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The week … of the Conservative Party conference

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:36:32 GMT

LISTEN ONTwo of Westminster’s best-connected journalists — Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Jack Blanchard — provide the essential guide to politics in the week ahead.They look ahead to what’s in store at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester this week, and Thursday’s Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election.Plus, co-author of the Conservatives’ 2019 election manifesto Rachel Wolf joins Jack and Sam to discuss Rishi Sunak’s election strategy and how the Tories might fare under a different leader.

Boston Red Sox say retired pitcher Tim Wakefield has died at age 57

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:36:32 GMT

In a statement Sunday, the Boston Red Sox announced the passing of retired pitcher Tim Wakefield at the age of 57. Here is the statement: The Boston Red Sox mourn the loss of Red Sox Hall of Famer Tim Wakefield, who passed away this morning at the age of 57. The honorary chairman of the Red Sox Foundation, Wakefield spent 29 years in the organization as a player, special assistant, and broadcaster.“Tim’s kindness and indomitable spirit were as legendary as his knuckleball,” said Red Sox Principal Owner John Henry. “He not only captivated us on the field but was the rare athlete whose legacy extended beyond the record books to the countless lives he touched with his warmth and genuine spirit. He had a remarkable ability to uplift, inspire, and connect with others in a way that showed us the true definition of greatness. He embodied the very best of what it means to be a member of the Boston Red Sox and his loss is felt deeply by all of us.”“It’s one thing to be an outstanding at...

Tim Wakefield, beloved Red Sox pitcher and broadcaster, passes away

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:36:32 GMT

Tim Wakefield died Sunday, the Red Sox announced. He was only 57 years old.Wakefield had been battling cancer, a fact made public without his consent by a former teammate just days ago.One of the last true knuckleball pitchers, Wakefield spent the last 17 seasons of his 19-year MLB career with the Red Sox. He won rings with the club in 2004 and 2007. At 42 years old, he finally became an All-Star in 2009, just two years before his final season. At the time of his retirement, he’d been the oldest active Major Leaguer.Tim Wakefield will be remembered for a lot of things. He gave up the walk-off home run to Aaron Boone in the 2003 ALCS, then helped Boston get their revenge the following October. Scheduled to start Game 4, he volunteered to eat innings in Game 3 to save the rest of the pitching staff from working what would become a 19-8 loss. After falling behind the Yankees three games to none, the Red Sox won the next four (with Wakefield making another heroic relief performanc...

Celtics swing big trade to land Jrue Holiday on eve of training camp

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:36:32 GMT

Say this about Brad Stevens: He isn’t timid.Four days after the Bucks swung the pendulum in the Eastern Conference by trading for Damian Lillard, Stevens and the Celtics punched back on Sunday. They re-asserted themselves as a championship favorite by making another big trade.On the eve of training camp, the day before media day, the Celtics countered the Bucks by scooping up a player who they just shipped away. All-Defensive guard Jrue Holiday, the central return of the Lillard trade, is heading to Boston according to multiple reports, as the Celtics shook up their core for the second time this offseason under surprising circumstances and made clear how aggressive and serious they are about risking it all in pursuit of a championship.Anyone ready to just fast forward to an Eastern Conference Finals matchup with the Bucks?The Celtics, of course, had to part with key members of their roster to swing this deal, but had to do so to beat offers from other contenders and avoid Holi...

Northbound lanes of I-5 reopen following repair work

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:36:32 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- All northbound lanes of Interstate 5 through downtown have reopened, Caltrans announced Sunday morning.This is also true for all on-ramps, off-ramps and connectors that had been closed for bridge repair work over State Route 163. Caltrans says crews completed the repairs ahead of schedule. Suspected DUI crash in Carl’s Jr. drive-thru leaves one with major injuries Since Friday, six miles of northbound I-5 had been squeezed into one lane for the second of two major maintenance closures to the roadway in the past month."A big thanks to all involved in the effort," Caltrans stated in social media post. "Drive safely. Have a nice weekend."

Buck Showalter fired as New York Mets manager

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:36:32 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Buck Showalter was fired Sunday as New York Mets manager after a disappointing season in which baseball’s highest-spending team tumbled from contention by midsummer.The 67-year-old Showalter said before Sunday’s game against Philadelphia that he will not return next year, and a few minutes later the Mets said the team had decided on the change. New York entered 74-86 and 29 1/2 games behind NL East champion Atlanta.Showalter planned to manage the team Sunday at Citi Field.New York is expected to hire David Stearns as president of baseball operations above general manager Billy Eppler, and Showalter’s departure clears the way for Stearns to pick the next manager.“We are heading in a new direction, with a new president of baseball operations and we let Buck know we’ll be parting ways. We will begin the search for a new manager immediately,” Mets owner Steve Cohen said in a statement. “Buck is a generational manager, and we value what he has done for our tea...

Video shows bloodied Black man surrounded by officers during Florida traffic stop

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:36:32 GMT

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — A traffic stop captured on video by a bystander shows a handcuffed Black man with swollen eyes and a bloody face sitting on the ground surrounded by officers outside a vehicle in northeast Florida, and the officers’ law enforcement agency says it has launched an internal review.Force was used while taking 24-year-old Le’Keian Woods into custody on Friday, and the agency was conducting an administrative review of what happened to see if any policies were violated, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.“The agency takes all allegations of inappropriate use of force by JSO officers seriously,” the sheriff’s office said.The sheriff’s office said it couldn’t comment any further because the incident was being investigated.The video released by Woods’ attorney, Harry Daniels, shows at least three officers on top of Woods, who is chest-down on grass besides a car. At one point, an officer appears to slam WoodsR...

Trump aims to lock down supporters in Iowa counties that he flipped from Democrats in 2016

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:36:32 GMT

OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — Former President Donald Trump will be in southeast Iowa on Sunday in the middle of a fall campaign push aimed at locking in supporters with large organizing events.As he has with his other recent travels to the leadoff caucus state, Trump will campaign in an area that formerly supported Democrats but has embraced him.Trump was planning to headline an afternoon event in Ottumwa, where his campaign was expecting more than 1,000 potential supporters. The small city is a hub in eastern Iowa and the seat of Wapello County, one of 31 counties Trump carried in 2016 that Democrat Barack Obama had won four years earlier.Trump, the first Republican to capture the county since the Eisenhower administration, campaigned the week before in northeast Iowa. There, he drew about 1,400 to rural Jackson County along the Mississippi River and almost 2,000 to Dubuque County to the north. Like Wapello, Dubuque County had been a Democratic stronghold for decades before 2016.Though aid...

Brampton hospital advising patients to seek help elsewhere due to high volumes

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:36:32 GMT

A hospital in Brampton has asked patients to seek care elsewhere in response to a high volume of patients.In a post on X, the William Osler Health System reported Saturday that the Urgent Care Centre at Peel Memorial is experiencing high patient volume, resulting in extended wait times for patients to see a physician.They also have advised infants aged six months and younger to visit a nearby emergency department instead.PLEASE NOTE: The Urgent Care Centre at Peel Memorial is currently experiencing high patient volumes and wait times to see a physician.Infants six months and younger are advised to visit the nearest Emergency Department.We appreciate your patience and understanding.— William Osler Health System (@OslerHealth) September 30, 2023The healthcare provider also linked a site with options for patients to determine whether urgent care or emergency is the route to go instead for illness or injury.“Today, across William Osler Health System (Osler), as is typical during t...

Nebraska is imposing a 7-day wait for trans youth to start gender-affirming medications

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:36:32 GMT

Nebraska is requiring transgender youth seeking gender-affirming care to wait seven days to start puberty blocking medications or hormone treatments under emergency regulations announced Sunday by the state health department.The regulations also require transgender minors to undergo at least 40 hours of “gender-identity-focused” therapy that are “clinically neutral” before receiving any medical treatments meant to affirm their gender identities. A new law that took effect Sunday bans gender-affirming surgeries for trans youth under 19 and also required the state’s chief medical officer to spell out when and how those youth can receive other care. The state Department of Health and Human Services announcement that Republican Gov. Jim Pillen had approved the emergency regulations came after families, doctors and even lawmakers said they had largely gotten no response from the department on when the regulations would be in place. They worried that Pillen’s administration wa...