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Oh, sweet the ‘nanny state’ is back!

Fast-food chains and coffee shops in New York City would have to slap a warning on menu boards and packaging under a new rule from the Adams administration.

The city Health Department’s first-in-the-nation edict will mean labels warning on food and drinks with more than 50 grams of added sugar, including frozen coffee drinks from places like Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts, fountain sodas and even hot chocolate.

Food outlets with 15 or more stores in the US are ordered to use a warning icon a spoon loaded with heaps of sugar to alert and maybe shame sweet-toothed customers.

The proposed warning will say, Eating too many added sugars can contribute to type 2 diabetes and weight gain.”

“Type 2 diabetes is among the leading causes of premature deaths in New York City,” the Health Department said.

US Dietary guidelines recommend that added sugar should be less than 50 grams or 10% of the recommended 2,000-calorie-a-day intake.

A medium Coca-Cola drink at McDonald’s contains 56 grams of sugar and would require a warning label, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Numerous frozen coffee and other drinks at Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks contain more than 50 grams of added sugar such as Dunkin’s Butter Pecan and Caramel Swirl frozen coffee, which are pumped up with more than 100 grams of sugar.

The health cops have drafted the new rules to enforce the Sweet Truth Act approved by Mayor Eric Adams and the City Council last year.

Restaurants that ignore the law face fines of $200 to $500 per violation.

The department is accepting public comment on the new rule, which is expected to go into effect on June 19 for prepackaged food times and Dec. 1 for beverages and food sold at the restaurant that is not packaged.

Critics blasted the rule as another example of government overreach.

“It’s the nanny state becoming the nanny city,” said state Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar.

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Kassar said many New Yorkers are unhappy with Adams and “this nanny overreach will only make him unpopular.

“As for the City Council, I don’t consider them an arbiter on anything,” he added.

But health advocates cheered the new rule.

“With New York facing alarming rates of diabetes in both adults and children, communities deserve the truth about the amount of added sugars in foods and beverages offered at chain restaurants,” said Dr. DeAnna Nara, senior policy associate with the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

“This bill is a ground-breaking step towards empowering consumers to make better choices and encouraging the food industry to present healthier options.

Adams is grabbing the nanny baton from his predecessors, former Mayors Mike Bloomberg and Bill de Blasio.

Bloomberg, a self-professed health zealot, rammed through a controversial law a generation ago banning smoking in bars and eateries and banned trans fats from restaurants and bakeries.

He was rebuffed when he sought to ban the sale of large sugary drinks from fountains in convenience stores, which was referred to as the “Big Gulp” edict.

The courts said and the Board of Health could not do so without approval of the City Council.

Under de Blasio in 2015, the Health Department issued the first-in-the-nation mandate requiring chain restaurants to post a warning icon next to menu items that contain at least 2,300 mg of salt or sodium to help prevent heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

Adams, a health-conscious vegetarian, has also been on a kick to expel sugary chocolate milk and other sweetened milk from school cafeterias.

But he has faced stiff resistance from the upstate dairy industry and lawmakers including powerful House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik.

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Utes’ Whittingham reenergized after ’24 free fall

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Utes' Whittingham reenergized after '24 free fall

FRISCO, Texas — A dynamic new quarterback, a new offensive system and two projected first-round picks up front have Utah coach Kyle Whittingham feeling enthusiastic about the Utes’ chances of bouncing back from a disastrous debut season in the Big 12.

Utah was voted No. 1 in the Big 12 preseason poll last year after joining from the Pac-12, but a brutal run of injuries and inconsistency resulted in a seven-game conference losing streak and a 5-7 finish — the program’s first losing season since 2013.

After weeks of contemplation about his future and what was best for the program, Whittingham, the third-longest-tenured head coach in FBS, decided in December to return for his 21st season with the Utes.

“The bottom line and the final analysis was I couldn’t step away on that note,” Whittingham told ESPN at Big 12 media days Wednesday. “It was too frustrating, too disappointing. As much as college football has changed with all the other factors that might pull you away, that was the overriding reason: That’s not us, that’s not who we are. It just left a bad taste in my mouth. I did not want to miss the opportunity to try to get that taste out.”

“The bottom line and the final analysis was I couldn’t step away on that note. It was too frustrating, too disappointing. … That’s not us. That’s not who we are. It just left a bad taste in my mouth. I did not want to miss the opportunity to try to get that taste out.”

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham on going 5-7 in 2024

Whittingham and Utes defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley conducted a national search for a new offensive coordinator and quickly zeroed in on New Mexico‘s Jason Beck. Then they managed to land Devon Dampier, Beck’s first-team All-Mountain West quarterback, via the transfer portal.

After finishing 11th nationally in total offense with 3,934 yards and 31 total touchdowns and putting up the fourth-most rushing yards (1,166) among all FBS starters, Dampier followed his coach to Salt Lake City and immediately asserted himself as a difference-maker for a program that had to start four different QBs in 2024.

“He’s a terrific athlete,” Whittingham said. “He’s a guy that, if spring is any indication, he’s an exciting player, and we can’t wait to watch him this season. … He’s got that ‘it’ factor. He’s a leader. Needless to say, very excited to see what he does for us.”

They’ve surrounded Dampier with 21 more newcomers via the transfer portal and will protect him with two returning starters at tackle in Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu, who are projected first-round NFL draft picks by ESPN’s Matt Miller.

“We feel they’re the best tandem in the country,” Whittingham said. “The offensive line in general, I feel, it’s the best since I’ve been there. And that’s quite a statement. We’ve had some really good offensive lines. We’ve got two first-rounders and three seniors inside that have played a lot of good football for us. That better be a strength of ours, and that’s what we’re counting on.”

Whittingham has previously said he did not want to coach past the age of 65. Now that he’s 65, he acknowledges that he might’ve arrived at a different decision about his future had the Utes ended up winning the Big 12 in 2024. He is reenergized about getting them back into contention, but he’s not ready to say whether this season might be his last.

“The best answer I can give you is, right now, I’m excited and passionate about going to work every single day,” Whittingham said. “As soon as that changes, I’ll know it’s time. I’m just counting on knowing when the time is right. I can’t tell you exactly what the circumstances will be other than losing the fire in the belly.”

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MLB to utilize ABS challenge system during ASG

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MLB to utilize ABS challenge system during ASG

The automated ball-strike system is coming to the All-Star Game next week in Atlanta.

MLB officials added the feature to the annual exhibition game knowing it could be a precursor to becoming a permanent part of the major leagues as soon as next year.

The same process used this past spring training will be used for the Midsummer Classic: Each team will be given two challenges with the ability to retain them if successful. Only a pitcher, catcher or hitter can ask for a challenge and it has to happen almost immediately after the pitch. The player will tap his hat or helmet indicating to the umpire he wants to challenge while any help from the dugout or other players on the field is not allowed.

MLB officials say 72% of fans who were polled during spring training said the impact of ABS on their experience at the game was a “positive” one. Sixty-nine percent said they’d like it part of the game moving forward. Just 10% expressed negativity toward it.

MLB’s competition committee will meet later this summer to determine if ABS will be instituted next season after the league tested the robotic system throughout the minor leagues and spring training in recent years. Like almost any rule change, there were mixed reviews from players about using ABS but nearly all parties agree on one point: They prefer a challenge system as opposed to the technology calling every pitch.

As was the case in spring training, once a review is initiated, an animated replay of the pitch will be shown on the scoreboard and the home plate umpire will either uphold the call or overturn it. ABS uses Hawk-Eye system technology which tracks the pitch trajectory and location in relation to the strike zone, providing an instant assessment which can be relayed to the home plate umpire.

The All-Star Game will be played at Truist Park in Atlanta on Tuesday.

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Royals sign former Cy Young winner Keuchel

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Royals sign former Cy Young winner Keuchel

The Kansas City Royals have signed former Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel to a minor league contract, the team announced Wednesday.

The 37-year-old left-hander will start at Triple-A Omaha and will earn a prorated $2 million salary if he reaches the big leagues, sources tell ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

Keuchel has not pitched in the majors for nearly a full calendar year. He elected to become a free agent on July 18, 2024, after being designated for assignment by the Milwaukee Brewers.

In four starts with the Brewers last season, Keuchel had a 5.40 ERA in 16 2/3 innings without a decision. In 13 major league seasons, the 2015 American League Cy Young winner with the Houston Astros is 103-92 with a 4.04 ERA in 282 appearances (267 starts).

After pitching his first seven seasons with the Astros, Keuchel has made appearances for six different teams since 2019. He won a World Series with Houston in 2017 and is a two-time All-Star selection and five-time Gold Glove winner.

Information from Field Level Media was used in this report.

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