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Pete Alonso on his World Baseball Classic experience: ‘I’m really proud of it’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:10 GMT

NORTH PORT, Fla. — Pete Alonso is back from the World Baseball Classic and the Mets’ first baseman believes he’s better prepared for the 2023 season after having played in the tournament.Alonso returned to spring training Thursday to face the Atlanta Braves on the gulf coast. It was an easy commute from his home in Tampa and gave him a chance to get a day off after USA’s loss to Japan in the Classic’s championship game.The controversy surrounding the tournament has died down some but you won’t hear any negative thoughts about the game’s premier global event from Alonso, who said he was effusive in his praise for the event.“I thought it was really, extremely special to play in those high-leverage games,” Alonso said Thursday at CoolToday Park. “Especially right out of the chute, I think that experience is going to be super valuable. And also, playing with a bunch of excellent players and getting a chance to do that with my M...

Patriots sign ex-Broncos P Corliss Waitman

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:10 GMT

As of Thursday morning, the Patriots were one of two NFL teams without a punter on their roster.By Thursday afternoon, they had one.The Pats signed ex-Broncos punter Corliss Waitman, a left-footed veteran who could replace Jake Bailey. Waitman led the league with 96 punts last year, averaging 46.6 yards per boot in Denver. He downed more than 31% of them inside opponents’ 20-yard line and had just 6.3% go for touchbacks, both middling to subpar percentages.Waitman originally entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Steelers in 2020. The South Alabama product spent his rookie season on Pittsburgh’s practice squad, received his release in May 2021 and returned to the Steel City after short stints with the Patriots and Raiders. In two games, he averaged 52.1 yards per punt for PittsburghThe Steelers waived him again, leading to a year-long stay in Denver. Waitman’s arrival likely won’t prevent the Patriots from exploring options in the draft after ...

Heat creating hope for the team that couldn’t shoot straight

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:10 GMT

The team that couldn’t shoot straight is getting back on target.The latest example for the Miami Heat was Wednesday night’s 127-120 victory over the New York Knicks at Miami-Dade Arena, when they closed 16 of 28 on 3-pointers.It was the seventh time in the 15 games since the late-February All-Star break that the Heat shot 40 percent or better beyond the arc, compared to seven such performances in the team’s first 59 games.The overall percentage for the team that led the NBA in 3-point shooting last season, at .379, is still sobering, with the Heat fifth worst in the league at .341, but the trend has been positive.Over those 15 games since the All-Star break, the Heat are 12th in the league in 3-point percentage, at .369.Among the changes since the All-Star break has been the addition of Kevin Love off the buyout market, the reduction in reliance on Victor Oladipo, and the scant minutes for Duncan Robinson.But coach Erik Spoelstra sees it more as schematic, getting ...

New restaurants in Augusta a treat for this year’s Masters fans

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:10 GMT

Mary Ann Anderson  | (TNS) Tribune News ServiceAUGUSTA, Georgia — If you’re jumping on the Masters golf cart and linking over to Augusta for this year’s tournament, that little golf contest down Georgia way, know that there’s more to eat than egg salad and pimento cheese sandwiches, the iconic treats served at the iconic golf course along those iconic azalea-lined fairways.In the past year or two, some great new restaurants have opened around the Garden City — a nickname given because of Augusta’s profuseness of public and private gardens — but you won’t need a green jacket to try the newest culinary samplings around the city. Just bring a hearty appetite, employ your sense of gastronomic adventure and have plenty of time to enjoy a range of Southern staples and international bites, as well as more traditional fare of steak and burgers.TacocatTacocat, known for its offerings of unique tacos, is housed in an old carwash and is resplendent with colorful decor and original garage...

Ticker: Hyundai, Kia recall cites fire risk; Mortgage rates slide 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:10 GMT

Hyundai and Kia are telling the owners of more than 571,000 SUVs and minivans in the U.S. to park them outdoors because the tow hitch harnesses can catch fire while they are parked or being driven.The affiliated Korean automakers are recalling the vehicles and warning people to park them away from structures until repairs are made.Affected Hyundai vehicles include the 2019 to 2023 Santa Fe, the 2021 to 2023 Santa Fe Hybrid, the 2022 and 2023 Santa Fe Plug-in hybrid and the 2022 and 2023 Santa Cruz. The only Kia affected is the Carnival minivan from 2022 and 2023. All have Hyundai or Kia tow hitch harnesses that came as original equipment or were installed by dealers.Owners will be notified starting May 16.Mortgage rates slideThe average long-term U.S. mortgage fell for the second straight week which, combined with moderating home prices, could give house hunters a break and the housing market a boost as the spring buying season begins.Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday tha...

TikTok CEO defiant under DC grilling

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:10 GMT

TikTok Chief Executive Shou Chew defended his company against a barrage of criticism from hostile U.S. lawmakers, repeatedly asserting the app’s independence from its Chinese owners.Chew said its Beijing-based owner, ByteDance Ltd., is mostly owned by international investors and most of its board members are American.“The bottom line is this is American data on American soil by an American company overseen by American personnel,” Chew said in an appearance Thursday before the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He could not unequivocally say that no ByteDance employees have access to that data, saying rather that he’s “seen no evidence” of that happening.Chew faced combative questioning from members of both parties — who often cut off his attempts to answer — in his first appearance before Congress. The hearing comes as lawmakers and the Biden administration are exploring how to force ByteDance to sell its shares of the unit or face a ban in the U.S.“You are here because the Americ...

Relativity Space launches 3D-printed rocket but fails to hit orbit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:10 GMT

Richard Tribou | Orlando SentinelRelativity Space managed to launch its 3D-printed Terran 1 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, but an issue with its second-stage engine prevented the ultimate goal of reaching orbit.Still, the Long Beach, California-based startup company hit several milestones on the mission dubbed “GLHF,” as in “Good Luck, Have Fun” including liftoff from the pad, hitting supersonic speeds, enduring maximum dynamic pressure, main engine cutoff and separation of the first and second stages.Video of the liftoff at 11:25 p.m. Wednesday showed the blue flame from its nine Aeon 1 engines burning into the night sky as company commentators broke out in cheers and laughter.Today’s launch proved Relativity’s 3D-printed rocket technologies that will enable our next vehicle, Terran R. We successfully made it through Max-Q, the highest stress state on our printed structures. This is the biggest proof point for our novel additive manufacturing approach.… pic.twitter...

Train derails in Ayer, spilling trash and recycling from 10 containers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:10 GMT

A train derailed in Ayer on Thursday, but authorities say that its contents do not pose a threat to area residents.The Ayer Fire Department said in a Facebook post at 12:13 p.m., around 40 minutes after the initial incident reports, that the scene is an “active incident” near Sculley Road and that the “railroad cars involved do NOT contain hazardous materials.” The department said it was working with railroad crews, local police and the Ayer Department of Public works to “mitigate this incident.”By the afternoon, freight company CSX confirmed to the Herald that a freight train operated by Springfield Terminals — a Springfield-based fuel company — “derailed five rail cars carrying ten intermodal containers holding solid waste on the Pan Am Southern rail line.”The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency clarified by around 1:12 p.m. that the “solid waste” in this case is trash and recycling.“There were no reported injuries to the crew, no hazardous materials ...

USS Theodore Roosevelt returns to San Diego

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:10 GMT

SAN DIEGO — The USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) has returned to San Diego following an 18-month stay in Washington.The Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is returning to Naval Air Station North Island after completing a docking planned incremental availability (DPIA) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility, according to U.S. Navy officials.While homeported in Bremerton, WA, Theodore Roosevelt underwent maintenance to modernize the ship's combat efficiency and ensure sustained operational readiness, a news release said. San Diego health professionals quell fears as deadly infection spreads at ‘alarming rate’ nationwide According to Navy officials, upgrades to the ship included:Expanding the ship’s air dominance capabilities to support the F-35C Lightning II, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, and CMV-22B Osprey, as well as future platforms such as the MQ-25 Stingray unmanned aircraft system.Installation of the Mark 38 Mod III Machine Gun System and...

A thing of the past: TTC to end sale of tokens on Friday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:10 GMT

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) will officially end the sale of tokens this week, putting an end to the long-accepted form of fare payment.The TTC announced that March 24 is the last day tokens can be purchased from any location where fares are sold. While the transit system stopped selling tokens in 2019, they were still available at select third-party retailers.The TTC has transitioned to PRESTO, which now accounts for more than 90 per cent of TTC ridership.A spokesperson says that TTC customers can continue using previously purchased tokens or tickets to pay their fares. The cost of a fare using PRESTO is the same price as a token.PRESTO cards are available at the Fare Vending Machines at all subway stations, Shoppers Drug Mart locations, online at prestocard.ca and the TTC Customer Service Centre.The TTC first introduced tokens in 1954 after being produced by the Royal Canadian Mint.While the TTC initially considered the token a time-saver, the City of Toronto said many rid...