Blue Jackets start NHL trade deadline day by acquiring Conor Garland from the Canucks

The Columbus Blue Jackets started NHL trade deadline day with a bang by acquiring winger Conor Garland from Vancouver.

Associated Press Vancouver Canucks right wing Conor Garland (8) looks to pass in the second period against the Seattle Kraken during an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Kevin Ng) Vancouver Canucks' Conor Garland (8) watches as Winnipeg Jets goaltender Eric Comrie (1) stops the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canucks Kraken Hockey

Just after midnight Friday, they sent a third-round pick in the draft this year and a 2028 second-rounder to the Canucks for the soon-to-be 30-year-old who drew interest from multiple Eastern Conference contenders.

"Conor is a versatile player who brings great energy to the lineup every night," Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said. "He has tremendous character, plays a reliable two-way game and will be an important part of our club now and in the future."

Garland has seven goals and 19 assists for 26 points in 50 games this season. He's signed through 2032 at a salary cap hit of $6 million, a contract that begins in 2026-27.

The Blue Jackets moved one point back of the second and final wild-card spot in the East by beating back-to-back champion Florida on the eve of the deadline.

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Garland was one of the top available players left on the market aftera flurry of activityThursday, which including Western Stanley Cup contenders Colorado, Dallas, Vegas and Minnesota all making a move.

The New York Rangers still have center Vincent Trocheck to potentially move before the deadline at 3 p.m. EST. After playing andbeating Torontoon Thursday night, they agreed to trade Sam Carrick to Buffalo and still could have more to sell.

The Panthers also remain a team to watch in the final hours, sitting 10 points out of a playoff position with 20 games to play. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is a pending free agent, though depth forward A.J. Greer appears more likely to get traded.

AP NHL:https://apnews.com/NHL

byAlpha World
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March 05, 2026

Blue Jackets start NHL trade deadline day by acquiring Conor Garland from the Canucks

The Columbus Blue Jackets started NHL trade deadline day with a bang by acquiring winger Conor Garland from Vancouver. ...
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Zion Williamson scores 23 as the Pelicans beat the Kings 133-123

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Zion Williamson had 23 points on 10-for-14 shooting, Trey Murphy III added 21 points and the New Orelans Pelicans beat the NBA-worst Sacramento Kings 133-123 on Thursday night.

Associated Press New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) attempts to dribble past Sacramento Kings guard Nique Clifford (5) before being called for an offensive foul during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 5, 2026, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) Sacramento Kings guard DeMar DeRozan (10) shoots over New Orleans Pelicans guard Saddiq Bey (41) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 5, 2026, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) New Orleans Pelicans guard Bryce McGowens (11) prepares to dunk the ball over Sacramento Kings forward Precious Achiuwa (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 5, 2026, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III (25) hangs on the rim after dunking the ball against the Sacramento Kings during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 5, 2026, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) Sacramento Kings guard Russell Westbrook (18) reacts after making a three point basket against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 5, 2026, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Pelicans Kings Basketball

Saddiq Bey shot 6 for 11 (3 for 5 from 3-point range) and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line for 20 points for the Pelicans, who had lost two in a row after a four-game win streak.

Williamson added nine rebounds and five assists.

Precious Achiuwa had 29 points and 12 rebounds and Russell Westbrook had 19 points and 10 assists for the Kings, who fell to 14-50 overall and lost their ninth in a row at home. They have lost three in a row and are 2-4 following a franchise-worst 16-game losing streak.

The Pelicans entered halftime up 67-61. The Pelicans took a 14-point lead in the third quarter thanks to a 15-0 scoring run.

The Pelicans made 12 3-pointers compared to the Kings eight.

All-Star point guard Dejounte Murray (return to competition reconditioning) did not play for the first game of a back-to-back (New Orleans plays at Phoenix on Friday).

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Kings forward Keegan Murray missed his fourth straight game because of ankle injury.

DeMar DeRozan kad 15 points to move into 19th place on the NBA's career scoring leaders list.

Up next

Pelicans: Visit the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.

Kings: Host the Chicago Bulls on Sunday night.

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

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided byData Skriveand data fromSportradar.

byAlpha World
in , , , ,
March 05, 2026

Zion Williamson scores 23 as the Pelicans beat the Kings 133-123

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Zion Williamson had 23 points on 10-for-14 shooting, Trey Murphy III added 21 points and the Ne...
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Cooper Flagg scores 18, reaches 1,000 career points in return to Mavericks' lineup vs. Magic

Cooper Flagg returned to the Dallas Mavericks' lineup forThursday's 115-114 lossto the Orlando Magic and quickly reached a milestone in his very young NBA career.

Yahoo Sports

Flagg reached 1,000 career points on his first basket of the game, laying in a shot after rebounding a miss by Khris Middleton. That made him the second-youngest player to achieve quadruple figures in his NBA career, following LeBron James.

[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league for the 2026 MLB season]

James was 19 years and 41 days old when he reached 1,000 points during his rookie season of 2004. Flagg scored his milestone basket at the age of 19 years and 74 days.

Thenext youngest playersto score 1,000 points were Kobe Bryant (19 years, 127 days), Kevin Durant (19 years, 146 days) and Devin Booker (19 years, 162 days).

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Flagg, the 2025 No. 1 overall draft pick, finished with 18 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 blocks in his first appearance in the Mavericks' past nine games, previously sidelined with a left mid-foot sprain. He gave Dallas a 4-point lead with 37.3 seconds remaining in regulation. After blocking Wendell Carter Jr.'s layup attempt, Flagg cut to the basket, drew a foul and made the basket for a 3-point play.

Orlando quickly cut the deficit to 114-113 on a 3-pointer from Jalen Suggs and Flagg had an opportunity to extend the Mavericks' lead again. But his pull-up jumper from 13 feet missed and Carter got the rebound. Streaking down the court, Suggs found him with an open path to the basket and a dunk with 1.4 seconds left. Dallas could not get off a shot with the time remaining.

Cooper Flagg was activated three hours before tip-off

Flagg was upgraded to doubtful for Dallas' loss Tuesday to the Charlotte Hornets and was listedas questionable for the Magic gamebefore the Mavericks confirmed he would play. Head coach Jason Kidd told reporters that Flagg wouldplay 20 to 25 minutesversus Orlando before seeing an uptick in minutes Friday at the Boston Celtics, his favorite childhood team. He played 26 minutes against the Magic.

The Mavericks won only two of the eight games they played without Flagg during this most recent injury. He also missed time this seasonwith a sprained ankleand an illness.

Through 49 games this season, Flagg averaged 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game. With 20 games remaining in the regular season, Dallas is 21-41.

byAlpha World
in , , , ,
March 05, 2026

Cooper Flagg scores 18, reaches 1,000 career points in return to Mavericks' lineup vs. Magic

Cooper Flagg returned to the Dallas Mavericks' lineup forThursday's 115-114 lossto the Orlando Magic and quick...
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Rep. Tony Gonzales ends reelection bid after admitting to affair

Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican who admitted tohaving an affairwith a former staffer who died by self-immolation, will not seek reelection, the lawmaker announced on March 5.

USA TODAY

"After deep reflection and with the support of my loving family, I have decided not to seek re-election while serving out the rest of this Congress with the same commitment I've always had to my district," Gonzaleswrote in a statement posted on X.

His announcement came hours after U.S. House SpeakerMike Johnsonand Republican leaders called on Gonzales to withdraw from his reelection bid ahead of a May 26 runoff against gun activist Brandon Herrera. Gonzales has been embroiled in controversy after allegations spread about an affair between him and his late ex-staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles.

In February,NBC News reportedthat Gonzales sent Santos-Aviles, who died in September 2025, multiple sexually explicit texts in May 2024. The San Antonio Express-News also reported that Santos-Aviles admitted to an improper relationship in text messages with a former colleague.

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Gonzales initially denied the allegations and claimed the reports were a blackmail attempt, theEl Paso Times, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. Earlier on March 5, Gonzales appeared on theJoe Pags podcastand admitted to the affair, saying he "made a mistake."

"I had a lapse in judgement and there was a lack of faith, and I take full responsibility for those actions," Gonzales said on the podcast. "I've asked God for forgiveness, which he has, and my faith is as strong as ever."

His appearance also comes after the House Ethics Committee voted to establish an investigation into Gonzales. The panelwill examinewhether he "engaged in sexual misconduct towards an individual employed in his congressional office" and "discriminated unfairly by dispensing special favors or privileges."

Contributing: Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY; Natassia Paloma, El Paso Times

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Tony Gonzales ends reelection bid after admitting to staffer affair

byAlpha World
in , , , ,
March 05, 2026

Rep. Tony Gonzales ends reelection bid after admitting to affair

Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican who admitted tohaving an affairwith a former staffer who died by self-immolation, ...
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'They saved multiple lives': Austin police release new video from mass shooting response

Police in Texas released new video Thursday from aweekend mass shootingthat left 19 people shot and three victims dead, along with the gunman.

Scripps News

The Austin Police Department held a news conference after the county district attorney declined to charge three officers who shot and killed the suspected shooter, Ndiaga Diagne, after he opened fire early Sunday morning outside Buford's Backyard Beer Garden.

RELATED STORY |Gunman who opened fire on Texas bar was not on FBI radar, authorities say

The department shared portions of dramatic video showing the events as they unfolded. One officer's body-worn camera video shows him passing people running for safety and hiding crouched behind a wall.

"It's an AR-15!" someone is heard yelling. "Everybody down!" the officer yelled.

Police body camera video shows an officer looking for the shooter as people hide nearby.

Austin Police Department

Police said officers arrived on scene within 57 seconds of receiving 911 calls about the shooting just before 2 a.m. Sunday. Within minutes, three officers saw the suspect, who police say fired his weapon in the direction of officers. The three officers returned fire, striking and killing Diagne.

Police also released portions of 911 calls and a video recorded from a parked vehicle showing the gunman walking in a parking lot. He is shown wearing asweatshirt reading "Property of Allah,"holding his rifle and raising it to fire at someone passing by.

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Video from a parked car recorded the shooter holding his rifle, then raising it and firing at someone passing by.

Austin Police Department

"I want to recognize the bravery of our officers, you saw that firsthand, as they ran into danger to stop this," said Austin police chief Lisa Davis. "It's quite clear they saved multiple lives."

The three murder victims were identified as 21-year-old Savitha Shan, 19-year-old Ryder Harrington, and 30-year-old Jorge Pederson. Police said two victims remained hospitalized on Thursday and described one of them as being in "critical condition."

Police said the FBI is investigating the incident as a potential act of terrorism.

Diagneis reported to be from Senegal. The Department of Homeland Security told Scripps News Diagne, 53, entered the United States on a tourist visa in 2000 before becoming a lawful permanent resident by marriage in 2006 and naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 2013.

At Thursday's news conference, Chief Davis said police in New York may have done a welfare check on the shooter in 2022, but she did not think it resulted in him being committed for mental health treatment.

"I don't know that they had enough to do a commitment for him," Davis said. "What I'm hearing is they gave him resources to call, that type of thing."

Scripps News obtained paperwork from Diagne's 2022 divorce in Texas, in which the court found he had "a history or pattern of committing family violence."

byAlpha World
in , , , ,
March 05, 2026

‘They saved multiple lives’: Austin police release new video from mass shooting response

Police in Texas released new video Thursday from aweekend mass shootingthat left 19 people shot and three victims dead, a...
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