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49ers add fill-in kicker while clouds hover over Nick Bosa, George Kittle

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:22 GMT

SANTA CLARA – A Robbie Gould encore is not the 49ers’ solution to their kicking injuries.Kicker Matthew Wright is the 49ers’ contingency plan if rookie Jake Moody is unable to open the season because of a quadriceps injury, ESPN first reported Thursday.Wright’s signing is not yet official but is the expectation, according to a team source. He will be added to the practice squad as Moody’s quadriceps injury is not severe enough for the 49ers to shop for a full-time replacement.“The most promising news is he kicked again yesterday and is doing very well,” general manager John Lynch said. “We will have a backup plan. Jake is coming along well.”Wright, 27, has made 40-of-46 field goals since 2020 in stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Kansas City Chiefs. He played for the Carolina Panthers in the preseason before being waived Saturday.So why did the 49ers not bring back Gould, who remains a free agent after six stellar seasons with the 49ers? If Gould or ...

Nikki Haley Brings the GOP’s Gender Politics Home

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:22 GMT

Supporters of 2024 presidential hopeful Nikki Haley rally outside the Republican primary debate in Milwaukee on Aug. 23, 2023.Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty ImagesMost of the Republicans on the Milwaukee debate stage on August 23 were vying less to win the primary than to be anointed Donald Trump’s running mate. In either case, Nikki Haley has little chance. The debate gave the former South Carolina governor and Trump administration U.N. ambassador no more than a minor boost. Among potential Republican primary voters polled by the Washington Post, Ipsos, and FiveThirtyEight, she came in third, at 15 percent, behind Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy (fourth if you count the absent frontrunner); before that, she’d polled in the single digits.If her odds of winning the primary are slim, those of receiving DJT’s blessing are less than zero. Haley betrayed her former boss by deciding to run. Then she called him out for raising the national debt. On top o...

US government cancels loans for former Ashford University students and plans to recoup costs

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:22 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is canceling $72 million in student loans for 2,300 borrowers who say they were cheated by Ashford University, a former for-profit college that was purchased by the University of Arizona in 2020.The Education Department announced the action Wednesday, saying it will seek to recoup the money from the University of Arizona.The university denies any liability, saying in a statement that it had “absolutely no involvement in, and is not directly or indirectly responsible for, the actions of Ashford and its parent company” and will be “assessing its options.”Before its sale, Ashford was an online for-profit college that enrolled more than 100,000 students. It was owned by the company Zovio and based in San Diego.A California court in 2022 found that Ashford frequently lied to students to get them to enroll. Its recruiters misled students about the college’s accreditation, costs and the amount of time it would take to graduate, the cou...

Draw list for the UEFA Champions League group stage

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:22 GMT

MONACO (AP) — Draw made Thursday for the UEFA Champions League group stage:Group A: Bayern Munich (Germany), Manchester United (England), Copenhagen (Denmark), Galatasaray (Turkey).Group B: Sevilla (Spain), Arsenal (England), PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands), Lens (France).Group C: Napoli (Italy), Real Madrid (Spain), Braga (Portugal), Union Berlin (Germany).Group D: Benfica (Portugal), Inter Milan (Italy), Salzburg (Austria), Real Sociedad (Spain).Group E: Feyenoord (Netherlands), Atlético Madrid (Spain), Lazio (Italy), Celtic (Scotland).Group F: Paris Saint-Germain (France), Borussia Dortmund (Germany), AC Milan (Italy), Newcastle (England).Group G: Manchester City (England), Leipzig (Germany), Red Star Belgrade (Serbia), Young Boys (Switzerland).Group H: Barcelona (Spain), Porto (Portugal), Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine), Royal Antwerp (Belgium).___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerSource

No. 16 K-State opens the season against Southeast Missouri State

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:22 GMT

Southeast Missouri State at No. 16 Kansas State, Saturday at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)Line: No line, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: First meeting.WHAT’S AT STAKE?Kansas State was the surprising Big 12 champion last season, beating eventual College Football Playoff participant TCU for the title. The Wildcats return quarterback Will Howard, their entire offensive line and several key pieces on defense, though they lost do-everything running back Deuce Vaughn and pass rusher Felix Anudike-Uzomah. The Wildcats hope to build on their Sugar Bowl loss to Alabama against Southeast Missouri State, which is ranked No. 11 in the Football Championship Subdivision.KEY MATCHUPHoward against the Redhawks defense. The senior quarterback has 15 career starts but is entering his first season as the clear-cut starter. Howard took over for Adrian Martinez last season and led the Wildcats to a 4-1 record in five starts, including wins over No. 9 Oklahoma State and No. 3 TCU in the Big 12 title g...

No. 21 Tar Heels meet the Gamecocks in an ACC-SEC matchup to open the season

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:22 GMT

No. 21 North Carolina vs. South Carolina in Charlotte, Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC)Line: UNC by 2 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: UNC leads 35-20-4.WHAT’S AT STAKE?The Tar Heels open the season with a Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback in Drake Maye and expectations to contend in the Atlantic Coast Conference race. They’ll face the Gamecocks near the border between the Carolinas, taking on a Southeastern Conference opponent looking to increase their win total for the third time in as many seasons under Shane Beamer.KEY MATCHUPMaye versus the Gamecocks’ defense. Maye threw for 38 touchdowns and was the nation’s only 5,000-yard player in total offense last season in his first full year as the starter. He’ll face a South Carolina defense that is retooling after losing seven starters from a unit that ranked in the bottom third nationally in total defense (404.7 yards) and scoring defense (28.8).PLAYERS TO WATCHSouth Carolina: RB Dakereo...

Canada issues US travel advisory warning LGBTQ+ community about laws thay may affect them

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:22 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — Canada this week updated its travel advisory to the U.S., warning members of the LGBTQ+ community that some American states have enacted laws that may affect them.The country’s Global Affairs department did not specify which states, but is advising travelers to check the local laws for their destination before traveling.“Since the beginning of 2023, certain states in the U.S. have passed laws banning drag shows and restricting the transgender community from access to gender-affirming care and from participation in sporting events,” Global Affairs spokesman Jérémie Bérubé said Thursday in an emailed statement.“Outside Canada, laws and customs related to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics can be very different from those in Canada,” the statement added. “As a result, Canadians could face certain barriers and risks when they travel outside Canada.”The Human Rights Campaign — the largest U.S.-based organization devot...

Messi’s next match is the most expensive Major League Soccer game ever

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:22 GMT

New York (CNN) — There’s no sign of “Messi mania” abating anytime soon.Ticket prices for this Sunday’s match between Inter Miami and Los Angeles FC are the most expensive for a Major League Soccer game ever, according to TickPick, an online marketplace.Average prices are around $690 — a 527% increase over the average ticket price of an MLS game, which used to cost $110 before soccer superstar Leo Messi joined the league.Currently, just days from the game, the cheapest ticket to see Messi take on last year’s MLS Cup winners will cost $785. Without Messi, prices fall sharply, with the cheapest ticket for the following LAFC game being 80% less expensive at $151 for seat, according to TickPick.However, this could be the ceiling for ticket prices. TickPick co-CEO Brett Goldberg told CNN that the market is “likely to stabilize prices at their current level, although there’s potential for an upward shift in price due to the heightened demand.”Plus, LAFC is one the most popular MLS tea...

It’s Miami vs. Miami when the Hurricanes play host to the RedHawks in Friday opener

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:22 GMT

Miami (Ohio) at Miami, Friday at 7 p.m. ET (ACC Network)Line: Miami by 17 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: Miami leads 3-0.WHAT’S AT STAKE?There should be some sort of Miami trophy or something, but all that’s at stake is just a 1-0 record. It’s imperative that the Hurricanes get off to a good start, both to help move past last season’s 5-7 debacle and tune up for a Week 2 showdown with Texas A&M.Miami (Ohio) is facing a Power 5 opponent to open a season for the 14th time in the last 22 seasons. The RedHawks have lost each of their last 12 such games; the last win over a Power 5 in Week 1 was at North Carolina in the 2002 campaign.KEY MATCHUPMiami QB Tyler Van Dyke against an experienced defense. The RedHawks bring back nine starters from a defense that was very good for much of last season despite the team’s 6-7 record. Van Dyke struggled with shoulder issues in 2022 and banged up a thumb in training camp this year, but has said h...

Dolphins RB Jeff Wilson Jr. will start season on injured reserve

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:22 GMT

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Miami Dolphins running back Jeff Wilson Jr. will start the season on injured reserve because of midsection and finger injuries.The Dolphins placed Wilson, cornerback Jalen Ramsey and offensive lineman Robert Jones on the injured reserve list Thursday morning, sidelining them for at least four games.Miami coach Mike McDaniel said there is a possibility that Wilson can play this season.“It was a midsection injury compounded by some finger issues, and really, we just made the assessment that he couldn’t protect himself and be himself the way we know him to be,” McDaniel said, “so time is the best healer. Knowing Jeff, his true passion in life is to play this game, so he’ll do everything he can. I definitely wouldn’t be surprised if he would make a return this season, but we’ll let his body tell us.”Wilson’s injury leaves Miami with veteran Raheem Mostert, rookie De’Von Achane, Salvon Ahmed, Chris Brooks, who made the ...