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Still the standard: LeBron sets example for prospects eyeing NBA careers

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:32:00 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Brandon Miller was a little more than three weeks from being born when LeBron James made his NBA debut for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003.Two decades later, James is still near the top of the league Miller is about to enter.“Twenty years is a lot of years. I’m 20, myself. I feel old,” Miller said in jest.Prospects who gathered in Chicago this week for the NBA draft combine still see James as the gold standard, 20 years after he made the jump from St. Mary-St. Vincent High School in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.They see a player who entered the league when they were in diapers — or not even born — still going strong at age 38. He has a chance to cap a season in which he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s scoring king by being crowned champion for the fifth time, with the Lakers facing the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference finals.They see the results of the work he puts in to keep himself in top condition, the contributions he makes away...

Stars of Disney’s live-action ‘Little Mermaid’ talk about updating timeless tale

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:32:00 GMT

Up where they walk, up where they run, up where they stay all day in the sun! You know the lyrics. There’s a movie theater near you, and next week, it’ll be showing Halle Bailey as a live-action Little Mermaid. Deco’s Alex Miranda smells something fishy.But who cares, no big deal, I want dinneeeeeer…But back to the movie. Javier Bardem is King Triton, there’s Melissa McCarthy as Ursula and, I hear, several forks.It’s a whole new wooooorld. Oh, no, wait — that’s “Aladdin.” How does it go again?Halle Bailey (as Ariel, singing): “Part of that world.”Aaah, and not just because of the new stems.Awkwafina (as Scuttle): “I can’t quite figure it out.”Daveed Diggs (as Sebastian): “She’s got legs, you idiot!”“The Little Mermaid” is here in a live-action remake, what … 34 years later?Halle Bailey (as Ariel, singing): “Wouldn’t you think my collection’s complete. W...

Man arrested after ramming car through Vatican gates

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:32:00 GMT

A man was arrested after driving through a Vatican gateway on Thursday evening, according to a statement from the Vatican Press Room, as reported by Vatican News.After 8 p.m. local time, the man reportedly approached the Vatican Palace in his vehicle, where he was prevented from entering without authorization. After leaving, the vehicle returned at a high speed and rammed through gates.As the car drove through, a security guard fired a gun at the front tires of the car, hitting the fender.Security guards quickly closed the Gate of the Mint – which allows access to the back of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican gardens and Santa Marta, Vatican News reported.However the vehicle did reach the Courtyard of San Damaso, where the man exited the vehicle. He was then arrested by Vatican police.The man was about 40 years and was “experiencing a serious state of psychophysical alteration,” according to a doctor’s assessment, Vatican News reported. He is being held the barracks for the Vatican ...

Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo responds to calls for his resignation after Rachael Rollins reports, says he is not resigning

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:32:00 GMT

Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo responded to calls for his resignation Thursday, telling 7NEWS he has done nothing wrong and is not resigning.“Two federal bodies have done full investigations and the two reports — I’ve had the time to review them now — and neither one of them accused me of any wrongdoing,” Arroyo said outside his home in Hyde Park. “I’ve done nothing wrong and so, I’m absolutely not resigning.”Arroyo’s 2022 campaign to become Suffolk County District Attorney was a major part of the recent federal investigation into US Attorney Rachael Rollins. In its report, the Department of Justice’s Inspector General said Rollins and Arroyo exchanged dozens of messages about his campaign and about leaks of harmful information about his opponent, Kevin Hayden.As Rollins prepares to resign her position, Boston City Councilor At-Large Erin Murphy has been among those saying Arroyo should think about also stepping down. Murphy said revelations of Arroyo’s...

MGH employee arrested after allegedly bringing rifle to hospital

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:32:00 GMT

A Massachusetts General Hospital employee was arrested Wednesday after allegedly bringing a rifle into the hospital, according to a Boston police report obtained by 7NEWS. The report said police responded to the hospital Wednesday night “for a report of a male experiencing a mental breakdown while reportedly carrying a hunting rifle.”Police continued, saying the man “called 911 and stated that he heard god telling him that, if he did not want to be shot, that he should bring his rifle out and also that police were out to kill him.” The report said a responding officer who talked to the man on the phone was able to determine from background noise on the call that the man was near a hospital or fire station. Police soon learned the hospital was Mass General. Police said a hospital security officer “was able to make contact with the suspect and requested he place the object on the ground; not knowing it was a rifle as it was covered by a shower curtain. The police r...

Mets call up ex-Yankee catcher Gary Sanchez: reports

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:32:00 GMT

Gary Sanchez is back in the Big Apple.The Mets are calling up Sanchez from Triple-A Syracuse, according to reports. The catcher is expected to be activated Friday before the Mets host the Cleveland Guardians.Sanchez signed a minor league deal with the Mets earlier in the month after he was released by the San Francisco Giants.The former Yankee has excelled at the plate for the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse, slashing .318/.531/.546 with five RBI in 32 plate appearances.The Mets are calling up Sanchez while Omar Narvaez and Tomas Nido are missing games on the injured list. Buck Showalter’s club is currently relying on a tandem of Francisco Alvarez and Michael Perez behind the plate.Sanchez started his career with the Yankees in 2015, where he played just two games. He was the runner-up for the American League Rookie of the Year award the following season after slashing .299/.376/.1.032 with 20 homers and 42 RBI in just 53 games.The 30-year-old was selected to two Al...

Brookline makes statement, defeats Newton North in volleyball clash

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:32:00 GMT

BROOKLINE — Much of the Div. 1 title conversation has surrounded fellow Bay State Conference powers Needham, Natick and Newton North all season.But Thursday night, the Brookline boys volleyball team showed why it deserves a seat at that table.With tournament play around the corner, the Warriors (10-5) used a gritty effort for its first win of the year against any of those three conference rivals – outlasting a resilient Newton North squad missing its star setter, 3-1 (26-24, 25-21, 17-25, 27-25).Brookline freshman setter Alec Smagula distributed a sensational 37 assists, finding a three-headed monster of hitters in spurts to more than match the hard-hitting Tigers (12-5).“We feel like we’re still trying to get our footing, and it’s really tough in this conference,” said Brookline head coach Dana Jones. “But we’re trying to work to compete with anyone that’s here. … We wanted to bounce back and show that we’re capable of playing this game, too. They’re a great team, they put up...

SDSU: No former students in civil suit being investigated

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:32:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State University announced Thursday that none of its former students named in a civil suit alleging an off-campus sexual assault are actively being investigated.The civil suit against former SDSU and Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza, along with two of his former Aztecs teammates Zavier Leonard and Nowlin "Pa'a" Ewaliko, is still working its way through the legal system. In December, the San Diego District Attorney’s Office declined to move forward with criminal charges, saying there was “no path to a potential criminal conviction.”"While the university cannot provide specific information related to its student disciplinary proceedings or specific information related to student records, it can confirm that none of the former students named in the civil suit are now the subject of an active investigation," SDSU said in a statement on its Title IX website. "In addition, they are not currently enrolled, active students or affiliated with any athletics ac...

Garth Brooks extends sold-out Las Vegas residency with 2024 dates

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:32:00 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Country music star Garth Brooks promises no two shows of his new Las Vegas residency opening Thursday night will be the same.From the occasional special guest to a rotating cast of band members, Brooks, in an interview hours before his first show at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, even teased the possibility that fans may hear new music for the first — and last — time at “Garth Brooks/Plus One.”“We’re going to do stuff tonight that they’ll never hear again because it just didn’t work or we just never finish it,” Brooks told The Associated Press with a grin. “We’re going to get very personal, so if you’re not planning on getting some mud on you tonight, don’t show up. It’s going to get down and dirty.”Earlier in the day, Brooks also announced that Caesars Palace had extended his residency with 18 additional dates next year after tickets sold out quickly when they went on sale in late 2022.“When the 2023 shows went on sale, I felt extremely fortunate and blesse...

Salman Rushdie attends PEN America gala, first in-person appearance since stabbing

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:32:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Salman Rushdie has made his first in-person public appearance since being stabbed repeatedly and hospitalized nine months ago. The author was in attendance Thursday night for the annual gala of PEN America, the literary and free expression organization for which he once served as president.“I feel great,” said Rushdie, wearing a dark collarless jacket and matching pants. “I have a long association with PEN America and I’m just happy to be amongst writers and book people.”Rushdie, 75, attended the gala, where hundreds of writers and other PEN members gathered for the dinner benefit. “Saturday Night Live” founder Lorne Michaels and Iranian dissident Narges Mohammadi were among those scheduled to be honored. Last August, Rushdie was appearing at the Chautauqua Institution, a nonprofit education and retreat center in western New York, when he was assaulted by a young man dressed in black and carrying a knife. Rushdie sustained multiple wounds, leaving him blind in his ri...