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'Come for the contact’: Chicago’s pro rugby team hoping to grow game organically

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:22 GMT

There’s a new pro team joining the Chicago sports landscape this year: the Chicago Hounds.They are the newest members of Major League Rugby and kicked off their inaugural season in February, just three months after the team was founded.“We try to embody that of a Hound and that of a Chicagoan,” said head coach Sam Harris. “Big shoulders, resilience, blue collar and working hard, whatever is thrown at us we are up for the challenge. That’s what fans can expect.”Harris never set foot in the City of Broad Shoulders until tapped to take over the expansion franchise after two seasons leading Austin. But the former pro rugby player from Australia has immersed himself in Chicago sports history.“I’ve taken a deep dive in the ‘85 Bears, I’ve been a huge 90’s Bulls fan. I wore all my video tapes out as a kid, and wanted to be NBA player growing up,” he said. How Chicago Fire FC, Red Stars have started their 2023 seasons Harris hopes the Hounds can become part of the city’s sports fabric, in...

Central Texas emergency leaders watch for severe weather this weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:22 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Emergency managers in Central Texas say they're watching for severe thunderstorms this weekend that could bring hail, heavy winds, and potential floods.Officials in the Hill Country early Saturday afternoon said things were calm but storm watchers were on standby in case the National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for the area.Marsha Hardy, emergency management coordinator for San Saba County, said she consulted the San Saba Sheriff's Office ahead of the severe weather's arrival to notify an outdoor event planned Saturday night."We did have a carnival set up in the park. We're assuming that they probably are staying up with the weather. Just in case we just want to make sure that they're aware of it," Hardy said.KXAN's First Warning Weather team predicted that storms possible in the Hill Country could reach Austin's metro area.Brandon Kimble lives in downtown Austin and says he tries to follow storm basics like staying inside, but does not have an emergency p...

Two 10-year-olds killed in Afton ATV crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:22 GMT

Two 10-year-olds died Saturday night after an ATV crash in Afton.First responders and deputies were called around 5 p.m. to the 1000 block of Neal Avenue South in Afton, according to a news release from the Washington County sheriff’s office.Responders found the juveniles trapped under an ATV and performed lifesaving efforts, but both were pronounced dead at the scene, per the release.The cause of the accident is still under investigation.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Nearly 4,500 pay respects to fallen sheriff’s deputy Crime & Public Safety | Slain woman’s son, ex-boyfriend charged with murder in July shootout that killed her in crossfire Crime & Public Safety | Judge dismisses trespassing charges against environmental activist Winona LaDuke Crime & Public Safety | Kim Potter, Brooklyn Center officer who shot Daunte Wright, to be released from prison Monday Crime & Public Safet...

St. Louis-area farmers scramble to save crops from unseasonal cold

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:22 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - Mother Nature surprised many around St. Louis on Earth Day, which brings near-freezing weekend temperatures to the region overnight. That freeze has many farmers scrambling to save their crops. If the plants don’t make it, it could be devastating to their bottom line. Andrew Wellie has spent most of the last three days on Theis Farm moving tarps and brinks to cover acres of strawberries. The berries very sensitive this time of year, especially when temperatures are expected to get below freezing.   Top Story: St. Louis police chief’s comment about prosecution crisis may surprise you “This is pretty substantial, getting this cold," said Wellie. "Usually, we might get 35 with a possible frost, but 32 and a freeze is really a bit much at this time." He says the tarp keeps in the heart from the soil, but he still won't sleep well. "I’m going to worry that if the tarps blow off at any point, whatever blows away and becomes exposed to the cold, tho...

Avalanche’s Valeri Nichushkin out for Game 3 vs. Seattle Kraken with injury

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:22 GMT

SEATTLE — Valeri Nichushkin is dealing with an injury and will miss Game 3 of the Avalanche’s first-round playoff series vs. the Kraken, a team spokesperson told The Post.Nichushkin has been battling an off-and-on ankle injury since undergoing surgery in November. He initially missed a month after the surgery but has been in and out of Colorado’s lineup since returning. He played in 53 regular-season games, scoring 17 goals and 47 points.Nichushkin was moved from the Avs’ top power play unit to the second unit in Game 2 on Thursday, with Artturi Lehkonen moving up. But Nichushkin scored the tying goal in a 3-2 series-knotting win at Ball Arena.His ice time was down 1:20 from Game 1.Nichushkin did not join the Avs for morning skate Saturday at Climate Pledge Arena, but coach Jared Bednar said the absence was only for maintenance.Nichushkin signed an eight-year contract with the Avalanche through 2029-30 last offseason, with an average annual value of $6.125 mi...

Oakland A’s get trounced in Texas as Fujinami is pummeled — again

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:22 GMT

By SCHUYLER DIXONARLINGTON, Texas — The A’s saw big offseason pickup Shintaro Fujinami get rocked again as the Texas Rangers routed Oakland 18-3 on Saturday night.With their eighth loss in nine games, the A’s set a record for the franchise’s worst-ever start through 21 games at 4-17 and extended a franchise record with a 21st consecutive game to start the season without a victory for a starter. Oakland starters are 0-10 while allowing 95 runs — all earned — in 95 1/3 innings.Fujinami (0-4) had improved in his two previous starts but matched the ugly numbers from his major league debut: eight runs in 2 1/3 innings.The 29-year-old rookie gave up seven hits, walked three, hit a batter and threw two wild pitches as his ERA rose to 14.40. The Japanese right-hander has lost all four starts.The key damage was delivered by Adolis Garcia, who hit three home runs and two doubles on an eight-RBI night. All three of García’s homers were two-run shots, and his first double also scored two ...

One dead, two injured after wrong-way collision near Woodside on I-280

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:22 GMT

One woman died and two other people were injured after a wrong-way crash on Interstate 280 southbound near Woodside on Saturday afternoon, according to the California Highway Patrol.Three southbound lanes of I-280 south of Highway 92 have been closed, causing heavy traffic in the two remaining lanes. The closures were expected to last until about 6 p.m. Officials advised drivers to seek out alternate routes.According to the CHP, a white Ford sedan driving northbound on the southbound section of the interstate crashed with a black BMW.The woman driving the BMW, who was in her 40s, was killed. A 14-year-old boy passenger in the BMW was transported to a hospital after sustaining major injuries.The driver of the Ford was arrested and transported to a hospital with minor injuries, officials said. It is not currently known if drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash.

Montgomery Co. hit by tornado amid high winds, heavy downpours in DC area

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:22 GMT

Listen to WTOP for the latest weather updates on the 8s and when it breaks.Heavy downpours and thunderstorms blew through the D.C. region on Saturday afternoon, creating the conditions for a brief tornado in Poolesville, Maryland.Officials with the National Weather Service confirmed an EF-0 tornado blew through the neighborhood just before 2 p.m., bringing down a few trees in the area.National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington has confirmed an EF-0 tornado that tracked through Poolesville, MD this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/82VOAdPZBP— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) April 23, 2023The tornado traveled the length of a football field, with peak winds at approximately 75 mph. No injuries or deaths were reported in a preliminary survey of tornado-related damages.Thunderstorms with damaging winds ranging 15-25 mph and some gusts as high as 55 mph swept through the national capital area’s southern Virginia suburbs around 1:15 p.m., according to WTOP meteorologist Chad Me...

Pirates run winning streak to 6 with 2-1 victory over Reds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:22 GMT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ke’Bryan Hayes hit a key triple and Rich Hill got through five innings for the win as the streaking Pittsburgh Pirates extended their winning streak to six games Saturday night with a 2-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.The Pirates raised their record to 15-7 for their best start since 1992, the last time they won a division title. It is also Pittsburgh’s longest winning streak since an 11-game run in 2018.The Pirates are coming off consecutive seasons of at least 100 losses and have finished last in the NL Central four years in a row.“I think it’s a considerable difference (from last year), the fact that we’re finding ways to win games,” Shelton said. “We had talked about it over the last couple years: With young teams, they have to find ways to win like that.”Bryan Reynolds had two doubles and a sacrifice fly, while Hayes and Tucupita Marcano added two hits each for the Pirates.The Reds got two hits apiece from Stuart Fairchild and Jose Barrero but have managed ...

US evacuates diplomats, shuts embassy in violence-torn Sudan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:22 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. troops are carrying out a precarious evacuation of American embassy staffers in the African nation of Sudan, shuttering the U.S. embassy there as fighting rages for a ninth day, according to a senior Biden administration official.U.S. troops safely left Sudanese airspace after airlifting American embassy personnel out of the capital, Khartoum, a second U.S. official confirmed.President Joe Biden ordered American troops to evacuate embassy personnel after receiving a recommendation earlier Saturday from his national security team with no end in sight to the fighting, according to the official who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the mission. The evacuation order was believed to apply to about 70 Americans. U.S. forces were flying them from a landing zone at the embassy to an unspecified location.The State Department has suspended operations at the embassy due to the dire security situation. It was not clear when the embassy mig...