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Newsweek
2 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Yankees, Braves Castoff Alex Verdugo May Get Yet Another MLB Shot
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The seemingly endless saga of how Alex Verdugo went from promising, highly ranked prospect to the player that nobody wants is one of the more puzzling stories in MLB over the past few years. Now, it appears that Verdugo — who, though healthy, has played only 56 big-league games this year and has been without a team since July 5 — may be on his way back to The Show one more time, even after his own hometown paper, the Tucson-based Arizona Daily Star, declared his career at an end. CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 17: Alex Verdugo #24 of the New York Yankees looks on from the dugout during the sixth inning against the Cleveland Guardians during Game Three of the American League Championship Series... CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 17: Alex Verdugo #24 of the New York Yankees looks on from the dugout during the sixth inning against the Cleveland Guardians during Game Three of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field on October 17, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. MoreBleacher Report's Kerry Miller listed Verdugo among his potential late-season waiver-wire moves contenders could make. "And there he sits once again, unsigned for over a month at this point, even as teams like the Guardians, Royals and Phillies could put just about any warm body with outfield experience to some use," Miller wrote. The Los Angeles Dodgers' second-round draft pick in 2014, Verdugo rose to be the organization's No. 1 prospect by the start of the 2019 season. But a year later, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox as part of a package that brought 2018 American League MVP Mookie Betts to Los Angeles. After the 2023 season and a series of run-ins with Boston manager Alex Cora, the Red Sox shipped Verdugo to the New York Yankees. But when he became a free agent after the 2024 season, the Yankees turned their backs on him. And so did every other team. Until, that is, the Atlanta Braves signed him to a minor league deal just before the season got underway. The Braves called him up on April 18. By July 5, after Verdugo recorded a .239 batting average and .585 OPS with zero home runs, the Braves released the 29-year-old after he went through the waiver wire with no team putting a claim on him. More MLB: Ex-Yankee With 'Off-Field Issues' Expected Back in Majors After Braves Shocker Nor has any team has expressed interest in Verdugo since then, but that may soon change, according to an analysis by Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report. "Despite a decent 2024 campaign (at least in the outfield) with the Yankees in which he even hit a home run in the World Series, nobody seemed to want Alex Verdugo this past offseason," Miller wrote. "And there he sits once again, unsigned for over a month at this point, even as teams like the Guardians, Royals and Phillies could put just about any warm body with outfield experience to some use." More MLB: Ex-Yankees $9.2 Million Outfielder's 'Sad' Message as Free Agency Gets No Takers The Royals in particular are in a battle to get back to the playoffs for a second straight season after an eight-year absence, sitting four games off the third and final AL Wild Card spot. Yet of their three regular outfielders, none has an OPS over .668. Despite a couple of down years, Verdugo still carries a respectable career OPS of .732. At $138 million, Kansas City carries the 12th-lowest payroll in baseball, making Verdugo who could be acquired for the prorated remainder of his $1.5 million Braves contract — approximately $375,000 — a viable option for a late-season playoff push. More MLB: Braves Announcement Appears to Seal Fate of Yankees Castoff Alex Verdugo
Cision Canada
04-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Introducing The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Muskoka: A Rare Opportunity to Own Pristine Waterfront Property in a World-Renowned Destination
TORONTO, June 4, 2025 /CNW/ - Density Group Limited unveiled today The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Muskoka, a private oasis where nature and hospitality meet. Offering a rare opportunity to live on pristine waterfront property on a forested private island, the residences are nestled within one of Canada's most storied and naturally beautiful destinations. With only 32 architecturally distinct homes this private sanctuary, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Muskoka are designed for those seeking the most precious luxury of all: time. Here, nature takes the lead, with each residence blending seamlessly into the land —supported by the legendary service and distinctive luxury of The Ritz-Carlton. A mainland Homeowner Residence Club—just a short boat ride away via dedicated chauffeur—provides a gathering place for wellness, activity, and connection throughout the seasons. The design, led by Tucson-based Studio Caban and Copenhagen's Norm Architects, is rooted in restraint and refinement. Timeless Scandinavian minimalism meets Canadian materiality—stone, light, wood, and water—in an architectural language that speaks softly but stays with you. The residences are offered in layouts ranging from four to eight bedrooms, thoughtfully planned for multi-generational living and weekend guests. Each lot can accommodate multiple detached guest homes, creating private cabins with their own bedrooms, lounges, ensuites, and sweeping water views. With expansive windows framing the surrounding forest and water, each home opens fully to the elements. Local granite, river stone, and wide-plank hardwoods root the interiors in place. Spacious lots offer total seclusion, while refined individual boathouses over the water provide instant access to lake life. Island trails with elevated lookouts invite slow wandering and quiet reflection or even a morning jog—while cliffs offer exhilarating plunges into the deep, clean water below. In late summer, the forest floor yields sweet wild blueberries—Muskoka's quiet luxury, savored steps from the front door. Back on the mainland, the Homeowner Residence Club offers a full suite of curated amenities: a Nordic-inspired spa, tennis and pickleball courts, an archery range, indoor golf simulator and mountain bike trails carved through the trees. Children can explore a whimsical treehouse while adults enjoy private training, chef services, and grocery delivery to their docks. A communal fire pit brings neighbors together under the stars—an invitation to slow evenings, shared stories, and lasting connection. A wine cellar and working greenhouse offer fresh herbs, while eggs, honey and rustic sourdough – all produced onsite —are ready upon arrival. A reimagined barn has been transformed into a serene, light-filled studio for yoga, pilates, and casual community connection—spaces where wellbeing feels woven into the routine. For over a century, Muskoka has drawn generations seeking simplicity, reflection, and renewal. This offering continues that tradition—not by adding to it, but by distilling it. Sarah Khalifa, Vice President of Mixed-Use Development, Marriott International stated: "This project beautifully integrates luxury living with the stunning natural landscape, creating a harmonious blend that truly captures the essence of Muskoka's beauty. We are thrilled to be on this exciting journey with Density Group Limited as we see our joined vision unfold in such a breathtaking setting." Environmental stewardship is a cornerstone of the project: one-third of the island is permanently protected as conservation land, while surrounding waters are preserved to support fish habitat. Ownership opportunities are limited. The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Muskoka are coming soon, with private showings starting summer 2025. To explore availability and scheduled site visits please contact The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Muskoka sales team at: 1 (800) 482-0355 +1 (705) 482-0402 About Hazelton Real Estate: Hazelton Real Estate proudly represents exciting new development projects in Ontario, Canada. Purchasers searching for personalized services and access to the most exciting residences realize that Hazelton will introduce properties not found elsewhere in the general market. About Density Group Limited: Density Group is a privately held real estate firm based in Toronto, known for successfully leading complex projects from concept to completion. With a strong portfolio of land development deals across Canada, the U.S., and Europe, the firm operates through both private equity and strategic debt placement. Its reputation is built on consistent, on-time delivery, a design-driven philosophy, and the enduring trust of its investors. The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Muskoka is the firm's signature legacy project. The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Muskoka are not owned, developed, promoted or sold by Marriott International, Inc. or its affiliates ("Marriott"). Langmaids Island Corp. uses The Ritz-Carlton marks under a license from Ritz-Carlton, which has not confirmed the accuracy of any of the statements or representations made herein.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Feds pause operations at 3 Michigan Job Corps centers as part of nationwide move
This story has been updated with new information from the city of Detroit. The federal goverment began pausing operations late last week at dozens of Job Corps centers across the country, including three in Michigan. The "phased pause" by the U.S. Department of Labor started May 29 after an internal review of the program, according to a news release. Job Corps, a federally funded residential career training program that has been around for more than 50 years, helps low-income young people ages 16 to 24 years old finish high school and get jobs. The program provides room and board and skills training for up to three years, alongside other services, such as child care and transportation. More than 700 students were enrolled at three Michigan centers in the 2023 program year, according to federal data. Democratic lawmakers from Michigan pushed back against the move and called for a reversal of the decision. In a June 2 letter to U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, U.S. Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Detroit; Hillary Scholten of Grand Rapids; Kristen McDonald Rivet of Bay City, and Shri Thanedar, also of Detroit, said the decision was made without advance notice to the centers, and left students and staff scrambling. "This abrupt disruption has destabilized our communities, which rely on these centers. We understand and share the Department's interest in improving cost-efficiency and long-term effectiveness. Indeed, there is much work to be done to enhance the services here," the Michigan delegation wrote. "But an unplanned and abrupt pause in all operations does not support these goals. Instead, it derails the lives of thousands of young people and dedicated staff committed to strengthening our country's workforce, at a time of great worker shortage across the state." Michigan has Job Corps centers in Detroit, Flint and Grand Rapids, according to a U.S. Department of Labor website. The Detroit and Flint location is operated by Tucson-based Serrato Corp. The Grand Rapids center is run by Atlanta-based Human Learning Systems LLC. The labor department stopped contracts at 99 contract-operated centers, according to an FAQ, leading to a "suspension of program operations." The pause in operations at all contractor-run centers is slated to occur by the end of June, the news release states. The move, the release said, aligns with President Donald Trump's 2026 budget proposal and his administration's "commitment to ensure federal workforce investments deliver meaningful results for both students and taxpayers." More: 7 questions for Michigan's chief growth officer as state population edges up More: Big impact of tariffs on small Michigan suppliers could mean a loss of thousands of jobs A Labor Department official confirmed that the three Michigan-based centers had paused operations. The Free Press reached out to the Michigan centers and operators for comment on Monday. "Center operators began implementing transition plans to mobilize students safely to their home of record and suspend program activities. Funds will be used to pause program operations, which includes managing facilities, maintaining student records,and ensuring students are connected with necessary employment and program resources," according to the FAQ posted on the U.S. Department of Labor website. Of 217 Job Corps participants in Detroit, 19 were referred to the city of Detroit and indicated needing a place to stay, Deputy Mayor Melia Howard said in a statement Monday. Of those participants, 12 found accommodations themselves or declined help. Six others were put in temporary shelter and the city is trying to make contact with one other person, she said. "Our workforce development and housing teams have been in close contact with the Job Corps office in Detroit since late last week when this issue arose. ... Job Corps youth participants are eligible for similar training though Detroit at Work and we are confident we will be able to provide training opportunities for those that have been displaced from Job Corps," Howard said. "Because we know the closure also affects Detroit job corps employees, we will be providing them with job placement support through Detroit at Work." About 25,000 students are enrolled in Job Corps nationwide. The labor department is working with state and local partners to help current students with their training and job opportunities, according to the news release. Students will get copies of their personal documents, can get connected to job opportunities by the labor department and they will get registered with their nearest American Job Center, a nationwide network of services for job seekers. According to the FAQ, the labor department "will arrange transportation and cover costs to transfer students back to their homes of record," by the end of June. Staff are employed by contractors, not the federal government. The labor department will provide staff information about employment services, job fairs and unemployment compensation. The program was paused because Job Corps has been in financial crisis, according to the federal government. A press release cited a $140 million deficit in 2024 and projected shortfall of $213 million for the 2025 program year. The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration released a report in April on the Job Corp program's performance and cost. The average graduation rate was under 40% and the average cost for a student per year was roughly $80,000, according to the report. 'Job Corps was created to help young adults build a pathway to a better life through education, training, and community,' Chavez-DeRemer said in a news release. 'However, a startling number of serious incident reports and our in-depth fiscal analysis reveal the program is no longer achieving the intended outcomes that students deserve. We remain committed to ensuring all participants are supported through this transition and connected with the resources they need to succeed as we evaluate the program's possibilities.' More than 4,500 students were homeless before joining Job Corps, according to a news release from the Washington, D.C.-based National Job Corps Association, which represents staff and students. The association published its own "transparency report context" on the government's report, which it called an "unsound analysis of the program based on incorrect and misleading information." 'Job Corps has transformed the lives of millions of Americans. ...This decision, based on a deeply flawed report, needlessly endangers the futures and the lives of thousands and potentially millions more young Americans," said Donna Hay, president and CEO of the National Job Corps Association, in the news release. The Job Corps program was created in 1964 to tackle youth unemployment. Concerns about the program's cost effectiveness have cropped up during various points of its history, according to a 2022 report from the Congressional Research Service. A 1993 study, regarded as the most rigorous, found short term benefits and immediate wage increases, but also said wage increases did not remain over time, except for those enrolled at 20 years old or older, the report says. At the Detroit Job Corps Center on May 30, students were left scrambling and dozens were reportedly lugging garbage bags full of belongings, according to Fox 2 Detroit. "The staff ... they broke the news to us and they had us go to the dorms, pack our stuff," a student told the TV station. Mariyah Louis graduated from Detroit Job Corps Center in 2017. She was in the foster care system and had a turbulent relationship with her mother and needed some guidance and assistance in life, she said. The Job Corps program provided stable housing, allowed her to focus and get her high school diploma, trade certificate, driver's license, health care and mental health resources. Because of Job Corps, she pursued higher education and now owns a car detailing business, she said. "It broke my heart," Louis, 27, said when she found out about the pause in operations. "I can relate to that feeling of not knowing what I'm gonna do next, especially being a young adolescent." In the last few days since the pause, she created a Facebook group for people affiliated with Detroit Job Corps to access resources and is raising $12,000 for toiletries, home goods and bus passes for students left displaced. "Job Corps was a safe haven," she said. Contact Nushrat Rahman: nrahman@ Follow her on X: @NushratR. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Feds pause operations at 3 Michigan Job Corps centers
USA Today
04-05-2025
- USA Today
Guatemalan woman who gave birth in Arizona after desert trek avoids fast-track deportation
Guatemalan woman who gave birth in Arizona after desert trek avoids fast-track deportation Erika M. wandered the desert for two days with only a water bottle after entering the U.S. near the Tres Bellotas Ranch, approximately 74 miles east of Tucson. Show Caption Hide Caption Border wall construction called 'a waste of time; waste of money' Border wall construction efforts and their effects on the area and wildlife of Quitobaquito Springs, Arizona, are discussed on Feb. 3, 2025. A Guatemalan woman who gave birth in Tucson after crossing the Arizona desert while 35 weeks pregnant has been released from the hospital with her baby and transferred to an immigration processing center, according to her lawyer. The woman no longer appears to be at risk of rapid deportation proceedings and has been given a notice to appear, placing her in normal deportation proceedings. Luis Campos, a Tucson-based immigration attorney representing the woman, welcomed the news. "This is very good news as it places her in regular deportation proceedings, as opposed to expedited proceedings," Campos wrote to The Arizona Republic on May 3. "Regular proceedings place her in (the) immigration court system with an opportunity to fight her case and ask for asylum." On the border: Employers who hire illegal workers play role in migrant deaths, Border Patrol chief says The attorney spoke with the woman for the first time on the night of May 2. Identified as Erika M. by Campos, the woman told him that both she and her U.S. citizen newborn daughter are healthy. "(The) mother was completely unaware of the swell of support and controversy over her case," Campos said. "I believe that the public support for her and the outcry for what was happening might have helped in this case." U.S. Customs and Border Protection released a statement May 3 about Erika and her child, confirming that the child remains with the mother. The agency added that "the woman was transferred to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations with a court date to appear before an immigration judge." Initial reporting indicated that the woman was facing expedited removal. She had the option to either bring her newborn with her when she was deported or leave the baby in the U.S., a CBP spokesperson told The Arizona Daily Star. It's not yet known if the woman will be released from federal custody pending her immigration hearing. Erika M. wandered the desert for two days with only a water bottle after entering the U.S. near the Tres Bellotas Ranch, approximately 74 miles east of Tucson. She made the trek almost nine months pregnant, leaving her home country "for fear of violence," her attorney said. Have any news tips or story ideas about the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona? Reach the reporter at rromeroruiz@ Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @raphaeldelag.
Associated Press
30-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
COMMS/NATION Launches First-Ever Branding White Paper Focused on Tucson's Entrepreneurs and Creators
The new white paper focuses exclusively on how Greater Tucson businesses of all sizes can turn local identity into powerful growth and differentiation. 'Go big, you're already home,'— Andrea M. Garcia TUCSON, AZ, UNITED STATES, April 30, 2025 / / -- COMMS/NATION, [ ] a Tucson-based PR, branding, and creative design agency, released today what is believed to be the first-of-its-kind branding white paper created specifically for Greater Tucson's entrepreneurs, small businesses, and creators. The white paper, titled 'Tucson's Advantage: Building a Brand as Big as the West', shows entrepreneurs how rooting their brands in Tucson's place-based identity, shaped by culture, history, and creative spirit, can strengthen their branding power. Readers will find practical strategies and high-level insight for entrepreneurs, crafters, and tourism-driven businesses ready to grow. Spanning 15 pages, this white paper explores how Tucson's desert landscape, economic sectors, and geographic position gives small businesses a unique edge in the attention economy. It can also help to prepare their brands for the marketing shift toward AI-driven intent. From aerospace to artisan markets, defense to design, this playbook reframes local industry as a branding asset and offers a fresh perspective on how identity drives growth in ways that are accessible, inspirational, and immediately useful. Link to download Tucson Advantage in text below. 'Go big, you're already home,' said Andrea M. Garcia, Co-Founder of COMMS/NATION. 'I'm very proud of my team, they worked tirelessly to get the job done. We see it as an investment in the community and a call to action for Tucson's creators and entrepreneurs: stop blending in with the rest of the country, and start building brands that could only come from here.' The white paper is part of COMMS/NATION's larger ' Rooted in Tucson 'spring initiative, a limited-time branding and marketing promotion originally open to just 10 local businesses. Due to increased interest, the agency has opened an additional 5 spots and extended the application deadline to Tuesday, May 27, 2025 in celebration of World Marketing Day. Participants will gain access to tailored strategy, expert PR support, standout brand positioning, and of course, badass branding. The Tucson Advantage and the launch of Rooted in Tucson align with a series of upcoming national appreciation days focused on uplifting local business, enhancing global trade, and appreciation of creative independence: International Business Image Improvement Month (May 2025) Small Business Month National Small Business Week National Small Business Day World Marketing Day National Tourism Week National Tourism Day Free Trade Day World Fair Trade Day / Fair Trade Day National Train Day National Defense Transportation Day COMMS/NATION proudly supports these national holidays by helping small businesses clarify their message, elevate their image, and grow where they're planted, like right here in Tucson. Download the exclusive white paper here: [ ] Andrea M Garcia COMMSNATION LLC +1 520-303-9697 email us here Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook X Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
