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Twins test out new roles for Louie Varland, Edouard Julien

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:02 GMT

CLEVELAND — It was a day of firsts for the Twins on Wednesday at Progressive Field.The Twins have talked of their plans to shift starting pitcher Louie Varland to the bullpen for the rest of the season and to use rookie Edouard Julien at first base. On Wednesday, they did both.Varland, called up on Monday after making one relief appearance with the Saints, got the ball for two innings in the middle of the 2-1 loss to the Cleveland Guardians, and Julien made his first start at the new position.Varland followed Joe Ryan into the game and tossed three-plus scoreless innings. He threw three perfect frames before running into some trouble at the beginning of his fourth inning of work, and his fastball played up in the new role, touching 98.9 miles per hour.“It’s the same process: get outs, hit your spots, execute,” Varland said.And he did.Manager Rocco Baldelli said the Twins weren’t intending to use him in a “long-man type role,” but Varland was so efficient that they just kept sending ...

New public safety law increases training hours for police, more money for recruiting 

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:02 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Governor Mike Parson put pen to paper Wednesday inside the Missouri State Capitol, signing off on a large public safety package.With more than 40 provisions in this one piece of legislation, there are multiple measures aimed at the law enforcement community. Besides raising the minimum number of basic training hours needed to become a licensed police officer, the state is also mandating a 40-hour training course for new police chiefs."We see it across the state that a lot of chiefs get into these positions, and they have no clue what they are supposed to be doing," executive director of the Missouri Police Chiefs Association Robert Shockey said. "When you become the chief, it's your ballgame now."The goal is to better prepare the top dog for anything thrown his or her way. It's part of a new law the governor ceremonially signed Wednesday, requiring new police chiefs to take a 40-hour class within the first six months on the job."We get those calls every week an...

In ‘brutal’ US Open heat, Daniil Medvedev warns during his win that a player is ‘gonna die’

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:02 GMT

By HOWARD FENDRICH (AP Tennis Writer)NEW YORK (AP) — Soaked with sweat as the temperature neared 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 Celsius) on the hottest day at this year’s U.S. Open, 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev walked slowly to towel off between points of his victory Wednesday, looked into a courtside camera and issued what sounded like a mix between a warning and a plea.“You cannot imagine,” he said. “One player (is) gonna die, and they’re gonna see.”“The only thing that is a little bit, let’s call it dangerous, is that the question is: How far could we go?” Medvedev, a 27-year-old Russian seeded No. 3, said after eliminating Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the semifinals at Flushing Meadows for the fourth time.“I’m not sure what can we do. Because probably we cannot stop the tournament for four days — because it’s been, what, three, four days it’s been brutal like this? — because then ...

Another Republican jumps into crowded race against Rep. Lauren Boebert

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:02 GMT

The field of candidates facing conservative firebrand Rep. Lauren Boebert next year has grown again with the entry Wednesday of Delta County business owner — and fellow Republican — Curtis McCrackin.Curtis McCrackin, a Delta County business owner, is seeking the Republican nomination in the 3rd Congressional District in 2024. (Provided by Curtis McCrackin)McCrackin is the third Republican to launch a primary campaign against Boebert in the 3rd Congressional District, joining Jeff Hurd and Russ Andrews. Five Democrats are vying for that party’s nomination and the chance to go head-to-head with the second-term congresswoman on Nov. 5, 2024 — assuming she prevails over her GOP challengers.For 20 years, McCrackin has overseen a number of real estate and construction businesses in the Surface Creek Valley near Delta.“I’m running because few people in Washington seem to be concerned about the $31 trillion in debt,” McCrackin said in a campaign announcement. “...

EPA orders Suncor to pay more than $700,000 for selling dirty gasoline in Colorado

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:02 GMT

For the second time in a month, the Environmental Protection Agency has fined Suncor Energy for violations at its Commerce City oil refinery.Suncor will pay $760,000 after it produced gasoline that did not meet federal standards for reducing ozone pollution during the summer months. The Canadian company will pay a $160,000 financial penalty for the violations, plus an additional $600,000 to fund a program to buy electric lawn equipment for local governments, schools and residents in Commerce City and north Denver, according to a consent agreement approved by the EPA’s Environmental Appeals Board.The money for the electric-powered lawn equipment will be distributed to the community in 2024 by the Regional Air Quality Council, the agency announced Wednesday.“We want to acknowledge right off the bat we can’t undo damage that’s done by a polluter,” said David Sabados, spokesman for the air quality council. “What we’re able to do is go into a com...

Rockies squander four-run first inning in blowout loss at Arizona

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:02 GMT

Looking to play the role of spoilers, the Rockies instead spoiled a strong start in the rubber match of their three-game set in Arizona.Spotted a four-run lead before even taking the mound, Colorado starter Chris Flexen was nonetheless unable to make it stand up in a 12-5 loss to the Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Wednesday afternoon.The loss dropped the Rockies to 3-13 in their last 16 games and 51-88 overall. They are now on pace to finish a franchise-worst 59-103, with a trip to San Francisco for a three-game set up next.After pitching at least five innings in each of his last six starts, Flexen (1-7) failed to make it out of the third inning on Wednesday. The right-hander was pulled after Alek Thomas drilled an 88 mph cutter 395 feet to right field for a three-run home run and 6-5 D-backs lead. The bomb punctuated a five-run frame for Arizona, which never relinquished the lead after that.Thomas drove in five runs and Tommy Pham had three hits, three RBIs and three runs scored fo...

8 Colorado high school football games to watch in Week 3

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:02 GMT

CLASS 5ANo. 1 Cherry Creek (2-0) vs. Chatfield (2-0)When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Jeffco StadiumLast meeting: Cherry Creek 28, vs. Chatfield 5, Sept. 9, 2022The Bruins’ quest for a 5A five-peat hits the road for the first time this fall with a date against the Chargers at Jeffco Stadium. If Chatfield has one advantage — other than playing at home — it’s the fact that they’ve had two weeks to prepare for a Creek program that hasn’t lost a regular-season nonleague game in six years. The key for the Creek defense: finding a way to contain junior Brock Narva, who had 176 yards and two touchdowns on 27 touches against Cherokee Trail his last time out.No. 2 Regis Jesuit (2-0) vs. No. 7 Arapahoe (2-0)When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at LPS StadiumLast meeting: Regis Jesuit 23, vs. Arapahoe 10, Sept. 9, 2022After knocking off a pair of heavyweights (Valor Christian and Washington’s Kennedy Catholic) by three points apiece, Regis locks horns with one of the stingiest de...

3 suspects charged with murder, robbery of 32-year-old man

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:02 GMT

Authorities with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday announced charges against three suspects in connection with the robbery and murder of a 32-year-old man, along with the robbery of his female companion, earlier this year off Angeles Crest Highway in Pasadena.  On July 22, just before 4 a.m., Pasadena officers responded to mile marker 36.28 on Angeles Crest Highway on reports of a shooting.   Authorities said 32-year-old Jesse Munoz and a female friend, were in the area to watch the sunrise when the three defendants, along with a fourth unidentified suspect, opened fire on the 32-year-old’s car in what detectives called a botched robbery. The female passenger was robbed, but unharmed. Munoz died at the scene.  Jesse Munoz, 32, shot and killed July 22, 2023, in Angeles Crest. The three defendants, identified as 24-year-old Luis Ventura, 18-year-old Marco Antonio Hernandez and 21-year-old Abraham Ernesto Alvarenga Cortez have each been ...

Suspected serial arsonist arrested in Long Beach; victims speak out

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:02 GMT

A man has been arrested in connection with a series of suspicious vehicle fires in Long Beach, officials said Wednesday. Cristian Portillo, 31, was taken into custody early Wednesday by the Long Beach Police Department and booked on suspicion of arson and possession of a concealed dirk or dagger. He is being held on $50,000 bail, police said. Long Beach fire officials had previously described Portillo as a person of interest, and indicated he matched the description of a man seen in photos and videos near the blazes. Person of interest sought in series of Long Beach vehicle fires A person of interest is sought in connection with a series of vehicle fires in Long Beach. (Kimberly Lewis)The series of vehicle fires began on Aug. 20 and occurred in an area between the Long Beach Convention Center and Camden Harbor View Apartments along Cedar Walk. Three of the five blazes occurred in the parking garage of the apartment complex, officials said. On Tuesday morning, a truck was set on ...

Former Orange County basketball coach sentenced to life in prison for child sex assault

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:02 GMT

A former Orange County basketball coach was sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting young girls who he coached.Carlos Francisco Juarez, 48, from Costa Mesa, was found guilty of:- 10 felony counts of a lewd act upon a child under 14- Seven felony counts of lewd act upon a child- Two felony counts of oral copulation of a minor under the age of 16- Two felony counts of sexual penetration by foreign object of a minorJuarez was first arrested in April 2019 and later found guilty by a jury in July 2023, according to the O.C. District Attorney’s Office.The four victims were between 11 and 14 years old when the sexual acts took place between 2005 and 2010, authorities said.Juarez primarily coached for club basketball teams including SoCal Swoosh and O.C. Mustangs and also worked at Aliso Niguel, Costa Mesa, Mater Dei, and Tustin high schools.In 2005, an 11-year-old victim took private lessons from Juarez at a Tustin gym where he had the girl “practice topless after he initially ...