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MIAMI — Welp, we seem to have confirmation that Donald Trump Jr. has moved on from Kimberly Guilfoyle. The Daily Mail has photographic proof of president elect Donald Trump’s oldest son walking hand in hand with socialite Bettina Anderson on the street in West Palm Beach. The outlet reports that they had just dined at swanky restaurant Buccan, near her townhouse “where they have been spending days and nights.” The day of the recent rendezvous is unclear. Back in September, the two were pictured at the Honor Bar inside the Royal Poinciana Plaza upscale mall; onlookers said they appeared as if they were on a hot date . But then Guilfoyle – who’s been engaged to Jr. since New Year’s Eve 2020 – was back in the picture, and out on the campaign trail stumping for her soon-to-be father in law (or so she thought). Now that Election Day is over, and the outcome worked out in their favor, it seems the Republican power couple are done. No one involved has released a statement, and there have been no cryptic posts, but that cozy snap kind of speaks for itself. As does the fact Guilfoyle hasn’t been seen with Jr. in weeks. The writing was on the wall, though. An insider told RadarOnline last month that Trump and Guilfoyle have been kaput for a while, and that they only put on a united front for political reasons. “It is all a show. The appearances of Don and Kimberly are for the cameras,” the source told the gossip outlet. “The Trump family does not want to create an enemy in Kimberly; they are concerned about what damage she could do. But make no mistake, the romance is over.” This high-profile split could get complicated, real estate wise. The former Fox reporter and businessman own two homes on adjacent lots in elite gated community Admiral’s Cove in Jupiter. ©2024 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes continues to build great chemistry with his tight end — just not the one you might think. Mahomes threw two touchdown passes to Noah Gray for the second straight week as the Kansas City Chiefs held off the Carolina Panthers 30-27 on Sunday. A week after losing at Buffalo, the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs (10-1) maintained their position atop the AFC. Mahomes completed a 35-yard touchdown strike to Gray on the game’s opening possession and found him again for an 11-yard TD in the second quarter. Gray has four touchdown catches in the last two weeks — twice as many as nine-time Pro Bowler Travis Kelce has all season — and has become a weapon in the passing game for the Chiefs, who lost top wide receiver Rashee Rice to a season-ending knee injury in Week 4. Kelce was still a factor Sunday with a team-high six catches for 62 yards, although the four-time All-Pro looked dejected after dropping one easy pass. Kelce has 62 receptions for 507 yards this season, while Gray has 26 catches for 249 yards. But Gray's development is a good sign for the Chiefs — and he's on the same page with Mahomes. On his second TD, Gray said Mahomes “gave me the answer to the test there” before the play. “He told me what coverage it was pre-snap," said Gray, who had four receptions for 66 yards. “That’s just the blessing you have of playing with a quarterback like that. Offensive line did a great job blocking that up and the receivers did a great job running their routes to pop me open. Really just a group effort right there on that touchdown.” Gray said that's nothing new. “Pat’s preparation, his leadership is just something that I’m fortunate enough to play alongside,” Gray said. "I love it. It gets me motivated every time we go out there for a long drive. Having a leader like that, that prepares every single week in-and out, knows defenses, knows the game plans. “I’m just fortunate enough to play alongside a guy like that.” Mahomes completed 27 of 37 passes for 269 yards and three TDs, and he knew what to do on the second TD to Gray. “It's not just me, it's the quarterback coaches and the players, we go through certain checks you get to versus certain coverages,” Mahomes said. “I was able to see by the way they lined up they were getting into their cover-zero look. I alerted the guys to make sure they saw what I saw and I gave the check at the line of scrimmage.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

New Orleans mayor launches own 'news' service for the cityFINANCIAL advisory (FA) firms – long regarded as a marginal segment in the distribution of funds and insurance products – are coming into their own, thanks to a rising demand for wealth management services among affluent Singaporeans. Some FA firms have surpassed the key S$1 billion threshold in terms of assets under advisory (AUA), buoyed by clients’ rising wealth levels and growing sophistication. Banks and tied insurance agencies continue to dominate the distribution of insurance and funds. But more clients today seek comprehensive advice including access to instruments such as exchange traded funds (ETFs), stocks and bonds, as well as legacy planning – areas that insurers and banks may not be able to fulfil.

Former Kentucky wide receiver Dane Key, one of the top offensive players in the transfer portal, announced on social media Tuesday that he will transfer to Nebraska. Key posted a photo of himself in a Nebraska uniform wearing the No. 6 he wore at Kentucky. The simple post contained the letters "GBR," short for "Go Big Red," with an emoji heart. Key led Kentucky this past season with 47 receptions for 715 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games as the Wildcats finished 4-8. In three seasons, the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder has 126 receptions for 1,870 yards and 14 TDs in 38 games (35 starts). Key has one season of eligibility remaining after he was a four-star recruit in the class of 2022. --Field Level MediaNoneCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes continues to build great chemistry with his tight end — just not the one you might think. Mahomes threw two touchdown passes to Noah Gray for the second straight week as the Kansas City Chiefs held off the Carolina Panthers 30-27 on Sunday. A week after losing at Buffalo, the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs (10-1) maintained their position atop the AFC. Mahomes completed a 35-yard touchdown strike to Gray on the game’s opening possession and found him again for an 11-yard TD in the second quarter. Gray has four touchdown catches in the last two weeks — twice as many as nine-time Pro Bowler Travis Kelce has all season — and has become a weapon in the passing game for the Chiefs, who lost top wide receiver Rashee Rice to a season-ending knee injury in Week 4. Kelce was still a factor Sunday with a team-high six catches for 62 yards, although the four-time All-Pro looked dejected after dropping one easy pass. Kelce has 62 receptions for 507 yards this season, while Gray has 26 catches for 249 yards. But Gray's development is a good sign for the Chiefs — and he's on the same page with Mahomes. On his second TD, Gray said Mahomes “gave me the answer to the test there” before the play. “He told me what coverage it was pre-snap," said Gray, who had four receptions for 66 yards. “That’s just the blessing you have of playing with a quarterback like that. Offensive line did a great job blocking that up and the receivers did a great job running their routes to pop me open. Really just a group effort right there on that touchdown.” Gray said that's nothing new. “Pat’s preparation, his leadership is just something that I’m fortunate enough to play alongside,” Gray said. "I love it. It gets me motivated every time we go out there for a long drive. Having a leader like that, that prepares every single week in-and out, knows defenses, knows the game plans. “I’m just fortunate enough to play alongside a guy like that.” Mahomes completed 27 of 37 passes for 269 yards and three TDs, and he knew what to do on the second TD to Gray. “It's not just me, it's the quarterback coaches and the players, we go through certain checks you get to versus certain coverages,” Mahomes said. “I was able to see by the way they lined up they were getting into their cover-zero look. I alerted the guys to make sure they saw what I saw and I gave the check at the line of scrimmage.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflSenate leader dismisses report of altercation with Akpabio

His new title: executive director of the Office of Major Events. Besides the 2028 Games, he will also work on the 2026 World Cup and the 2027 Super Bowl.

Dana Hull | (TNS) Bloomberg News Jared Birchall, Elon Musk’s money manager and the head of his family office, is listed as the chief executive officer. Jehn Balajadia, a longtime Musk aide who has worked at SpaceX and the Boring Co., is named as an official contact. Related Articles National Politics | San Francisco’s fentanyl deportations show rare unity with Donald Trump National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Calmes: A peaceful transfer of power — you can thank Biden National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action National Politics | Bill Clinton is hospitalized with a fever but in good spirits, spokesperson says But they’re not connected to Musk’s new technology venture, or the political operation that’s endeared him to Donald Trump. Instead, they’re tied to the billionaire’s new Montessori school outside Bastrop, Texas, called Ad Astra, according to documents filed with state authorities and obtained via a Texas Public Information Act request. The world’s richest person oversees an overlapping empire of six companies — or seven, if you include his political action committee. Alongside rockets, electric cars, brain implants, social media and the next Trump administration, he is increasingly focused on education, spanning preschool to college. One part of his endeavor was revealed last year, when Bloomberg News reported that his foundation had set aside roughly $100 million to create a technology-focused primary and secondary school in Austin, with eventual plans for a university. An additional $137 million in cash and stock was allotted last year, according to the most recent tax filing for the Musk Foundation. Ad Astra is closer to fruition. The state documents show Texas authorities issued an initial permit last month, clearing the way for the center to operate with as many as 21 pupils. Ad Astra’s website says it’s “currently open to all children ages 3 to 9.” The school’s account on X includes job postings for an assistant teacher for preschool and kindergarten and an assistant teacher for students ages 6 to 9. To run the school, Ad Astra is partnering with a company that has experience with billionaires: Xplor Education, which developed Hala Kahiki Montessori school in Lanai, Hawaii, the island 98% owned by Oracle Corp. founder Larry Ellison. Ad Astra sits on a highway outside Bastrop, a bedroom community about 30 miles from Austin and part of a region that’s home to several of Musk’s businesses. On a visit during a recent weekday morning, there was a single Toyota Prius in the parking lot and no one answered the door at the white building with a gray metal roof. The school’s main entrance was blocked by a gate, and there was no sign of any children on the grounds. But what information there is about Ad Astra makes it sound like a fairly typical, if high-end, Montessori preschool. The proposed schedule includes “thematic, STEM-based activities and projects” as well as outdoor play and nap time. A sample snack calendar features carrots and hummus. While Birchall’s and Balajadia’s names appear in the application, it isn’t clear that they’ll have substantive roles at the school once it’s operational. Musk, Birchall and Balajadia didn’t respond to emailed questions. A phone call and email to the school went unanswered. Access to high quality, affordable childcare is a huge issue for working parents across the country, and tends to be an especially vexing problem in rural areas like Bastrop. Many families live in “childcare deserts” where there is either not a facility or there isn’t an available slot. Opening Ad Astra gives Musk a chance to showcase his vision for education, and his support for the hands-on learning and problem solving that are a hallmark of his industrial companies. His public comments about learning frequently overlap with cultural concerns popular among conservatives and the Make America Great Again crowd, often focusing on what he sees as young minds being indoctrinated by teachers spewing left-wing propaganda. He has railed against diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and in August posted that “a lot of schools are teaching white boys to hate themselves.” Musk’s educational interests dovetail with his new role as Trump’s “first buddy.” The billionaire has pitched a role for himself that he — and now the incoming Trump administration — call “DOGE,” or the Department of Government Efficiency. Though it’s not an actual department, DOGE now posts on X, the social media platform that Musk owns. “The Department of Education spent over $1 billion promoting DEI in America’s schools,” the account posted Dec. 12. Back in Texas, Bastrop is quickly becoming a key Musk point of interest. The Boring Co., his tunneling venture, is based in an unincorporated area there. Across the road, SpaceX produces Starlink satellites at a 500,000-square-foot (46,000-square-meter) facility. Nearby, X is constructing a building for trust and safety workers. Musk employees, as well as the general public, can grab snacks at the Boring Bodega, a convenience store housed within Musk’s Hyperloop Plaza, which also contains a bar, candy shop and hair salon. Ad Astra is just a five-minute drive away. It seems to have been designed with the children of Musk’s employees — if not Musk’s own offspring — in mind. Musk has fathered at least 12 children, six of them in the last five years. “Ad Astra’s mission is to foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in the next generation of problem solvers and builders,” reads the school’s website. A job posting on the website of the Montessori Institute of North Texas says “While their parents support the breakthroughs that expand the realm of human possibility, their children will grow into the next generation of innovators in a way that only authentic Montessori can provide.” The school has hired an executive director, according to documents Bloomberg obtained from Texas Health and Human Services. Ad Astra is located on 40 acres of land, according to the documents, which said a 4,000-square-foot house would be remodeled for the preschool. It isn’t uncommon for entrepreneurs to take an interest in education, according to Bill Gormley, a professor emeritus at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University who studies early childhood education. Charles Butt, the chairman of the Texas-based H-E-B grocery chain, has made public education a focus of his philanthropy. Along with other business and community leaders, Butt founded “Raise Your Hand Texas,” which advocates on school funding, teacher workforce and retention issues and fully funding pre-kindergarten. “Musk is not the only entrepreneur to recognize the value of preschool for Texas workers,” Gormley said. “A lot of politicians and business people get enthusiastic about education in general — and preschool in particular — because they salivate at the prospect of a better workforce.” Musk spent much of October actively campaigning for Trump’s presidential effort, becoming the most prolific donor of the election cycle. He poured at least $274 million into political groups in 2024, including $238 million to America PAC, the political action committee he founded. While the vast majority of money raised by America PAC came from Musk himself, it also had support from other donors. Betsy DeVos, who served as education secretary in Trump’s first term, donated $250,000, federal filings show. The Department of Education is already in the new administration’s cross hairs. Trump campaigned on the idea of disbanding the department and dismantling diversity initiatives, and he has also taken aim at transgender rights. “Rather than indoctrinating young people with inappropriate racial, sexual, and political material, which is what we’re doing now, our schools must be totally refocused to prepare our children to succeed in the world of work,” Trump wrote in Agenda 47, his campaign platform. Musk has three children with the musician Grimes and three with Shivon Zilis, who in the past was actively involved at Neuralink, his brain machine interface company. All are under the age of five. Musk took X, his son with Grimes, with him on a recent trip to Capitol Hill. After his visit, he shared a graphic that showed the growth of administrators in America’s public schools since 2000. Musk is a fan of hands-on education. During a Tesla earnings call in 2018, he talked about the need for more electricians as the electric-car maker scaled up the energy side of its business. On the Joe Rogan podcast in 2020, Musk said that “too many smart people go into finance and law.” “I have a lot of respect for people who work with their hands and we need electricians and plumbers and carpenters,” Musk said while campaigning for Trump in Pennsylvania in October. “That’s a lot more important than having incremental political science majors.” Ad Astra’s website says the cost of tuition will be initially subsidized, but in future years “tuition will be in line with local private schools that include an extended day program.” “I do think we need significant reform in education,” Musk said at a separate Trump campaign event. “The priority should be to teach kids skills that they will find useful later in life, and to leave any sort of social propaganda out of the classroom.” With assistance from Sophie Alexander and Kara Carlson. ©2024 Bloomberg News. Visit at bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Finalists for South Wales Health and Care Awards' Care Hero Award

The Nationals have won the third annual draft lottery and will pick first in the 2025 MLB draft. Here is the complete draft lottery pick order: Nationals Angels Mariners Rockies Cardinals Pirates The other non-playoff teams are placed in reverse order of regular season standings, while the postseason teams are sorted by a combination of round exit, revenue sharing status and regular season winning percentage. The Athletics and the White Sox were both ineligible from picking inside the first 10 picks in 2025. You can find more details about the 2025 draft lottery here . Now that we know the complete order of the 2025 first round, we’re taking a shot at projecting the first 30 picks of the draft. This is our third post-lottery mock draft exercise. In 2023 , we identified 20 of 30 players who went in the first 30 picks, and in 2024 we identified 15 players. A mock draft this far out is much more useful in identifying top-of-the-class talents than any team/player connections, and we’re hopeful that the 2025 group will have a higher hit rate thanks to a stronger high school hitting demographic at the top of the class. You can see our most recent 2025 draft rankings here , with full reports for every player. 2025 Mock Draft As the son of Matt Holliday and the younger brother of Jackson Holliday , Ethan is one of the more hyped prep prospects in recent years. He’s more than just a good baseball name, however, and more advanced relative to his peers at this stage in his career than Jackson was before him. Ethan is built more like his father than his brother, with a 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame and tons of power that comes from a smooth and easy lefthanded swing. Ethan has a keen batting eye and rarely expands the zone, though he does have some swing-and-miss tendencies. A shortstop now, Holliday could wind up at third base or a corner outfield spot in the future, though he has the offensive chops to profile anywhere on the diamond. The top-ranked player in the 2025 class, LaViolette has a special blend of power, on-base ability, physicality, speed and defense that makes for a package of big-time upside. He’s hit 50 home runs in two seasons with Texas A&M and is a career .297/.433/.726 hitter. He turns in plus run times despite a 6-foot-5, 230-pound frame and can play center field—at least at the start of his pro career. While LaViolette’s upside is clear, his 25.4% strikeout rate is on the higher end for the first college hitter off the board. Improving his contact skills will help stave off challengers during the 2025 draft season. Bremner enters the 2025 draft season as one of a trio of elite pitching prospects in the class alongside Florida State’s Jamie Arnold and California prepster Seth Hernandez. He’s a lean righthander with a 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame and excellent feel for a three-pitch mix. Bremner sits 94-96 mph with a fastball that touches 98 and features excellent riding life. He also has a pair of secondaries with plus potential: a mid-80s tumbling changeup and a mid-80s gyro slider with snappy finish. He pitched well with Team USA over the summer and owns a 31.1% strikeout rate and 6.4% walk rate in two seasons with UC Santa Barbara, but he hasn’t started more than eight games in a single season. Hernandez is a better pitching prospect than any high school player from the 2024 class and draws comparisons to pre-injury Dylan Lesko from the 2022 class thanks to his two-way ability, athleticism, fastball velocity and excellent changeup. While prep righties are a risky demographic, it’s easy to make a case for Hernandez having the highest overall upside in the class thanks to a mid-90s fastball that’s up to 98 with good extension, a projectable 6-foot-4 frame and a double-plus changeup with huge velocity separation and great movement that stymies lefties and righties. Add in a pair of high-spin breaking balls, and it’s easy to dream on a front-of-the-rotation starter. Jackson Jobe (No. 3 overall in 2021) is the only prep righty to get picked inside the first 10 picks in the last five drafts—Hernandez has a chance to match or exceed that in 2025. Hernandez leads an incredibly strong trio of 2025 prospects from Corona (Calif.) High. Tyler Bremner vs. Jamie Arnold & Top College Arms To Know For 2025 Which pitcher will be the first off the board? Carlos Collazo and Peter Flaherty break down the top five college arms for next year’s draft. Arnold is the top-ranked lefthander in the class and would have been the most impressive pitcher in the ACC in 2024 if it weren’t for former Wake Forest flamethrower Chase Burns . Arnold made a leap in performance as a sophomore and posted a 2.98 ERA over 18 starts and 105.2 innings, with a 35.4% strikeout rate and 5.8% walk rate. He throws from a low three-quarters slot and creates plenty of armside run with a 93-95 mph fastball that has been up to 97. He’ll also mix in a trio of secondaries: a mid-80s sweeping slider, a low-80s curveball and a mid-80s changeup. Cannarella won ACC freshman of the year honors after a season in which he hit .388/.462/.560 with seven home runs, 16 doubles and 24 stolen bases. He then replicated that hitting performance in 2024 while playing through a right shoulder injury, though without the steals. He’s an excellent contact hitter who can use the entire field and has managed an 84% overall contact rate in his two seasons with Clemson. Cannarella is a hit-first lefthanded batter who might never have above-average power potential thanks to a smaller 6-foot, 180-pound frame, but he should be a lock to stick in center field and be a good defender there. Neyens rivals Ethan Holliday for one of the most exciting blends of power, on-base ability and physicality in the high school class. He was a standout as an underclassman and has continued to wow scouts with his excellent bat speed and raw power that has a chance to become a 70-grade tool in the future. Neyens is a physical lefthanded hitter with a terrific 6-foot-4, 205-pound frame and tremendous batting eye. He’s a patient hitter who can wander into passive territory at times, however, and he does have some swing-and-miss questions. A plus arm would be an asset for him at third base, and while he’s also been up to 93 mph on the mound, his pro future is certainly in the batter’s box. One of the few players in the 2025 class who remains uncommitted, Schoolcraft is unlikely to reach campus when he does make a college decision thanks to his arm strength and raw power. Originally a member of the 2026 class, Schoolcraft is a 6-foot-8, 225-pound lefthander and first baseman who wowed scouts over the summer with a mid-90s fastball and strong feel for a low-80s changeup and low-80s slider. While his huge power upside makes him interesting as a hitter or two-way player, most scouts are drooling over his upside on the mound. Carlson is one of the flashiest defensive shortstops in the 2025 class, but he also boasts impressive talent as a pitcher and featureds a fastball that’s been up to 97 mph. One of a handful of standout two-way players in the class, most teams will likely prefer Carlson as a hitter and shortstop, where he has a solid approach with developing power—but a line-drive swing—to go with excellent hands, instincts, actions and overall defensive ability at shortstop. Taylor is a well-rounded lefthanded hitter who has produced in back-to-back seasons with Indiana and also impressed in every summer league and wood bat experience he’s had in college, including one with Team USA in 2024 and stints in the Cape Cod League and New England Collegiate League. He’s a career .338/.441/.655 hitter with Indiana who homered 26 times in two seasons and has bat speed, plus raw power and a solid batting eye. He’s more of a fringy defender in the outfield, profiling as a left fielder. Irish was a top 200 prospect in 2022 coming out of the same St. Mary’s Prep program that developed Rangers righthander Brock Porter . Viewed then as a power-over-hit offensive player, Irish has proven his hitting ability for two seasons with Auburn and is a career .343/.417/.582 hitter with a 15.1% strikeout rate and 10% walk rate. His contact skills now could be better than his power potential. After splitting time between catcher and outfield in 2024, Irish is expected to move into more full-time catching duties in 2025. Bodine has contact traits that stand out in the 2025 class, and over two seasons with Coastal Carolina, he’s a .347/.432/.564 hitter with just an 8.1% strikeout rate. He’s a switch hitter who has a knack for the barrel from both sides of the plate and has managed an 89% overall contact rate in college, as well as a 94% in-zone contact rate. Defensively, Bodine has above-average arm strength and earns strong reviews for his receiving and blocking. Cunningham is perhaps the purest prep hitter in the 2025 class and is coming off a 2024 summer in which he was Team USA’s starting shortstop, leadoff hitter and the MVP of the WBSC America’s qualifier. He’s undersized at 5-foot-10, 180 pounds but has a snappy, quick and direct lefthanded swing that leads to plenty of contact in all parts of the zone and solid line drives in both gaps. He has plus hitting potential and the tools to stick at shortstop for now, despite some belief that second base might ultimately be a better fit for him. Willits is young for the class and will still be 17 years old on draft day after reclassifying from 2026. In addition to his youth, he checks plenty of boxes as a switch-hitter with a loose and easy swing from both sides, strong contact skills and pitch recognition, above-average speed and solid defensive ability at shortstop. Gamble is a high-end athlete with physicality and loud tools between his bat speed, raw power and speed. He’s a consistent plus runner with a 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame who has plenty of strength now and more room to fill out and add to raw power that should become plus in the future. Gamble has played all over the infield and outfield with above-average arm strength. Dumesnil is a 6-foot-2, 205-pound outfielder with an enviable combination of athleticism, speed and hitting ability, and he has taken big strides forward in 2024. He homered 19 times with California Baptist in 2024, then slashed .311/.378/.489 in the Cape Cod League this summer. He’s an aggressive hitter who likes to swing, but he hammers fastballs, and cut his strikeout rate from 30% to 13% year-over-year in college. He also has the speed to stick in center field. Arquette is the top transfer in college baseball this year and will play with Oregon State this spring after a pair of strong seasons with Washington, including a 12-homer campaign that featured a .325/.384/.574 line this spring. He was an everyday second baseman during the spring with Washington but handled himself nicely at shortstop in the Cape Cod League while having exciting power projection thanks to a 6-foot-5, 220-pound frame. Aloy was the WAC freshman of the year after a 2023 season in which he slashed .376/.427/.662 and hit 14 homers. In 2024, he transferred to Arkansas, where his overall offensive production slipped while still managing 14 home runs. He then hit well with Yarmouth-Dennis in the Cape Cod League over the summer, finishing with the third-most home runs (eight) and showing off his loud tools, including plus bat speed, above-average raw power, solid range and above-average arm strength at shortstop. Schubart had massive power as a high school player, but there were real concerns about his swing-and-miss tendencies at the time. That remains the case, as Schubart owns a career 28% strikeout rate in two seasons with Oklahoma State, but his offensive production has been terrific after a 17-homer freshman season and a 23-homer sophomore season in 2024. He has fast, strong hands that lead to huge exit velocities and towering home runs, and he was one of the best hitters with Team USA over the summer. Petry is a physical corner outfielder and first baseman who has been the focal point in South Carolina’s offense over the last two seasons. He’s a .341/.471/.686 career hitter with South Carolina with 44 home runs. During the 2024 summer, he led the Cape Cod League with 11 home runs, hit .360/.480/.760 and was named the league’s MVP, as well as being called the top overall prospect by scouts. Stevenson is a draft-eligible sophomore who showed impressive all-around ability as North Carolina’s everyday catcher in 2024. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound backstop hit .284/.420/.535 with 14 home runs, a 20.4% strikeout rate and a 17.8% walk rate and then played with Team USA’s 2024 college underclass team during the summer. He should stick behind the plate as a solid receiver and thrower, though he caught just 16.7% of baserunners during the spring with UNC. Harmon is a projectable righthander with a 6-foot-5, 190-pound frame who throws from a tremendously easy, controlled and balanced delivery. He throws a fastball in the mid 90s as if he’s playing a casual game of a catch, has touched 98 and has flashed a breaking ball that could develop into a plus offering, as well. Appenzeller was one of the most exciting up-arrow prep prospects from the 2024 summer. He’s a lanky southpaw with a 6-foot-5, 180-pound frame you can dream on and loud pure stuff you can see right now. He’s got a three-pitch mix, including a fastball up to 94 mph, a late-biting slider with big spin and sweeping action and a mid-80s changeup. Godbout had a good 2023 season as a freshman with Virginia but a great followup season in 2024 in which he hit .372/.472/.645 with nine home runs, 18 doubles and more walks than strikeouts. A 6-foot-2, 190-pound infielder and righthanded hitter, Godbout makes a ton of contact against all pitch types and has solid pullside power with quick hands and a direct swing. How much defensive value he’ll provide at second base remains a question. Franco looks the part as a well-rounded, high-upside prep shortstop with a lean 6-foot-3 frame and an aesthetically-pleasing lefthanded swing. He’s a calm hitter with solid balance who tracks pitches well and understands the zone while showing solid footwork, soft hands and above-average arm strength at shortstop. Witherspoon has some of the most electric pure stuff in the class, starting with a mid-90s fastball that’s been up to 99 and a hard, mid-to-upper-80s slider that makes hitters look silly on a regular basis. While scouts don’t doubt his ability to miss bats, he’ll need to improve his control and reinforce his starting profile next spring. Summerhill is a 6-foot-3, 205-pound outfielder and lefthanded hitter who makes a lot of contact with a clean lefthanded swing. He slashed .324/.399/.550 with eight home runs and 18 doubles with Arizona during the spring then played well in the Cape Cod League, where he ranked as the No. 5 prospect on the circuit and showed the speed and athleticism to stick in center field. Houston is on the short list of best defensive infielders in the 2025 class, and he ranked as a top-three defensive infielder on Baseball America’s 2024 college all-america polling from scouting directors as an underclassman. He’s a plus defender with excellent instincts who slows the game down and has impressive range to go with a strong arm. A contact hitter who understands the zone, he walked more than he struck out this spring and in the Cape Cod League. Compton missed his freshman season at Arizona State because of a UCL injury, but in 2024, he hit 14 home runs with 16 doubles and a .355/.427/.661 slash line. He’s a physical 6-foot-1 lefthanded hitter with big raw power but has been susceptible to spin and likely profiles in a corner outfield spot. Ebel, son of Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel, is a 6-foot-3, 190-pound lefthanded hitter and infielder who’s both young for the class and one of its best overall hitters. He’s got a sweet swing and knows how to manipulate the barrel at a high level, boasting a strong awareness of the strike zone and an overall baseball IQ that’s praised. He’s more likely to play third base than shortstop in the future.LAS VEGAS — There are three races remaining in the Formula 1 season and Max Verstappen of Red Bull is close to a fourth consecutive world championship, which can wrap up Saturday night at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. All is not smooth sailing headed into this final month of racing: "It was a bit of a surprise, I think, for everybody," said Mercedes driver George Russell, a GPDA director. "It's a hell of a lot of pressure now onto the new race director (with) just three races left. Often, as drivers, we probably feel like we're the last to find out this sort of information." The Andretti team is expected to receive F1 approval to join the grid, albeit without Michael Andretti, who has scaled back his role dramatically since the IndyCar season ended in September. Many drivers, particularly seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, have been at odds with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem since his election following the 2021 season finale. In the GDPA statement, they reminded the sanctioning body "our members are adults" who don't need lectures and fines on foul language or jewelry bans, and simply want fair and consistent race control. There's been no response from Ben Sulayem, and won't be this weekend since he does not attend the LVGP. He will be at Qatar and the finale in Abu Dhabi next month. Hamilton doesn't think all the behind-the-scenes changes will be a fan topic as the season comes to a close. But he noted that consistency from race control is all the drivers have asked for, while throwing his support behind Domenicali and the job Maffei has done in growing F1 since Liberty took over. "I really hope Stefano is not leaving because he's been so instrumental in changes and progress to this whole thing," Hamilton said. "And he knows the sport as well as anyone. But all good things do come to an end, and whoever they put into place, I just hope they are like-minded. But sometimes you have to shake the trees." That's just what happened with the surprise departure of race director Wittich. Although drivers have been unhappy with race officiating this season and held a private GPDA meeting in Mexico City, Russell said they had no prior warning Wittich was out. The race director is the referee each weekend and Wittich has been in charge since 2022, when Michael Masi was fired following the controversial 2021 season-ending, championship-altering finale at Abu Dhabi. Now the man in charge for the final three races is Rui Marques, the Formula 2 and Formula 3 race director. Las Vegas, which overcame multiple stumbling blocks in last year's debut before putting on one of the best races of the season, is a difficult place to start. Verstappen can win his fourth title by simply scoring three points more than Lando Norris of McLaren. "It's a bit weird with three races to go to do that," Verstappen said. "It doesn't matter if you're positive or negative about certain things. I thought in Brazil there was definitely room for improvement, for example. It's still a bit weird having to now then deal with a different race director." Charles Leclerc of Ferrari wondered why the move was made with only three races to go. "To do it so late in the season, at such a crucial moment of the season, it could have probably been managed in a better way," he said. The drivers have consistently asked for clearer guidelines in the officiating of races, specifically regarding track limits and racing rules. The drivers have no idea how Marques will officiate, highlighting a disconnect between the competitors and Ben Sulaymen's FIA. "We just want to be transparent with the FIA and have this dialogue that is happening," Russell said. "And I think the departure of Niels is also a prime example of not being a part of these conversations." The GDPA statement made clear the drivers do not think their voice is being heard. "If we feel we're being listened to, and some of the changes that we are requesting are implemented, because ultimately we're only doing it for the benefit of the sport, then maybe our confidence will increase," Russell said. "But I think there's a number of drivers who feel a bit fed up with the whole situation. It only seems to be going in the wrong direction." He also said the relationship between the drivers and the FIA seems fractured. "Sometimes just hiring and firing is not the solution," he said. "You need to work together to improve the problem." Norris, who has battled Verstappen this year with mixed officiating rulings, said "obviously things are not running as smoothly as what we would want." Marques has his first driver meeting ahead of Thursday night's two practice sessions and then three weeks to prove to the competitors he is up for the job. Carlos Sainz Jr., who will leave Ferrari for Williams at the end of the season, hopes the drama doesn't distract from the momentum F1 has built over the last five years. "I think Formula 1 is in a great moment right now and all these rumors, I think in every team, every job, there's job changes," he said. "It's not big drama. I'm a big fan of the people you mentioned, they've done an incredible job in Formula 1 and Formula 1 is what it is thanks to these people. But it's just so emotional, especially the Stefano one. The only one that has a real effect is the race director. But I think if he does a good job, it should be transparent and nothing big." Get local news delivered to your inbox!

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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook a large area of Northern California on Thursday, knocking items of grocery store shelves, sending children scrambling under desks and prompting a brief tsunami warning for 5.3 million people along the U.S. West Coast. The quake struck at 10:44 a.m. west of Ferndale, a small city in coastal Humboldt County, about 130 miles (209 km) from the Oregon border, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It was felt as far south as San Francisco, some 270 miles (435 km) away, where residents felt a rolling motion for several seconds. It was followed by multiple smaller aftershocks. There were no immediate reports of major damage or injury. The tsunami warning was in effect for roughly an hour. It was issued shortly after the temblor struck and covered nearly 500 miles (805 km) of coastline, from the edge of California’s Monterey Bay north into Oregon. “It was a strong quake, our building shook, we’re fine but I have a mess to clean up right now,” said Julie Kreitzer, owner of Golden Gait Mercantile, a store packed with food, wares and souvenirs that is a main attraction in Ferndale. “We lost a lot of stuff. It’s probably worse than two years ago. I have to go, I have to try and salvage something for the holidays because it’s going to be a tough year,” Kreitzer said before hanging up. The region — known for its redwood forests, scenic mountains and the three-county Emerald Triangle’s legendary marijuana crop — was struck by a 6.4 magnitude quake in 2022 that left thousands of people without power and water. The northwest corner of California is the most seismically active part of the state since it’s where three tectonic plates meet, seismologist Lucy Jones said on the social media platform BlueSky. Shortly after the quake, phones in Northern California buzzed with the tsunami warning from the National Weather Service that said: “A series of powerful waves and strong currents may impact coasts near you. You are in danger. Get away from coastal waters. Move to high ground or inland now. Keep away from the coast until local officials say it is safe to return.” South of San Francisco in Santa Cruz, authorities cleared the main beach, taping off entrances with police tape. Numerous cities urged people to evacuate to higher ground as a precaution, including Eureka. “I thought my axles had fallen apart,” said Valerie Starkey, a Del Norte County supervisor representing Crescent City, a town of fewer than 6,000 about 66 miles (106 km) north of Eureka. “That’s what I was feeling ... ‘My axles are broken now.’ I did not realize it was an earthquake.” Gov. Gavin Newsom said he has signed off on a state of emergency declaration to quickly move state resources to impacted areas along the coast. State officials were concerned about damages in the northern part of the state, Newsom said. Crews in Eureka, the biggest city in the region, were assessing if there was any major damage from the quake, Eureka Mayor Kim Bergel said. Bergel, who works as a resource aid at a middle school, said lights were swaying and everyone got under desks. “The kids were so great and terrified. It seemed to go back and forth for quite a long time,” she said. Some children asked, “Can I call my mom?" The students were later sent home. In nearby Arcata, students and faculty were urged to shelter in place at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt. The campus in was not in the tsunami hazard zone and after inspections, “all utilities and building systems are normal and operational,” the university said in a statement. Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal said residents experienced some cracks in their homes’ foundations, as well as broken glass and windows, but nothing severe. There also have been no major infrastructure problems, building collapses or roadway issues, and no major injuries or deaths have been reported, he said. Honsal said he was in his office in the 75-year-old courthouse in downtown Eureka when he felt the quake. “We’re used to it. It is known as ‘earthquake country’ up here,” he said. “It wasn’t a sharp jolt. It was a slow roller, but significant.” Michael Luna, owner of a Grocery Outlet in Eureka, said that besides a few items falling off shelves, the store on Commercial Street was unscathed by the earthquake. “We didn’t have any issues but a couple of deodorants fall off.... I think the way the earthquake rumbled this time, it was a good thing for our store because the last earthquake was a huge mess," he said. They evacuated customers and closed their doors temporarily until officials lifted the tsunami warning, he said, rushing off the phone to attend to a growing line of customers at check-out. The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, known as BART, stopped traffic in all directions through the underwater tunnel between San Francisco and Oakland, and the San Francisco Zoo’s visitors were evacuated. Dave Snider, tsunami warning coordinator for the Tsunami Warning Center in Alaska, said the computer models indicated that this was the type of earthquake that was unlikely to cause a tsunami and gauges that monitor waves then confirmed it, so forecasters canceled the warning. This quake was a strike-slip type of temblor that shifts more horizontally and is less prone to cause tsunamis, unlike the more vertical types, said National Weather Service tsunami program manager Corina Allen in Washington state. The California Geological Survey says the state’s shores have been struck by more than 150 tsunamis since 1800, and while most were minor, some have been destructive and deadly. On March 28, 1964, a tsunami triggered by a powerful earthquake in Alaska smashed into Crescent City hours later. Much of the business district was leveled and a dozen people were killed. More recently, a tsunami from a 2011 earthquake in Japan caused about $100 million in damages along the California coast, much of it in Crescent City. Dazio reported from Los Angeles. AP writers Chris Weber and Dorany Pineda in Los Angeles; Martha Mendoza in Santa Cruz, California; Sophie Austin and Tran Nguyen in Sacramento, California and Seth Borenstein in Washington, D.C. contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Stephen A. Smith Explains Why LeBron James 'Doesn't Deserve' To Play With Stephen Curry

Queen Mary of Denmark is joining a medium popular with royals including the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle by launching a podcast spotlighting young people and loneliness. On Sunday, the 52-year-old Australian-born Queen took to Instagram to announce Lonely Youth will be available through her award-winning social organisation, the Mary Foundation. Mary established the foundation in 2007 at Amalienborg Palace, the Danish royal family's official residence, to improve lives compromised by the environment, heredity, illness, isolation, or social exclusion. In her announcement, the Queen was dressed in black pants and a matching knitted turtleneck as she smiled down at her phone. She said she was "extremely excited" to be listening to a podcast and often gravitates to one for entertainment or to gain knowledge when travelling. "That is why I am also proud that we have now thrown ourselves into making a podcast in the Mary Foundation," she said. "Our first podcast is called 'Lonely youth', and through three short episodes it gives a thorough insight into the nuances of loneliness by mixing professionalism and personal stories from young people. "We know from the study "Loneliness in Denmark" that 73 per cent of 16-19-year-olds experience loneliness, regardless of whether they are alone or with others. "At the same time, 17 per cent of 16-24-year-olds feel very lonely. These are heavy numbers that we must do something about. She said "podcasting is not something we have much experience with yet at the Mary Foundation" but that she hopes her followers will listen to it and "feel welcome". With loneliness rising in Denmark, Mary hopes to help overcome the "overlooked problem" through several campaigns, according to her foundation's website. The launch of her podcast comes months after she introduced a campaign to help tackle the issue, featuring the Crown Princess with Mayday Film. It includes various social media content aimed at young people, including a movie and several tips on seeking help if they feel lonely. Mary has entered the world of podcasting alongside the Duchess of Sussex and Queen Camilla, with the former officially redistributing her cancelled Archetypes podcast through a new deal with Lemonada Media in February. Meghan reclaimed the series with the platform about one year after Spotify canned the project following a dozen episodes. Archetypes features the California-based Duchess talking to celebrity guests such as Paris Hilton and Mariah Carey about the different labels placed on women, but has received a mixed response from critics. Writing for Salon, Melanie McFarland said Prince Harry's wife was a "friendly and down to Earth" host. At the same time, Miranda Sawyer from The Guardian said the Duchess "has a lovely voice, is intelligent, and is clear and light when reading a script" but "needs more" to produce engaging work. Meanwhile, The Queen's Reading Room is the podcast spinoff of Camilla's book club charity, which sees Her Majesty recommend reads and introduce fans to the authors who created them.

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