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Antron Brown, first Black drag racing champion, insists he’s still got plenty left in the tank: “I’m halfway through”

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:50 GMT

MORRISON— As a child, Antron Brown’s trips to Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey, were a source of inspiration.He heard the vehicle engines roar and saw countless Budweiser cans. But the simple touch on the shoulder from the legendary Kenny Bernstein, followed by the words “Hey kid, how are you doing?” was all Brown needed to know that his dream of being a drag racer could be a reality.“You were able to see yourself and say, ‘I could be here one day,’” Brown said.At 47, Brown has accomplished a lot in the sport. He’s the first African American champion in drag racing history, winning the Top Fuel Dragster championship in 2012, ’15 and ’16.But as Brown watched Bernstein, who hasn’t stepped into the seat of a nitro car since 2007, warm up his Matco Tools/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster in preparation for the event’s first qualifying session at the Mile-High Nationals on Friday, he knew there was more to achieve.“I’m still trying to grow in ...

WATCH: Fast-moving wildfire breaks out in Riverside County, 2,800 acres and growing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:50 GMT

Firefighters are battling a large fast-moving wildfire that erupted in Moreno Valley on Friday.Named the “Rabbit Fire,” the brush fire is located near the intersection of Alessandro Boulevard and Jack Rabbit Trail, in the community of Lakeview. It was initially reported as 20 acres with a rapid rate of spread just shortly before 4 p.m. The flames later spread to around 600 acres by 6 p.m. before exploding to 1,500 acres around 7 p.m., Cal Fire officials confirmed. By 7:30 p.m, the fire grew to around 2,815 acres. Zero percent containment is reported so far.Located in a grass and brush-heavy area, a private ranch property is being threatened by the moving flames. Fire crews have surrounded the property with flame retardant.Firefighters are responding to a wildfire that erupted in Moreno Valley on July 14, 2023. (KTLA)Firefighters are responding to a wildfire that erupted in Moreno Valley on July 14, 2023. (KTLA)Firefighters are responding to a wildfire that erupted in Moreno Valley o...

Woman robbed on Glendora hiking trail, suspect at large

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:50 GMT

A suspect remains at large after allegedly robbing a woman on a Glendora hiking trail.Officers responded to reports of a robbery near the Colby Trail in the area of Glendora Mountain Road and Big Dalton Canyon Road around 7 a.m.The victim, a female hiker, told Glendora police she was robbed at knifepoint by a male suspect. The suspect then fled the scene before police arrived.Ground crews along with air units from Pasadena Police Department searched the area but were not able to locate the robber.The suspect is described as a white male standing around 5 feet 8 inches tall with a blonde/gray beard. He was last seen wearing a dirty white t-shirt, jean shorts and a black hat.Based on the victim’s description, investigators believe the suspect could be a transient.No further details were released as the incident remains under investigation.Anyone who spots the suspect is advised to avoid any contact and call 911 immediately. Anybody with information on this case is asked to call Glendo...

Orange County mayors go head-to-head in mac and cheese eating contest to support Make-A-Wish

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:50 GMT

Newport Beach officials, Mayor Noah Blom and Mayor Pro Tem Will O’Neill put their chompers to work in a mac and cheese eating contest for National Mac and Cheese Day on Friday in support of Make-A-Wish Foundation Orange County and the Inland Empire.The cheesy competition that took place at Cappy’s Café Newport Beach challenged Mayor Blom and Mayor Pro Tem O’Neill to gobble down 10 servings of mac and cheese to celebrate the partnership between the restaurant and Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire. Newport Beach officials, Mayor Noah Blom and Mayor Pro Tem Will O’Neil compete in a mac and cheese eating contest for National Mac and Cheese Day on Friday in support of Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire.(Source: Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire)Newport Beach officials, Mayor Noah Blom and Mayor Pro Tem Will O’Neil compete in a mac and cheese eating contest for National Mac and Cheese Day on Friday in support of Make-A-Wish Orange County and the In...

Corbin Burnes overcomes heat scare to fan 13 in the Brewers’ 1-0 victory over the Reds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:50 GMT

CINCINNATI (AP) — Corbin Burnes struck out the side in the sixth inning after nearly collapsing in the fifth in oppressive humidity, Victor Caratini singled in a run in the seventh and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Cincinnati Reds 1-0 on Friday night.After his 10th strikeout, Burnes squatted behind the mound with his head lowered as teammates and trainers rushed over. “He just got light-headed, essentially,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “The trainers don’t think it was a hydration issue. Just like you lift something heavy and get a little light-headed from that. He just needed a minute to regroup. His vision got a little blurry.” Burnes took several big gulps of water and spoke to the training staff. He took a couple of warmup pitches, then retired Matt McLain on an infield pop to end the inning.“Everything kind of went dizzy and eyes went cross-eyed,” Burnes said. “I went to the back of the mound, hoped blinking a couple of times it would go away, and it didn’t...

Urías allows 1 hit in 6 innings and the Dodgers get to Verlander in the 5th to beat the Mets 6-0

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:50 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Julio Urías combined with three relievers on a one-hitter as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Mets 6-0 Friday night.The left-hander pitched six innings and allowed only a leadoff double to Brandon Nimmo that was initially ruled a home run. Mookie Betts hit a bases-loaded RBI single and Freddie Freeman followed with a two-run double after the Dodgers were held hitless by Justin Verlander (3-5) for 4 1/3 innings despite drawing six walks.Miguel Rojas added an RBI single in the sixth off David Peterson as the Dodgers won their fifth straight and 13th in 18 games. All-Star slugger J.D. Martinez padded the lead in the eighth with his 23rd homer and Will Smith capped the scoring with a groundout in the ninth.Nimmo opened with a drive that initially appeared to clear the right-field fence in front of New York’s bullpen. After replays showed the ball hit the top of the wall, the call was overturned to a double.Urías (7-5) permitted three more baserunners. He walked ...

Giants rookies key their 7th-inning rally in a 6-4 win over the Pirates

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:50 GMT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — San Francisco rookies Patrick Bailey and Luis Matos hit RBI singles during a three-run rally in the seventh inning that sent the Giants past the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-4 on Friday night.With the Giants trailing 4-3, Wilmer Flores led off the seventh with a double and J.D. Davis walked with one out. Both runners advanced on Austin Hedges’ passed ball, and Flores scored on Bailey’s single. Davis also came home on the play when right fielder Henry Davis overran the ball for an error. Bailey stole second and then Matos capped the outburst with his two-out single off Ryan Borucki. All three runs were charged to Colin Holderman (0-2).Flores, Matos and Michael Conforto had two hits each for San Francisco. Conforto’s two-run single in the fifth broke a scoreless tie.Ji Man Choi homered for the Pirates, a leadoff shot to center field in the bottom of the fifth. A balk by Ross Stripling later in the inning allowed the Pirates to tie it.Sacrifice flies by Choi and Marcano...

See DC’s other famous blossoms at the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens this week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:50 GMT

Cherry blossoms aren’t the only flower flex that D.C. has to offer visitors.Saturday starts a weeklong celebration of the lotus plants and water lilies that bloom in acres of ponds across the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in Northeast D.C.Along with the stunning visuals the lily and lotus plants provide, Vince Vaise, program manager for visitor services at the National Park Service site, told WTOP the festival will feature music, children’s activities, a live raptor demonstration, crafts and special tours of the garden.This time of year, the water lilies and lotus plants are bursting with color.For those who don’t know a lily from a lotus, Vaise said lilies bloom at water surface level alongside the lily pads that can be as big as dinner plates. Lotus blossoms, Vaise said, cap a long stem that can rise as high as five to six feet from the water’s surface.“And on top of it is this huge flower, a little bit larger than a softball.” And the flower petals are brilliant pink, “and on the in...

Guerrero homers as Blue Jays open second half with 7-2 win over Diamondbacks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:50 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went deep in his first plate appearance following his Home Run Derby win earlier this week, Brandon Belt drove in the tiebreaking run in the seventh inning and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-2 on Friday night.Matt Chapman had three hits and an RBI and Whit Merrifield drove in two runs as Toronto opened the second half of the season with its sixth win in seven games.The Blue Jays are 17-7 against NL opponents.Guerrero led off the second with a 426-foot drive off Arizona starter Ryne Nelson for his 14th home run. Guerrero won the All-Star Home Run Derby in Seattle on Monday night, matching Vladimir Guerrero Sr.’s 2007 title to become the first father-son duo to accomplish the feat. The younger Guerrero is the first Blue Jays player to win a Home Run Derby crown.Arizona made two errors and had three runners thrown out on the bases, including two in the first inning. The Diamondbacks have lost six of eight.The teams met for the...

Olson, Morton power MLB-leading Braves to a 9-0 rout of White Sox

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:50 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Matt Olson hit a first-inning grand slam, Charlie Morton won his fifth straight start and the major league-leading Atlanta Braves routed the Chicago White Sox 9-0 on Friday night.Olson, an All-Star first baseman and the NL leader with 30 homers and 76 RBIs, made it 4-0 with his seventh career grand slam and his second this season. Atlanta leads the majors with 170 homers and began the game with 20 more than the No. 2 team, the Los Angeles Dodgers.The Braves (61-29) have gone deep in 27 straight games, the longest streak in the franchise’s modern era. Olson’s blast sailed 434 feet to right. Morton (10-6) gave up three hits, walked one and struck out four in seven innings, lowering his ERA 23 points to 3.20. The 39-year-old right-hander retired the first 10 batters he faced before Tim Anderson singled in the fourth. Luis Robert Jr. promptly grounded into one of three double plays by the White Sox.Morton has allowed one earned run in his last three starts, a ...