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5 takeaways from the Chicago Cubs’ 2023 MLB draft, including an offensive power infusion and intriguing 16th-round arm

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:50 GMT

The Chicago Cubs’ latest draft class is in the books.The organization has until July 25 to sign their 20 picks, led by their first-round selection Maryland shortstop Matt Shaw.“There’s always a chance that there’s some surprises that crop up between now and the signing deadline and potentially a little leakage in certain places,” vice president of scouting Dan Kantrovitz said Tuesday. “But for the most part, I wouldn’t expect the signing process to be too eventful, in a positive way.”1. A balanced, but college-heavy class.By the time Kantrovitz and the Cubs completed the 20-round draft Tuesday, 17 of their selections came from the collegiate level.Of the college group, it was a nearly even split with nine pitchers and eight position players (six infielders, one catcher and one outfielder). Kantrovitz said the Cubs didn’t necessarily go into the draft planning for a big emphasis on college players, but noted their 2023 bonus pool ...

3 tax prep giants shared ‘extraordinarily sensitive’ data about taxpayers with Meta, lawmakers say

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:50 GMT

By FATIMA HUSSEIN (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — Three large tax preparation firms sent “extraordinarily sensitive” information on tens of millions of taxpayers to Facebook parent company Meta over the course of at least two years, a group of congressional Democrats reported on Wednesday.Their report urges federal agencies to investigate and potentially go to court over the wealth of information that H&R Block, TaxAct and TaxSlayer shared with the social media giant.In a letter to the heads of the IRS, the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission and the IRS watchdog, seven lawmakers say their findings “reveal a shocking breach of taxpayer privacy by tax prep companies and by Big Tech firms.”Their report said highly personal and financial information about sources of taxpayers’ income, tax deductions and exemptions was made accessible to Meta as taxpayers used the tax software to prepare their taxes.That data came to Meta through its Pixel code, which the tax fir...

Domino’s signs deal with Uber Eats in a bid to make more dough

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:50 GMT

By DEE-ANN DURBIN (AP Business Writer)Domino’s Pizza said Wednesday it’s partnering with Uber Eats to make deliveries in the U.S. and 27 international markets.It’s a major reversal for the world’s largest pizza company, which has long said that working with third-party apps didn’t make economic sense because it employs its own drivers. Under the agreement, Domino’s drivers will still make the deliveries that customers order via Uber Eats.Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Domino’s wouldn’t say what percentage Uber Eats will take from each order.The partnership will be piloted in four U.S. markets starting this fall and is expected to be available nationwide by the end of 2023, Domino’s said.Domino’s CEO Russell Weiner said in a statement that third-party delivery operators have reached such a large scale that it makes sense for Domino’s to partner with them. Weiner said Uber Eats will provide access to new customers for Domino...

San Diego among cities where majority of homes cost over $1M: study

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:50 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Home prices have edged higher in Southern California in recent months, with the median home sale price dangling below a million dollars in San Diego. That's according to a new study by real estate website Point2, which crunched the numbers to determine which large U.S. cities are selling more high-end homes to prospective buyers. Point2 analyzed active listings as of July 3 to determine median home prices, which were sourced from local multiple listing services (MLSs), realtor associations and reports from local listing portals. How much income is required to afford rent in San Diego? The types of residential properties included in the analysis included houses, townhouses, single family homes, condos, co-ops, manufactured, mobile and apartments.According to Point2, San Diego has the fourth highest median home price when compared to the 30 largest cities in the country. That median price tag rings in at $910,000. The harder truth for those looking to buy a house in San...

Motorcyclist killed in crash on Silver Strand

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:50 GMT

CORONADO, Calif. -- A Wednesday morning crash involving a motorcycle and a vehicle has left one person dead in Coronado, authorities confirmed to FOX 5.Police say officers attempted to pull over a speeding motorcyclist around 7 a.m. when the individual allegedly sped up and crashed into a vehicle on the northbound Silver Strand at Coronado Cays Boulevard. Woman scalped with sword at park According to authorities, the motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. The person's identity has not been released at this time.Traffic in the area is being detoured as police conduct an investigation into the matter. The northbound lanes of the Silver Strand are currently closed.There are reports of traffic being backed up in the Imperial Beach area, as well as Interstate 5.This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

‘Succession’ leads all Emmy nominees with 27 as HBO dominates

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:50 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — HBO dominated Wednesday morning’s Emmy nominations, with the elite trio of “ Succession,” “The White Lotus” and “The Last of Us” combining for a whopping 74, but the dominant theme darkening the scene is the ongoing writers strike and the looming possibility that actors may join them in as little as a day.“Succession” and its deeply dysfunctional dynasty of one-percenters led all Emmy nominees in its fourth and final season with 27, including best drama, which it has won two of the past three years. It got three nominations for best actor in a drama, with Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong and Kieran Culkin all getting nods for playing men of the Roy clan, and Sarah Snook getting a best actress nomination. It also got four nominations for best supporting actor in a drama.The cursed vacationers at a Sicilian resort from the second of “The White Lotus” truly dominated the supporting categories, however, landing five nominations for best supporting actress in a drama – includi...

Prince Albert, Sask., officer charged with criminal negligence in in-custody death

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:50 GMT

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. — A Saskatchewan police officer has been charged with criminal negligence causing death and failing to provide the necessities of life as the beleaguered Prince Albert force tries to maintain public confidence. The 21-year member of the Prince Albert Police Service was charged after an investigation into the death of Saul Laliberte, 33, on Nov. 7, 2021, while he was in the force’s detention facility.Saskatoon police investigated the death and the Crown recommended charges against the officer. The officer has been removed from active duty pending the outcome of court proceedings. “We want to assure the public that we take every matter seriously,” Patrick Nogier, the interim police chief in Prince Albert, said in a news release Wednesday.Prince Albert police did not identify the officer in the news release. The officer is to appear in Prince Albert Provincial Court on July 25. “The Prince Albert Police Service places great importance on public co...

Police say officers kill at least 6 as Kenyans protest rising costs, and 50 children are tear-gassed

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:50 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A police official said officers killed six people Wednesday during new protests in Kenya against the rising cost of living, while a health worker said more than 50 schoolchildren in the capital, Nairobi, were tear-gassed. The opposition leader behind the demonstrations vowed they would continue until a new law imposing more taxes is repealed.The police official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the official wasn’t authorized to speak publicly, said three people were killed in Mlolongo city in Machakos county, two in Kitengela town near Nairobi, and one in the town of Emali on the highway to the port city of Mombasa. The officer said more than 10 others were taken to hospitals.The official said the six who were killed were shot for disrupting businesses, without elaborating. Kenyan police have been criticized by human rights watchdogs for their sometimes deadly response to such protests.Fifty-three children were treated a...

List of top Emmy nominations

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:50 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Partial list of top nominees for the annual prime-time Emmy Awards, announced Wednesday by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. For the complete list, visit Emmys.com.The nominees for best drama series are: “Succession”; “The White Lotus”; “The Last of Us”; “Better Call Saul”; “The Crown”; “Yellowjackets”; “House of the Dragon” and “Andor.”The nominees for best comedy series are: “Abbott Elementary”; “Barry”; “The Bear”; “Jury Duty”; “Ted Lasso”; “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”; “Only Murders in the Building” and “Wednesday.”The nominees for best limited or anthology series are: “Beef”; “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story”; “Daisy Jones & The Six”; “Fleishman Is in Trouble” and “Obi-Wan Kenobi.” The nominees for best actor in a drama series are: Jeremy Strong, “Succession”; Bob Odenkirk, “Better Call Saul”; Kieran Culkin, “Succession”; Pedro Pascal, “The Last of Us”; Brian Cox, “Succession” and Jeff Bridges, “The Old Man.”The nominees for best...

U.S. Department of Agriculture to invest $300 million in monitoring agricultural emissions

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:50 GMT

Agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack announced Wednesday that his department will invest $300 million to improve the measurement and reporting of planet-warming emissions by the country’s agriculture and forestry sectors. The investment — which comes from the Inflation Reduction Act, the U.S.’s climate law — will create a research network to monitor carbon levels in soil, which is crucial for understanding how much of the greenhouse gas is stored in the ground. It will also expand the agency’s data management capacity and improve the research methods used to quantify and analyze greenhouse gases. Agriculture contributed about 10% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2021, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, so a goal of the research will be to improve the system by which farmers can be rewarded for using climate-friendly practices. “It’s important and necessary that we create multiple ways for farmers to generate revenue in income,” Vilsack said in a pres...