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Chicago baseball report: Cubs start 7-game road trip with ample opportunities, while White Sox mark special family and career moments

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:16 GMT

The Chicago Cubs did not let a series-opening loss to the lowly Kansas City Royals derail their weekend, delivering a series win led by Justin Steele and Kyle Hendricks.After a week of interleague games against the Cubs and Colorado Rockies, the Sox will see plenty of the American League West with the Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics coming to Guaranteed Rate Field.Every Monday throughout the season, Tribune baseball writers will provide an update on what happened — and what’s ahead for the Cubs and Sox.Cubs not taking their schedule for grantedThe Cubs took care of business as they needed to against the second-worst team in baseball over the weekend.Coming off their series win versus the Kansas City Royals, the Cubs must continue to secure series victories the rest of the way, and the current stretch in their schedule provides ample opportunities. They begin a seven-game road trip Monday in Detroit before a four-game set in Pittsburgh that leads into back-to-back ...

Former Chicago Bulls general manager Gar Forman sells Buffalo Grove home for $740,000

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:16 GMT

Former Chicago Bulls general manager Gar Forman and his wife, Leslie, on Aug. 15 sold their five-bedroom, 4,011-square-foot house in Buffalo Grove for $740,000.Forman, 63, started with the Bulls as a scout and worked his way up through the team’s leadership ranks until he became the Bulls’ general manager in 2009. He led the Bulls to the playoffs in seven of his 10 seasons as general manager, but he was ousted from the team in April 2020 during a season that was suspended for a time by the COVID-19 pandemic and that also was marked by poor performance.Forman, who also owns a home in the Las Vegas area, most recently has been a special advisor to the New Orleans Pelicans.In Buffalo Grove, the Formans paid $536,000 in 2003 to buy the house from former Bulls guard Fred Hoiberg and his wife, Carol. Years later, in 2015, Hoiberg was hired as the Bulls’ head coach, and Hoiberg worked under Forman until Hoiberg was fired three and a half years later.Built in 1997, the hou...

British nurse Lucy Letby imprisoned for life for the murders of 7 babies and attempted murders of 6

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:16 GMT

By DANICA KIRKA and BRIAN MELLEY (Associated Press)LONDON (AP) — A former neonatal nurse who killed seven babies in her care and tried to kill six others at a hospital in northern England was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of release by a judge who highlighted “the cruelty and calculation” of her actions.Lucy Letby, who refused to appear in court to face grieving parents who spoke of their anger and anguish, was given the most severe sentence possible under British law, which does not allow the death penalty.Justice James Goss said that the number of killings and attempts and the nature of the murders by a neonatal nurse entrusted with care for the most fragile babies provided the “exceptional circumstances” required to impose a so-called “whole-life order,” which is exceptionally rare.“There was a malevolence bordering on sadism in your action,” Goss said. “During the course of this trial you have coldly...

Kyle Hendricks reclaims classic form: 4 takeaways from the Chicago Cubs’ 4-3 win over the Kansas City Royals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:16 GMT

If ever the Cubs would need classic Kyle Hendricks it’s now, in the thick of a playoff chase.Marcus Stroman’s right rib cartilage fracture will keep him out indefinitely, and the Cubs hope reliever Drew Smyly will be up to the task when he starts Tuesday, so Hendricks is the next best bet behind Justin Steele.On Sunday, Hendricks delivered during a 4-3 win over the Royals — backed by home runs from Seiya Suzuki and Miguel Amaya — to close out the series 2-1.During a challenging August in which his ERA inflated to 4.00, he showed a little vintage Hendricks, touching 90 mph a couple of times.“Yeah, it’s been a while,” Hendricks said. “I mean, it definitely shows me I’m doing the right things. And I’m where I need to be strength-wise.“You do get a little pumped, and I think the guys get excited behind me when they see it.”That includes manager David Ross, who added, “That was cool, that was really nice. So it...

Phil Lind, who helped build Rogers as a director and executive, dies at 80

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:16 GMT

TORONTO — Phil Lind, who helped build Rogers Communications Inc. as an executive and board member, died Sunday. He was 80.Rogers chair Edward Rogers says Lind worked for Rogers for 54 years, including nearly 40 with his father and helped build the company into a telecom and media powerhouse.He says Lind was involved in every key decision in the company’s history.Lind joined the company in 1969 as programming chief when it owned two radio stations and had about 10,000 cable subscribers.He went on to become a key adviser to Ted Rogers and serve in various positions including senior vice-president, programming and planning.Lind, who was most recently vice-chair of the board, was also a member of the advisory committee to the Rogers Control Trust, which controls the company.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 21, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX: RCI. B)The Canadian Press

A decade after a sarin gas attack in a Damascus suburb, Syrian survivors lose hope for justice

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:16 GMT

AFRIN, Syria (AP) — One summer night a decade ago, the al-Shami family was woken up by a roaring sound or rockets but it wasn’t followed by the usual explosions. Instead, the family members started having difficulty breathing. Ghiad al-Shami, 26, remembers how everyone tried to run to the rooftop of their apartment building in eastern Ghouta, a Damascus suburb that at the time was held by opposition fighters trying to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad.Al-Shami’s mother, three sisters and two brothers died that night — victims of the Aug. 21, 2013 sarin gas attack that killed hundreds and left thousands of others hurt.Ten years on, al-Shami and other survivors say there has been no accountability for the attack and for the other atrocities committed in Syria during the country’s brutal civil war, now in its 13th year. Over the past year, Assad’s government — accused by the United Nations of repeated chemical weapons attacks on Syrian civilians — has been ab...

Japanese government pledges long-term support for fisheries during Fukushima plant water release

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:16 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Monday promised his government’s full support for fishing communities during the decades-long process to release treated radioactive wastewater from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea.Meeting with fisheries representatives, Kishida promised measures to protect the fishing industry’s reputation until the release ends.Masanobu Sakamoto, head of the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives, reiterated his organization’s opposition to the release. He said members of the fishing community have gained some confidence about the safety of the move, but that they still fear damage to their industry, and welcomed the government pledge for support.“Scientific safety and the sense of safety are different,” Sakamoto said. “Even if it’s safe, reputational damage occurs.”Kishida later told reporters that Sakamoto’s response signaled improved understanding and that key Cabinet ministers will...

Spanish soccer leader’s behavior at Women’s World Cup final provokes angry reaction

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:16 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Moments after Spain won the Women’s World Cup, the man who leads the country’s national soccer federation took some unwanted attention away from the celebrating players.Criticism from the Spanish government and the soccer world rained down Monday on Luis Rubiales for his inappropriate conduct while reveling in Spain’s 1-0 win over England in Sunday’s final in Sydney, Australia.By grabbing his crotch in a victory gesture — seemingly oblivious to 16-year-old Princess Infanta Sofía standing nearby — and then kissing Spain player Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the medal and trophy ceremony on the field, Rubiales’s behavior marred the biggest day for women’s soccer.The kiss was “deeply lamentable,” world players’ union FIFPRO said. The 45-year-old Rubiales led the union’s Spanish affiliate for eight years before being elected to lead the national soccer federation in 2018.In Spain, acting minister for sports and culture Miquel Iceta told public broadcast...

UK police to take no action after investigation into cash-for-honors allegation at king’s charity

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:16 GMT

LONDON (AP) — London police said Monday they would take no action on allegations that people associated with one of King Charles III’s charities offered to help a Saudi billionaire secure a knighthood and British citizenship in return for donations.The Metropolitan Police Service began an investigation into the matter after the Times of London reported that a longtime aide to Charles had suggested the then-Prince of Wales would support a Saudi citizen’s request for the honors in return for up to 1.5 million pounds ($2 million) in donations to the charity, The Prince’s Foundation.The department said it reviewed documents provided by the foundation and the newspaper, and consulted with prosecutors before concluding its investigation.“After careful consideration of the information received as a result of the investigation to date, the Met has concluded that no further action will be taken in this matter,’’ police said in a statement.Charles’ representatives had previously said that he ...

Pakistan hands out cash to Christians who lost homes in rioting over alleged desecration of Quran

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:16 GMT

MULTAN, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistani authorities on Monday handed out thousands of dollars to nearly 100 Christian families whose homes were destroyed or damaged by a Muslim mob angered over an alleged desecration of the Quran last week. The government of caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said each household was getting 2 million rupees ($6,800) in compensation on Monday. Police said they have arrested dozens more rioters in ongoing raids, bringing the total number of those detained over the attacks in the city of Jaranwala to 160. On Wednesday, hundreds of Muslims went on a rampage over allegations that a Christian man and his friend had desecrated Islam’s holy book. Christians who fled their homes to escape the attackers later returned to a scene of destruction. Many have been living outside since, fearing the burned structures may collapse.The rampage, one of the most destructive in the country’s history, drew nationwide condemnation. Kakar on Monday traveled to the area ...