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Column: After adding 5 new starters, Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles can wait for prices to fall in free agency

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:37 GMT

The money didn’t stop flowing Tuesday, but the action was much more subdued than the day before, when the NFL’s negotiating window opened — all leading to the start of free agency at 3 p.m. Wednesday.The Chicago Bears were one of the more active teams Monday, agreeing to terms with four players just three days after general manager Ryan Poles traded the No. 1 draft pick to the Carolina Panthers for a package that includes wide receiver D.J. Moore.Add it all up and even before the new league year begins the Bears have five new starters — and likely will be seeking another five or six. Moore and weak-side linebacker Tremaine Edmunds are the highest-profile of the group, which also includes middle linebacker T.J. Edwards, guard Nate Davis and defensive end DeMarcus Walker.It’s neither surprising nor alarming the Bears didn’t have more additions Tuesday after Poles and coach Matt Eberflus spent the morning at Northwestern’s pro day, where they w...

Franz Wagner bounces back as Magic kick off 4-game trip

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:37 GMT

Second-year forward Franz Wagner started in Tuesday’s road game against the San Antonio Spurs despite spraining his right ankle in Saturday’s home win over the Miami Heat.Heat guard Kyle Lowry fell on Wagner’s ankle as both were running up the floor after a Miami missed basket with around nine minutes remaining in the game.Play continued for about 20 seconds, with Wagner hobbling on the ankle until Magic coach Jamahl Mosley was able to call a timeout.Wagner went back into the locker room to get checked out by the athletic trainer. The team announced he wouldn’t return.The Magic said X-rays on Wagner’s ankle were negative, meaning no damage was shown, before adding the diagnosis was a sprain.His status entering Saturday was questionable before being upgraded to available 1 1/2 hours ahead of tipoff.Wagner’s missed just three games because of injury since being the No. 8 pick in the 2021 draft, all of which came at the end of last season because of ...

Road preparations begin ahead of storm

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:37 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- With a strong rainstorm predicted to hit the area late Tuesday, road workers in San Diego are taking measures to ensure the safety of the roads for motorists and pedestrians. Crews have been working around the clock to prepare for the storm by clearing out storm drains and catch basins to prevent flooding. They have also been inspecting and repairing any potholes, cracks or other damages to the roads that could pose a danger to drivers during the heavy rain. Caltrans is reporting the Interstate 8, State Route 76, and State Route 78 freeways are typical problem areas.   Heaviest rainfall from incoming storm expected overnight County work crews will be working overnight shifts for emergency calls with downed trees and clearing drainage areas. “A lot of potholes, trees falling a lot of flooding we deal with whatever happens,” said Carlos Michelle, a county public works manager in the Fallbrook area. The rain is expected to be heaviest Wednesday morning. &n...

Special prosecutor steps down in case against Alec Baldwin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:37 GMT

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A special prosecutor who doubles as a state legislator is stepping down from her role in the manslaughter case against actor Alec Baldwin in the death of a cinematographer on a New Mexico film set.Baldwin’s legal team in February sought to disqualify special prosecutor and Republican state Rep. Andrea Reeb of Clovis based on constitutional provisions that safeguard the separation of powers between distinct branches of government.Reeb said in a statement Tuesday that she “will not allow questions about my serving as a legislator and prosecutor to cloud the real issue at hand.”“It has become clear that the best way I can ensure justice is served in this case is to step down so that the prosecution can focus on the evidence and the facts,” Reeb said.District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies filed a notification in state district court and declined further comment.Baldwin and weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed have pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary ma...

New Mexico Legislature rejects ban in immigration detention

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:37 GMT

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico legislators rejected a proposal Tuesday to prohibit state and local government agencies from contracting with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain immigrants as they seek asylum in the U.S.The bill failed on a 17-21 vote of the state Senate. It also would have phased out local government participation in three-way agreements with private detention facilities and federal authorities.The bill held implications for three privately operated detention facilities in New Mexico — and would have effectively ended migrant detention in early 2025 at the privately operated Otero County Processing Center at Chaparral in southern New Mexico on the outskirts of El Paso, Texas. Legislatures in Colorado and New York are considering similar bills that would restrict local government contracts with federal immigration authorities or with private contractors through intergovernmental service agreements.Proponents of the New Mexico bill highlighted reports...

Despite objections, Chevron says it reported oil price data

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:37 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Chevron said on Tuesday it reported how much money it made in January from selling gasoline in California, disclosing the data after regulators threatened to fine the company for not following a new law aimed at investigating the cause of the state’s high gas prices.The law requires oil companies to report their monthly “gross refining margin,” the difference between how much refineries paid for crude oil and how much the company sold it for as gasoline. State lawmakers and regulators believe the data will give them a clearer picture of what has driven sharp increases in California’s gas prices, which are consistently the highest in the nation. Chevron spokesperson Ross Allen said the company filed a “revised response” late Tuesday afternoon with regulators that included the data required by law. He said the company was never out of compliance with the law, noting they began reporting the data March 2 — the deadline for oil companies to report J...

Honduras will seek to establish diplomatic ties with China

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:37 GMT

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — Honduras President Xiomara Castro announced Tuesday that her government will seek to establish diplomatic relations with China, which would imply severing relations with Taiwan.Castro said on her Twitter account that she instructed Honduran Foreign Affairs Minister Eduardo Reina to start negotiations with China and that her intention is “to expand the borders with freedom.”Honduras is one of the few remaining allies of Taiwan, and Castro’s announcement represents a change on its diplomatic views.Taiwan’s official Central News Agency quoted an unidentified Foreign Ministry official as saying they were “in the process of ascertaining the situation” and had no further details.China claims self-ruled, democratic Taiwan is part of its territory and sees diplomatic recognition of the island as interference in its affairs. Beijing has isolated Taiwan diplomatically with a long campaign against such recognition under the “one-China” policy.In January 2022,...

Possible Air Canada Pilots Association merger with Air Line Pilots Association

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:37 GMT

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — The Air Canada Pilots Association says it has reached an agreement in principle on a possible merger with the Air Line Pilots Association — the largest airline pilot union in the world.In a release Tuesday the two associations said the deal would now be voted on by Air Canada pilots as well as ALPA’s executive council and executive board.Both associations say the agreement brings them closer to achieving the joint goal of advancing the piloting profession and aviation safety in Canada and the United States.They say by working in unity they are confident they will be stronger together.The Air Canada Pilots Association says it represents more than 4,500 members who fly passengers and cargo on Air Canada and Air Canada rouge with pilot bases in Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver.The Air Line Pilots Association says it represents more than 67,000 pilots at 39 U.S. and Canadian airlines.

Washington reacts on the fly to Silicon Valley Bank failure

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:37 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — After the sudden collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, California Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters started furiously working the phones to find out what was going on with the failed lender — and what would happen to its panicked depositors.Waters, former chair of the House Financial Services Committee, had her doubts that another bank would step up as a savior and buy the defunct institution.“Banks don’t just wake up and say: ‘Oh, there’s a problem with another significant bank and they’ve collapsed. Let’s just take it over,’’’ she said.So began a frenetic weekend of nonstop briefings with regulators, lawmakers, administration officials and President Joe Biden himself about how to handle the demise of the nation’s 16th-biggest bank and a go-to financial institution for tech entrepreneurs. At the core of the problem was tens of billions of dollars — including money companies needed to meet payrolls — sitting in Silicon Valley Bank accounts that were not protected by f...

9-year-old Aurora girl honored with mayor's Award of Excellence for saving mom

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:37 GMT

CHICAGO — A nine-year-old girl from Aurora is being credited with saving her mom's life, and Tuesday night, the city awarded her for her quick thinking.Aria Lemen received the City of Aurora's Mayor's Award of Excellence after her mom suddenly passed out when the two were home alone back in February, leading to Aria calling 911 and calmly explaining the situation to dispatch, despite the stress of the situation on her."911, what's your emergency?" said the dispatcher over the phone."My mom was talking to me and she passed out," replied Aria.The dispatcher stayed on the phone with Aria through the entire ordeal, sending an ambulance to the house while asking the 9-year-old questions about what first responders could expect when they arrived.""Is she still passed out?" asked the dispatcher."Yes, she's still breathing but she's passed out," replied Aria."We're just going to hang out and talk to each other until [paramedics] get there to help you and then I'll get your daddy, okay?" sai...