Fired Mets GM Porter suspended by MLB through 2022 season
Fired New York Mets general manager Jared Porter has been suspended by Major League Baseball through at least the end of the 2022 regular season following an investigation that began after a report that he sent sexually explicit text messages and images to a female reporter in 2016 while he was working for the Chicago Cubs.
Ford is betting that solid-state batteries will cut EV costs
Ford has raised its stake in a manufacturer of solid-state batteries — a move that its chief product and operations officer, Hau Thai-Tang, says will strengthen the company’s effort to increase the range and reduce the costs of its next generation of electric vehicles.
Oscars add UK hub for broadcast after concerns about travel
FILE - In this Feb. 21, 2015 file photo, an Oscar statue appears outside the Dolby Theatre for the 87th Academy Awards in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)With less than a month until showtime, the 93rd Oscars are taking another pass at the script. The main event will still take place at Los Angeles’ Union station which will include a red carpet component but they are planning something special for the UK location. The show is also working with local broadcast affiliates around the world to provide satellite links for other international nominees. The 93rd Oscars will be broadcast live on ABC on April 25 at 8 p.m. Eastern.
Legislator being investigated for Weinstein backdrop on Zoom
Bickford apologized, calling it "inappropriate and in poor taste." Weinstein is a former Hollywood producer who faced accusations from more than 80 women that he sexually assaulted them. (Maine Legislature via Zoom via AP)AUGUSTA, Maine – A Maine legislator who appeared for Zoom meetings twice with a background that made a joking reference to convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein is being investigated by the Legislature’s human resources department. Both times, Bickford quickly changed the background to a lake, which is his typical background for Zoom meetings. “It was inappropriate and in poor taste.
US jobless claims fall to 684,000, fewest since pandemic
The number of people seeking unemployment benefits fell sharply last week to 684,000, the fewest since the pandemic erupted a year ago and a sign the economy is improving. Thursday’s report from the Labor Department showed that jobless claims fell from 781,000 the week before. All told, the number of applicants fell below 1 million for the first time since the pandemic. AdNationally, though, the number of recipients in an extended federal jobless benefits program jumped by 730,000 to 5.5 million. Historically, the weekly unemployment claims figure has been considered an accurate reflection of the pace of layoffs.
Plans solidify for 93rd Oscars: No Zoom, no sweatshirts
The 93rd Oscars will be held on April 25. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)With nominations set and just over a month until showtime, details are trickling out about the 93rd Oscars and neither sweatshirts nor Zoom made the cut. They’ve enlisted Emmy and Tony Award winning director Glenn Weiss to direct the live broadcast on April 25. The producers said they plan to treat the event like an active movie set with on-site COVID safety teams and testing protocols. The 93rd Oscars will be broadcast live on ABC on April 25 starting at 8 p.m.
Clay County conducts first-ever online jury qualification
GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. – For the first time ever, the Clay County Courthouse selected a jury earlier this month after holding its jury duty qualification process exclusively online. Of the 400 residents tapped for jury duty, 342 showed up March 5 on Zoom, where the court narrowed its pool of prospective jurors down to 100. Hours later, the process resulted in a confirmed jury pool of 36 residents, and a jury of six jurors and one alternate was selected March 8. “As part of our state’s Safe Steps initiative, precautions still include regular courthouse cleaning, social distancing, mask wearing, hand washing and more,” Clay County Clerk of Court Tara S. Green said. If there is no plea deal or delay in that case, it would be the first in-person jury trial held in Clay County in a year.
Meet the contestants: North Florida’s top spellers of 2021
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The best fifth- through eighth-grade spellers from 14 counties in Northeast and North Central Florida will compete later this month in the 77th annual First Coast Spelling Bee. Rather than gathering in an auditorium, the March 29 bee will be held on Zoom. It’s Manischa Wijayawardhana of St. Johns County’s third regional bee. Armand Küykendall of Putnam County is also back for a third regional bee. The 14 county winners in the order they will compete on March 29OPEN: Details, photos of our 14 contestants
Yankees' Boone back on bench 3 days after pacemaker inserted
This screengrab from a Zoom call, Friday, March 5, 2021, shows New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone. Boone said he's feeling better after getting a pacemaker and said he hopes to return to the team Saturday or Sunday. (AP Photo/Ron Blum)New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone returned to the dugout Saturday, three days after surgery to have a pacemaker inserted. Boone, who turns 48 in a few days, left the club Wednesday to get the pacemaker at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, Florida. Boone, who had open heart surgery in 2009 for a congenital defect, had been experiencing light-headedness and fatigue this winter.
The glam was back at the Golden Globes, albeit at a distance
And they were ready, style wise, as the Globes split hosts, with Amy Poehler at the Beverly Hilton and Tina Fey at the Rainbow Room in New York. Backstage after the show, Sudeikis told reporters he owns a multitude of hoodies but chose the one emblazoned with “Forward” on the front and “Listen + Lead” on the back as fitting for the unusual night. “I wanted to feel festive and go for it,” she told NBC. Sarah Paulson held her little black pooch on screen and Emma Corrin's fluffy white cat grabbed a moment for itself. AdLydia Marks, a New York set decorator, told The Associated Press the evening's technical challenges were many.
Happ beats Cubs in arbitration; teams finish with 5-4 record
Happ asked for a raise from $624,000 to $4.1 million during a Zoom session Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, and the Cubs argued he should be paid $3.25 million. Teams finished with a 5-4 advantage in cases that went to a hearing, their second straight winning record after two consecutive years in which players had an advantage. A day after hearing arguments, arbitrators Frederic Horowitz, Steven Wolf and Jules Bloch decided in favor of Happ's figure rather than the team's $3.25 million. St. Louis pitcher Jack Flaherty ($3.9 million), Braves pitcher Mike Soroka ($2.8 million) and Rays first baseman Ji-Man Choi ($2.45 million) also won their cases. Teams beat Atlanta shortstop Dansby Swanson ($6 million), San Francisco infielder Donovan Solano ($3.25 million), Tampa Bay pitcher Ryan Yarbrough ($2.3 million), New York Mets third baseman/outfielder J.D.
Suffering Zoom fatigue? 5 ways to re-energize online
Videoconferencing platforms including the popular “Zoom” have taken over the corporate world. It’s a phenomenon dubbed “Zoom fatigue.”“It’s really bad for our mental health to constantly be plugged in,” said A.J. If you’re sitting for long periods of time, try standing up every 30 minutes. Also, improving how you look on zoom may energize you. Experts say to line your camera up to your eye level and invest in a Ring Zoom light.
Aging desktop source of attorney's accidental cat filter
This image from video shows a hearing from the 394th Judicial District Court of Texas. A filter that had been activated on the attorney's device obscured his appearance and made him look like a cat. And in Florida, a judge told attorneys they must get out of bed and put on clothing before appearing on video for proceedings. Ferguson, the judge who oversaw Tuesday’s hearing and posted the video online, told The Associated Press he had no idea the clip would become an instant hit. In one of the more hilarious moments, Ponton tells the judge: “I'm prepared to go forward” with the hearing, despite his feline appearance.
Owner of Mets and hedge fund leaves Twitter, citing threats
This photo from a Zoom press conference shows New York Mets owner Steve Cohen, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020. (New York Mets via AP)NEW YORK – The owner of the New York Mets says he has dropped off Twitter because his family received threats that he attributed to “misinformation" that was not tied to the baseball team. Hedge funds that shorted GameStop have lost billions as small investors bid up the company's shares. One of the short sellers, Melvin Capital, announced this week that it received a $750 million infusion from Point72. The Mets tied for last place in the National League East division last season.
Michigan official shows gun after public meeting criticism
Ron Clous, an elected member of the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners, was at home during the livestreamed meeting Wednesday, the Traverse City Record-Eagle reported. “The only thing I know about them (Proud Boys) is when they came and spoke to us," Clous said. "To have a public official do that during a public meeting is horrendous.”Betsy Coffia, a fellow county commissioner, labeled Clous' action “deeply disturbing." “I am not a member of Proud Boys,” Hentschel said Wednesday. I’ve met Black Proud Boys, I’ve met multi-racial Puerto Rican Proud Boys and they inform me they also have gay Proud Boys.
Attorneys: Ex-governor charged in wrong county over Flint
Attorneys for Snyder are telling prosecutors that the Flint water case should be dismissed because he was charged in the wrong county. (67th District Court in Flint via AP)LANSING, Mich. – Attorneys for former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder are striking back, telling prosecutors Tuesday that the Flint water case should be dismissed because he was charged in the wrong county. Snyder,” Lennon told the judge. Snyder was one of nine people charged in a new investigation of the Flint water crisis, including former state health department director Nick Lyon.
Mets fire GM after he sent explicit texts to female reporter
This screen grab from a Zoom call shows New York Mets general manager Jared Porter Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. Mets general manager Jared Porter sent graphic, uninvited text messages and images to a female reporter in 2016 when he was working for the Chicago Cubs in their front office, ESPN reported Monday night, Jan. 18, 2021. “We have terminated Jared Porter this morning,” Cohen wrote Tuesday. ESPN said he was the Cubs’ director of professional scouting when he sent the messages to the woman. She said the Cubs employee told her Porter wanted to apologize in person, but she didn't want to see him.
Browns close facility, delay practice after 2 positive tests
(AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)The Browns didn't begin preparing for the Steelers on the field but rather via Zoom calls. The Browns, who have nine players currently on the COVID-19 reserve list, will make the postseason for the first time since 2002 with a win. After learning of the positive tests, the team closed its facility for several hours to do contact tracing and Stefanski said players were doing virtual meetings — something that has become standard in 2020. "“I don’t think it would come as a surprise for a positive test in that market. The Browns did have a good development, with starting right guard Wyatt Teller cleared to practice after missing two games with a sprained ankle.
New Phillies boss Dombrowski plans retool, not rebuild
This screengrab from a Zoom call shows David Dombrowski, the Philadelphia Phillies' new president of baseball operations, during a Zoom call Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. (Zoom via AP)Dave Dombrowski wants to win again sooner rather than later. So he finalized a deal Friday to become the Philadelphia Phillies’ president of baseball operations, convinced the team is not far from its first World Series title since 2008. Phillies president Andy MacPhail called again Saturday, and Dombrowski said he was told of the nebulous expansion timetable by MLB on Monday and Tuesday. “It was John reaching out and really trying to make me part of the Phillies organization,” Dombrowski said.
Historical Impact Celebration honors detective in high-profile racial killing
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A former Jacksonville police detective who investigated a high-profile racially motivated killing in 1964 was recognized Wednesday in a virtual Historical Impact Celebration. Sheriff Mike Williams, Mayor Lenny Curry and U.S. Rep. John Rutherford shared kind words for the veteran and former detective, who investigated the murder of Johnnie Mae Chappell. RELATED: 2014 - 50 years later, racial killing haunts familyIn a dark time for the River City, Chappell was gunned down on March 23, 1964, because of the color of her skin. We lived in a racist city and a racist town run by racist people,” Cody said. The overview says, “two police detectives solved one of our nation’s worst hate crimes and paid for it with their careers.”
Zoom reports big 3Q gains, but slowing growth sinks stock
Zoom’s revenue more than quadrupled from the same time last year to $777 million, yielding a profit of $198 million, up from just $2.2 million a year ago. Zoom ended its latest quarter with 433,700 customers with at least 10 employees, an increase of 63,500 customers from July. In each of the previous two quarters, Zoom had added more than 100,000 customers with at least 10 employees. In a reflection of the high hopes for Zoom, analysts polled by FactSet predict the company’s revenue next year will reach $3.1 billion. That would be a roughly 20% increase from revenue of nearly $2.6 billion that Zoom is projecting for this year.
6 ways to make virtual Thanksgiving entertaining for everyone
With many medical experts urging Americans to make this year’s Thanksgiving scaled down, many of us will probably only see people in our “bubble,” so holiday is going to feel a little bit different. Thanks to technology, you can still gather with your extended family.
New Yorker fires writer Jeffrey Toobin after Zoom incident
NEW YORK – The New Yorker has fired longtime staff writer Jeffrey Toobin after he reportedly exposed himself during a Zoom conference last month. He had already been on suspension and is also on leave from CNN, where he is chief legal analyst. “I was fired today by @NewYorker after 27 years as a Staff Writer. I will always love the magazine, will miss my colleagues, and will look forward to reading their work,” Toobin tweeted Wednesday. He is a former associate counsel in the Department of Justice who for the New Yorker has written about everything from the O.J.
12 last-minute Halloween costume ideas that are perfect for 2020
(Photo by APEX/MEGA/GC Images) (2020 MEGA)Who: The other star of Netflix’s irresistible “Tiger King." What you’ll need: Your hair pulled back in a bun, glasses, a judge’s robe and a fancy white collar. What you’ll need: A banana costume and a loaf of bread to carry around. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)Who: A video conferencing program that became very popular once the pandemic started in early 2020. What you’ll need: A piece of cardboard cut with a whole in the middle to look like a screen.
How COVID-19 may impact stroke risk
We’re learning more about how COVID-19 impacts the brain, and evidence suggests the infection may increase risk for suffering a stroke. “We’re actually seeing young people who don’t have the traditional risk factors for stroke like high blood pressure, or other problems. These are young, healthy people, who are coming in with big, big strokes.”Regardless of age or COVID-19, Hussain said stroke symptoms should never be ignored. He reminds people to use the acronym ‘BE FAST’ to recognize stroke symptoms. If someone has stroke symptoms -- do not delay care, seek medical attention immediately.
Faith-based leaders teaching ways to address voter suppression
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A group called the Collaborative Clergy Network is training people on how to resist voter suppression and protect their vote in the election. The organizers want pastors and faith-based leaders informed on how people can address any problems that might show up. “Voter intimidation can dissuade people from participating and scares people out of that, but we need to know and remember that our rights are protected under the law,” said Sandy Ovalle, with the Collaborative Clergy Network. “There are 52 million Americans that have already cast their vote through early voting. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church of JacksonvilleOrganizers shared six ways voter intimidation happens.