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Chicago Bears Q&A: Why wasn’t an extension in place with Montez Sweat before the trade? Could Jaylon Johnson get the franchise tag?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:30 GMT

Another busy and tumultuous week for the Chicago Bears has seen a trade for defensive end Montez Sweat, a trade request from cornerback Jaylon Johnson, a second assistant coach leave the staff — and it all started with another blowout loss.Before the Bears get back on the field Sunday in New Orleans, the Tribune’s Brad Biggs digs deep into the weekly Bears mailbag.How close are the Bears and Montez Sweat to an extension and why didn’t Ryan Poles have one in place before trading significant draft capital for him? — @wrigleykordtIn a perfect world, the Bears would have finalized a new contract with Sweat before completing the trade with the Washington Commanders on Tuesday. However, a source with knowledge of the situation told me Washington did not grant Sweat’s representation permission to shop for a trade and new contract. That would have made it easier for the Bears and removed an element of risk in the deal. The Commanders also could have increased t...

Staff picks for Week 9 of 2023 NFL season: Dolphins vs. Chiefs, Cowboys vs. Eagles, Bills vs. Bengals and more

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:30 GMT

Baltimore Sun staff writers pick every game of the NFL season. Here’s who they have winning in Week 9:Tennessee Titans at Pittsburgh Steelers (Thursday, 8:15 p.m.)Brian Wacker (71-51 season; 13-3 last week): SteelersChilds Walker (77-45 season; 11-5 last week): SteelersMike Preston (68-54 season; 11-5 last week): SteelersC.J. Doon (78-44 season; 11-5 last week): SteelersTim Schwartz (75-47 season; 11-5 last week): TitansMiami Dolphins vs. Kansas City Chiefs in Germany (Sunday, 9:30 a.m.)Wacker: ChiefsWalker: ChiefsPreston: ChiefsDoon: DolphinsSchwartz: ChiefsMinnesota Vikings at Atlanta Falcons (Sunday, 1 p.m.)Wacker: VikingsWalker: FalconsPreston: FalconsDoon: FalconsSchwartz: FalconsArizona Cardinals at Cleveland Browns (Sunday, 1 p.m.)Wacker: BrownsWalker: BrownsPreston: BrownsDoon: BrownsSchwartz: BrownsLos Angeles Rams at Green Bay Packers (Sunday, 1 p.m.)Wacker: PackersWalker: RamsPreston: PackersDoon: PackersSchwartz: RamsTampa Bay Buccaneers at Houston Texans (Sunday, ...

Fentanyl exposure during pregnancy is linked to a new medical syndrome in babies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:30 GMT

Tom Avril and Aubrey Whelan | The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS)PHILADELPHIA — The babies are born with small heads, underdeveloped jawbones, conjoined toes and rounded, “rocker-bottom” feet.Physicians at Nemours Children’s Health say they all have one thing in common: They were exposed in utero to significant amounts of fentanyl, a dangerous synthetic opioid.In a new study, the authors say they’ve identified 10 such babies so far, describing their constellation of symptoms as a “novel syndrome associated with prenatal fentanyl exposure.”Six of the children were identified at Nemours clinics in Delaware. Four others were identified by physicians in California, Boston and Rhode Island who are coauthors of the study, published this fall in Genetics in Medicine Open.While illicit fentanyl use has been on the rise for years, no one had previously established a link between the drug and these birth defects. That’s likely because children born to parents who use the drug may not receiv...

US Senate circumvents Tuberville holds and confirms new Air Force head, first female on Joint Chiefs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:30 GMT

By MARY CLARE JALONICK, TARA COPP and LOLITA BALDOR (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Senate, circumventing holds by Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville, on Thursday confirmed the nominations of two senior military leaders, including the first female member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Adm. Lisa Franchetti was confirmed by a vote of 95-1 to lead the Navy, making her the first woman to serve as a Pentagon service chief and hold a seat on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Gen. David Allvin was also confirmed by a vote of 95-1 to be chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force. The Senate was expected to vote later Thursday to confirm Lt. Gen. Christopher Mahoney to serve as assistant commandant for the U.S. Marine Corps.Franchetti’s historic confirmation as the chief of naval operations comes as Tuberville has drawn bipartisan criticism for holding up almost 400 military nominations in an effort to protest Pentagon abortion policy. In a remarkable display, several Republican sen...

‘Abnormal’: Quebec says there are still too many asylum seekers entering the province

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:30 GMT

Quebec’s immigration minister says the number of asylum seekers entering the province is “abnormal.”Christine Fréchette told reporters today that the federal government needs to do more to distribute would-be refugees across the country.She says that since the closure of Roxham Road — the irregular land border crossing between Quebec and New York state — there are now too many asylum seekers showing up at the province’s airports.Federal government statistics show that 17,080 people claimed asylum at Quebec airports between January and September of this year, more than double the second-highest province for airport claimants, Ontario.Fréchette says Quebec has welcomed more asylum seekers so far this year than all other provinces combined, which was also true in 2022.The minister also says Ottawa is too “loose” with the way it gives travel visas, saying many migrants are taking advantage of that pathway to claim asylum in the country. This report by...

West Virginia jail officers plead guilty to conspiracy charge in fatal assault on inmate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:30 GMT

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Two West Virginia corrections officers pleaded guilty Thursday to a felony conspiracy charge stemming from the fatal beating of an inmate in a case that has brought scrutiny to conditions and deaths at the jail.Southern Regional Jail officers Andrew Fleshman and Steven Wimmer entered the pleas during separate hearings in U.S. District Court in Beckley. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Their sentencings have been set for Feb. 22. The officers were charged in a criminal information that they conspired to deny Quantez Burks’ right to due process of law. Burks, 37, was a pretrial detainee at the jail in Beaver who died less than a day after he was booked into the jail in March 2022 on a wanton endangerment charge.According to court documents, Burks tried to push past an officer in order to leave his housing unit. Burks then was escorted to an interview room, where Wimmer and Fleshman assaulted Burks while he was handcuffed and po...

Man killed after pursuit and shootout with Alaska authorities, troopers say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:30 GMT

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A man was killed during a shootout after leading Alaska State Troopers and other officers on a chase that closed a 7-mile stretch of highway, authorities said. It was the second fatal shooting involving troopers this week. Troopers on Thursday identified the man killed a day earlier as Michael Grimes, 45, of Fairbanks. Troopers tried to stop a pickup driven by Grimes on Wednesday afternoon north of Healy in connection with an “active felony-level investigation,” Austin McDaniel, a spokesperson for the state Department of Public Safety, said in an email. The troopers are part of the department. According to the agency, the truck failed to stop for marked trooper vehicles and a chase ensued, during which time Grimes shot at troopers. Troopers were joined by officers from other agencies assigned to a trooper-led narcotics team, McDaniel said. Troopers and other officers returned fire, hitting Grimes, the department statement said. Authorities used spike strips and...

Arrest made in fatal shooting of Salem State University student

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:30 GMT

SALEM, Mass. (AP) — Police have made an arrest in the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old Salem State University student just days before what would have been his first college basketball game, an official said.Missael Pena Canela, 18, of Salem, has been charged with murder in connection with the shooting early Wednesday of Carl-Hens Beliard, 18, according to Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker.Canela was arrested Wednesday evening by Salem police detectives and arraigned Thursday in Salem District Court. He pleaded not guilty.Salem police said they received a 911 call at about 1:24 a.m. for a report of a shooting and found Beliard inside a vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to Salem Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.Police said Wednesday that a preliminary investigation indicated the shooting didn’t appear to be random. Police said there also doesn’t appear to be any ongoing threat to the Salem State University community, adding that the investigatio...

Store-level sales across toy industry ‘disappointing’ in Oct: Spin Master

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:30 GMT

TORONTO — Spin Master Corp. executives say the lead-up to the usually bustling holiday sales season has so far wound up below expectations.Across the toy industry, October store sales have been “disappointing” and “well below retailers’ plans,” said Mark Segal, chief financial officer at the Toronto-based toy manufacturer.“Consumers are under pressure and whilst consumer spend remains high overall, consumers are allocating their spend to travel and experiences,” he said on a Thursday call with analysts.Segal’s observations about the market come as Spin Master gears up for its typically busiest season of the year. The company’s Paw Patrol, Bakugan, Hatchimals, Rubik’s Cube and Gund toys often take top spots on wish lists, generating higher sales and revenues than other times of year.However, this shopping season has come with stubbornly high inflation, making consumers think twice about purchases or hunt for deals more than they m...

Tax avoidance: Canadian companies transferred $120B to Luxembourg, study says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:30 GMT

MONTREAL — A Quebec research institute says some of Canada’s biggest companies have transferred billions of dollars in profits to Luxembourg to avoid paying domestic taxes.The research published today by IRIS says 59 Canadian companies — including 33 headquartered in Quebec — transferred some $119.8 billion in net profits to the European low-tax country over a period of about 10 years.The companies operate in several sectors including finance, natural resources, food and technology, and include big names such as Thomson Reuters, Alimentation Couche-Tard and Saputo Inc.The study notes that tax avoidance strategies aren’t illegal but violate the “spirit” of the law because they permit companies to pay ultra-low taxes in jurisdictions other than where the majority of their economic activities occur.Representatives from Thomson Reuters, Couche-Tard and Saputo Inc. were not immediately available for comment.The researchers say some companies on the list have recei...