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‘Transportation crisis’: Howard Co. schools head apologizes for bus cancellations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:00 GMT

The superintendent of Maryland’s Howard County Public Schools is apologizing after 20 school bus routes were canceled, which led to a tough start to the new school year for over 2,400 students.The school system first apologized Monday, saying one of the county’s independent contractors, Zum Transportation, announced it did not have enough drivers to cover the 20 routes for the remainder of this week — the first week of the new school year.Howard County Public Schools Superintendent Michael Martirano then held a news conference Wednesday to address the “transportation crisis” and later released a statement.“I apologize for the transportation challenges you have experienced,” Martirano said. “It is not lost on me that as we start the year talking about the importance of attendance, that Howard County failed as a school system to provide on-time, reliable transportation to many of our students.”While shouldering some of the blame and promising ...

Guardians claim former Angels pitchers Giolito, López and Moore off waivers, sources tells AP

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:00 GMT

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Guardians are hoping some Angels throwaways can help their playoff push.Still in the AL Central race, Cleveland claimed starter Lucas Giolito and relievers Matt Moore and Reynaldo López off waivers from Los Angeles on Thursday, two people familiar with the roster moves told The Associated Press.The Guardians made the claims to help get them through the remainder of this season and perhaps for the future, said the sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the acquisitions.Cleveland has remained in contention — currently five games back of first-place Minnesota — despite a rash of injuries to its starting rotation. The Guardians have had to rely on rookies Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams and Logan Allen to keep them within striking distance of the Twins.Those young pitchers have performed well but are reaching innings thresholds, forcing the team to find some arms to protect them.Giolito, López and Moore were waived earlier this w...

Julie Ertz retires from soccer after 10-year career and 2 Women’s World Cup titles

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:00 GMT

Two-time U.S. Soccer Player of the Year Julie Ertz has retired from soccer after a 10-year career that included back-to-back Women’s World Cup titles.Ertz, 31, had already hinted at her retirement at this summer’s World Cup after the United States fell to Sweden on penalties in the Round of 16, tearfully telling reporters it was likely her final match wearing the team crest. She made it official Thursday. “I gave everything I had to the sport that I love,” she said in a statement announcing her retirement. “With that I can walk away with no regrets because while I gave soccer every ounce of myself, soccer gave me even more, and for that I’ll always be thankful.”Ertz also retired from her club team, Angel City in the National Women’s Soccer League. It was uncertain whether Ertz would return to soccer before she was named to this summer’s World Cup team. She nursed a knee injury before playing in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, helping the U.S. win a bronze meda...

Jannik Sinner dominates fellow Italian to advance at US Open

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Jannik Sinner advanced to the U.S. Open’s third round Thursday with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 victory over fellow Italian Lorenzo Sonego.The sixth-seeded Sinner improved to 10-0 lifetime against his countrymen. He’s seeking at deep run at Flushing Meadows after reaching the semifinals at Wimbledon this year and the quarterfinals at last year’s U.S. Open, losing to Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set marathon after holding a match point.“I felt now my game has improved a little bit and developed,” said the 22-year-old Sinner, who won 89% of his first-serve points and was successful in 22 of 25 trips to the net. “Physically, I’m good and let’s see what’s coming.”Elsewhere, Jack Draper upset an apparently ailing Hubert Hurkacz 6-2, 6-4, 7-5, extending his return to the tour after being out more than two months with a shoulder injury.Draper, a 21-year Brit who only came back to the tour in early August, showed no signs of injury with strong serves and groundstrokes, while Hur...

North Texas coach Eric Morris is set for his debut against Cal after a season in the Pac-12

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:00 GMT

California (0-0) at North Texas (0-0), Saturday, 4 p.m. ET (ESPNU)Line: California by 6 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: California leads 1-0. WHAT’S AT STAKE?North Texas coach Eric Morris’ debut comes against a familiar opponent since the Texas native spent last season as the offensive coordinator at Washington State. Cal opens on the road against a Group of Five opponent for the first time since 2004 (Air Force). The Golden Bears, who lost seven of eight to finish last season, are trying to end a six-game road losing streak. The Mean Green won their last five home games last season.KEY MATCHUPThe Cal defensive front vs. the Mean Green run game. The Golden Bears will have the foursome of Akili Calhoun, Brett Johnson, Stanley Saole-McKenzie and Derek Wilkins together after only Calhoun played in 2022, and was limited to four games. Johnson hasn’t played since December 2020. North Texas is the only FBS team with three running backs with at least 1,000 c...

Oklahoma State looks to sort out QB race in opener vs. Central Arkansas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:00 GMT

Central Arkansas (0-0) at Oklahoma State (0-0), 6 p.m. CT (Big 12 Now on ESPN+)Line: No line, according to  FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: Oklahoma State leads 1-0.WHAT’S AT STAKE?Having not yet named a starting quarterback to fill the void after four-year starter Spencer Sanders transferred to Mississippi, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy is hoping to gain clarity. He says he’ll play “multiple” QBs in the season opener against Football Championship Subdivision foe Central Arkansas. Coming off a 7-6 season during which the Cowboys barely extended their streak of winning seasons and bowl appearances to 17, they would like one of the trio of Alan Bowman, Garrett Rangel or Gunnar Gundy to seize the reins and invigorate what was at times a stagnant offense last season. The Cowboys also would like to look at some of the more than 50 new players in the program before hitting the Power 5 road to face Arizona State a week later. Central Arkansas was picked to finish second in the preseaso...

Yankees calling up top prospects Domínguez and Wells on Friday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:00 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — The New York Yankees plan to call up prospects Jasson Domínguez and Austin Wells on Friday when active major league rosters expand from 26 to 28, moves made as center fielder Harrison Bader was claimed off waivers by Cincinnati.The pair could make their major league debuts Friday at Houston, when the Astros are scheduled to start Justin Verlander.Domínguez, a 20-year-old outfielder, signed four years ago for a $5.1 million bonus, tying for the high given to an international player in that year’s international amateur class. He began this season at Double-A Somerset and hit .254 with 15 homers, 66 RBIs and 37 stolen bases in 109 games, then was promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Aug. 22. Domínguez had three hits and three RBIs in his RailRiders debut and is batting .419 with 10 RBIs and three steals in nine games.“He’s got power, bat speed and strike zone discipline — he’s had that really from a young age, the ability to understand the strike zone,R...

Antes y después: el rastro de destrucción que dejó el poderoso huracán Idalia en Florida

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:00 GMT

El huracán Idalia inundó la región de Big Bend de Florida el miércoles, dejando millas de inundaciones y devastación desde Tampa hasta Tallahassee.Idalia tocó tierra a eso de las 7:45 a.m. en la costa oeste de Florida como huracán de categoría 3 antes de desplazarse hacia el norte hacia Georgia, Carolina del Norte y Carolina del Sur como tormenta tropical.Las fotografías tomadas desde el terreno muestran calles convertidas en ríos y estructuras enteras desmanteladas mientras los residentes intentaban evacuar.Las imágenes de satélite tomadas por Maxar muestran la magnitud de los daños:Source

Cincinnati Reds claim outfielder Harrison Bader on waivers from Yankees

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:00 GMT

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds claimed Harrison Bader off waivers from the New York Yankees on Thursday, adding a speedy center fielder for the final month of their attempt to reach playoffs.A Gold Glove winner with St. Louis in 2021, Bader hit .240 with seven homers, 37 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 18 attempts over 84 games with New York this year. Bader strained his left oblique in spring training and didn’t make his season debut until May 2. He was sidelined between May 29 and June 20 with a strained right hamstring.He has a $4.7 million salary and the Reds will assume $783,333 he is owed for the final 31 days of the season. Bader is eligible for free agency after the World Series.Bader was acquired from St. Louis on Aug. 2 last year for left-hander Jordan Montgomery and hit five homers in nine postseason games for the Yankees.“It just means so much to me to be a New York City kid playing in the Bronx for the Yankees and, yeah, it’s just really special for a lot of reasons,...

Trump pleads not guilty in Georgia election subversion case, seeks to sever his case from others

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:00 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty on Thursday and sought to sever his case from some other defendants who are accused along with him of illegally trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Georgia.Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee had set arraignment hearings on Sept. 6 for Trump and the 18 others charged in the case. Trump's court filing entering a not guilty plea also waived arraignment, meaning he won’t have to show up for that.The decision to skip an in-person appearance averts the dramatic arraignments that have accompanied the three other criminal cases Trump faces, in which the Republican former president has been forced amid tight security into a courtroom and entered “not guilty” pleas before crowds of spectators. Georgia courts have fairly permissive rules on news cameras in the courtroom, and this means Trump won't have to enter a plea on television.Trump and 18 others were charged earlier this month in a 41-count in...