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Bridge: April 23, 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:39 GMT

A friend of mine visited Vermont, where some of the people tend to be taciturn. After trying unsuccessfully to converse with a group of locals, he muttered, “You people don’t have much to say, do you?”“We have a rule,” one Vermonter drawled, “that nobody talks unless he can improve on silence.”Bridge players might do well to adopt that approach. I often hear players make ill-considered comments. Against today’s 6NT, West led the nine of spades. East let dummy’s jack win but took the ace when declarer led another spade. East then switched to the nine of diamonds.South took the A-K, then cashed four heart tricks and the king of spades. With four tricks to go, dummy had the jack of diamonds and three clubs, and South had his A-K-Q-8 of clubs. West was squeezed, unable to keep his queen of diamonds and the guarded jack of clubs, and South made the slam.“Thanks, partner,” West growled. “Duck the second spade as well ...

Saudi Arabia Owns Stake in Firm That Bought Democratic Party’s Campaign Tech

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:39 GMT

The government of Saudi Arabia is an investor in the private company that owns a virtual monopoly on software that powers Democratic candidates — including management of the Democratic National Committee’s all-important voter list.Sanabil Investments, the company that manages Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, recently published its first list of investments in venture capital, buyout firms, and startups. The list includes two private equity firms involved two years ago in the sale and acquisition of EveryAction and NGP VAN, the companies that make up the Democratic Party’s campaign tech apparatus.“Saudi Arabia’s investments are definitely strategic.”“Saudi Arabia’s investments are definitely strategic,” said Paul Rose, an associate dean at the Ohio State University’s law school, who has done research on sovereign funds in Gulf states. “This disclosure is interesting because I look at it and I think, ‘Well, why would you disclose all this?’ The Saudis are really...

Sixers’ sweep gives Embiid time to heal up for second round

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:39 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Joel Embiid received news this week that he has heard far too many times in the last few years. He was going to be sidelined in the playoffs.It’s now three straight years the All-Star center has missed at least one game for the Philadelphia 76ers at the most important time of the year. So Doc Rivers spoke to Embiid on the eve of Game 4 in Brooklyn to make sure his right knee was all that was hurting.“I mean, obviously, clearly that’s on your mind. Like, it is,” Rivers said. “But as I said, this is another obstacle in the story that we’re going to write this year and you’re going to be OK. It may take a minute, but this is just part of it. “I’m sure, like he’s human and ‘goodness, this happens again,’” Rivers added, envisioning Embiid’s thoughts. “So let’s win, let’s get him back on the floor and let’s just keep on our own journey.”That journey will continue into the Eastern Conference semifinals after the 76ers completed a sweep of the Brooklyn Nets...

Investigation underway after body found near Charles River in Newton

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:39 GMT

State police are investigating the death of a person who was found at Forte Park in Newton on Saturday night.Troopers responded to the park around 8 p.m. after the body was found near the Charles River on Department of Conservation and Recreation property. The facts and circumstances of their death remain under investigation.Troopers from the State Police Troop H Detective Unit,  the State Police Detective Unit for Middlesex County, and the State Police Crime Scene Services Section also responded.The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has taken custody of the decedent. No additional information was immediately available.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

Firefighters battle wind-whipped fire in Wareham

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:39 GMT

A resident escaped a two-alarm fire that raced through a home in Wareham early Sunday morning, officials said.Crews responding to a reported structure fire on Atlantic Avenue just after 12 a.m. found smoke and flames coming from the home. A resident and their cat managed to get out unharmed.Fire officials said high winds hindered their efforts to contain it and it took about an hour to get it under control.The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Therapy helped Chicago Bulls’ Andre Drummond regain his peace — and purpose: ‘I felt myself crying for help. But I didn’t know how to ask for it.’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:39 GMT

Eight minutes. It wasn’t enough time.Andre Drummond knew it. The rest of the Chicago Bulls lineup already had assembled on the court against the Clippers on March 27 in Los Angeles. Only eight minutes remained before the starter would be introduced, eight minutes before Drummond needed to take his place on the bench beside his teammates.But Drummond was headed in the opposite direction, deeper into the arena, searching for the only name that made sense in that moment: Dr. Wendy Borlabi, the team’s director of performance and mental health.He stood in front of her, searching for the words to describe all that had been clogging his mind for days, months, maybe years.Eight minutes. It wasn’t even close to enough time to say everything he was thinking and feeling. But Drummond knew it was enough time to start.“I don’t know what I’m going to say to you,” Drummond told Borlabi. “But I just need to say something.”Two nights before, Drum...

Saturday’s high school scores and highlights

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:39 GMT

SATURDAY’S HIGHLIGHTSBASEBALLKegan LeClare went the distance while striking out 13 as Salem Academy (6-2) edged nonleague opponent KIPP Academy 4-1. … Brennan Shapiro went five shutout innings with six strikeouts as Latin Academy (4-3) blanked Arlington Catholic 8-0. … Senior Nanfer Duarte threw five innings while allowing two hits and striking out four while senior Braylin Gonzalez drove in four runs in a 10-0 victory for Boston English over Dracut. … Sam Keene tossed five shutout innings with 8 strikeouts, no walks and only allowed three hits as BC High defeated Newton North 7-2.In the Independent School League, sophomore Levy Da Silva went five innings while allowing one hit and striking out 11 as St. Mark’s won 10-0 over St. George’s. … Alistair Rose threw a complete-game one-hitter and struck out 10 as Noble and Greenough (4-4) defeated Brooks, 7-0.BOYS LACROSSEIn a nonleague matchup, Daniel Oman finished with five goals and Connor Stack added three goals as Sandwich (5-1) defe...

NFL Draft 2023: Michael Mayer and 7 potential Patriots tight end picks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:39 GMT

Welcome to Potential Patriots!Each day leading up to the NFL Draft on April 27, the Herald will introduce prospects the Patriots are likely targeting position by position. The Pats have 11 picks this year, starting at 14th overall, their highest selection in more than a decade. As for their other picks, the Patriots could pad their depth at virtually any position.Below is a breakdown of the Patriots’ best prospect fits at tight end.Day 1Michael Mayer, Notre DameHt/Wt: 6-5, 250Projected round: 1stScouting report: Looking for a surprise pick for the Patriots in the first round? Start with Mayer.As Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki enter contract years, Mayer could offer the Patriots a chance to start a new era at the position. He is universally regarded as a top-two prospect among tight ends, and the safest pick in this class. He spent most of his time in-line at Notre Dame, where he blocked well and caught 67 passes for 809 yards and nine touchdowns.Mayer doesn’t have breakaw...

Struggling Bed Bath & Beyond files for bankruptcy protection

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:39 GMT

Bed Bath & Beyond has filed for bankruptcy protection, but its stores and websites will remain open and continue serving customers, the company said.The beleaguered home goods chain made the filing Sunday in U.S. District Court in New Jersey, listing its estimated assets and liabilities in the range of $1 billion and $10 billion. The move comes after the company failed to secure funds to stay afloat.In a statement, the company based in Union, New Jersey, said it voluntarily made the filing “to implement an orderly wind down of its businesses while conducting a limited marketing process to solicit interest in one or more sales of some or all of its assets.”The firm said its 360 Bed Bath & Beyond and 120 BuyBuy Baby stores and websites will remain open and continue serving customers as it “begins its efforts to effectuate the closure of its retail locations.”Back in February, Bed Bath & Beyond announced it was shutting down its Canadian operation.The com...

Commemorating the fifth anniversary of Toronto van attack

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:39 GMT

Toronto residents and public officials are expected to gather in a north-end community today to mark the fifth anniversary of the city’s devastating van attack.Ten people were killed and 16 others were injured when a man deliberately drove a rental van down a busy sidewalk on a stretch of Toronto’s Yonge Street on April 23, 2018.The attack, which stunned the city, was one of Canada’s worst mass murders.An indoor memorial ceremony is set to be held this afternoon, before an outdoor commemoration at Mel Lastman Square, where flowers are set to be laid at a temporary memorial plaque.Family members of victims, community members and politicians are expected to attend.Betty Forsyth, Ji Hun Kim, Sohe Chung, Geraldine Brady, Chul Min Kang, Anne Marie D’Amico, Munir Najjar, Dorothy Sewell, Andrea Bradden and Renuka Amarasingha died in the April 2018 attack.Amaresh Tesfamariam died from her injuries more than three years later.RELATED:Parents, siblings, friends: Rememb...