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Run game, downfield passing and pass rush are deficiencies for the Raiders

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:54 GMT

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Through two games — including in the 17-16 victory at Denver a week ago — some disturbing trends have emerged for the Las Vegas Raiders.They haven’t been able to run the ball even with the reigning rushing champion in their backfield. The Raiders haven’t developed a consistent vertical passing game, which isn’t a shock considering that was a knock on Jimmy Garoppolo when Las Vegas signed him. And the Raiders’ ever-struggling defense continues to have problems even with some new faces to buttress one of the NFL’s top pass rushers in Maxx Crosby.Sunday’s 38-10 loss at the Buffalo Bills underscored how much work there is for the Raiders.The question is whether their problems are fixable, and with 15 games remaining, the Raiders still have time to make their case all is not lost.“It’s our choice as to how we use this,” coach Josh McDaniels said Monday. “You can either use it as a huge positive and grow and get significantly better and...

Panthers veteran LB Shaq Thompson carted off vs. Saints with shin injury

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:54 GMT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers inside linebacker Shaq Thompson was carted off the field after sustaining a right shin injury against the New Orleans Saints on Monday night.His return was listed as doubtful.Thompson was injured late in the first quarter when Saints offensive lineman Trevor Penning and Panthers defensive lineman DeShawn Williams were engaged in a block and rolled up on the back of Thompson’s right leg as he was trying to make a tackle.Thompson, in his ninth season with the Panthers, is one of the team’s emotional leaders. Before he was helped onto the cart, the entire Panthers bench ran on the field to wish Thompson well.The second-longest tenured player on Carolina’s roster, Thompson had a career-high 135 tackles last season. He became only the fifth player in franchise history to amass at least 100 tackles in four consecutive seasons.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflSource

Minnesota picks Taylor Heise 1st in the inaugural Professional Women’s Hockey League draft

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:54 GMT

If Minnesota regards itself as the State of Hockey, the Twin Cities’ Professional Women’s Hockey League franchise will feature plenty of homegrown players, including Taylor Heise.The 2022 women’s college hockey player of the year, who played for the Golden Gophers and grew up 75 miles from Minneapolis, is staying home after the yet-to-be-named Minnesota franchise used the No. 1 pick to select Heise in the newly launched league’s inaugural draft on Monday.“It’s an unreal feeling,” the 23-year-old Heise said.“It’s my home. Everyone I love is there. And it’s the State of Hockey,” she added. “I’m just honored that I’m going to be able to play and to show little girls that anything is possible if you keep working hard.”Heise heard her named called by tennis legend Billie Jean King, a member of the league’s board of directors in opening the PWHL’s 15-round draft held in Toronto.Heise joins a franchise whose general manager, former U.S. national team player Natalie Darwitz, is from Minneso...

Playoff-chasing Rangers get boost with return of two All-Stars: rookie 3B Jung and RF Garcia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:54 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The playoff-chasing Texas Rangers got a huge boost with the return of two All-Star players to their starting lineup Monday night, when rookie third baseman Josh Jung and slugging right fielder Adolis García were both activated from the injured list. Jung had been out six weeks since fracturing his left thumb. García, the AL leader with 100 RBIs when he got hurt Sept. 6, had missed 10 games because of a patellar tendon strain in his right knee. After watching both players take early batting practice Monday, manager Bruce Bochy said Jung would be in the lineup but García still needed to go through some other drills and visit with a doctor. About a half-hour before first pitch against Boston, the Rangers posted a new lineup with Jung batting fifth and García sixth. To make room on the 28-man roster, catcher-first baseman Sam Huff and infielder Jonathan Ornelas were both optioned to Triple-A Round Rock. After being swept in three games at Cleveland over the weeke...

Senate ditches dress code as Fetterman and others choose casual clothes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:54 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The stuffy Senate is now a bit less formal.Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Monday that staff for the chamber’s Sergeant-at-Arms — the Senate’s official clothes police — will no longer enforce a dress code on the Senate floor. The change comes after Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman has been unapologetically wearing shorts as he goes about his duties, voting from doorways so he doesn’t get in trouble for his more casual attire.“There has been an informal dress code that was enforced,” Schumer said in a statement. “Senators are able to choose what they wear on the Senate floor. I will continue to wear a suit.”Schumer did not mention Fetterman in his statement about the dress code, which will only apply to senators, not staff. The changes prompted outrage from some of the chamber’s more formal members, eroding a bit of the good will that first-term Fetterman had earned earlier this year when he checked himself into the hospital for clinical depression. He won ...

SEC suspends Florida’s George, Mazzccua and Zanders along with Tennessee’s Norman-Lott for fight

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:54 GMT

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Southeastern Conference suspended three Florida players and one Tennessee player for their roles in a fight that started on what was supposed to be the last play of their game Saturday night.The half-game punishments were doled out Monday after video review and consultation between the league office and both universities.No. 25 Florida will be without right tackle Damieon George, guard Micah Mazzccua and tight end Dante Zanders on Saturday for the first half against Charlotte in Gainesville. Defensive lineman Omarr Norman-Lott will miss the first half of No. 23 Tennessee’s game against UTSA on Saturday in Knoxville.The fight started when Florida quarterback Graham Mertz was slow to take a knee on a fourth-and-16 play with 9 seconds remaining in the Gators’ 29-16 victory in the Swamp. Tennessee defensive lineman Omari Thomas bumped into Mertz as he finally took a knee, and Florida left tackle Austin Barber took exception.Benches cleared, and T...

Red Sox rookie 1B Triston Casas not expected to play again this season because of shoulder injury

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:54 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Boston Red Sox rookie first baseman Triston Casas isn’t expected to play again this season because of right shoulder inflammation. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Monday that Casas was seeing a doctor, and they were looking at an MRI. But even before knowing those results, Cora said it was unlikely the first baseman would get back in the lineup. Casas was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday. Boston, last in the AL East, had only 11 games remaining after the series opener at Texas on Monday night. “To ramp up again … it doesn’t make any sense. That’s where we’re at,” Cora said. “For this season, it doesn’t make sense to get him back here.”Casas hit .263 with 24 home runs and 65 RBIs in 132 games. He ranked first among AL rookies in walks and second in homers. He batted .317 with 15 home runs in 54 games after the All-Star break.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlbSource

Bodycam footage shows good Samaritan dropping off bag with loaded gun, IDs belonging to former Florida state representative in Miami Beach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:54 GMT

When a woman turned over a lost bag to Miami Beach Police, they found a loaded gun that belonged to a former South Florida politician.It was an unusual delivery at the front desk of the Miami Beach Police Department. On Aug. 13, the good Samaritan was seen on officer-worn body camera footage dropping off what she said she found at South Pointe Park.“Thank you,” said the officer.“You’re welcome,” said the good Samaritan. The woman was thanked for taking the loaded pistol off the street.“I did my good deed for the day,” the good Samaritan said. “Oh, no. This counts for like maybe 20 good deeds,” the officer said regarding the high profile find.“Thank you. Have a good day,” she said. According to police, she turned in a black cross body bag that was abandoned.The Samaritan believed that the bag belonged to a police officerAfter inspecting the the badge that was in the bag, it didn’t belong to an officer, but rather a m...

Lipstick Lounge pop-up raises money to help pay treatment for women battling breast-cancer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:54 GMT

Pucker up fashionistas.The Lipstick Lounge pops up at the W Hotel Fort Lauderdale.It’s the hottest spot in town, where glitz, glamour, and giving, come together.Talk about a glam slam.Lipstick Lounge is popping up at the W Hotel with all kinds of glamourous things to do.Debby Thomas: “The whole idea about Lipstick Lounge is to make it a fun, happy, healthy, great vibe, energy kind of place to be.”Trust me it is the place to be.I’ve always had the best time at this event.The lounge is all about beauty, food, drinks and fashion.Debby Thomas: “We are having a pop-up fashion show that we are collaborating with Colonnade Outlets.”Celebrate all things fashionable with the white look from Balmain Paris and you’ll be on the fringe of fabulousness with these designs from Herve Leger.But if you’re all about sparkle, St. John has just the outfit for you.Plus it’s for a good cause.Debby Thomas: “We raise money for local women who are b...

Recovery efforts continue in Leominster one week after severe flooding

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:54 GMT

Recovery efforts are ongoing in Leominster now one week after severe flooding damaged businesses, homes and infrastructure. Large sections of the city were inundated on Monday of last week. As many continue to deal with the damage, local business owners this week are pleading with the city for more assistance. “We can’t continue to lose our properties, our valuables,” one person said during the public comment portion of a city council meeting Monday night.“What are you guys going to do about this?” another person asked. Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella joined city councilors at Monday’s special meeting, asking to move money into a flood relief fund to pay for the emergency response. While Mazzarella said he’s still waiting for the federal government to provide aid to homeowners and businesses, he said some work is already getting done.“We’ve made incredible strides already,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of streets that were closed open. All the bridges are underway....