LSU wins 1st NCAA championship, beating Clark and Iowa

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 01:16:59 GMT

LSU wins 1st NCAA championship, beating Clark and Iowa DALLAS (AP) — Kim Mulkey’s LSU Tigers used a record offensive performance to beat Caitlin Clark and Iowa 102-85 in the national championship game on Sunday to win the first basketball title in school history.The victory made Mulkey the first women’s coach to win national championships at two different schools. She won three at Baylor before leaving for LSU two years ago.“Coaches coach a lifetime and this is the fourth time I’ve been blessed,” Mulkey said. “Never in the history of LSU basketball, men or women, has (anybody) ever played for a championship.”The feisty and flamboyantly dressed Mulkey, who wore a sparkly, golden, tiger-striped outfit, now has the third-most titles of all time behind Geno Auriemma’s 11 and Pat Summitt’s eight. Mulkey has never lost in a championship game.“My tears are tears of joy,” she said. “I’m so happy for everybody back home in Louisiana.”Clark, The Associated Press national player of the year, couldn’t lead the Ha...

Corey Conners wins Valero Texas Open for second time

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 01:16:59 GMT

Corey Conners wins Valero Texas Open for second time Canadian Corey Conners won the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio on Sunday, claiming his second career PGA Tour victory at the same event he won as a Monday qualifier in 2019.Conners, from Listowel, Ont., carded a bogey-free round of 4-under 68 to finish 15 under for the tournament — one stroke better than hard-charging American Sam Stevens.“I was really solid all day. It was a battle out here all day, the conditions were not easy,” Conners told NBC after the win.The 31-year-old Conners started the day one back of Patrick Rodgers, but had taken a three-stroke lead by the turn, thanks to a trio of birdies, as the American dropped back.Conners’ lead shrunk to one when Stevens, playing a group ahead of the Canadian, made an eagle on the par-4 17th. But Stevens just missed an eight-footer for birdie on the par-5 18th, allowing Conners to win it with a par.Canadians to win 2 PGA Tour titles in the same eventMike Weir 2003 & 2004 Nissan OpenStephen Ames 2007 & 2009 ...

Gov. JB Pritzker visits Apollo Theater after deadly tornado hits Belvidere

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 01:16:59 GMT

Gov. JB Pritzker visits Apollo Theater after deadly tornado hits Belvidere BELVIDERE Ill. — Gov. JB Pritzker visited the site of the Apollo Theater in Belvidere where the classified tornado hit that killed one man and injured many others.One person is dead and 28 people were injured after the Apollo Theater collapsed during a concert amid the violent storm and winds that tore through the Midwest Friday evening. Belvidere Fire Chief Shawn Schadle said there were 260 people inside during the Apollo Theater around 7:55 p.m. when the roof and Apollo marquee collapsed.First responders responded within minutes as the closest fire facility was two blocks away.Police say five people suffered severe injuries, 18 suffered moderate injuries and five others with minor injuries. The fire chief identified the fatality as a 50-year-old man who was attending the concert. "He had a rock band t-short on," Schadle said. Police stated that 20 were transported by local ambulances and others were transported to hospitals by personal vehicles. More than 40 individuals were treat...

Unifying Chicago on the minds of Johnson, Vallas as mayoral runoff election approaches

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 01:16:59 GMT

Unifying Chicago on the minds of Johnson, Vallas as mayoral runoff election approaches CHICAGO — With about 48 hours left in the race, both mayoral candidates are busy hitting the pavement around Chicago this weekend.Brandon Johnson spent his time in the 6th Ward, reiterating his plans to unify Chicago and ensure everyone has the same access to a quality education and good-paying jobs."There is more than enough for everyone in this city," Johnson said."He’s going to turn Chicago around," said Randi Weingarten from the American Teacher's Federation. "Versus Vallas, who has failed at every job he has done." WGN Poll: Vallas leading Johnson in Chicago Mayoral runoff election Paul Vallas spent time at the Ann Sather Restaurant in Lake View, where he hammered crime and public safety, but also addressed other issues, like LGBTQ rights and — like Johnson — voiced concern over the need to unify Chicago."We have to make sure we have a good mayor who brings people together," said former Illinois Governor Pat Quinn who spoke on behalf of Vallas Sunday."The next mayor has to be...

LSU wins first NCAA championship, beating Caitlin Clark and Iowa

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 01:16:59 GMT

LSU wins first NCAA championship, beating Caitlin Clark and Iowa DALLAS (AP) — Kim Mulkey’s LSU Tigers used a record offensive performance to beat Caitlin Clark and Iowa 102-85 in the national championship game on Sunday to win the first basketball title in school history.The victory made Mulkey the first women's coach to win national championships at two different schools. She won three at Baylor before leaving for LSU two years ago.“Coaches coach a lifetime and this is the fourth time I’ve been blessed," Mulkey said. “Never in the history of LSU basketball, men or women, has (anybody) ever played for a championship.” These pro sports teams have the longest postseason droughts The feisty and flamboyantly dressed Mulkey, who wore a sparkly, golden, tiger-striped outfit, now has the third-most titles of all time behind Geno Auriemma's 11 and Pat Summitt's eight. Mulkey has never lost in a championship game.“My tears are tears of joy," she said. “I’m so happy for everybody back home in Louisiana.”Clark, The Associated Press national player of the...

April Fools? False presidential campaign filed on behalf of Gov. Greg Abbott

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 01:16:59 GMT

April Fools? False presidential campaign filed on behalf of Gov. Greg Abbott AUSTIN (Nexstar) — A federal campaign committee filed on Saturday titled 'Greg Abbott Presidential Campaign' was not created on behalf of the third-term Texas governor, a spokesperson with Abbott’s office told Nexstar Sunday.The campaign committee was filed with the Federal Election Commission on Saturday, which also happened to be April Fools' Day. Renae Eze, communications director for the governor, confirmed to Nexstar via text that it was not filed by Abbott’s campaign. When asked to confirm or deny the campaign committee’s legitimacy, Eze said, "It’s not us," in a text to Nexstar.The filing lists 'Greg Wayne Abbott' as the candidate for the campaign committee, which is the Texas governor's real full name. It's worth noting that during the last gubernatorial primary race in 2022, Abbott faced opposition from a man named Rick Perry, who was not the same person as Gov. Rick Perry, who preceded Abbott as Texas' top leader. Saturday's filing lists a man by the name of John Gray...

Byron Buxton settles into new role as designated hitter

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 01:16:59 GMT

Byron Buxton settles into new role as designated hitter KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As Byron Buxton adapted to his new role as a part-time designated hitter last season, it was a conversation between Bryce Harper and former MVP Jimmy Rollins that helped put things in perspective for him.“Bryce was like, ‘It’s hard,’ ” Buxton said at the beginning of spring training. “Mentally, it is very hard, especially if you’re going on a streak or a slump. If you’re not playing defense, you ain’t got nothing to take your mind off of that.”Among Rollins’ message, per The Athletic: “It’s OK if you’re hurt,” and “it’s OK to make outs,” and “find a distraction.”For the time being, Buxton, who had season-ending knee surgery last year, will be serving as the Twins’ designated hitter, and while there’s been an adjustment process, the center fielder seems to have found a rhythm. While he’s not impacting the Twins on defense, Buxton has made his mark felt at the plate in the first three games of the season, where he’s 6 for 13 at the plate.“My routine is a...

Saints wrap up franchise’s first series victory in Toledo

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 01:16:59 GMT

Saints wrap up franchise’s first series victory in Toledo For the first time in franchise history, the St. Paul Saints won a series in Toledo, thanks to Sunday’s 4-3 victory over the host Mud Hens.St. Paul failed to win a Triple-A series against the Mud Hens in four trips to Toledo over the past two years. That streak ended in the first series of 2023, with the Saints winnings games on Saturday and Sunday after losing the opener of the three-game set on Friday.The Saints got clutch hits from Matt Wallner and Mark Contreras and a superb two-inning pitching save from reliever Connor Sadzeck at Third-Fifth Field.Contreras got things going for the Saints in the fourth inning with a solo home run to right field, his first of the season, making it 1-0. It was the seventh home run in the three-game series for St. Paul.After Toledo tied the score 1-1, Wallner led off the sixth inning with a triple to right-center. With one out and the infield drawn in, Contreras hit a hot smash toward second for a fielder’s choice that scored Wallner t...

St. Charles mom runs 44 miles for World Autism Awareness Day

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 01:16:59 GMT

St. Charles mom runs 44 miles for World Autism Awareness Day ST. CHARLES, Mo. – April is National Autism Awareness Month, and a mother of two children with autism ran 44 miles Sunday in hopes of educating and inspiring others.Liz Gundlach is a boy mom, but not just any boy mom. Her 6-year-old Rowan and 7-year-old Waylon both have autism."My son Waylon is non-verbal, but has some communication skills coming along," Gundlach said. "His temperament is a little bit more mild-mannered and easygoing, whereas my other son, Rowan, is verbal and has energy, like no other—just constant go, go, go—a ball of energy. They're both sweet, but they both come with just different interests and just a lot of fun personalities between the two of them."Just before 7 a.m., Gundlach laced up her running shoes to start an 11-hour journey for World Autism Awareness Day. Trending: Battlehawks tease relocation to LA in viral April Fools’ Day joke "I was encouraging moms to come out, you know, parents, whomever to come out, so if people wanna walk, it may slow me down...