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Ingenuity helicopter phones home from Mars after 63-day silence

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:42:53 GMT

(CNN) — After 63 days of silence, the Mars Ingenuity helicopter is talking again.The little chopper took to the Martian skies on April 26 for its 52nd flight but lost contact with mission controllers before landing — creating a monthslong communications blackout.But Ingenuity phoned home again on June 28, relieving any potential concerns about the safety and whereabouts of the first aircraft on another world. That’s still a long time to humans here on Earth to wait for confirmation that Ingenuity landed safely.The flight was intended to reposition the helicopter and capture images of the Martian surface.The mission team anticipated that radio silence might occur.That’s because Ingenuity communicates with mission control at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, by relaying all messages through the Perseverance rover.And when Ingenuity took off for flight 52, a hill presented an obstacle blocking the helicopter and rover from communicating with each other...

Column: In a ‘must-win’ game in divisional series, Cubs suffer devastating loss in front of Chicago-centric Milwaukee crowd

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:42:53 GMT

The Chicago Cubs were greeted by a large contingent of fans Monday in their first trip to the ballpark formerly known as Miller Park.There’s nothing unusual about that, of course.Wrigley North has been a destination for Cubs fans since the Milwaukee Brewers first opened the park in 2001, giving the team a home away from home against their division rival.“They’re everywhere and they love them some Cubbies,” shortstop Dansby Swanson said.It was a Chicago-centric crowd again Monday that watched the Cubs jump out to a six-run lead, only to watch it melt away in a devastating 8-6 loss before a crowd of 43,209.“We just didn’t execute well the last half of the game,” Swanson said. “We obviously put ourselves in good position to win and weren’t able enough to add on or be able to put together outs.“Definitely not enjoyable, but it should be a good experience for us.”The Cubs (38-45) have lost three straight and seven of their...

Nets could benefit as third team in Damian Lillard deal

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:42:53 GMT

Tyler Herro would be quite the consolation prize — but at what cost?It turns out Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard, who has officially requested a trade from Portland after multiple failed playoff runs, only wants to play for the Miami Heat.The Nets were linked to Lillard given the superstar guard’s relationship with franchise cornerstone Mikal Bridges, but 32-point-per-game scorer wants to go to a ready made championship contender.The Heat just lost to the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals, while the Nets were swept out of the first round by the Philadelphia 76ers.The Heat, however, don’t have attractive enough assets alone for a Lillard trade, and Lillard doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract, meaning the Trail Blazers can deal him to any team that has assets Portland desires.Miami’s best trade package is built around former Sixth Man of the Year Herro, their only two tradeable draft picks in 2028 and 2030, veteran point guard Kyle Lowry and h...

Happy as a clam at Chowderfest!

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:42:53 GMT

It was a clamtastic celebration at Downtown Crossing Monday as Bostonians and visitors young and old slurped the city’s best at the 42nd Annual Chowderfest, sponsored by Boston Harborfest.Approximately 135 gallons of chowder were served during the free event, according to organizers.Mary Smallwood of New Berlin, Wisconsin samples clam chowder. (Photo by Mark Stockwell/Boston Herald)Milana Castellano, 3, and her father Miguel of Brookline wait in line Monday during the Chowderfest in Downtown Crossing. (Photo by Mark Stockwell/Boston Herald)Sully, a Japanese chin breed of dog samples chowder held by his owner Darcie Volk of North Reading. (Photo by Mark Stockwell/Boston Herald)Chowderheads line up for a free sample of Legal Seafood clam chowder Monday during the Chowderfest in Downtown Crossing. (Photo by Mark Stockwell/Boston Herald) 

Red Sox notebook: Paxton earns Pitcher of the Month honors, Chaim Bloom talks All-Star snubs

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:42:53 GMT

James Paxton’s comeback tour is attracting league-wide notice.MLB announced Monday the veteran starter is the American League Pitcher of the Month for June.It’s a well-earned honor for the man known as Big Maple. Over five June starts totaling 31 innings, he posted a 1.74 ERA and 0.774 WHIP while holding opposing batters to a .165 average and .482 OPS. He faced 116 batters and held them to six walks and 18 hits, only seven of which were for extra bases.Though the 34-year-old left-hander has put together an impressive career since his September 2013 debut, POTM is an honor he’s received only once before, in July 2017.June was a tumultuous, disappointing month for the Red Sox. As they lost Chris Sale, Tanner Houck, and Corey Kluber to injuries (and Garrett Whitlock over the weekend), Paxton anchored the rotation. For a team hemorrhaging pitching, he’s been a saving grace.And for him, personally, after about two years of missed time due to Tommy John and a lat t...

Yankees Notebook: Orioles’ Aaron Hicks enjoying change of scenery

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:42:53 GMT

As Aaron Hicks said hello to his former Yankees teammates and coaches on Monday, he displayed an unfamiliar aesthetic.Yes, the black and orange apparel he sported offered a sharp contrast to the road grays and pinstriped whites he wore between 2016 and May 19 of this year. But Hicks’ beard also stood out as he took the field at Yankee Stadium for the first time as a member of the Orioles.“I had to shave the top and my face for eight years,” said a laughing Hicks, who is bald.The 33-year-old didn’t chuckle much during his last few seasons in the Bronx, as injuries and prolonged struggles turned fans against him and limited his playing time before the Yankees released him on May 20. In doing so, the team ate the remaining three years and nearly $30 million left on Hicks’ contract, including this season.It didn’t take long for Baltimore to sign Hicks on a minimum salary deal. The flyer has paid off, as the outfielder entered Monday’s return to ...

Healey, Driscoll out of state through July 4 holiday

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:42:53 GMT

On the heels of a trip to Ireland, Gov. Maura Healey is once again outside of Massachusetts, this time without an exact end date.Healey went to Rhode Island for “personal travel” on Saturday and is poised to remain away at least through the Fourth of July holiday, according to her office. It’s not clear exactly when she will return — spokesperson Karissa Hand said the governor will return some time “this week” and pledged to provide an update by Wednesday.Healey spent most of the past week in Ireland on her first official international trip as governor, during which she addressed the Irish Senate.Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, who served as acting governor during Healey’s overseas trip last week, also departed Massachusetts on Saturday. She’ll be in Virginia until Wednesday “to attend to family matters,” a spokesperson said.Healey’s office said Secretary of State William Galvin will serve as acting governor until Wednesday mo...

Robbins: A discredited Supreme Court bodes ill for the future

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:42:53 GMT

One of the things that do not seem to have been made great again by Donald Trump is Americans’ respect for the Supreme Court. Yanked hard to the hard right by Trump’s appointment of Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, the Court has auto-plunged into public disrepute, with regard for our highest court at an all-time low. Two recent polls taken by Marquette Law School and Quinnipiac University showed identical results: 59% of Americans disapprove of the Court, adding to the disrespect for the rule of law that has reached crisis levels.The arrogance displayed by certain of the Justices in insisting that they are free to violate self-evident ethical norms has not exactly burnished the Court’s sagging reputation. Clarence Thomas’ serial acceptance of lavish vacations and other financial assistance from wealthy Republican donor Harlan Crow has strained whatever existed of his credibility, and his repeated, deliberate failures to disclose any of this speaks volume...

Further negotiations won’t bring end to B.C. port workers strike, employers say

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:42:53 GMT

VANCOUVER — The association representing employers in an ongoing strike at British Columbia ports says it doesn’t think more bargaining is going to produce a collective agreement.The BC Maritime Employers Association released a statement Monday afternoon saying it had gone as far as possible on core issues.The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada, representing thousands of workers who load and unload cargo at terminals at more than 30 B.C. ports, walked off the job Saturday morning.Both sides negotiated over the weekend and were at the table earlier in the day on Monday.The association said it has advanced “reasonable proposals and positions in good faith” but said the union refuses to budge. “ILWU Canada went on strike over demands that were and continue to be outside any reasonable framework for settlement. Given the foregoing mentioned, the BCMEA is of the view that a continuation of bargaining at this time is not going to produce a collectiv...

Mexico’s old ruling party fractures following election loss

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:42:53 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s old ruling party fractured Monday, with four leading senators resigning amid internal disputes and the loss of the last major state the party governed. The Institutional Revolutionary Parties held the presidency and almost all statehouses in Mexico without interruption for 70 years. But the PRI, as the party is known, has been reduced to a shadow of its former self by the rise of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s Morena party, which won the governorship of the last major PRI bastion, the State of Mexico, last month.Morena has seized on the combination of handout programs and nationalism that the PRI once espoused, and has largely replaced it.On Monday, four leading PRI senators and dozens of supporters announced they are quitting the party. Senators led by former interior secretary Miguel Osorio Chong announced they will form a new group called “Congruence for Mexico.” The new group will not be able to compete in the 2024 presidential election...