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Red Sox make first big league free agent signing of winter

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:00:00 GMT

The Red Sox have made their first big league free agent signing of the offseason, inking former Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Cooper Criswell to a one-year deal.According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the deal is for $1 million.Criswell appeared in 10 games for the Rays last season and posted a 5.73 ERA over 33 innings. The 27-year-old was used exclusively in a bulk relief role, going at least two innings in all of his outings and at least four innings on four separate occasions. He also made 23 appearances in Triple-A, including 17 starts, and posted a 3.93 ERA in 84.2 innings at that level.Originally selected in the 13th round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Angels, Criswell also made one start each in 2021 for the Angels and in 2022 for the Rays before getting his first extended MLB run last year.Criswell was designated for assignment by the Rays following the season and is expected to provide additional bullpen depth for the Red Sox. Given Boston’s logjam with right-...

Should you skip that charitable donation at the cash register?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:00:00 GMT

By Elizabeth Renter | NerdWalletWhen it comes to supporting a charity, it doesn’t get much more convenient than donating at the card reader in the checkout line. But depending on your motivations and financial situation, it may not be the best approach.More than two-thirds (68%) of Americans donate to charity at the register of retail establishments, according to a new NerdWallet survey conducted online by The Harris Poll Oct. 10-12. Some give because the cause is important to them, and others give because they feel guilty if they don’t. But whatever the reason, being thoughtful about your donations can ensure you’re giving without breaking the bank.For customers, these donations likely look like an additional $5 or so on their total, or “rounding up” to the next dollar amount. In either case, the incremental giving adds up to hundreds of millions of dollars each year nationwide.Many shoppers likely make the decision to donate in the moment. But thinking through why you donate ahead...

Why Bill Belichick wanted to work with recently acquired Patriots defender

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:00:00 GMT

FOXBORO — The Patriots made an under-the-radar late-season addition before Thursday night’s 21-18 win over the Steelers when they put in a waiver claim for ex-Eagles linebacker Christian Elliss.The move became official Friday when the Patriots waived running back/wide receiver Ty Montgomery to add Elliss to the roster.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Bill Belichick responds to report Robert Kraft has already decided to part ways New England Patriots | Patriots attempted to keep Malik Cunningham before Ravens poached rookie QB New England Patriots | Patriots extra points: Bill O’Brien, Troy Brown preview Chiefs matchup New England Patriots | Patriots coach Troy Brown reacts to fellow assistant leaving midseason New England Patriots | Patriots lose backup QB to AFC rival Ravens after minimal playing time Belichick explained Wednesday why the Patriots wanted to work with Elliss.̶...

Suspect arrested during illegal fireworks investigation

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:00:00 GMT

VISTA, Calif. -- More than three pounds of cocaine, a firearm, ammunition, cash and a mortar tube used for setting off illegal fireworks were seized at a home in Vista, authorities said.The bust occurred Tuesday around 5 a.m. in the 700 block of North Citrus Ave. after reports of explosions and illegal fireworks being set off in the area, Sgt. Adam Milligan with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO) said in a news release.A man was arrested after an illegal fireworks investigation in Vista on Dec. 12, 2023. (San Diego County Sheriff's Department)Over the past several months, the sheriff's department received numerous complaints about illegal activity at the location. San Diego ‘street vet’ makes history after honored as CNN’s 2023 Hero of the Year Authorities on Tuesday contacted and detained 19 people at the home on North Citrus Ave.Gillermo Vargas, 34, was arrested on suspicion of child cruelty, possession of a controlled substance for sale, possession of a controlle...

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore says Baltimore Orioles lease deal is ‘imminent’

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:00:00 GMT

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said Wednesday that he believes a new lease agreement with the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards is “imminent,” as an end-of-the year deadline approaches.Moore spoke to reporters after a meeting of the state’s Board of Public Works, which would need to approve a final deal. The governor spoke about the negotiations after his administration announced Friday that it would address concerns expressed by the state Senate president about a proposed agreement.“We’ve been working all throughout the weekend and the week with all the partners, and we feel very confident that a deal is imminent,” said Moore, who chairs the three-member board.It was the board’s last scheduled meeting this year, though Moore emphasized that it was the last regularly scheduled meeting, suggesting another one could be called to approve a new lease before the end of the year.“We have to do, and we’re going to do, the best deal for the taxpayers,&...

Grocery code launch being held back by dissent from some retailers: board report

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:00:00 GMT

After two years of work, the group responsible for developing the grocery code of conduct says its launch is being held back by a lack of support from all the major grocers. The interim board sent a progress report to the federal, territorial and provincial agriculture ministers on Wednesday.The report obtained by The Canadian Press includes the latest draft of the code, and a draft of the bylaws for the Office of the Grocery Sector Code of Conduct. The steering committee that was in charge of creating the code recently became the interim board of directors for the office, which the board says was incorporated earlier this fall. Recently, Loblaw Cos. Ltd. and Walmart Canada expressed concern that the code could raise food prices.The agriculture ministers and federal Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne met on Monday to discuss the code, saying in a press release that they’re disappointed two of the five major grocers have indicated they won’t sign the code. This report by T...

The Netherlands, South Korea step up strategic partnership including cooperation on semiconductors

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:00:00 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The Netherlands and South Korea are stepping up cooperation in the field of semiconductor chips as part of a deepening “strategic partnership,” caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Wednesday.The Dutch leader spoke after a meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol during his two-day state visit. Their meeting came a day after Yoon visited the headquarters of semiconductor chip machine maker ASML.“Our countries are now going to step up our cooperation in this field. This is a promising initiative, and it is also, I believe, a real win-win situation,” Rutte said.As part of the visit, South Korean nuclear power company KHNP signed a contract to carry out a feasibility study into the construction of two new nuclear power plants in the southern Dutch town of Borselle. U.S. company Westinghouse and France’s EDF will soon sign similar contracts, the Dutch government announced.Borselle, near the border with Belgium and the North Sea coast, is h...

What Tesla Autopilot does, why it’s being recalled and how the company plans to fix it

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:00:00 GMT

Tesla introduced Autopilot software in October of 2015 with CEO Elon Musk heralding it as a profound experience for people.Other automakers such as Mercedes, Audi and Volvo already were offering what amounted to fancy cruise control — keeping cars in their lanes and a distance from traffic in front of it. But Musk had an innovation: Autopilot, he said, could change lanes on its own. “It will change people’s perception of the future quite drastically,” Musk said while cautioning that drivers still have to pay attention.Eight years later, U.S. auto safety regulators pressured Tesla into recalling nearly all the vehicles it has sold in the country because its driver monitoring system is too lax. The fix, with more alerts and limits on where the system can operate, will be done with a software update.Here’s how Autopilot has evolved over the past eight years and why it’s being recalled:WHAT IT DOES NOWBasic Autopilot can steer, accelerate and brake automatically in its...

Pirates find regional network landing spot, sign on to become joint owners of Pittsburgh SportsNet

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:00:00 GMT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have become joint owners of SportsNet Pittsburgh, giving the club a regional network presence after AT&T SportsNet’s agreement expired at the end of the 2023 regular season.The deal, announced Wednesday, begins on Jan. 1 and makes the Pirates co-owners of the network along with the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins.Daily operations of the network will be operated by New England Sports Network (NESN). NESN is owned by the Fenway Sports Group, which also owns the Penguins.The deal calls for SportsNet Pittsburgh to carry over 150 Pirates games during the 2024 season.“The most important thing to us was to ensure that our fans have the same level of access to Pirates game telecasts and the same high-quality production that they enjoy today,” Pirates president Travis Williams said in a statement. “This agreement accomplishes that and more as we enable Pittsburgh sports fans to continue to enjoy a two-team, 24/7 sports channel.”___AP M...

Minister doesn’t yet know cost to replace deteriorating Montreal Olympic Stadium roof

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:00:00 GMT

Quebec Tourism Minister Caroline Proulx says she’s not able to say how much it would cost to replace the deteriorating roof of Montreal’s Olympic Stadium.Proulx said today cabinet will study the issue in January, declining to comment on a report in Montreal’s La Presse that said replacing the roof will cost at least $750 million.Premier François Legault said in October that the stadium will need a new roof and that he wants to restore the venue to its former glory.It will be a major task, as Proulx says there are now more than 20,000 tears in the stadium’s roof.A 2017 plan by the pervious Liberal government to replace the roof by 2022, with an estimated cost of between $200 million and $250 million, was postponed in 2019.Parc Olympique, which manages the stadium, announced on Tuesday that a round of exploratory work related to the potential roof replacement will force the closure of the stadium’s playing field for months.This report by The Canadian Pres...