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Callahan: Celtics in danger after dropping Game 1 to feisty Heat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:02 GMT

Remember them?The unkillable, zombie Heat, who spooked the Celtics into the scare of a basketball lifetime last year in Game 7?Well, they’re back, and scarier than ever.The Walking Dead rebooted for a surprise 12th season Wednesday night at TD Garden, when the Heat stole Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Boston 123-116. Miami’s formula felt painfully familiar. The Heat were tougher, smarter and better-coached — again.The memory of Jayson Tatum’s spectacular 51-point performance last Sunday faded instantly into another episode of the Playoff Jimmy Butler Show. Butler proved unsolvable, scoring 35 points around seven assists and six steals. He swiped three passes in the fourth quarter alone, helping expedite yet another crunch-time collapse for these Celtics.Meanwhile, Tatum committed three turnovers in a 90-second span down the stretch, and after his last giveaway, Butler drilled a dagger 3 to lift Miami into a 10-point lead with 1:03 left. The Heat led for...

Wednesday’s high school roundup/scores: Lynn Classical captures GBL baseball title

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:02 GMT

BASEBALLRyan Dugan batted 3-for-3 with four RBI to pace Lynn Classical (15-1) to a 16-1 Greater Boston League win over Chelsea to secure the league title.In nonleague action, Tyler Kropis went 2-for-3 with a game-tying two-run triple and Grayson Baldizar added a game-winning RBI single as Seekonk (14-2) outlasted Diman 3-2. … Ben Sepeck went 2-for-4 with a game-tying double, and Michael Boutiette delivered the game-winning hit as Cardinal Spellman beat Abington 7-6 in nine innings.Junior Joe Rogan earned the win with eight strikeouts over six strong innings while also going 1-for-3 with an RBI as Plymouth South (6-8) doubled up Patriot League opponent Scituate 4-2. …  Pacing the offense was Ryan Carrol (3-for-5), Cam Beltramini (2-for-5, three RBI, Brandon Craven (3-for-3, two RBI), Matt Phelps (2-for-3 three RBI) and Zach Nye (4-for-5, three RBI) as Whitman-Hanson outslugged Marshfield 19-9.  … Gabe Knudsen gave up two runs and five hits over seven innings, striking out 11 while Co...

Celtics stumble in brutal third quarter, unable to recover in Game 1 loss to Heat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:02 GMT

It wasn’t a secret who the Celtics were dealing with in these Eastern Conference Finals.They’ve seen the Heat on this stage three times now in the last four years. They know their identity, their culture. They might not have the talent the Celtics do, but they have the fight to make up for it.They know this. On the eve of this rematch, Malcolm Brogdon vowed the Celtics wouldn’t let the Heat out-tough them.For one quarter, they let it happen anyway. It cost them the game. And now they have to dig themselves out of another early hole.Jimmy Butler scored 35 points as the Heat marched into TD Garden to steal Game 1 on Wednesday. The Celtics were in control, until they came out of halftime slow. The Heat were relentless with their emphatic response, producing a huge third quarter, and never looked back. The Celtics couldn’t recover and suffered a 123-116 loss.The Celtics are not facing the Hawks or the 76ers anymore, and Game 1 showed what can happen if they’re not ready for the battle t...

Tuberculosis exposure reported at North County jail

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:02 GMT

VISTA, Calif. -- A tuberculosis (TB) exposure was reported at the San Diego County Sheriff's Vista Detention Facility, health officials said.Those in the vicinity of the jail between Feb. 2 and Feb. 21 should get tested, the County of San Diego’s Health and Human Services Agency recommends. If you have no medical provider or want to seek more information on the potential exposure, call the County TB Control Program at (619) 692-8621.Tuberculosis is an airborne disease that can be spread from person to person. City Council votes to sue SeaWorld San Diego “Symptoms of active TB include persistent cough, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County Public Health Officer. “Most people who become infected after exposure to tuberculosis do not get sick right away. This is called latent TB infection. Some who become infected with tuberculosis will become ill in the future, sometimes even years later, if their latent TB infection is not treated...

Chinese envoy asks Australia to increase search for 39 aboard capsized fishing boat in Indian Ocean

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:02 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A Chinese envoy asked Australian authorities Thursday to increase efforts to find survivors in an Indian Ocean search for 39 missing from a capsized Chinese fishing boat.Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian said the Australian authority had already sent four airplanes and three ships to the search area, which is in the center of the Indian Ocean.No survivors or life rafts have been spotted.Xiao said China wanted to coordinate with “friendly countries,” including Australia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, on the search and rescue effort following the capsizing Tuesday. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority, the search coordinator, said the upturned hull was spotted Tuesday from a cargo ship 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles) northwest of the Australian west coast city of Perth.Chinese authorities say the missing crew includes 17 from China, 17 from Indonesia and five from the Philippines.“We wish that they could send more — more aircraft, more ships and ...

New Zealand budget plan offers modest financial relief ahead of election

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:02 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Months before an election, New Zealand’s government on Thursday offered some modest financial relief to many people by making most prescription medicines free and increasing subsidies for child care and public transportation.But the government’s annual budget plan was notable for its lack of big new initiatives. Since taking office earlier this year, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has promised a back-to-basics approach and axed many of the more ambitious — and contentious — plans of his predecessor, Jacinda Ardern.Finance Minister Grant Robertson said the budget was all about doing the basics well. “It’s pragmatic and it’s practical and it’s the right budget for these times,” Robertson said. “Were there other things I wanted to do? Were there other things ministers wanted to do? One hundred percent there were. But this is not the right time for all of those things.”Polls indicate Hipkins and his liberal government are in a close contest for the October e...

FIFA’s Infantino optimistic about Women’s World Cup TV deals in Europe

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:02 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Although the clock is rapidly dwindling, FIFA President Gianni Infantino seems slightly more optimistic about reaching what he sees as an acceptable deal for the broadcast rights to the upcoming Women’s World Cup in five key European countries.While Infantino walked the green carpet at a gala event Wednesday night for the unveiling of the logo and branding for the 2026 World Cup at Los Angeles’ historic Griffith Observatory, the FIFA boss spoke briefly about the ongoing negotiations with broadcasters in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and England for the rights to show the Women’s World Cup games taking place in two months in Australia and New Zealand.“Some discussions have taken place, have started, I have to say, at a bit of a different level,” Infantino said. “So it is moving.”Infantino has decried the offers made only a few weeks before, claiming they show disrespect to the women’s sport and FIFA’s ongoing attempts to level the fina...

Councilmember calls community meeting after drug concerns continue at East Austin Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:02 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A popular East Austin park is getting attention for all the wrong reasons.People living near Parque Zaragoza Neighborhood Park said drugs and crime are on the rise and it needs to be addressed."This walk, when it is dark, I feel a little uneasy," said Ricky Hennessy who lives next to the park.He said he does not feel safe visiting the park or the rec center anymore."There is a large and active drug dealing operation just down the street," Hennessy said. "We are constantly picking up needles, condoms, glass, burnt foil and this is in the area where the kids would be playing."Councilmember Jose Velasquez said he's aware of the issues as well and is working on solutions."Trying to bring more police attention," said Velasquez. "We have been in constant contact with the police."The Austin Parks and Recreation Department tells KXAN homeless camps in the park have been cleared multiple times over the last year and a half.PARD has also hired an overtime APD officer to help a...

DFL lawmakers’ $3B tax deal includes $260 rebates, credits and larger Social Security exemption

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:02 GMT

A joint House and Senate committee at the Minnesota Legislature working to finalize a tax bill released some details of an agreement late Wednesday night.The deal between the DFL-led House and Senate includes tax rebates worth $260 per tax filer, plus money for up to three children for a maximum of $1,300. Those rebates will cost the state just under $1.2 billion, but are lower than the $1,000 per filer rebates DFL Gov. Tim Walz championed.The deal also includes a larger exemption for Social Security income, with filers earning up to $100,000 exempt from state taxes on their benefits, according to documents posted by the Legislature. That reduction will reduce revenues by about $500 million in the next state budget.Most of the other tax reductions are designed to help families and lower-income residents. They include a larger tax credit for families with children and a new tax credit for renters.Democrats have characterized the legislation, which makes about $3 billion in tax change...

Witness to George Floyd’s murder sues Minneapolis for emotional distress, assault

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:02 GMT

One of the most vocal bystanders as a Minneapolis police officer murdered George Floyd three years ago is suing the city, alleging he was assaulted and suffered emotional distress as he witnessed the handcuffed Black man beg for his life, go limp and stop breathing.Donald Williams of Minneapolis filed the lawsuit Tuesday in Hennepin County District Court.While now-former officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on Floyd’s neck on May 25, 2020, he threatened Williams and other bystanders with a can of chemical irritant, shaking it at them after Williams expressed concern for Floyd, according to the lawsuit.The lawsuit also alleges that Chauvin and another now-former officer, Tou Thao, taunted Floyd, Williams and other bystanders who expressed concern and that Thao placed his hand on Williams’ chest. Williams took those actions as threats and, the lawsuit says, he was fearful for his safety and the safety of the other witnesses.The lawsuit says Williams is seeking more than $50,000 for each coun...