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Landfill search for First Nations women’s remains progressing |

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The Manitoba government says progress is being made in the search of a landfill for the remains of two First Nations women, Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran. Jeremy Skibicki was convicted of first-degree murder and given a life sentence for killing Harris, Myran and two other Indigenous women in 2022. (Oct. 23, 2024)



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Montreal’s Chris Boucher gets more playing time for Raptors after season on bench

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TORONTO – Chris Boucher was back, for at least one game.

The veteran forward spent most of last season at the far end of the Toronto Raptors’ bench, rarely seeing playing time. Even with the team rocked by a raft of injuries, Boucher averaged 14.1 minutes of play over 50 games, his lowest numbers in both categories since the 2019-20 season.

But Boucher was the first Raptor substituted into the game in Toronto’s 136-106 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. He finished with a team-best 18 points and made four of five three-pointers.

“Everybody wants to be on the floor and last season was a little bit harder for me to find minutes,” said Boucher, who grew up in Montreal. “But I can’t stop. The goal is to get better and the plan is to help this team.

“Right now that’s all I’m trying to do now. I’m trying to be effective more and need to find ways to impact the game.”

Boucher averaged 6.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 0.5 blocks in his limited playing time last season. Those numbers are all below his career average of 8.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and one block per game.

The relatively undersized Raptors will need his six-foot-nine frame this season, especially with backup centre Kelly Olynyk (back) of Kamloops, B.C., out to start the campaign. As it is, six-foot-five Ochai Agbaji started at forward for Toronto on Wednesday.

“You just keep believing that it’s going to get better,” said Boucher. “At this point, every time I’ve been with the Raptors it’s been a lot of injuries that comes and goes.

“Hopefully it’s just a couple bruises and we come back here a full team.”

Boucher got one of the loudest ovations from the sold-out Scotiabank Arena crowd during team introductions before the home opener. As the last remaining member of Toronto’s 2019 championship team, he is still a fan favourite.

All-star forward Scottie Barnes said he appreciated Boucher’s attitude after the 2023-24 campaign where he was not a regular member of head coach Darko Rajakovic’s rotation.

“No matter what, he’s going to keep his head up, man,” said Barnes. “He’s going to go out there and play as hard as he can out there on the floor. That’s what he does.

“He changes games. So when he gets in the game, he’s going to change the game in some way, some impact, and he’s going to give it his all.”

Boucher said he worked hard in the off-season to earn his way back into Rajakovic’s good graces and develop a rapport with his teammates.

“I’ve played a lot of basketball with these guys this summer, with Scottie, I think this summer is really helping us to jell together,” he said.

“We had good moments (tonight), I think we just have to keep it going for more.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Maria Sharapova and the Bryan brothers are elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame

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Maria Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam singles champion known for plenty of on-court grit and off-court attention, and Bob and Mike Bryan, twins who won a record 16 major titles in men’s doubles together, are first-ballot selections for the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

The Newport, Rhode Island-based Hall announced the Class of 2025 results Thursday.

Sharapova won at least one championship at each of her sport’s four most prestigious events, making her one of 10 women in tennis history to complete a career Grand Slam, and was the first Russian woman to reach No. 1 in the WTA singles rankings. She retired in 2020 at age 32 after career that included 15 years in the spotlight, a 15-month doping ban and multiple operations on her troublesome right shoulder.

The Bryan brothers also compiled a career Grand Slam and spent 438 weeks at No. 1 in the ATP doubles rankings. They won a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics and helped the United States win the 2007 Davis Cup title; Bob is currently the captain of the American team that will go to Malaga, Spain, for next month’s finals to compete for the country’s first triumph in that competition since then.

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AP tennis:

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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LPGA Tour rookie Mao Saigo of Japan takes 1st-round lead at Malaysian tournament

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — LPGA Tour rookie Mao Saigo birdied six of her first nine holes on Thursday for a 9-under 63 and a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Maybank Championship.

Haeran Ryu of South Korea was a stroke behind while two others were tied for third, two strokes behind the Japanese player at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

“I made a lot of middle-length putts so that’s why I played so well,” Saigo said. “There is so much strong up and down play required, so it’s very difficult.”

Defending champion Celine Boutier has been one of the hottest players on the Asian swing, with back-to-back top-10 finishes at Shanghai (tied for ninth) two weeks ago and in South Korea (2nd) last week. She shot 67 on Thursday and was tied for 11th.

Boutier’s win last year was anything but routine in the tournament’s first year. Boutier and Jeeno Thitikul tied for first place at 21-under par, then played a nine-hole playoff which the French player won. The playoff tied for the second-longest in LPGA Tour history.

Brooke Henderson, of Smiths Falls, Ont., shot 69 Thursday. Hannah Green, who earned her third victory of 2024 and sixth of her career last week in South Korea, had a 71. Lilia Vu shot 74.

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AP golf:

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