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Extreme heat might have been the ‘nail in the coffin’ for these critical Florida coral

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:52 GMT

(CNN) — This summer’s record-breaking marine heat wave may have been the “nail in the coffin” for an iconic species of coral that serves as a building block of marine life around Florida. Still, scientists see other “signs of hope” in the state’s reefs.Elkhorn coral populations – which had already been teetering on the brink of local extinction in Florida – have been “decimated” by the extreme ocean heat, according to Liv Williamson, a coral expert and assistant scientist from the University of Miami.“This heat wave was the nail in the coffin for these populations,” Williamson said. “There were already so few elkhorn coral individuals on Florida’s reefs that various genetic rescue plans were underway, but now almost all the corals we would have used for such efforts have died.”Elkhorn and staghorn coral are some of the only so-called branching corals found in the Carribean. They were also the first coral species to gain protected status under the Endangered Species Act, Jennifer Moo...

Pritchard signs extension, leads Celtics over 76ers 114-106 in preseason opener

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:52 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Payton Pritchard scored 26 points hours after agreeing to a four-year, $30 million contract extension, and the Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 114-106 on Sunday in the preseason opener for both teams.Pritchard shot 9 for 14, including 6 for 11 on 3-pointers, and had four assists in 23 minutes for the Celtics. Pritchard’s three-point play gave Boston a 102-101 lead with 4:28 left to play and the Celtics stayed in front from there.Jaylen Brown scored 19 points on 7-for-10 shooting and accounted for all the scoring in a 9-0 third-quarter run as Boston took an 81-80 lead into the final period.Kristaps Porzingis hit all four of his first-half shots — including a 3-pointer — and all four of his free throws, scoring 13 of his 17 points to help Boston take a 59-57 lead at halftime. Jayson Tatum had 13 points and 10 rebounds, but shot just 3 for 13 and went 0 for 4 on 3s.Tyrese Maxey finished with 24 points and four assists to lead the 76ers. Jaden Springer had 14 po...

Fitchburg State University issues warning after woman reports being sexually assaulted in library

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:52 GMT

Fitchburg State University issued a safety notice to members of the campus community on Sunday, Oct. 8, advising that University Police are searching for an individual who reportedly assaulted a female student on campus and may have approached other female students in recent days.A student reported being assaulted in the campus library the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 4, between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. She described the assailant as a male, approximately 19 years of age, standing 5 feet, 5 inches tall with a thin build, who spoke with an accent of undetermined origin. She said the male had approached her in the library and began a conversation before initiating physical contact that escalated into sexual assault.The incident was reported to police this weekend. Subsequent investigation yielded reports from additional female students who said they had recently been approached at other campus locations by a suspicious male, with a similar physical description from the allegations in t...

Why didn’t the Ravens kick a field goal at end of half vs. Steelers? ‘Miscommunication’ led to surprise snap.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:52 GMT

It was a weekend of “miscommunication” in Baltimore pro sports.One day after Orioles outfielder Aaron Hicks missed a hit-and-run sign in the ninth inning Saturday, leading to Gunnar Henderson being thrown out attempting to steal second base in a 3-2 loss to the Texas Rangers in Game 1 of the American League Division Series, the Ravens made a costly mistake of their own in a 17-10 defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers.Leading 10-3 with 30 seconds left in the first half and the clock running, the Ravens faced a fourth-and-2 from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 23-yard line. With one timeout remaining for Baltimore, it made little sense to risk turning the ball over on downs and coming away with no points.Well, that’s exactly what happened.Quarterback Lamar Jackson lined up in the shotgun with wide receivers Nelson Agholor and Zay Flowers and tight end Mark Andrews in a bunch formation to his right, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. split out left and running back Justic...

Orioles fans filled Camden Yards with optimism this weekend. They left disappointed, clinging to hope.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:52 GMT

Fans brimming with optimism and bubbling anticipation filed into Oriole Park by the tens of thousands this weekend.They left with anxious disappointment, clinging to shreds of hope.These Orioles — the ones who have enraptured Baltimore all year long with dazzling victories and effortless comebacks, forming one of the most surprising turnarounds in recent baseball history — suddenly find themselves with their backs against the wall.The Orioles lost, 11-8, to the Texas Rangers on Sunday, their pitching betraying them a day after their bats did, and are now staring at a 2-0 deficit in the best-of-five American League Division Series. The more than 46,000 fans who attended sold-out Camden Yards on both Saturday and Sunday, cheering so loudly that Orioles pitcher Kyle Bradish said he could feel the field shaking, are left hoping that they won’t have to wait another year, at a minimum, to witness postseason baseball again.Baltimore will need to pull off three straight...

Instant analysis from Orioles’ 11-8 loss to Texas Rangers in Game 2 of ALDS

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:52 GMT

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Orioles’ 11-8 loss to the visiting Texas Rangers in Game 2 of the best-of-five American League Division Series on Sunday at Camden Yards.Nathan Ruiz: Among all starters in the postseason, Kyle Bradish and Grayson Rodriguez ranked first and second in second-half ERA. The Orioles opened their first postseason appearance in seven years with those young right-handers leading their rotation, and they lost both games. To get back to that pair, Baltimore will rely on Dean Kremer and Kyle Gibson — one of whom likely would be in the bullpen if not for John Means’ elbow injury.Jacob Calvin Meyer: What makes the 11 walks and 11 runs even harder to swallow is the fact the Orioles’ lineup did exactly what it needed to do. They got to Jordan Montgomery early, scored five runs off him and knocked him out of the game in the fifth inning. Then, Aaron Hicks delivered a th...

5 things to know as Israel declares war, bombards Gaza Strip after unprecedented Hamas attack

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:52 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Fighting continued in southern Israel early Monday after the government declared war and intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip in retaliation for a major surprise attack by Hamas. Special forces soldiers were brought in to try to retake four Israeli sites held by Hamas following its unprecedented weekend incursion, which officials said involved as many as 1,000 fighters. The militants blew through a fortified border fence and gunned down civilians and soldiers in Israeli communities along the Gaza frontier during a Jewish holiday. The rampage included an assault on a crowded music festival where authorities had removed about 260 bodies by Sunday.Israel struck back with airstrikes including one that flattened a 14-story tower that held Hamas offices. At least 700 people were reported killed in Israel and more than 400 in Gaza. Thousands were wounded and some 123,000 displaced people in Gaza were in shelters, the U.N. said.Here are some key takeaways from the ...

Workers at Mack Trucks reject tentative contract deal and will go on strike early Monday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:52 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Union workers at Mack Trucks have voted down a tentative five-year contract agreement reached with the company and plan to strike at 7 a.m. Monday, the United Auto Workers union says.Union President Shawn Fain said in a letter to Mack parent company Volvo Trucks that 73% of workers voted against the deal in results counted on Sunday.The UAW represents about 4,000 Mack workers in three states. Union leaders had reached a tentative agreement on the deal on Oct. 1. The deal included a 19% pay raise over the life of the contract. Fain said in his letter to Volvo Trucks’ head of labor relations that employees working early Monday will exit the factories after performing tasks needed to prevent damage to company equipment.The workers are in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida.The Associated Press

Americans among those killed in attacks against Israel: reports

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:52 GMT

(AP) — Preliminary reports indicate that at least four American citizens were killed in the attacks against Israel and an additional seven were missing and unaccounted for, according to a U.S. official. The numbers were in flux and could change as a fuller accounting is compiled, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss initial reports received by the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. Most, if not all, of those reported dead or missing are dual U.S.-Israeli citizens, the official said. Hamas surprise attack stuns Israel, leaves hundreds dead in fighting, retaliation Earlier on Sunday, Israel’s minister for strategic affairs, Ron Dermer, said American citizens are also among those who were taken captive. But he gave no details about them or those possibly killed.“Unfortunately I can’t. We have a lot of dual citizens in Israel. I suspect there are several, but we’re still trying to sort through all of all this information after this horrific surprise attack...

Austin FC overhauls scouting, player personnel departments after missing MLS playoffs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A day after they were eliminated from the Major League Soccer playoffs, Austin FC announced changes within its scouting and player personnel departments.Manuel Junco, who has been the club's chief scout since 2020, has left and Sean Rubio, the senior vice president of player personnel, has accepted a job with another MLS club. Rubio also filled in as sporting director after Claudio Reyna resigned. Austin FC eliminated from playoff contention after 4-2 loss to LAFC at home Austin FC also added five new full-time scouts who are "stationed throughout Europe and South America." Coming off a disappointing season where Austin FC failed to make the postseason after making the Western Conference finals last season, Sporting Director Rodolfo Borrell reaffirmed his faith in head coach Josh Wolff."Identifying global and national talent is an essential ingredient to achieving long-term success within MLS as it is anywhere else and it is important for Austin FC to view player s...