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Djokovic wins first singles match in the US since 2021, Swiatek rolls at Western & Southern Open

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:14:28 GMT

MASON, Ohio (AP) — Novak Djokovic had a short night in his first singles match in the U.S. since 2021, beating Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Wednesday in the Western & Southern Open after the Spaniard retired early in the second set with a lower back injury. The second-ranked Djokovic won the first set 6-4, then two points into the second set, Davidovich Fokina hunched over in pain following his return and ended the match after 46 minutes. “Kind of a mixed emotions tonight,” Djokovic said. “Really like Alejandro. Get along really well off the court. We train with each other while in Spain. He told me he has a lower back issue that appeared yesterday. It’s unfortunate.”Djokovic, 36, lost in doubles on Tuesday in his return to the country after missing events because of COVID-19 vaccine restrictions. It’s his first appearance in Cincinnati since 2019. The 2020 Western & Southern Open was played in New York due to COVID-19. It was Djokovic’s first singl...

Pastor of flooded DC church says area is often ‘forgotten’ by city leaders

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:14:28 GMT

(new Image()).src = "https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=9be9c680-c459-4acb-af21-654a2ccca384&cid=c2ffed0c-3624-46c0-b10f-97c976d290a3";cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "9be9c680-c459-4acb-af21-654a2ccca384",mediaId: "25152579-13b1-4821-9d13-86b2335eae07"}).render("b6e0f7045a6940158402d7851635f580"); });When heavy rains led to flash flooding in D.C. on Monday, Rhode Island Avenue Northeast wasn’t the only area to see devastation.Ten minutes down the road in Ivy City, stormwater mixed with sewage rose from storm drains outside Bethesda Baptist Church. The water would rise to almost 3 feet, stranding a car on nearby Mt. Olivet Road and pouring into the offices of the 100-year-old church.Pastor Michael Thompson said when he arrived at home Monday night he saw news reports of flooding in Northeast D.C. Since the church had seen five previous floods, he grew concerned.“I immediately turned around and came back to the church,” Thompson said.The water had receded when h...

Harper hits 2 solo home runs, Nola pitches 5 innings as Phillies beat Blue Jays 9-4

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:14:28 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — Bryce Harper hit two solo home runs, Aaron Nola pitched five innings and snapped a four-start winless streak and the Philadelphia Phillies won for the first time in four games, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 9-4 on Wednesday night.Jake Cave added a solo homer and Nick Castellanos had two hits and an RBI as the Phillies avoided a sweep in the two-game series north of the border.Philadelphia had scored only two runs in losing its previous three games, but broke out of that slump with an 11-hit effort against the Blue Jays.Harper went 3 for 4 with a walk in his 25th career multi-homer game and first this season. He tied the score at 2 by connecting off Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman in the third inning, then made it 9-4 with a leadoff blast off righty Bowden Francis in the ninth. The homers were Harper’s eighth and ninth of the season.Nola (10-8) allowed four runs and four hits, including a two-run home run by Daulton Varsho. Nola struck out seven and walked four, t...

Caught on camera: Motorcyclist smashes rock through woman's window

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:14:28 GMT

AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — An Aurora woman said a simple honk of her horn sent a motorcyclist into a fit of rage Monday, leaving her with a smashed window and a fear he could hurt others in her community.Kayla Johnson said on Monday afternoon, she noticed a man on a small motorcycle driving recklessly on Tower Road and Interstate 70, swerving through traffic and nearly running into a semi-truck. These vehicles are the top choice for airport thieves She honked her horn, but she never expected what would happen next.“He pulled off to the side of the road and grabbed some little rocks and was throwing them at my car," Johnson said. "Then he found a large rock and came up to the side of my car where I was sitting, and he took the giant rock and bashed in the window." Johnson said her two children were in the back seat, but thankfully nobody was hurt."It was terrifying," she said. "I had my kids in the back seat, so I was just scared for my life, and their life.”A motorcyclist in Aurora sm...

Bregman, Tucker, McCormick homer in 1st inning as the Astros rout Marlins 12-5

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:14:28 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker and Chas McCormick homered in the first inning, and the Houston Astros built a huge early lead and beat the Miami Marlins 12-5 Wednesday night.Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez hit his fourth career triple, and Mauricio Dubón had two hits and two RBIs as Houston banged out 12 hits and took two of three games from Miami.“If we start swinging a little bit, we can be a dangerous team,” McCormick said.Justin Verlander (8-6) benefited from the early run support and threw five innings of five-run ball. The veteran right-hander gave up nine hits, walked two and struck out two in his third start since he rejoined the Astros at the trade deadline Aug. 1.“It felt nice to have a lead to work with,” Verlander said. “Obviously, quite a difficult day. You would like for things to be easy when the guys give you a lead early, but just wasn’t in the cards today.”José Altuve returned to Houston’s lineup one-day after fouling a pitch off his left shin and leaving the...

Carlos Vives, Goya Cares announce global initiative aiming to help end child trafficking

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:14:28 GMT

An award-winning musician has joined forces with Goya to help end child trafficking.Multiplatinum singer and songwriter Carlos Vives announced on Wednesday morning that he is collaborating with Goya Cares.This global humanitarian initiative is also dedicated to educating on child mental health.Vives and Goya held a news conference at the Hotel AKA Brickell in Miami to promote the partnership.They’re providing $30,000 to this not-for-profit initiative.Vives is set to perform in Miami on Oct. 28.

Can you block a business from opening?

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:14:28 GMT

A couple had a dream of opening their own business, so they sold their home to buy a warehouse. But then their dreams were crushed when they were told they can’t open a business there. Legal or illegal? It’s why they called Help Me Howard with Patrick Fraser.When Luis was a kid, he liked cars. As an adult, he turned his attention to Harley-Davidson motorcycles.Luis Mellado: “There’s nothing like it. You feel the wind blowing in your head, the sound of the engine.”And Jasmine enjoys the bikes as well.Jasmine Mellado: “I ride on the back; I don’t ride by myself. I ride on the back.”Not only do they like to ride, Luis also loves to repair the bikes.Then one day, he saw a warehouse bay for sale in Perrine, and the couple decided to buy their own shop.Luis Mellado: “We sold our home, and with the profits of it, we bought the warehouse.”The Mellados used all their money to buy a warehouse to repair Harleys. Talk about going all i...

Where to eat during August in Brussels’ EU Quarter

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:14:28 GMT

BRUSSELS — You can hear the birds chirping.Over the regular hustle and bustle of the European Quarter, that’s a sound not typically audible.It’s around lunchtime, and walking around what expats call Plux — Place du Luxembourg, the heart of Brussels’ EU quarter — the uniformity of grey suits has been replaced by tourist attire of sneakers and raincoats.Some are taking pictures of the European Parliament — judging by the number of people gathered around it, apparently the most Instagrammable of EU institutions.As the most important institutions driving politics on the Continent, the European Commission, Council and Parliament are usually a hive of activity.Not today.The monumental glass and metal buildings where the European Union is administered are all enveloped in an aura of abandonment and calm.When EU institutions enter summer mode, the area becomes a ghost town. There’s much less traffic, few pedestrians and many closed businesses.Too bad for those unlucky few who are not taking...

Bananas bring act to Brockton

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:14:28 GMT

BROCKTON — A few months after tickets immediately sold out upon availability, 6,000 fortunate fans at Campanelli Stadium didn’t need to resort to TikTok videos to experience the first-ever performance of “Banana Ball” in Massachusetts on Wednesday night.As part of its World Tour, the internet-sensation Savannah Bananas baseball team brought their viral theatrics to the City of Champions, where they lost to their rival Party Animals, 3-2, at the home of the Brockton Rox. The Party Animals won on a home run in the Bananas’ version of extra innings, called a “showdown.”It didn’t come before yet another dazzling show for the packed attendance, though, as the team — more focused on entertainment than baseball itself — brought smiles and laughter like no other could to a crowd loaded with children of all ages. Dances, unique rules to the game, constant fan interactions, local fan-favorite celebrity appearances, and frequent celebrations charmed fans all night, hardly allowing anyone the s...

Saints’ Simeon Woods Richardson coming back from series of strength-draining ailments

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:14:28 GMT

When Saints starter Simeon Woods Richardson was scratched from his start last Saturday he was said to be suffering from a tired arm.Simeon Woods Richardson.Turns out he had a weak excuse for being absent.A series of health issues over the course of a week combined to drain his strength and caused him to lose 10 pounds from his 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame.“A sinus infection that led to a gum infection that led to wisdom teeth coming in,” Woods Richardson said prior to the Saints’ 4-3 loss to Indianapolis on Wednesday at CHS Field. “I couldn’t eat solid foods for about eight days.”Analytics showed that the velocity of Woods Richardson’s fastball was down a few miles per hour. After conferring with the coaches, Woods Richardson said it was a mutual decision to give him some time off.“In the middle of the season it’s go, go, go,” he said. “When something like that happens to you and then you try to get going again, you’re just trying to catch back up. I had a great bullpen (throwing sessi...