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The Dodgers gave Shohei Ohtani $700 million to hit and pitch – but also because he can sell

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:35 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Shohei Ohtani’s jaw-dropping $700 million, 10-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers has some similarities to other contracts for the world’s biggest sports stars, including soccer icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, along with NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes.In terms of his marketability, experts point to another name.The real comparison? Try Taylor Swift.The global music sensation’s broad appeal — one that bridges the gap between generations and expands to other countries — is an extremely rare phenomenon that Ohtani shares. There’s no doubt the Dodgers hope they can leverage the Japanese star’ s arrival into even more money for a franchise that is already one of the most popular in Major League Baseball.“He’s rocketed into a stratosphere all his own,” sports agent Leigh Steinberg said.Ohtani was expected to sign the biggest deal in MLB history as a free agent this offseason and didn’t disappoint. He’s the sport&...

Drug lords go on killing spree to hunt down corrupt officers who stole shipment in Mexico’s Tijuana

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:35 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A recent killing spree in the Mexican border city of Tijuana could have been lifted from a TV script: enraged drug lords hunting down corrupt police officers who stole a drug shipment.Two of the officers suspected of the theft have been killed, prosecutors say. But so have at least three other officers, according to the city’s former police chief, suggesting the cartel believed to have owned the drugs may have launched a generalized retribution.It is the latest blow for Tijuana which has the most homicides of any city in Mexico, with about double the number of the place that comes second — the border city of Ciudad Juarez. Tijuana, situated in the border state of Baja California and with a population of over 2.1 million, has for several years seen around 2,000 murders annually. By comparison, Houston, Texas, which has about the same population, saw 435 killings in 2022.According to prosecutors, in mid-November, a half-dozen local and state police officers in...

Advocates look to stem radicalization as anger mounts over Israel-Hamas war

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:35 GMT

CALGARY — An Alberta woman whose son was killed while fighting with Islamic extremists in Syria is worried anger over the conflict between Israel and Hamas could lead to an increase in radicalization.Chris Boudreau says she expects extremist groups are going to seize on the conflict. “That’s what they use to engage — the anger, that burning desire on the inside,” she said in a recent interview with The Canadian Press.“Helplessness is a powerful thing. Fear is a powerful thing. And unfortunately, as human beings, emotions tend to prevail over logic.”Boudreau’s son, 22-year-old Damian Clairmont, converted to Islam as a teen and died in heavy fighting in the city of Aleppo in 2014 as a member of the Islamic State militant group. Boudreau, who now lives in France, has spoken out for years about the dangers of youth becoming isolated and radicalized. “I think about him every day. It doesn’t go away. He was very intelligent and empathetic an...

Clean-up begins after 6 killed, neighborhoods damaged in severe Tennessee storms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:35 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Central Tennessee residents and emergency workers cleaned up Sunday from severe weekend storms and tornadoes that killed six people and sent more to the hospital while damaging buildings, turning over vehicles and knocking out power to tens of thousands.Three people, including a toddler, were killed after severe weather moved through Madison, about 10 miles north of Nashville. The Metro Nashville Police Department identified the victims as 37-year-old Joseph Dalton; 31-year-old Floridema Gabriel Perez; and Perez’s son, 2-year-old Anthony Elmer Mendez. Dalton was inside his mobile home when the storm forced the mobile home to roll on top of Perez’s home.According to officials, Perez’s 7-year-old son and Dalton’s 10-year-old son were inside their respective homes at the time of the incident. They were both transported to Vanderbilt Pediatrics with non-life-threatening injuries.Authorities declared a State of Emergency for Metro Nashville and Davidson County. ...

Deadlines start soon to ship holiday packages via USPS, FedEx and UPS

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:35 GMT

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) - It's not too late to get your gifts there in time for Christmas Day. These are the last-minute shipping vendor deadlines to get your presents under the tree in time. After the chaotic holiday season in 2020, shipping companies took notice, hiring thousands of seasonal employees, introducing new machines and locations, and expanding their capacity. But holiday traffic remains high, and it's still a good idea to keep cutoff dates in mind if you want your gifts to arrive before the big day. Yule, Saturnalia, and how the solstice shaped modern Christmas traditions If you're sending mail through the United States Postal Service inside the U.S., Saturday, Dec. 16 marks the earliest deadline, the last chance to get it there by the big day without paying more. Domestic Mail ClassDate (Excluding Alaska, Hawaii)Retail Ground ServiceDec. 16First-Class Mail ServiceDec. 16Priority Mail ServiceDec. 20Priority Mail Express ServiceDec. 2...

Real World Economics: Learning lessons from past policies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:35 GMT

Edward LottermanThere are complex interactions between nations’ economic interests and the foreign policies that they pursue. Benefits to one nation’s own economy are important factors in how it interacts with others. Yet economic advantage is never the only motivation.Moreover, the converse is actually true: Foreign policies adopted for non-economic reasons come back to influence a nation’s domestic economy, often in ways not anticipated.It is prudent to keep such cause-and-effect interactions in mind when making and evaluating policies, and to understand how current economic problems have been influenced by decisions made by governments decades earlier.Consider China. Our economic worries today result directly from decisions President Richard Nixon made a half-century ago. He and his Secretary of State, the recently deceased Henry Kissinger, saw better relations with China as a bold move to counter the power of the more dangerous Soviet Union. At the time, China was so poor ...

Hancock & Kelley: STL trigger law, Gabe Gore, and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:35 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- It was another Sunday morning of sometimes heated but always civil political debate on Hancock and Kelley, Sunday, December 10, 2023. John Hancock, Republican consultant, on the right and Michael Kelley, Democratic consultant, on the left, took on the following topics:St. Louis enacts an open carry ‘trigger’ law to take effect immediately if/when state lawmakers allow cities to enact certain gun control measures. The new city ordinance is inspired by Missouri’s abortion ‘trigger’ law that banned abortion when the United States Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision. St. Louis may have an ally in Kansas City which has surpassed St. Louis by far in the number of homicides for 2023.St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore, says he will seek a full term in 2024, after restoring criminal prosecutions in the wake of the resignation of troubled former Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner.Missouri Senator Josh Hawley unleashes fury toward fellow Republicans after the House strip...

Suspect in critical condition following officer-involved shooting in Hacienda Heights 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:35 GMT

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department homicide detectives have launched an investigation following a shooting involving a road rage suspect and an officer of the Huntington Park Police Department. Initial calls came into the Huntington Park Police Department around 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon regarding a road rage incident, according to a LASD release. “As officers responded to the call, the disturbing party, who was allegedly involved in the road rage incident, was located by officers adjacent to the Huntington Park police station,” LASD said. “Officers attempted to stop the suspect vehicle and subsequently initiated a vehicle pursuit.”  1 dead, 2 hospitalized after shooting in San Pedro The driver was pursued through several surface streets and onto a freeway before exiting the freeway in Hacienda Heights. He was believed to be under the influence, law enforcement officials said.The pursuit eventually came to an end in the 15400 block of Garo Street in Hacienda Heights. “A...

Santa Clara County honors New Almaden park champion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:35 GMT

Neighborhood NotesALMADEN>>Visitors to New Almaden Quicksilver County Park and the mining museum therein will now be greeted by a sign bearing the image of the late Kitty Monahan, who helped lead Santa Clara County’s purchase and preservation of the 4,000-acre park. Monahan died last year at age 89.County Supervisor Joe Simitian on Nov. 28 unveiled the new signage, as well as markers denoting a bridge and a trail renamed in Monahan’s honor. A memorial picnic table has also been placed in the park.ROSE GARDEN>>Playful People Productions is mounting a slate of classes and productions for January-February 2024 that cover multiple aspects of musical theater performance.A Junior Theatre Mini Camp for ages 4-8 is set for Jan. 2-5, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. each day. On the same dates, a Sunshine in Winter Mini Dance Camp for ages 8-12 will be held from 9:30 a.m.-noon. Registration for both camps closes Dec. 17 at https://www.playfulpeople.org/registration.Also on tap is a beginner t...

Yan Zhao named Saratoga mayor for second time

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:35 GMT

Zhao named mayorThe Saratoga City Council selected Yan Zhao as mayor and Belal Aftab as vice mayor at the city’s annual council reorganization on Wednesday, Dec. 6, at the Saratoga Civic Theater.Zhao was elected to the Saratoga City Council in 2018 and served as mayor in 2021. Aftab was elected to the city council in 2022. Prior to his election, he served on Saratoga’s Traffic Safety Commission for five years.During the reorganization, the city council and community recognized this year’s mayor, Kookie Fitzsimmons, and thanked her for her service.Blacksmith exhibit“Strike While the Iron is Hot,” an exhibit showcasing the life of a Saratoga blacksmith and its impact on the community, is on display through the end of February at the Saratoga History Museum. The exhibit features photos and tools of the trade.In conjunction with the exhibit, a new building has been added to Saratoga Historical Park at 20450 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road. The McWilliams Blacksmith Exhibit will be o...