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Raiders rookie QB Aidan O’Connell hopes his NFL story is just beginning

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:26 GMT

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — The idea of a walk-on at Purdue slowly rising to become a starting quarterback is enough of a long shot. Forget getting taken in the fourth round of this year’s NFL draft.That’s Aidan O’Connell’s story so far, one the Las Vegas Raiders rookie hopes won’t end any time soon.“I think you have to have a proper balance of reflection and also understanding I’m trying to play more football,” O’Connell said after practice Wednesday. “I don’t want that to be my story — just getting here. I want to work as hard as I can to stay.”O’Connell has been taking snaps behind starter Jimmy Garoppolo and 15-year veteran Brian Hoyer, both of whom had experience in coach Josh McDaniels’ system when he was the New England Patriots’ offensive coordinator.The Raiders signed Garoppolo in the offseason, and under typical circumstances, this season would be one for O’Connell to learn from two experienced QBs. But Garoppolo...

Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio shot and killed at campaign event

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:26 GMT

QUITO (AP) — Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was shot and killed Wednesday by an unidentified gunman while at a political rally in the country’s capital of Quito, President Guillermo Lasso said.The killing comes amid a startling wave of violence in the South American nation, with drug trafficking and violent killings on the rise.“I assure you that this crime will not go unpunished,” Lasso said in a statement. “Organized crime has gone too far, but they will feel the full weight of the law.”Videos on social media appear to show the candidate walking out of the event surrounded by guards. The video then shows Villavicencio entering a white truck followed by gunfire.The politician, 59, was the candidate for the Build Ecuador Movement. He was one of eight presidential candidates for the late August election.He was one of the most critical voices against corruption, especially during the government of former President Rafael Correa from 2007 to 2017. He fil...

Solve It 7: Wallet Woes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:26 GMT

An Athol woman’s wallet literally got away from her while she was on a rollercoaster. To get it back, she needed Solve It 7’s help.Yuri had her wallet when she and her family left for an amusement park this summer.But she didn’t come home with it.“It’s crazy. It’s crazy,” Yuri said.  Yuri watched her wallet take a spin of its own while she was on a rollercoaster.“We were on the last loop of the ride, we were turning, and as soon as that turn went, it flew out of my pocket! My heart sank because everything’s in that wallet that is important to me,” Yuri said.  Fortunately, Yuri spotted her wallet near the ride.“I even got a picture of it right behind the fence. It’s only five feet away,” Yuri said.  She thought park employees would quickly pick it up and give it back to her.  “They fi...

20-year-old charged in connection with mother’s murder in Danville, NH

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:26 GMT

A man was arrested in Revere and charged in connection with the death of his 59-year-old mother, who died in her home in Danville, New Hampshire last Thursday, officials said.James Coe, 20, was charged with second degree murder for “knowingly killing” his mother, Denise Damato-Coe, according to the attorney general.Revere police arrested Coe at the Revere Public Library on Wednesday afternoon after a warrant was put out for his arrest.Police responded to the Danville home last Thursday after receiving a 911 call from inside the Coe home. Damato-Coe was found dead at the scene, and her death was ruled a homicide as police canvassed the area on Friday.The AG said the 20-year-old Coe shot his mother with a rifle, and he’s also charged with Falsifying Physical Evidence for removing the rifle from the scene. Coe is currently being held without bail.

Biden sends military to help with brutal Hawaii wildfires. Follow live updates

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:26 GMT

By REBECCA BOONE (Associated Press)Follow live updates about wildfires that are racing across part of Maui in Hawaii, destroying sections of a historic town on the island and forcing some to flee to the relative safety of the ocean, where the Coast Guard rescued them. The fires forced evacuations in some areas, including the popular tourist spot of Lahaina Town. The National Weather Service says Hurricane Dora, which is passing south of the island chain at a safe distance, was partly to blame for strong winds driving the flames, knocking out power and grounding firefighting helicopters. President Joe Biden said in a statement Wednesday evening that he has ordered “all available Federal assets” to help combat wildfires that have devastated parts of the Hawaiian island of Maui, killing at least six people.The president said the Coast Guard and Navy are supporting response and rescue efforts, while the Marines are providing Black Hawk helicopters to fight the fires. The Haw...

Anti-corruption presidential candidate slain at campaign event in Ecuador’s capital

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:26 GMT

By Associated PressQUITO, Ecuador (AP) — An Ecuadorian presidential candidate known for speaking up against corruption was shot and killed Wednesday at a political rally in the capital, an attack that comes amid a wave of startling violence in the South American country.President Guillermo Lasso confirmed the assassination of Fernando Villavicencio and suggested organized crime was behind his slaying. Villavicencio was one of eight candidates in the Aug. 20 presidential vote, though not the frontrunner.“I assure you that this crime will not go unpunished,” Lasso said in a statement. “Organized crime has gone too far, but they will feel the full weight of the law.”The killing comes as Ecuador is rattled by rising violent killings and drug trafficking.Videos on social media appear to show the candidate walking out of the event surrounded by guards. The video then shows Villavicencio entering a white truck followed by gunfire.The politician, 59, was the candidate for the Build Ecuador ...

With 30+ home runs and doubles, Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. keeps building on career highs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:26 GMT

Luis Robert Jr. ripped a Clarke Schmidt sweeper to left field during the fourth inning Tuesday against the New York Yankees.The ball got over the wall for the Chicago White Sox center fielder’s 31st homer of the season.The night before at Guaranteed Rate Field, Robert drove in two runs with an eight-inning double to right. It was his 30th double of the season.Robert is the 10th player in Sox history with at least 30 doubles and 30 home runs in the same season. It’s a feat that’s happened 27 times in franchise history.With six more stolen bases, he would join Magglio Ordóñez (2001) as the only players in Sox history with at least 30 homers and doubles and 20 steals in the same season.“I would like to steal 20,” Robert said through an interpreter after Tuesday’s game, “but actually the real goal, the real number is 30. We’ll see if I’m able to do it.”Robert has been a bright spot for the Sox in a disastrous season. ...

Busted light on Green Monster a curveball at Red Sox game [+gallery]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:26 GMT

The Green Monster got its revenge.Kansas City Royals center fielder Kyle Isbel ripped a line drive in the second inning tonight that crashed into a light — the yellow ones counting outs in an inning.Those iconic lights are at the base of the Green Monster and they ate up this hit.It left Red Sox left fielder Masataka Yoshida baffled — and the hit was ruled a ground-rule double.Bizarre baseball that will now be added to Fenway lore … along with “Manny Being Manny” and taking a break inside the wall through the small door.A closer look from @bostonherald's own Matt Stone https://t.co/OYNwEtrL3t pic.twitter.com/oJgMH55UpV— Gabrielle Starr (@gfstarr1) August 10, 2023If you look closely at the Out #1 light, there’s a baseball in it pic.twitter.com/GrpwDFg15F— Gabrielle Starr (@gfstarr1) August 9, 2023Not sure how often this happens, but here's a similar moment from 2015 https://t.co/y8W3SdWy0j— Gabrielle Starr (@gfstarr1) August 10,...

A wildfire on Maui kills at least 6 as it sweeps through historic town, forcing some into the ocean [+gallery]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:26 GMT

By AUDREY MCAVOY and JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER (Associated Press)KAHULUI, Hawaii (AP) — A wildfire tore through the heart of the Hawaiian island of Maui in total darkness Wednesday, reducing much of a historic town to ash and forcing people to jump into the ocean to flee the flames. At least six people died and dozens were wounded.Acting Gov. Sylvia Luke said the flames “wiped out communities,” and urged travelers to stay away.“This is not a safe place to be,” she said.The wind-driven conflagration swept into coastal Lahaina with alarming speed and ferocity, blazing through intersections and leaping across wooden buildings in the town center that dates to the 1700s and is on the National Register of Historic Places.Aerial video revealed entire blocks of homes and businesses flattened, including on Front Street, a popular shopping and dining area. Other images portray a scene of near-complete devastation. Smoking heaps of rubble lay piled high next to the waterfront and gray smoke hove...

2 killed in collision identified as husband, wife

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:26 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- An elderly man and woman killed in a crash in the Bay Terraces neighborhood last week have been identified as husband and wife, local medical officials said.The husband, 76-year-old Ernest Martinez Acuna, was announced as one of the deceased, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office said on its website. The medical staff determined the other victim as Acuna's 74-year-old wife, but her family has yet to confirm her identify.The two-vehicle collision occurred on Aug. 1 around 9:24 p.m. in the 1500 block of South Woodman Street, per the San Diego Police Department (SDPD). ‘Bunnie Fire’ prompts evacuations in Ramona Authorities say a vehicle carrying four occupants crashed into another car while making a left turn onto Jaime Avenue.Acuna was reportedly unrestrained and was ejected from the vehicle, per law enforcement. When first responders arrived, he was performed dead at the scene.The 74-year-old woman was removed from the vehicle and taken to a hospital, where s...