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Iga Swiatek finally reaches the Wimbledon quarterfinals. Novak Djokovic’s match was suspended

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:51 GMT

By HOWARD FENDRICH (AP Tennis Writer)WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Twice, Iga Swiatek was a single point from exiting Wimbledon on Sunday, a single point from the sort of confounding defeat at the place that gives her so much more trouble than any of the other Grand Slam tournaments.Down a set and 6-5 in the second against Belinda Bencic, the No. 1-ranked Swiatek steeled herself and dispensed with the pair of match points. She erased the first with a booming forehand, the second with a forceful backhand, and soon enough, Swiatek was not just back in the contest, she was controlling it.Frustrated in the late afternoon sunshine at Centre Court, so close to defeat in the early evening shadows, Swiatek managed to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time by coming back for a 6-7 (4), 7-6 (2), 6-3 victory over the 14th-seeded Bencic.“I threw everything I could at her,” Bencic said, “and I pushed her to the limit.”Swiatek, a 22-year-old from Poland who...

Red Sox notebook: Houck has unique memento to remember injury, a 3-D printed model of his own skull

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:51 GMT

Tanner Houck is back in the Red Sox clubhouse, and three weeks after being hit in the face by a line drive he’s feeling back to his old self and will soon begin working his way back to the mound.But while his facial fracture will heal, Houck will always carry the experience with him. He’ll also have a vivid reminder to display on his shelf too.Houck got a unique memento from the doctors after undergoing surgery — a 3D-printed model of his own skull, facial fracture and all. The print was created from a scan and was used by the doctors to examine his injury and help perform the surgery, and afterwards Houck got to bring it home. It’s now displayed in his locker.“It’s amazing what medical technology can do,” Houck said.Houck suffered the injury on June 16 when he was struck by a 89.7 mph line drive off the bat of Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka. He said he remembers being hit and everything that happened afterwards, and he recalled initially checkin...

Hundreds rally in Vancouver to support striking B.C. port workers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:51 GMT

VANCOUVER — Hundreds of people gathered in Vancouver today for a rally to support striking British Columbia port workers as their job action stretches into its second week.Representatives from labour groups as far away as Australia and New Zealand spoke in support of the strikers, who continue to push for improved wages amid the growing cost of living and protection from what they see as an overuse of contractors for maintenance work.About 7,400 members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada employed at more than 30 B.C. ports have been on strike since Canada Day.ILWU Canada vice president Pat Bolen told the crowd the collective agreement lays out “very clearly” that anything to do with the movement of cargo on docks or ships is the jurisdiction of the union, but says those powers have eroded over several years as more contractors with “no skin in the game” have been brought in.Bolen says that while the union can’t prevent automation ...

Ukraine and the environment will top the agenda when Biden meets with UK politicians and royalty

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:51 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A dash of pomp and a dose of politics are on the agenda during a stopover visit to the U.K. where President Joe Biden will discuss the environment with King Charles III and the war in Ukraine with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.Biden landed in London late Sunday on his way to a NATO summit in Lithuania. He is scheduled to hold talks with Sunak at 10 Downing St. on Monday before heading to Windsor Castle to meet with Charles for the first time since the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September.Though this is not a full state visit with carriage procession and palace banquet, the royal imprimatur and backdrop of the 1,000-year-old castle help underscore the importance of the trans-Atlantic “special relationship” — tested by Brexit but reinforced by unity over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.Sunak and the president will hold Ukraine-focused talks before both attend this week’s NATO meeting in Vilnius, which will discuss how far the military alliance should open the door ...

Nine shot in downtown Cleveland, one man seriously wounded as police search for suspect

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:51 GMT

CLEVELAND (AP) — An early morning shooting in a nightclub area of downtown Cleveland sent nine people to the hospital, but no fatalities were reported, authorities said.Police said preliminary information indicated someone opened fire toward a group of people in the Warehouse District shortly before 2:30 a.m. Sunday as the clubs were closing. The suspect apparently fled.Chief Wayne Drummond of the Cleveland police department said seven men and two women between the ages of 23 to 38 were struck. One of the men was seriously wounded while injuries to the others were minor, he said.Officers assigned to the district’s weekly detail arrived quickly to help the victims, after which they were taken to MetroHealth Medical Center. A suspect was being sought and investigators were looking for surveillance video from the many cameras in the area.Police said there was no indication a confrontation at any of the area clubs preceded the gunfire.No arrests were immediately reported. Police asked a...

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus booed at Wimbledon after loss to Elena Svitolina of Ukraine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:51 GMT

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Victoria Azarenka said it “wasn’t fair” that she was booed at Wimbledon after her loss to Ukrainian rival Elina Svitolina on Sunday.Azarenka, who’s from Belarus, had just lost a third-set tiebreaker and — knowing that Svitolina does not shake hands with Russian and Belarusian players after matches in protest of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — walked directly to the umpire to shake hands.The two-time Grand Slam champion also seemed to give a slight wave to Svitolina, who won 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (9).But as she gathered her equipment and began walking off No. 1 Court — where the crowd had been rooting for Svitolina — boos rained down.“I can’t control the crowd. I’m not sure that a lot of people were understanding what’s happening,” Azarenka said, suggesting the crowd had been drinking. “It wasn’t fair. It is what it is. What can I do?”It wasn’t clear if fans thought Azarenka snubbed Svitolina, but the Belarusian shook her head as she walked of...

Boil water advisory lifted for Hawthorn Woods, Kildeer in Lake County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:51 GMT

Aqua, the essential utilities company, announced the boil water advisory that was originally placed back on July 3 for Hawthorn Woods, Kildeer and Lake County Public Works has been lifted.Aqua released an update Sunday confirming the boil advisory being lifted after water quality tests from a third-party lab indicated water in the areas is now safe for use and meets the necessary approval levels set by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Water boil advisory issued for Hawthorn Woods While the boil advisory has been lifted, Aqua did say that the lawn watering ban will remain in place for another 48 hours, at which point it too will be lifted.More information on the water situation in Hawthorn Woods, Kildeer and Lake County can be found on Aqua's website.

NATO unity will be tested at upcoming summit. Ukraine's possible entry may be the biggest challenge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:51 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues with no end in sight, NATO's much-celebrated unity faces fresh strains when leaders gather for their annual summit this week in Vilnius, Lithuania.The world’s biggest security alliance is struggling to reach an agreement on admitting Sweden as its 32nd member. Military spending by member nations lags behind long-standing goals. An inability to compromise over who should serve as NATO’s next leader forced an extension of the current secretary-general's term for an extra year.Perhaps the most difficult questions are over how Ukraine should be eased into NATO. Some maintain admitting Ukraine would fulfill a promise made years ago and be a necessary step to deter Russian aggression in Eastern Europe. Others fear it would be seen as a provocation that could spiral into an even wider conflict."I don’t think it’s ready for membership in NATO," President Joe Biden told CNN in an interview that aired on Sunday. He said joining NA...

Possible proof of oldest human-occupied site found in Oregon, dating back over 18K years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:51 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — An Oregon field research team believes it has uncovered evidence that indicates humans roamed the state at least 18,000 years ago. This could be proof of North America’s oldest human-occupied site yet.Since 2011, the Bureau of Land Management and the University of Oregon’s Museum of Natural and Cultural History Archaeological Field School have partnered to excavate the Rimrock Draw Rockshelter near Riley, Oregon.According to the BLM, archaeologist Patrick O’Grady led the team that had a major discovery back in 2012. The archaeologists unearthed camel teeth fragments that were initially hidden by volcanic ash from a Mount St. Helens eruption roughly 15,000 years ago.The researchers also found an orange agate scraper with bison blood residue in 2012, and an additional scraper later in 2015. Experts with the BLM said the "natural layering of the rockshelter sediments" hints that the scrapers date back even further than the volcanic ash and camel teeth.After cond...

Do we have some summer time heat coming?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:51 GMT

ST. LOUIS – After a few morning showers, Sunday turned out pretty nice. Plenty of sunshine and lower humidity made for a nice July day.Hope you enjoyed it, because there are some changes coming.High temperatures on Monday should be back to near 90 as the humidity starts a comeback. But mid-week, it’s back to the mid-90s.We are getting into a new and active pattern, so there are some rain chances coming this week; and some storms, too.