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Simone Biles wins a record 8th U.S. Gymnastics title a full decade after her first

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:50:45 GMT

SAN JOSE, Calif. — A decade later, Simone Biles is still on top.The gymnastics star won her record eighth U.S. Championship on Sunday night, 10 years after she first ascended to the top of her sport as a teenage prodigy.Biles, now a 26-year-old newlywed considered perhaps the greatest of all time, posted an all-around two-day total of 118.40, four points clear of runner-up Shilese Jones. Florida junior Leanne Wong claimed third, bolstering her chances of making a third straight world championship team.Biles is all but assured of returning to the gym where she captured her first world title in 2013. Over the course of two electric nights at the SAP Center, she served notice that even after a two-year break following the Tokyo Olympics, in gymnastics there is the one referred to as the GOAT and there is everyone else.Biles became the oldest woman to win a national title since USA Gymnastics began organizing the event in 1963. Her eight crowns moved her past Alfred Jochim, who wo...

Casey Schmitt homers, Patrick Bailey gets big hit in SF Giants’ win against Braves

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:50:45 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants have already lost seven series in a row. So a sweep-preventing 8-5 win on Sunday afternoon over the Atlanta Braves, arguably the National League’s best team, lessened the sting of the Giants’ recent woes.Timely hits, power and a little small ball ignited an offensive performance this team has lacked during this rough stretch dating back to late-July. After taking an early lead, the Giants had an answer for every Braves’ threat to come back.J.D. Davis’ RBI single in the first inning and Casey Schmitt’s solo home run — his third career and first in 204 at-bats — gave the Giants an early 2-0 lead. Making his first career start, Tristan Beck not only held that lead, but didn’t allow a Braves base runner through his first four innings.But Atlanta got a better feel for Beck a second time through the order and made their push. Matt Olson led the fifth off with a walk and Eddie Rosario doubled off...

In photos: Silicon Valley Pride Parade

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:50:45 GMT

Silicon Valley Pride is a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. The event was first known as the San Jose Pride Festival before changing to Silicon Valley Pride in 2014. Silicon Valley Pride held a week of festivities, including a movie night and a kickoff party Friday night at the Glasshouse in downtown San Jose. The weekend festivities featured entertainment, vendors, and food at Plaza de Cesar Chavez, as well as Sunday’s pride parade along Market Street in downtown San Jose.Community members march along Market Street during the Silicon Valley Pride Parade on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023, in San Jose, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)Community members line Market Street during the Silicon Valley Pride Parade on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023, in San Jose, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)A majorette leads the San Francisco Lesbian and Gay Freedom Band during the Silicon Valley Pride Parade on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023, in San Jose, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)Members of...

Simone Biles wins record-setting 8th U.S. all-around title in San Jose

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:50:45 GMT

SAN JOSE — When it was all over and Simone Biles had finished her magical performance on the floor at the SAP Center, San Jose let her hear it.The entire place went into a frenzy, fans leaping to their feet, little girls crying and adults shaking their heads in disbelief. Biles hugged her coaches, fist-bumped her teammates, waved to the crowd and finally bent over to catch her breath.It was all over.With her high-flying floor routine in which she at one point took a symbolic bow before continuing on, Biles cruised to a dominant victory at the U.S. Gymnastics Championship in San Jose on Sunday night.It was her record-setting eighth all-around national championship. She won her first in 2013. Now, at 26, she’s the oldest woman ever to capture the title.It seemed like she’d never come back to the ground during her floor routine, when she leaped into the air with her arms spread out, her legs straight together and her body flipping backwards over and over, straightening out just i...

Removing Fukushima’s melted nuclear fuel will be harder than the release of plant’s wastewater

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:50:45 GMT

OKUMA, Japan (AP) — At a small section of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant’s central control room, the treated water transfer switch is on. A graph on a computer monitor nearby shows a steady decrease of water levels as treated radioactive wastewater is diluted and released into the Pacific Ocean.In the coastal area of the plant, two seawater pumps are in action, gushing torrents of seawater through sky blue pipes into the big header where the treated water, which comes down through a much thinner black pipe from the hilltop tanks, is diluted hundreds of times before the release. The sound of the treated and diluted radioactive water flowing into an underground secondary pool was heard from beneath the ground as media, including The Associated Press, toured the plant in northeastern Japan for the first time since the water release began.“The best way to eliminate the contaminated water is to remove the melted fuel debris,” said Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings spokesperson K...

Cleveland cuts former All-Star RHP Noah Syndergaard after Sunday’s start against Toronto

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:50:45 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — Cleveland right-hander Noah Syndergaard was designated for assignment following Sunday’s extra-inning win over Toronto after pitching six innings against the Blue Jays.Syndergaard allowed five runs and four hits against the team that drafted him in the first round in 2010. He gave up three home runs.“He just had trouble keeping it in the ballpark,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona said of Syndergaard after Sunday’s 10-7 win. “Only a couple of hits for a while. But then the home runs, they kind of get in the way a little bit, and I know it frustrated him.”Francona didn’t address Syndergaard’s status after the game. Syndergaard, who turns 31 on Tuesday, did not speak to reporters.Syndergaard is 2-6 with a 6.50 ERA in 18 starts with the Dodgers and Guardians. He’s owed $2,446,237 of his $13 million salary for the final five weeks of the season. Cleveland acquired Syndergaard from Los Angeles on July 26 in exchange for infielder Amed Rosario. As part of the trade, the Dod...

Alyssa Thomas scores 17, DeWanna Bonner adds 12 leading Sun over Sparks 83-68

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:50:45 GMT

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Alyssa Thomas scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, DeWanna Bonner moved into seventh place on the all-time scoring list and the Connecticut Sun pulled away in the second half for an 83-68 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday.Thomas sank 6 of 11 shots from the floor and 5 of 6 free throws for Connecticut (24-11), which has already clinched a playoff berth. Thomas has 25 double-doubles this season. She added eight assists. Bonner scored 12 points to break a tie with Sue Bird. Bonner has 6,815 career points. She also had eight rebounds.Azurá Stevens finished with 17 points to lead Los Angeles (15-19). Layshia Clarendon finished with 13 points and six assists for LA. Nneka Ogwumike scored 11.WINGS 77, MERCURY 74PHOENIX (AP) — Arike Ogunbowale scored 29 points to rally Dallas over Phoenix.Ogunbowale made 8 of 22 shots from the floor for the Wings (19-16), including 4 of 9 from 3-point range. She was 9 for 9 at the free-throw line. Kalani Brown added...

Viktor Hovland wins the FedEx Cup with a record finish

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:50:45 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Viktor Hovland played the best golf of his life in the final two weeks of the PGA Tour season, and it paid off Sunday with the biggest trophy of his career — a FedEx Cup title along with the $18 million bonus.Staked to a six-shot lead, Hovland didn’t flinch under a relentless challenge from Xander Schauffele. The 25-year-old Norwegian stayed on the attack and closed with a 7-under 63 for a five-shot victory at East Lake.Schauffele made him work for that $18 million, firing at flags from the opening hole and closing with a 62. He got to within three shots with seven holes to play and had momentum on his side. And then Hovland ended the suspense with a 25-foot par putt on the 14th hole, and he put Schauffele away with a 10-foot birdie putt on the 16th.Hovland was the No. 2 seed going into the Tour Championship, meaning he started the tournament at 8-under par. Hovland posted a 19-under 261 — the same score as Schauffele, who started the tournament at 3 under as the No. ...

Williams, Copper rally Sky to 90-85 victory over Storm

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:50:45 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — Elizabeth Williams scored 23 points, Kahleah Copper added a double-double and the Chicago Sky rallied in the second half to beat the Seattle Storm 90-85 on Sunday.Chicago (14-21) stayed in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs with the victory. The Sky trail the Los Angeles Sparks by 1.5 games for the eighth and final berth. Chicago is two games behind seventh-place Atlanta with five games left to play.Seattle (10-25) lost its third straight game and was eliminated from the playoffs.Williams buried 10 of 15 shots from the floor for the Sky, adding five rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block. Copper finished with 18 points and 12 boards for her first double-double of the season. She also had five steals and four assists. Marina Mabrey scored 15 on 5-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc. Courtney Williams totaled 10 points, six assists and five rebounds.Jewell Loyd, who leads the league with a 24.4 scoring average, finished with 19 points on 5-of-18 shooting. Loyd...

American gymnast Simone Biles wins record eighth national championship.

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:50:45 GMT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — American gymnast Simone Biles wins record eighth national championship.Source