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Willson Contreras will return to catching duties on Monday

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:15:04 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Willson Contreras’ demotion from catching didn’t last very long.St. Louis manager Oli Marmol announced before Saturday’s game against the Boston Red Sox that the 31-year-old Contreras will be back behind the plate on Monday night when the Cardinals open a homestand against the Milwaukee Brewers.“We felt really good about the progress that we’ve made and it lines up really well for him to catch Monday,” Marmol said. RELATED - Paul DeJong packing a punch, regaining form since return from injury Looking to replace Yadier Molina at catcher, St. Louis signed the three-time All-Star to an $87.5 million, five-year contract in December, its biggest move of the offseason.But Marmol announced last weekend that Contreras would be taking a break from catching for a while — a move that raised questions about the fit of the free agent acquisition in the first place.The departure of Molina, a nine-time Gold Glove winner who retired after his 19th season with the Cardinals, looms ov...

St. Louis CITY SC falls again to Chicago Fire

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:15:04 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Defender Rafael Czichos scored late in the first half and Chris Brady made it stand up to lead the Chicago Fire to a 1-0 victory over St. Louis City on Saturday.The Fire eliminated St. Louis City in US Open Cup play with a 2-1 victory earlier in the week under interim coach Frank Klopas in the first meeting between the teams. Klopas took the reins after the Fire fired head coach Ezra Hendrickson. Chicago had lost two straight at home and five of its last seven against expansion teams. I-64 open after massive flooding from a main break Czichos took a pass from Xherdan Shaqiri off a set piece and scored in the 40th minute for Chicago (3-3-5). It was Czichos' second goal this season. Brady made two saves to earn his second clean sheet of the season.St. Louis City (6-4-1) was forced to play a man down after John Nelson picked up a red card in the 70th minute.Chicago had a 9-8 edge in shots, but a 6-2 advantage in shots on goalRoman Bürki finished with five saves for St....

Missouri man sentenced for child sex crimes in Illinois

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:15:04 GMT

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - A Missouri man was sentenced to decades in prison after pleading guilty to child sex crimes in Illinois. William E. McKay, 37, of Fredericktown, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for predatory criminal sexual assault of a child. I-64 open after massive flooding from a main break McKay admitted to committing a sexual act with a victim younger than 13 years old in Madison County, Illinois, between November and December 2021. “We can’t begin to imagine the trauma that children and their families suffer in cases such as this,” said Madison County State's Attorney Tom Haine. “We hope that this sentence allows a measure of healing for the victim, who demonstrated tremendous courage by coming forward.”The Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Child Advocacy Center and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services were all involved in the investigation.

The new Tinder? Writers looking for love on the picket line

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:15:04 GMT

As striking Hollywood writers protest working conditions and pay, some are also looking for love while on the picket line. This week, the two collided outside Universal Studios. An event called "Strike Up a Romance" was organized by "Family Guy" writer Jaydi Samuels Kuba, who also runs a matchmaking business. The event doubled as a picket line for members of the Writers Guild of America and as a singles' mixer."We get to go out, picket like we're supposed to, and maybe meet the love of our lives," writer Matt Altman told Now This News. He added. "Isn't every story about love in the end?""For us, this was just a fun opportunity for writers just to meet each other without the pressures of having to have crazy work hours," organizer Kuba told Reuters.The singles' mixer was allegedly inspired by married couples who met during the last WGA strike. The WGA has been on strike since May 2, after contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producer...

Man shot, killed after argument near Metro station in downtown Los Angeles

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:15:04 GMT

A man is dead after an altercation with another man resulted in gunfire near a Metro Red Line station in downtown Los Angeles late Friday night.The victim, a 36-year-old man, argued with another man, 23, outside a Metro station near Hill and 1st streets at 11:58 p.m. Friday, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.The younger man pulled out a gun and fired multiple shots at the older man, who was struck at least once, police said.He was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The shooter, meanwhile, fled on foot.While it remains to be seen if the shooting was gang-related, police did confirm that the victim was not homeless.

Has Scabby the Rat reached the end of his relevance?

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:15:04 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — For decades, a giant, inflatable rat with beady eyes, sharp teeth and a pustule-covered belly has loomed over union protests, drawing attention to various labor disputes.But in the era of TikTok and influencer culture, middle-aged Scabby faces a new challenge: staying relevant.“It’s kind of unfortunate, changing times, older members of the public know exactly what the rat is for,” said James Smith, union activity administrator for the NYC District Council of Carpenters. “The newer generation sometimes doesn’t — one person thought that we were protesting a building that needed an exterminator.”Nevertheless, Scabby isn’t collecting hard-won retirement benefits just yet. Most recently, he has been making the rounds at various picket lines in New York for the Hollywood writers strike organized by the Writers Guild of America East and other unions. Scabby is the “true rat czar of New York City,” said WGA East communica...

Jordan Poole wraps up tumultuous season with the Warriors ahead of uncertain offseason

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:15:04 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — What was the biggest thing Jordan Poole learned from a volatile season that saw him get punched by a teammate, sign a nine-figure extension and end with a role reduction and intense scrutiny on the game’s biggest stage?“I learned a lot of stuff,” Poole said. “I don’t know. I don’t know.”Poole spoke Saturday morning at Chase Center after his exit interview with the organization, just about 13 hours after the Warriors’ season ended in Los Angeles with a loss to the Lakers. Poole had another rough night on Friday, only tallying seven points on 3-of-10 shooting and missing all three 3-pointers.It wrapped up a really difficult series for the fourth-year guard. After a 21-point effort in Game 1, Poole only scored 29 points in the last five games, making only 13-of-43 shots (30.2%) and just one of 17 3-pointers (5.9%).The struggles on the court seemed to be met by visible frustration from Poole throughout the Western Conference semifinals. Poole was shown expres...

U.S. Presidential Scholars: 7 Bay Area teens win prestigious award

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:15:04 GMT

Seven Bay Area high schoolers have been named 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars, an honor awarded to only 161 students in the nation.Three were honored for general academic excellence:Annmaria K. Antony, San Jose, Harker SchoolElane Kim, Walnut Creek, Stanford University Online High SchoolAaron Hieu Tran, Morgan Hill, Ann Sobrato High SchoolThree were honored for excellence in the arts:Zoe Wijesekara Dorado, Castro Valley, Castro Valley High School (writing)Miranda A. Lu, San Jose, Leland High School (visual arts)Gavin Ray Trotmore, Berkeley, Berkeley High School (design arts)One was honored for excellence in career or technical education:Sezen S. Musa, Sunnyvale, Wilcox High School (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America)The awards were announced this week by the U.S. Education Department. The list of semifinalists, released last month, included 16 Bay Area students.Those in the general academic division qualify through SAT or ACT scores and are invited to submit a packet de...

NCS softball playoffs: First-round matchups in all six divisions

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:15:04 GMT

NEW: PREP SPORTS MAILBAGThe Bay Area News Group is introducing a high school sports mailbag in May. Get your questions in as soon as possible. Our debut edition is an open forum. Got questions about spring sports playoffs, coaching changes, an early peek at football season, etc.? Send them to [email protected]. Please include “mailbag” in the subject line.Division IWednesday’s first roundNo. 16 San Leandro (16-10) at No. 1 San Ramon Valley (20-5), 5 p.m.No. 8 Heritage (15-5) at No. 9 James Logan (20-3-1), 7 p.m.No. 13 Monte Vista (11-10) at No. 4 Freedom (16-8), 5 p.m.No. 12 Liberty (12-14) at No. 5 Clayton Valley Charter (16-5), 5 p.m.No. 15 Bishop O’Dowd (13-11) at No. 2 Granada (19-5), 5 p.m.No. 7 Amador Valley (15-11) at No. 10 Castro Valley (15-7), 5 p.m.No. 14 Arroyo (10-12) at No. 3 California (17-8), 5 p.m.No. 11 Vintage (17-9) at No. 6 College Park (16-8), 5 p.m.Division IITuesday’s first roundNo. 16 Ukiah (17-6) at No. 1 Redwood (18-4-1), 5 p.m.No. 8 Marin C...

NCS baseball playoffs: First-round matchups in all six divisions

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:15:04 GMT

NEW: PREP SPORTS MAILBAGThe Bay Area News Group is introducing a high school sports mailbag in May. Get your questions in as soon as possible. Our debut edition is an open forum. Got questions about spring sports playoffs, coaching changes, an early peek at football season, etc.? Send them to [email protected]. Please include “mailbag” in the subject line.BaseballDivision ITuesday’s first roundNo. 16 Castro Valley (10-15) at No. 1 De La Salle (20-5), 5 p.m.No. 9 Dublin (16-8) vs. No. 8 Liberty (16-9) at Pittsburg HS, 5 p.m.No. 13 Freedom (13-11) at No. 4 Amador Valley (18-5), 5 p.m.No. 12 Pittsburg (18-9) at No. 5 Granada (20-7), 5 p.m.No. 15 Antioch (15-9) at No. 2 San Ramon Valley (18-9), 5 p.m.No. 10 Berkeley (18-7) at No. 7 Heritage (19-7), 5 p.m.No. 14 College Park (11-13) at No. 3 Clayton Valley Charter (19-5), 5 p.m.No. 6 Foothill (15-9) at No. 11 James Logan (18-6), 5 p.m.Division IIWednesday’s first roundNo. 16 Northgate (9-14) at No. 1 Casa Granada (19-5), 5...