We’re more than a month into the MLB lockout, with negotiations basically non-existent, spring training reporting dates creeping closer, and lots of sports fans greeting it all with a full-throated … meh. If a recent poll from Seton Hall University is to be believed, a large chunk of sports fans looks at the lack of lockout progress not with anger or impatience, but with indifference. MORE: Why Shohei Ohtani was the easy choice for 2021 Athlete of the Year...

Officials in New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, California and Oregon all announced a plan to phase out masks mandates in the coming months, leaving behind just a handful of states that still require most people to wear protective coverings in indoors. Now, some local governments are also moving to end requirements that individuals be vaccinated against COVID-19 in indoor settings. In Contra Costa, California, the health department announced on Friday that restaurants and bars will no longer be required to ask for vaccination status since more than 80 percent of residents are already inoculated....

After winning the first three games of the series, the Sixers have lost two straight, opening the door for the Raptors to force a Game 7. Rivers, who has been the head coach of three teams that have blown 3-1 series leads, has clearly taken exception to those that have begun to reference his unfortunate history with series leads. MORE: Will Raptors create history and overturn 3-0 series deficit?...

The news service reviewed over 220 threats in several school districts across the country and spoke with those who were threatened, local police departments and, in some cases, the people who sent the threats. The threats mirror a larger trend in the U.S. of threats against other officials—including lawmakers and election workers—and such threats are largely motivated by conspiracy theories and violent rhetoric that warns of people who want to destroy America, Reuters said....

However, it has been a landmark off-season in the world of college athletics litigation. Here are updates for three key cases that will shape the future of big-time college athletics. National Labor Relations Board case involving Northwestern football student-athlete unionization In March 2014, Peter Ohr, a regional director of the National Labor Relations Board, ruled that a group of Northwestern football players were employees of the institution and have the right to form a union and bargain collectively....

A surprising 7-4-2 start is buoyed as much by the departure of Max Pacioretty and the constant questions and trade rumors that followed him a year ago as it is by the healthy return of Carey Price and addition of Max Domi. But at the heart of it all is a shift in culture and attitude from a group of players embarrassed by a dismal 2017-18 campaign in which Montreal finished 14th out of 16 teams in the Eastern Conference with 71 points, the organization’s lowest non-lockout total since 1950-51 when the NHL only played 70 – not 82 – games....

Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, died on May 25 last year after Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes while he cried “I can’t breathe” multiple times. Chauvin and other officers were arresting Floyd for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 bill at a corner store. Widely circulated cellphone footage of the encounter sparked protests against police brutality and racial injustice in Minneapolis that quickly spread across the U....

Thirty-year-old Rocky and the two others were arrested after allegedly attacking 19-year-old Mustafa Jafari on July 5. Jafari is requesting 139,000 Swedish crowns—about $14,500 in U.S. currency—in damages. A Swedish Prosecution Authority rep told the New York Times the Testing rapper might be facing additional fines based on his daily earnings along with a maximum of two years behind bars. It is unclear if Rocky will be extradited to the U....

Barty entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed, having won a historic Wimbledon title just two weeks ago. The Australian was broken early and couldn’t fight back, with Sorribes Tormo eventually claiming a 6-4, 6-3 win. Barty was broken in just her second service game of the opening set, handing the Spaniard the early advantage. MORE: Updated Olympics medal count Shockingly, Sorribes Tormo then broke for the second time in the match for a 4-1 lead in the set....

After bowling four overs on day one at Edgbaston on Thursday, Anderson left the field after feeling tightness in his right calf. The 37-year-old seamer had a scan later in the day and despite batting in both of England’s innings he did not feature again in the field, as Australia — inspired by Steve Smith — won by 251 runs. England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker will now miss the second match of the series, which starts Aug....

Anderson apologized to his teammates after suffering a recurrence of a calf injury on day one of the series against Australia last Thursday. England’s leading Test wicket-taker was able to bowl only four overs as the visitors recovered from a poor start to win by 251 runs. Anderson was passed fit to play in Birmingham after missing the one-off Test against Ireland because of a calf injury he sustained playing for Lancashire last month....

Lauren Kasberg, 11 Spruce School North Olmstead, Ohio As many as half of all the living species on earth-some experts say more than 90 percent of all living species-find their homes in tropical rain forests and cannot survive anywhere else. Most biologists believe that the destruction of the tropical rain forests represents the single most serious damage to nature now occurring. They are disappearing from the face of the earth at a rate of one and a half acres a second, night and day, all year round....

Dr. Shepherd: Stress plays a big part in any disease state involving inflammation. Therefore, stress is a big risk factor for a number of health conditions, including heart disease. Many environmental factors can influence stress levels, including: Access to health careQuality of health carePoverty or financial insecurityFood access Access to quality food can be a big stressor, especially in certain communities that just don’t have access or financial means to purchase high-quality food....

With tuition fees soaring, benefits experts predict that the RJR Nabisco initiative could spur other companies to think about instituting similar plans. “This is the leading edge, " says Denise Georgemiller, a benefits consultant with Hewitt Associates in Lincolnshire, Ill. Of course, the recession could derail even the best-intentioned employer. RJR Nabisco hasn’t estimated the total bill, but company officials say they expect the matched-savings plan and loan subsidies to cost between $5 million and $6 million annually-assuming that up to 7,000 children of employees will take part in the savings plan and 4,000 will want loans....

According to FanRag Sports, Chicago is seeking five top prospects for Sale, with one MLB general manager saying that despite the high asking price, the White Sox will get what they are seeking before the trade deadline. FAGAN: If White Sox sell, Chris Sale won’t be only one dealt Per multiple reports Friday, the slumping Rangers and the AL East-leading Red Sox are interested in trading for Sale. It’s also anticipated that the Dodgers could also be in the mix with Clayton Kershaw’s status for the rest of the season up in the air....

Most of the time, Aspergillus is harmless. In fact, most people breathe in Aspergillus spores every day without getting sick. However, people with weakened immune systems may develop serious disease from Aspergillus infection. This article discusses the symptoms, causes, types, diagnosis, and treatment for aspergillosis. Symptoms Symptoms of aspergillosis depend on the organ system that is affected. This includes: Invasive aspergillosis: This affects the lungs and can present as shortness of breath, fever, cough, chest pain, or coughing up blood....

Signs and Symptoms Astigmatism usually causes vision to be blurry at distance as well as near. Astigmatism usually causes vision to be blurry at a distance and near. In addition, patients with astigmatism often have reading problems proven by a 2016 study conducted by the University of Arizona. The study, published in Optometry and Vision Science, showed children with bilateral astigmatism had issues with oral reading fluency. Causes Astigmatism is caused by the cornea having an oblong shape, like a football, instead of a spherical shape, like a basketball....

A team at the University of Manchester, U.K., developed the concrete-like material as a way to overcome the expense and logistical problems associated with transporting building materials to space. If humanity is to ever build a habitat on the surface of the Moon or Mars, a building material that can be created in-situ is vital. This is empathized by the fact that in 2017 engineering magazine Structure estimated that it would cost $2 million to transport just one brick to the surface of Mars....