PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies have signed closer Jordan Romano to a one-year contract, making a short-term bet that the right-hander can return to form following a right elbow injury. The Phillies announced the deal on Monday. They did not provide the terms of the agreement, but it is reportedly worth $8.5 million. An All-Star in 2022 and 2023, Romano spent the first six seasons of his major league career with the Toronto Blue Jays. He has 105 career saves and a 2.90 ERA in 231 relief appearances. Of the 17 pitchers in the majors with at least 100 save opportunities since 2019, Romano’s 88.98% save percentage ranks second, trailing only Josh Hader (187 for 210, 89.04%). Among all pitchers in baseball since 2019, Romano’s 105 saves rank ninth. The 31-year-old Romano was limited to just eight saves in 15 games last season. He had arthroscopic surgery on his elbow in July. Romano’s arrival could lead to the departures of one or both of Carlos Estévez and Jeff Hoffman from Philadelphia. The former All-Star relievers both closed games for the Phillies last season but each suffered epic meltdowns in the postseason. Both pitchers are free agents. ___ AP MLB:
Knights silence Flames for 6th straight winAdam Schiff, the outgoing Southern California congress member who gained national attention during Donald Trump’s first presidential term, took the oath of office Monday, Dec. 9, to begin his term as a senator. Schiff defeated Republican and former Los Angeles Dodger Steve Garvey in both the election to serve the remainder of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s term and a full six-year term in the Senate. Schiff will be sworn in on Jan. 3 to begin his full term. “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve all Californians as their next United States Senator. My family came to the Golden State when I was a child in the hope of finding a strong economy, safe neighborhoods, and good schools,” Schiff said in a statement. “And we found all that we could hope for in each of these respects.” Schiff won both races by about 18 percentage points, according to the California’s secretary of state’s office. Vice President Kamala Harris administered the oaths to Schiff and fellow incoming Sen. Andy Kim, of New Jersey and returning Sen. Pete Ricketts, of Nebraska on the Senate floor. Kim replaced former New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez who resigned following convictions on federal bribery charges. Ricketts won the race for the unexpired term of former Sen. Ben Sasse who resigned in 2023. “Congratulations, senators,” Harris said following the oath. WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 09: Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) (L) is congratulated by Vice President Kamala Harris as his wife Eve Schiff looks on following his ceremonial swearing-in in the Old Senate Chamber of the U.S. Capitol on December 09, 2024 in Washington, DC. Schiff was officially sworn in earlier by Harris in the Senate Chamber. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 09: (L-R) Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), his wife Eve Schiff and Vice President Kamala Harris pose for photographs following his ceremonial swearing-in in the Old Senate Chamber of the U.S. Capitol on December 09, 2024 in Washington, DC. Schiff was officially sworn in earlier by Harris in the Senate Chamber. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 09: Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) (C) poses for photographs with the newly-sworn-in Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) (L) and Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) at the U.S. Capitol on December 09, 2024 in Washington, DC. Schiff and Kim were sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris in the Senate Chamber on Monday. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 09: Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) (C) poses for photographs with the newly-sworn-in Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) (L) and Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) at the U.S. Capitol on December 09, 2024 in Washington, DC. Schiff and Kim were sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris in the Senate Chamber on Monday. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 09: Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) (L) is congratulated by Vice President Kamala Harris as his wife Eve Schiff looks on following his ceremonial swearing-in in the Old Senate Chamber of the U.S. Capitol on December 09, 2024 in Washington, DC. Schiff was officially sworn in earlier by Harris in the Senate Chamber. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Schiff held a Maimonides Mishneh Torah while taking the oath of office. According to his office, it is “a monumental legal code and one of the most organized, comprehensive, and influential works of Jewish law.” The edition used by Schiff Monday was printed in Italy in 1490. A separate ceremonial swearing in, also administered by Harris, was followed by photos with Schiff’s family. “Thank you in advance for all the work you’re going to do there, but all the work you’ve done,” Harris said. Schiff responded to the vice president, saying he has “some big senatorial shoes to fill.” Feinstein died in September 2023 and Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Laphonza Butler to fill the seat. Butler decided not to run in 2024. On Sunday, Dec. 8, Newsom announced the resignation of Butler and the appointment of Schiff to complete the remainder of the term. “I recognize that I stand on the shoulders of giants. Former Senator Dianne Feinstein leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of courage and effectiveness,” Schiff said in a statement. “Nobody can ever fill her immense shoes but I will continue to be inspired by her example.” Sen. Alex Padilla and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi escorted Schiff into the Senate chambers. Padilla joined Schiff on the Senate floor as Schiff took the oath of office. “I will be a tireless advocate for Californians in every part of the state and work across the aisle to deliver on day one,” he said. “California is the creative hub of the world, with a tremendous resource in its brilliant, creative, and hardworking people, and a natural beauty that is the envy of the world. I will work with Democrats, Republicans, and Independents to help our state and our families succeed. At the same time, I will not shrink from my duty to defend our democracy and will vigorously protect the rights and freedoms of the American people and the people of California.” Schiff gained national attention in 2019 during Trump’s first of two impeachment trials. Since then, he has repeatedly drawn the ire of Trump and his allies. Schiff reached the November ballot following a March primary which included Garvey and fellow Democrats Katie Porter and Barbara Lee. In a statement following his swearing in, Schiff said Californians face challenges from the high cost of living, incomes that have not kept pace, a housing crisis and rising costs of health care and childcare. Schiff, an attorney and a former state senator, has represented an L.A.-area district since 2001. In January, Schiff will enter a U.S. Senate now in GOP control. “The work ahead of us will not be easy – nothing worth doing ever is,” Schiff said. “But my promise is to work every day to deliver results, and make California’s future brighter for all of us in this Golden State.”
It's time for the holidays, which means robust family conversations and seemingly never-ending courses of food. But for the more tech-savvy among us, the journey home could also mean we'll be called on to provide a backlog of tech support to parents, grandparents and other family members. And with generative AI being used to supercharge some major cyber scams this year, it's also a good time to teach and not just fix. Here are some tips on how to manage your tech encounters this holiday season: Whether it's Windows, macOS, iOS or Android, simply keeping your operating system and apps up-to-date will help protect your family's computers and devices against a surprising number of security threats, such as malware, viruses and exploits. Most operating systems, especially those for mobile devices and their app stores, typically have auto-updates turned on by default. Be sure to double-check the device to make sure it has enough storage space to carry out the update. (More on this below.) Keeping apps updated may also reduce the number of "Why isn't this app working?" type of questions from your relatives. Chances are someone in your family is going to have a completely full mobile device. So full, in fact, that they can no longer update their phone or tablet without having to purge something first. There are many approaches to freeing up space. Here are a few you can easily take without having to triage data or apps. According to some admittedly unscientific studies, the average person has hundreds of passwords. That's a lot to remember. So as you help your relatives reset some of theirs, you may be tempted to recycle some to keep things simple for them. But that's one of the bad password habits that cybersecurity experts warn against. Instead, try introducing your forgetful family member to a password manager. They're useful tools for simplifying and keeping track of logins. And if you want to impress a more tech-savvy cousin or auntie, you could suggest switching to a more secure digital authentication method: passkeys. As scammers find new ways to steal money and personal information, you and your family should be more vigilant about who to trust. Artificial intelligence and other technologies are giving bad actors craftier tools to work with online. A quick way to remember what to do when you think you're getting scammed is to think about the three S's, said Alissa Abdullah, also known as Dr. Jay, Mastercard's deputy chief security officer "Stay suspicious, stop for a second (and think about it) and stay protected," she said. Simply being aware of typical scams can help, experts say. Robocalls frequently target vulnerable individuals like seniors, people with disabilities, and people with debt. So-called romance scams target lonely and isolated individuals. Quiz scams target those who spend a lot of time on social media. Check our AP guide on the latest scams and what to do when you're victimized. Home internet speeds are getting faster, so you want to make sure your family members are getting a high-speed connection if they've paid for one. Run a broadband speed test on your home network if they're still rocking an aging modem and router. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!Police complete probe on Prasain's cybercrime caseQ. I recently retired as a customer service specialist in the healthcare industry. I loved my work, the connection to people and feeling I made a difference. I have been slow to look for volunteer work. When I finally decided to do so, I could not find the right fit. Any suggestions? L.G Great news, you made the decision to volunteer. In addition to doing good for individuals or organizations, volunteering in later life has many personal benefits, and that’s for the volunteer. Here are a few reasons to volunteer: Promotes physical and mental health. We know aging ultimately is a declining and gradual process. Volunteering can counter the risk of decline of one’s physical health, reducing risks of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment and even mortality. That’s according to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine . The National Institute on Aging reports that volunteering also can affect cognitive aging by keeping the brain engaged, thereby lowering the risk of dementia. Prevents loneliness. Social isolation is a major challenge for many older adults and is considered a public health crisis , according to the U.S. Surgeon General. Volunteering can be part of the solution by providing opportunities to socialize and even make best friends. It can support those suffering from depression. Those who volunteer report their depression is shorter compared to those who do not volunteer, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service . Provides a feeling of purpose. For many, retirement can be a period of relief and at the same time, uncertainty about one’s purpose. In the workplace, purpose typically is well defined. In retirement, not so much. Volunteering can be a reason to get up in the morning, to make a difference or have an opportunity to learn something new. It can help a person feel recharged and needed. Reduces the rate of aging. Individuals age at different rates. According to a study by Associate Professor Cal Halverson at Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, even a small amount of volunteering is linked to slowing the acceleration of biological aging among retirees, even more than for working folks. Volunteers in the study just aged a bit slower. Bridges the generation gap. Interacting with younger generations provides older adults the opportunity to share life lessons. At the same time, younger generations can offer older adults a new way of looking at life that incudes technology. Respect and affirmation are most often shared by both. Here are a few resources that promote intergenerational relationships. CoGenerate, a nonprofit organization, features new multigenerational initiatives and research. See https://cogenerate.org/ . Then there is Sages and Seekers that connects young people with vetted older mentors for weekly virtual conversations. Eldera is a global virtual village where generations come together to connect, learn from each other, have fun and at the same time, create a better future. Now ask yourself a few questions. What do I love to do? Is it working with older adults, children or those with challenges? Do I prefer an outdoor volunteer experience as opposed to spending time in an office, workroom or even remotely. Do I want a hands-on experience or working at a board or policy level?? How many hours a week or days do I want? Am I comfortable making a commitment? Most communities are rich with volunteer resources. One example is the South Bay, Harbor and Long Beach Volunteer Center. It connects volunteers to over 20 organizations that need and welcome volunteers in areas of gardening, education, those with special needs, history and the arts. Also check out Volunteer Match with opportunities linked to your geographic area. AmeriCorps Seniors , a network of volunteer programs for Americans 55 years and older, is another option. Volunteers work in their community and are engaged in academic tutoring and mentoring, elder care, disaster relief, and more. They also are the umbrella organization for the Foster Grandparent Program, RSVP and Senior Companion Program. And don’t forget to check volunteer opportunities at your local hospital, library, school district, botanical gardens as well as art museums. Use your network. If you know someone who has an interesting volunteer position or experience, meet with that individual and learn about possibilities. Finding the right volunteer position takes research, networking and more than that, it involves taking a risk. Know you have nothing to lose. One thing is clear, whatever you chose, you are bringing your life experience and knowledge with you. So, before you even begin, you are an asset. Stay well, enjoy the holiday season and know, “No one is more cherished in this world than someone who lightens the burden of others.” ~ Joseph Addison, English poet, playwright and politician. (1672-1719). Helen Dennis is a nationally recognized leader on issues of aging and the new retirement with academic, corporate and nonprofit experience. Contact Helen with your questions and comments at Helendenn@gmail.com . Visit Helen at HelenMdennis.com and follow her on facebook.com/SuccessfulAgingCommunity
Central Arkansas secures 87-69 win against Southwestern ChristianFancy 'chatting' with Dr. Jose Rizal? A veteran voice artist develops an AI Rizal for that
