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Bill Madden: Buck Showalter on the challenge of managing Mets without Edwin Diaz

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

PORT ST. LUCIE — Nobody has to tell Buck Showalter he’s going to have to manage his butt off this season if he is to get Steve Cohen’s $336 million Mets back to October and beyond. Quite simply it is going to be an Edwin Diaz-less adventure for 162 games.We were standing on the sidelines watching the Mets going through some pre-game drills at Clover Park the other day and, as it is with every conversation with the Mets manager this spring, it is hard not to bring up the elephant in the room. Showalter is moving on, as he has to, from the devastating turn of events of Diaz tearing the patellar tendon in his knee celebrating at the World Baseball Classic, but the void is immeasurable.“Look,” he said, “in my opinion, Edwin had the greatest season of any closer in the history of baseball last year. I would challenge anyone to come up with a greater one.”Certainly, in terms of dominance and value to the team’s success, Diaz’s 2022, in...

Mike Lupica: Surprising Knicks season will be a failure if they can’t win a playoff series

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

The Garden was once again a mecca this past week. That means the mecca of past basketball glory. Even in good times, and this current Knicks team has provided so many good times this season and so many big nights, the Garden, until further notice, is still just the capital of the good old days.It all came rushing back again because of the death of Willis Reed at the age of 80, heart failure taking him and his own great heart. So, of course, it was Game 7 against the Lakers again this week, and it was the last Knicks title, 50 years ago, the 1972-73 Knicks team that was honored not long ago. Some of them were there for the celebration. Walt Frazier was there, because he has become the ambassador of everything with the Knicks and the Garden, mostly because he is still here, and so wonderfully vocal, and so very present.Bill Bradley was there, and so was a fine and dear basketball gent named Earl Monroe, the Philly kid and the old Baltimore Bullet who by his grace and dazzling game, be...

St. John’s, N.L., airport closed after late night fire on 2nd floor forces evacuation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — A fire on the second floor of the international airport in St. John’s, N.L., resulted in the facility being closed late Friday night.The airport authority said today the main terminal building was evacuated due to a “significant event” on Friday at 11:30 p.m. No other details were immediately available.The authority said in a release today it is working with police and the fire department to ensure all protocols are being followed before reopening the building.The news release says the terminal building was expected to remain closed to the public until 6 p.m. on Saturday.Passengers are being advised not to visit the airport until there is a public advisory the terminal has reopened.This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 25, 2023.The Canadian Press

14-year veteran of Toronto police force facing impaired driving charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

A 14-year veteran of the Toronto police force is facing a number of charges including impaired driving.Toronto police say around 3:45 a.m. on March 20, an off-duty police officer was driving in the area of Shuter and Parliament streets when he struck a parked car on Shuter before continuing southbound on Parliament. Initially, the driver failed to stop when located by police before pulling over almost two kilometres later in the area of King and Sumach streets. Investigators say the driver refused to submit to a breathalyzer test after being placed under arrest. Const. Michael Juma has been charged with dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, refusing a breathalyzer, impaired driving and failing to remain at the scene of an accident. He has been suspended with pay and is scheduled to answer to the charges in court on May 2.

Taliban want control of more Afghan diplomatic missions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The Taliban government is trying to take charge of more Afghan embassies abroad, a spokesman said Saturday, amid their continued international isolation because of restrictions on women and girls.The Taliban initially promised a more moderate rule after their takeover in August 2021, but instead imposed sweeping bans and other measures curtailing basic freedoms.The U.N. and foreign governments have fiercely condemned the restrictions on female education and employment, and the international community remains wary of officially recognizing the Taliban, although some countries retain an active diplomatic mission in Afghanistan, including Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar, and China.“The Islamic Emirate has sent diplomats to at least 14 countries and efforts are underway to take charge of other diplomatic missions abroad,” the government’s main spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a video. “Diplomats of the former government are continuing their activities in coordination with t...

Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project to celebrate black dance in Chicago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

Director of Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project, Princess Mhoon, joins us in the studio to share more about the project its legacy to celebrate Black dance in Chicago and help the project grow.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Idaho Republicans block proposal to provide free tampons in schools

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

(The Hill) – Republicans in the Idaho House blocked a bill that would provide free menstrual products to public school students, calling it “liberal” and “woke.”The bill would have funded free menstrual product dispensers for sixth through 12th grade students in girls' bathrooms at a cost of about $300,000 per year, or $3.50 per student, after a one-time installation cost of about $435,000.“It’s not a lot of money in the state’s budget,” bill sponsor state Rep. Rod Furniss (R) said in committee Thursday. “Today is a step to preserve womanhood, to give it a chance to start right, to not be embarrassed or feel alienated or ashamed, or to feel like they need to stay home from school due to period poverty.”Idaho is projected to have a $1.4 billion revenue surplus this year. Florida principal resigns after parents complain about nude Michelangelo sculpture Advocates for the bill say that the state already funds toilet paper, soap and other hygiene products for students. The Idaho Perio...

Weekend Break at the Sloomoo Institute in Near North Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

Check out today's Weekend Break with Marcella where she visits the Sloomoo Institute in Near North Side.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Celebrating women achievements through 'This Black Girl' Campaign

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

Ladies of Virtue, a leadership and mentoring program for Black women in Chicago communities, is now launching the 'This Black Girl' campaign to celebrate the accomplishments of thousands of women who have gone through their program and show girls throughout the city what they can achieve.Ladies of Virtuem director of Programming Kenya Mercer joins us in the studio to share more.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Python hunters find missing Florida woman hundreds of miles from home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A 75-year-old woman who disappeared from her home in Marion County, Florida, was found by python hunters hundreds of miles away near Miami.The Marion County Sheriff's Office first issued a Silver Alert for Darlene Peck after she went missing on Tuesday.Deputies said Peck, who suffers from dementia, had left her Umatilla home to go to Ocala, about an hour away, sometime in the early afternoon. Her husband arrived home later that evening and contacted the authorities upon learning she had not yet returned. Largo lawyer disappears under suspicious circumstances, police say The Marion County Sheriff's Office said her car, a 2013 Nissan Rogue, was then spotted on Wednesday morning in Coral Gables, about 270 miles away from Umatilla."If you have any information on her whereabouts, please call 911," deputies wrote in the Silver Alert.Later that afternoon, the Marion County Sheriff's Office confirmed that Peck had been found "by python hunters" in South Florida. A rep...