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Cuban baseball team draws ire, support in Little Havana, protests outside loanDepot Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:46 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Jose Vilela fled Cuba for the United States when he was 14 years old after spending six months in a concentration camp. Like many of his compatriots, he settled in Miami’s Cuban neighborhood, Little Havana.Vilela, now 68, paced Sunday afternoon outside loanDepot Park, the Miami Marlins’ home stadium, where the Cuban national baseball team was set to face the United States for a spot in the World Baseball Classic hours later.For prideful expats eager to separate sports from politics, the country’s first ever baseball game in Miami was cause for celebration.But for Vilela and hundreds of others, it was reason to protest the political oppression they escaped. Vilela stalked the stadium Sunday, yelling outside for anyone associated with the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who embraced Soviet-style communism, to leave the community. That included many Cuban players who are technically government employees.“We don’t want them here,” Vilela said. “...

Bruce Willis’ wife Emma Heming marks his birthday with moving message about grief

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:46 GMT

(CNN) — As Bruce Willis turned 68 on Sunday, his wife Emma Heming marked the day with a candid message about caring for someone living with frontotemporal dementia (FTD).“I have started the morning by crying as you can see by my swollen eyes,” Heming said in a Reels posted to her verified Instagram.In her continued effort to spread awareness about the realities of processing a dementia diagnosis in the family, Heming went on to share that she thinks “it’s important that you see all sides of this.”“I always get this message where people always tell me, ‘Oh you’re so strong. I don’t know how you do it.’ I’m not given a choice. I wish I was but I’m also raising two kids in this,” she said, referencing their two daughters, Mabel and Evelyn.Heming added that “sometimes in our lives, we have to put our big girl panties on and get to it, and that’s what I’m doing. But I do have t...

MBTA lifts end-to-end speed restrictions on Green Line as crews identify and fix track defects

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:46 GMT

End-to-end speed restrictions that have been giving Green Line riders headaches were lifted Sunday and replaced with targeted block speed restrictions, the MBTA announced as crews continue to investigate and fix portions of track that have defects. Block speed restrictions are in place on the Green Line, which represents about 18 percent of track. MBTA test trains have confirmed that all speed signs on the Green Line are in place to safely implement block speed restrictions.The statement said, “block speed restriction is a length of track that may include multiple defects that need to be investigated or mitigated. As each defect is validated and corrected as needed, the length of the block speed restriction will be reduced until the block is fully removed.”The agency is urging riders to plan ahead and be prepared for delays.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

Police investigating break-ins at Newton pizza shop

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:46 GMT

Newton police are turning to the public for help as they investigate two break-ins this month at a local pizza shop. The first break-in at L’Oven Pizza on Beacon Street occurred around 3:30 a.m. on March 10. The second occurred Sunday around 12:41 a.m., according to Newton police. Entry was made after the suspects smashed a window on the front door and multiple bottles of liquor were stolen.Investigators say they believed the two incidents are connected. Anyone with information is urged to call Newton police at 617-796-2104 or the anonymous tip line at 617-796-2121.NPD is currently investigating two past B&E’s of Stone L’Oven Pizza located at 1649 Beacon St.

Worcester North boys earn historic championship

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:46 GMT

LOWELL — The city of Worcester has its state championship.Tahlan Pettway scored 22 points while Worcester North held off a strong second half effort from Needham as the Polar Bears captured the Div. 1 state championship with a 73-64 win over the Rockets in front of over 5,000 fans on Sunday night at the Tsongas Center.Worcester North is the first public school from Worcester to win a Div. 1 state championship.“This is legendary,” said Worcester North coach Al Pettway. “Worcester being the second biggest city in New England, when I figured out no one had one a state title from here I could not believe it. Everyone rallied behind us. Everyone in the community. It was just awesome to see.”For Al’s nephew Tahlan the celebration following the final buzzer provided an emotional moment. Tahlan transferred into North from Burncoat prior to the school year.“I’ve been playing with these guys for a long time so to see them happy makes me even happier,&...

Blarney bluster: Bostonians rage on through a chilly St. Patty’s parade

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:46 GMT

The wind and cold couldn’t keep waves of folks decked in Boston and Irish pride from pouring out into the streets of Southie for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.“Can’t say no to a green drink,” Southie resident Brad Keeley chanted emphatically as a round of bagpipes blasted by. “Would never say no to a green drink.”Boston’s parade, which is part of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations that date back to 1737 in the city, started the typical 3.5 mile loop through South Boston at 1 p.m., looping from around the Broadway T stop to the Andrew T stop.As early as noon, thousands of people started to line the route, clutching green boots of beer, rocking shamrock headbands and attempting jigs in the street.The crowd represented everyone from long time Southie residents stepping out their front doors to travelers in from all over just to participate in the famed tradition.“A really good atmosphere,” said Steph Riley, a Scottish ...

Yankees Notebook: Orioles get to Gerrit Cole in penultimate spring start

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:46 GMT

TAMPA — The Orioles roughed up Gerrit Cole before he could exit his second-to-last start of the spring, tagging the Yankees righty for four earned runs in his fifth and final frame in Sunday’s game, a 5-3 win for Baltimore at George M. Steinbrenner Field.That inning included a hit by pitch, a walk, a three-run homer from Orioles catcher Anthony Bemboom, and an RBI double from outfielder Kyle Stowers. All in all, Cole threw 29 pitches and ended the day with a 3.94 ERA for the spring.“That was the worst inning of the spring, so it’s not a great taste in my mouth,” Cole said afterward, though he took a few positives out of the performance. Namely, he made it through five and experienced a stressful inning while up against the pitch clock. “There’s gonna be a time when I’m gonna throw 30 or somewhat pitches in an inning on the clock, so it was good to get through that,” Cole continued.Cole also allowed six hits and eight hard hit bal...

Mets outfielder DJ Stewart hits for cycle in 8-7 loss against Cardinals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:46 GMT

He didn’t get a win but he’ll still remember the game.Outfielder DJ Stewart went 4-for-4 with four RBI, hitting for the cycle in Sunday’s 8-7 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at Clover Field.Stewart told SNY that bench coach Eric Chavez planned to pull him out the game after hitting a double in his third at-bat. The outfielder convinced Chavez to stay in the game, giving him the chance to hit a 351-foot home run to right field to complete the cycle.It was the first cycle in a spring training game since 2020.“It’s unbelievable,” Stewart told SNY. “It’s my first one ever.”Stewart joined the Mets for spring training as a non-roster invitee. The Baltimore Orioles selected Stewart in the first round of the MLB Draft back in 2015. He has major league experience but only played in three games with the Orioles last season. The 29-year-old slashed .256/.390/.488 with the Norfolk Tides, the Orioles Triple-A affiliate, in 2022.GAME NOTESLeft...

North Korea: Latest missile simulated nuclear counterattack

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:46 GMT

North Korea on Monday described its latest ballistic missile launch as a simulated nuclear attack on South Korea as leader Kim Jong Un called for his nuclear forces to sharpen their war readiness in the face of his rival’s expanding military exercises with the United States.The report by Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency came after the South Korean and Japanese militaries on Sunday detected North Korea firing a short-range ballistic missile into waters off its eastern coast. The launch came less than an hour before the United States flew long-range B-1B bombers for joint training with South Korean warplanes as part of the allies’ biggest combined training in years, which the North has condemned as a rehearsal for a potential invasion.KCNA said the missile, which flew about 800 kilometers (500 miles), was tipped with a mock nuclear warhead and that the test reaffirmed the reliability of the weapon’s nuclear explosion control devices and warhead detonators. It said...

Looking to avoid the Kennedy Expressway construction? Here's what you should know.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:46 GMT

CHICAGO — A major years-long construction project on the Kennedy Expressway in Chicago is expected to cause extensive delays.Starting on Monday night, the Illinois Department of Transportation will close the two left-hand inbound lanes of the Kennedy Expressway from the Edens Expressway to Ohio Street. FULL DETAILS: Kennedy Expressway construction project to last 3 years, cost $150M and begins in March It will take about a week for the full configuration to get into place.The express lanes will stay open to inbound traffic until this year’s repairs are done.If you're looking to avoid some frustration and getting stuck in the delays, there are some things you can do to try to avoid the delays. Kennedy Expressway construction project to begin Monday The Illinois Department of Transportation said drivers should consider traveling at off-peak times and avoid rush hour.IDOT also said motorists should consider taking public transportation.Some options include the Metra Union Pacific N...