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Pac-12 football: USC the pick over Washington, Utah in preseason media poll

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:59 GMT

Utah, the defending champion, was not picked to win the Pac-12 title in the preseason media poll released Thursday.Nor was the school that has won two of the past four conference crowns, Oregon.Or Washington, the hottest team in the conference at the end of 2022.Instead, USC was the pick to win the 2023 title (in the school’s final year in the conference, no less).Although the Trojans’ schedule is rugged — unlike last year, it includes Oregon and Washington — the bright outlook is easily justified with returnees at vital positions, including quarterback Caleb Williams, and a defensive line fortified through the transfer portal.The Trojans received 25 of the 36 first-place votes and topped the media poll with 413 points, decisively ahead of Washington (367), Utah (359) and Oregon (340).The limited separation between second and fourth place reflects what should be a stellar year for the conference on the field.The Utes have won back-to-back Pac-12 titles, retur...

Woman shot at Oakland apartment complex, suspect later arrested

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:59 GMT

OAKLAND — A 35-year-old Concord woman was shot multiple times Wednesday night at an East Oakland apartment complex and a suspect was later arrested, authorities said.Additional suspects were being sought Thursday.The shooting was reported about 6:54 p.m. Wednesday outside at an apartment complex in the 1200 block of 65th Avenue.The woman was visiting and was near some other people when the occupants of two vehicles began shooting at them, authorities said.The woman was the only one wounded. She got a ride to another location where police were called. She was taken to a hospital and was listed in stable condition.A motive for the shooting is under investigation and police are trying to determine if the woman was the intended target.Descriptions of the vehicles involved in the shooting were obtained and broadcast over police radio channels.One of the vehicles was stopped by officers later in the area of 55th Avenue and Bancroft Way and the 21-year-old occupant was arrested, auth...

Police: Miami teen tried to hire hitman to kill her 3-year-old

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:59 GMT

By Eli Masket | CNNPolice arrested an 18-year-old mother Tuesday after she attempted to hire a hitman to kill her 3-year-old son, according to police.Jazmin Paez was flagged to authorities after she filled out a form on a parody hit-for-hire website designed to “prevent legitimate solicitations to commit murders,” according to a Miami-Dade police affidavit.The individual who runs the website received a service request to put out a hit on the intended victim, Paez’s son, police say. The website’s operator reached out to the police, who verified the credibility of the information provided on the website.After investigating, authorities arrested Paez Tuesday night.The 18-year-old has been charged with first-degree solicitation of murder and third-degree using a communications device for unlawful use, according to court documents.Court documents show Paez appeared in court Wednesday and has obtained legal representation through the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office. CNN has reached ou...

How does your herb garden grow? By making friends

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:59 GMT

If your homegrown herbs are failing to thrive, the problem might their friend group. You think I’m joking. Turns out, herbs are like people. Just as we have friends who bring out the best in us and one who zap our energy, the same is true for herbs.This explains the mixed success I’ve had with the two 24-inch herb planters in my yard. So, per my usual learning style — fail first, then find out what went wrong—I sought help.“Herbs have friends and foes,” said Bri Murray, a horticulturist at Lukas Nursery, in Oviedo, Fla. “Some hog water and root space and push others away. Some want dry soil and have no tolerance for their soggy neighbors. Some will even change the flavor of their neighbors.”Does everyone know this but me?“Knowing which herbs get along and which ones don’t is important when planting your container garden,” Murray said, “because herbs that are friends can enhance each other’s performance, while enemies zap one another.”And once you’ve got the friend group down, ...

Guerrero and Kirk HR, Bassitt wins as Blue Jays blank Padres 4-0 to avoid sweep

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:59 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — Chris Bassitt combined with three relievers on a six-hitter, and the Toronto Blue Jays avoided a three-game sweep by beating the San Diego Padres 4-0 on Thursday.Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk homered for Toronto, which managed just one run in the first two games of the series. Kirk went 3 for 3, and Whit Merrifield and Jordan Luplow each had two hits.“Every win matters,” Bassitt said. “The division that we’re in is the best division in baseball, so you’re excited about any win.”Toronto began the day in third in the AL East, five games behind Baltimore and Tampa Bay. The Rays and Orioles were set to meet in Florida on Thursday night.While Bassitt said he doesn’t keep track of his team’s position in the standings, Guerrero confessed he can’t resist checking.“I’m always on top of that,” Guerrero said through a translator. “Since the first game of the season, I’m looking at the standings, where we are in our division. We were far behind. Now, little by li...

Families form nonprofits to address gun, school safety after Nashville school shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:59 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Pausing at the microphone, 5-year-old Noah took a breath and softly stated, “I don’t want any guns today or any day in my school.”His mom, Sarah Shoop Neumann, wiped away tears as she held the young boy. It had been more than four months since a shooter indiscriminately opened fire while Noah was at a private elementary school in Nashville, killing three of his schoolmates and three adults. And Neumann wanted action.Joining a group of families from The Covenant School, Neumann and others on Thursday announced that they had created two nonprofits to not only promote school safety and mental health resources, but also form an action fund to push legislative policy changes that would place certain limits on firearms inside the politically ruby red state of Tennessee.“We can create brighter tomorrows for our state so no other community has to endure the suffering,” Neumann told reporters at a news conference. “And our children can go to school without...

Yankees 3B Josh Donaldson transferred to 60-day injured list

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:59 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson was transferred to the 60-day injured list, a decision that means he can’t play until Sept. 14 at the earliest.Donaldson hurt his right calf while running to first base Saturday at Colorado, and the 37-year-old was put on the 10-day IL the next day. New York said he was diagnosed with a grade 3 strain.A three-time All-Star, Donaldson was on the IL from April 5 to June 2 because of a strained right hamstring. The 2015 AL MVP with Toronto, Donaldson is hitting .142 with 15 RBIs. Ten of his 15 hits have been home runs.New York acquired Donaldson from Minnesota in March 2022 along with shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa and backup catcher Ben Rortvedt for catcher Gary Sánchez and third baseman Gio Urshela, Donaldson hit .222 last year with 15 homers and 62 RBIs.He has a $21 million salary in the final season of a $92 million, four-year contract he signed with Minnesota. The deal includes a $24 million mutual option for 2024 with an $6...

Capstar Financial: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:59 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Capstar Financial Holdings Inc. (CSTR) on Thursday reported second-quarter net income of $7.8 million.The bank, based in Nashville, Tennessee, said it had earnings of 37 cents per share.The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 34 cents per share.The bank holding company posted revenue of $45.5 million in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $28.8 million, which fell short of Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $30.2 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on CSTR at https://www.zacks.com/ap/CSTRSource

Jason Momoa hosts Discovery’s ‘Shark Week,’ featuring feeding frenzies and junkie sharks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:59 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Discovery Channel has landed the perfect host this year for “Shark Week,” none other than a huge fan of all ocean creatures — Aquaman.Jason Momoa, who in real life dreamed of a career as a marine biologist before Hollywood anointed him an ocean god, is going back to his roots to celebrate all things shark. “My heart is in the ocean,” Momoa told The Associated Press from Tahiti, moments before taking a trip to swim with some of the apex predators. “Doing ‘Shark Week’ is a no brainer.”Momoa will be the week’s recurring master of ceremonies, dipping in and out of the channel’s roughly 20 new hours of programs that start Sunday. Episode encores run most nights, too.Viewers will get to see rare sharks off the coast of South Africa, examine deadly shark attacks off the posh beaches of Egypt’s Red Sea and investigate whether sharks in Florida waters are getting high on cocaine.The week kicks off with a sort of nautical nod to “Jackass.” Researchers in the show “Belly ...

Outgoing Commanders owner Dan Snyder fined $60M, sexually harassed employee; team deliberately hid money, probe finds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:59 GMT

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Outgoing Commanders owner Dan Snyder fined $60M, sexually harassed employee; team deliberately hid money, probe finds.Source