Home

Rising number of wildfires trigger poor air quality warnings in Ontario, Quebec

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:18:41 GMT

OTTAWA — The number of forest fires burning across Canada crept higher over the last week and more dangerous air quality warnings were issued in parts of Ontario and Quebec Sunday.The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, known as CIFFC, reported 465 active fires burning across the country, including 240 that are out of control. Almost one-quarter of those fires are in Quebec, and Environment Canada warned wind patterns were causing smoke from some of those blazes to settle over the western part of the province as well as eastern Ontario.The smoke and fires prompted the cancellation of an Ironman triathlon race in Mont Tremblant, Que. shut down youth soccer and baseball programs in Ottawa and Montreal and compelled city officials in Ottawa and its neighbouring city of Gatineau, Que., to close outdoor pools and declare beaches off limits to swimming.About 3,700 athletes were to take part in the triathlon at Quebec’s popular resort about 130 km northwest of Montreal. But when...

Timberwolves agree to three-year deal with Naz Reid

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:18:41 GMT

Every time the 2022-23 Timberwolves were discussed by the franchise’s leadership, a reference was made to late in the season, when Minnesota reeled off a couple impressive wins over playoff teams in succession.That was when the team felt as though it was finally hitting its stride and the pieces were truly fitting together.Then Naz Reid went down with a wrist injury that ended the reserve big man’s season. And that was cited as a true momentum stopper for the franchise.A fan favorite, a beloved teammate – particularly of two of the franchise’s young pillars – and one of the organization’s most successful development stories, Reid has become a bit of a heroized meme within the Timberwolves’ fan base.But look past the silliness, and Reid was viewed as a lynchpin for this team by even the major stakeholders. Which is what made re-signing the free agent this offseason so pivotal for the franchise’s future. Minnesota got that done Sunday, as a source confirmed the Wolves and Reid agreed ...

Video: Larchmont boba tea shop broken into, suspect on the loose 

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:18:41 GMT

A boba tea shop in Larchmont was broken into early Sunday morning, and the suspect remains on the loose. According to the LAPD, officers received a call shortly before 11 a.m. regarding a burglary that occurred in the 100 block of Larchmont Boulevard.  The owner of the shop said the break-in had occurred around 10 hours previously – around 1 a.m. Sunday morning – and that it was the second break-in he’s endured in the past few months.  Video shows the suspect enter the store through the back entrance and proceed towards the front of the store through the kitchen.  Man stops elderly couple from being robbed in San Gabriel Once in the front, the thief begins to ransack the area surrounding the cash register, before grabbing what appears to be several electronic devices and running out of the store through the back door. Investigators with the Los Angeles Police Department are handling the investigation. 

Angels acquire L.A. native Mike Moustakas from Rockies after blowout win in Denver

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:18:41 GMT

DENVER (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels acquired veteran infielder Mike Moustakas from Colorado moments after their 25-1 victory over the Rockies on Saturday night.The Rockies got minor league right-hander Connor Van Scoyoc, who was 4-3 with a 2.76 ERA in 11 starts at Class A Tri-City this season.Moustakas hit .270 with four homers and 17 RBIs in 47 games with the Rockies after joining them in spring training.The trade marks a return home for the Los Angeles native, who hasn't played farther west than Colorado in his 12-year MLB career.“To be traded to the Angels, it’s awesome," Moustakas said Sunday before the series finale between his former and new teams. "I get to go back home. I get to play with some phenomenal baseball players over here and get a chance to win. That’s what we’re trying to do. That’s what I’ve always been trying to do. I’m really excited to have that opportunity again.” These are the largest victories in MLB history, including Angels’ 25-1 rout of Rockies Mousta...

Marin forums planned on sea otter reintroduction

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:18:41 GMT

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is planning two events in Marin County this week to discuss the potential reintroduction of sea otters to Northern California waters for the first time since the 19th century.The events in Point Reyes Station and Sausalito come a year after the agency released an assessment stating that otter reintroduction could be feasible. Potential sites could include Drakes Estero, San Francisco Bay and the Sonoma County coast.The first open house is set for 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Point Reyes National Seashore’s Bear Valley Visitor Center at 75 Bear Valley Road. A second session is planned from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Bay Model Visitor Center at 2100 Bridgeway in Sausalito.Wildlife officials said the reintroduction could help expand the population of sea otters, currently estimated to number 3,000 in California. Their range is the central and southern coasts.The proposal has raised economic concerns, especially in the fishing industry, bec...

Prigozhin and Putin: Dead Men Walking

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:18:41 GMT

Head of the Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin left the Southern Military District headquarters on June 24, 2023 in Rostov-on-Don, Russia.Photo: Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesYevgeny Prigozhin is a dead man walking. But so is Vladimir Putin.In an insane series of events over the weekend, Russian mercenary leader Prigozhin launched what appeared to be a coup against Putin’s regime, marching his Wagner Group mercenaries from their positions in Ukraine, where they had been fighting alongside the Russian military, into Russia. They seized control of Rostov-on-Don, a key military hub, before marching north to Moscow. Prigozhin and his troops met little resistance from the Russian military; he seemed poised to enter the capital and seize power. Nothing would stop him, he said, vowing that “we will go to the end.”But his bravado didn’t last long. Just as Wagner forces were closing in on Moscow Saturday, Prigozhin suddenly reversed himself. He cut a deal with the Russian president, b...

Ruoning Yin, 20, wins the Women’s PGA Championship, becoming the second Chinese player to win a major

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:18:41 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, N.J. (AP) — Ruoning Yin, 20, wins the Women’s PGA Championship, becoming the second Chinese player to win a major.Source

All-Star Nneka Ogwumike scores 27 with 12 boards to lead Sparks to 93-83 win over Wings

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:18:41 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nneka Ogwumike scored 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Sparks to a 93-83 win over the Dallas Wings on Sunday.Ogwumike, named to her eighth all-star game earlier in the day, scored six points in the final four minutes to give the Sparks (7-7) some breathing room. Her two free throws at 1:03 made it 88-81 and the Sparks made five of six in the final minute to pull away.Dearica Hamby added 17 points for the Sparks (7-7) and Karlie Samuelson added 14. Ogwumike also had four assists, two steals and two blocks.Crysal Dangerfield and Arike Ogunbowale both had 18 points for the Wings (6-8). Teaira McGowa added 14 points and Natasha Howard 13. Ogunbowale and Satou Sabally were also announced as all-star starters but didn’t have matching games. Ogunbowale was 6-of-18 shooting, including 1 of 9 from 3-point range, and Sabally was held to eight points while dealing with foul problems.Kalani Brown’s layup had Dallas on top 79-78 with 51/2 m...

Springer hits 55th career leadoff homer as Blue Jays rout Athletics 12-1

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:18:41 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — George Springer moved into second place on baseball’s career list with his 55th leadoff home run, Yusei Kikuchi pitched a season-high seven innings and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Oakland Athletics 12-1 on Sunday.Tony Kemp hit a solo home run, his third, but Oakland lost for the 10th time in 11 games following a seven-game winning streak. The Athletics are 40 games below .500 at 20-60, tying for the ninth-worst record through 80 games in major league history. It’s the worst 80-game start since Detroit opened 19-61 in 2003.Springer went 2 for 3 with a walk and two RBIs, including a sacrifice fly. His game-opening drive broke a tie with Alfonso Soriano and gave the 2017 World Series MVP sole possession of second place on baseball’s all-time list. Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson leads with 81 leadoff home runs.“It’s special, it’s cool,” Springer said. “You don’t really think of that as a kid or as a player, but it’s awesome. I’m happy about it.”Springer connected on ri...

Olson’s go-ahead homer helps Braves earn another wild 7-6 victory over the Reds

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:18:41 GMT

CINCINNATI (AP) — Matt Olson hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the fifth inning and the Atlanta Braves held on for another wild 7-6 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. The Braves, who snapped the Reds’ longest winning streak in 66 years with a 7-6 win on Saturday, have won 17 of their last 20. The Reds had runners on first and third in the ninth when Raisel Iglesias got Kevin Newman to roll into a game-ending double play. It was Iglesias’ 11th save. The game was played before another sellout crowd of 40,140. A combined 126,724 fans attended the weekend series between first-place teams. There were 19 home runs hit in the series. The Reds lost despite a big day from Matt McLain, who went 4 for 5 with three doubles, a homer and five RBIs. McLain is the first Reds rookie to have four extra-base hits in a game since Chris Sabo in 1988. Reds rookie Levi Stoudt was recalled from Triple-A to start Sunday’s game when scheduled starter Ben Lively was placed on the injured ...