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Forte is slight 5-2 favorite for Belmont Stakes over stablemate Tapit Trice

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:24 GMT

Forte is finally getting a crack at running in a Triple Crown race. The colt, who was scratched the day of the Kentucky Derby, is the early favorite for the Belmont Stakes.Forte, last year’s 2-year-old champion, was made the slight 5-2 favorite on Tuesday for the grueling 1 1/2-mile race.Trained by Todd Pletcher, the colt will break from the No. 6 post in the nine-horse field on Saturday at Belmont Park. Pletcher’s other horse, Tapit Trice, is the 3-1 second choice and drew the No. 2 post.Forte was the early Derby favorite, but was scratched by Kentucky officials the morning of the May 6 race because of a bruised right foot. He was on a vets’ list that kept him out of the Preakness, but has since come off it.“He’s doing great, he’s training really well. He hasn’t missed any training,” said Mike Repole, co-owner of Forte. “We still think this is the best 3-year-old in the crop and on Saturday he’s going to prove that.”Mage, the Kentucky Derby winner, is skipping the Triple Crow...

Silvia Alvarez becomes spokeswoman for baseball players’ union

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:24 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Silvia Alvarez was appointed acting communications director of the Major League Baseball Players Association on Tuesday.Alvarez takes over from communications director Chris Dahl, who shifts to senior adviser for communications and intends to retire on Jan. 1.Alvarez, 48. joined the union in 2019 after working in the campaign and government offices of Senator Cory A. Booker and New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. She was senior vice president and director of corporate communications for First Horizon National Corp. and director of multicultural and charitable communications for Major League Baseball. Dahl, who turns 65 on June 23, joined the MLBPA in June 1997 to oversee the launch of its first website and became director of communication in June 2019, 11 months after Greg Bouris resigned. A former sportswriter for The Associated Press, he spent two years as secretary-treasurer of the Wire Service Guild, representing AP and United Press International employees....

Almost all Maryland sports betting happens on mobile apps; Fanatics joins the game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:24 GMT

There are now 10 approved mobile sports wagering apps up and running in Maryland, with Fanatics being the newest.The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission has issued a mobile sports wagering license to Maryland Stadium Sub, LLC, doing business as Fanatics Sportsbook.In addition to the mobile sports betting apps approved in Maryland, there are also 10 retail sports wagering facilities in the state, but the lion’s share of fan bets are placed on the mobile apps.In April, Maryland Lottery and Gaming, reported sportsbooks handled more than $328.4 million in bets, with 95.4% of the total through mobile apps.The state’s share of sports wagering was $3.9 million, which goes to the Blueprint for Maryland Future Fund, which supports public education programs.Fans do win on many of their wagers. Prizes paid to players in April through both mobile and retail bets totaled $292.8 million.Maryland’s sports wagering market launched in December with five retail locations ...

Black Reel Awards founder launches LightReel Film Festival in DC

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:24 GMT

The LightReel Feel Fest launches at the Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market in Northeast D.C.(Courtesy LightReel Film Fest) The LightReel Feel Fest launches at the Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market in Northeast D.C.(Courtesy LightReel Film Fest) toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley previews the LightReel Film Fest (Part 1) $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').o...

Surprising Sycamores fearlessly hit road for college baseball’s Super Regionals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:24 GMT

Indiana State certainly earned the right to host this weekend’s NCAA Super Regional.It shrugged off a 2-8 start, shut out rival Evansville in the decisive Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship game after splitting the first two contests, protected its home tuff last weekend with back-to-back victories over Iowa to claim a rare regional title and then watched TCU take down higher-seeded Arkansas in another regional championship Monday.For just about any other team needing two wins to make the eight-team College World Series, it would be a milestone moment — the surprising Sycamores first Super Regional on campus. Instead, scheduling conflicts are forcing them to again demonstrate their fearlessness on the road.“I don’t really care where we play,” said Keegan Watson, whose three-run home run in the seventh inning sealed Sunday’s title-clinching 11-8 victory. “I know we can go anywhere and compete against anybody in any stadium.”Certainly, they’ve d...

El volcán Popocatépetl disminuye actividad y regresa a semáforo amarillo fase 2

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:24 GMT

(CNN Español) — El semáforo de alerta del volcán Popocatépetl regresa a la fase 2 del nivel amarillo, informó este martes la Secretaría de Seguridad y Protección Ciudadana (SSPC) de México.En un comunicado, la dependencia señaló que, durante una reunión el Comité Científico Asesor (CCA) para evaluar el comportamiento reciente del coloso, se concluyó que con base en el “análisis y diagnóstico de la actividad general reciente y los escenarios esperados en el corto plazo” se recomienda bajar la alerta, aunque se mantendrá el monitoreo permanente de la actividad y seguimiento de su evolución por parte del Cenapred y del CCA.Las autoridades habían incrementado el nivel de alerta del volcán Popocatépetl a amarillo fase 3 el pasado 20 de mayo, luego de que los expertos notaran un incremento en la actividad del coloso.Así suena el volcán Popocatépetl según la descripción de sus habitantes 2:37En este lapso, el Popocatépetl lanzó ceniza, registró explosiones y tremores, lanzó fragmento...

Person dies after being struck by tractor-trailer on Mass. Pike

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:24 GMT

A person died Tuesday after being struck by a tractor-trailer on the eastbound side of Mass Pike in Framingham, according to state police. Police first said units were on scene as of around 11:30 a.m., warning motorists to expect delays. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation separately said the left two lanes on the eastbound side of the highway were closed as of 11:30 a.m.SKY7-HD showed police still on scene at 12 p.m. as traffic inched by in the area.In an update around 1:30 p.m., state police said the person suffered fatal injuries, adding that lanes remained closed.This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, Sen. Ed Markey speak at Youth Mental Health Summit at Boston University

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:24 GMT

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy and Sen. Ed Markey were in Boston on Monday, speaking at a Youth Mental Health Summit at Boston University. In their remarks, the two addressed the impact of social media on young minds while calling on big tech companies to make changes. “We put the weight of the world on the shoulders of our young people and it is making them sick,” Markey said. “It’s not just a general responsibility, it’s a moral responsibility to take care of our kids,” Murthy said. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in three high school girls contemplated suicide in 2021, up 60% from a decade ago. For LGBTQ youth, one in five individuals attempted suicide. Social media, Markey said, plays a role in declining mental health. “Social disconnection, isolation, insecurity, self esteem — to put it plainly, big tech is a big problem,” he said. Both Murthy and Markey have called for more safety regulations f...

PGA Tour and European tour agree to merge with Saudis and end LIV Golf feud

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:24 GMT

By DOUG FERGUSON (AP Golf Writer)The PGA Tour ended its expensive fight with Saudi Arabia’s golf venture and now is joining forces with it, making a stunning announcement Tuesday of a merger that creates a commercial operation with the Public Investment Fund and the European tour.As part of the deal, the sides immediately are dropping all lawsuits involving LIV Golf.From the golf side, still to be determined is how players like Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson can rejoin the PGA Tour after defecting last year for signing bonuses reported to be in the $150 million range.From the commercial side, the governor of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund joins the PGA Tour board of directors and leads the new business venture as chairman, though the PGA Tour will have a majority stake.News of the deal came as a surprise to many watchers of the lawsuits and Saudi Arabia’s inroads into U.S. politics, sports and culture.“This is a huge development and obviously upends a...

Route 66, America’s ‘Mother Road,’ readies for its centennial

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:24 GMT

Erika Bolstad | (TNS) Stateline.orgFrom its earliest days, Route 66 has reflected the American culture of the moment.When the road connected Chicago to Los Angeles in 1926, it represented the possibility of the automobile. In the 1930s, it served as an east-to-west escape route from the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression. By the 1950s, the 2,400-mile highway lured travelers with the post-World War II promise of adventure on the open road. And as the era of interstate highway driving dawned, Route 66 began to reflect a yearning for a time when a journey was about more than the destination.Now the eight states traversed by America’s defining highway are getting it ready for its 100th anniversary, in 2026. States are handing out grants to restore vintage neon signs along the highway. They’re installing shoulders to make the road safer for bicyclists and improving signage to make the route more obvious through cities. And they’re installing charging stations that will make it easier ...