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Major survey shows nearly half of Australian athletes live under the national poverty line

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:06 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) — A survey conducted by the Australian Sports Foundation determined that nearly half of the country’s best athletes are earning below the national poverty line threshold with an annual income of less than 23,000 Australian dollars ($15,000).The foundation, which released the survey Wednesday, said that without increased financial support, Australia risks an exodus of top-tier talent ahead of major international events.The ASF survey polled 2,304 athletes — 600 of them at the elite or international level — across 60 sports and highlighted financial pressures driven by increased costs of competing, particularly travel, as well as accommodation and equipment costs. Athletes also said they had difficulty generating income while focused on elite sport.Two in three elite Australian athletes aged between 18 and 34 have considered quitting their sport, the survey found. One in two athletes aiming to compete in the 2026 Commonwealth Games have considered leaving their sport...

NH woman finds missing 1939 painting at thrift store in Manchester

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:06 GMT

A New Hampshire woman recently found a needle in a haystack in the form of a rare painting at a thrift store. The woman bought the painting for just $4. Now, the painting is expected to sell at auction for close to $250,000. “It’s in very good condition,” said painting conservator Lauren Lewis. “There are a few scratches, little dings, darkened varnish, but nothing unexpected to a pairing of that age that has, in my opinion, never been touched” The initial buyer of the painting found the item at a Savers store in Manchester while in search of used frames. Lewis later came across the painting after the buyer posted photos in a Facebook group. “They posted pictures of the front as well as the back, which was very helpful for me,” Lewis told 7NEWS. “There were some labels on the back, so I was interested.”What the buyer didn’t know was the fact that the painting had been missing for 80 years, first created by Needham artist N.C. Wyeth in 1939 as an...

Lawyer for woman injured in White Sox shooting denies she brought firearm into the ballpark as police continue their investigation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:06 GMT

With Chicago police leaders saying it’s most likely gunfire that struck two women late Friday at a White Sox game originated inside the ballpark, a lawyer for one of those injured issued a statement disputing any notion his client brought a weapon through security and accidentally fired it.The woman, treated for leg wounds, has found herself under scrutiny on social media as police continue to unravel what happened. Among the possibilities being considered by investigators is whether the woman who was more seriously injured was able to bring a weapon through security, sources have said.An attorney for the woman, 42, a White Sox season ticket holder, said Tuesday that since the shooting they have “reviewed photographic evidence and x-rays of our client’s injuries with firearms and medical experts who confirm the gunshot wound our client sustained was not self-inflicted and was not the result of her accidentally discharging a firearm.”The woman, who according t...

Drew Smith gives up costly home run that leads to Rangers’ win over Mets

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:06 GMT

Drew Smith has only given up six home runs this season, but at least half of them have been costly. He served up his sixth of the season Tuesday night at Citi Field in the Mets’ 2-1 loss to the Texas Rangers.The Rangers took the series with the victory, handing the Mets their second straight series loss and their fourth loss in the last five games. Smith replaced left-hander Jose Quintana in the seventh inning. His second pitch to leadoff hitter Mitch Garver went over the left-center fence to break a scoreless tie and effectively hand the Rangers (75-57) the win.Smith has always been adept at elevating his fastball, but this one didn’t get enough rise and the 94.8 MPH pitch was about belt-high.The right-hander (4-5) now has two losses and a blown save as a result of home runs and it was the second time this season he allowed long balls in back-to-back outings. Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels, Smith gave up one up to briefly put the Halos ahead, but the Mets came ba...

‘There’s no more question marks’: Nick Madrigal continues to impress Chicago Cubs with his defense at third base

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:06 GMT

Sometimes Chicago Cubs third baseman Nick Madrigal will watch replays of his defensive plays to try to take in all the different angles.Madrigal’s first season at third base has given the Cubs a reliable defender whose advanced metrics rate him as one of the best at the position in the majors.“I’ve been really impressed with the multitude of different scenarios he’s been put in and being able to make a lot of plays,” manager David Ross said Tuesday. “… I’m at the point, there’s no more question marks for me for him at third base. He’s proven that this year, put in a lot of work to get that way. But he’s very valuable at third and done a really nice job. He’s been great.“He’s been really good and I think we’re getting the best version of him at the plate as far as like he’s healthy and I hadn’t seen that seen him swing the bat with this kind of authority and power and gap-to-gap and ...

Yankees get 3 solo homers, scoreless start from Michael King in win over Detroit Tigers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:06 GMT

The Yankees won their second consecutive game after getting brilliant pitching performances and some solo homers from a few Pinstripers at Comerica Park on Tuesday evening.The contributions led to a 4-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers to even the four-game set.Gleyber Torres supplied the offense early in the first inning by hitting a 454-foot shot to left field, the longest home run of his career. The lead provided a cushion for Michael King, who got the start for the Yankees. The righty cruised in his second start of the season. He pitched four scoreless innings, allowing three hits, no walks and striking out five batters over 61 pitches. The outing lowered his ERA to 2.96.Jhony Brito took over in the fifth and kept the game scoreless. The 25-year-old allowed two hits, two walks and struck out three batters in 3.1 innings of work. The effort secured the righty his fifth win of the season.Kyle Higashioka provided an insurance run in the fifth with a home run to left field, which ext...

Half of USD football team facing discipline amid alleged hazing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:06 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Roughly half of University of San Diego's football team is facing disciplinary action amid an investigation into hazing allegations.The decision was made after the university's athletics and public safety departments conducted a preliminary investigation into alleged hazing between team members during preseason activities, USD says.The football coaching staff learned of the allegations on Aug. 18, the university said in a statement to FOX 5, adding that no one was believed to have been physically hurt. Pete Davidson to perform in El Cajon USD "immediately" suspended football activities, but allowed the remaining players to resume practicing Wednesday "under the close guidance of USD's coaching staff," the university said.Both active and passive participants are facing disciplinary action, and some have received indefinite game suspensions, USD says.The university adds that the initial disciplinary actions only pertain to the players' athletic participation, and that "...

Bridge to Oceanside Pier will be demolished, replaced

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:06 GMT

OCEANSIDE, Calif. -- The bridge to Oceanside's pier will soon be demolished and rebuilt. The bridge is painted white and officially named the Pier View Way Bridge. This access bridge to the pier was designed in 1926 and completed in 1927, making it 96 years old.The city said the bridge is in need of major repairs, but replacing the nearly century-old bridge was more of a cost-effective option. "It's iconic, this is a hub to downtown tourism," the City of Oceanside's Senior Civil Engineer Darra Woods said. "The facility is almost 100 years old, we’ve been maintaining it for decades, but it's really approached its end of its surface life, to get almost 100 years is fantastic, a new facility will get another 75-100 years."The plan is to tear down the old bridge and build a new one, but with its original appearance from its original design in the 1920s. That bridge was made of gray concrete.Woods said the white-textured surface the bridge currently boasts was added on later and was not ...

Drones targeted 5 regions in biggest attack on Russian soil in 18 months, defense ministry says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:06 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of targeting five Russian regions with drones in the early hours of Wednesday in what appears to be the biggest drone attack on Russian soil in the 18 months of fighting in Ukraine. Drones hit an airport in the western Pskov region and were shot down over the regions of Oryol, Bryansk, Ryazan and Kaluga.The strike in Pskov started a massive fire and four Il-78 transport aircraft were damaged, Russia’s state news agency Tass reported, citing emergency officials.Pskov regional Gov. Mikhail Vedernikov ordered all flights to and from the Pskov airport canceled Wednesday, citing the need to assess the damage during daylight.Footage and images posted on social media overnight showed smoke billowing over the city of Pskov, and a large blaze. Vedernikov said there were no casualties, and the fire has been contained.The Associated Press

Australians to vote in a referendum on Indigenous Voice to Parliament on Oct. 14

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:06 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australians will vote on Oct. 14 on a proposed law to create a so-called Indigenous Voice to Parliament in the nation’s first referendum in a generation.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday announced the referendum date, triggering just over six weeks of intensifying campaigning by both sides of the argument.The referendum would enshrine in the constitution an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, a collection of advocates aimed at giving the nation’s most disadvantaged ethnic minority more say on government policy.Australia has not held a referendum since 1999 and a referendum has not passed since 1977.No referendum has ever passed without bipartisan support and the major parties remain divided over the Voice.Rod Mcguirk, The Associated Press