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Sports

San Francisco Giants, Carlos Correa agree to 13-year, $350M deal

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Shortstop Carlos Correa and the San Francisco Giants are in agreement on a 13-year, $350 million contract, a source familiar with the deal told ESPN.

The deal comes with a full no-trade clause but does not include any opt-outs, the source said. It gives the Giants their franchise player in Correa, who turned down $160 million from Houston last year, got $35.1 million in his year in Minnesota and now gets the most money ever for an infielder.

It’s the fourth-largest contract by total value in MLB history, trailing just Mike Trout’s $426.5 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels, Mookie Betts’ $365 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Aaron Judge’s $360 million with the New York Yankees. The 13 years matches the longest contract ever for a free agent, tying Bryce Harper’s 13-year, $330 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies.

The free agent path of Correa, 28, was far less circuitous than last year, when he entered the market in hopes of landing a $300 million-plus deal but wound up signing a shorter-term contract with the Minnesota Twins that included an opt-out after the first season. This winter, Correa found a market that lavished $300 million on Trea Turner and $280 million on Xander Bogaerts far more to his liking and wound up with the second-biggest deal behind Aaron Judge’s nine-year, $360 million contract with the New York Yankees.

In his one season with the Twins, Correa looked like his vintage self, hitting .291/.366/.467 with 22 home runs and 64 RBIs in 136 games. While he didn’t match his Platinum Glove-winning 2021, Correa is regarded among the game’s best defensive shortstops and posted his fourth season with five-plus Wins Above Replacement.

The Giants paid him like a superstar, as the combination of Correa’s position, age and productivity — regular season and postseason — convinced them to make him among the highest-earning players in baseball. Before Correa, the last player the Giants signed to a $100 million contract was pitcher Johnny Cueto, who got a six-year, $130 million deal in December 2015.

Excellence was predestined for Correa after he went to the Houston Astros with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 draft. He shot through the Astros organization and debuted at 20 years old in 2015, winning Rookie of the Year. By his second season, Correa was one of the best players in baseball and, in 2017, he helped the Astros win their first World Series title, hitting five home runs and driving in 14 runs in 18 postseason games.

The Astros reached the American League Championship Series in 2018 and the World Series in 2019, with Correa a foundational player for their success. But the revelation in November 2019 that Houston had used a sign-stealing scheme during their championship season sullied the title and landed especially hard on Correa, who was outspoken in his defense of the team.

Correa’s excellence continued unabated. He was among the best players in the 2020 postseason and again played well in 2021, pushing his career postseason line to .272/.344/.505 with 18 home runs and 59 RBIs in 79 games. With shortstop prospect Jeremy Pena primed to reach the big leagues, though, Houston moved on from Correa, whose free agent market never materialized after an early dalliance with Detroit and led to him signing a three-year, $105.3 million contract with the Twins, for which he was paid $35.1 million in 2022.

In Minnesota, Correa quickly became a clubhouse leader, and over his final 120 games, he hit .307/.381/.496 with 21 home runs. The Twins hoped he would return but recognized his market would be unlikely to break the same way it did following 2021.

Over his eight-year career, Correa has compiled nearly 40 WAR — only Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt and Manny Machado have more in the same stretch — and a career line of .279/.357/.479 with 155 home runs and 553 RBIs in 888 games. His 12.6 defensive WAR rank fourth, behind Andrelton Simmons, Kevin Kiermaier and Arenado.

Just how long Correa stays at shortstop is a question multiple executives posited during his free agency. The Outs Above Average metric placed him in the bottom 20% of shortstops this season while Defensive Runs Saved pegged him as slightly above average. At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, Correa is among the game’s biggest shortstops, where he has played all 881 of his career games in the field.

Regardless of where Correa’s glove winds up, his bat will determine whether the megadeal is a success. And in the short-term, it will help determine whether Correa again reaches the postseason or, for the first time in his career, misses it in consecutive seasons.

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Science

NASA’s Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft reaches port in San Diego

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NASA’s Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft has made it back to terra firma.

Orion reached Naval Base San Diego on Tuesday (Dec. 13) aboard the USS Portland, the U.S. Navy recovery ship that fished the capsule out of the Pacific Ocean on Sunday (Dec. 11) following its successful splashdown.

The spacecraft will be offloaded from the Portland on Wednesday (Dec. 14) and will then begin an overland trek to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida, KSC officials said via Twitter on Tuesday (opens in new tab).

In photos: 10 greatest images from NASA’s Artemis 1 mission

That will be a homecoming for Orion, which lifted off from KSC atop a Space Launch System (SLS) megarocket on Nov. 16, kicking off the uncrewed Artemis 1 mission. 

Everything went well on the shakeout cruise; the SLS sent Orion on its way to the moon as planned, and the capsule checked off all of its desired milestones in deep space.

Orion arrived in lunar orbit on Nov. 25, departed on Dec. 1 and headed for Earth on Dec. 5 by conducting a long engine burn during a close flyby of the moon. The spacecraft returned to its home planet on Sunday, splashing down softly under parachutes about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula.

NASA’s Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft floats in the Pacific Ocean after a successful splashdown on Dec. 11, 2022. (Image credit: NASA TV)

Once Orion arrives at KSC, Artemis 1 team members will give it a thorough going-over, assessing how the spacecraft and its many subsystems held up in deep space and the harrowing return trip through Earth’s atmosphere.

Technicians will also remove some hardware from the capsule for processing and reuse on Artemis 2, the next mission in NASA’s Artemis program of lunar exploration. 

Artemis 2 is scheduled to launch astronauts around the moon in 2024. If all goes well with that flight, Artemis 3 will aim to put boots down near the lunar south pole a year or two later, using a SpaceX Starship vehicle as a lander.

NASA aims to build a research base in the south polar region, which is thought to harbor lots of water ice. The agency also plans to build a small space station in lunar orbit called Gateway, which will serve as a jumping-off point for missions to the surface, both crewed and uncrewed.

The first components of Gateway are scheduled to launch atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket in late 2024.

Mike Wall is the author of “Out There (opens in new tab)” (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by Karl Tate), a book about the search for alien life. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall (opens in new tab). Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom (opens in new tab) or Facebook (opens in new tab).



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Sports

Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers spoil Tom Brady’s homecoming in blowout win over Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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CNN
 — 

Going from Mr. Irrelevant in the 2022 NFL Draft to spoiling Tom Brady’s homecoming, San Francisco 49ers rookie quarterback Brock Purdy has almost seen it all following Sunday’s 35-7 blowout win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The 22-year-old Purdy outdueled Brady, throwing for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Purdy also added a rushing touchdown. With his family inside Levi Stadium to witness his first start, the FOX broadcast showed Purdy’s father becoming emotional following his first touchdown pass.

Selected with the last pick of this year’s draft out of Iowa State, Purdy earned himself the nickname “Mr. Irrelevant,” but was thrust into the fray last week against the Miami Dolphins after starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo broke his foot.

After the game, Purdy called it “surreal” to be playing on the same field as Brady.

“Just standing there, like ‘man that’s Tom Brady,’ talking to guys and dapping guys up and stuff,” Purdy told reporters with a huge smile on his face.

“For him to just have respect for what I did today was pretty cool, I’m not going to lie. Being a little kid, watching that guy kill it throughout all these years, win Super Bowls, and then to be able to just even give him a high five or whatever at the end, I thought that was pretty cool.”

Purdy also mentioned the importance of having his family there and their never-ending support.

“Throughout my whole life, the ups and downs of playing quarterback in general, high school and college, they’re the people at home that just believe in you and they always see the best in you. They believed in me when I was the last draft pick and all that stuff.”

Brady struggled to find his rhythm, finishing with 253 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

The 45-year-old Brady complimented Purdy’s performance after the game, saying he played “really well.”

“Threw a lot of good balls,” Brady told reporters. “Hung in there in the blitz and they did a good job, they did a really good job.”

Brady, who is from San Mateo, California, also had his family on hand Sunday but added he wished the team could have done a better job.

“Love having everyone here,” Brady said. “Nice for my family to come close. I think they had a lot of people from the neighborhood come. It’s not going to change the outcome of the game, unfortunately.”

Brady requested 100 tickets for Sunday’s game for friends and family, FOX sideline reporter Erin Andrews said prior to kickoff.

The 49ers improved to 9-4 with the win while the Buccaneers fell to 6-7 on the season.

San Francisco has a quick turnaround as they are scheduled to travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks on Thursday night. Tampa will host the Cincinnati Bengals next Sunday.

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World

Brittney Griner trade news live: WNBA star arrives at San Antonio army hospital in US after being released by Russia in exchange for Viktor Bout

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Brittney Griner back on US soil after spending 294 days in Russian prison

Brittney Griner has landed back on US soil for the first time in 10 months after she was released from Russian custody in a prisoner swap with “Merchant of Death” Viktor Bout.

The WNBA star arrived at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio early on Friday morning, where she will be examined and receive any necessary medical treatment.

Footage showed Ms Griner and Bout being exchanged on the tarmac of a runway in the UAE on Thursday, following weeks of negotiations between Washington and Moscow.

The deal failed to include US Marine Paul Whelan who has been detained in Russia for the last four years. Mr Whelan told CNN he was “greatly disappointed” to learn he was not part of the prisoner swap, saying: “I don’t understand why I’m still sitting here.”

President Joe Biden insisted on Thursday that “we’ve not forgotten about Paul Whelan” and vowed to “never give up” securing his release, as the swap divided opinion across the country. The White House was also forced to deny claims made by Saudi Arabia and the UAE that MBS negotiated the deal.

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White House press secretary says Brittney Griner reunited with wife, appears to be in good health

Former WNBA star Brittney Griner has been reunited with her wife, Cherelle, according to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

Griner returned to the US on Friday after she was released from Russian custody thanks to a prisoner swap negotiated by US officials. International arms dealer Viktor Bout was released from US custody in the trade.

Ms Jean-Pierre said Griner was in “very good spirits” upon her return, and appeared “to be in good health.”

Graig Graziosi9 December 2022 19:52

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Brittney Griner cut her hair while locked up in Russia because her locks were freezing

Former WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was released from Russian custody this week thanks to a prisoner swap deal the US made the Russia, reportedly cut her hair short while imprisoned because it was freezing on her head.

Maria Blagovolina, one of Griner’s attorneys, told ESPN that Griner cut her hair approximately two weeks ago after it began freezing due to the cold Russian winter.

“It’s very cold in there and every time she washed her hair she got cold and would get a chill,” Ms Blagovolina said. “She should have waited until New Year’s Day.”

Graig Graziosi9 December 2022 19:31

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Russians did not negotiate ‘in good faith’ for Paul Whelan, White House press secretary says

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Friday that Russia was not willing to engage in “good faith” negotiations to free Paul Whelan, an American man who has been imprisoned in the country since 2018. US officials attempted to include Mr Whelan in a prisoner swap deal they made to free former WNBA star Brittney Griner, but a deal could not be reached.

“In the past week or two, we saw that the Russians were willing to release Brittney Griner for Mr Bout. That’s what was presented to us. They were not willing to negotiate in good faith for Paul Whelan.”

Graig Graziosi9 December 2022 19:03

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Russia offered up Paul Whelan as part of Brittney Griner trade, but asked for spy serving life sentence for murder

US officials speaking with CNN told the outlet that Russia did offer Paul Whelan as part of the prisoner swap deal that freed former WNBA star Brittney Griner, but only if a Russian spy serving a life sentence in Germany for murder was released along with the “Merchant of Death” Viktor Bout.

The US inquired with Germany about potentially releasing Vadim Krasikov, the Russian spy who was convicted for murder. The US was unable to negotiate for the Russian’s release. However, according to officials, the US did offer up other imprisoned Russians in an effort to free Mr Whelan, but those offers were rejected by Russia.

Graig Graziosi9 December 2022 18:46

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Tucker Carlson makes baseless claim that Biden chose to rescue Griner and not Paul Whelan due to identity politics

During a broadcast on Fox News, host Tucker Carlson claimed, without evidence, that NBC News scrubbed a report it released that initially said Russia had given the US the option to release either Brittney Griner or Paul Whelan. He claims the network did this at the behest of the Biden administration, again without a shred of evidence.

“Why did they make that choice? You should know that Whalen is a Trump voter and he made the mistake of saying so on social media, and he’s paying the price for that now,” Carlson said. “Brittany Griner is not. She has very different politics.”

According to Carlson, Griner was chosen because Mr Whelan is a Trump voter and Griner is Black, a woman, and a lesbian.

Russia — which has no incentive to protect Joe Biden’s image — has not issued any statement undermining the White House’s claim that Mr Whelan was never on the table for a possible prisoner swap.

Graig Graziosi9 December 2022 17:57

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Steph Curry’s full Brittney Griner message during SI Sportsperson of the Year awards

NBA star Steph Curry won Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year award during a ceremony on Thursday, and during his acceptance speech addressed the release of former WNBA star Brittney Griner.

Mr Curry was a major advocate for Griner while she was in prison.

“We are glad she’s home, we’re glad she’s reunited with her family,” Mr Curry said. “It’s a constant reminder for everybody continuing to use their platforms to speak on issues that are meaningful and can move the needle. Thank you to President Biden’s administration for being a part of that fight. But, it’s also a reminder that we all need to stay engaged in the fight to protect American citizens at home and abroad who are wrongfully detained, and we can continue to be engaged in that fight. BG, we love you. We thank you for your sacrifice and your continued perseverance and patience to get through this process, and hope you enjoy reuniting with your family. We are always with you, BG.”

Graig Graziosi9 December 2022 17:25

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‘Merchant of Death’ Viktor Bout says the West wants Russia to crumble

Viktor Bout, a notorious arms dealer, was released this week in a prisoner exchange between the US and Russia for former WNBA star Brittney Griner. After his release he shared his views about his captors with Russian media, according to the Associated Press.

“The West believes that it has failed to finish us off when the Soviet Union began to collapse,” Bout said. “And our efforts to live independently, be an independent power is a shock to them.”

Russian state media hailed Bout’s return.

“Everyone will forget about Griner tomorrow,” Yevgeny Popov, a Russian state media host, wrote on Telegram on Thursday. “Bout’s life is only beginning.”

Graig Graziosi9 December 2022 16:46

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Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters on Friday in the wake of Brittney Griner’s release that more prisoner swaps with the US may be possible in the future.

According to the Associated Press, Mr Putin said that “everything is possible” when asked if there may be more prisoner exchanges in the future.

“We aren’t refusing to continue this work in the future,” he said.

It’s unclear what that may mean in for Paul Whelan, an American who has been locked up in Russia since 2018. The White House pushed for his release alongside Griner’s, but reports indicate Russia was not willing to release Mr Whelan.

Joe Biden said he would “never give up” trying to secure Mr Whelan’s release.

Read more in the Independent Premium story below…

Graig Graziosi9 December 2022 16:20

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Pentagon admits it has ‘concerns’ over release of ‘Merchant of Death’

An unnamed Pentagon official said there are some concerns within the defense agency regarding the release of Viktor Bout, the “Merchant of Death” arms dealer, back into the world.

Bout was freed by the US as part of a prisoner swap to secure the release of Brittney Griner.

“I think there is a concern that he would return to doing the same kind of work that he’s done in the past,” an unnamed Defense Department official told Politico.

Read more at The Independent below.

Graig Graziosi9 December 2022 15:56

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Putin says future prisoners swaps possible

Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters on Friday in the wake of Brittney Griner’s release that more prisoner swaps with the US may be possible in the future.

According to the Associated Press, Mr Putin said that “everything is possible” when asked if there may be more prisoner exchanges in the future.

“We aren’t refusing to continue this work in the future,” he said.

It’s unclear what that may mean in for Paul Whelan, an American who has been locked up in Russia since 2018. The White House pushed for his release alongside Griner’s, but reports indicate Russia was not willing to release Mr Whelan.

Joe Biden said he would “never give up” trying to secure Mr Whelan’s release.

Graig Graziosi9 December 2022 15:32

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US

Killer robots: San Francisco reverses course on allowing police to use robots to kill amid public outcry

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CNN
 — 

San Francisco officials voted Tuesday against a controversial measure that would have allowed police to deploy robots to use lethal force in extreme situations, reversing course after public outcry against the policy.

The about-face from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors comes a week after the board voted to approve the policy in an initial first reading vote, which prompted a protest at City Hall Monday, with some holding signs that said, “NO KILLER ROBOTS!”

On Tuesday, the board voted to remove text pertaining to robots and use of lethal force, according to Natalie Gee, the chief of staff for the board’s president. The text was initially included as part of a larger ordinance aiming to approve San Francisco Police Department funding and use of certain law enforcement equipment, Gee said.

The mayor still has to approve the general ordinance before it goes into effect.

Supervisor Hillary Ronen praised the vote in a statement, saying “common sense prevailed.”

“We stopped the use of killer robots in San Francisco today,” Ronen said. “The public outcry helped six Supervisors fully appreciate the gravity of last week’s vote and the numerous unanswered questions about both the ethics and practical implications of allowing police to use machines to kill human beings.”

Tuesday’s vote comes after the board voted 8-3 last week to approve the measure, which would have given police the authority to use ground-based robots to kill “when risk of loss of life to members of the public or officers is imminent and officers cannot subdue the threat after using alternative force options or de-escalation tactics,” according to the ordinance text.

Those in favor of deploying the robots have argued they can be useful in extreme or extraordinary situations, especially if it could prevent the loss of innocent lives.

In an interview last week with CNN, San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott insisted the lethal function on the robots would only be used in such circumstances. He also noted that the robots would be operated by officers with specialized training.

Explosive charges could be added to the robots to breach fortified structures, or the robots could be deployed to “contact, incapacitate, or disorient” a dangerous suspect without risking the life of an officer, Scott said.

“These robots would be a last resort,” he said. “If we ever have to exercise that option, it either means lives, innocent lives, have already been lost, or in the balance, and this would be the only option to neutralize that person putting those lives at risk, or the person who has taken those lives.”

Still, officials and residents alike have spoken out against the policy, which needed to be approved by the board as required by a 2021 California law.

“The people of San Francisco have spoken loud and clear: There is no place for killer police robots in our city,” Supervisor Dean Preston said Tuesday after the vote. “We should be working on ways to decrease the use of force by local law enforcement, not giving them new tools to kill people.”

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Entertainment

Four San Francisco restaurants receive new Michelin Star honors

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Four of San Francisco’s top dining destinations achieved new Michelin star honors on Monday, Dec. 5, during the 2022 edition of the Michelin Guide California ceremony held in Los Angeles. Eighteen California restaurants were recognized in all.

San Francisco-based restaurants receiving their first coveted Michelin star include Nisei, Osito, San Ho Won and Ssal. Press in St. Helena and Localis in Sacramento also received the prestigious recognition, where restaurants are judged by anonymous dining inspectors who visit establishments during lunch and dinner service at various times throughout the year.  

Chef David Yoshimura of Nisei was also honored with the Michelin Young Chef Award. According to Michelin’s anonymous chief inspector, Yoshimura is a chef who is “full of personality” with dishes elevated by his personal culinary journey.

“Chef Yoshimura is just under 35, and I say, he embodies exactly what we’re looking for in a young talent,” the inspector told SFGATE. “His cuisine represents a unique perspective and background and is captured in his cooking that’s both ambitious and highly personal.” 

Nisei’s tasting menu is “equal parts tradition and invention, where a classic matsutake broth sits in harmony with a wholly original dessert of Okinawan purple sweet potato.”

Brianna Danner

In total, there are 89 restaurants with Michelin-star status in California and seven of those establishments garnered the three-star ranking. Michelin’s secret restaurant inspectors also awarded two new Green Stars, bringing the state tally of restaurants leading in sustainable practices to 11. There are only two Green-Starred restaurants in any other U.S. states.

Green Stars are awarded to restaurants that are true front-runners in gastronomy and are role models for their guests and peers. 

“That shows also that chefs here are real trendsetters, influencers and California as a whole is definitely a culinary powerhouse,” said international director of the Michelin Guides, Gwendal Poullennec. “California really has something to say and has a strong voice now in the world of culinary conversation. It has a strong identity when it comes to the quality of the produce. It’s really a part of the California culinary identity.”



Poullennec added that the three-star Michelin level is the “crème de la crème” in terms of gastronomy restaurants in the U.S. and beyond. There are 142 restaurants at the three-star level worldwide, with 40 three-star restaurants in the U.S.

“When we look at the number of three-stars in the U.S., so now we have seven in California, and that’s a lot,” he said. “If we look at the U.S. as a whole, it’s the No. 3 destination in the world in terms of the number of restaurants with the three-star label.”

Chef Seth Stowaway puts his “heart, soul and even his nickname (osito means ‘little bear’) into this rustic, lodge-like spot.”

Molly DeCoudreaux

Out of the 18 California restaurants recognized this year for new stars, eight of them are promotions. These were restaurants that were already a part of Michelin’s highly ranked selections and inspectors kept close watch over them throughout the year. The anonymous chief inspector listed Ssal in San Francisco and Localis in Sacramento listed as examples of restaurants getting promoted.

The Michelin Guide is all about consistency, according to Poullennec, who noted that the guide was started in 1900 and hasn’t changed its approach and criteria since then. For more than one century Michelin’s inspectors have followed the same methodology based on five universal criterions: “the quality of the food based on the quality of the products, the master of cooking techniques, the balance of flavors, the personality expressed on the plate, and lastly the consistency.”

Localis chef-owner Christopher Barnum-Dann “brings unusual warmth to this intimate setting” in Sacramento. This is Localis first Michelin star recognition.

Localis

Below is the list of San Francisco restaurants that took home the esteemed Michelin recognition with comments from the secret inspectors. For a full list of all 89 Michelin-starred establishments in California visit here. 

Nisei 
San Francisco, Japanese/Contemporary cuisine

“‘Nisei’ refers to the American-born children of Japanese immigrants, which Chef David Yoshimura is; and the synthesis of that heritage forms the basis of this cuisine. The kitchen employs both boldness and subtlety in their cooking, which abounds with personality and technical finesse. The tasting menu is equal parts tradition and invention, where a classic matsutake broth sits in harmony with a wholly original dessert of Okinawan purple sweet potato.”

Osito 
San Francisco, Contemporary cuisine

“Chef Seth Stowaway puts his heart, soul and even his nickname (osito means ‘little bear’) into this rustic, lodge-like spot where live-fire cooking takes center stage. The multicourse tasting menu is served at an expansive communal table and changes with the seasons. The food is both elemental and elevated, with a subtle perfume of smoke wending through the various courses, seen in dishes like a lightly cooked king salmon with fennel and porcini, or a slow-cooked brisket brushed tableside with an intensely savory mussel BBQ sauce.”

San Ho Won 
San Francisco, Korean cuisine

“Combining the prodigious talents of heavy-hitter Chefs Corey Lee and Jeong-In Hwang, here it’s safe to expect the exceptional. The kitchen’s assiduously refined technique deftly combines traditional Korean tastes with a sense of novelty, using impeccable ingredients to make for dishes of surpassing depth and purity of flavor, whether it be the humble kimchi or a rarefied cut of beef.”

Ssal 
San Francisco, Korean cuisine

“Hyunyoung and Junsoo Bae have ample fine dining experience but were inspired to strike out on their own to fill what they saw as a void in San Francisco’s Korean restaurant scene. The result is this tasting menu that draws upon familiar flavors, but sets itself apart with a sense of refined simplicity. Meticulously prepared seafood shows a dedication to craft, as in black cod partially dried before being grilled to achieve a skin so crunchy it can be heard from across the room. Beef short ribs are something of a signature, gently cooked sous vide, then seared to form a sweet-savory crust.”

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US

San Francisco supervisors vote to allow police to use robots to kill

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CNN
 — 

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 8-3 Tuesday night to approve a controversial policy that would allow police to deploy robots capable of using lethal force in extraordinary circumstances, according to multiple reports.

The Washington Post reports the vote came after a heated debate on a policy that would allow officers to use ground-based robots to kill “when risk of loss of life to members of the public or officers is imminent and officers cannot subdue the threat after using alternative force options or de-escalation tactics.”

The Post says the measure still requires a second vote next week and the mayor’s approval.

“There could be an extraordinary circumstance where, in a virtually unimaginable emergency, they might want to deploy lethal force to render, in some horrific situation, somebody from being able to cause further harm,” Supervisor Aaron Peskin said at the board meeting, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

But Supervisors Dean Preston, Hillary Ronen and Shamann Walton voted against the policy, the Chronicle reported.

“There is serious potential for misuse and abuse of this military-grade technology, and zero showing of necessity,” Preston said at the meeting.

Ultimately, the board adopted an amendment requiring one of two high-ranking San Francisco Police Department leaders to authorize any use of a robot for lethal force, according to the Chronicle.

CNN has reached out to the Board of Supervisors for a copy of the meeting minutes.

Police spokesperson Robert Rueca told the Post the department has a fleet of robots and does not plan to outfit them with firearms. But he said explosive charges could be added to the robots to breach fortified structures, or the robots could be deployed to “contact, incapacitate, or disorient” a dangerous suspect without risking the life of an officer.

It has been widely reported that the first known example of US law enforcement using a robot to deploy lethal force was in 2016, when Dallas police killed an armed suspect accused of fatally shooting five police officers by detonating an explosive device placed on a bomb squad robot sent to where the suspect had taken shelter.

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US

Mexican prosecutors seek to extradite U.S. suspect in killing of North Carolina woman in San Jose del Cabo

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Mexican prosecutors said Thursday they have filed charges against a U.S. woman on suspicion of killing another American seen being beaten in a viral video.

Prosecutors in the state of Baja California Sur did not name the suspect in the Oct. 29 death of Shanquella Robinson.

But they said they have approached Mexican federal prosecutors and diplomats to try to get the woman extradited to face charges in Mexico.

Robinson’s death at a resort development in the Baja resort town of San Jose del Cabo shocked people in both countries. The video raised suspicions that Robinson may have died at the hands of people she was travelling with.

Local prosecutor Antonio López Rodríguez said the case was being treated as a potential homicide and an arrest warrant had been issued for the suspect. However, the group Robinson was travelling with left Mexico after she was found dead in a rented villa.

State prosecutor Daniel de la Rosa Anaya said the suspect was also an American, but did not identify her.

The FBI confirmed to CBS News Tuesday that it had also opened an investigation into Robinson’s death.

A video apparently taped at the luxury villa in San Jose del Cabo shows one woman, apparently an American, beating another woman identified as Robinson.

The video has been reposted many times on social media sites. In it, a man with an American accent can be heard saying “Can you at least fight back?” The man did not appear to intervene in the beating.

The video raised questions about why nobody intervened in the purported beating, or why people she was traveling with would have beaten her.

Shanquella’s mother, Salamondra Robinson, told CBS News in an interview last week that she was initially told by Shanquella’s friends that Shanquella had gotten sick with alcohol poisoning. But later on, Salamondra learned there was a fight, and an autopsy found she had injuries to her spinal cord and neck.

The autopsy showed that “her death had nothing to do with alcohol,” Salamondra said.

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Sports

Aaron Judge caught on tape in San Francisco, expected to meet with Giants

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MLB’s most sought-after free agent, Aaron Judge, has touched down in San Francisco. 

A video captured Judge upon arrival, where he gave an interesting remark about what he’s doing in town.

“Visiting some family and friends, that’s about it. That’s about it,” he said winking to the camera.

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Bronx, N.Y.: New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo and New York Yankees center fielder Aaron Judge in the dugout in the 3rd inning in game 4 of the ALCS at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York on Oct 23, 2022.
(Photo by Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday RM via Getty Images)

Judge is from Linden Calif., which is about 90 minutes away from San Francisco where the Giants, a team connected to the 2022 AL MVP in free agency, plays. Judge also grew up a Giants fan during his days of terrorizing baseball teams while playing for Linden High School and Fresno State, eventually being selected by the New York Yankees in the first round of the 2013 MLB Draft. 

So what exactly does Judge’s “friends and family” have planned?

“We got something,” he said smiling.

AFTER YANKEES’ ANTHONY RIZZO OPTS TO STAY IN BRONX, HE LOBBIES FOR AARON JUDGE TO RETURN

Looking to best the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West, the Giants are looking to make a splash, and there would be none better than a homegrown product like Judge. And while there are many other suitors, including the Yankees, San Fran does have money to spend. 

According to Spotrac, the Giants have the 14th-highest payroll in MLB at $95.95 million right now. 

On the other hand, teams like the Yankees and New York Mets are at the top of the bunch and still willing to open their check books for Judge’s services. 

New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge runs to the dugout during the sixth inning of the team’s baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in New York. 
(AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Anthony Rizzo, who recently re-signed with the Yankees on a two-year deal, lobbied for his clubhouse buddy in Judge to head back to the Bronx. 

“I hope Judge stays just for the sake of the game,” Rizzo said Wednesday, “because you see a lot of franchise icons not getting what they deserve for the team that they have done so much for.”

Rizzo has even said Judge deserves to be the next Yankees captain if he re-signs. 

ROB MANFRED ‘ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENT’ YANKEES, METS DID NOT COLLUDE IN AARON JUDGE SWEEPSTAKES

But the offers will be steep following his MVP campaign, and it may come down to who outbids the rest of the field. Will the Giants step up? Will the Yankees, Mets or maybe even the Dodgers flex their financial muscles? 

Judge and his team will find out just how far each team is willing to expand their payroll in the coming weeks. 

The 6-foot-7 slugger was named the AL MVP this past Thursday, receiving all but two first-place votes after a season where he set the American League record for most home runs in a single season with 62. 

Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees in the first inning in game two of a double header at Globe Life Field on October 4, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. 
(Bailey Orr/Texas Rangers/Getty Images)

Other than home runs, he also led the majors in RBI (131), on-base percentage (.425), slugging percentage (.686), runs (133), OPS+ (211) and total bases (391). 

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His 111 walks were tops in the American League, and his .311 batting average ranked second in the AL, putting him in the Triple Crown conversation until the last couple of days of the season.

Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

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Former San Antonio Spurs psychologist sues team and Josh Primo, alleges sexual misconduct

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Former San Antonio Spurs psychologist Hillary Cauthen is suing the Spurs and the team’s 2021 No. 12 draft pick Josh Primo over alleged incidents involving indecent exposure by Primo, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday in Bexar County, Texas.

Cauthen will also file a criminal complaint against Primo for “multiple counts of indecent exposure,” her attorney Tony Buzbee said Thursday during a news conference in Houston.

“We expect them to prosecute,” Buzbee said.

Cauthen was hired under contract by the Spurs in September 2021. According to the suit, Primo exposed himself nine times in front of Cauthen, beginning in December 2021.

“I’m a clinical sports psychologist; I’m a mother of four wonderful daughters. I’m a woman, and I am a victim,” Cauthen said Thursday.

According to the suit, Cauthen first raised her concerns over Primo’s conduct with Spurs GM Brian Wright in January 2022. Cauthen had her first meeting with Wright on March 21 and continued to voice her concerns about Primo, expressing to Wright that she felt uncomfortable meeting with Primo alone, the lawsuit says.

After the meeting with Wright, Cauthen alleges that she continued to be called upon to visit Primo. Cauthen met with Wright again in April to express her frustration and concern that no action had been taken, according to the lawsuit. Wright asked Cauthen “what consequence” she wanted to occur, and Cauthen responded that she felt it was up to the team to address the situation, the suit says. Wright then informed her that the organization’s legal team would be in contact with her.

According to the lawsuit, in May, Cauthen met multiple times with lawyers from the Spurs organization, including its deputy general counsel and as well as the chief legal officer and general counsel, and was promised an investigation would occur. At this time, Cauthen was instructed to avoid contact with Primo and was told that the team was preparing a “write-up.”

A week or more later, after requesting an update on the status of the investigation, deputy general counsel Brandon James and head of human resources Kara Allen told Cauthen that Primo would continue to participate in team activities and suggested Cauthen work from home, according to the suit.

In June, James and Allen disclosed that they had spoken with Primo, the lawsuit says, and suggested setting up a conversation with Primo to address his behavior. Cauthen refused.

At a meeting later in June, James and Allen informed Cauthen that the franchise was considering a “corrective process for the timely reporting of incidents.” They also informed Cauthen that head coach Gregg Popovich “was aware of her complaints and accusations and that he ‘wanted to do right by her.’ ”

Later on Thursday, Spurs Sports & Entertainment CEO R.C. Buford released a statement, that read in part: “We disagree with the accuracy of facts, details and timeline presented today. While we would like to share more information, we will allow the legal process to play out.”

The Spurs waived Primo last week after he had played just four games with the team this season.

William J. Briggs, II, attorney for Primo, issued a statement Thursday, defending the accusations against his client.

“Josh Primo is a 19-year-old NBA player who has suffered a lifetime of trauma and challenges,” Briggs said. “He is now being victimized by his former team-appointed sports psychologist, who is playing to ugly stereotypes and racially charged fears for her own financial benefit.”

The statement went on to deny the accusations that Primo exposed himself, calling them “a complete fabrication, a gross embellishment or utter fantasy. Josh Primo never intentionally exposed himself to her or anyone else and was not even aware that his private parts were visible outside of his workout shorts.”

(Photo: Daniel Dunn / USA Today)



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