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Seals show off painting skills through new experience available at New England Aquarium

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 17:30:02 GMT

Some of the seals at the New England Aquarium are showing off some of their talents through a new experience available for aquarium guests. The experience offers guests the opportunity to join trainers for what the aquarium describes on its website as “an exclusive inside-the-exhibit visit and art-making session” with Atlantic harbor seals. Guests participating in the experience will ultimately receive a painting made by a seal. 7NEWS got a look at how the experience works, meeting Chacoda, a seal also known as “Chuck.”Seal trainer and curator Patty Leonard said, by getting Chuck to focus on tasks using rewards like his favorite fish, he can do much more than some might expect. “They know anywhere from fifty to a hundred behaviors, and panting is just one of the many that we love to show off to our guests because it shows off the intelligence of the animals and its really interesting to watch the animals create their own designs as well,” Leonard said. Harbor seals are some of ...

Nets lose to Timberwolves, fail to clinch playoffs while clinging to one-game lead for 6th spot

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 17:30:02 GMT

Oh so close, but no cigar.The Nets had an opportunity to cement a playoff spot with a victory in their matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday.They instead lost in a nail-biter, 107-102, and must fight for their playoff lives another day.The Nets entered Tuesday night in control of their own destiny: Two straight wins would have guaranteed a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference, helping steer the Nets away from the sudden-death Play-In Tournament.The seventh-seeded Miami Heat compounded matters by beating the Detroit Pistons, 118-105, on Tuesday. The Heat now trail the Nets by only one in the Eastern Conference standings. Both teams only have three games left on their schedules.And be sure to check the NBA’s Last Two Minutes Report on Wednesday, because Spencer Dinwiddie — who had strung together an excellent scoring night — was robbed of a foul call on the game’s final possession.The Nets trailed 105-102 with just seconds remaining in the fou...

Domingo German allows two home runs as Phillies beat Yankees to pick up first victory of season

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 17:30:02 GMT

Domingo German pitched better than his stat line indicated Tuesday night, but the Phillies nonetheless left Yankee Stadium with their first win of the season.Philadelphia, which won 4-1, jumped on the right-handed German early in his first appearance of 2023. Designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, the second batter of the game, launched a ball into the right-center field seats for a solo home run. The 2022 National League home run champ showed exactly why Yankees fans have longed to see his left-handed swing call Yankee Stadium home, as Schwarber drove the ball 415 feet at 104.4 miles per hour for the 200th dinger of his career and his first of the season.Brandon Marsh one-upped his teammate two innings later when the center fielder crushed another German fastball 436 feet at 109.8 mph. Another solo shot, it was also Marsh’s first homer of the season.“Sometimes when you try to attack with certain pitches, and it’s not exactly the location you want, you pay for it,”...

Democrats’ choice wins key Wisconsin Supreme Court race

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 17:30:02 GMT

By SCOTT BAUER (Associated Press)MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Democratic-backed Milwaukee judge won the high stakes Wisconsin Supreme Court race Tuesday, ensuring liberals will take over majority control of the court for the first time in 15 years with the fate of the state’s abortion ban on the line.Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Janet Protasiewicz, 60, defeated former Justice Dan Kelly, who previously worked for Republicans and had support from the state’s leading anti-abortion groups. It’s his second loss in a race for Supreme Court in three years.“I feel great. I could not feel better,” Protasiewicz told The Associated Press after her win. “I am surprised of the results and the magnitude of the victory here. We are absolutely delighted and thrilled.”The new court controlled 4-3 by liberals is expected to decide a pending lawsuit challenging the state’s 1849 law banning abortion enacted a year after statehood. Protasiewicz made the ...

Celtics can’t overcome Joel Embiid’s epic 52-point performance, fall to 76ers

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 17:30:02 GMT

If the Celtics and 76ers ultimately meet in the second round of the playoffs, the C’s will have the edge. But Joel Embiid, as he showed again Tuesday, poses a major challenge that would make that a competitive and entertaining series.Down two regulars – missing Jaylen Brown and Robert Williams – the Celtics nearly stole one in Philadelphia. Despite a frustrating offensive performance, the Celtics almost overcame Embiid’s epic performance, and somehow, nearly erased a seven-point deficit with less than 10 seconds remaining. But the MVP frontrunner’s 52 points and 13 rebounds were too much in a 103-101 loss.The Celtics, after taking the first three games against the Sixers this season, fell three games back of the first-place Bucks with three games to go, almost ensuring that they’ll be the No. 2 seed in the East. That would likely mean a second-round series against the No. 3 seed 76ers, one that the Celtics should continue to feel good about after Philadelphia needed a memorable Embi...

Mets shut out for second straight game in 9-0 loss to Brewers

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 17:30:02 GMT

MILWAUKEE — The smoke hung so thick on the field that it was tough to make out the numbers on the jerseys. The Milwaukee Brewers set off fireworks after each home run at American Family Field and there were five of them hit against the Mets on Tuesday night.With the roof closed on a chilly, rainy night the smoke had nowhere to go.Max Scherzer (1-1) gave up three straight bombs to Rowdy Tellez, Brian Anderson and Garrett Mitchell in the sixth after being tagged for two runs in the first inning. Brooks Raley gave up back-to-back homers to Anderson and Mitchell in the seventh, and for the second time in as many days, the Mets were shut out, losing 9-0 on Tuesday night.It was another dismal showing for the Mets (3-3). The Brewers (4-1) have scored 19 unanswered runs over the first two games of the series. The Mets couldn’t figure out left-hander Wade Miley (1-0), who allowed five hits, struck out three and hit one over six innings.Brandon Nimmo went 3-for-4 and Jeff McNeil w...

Bats fall silent, Sox lose to Pittsburgh 4-1

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 17:30:02 GMT

When the bats get going, the pitching isn’t there.When the pitching comes through, the bats fall silent.It often felt like that was the case during 2022’s last-place campaign, and so far the worrying trend seems to be carrying over to the new year.Tuesday night it was the offense’s turn to fall flat, as the Red Sox fell to the Pirates 4-1 in a punchless affair at Fenway Park. The offense only managed four hits the whole night and rarely posed a serious threat.The result? A series loss to a Pirates club that lost 100 games a year ago.In one respect Tuesday night was a step forward, because Nick Pivetta pitched well enough for the Red Sox to win. Following a string of ugly outings by the club’s starting pitchers to open the season, Pivetta allowed just three runs over five innings, only one of which was earned. He gave up three hits and three walks and struck out six in arguably the best outing by a Sox starter so far this year.The damage came off a pair of home runs. One was courtesy...

Pedestrian hit by transport truck in Toronto lane on Burlington Skyway

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 17:30:02 GMT

One man is in the hospital with serious injuries after he was hit by a transport truck in a Toronto-bound lane on the Burlington Skyway.CityNews 680 traffic reported a full closure of the Toronto-bound QEW over the skyway due to a police investigation.The Toronto-bound QEW is fully closed over the Burlington Skyway due to a police investigation #TBQEW #TrafficAlert. pic.twitter.com/OzUAgRxETt— CityNews Toronto Traffic & Weather (@citynews680) April 5, 2023It was later revealed by Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) that a 28-year-old male pedestrian in distress was hit by a truck. The highway safety division said he was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries.OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt says the QEW Toronto-bound lanes will be closed until 1 a.m. on Wednesday.“The transport truck [driver] involved did stop and is speaking to investigators,” Schmidt said.The Ministry of Transportation received word of a closure on the Burlington Skyway at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Johnson elected Chicago mayor in victory for progressives

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 17:30:02 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Brandon Johnson, a union organizer and former teacher, was elected Chicago mayor on Tuesday, a major victory for the party’s progressive wing as the nation’s third-largest city grapples with high crime and financial challenges.Johnson, a Cook County commissioner endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union, won a close race over former Chicago schools CEO Paul Vallas, who was backed by the police union. Johnson, 47, will succeed Lori Lightfoot, the first Black woman and first openly gay person to be the city’s mayor.Lightfoot became the first Chicago mayor in 40 years to lose her reelection bid when she finished third in a crowded February contest. The top two vote-getters, Vallas and Johnson, advanced to Tuesday’s runoff after no candidate was able to secure over 50% to win outright.Johnson’s victory topped a remarkable trajectory for a candidate who was little known when he entered the race. He climbed to the top of the field with organizing and financial help from the po...

Liberal wins Wisconsin court seat ahead of abortion ruling

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 17:30:02 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Democratic-backed Milwaukee judge won the high stakes Wisconsin Supreme Court race Tuesday, ensuring liberals will take over majority control of the court for the first time in 15 years with the fate of the state’s abortion ban pending.Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Janet Protasiewicz, 60, defeated former Justice Dan Kelly, who previously worked for Republicans and had support from the state’s leading anti-abortion groups. It’s his second loss in a race for Supreme Court in three years.“I feel great. I could not feel better,” Protasiewicz told The Associated Press after her win. “I am surprised of the results and the magnitude of the victory here. We are absolutely delighted and thrilled.”The new court controlled 4-3 by liberals is expected to decide a pending lawsuit challenging the state’s 1849 law banning abortion. Protasiewicz made the issue a focus of her campaign and won the support of Planned Parenthood and other abortion rights groups.The c...