Search Results for: news

Colorado lawmakers are considering a proposal to ban Native American mascots in public schools and colleges. The measure cleared the state Senate Education Committee on Thursday. It would impose a $25,000 monthly fine on public schools, colleges and universities that use American Indian-themed mascots after June 1, 2022. A database by the National Congress of American Indians says more than 1,900 schools across the U.S. have Native American-themed mascots. Tribal members testified in support of the bill. The Southern Ute tribal chairman said the “inaccurate and cruel portrayals” of Native Americans as mascots have been used as “strategic tools to marginalize Indigenous communities.”

Francisco Lindor and the New York Mets agreed to a $341 million, 10-year pact on the eve of opening day, terms that could keep the four-time All-Star in Queens for the rest of his career. The deal kicks in for the 2022 season, meaning Lindor will be 38 when the contract expires. Lindor pledged Thursday to make New Yorkers proud, saying he had “341 million reasons" to play the game the right way. The payday will be the largest ever for a shortstop, passing Fernando Tatis Jr.'s recent deal with San Diego by $1 million. Lindor said he'll be rooting for friends Carlos Correa and Javier Báez to beat that next offseason.

The opening day game between the Washington Nationals and New York Mets was postponed hours before it was scheduled to begin because of coronavirus concerns after at least three of the 2019 World Series champions’ players tested positive for COVID-19. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said his team also has a fourth player considered a “likely positive.” He did not identify any of the players involved. He said it was not known when the season-opening game will be made up, other than that it would not be played Friday, which was originally scheduled as an off day.

The Nationals and Mets are waiting until at least Saturday to start their season as Washington deals with a COVID-19 outbreak. Three Nats players have tested positive and a fourth is considered a “likely positive,” according to GM Mike Rizzo. Thursday’s opener was postponed and wasn’t immediately rescheduled, even though Friday already had been set up as a day off that could accommodate a game pushed back if there were a rainout, for example. Mets manager Luis Rojas said he was hopeful the teams would play Saturday. Meanwhile, Baltimore and Boston will again try to start the 2021 season at Fenway Park after Thursday’s scheduled opener was postponed by bad weather.

After more than two months of living in temporary housing, Vice President Kamala Harris will soon move into her official residence on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington. Harris' spokesperson tweeted that the move will happen next week, but did not give an exact date. Harris and husband Doug Emhoff have been living temporarily at Blair House, across the street from the White House, while repairs were made to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system at the official residence on Massachusetts Avenue. Chimney liners were also replaced and some hardwood floors were refurbished.

UConn’s Paige Bueckers is a freshman who stepped into the job of leading the most successful program in women’s basketball. Arizona’s Aari McDonald is a senior who accepted the call to build one of the worst into one of this season’s best. Together, they are two of the most dynamic scorers in the country heading into their Friday night clash in the women’s NCAA Tournament Final Four. UConn is in its 13th consecutive Final Four. The Wildcats are in their first in five-year rise from the bottom of the Pac-12 under coach Adia Barnes.

The daughter of an Asian American woman attacked in New York City said Thursday that a person not seen on surveillance video helped the woman by screaming to distract her assailant while others watched and did nothing to intervene. Elizabeth Kari provided the account on a fundraising webpage she set up for her mother’s care. She said the bystander was across the street when a man accosted 65-year-old Vilma Kari, kicked her in the stomach, knocked her to ground and repeatedly stomped on her face late Monday morning near Times Square. The attack raised alarms about what appeared to be the failure of bystanders to help. 

Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo says the team has three players who have tested positive for the coronavirus and a fourth considered a “likely positive.” The Nationals’ season-opening game against the visiting New York Mets that was scheduled for Thursday night was postponed. Rizzo said it was not known when that game will be made up, other than that it would not be played Friday. He did not identify any of the players involved. Rizzo announced an initial positive test Wednesday, saying it resulted from testing done Monday while the Nationals were still in Florida.

President Joe Biden is setting about convincing America it needs his $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan. He's deputizing a five-member “jobs Cabinet” to help in the effort. And he says the public likes the road, water and other improvements the plan promises. But the enormity of his task is clear — Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell is vowing to oppose him “every step of the way.”  McConnell, who objects to the plan's tax increases, says he personally likes Biden. But the president is unlikely to get cooperation from the GOP, which believes that low tax rates enable the country to compete in a global economy.

Three men's college basketball players say they heard “a lot of talk” from NCAA President Mark Emmert during a video call to discuss their concerns. The players want the NCAA to enforce Title IX gender equity rules. They also want a waiver to let college athletes start earning money from their name, image and likeness.. Iowa’s Jordan Bohannon, Rutgers’ Geo Baker and Michigan’s Isaiah Livers spoke with Emmert. The National College Players Association used a social media campaign to protest rules barring NIL rights. It also put a spotlight on differences between the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.

Dawn Staley remembers talking to her Olympic coach Tara VanDerveer before she took the job at Temple two decades ago. The longtime Stanford coach actually suggested that Staley not become the head coach at the Philadelphia school because she was still playing in the WNBA and wouldn't have the time to do both well. Twenty-one years later Staley admits she still has a bit of a chip on her shoulder about that conversation and has used it as motivation both at Temple and now South Carolina.

Prosecutors trying a former Minneapolis police officer in George Floyd’s death put Floyd’s girlfriend on the witness stand in an effort to humanize him for the jury. But the testimony of Courteney Ross also gave the defense an opportunity to delve into Floyd’s addiction. Prosecutors are using a legal doctrine called “spark of life” to call Ross, as well as Floyd’s brother, to the witness stand. The doctrine is controversial among defense attorneys and could complicate the trial. Legal experts say it allows prosecutors to tug at jurors' emotions, but also allows the defense to highlight Floyd's illegal drug use.

Miguel Cabrera homered through the snow in his first at-bat of the season, then added a sparkling play at first base to lift the Detroit Tigers to a 3-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians. Matthew Boyd beat reigning Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber, and the Tigers welcomed their fans back to Comerica Park with a victory. The temperature at game time was 32 degrees, and the snow was starting to pick up a bit when Cabrera connected for his 488th career homer. Bieber struck out 12 in six innings for Cleveland.

Farmworker advocates are racing against time to get vaccinations for migrant workers newly eligible for the jab as Florida lowers its age limits, so  they can be inoculated before they travel north to harvest crops in other regions. Officials in South Florida are telling advocates not to worry about state residency requirements for the vaccine and to focus on outreach to get farmworkers ready for the shot. Farmworkers were denied priority access in Florida, unlike other states. Advocates are asking the state and counties to quickly mobilize to areas such as Homestead, south of Miami, and Immokalee, east of Naples.

The first days of testimony at the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer charged in George Floyd’s death have been dominated by the witnesses to his arrest and countless videos that forced them to relive the trauma of it all over again. Several witnesses broke down and sobbed during their testimony. Attorneys on both sides at the trial of former Officer Derek Chauvin face a delicate balance in questioning witnesses who have experienced such pain while trying to advance their cases. Prosecutors pause frequently when witnesses are overcome, inviting them to take as much time as they need. Chauvin’s attorney has often skipped cross-examining witnesses, including a 9-year-old girl.

BRUSSELS (AP) — Clashes between Belgian police and a large crowd of people Thursday in one of Brussels’ biggest parks left dozens injured after revellers gathered for an unauthorized event despite coronavirus restrictions. Brussels police spokeswoman Ilse Van de keere…