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Interactive Discovery Spot exhibit at MODS lets children explore wonders of Florida’s ecosystem

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 12:29:21 GMT

A new science exhibit in downtown Fort Lauderdale is allowing children to uncover a fascinating world.The Museum of Discovery and Science has officially inaugurated Discovery Spot, a hands-on exhibit for children 6 and under to explore the wonders of the Florida ecosystem.Friday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony gave the exhibit’s first participants a chance to interact with the 4,000-square-foot learning space.“This is a place to make discoveries, to climb, to splash, to squeal, to laugh,” said Joe Cox, the museum’s president and CEO.The new exhibit is now open to children and families with museum admission.

Schneider homers in first MLB at-bat to help Blue Jays beat Red Sox 7-3

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 12:29:21 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Davis Schneider homered in his first major league at-bat and the Toronto Blue Jays tied their season-high with five home runs in a 7-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night.“I was smiling the whole way around the bases and into the dugout,” Schneider said. “The guys on the team, they made me feel welcome as soon as I stepped foot in the locker room. Having them cheer me on as I came back in was pretty special.”“What a moment for him. I wish all of Canada could have been in our dugout at that point,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “You can’t draw it up much better than that. Happy for him.”Whit Merrifield, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Daulton Varsho and Matt Chapman also went deep to help the Blue Jays (61-50) increase their lead over Boston (57-52) for the third and final wild-card spot in the American League. Toronto beat Boston for the first time in eight chances this season.Toronto starter Alek Manoh (3-8) pitched 6 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs and s...

Orioles crush Mets, 10-3, as James McCann gets revenge with career-high-tying 5 RBIs: ‘There’s something special here’

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 12:29:21 GMT

When the New York Mets sent catcher James McCann to the Orioles this winter, they weren’t seeking a top prospect; Baltimore returned a rookie-level outfielder who had yet to get out of the Dominican Summer League. They weren’t looking to save money; the Mets agreed to pay all but $5 million of the $24 million owed to McCann over the next two years.New York simply wanted to get rid of him.The trade freed up a roster spot amid an offseason that featured record spending, with the Orioles using the circumstances to secure a veteran backup for young star Adley Rutschman. McCann has served well in the role, with his work behind the plate and in meetings drawing praise from pitchers and manager Brandon Hyde. His offense, a trait of lesser importance for backup backstops, has still left plenty to be desired, but perhaps he was saving his best for vengeance.In the Orioles’ 10-3 victory over New York on Friday night at Camden Yards, McCann tied his career high with five RBIs...

Numbers drawn for $1.35 billion Mega Millions jackpot

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 12:29:21 GMT

By The Associated PressThe numbers were drawn Friday night for an estimated $1.35 billion Mega Millions jackpot and the wait is on to see if someone has finally won the prize.The numbers drawn were: 11, 30, 45, 52, 56 and the gold ball 20.It usually takes a couple hours before lottery officials can determine if there is a jackpot winner.Before Friday night’s drawing, there had been 30 straight drawings since the last time someone won the game’s jackpot on April 18. That has enabled the prize to steadily grow until it is now tied for the fourth-largest ever in the U.S.The jackpot is so hard to win because of the 1 in 302.6 million odds of matching the numbers on five white balls and a separate mega ball. The odds are better to win smaller prizes, which start at $2.The $1.35 billion prize is for a sole winner who is paid over 30 years through an annuity. Those who opt for a lump sum payout would get an estimated $659.5 million.A big slice of those winnings would go toward ...

B.C. port workers ratify deal, ends months-long labour dispute

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 12:29:21 GMT

VANCOUVER — British Columbia’s port workers have voted almost 75 per cent in favour of accepting a contract offer, ending weeks of turbulent job action that stopped billions of dollars’ worth of goods from being shipped.In a statement on the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada website, president Rob Ashton says the results of the latest ratification vote came in 74.66 per cent in favour of the agreement.Federal Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan confirmed in a tweet that both the ILWU and the BC Maritime Employers Association have ratified the deal, ending the dispute.O’Regan says, however, that he is directing federal officials to review the entire case to avoid a port disruption of this magnitude from happening in the future.The employers association says in a statement that it ratified the four-year deal, which “includes increases in wages, benefits and training that recognizes the skills and efforts of B.C.’s waterfront workforce,” ...

Prosecutors ask judge to issue protective order after Trump post appearing to promise revenge

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 12:29:21 GMT

The Justice Department on Friday asked a federal judge overseeing the criminal case against former President Donald Trump in Washington to step in after he released a post online that appeared to promise revenge on anyone who goes after him. Prosecutors asked U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan to issue a protective order in the case a day after Trump pleaded not guilty to charges of trying to overturn his 2020 election loss and block the peaceful transition of power. The order — which is different from a so-called “gag order” — would limit what information Trump and his legal team could share publicly about the case brought by special counsel Jack Smith.Such protective orders are common in criminal cases, but prosecutors said it’s “particularly important in this case” because Trump has issued public statements on social media regarding witnesses, judges, attorneys, and others associated with legal matters pending against him.” They pointed specifically to a post on ...

Trump indictment emerges as central GOP concern at Utah special election debate

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 12:29:21 GMT

FARMINGTON, Utah (AP) — Simmering right-wing anger over the U.S. Justice Department’s indictment of former President Donald Trump was on stark display at a Republican primary debate in Utah, where U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart’s plans to resign prompted the governor to call a special election to fill his seat in the state’s deeply conservative 2nd Congressional District.Little daylight emerged between two Republicans vying to replace resigning U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart: former Republican National Committeeman Bruce Hough and Celeste Maloy, a former congressional attorney endorsed by Stewart. But questions from right-leaning audience members in suburban Salt Lake City reflected how Trump — and the legal proceedings against him — continue to be an animating issue for voters.North Salt Lake’s Kathy Sorenson asked the candidates how they would work in Congress to remove what she called corruption with the federal government’s major law enforcement agencies.“We̵...

Fighting has plunged Sudan into a humanitarian catastrophe, senior UN officials say

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 12:29:21 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The conflict in Sudan has left 24 million people — half the country’s population — in need of food and other assistance, but only 2.5 million have received aid because of vicious fighting and a lack of funding, two senior U.N. officials said Friday.Eden Worsornu, director of operations for the U.N. humanitarian agency, and Ted Chaiban, deputy executive director of the U.N. children’s agency UNICEF, who just returned from Sudan, painted a dire picture of devastation and upheaval in Sudan, with no peace talks in sight.Worsornu said hotspots, such as the capital of Khartoum and the southern Kordofan and western Darfur regions, “have been shattered by relentless violence.” Nearly 4 million people have fled the fighting, facing scorching heat up to 48 degrees Celsius (118 F), and threats of attacks, sexual violence and death, she said.The now nearly four-month conflict has killed more than 3,000 people and wounded over 6,000 others, according to the last gover...

Reps. Higgins, Stefanik call on CBP to address staffing shortage at northern border

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 12:29:21 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- Democrats and Republicans are demanding attention at the border between the U.S. and Canada."A number of inspection booths that are manned by customs and border protection agents, that are closed, that are vacant," Rep. Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.) said.Higgins said there is a problem with long lines at the northern border."People have to wait up to an hour and a half to cross into the United States from Canada," Higgins said.Higgins said this is because Customs and Border Protection agents are getting redeployed from the northern border to the southern border and fewer border agents make it harder to cross from Canada into the U.S."You know what's going to happen," Higgins said. "People are going to turn around and go home."About 21 million people cross over from Canada every year and spend nearly $21 billion in the U.S. Higgins fears the border delays will slow down the flow of that money into the communities that rely on it."Our economies are deeply interdepende...

Twins hold off Diamondbacks, 3-2

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 12:29:21 GMT

Bailey Ober bounced back from the worst start of his young career, and three Minnesota players hit solo home runs as the Twins held off the Arizona Diamondbacks, 3-2, in front of an announced crowd of 29,408 at Target Field on Friday.Ober, who last was touched for career highs of six earned runs and 11 hits in four innings of a 10-7 loss at Kansas City, rebounded with five solid innings against the Diamondbacks, who started the day a game out of the last National League wild card spot.“I definitely felt good today, and the execution was a lot better,” Ober said. “Still, I just would like to put some at-bats away a little sooner, so I can go a little deeper into the game. Maybe go six or seven innings.”In a good battle of right-handers, neither starter figured in the decision. Arizona’s Merrill Kelly gave up two runs on six hits in six innings. He walked only one batter and struck out nine, but among the hits were game-tying, solo home runs by Jorge Polanco in the third and Max Keple...