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Reliever Mark Leiter Jr. — armed with a nasty splitter — is putting on a ‘Leit Show’ for the Chicago Cubs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:23 GMT

Mark Leiter Jr.’s journey certainly took a winding path to the mound Sunday at Dodger Stadium.Leiter’s evolution from a 22nd-round pick who made 11 starts his rookie year on a 96-loss rebuilding Philadelphia Phillies team to a high-leverage reliever for a Chicago Cubs team eying a postseason appearance — with Tommy John surgery and a pandemic-prolonged rehab process in between — is a testament to the right-hander’s perseverance and adaptability.Leiter hasn’t allowed a run through seven appearances, looking dominant in the process. Entering Monday’s series in Oakland, Leiter has’s struck out 12 of the 26 batters he’s faced this season. His splitter is a nightmare pitch for left-handed hitters, who are 2-for-18 against him, and nine of the lefty’s 10 strikeouts are from it.Leiter again shined in a big spot during Sunday’s 3-2 win. He entered the seventh inning with runners on first and second base as the Cubs held onto ...

Chicago Bears free-agency news: Wide receiver Dante Pettis is back on a 1-year contract

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:23 GMT

In his second offseason with the Chicago Bears, general manager Ryan Poles has had plenty of salary-cap space to help him rework a roster that finished 3-14 in 2022.The Tribune is tracking all of the Bears’ arrivals and departures and providing insight into what they mean.Who will the Bears select at No. 9? Brad Biggs’ NFL mock draft 2.0.How every Bears offensive player did in 2022 — and what their contract status is going forwardHow the Bears defensive players did in 2022 — and what their contract status is going forwardKey additions on defense — but what’s next for offensive line? Brad Biggs’ 6 thoughts off Bears GM Ryan Poles’ availability.Column: Bears need more from rank-and-file free agents. Robert Tonyan, Andrew Billings and D’Onta Foreman believe they can deliver.New Bears wide receiver DJ Moore, key addition from the trade of the No. 1 pick, aims to ‘elevate the offense’Column: Bears’ aggressive start t...

Star DT Quinnen Williams not in attendance for start of Jets offseason program

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:23 GMT

Gang Green and star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams have yet to agree on a long-term contract extension.That is why Williams was a no-show at the start of the Jets offseason program, which began Monday morning.After the season’s conclusion, Williams told reporters that he wanted a new contract before the start of the Jets offseason program. He also said he wouldn’t attend the voluntary portion of the offseason program if he didn’t receive a contract extension.Williams also said there’s a chance he might not show up to the mandatory portion of workouts in June without a new contract. The Jets agreed to an contract extension with his older brother Quincy in March.Now he is also looking for a long-term deal past the 2023 season.“I have done everything on and off the field that I can do,” Williams said in January regarding his contract extension. “I love this organization, I have been here four years and I have been through the ups and downs.&...

Who will Heat turn to with Tyler Herro likely out for rest of playoffs?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:23 GMT

In the moment, the gravity was difficult to discern. On one hand, in this case the right hand, Tyler Herro was in considerable anguish. On the other hand, he still was ambulatory and able enough to launch a successful 3-pointer in the waning seconds of the first half of Sunday’s 130-117 Miami Heat victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.It was only after the fact, after the Heat retreated to the locker room at the intermission, that they realized the stakes, two broken fingers on the fourth–year guard’s shooting hand, weeks if not months sidelined.“He was in so much pain, but I didn’t really know what it was.” coach Erik Spoelstra said, his team up 1-0 in the best-of-seven opening-round Eastern Conference playoff series that continues at 9 p.m. Wednesday at Fiserv Forum. “A lot of times you jam a finger or this or that and you get a stinger on the elbow, and then it kind of wears off after 30 seconds. So I didn’t burn the timeout there becaus...

Live Updates: Marcel Hug, Susannah Scaroni win wheelchair races in 127th Boston Marathon

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:23 GMT

Susannah Scaroni has won the women’s wheelchair race in the 127th Boston Marathon, crossing the finish with an unofficial time of 1:41:45.In the Men’s wheelchair division, Marcel Hug, of Switzerland, has won the 127th Boston Marathon, smashing his own course record with an an unofficial time of 1:17:06.Also known as the Swiss Silver Bullet, Hug’s victory is his sixth at the Boston Marathon.It bests his previous course mark of 1:18:04 set in 2017. It was the first race of the day. American Daniel Romanchuk was second in 1:27.45, followed by Jetze Plat of the Netherlands in 1:28.35. Hug’s win was the second-largest in the Boston wheelchair race’s history.The 37-year-old Hug surged to the front of the field on a foggy and drizzly morning, leading the majority of the 26.2-mile course a year after withdrawing before the race for medical reasons. Hug also broke the course record in Saturday’s 5K race as well..@MarcelEricHug smashes his #BostonMarathon course ...

Biden’s pick for top WH economist faces Senate grilling

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:23 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The job of chief White House economist is typically a wonky, low-profile one, with its occupant mainly tasked with producing analyses and poring over charts and graphs. But President Joe Biden’s next pick to lead the Council of Economic Advisers is bracing for a barrage of political attacks centered on how the White House has tackled inflation.Jared Bernstein is a longtime member of Biden’s inner circle who has served in top administration roles as well as progressive think tanks focusing on economic policy. Working first under vice president Biden and now in the Biden White House, Bernstein has long had an unparalleled ability to channel the president’s economic values.In his February statement announcing Bernstein’s nomination, Biden said, “He is an expert on worker empowerment and a worker-centric economic policy, which has long been the heart of my economic vision.”But that also makes Bernstein a target for Republican lawmakers.Frequentl...

Minnesota settles case against e-cigarette maker Juul

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:23 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota announced a settlement Monday in its lawsuit against Juul Labs and tobacco giant Altria — the first of thousands of cases against the e-cigarette maker to reach trial — just ahead of closing arguments.The terms will be kept confidential until formal papers are publicly filed with the court in 30 days, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a statement.“After three weeks of trial highlighting and bringing into the public record the actions that JUUL and Altria took that contributed to the youth vaping epidemic, we reached a settlement in the best interest of Minnesotans,” Ellison said. “Right now, the terms of the final settlement are not public, but we will announce them soon. When we do, it will be alongside those harmed, the community, elected officials, and others responsible for protecting our children. Steve Karnowski, The Associated Press

South Africa ex-President Zuma’s graft trial postponed again

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:23 GMT

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — The corruption trial of former South African President Jacob Zuma was postponed again Monday as he seeks to have the lead prosecutor removed from the case by claiming he is biased.Zuma has already succeeded in getting a new judge to oversee his trial.Zuma, who turned 81 last week, has argued that prosecutor Billy Downer is biased against him and compromises the former leader’s right to a fair trial. Zuma is involved in a separate legal case against Downer and a journalist over the leaking of the ex-president’s medical records by state prosecutors.Zuma is facing multiple counts of corruption, as well as racketeering, fraud, tax evasion and money laundering, with some of the charges relating to bribes he is alleged to have taken from French arms manufacturing company Thales to provide political protection for an arms deal worth more than $1 billion signed by the South African government in 1999.Thales, which was then known as Thomson-CSF, is ...

Fox News-Dominion case delayed by judge without reason

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:23 GMT

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — The Delaware judge overseeing a voting machine company’s $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News put off the opening of the trial Monday for one day, without any explanation.Lawyers for Fox and Dominion Voting Systems would not comment on Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis’ decision or on reports that settlement talks may be ongoing.Davis said that delays in a long trial are not unusual and are built into the timeline. Before ordering a recess, he talked briefly in a conference with attorneys representing Fox and Dominion.The closely watched case centers on whether Fox, which is based in New York, defamed Dominion, based in Denver, by spreading false claims that the company rigged the 2020 election against Republican then-President Donald Trump.David Bauder And Randall Chase, The Associated Press

EU investigates after 3 countries ban Ukraine grain imports

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:23 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Slovakia became the third European Union country to ban food imports from Ukraine on Monday, deepening the challenge for the bloc as it works to help Ukraine transport its grain to world markets.Slovakia followed Poland and Hungary, both of which announced bans Saturday on Ukrainian food imports through June 30. They did so in response to rising anger from farmers who say that a glut of grain in their countries is causing them economic hardship.The EU’s executive branch, the European Commission, manages trade on behalf of the 27 member countries and objects to them taking unilateral or uncoordinated measures. At a briefing in Brussels, two spokespeople stressed gratitude to Poland and other Central European countries for supporting Ukraine, but said a solution must be found that respects the EU legal framework.“We are dealing with a war, right? And this war has consequences, obviously, on farmers and more generally, the population in Ukraine and the European Un...