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Dozens of families gather around Mass. for National Adoption Day events

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:04:32 GMT

Friday marked a day many families have been waiting for as loved ones gathered in courts around the Boston area to celebrate adoptions on National Adoption Day. In Boston itself, one family in the adoption process spoke to 7NEWS about what the day meant to them. “She’s one of the most courageous, resilient young people that we know, so we are very proud of her for that,” said Katie Lee of her adoptive daughter, Mimi.Through smiles and tears, 14-year-old Mimi banged a gavel to mark her milestone. She is now officially adopted. One of dozens celebrating National Adoption Day at Boston Municipal Court, Mimi has been part of the Lee family for half her life. Now with her several siblings in tow, the only party left to recognize Mimi’s place in the family was the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Juvenile Court was on hand Friday alongside Wally the Green Monster making it all official. While the journey to adoption can b...

Red Sox, Mariners make depth trade at non-tender deadline

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:04:32 GMT

The Red Sox and Mariners exchanged depth pieces in the minutes before Major League Baseball’s non-tender deadline on Friday evening.Just before the 8 p.m. cutoff, Boston sent Luis Urías to Seattle for right-handed reliever Isaiah Campbell. Alex Speier of the Boston Globe broke the news.The Red Sox acquired Urías at the 2023 trade deadline, having spent three and a half seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers. He only played 32 games for the Red Sox, his first American League team, but hit significantly better upon his arrival, raising his batting average from .145 to .225 and his OPS .535 to .698.Boston primarily deployed Urías at second base (28 games), but he also offers the Mariners depth at third and shortstop, a position he didn’t play in Boston, and two years of club control. He’s arbitration-eligible this year and next, currently on track to reach free agency in 2026.Campbell, meanwhile, can bolster a Boston bullpen that was dominant for much of 2023 but became exhausted dow...

Colorado judge finds Trump engaged in insurrection, but rejects constitutional ballot challenge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:04:32 GMT

By NICHOLAS RICCARDI (Associated Press)DENVER (AP) — A Colorado judge on Friday found that former President Donald Trump engaged in insurrection during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol but rejected an effort to keep him off the state’s primary ballot because it’s unclear whether a Civil War-era Constitutional amendment barring insurrectionists from public office applies to the presidency.The lawsuit, brought by a left-leaning group on behalf of a group of Republican and independent Colorado voters, contended that Trump’s actions related to the attack ran afoul of a clause in the 14th Amendment that prevents anyone from holding office who “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” against the Constitution.The decision by District Judge Sarah B. Wallace is the third ruling in a little over a week against lawsuits seeking to knock Trump off the ballot by citing Section 3 of the amendment. The Minnesota Supreme Court last week said Trump could...

Snoop Dogg is giving up ‘smoke.’ It caught some of his fans off guard.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:04:32 GMT

Asking for privacy, hip-hop legend and longtime marijuana enthusiast Snoop Dogg says he’s going to stop smoking — though he didn’t specify exactly what that might mean.“After much consideration and conversation with my family, I’ve decided to give up smoke,” Snoop wrote in a message shared on Instagram and X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday. “Please respect my privacy at this time.”The rapper and entrepreneur, who has become known for his own weed-related ventures over the years, provided no additional details in his brief announcement, which came the week after a new marijuana-adjacent product was introduced bearing his name. Representatives for the 52-year-old Snoop, born Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., did not immediately respond to The Associated Press’ requests for comment Friday.That didn’t stop ample speculation from fans, many of whom filled the comments of Snoop̵...

Blue Jays non-tender Adam Cimber, reliever becomes free agent

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:04:32 GMT

The Toronto Blue Jays announced that they non-tendered reliever Adam Cimber before Friday’s 8 p.m. ET deadline, making him a free agent.All other players were given contracts.Major league teams have the option to non-tender arbitration-eligible players instead of agreeing on a salary for the new season. Cimber was projected to earn around $3.2 million for 2024.With the move now official, the 33-year-old will be a free agent for the first time in his career. Cimber was acquired from the Miami Marlins in June 2021, along with outfielder Corey Dickerson, in exchange for a prospect and infielder, Joe Panik. He settled in as one of the Blue Jays’ most consistent relievers, pitching to a 1.69 ERA across 39 games.He followed up the success in 2022, appearing in a major-league-high 77 games out of the bullpen for Toronto and finishing with a 2.80 ERA and 58 strikeouts across 70 2/3 innings.Injuries greatly impacted Cimber this past season. He was limited to 22 games and struggle...

White Sox sign reliever to 1-yr extension

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:04:32 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox have signed a relief pitcher to a one-year extension to avoid arbitration, according to the team Friday.Chicago signed right-handed pitcher Matt Foster to a one-year, $750,000 contract extension.Foster went 1-2 with a 4.40 ERA across 48 games out of the bullpen for the South Siders in 2023, where he notched 42 strikeouts and 17 walks across 45 innings pitched.In three career seasons with the White Sox, Foster owns a 9-4 record to go with an ERA of 4.39 across 108 games, including his rookie season when he went 6-1 with a 2.20 ERA across 28.2 IP. Sox trade Bummer to Atlanta, get former all-star in return With Foster now under contract, Chicago has seven other players still arbitration eligible in 2024, according to Spotrac. Those players include starting pitchers Dylan Cease, Michael Kopech and newly-acquired Michael Soroka, as well as first baseman Andrew Vaughn, newly-acquired second baseman Nicky Lopez, and relief pitchers Garret Crochet and Touki...

Austin FC slashes roster, declines contract options for nine players

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:04:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin FC made a flurry of roster moves Friday as it tries to pick up the pieces after a disappointing 2023 season in which the club failed to make the postseason.The club picked up contract options for two players, reserve goalkeeper Damian Las and midfielder Dani Pereira, and declined contract options for nine players. Austin FC currently has 20 players on its roster.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersCharlie Asensio, Will Bruin, Sofiane Djeffal, Kipp Keller, Adam Lundkvist, Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez, Rodney Redes, Memo Rodriguez and Maxi Urruti all had their contract options declined. Players who had options declined and are at least 24 years old with five years of Major League Soccer service time are eligible for free agency. MLS' free agency period opens Dec. 13 and the 2024 MLS SuperDraft is Dec. 19. The MLS trade window opens Dec. 11.Alex Ring had his 2...

Twins tender all but two of their arbitration-eligible players

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:04:32 GMT

The Twins tendered contracts to all but two of their arbitration-eligible players ahead of Friday’s 7 p.m. deadline, notably Kyle Farmer and Willi Castro, veteran pieces of the team’s American League Central Division championship, and recent high draft picks Alexi Kirilloff and Ryan Jeffers.While some of the decisions weren’t much of decisions at all — as with Kirilloff and Jeffers — there were questions around other players, either because they were coming off of an injury-plagued season or because of salary. The Twins also tendered Caleb Thielbar, Jorge Alcala and Nick Gordon.Pitchers Jovani Moran and Ronny Henriquez were non-tendered but are expected to be re-signed to minor league deals.Farmer, perhaps, was the biggest question mark. The Twins have been highly complimentary of Farmer — both because of his play on the field and his presence in the clubhouse — since he arrived in Minnesota last year. But he’s due a projected $6.6 million in arbitration, per MLB Trade Rumors.That’s...

St. Paul police open homicide investigation after woman found dead in downtown apartment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:04:32 GMT

St. Paul police are investigating a homicide in a downtown apartment building after a woman was found dead there Friday morning.After a 911 caller asked for a welfare check on the woman, fire department paramedics, followed by police officers, entered the apartment in the Press House building shortly after 9:30 a.m. Friday. They found the woman deceased with obvious signs of trauma on her body, police department spokesman Mike Ernster said Friday night.Officers summoned homicide detectives, who were still at the scene at 345 Cedar St. on Friday night.So far this year, police have been called to the Press House apartments 292 times. Ernster said that, in general, apartment buildings tend to have a higher number of police calls than the average St. Paul address, though he noted that the Press House “has had its challenges.”The apartment building previously housed the offices of the Pioneer Press before it underwent a conversion four years ago as income-restricted housing.P...

High school football playoffs: St. Thomas Academy rallies from 23-0 deficit to stun Alexandria in Class 5A semifinal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:04:32 GMT

When St. Thomas Academy took over on offense with 7:48 left in the third quarter, its student section began to chant, “We can’t hear you.”“Why so quiet?” was the refrain a couple of minutes later when the Cadets took their first lead.St. Thomas Academy tight end Chase Young, center, celebrates with his teammates after defeating Alexandria Area 42-30 in a Class 5A semifinal game in the State Football Tournament at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press)Stunned, shellshocked or dazed may best describe the red-and-black clad Alexandria supporters at that point, many looking at a quiet ride back up Interstate 94.“Long drive home” was a brief Cadets student section chant late in Friday’s game.Down 23-0 in the second quarter, St. Thomas Academy scored 42 unanswered points to advance to the Class 5A championship with a 42-30 win over Alexandria inside U.S. Bank Stadium.“We knew that we had it in us to come back, have some good ...