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Erik Spoelstra proving his worth as coach — again — as Heat head home in great shape in NBA Finals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:42 GMT

In the end, it’s coaching that matters most.Coaching — that is, Erik Spoelstra — is the reason the Miami Heat return to South Beach tied with the Denver Nuggets at one game apiece in the NBA Finals with Game 3 looming Wednesday night.The Heat trailed by as many as 24 before losing Game 1 by 11 in Denver, but thanks to some tactical adjustments made by Spoelstra, Miami stunned the Nuggets to steal home-court advantage in Game 2. Namely, the Heat forced two-time MVP Nikola Jokic into increasing his scoring load by taking away his passing options. Jokic finished with only four assists to his 41 points, and Denver’s four key three-point shooters combined to shoot just 6-of-20 from downtown.Spoelstra also changed defensive assignments, putting All-Star wing Jimmy Butler on Denver’s lead guard Jamal Murray after Murray erupted for 26 points in Game 1.Murray shot just 7-of-15 from the field in Game 2.“[Denver] is a really good offensive team,” Spoe...

Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson ready to be ‘the guy’ in 2023 after Damien Harris’ departure

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:42 GMT

FOXBORO — Rhamondre Stevenson emerged as the Patriots’ lead option in the backfield last season over Damien Harris, who seemed to lose his top role early in the season and never reclaimed it after catching the injury bug late in the year.Going into this season, though, there’s no question.Harris is gone after signing with the rival Bills in free agency, meaning Stevenson is the unquestioned leader of the Patriots’ running back group. After a strong second season, when he tallied 1,040 rushing yards, the third-year back seems ready for the responsibility that comes with that. The 25-year-old is trying to be more of a leader in the running back room. And he wants to be counted on to produce for the Patriots on a weekly basis.“That’s what’s being asked of me right now,” Stevenson said of his blooming leadership after the Patriots’ OTA session on Tuesday. “I’m trying to take that step. It’s still early, but I’m trying to take that step to be a leader.”As the Patriots start their e...

Migrants in Sacramento receive food, housing as California officials weigh charges against Florida

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:42 GMT

By TRÂN NGUYỄN and OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ (Associated Press)SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Religious groups worked Tuesday to feed and house South American migrants who were flown to Sacramento under allegedly false pretenses. Meanwhile, California officials were weighing whether Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his administration should face kidnapping or other charges for arranging the flights.About three dozen asylum-seekers, mostly from Colombia and Venezuela, arrived in the California capital on two charter flights after, according to officials, they were promised jobs by people purporting to work for Florida’s government. DeSantis and Florida lawmakers approved state funding to transport immigrants to other states, even if they never step foot in Florida, and carried out similar flights from Texas to Massachusetts last year.Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg and faith-based groups that have been assisting the migrants said they come together to help the newcomers, wh...

New state program looks to boost training for life sciences sector

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:42 GMT

A new state program announced Tuesday aims to connect employers with workers in Massachusetts looking to find jobs in the life sciences, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing industries.At the BIO International Convention in Boston, Gov. Maura Healey said the new program, dubbed MassTalent, will serve as a “one-stop front door” for companies and streamline government resources to allow employers to access local talent.Healey said her administration will tap $50 million in funding through the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund to broker partnerships between education and training partners and companies to train future workers.Another component of the program, called Pathmaker, looks to create an 8-10 week free training program for students and adults with a high school education but no previous experience in life sciences.The Healey administration said a request for proposals for Pathmaker will be finalized in summer 2023 and $2 million will be available for initial programs sch...

2 Cleveland Browns players robbed of jewelry, car by masked gunmen

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:42 GMT

Two Cleveland Browns players were robbed by masked gunmen who made off with jewelry and a car on Monday morning.According to multiple reports, cornerback Greg Newsome II and defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey were leaving a downtown Cleveland nightclub Monday morning when six armed and masked men confronted the pair in the parking lot after emerging from a nearby car around 3:30 a.m.The robbers took jewelry from both players as well as Newsome’s truck.Neither player was injured in the stickup.Newsome alluded to the incident on on Monday night, tweeting: “It’s a cruel world we live in.”Running back Demetric Felton also had his car stolen from a downtown parking garage on Sunday, but police do not believe the two car thefts are related.Browns coach Kevin Stefanski addressed the incidents on Tuesday after the first day of the team’s mandatory minicamp. He did not mention the players by name.“I’m glad our guys are OK. … We want everybody to ...

HIV protection, cancer screenings could cost more if ‘Obamacare’ loses latest court battle

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:42 GMT

By KEVIN McGILL (Associated Press)NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal appeals court in New Orleans prepared to hear arguments Tuesday on whether insurers can be required to cover preventive health care including HIV prevention, diabetes, mental health and some cancer screenings without charging patients out-of-pocket fees under former President Barack Obama’s signature health care law. In the latest legal skirmish over the law that took effect 13 years ago, the Biden administration is appealing a Texas-based federal judge’s ruling that would eliminate the mandate on insurers to provide no-extra-cost coverage for many types of preventive care.The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily blocked the lower court ruling while it prepared to receive briefs and hear arguments. At issue in Tuesday afternoon’s hearing before three 5th Circuit judges is whether patients should continue to have the coverage while appeals play out. An immediate ruling was not expected.The...

What to stream: Celebrate Pride Month with shows and films featuring diverse queer stories

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:42 GMT

Katie Walsh | Tribune News Service (TNS)June is Pride Month, a celebration of LGBTQIA+ pride and commemoration of the history of the fight for gay rights. Pride Month was started after the 1969 Stonewall riots sparked a series of gay liberation protests, and unfortunately, more than 50 years later, Pride Month has taken on a new resonance as the civil rights of queer and transgender people are being rolled back at an alarming rate in the United States.It’s an apt time to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community as members and allies, but it’s also an opportunity to learn more about queer history, the origins of Pride and the importance of fighting to protect queer and trans lives. Many of the streaming services have collections dedicated to Pride and LGBTQIA+ stories and creators — so here are a few suggestions to help prioritize your streaming, with a focus on history and the fight for gay rights.Max has a robust library of both narrative and documentary material focusing on queer history ...

San Diego restaurant added to California Michelin Guide

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:42 GMT

SAN DIEGO — 10 new restaurants were added to the Michelin Guide California Tuesday, including one local spot located in the heart of Balboa Park.Artifact at Mingei, located inside the Mingei Museum in Balboa Park, is the latest San Diego eatery to be highlighted by the prestigious food guide.You can find a full list of the new California additions here. 6 Michelin Guide restaurants in San Diego for a romantic dinner Michelin is highlighting these restaurants ahead of announcements of Bib Gourmands and Stars designations this summer when the full 2023 Michelin Guide California comes out.Overall San Diego has 38 restaurants currently listed on the California Michelin Guide."The culinary offerings are proudly eclectic and international, ranging from carefully pleated rock shrimp gyoza with a yuzu-flavored dashi, to lamb kibbeh with quinoa tabbouleh," said Micheline Guide inspectors about Artifact.The restaurant features a variety of international food options that mirror the Mingei I...

Ford calls for ouster, Poilievre decries Liberal response to Bernardo prison transfer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:42 GMT

OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on the Liberals to keep “multiple murderers” in maximum-security prison, as fallout continues over the transfer of convicted killer Paul Bernardo to a medium-security institution in Quebec.And Ontario Premier Doug Ford is looking for the ouster of the federal corrections commissioner after the move, which was made public last week. Anne Kelly, commissioner of the Correctional Service Canada, announced the transfer was under review after Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said he told how shocked Canadians were by the decision. Mendicino says he is open to looking at the options when it comes to adjusting the government’s policy. Speaking from the legislature, Ford said Canadians have lost confidence in Kelly’s decision-making and asked that she “step aside, step down or be fired.”“Sorry for the language, but he’s nothing but a scumbag,” Ford said of Bernardo, whose transfer ...

Stellantis has what it needs to make decision on Windsor battery plant: Champagne

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:42 GMT

OTTAWA — The federal government has delivered a written offer to Stellantis and LG Energy Solutions, Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne said Tuesday.Champagne said that should be all the companies need to make a decision on the fate of their planned electric vehicle battery plant in Windsor, Ont.The minister said the negotiations are progressing, and “I think we’re getting to the end of it.”He would not say if this was a final offer, but he did say he expects an answer from Stellantis soon.“You know, they have what they need, and therefore I think that should be very short now,” he said.A spokeswoman for Stellantis confirmed the offer had been received but would say no more beyond the fact it is “currently under financial and legal review.”Champagne would give no details on the size of the offer except to point out his government’s repeated promise to respond as needed to the massive subsidies created in the United States un...