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Concert review: Brooks and Dunn delight near-capacity Xcel Energy Center crowd

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:51:51 GMT

Reunited country duo Brooks and Dunn headlined St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center for the first time in 13 years Saturday night. And, in a way, the evening felt like a throwback to the days of 2010.For starters, tickets were reasonably priced compared to a lot of the competition. That, and the fact the duo played most of the songs from their 2010 show. It’s not like they don’t have more to choose from, as they scored more than 40 Top 10 hits in the ’90s and ’00s, including 20 No. 1s.Then again, these guys have been doing this for decades and have clearly figured out what songs work best in a live setting. Ronnie Dunn (the one with the hair) and Kix Brooks (the one with the mustache) were struggling solo acts when a producer suggested they join forces in 1990. After nearly two decades, they decided to call it quits with a 2010 farewell tour. But after becoming struggling solo acts once again, the pair reunited in 2015 to play Vegas with Reba McEntire and have...

Gray takes first loss as Guardians top Twins

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:51:51 GMT

Twins starter Sonny Gray has had better days this season, but not any bad ones — his first loss of the season on Saturday night notwithstanding.Gray made one pitch he would like to have back, and it cost him and the Twins in a 4-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians before an announced crowd of 27,153 at Target Field.Gray, whose record now stands at 4-1, sailed through six innings and took a 2-1 lead to the mound in the top of the seventh.  A two-run homer by Will Brennan gave the Guardians a 3-2 lead. It was the first home run Gray has allowed this season.Gray was replaced by Jovani Moran after giving up a pair of two-out singles, and Moran got the next batter to end the inning.The Guardians added a run in the ninth on a home run by Steven Kwan.“They’ve been aggressive, and I also wanted to be aggressive on my side,” Gray said. “They got a lot of singles, a lot of knocks, and then I gave up the two-run homer in the seventh. You throw three fairly quality pitches to the previous batter,...

Sinkhole opens up in Long Beach, roads closed

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:51:51 GMT

A sinkhole that opened up in Long Beach has shut down lanes on Pacific Coast Highway Saturday night.The sinkhole was first reported a little before 4 p.m.Citizen video shows the sinkhole opened up in the middle of a busy road near several gas stations and fast-food restaurants.A sinkhole opened up in Long Beach along Pacific Coast Highway on June 3, 2023. (Citizen)A sinkhole opened up in Long Beach along Pacific Coast Highway on June 3, 2023. (Citizen)A sinkhole opened up in Long Beach along Pacific Coast Highway on June 3, 2023. (Citizen)A sinkhole opened up in Long Beach along Pacific Coast Highway on June 3, 2023. (Citizen)A sinkhole opened up in Long Beach along Pacific Coast Highway on June 3, 2023. (Citizen)Drivers are asked to avoid the eastbound lanes on PCH from Santa Fe Avenue to Harbor Avenue out of precaution on Saturday night.Details are limited and it's unclear what caused the sinkhole to open up.Officials from Long Beach Police, the Long Beach Water Department an...

NorCal softball championship: Hollister denies St. Francis’ repeat bid, with help from the elements and an error

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:51:51 GMT

HOLLISTER – In a game where every fly ball turned into a guaranteed popup once confronted by swirling Hollister winds, it was only fitting that St. Francis’ bid for back-to-back NorCal Division I titles ended on a ground ball in the bottom of the ninth.With the game scoreless, Hollister’s Lauryn McShane hit a pitch up the middle with runners on first and second and one out in the inning. What should have been a routine force play was flubbed by the infield, the flip to second getting away from the defense and allowing runner Kyla Hignel not just to take third, but to also slide into home and score on a walk-off.The entire Hollister team converged upon their teammate to celebrate the 1-0 victory and the school’s first NorCal championship.“It feels incredible,” pitcher Sophia Mariottini said. ‘Incredible’ would also be a superb way of describing how Mariottini defanged the St. Francis hitters for the second time in a week. Hollister’s Sophia Mariottini(1) delivers a pitch ...

Thunderstorms, rain to hit Bay Area early next week

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:51:51 GMT

While this weekend’s weather was warm and sunny, Bay Area residents might need to pull out their umbrellas and raincoats by the start of the work week.Thunderstorms and rain showers are forecasted to make their through the region early next week, according to the National Weather Service.A storm system off the central coast will bring in the unstable weather early Monday morning through Tuesday evening after it pulls in moisture from the southeast, Matt Mehle, a forecaster with NWS said.Rain showers are expected to fall across the Bay Area, while thunderstorms are more likely in the North Bay near Sonoma and Napa, and farther south in Monterey and San Benito counties. But the weather service said the thunder could still reach the South Bay, East Bay or peninsula depending on how the system progresses.Thunderstorms are unlikely this time of year, Mehle said, but not totally rare.“It’s a little more on the unusual – is it unheard of? No. But we do get some showers and thundersto...

Torres propels Orlando City to 3-0 victory over Red Bulls

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:51:51 GMT

HARRISON, N.J. (AP) — Facundo Torres had two goals in the second half, including a penalty-kick score, and Orlando City defeated the New York Red Bulls 3-0 on Saturday night.Orlando City (6-4-5) beat the Red Bulls (4-6-7) for a second time this season and a fourth straight time in all competitions. The only other team Orlando City beat four straight times in all competitions was the Columbus Crew from 2018-21.Iván Angulo gave Orlando City an early lead when he took passes from Wilder Cartagena and César Araújo in the 18th minute and scored his third goal of the season.Torres made it 2-0 with a PK goal in the 52nd minute. Torres’ goal came five minutes after New York’s Andrés Reyes was sent off with a red card, forcing the Red Bulls to play a man down the rest of the match.Torres added his fourth goal of the campaign when he scored unassisted in the 72nd minute.Pedro Gallese stopped two shots to earn his fourth clean sheet of the season for Orlando City. Carlos Coronel fi...

Fashion show aims to reduce teen gun violence

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:51:51 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- A local mother is turning her pain into love and continuing the conversation about youth violence. Kendra Ephriam-Rudd lost her husband, Deon Rudd, to gun violence 11 years ago.  He was shot and killed on a Denver street in broad daylight in 2012. “I miss him so much,” Ephriam-Rudd said. “I was angry for so long and then how long can you be mad at kids that didn’t have opportunities that really didn’t know what the consequences were that day.” She’s worked with youth for years and has been adamant in addressing teen gun violence.  Police kill 14-year-old armed robbery suspect in Aurora “We can protest and write letters, do walk-outs, but we have to do something else," Ephriam-Rudd said. said. “I honestly feel like if you give kids something to do, they’ll do it.” And she’s doing just that. This year Ephriam-Rudd is partnering with several local organizations for their first-ever fashion show on July 15 called "Thrive 2 Survive." The event ...

Robert Englund doc takes deep dive into man behind Freddy Krueger

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:51:51 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Actor Robert Englund is best known for portraying one of the biggest horror icons of all time, Freddy Krueger, in Wes Craven’s massively popular “A Nightmare on Elm Street” film franchise.When he was approached by directors Gary Smart and Christopher Griffiths and writer Neil Morris a couple of years ago about being the sole subject of a documentary, he was hesitant at first. While he’s appeared in many horror documentaries, he wasn’t interested in taking a deep dive into his villainous character, but rather sharing how he got to that place and what his life and career have been like since.Luckily, all parties were in agreement, and they began interviewing Englund about his life on film at his home in Laguna Beach. They also filmed interviews with several peers including his “A Nightmare on Elm Street” co-star Heather Langenkamp, “Candyman” actor Tony Todd, “Insidious” star Lin Shaye, and “Friday the 13th” actor Kane Hodder. “Hatchet” director Adam Green and “Cabin...

NHL Notes: Kyle Dubas has his work cut out in Pittsburgh

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:51:51 GMT

In the end, Kyle Dubas got what he wanted. Now he has to deliver, and it won’t be easy.Just minutes before his former team the Toronto Maple Leafs’ introductory press conference for new GM Brad Treliving, the Fenway Sports Group’s Pittsburgh Penguins announced that they had hired Dubas.Meow.But the curiously timed announcement was not to say that Dubas was hired for the vacant GM’s job but rather that he’s the new President of Hockey Operations and that he’ll be interim GM until he hires someone for the job (i. e. another analytics-minded “progressive” candidate he can tell what to do).If Leafs head hockey honcho Brendan Shanahan thought that Dubas was after his job, or a good chunk of his power, who could blame him?But leaving all the power play drama aside, one thing is clear. The job that Dubas has in front of him is going to be a lot more difficult than the one he left behind, even without the frenzy that accompanies all things Leafs.When Duba...

Top tips for runners to stay safe while logging miles

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:51:51 GMT

Dear Mayo Clinic: I’m training for my first long-distance race, and I want to be safe on my runs. Unfortunately, due to where I live, the weather is often a challenge. On other days, I’m finding I cannot get in my miles until after dusk. I’m wondering if you have any advice for staying injury-free in cold, rainy or dark conditions?Answer: Training for a distance race means logging a lot of miles — sometimes in cold, rainy or hot weather, sometimes in the early morning or in the evening, sometimes on streets or country roads. No matter the weather, time of day or route, taking precautions to be safe during all your training runs is important.There are many things to consider safety-wise when outdoors, but among the top on my list are being visible, whether to drivers, bicyclists or other runners on the road or trail; preventing injury; and being able to summon help if you need it.You can address these concerns by developing and practicing safe running habits. Having...