s throwing error. 

Australia-New Zealand travel bubble brings relief, elation

Elation marked the opening of a long-anticipated travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand. The start of quarantine-free travel is a relief for families who have been separated by the coronavirus pandemic as well as to struggling tourist operators. It is a tentative steps toward what both countries hope will become a gradual reopening to the rest of the world. The idea of a bubble between Australia and New Zealand had been discussed for months but faced setbacks because of several small virus outbreaks in both countries, which were eventually stamped out.

Bowman denies Hamlin with swift late move at Richmond

Alex Bowman passed Denny Hamlin on a restart with 10 laps to go and drove away at Richmond Raceway for his third career victory in the NASCAR Cup Series. Bowman’s produced a stunning conclusion to a race Hamlin had dominated along with Martin Truex Jr. and Joey Logano. On the restart, Bowman ducked inside Hamlin, easily gained the spot and pulled away to become the eighth winner in nine Cup races this season. Bowman’s victory in No. 48 for Hendrick Motorsports came on the same day the former driver of the car, seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson, made his debut in the IndyCar Series in Alabama.

Alex Palou scores 1st career IndyCar win in Ganassi debut

Alex Palou scored his first career IndyCar victory in his debut race with Chip Ganassi Racing by winning the series opener at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama. Palou held off series champions Will Power and Scott Dixon to score the win. Ganassi had three drivers finish in the top eight. Jimmie Johnson finished 19th in his IndyCar debut. Romain Grosjean was 10th in his debut and Scott McLaughlin was 14th. Palou was the quieter offseason signing at Ganassi and overshadowed by the addition of the seven-time NASCAR champion. But he's expected to be an IndyCar star and now has a win.

Cink-cess! 47-year-old Cink wins 3rd RBC Heritage title

Stewart Cink had a steady, stress-free 70 to cap off a dominant week and win his third RBC Heritage title. The 47-year-old Cink finished 19 under at Harbour Town, four in front of Emiliano Grillo and Harold Varner III. Cink's win came 17 years after his second title at Harbour Town and he became the fourth player on the PGA Tour to win twice in the same season after turning 47. Sam Snead, Julius Boros and Kenny Perry are the others. Cink had set 36- and 54-hole scoring records this week. He dared the field to catch him, and no one got all that close.

Kevin Durant leaves Nets' game in Miami with thigh injury

Brooklyn’s Kevin Durant was forced to leave the Nets’ game in Miami early in the first quarter with a left thigh injury. Durant exited with 7:57 to go in the opening quarter. He scored Brooklyn’s first eight points of the game before coming out, and the team quickly announced he wouldn't return because of what was being called a contusion. Durant has missed 33 games this season, with 24 of those related to a left hamstring injury. He also missed six others in accordance with the league’s health and safety protocols related to the coronavirus and three more for injury management.

Hester Ford, oldest living American, dies at 115 ... or 116?

A North Carolina woman who grew up picking cotton, got married at 14 and went on to become the oldest living American with more than 120 great-great-grandchildren has died peacefully in her home. Hester Ford was either 115 or 116 years old depending on which census report was accurate. Either way, she was the oldest living American when she died Saturday in Charlotte, according to the Gerontology Research Group. Her family said she was a pillar whose life reflected the advancement of Black Americans over the last century. She was born on a farm in Lancaster County, South Carolina, when Teddy Roosevelt was president.

Rays finish Bronx sweep, last-place Yanks lose 5th straight

The last-place New York Yankees lost their fifth straight game as Yoshi Tsutsugo hit a tiebreaking double off Gerrit Cole in the seventh inning that lifted the Tampa Bay Rays to a 4-2 win and a three-game sweep. Four pitchers combined on the Rays’ second three-hitter of a series in which New York managed 11 hits in all. Cole was hurt by slipshod defense that made three mistakes in the third inning alone, two by center fielder Aaron Hicks and one by left fielder Clint Frazier.

Bieber sets K record, fans 13 as Indians beat Reds 6-3

Shane Bieber kept up his record strikeout run, fanning 13 and pitching the Cleveland Indians past the Cincinnati Reds 6-3. Bieber become the first pitcher in big league history to begin the season with four straight starts with at least 10 strikeouts. The AL Cy Young Award winner has 48 strikeouts this year, matching Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan for the most through the first four start of a season. Bieber has fanned at least eight in a 16 straight starts, one short of Randy Johnson’s major league mark. The Indians hit three home runs to salvage a win in the all-Ohio series.

Yankees' Jay Bruce, 34, retires just weeks into 14th season

New York Yankees outfielder Jay Bruce is retiring just weeks into his 14th season in the majors. The 34-year-old Bruce is a three-time All-Star. He went to spring training with the Yankees on a minor league contract and made the major league roster as a first baseman when Luke Voit injured a knee. Bruce was hitting .118 with one homer and three RBIs in 39 plate appearances. He received an ovation when shown on the video board before the eighth inning but did not get in Sunday's game. He cited his “consistent underperformance” for his decision to retire. Bruce finishes his career with a .244 average with 319 homers and 951 RBIs. He previously played for Cincinnati, the New York Mets, Cleveland, Seattle and Philadelphia.

Verstappen beats Hamilton in dramatic Emilia-Romagna GP

Max Verstappen has won a dramatic Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. World champion Lewis Hamilton hit a wall and the race was temporarily suspended following a separate incident involving Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas. Verstappen led for the majority of the race on the wet Imola track and the Red Bull driver beat Hamilton by 22 seconds for the 11th win of his career. Hamilton showed all his skills to make his way back up the field after falling as far back as ninth following an incident just before the halfway point of the race. Lando Norris was third. The race was red-flagged on lap 34 after Bottas and Williams driver George Russell were involved in a crash.

Knicks rally late, top Pelicans in OT for 6th win in row

Julius Randle had 33 points and 10 assists, Derrick Rose made huge plays all over the court to spark New York’s streak-saving finish and the Knicks beat the New Orleans Pelicans 122-112 in overtime for their sixth consecutive victory. Rose scored 23 points. He had the assist on Reggie Bullock’s 3-pointer with 2.3 seconds left in regulation, blocked the Pelicans’ last shot and then opened overtime with a steal and layup to give New York the lead for good. Zion Williamson had 34 points and nine rebounds in his first career game at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks entered play sixth in the Eastern Conference, in good shape for their first playoff berth since winning the Atlantic Division in 2013.