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Australia rallies to beat Czech Republic and reach Davis Cup semifinals

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:29:17 GMT

MALAGA, Spain (AP) — A game away from elimination, Australia found a way to rally and make its way back to the Davis Cup semifinals.Australia came from behind to defeat the Czech Republic 2-1 and reach the last-four for the second straight year on Wednesday.Alex de Minaur recovered from a set and a break down to keep the Aussies alive, then Max Purcell and Matthew Ebden won the decisive doubles match to set up a last-four encounter with Finland on Friday.Tomas Machac defeated Jordan Thompson 6-4, 7-5 in the first singles to put the Czechs ahead, but De Minaur beat Jiri Lehecka 4-6, 7-6 (2) 7-5, and then Purcell and Ebden — the 2022 Wimbledon champions — sealed the comeback by defeating Adam Pavlasek and Lehecka 6-4, 7-5 in the doubles.“I prided myself on a never-say-die attitude and he’s certainly in the same category”, Australia captain Lleyton Hewitt said of De Minaur. “For him to go out there and put the boys on his back again, we’re so proud of him. He had to dig really de...

Chiefs look to continue dominance over Raiders when they meet Sunday

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:29:17 GMT

KANSAS CITY (7-3) at LAS VEGAS (5-6)Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST, CBSOPENING LINE: Chiefs by 9 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.AGAINST THE SPREAD: Chiefs 6-4; Raiders 6-5.SERIES RECORD: Chiefs lead 72-54-2.LAST MEETING: Chiefs won 31-13 on Jan. 7, 2023, in Las Vegas.LAST WEEK: Chiefs lost to Eagles 21-17; Raiders lost at Dolphins 20-13.CHIEFS OFFENSE: OVERALL (8), RUSH (14T), PASS (6), SCORING (14).CHIEFS DEFENSE: OVERALL (4), RUSH (18), PASS (4), SCORING (3).RAIDERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (29), RUSH (31), PASS (23), SCORING (26T).RAIDERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (21), RUSH (27), PASS (11), SCORING (13).TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Chiefs minus-5; Raiders minus-7.CHIEFS PLAYER TO WATCH: CB Trent McDuffie. The second-year pro is making a strong case for an All-Pro nod this season. He had two sacks and forced a fumble against the Eagles last week, and he played a big part in shutting down wide receiver A.J. Brown. McDuffie has forced a league-leading five fumbles this season.RAIDERS PLAYER TO WATCH: RB Jos...

Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson is taking ‘a hard look’ at himself to improve ball security

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:29:17 GMT

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Garrett Wilson quickly established a reputation in the NFL for making dazzling catches and being a primary playmaker for the New York Jets.The second-year wide receiver doesn’t want a few fumbles and drops the last few weeks to tarnish what he has accomplished. Wilson also doesn’t it want to become a trend.“Yeah, man, I’ve never been one to put it on the ground often,” last season’s AP Offensive Rookie of the Year said Wednesday. “With the things happening these last few weeks, it makes me take a hard look in the mirror.”Wilson had his worst game of the season last Sunday at Buffalo, where he caught just two passes for 9 yards, lost a fumble and had a drop in the Jets’ 32-6 loss. He also dropped a pass two weeks ago at Las Vegas, and lost another fumble in the previous game against the Los Angeles Chargers.In all, Wilson has four drops after having five his entire rookie season. His two fumbles match how many he had last year, ...

Strong boxing year in Las Vegas concludes with Benavidez-Andrade for interim title

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:29:17 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Even as the Golden Knights, Raiders, Aces and even Formula One have captured most of the attention in the local sporting scene this year, Las Vegas has quietly re-asserted itself as the boxing capital of the world.A year of major fights culminates Saturday night when two undefeated boxers — David Benavidez and Demetrius Andrade — meet for the interim WBC super middleweight championship.“Vegas is the mecca,” Andrade said. “It’s the marquee spot in the sport of boxing.”The year’s first major fight in Las Vegas took place in April when Gervonta Davis stopped Ryan Garcia in the seventh round in a bout between undefeated lightweight challengers. The division’s unified champion, Devin Haney, won a unanimous decision over Vasiliy Lomachenko a month later.Terence Crawford became the unified welterweight title holder with a ninth-round technical knockout in July of Errol Spence Jr. And in September, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez defended his unified super middlewei...

Colts players express surprise at Shaquille Leonard’s empty locker

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:29:17 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Zaire Franklin and Shaquille Leonard had little in common when they entered the NFL in 2018.Leonard came with big expectations as a second-round draft pick out of South Carolina State. Franklin was viewed as a project after being a seventh-round selection out of Syracuse.With the Indianapolis Colts, though, the two linebackers excelled together. They learned how to take care of their bodies and study video, rooted for one another and developed a tight bond on and off the field.So when Franklin walked into Indy’s locker room Wednesday and saw the empty stall next to his, the stark reality hit: Leonard was no longer his teammate.“You know my locker was next to his for a lot of years,” Franklin said, shaking his head in disbelief a day after the Colts cut the three-time All-Pro and 2018 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. “It just feels different without him here.”Franklin actually had a notion Monday night because Leonard said he was going to be benched a...

Queen’s Ban Righ Centre ramps up programming for upcoming 50th anniversary

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:29:17 GMT

The Ban Righ Centre, a resource for women-identified students on Queen’s campus, has gotten an early start to celebrating its 50th anniversary coming up in 2024 with a new campaign.Located at 32 Bader Lane, The Ban Righ Centre supports women-identified students, with a focus on mature women students at Queen’s. They provide resources like financial assistance, academic advising, as well as both practical and personal support.“The center is unique in that we have, since its inception, been committed to providing a real sort of wraparound approach to student support. We’re a child-friendly space, so people can bring their kids in with them, we work with lots of moms, we work with mature students from all faculties, as I’ve mentioned,” describes Susan Belyea, Director of the Centre. “You really have to visit to get a sense of what makes us special,” she continues. “But, really, I think in an increasingly busy and sometimes impersonal world, such as our camp...

After 11-year-old with autism handcuffed, changes coming to Douglas County

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:29:17 GMT

Content warning: The video below may be difficult to watch. DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — The Douglas County school district and sheriff's office have resolved a lawsuit with a local family and agreed to safety improvements for students with special needs.The ACLU of Colorado filed a lawsuit against the Douglas County School District, Douglas County Sheriff's Office and specific school resource officers in 2021 on behalf of an 11-year-old boy with autism. ‘Family dynamic’ investigated at home where 3 found dead in Adams County The boy was handcuffed and left in a patrol car for hours after an incident with another student. There is police body camera video showing how the 11-year-old was handled."He unfortunately harmed himself in the back of the car, becoming so dysregulated based on what had happened to him. He was also then taken to a juvenile center, and his parents had to bond him out for $2,500," said Sara Neel, an ACLU attorney.SROs to get mo...

Paul Giamatti stars as a grumpy professor in ‘The Holdovers’

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:29:17 GMT

Who doesn’t love a good break away from school? You go home an visit friends, enjoy family and get some r-and-r.In “The Holdovers,” a break from school isn’t exactly that. Instead, the film’s about a few unlucky students left behind at boarding school with a grumpy professor. Oh the joy.“The Holdovers” is about a group of kids stuck at boarding school during a holiday break. That stinks.Dominic Sessa’s character, who plays Angus, is one of the unlucky ones.Making matters worse, he’s left behind with his grumpy professor and the school’s head cook.Golden Globe winner, Paul Giamatti, plays the crabby teacher and get this, the role was made especially for him by Alexander Payne, who also directed Paul in “Sideways.” Remember, he got an Oscar nod for that movie.Paul Giamatti: “It was strangely flattering because it’s a really great part. You know, I wondered, like, ‘Do I like smell like fish? Do I ...

Patriots QB Mac Jones on whether he will start against the Giants: ‘Hope so’

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:29:17 GMT

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Mac Jones didn’t have any answers about who the New England Patriots’ starting quarterback will be against the New York Giants on Sunday, either.A day after Patriots coach Bill Belichick stonewalled in his media availability about whether Jones would be benched, the 2021 first-round draft pick said he is preparing as if he will start, even though the coaches appear to be undecided.“Hope so. I mean, that’s the plan,” Jones said when asked directly if he will start. “A lot of that decision-making is things I can’t control, but I can control my attitude and my effort.”Just as Belichick repeatedly fell back on “everybody needs to be ready to go” in his availability on Tuesday, Jones pulled out the standby, “I’m focusing on what I can control.” The third-year quarterback said the word “control” 13 times during his 8 minute, 23 second media availability on Wednesday; Belichick dropped “ready” 14 times on Tuesday in 8:21.“We’ve had good conversations,” Jones ...

Deadly green mamba snake on the loose in Dutch city

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:29:17 GMT

(CNN) — A highly venomous snake is on the loose after escaping a home in Tilburg, the Netherlands on Monday afternoon, a municipality spokesperson told CNN on Wednesday.Local authorities are warning people to keep their distance and avoid approaching the poisonous green mamba, which is between 1.8 and 2 meters (6 to 6.5 feet) long.In the unlikely event someone is bitten by the snake, they should immediately call the emergency services, the spokesperson said.The tropical snake has a fondness for warm, dark spaces, the spokesperson added, saying it is unlikely the runaway mamba has slithered out of its owner’s house to face the cold Dutch winter.There are three species of green mamba, all native to Africa – one is found in the east and south of the continent, another in the west and another in the center. The municipality spokesperson did not specify which species the missing snake belonged to.Normally found in trees, this timid snake produces a fast-acting ve...