Spiritual leader’s mummified remains found in Colorado home

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May 4, 2021

DENVER — Authorities have arrested several people after the mummified body of the leader of the spiritual group “Love Has Won” was found wrapped in a sleeping bag and decorated with Christmas lights in a southern Colorado home.

Amy Carlson, 45, who was known as “Mother God” by her followers, was found dead in a home in the tiny, rural town of Moffat on Wednesday, April 28, according to arrest affidavits for seven people, who are each charged with abuse of a corpse.

A follower told investigators he knew the woman as Lia Carlson, and a Saguache County sheriff’s corporal wrote in the affidavits that Carlson is believed to be the leader of the group. It’s unclear why the follower provided the name Lia.

The follower, who has not been charged, told investigators he had taken in a group of people who needed a place to stay, and he found the body in a back bedroom when he returned home Wednesday following a trip to Denver. He reported the discovery to police and said he believed the group had transported Carlson’s body to his home from California.

“The mummified remains appeared to be set up in some type of shrine” and “have what appears to be glitter type makeup on around the eyes,” according to the affidavits. Investigators searched an SUV on the property and said the back seat was laid down in a position “consistent with someone transporting the mummified remains.”

The Saguache County coroner’s office has not said when Carlson died and has not released the cause or manner of death.

Two children — a 13-year-old girl and a 2-year-old boy — were in the home at the time, and the seven people who were arrested are also facing child abuse charges.

According to the affidavits, the sheriff’s office has received “many complaints” from families across the country saying “Love Has Won” is brainwashing people and stealing their money.

Carlson’s followers believe she communicated with angels and that she was leading them to a great awakening, The Denver Post reported Monday. The group, which established itself in southern Colorado in 2018, offers “spiritual intuitive ascension sessions” and sells spiritual healing products online.

Bergeron, Bruins blank Devils to clinch playoff spot

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The Associated Press

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May 4, 2021

NEWARK, N.J. — Captain Patrice Bergeron scored his 20th goal of the season and the Boston Bruins clinched their fifth straight playoff berth with a dominating 3-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Monday night.

Tuukka Rask stopped 20 shots for his second shutout of the season and Nick Ritchie broke a scoreless tie in the second period as the Bruins won their fourth straight game and ended the Devils’ three-game winning streak.

Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk scored on a deflection off Devils defenseman Ryan Murray late as the Bruins won for the 10th time in 12 games. Brad Marchand, who was playing in his 800th NHL game, and Bergeron got the assists on the third goal.

The win was the sixth in a row for Rask.

Boston got off to a dominating start. The Bruins took the first 11 shots of the game and limited New Jersey to nine in the first 40 minutes in taking a 2-0 lead. The Bruins finished with a 42-20 shots advantage.

Devils goalie Scott Wedgewood gave New Jersey a chance, stopping all 16 shots in the first period and 35 of 37 in the first 40 minutes. He finished with 39 saves.

Ritchie got the game’s opening goal at 9:08 of the second period, taking a cross-ice pass by defenseman Jakub Zboril and beating Wedgewood with a one-timer from the right circle.

Bergeron’s 20th was a perfect play by the “Perfection Line”. Marchand got the puck from David Pastrnak, skated around the Devils’ net and found Bergeron alone in front.

Rask’s toughest saves of the game came against Devils captain Nico Hischier. He made a pad save on a breakaway in the first period and stopped a backhand in close with under five minutes to play.

PROMOTED

The Devils called up forward A.J. Greer from Binghamton on Monday and he was in the lineup. He was acquired from the Islanders in the deal that sent Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac to New York. This was his first NHL game in two years. His night ended in the third-period fight against Bruins defenseman Connor Clifton.

NOTES: Bruins D Mike Reilly got a night off after an 11-game run after being acquired from Ottawa. … Zboril was in the lineup for the first time in seven games. … Devils F Mikhail Maltsev missed the game. He sustained a lower-body injury after being hit by a shot in Philadelphia on Saturday. … Devils coach Lindy Ruff said D P.K. Subban and Jonas Siegenthaler are getting closer to skating with the team after being sidelined by COVID-19.

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More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Magic top Pistons 119-112 behind Bamba’s big night

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The Associated Press

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May 4, 2021

DETROIT — Mo Bamba had 22 points and 15 rebounds — both career highs — and the Orlando Magic beat the Detroit Pistons 119-112 on Monday night.

Saddiq Bey led Detroit with 26 points in a game that had little at stake — with the possible exception of lottery positioning. The Pistons (19-46) have the second-worst record in the NBA. Orlando (21-44) is now even with Oklahoma City for the fourth-worst mark. Idle Minnesota (20-45) is in between.

The list of injuries and absences was lengthy on this night. Detroit was without Wayne Ellington (calf), Jerami Grant (right knee), Cory Joseph (left ankle), Rodney McGruder (right elbow), Jahlil Okafor, Mason Plumlee (rest) and Dennis Smith Jr. (left knee Soreness). The Magic were missing Devin Cannady (right ankle), Michael Carter-Williams (left ankle), James Ennis III (right calf), Markelle Fultz (left knee), Jonathan Isaac (left knee), Chuma Okeke (left ankle), Otto Porter Jr. (left foot) and Terrence Ross (back).

The Magic were also without coach Steve Clifford, who missed a sixth straight game. The team did announce before the game that Clifford has cleared the league’s health and safety protocols for COVID-19 and will return to the bench Wednesday night against Boston.

Clifford tested positive for the virus last month while in between two vaccination shots.

The Magic led 51-48 at halftime and then shot 13 of 18 from the field in the third. Orlando led 88-78 heading into the fourth. Detroit was within three late, but Iggy Brazdeikis made a 3-pointer from the right corner to make it 112-106.

TIP-INS

Magic: Chasson Randle scored 18 points, R.J. Hampton added 16 and Brazdeikis contributed 14.

Pistons: Frank Jackson scored 19 points and Hamidou Diallo had 16. Tyler Cook scored 13 on 6-of-6 shooting.

UP NEXT

Magic: Host Boston on Wednesday night. Orlando is 0-2 against the Celtics this season.

Pistons: Host Charlotte on Tuesday night. Detroit is 0-2 against the Hornets this season.

Follow Noah Trister at https://twitter.com/noahtrister

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

Broncos release No. 3 QB Jeff Driskel, sign tight end

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The Associated Press

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May 4, 2021

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos released quarterback Jeff Driskel on Monday when they signed veteran tight end Eric Saubert.

Driskel began last season as Drew Lock’s backup and played well in relief during a Week 2 loss at Pittsburgh.

He lost his one start the following week, 28-10 to Tampa Bay, and was leapfrogged by Brett Rypien for the No. 2 job the rest of the season.

Driskel was at the center of a quarterback quagmire last November when he tested positive for the coronavirus after the team’s four quarterbacks had spent a day off together maskless.

Lock, Rypien and Blake Bortles were disqualified that weekend and the Broncos had to start a rookie practice squad receiver Kendall Hinton in a game against New Orleans with zero practice squad reps.

Hinton completed a single pass and Denver lost 31-3, the low point of a 5-11 season that stretched the Broncos’ playoff drought to a half decade.

Driskel completed 35 of 64 passes (54.7%) for 432 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions in his one season in Denver.

The Broncos acquired veteran QB Teddy Bridgewater from the Carolina Panthers last week and general manager George Paton bypassed quarterbacks in the draft.

Paton said Bridgewater and Lock will compete for the starting job this summer. There is also speculation the Broncos will try to pry disgruntled MVP Aaron Rodgers out of Green Bay.

Another position Paton didn’t address in the draft was tight end. Enter Saubert, a well-traveled, fifth-year player who has appeared in 40 games during his four seasons in Atlanta (2017-18), Chicago (2019) and Jacksonville (2020).

More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

LEADING OFF: Minor league opening day, Dodgers’ May needs TJ

By

The Associated Press

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May 4, 2021

A look at what’s happening around baseball Tuesday:

MAJOR DAY FOR MINOR LEAGUES

From the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp to the Tri-City Dust Devils, minor league teams are set to host opening day across the country following more than a year of uncertainty and empty ballparks.

Much has changed since the end of the 2019 campaign — the pandemic wiped out the entire 2020 season, Major League Baseball eliminated 40 affiliates, and Commissioner Rob Manfred instituted experimental rules changes that will differ by level in an effort to speed up play and improve player safety.

Of course, the charms of minor league ball remain plentiful. Family-friendly prices, offbeat giveaways and outlandish team branding remain key pillars of the experience. As does the chance for thousands of players to pursue their big-league dreams.

“If you have young guys that need to play baseball, they’ve been void of it for almost two years now, they’ve got to get out there and play,” Los Angeles Angels manager Joe Maddon said. “This is one time I am really going to be paying attention to minor league reports coming up. I want to see and hear how our guys are doing.”

DODGER DOWNER

Right-hander Dustin May needs Tommy John surgery, costing the World Series champion Dodgers one of baseball’s brightest young pitchers for the rest of the season.

The team announced Monday the 23-year-old May will undergo the operation next week. Recovery time is usually at least 12 months, often a few months longer.

May winced in pain after throwing a pitch Saturday in Milwaukee and left the mound. He was 1-1 with a 2.74 ERA in five starts this season.

Last year, May pitched seven times in the postseason, including twice in the World Series against Tampa Bay. He made three starts for short stints in the earlier rounds of the NL playoffs.

May joins a crowd of Dodgers pitchers on the injured list that also includes David Price, Joe Kelly, Corey Knebel and Tommy Kahnle.

CHISOX SETBACK

White Sox center fielder Luis Robert could miss the remainder of the season after yet another injury to a Chicago outfielder.

Robert couldn’t put any weight on his right leg as he was helped off the field Sunday with a torn right hip flexor. General manager Rick Hahn said Robert won’t resume baseball activities for at least three to four months.

Second in the AL Rookie of the Year voting and a Gold Glove winner last season, Robert is batting .316 with one homer and 11 RBIs.

White Sox outfielder Eloy Jiménez is expected to miss most of the season after rupturing his left pectoral tendon in an exhibition game. Outfielder Adam Engel strained a hamstring in spring training and is about three weeks away from a rehab assignment.

MAY THE 4TH

“Stars Wars” is celebrated across the galaxy every May 4, and big league stadiums are no exception. ESPN is going into hyperdrive, putting commentators in costume for the telecast as the Astros visit the Yankees. Karl Ravech will do play by play as Luke Skywalker, with commentary provided by Yoda (Tim Kurkjian) and Jawa (Eduardo Perez).

Fans don’t figure to be as bothered by the dark side, though, as by visiting Houston — this will be the Astros’ first visit to Yankee Stadium since their sign-stealing scheme was uncovered in 2019.

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

James out, Schröder enters virus protocol for reeling Lakers

By

The Associated Press

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May 4, 2021

LOS ANGELES — With LeBron James still working himself back to full strength from a sprained right ankle, the Los Angeles Lakers found out Monday they’ll be without their other point guard for more than a week.

Coach Frank Vogel said James and Dennis Schröder were out for Monday’s game against the Denver Nuggets. Vogel said he was sitting James in the second game of a back-to-back after the four-time MVP experienced ankle soreness during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 121-114 loss to the Toronto Raptors.

Schröder will be out much longer. He entered the league’s coronavirus health and safety protocol on Sunday and will miss at least 10 days.

“They are the quarterbacks of our offense and it is a unique challenge without them. It will be more of a team-led approach,” Vogel said.

The Lakers had lost three straight and six of seven entering Monday. They have gone 8-15 since James sprained the ankle on March 14 against the Atlanta Hawks.

Vogel said James didn’t suffer any setbacks and the decision to sit him was precautionary.

Schröder recently told German media that he had some reservations about getting vaccinated against the coronavirus. According to the German site Spox, Schröder said it was difficult for him because “I’m one who doesn’t like to take painkillers. I always try to get by without all that stuff.”

Vogel said the team had a series of meetings on Zoom before vaccines became available and shortly after to tell players about the benefits of getting vaccinated.

“Everyone has a different viewpoint on how they want to manage their own personal health,” he said. “There are competitive and lifestyle advantages if we reach 85%. At the end of the day, it’s their own personal choice and we respect that.”

At 36-28 entering Monday in the highly competitive Western Conference, the Lakers are in danger of having to participate in the league’s new play-in tournament for a spot in the main playoff draw.

After Sunday’s loss, James was highly critical of the play-in tournament concept, while Anthony Davis said the defending champions had reached their lowest point of the season.

“Our team is shook right now to not have LeBron again. We understand it is going to take time for him to be 100 percent,” Vogel said. “We’re not happy where we are right now. We need everyone to rise to the challenge. That applies to Anthony as much as everyone else.”

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports