Congo displacement reaches ‘devastating level’ as violence escalates, aid groups warn

GUILLEM SARTORIO/Getty Images

(LONDON) -- Almost a million people have been forced to flee their homes in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the start of the year following an upsurge in violence in the east of the Central African nation, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, or UNHCR, has announced.

Humanitarian agencies are raising alarm at the "humanitarian and medical toll of the violence," saying the situation has reached a "devastating level" as thousands of weapon-wounded civilians pour in to hospitals in Goma, the capital of North Kivu, and surrounding areas.

In a dramatic resurgence of violence, the March 23 Movement armed rebel group has been expanding its territory and advancing towards Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, forcing thousands of civilians caught in the crossfire to flee as fighting intensifies between M23, the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and various other armed groups.

Xavier Collard de Macquerh, head of programs at the International Committee of the Red Cross, told ABC News that the situation is dire and "we are witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe."

"People are experiencing loss in a repetitive manner, displaced several times in a row," he said.

Collard de Macquerh says moving frontlines are triggering a wave of displacement, hospitals in Goma supported by the ICRC receiving more and more wounded civilians. "We are receiving more and more weapon-wounded and seeing a sharp increase in those wounded by shrapnel, explosives, which is a major concern."

Collard de Macquerh told ABC News many civilians are also fleeing north to hard-to-access areas for humanitarian organizations due to security.

"People are in need of access to basics such as food, water, hygiene and access to health," he told ABC News over the phone from Kinshasa, calling on armed actors to take all possible precautions to protect civilians caught in the crossfire.

According to the World Food Programme, around a quarter of the Central African nation’s population is facing "crisis levels of hunger or worse," with many living in poor conditions with no access to food, education or health services. It's a conflict-driven hunger crisis, WFP said in a statement last week.

Almost 300,000 people have arrived in Goma and its surroundings since "violent clashes" enveloped the town of Sake in Masisi territory in February, UNHCR spokesperson Matthew Saltmarsh said at a press briefing in Geneva. The mass displacement has caused spontaneous and official displacement to "swell" as civilians desperately seek refuge from "indiscriminate bombing and other human rights abuses."

The DRC now stands as the second-largest displacement crisis globally, second only to Sudan, the U.N. said, with over 7.1 million people internally displaced, including 800,000 in the last three months.

"Close to 10 million people are on the move," said Saltmarsh. "Poverty and hunger affect a quarter of the population or 25.4 million people. The spread of cholera and other infectious diseases pose significant threats to the populations health."

International Childrens charity Save the Children said the violence has also closed over 500 schools in the North Kivu region, creating chaos for children and "putting them at risk of being recruited by armed forces." There have been at least two cases of teachers being kidnapped.

The U.S. has called on warring parties to turn to the Luanda Process.

"There is no military-only solution to the crisis in eastern DRC," U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood said in a briefing to the U.N. Security Council. "The United States strongly supports the efforts led by regional actors to resume the Nairobi and Luanda processes, which offer the most viable paths toward resolving this 30-year conflict."

"The United States calls on the leaders of Rwanda and the DRC to make the decision to pursue peace – for the sake of their people, the region, and the world," the ambassador said.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The dangers of disturbing videos: How to protect yourself and your family

Jose Luis Pelaez Inc / Getty Images

(NEW YORK) -- Videos and images of the Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore have become ubiquitous in the past few days and may cause strong emotions in some - but mental health professionals say there are some things you can do to help protect your mental health and cope with this tragedy in a healthy way.

"People can be vicariously traumatized from watching videos of disasters over and over again, especially kids and adolescents," states Dr. George Everly, an associate professor of psychiatry and adjunct professor of public health at Johns Hopkins University.

For some people, witnessing an event that is particularly rare or out of the ordinary can be especially traumatizing, and can lead to conflicting messaging from different parts of the brain- such as the limbic system, which deals with memory and emotions like fear and anxiety, versus the pre-frontal cortex, an area that processes facts and logic.

"Over time, the human brain gets use to everyday threats, but when something novel and spectacular like this happens, it can go into survival mode, which is a protective mechanism," Everly said. "But it’s important to slow down and look at the facts- let your brain see the numbers that show that this event, while spectacular and very tragic, is also exceedingly rare."

For example, experts say it can be helpful to understand the statistics. From 1960 to 2015, there were only 35 bridge collapses in the entire world, leading to 342 deaths, as compared to the 3700 people that are killed daily in car crashes around the world, according to 2018 reports from the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure and the World Health Organization.

"Also, try to resist the urge to look for someone to blame," Everly said. "That is the brain trying to make sense out of something that, right now, doesn’t make sense, but ultimately only accentuates pessimism and doesn’t help us regain any control."

Putting the bridge collapse into context for children and adolescents is also important, as they "might catastrophize the event in ways such as believing they must happen all the time, or that bad things might happen to them or their parents," says Dr. Jyoti Kanwar, a psychiatrist with the University of Maryland Medical Center and assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Decreasing their exposure to the images and videos by limiting screen time, and talking openly with kids about the facts of the disaster, are important first steps. Kanwar also recommends that parents show "comfort, support, and demonstrate resilience in the face of tough situations by going through your daily routine."

The same advice holds true for adults who may be tempted to re-watch the tragic video and worry about bridges in their own communities: try to limit your screen time, review the facts and stick to your daily routines as much as possible, experts say.

If feelings of worry or anxiety are starting to impact wellness or daily functioning, Kanwar recommends talking with someone supportive about your fears and concerns.

"If you already have anxiety, talk with a psychotherapist to learn more strategies like exposure response prevention, cognitive behavioral therapy, developing mindfulness and being grateful for all the wonderful things in life despite this catastrophic event," Kanwar said.

Everly adds, "Don’t surrender your happiness or your wellbeing to an event that is especially tragic, but remarkably rare."

Dr. Julie Kollar MD, MPH is the Chief Resident of the Johns Hopkins General Preventive Medicine Residency Program, and a member of the ABC News Medical Unit.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Shonda Rhimes reveals daughter started watching ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Shonda Rhimes' daughter is in for the ride of a lifetime.

The famed TV producer shared in an Instagram post that one of her three daughters recently started watching Grey's Anatomy for the first time.

"My not so tiny human started watching @greysabc for the first time yesterday," she wrote. "My brain is breaking."

"I am dead. DEAD," Rhimes continued. "But so glad she's getting to see the women her mom created. #GreysAnatomy."

Grey's Anatomy, created by Rhimes, premiered on March 27, 2005, and is currently airing its milestone 20th season on ABC.

The series, the longest-running primetime medical drama, has given TV fans beloved female characters like Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh), Izzy Stevens (Katherine Heigl), and Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) -- and those are just the series regulars from season 1.

Someone tell Rhimes' daughter to buckle up and prepare to have her heart broken -- and put back together -- over and over again: Remember that season 5 finale? Blue Post-It note, anyone?

Grey's Anatomy airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC, with episodes streaming on Hulu the following day.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Baltimore’s Key Bridge may have lacked collision protective measures for modern cargo ships: Experts

Via NTSB

(BALTIMORE) -- In the wake of the collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, engineering and infrastructure policy experts explained the critical need for bridge reform in the United States and an international standard for large cargo ships.

The Key Bridge partially collapsed early Tuesday morning after a massive cargo ship collided with one of the bridge's support columns, sending vehicles into the Patapsco River below and leaving six people unaccounted for, according to officials.

The investigation into the cause of both the collision and the bridge collapse is ongoing, officials said.

Rick Geddes, infrastructure policy expert and director of the Cornell University Infrastructure Policy Program, weighed in on the infrastructure and safety of the Key Bridge.

"This disaster reveals how exposed America's critical infrastructure is to sudden and devastating accidents as well as intentional destruction," Geddes said in a statement to ABC News. "I think the bridge was not designed to take the force and the mass of an enormous cargo ship directly hitting one of the pylons," Geddes said in an interview with ABC News.

Pylons, or piers, are the critical load-bearing components of cable-supported bridges, such as Baltimore's Key Bridge, a 1.6-mile-long, continuous truss-style bridge, according to Geddes.

Modern protective measures for bridge piers include adding "fenders," which are protection systems designed to protect the bridge from vessels transiting under or in the vicinity of the bridge, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Fenders on modern bridges include "dolphins," which are large circular walls filled with material such as sand or concrete and "artificial islands," armored artificial islands around the piers made of a sand core that is protected against wave and current action by armored slope protection, according to the Coast Guard.

However, it is not yet known whether or not the Baltimore Key Bridge had fenders at the time of the crash.

The Maryland Transportation Authority did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for a comment.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also weighed in on the bridge's ability to withstand a massive cargo ship collision Wednesday, "What we do know is a bridge like this one completed in the 1970s was simply not made to withstand a direct impact on a critical support pier from a vessel that weighs about 200 million pounds," he said during a press briefing.

"Right now, I think there's a lot of debate taking place in the engineering community about whether or not any of those features could have had any role in a situation like this," Buttigieg added.

The 984-feet-long and 157-feet-wide cargo ship -- operated by Synergy Marine Group and named Dali -- was moving at a speed of 8 knots, or about 9 mph, when it struck the bridge, according to officials.

"So it's a tremendous force, that the bridge would have to be designed to absorb," Geddes said, adding, "It clearly was not designed to take that."

Construction of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge began in 1972 and finished in March 1977, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA).

Maria Lehman, former president of the American Society of Civil Engineers, told ABC News that older bridges are not designed with the post Panama Canal expansion ship allowances in mind.

In 2016, the Panama Canal expansion project constructed pathways -- on both the Atlantic and Pacific ends of the canal -- that are 70 feet wider and 18 feet deeper, to accommodate larger cargo ships.

Lehman said because Baltimore's Key Bridge was created with smaller cargo ships in mind, it was "inadequate for what we see with ships today."

"Pier protection on long-span bridges that have been built within the last decade are in line with what you're gonna need based on how heavy these new ships are," Lehman said.

Lehman said the news of the Key Bridge collapse Tuesday reminded her of the 1980 Sunshine Skyway Bridge collapse in Tampa, Florida, which she said was a "very similar" bridge and spurred a "base standard for pier protection" in the United States.

In May 1980, the M/V Summit Venture freighter struck a support beam on the Skyway Bridge causing a major collapse that left 35 people dead. The now 44-year-old tragedy spurred changes to the engineering of bridges that have been built since, according to Lehman.

Three years after the Skyway Bridge incident, the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration released a technical advisory titled "Pier Protection and Warning Systems for Bridges Subject to Ship Collisions"

In the 1983 advisory, the agency noted, "It may be extremely difficult to retrofit some existing bridge piers with protective systems. For this reason, it becomes particularly important to recognize the potential hazards from ship collisions and to locate and design piers on new bridges in such a way that the risks of collision are reduced to an acceptable level."

Baltimore's Key Bridge was constructed in 1977 and did not have the protected pier measures that bridges built in the decades since this advisory.

"Unless you're doing a major retrofit of any piece of infrastructure, you don't have to bring it up to code," Lehman said, adding that the Key Bridge collapse is a "wake-up" call for better bridge infrastructure and reform.

"I think just like Sunshine Skyway was a wake-up call, I think this is the next wake-up call," Lehman said, adding, "We're going to have to take a look closely at the results of what happened, and then work on the plan. So it never happens again."

In June 2023, Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) officials announced the construction of the Delaware Memorial Bridge Protection System.

"Our goal is to take preemptive measures to prevent a commercial vessel from striking one of the bridge towers, which could cause significant damage to the bridge infrastructure and disruptions to interstate travel," Thomas J. Cook, executive director of the DRBA said in a press release.

The cost of the project is nearly $93 million, according to the release.

Rick Geddes hopes the devastation from the Key Bridge collapse will spur great reform in America's bridge infrastructure safety.

"The real possibility of a massive container ship of this size, running into a bridge pylon, and causing the bridge collapse is no longer theoretical," Geddes said. "I think a renewed effort to inspect and assess the state of a whole bunch of U.S. bridges will be the result of this accident."

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Former Senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82

Win McNamee/Getty Images

(NEW YORK) -- Former Sen. Joe Lieberman has died, his family announced Wednesday. He was 82 years old.

Lieberman died in New York City "due to complications from a fall," his family said in a statement.

"His beloved wife, Hadassah, and members of his family were with him as he passed. Senator Lieberman's love of God, his family, and America endured throughout his life of service in the public interest," the statement read.

Lieberman, a prominent Jewish politician who represented Connecticut, was Al Gore's running mate on the Democratic ticket in 2000. A political maverick who ultimately became an independent, he also nearly joined former Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain's presidential ticket as his running mate. The two were friends and were both defense hawks, advocating for a muscular U.S. posture abroad.

Lieberman became a player on the political scene again in recent years as the founding chair of the No Labels party, which is weighing launching a "unity ticket" in this year's presidential race, though no major candidates have said they plan to join.

Lieberman "meant so much to so many," No Labels said in a statement following his passing. "He was a beloved husband, father and grandfather. He was a senator and a statesman. He was the founding chairman and moral center of the No Labels movement.

"His unexpected passing is a profound loss for all of us," the statement continued.

"Senator Lieberman was a singular figure in American political life who always put his country before party. He was a deeply principled and pragmatic leader who believed public service was a privilege and who dedicated his life to the betterment of others. As a four-term senator, he led passage of transformative bipartisan legislation that made America's air and water cleaner, that made us safer after 9/11, and that expanded equality and opportunity for all," the statement continued, in part.

"Senator Lieberman leaves behind a void that cannot be filled," No Labels added. "But we are honored to have known him and we hope his family can find comfort in the difficult days ahead knowing the tremendous impact that he had."

Lieberman's funeral will be held Friday at Congregation Agudath Sholom in his hometown of Stamford, his family said.

Lieberman's former running mate, Al Gore, released a statement on X saying he was "profoundly saddened."

"I am profoundly saddened by the loss of Joe Lieberman. First and foremost, he was a man of devout faith and dedication to his family," Gore's statement read.

"Joe was a man of deep integrity who dedicated his life to serving his country. He was a truly gifted leader, whose affable personality and strong will made him a force to be reckoned with. That's why it came as no surprise to any of us who knew him when he'd start singing his favorite song: Frank Sinatra's 'My Way.' And doing things Joe's way meant always putting his country and the values of equality and fairness first.

"His fierce dedication to these values was clear even as a young man. When he was about to travel to the South to join the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, he wrote: 'I am going because there is much work to be done. I am an American. And this is one nation, or it is nothing.' Those are the words of a champion of civil rights and a true patriot, which is why I shared that quote when I announced Joe as my running mate.

"It was an honor to stand side-by-side with him on the campaign trail. I'll remain forever grateful for his tireless efforts to build a better future for America," Gore's statement concluded.

Former President George W. Bush released a statement, calling Lieberman "one of the most decent people" he met in Washington.

"Laura and I are saddened by the loss of Joe Lieberman. Joe was as fine an American as they come and one of the most decent people I met during my time in Washington," his statement read. "As a Democrat, Joe wasn't afraid to engage with Senators from across the aisle and worked hard to earn votes from outside his party. He engaged in serious and thoughtful debate with opposing voices on important issues. And in both loss and victory, Joe Lieberman was always a gentleman. I'm grateful for Joe's principled service to our country and for the dignity and patriotism he brought to public life. As Laura and I pray for Hadassah and the Lieberman family, we also pray that Joe's example of decency guides our Nation's leaders now and into the future."

In a statement on X, former President Barack Obama expressed his condolences.

"Joe Lieberman and I didn't always see eye-to-eye, but he had an extraordinary career in public service, including four decades spent fighting for the people of Connecticut. He also worked hard to repeal "Don't Ask Don't Tell" and helped us pass the Affordable Care Act. In both cases the politics were difficult, but he stuck to his principles because he knew it was the right thing to do. Michelle and I extend our deepest condolences to Hadassah and the Lieberman family," his statement read.

Connecticut lawmakers honored Lieberman after news of his death broke.

"Connecticut is shocked by Senator Lieberman's sudden passing. In an era of political carbon copies, Joe Lieberman was a singularity. One of one. He fought and won for what he believed was right and for the state he adored. My thoughts are with Hadassah and the entire family," Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

"On world and national stages, he helped to define and frame an era of history," Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said in a statement. "He was a fierce advocate, a man of deep conscience and conviction, and a courageous leader who sought to bridge gaps and bring people together. He was dedicated to family and faith, and he was a role model of public service. He never ceased listening to both friends and adversaries. He leaves an enduring legacy as a fighter for consumers, environmental values, civil rights, and other great causes of our time and he was tireless in working for Connecticut no matter how far or high he went."

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, who beat Lieberman in the 2006 Senate Democratic primary but then lost to him in the general election when Lieberman ran as an independent, said they had ideological differences but honored Lieberman as "a man of integrity and conviction" and that "we stayed in touch as friends in the best traditions of American democracy" after their race was over.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., called his longtime friend's passing "devastatingly sad."

"Just heard of my dear friend Joe Lieberman's passing. As I am just now leaving Israel, so many emotions. This is devastatingly sad. I feel fortunate to have been in his presence, traveling the world in support of America's interests as we saw it," Graham said in a statement.

"To Hadassah, I know your heart is broken, but please understand your legion of friends love you dearly. To the Lieberman family, we will be with you through this journey. I look forward to sharing more thoughts about this wonderful man and the incredible life he lived.

"The good news, he is in the hands of the loving God. The bad news, John McCain is giving him an earful about how screwed up things are," Graham said, adding: "Rest in peace, my dear friend. From the Last Amigo."

Lieberman was the first Jewish American on a major party's presidential ticket and was known for his Jewish observance.

"Sen. Joe Lieberman was a true trailblazer, and represented the hopes, aspirations, and ideals of the Jewish community in the United States," the Jewish Federations of North America wrote on X. "As the first member of the Jewish community to run on a major party presidential ticket, he broke barriers and showed us what was possible, and always did so while holding strong to his values and moral outlook. Jewish Federations mourn his passing, and our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time."

The National Council of Jewish Women also mourned the loss of Lieberman, writing on X: "A trailblazer as the first Jewish candidate on the national ticket of a major party, he championed abortion access, LGBTQ+ equality and gun safety. Our communities are safer because of his leadership. May his memory be for a blessing."

"Joe Lieberman was a true mensch and a great American," former Sen. Norm Coleman, chairman of the Republican Jewish Coalition, said in a statement. "Time and again, Senator Lieberman put principle over politics. He was a shining example of all that's good and decent about public service. And he was a committed and proud Jew who served his country with distinction... I am proud to have known Joe and the Republican Jewish Coalition was proud to work with him over the years."

ABC News' Rick Klein, Kelsey Walsh, Mariam Khan and Oren Oppenheim contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Kenan Thompson discusses ‘Quiet on Set’ and working with Dan Schneider

Disney Entertainment Television/Jeff Neira

Kenan Thompson, who starred in the Nickelodeon shows All That and Kenan and Kel as a teen, is speaking out about allegations made about his former producer Dan Schneider in the documentary series Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.

"I think it's a good thing that the doc is out and is putting things on display that need to be told for accountability sake, but it's definitely tough to watch because I have fond memories of that place," Thompson said of Nickelodeon during an appearance on Tamron Hall's chat show on Wednesday, March 27.

Addressing the accusations that Schneider created a toxic work environment, the Saturday Night Live star recalled that many of them happened after his tenure on the network.

"Dan wasn't really on Kenan and Kel like that," he explains. "He got a 'created by' credit, but it was a different showrunner, so our worlds weren't overly overlapping like that outside of All That necessarily."

“My heart goes out to anybody that's been victimized, or their families," he said.

After noting that the production company said it was investigating all the allegations, Thompson said, "Well, investigate more."

"It's supposed to be a safe place, you know?" he added. "It's supposed to be a safe place for kids and to hear all about that it's just like, 'How dare you,' you know?'"

 

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

In Brief: Austin Butler ‘Caught Stealing’ for ‘The Whale’ director Aronofsky, and more

Deadline reports Dune: Part Two's Austin Butler has been tapped to star in The Whale filmmaker Darren Aronofsky's crime thriller Caught Stealing, for Sony Pictures. The film, adapted from Charlie Huston's book of the same name, centers on, "a burned-out former baseball player, as he's unwittingly plunged into a wild fight for survival in the downtown criminal underworld of '90s NYC" ...

Poor Things star Ramy Youssef will host Saturday Night Live for the first time on Saturday and promoted the appearance in a hilarious promo with SNL cast member Kenan Thompson. The clip shows Youssef falsely claiming to be the show's "first Arab host," only to be corrected by Thompson, who also shoots down the actor/comedian's claim that he's the first-ever Egyptian host and even the first-ever Egyptian host named Ramy, pointing out that Rami Malek once hosted the show. "Being first is dumb anyway," Youssef fires back, eventually settling for being the first-ever Egyptian host named Ramy from New Jersey. Travis Scott is the musical guest on Saturday, March 30 ...

West Side Story actress Ariana DeBose will mark her third time hosting the Tony Awards when the 2024 ceremony airs June 16 on CBS. "I couldn't pass up the chance to host the Tonys one more time at Lincoln Center. I'm excited to collaborate with the team to create an incredible celebration of this season's achievements on Broadway for our community and for everyone at home," DeBose said in a statement. CBS and Pluto TV will once again team up to present The Tony Awards: Act One, a preshow of live, exclusive content leading into the 77th annual Tony Awards ...

 

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Chick-fil-A donates soup to Salvation Army

Chick-fil-A donates over 3,000 soups to Salvation ArmyTYLER — Local Chick-fil-A restaurants donated thousands of soups and cookies on Wednesday to the Salvation Army in Tyler. According to our news partner KETK, the occasion was made possible through the donation drive that was held in February where for every soup bought, two would be donated.

“The idea is that the community helps out, that every time they buy a soup, we donate the soup. And over the course of time, it’s been like 75,000 bowls of soup over the last 15-20 years that we’ve been able to donate to the community,” Ikey Eason, Troup Highway Chick-fil-A owner, said. Continue reading Chick-fil-A donates soup to Salvation Army

Local law enforcement on working with pawn shops to identify stolen items

Local law enforcement on working with pawn shops to identify stolen itemsRUSK COUNTY — A collectible pistol that was reported stolen three decades ago and ended up in a pawn shop is back in the hands of its original owner, and now law enforcement depict how they work with shops to identify stolen items. According to our news partner KETK, on Friday, a Camp County lawyer who bought the pistol at a pawn shop returned the firearm to Gordon Allen, World War II veteran and original owner. “Sometime the wheels of justice move slow but they still move,” Allen said.

Rusk County Sheriff Johnwayne Valdez said finding stolen guns at pawn shops is not a common occurrence, but it does happen. Unlike 30 years ago, when technology was limited, law enforcement and pawn shops now work together to check items brought into businesses. Valdez said pawn shops are required to put every item they purchase into a database, especially guns. Continue reading Local law enforcement on working with pawn shops to identify stolen items

Rangers want Michael Lorenzen to build up before joining rotation

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Newly signed starter Michael Lorenzen will not be on the opening day active roster of the Texas Rangers, who want the All-Star right-hander to build up before moving into their rotation.

General manager Chris Young said Wednesday that Lorenzen will start the season on the 15-day injured list. That move can be backdated to Monday, making Lorenzen eligible to be activated as soon as April 9, during the team’s second homestand of the season.

Lorenzen, a first-time All-Star last season with Detroit who threw a no-hitter for Philadelphia after being traded, finalized a $4.5 million, one-year contract with the Rangers last Friday. The World Series champions open the season Thursday at home against the Chicago Cubs.

“We had considered pushing him to be ready on the opening day roster. I think physically, he’s not quite there,” said Young, a former big league pitcher. “Just missing spring training, there’s still some baseball buildup that we need. … It’s the responsible thing to do. Michael has been phenomenal. We’re excited about where he is.”

Young said reliever Jonathan Hernández also will start the season on the IL after a strained lat muscle that kept him from pitching in the postseason.

Lorenzen worked out on his own and threw to independent league hitters while waiting to sign with a big league club. The 32-year-old right-hander threw 28 pitches during batting practice at the Rangers ballpark Wednesday, and said he feels good.

“I wanted to come start right away, but I think this is the best way to do it,” said Lorenzen, who had a conversation with Young earlier this week. “He understands. That’s the benefits of having an ex-player, an ex-pitcher, making the decisions. We talked and it made the most sense.”

Lorenzen said the plan is to start for Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday, then throw in one more game before he would be eligible to join the Rangers.

All-Star right-hander Nathan Eovaldi will start the opener for Texas. After an off day Friday, he likely will be followed by Dane Dunning, Jon Gray, Andrew Heaney and Cody Bradford in some order.

Manager Bruce Bochy said the rotation order isn’t set yet. Gray was scratched from the final exhibition game Tuesday after waking up with neck stiffness. He was set to play catch Wednesday and throw a bullpen session before the opener.

Relief pitchers José Ureña, Jacob Latz and Yerry Rodríguez were told that they made the team. Jared Walsh, who went to camp with a minor league contract, will be on the 26-man roster and be the primary first baseman with Gold Glove winner Nathaniel Lowe starting on the IL because of a right oblique strain.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

FAU hires Baylor associate head coach John Jakus as its coach, gives him 5-year deal

Florida Atlantic is hiring Baylor associate head coach John Jakus as its coach, a move that comes four days after Dusty May capped his six-year run with the Owls and took over at Michigan.

Jakus and the school have agreed on a five-year contract. Financial terms were not immediately released and the school was planning to hold an introductory news conference on Friday.

“This program has been in such great hands, and I have a tremendous amount of respect for what Dusty May, his staff, and the players have accomplished,” Jakus said. “FAU has been one of the best teams in the nation the last two years and I am so fortunate to carry on that tradition.”

Jakus was at Baylor under Scott Drew for seven seasons — including the team’s national championship season in 2021 — and spent time at Gonzaga as director of operations under Mark Few before that. During that three-year stretch the Bulldogs went to an Elite Eight one year, a Sweet 16 the next and then national title game.

“He checks so many boxes in what we’re looking for to enhance and build on the momentum in our program,” FAU athletic director Brian White said. “His pedigree, learning from two of the greatest coaches in the game today, is unmatched. John is a tireless worker who cares deeply for his players and has an innate understanding of the current landscape in college athletics. He is a winner and is passionate about doing it the right way.”

In Jakus’ 12 seasons on Division I staffs, the teams have posted a combined 316-99 record.

He’s been a head coach in Europe at clubs in Macedonia and Bulgaria from 2007 through 2011. Jakus also has experience working with Athletes in Action, collecting more international experience over about a decade.

The Owls lost in the first round of this year’s NCAA Tournament to Northwestern. May left for Michigan a day later, signing a five-year contract worth nearly $19 million — basically tripling his annual salary of $1.25 million plus incentives at FAU for this season.

FAU has won 60 games over the last two seasons, 35 of them during last season’s run to the Final Four. Only Houston (65), defending national champion UConn (64) and Purdue (60) have as many wins as the Owls since the start of last season.

___

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

Rockets beat Thunder 132-126 in overtime for 10th straight victory

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Houston Rockets didn’t care that they beat an Oklahoma City squad that was missing its best player, All-Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

The Rockets celebrated loudly in the locker room after escaping with a win at one of the toughest venues in the league. Jalen Green scored 37 points and Houston won its 10th straight game, defeating the Thunder 132-126 in overtime on Wednesday night.

“It was lit, it was lit,” Green said. “Everybody was happy, celebrating, screaming. I mean, we fought for that one. We worked hard.”

Rockets coach Ime Udoka said it’s all about stacking victories.

“Ten in a row is 10 in a row, regardless if Shai is out or whatever the case may be,” Udoka said. “But it’s hard to do in the NBA. The guys are proud of that effort, and well deserved.”

Amen Thompson had 25 points and 15 rebounds and Dillon Brooks added 20 points for the Rockets.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who was out with a bruised right thigh, ranks third in the league with 30.4 points per game.

Josh Giddey matched a career-high with 31 points for the Thunder, one night after scoring a season-high 25 in a win at New Orleans. Jalen Williams added 23 points and 10 assists for Oklahoma City, which entered the night a half game behind the Western Conference-leading Denver Nuggets.

Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault made no excuses for the loss.

“Every night, there’s a combination of things you can control and things you can’t,” he said. “You want to be a team that looks at the stuff you can control. We just never want to turn a page and chalk an entire game up to luck or shot-making or refs or anything like that. You want a team that takes full accountability for what we can. We do that after wins, we do that after losses and we’ll do that after this one.”

The final minutes of regulation were hectic. Giddey hustled to the ball and got a shot to bounce in while sitting on the floor a few feet in front of the free-throw line, putting the Thunder ahead 103-102 with just under four minutes remaining.

Oklahoma City’s Williams made a contested 3-pointer with 4.7 seconds remaining to tie the score at 112. Green’s layup at the buzzer rolled away, forcing overtime.

“Had a decent look at a shot, but we felt OK, put it behind us and we just went after it,” Udoka said.

Brooks hit two 3-pointers early in the extra period to put the Rockets in control.

“It was big when Dillon came out and hit those two, and then we guarded even better until the end of the overtime,” Udoka said.

The game had a little extra flair from the start. Confetti from a previous event rained down on the floor right before the tip.

The Thunder trailed by double digits in the first quarter, but rallied to lead 50-49 at halftime.

The Thunder led 69-62 when Giddey fouled Jabari Smith Jr. Giddey tried to help him up and Brooks pushed Giddey away and was issued a technical foul. It was Brooks’ 14th of the season, putting him two short of a one-game suspension.

Oklahoma City took an 85-80 lead into the fourth quarter.

UP NEXT

Rockets: Visit the Utah Jazz on Friday night.

Thunder: Host the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Wembanyama has 19 points and 5 blocks to lead Spurs past Jazz 118-111

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Devin Vassell scored 31 points, Victor Wembanyama had 19 points and five blocks and the San Antonio Spurs ran past the Utah Jazz 118-111 on Wednesday night.

“He’s becoming a real problem for defenses,” Wembanyama said of Vassell. “It’s beautiful to see him evolve like this throughout the year.”

The Spurs, second in the league in assists behind Indiana, had a season-high 40 on 44 field goals. San Antonio also shot 51.8% from the field and were well above .500 from 3-point range until missing their final four attempts and finishing 16 of 33.

“That’s Spurs basketball … and Pop preaches it all the time,” Vassell said of coach Gregg Popovich. “We were knocking down shots today and everybody was sharing it.”

Jeremy Sochan, Julian Champagnie and Malaki Branham all scored 17 points for San Antonio. But it was Vassell who was the catalyst.

“Get downhill, get to my spots, pick them apart. If they’re trapping me, I can hit the short roll or skip or whatever the pass is, and they’ve been knocking down shots,” said Vassell, who had his sixth 30-point game of the season along with six assists.

Popovich was just as happy about Vassell’s defense.

“He was a monster at both ends for us,” Popovich said.

Collin Sexton had 26 points and nine assists, while Lauri Markkanen scored 25 points for the Jazz, who lost their seventh in a row.

The Jazz led just once and trailed by double-digits most of the game.

“I feel like we were a step slow on everything. We weren’t physical enough on offense or defense,” said Markkanen, who played the entire second half. “Once you make a mistake, they can punish you. Every mistake just adds up, so that’s how they get on a run.”

Utah got as close as 115-111 with 23.2 seconds remaining before Tre Jones sealed the win for San Antonio with two free throws and Wembanyama swatted Utah’s next attempt.

“It was a bad choice,” Wembanyama said about Taylor Hendricks trying to dunk on him at the end of the game.

The Spurs are playing some of their best basketball of the season, beating Phoenix 104-102 on Monday without Wembanyama and running their offense at its most efficient against the Jazz.

“Just goes to show you, we’re getting better each day,” Vassell said. “Obviously, we don’t have that many games left but for us to show improvement especially like this is great. Since the All-Star break, we’ve been an almost totally different team.”

Meanwhile, the Jazz (29-44) have the worst record in the league since the All-Star break, when they traded away three rotation regulars. Utah used 12 players in the first quarter, the most this season.

“Just not enough intensity, physicality, and focus to start the game and we dig ourselves a big hole,” Utah coach Will Hardy said. “We had nine turnovers in the first quarter. It’s a combination of sloppiness and some stubbornness at times.”

San Antonio and Wembanyama dominated early, leading by as many as 19 in the first half. And one sequence typified the rookie’s impact.

Wembanyama blocked Markkanen’s layup and then used his long stride to glide downcourt for an alley-oop dunk on the other end. That gave San Antonio a 38-20 lead.

Capped by Markkanen’s 3-pointer, the Jazz used a 17-3 run to get within four points, but the Spurs still led 59-48 at the half.

UP NEXT

Spurs: Host the New York Knicks on Friday night.

Jazz: Host the Houston Rockets on Friday night.

—

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Panthers to sign pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney, sources say

ByABC News

Free agent pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney has agreed to a two-year, $20 million contract with the Carolina Panthers, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday.

Clowney’s contract can be worth up to $24 million, the sources said.

Clowney gives the Panthers another pass-rusher to help fill the void left by the trade of Brian Burns to the New York Giants earlier this month. The Panthers also signed free agent D.J. Wonnum earlier this month.

It will be a homecoming for Clowney, who is from Rock Hill, South Carolina, and played collegiately for South Carolina.

Besides the Panthers, Clowney also received interest from the New York Jets, visiting the team last week.

Clowney, 31, got his career back on track last year, becoming one of the bigger surprises on the Baltimore Ravens with his pass rush and durability. He proved he can still impact games by getting to the quarterback with 9.5 sacks, which tied a career high. In the AFC Championship Game loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Clowney recorded a sack in helping Baltimore shut out Patrick Mahomes in the second half.

The Ravens signed Clowney to a one-year, $2.5 million contract last year on the final day of training camp because they needed experienced depth at pass-rusher. He then earned $2.75 million in incentives by exceeding nine sacks and participating in over 60% of Baltimore’s snaps on defense. In a career filled with injuries, Clowney played in all 19 games for Baltimore last season (including playoffs), which is only the second time he’s suited up for every game in a season.

Clowney was not heavily pursued in free agency last year because of a tumultuous exit from the Cleveland Browns in 2022. He was ruled out of the final regular season game after he was quoted as saying the Browns were more worried about getting individual accolades for Myles Garrett than winning games. Clowney later said those comments were never on the record.

The No. 1 overall pick of the 2014 draft, Clowney is a three-time Pro Bowl player who has totaled 363 tackles, 52.5 sacks and 15 forced fumbles in 10 seasons. After spending his first five seasons with the Houston Texans, he has played for four teams in his last five seasons (the Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, Browns and Ravens).

ESPN’s Jamison Hensley contributed to this report.

Dodgers, catcher Will Smith agree to 10-year, $140M extension

ByJEFF PASSAN

Catcher Will Smith and the Dodgers signed a 10-year, $140 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, the latest deal in an offseason of massive spending by a Los Angeles team that is locking up its core members.

Smith, who turns 29 on Friday, was due to hit free agency following the 2025 season. Los Angeles prevented that by giving him a deal that will run through the 2033 season and keep him in the middle of one of baseball’s most dangerous lineups.

The $140 million is the third-highest guarantee ever for a catcher, behind Joe Mauer’s eight-year, $184 million contract with Minnesota and Buster Posey’s nine-year, $167 million deal with San Francisco. The deal, negotiated by Apex Baseball, includes a $30 million signing bonus – to be paid in two installments by January 2025 – and around 30% of the remaining salary deferred, sources said.

After debuting in 2019, Smith almost immediately established himself as one of the best hitting catchers in baseball. With an elite eye and 20-plus-home run power, Smith spent most of last season hitting third for Los Angeles and made his first All-Star team.

The addition of Shohei Ohtani this winter pushed Smith down to the cleanup spot, behind the three former MVPs at the top of the Dodgers’ lineup: Mookie Betts, Ohtani and Freddie Freeman.

Smith’s extension follows the 10-year, $700 million deal signed by Ohtani this winter, as well as Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s 12-year, $325 million contract, Tyler Glasnow’s five-year, $137.5 million extension and a one-year, $23.5 million pact for outfielder Teoscar Hernandez.

Altogether, the Dodgers have committed more than $1.35 billion in future salaries this winter.

By stretching Smith’s deal to 10 years, the Dodgers will receive significant luxury tax benefits. The contract will count for around $12.2 million a year against their competitive balance tax payroll. The deal pushes their CBT payroll this season to nearly $325 million,, as Smith was set to make $8.55 million — a record for a second-time arbitration-eligible catcher — after settling with Los Angeles.

Because Smith was due to hit free agency entering his age-31 season, a decade-long deal gives him more security than catchers typically receive. Smith also could eventually transition to another position, having played at third base and second base in the Dodgers’ minor league system.

With arguably the best catching depth in baseball – at some point, Diego Cartaya, Dalton Rushing and Thayron Liranzo all have appeared on Top 100 prospect lists, and 26-year-old Hunter Feduccia is expected to debut in Los Angeles this season – the Dodgers could have opted to let Smith reach free agency. But the deal’s length and resulting CBT discount made it a mutually beneficial proposition.

Smith, a first-round draft pick in 2016, earned it with his bat. Over his first five seasons with the Dodgers, he hit .261/.357/.483 with 91 home runs and 306 RBIs. His 18.3% strikeout rate over that time places him near the top quarter of players in MLB, and his walk rate of 10.9% is in the 82nd percentile.