North Texas coach Eric Morris is set for his debut against Cal after a season in the Pac-12

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:45:56 GMT

North Texas coach Eric Morris is set for his debut against Cal after a season in the Pac-12 California (0-0) at North Texas (0-0), Saturday, 4 p.m. ET (ESPNU)Line: California by 6 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: California leads 1-0. WHAT’S AT STAKE?North Texas coach Eric Morris’ debut comes against a familiar opponent since the Texas native spent last season as the offensive coordinator at Washington State. Cal opens on the road against a Group of Five opponent for the first time since 2004 (Air Force). The Golden Bears, who lost seven of eight to finish last season, are trying to end a six-game road losing streak. The Mean Green won their last five home games last season.KEY MATCHUPThe Cal defensive front vs. the Mean Green run game. The Golden Bears will have the foursome of Akili Calhoun, Brett Johnson, Stanley Saole-McKenzie and Derek Wilkins together after only Calhoun played in 2022, and was limited to four games. Johnson hasn’t played since December 2020. North Texas is the only FBS team with three running backs with at least 1,000 c...

Oklahoma State looks to sort out QB race in opener vs. Central Arkansas

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:45:56 GMT

Oklahoma State looks to sort out QB race in opener vs. Central Arkansas Central Arkansas (0-0) at Oklahoma State (0-0), 6 p.m. CT (Big 12 Now on ESPN+)Line: No line, according to  FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: Oklahoma State leads 1-0.WHAT’S AT STAKE?Having not yet named a starting quarterback to fill the void after four-year starter Spencer Sanders transferred to Mississippi, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy is hoping to gain clarity. He says he’ll play “multiple” QBs in the season opener against Football Championship Subdivision foe Central Arkansas. Coming off a 7-6 season during which the Cowboys barely extended their streak of winning seasons and bowl appearances to 17, they would like one of the trio of Alan Bowman, Garrett Rangel or Gunnar Gundy to seize the reins and invigorate what was at times a stagnant offense last season. The Cowboys also would like to look at some of the more than 50 new players in the program before hitting the Power 5 road to face Arizona State a week later. Central Arkansas was picked to finish second in the preseaso...

Yankees calling up top prospects Domínguez and Wells on Friday

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:45:56 GMT

Yankees calling up top prospects Domínguez and Wells on Friday DETROIT (AP) — The New York Yankees plan to call up prospects Jasson Domínguez and Austin Wells on Friday when active major league rosters expand from 26 to 28, moves made as center fielder Harrison Bader was claimed off waivers by Cincinnati.The pair could make their major league debuts Friday at Houston, when the Astros are scheduled to start Justin Verlander.Domínguez, a 20-year-old outfielder, signed four years ago for a $5.1 million bonus, tying for the high given to an international player in that year’s international amateur class. He began this season at Double-A Somerset and hit .254 with 15 homers, 66 RBIs and 37 stolen bases in 109 games, then was promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Aug. 22. Domínguez had three hits and three RBIs in his RailRiders debut and is batting .419 with 10 RBIs and three steals in nine games.“He’s got power, bat speed and strike zone discipline — he’s had that really from a young age, the ability to understand the strike zone,R...

Antes y después: el rastro de destrucción que dejó el poderoso huracán Idalia en Florida

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:45:56 GMT

Antes y después: el rastro de destrucción que dejó el poderoso huracán Idalia en Florida El huracán Idalia inundó la región de Big Bend de Florida el miércoles, dejando millas de inundaciones y devastación desde Tampa hasta Tallahassee.Idalia tocó tierra a eso de las 7:45 a.m. en la costa oeste de Florida como huracán de categoría 3 antes de desplazarse hacia el norte hacia Georgia, Carolina del Norte y Carolina del Sur como tormenta tropical.Las fotografías tomadas desde el terreno muestran calles convertidas en ríos y estructuras enteras desmanteladas mientras los residentes intentaban evacuar.Las imágenes de satélite tomadas por Maxar muestran la magnitud de los daños:Source

Cincinnati Reds claim outfielder Harrison Bader on waivers from Yankees

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:45:56 GMT

Cincinnati Reds claim outfielder Harrison Bader on waivers from Yankees CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds claimed Harrison Bader off waivers from the New York Yankees on Thursday, adding a speedy center fielder for the final month of their attempt to reach playoffs.A Gold Glove winner with St. Louis in 2021, Bader hit .240 with seven homers, 37 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 18 attempts over 84 games with New York this year. Bader strained his left oblique in spring training and didn’t make his season debut until May 2. He was sidelined between May 29 and June 20 with a strained right hamstring.He has a $4.7 million salary and the Reds will assume $783,333 he is owed for the final 31 days of the season. Bader is eligible for free agency after the World Series.Bader was acquired from St. Louis on Aug. 2 last year for left-hander Jordan Montgomery and hit five homers in nine postseason games for the Yankees.“It just means so much to me to be a New York City kid playing in the Bronx for the Yankees and, yeah, it’s just really special for a lot of reasons,...

Trump pleads not guilty in Georgia election subversion case, seeks to sever his case from others

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:45:56 GMT

Trump pleads not guilty in Georgia election subversion case, seeks to sever his case from others ATLANTA (AP) — Former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty on Thursday and sought to sever his case from some other defendants who are accused along with him of illegally trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Georgia.Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee had set arraignment hearings on Sept. 6 for Trump and the 18 others charged in the case. Trump's court filing entering a not guilty plea also waived arraignment, meaning he won’t have to show up for that.The decision to skip an in-person appearance averts the dramatic arraignments that have accompanied the three other criminal cases Trump faces, in which the Republican former president has been forced amid tight security into a courtroom and entered “not guilty” pleas before crowds of spectators. Georgia courts have fairly permissive rules on news cameras in the courtroom, and this means Trump won't have to enter a plea on television.Trump and 18 others were charged earlier this month in a 41-count in...

Giraffe “Turtle” bounces back after successful surgery at Zoo Miami

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:45:56 GMT

Giraffe “Turtle” bounces back after successful surgery at Zoo Miami An 8-month-old male giraffe named “Turtle” underwent successful surgery to remove a bone fragment from his right rear leg, which was most likely the result of an earlier unidentified trauma. The procedure aimed to relieve pain and restore normal movement to prevent life-threatening complications.On Wednesday, equine veterinary specialist Dr. Alexander Daniel and his team, joined by Zoo Miami’s veterinarians and Animal Health staff, collaborated to perform the surgery. Weighing over 500 pounds and standing nearly 10 feet tall, Turtle required a coordinated effort involving more than a dozen experts to immobilize, transport and monitor him during the 2-hour operation.Courtesy Zoo MiamiCourtesy Zoo MiamiDuring the procedure, Turtle underwent radiographs to guide the surgical approach and a routine blood draw. After the bone fragment removal, the joint received hydrogel and stem cells for healing, along with laser therapy, acupuncture and massage therapy for comfort.Cu...

Biden says he’ll travel to Florida on Saturday following Hurricane Idalia

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:45:56 GMT

Biden says he’ll travel to Florida on Saturday following Hurricane Idalia (CNN) — President Joe Biden said Thursday that he plans to travel to Florida Saturday morning after Hurricane Idalia battered the state earlier this week.“I’m going to Florida Saturday morning,” Biden said, after delivering brief remarks at Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters after thanking staff for their work responding to the storm.Biden will “visit the areas most impacted by the hurricane,” White House homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall told reporters at the White House Thursday. She noted Biden “has been receiving regular updates from [FEMA] Administrator Criswell and from me on the latest developments with Hurricane Idalia, and also of course with the ongoing recovery operations in Hawaii on the island of Maui.”Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida Wednesday morning as a powerful Category 3 storm and has been downgraded to a tropical storm as it makes its way up the East Coast, causing flooding, significant property damage and power outages ac...

Missouri judge says white man will stand trial for shooting Black teen who went to wrong house

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:45:56 GMT

Missouri judge says white man will stand trial for shooting Black teen who went to wrong house KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri judge ruled Thursday that the 84-year-old white homeowner who shot a Black teenager after he mistakenly went to the man’s house must stand trial.Clay County Judge Louis Angles issued the ruling after hearing from several witnesses at a preliminary hearing, including Ralph Yarl, the teenager who was shot by Andrew Lester on April 13 when Yarl went to the wrong house to pick up his younger brothers.Lester, a retired aircraft mechanic, is charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action. He previously pleaded not guilty in the shooting that shocked the country and renewed national debates about gun policies and race in America.Kansas City Officer Larry Dunaway described Lester as “an elderly guy who was scared” after the shooting. Another officer, James Gale, said Lester was clearly worried.“He said he hoped he didn’t kill anybody,” Gale testified.A handful of people wearing shirts that said “Justice for Ralph” were seen entering the ...

Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson launch Maui recovery fund

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:45:56 GMT

Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson launch Maui recovery fund (CNN) — Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson have launched a recovery fund for the people who lost housing in the Maui wildfires, the pair announced in a video shared on Instagram Thursday.The two stars together donated $10 million to get the campaign started and are inviting the public to help in the effort.“We have created the People’s Fund of Maui that will put money directly in the hands of the people who need it right now,” Winfrey said, explaining that adults who lost their primary homes in the Lahaina and Kula fires are eligible to receive $1200 a month. This includes both homeowners and renters.Winfrey said the idea for the fund was sparked by an article she read about Dolly Parton helping her community.“It is a clean direct from you directly to their hands and right away with some real immediacy,” Johnson added.The funds will be distributed “each month for as long as members of our community are still in need and as long as the funds last,” according t...