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Column: Opening day at Wrigley Field melds the Chicago Cubs’ past with the future

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:00 GMT

Every opening day brings a reminder of something from the past, and the past is a prologue when it comes to the Chicago Cubs.The yin and yang of Cubs baseball was in evidence again Thursday at the season opener at Wrigley Field, where the Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-0 in the first game of the pitch-clock era.Winning pitcher Marcus Stroman made history in the third inning with MLB’s first pitch-clock violation, new shortstop Dansby Swanson finished with three hits and drove in the season’s first run and the Cubs played stellar defense on a cold and sunny afternoon.It was their 8,368th game at Wrigley since April 20, 1916, when the Cubs moved into the ballpark at the corner of Clark and Addison streets, an afternoon the Chicago Tribune called “another epochal day in the history of baseball.”Wrigley has changed quite a bit since that 7-6, 11-inning win against the Cincinnati Reds. Even the old center-field scoreboard wasn’t around back then. But Cubs...

Outfielder Oscar Colás on making Chicago White Sox opening-day roster: ‘It’s not just getting here. It’s staying here.’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:00 GMT

Oscar Colás called his mother after finding out he earned a roster spot.“She was crying and screaming,” Colás said through an interpreter. “I got nervous because I thought something happened to her.”Just happiness for her son, who will be one of the options in right field for the Chicago White Sox.“It means a lot to me,” Colás said of the opportunity. “It’s a dream come true. I’ve been working for this for a very long time and now being here is very special.”Colás met with reporters Wednesday afternoon at Minute Maid Park on the eve of the season opener against the Houston Astros.Colás, a lefty, did not get the start Thursday as right-handed hitter Romy Gonzalez began the game in right field with left-hander Framber Valdez on the mound for the Astros.“I just thought Romy was a good matchup,” Sox manager Pedro Grifol said Thursday afternoon. “Romy had a really good spring. He’...

Red Sox notebook: Opening Day comeback bid falls short

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:00 GMT

Give the Red Sox credit for this much, they made things interesting in the end.On a day when it felt like the game was as good as done by the middle innings, the offense came to life and clawed its way back down the stretch, ultimately falling one swing short in their 10-9 Opening Day loss to the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park.The home team scored five runs of their runs from the eighth inning on, and in the bottom of the ninth, Masataka Yoshida came to the plate with two on, one out, and a chance to win the game with one swing.Boston’s new left-fielder grounded into what should have been a game-ending double play, but sloppy defense by Baltimore gave the Red Sox new life, albeit briefly. Jorge Mateo botched the throw to first, and Yoshida advanced to second on the error. That brought Adam Duvall to the plate with the tying run at second, but he struck out to end the game.How did Yoshida feel about his major league debut?“It was very cold, but my heart was burning.R...

University of Toronto study finds ‘forever chemicals’ in several fast food packaging items

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:00 GMT

A new study out of the University of Toronto has found so-called ‘forever chemicals’ in several fast food packaging items for the first time in Canada, prompting calls for action and greater oversight.“We as scientists can’t keep up with the proliferation with a large number of new chemicals that are being introduced and used,” Miriam L. Diamond, an earth sciences professor and one of the study leads, told CityNews.“We should not be conducting an experiment in real-time with our population and our ecosystem to figure out what the toxicity and adverse effects would be of these ‘forever chemicals.'”Diamond said she and the team of scientists collected packaging items (paper wrappers and bags as well as compostable bowls) from 42 different fast-food establishments. She said around half of the items contained PFAS (per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances), which are used to help stop food and fluids from leaking through the packaging. Diamond ...

Freeland says budget lacked housing measures because 2022 funds still being spent

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:00 GMT

SURREY, B.C. — Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has dismissed criticism that this week’s federal budget lacks measures to address Canada’s housing crisis, saying last year’s budget featured a $10-billion plan that is still being spent.Freeland said Thursday that last year’s budget allocated funds for a $4 billion housing accelerator program that was launched only this month by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.She said the previous housing funding “hasn’t been spent yet,” and it’s up to municipalities across the country to apply for it through a recently opened portal for the accelerator fund.“This was a multi-year plan,” Freeland said at a news conference in Surrey, east of Vancouver. “You don’t deploy $10 billion in one month or in one year.”B.C. Premier David Eby, who attended the news conference with Freeland, said he recognized there are “significant parcels” of funding from the last budget that have not yet been deployed in the pro...

‘Significant step towards reconciliation:’ N.W.T. introduces bill to implement UNDRIP

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:00 GMT

YELLOWKNIFE — The Northwest Territories government has introduced a bill to guide implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which it says will advance reconciliation in the territory.The proposed legislation, which was co-developed by the territorial government with Indigenous governments and organizations over three years, aims to ensure all future and existing laws, regulations and policies in the N.W.T. are consistent with Indigenous rights. “I was proud to introduce this bill,” Premier Caroline Cochrane told reporters Wednesday. “(It’s a) truly significant step towards reconciliation.” The N.W.T. Council of Leaders, which includes officials from the territorial and Indigenous governments, has also reached a memorandum of understanding to implement the declaration.“This is a very important day for Indigenous communities and Indigenous governments,” said Danny Gaudet, chief of the Deline Got̵...

Joint Base Andrews lifts lockdown; no armed suspect found

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Joint Base Andrews, one of the nation’s most sensitive military bases and home to Air Force One, emerged from a lockdown Thursday evening after officials were unable to confirm reports of a man carrying an “assault-style” rifle on the base, authorities said.No shots were fired and no suspect was found after hours of searching, according to a statement from the Maryland base. The person was reportedly seen near the base’s housing area around 2:30 p.m. Officials allowed a limited release from lockdown at 5 p.m., and the full lockdown was lifted an hour later.Joint Base Andrews, a few miles outside Washington, houses the fleet of blue and white presidential aircraft, including Air Force One.The base has faced security issues previously, including when an intruder reached the housing complex last month. A resident opened fire on the trespasser. Two years ago, a man breached several spots on the base — including a military checkpoint — and climbed into a C-40, a transpo...

Sports betting bill wins final OK from Kentucky lawmakers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:00 GMT

FRANKFORT,, Ky. (AP) — A bill to legalize sports betting in Kentucky won final legislative approval Thursday, clearing the last hurdle in the Senate after days of uncertainty over whether backers could muster enough support.With only hours left in this year’s legislative session, the Republican-dominated Senate passed the measure 25-12, sending it to Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, who has supported the issue. “We love our sports in the commonwealth,” Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer said in promoting the bill during debate. “And people want to be able to make the choice — of their own free will — to make a wager on a sports event, like almost all of our surrounding states.”The bill’s fate had loomed as one of the biggest uncertainties heading toward the conclusion of the 30-day legislative session. Supporters needed a minimum of 23 votes to pass it because it’s a revenue-producing bill in a non-budget year. The Senate ultimately decided to allow residents in the state ...

Judicial council takes next step in review of complaint against Supreme Court’s Brown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:00 GMT

OTTAWA — The Canadian Judicial Council is taking the next step in its review of a complaint against Supreme Court of Canada Justice Russell Brown concerning alleged events at an Arizona resort.Christopher Hinkson, chief justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia and chairperson of the council’s judicial conduct committee, has decided to refer the matter to a judicial conduct review panel. In turn, the five-member panel can decide that an inquiry committee should be established if it determines the matter might be serious enough to warrant the removal of the judge.Brown insists he did nothing wrong prior to an alleged altercation at a Scottsdale resort lounge in late January.In a police report, Jon Crump accuses Brown of being intoxicated and hitting on Crump’s female companions. Crump told police he punched the judge “a few times.”Brown, who has described Crump’s version of their encounter as “demonstrably false,” has been on leave fro...

U.K. to join Pacific trade bloc after Canadian help, clearing path for bilateral deal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:00 GMT

OTTAWA — Britain is set to join a massive trade bloc that will likely speed up negotiations on a bilateral deal between Ottawa and London.The countries of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership are expected to give the U.K. a green light to become the 12th country in the trading bloc, and the only one outside the Pacific Rim.International Trade Minister Mary Ng says the move will help Canada partner with Britain on clean-energy projects.Ng says Canada was the first member of the bloc to push for Britain to be included, though Japan has been facilitating the U.K.’s accession process, and London and Ottawa have sparred over allowing more beef exports to Britain.British and Canadian officials say the move should speed up negotiations for a bilateral deal between the two countries, since they’ve already established common ground on issues such as labour rights and supporting small businesses through the Pacific deal. Ottawa and London have been o...