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David Griffin on Zion Williamson’s potential playoff availability: ‘We may never get to that point either’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:26 GMT

It’s the time of year to sit out games. We have the tankers and relaxers.The Knicks fit in the latter category after clinching the fifth seed, which prompted them to sit three regular starters Friday night — Jalen Brunson, Mitchell Robinson and RJ Barrett — while Julius Randle remained inactive because of a sprained ankle.But their opponent in New Orleans, the Pelicans, had everything to play for. And with a familiar name on their DNP list.Zion Williamson, once touted as the next generation’s NBA megastar, was ruled out for the play-in tournament by Pelicans vice president David Griffin, who still hasn’t provided anything concrete about a possible return date.Even if the Pelicans, who entered Friday night as the eighth seed, advance to the playoffs, it sounds iffy, at best, for Williamson’s availability.“Our best possible outcome would be if everything lined up perfectly, maybe you’re in a position to practice prior to a first-round se...

Marcus Stroman dominates the Texas Rangers in a 2-0 Chicago Cubs win: ‘If you give me more confidence, that’s a scary sight’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:26 GMT

David Ross talked about what he called “the Twitter machine” before Friday’s game against the Texas Rangers at Wrigley Field, noting he’s not a frequent visitor to the app.“I go on Twitter every once in a while,” the Chicago Cubs manager said. “Just not on me. I try to stay out of (things). I’m not Googling myself and seeing all the awesome things people are saying about me.”The 2023 season marks a turning point in Ross’s career as Cubs manager. He’s being judged by a higher standard and saw the first real volley of criticism aimed in his direction last week after a failed bunt attempt by Patrick Wisdom in a loss to the Cincinnati Reds. It was mild but jarring coming so early in the season.Ross said he welcomes the criticism, and as a former analyst with ESPN he understands the game relies on fan debate, much of which the media fuels. He’s not averse to taking risks, no matter the potential for Twitter abuse.Ros...

Steve Cohen on Mets’ early struggles: ‘It’s foolish to make conclusions in such a short period…’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:26 GMT

Steve Cohen has a message for the fans who are worried about the Mets after the first seven games of the season: It’s too early to panic. The club’s owner held court in the Mets’ dugout Friday morning ahead of the 2023 home opener. He touched on a number of subjects regarding the club and its future.While some owners are content to stay out of sight and out of the line of fire from the fans, Cohen still likes to think of himself as one of them. After all, the Mets were his favorite childhood team. He sat with the 7 Line Army in Miami during the Amazin’s Opening Day win and he interacts with them on Twitter.Cohen is listening to the fans, and while he thinks the concerns over the 4-4 start to the season are valid, they’re a bit premature.“I see it the same way like in my own business and a hedge fund business,” Cohen said. “I’ll have a bad week. That doesn’t define my year, it doesn’t define my month. And so it’s...

Federal judge blocks abortion pill approval

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:26 GMT

(The Hill) – In an unprecedented decision, a federal judge in Texas has issued a stay that will shut down the prescribing and distribution of mifepristone in seven days, one of two drugs used for medication abortions that has been on the market in the U.S. for more than two decades.District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, an appointee of former President Trump, gave the government a weeklong window to appeal and seek emergency relief before his ruling goes into effect.The FDA can appeal the decision to the conservative 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the judge has given the federal government seven days to seek relief. The case could eventually reach the Supreme Court.  Hundreds of books have been banned this year: Which titles and states are most impacted Kacsmaryk sided with the antiabortion group that brought the lawsuit and said the agency's approval process was improperly rushed, and resulted in an unsafe drug regimen getting on the market.The drug was first approved in...

In Nicaragua, Holy week celebrations limited by government

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:26 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Roman Catholics in had to hold traditional “Stations of the Cross” and other Holy Week processions on church grounds or inside churches Friday amid a ban on public demonstrations.Relations between autocratic President Daniel Ortega and the church have frayed to near non-existence since Nicaragua’s government proposed severing relations and sentenced a bishop to 26 years in prison.Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes told The Associated Press that celebrations were held throughout the country “near the churches.”“In absolutely every parish there were celebrations,” Brenes said, though he added they went off “not with all the intensity” of years past.Germán Miranda, one of hundreds of faithful who showed up for the procession at the Managua Cathedral, was one of those who found it less inspiring this year.He said Holy Week celebrations were better in the past when they wound through the streets of the capital. “It was better before, because it was freer.”Miranda sai...

Judge halts FDA approval of abortion pill mifepristone

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:26 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A federal judge in Texas on Friday ordered a hold on U.S. approval of the abortion medication mifepristone, throwing into question access to the nation’s most common method of abortion in a ruling that waved aside decades of scientific approval.The immediate impact of the ruling by U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk, which does not go into immediate effect, was unclear. The abortion drug has been widely used in the U.S. since 2000 and there is essentially no precedent for a lone judge overruling the medical decisions of the Food and Drug Administration. Mifepristone is one of two drugs used for medication abortion in the United States, along with misoprostol, which is also used to treat other medical conditions.Kacsmaryk, a Trump administration appointee in Amarillo, Texas, signed an injunction directing the FDA to stay mifepristone’s approval while a lawsuit challenging the safety and approval of the drug continues. His 67-page order gave the government s...

Finger cut to keep Celtics’ Brown out for final 2 games

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:26 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown says he will miss the final two regular-season games but expects to be ready to go in time for the start of the playoffs after cutting a finger on his shooting hand.Brown told reporters Friday night before a game against Toronto that he cut his hand on some glass Thursday night and had to get five stitches. He was wearing a protective wrap and expects to be restricted for at least the next two days. Marcus Smart (neck spasms) and Malcolm Brogdon (back) also sat out Friday.Coach Joe Mazzulla said he doesn’t expect any of the injuries to be anything that lingers heading into the postseason.Boston, which is locked into the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, hosts Atlanta on Sunday in its regular-season finale. ___AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports The Associated Press

California hostage shooting suspect sought in other crime

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:26 GMT

ROSEVILLE, Calif. (AP) — The gunman who shot a California Highway Patrol officer and two hostages, killing one, in a public park was initially wanted for questioning in connection with a freeway shooting, police said Friday.The violence unfolded Thursday afternoon as CHP officers tried to serve a search warrant on Eric Abril in Roseville while families played nearby at baseball fields and children attended camp. Amid the chaos, Abril took two hostages — identified Friday as a married couple — in the city of about 150,000 northeast of Sacramento. James MacEgan was killed in the shooting and his spouse was injured, Roseville police said.The injured CHP officer, whose name was also not disclosed, has since been released from medical care. Abril, however, remained hospitalized Friday with a gunshot wound, Roseville police said.Although investigators believe Abril was the gunman in an earlier freeway shooting in Sacramento County, CHP Officer Ricardo Ortiz said Friday that there was no w...

City of Chicago sued over Invest South/West project

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:26 GMT

CHICAGO — The City of Chicago is being sued and accused of mishandling an Invest South/West Project in Humboldt Park.Many people want to see the landmark building at North and Pulaski become the cultural hub it once was. Inside Mayor Lightfoot’s INVEST South/West Program A plan is in the works but a lawsuit questions how the city is going about it.The Historic Pioneer Bank Building has sat vacant for many years. "The more we got information from the city, the more outrageous it looked," Paul Roldan with the Hispanic Housing Development Corp. said. INVEST South/West marks three years with dual groundbreaking ceremony Invest South/West is one of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot's signature programs to revitalize neglected neighborhoods on the South and West sides.Team Pioneros is a $54 million project that would turn the dilapidated building on the corner of North Avenue and Pulaski into a cultural hub complete with office and residential space. "I think Invest South/West is a terrif...

Before Masters, a few Chicago area golfers picked up awards at Augusta National

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:26 GMT

The "Random Hawlight" - a weekly segment on WGN News Now that spotlights achievements by Chicago area athletes and teams.AUGUSTA, GA — The stage now belongs to the best golfers in the world, but the week at August National began with some of the brightest young players in America.That included a few talented golfers from the Chicago area who were able to finish as finalists in the competition held before the Masters Tournament. Four young athletes from Chicagoland placed in the Top 10 of the 2023 Drive, Chip, and Putt Championships that were held last weekend in Augusta. That included a champion - Martha Kuwahara of Northbrook - who won the girl's 14-15 division of the competition. She scored 24 points, which was one better than second place finisher Saydie Wagner to win the title.Kuwahara was presented with her trophy by Nick Faldo, the 1989, 1990, and 1996 Masters champion.Three other golfers from the Chicago area also finished in the Top 10 in the competition, all coming in the b...