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Auto workers’ union calls talks with Ford productive as strike continues

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:24 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The United Auto Workers said Saturday it had “reasonably productive conversations” with Ford, as its limited strike against the Big 3 automakers carried into a second day.The union is trying to reach a deal with not only Ford but also General Motors and Stellantis for better pay in an era of big profits for the industry, which is trying to transition from gasoline-powered engines to electric vehicles.Stellantis on Saturday also gave details about its most recent offer to the union, which brought its wage proposal roughly in line with its competitors. The owner of Chrysler said its offer would provide cumulative raises of nearly 21% for hourly wages, with an immediate 10% increase if a contract is ratified.That, though, is still below the 36% increase over four years the UAW is seeking, along with other demands that would increase costs for auto companies.Mark Stewart, chief operating officer for North America at Stellantis, on Saturday called it part of a “really com...

Homers from Burger and Chisholm in 8th lift Marlins to 11-5 win over Braves

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:24 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Jake Burger hit a go-ahead two-run homer and Jazz Chisholm Jr. added a grand slam in the eighth inning as the Miami Marlins pulled away to beat the Atlanta Braves 11-5 on Saturday.Luis Arraez and Yuli Gurriel also went deep for the Marlins, who became the first NL East team to win a series against the division champions. The Braves were 11-0-1 in their previous series against division opponents.Matt Olson hit his major league-leading 52nd homer and overtook Andruw Jones as Atlanta’s single-season home run leader. Jones hit 51 in 2005.Josh Bell drew a two-out walk against Braves reliever Kirby Yates (7-2) before Burger made it 7-5 with a drive over the wall in center for his 32nd homer and seventh since he joined Miami on Aug. 1.Gurriel singled, and Jesús Sánchez and Garrett Hampson walked before Chisholm connected off Michael Tonkin for Miami’s first grand slam of the season.Ozzie Albies hit his 30th homer and became the fifth Braves’ player to reach the total this seas...

‘Dodged a tragedy’: Officer escapes injury when tree falls on Cohasset police cruiser

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:24 GMT

The police chief in Cohasset says the department “dodged a tragedy” when a large tree fell onto a police cruiser on Saturday.An officer who responded to a report of low-hanging wires at the intersection of South Main Street and River Road was uninjured when a large tree snapped and fell onto his 2018 Ford Police Interceptor, according to a post on the department’s Facebook page.In a statement, Cohasset Police Chief William Quigley said, “We dodged a tragedy today, and I’m so thankful that the officer is OK. This incident is an excellent example of why we always encourage people to stay indoors during these storm events.” No additional information was immediately available.

Red Sox put rookie 1B Triston Casas on 10-day IL because of sore right shoulder

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:24 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — The Boston Red Sox put first baseman Triston Casas on the 10-day injured list Saturday because of right shoulder inflammation.The move, retroactive to Friday, came after the rookie slugger was scratched from the starting lineup for a second straight game.Casas is batting .263 with 24 home runs and 65 RBIs in 132 games.Casas ranks first among AL rookies in walks (70) and OPS (.857) and is second in home runs. He has hit .317 with 15 home runs in 54 games since the All-Star break.The Red Sox recalled infielder Bobby Dalbec from Triple-A Worcester. Dalbec hit 25 home runs as a rookie in 2021, the sixth-highest rookie total in Red Sox history.

Red Sox blow late lead, fall to Blue Jays 4-3 in 13 innings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:24 GMT

Even with an extra two days of rest Chris Sale didn’t have anywhere near his usual stuff. His fastball averaged 91.4 mph, far slower than his season average of 94.1, and his off-speed pitches were well below their averages as well.Sale found a way to make it work, and but his teammates let him down.The veteran left-hander mowed down the Blue Jays, holding the opposition hitless into the fifth inning and finishing with one run allowed on two hits over six-plus innings. That, combined with Rafael Devers’ two-run home run in the sixth, was nearly enough to get the job done, but a catastrophic miscue in center field on what would have been the final out allowed Toronto to tie the game and force extra innings.The Blue Jays eventually went on to win 4-3 in 13 innings on a walk-off infield single by Whit Merrifield, who rolled a soft chopper down the third base line that Devers didn’t have a play on, allowing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to score from third.“Tough one,R...

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer kidnap plot: Jury clears 3 men in the last trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:24 GMT

A jury acquitted three men Friday in the last trial connected to a plan to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a scheme that was portrayed as an example of homegrown terrorism on the eve of the 2020 presidential election.William Null, twin brother Michael Null and Eric Molitor were found not guilty of providing support for a terrorist act and a weapon charge. They were the last of 14 men to face charges in state or federal court. Nine were convicted and now five have been cleared.The Nulls and Molitor were accused of supporting leaders of the plan by participating in military-style drills and traveling to see Whitmer’s vacation home in northern Michigan. The key players, Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr., were convicted of a kidnapping conspiracy last year in federal court.In the latest trial, the jury heard 14 days of testimony in Antrim County, the location of Whitmer’s lakeside property, 185 miles  north of the state Capitol.There were gasps in the courtroom as the jury foreperson ...

Daytime shows like Drew Barrymore’s return despite Hollywood strike pickets

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:24 GMT

“The Drew Barrymore Show” will begin airing fresh episodes on Monday but a lot of off-air controversy will be clinging to its typically bubbly host.Barrymore — a daughter of a proud acting dynasty — is making new batches of her syndicated talk show despite picketers outside her studio, as daytime TV becomes the latest battlefield in the ongoing Hollywood labor strife.“We’re four months approximately into this strike and it’s not surprising that there are defectors,” said Michael H. LeRoy, a professor of labor and employment relations at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “I couldn’t predict that this would happen on daytime TV, but everybody has a breaking point in a labor dispute.”“The Drew Barrymore Show,” operating without its three union writers, isn’t the only daytime show to resume. “The View” has returned for its 27th season on ABC, while “Tamron Hall” and “Live With Kelly and Ryan” — neither are governed by writers guild rules — have also been producing fresh ep...

High school roundup: Bella Cadavid, Tyngsboro shut out Greater Lowell Tech, 5-0

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:24 GMT

In a nonleague girls soccer game, Bella Cadavid finished with a goal and a pair of assists as Tyngsboro (3-2) defeated Greater Lowell, 5-0.Sophie Skabeikis and Bella Owumi scored, while Kylie Kennison recorded the shutout as St. Mary’s defeated Pentucket, 2-0.Sophomore CC Levrault had a hat trick as Apponequet (5-0) upended South Coast Conference opponent Durfee 5-2.Field hockeyIn a nonleague matchup, Kay Murphy recorded a hat trick and a pair of assists while Ava Meehan added two goals and three assists to boost Bishop Feehan to a 8-1 win over Attleboro.Boys soccerConnor Spinney found the back of the net twice and Ryan Gasbarro added a pair of assists as Newburyport defeated Central Catholic, 3-1 in a nonleague contest. … Jason Xintaropoulos finished with a goal and an assist as Billerica defeated Westford, 3-1. … Matt Droggitis made two saves for his second shutout of the season and Drew Fitzgerald scored his first varsity goal as St. John’s Prep defeated Silver Lake, 3-0. 

UAW strike displays tensions between Biden’s goals of tackling climate change and supporting unions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:24 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two of President Joe Biden ‘s top goals — fighting climate change and expanding the middle class by supporting unions — are colliding in the key battleground state of Michigan as the United Auto Workers go on strike against the country’s biggest car companies.The strike involves 13,000 workers so far, less than one-tenth of the union’s total membership, but it’s a sharp test of Biden’s ability to hold together an expansive and discordant political coalition while running for reelection.Biden is trying to turbocharge the market for electric vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prevent China from solidifying its grip on a growing industry. His signature legislation, known as the Inflation Reduction Act, includes billions of dollars in incentives to get more clean cars on the roads.Some in the UAW fear the transition will cost jobs because electric vehicles require fewer people to assemble. Although there will be new opportunit...

Boston City Council looks to get better read on number of firearms illegally trafficked into city

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:24 GMT

The Boston City Council is looking to get a better read on the number of firearms being illegally trafficked into the city to help law enforcement and policymakers stem the increasing trend.To that end, the council’s Committee on Government Operations is set to hold a hearing on Monday regarding a study and report that the Boston Police Department would be required to submit annually pertaining to the flow of illegal firearms.“A comprehensive study and review of the flow of firearms into the City of Boston would help law enforcement and policymakers better understand the impact of illegal gun trafficking, and this data will help craft strategies to reduce gun violence,” a city document states.Councilors say gun trafficking and the illegal flow of firearms is a major contributor to gun violence. Last year, Boston Police recovered more than 900 firearms, city figures show, but the number that were illegally brought into the city is unclear.“In 2021, of the firearms recovered at crime ...