Mark Mason, Trail Blazers' Public Address Announcer, Returns After 6-month Health Scare

With the Western Conference’s best team in town, Wednesday presented a test for the streaky Avalanche. Colorado flunked. The Jets beat the Avs 3-2 in overtime at Ball Arena, using a pair of second-period goals followed by Neal Pionk’s game-winner 17 seconds into the extra frame to increase Winnipeg’s lead in the Central Division to nine points. With 33 games left, Colorado’s nowhere near mathematically eliminated from overtaking the Jets down the stretch, but Thursday’s OT defeat only adds to the uphill climb.

Members of the McCartney family knew the day was coming. Bill McCartney died on Jan. 10 at the age of 84 after a long battle with dementia and his son, Mike, said this week, “I thought I was ready, because we knew he was dying.” Who can really be ready, though, to say goodbye to a man who meant so much? “It hit me a lot harder than I expected,” Mike said, “and I got really emotional for a few days.

FORT COLLINS — Jalen Lake hit a 3-pointer with three seconds left to break a 72-72 tie and give Colorado State a 75-72 victory over Boise State on Wednesday night at Moby Arena. Colorado State won for the eighth time in 10 home appearances this season, but it wasn’t without some late drama.

Ozempic and Wegovy: Scientists Uncover New Risks of Popular Weight-Loss “Miracle Drugs” SciTechDailyMapping the effectiveness and risks of GLP-1 receptor agonists Nature.comWeight-loss jabs linked to reduced risk of 42 conditions including dementia The GuardianDo GLP-1 drugs have health risks beyond their weight loss benefits? Medical News TodayGLP-1s: Good News, Bad News Medscape

BOULDER — If they handed out Heismans for selfless hearts, Archie Griffin would be eating Peach Pagano’s dust. “I was bawling down there,” Pagano told me Wednesday, not long after the last chords of the public memorial service to honor the late, great CU icon Bill McCartney had faded into the Events Center rafters. “I had no idea they were going to honor me.

Over 100,000 ducks to be euthanized at New York farm after bird flu outbreak USA TODAY‘Bird flu’ outbreak shutters Long Island’s last duck farm, as culling of 99,000 birds is underway RiverheadLOCALBird flu outbreak hits Crescent Duck Farm in Aquebogue; 99,000 birds being euthanized NewsdayCrescent Duck Farm in Aquebogue, LI forced to kill 100,000 ducks amid bird flu outbreak ABC7 New YorkBird flu ravages Long Island’s last major duck farm; 100,000 birds to be killed New York Daily News