March Madness: Alabama aims to avoid giant-killers in South

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:58 GMT

March Madness: Alabama aims to avoid giant-killers in South LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Alabama was expected to be in the Sweet 16 as the overall top seed in the NCAA Tournament.Few thought the teams standing between the Crimson Tide and a trip to the Final Four would be No. 5 seed San Diego State, sixth-seeded Creighton and 15th-seeded Princeton.A win over Alabama (31-5) could elevate any of those schools to the status of March Madness legend. Coach Nate Oats understands the pressure his team faces when it faces San Diego State Friday night as it seeks its first Elite Eight berth since 2004.“We’ve taken enough losses against good teams and some that weren’t as good to where they know what they have to do on any given night,” Oats said. “From here on out I think we’re going to be playing really good teams.”Friday’s other semifinal in Louisville features Creighton (23-12) against Princeton (23-8), which has proven anything is possible with its wins over No. 2 seed Arizona and No. 7 seed Missouri.The lower-seeded teams that advanced in the South ha...

Kane sets scoring record in England’s 2-1 win over Italy

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:58 GMT

Kane sets scoring record in England’s 2-1 win over Italy NAPLES, Italy (AP) — Harry Kane broke Wayne Rooney’s national team scoring record and England held on for a 2-1 win at Italy on the opening night of European Championship qualifying on Thursday.It was a small measure of revenge for England against the team it lost to in the European Championship final two years ago. Italy also won the last meeting in September in the Nations League.It marked England’s first win over Italy in a competitive match since a World Cup qualifier at Wembley back in 1977 — and its first away win over Italy since 1961.“We haven’t won in Italy for so long,” Kane said. “To score and win the game is special.”It was another blow to an Italy squad that had failed to qualify for a second straight World Cup.“We knew it was a difficult game, but we conceded two goals from two corners,” Italy coach Roberto Mancini said. “The first half was tougher, obviously. But we dominated the second half and tried to get at least a draw, which I think would have been a fair ...

Por primera vez, el autismo es más frecuente entre niños hispanos y negros en EEUU 

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:58 GMT

Por primera vez, el autismo es más frecuente entre niños hispanos y negros en EEUU  NUEVA YORK— El autismo se diagnostica con más frecuencia entre niños hispanos y negros que entre chicos blancos en Estados Unidos, informaron este jueves los Centros de Control y Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC, por sus siglas en inglés).Entre todos los niños de 8 años, uno de cada 36 tenía autismo en 2020, calculó el CDC, comparado con uno de cada 44 dos años antes.Pero la tasa aumentó con mayor rapidez en niños de color que en los blancos. Los nuevos cálculos estiman que el 3% de los niños negros, hispanos, asiáticos o de las islas del Pacífico padecen autismo, comparado con aproximadamente el 2% de niños blancos.En el pasado eran más frecuentes los diagnósticos de autismo en chicos blancos, generalmente en familias de medianos o altos ingresos, con medios para acudir a especialistas. En 2010, se calculaba que los niños blancos tenían un 30% más de probabilidades de ser diagnosticados con autismo que los negros y 50% más que los niños hispanos. Abuela de niño desapar...

Students, friends impacted by East High School deans involved in shooting

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:58 GMT

Students, friends impacted by East High School deans involved in shooting DENVER (KDVR) -- Students and staff shared how Wednesday’s East High School shooting victims, Deans Eric Sinclair and Jerald Mason, have made a difference in many people's lives on a daily basis.“They are some truly special people in their community,” sophomore Ben Parrish said. “My heart truly sank because I think they've made a huge impact on the students at our school.”While returning to pick up his backpack at East High School Thursday, Parrish talked to FOX31 about the moments and conversations he recently had with both Sinclair and Mason. “A couple of weeks ago, I had a nice conversation with Mr. Sinclair over the issue of SROs in schools and he was very much for the issue,” Parrish said. “It’s just something to remember. It's just something that stands out in my mind.” East High shooting victim returns home A former student, Ballard Kauffman, learned about what happened while studying abroad in Cape Town. He immediately thought about the impact Sinclair had on him when...

‘I will never forget that’: Yoán Moncada returns to Chicago White Sox after success with Team Cuba in the WBC

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:58 GMT

‘I will never forget that’: Yoán Moncada returns to Chicago White Sox after success with Team Cuba in the WBC It could have been a short stay for Team Cuba in the World Baseball Classic after dropping the first two games in pool play.“It’s fair to say we had doubts after the start of the tournament at 0-2,” Chicago White Sox third baseman Yoán Moncada said Thursday through an interpreter. “But we kept working and grinding and we were able to advance and go into the semifinals.“We kept working. We never put our heads down.”Cuba strung together three straight victories, with Moncada’s hot hitting leading the way, to reach the semifinals before losing to Team USA. Moncada was back at Camelback Ranch on Thursday.“It was a great experience,” he said of the WBC. “It was one of my goals, and I will never forget that.”Moncada excelled in the event, earning All-Tournament Team honors.“I’m happy for that recognition, especially in a tournament like that with all the superstars,” Moncada said.He slashed .435/.519/...

‘It’s an unbelievable honor’: Dennis Scott inducted into Magic’s Hall of Fame

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:58 GMT

‘It’s an unbelievable honor’: Dennis Scott inducted into Magic’s Hall of Fame One of the pillars of one of the Orlando Magic’s most successful eras had his place cemented in the organization’s history.Former Magic sharpshooter Dennis Scott, who earned the nickname “3-D” because of his prolific 3-point scoring, became the 12th inductee into the organization’s Hall of Fame ahead of Thursday’s home game vs. the Knicks.Scott joined John Gabriel (2022), Brian Hill (’22), Darrell Armstrong (’20), David Steele (’19), Tracy McGrady (’18), Jimmy Hewitt (’17), Penny Hardaway (’17), Rich DeVos (’16), Shaquille O’Neal (’15), Pat Williams (’14) and Nick Anderson (’14) in the Magic’s Hall of Fame.“It’s an unbelievable honor,” Scott said. “Just the fact that you feel appreciated for the work you’ve done. This is special.”Scott, who was a key part of the run to the 1995 NBA Finals, played with the Magic from 1990-97 after being the f...

Boston man sues Dunkin’ over mobile app

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:58 GMT

Boston man sues Dunkin’ over mobile app One self-described longtime Dunkin’ fan says he’s encountered something of a coffee irregular — and is suing the local doughnut giant, alleging that the company’s mobile app is ripping him off.Boston resident Martin Kelledy has filed a class-action suit in state and federal courts over his contention, which basically boils down to the claim that the Dunkin’ mobile app sometimes adds upcharges that it doesn’t explain.For instance, he alleged, the company tossed on extra charges for three specific instances he cited: once when he ordered a toasted plain bagel with butter, another a toasted plain bagel with cream cheese and a third when he mixed it up and got himself a toasted everything bagel with cream cheese and a large iced coffee with skim milk and Splenda.Each of those times, he said in the federal suit against Dunks itself and the Suffolk Superior Court suit against area franchisees, the pre-tax amount was higher than the total from his order. For e...

MBTA board is ‘failing riders,’ transit advocate says

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:58 GMT

MBTA board is ‘failing riders,’ transit advocate says TransitMatters Executive Director Jarred Johnson tore into the MBTA Board of Directors, saying it was failing riders with the “hands-off approach” taken during a time of crisis for the agency.Johnson said during the recorded public comment period of Thursday’s MBTA board meeting that he understands the panel’s job is not easy, “but neither is being a T rider these days.”“This board is failing riders,” Johnson said. “The system is in crisis, but I’m afraid you wouldn’t know that by watching a board meeting.”He said it has been incredibly frustrating to read about elevator and escalator safety experts or staff in charge of hiring subway dispatchers appearing before the board, and learning that board members asked no questions — amid continued service cuts.Johnson also pointed to the public first learning of a federal investigation into the MBTA’s subway system through the media.In the past, Johnson said he defended this current MBTA board, saying that he understood the hours of live p...

Food insecurity on the rise across Massachusetts, no end in sight, providers say

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:58 GMT

Food insecurity on the rise across Massachusetts, no end in sight, providers say Food insecurity is quickly on the rise across the state, hitting a level that food providers say mirrors what they saw during the thick of the pandemic.A distribution at the Salvation Army Chelsea Corps Community Center had to shut down more than 2 hours early Thursday after employees and volunteers supplied all 1,200 food boxes they had on hand in less than 4 hours.The crew provided roughly 900 boxes worth five days of food, hygiene supplies and baby formula by noon. After running out of the bigger boxes, 300 families received the remaining smaller boxes, worth just two days of food.The 1,200 families served is what the Chelsea community center averaged daily in 2021, said Jeffrey Bailey, the Salvation Army’s director of social services. He connected the massive demand to inflation.“I’m a big boy, I love eggs, but even I can’t afford to go into the store and get eggs,” Bailey said. “This is no longer supplemental food we are giving. This is what they’re going to live off of for the...

Jacque Vaughn: Ben Simmons limited to individual practice, ‘hasn’t scripted’ with first or second group

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:58 GMT

Jacque Vaughn: Ben Simmons limited to individual practice, ‘hasn’t scripted’ with first or second group Embattled Nets star Ben Simmons has been limited to individual on-court work in practice as he battles a combination of left knee and back soreness that has sidelined him since the NBA All-Star break.Simmons missed his 15th straight game due to what the team has deemed left knee/back soreness, watching from the sidelines during Brooklyn’s matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.Vaughn said for the first time since Simmons both received a platelet-rich plasma injection and had fluid drained from his knee during the All-Star break that Simmons has only practiced in an individual setting.“It is not with teammates, and so I’ll say that piece of it,” the head coach said ahead of tip-off against the Cavaliers on Thursday. “He hasn’t scripted with our group — first group, second group or anything of that nature.”Considering practice time between the Feb. 9 NBA Trade Deadline — when Vaughn finalized a starting lineup of Spence...