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Blue Jays and Merrifield decline $18M mutual option, will become free agent

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:24 GMT

The Toronto Blue Jays and infielder/outfielder Whit Merrifield have declined an $18-million mutual option for next season, allowing the veteran to become a free agent.Merrifield will collect a $500,000 buyout and head to the open market for the first time. He could still agree to a new deal with the Blue Jays. The 34-year-old had a productive season with the Blue Jays, slashing .272/.318/.382 with 11 home runs, 67 RBIs and 26 stolen bases across 145 games. Merrifield enjoyed a great start to the year, hitting .286/.342/.392 in 82 first-half games, but struggled down the stretch for the Blue Jays (.256/.286/.370 across 62 games). He’s still considered one of the better available players in what is expected to be a weak free-agent market. Related: Berrios, Kiermaier among 5 Blue Jays Gold Glove finalists The Blue Jays acquired Merrifield in August 2022 from the Kansas City Royals for Samad Taylor and Maximo Castillo. Toronto could look to replace Merrifield inte...

Actor Robert De Niro’s ex-top assistant cites courtroom outburst as an example of his abusive side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:24 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A woman who served as actor Robert De Niro’s chief personal assistant for over a decade began testifying at a trial against him on Thursday, citing his angry outburst at her during his testimony two days earlier as an example of his discriminatory mistreatment of her.Graham Chase Robinson began her turn on the witness stand late in the day in Manhattan federal court as a jury hears evidence related to civil claims De Niro and Robinson have made against each other. De Niro, referenced mostly as “Bob” in court, has not returned to court since his testimony concluded Tuesday.Robinson sued the two-time Oscar winner for gender discrimination and retaliation, seeking $12 million in damages. De Niro sued her for breach of loyalty and fiduciary duty, seeking $6 million and saying she stole 5 million air mile points from an account his children sometimes use when he had only expected her to take 1 million or 2 million.On Tuesday the actor, angry at claims casting him as abusi...

Swayman, Bruins outlast Maple Leafs with shootout win

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:24 GMT

Goalie Jeremy Swayman stopped 33 shots as the Boston Bruins outlasted the Toronto Maple Leafs for a 3-2 shootout win, improving to 9-0-1 to start the season. Goals from Pavel Zacha and Jake DeBrusk put the Maple Leafs down 2-0, but Toronto’s stars responded, as Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner capitalized to even the score. William Nylander continued his torrid stretch to the new campaign with an assist as the winger has registered at least one point in every game played this season, extending the streak to 10 games.With an assist in Boston tonight, Nylander has extended his season-opening point streak to 10 games. https://t.co/jKNFDU2VKA— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) November 3, 2023A Nylander two-minute penalty in overtime didn’t lead to a goal as Maple Leafs penalty killers played responsibly enough to keep it squared, leading to a shootout. Charlie Coyle and DeBrusk would beat Ilya Samsonov, while Swayman shut the door on Nylander and Matthews en route to the win. Relat...

Wildfire in mountainous Central Oahu moves away from towns as Hawaii firefighters continue battle

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:24 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — A wildfire that has burned forestlands in a remote mountainous area of Central Oahu has moved eastward and away from population centers, Hawaii authorities said Thursday, as firefighters continued to battle the blaze. The flames haven’t threatened homes or property, and no evacuations have been ordered, but they have scorched some native koa and ohia trees. The main part of the fire was about 4 miles (6 kilometers) from the Mililani Mauka housing area and was headed away from it, the Honolulu Fire Department said in a statement. Nearly 2 square miles (5 square kilometers) have been burned so far by the blaze, which firefighters have been battling since Monday. Three Army helicopters were dropping water on the fire Thursday, and helicopters from the Honolulu Fire Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also doused flames from the air. A Hawaii Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation plan released this week said the state has experienced longer dr...

Japanese consumers are eating more local fish in spite of China’s ban due to Fukushima wastewater

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:24 GMT

IWAKI, Japan (AP) — Local fishing communities feared the worst when the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant began discharging treated radioactive wastewater into the sea. Instead of a business calamity, however, consumers from across the nation have supported the region by eating more fish. Besides boosting a fragile industry, the demand has helped mitigate the impact of China’s ban on Japanese seafood, though there are worries about the future of the water release. “So far, I haven’t heard anyone raising safety concerns over the treated water release. I’d say zero,” Kazuto Harada, who works at Marufuto Fish Store near the Onahama Port in Fukushima, said as he stood by a tank of lobsters caught nearby. “I’m half surprised, and half relieved.”Customers nationwide are placing orders, with many asking for “Joban-mono,” or fish from the waters off Fukushima and its southern neighbor Ibaraki. That includes regional favorites flounder and greeneye. By late ...

New Zealand’s final election count means incoming premier Christopher Luxon needs broader support

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:24 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A final vote count Friday following a general election in New Zealand three weeks ago has changed the political equation for winner Christopher Luxon, whose conservative National Party will now need broader support to govern.An election night count had given the National Party and the closely aligned libertarian ACT Party a slim overall majority. But the addition of 600,000 special votes Friday saw that majority evaporate, with the National Party losing two seats and opposition parties gaining three seats. That means in order to command a majority, the National Party will now need the support of both ACT and the New Zealand First party, run by maverick 78-year-old lawmaker Winston Peters. Outgoing Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, who decided he wouldn’t work with Peters, had already conceded to Luxon on election night. Hipkins held the top job for just nine months. He took over from Jacinda Ardern, who unexpectedly stepped down in January, saying sh...

Family looks for justice after bartender fatally shot on way home from work

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:24 GMT

CHICAGO — It's been more than two weeks since Salvador Herrera was shot and killed on his way home from work. Thursday night, family members were determined to fight for answers and keep his memory alive.Herrera had just finished his shift at the Butterfield Country Club in Oak Brook in the early morning hours of Oct. 15, when he was shot and killed in the 700 block of South Loomis Street in the Little Italy neighborhood while he was driving home."His life was taken from us far too soon, due to senseless gun violence and car thefts," said Remedios Herrera, Salvador's sister. "Sal was more than a victim, he was an honest, selfless and hardworking person who touched the lives of all who knew him."Herrera started working at the Butterfield Country Club when he was 14, after his father died in a workplace accident."Sal decided that he would be a leader," said Fr. Brendan Curran. "That he would become a family man for his loved ones, for his sisters, for his mother." Joliet family file...

Vigil held in north suburbs to remember those kidnapped or killed by Hamas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:24 GMT

CHICAGO — A vigil in the northern suburbs on Thursday evening was held by a delegation of Israelis whose loved ones were killed or kidnapped by Hamas.There was a huge show of solidarity as hundreds of people gathered this event and another one to keep up the support nearly one month after the Hamas attack. For more coverage of the Israel and Hamas Conflict, click here You can watch this story in the player above.

No. 7 Longhorns have to be sure-tacklers to stop Kansas State's punishing rushing attack

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Mobile quarterbacks have given the Texas Longhorns headaches in the past, and the No. 23 Kansas State Wildcats have two that will take snaps on Saturday at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.Senior Will Howard and freshman Avery Johnson have combined to run for more than 500 yards thus far, and they do it in different ways. Howard, a 6-foot-5, 242-pound road grader can punish defenders while Johnson is a quick and shifty runner that makes people miss. Longhorns No. 7 in first college football playoff rankings "They're very tactical in their approach to running the football, and their quarterbacks are very capable of running it," Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian said. "They're going to scheme us up on things and have runs available to them."The running threats only begin there because Kansas State also has an outstanding running back in DJ Giddens who is No. 29 in FBS with 722 rushing yards. The Wildcats' physicality on the offensive line gets defenders out of the way ...

Texas comptroller announces $45M Israel bonds purchase

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Thursday, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced a $45 million purchase of Israel bonds in addition to a previous $20 million purchase last month, a news release from the comptroller's office said.According to the comptroller's office, the fixed-rate bonds mature in three years, as well as carry an interest rate of 5.4%.“I am pleased to be able to continue supporting Israel,” Hegar said in the release. “They are a friend and ally of Texas, and we are proud to stand by them and provide support as they defend themselves. Israel is also a reliable counterparty, and their perfect record of interest and principal payments make this a solid investment for Texas.”The state has invested in Israel bonds yearly since 1994 and currently holds about $140 million in said bonds, according to the comptroller's office. Furthermore, the release said Israel started selling bonds in 1951.Texas has purchased $185 million in Israel bonds since Hegar took office, according to the com...