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And end in sight? Striking writers and Hollywood studios resume negotiations for second day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:00 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hollywood studios and striking screenwriters are resuming negotiations for the second consecutive day Thursday. The talks could potentially put an end to the nearly five-month dispute that has brought many film and television productions to a halt.In a rare joint statement issued Wednesday night, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents the industry’s studios, streaming services and production companies in union negotiations, and the Writers Guild of America, said that they’d met for bargaining Wednesday and would continue Thursday. Present at the meeting were a group of top entertainment CEOs including Disney’s Bob Iger, Warner Bros. Discovery’s David Zaslav, Universal’s Donna Langley and Netflix’s Ted Sarandos. The four are likely to be present at the talks Thursday as well. CNBC reporter David Faber wrote on X, previously Twitter, Wednesday that the writers and AMPTP were “near” an agreement and “hope to finalize the deal,” acco...

Farrell back from suspension at 10 and Smith at fullback for England Rugby World Cup match

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:00 GMT

LILLE, France (AP) — England captain Owen Farrell will make his return from suspension in a much-changed team for the Rugby World Cup match against Chile on Saturday.Farrell had to serve a four-match ban for a dangerous tackle in a warmup match against Wales on Aug. 12, with the suspension taking in World Cup pool games against Argentina and Japan.England won both of them to virtually secure a place in the quarterfinals and Farrell is back — at flyhalf — in a team containing 12 changes from the 34-12 victory over the Japanese on Sunday.Utility back Marcus Smith starts at fullback, while center Ollie Lawrence and wingers Henry Arundell and Max Malins also come in for their first appearances of the tournament.Prop Bevan Rodd and lock David Ribbans will get World Cup debuts, and hooker Theo Dan, lock George Martin and scrumhalf Danny Care start for the first time in this campaign.“One of the many great things about the Rugby World Cup is that the tournament provides an excellent opport...

Leeds goes back to CAS in latest transfer case with Augustin over $30M wage settlement

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:00 GMT

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — English soccer club Leeds is going to sport’s highest court for a second appeal case involving former striker Jean-Kévin Augustin, this time contesting a $30 million salary settlement in their dispute over a transfer deal during the COVID-19 pandemic.The Court of Arbitration for Sport said Thursday that a Nov. 16 hearing is set for Leeds to challenge a FIFA award in favor of the French striker.Leeds was ordered by FIFA in March to pay Augustin more than 24.5 million pounds ($30 million) for breach of a five-year contract agreed in the 2019-20 soccer season affected by the pandemic.Second-tier Leeds, which is owned by the San Francisco 49ers, lost a first CAS ruling last year. That upheld a FIFA decision ordering Leeds to pay Leipzig a 6.7-million euro ($7.1-million) first instalment in a transfer deal of 21 million euros ($22.4 million) for Augustin.In both cases Leeds’ lawyers have argued the deal should have been nullified. The 2019-20 soccer sea...

No. 7 Penn State ready for tough test with possibly defense leading the way against No. 24 Iowa

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:00 GMT

No. 24 Iowa (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten) at No. 7 Penn State (3-0, 1-0), 7:30 ET (CBS)Line: Penn State by 14 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: Penn State 17-14.WHAT’S AT STAKE?The Hawkeyes are trying to go 4-0 for the third time since 2019 in a place coach Kirk Ferentz has won before. His teams have won the last two games in the series, including a 41-21 win in 2020 in an empty Beaver Stadium during the pandemic. The atmosphere will be much more daunting this time as the Nittany Lions are playing in their second primetime game and want to make a statement against their first ranked foe. It’s a “White Out” for the Nittany Lions.KEY MATCHUPPenn State’s passing game vs. Iowa’s zone defense. Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker likes to eliminate big plays and force opposing quarterbacks to make mistakes with multiple zone looks. Penn State quarterback Drew Allar hasn’t thrown an interception yet. If his receivers can find holes in Parker’s defense, Allar has the vision ...

Oklahoma State, Iowa State are trying to jump-start lifeless offenses entering their Big 12 opener

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:00 GMT

Oklahoma State (2-1) at Iowa State (1-2), Saturday, 4 p.m. ET (FS1)Line: Iowa State by 3 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: Oklahoma State leads 34-20-3.WHAT’S AT STAKE?Both teams desperately need to get their offenses going. Oklahoma State managed just 208 yards in a humiliating 33-7 home loss to South Alabama, which had allowed 412 yards to Southeastern Louisiana the week before. The Cowboys plan to continue rotating three quarterbacks. The Cyclones, whose offense is worst in the Power Five, lost 10-7 to Ohio and has yet to crack 300 yards in a game. They have scored a combined 20 points the last two games.KEY MATCHUPOklahoma State offensive line vs. Iowa State front seven. The Cowboys’ starting linemen met Sunday morning for a mental reset after South Alabama worked them over for four sacks and held the ‘Pokes to 94 rushing yards. The Cyclones have just one sack in two games since recording five against Northern Iowa, but they have 57 quarterback pres...

Florida agriculture losses between $78M and $371M from Hurricane Idalia, preliminary estimate says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:00 GMT

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Florida agriculture losses from Hurricane Idalia are estimated at between $78 million and $371 million, with producers also suffering widespread damage to such infrastructure as irrigation rigs and fences, according to a preliminary report Thursday from the University of Florida.The Category 3 hurricane came ashore Aug. 30 along Florida’s Big Bend region with maximum sustained winds near 125 mph (205 kph), sweeping across rural areas that include crops such as peanuts and cotton as well as cattle, poultry and aquaculture operations.Predicted losses for livestock are pegged at between $30.1 million and $123.4 million, according to the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences report. Estimates for field and row crop losses are between $30.7 million and $93.6 million, with greenhouse and nursery products accounting for between $4.7 million and $68.8 million.Researchers said the wide ranges in these estimates w...

Authorities announce death of father who attempted to rescue child at Salisbury Beach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:00 GMT

Authorities say a 44-year-old man who attempted to rescue his child at Salisbury Beach was pronounced dead after he was recovered by emergency crews.The Essex District Attorney’s Office said 44-year-old Gary Simard of Methuen originally went into the water on Wednesday to try and rescue one of his children after they were pulled from the shoreline.Witnesses told 7NEWS a rip current appeared to be the cause, leading Simard and two bystanders to get into the water and attempt the rescue.According to the DA’s office, the bystanders were able to rescue the child, but were unable to find Simard afterwards.Later, both police and firefighters were called to to the area of 266 North End Blvd where crews located the 44 year old and immediately began taking life-saving measures on the beach.Simard was then taken to Seabrook Emergency Room where he was pronounced dead, the DA’s office said in an update Thursday.This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and onlin...

Boston police request public’s help in finding 14-year-old Roxbury boy who never arrived at school

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:00 GMT

The Boston Police Department is asking for the public’s help in finding a 14-year-old boy from the city’s Roxbury neighborhood who left for school Thursday morning, but never arrived.Boston PD said Jaydn Betts was last seen around 8 a.m., leaving the area of Highland Street while heading to the MBTA’s Jackson Square station.According to police, Betts was supposed to take the train to Andrew station and then walk to Upper Academy, but never arrived at school.Stating that Betts suffers from mental health issues, the police department described Betts as a Black male with a height of 5’4″ and a slim build.He was also believed to be wearing a Patriots winter hat at the time, along with dark-colored pants and black shoes.https://twitter.com/bostonpolice/status/1704897996553347499Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact 911 or Boston PD’s B-2 Detectives at 617-343-4275.Those who wish to remain anonymous are asked to con...

At-home COVID-19 tests: A Mayo Clinic expert answers questions on expiration dates and the new variants

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:00 GMT

Deb Balzer | (TNS) Mayo Clinic News NetworkAt-home COVID-19 tests allow you to collect your sample and detect active COVID-19 infections.But what if you have at-home COVID-19 tests nearing expiration or expired on your shelf?Matthew Binnicker, Ph.D., director of the Clinical Virology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, says companies set the original test dates arbitrarily due to these diagnostic at-home tests being developed rapidly. So, check your boxes before you toss them.“Now that we are 3 1/2 years into the pandemic, those manufacturers have had the opportunity to go back and assess the test performance over prolonged periods of time. And they’ve updated the expiration dates in many cases,” says Dr. Binnicker.His first recommendation if you have tests at home is to search the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website for information on updated expiration dates.“If you take a test that is beyond the expiration date, and the test is positive, that’s likely ...

Mystery Patriots revealed: Two cornerbacks added to provide depth

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:00 GMT

The Patriots signed two cornerbacks to their practice squad Thursday, per sources.Cornerbacks Breon Borders and Azizi Hearn signed to the Patriots practice squad Thursday after working out for the team in the morning, per sources.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots offensive line takes a hit at Thursday practice before Jets game New England Patriots | Patriots have ideas on how to fix ineffective running game New England Patriots | Patriots: 6 reasons to still be optimistic about 2023 season New England Patriots | Callahan: Bill Belichick hamstrung Bill O’Brien, but O’Brien must deliver anyway at the Jets New England Patriots | Patriots captain: Defense off to ‘hell of a start’ preparing for Jets Borders and Hearn were the unidentified players at practice wearing Nos. 35 and 42 on Thursday afternoon.Borders is a veteran cornerback out of Duke who has spent time with the Raid...