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Legal experts question judge’s order telling Southwest lawyers to get religious-liberty training

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:15:42 GMT

A federal judge has set off a debate among legal scholars by ordering lawyers for Southwest Airlines to undergo “religious-liberty training” by a conservative Christian legal group.Critics say that if the judge believes such training is necessary, he should have found a less polarizing group to conduct it.U.S. District Judge Brantley Starr made the decision after ruling that Southwest was in contempt of court for defying a previous order he issued in a case involving a flight attendant who said she was fired for expressing her opposition to abortion. She sued Southwest and won.Starr, nominated to the bench by former President Donald Trump, said Southwest didn’t understand federal protections for religious freedom. So this week, he ordered three of the airline’s lawyers to undergo religious-liberty training. And he said that the Alliance Defending Freedom, or ADF, “is particularly well-suited” to do the training.The group has gained attention — and high-profile cour...

Gilberto Celestino feeling comfortable again with Saints after thumb injury

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:15:42 GMT

After a rookie season in 2022 that saw him lead the Twins with 119 outfield appearances, Gilberto Celestino arrived at spring training this year eager to prove he belonged in the conversation in a crowded outfield.That all changed on March 2, when the 24-year-old Celestino suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb on a headfirst slide. He’s been battling to get back to the player he knows he can be ever since.Surgery and rehabilitation landed him on the 60-day injured list, and following a brief rehab stint in Class A he joined the Saints on June 18. A premier defensive center fielder, Celestino only recently has felt comfortable at the plate.He delivered a key two-run double in the Saints’ win over Louisville Thursday night, which followed the recently completed road trip that saw him go 4 for 12 and draw four walks.“Every day my preparation is getting better and better,” said Celestino through an interpreter, Saints pitching coach Cibney Bello, prior to the Saint...

SF Giants’ offense falls flat in Bruce Bochy Oracle Park return

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:15:42 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — Bruce Bochy’s tribute video and accompanying standing ovation with a “Bochy” chant were the only sounds disrupting and otherwise quiet first five innings to open this series between the Giants and Texas Rangers.Then two loud pops came in the sixth inning. Back-to-back home runs from Nathaniel Lowe and Mitch Garver off an otherwise steady Ross Stripling gave the Rangers a 2-1 win on Friday night at Oracle Park.The Giants returned home from a 1-4 road trip with series losses to the Oakland A’s and Los Angeles Angels needing desperately for their anemic offense to rise from the ashes against the first-place Rangers. But they remained quiet against Jon Gray, who plowed through the lineup.Since Joc Pederson’s single in he second inning, Gray had retired 11 straight batters until Patrick Bailey’s two-out single in the fifth inning. He retired the next seven, too, to finish seven scoreless innings with two hits, seven strikeouts and...

Redwood City: Drug deal ends in double shooting

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:15:42 GMT

REDWOOD CITY – Two men were shot and injured in a drug deal gone wrong Thursday in Redwood City, according to authorities.The shooting was reported in the area of the Veterans Memorial Senior Center, the Redwood City Police Department said in a statement. Officers arrived to find the men suffering from gunshot wounds.The men were taken to a trauma center and were expected to survive their injuries.Preliminary information suggested the shooting was the “result of a failed narcotics sales transaction,” police said, adding that there was no ongoing threat to the public.Police did not announce any arrests Friday.“Thus far, not all persons involved in this incident have been forthcoming with law enforcement investigators about details of what occurred,” police said in the statement.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Man charged with 15 felonies in East Bay burglary spree targeting businesses Crime and Public Safety | Man arrested after spray painting Naz...

Eat and pet your way through the Montgomery Co. Agricultural Fair as it returns for its 74th year

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:15:42 GMT

The annual Montgomery County Agricultural Fair is back!Doors opened 3 p.m. Friday afternoon and thousands excitedly walked through the gates to kick off nine straight days of family-friendly fun.The Maryland fair features a massive row of all types of food, endless games, rides, main stage areas with feature attractions and a whole section reserved for interacting with local farm animals.Now in its 74th year, Montgomery County’s feature event drew visitors from far and wide — who all raved about the time they were having.“We traveled all the way from Baltimore, so it’s our first time at the fair!” Graysen Levy said. She was there with friends and colleagues to participate in Friday’s featured attraction, the Chesapeake Dock Dogs contest — a dock jumping contest for man’s best friend.“You can see dogs of different breeds jump into water,” Levy explained. “They do different types of disciplines: How high, how far, and how fast!”“We secured a second ...

Bruce Bochy returns to San Francisco to face former club, Rangers beat Giants 2-1

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:15:42 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Nathaniel Lowe homered with two outs in the sixth for the Rangers to break up a scoreless game, Mitch Garver connected one pitch later and Texas manager Bruce Bochy beat his former San Francisco Giants 2-1 on Friday night as they welcomed him back with love and fanfare.Jon Gray (8-5) struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter while allowing two hits over seven scoreless innings as AL West-leading Texas notched the best 116-game record in franchise history by improving to 69-47.Lowe’s 14th drive of the year splashed into McCovey Cove beyond the wall in right field, the 163rd home run to reach the water in ballpark history, 61st by an opponent and fourth by a Rangers player — first since Shin-Soo Shoo on Aug. 2, 2020.During pregame introductions, Bochy received a warm standing ovation and emerged from the dugout with waves and a tip of his cap in appreciation. Fans in the crowd of 35,689 chanted “Bochy! Bochy!”In the middle of the third inning, the Gian...

How Vivek Ramaswamy is pushing — delicately — to win over Trump supporters

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:15:42 GMT

VAIL, Iowa (AP) — Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy was more than 40 minutes into a town hall in rural Iowa when a woman in the crowd posed a pointed question. Or perhaps it was a suggestion. “I know you want to be president,” she said. “But would you consider being Trump’s vice president?”The query drew light laughter from attendees and a lengthy response from Ramaswamy. (The short answer: No.) It also highlighted the central challenge facing the wealthy entrepreneur, who has risen from little-known newcomer to as high as third in some Republican primary polls since joining the race nearly six months ago. While voters are increasingly interested in Ramaswamy, it’s former President Donald Trump who continues to be many conservatives’ favorite. With the first Republican primary debate in just over a week and the leadoff Iowa caucus five months away, he is delicately working to convince more voters that he could be their nominee and — as much as h...

Wilson throws TD pass before Cardinals mount comeback to beat Broncos 18-17

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:15:42 GMT

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Denver's Russell Wilson capped a lengthy preseason outing with a touchdown pass to Jerry Jeudy before the Arizona Cardinals rallied for an 18-17 victory Friday night.Cardinals third-string quarterback David Blough led the winning drive, hitting Brian Cobbs for an 18-yard touchdown pass with two seconds left to pull within 17-16. Arizona then converted its 2-point attempt when Emari Demercado pushed the pile and fell into the end zone. Russell Wilson and wife Ciara announce baby on the way Wilson — who played most of the first half — completed 7 of 13 passes for 93 yards and also absorbed several big hits, including a sack by Dennis Gardeck. The nine-time Pro Bowl selection didn't have much time to throw, particularly in the first quarter, but ended his outing on a good note after finding a wide-open Jeudy over the middle for a 21-yard touchdown strike on fourth down with 6:54 left in the second.It was Wilson's first game action since first-year Denver coach ...

Orioles drop series opener to streaking Mariners, 9-2, as Kyle Gibson allows career-high 9 earned runs

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:15:42 GMT

Kyle Gibson didn’t have it.The veteran right-hander allowed a career-high nine earned runs as the Orioles opened a series at T-Mobile Park with a 9-2 defeat Friday night, the Seattle Mariners’ eighth straight victory. Gibson, who entered as the American League leader in hits allowed, surrendered 12 in 5 1/3 innings.“That’s probably about as bad as I’ve executed pitches in a long time,” Gibson said. “I had a couple innings there where I felt a little bit better and in rhythm, but in general, just didn’t do very much well. Didn’t make pitches when I needed to. Didn’t limit damage. Didn’t execute some sliders in instances where I needed to. I think they had a good plan, and I didn’t execute my plan.”Gibson’s night began with a spectacular play behind him from Cedric Mullins, who robbed Julio Rodríguez of extra bases in his first opportunity in center field after being activated from the injured lis...

San Diego family in Maui fundraises, donates supplies to relief effort

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:15:42 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A local San Diego family planned to have a reunion with friends and family in Maui this week, but are now trying to help with fire relief efforts any way they can.“A steward on the plane, he was native Hawaiian, he was speaking in Hawaiian and he said some native prayers in Hawaiian and it was just very somber trip over there,” Kirsten Morton said.It was a flight from San Diego to Maui unlike any other for Morton and her family. They’ve been traveling to Hawaii for most of their lives and the islands are home to not only family members, but also friends who are like family.“One is a firefighter, he’s been busy working. His wife is a schoolteacher in Lahaina at a local middle school there and that middle school is completely gone,” Morton said.When they heard wildfires had leveled Lahaina leaving so much loss and destruction, the Mortons knew their trip would be different this time. While her family friends fight the fires and also open their home to fire victims, M...