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Division 2 state track: Ryan Connolly sets record, North Andover boys grab lead

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:46:20 GMT

NORTH ANDOVER – As Ryan Connolly made the final turn for home at Merrimack College on Friday, the North Andover track star knew he had a lead on the field. The only question was whether or not he would be able to complete his mission.Despite a frightening conclusion, he ultimately succeeded, and made history in doing so. The UMass Amherst commit shattered a meet record in the boys 800-meter run, finishing with a time of 1:53.38 to open the annual MIAA Div. 2 track championships in style.“I just had to take the lead and push,” Connolly said. “Coming down the last stretch, my legs were not feeling great. I was a little tired because I was pushing the back stretch hard. I knew the Concord-Carlisle kid was on me. So, I knew the biggest goal for me was to get the 10 points for my team … and the record came with it. I didn’t realize I was going to get the school or the meet record, so I’m really happy with the race today.”North Andover entered the meet looking to defend its Div. 2 b...

Needham finishes regular season undefeated (again) in volleyball

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:46:20 GMT

NEEDHAM – For a third straight season, the Needham boys volleyball team will head into the Div. 1 state tournament without a loss.The two-time defending champion Rockets used their typical brand of well-rounded play Friday night to overcome another daunting nonleague foe, topping St. John’s of Shrewsbury 3-0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-20) on the state’s final day of the regular season.Luke Lorence heated up in the third set on the way to a team-high 12 kills, while Ethan McCarron (11 kills) and Raymond Weng (19 assists, 10 kills) also played major offensive roles to combat an inconsistent but strong Pioneers performance.It was just another day’s work for Needham (22-0), which secured a 68th straight win to lead the title conversation once again. Finishing the regular season unbeaten is far from the Rockets’ end goal, but that certainly doesn’t make it any less fulfilling for them to maintain their edge over three different campaigns.“It feels great, it’s a good program,” said Weng, a starter...

Liam Hendriks takes a ‘step in the right direction’ as the Chicago White Sox closer throws another live batting practice

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:46:20 GMT

Liam Hendriks took another step toward returning to the Chicago White Sox with his third live batting practice in a week.The Sox closer threw about 19 pitches while facing teammates Elvis Andrus, Adam Haseley and Seby Zavala before Friday’s game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.“It went well,” manager Pedro Grifol said. “His numbers were really good.”Hendriks built on previous sessions May 19 at Guaranteed Rate Field and Monday in Cleveland. He’s working his way back after undergoing treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.“He ticked up from Cleveland,” Grifol said. “Really good step in the right direction. We’ll sit down and evaluate it as an organization and see what our next step is.”The Sox also are getting positive reports from Eloy Jiménez’s rehab stint with Double-A Birmingham. The outfielder/designated hitter went 0-for-5 with a walk in his first two games for the Barons against the Tennessee ...

Woman dead after cement bags fall from overturned truck on I-805

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:46:20 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A woman is dead after bags of cement fell from a truck that overturned on an Interstate 805 offramp in Clairemont Friday afternoon, according to California Highway Patrol.The incident occurred around 1 p.m. According to CHP, a Chevrolet pick-up truck with a one-ton stake bed was traveling from the southbound side of the freeway onto the eastbound state Route 52 ramp at a stated speed of about 60 miles per hour.As the truck continued onto the ramp, CHP said the driver felt his load, including bags of cement and other construction materials, shift in the bed and he began to lose control of the truck causing it to overturn. When it overturned, the bags spilled onto the roadway, with several falling from the ramp onto the SR-52 eastbound lanes below. One to two bags of concrete fell directly from the road onto the windshield of a black Mercedes traveling in the No. 2 lane of the roadway, CHP said. Suspect arrested in deadly shooting outside Central Library The bags impact...

Indiana funeral director pleads guilty to 40 theft counts after decomposing bodies found

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:46:20 GMT

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (AP) — The director of a southern Indiana funeral home where 31 decomposing bodies and the cremains of 17 others were found pleaded guilty Friday to more than 40 counts of felony theft.Randy Lankford, owner of Lankford Funeral Home and Family Center in Jeffersonville, faces a proposed sentence of 12 years: four years in prison and eight years of home incarceration, Clark County Circuit Court Judge N. Lisa Glickfield said. Lankford was charged with theft for failing to complete the funeral services he was paid for, and must also pay restitution to 53 families totaling $46,000. Lankford was released to home incarceration following the hearing. A formal sentencing hearing is planned for June 23.Jeffersonville Police began investigating the funeral home early last July after the county coroner’s office reported a strong odor emanating from the building. The unrefrigerated bodies were found in various states of decomposition, and some had been at the funeral home sin...

Mississauga man arrested in North York shooting death seven months ago

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:46:20 GMT

A 21-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of another man seven months ago in North York. Toronto police say just before 2 p.m. on October 6, 2022, 28-year-old Osman Bangura of Toronto was found shot to death at a Toronto Community Housing complex at 5 Needle Firway. At the time investigators believed the victim was targeted. On Friday, 21-year-old Tafari Minott of Mississauga was arrested and charged with second degree murder. Investigators are appealing to anyone who may have further information to contact them.

Danny Masterson rape retrial deliberations drag on more than 6 days, will resume next week

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:46:20 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jurors have deliberated for more than a week without reaching a verdict in the rape retrial of “That ’70s Show” star Danny Masterson, and will have to return and resume talks after the long holiday weekend.The Los Angeles County jury of seven women and five men went home Friday without reaching a verdict on any of the three counts of rape against the 47-year-old, who could get up to 45 years in prison if convicted of all three. The jury got the case as closing arguments ended May 17. With planned time off, they have been talking for a total of 6 1/2 days and have had relatively few questions for the judge. Jurors have asked for the reading back of some testimony — including part of the cross-examination of Masterson’s former girlfriend, who is one of the three accusers. But the requests have shed little light on the state of deliberations.Jurors will return to court Wednesday morning after taking the weekend, Memorial Day and another planned day off. I...

Mississippi Democrats improperly excluded candidate for governor, judge says

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:46:20 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi could have a Democratic primary for governor in August because a judge ruled Friday that the party improperly excluded a candidate from the ballot.The state Democratic Party immediately filed notice that it will ask the Mississippi Supreme Court to overturn the judge’s ruling on the candidacy of Bob Hickingbottom.“I appreciate the court’s consideration. We hope to get a more favorable ruling on appeal,” the committee’s attorney, Gerald Mumford, told The Associated Press.The state Democratic Executive Committee decided in February that Hickingbottom could not be on the ballot as a Democrat. Hickingbottom, who has described himself as a political operative, ran for governor as a Constitution Party candidate in 2019.The executive committee also excluded Gregory Wash from running for governor this year, after he ran a low-budget campaign for governor in the Democratic primary four years ago. The party’s decisions left Brandon Pre...

Already a college graduate, CPS high schooler taking success to new degree 

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:46:20 GMT

CHICAGO — Lindblom High School shines like a jewel in West Englewood. Inside, senior Nylah Sanders glows, too. “Nylah is a unicorn. She is a humble superstar and she doesn’t realize that she’s a superstar,” said school guidance counselor April Weathers. The 18-year-old walked the halls for the last time, knowing she’s earned a special place in the school’s 106-year history. Nylah Sanders is the first Lindblom High School student to earn an Associate’s Degree before receiving her high school diploma. (Photo/WGN)“I guess I feel honored,” she told WGN News.  It’s not just her bright yellow shirt that makes her stand out in the crowd. Nylah is the first Lindblom student to earn an Associate’s Degree before receiving her high school diploma. “I was able to take multiple classes each semester, so it was nice to actually do it,” Nylah said. Double — and — triple take: Suburban high school has 12 sets of twins, triplets graduating  Weathers called the rare academic fe...

Alicia Keys surprises Kansas City students with trip to Missouri concert

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:46:20 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) — Students at a North Kansas City high school received the surprise of a lifetime Friday morning.Grammy Award-winning musician Alicia Keys shocked students at Staley High School with free tickets to her concert in St. Louis. The "Empire State of Mind" singer is also covering the cost of transportation to the July 21 show.Students learned about the concert during a last day of school assembly when school leaders played a recorded message from Keys. What are poppers and why is the FDA warning about them? Keys said she was inspired by the Unity Walk students held for classmate Ralph Yarl last month. The 16 year-old was shot by an 84 year-old man after Yarl went to the wrong home to pick up his siblings on April 13.“I’ve been so moved by the demonstration of love, unity, support for our brother Ralph Yarl,” Keys said. “I would like to invite the entire school to my Keys for the Summer Tour July 21. I can’t wait to see you!”Keys also personally invited Yarl to a...