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Matt Olson ties Braves’ single-season home run mark with 51

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:35 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Andruw Jones had a hunch when the Braves traded for Matt Olson in 2022 — then immediately signed him to a $168 million, eight-year contract — that his season home run record wouldn’t last long.“I thought Matt would be the guy to break the record,” Jones said last weekend in Atlanta when his number was retired. “He’s just got that swing. I’m pulling for him and hopefully he can break it.”One more long ball this year and Olson will be all alone in Atlanta’s record book. Olson can set the franchise mark of 52 on Wednesday should he go deep when the Braves play the Philadelphia Phillies and try to clinch their sixth straight NL East title with a victory. Atlanta is already guaranteed a playoff spot.For at least one night, he’s even with Jones at 51. Olson hit a solo shot in Atlanta’s 7-6 win over the Phillies in 10 innings on Tuesday, tying the team record Jones set in 2005.“way to go @mattolson21 proud of you keep it going 60?” Jones wr...

Kris Bryant homers, has 3 RBIs against former team in Rockies’ 6-4 win over Cubs

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:35 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Kris Bryant hit a go-ahead homer in the sixth inning and had three RBIs against his former team, helping the Colorado Rockies beat the Chicago Cubs 6-4 on Tuesday night.Elías Díaz had three hits for Colorado, which denied the Cubs a chance to gain ground on Philadelphia in the NL wild card. The Phillies lead Chicago by 1 1/2 games for the first wild card, and the Cubs trail NL Central-leading Milwaukee by four games.Brenton Doyle had two hits, Jake Bird (3-3) got the win in relief of Chris Flexen, and Justin Lawrence caught Nico Hoerner looking with two on to end the game and get his 11th save for the Rockies.Seiya Suzuki homered and finished with three hits and Hoerner and Dansby Swanson had two hits apiece for Chicago.Bryant was activated from the injured list Monday after missing 45 games because of a fractured left index finger. He put Colorado ahead with a home run off of Daniel Palencia (5-2) in the sixth. Doyle tacked on an RBI single in the seventh.Bryant’s hom...

Australia’s highest court finds Qantas illegally fired 1,700 ground staff

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:35 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Qantas Airways lost its challenge to a court ruling on Wednesday that the Australian flag carrier had illegally fired 1,700 baggage handlers, cleaners and other ground staff at the height of pandemic travel disruptions.Seven High Court judges unanimously rejected Qantas’ appeal against a Federal Court full-bench decision. That court upheld a Federal Court judge’s ruling that the sacking of Qantas staff at 10 Australian airports in 2020 was illegal.The ruling is another major blow for the airline which Australia’s consumer watchdog is suing for more than 250 million Australian dollars ($160 million) for allegedly selling thousands of tickets mid-2022 for flights that already been canceled.Australian Competition and Consumer Commission initiated the Federal Court lawsuit two weeks ago for what it considers Australia’s most serious-ever breach of consumer law.That prompted Qantas former chief executive Alan Joyce to retire last week two months ahead of schedu...

Willi Castro hits 2-run home run in 7th and Twins top Rays 3-2

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:35 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Willi Castro hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning and the Minnesota Twins rallied to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 on Tuesday night.Edouard Julien also homered for the Twins, who lost Monday’s first game in the three-game series and began the night with a 7 1/2-game lead over Cleveland in the AL Central.René Pinto homered and Josh Lowe had an RBI single for the Rays, who missed an opportunity to gain ground in the AL East with Baltimore losing to St. Louis. Instead, Tampa Bay remains three games behind the Orioles.Minnesota was held to two hits through six innings before Max Kepler singled off Rays’ starter Zack Littell (3-6) with one out in the seventh. After Carlos Correa struck out, Castro hit a first-pitch slider to the seats in right-centerfield.“The low pitch is a hot spot for me. I think he made a mistake. … I was waiting for that pitch, and that was the result,” said Castro, hitting .393 in his past nine games. Five of his 11 hits in that span are fo...

Arlington shares promising standardized test results among most vulnerable students

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:35 GMT

Students in Arlington, Virginia, made strides in several subjects last year but saw a minor decline in writing, according to standardized test score data shared with the school board last week.Overall, the county reported a four-point increase in math and a seven-point improvement in social studies. All subgroups of students improved their science scores, too, the county said, while reading scores remained about the same.The latest data is from the Virginia standardized test known as the Standards of Learning, which students took last school year.In addition to general gains, Arlington reported score increases in math, science and social studies for Black and Hispanic students, English language learners, students with disabilities and economically disadvantaged students. However, the pass rate for the county’s economically disadvantaged kids was, in some instances, lower than the statewide average pass rate, Chief Academic Officer Gerald Mann said.“We’ve come a lon...

IDs released in South Platte River Trail homicides

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:35 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The Denver Office of the Medical Examiner has released the names of two people killed near the South Platte River Trail.Lluvia Robles-Banuelos, 31, was found shot to death on Sept. 6, near Interstate 70 and Washington Street. Three days later, 43-year-old Jeremy Hutcheson was found shot to death near South Platte River Drive and Florida Avenue. How Denver plans to spend $49M to house the homeless Authorities say both victims had multiple gunshot wounds. Both were pronounced dead on the scene.Denver Police said on Monday that they believe the shooting deaths are related. A police spokesperson said patrols have been beefed up along the trail.

McDonald's grease spill soils cars in the drive-thru

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:35 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Larry Hagen couldn’t wait to get his favorite combo meal at McDonald's, but when he pulled into the drive-thru line, he got a shock.“They were washing some type of sludge off the parking lot,” Hagen said.Desiree Eke told FOX31 the pavement at the McDonald's, located at Wadsworth Boulevard and Crestline Avenue, was slippery.“I actually was driving the Jeep through and slipped," Eke said. Failing to obey Colorado’s new roundabout law could cost you $70 Customers rolled down their windows and noticed a disturbing smell.“It was totally disgusting," Eke said.Eke and Hagen told FOX31 they quickly headed to local car washes to get rid of the residue stuck to the bottom of their cars and in the wheel wells.“That sludge fell off on the garage floor, so I drove straight to the car wash,” Hagen said.The Denver Department of Public Health and Environment told the Problem Solvers inspectors visited the property and found a grease spill had taken place but did not affect any foo...

How St. Jude helped save a local child from cancer

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:35 GMT

AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) -- Each St. Jude Dream Home ticket can have an impact on kids right here at home.Taryn Peterson invited FOX31 into her little oasis, her bedroom. Like many 7-year-olds, she has lots of teddy bears, but there’s a special one on her bookshelf.“This is it,” Taryn said. “It has all of my survivor pins.” Northglenn family raises awareness for rare pediatric brain cancer Taryn’s St. Jude survivor pins are symbols of the journey and strength this karate-kicking, underwater-swimming second grader has fought and climbed to sit here today."Being able to see her make friends and play and hang out with other cousins, all these different things that she worked so hard to do, it really teaches me when things at work or stuff gets challenging," Taryn’s dad, Kenan Peterson, said. "And I'm like, oh, it's really nothing. It's not brain surgery."At 2-and-a-half years old, Taryn’s parents took her to the hospital, thinking something seemed a bit off with their girl.“We were about...

O’Toole & Johnson: Mental health help for first responders must come from the top

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:35 GMT

As public safety leaders, we understand the phrase, “walk the walk.” We relate to the challenges our first responders encounter – chasing criminals, performing CPR, rushing into burning buildings – because we’ve been there, we’ve done it, and we’ve walked miles in those boots. It is a privilege to serve our communities and to work with exceptional colleagues on the front lines. In doing so we must acknowledge these challenges and advocate for our people.But what about the unseen challenges first responders face; the rarely-talked-about mental health struggles? Are public safety leaders willing to “walk the walk” when it comes to mental health?Compared with the general population, first responders experience higher rates of depression, post-traumatic stress, burnout, anxiety, drug and alcohol addiction, and more. These often lead to secondary health risks, such as cardiovascular disease and disordered sleep. First responders are also at higher risk for suicidal tendencies, a fact hig...

Taylor Swift and her ‘Anti-Hero’ top MTV VMAs in a show dominated by hip-hop, K-pop and Latin jams

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:35 GMT

By MARIA SHERMAN (AP Music Writer)Taylor Swift took home the top prize at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards for her “Anti-Hero” music video on a night full of surprises.“This is unbelievable. The fact that this is a fan-voted award means so much to me,” Swift said in her acceptance speech. “I can’t believe it was a year ago that I announced the ‘Midnights’ album.”The show, held at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, was Swift’s from nearly the beginning. The night’s first presenters were none other than NSYNC, who reunited to hand the best pop video award to Swift.In coordinating suits, Justin Timberlake, Joey Fatone, Lance Bass, Chris Kirkpatrick and JC Chasez shared the stage with Swift. Bass handed her a friendship bracelet, just as fans do at the superstar’s shows. “You’re pop personified,” she told the group.The night’s top nominee later returned to the stage to pick up the so...