Nats Notebook: Baseball’s biggest month could help Washington for years to come

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 19:04:31 GMT

Nats Notebook: Baseball’s biggest month could help Washington for years to come Washington Nationals' Lane Thomas hits a two-run double against the Seattle Mariners during the 11th inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in Seattle. The Nationals won 7-4. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)(AP/Lindsey Wasson) Washington Nationals' Lane Thomas hits a two-run double against the Seattle Mariners during the 11th inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in Seattle. The Nationals won 7-4. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)(AP/Lindsey Wasson) July is baseball’s fulcrum month. There may be as many days as May and August and just one more than April, June and September, but the stretch before the trading deadline can be the most franchise-altering month of the regular season.A bad July can end e...

Padres, Mets running out of time to turn around disappointing seasons

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 19:04:31 GMT

Padres, Mets running out of time to turn around disappointing seasons In the last few days before the All-Star break, the San Diego Padres will host the New York Mets this week.It’s safe to say both teams are ready to put the first half behind them.The Padres and Mets are two of baseball’s biggest disappointments so far, languishing below .500 despite high-priced, star-laden rosters. The fact that both teams are currently 38-46 feels like an appropriate symmetry.San Diego’s outlook appears a bit rosier than New York’s. The Padres actually have a run differential of plus-23. They’ve been done in by a 5-15 record in one-run games and an 0-7 mark in extra innings. If the close games turn around for them, the Padres could certainly make a run, and unlike the Mets, their star closer (Josh Hader) is healthy.But San Diego has lost seven of its last eight games, during a stretch of the schedule that included Washington, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. A contending team shouldn’t be struggling so much against that trio.The Mets, ...

Call him Maximum Verstappen: F1’s runaway leader takes dominance to a new level

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 19:04:31 GMT

Call him Maximum Verstappen: F1’s runaway leader takes dominance to a new level Max Verstappen has been so dominant, Formula One’s runaway leader may soon have to change his name to Maximum Verstappen.Verstappen won both the main F1 race and the shorter sprint race from pole position at the Austrian Grand Prix, topped every section of qualifying and led the only practice session on his way to collecting a fifth straight win, and a seventh in nine races so far this season. Make that eight in 11 if you include the two sprint races so far, which he’s split with teammate Sergio Perez, to give Red Bull a clean sweep of every Grand Prix.But Perez, who has won the other two main F1 races for the untouchable-looking Red Bull team, is very much taking a back seat this season.Verstappen crushed the competition to such an extent at his team’s home track in Spielberg that he even surprised himself.“It’s been a pretty incredible weekend,” he 25-year-old Dutchman said. “Something I didn’t expect.” He was probably the only one w...

Denver weather: Sunny, hot before storms on the 4th

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 19:04:31 GMT

Denver weather: Sunny, hot before storms on the 4th DENVER (KDVR) — The Front Range on Monday will be hot with highs back in the low 90s and sunny skies before strong storms arrive on the Fourth of July in the Denver weather forecast.Weather today: Hot and sunnyHighs top out in the low 90s in the metro and Eastern Plains Monday with a brisk afternoon wind. The state will also see mostly sunny skies with some afternoon showers along the western slope. Denver summer crime on the rise Pinpoint Weather: Daily forecast on July 3. Weather tonight: Some clouds, chance for a sprinkleDenver could see an early overnight shower with partly cloudy skies and mild lows around the 60-degree mark on Monday. Pinpoint Weather: Overnight forecast on July 3. Looking ahead: More storm chancesDenver could see some severe storms on the Fourth of July with warm highs in the low 80s. Tuesday is a Pinpoint Weather Alert Day. Storms will arrive in the afternoon and evening hours with a slight risk across the state's eastern half. The storms could produce lar...

Houston man found safe 8 years after mysterious disappearance

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 19:04:31 GMT

Houston man found safe 8 years after mysterious disappearance HOUSTON, Texas (WSVN) – A teen who vanished eight years ago in Houston has been discovered alive and is currently recovering in a local hospital. Rudy Farias, who was 17 years old at the time of his disappearance, went missing in March 2015 under puzzling circumstances, leaving his family in anguish.According to authorities, Farias was last seen walking his dogs before his family realized he went missing. Farias’ family immediately reported his disappearance to the authorities. The family informed officials that Farias had previously been diagnosed with depression and anxiety, leading to concerns about his mental well-being.In the wake of Farias’ disappearance, authorities initiated an extensive search effort, but the search was temporarily halted as investigators sought to gather additional information to aid their investigation. After nearly a decade, authorities recently confirmed in a tweet on Sunday that Farias was found safe. https://twitter.com/...

Pallets catch fire in Hialeah Gardens; no road closures reported

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 19:04:31 GMT

Pallets catch fire in Hialeah Gardens; no road closures reported Miami-Dade Fire Rescue was seen combating a fire in Hialeah Gardens after pallets were seen in flames. The fire occurred at around 7:00 a.m., Monday morning in the area of 9901 Northwest 80th Avenue.No road closures have been reported so far.The fire appeared to be under control but heavy smoke could be seen in the area, commuters should avoid the area if possible.

Scientists find new clue in what led to megalodon’s demise

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 19:04:31 GMT

Scientists find new clue in what led to megalodon’s demise (CNN) — Megalodon, one of the most fearsome sharks that ever lived, wasn’t the cold-blooded killer it’s made out to be — at least not literally.Through an analysis of fossilized megalodon teeth, scientists have discovered the extinct shark was partially warm-blooded, with a body temperature around 7 degrees Celsius (44 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than estimated seawater temperatures at the time, according to a study published last week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.“We found that O. megalodon had body temperatures significantly elevated compared to other sharks, consistent with it having a degree of internal heat production as modern warm-blooded (endothermic)animals do,” study coauthor Robert Eagle, professor of marine science and geobiology at UCLA, said in an email.The findings suggest this distinct trait played a key role in the ancient predator’s terrifying size — and its eventual disappearance.Gigantism in megalodonBelieved to be at least 1...

EU commissioners arrive in Madrid to discuss plans for Spain’s EU presidency

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 19:04:31 GMT

EU commissioners arrive in Madrid to discuss plans for Spain’s EU presidency MADRID (AP) — Commissioners of the European Union are meeting with the Spanish government to review Spain’s plans for its six-month Presidency of the EU Council.Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and her team arrived Monday for the one-day meeting in Madrid.Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez started the presidency Saturday with a lightning visit to Kyiv to underline the bloc’s support of Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion.Continued support for Ukraine, a migration pact, EU relations with Latin America and the reindustrialization of Europe are among Spain’s priorities for the six-month presidency. The visit by the College of Commissioners was initially scheduled for July 6-7, but was brought forward so as not to take place in the middle of the campaign for Spain’s general elections on July 23.The Spanish government maintains the elections will not have an impact on the objectives or agenda of the presidency.After the meeting, Sánchez and Von der Leyen were to hold a press c...

Baltimore block party shooting shatters holiday weekend celebration, leaving 2 dead and 28 wounded

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 19:04:31 GMT

Baltimore block party shooting shatters holiday weekend celebration, leaving 2 dead and 28 wounded BALTIMORE (AP) — A holiday weekend block party in Baltimore ended tragically after multiple people opened fire, killing two and wounding 30 others, many of them under 18, police said. The circumstances leading up to the shooting early Sunday remained under investigation after police spent hours combing a massive crime scene in the Brooklyn Homes area in the southern part of the city. Richard Worley, Baltimore’s acting police commissioner, told reporters there were a total of 30 victims, with more than a dozen believed to be minors.No arrests had been made by late Sunday. Worley said it wasn’t clear if the shooting was targeted or random. The shooting comes amid gatherings around the country leading up to the July Fourth holiday. A shooting in Kansas left seven people with gunshot wounds and two more victims hospitalized after being trampled as people rushed out of a nightclub early Sunday morning, police there said.The violence in Baltimore occurred the same week federal prose...

Man killed in Rexdale shooting

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 19:04:31 GMT

Man killed in Rexdale shooting A man has been killed in a late night shooting in Rexdale.Toronto police were called to a building stairwell at Kipling Avenue and Albion Road just after to 10:30 p.m. to reports of a man with gunshot wounds.Investigators say the man was found with multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead on the scene.No arrests have been made and no suspect description has been released at this time.The homicide unit has taken over the investigation.