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Kings probe ‘racial bias’ claims after rapper E-40 ejected

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:15 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The Sacramento Kings are investigating allegations from a Bay Area hip-hop star that “racial bias” led to him being kicked out of his seat during a playoff game against the Golden State Warriors.The rapper E-40 said in a statement that he was heckled throughout the game Saturday night and addressed one heckler “in an assertive but polite manner” before security guards came and ordered him to leave the arena.“Unfortunately, it was yet another reminder that — despite my success and accolades as a musician and entrepreneur — racial bias remains prevalent,” he said in a statement. “Security saw a disagreement between a Black man and a white woman and immediately assumed that I was at fault.”The Kings said they are investigating the circumstances behind the ejection.“The Sacramento Kings take these claims seriously and are investigating the facts and circumstances regarding the situation, as we do anytime an accusation like this is ...

Whitlock, Turner help Red Sox make short work of Angels, 2-1

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:15 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Garrett Whitlock threw seven innings of one-run ball, Justin Turner hit a two-run homer and the Boston Red Sox beat the Los Angeles Angels 2-1 on Sunday in a game that lasted just under two hours. Boston honored their 2013 World Series championship team before the game, including new Hall of Famer David Ortiz, the 2013 World Series MVP. Los Angeles star Shohei Ohtani had his 36-game on-base streak halted; it had been the longest in MLB. Making just his second start after starting the season on the injured list while recovering from offseason hip surgery Whitlock (1-1) allowed three hits with five strikeouts and two walks. He’s the first starter of the season to go more than six innings.With regular closer Kenley Jansen unavailable after working the previous two games, Ryan Brasier got the final three outs for his first save. He struck out Mike Trout and got Ohtani to fly out to close the 1-hour, 57-minute game. Reid Detmers (0-1) was given the loss in an outing w...

Rodríguez, Suárez spark Mariners to win over Rockies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:15 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — Julio Rodríguez isn't getting many hittable pitches in the early stages of his second season, meaning the ones that are left over the plate can't be missed.Especially when its a mistake with two strikes.Eugenio Suárez started Seattle’s big fourth inning with a solo home run, Rodríguez capped it with a three-run triple, and the Mariners rolled to a 9-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night.“Every time they make a mistake, we've got to make them pay. I feel like that's where you've got to make your money,” Rodríguez said. “There's a lot of good guys out there and they have a lot of good control but they're human just like we are. Being ready for those mistakes is going to lead you to better results.” Nuggets finally at full strength as they open NBA playoffs Seattle won its third straight on the strength of one big offensive outburst against Colorado starter Ryan Feltner and a stellar outing on the mound from George Kirby.Suárez went opposite field with ...

Beloved athlete among 4 people killed, over 15 teens shot at Sweet 16 birthday party in Alabama

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:15 GMT

(CNN) — A Sweet 16 party turned into a scene of carnage when four people were killed and at least 15 teenagers were shot and wounded, officials said.The deadly rampage happened in downtown Dadeville around 10:34 p.m. Saturday, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said Sunday.“There were four lives tragically lost in this incident, and there’s been a multitude of injuries,” Sgt. Jeremy J. Burkett said.One of the victims killed was Philstavious Dowdell — a stellar high school football player and the brother of the birthday girl, said Ben Hayes, the football team’s chaplain, and Keenan Cooper, who was the DJ at the party when the gunfire broke out.Cooper told CNN he didn’t hear a fight or disturbance prior to the shooting.“It’s really sad to see all the kids that were shot and the ones that are deceased,” he said. “And seeing all those bodies at the front door, all those kids are probably going to be traumatized.”At ...

Gillibrand defends Feinstein amid resignation calls: ‘She will come back to work’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:15 GMT

(CNN) — Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York on Sunday defended Dianne Feinstein and her ability to serve in the Senate amid calls from some Democrats for the longest-serving female US senator in history to step down.Gillibrand, who serves with Feinstein on the Senate Intelligence Committee, told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union” that her colleague from California still asks “some of the most searing, pointed questions of anyone on that committee” and she considers her a “role model and a mentor.”Feinstein was hospitalized in March for shingles and has yet to return to the Senate. She said last week that she had asked to be “temporarily” replaced on the Senate Judiciary Committee while she is recovering but remains committed to returning to the chamber.“We have had so many senators who have had illnesses, whether it’s Mitch McConnell’s illnesses or senators who have had strokes,” Gi...

High school star among 4 killed in Alabama party shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:15 GMT

By JEFF AMY and KIM CHANDLER (Associated Press)DADEVILLE, Ala. (AP) — A high school senior who planned to play college football was celebrating at his sister’s 16th birthday party Saturday night in Alabama when gunfire killed him and three other people and wounded several others.Police were gathering evidence Sunday at a dance studio where the party was held in downtown Dadeville. They did not immediately say if a suspect was in custody, or if they knew more about any motivation.Philstavious “Phil” Dowdell, a Dadeville High School senior who had committed to Jacksonville State University, was celebrating at his sister Alexis’ party before he was shot to death, his grandmother Annette Allen told The Montgomery Advertiser. “He was a very, very humble child. Never messed with anybody. Always had a smile on his face,” Allen told the newspaper, calling it “a million-dollar smile.”Dowdell’s mother was among those hurt in the shoo...

Whitlock spins gem, leads Red Sox past Angels 2-1

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:15 GMT

The Red Sox bullpen was in bad shape. Zack Kelly was already on the injured list and Chris Martin was set to join him. Kenley Jansen was down after pitching back-to-back nights and John Schreiber, Josh Winckowski and Kutter Crawford were all unavailable as well.With the staff so short Alex Cora said pregame they needed their starter to go deep, and Garrett Whitlock took his manager’s words to heart and delivered.Whitlock pitched the best game by a Red Sox starting pitcher this season, allowing one run over seven innings in Boston’s 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Whitlock allowed three hits and two walks with five strikeouts and faced the minimum 15 batters from the third to the seventh inning. In doing so he became the first Red Sox starter to record a quality start on the year, and not a moment too soon.“We needed an outing like that,” Cora said. “We were very short.”Whitlock was highly efficient throughout the afternoon, working quickly to...

Feeling the heat: Drought impacts Sriracha hot sauce supply

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:15 GMT

LOS ANGELES — As the weather in Southern California heats up this summer, residents may need to come up with backup options for bringing heat to their favorite dishes.Huy Fong Foods Inc., producer of Sriracha hot sauce, said last summer’s drought in Mexico continues to hamper its ability to churn out the iconic green-capped bottles of its popular spicy condiment.“Unfortunately, we are still experiencing a shortage of raw material,” the Irwindale, California, company said in a statement, referring to the chiles from Mexico that have ended up in short supply because of the bad weather conditions.Huy Fong Foods typically uses about 50,000 tons of chiles a year in producing its three condiments, which also include a chile-garlic sauce and a sambal oelek.Though some production resumed last fall, the company still has a “limited supply that continues to affect our production,” the statement said. And it’s not clear when chiles may become more readily av...

Here we go! ‘Mario’ tops charts again

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:15 GMT

“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” scored the best second weekend ever for an animated movie in North American theaters with $87 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.The family-friendly Universal release dropped a slim 41% from its record-making opening weekend.With $94 million from international showings, “Mario’s” global total now stands at a staggering $678 million, surpassing “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” to become biggest film of 2023 in just two weekends.“There are not enough adjectives to describe the enormity of this box office performance,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comsore.For most blockbusters, second weekends are usually down by about 60%, making “Mario’s” 41% drop especially noteworthy. According to Comscore, only a handful of films that opened over $100 million have had less of a fall, including “Shrek 2,” “Frozen 2,” 200...

Ticker: Cleanup begins after freight derailment; Spotify drops name-that-tune game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:15 GMT

Canadian Pacific Railway is leading cleanup and track repairs following a freight train derailment and fire in Maine, officials Sunday.Three rail workers were treated and released from a hospital after three locomotive engines and six train cars carrying lumber and electrical wiring went off the track Saturday in Somerset County, officials said.Canadian Pacific is leading cleanup, salvage and repair, working with state agencies and local fire and rescue, said Jim Britt from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Workers were removing derailed locomotives and rail cars, cleaning up crash debris and repairing the rail line. It was unclear how long the process would take.Some hazardous materials were on the train, officials said, but first responders determined they were not at risk of leaking or catching fire. There was no threat to public safety, officials said.A preliminary assessment put the blame for the derailment on a washout caused by melting ice and de...