Analysis: Is the play-in tournament still realistic for the Magic?

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 23:03:41 GMT

Analysis: Is the play-in tournament still realistic for the Magic? When it comes to trying to qualify for the NBA’s play-in tournament, the Orlando Magic have been caught in a holding pattern.The Magic (28-40) enter Tuesday’s matchup at San Antonio (17-50) at 13th in the Eastern Conference standings — a spot they’ve been stuck at since the beginning of 2023. Having missed out on opportunities to close the gap is part of the reason they’re multiple games back in the play-in race.Seeds 7-10 in each conference compete in the play-in tournament for the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds in the playoffs.Entering Jan. 1, the Magic were 13-24 and:4½ games behind Atlanta for the No. 9 spot3½ games behind Chicago for No. 103½ games behind Toronto for No. 113 games behind Washington for No. 12.At the All-Star break, they were 24-35 and:4½ games behind Washington for No. 94 games behind Toronto for No. 102 games behind Chicago for No. 111½ games behind Indiana for No. 12.Tuesday they were:4 games behind Toronto for No. 9...

Orioles’ and Nationals’ attorneys will argue in critical MASN appeal in New York; $100 million waits in escrow

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 23:03:41 GMT

Orioles’ and Nationals’ attorneys will argue in critical MASN appeal in New York; $100 million waits in escrow While the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals play separate spring training exhibition games Tuesday, their attorneys will face off in a pivotal financial dispute worth more than either team’s 2023 payroll.More than 1,000 miles north of the teams’ training camps in Florida, the New York Court of Appeals — the highest in that state — will hear arguments in the most recent installment of a yearslong dispute over what the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) owes the Nationals for television rights fees.At the crux of Tuesday afternoon’s arguments will be the idea of a fair arbitration. Hanging in the balance — or waiting in escrow, rather — is $100 million.MASN, the regional sports network, has aired both Orioles’ and Nationals’ games since 2005. It’s co-owned by the two clubs, with the Orioles controlling a majority stake. More than a decade ago — in late 2011 — the teams could not agree on how much in TV ri...

China says AUKUS on ‘dangerous path’ with nuclear subs deal

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 23:03:41 GMT

China says AUKUS on ‘dangerous path’ with nuclear subs deal BEIJING (AP) — The United States, Australia and the United Kingdom are traveling “further down the wrong and dangerous path for their own geopolitical self-interest,” China’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday, responding to an agreement under which Australia will purchase nuclear-powered attack submarines from the U.S. to modernize its fleet. Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said the arrangement, given the acronym AUKUS — for Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States — arises from the “typical Cold War mentality which will only motivate an arms race, damage the international nuclear nonproliferation regime, and harm regional stability and peace.” “The latest joint statement issued by the U.S., U.K., and Australia shows that the three countries have gone further down the wrong and dangerous path for their own geopolitical self-interest, completely ignoring the concerns of the international community,” Wang told reporters at a daily briefing. U.S. President Joe Biden flew to...

Biden expected to sign new executive order on gun control

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 23:03:41 GMT

Biden expected to sign new executive order on gun control SAN DIEGO (AP) — President Joe Biden is expected to sign an executive order on Tuesday aiming to increase the number of background checks to buy guns, promote better and more secure firearms storage and ensure U.S. law enforcement agencies are getting the most out of a bipartisan gun control law enacted last summer. The Democratic president plans to unveil his latest efforts at curbing gun violence in a speech from Monterey Park, California, said a senior White House official, who discussed the order ahead of its signing on the condition of anonymity. In January, a gunman stormed a dance hall in the community near Los Angeles and shot 20 people, killing 11, following a Lunar New Year celebration. Biden’s rhetoric has only grown stronger around guns — he calls for banning so-called assault weapons routinely in his speeches — and Democrats didn’t push such a vocal anti-gun platform even during the Obama administration, when Biden was vice president. But Biden has been emboldened by th...

Biden seeks to show stability in bid to avert banking chaos

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 23:03:41 GMT

Biden seeks to show stability in bid to avert banking chaos WASHINGTON (AP) — In 2016, Vice President Joe Biden warned against efforts to unravel banking regulations that Democrats had fought to implement following the nation’s financial crisis, just as the emerging Trump administration was determined to loosen those strict banking rules.Biden argued that without the far-reaching 2010 banking overhaul known as Dodd-Frank, financial institutions would continue to gamble with consumers’ cash and ultimately hurt the middle class. “We can’t go back to the days when financial companies take massive risks with the knowledge that a taxpayer bailout is around the corner when they fail,” Biden said in a speech at Georgetown University in the waning days of the Obama administration. Now there’s a banking crisis on his watch as president, and Biden is moving aggressively to assure the public that it is contained, bank executives will be fired, deposits are safe and taxpayers aren’t on the hook — measures also designed to calm jittery ...

Army, resistance trade accusations over Myanmar killings

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 23:03:41 GMT

Army, resistance trade accusations over Myanmar killings BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s military government has denied reports of a new mass killing of civilians by its troops, instead blaming pro-democracy resistance groups for the deaths of more than 20 people, including three Buddhist monks and a woman.Members of armed resistance groups opposed to the military government have said the bodies of 22 people were found late Saturday in the compound of the Buddhist monastery in Nam Nein village, in the southern part of Shan State in eastern Myanmar. They blamed the army for the deaths.No independent witnesses have emerged. The military government’s tight restrictions on travel and information make it virtually impossible to verify details of such incidents.The village is about 80 kilometers (50 miles) east of the capital, Naypyitaw. The area is part of the Self-Administered Zone of the Pa-O ethnic minority. It is governed by the Pa-O National Organization, or PNO, which is allied with the military government. Other Pa-O support the resistan...

One woman dead after fire in Dundonald and Church streets area

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 23:03:41 GMT

One woman dead after fire in Dundonald and Church streets area One woman is dead after a fire in the Dundonald Street and Church Street area on Tuesday morning.I am responding to the fire scene on Dundonald Street @Toronto_Fire— Matthew Pegg (@ChiefPeggTFS) March 14, 2023Emergency services responded to a call just after 4:00 a.m. about a fire, and Toronto paramedics say one woman was pronounced dead on scene.The fire was contained to one unit and most occupants have returned to their units in the building.Church Street was initially closed from Dundonald Street to Wellesley Street East, but lanes closed have reopened.

3/14/2023: Major winter storm underway

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 23:03:41 GMT

3/14/2023: Major winter storm underway The latest Storm Tracker Forecast from meteorologists Jill Szwed and Matt Mackie:The much-anticipated winter storm has arrived. After rain for much of the day Monday, temperatures have fallen off and we have seen a region-wide switch to snow. It is heavy, wet, and coming down quickly. Travel will range from difficult to impossible as the day does on. Winter Storm Warnings are up for the entire News10 viewing area through Wednesday morning.Remember to avoid unnecessary travel. If you must venture out, go slow and leave plenty of distance between yourself and other vehicles. With snow weighing down the branches, and blustery conditions (especially in the higher terrain), power outages are an additional concern across parts of our area.Heavy snow falls all day, with some spots seeing more than an inch per hour. With winds blowing uphill into the Catskills, even greater snowfall rates are possible at times for those in the mountains.The plows and road crews do incredible work, but when ...

Vermonter accused of DUI, punching police officer

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 23:03:41 GMT

Vermonter accused of DUI, punching police officer STAMFORD, Vt. (NEWS10) -- A Burlington, Vermont, woman is accused of driving under the influence, assaulting a law enforcement officer, and resisting arrest. Bridget O'Brien, 38, was arrested on Sunday. Get all of the latest news, weather, sports, and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Vermont State Police say they were alerted of a car off the road on East Road and Forgette Road in Stamford, Vermont. Once they arrived, they found the car in a snow bank with no one inside, and the car locked. After searching the area, police say they found O'Brien a short time afterward walking on East Road.Police say O'Brien refused to stop walking and while trying to speak with her, she turned around and punched a trooper in the cheek/chin area. Police say they attempted to take her into custody and were able to after a brief struggle. O'Brien allegedly showed signs of impairment and was taken to the Shaftsbury State Police Barracks for processing, according to police. She was issued a...