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Has Scabby the Rat reached the end of his relevance?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:06:39 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — For decades, a giant, inflatable rat with beady eyes, sharp teeth and a pustule-covered belly has loomed over union protests, drawing attention to various labor disputes.But in the era of TikTok and influencer culture, middle-aged Scabby faces a new challenge: staying relevant.“It’s kind of unfortunate, changing times, older members of the public know exactly what the rat is for,” said James Smith, union activity administrator for the NYC District Council of Carpenters. “The newer generation sometimes doesn’t — one person thought that we were protesting a building that needed an exterminator.”Nevertheless, Scabby isn’t collecting hard-won retirement benefits just yet. Most recently, he has been making the rounds at various picket lines in New York for the Hollywood writers strike organized by the Writers Guild of America East and other unions. Scabby is the “true rat czar of New York City,” said WGA East communica...

Jordan Poole wraps up tumultuous season with the Warriors ahead of uncertain offseason

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:06:39 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — What was the biggest thing Jordan Poole learned from a volatile season that saw him get punched by a teammate, sign a nine-figure extension and end with a role reduction and intense scrutiny on the game’s biggest stage?“I learned a lot of stuff,” Poole said. “I don’t know. I don’t know.”Poole spoke Saturday morning at Chase Center after his exit interview with the organization, just about 13 hours after the Warriors’ season ended in Los Angeles with a loss to the Lakers. Poole had another rough night on Friday, only tallying seven points on 3-of-10 shooting and missing all three 3-pointers.It wrapped up a really difficult series for the fourth-year guard. After a 21-point effort in Game 1, Poole only scored 29 points in the last five games, making only 13-of-43 shots (30.2%) and just one of 17 3-pointers (5.9%).The struggles on the court seemed to be met by visible frustration from Poole throughout the Western Conference semifinals. Poole was shown expres...

U.S. Presidential Scholars: 7 Bay Area teens win prestigious award

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:06:39 GMT

Seven Bay Area high schoolers have been named 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars, an honor awarded to only 161 students in the nation.Three were honored for general academic excellence:Annmaria K. Antony, San Jose, Harker SchoolElane Kim, Walnut Creek, Stanford University Online High SchoolAaron Hieu Tran, Morgan Hill, Ann Sobrato High SchoolThree were honored for excellence in the arts:Zoe Wijesekara Dorado, Castro Valley, Castro Valley High School (writing)Miranda A. Lu, San Jose, Leland High School (visual arts)Gavin Ray Trotmore, Berkeley, Berkeley High School (design arts)One was honored for excellence in career or technical education:Sezen S. Musa, Sunnyvale, Wilcox High School (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America)The awards were announced this week by the U.S. Education Department. The list of semifinalists, released last month, included 16 Bay Area students.Those in the general academic division qualify through SAT or ACT scores and are invited to submit a packet de...

NCS softball playoffs: First-round matchups in all six divisions

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:06:39 GMT

NEW: PREP SPORTS MAILBAGThe Bay Area News Group is introducing a high school sports mailbag in May. Get your questions in as soon as possible. Our debut edition is an open forum. Got questions about spring sports playoffs, coaching changes, an early peek at football season, etc.? Send them to [email protected]. Please include “mailbag” in the subject line.Division IWednesday’s first roundNo. 16 San Leandro (16-10) at No. 1 San Ramon Valley (20-5), 5 p.m.No. 8 Heritage (15-5) at No. 9 James Logan (20-3-1), 7 p.m.No. 13 Monte Vista (11-10) at No. 4 Freedom (16-8), 5 p.m.No. 12 Liberty (12-14) at No. 5 Clayton Valley Charter (16-5), 5 p.m.No. 15 Bishop O’Dowd (13-11) at No. 2 Granada (19-5), 5 p.m.No. 7 Amador Valley (15-11) at No. 10 Castro Valley (15-7), 5 p.m.No. 14 Arroyo (10-12) at No. 3 California (17-8), 5 p.m.No. 11 Vintage (17-9) at No. 6 College Park (16-8), 5 p.m.Division IITuesday’s first roundNo. 16 Ukiah (17-6) at No. 1 Redwood (18-4-1), 5 p.m.No. 8 Marin C...

NCS baseball playoffs: First-round matchups in all six divisions

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:06:39 GMT

NEW: PREP SPORTS MAILBAGThe Bay Area News Group is introducing a high school sports mailbag in May. Get your questions in as soon as possible. Our debut edition is an open forum. Got questions about spring sports playoffs, coaching changes, an early peek at football season, etc.? Send them to [email protected]. Please include “mailbag” in the subject line.BaseballDivision ITuesday’s first roundNo. 16 Castro Valley (10-15) at No. 1 De La Salle (20-5), 5 p.m.No. 9 Dublin (16-8) vs. No. 8 Liberty (16-9) at Pittsburg HS, 5 p.m.No. 13 Freedom (13-11) at No. 4 Amador Valley (18-5), 5 p.m.No. 12 Pittsburg (18-9) at No. 5 Granada (20-7), 5 p.m.No. 15 Antioch (15-9) at No. 2 San Ramon Valley (18-9), 5 p.m.No. 10 Berkeley (18-7) at No. 7 Heritage (19-7), 5 p.m.No. 14 College Park (11-13) at No. 3 Clayton Valley Charter (19-5), 5 p.m.No. 6 Foothill (15-9) at No. 11 James Logan (18-6), 5 p.m.Division IIWednesday’s first roundNo. 16 Northgate (9-14) at No. 1 Casa Granada (19-5), 5...

El día después: cómo está la frontera sur de EEUU tras el fin del Título 42

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:06:39 GMT

EL PASO, Texas — En su frontera con México, Estados Unidos logró voltear con relativa calma la página de las restricciones a la inmigración impuestas durante la pandemia, mientras los migrantes se adaptan a las nuevas y estrictas normas destinadas a desalentar los cruces ilegales y esperan que se cumpla la promesa de nuevas vías legales de entrada al país.Un día entero después de que se eliminaran las normas conocidas como Título 42, migrantes y funcionarios gubernamentales seguían evaluando los efectos de la nueva normativa del gobierno del presidente Joe Biden con la esperanza de estabilizar la región fronteriza y socavar a los contrabandistas que cobran a los migrantes para llegar allí.Ahora, Estados Unidos básicamente prohíbe a los inmigrantes solicitar asilo en el país si no lo pidieron antes en línea o si no buscaron protección primero en los países por los que viajaron. El dato clave que define quiénes pueden solicitar asilo en EEUU CB...

Buffalo Bills sign 1st-round draft pick Dalton Kincaid to 4-year contract

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:06:39 GMT

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills signed rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid to a four-year contract on Saturday in a move that locks up the team’s entire six-member draft class.Buffalo traded up two spots to select the Utah product with the 25th overall selection last month. Kincaid led FBS tight ends with eight touchdowns receiving last season and finished with 16 overall in three years at Utah.Under-recruited coming out of high school in Nevada, Kincaid spent his first two college seasons at San Diego, where he led FCS tight ends in averaging nearly 19 yards per catch in 2019.Kincaid’s pass-catching ability and versatility in being able to play off the ball as a receiver provides him the potential of filling an immediate need on Buffalo’s Josh Allen-run offense. He can fill the slot receiver’s role, which is open after the team did not re-sign Isaiah McKenzie this offseason.The signing was announced on the second day of the Bills’ three-day rookie minicamp and comes t...

Defending champ Finland downs Germany, Slovakia beats host Latvia at ice hockey worlds

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:06:39 GMT

TAMPERE, Finland (AP) — Defending champion Finland rebounded from an opening loss to the United States by overcoming Germany 4-3 at the ice hockey world championship on Saturday.Sakari Manninen had two goals and an assist for Finland, and Mikko Lehtonen and Joel Armia also scored in the Group A game in Nokia Arena.Manninen scored twice within 1:47 of the middle period to rally Finland to 3-2 ahead. John Peterka tied it at 3 in that period, and Lehtonen scored the winner on a rebound from the left circle with 7:15 to go in the final period.Marcel Noebels, Kai Wissmann had a goal each for Germany, which suffered a second straight defeat after losing its opener to Sweden 1-0. In other Group A games, Sacha Treille scored 39 seconds into overtime to lift France 2-1 over Austria.Nikolaj Ehlers netted twice on power plays for Denmark to down Hungary 3-1.In Riga, Marek Hrivik scored the decisive goal midway through the final period for Slovakia to edge host Latvia 2-1 in Group B.Denis Malgi...

Cardinals’ Willson Contreras to return to catching duties on Monday

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:06:39 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Willson Contreras’ demotion from catching didn’t last very long.St. Louis manager Oli Marmol announced before Saturday’s game against the Boston Red Sox that the 31-year-old Contreras will be back behind the plate on Monday night when the Cardinals open a homestand against the Milwaukee Brewers.“We felt really good about the progress that we’ve made and it lines up really well for him to catch Monday,” Marmol said.Looking to replace Yadier Molina at catcher, St. Louis signed the three-time All-Star to an $87.5 million, five-year contract in December, its biggest move of the offseason.But Marmol announced last weekend that Contreras would be taking a break from catching for a while — a move that raised questions about the fit of the free agent acquisition in the first place.The departure of Molina, a nine-time Gold Glove winner who retired after his 19th season with the Cardinals, looms over the team’s losing record.Contreras will be catching right-hander Jack Flaherty ...

Denver rainfall records set during 3-day storm

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:06:39 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — It has been a wet stretch of days in the Denver area, and now that totals are coming in, we know that records have been set for May 10, 11 and 12. A daily record was set on May 11, as 2.92 inches of rain were measured at Denver International Airport. That shattered the previous record of 1.55 inches set in 2011. Heavy rainfall began in Denver on May 10. While that daily total was not record-setting, the metro airport recorded 0.65 inches of much-needed moisture. Rainfall continued with accumulations of 2.92 inches on May 11 and 0.83 inches recorded on May 12. The 2.92 inches of rain recorded on May 11 not only set a daily record but is now the eighth-highest daily rainfall for the Denver area. Two-day rainfall totals of 3.75 inches are the third wettest and our three-day rainfall total of 4.40 inches is now the fifth on record. This brings our May 2023 rainfall total to 4.47 inches. This is more than double the 2.16 inches of rainfall that Denver usually picks up fo...