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Padres and Japanese reliever Yuki Matsui agree to 5-year contract

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:07 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Japanese reliever Yuki Matsui agreed Saturday to a five-year contract with the San Diego Padres. At 5-foot-8, he becomes one of the shortest pitchers in the major leagues.The 28-year-old left-hander was a five-time All-Star in Japan for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, leading the Pacific League in saves in 2019, 2022 and this year. He had a career-best 39 saves with a 1.57 ERA and 2-3 record this season, striking out 72 and walking 13 in 57 1/3 innings.He has a 2.40 career ERA, 236 saves and a 1.11 WHIP. He is the youngest pitcher in the Japanese major leagues to reach 200 saves.Because he had nine years of service time, he was a free agent and no posting fee is involved in his acquisition.Matsui struck out one in a perfect inning for Japan in the World Baseball Classic against South Korea in the group stage. He threw 15 fastballs averaging 91.7 mph among 23 pitches, mixing in five changeups, two sliders and one curveball. ___AP MLB: https://apnews.com

Canadian Blood Services holding several drives over the holidays to increase donations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:07 GMT

Through the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping, there is one gift that can serve as a lifeline to someone in need. That gift can be given through the Canadian Blood Services as they hold several blood drives over the holidays.Recipients of blood donations can be of any age. Rashaun Thomas is one young recipient who celebrated his first birthday on Saturday at a Canadian Blood Services clinic in Scarborough.Rashaun’s mother, Alicia Perera-Thomas said this milestone has a more precious meaning to the family.“When he was first born, he had to have two blood transfusions, so when we were going through the whole process…when I was laying there sitting with him, for his birthday we have to do something and to give back.”Family and friends of little Rashaun also came out to give back, including some first-time donors.“It was really just a when and where, like it really didn’t matter that it was the holidays, giving back was just the easy option, the right option,...

Reports: Veteran Chicago actor Mike Nussbaum dies at 99

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:07 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago-native Mike Nussbaum, an actor known for his role in films like "Field of Dreams" and "Men in Black" has died, according to reports. The veteran actor, who had been in hospice care over the past year, died at his home in Chicago on Saturday, TMZ reported. 1 injured after car crashes into Maine Township home Nussbaum, who was recognized as one of the oldest working actors in the country, directed and acted in productions at theaters around Chicago for more than 50 yearsNussbaum also worked on several films along the way, known for several roles such as Gentle Rosenburg in "Men in Black" and the principal in "Field of Dreams."  Illinois lottery player turns $5 scratch-off into $400K According to the reports, Nussbaum passed away peacefully from natural causes only six days before his 100th birthday. Currently, it is unclear if any public services are planned. 

Nick and Aaron Carter's sister Bobbie Jean dies at 41: Reports

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:07 GMT

**Related Video Above: Remembering the celebrities who died in 2023LOS ANGELES (WJW) — A sister of singers Nick Carter and the late Aaron Carter has died at the age of 41, TMZ reported Saturday. Bobbie Jean, who was featured on multiple episodes of the family reality show, "House of Carters," has more recently tended to stay out of the limelight. Her death comes after Aaron's untimely death in November 2022. Their sister Leslie also died in 2012. Founding member of Dixie Chicks killed in Texas crash: reports "I am in shock from learning of the sudden death of my daughter, Bobbie Jean; and I will need time to process the terrible reality of this happening for the third time," her mother Jane Carter told TMZ. "When I am able to think clearly, I’ll release a fuller statement; but until then I would request to be left to grieve in private."It has not been announced how Bobbie Jean died, but TMZ reported it happened Saturday morning. Aaron Carter, Bobbie Carter, Leslie Carter and Ange...

10th Annual 'Breakfast with Santa' takes place in Garfield Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:07 GMT

CHICAGO — In Garfield Park, there was a reason to celebrate Saturday.For the tenth year in a row, the Jackson Action Coalition hosted its "Breakfast with Santa" event.Back in 2013 — the event's first year — only about 100 people could come, but in the ten years since, Breakfast with Santa has more than quadrupled in size."Today, we are feeding 550 people," said Marseil Jackson with the Jackson Action Coalition. "This is our biggest one yet and we're excited to bless so many people."Jackson pointed toward the smiles on the faces of the numerous children running around at the event, and the adults who come every year to make memories as reasons why Breakfast with Santa is so enjoyable. More from Sean: Setting physical and mental goals for the new year? "This is my favorite event of the year and I started this because growing up my great-grandmother used to take me to breakfast with Santa at O'Hare," Jackson said. "And when I got older, I realized those memories, I cherished them and...

Northwest Side church hosts Christmas party for asylum seekers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:07 GMT

CHICAGO — Barbara Maldonado said she knows what it's like to leave everything behind and start over. She and her family left Puerto Rico in 2017 after the devastation of Hurricane Maria, but she found hope and help in church."When I arrived, they welcomed me like, 'this is your home, your house, whatever you need, we’re here,'" Maldonado said. "They’ve been there for me since I arrived. [Now] I've got to do now what they did for me."Now-a-days, Maldonado is the coordinator for the Ministry serving migrant families at St. Genevieve and Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr Parish. For months, Maldonado and parishioners have helped new arrivals with essentials like clothing and food, but she felt like this time of year is also a great time to spread some cheer. More from Gaynor: Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago sets up toy shop to help make the holidays special for families "When you talk to them, they tell you their stories," Maldonado said. "Let’s do something different — let’s draw ...

Weekend Break: Prancer's Pub Pop-Up

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:07 GMT

A hotel in the west suburbs transformed its lodge-themed bar into a Christmas spectacle, featuring a red, green and white menu crafted to holiday perfection.WGN's Courtney Spinelli takes you to the Prancer's Pub Pop-Up found at the Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook on Jorie Boulevard in the western suburbs.For more information on the Prancer's Pub Pop-Up, or to book a stay at the Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook, you can visit the hotel's website, or look up @hyattlodge on social media.

State of Texas: Legal challenge launched against bill to boost border security

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:07 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) - A day after Gov. Greg Abbott signed it into law, a bill that would make illegal border crossings a state crime in Texas is now facing its first legal challenge. The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas along with the ACLU and the Texas Civil Rights Project announced they filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging Senate Bill 4 from taking effect. The three plaintiffs bringing the lawsuit include El Paso County, the Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center and American Gateway. RELATED: New Texas law could reshape state authority over the US border In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, Adriana Piñon, the legal director of the ACLU of Texas, said, "We’re suing to block one of the most extreme anti-immigrant bills in the country. The bill overrides bedrock constitutional principles and flouts federal immigration law while harming Texans, in particular Brown and Black communities." The law — which is set to take effect next year on March 5 — makes it a state crime t...

Hundreds honor slain Hmong advocate and performer Tou Ger Xiong at Woodbury memorial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:07 GMT

Hundreds of people turned out at a Woodbury high school on Saturday to honor the life of Twin Cities comedian, Hmong advocate and political campaigner Tou Ger Xiong, who was killed earlier this month in Colombia.Tou Ger Xiong (Courtesy of the Bush Foundation)The candlelight vigil was held inside East Ridge High School, which is near where he grew up.Along with family, friends and community members, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., turned out to honor Xiong. Dozens of volunteers at the vigil wore pink T-shirts in honor of Tou Ger Xiong’s favorite color.His mother, Sao Lou Vue, speaking through a translator, said that although she was Tou Ger Xiong’s mother, she knew he belonged to the community and she could see that looking out into the crowd, and wanted to thank people for that.She told the crowd that in their darkest hour, she and her children would be there for people, like people were there for her family.One of Tou Ger Xiong’s...

Kiszla: Is the next Broncos loss an elimination game for quarterback Russell Wilson?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:07 GMT

With no room for error in the Broncos’ pursuit of a playoff berth, are the final three tests on the regular-season schedule also elimination games for quarterback Russell Wilson?From the jump, Wilson and coach Sean Payton have made for an odd couple. One’s a choir boy; the other’s a class (and crass) clown. How do you meld a small quarterback whose skill set requires strategic compromises with a big, complex playsheet authored by a huge ego?Now, in a relationship that only was going to be built on winning, DangeRuss doesn’t cook and Payton admits he must devise game plans with little margin for error.We can all argue until we’re blue in the face about what, if any, meaning to assign a silly tiff on the Broncos sideline between an unhinged coach and his robotic quarterback during a lopsided loss in Detroit. The bottom line: If Wilson and Payton can’t win together, why try to salvage a relationship between a mismatched quarterback and coach, whose personalities and p...