ESPN, LLWS announce media-rights extension through 2030

ESPN, LLWS announce media-rights extension through 2030
By The Associated Press undefined
ESPN will continue to air the Little League Baseball World Series as well as other events through 2030 as part of an eight-year extension. The agreement was announced by both parties on Sunday, which would have marked the first weekend of this year’s World Series. The event was canceled in the spring because of the coronavirus pandemic. The eight-year extension, which covers domestic, international and streaming platforms, makes ESPN the exclusive global rights holder for Little League baseball and softball. ESPN will carry more than 300 games yearly. ESPN started televising Little League games in 1983 and each year since 1987.

Andretti savoring his own Indianapolis 500 spotlight

Andretti savoring his own Indianapolis 500 spotlight
By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Marco Andretti has hard a rough racing career in which he’s never answered the expectations of his famous racing family. He has two victories in 15 seasons and hasn’t won a race since 2011. He will try to snap the so-called “Andretti Curse” in the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. Andretti will lead the field to the green, the first Andretti to do so since grandfather Mario in 1987. He’s under an enormous spotlight but is comfortable in his skin and accepts the pressure.

Bumpy 2019 over, Steelers’ Rudolph eager to “push” Big Ben

Bumpy 2019 over, Steelers’ Rudolph eager to “push” Big Ben
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph believes he can be a starter in the NFL despite a rocky 2019. Rudolph was thrust into a starting role last fall after Ben Roethlisberger was lost for the season due to a right elbow injury. The team went 5-3 during his starts, but his season was side-tracked following an incident with Cleveland defensive star Myles Garrett. The two fought near the end of a Browns’ victory, with Garrett ripping off Rudolph’s helmet and hitting him with it. Garrett claimed Rudolph used a racist slur, a slur the NFL found no evidence of. Rudolph says he’s focused on getting better in 2020.

Pirates Win Two Straight for First Time this Season

Offense breaks out as Pirates rip Brewers 12-5
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Adam Frazier and Jacob Stallings homered and drove in three runs apiece as the Pittsburgh Pirates slammed the Milwaukee Brewers 12-5. Struggling outfielder Gregory Polanco added a home run and a double for his first two-hit game in 15 months. Colin Moran doubled three times for Pittsburgh. Erik Gonzalez hit a two-run double in the seventh as the Pirates batted around against Milwaukee’s suddenly vulnerable bullpen. Pittsburgh’s nine extra-base hits were a season high and its run total matched the most surrendered by the Brewers this year.

Hamlin holds off JGR teammate Truex for 1st Dover victory

Hamlin holds off JGR teammate Truex for 1st Dover victory
By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer
DOVER, Del (AP) — Denny Hamlin zipped past teammate Martin Truex Jr. with less than 10 laps to go and won the NASCAR Cup Series race Saturday at Dover International Speedway. Hamlin matched Kevin Harvick for the season victory lead with six, matching his total from last season and closing within two of his career high set in 2010. Hamlin chased down Truex, his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, and held on in the first of two Cup races this weekend at Dover.  Hamlin won for the first time at Dover in 29 career races. He was told by crew chief Chris Gabehart to save the No. 11 Toyota from a burnout because the car is needed again Sunday.

Congressman Lamb comments on House Passage of bill to halt Postal Service changes blamed for delays, send $25 billion to boost USPS ahead of election

LAMB STATEMENT ON BIPARTISAN PASSAGE OF THE DELIVERING FOR AMERICA ACT

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) statement following the bipartisan passage of H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act:

“The Postal Service exists to serve every American, regardless of where you live or what you believe.  This year, many of us will exercise our constitutional right to vote by relying on the Postal Service to deliver our ballots.  The USPS is prepared for this mission, but they need extra support to accomplish it while still meeting the needs of seniors, veterans, small businesses and rural communities.

“The Delivering for America Act provides $25 billion in emergency funding and prohibits the Postal Service from making any changes to service levels that would impede prompt and reliable service.  I was proud to cosponsor and vote for this bill, along with members of both parties, because it is designed to protect the constitutional rights of all Americans.”

Click here to learn more about H.R. 8015.

Allgaier holds off Cindric to win Xfinity race at Dover

Allgaier holds off Cindric to win Xfinity race at Dover
By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer
DOVER, Del (AP) — Justin Allgaier held of a streaking Austin Cindric to win his first Xfinity Series race of the season Saturday at Dover International Speedway. Cindric had been the driver to beat. He came into Dover with a staggering five wins in the last six races. Allgaier won a combined eight races from 2017-2019 but had gone 20 races since his last victory. His win earned him a spot in the Xfinity Series playoffs. Cindric was second for his seventh straight two-top finish.

Democrats see racism in GOP mispronunciations of ‘Kamala’

Democrats see racism in GOP mispronunciations of ‘Kamala’
By SARA BURNETT Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) — Republicans keep getting Kamala Harris’ name wrong, and Democrats say it’s not a slip-up. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have both mispronounced the Democratic vice presidential candidate’s first name in recent days. Democrats say that’s a deliberate move to suggest Harris is foreign. Harris is the first Black woman named to a major party ticket and the child of Jamaican and Indian immigrants. Harris explains in her biography her first name is pronounced “‘comma-la,’ like the punctuation mark.”

Spruced-up White House Rose Garden set for first lady speech

Spruced-up White House Rose Garden set for first lady speech
By JONATHAN LEMIRE Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The renovations to the White House Rose Garden have been finished in time for its moment in the campaign spotlight. First lady Melania Trump will deliver her Republican National Convention speech Tuesday night from the garden, famous for its close proximity to the Oval Office. The three weeks of work on the garden, which was done in the spirit of its original 1962 design, were showcased to reporters on Saturday.

2 tropical storms a potential double threat to US Gulf Coast

2 tropical storms a potential double threat to US Gulf Coast
By DÁNICA COTO and SETH BORENSTEIN Associated Press
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Two tropical storms are advancing across the Caribbean, posing potentially historic threats to the U.S. Gulf Coast. One is dumping rain on Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, while the other is pushing through the tap between Cuba and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Tropical Storms Laura and Marco are both projected to approach the U.S. Gulf Coast at or close to hurricane force. The current, uncertain track would take them to Texas or Louisiana. Hurricane researchers say two hurricanes have never appeared in the Gulf of Mexico at the same time, according to records going back to at least 1900.