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Drew Smyly seeks consistency and Dansby Swanson hopes for a minimum IL stint as the Chicago Cubs lose 6-3 to the New York Yankees

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:00 GMT

The Chicago Cubs and shortstop Dansby Swanson are playing it safe with his injury.Ahead of the four-day All-Star break beginning Monday, Swanson went on the 10-day injured list before Saturday’s game at Yankee Stadium because of his bruised left heel. The Cubs recalled infielder Miles Mastrobuoni, who started Saturday at third base in the 6-3 loss to the New York Yankees.The move is retroactive to Thursday, setting up Swanson to return as soon as July 16 versus the Boston Red Sox at Wrigley Field. Swanson hasn’t played since he sustained the injury Wednesday in Milwaukee.“I mean, unfortunately we’re in this position,” Swanson said Saturday. “I feel like it was almost in a way like a good insurance policy to not lose some of the retroactive days. So it stinks, but we have to make the best decision possible for the group.”The timing sets up Swanson to potentially miss only two games after the All-Star break — if he doesn’t need any...

Isaiah Roby, Trevor Keels in Summer League opener as Knicks fall to 76ers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:00 GMT

LAS VEGAS — The Knicks Summer League roster is obscure, the product of going through the last two drafts without a first-round pick.But one player who has a chance to crack Tom Thibodeau’s rotation is Isaiah Roby. The 25-year-old is among the most seasoned veterans across the Vegas Summer League, having logged 151 NBA games (mostly with the OKC Thunder) after getting drafted in the second round of 2019.The Knicks signed Roby toward the end of last season, giving him $400,000 up front with the hope of bringing him into the 2023 training camp.Then a potential rotation spot opened up last week when Obi Toppin, the reserve power forward, was traded to the Pacers in what amounted to a salary dump. Positionally, Roby is best suited for the replacement. Other than Julius Randle, he’s the only power forward on the current roster.The problem — as reinforced by his 7-point, 26-minute performance in Saturday’s Summer League defeat to the Sixers — is there ar...

Duran, Paxton power Red Sox to 10-3 victory over A’s

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:00 GMT

After struggling against teams with worse records throughout the first half of the season, the Red Sox are finally seizing the opportunity to pad their record. After a solid win in Friday night’s series opener, they overpowered the Oakland Athletics again on Saturday to the tune of a 10-3 win and series victory.As he’s done for most of the season, James Paxton anchored his team. Over six innings, the American League Pitcher of the Month for June held the A’s to six hits, a walk, and three strikeouts. They tagged him for a pair of solo home runs, but nothing more.It was simply the latest in a comeback season full of impressive starts. Dating back to the beginning of June, he’s has gone at least six innings and allowed no more than two earned runs in five of six starts; over that span, he owns a 1.93 ERA and 0.86 WHIP.“Obviously, a different week, right? Probably not getting too much rest,” Alex Cora joked about his starter, who became a father of t...

GTA truckers rally against wage theft

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:00 GMT

Drivers for several GTA trucking companies are calling on the federal government to do more to help them in their fight against “stolen wages” by their employers. They say delays in the federal system are leading to long wait times when it comes to receiving the money they’re owed. The group Justice For Truck Drivers held a rally outside the Labour Program office in Toronto Saturday, calling on the federal government to fix the problems enforcing payment orders and to better regulate the trucking industry.“There’s literally no fear amongst employers to break the law,” said Navi Aujla, the executive director of Labour Community Services of Peel, who says her office receives hundreds of requests for help from frustrated truck drivers.“We’ve had over 160 truck drivers call us in the last two years because wage theft is so rampant in the industry and the numbers only keep growing.”Manjinder Singh has been a truck driver for three yea...

At New York’s Lincoln Center, love is definitely in the air with a post-pandemic mass wedding

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — There were fancy dresses and men in tuxes, but some came in attire that was decidedly more casual — not an unusual sight at New York’s Lincoln Center. But the scene Saturday evening was far from routine as faux flowers hung from the balconies and as brides — yes, brides — clutched bouquets of roses and wildflowers in the din of a hall teeming with hundreds of giddy couples.In all, some 700 couples arrived at the iconic New York City venue to profess their love, no matter how new or how long. Some were exchanging vows for the first time, while others like Hazel Seivwright-Carney and her husband Rohan Carney came to renew their vows after eloping so many years ago, to the dismay of family.“When we eloped 28 years ago, my mother did not have a chance to see us get married,” the bride said.On Saturday, her mother, who declined to discuss that matter, waited patiently in the humidity for the nuptials to begin so she could finally witness her daughter exchange vows w...

Smart Agriculture Equity Expo aims to educate Chicago youth on urban farming

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:00 GMT

CHICAGO — In a parking lot at the United Center Saturday, the City-Wide Climate Smart Urban Agriculture Equity Expo carried on, with a mission to help educate Chicagoans on the positive benefits of urban farming."Today is a major day learning about healthcare, learning about education and learning about urban farming," said Donald Patterson, president of the Urban Transformation Network (UTN).The UTN is a non-profit that brings community leaders and churches together to promote farming on unused City land, as well as explore opportunities for farming indoors.According to Patterson, the UTN's activities are inspired by the impact a healthy diet and fresh food can have on the outcomes of Chicago's young people. Mayor Johnson’s transition committee releases 200-plus page report on how to improve Chicago "We have to start growing it in the community, know where it comes from, get [the] community involved," Patterson said. "Churches, schools ,the youth—the youth have to learn about opp...

Belal Muhammad fights way up from Chicago's Southwest Side to top of UFC

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:00 GMT

CHICAGO - Remember the name Belal Muhammad. He'll never forget where he came from.His parents emigrated from Palestine at a young age and found a new home on the city's Southwest side. That's where Muhammad learned the grit he'd need to eventually rise through the ranks to the top of the UFC."It toughens you up. You love the people. You love to interact with all the people. I was one of the kids who was always out at the park. Always wanted to play basketball. Always wanted to have fun. You, obviously, get into your fights here and there, but I think that's where you get character from."Muhammad's journey to the octagon is improbable. After wrestling his freshman and junior year at Bogan High School, he attended the University of Illinois to become a lawyer. But those plans were derailed when Muhammad reconnected with his old coach, Louis Taylor."I looked up to him. I loved the sport because I had him there. Then, all of a sudden, my senior year came and he was gone. I was like, 'W...

One Taylor Swift song with a St. Louis connection

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - As tens of thousands of "swifties" attend Taylor Swift's Kansas City shows this weekend, it's worth noting she has a song that mentions Missouri's next biggest city on the other side of the state. It might not be as well-known as her top Billboards hits like "Blank Space" and "Shake It Off," but Rolling Stone ranks it 18th among her 237 career songs released to date. The song... "The Last Great American Dynasty" from Taylor Swift's 2020 Folklore album. This Missouri home for sale comes with an underground cave According to Rolling Stone, the song is inspired by the life of American socialite Rebekah Harkness. She was born in St. Louis in 1915, raised in the area with the last name West and briefly studied at John Burroughs School. According to the New York Times, her grandfather founded the St. Louis Union Trust Company. In the early 20th century, Rebekah married into more fortune, tying the knot with William "Bill" Harkness, a wealthy attorney and heir to Standard Oi...

Fan support strong as buzz grows for St. Louis CITY SC in first season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Now with the distinction of ESPN's most fun MLS team, St. Louis CITY SC keeps drawing buzz around its historic inaugural season. St. Louis CITY SC leads the Western Conference (35 points, 11-2-7 record) ahead of a Saturday evening road matchup with Toronto FC. Former Cardinals pitcher Joe Kelly now an accomplished author Dedicated fans are cheering on CITY SC at home and at local sports bars. "I love their aggressiveness, creating chances off turnovers," said CITY SC fan Matt Gould."They've exceeded our expectations but they're a really well-built team. So now it's just kind of known that they're good. So we're just enjoying every game," said fan Zach Ebers.Fans headed over to places like Maggie O'Brien's and the Amsterdam Tavern to enjoy Saturday's game. Even as the power went out unexpectedly at Amsterdam, the support for the team went on. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now...

St. Louis Union Station's 'Selfie Express' exhibit now open

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - If you're looking for ways to beat the heat with the family then Union Station has a new exhibit highlighting the former train station's history. Guests enter a train ticket lobby and move into a series of themed rooms. Rooms range from a mirrored infinity view, and a train caboose that turns users into giant and small figures, to a room that transports visitors from real-life color to old-time black and white. Scenes filled with giant passenger luggage, optically fascinating clocks and even the Gateway Arch are part of the experience. This Missouri home for sale comes with an underground cave There are 11 rooms of interactive photos opportunities. Each room is inspired by the station's locomotive history. “We really want people to get creative in all these rooms," said Tami Brown, executive director of Union Station. "We can’t wait to see all the photos that people come up with, all the poses and things. We make suggestions for each room but can’t wait to see the crea...