Mets’ clubhouse playing through uncertainty of trade deadline: ‘We can’t really control what’s going on in the front office’

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:48:40 GMT

Mets’ clubhouse playing through uncertainty of trade deadline: ‘We can’t really control what’s going on in the front office’ The dust has started to settle in Queens, but these next few days are set to bring more uncertainty and more than likely, more player movement. At some point, it will be time to unpack what comes next for the organization, but right now, with the trade deadline only a few days away, the only thing the Mets can do is continue to play baseball.After trading closer David Robertson just around midnight Thursday, the mood inside the locker room was a mix of shock, disappointment and relief. What the future holds for the team is unknown. There seemed to be some surprise at the fact that the return for Robertson was two teenagers instead of prospects who are knocking at the door of the big leagues, but ultimately, the Mets understand that it’s out of their hands.“We can’t really control what’s going on in the front office,” said first baseman Pete Alonso. “The only thing we can control is winning ballgames. We want to win as many games as we can through ...

Rent control to hit November 2024 California ballot

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:48:40 GMT

Rent control to hit November 2024 California ballot SAN DIEGO -- In the 2024 election, Californians will have a chance to vote on rent control. The measure gathered enough signatures to be eligible for a ballot item.  The rent control measure means voters can have a say in whether to repeal a 1995 law to allow cities to expand rent control and put new restrictions on how much landlords can hike up the rent.  “People are getting gouged, and the working class is hurting,” said Rafael Bautista, the director of the San Diego Tenants Union. Coming November 2024, Californians can vote to repeal the 1995 Costa Hawkins Rental Housing Act, which has prevented cities and counties from setting annual rent caps on apartments and single-family homes that are built in after 1995.  “The reality in San Diego once people are evicted it's very hard to find another place to move into. Rent control can help people stay inside their homes,” Bautista explained.This is the third time the Los Angeles-based “AIDS Healthcare Foundation” has tried to...

Man killed in East County motorcycle crash identified

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:48:40 GMT

Man killed in East County motorcycle crash identified LAKESIDE, Calif. — A man killed in a motorcycle crash earlier this month in the Lakeside area has been identified, local medical officials said.Stephen John Corbin, 65, of Yucca Valley, was identified as the deceased, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office said on its website.The collision occurred on July 16 on northbound State Route 67 near Slaughterhouse Canyon Road, according to California Highway Patrol. Fatal crash prompts road closures along I-805, SR-52 connector Authorities say Corbin was traveling on SR-67 when for unknown reasons he laid his motorcycle down before striking the center divider.The man and motorcycle slid along the roadway about 300 feet away from the collision point with the center divider, per CHP.A passerby then provided lifesaving measures on Corbin until deputies arrived. First responders later pronounced the victim dead at the scene.

4 air crew members are missing after an Australian army helicopter ditched off the Queensland coast

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:48:40 GMT

4 air crew members are missing after an Australian army helicopter ditched off the Queensland coast BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Four air crew members were missing after an Australian army helicopter ditched into waters off the Queensland state coast during joint military exercises with the United States, officials said Saturday.The MRH-90 Taipan helicopter went down near Hamilton Island, a Great Barrier Reef tourist resort, at about 10:30 p.m. Friday, Defense Minister Richard Marles said.A search was underway to find the crew, and their families had been notified, officials said.A rescue helicopter reported spotting debris Saturday morning near Dent Island in the Whitsunday Islands group.The Taipan was taking part in Talisman Sabre, a biennial joint U.S.-Australian military exercise that is largely based in Queensland. This year’s exercise involves 13 nations and more than 30,000 military personnel.Marles said the helicopter ditched, which refers to an emergency landing on water. He said it was taking part in a mission that involved a second helicopter, which immediately started a ...

The UFO congressional hearing was ‘insulting’ to US employees, a top Pentagon official says

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:48:40 GMT

The UFO congressional hearing was ‘insulting’ to US employees, a top Pentagon official says WASHINGTON (AP) — A top Pentagon official has attacked this week’s widely watched congressional hearing on UFOs, calling the claims “insulting” to employees who are investigating sightings and accusing a key witness of not cooperating with the official U.S. government investigation.Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick’s letter, published on his personal LinkedIn page and circulated Friday across social media, criticizes much of the testimony from a retired Air Force intelligence officer that energized believers in extraterrestrial life and produced headlines around the world. Retired Air Force Maj. David Grusch testified Wednesday that the U.S. has concealed what he called a “multi-decade” program to collect and reverse-engineer “UAPs,” or unidentified aerial phenomena, the official government term for UFOs. Part of what the U.S. has recovered, Grusch testified, were non-human “biologics,” which he said he had not seen but had learned about from “people with direct knowledge of th...

Federal judge halts Montana ban on drag performances

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:48:40 GMT

Federal judge halts Montana ban on drag performances (The Hill) — A federal judge in Montana issued a temporary restraining order on Friday, blocking the state from enforcing a law that bans certain drag performances, writing in an order that the law likely suffers from “constitutional maladies.”Montana’s House Bill 359, passed by the state’s majority Republican legislature and signed into law by GOP Gov. Greg Gianforte in May, prohibits schools or libraries that receive state funding from hosting a drag story hour or “sexually oriented performance.” Performances are also prohibited from taking place in public or in the presence of a minor. Trader Joe’s recalls falafel and broccoli cheddar soup for possible rocks, insects A group of 10 plaintiffs challenged the law in federal court earlier this month, arguing that the bill is “breathtakingly ambiguous and overbroad.” Plaintiffs include Adria Jawort, a transgender and two-spirit author whose lecture at a public library in Butte was canceled last month after officials determined that ...

Mayor Watson talks $65M to fight Austin homelessness, 'Death Star' litigation

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:48:40 GMT

Mayor Watson talks $65M to fight Austin homelessness, 'Death Star' litigation Part of the mission of KXAN News is to foster a more informed and engaged community. We deliver in-depth coverage on topics like affordability, safety and mobility that affect the daily lives of Central Texans. And we explore sustainable solutions to economic, systemic and social problems. One way to achieve those goals is providing direct and consistent access to leaders who make decisions that shape local policy — seeking to understand their stances, holding them accountable for promises and asking tough questions when needed. This series of interviews with City of Austin Mayor Kirk Watson is designed with that in mind.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Following his announcement of $65 million in state funding to combat homelessness, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson sat down with KXAN's Daniel Marin on Friday to discuss how the money will be spent and how soon it could help those living on the streets. PREVIOUS: Mayor Kirk Watson discusses new $5.5 billion city budget, what it means for Austin The two al...

Biden nominates Minnesota appellate judge to federal bench

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:48:40 GMT

Biden nominates Minnesota appellate judge to federal bench President Joe Biden nominated Judge Jeffrey Bryan to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, the White House announced Thursday.Bryan, 47, currently serves on the Minnesota Court of Appeals after being appointed in 2019 by Gov. Tim Walz. Before that, he presided over civil and criminal cases on the Ramsey County District Court following his 2013 appointment by Gov. Mark Dayton. He also served as an assistant U.S. attorney in Minneapolis for six years and a civil litigation attorney for the Minneapolis law firm Robins Kaplan. A native of El Paso, Texas, Bryan is a graduate of the University of Texas and Yale University Law School.President Joe Biden nominated Judge Jeffrey Bryan to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, the White House announced July 27, 2023. Bryan, 47, currently serves on the Minnesota Court of Appeals after being appointed in 2019 by Gov. Tim Walz. Before that, he presided over civil and criminal cases on the Ramsey...

Troy police investigating after man shot in leg

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:48:40 GMT

Troy police investigating after man shot in leg TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Troy police are investigating a shooting that took place Friday evening. The incident happened around 5 p.m. in the area of 3rd Street and Congress Street. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Police said two men were fighting when the suspect pulled out a handgun and shot the victim in the leg. He sustained a non-life threatening injury. The suspect fled before police arrived.Law enforcement is working to identify the suspect, including reviewing surveillance video and interviewing witnesses. Anyone with information is asked to call police at (518) 270-4421.

Black bear spotted taking a dip in Burbank hot tub (video)

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:48:40 GMT

Black bear spotted taking a dip in Burbank hot tub (video) Burbank police officers responded for a report of an unusual trespasser Friday afternoon. Around 3:30 p.m., officers responded to the 1300 block of Paseo Redondo in the Verdugo foothills for a report of a black bear taking a dip in a backyard jacuzzi.Officers found the bear beating the heat by splashing around in the backyard hot tub of one of the neighborhood homes. Shortly after they arrived on scene, the bear scaled a wall and climbed a tree near the back of the same residence. Collared black bear hit, killed on 101 Freeway As of Friday at 5:45 p.m., the bear was still in the tree and was being closely monitored by the Burbank Police Department, California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Burbank Animal Shelter. It's the second time this week some black bears were seen splashing around in a backyard hot tub. On Wednesday, a female bear and her cub were seen playing in a jacuzzi in La Cañada Flintridge.As temperatures continue to soar, wildlife officials say bear encounte...