Australian News

J.A. Happ is continuing his recovery after being hit in the head with a line drive, and the Blue Jays pitcher says he could be back on the mound by June. The 30-year-old pitcher has been rehabbing at Toronto’s minor league complex near Tampa, Florida, since the May 7 incident. He was pitching to the Tampa Bay Rays’ Desmond Jennings when a line drive hit him directly in the head, caroming well into the outfield. Jennings, who ended up with a triple on the play, was visibly shaken and buried his face into his jersey. He watched on as team trainers rushed to J.A. Happ, who lay bleeding and motionless. The play took place in the second inning of the game, leading to an 11-minute delay as medical personnel immobilized Happ, loaded him onto a stretcher, and carted him off the field. J.A. Happ spoke publicly about the injury for the first time, saying he’s slowing getting back to full pitching ability. “I’m hoping mid-June but I think it’s hard to put a time frame on it exactly at this point, just because I haven’t really been able to throw quite yet,” Happ said. Happ said while he’s now throwing outdoors and is close to being physically ready, he can’t be sure what it will be like mentally to step on the mound for the first time. He added that he doesn’t think he could have done anything differently to avoid the hit. “Well, initially, I wasn’t sure what happened because to me it seemed like maybe I got hit from the first-base side, if there was like a collision somehow — cause I don’t remember seeing the ball at all and moving my head,” Happ said. “I thought something came in from the first-base side and knocked me over and then I guess for lack of better words, I was kinda looking [at] sort of an explosion — loud ringing. Everything else was quiet and just ringing in my ear and a lot of pressure, so that’s when my hands were on my head. I felt like I need to keep everything together. I was aware the whole time.” J.A. Happ added that he’s had a great outpouring of support from fans and fellow players. J.A. Happ Starts Throwing Outdoors, Eyes June Return is a post from: The Inquisitr

As Sears continues to consolidate its retail locations in an effort to become a more lean and profitable business the company is faced with left over square footage in the tens of millions. So what will the company do with that space? According to the company it will repurpose the closed stores, turning them into data centers, disaster relief hubs, and more. The company has begun to close its less profitable Sears and Kmart locations and now it looks as if big data, wireless carriers, and other industry players could benefit from new leasable locations. The move could benefit millions of nearby workers. According to reports seventy percent of US citizens live within 10 miles of a Sears or Kmart location. Sears Holdings’ Ubiquity Critical Environments Chief Operating Officer Sean Farney says of the decision: “It’s an amazing real estate portfolio. The goal is not to sell off properties. It’s to reposition the assets of this iconic brand. The big idea is that you have a technology platform laid atop a retail footprint, creating the possibility for a product with a very different look to it.” Sears is already repurposing some of its closed and soon-to-close locations including a 127,000 square foot location on the south side of Chicago. That location will close in June and then be converted into a data center. Sears already has one client committed to using the new Sears data center facility. According to Farney: “It’s a building that’s lit very well, from both a fiber and power perspective. It’s going to be great data center building.” Once retrofitted the Chicago data center will be able to run off 5 MW of power. So why would companies be willing to take advantage of Sears data and other center locations? According to the company’s CEO: “There are compelling reasons why this is a great model. The customer has evolved to the point where they want a sexier location, where they can have access to a Starbucks and other retail, because it’s possible they may be there for weeks or months. Sears and Kmart stores are located in just such retail locations in major malls.” Taking a multi-step approach to rental space Ubiquity will rent rooftops at approved locations to cellular tower providers and broadcast hardware companies. As stated 70 percent of all Americans live within 10 miles of a Sears or Kmart location which means hundreds of millions of cell phone and broadcast users could benefit from the company’s focus on multiple uses for the platform. Sears Repurposing Closed Stores, Turning Them into Data Centers, Cell Towers, And More is a post from: The Inquisitr

A South Florida man unknowingly butt dialed 911 while discussing a murder plot. The call ultimately led to the arrest of 24-year-old Scott Simon. The man is accused of shooting 33-year-old Nicholas Walker while he was driving on Interstate 95. The Associated Press reports that Simon and Walker got into an argument at an area Waffle House prior to the shooting. Dispatchers overhead the 24-year-old saying that he was going to follow Nicholas home and kill him. Walker was reportedly shot several minutes after the accidental call was placed to 911. While authorities have since arrested Simon and charged him with first-degree murder, it’s currently believed that he did not pull the trigger. Sadly, Walker died at the scene. The Broward Sheriff’s Office told the Miami Herald on Wednesday that this situation was highly unusual. It isn’t everyday that officers hear suspects plotting a murder after unwittingly calling 911. “This is a first for me. Criminals say crazy things all the time, but I’ve never seen anyone call a recorded line,” spokeswoman Dani Moschella told the publication. “He had no idea he called 911. He basically told on himself.” Police are still looking for two other suspects in the fatal shooting. Authorities believe that one individual is responsible for killing Nicholas Walker. The other suspect was seen with the shooter in a black 2012 Buick GS during the same morning. In an effort to find the other people responsible for the murder, surveillance footage of the argument at the Waffle House restaurant has been made available to the public. The video can be viewed at the Miami Herald website. Criminals often summon police to the scene of a crime by accidentally butt dialing 911. In March, a Colorado man was arrested after his friend unknowingly called police during a drug deal. According to KGW, the suspects were soon located in a back alley and placed under arrest. What do you think about the man who butt dialed 911 while discussing a murder plot? [Image via Shutterstock] Florida Man Butt Dials 911 While Discussing Murder Plot is a post from: The Inquisitr

The debilitating haze of Alzheimer's disease began its capricious descent on Hazel Hawke in 2001 and three years later she noted in typically laconic Australian style on her 75th birthday: "It's a bugger. It's just bad luck. It's an illness which is unpredictable, and when it comes you've just got to cope with it. It's like losing your skin or something."

A youth swim coach has been sentenced to prison for sexually abusing a girl over a four-year period in the 1980s. Richard J. Curl was once a prominent coach with USA Swimming and known as one of the nation’s top swim coaches. He built up a well-known swimming club in the Washington area and coached many prominent swimmers, including Olympic champion Tom Dolan. But the 63-year-old coach saw his world crash down after pleading guilty last year to abusing the girl, who was 13 at the time the abuse started. Curl was banned for life from USA Swimming and apologized for abusing the girl. “Every day of my life has been spent thinking and feeling awful about my behavior,” he told the girl before a courtroom packed with her supporters. Though victims of sexual abuse are typically not named, the victim in this case, Kelley Davies Currin, has made her case public. She has called for an investigation into USA Swimming, saying the “predator coach” was protected even though many people knew of her abuse. Curl was accused of manipulating Currin, telling her he loved her and they would eventually marry. Currin said the abuse led to a downward spiral of alcohol abuse and an eating disorder. “I loved, trusted and cherished him as much as a young girl’s heart and mind could,” she said. Eventually her family learned about the abuse and confronted Curl, but accepted a financial settlement to keep the allegations private. Currin would later say she regretted the decision. The swim coach was sentenced to seven years in prison. He could have faced up to 15 years, but his defense argued that he had reformed. In a statement released last year, when Richard Curl surrendered to police, the coach’s lawyers said he was a “good man.” “Rick Curl is a good man. He is a devoted father and husband. Over the last 30 years, he has successfully coached hundreds of young men and women, many of whom have achieved successful collegiate and professional swimming careers. When the allegations were made public, many of the swimmers and their families reached out to us to offer their support and to reiterate that Rick was an excellent coach, a good person, and a man that provided them and their children with strong moral leadership. We look forward to having Mr. Curl’s positions made clear in the coming weeks.” The swim coach was actually sentenced to 15 years, but Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Marielsa Bernard suspended all but seven years. Youth Swim Coach Sentenced To Prison For Sexually Abusing Girl is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Australian dollar moved sharply higher in overnight trade but has given up most of its gains.

Ricky Naputi was one of the world’s fattest men, and a documentary surrounding his pursuit to slim down from his 900lbs frame aired on TLC. The 39-year-old was looking to lose weight and live a normal life, as he had been stuck in bed in his home, just off the Pacific Island of Guam for around five years. The show follows Naputi and his wife Cheryl over three years as they received guidance from an obesity expert, Angie Flores. One of their main problems is moving Naputi to the U.S. mainland where he can receive the weight-loss surgery that he needs to survive. When Naputi meets with Dr. Vong he learns that he weighs just under 700lbs, and he is desperate to lose this weight. Naputi used to consume up to 10,000 calories a day. “The last time I got out and enjoyed myself must have been years,” stated Naputi. “I miss feeling the sun on my face. Miss showering, feeling the water run down my body.” His wife, Cheryl, who has been married to him for teen years needs to assist him in every manner. He cooks for him, gives him sponge baths and even helps to get him off the toilet. Cheryl admits, “It’s like taking care of an overgrown baby.” Ricky was already overweight when they met , and they had been speaking over the phone but was eager to meet the man she had been talking to for weeks. “When I went to Ricky’s apartment he only cracked [the door] open an inch or so. I pushed the door in … three-and-a-half weeks later I moved in,” stated Cheryl. Naputi was unable to lose the weight that would have saved his life and ultimately died on November 10, 2012 at the age of 39. Did you watch TLC’s, 900 Pound Man, Race Against Time? New TLC Show Follows 900lbs Morbidly Obese Man is a post from: The Inquisitr

Echo Entertainment's shares have taken a hit after rival Crown sold its stake in the casino company.

THE construction workers union has been convicted of contempt of court for illegally blocking access to Grocon sites last year.

Stocks of interest on the Australian Securities Exchange at noon on Friday