NATION
NEW YORK — Thousands of men and women from around the world stopped traffic in midtown Manhattan on Sunday, passionately raising their voices for women’s rights.
The afternoon march started in Dag Hammarskjold Plaza opposite the United Nations, ending hours later in Times Square. Participants called for equality for the gender that traditionally is paid less for work and often has a smaller voice in policy decisions.
“Today, you are marching in the footsteps of generations of feminists,” said New York City’s first lady, Chirlane McCray, noting that International Women’s Day commemorates the day in 1908 when thousands of women marched through the city demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.
Established by the Socialist Party of America, the celebration spread to communist and socialist countries, especially the former Soviet Union, where Vladimir Lenin made it an official holiday.
Old Yankee Stadium letters hit the block
NEW YORK — Some very big, familiar pieces of New York City sports history are going on the auction block — courtesy of a baseball star.
The 10-foot high letters that spelled “Yankee Stadium” atop the original Bronx ballpark are being offered for sale at Sotheby’s on April 1. They’re estimated to sell for $300,000 to $600,000. The owner is Yankee Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson.
Mr. October bought the letters after the Yankees’ last game at the stadium in 2008. They had adorned the ballpark since 1976. They were there when Jackson hit three consecutive home runs in the sixth game of the 1977 World Series.
The Hall of Famer says he wants “a new generation to own and enjoy this icon of the Yankees and of New York City.”
Iditarod gets under way today
FAIRBANKS, Alaska — Winter has finally cooperated with the Iditarod.
More than four inches of new snowfall greeted Stan Hooley, the chief executive officer of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, when he arrived in Fairbanks on Sunday, a day before the competitive race begins.
“Seems a little bit more like the Iditarod when you actually have some snow around,” said Hooley.
That wasn’t the only change officials were considering, and the ceremonial start in Anchorage could have been moved to Fairbanks, as well, also because of the weather.
“It was closer than I’d like to admit, yeah,” he said. “We like to tell people the Iditarod will never be canceled, and it wouldn’t. But the possibility of the ceremonial start needing to be moved as well, was very real.”
Warm temperatures have played havoc with the Iditarod all winter long as the same stalled jet stream that buried the eastern seaboard in snow has left Alaska unseasonable warm and dry. Officials last month decided conditions in the Alaska Range were so poor because of a lack of snow that the competitive start would be moved over the mountain range to Fairbanks.
The route change will put 78 mushers on an entirely new route to the finish line in the old Gold Rush town of Nome on the Bering Sea, most of it on river ice. The winner, who will pocket $70,000 and a new pickup, is expected in about nine days.
“It’s more than a sport here, it’s a lifestyle,” said Deb Hickok, president of Explore Fairbanks.
