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NEW ORLEANS – Dylan Crews of LSU baseball and Angel Reese of LSU women’s basketball were named the Allstate Sugar Bowl’s James C. Corbett Award winners on Friday as the state’s top amateur athletes after leading their teams to national championships earlier this year.
Crews, a junior from Longwood, Fla., batted .426 (110-for-258) for the 2023 National Champions with 16 doubles, two triples, 18 homers, 70 RBI and 100 runs. A consensus First-Team All-American, he was the No. 2 overall pick in the MLB Draft on July 9 by the Washington Nationals.
Crews was voted the winner of the 2023 Golden Spikes Award as the nation’s best amateur baseball player, and he was named the Southeastern Conference Male Athlete of the Year.
He finished No. 1 in the nation in runs scored (100), No. 1 in walks (71), No. 2 in on-base percentage (.567), No. 2 in base hits (110) and No. 3 in batting average (.426).
He completed the year with a reached base streak of 75 games, which included all 71 games of this season and the last four games of the 2022 season.
Crews is a two-time member of the SEC Community Service Team for his exemplary work in the Baton Rouge area with families affected by autism, and he was voted to the 2023 SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Crews is the ninth LSU baseball player to win the Corbett Award, joining pitcher Alex Lange (2015), pitcher Aaron Nola (2013), pitcher Louis Coleman (2009), catcher Brad Cresse (2000), shortstop Brandon Larson (1997), second baseman Warren Morris (1996), shortstop Russ Johnson (1994) and second baseman Todd Walker (1993).
Reese, a sophomore from Baltimore, Maryland, was a unanimous First Team All-America player, leading the Tigers to their first-ever women’s basketball national championship. In her first season at LSU, Reese led the SEC in scoring (23.0 ppg) and rebounding (15.4 RPG) as she became just the fourth player in conference history to lead the league in both categories. She set SEC records in rebounds (555), free throws made (240) and free throws attempted (339).
Reese was a double-double machine during the season. She recorded a double-double in all of LSU’s first 23 games, setting the LSU record for consecutive double-doubles. She finished the season with a total of 34 double-doubles to set the NCAA record. Her record-setting double-double came with 15 points and 10 rebounds in LSU’s national championship victory over Iowa when the Tigers scored an NCAA national championship record 102 points.
Reese also won the BET Award for Sportswoman of the Year and the Best Breakthrough Athlete ESPY Award.
Reese takes home the sixth Corbett Award for LSU women’s basketball as Seimone Augustus (2003-2006) and Sylvia Fowles (2007) claimed the first five.
The Corbett Award was created in 1967 and named in honor of the late James J. Corbett to commemorate his many contributions to intercollegiate athletics and specifically to the Sugar Bowl. At the time of his death, Mr. Corbett was the Athletic Director at Louisiana State University. These awards are presented annually to the most outstanding amateur male and female athletes in the State of Louisiana. The Corbett recipients are selected each year by members of the N.O. Sports Hall of Fame Committee, based on nominations submitted by the state’s sportswriters, sportscasters and sports information directors.
(Press release provided by LSU Athletics) | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/lsu-baseball-basketball-stars-named-corbett-award-winners/ | 2023-07-29T04:57:19 | 0 | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/lsu-baseball-basketball-stars-named-corbett-award-winners/ |
PHOENIX (AP) — Homeless in America’s hottest big metro, Stefon James Dewitt Livengood was laid out for days inside his makeshift dwelling, struggling to breath, nauseous and vomiting.
Every day this month, temperatures have soared past 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 degrees Celsius).
Livengood said he stopped briefly at a free clinic that took his blood pressure and declared it acceptable. But he received no other medical help for his apparent heat exhaustion, or for the peeling skin on his arms he believes was caused by sun exposure. He is careful when he walks through the sprawling tent city, cognizant that if he falls, the simmering black asphalt could seriously burn his skin.
“If you’re going outside, let somebody know where you’re going so you can be tracked so you don’t pass out out there,” he said. “If you fall out in the heat, you don’t want a third degree burn from the ground.”
The 38-year-old sleeps in a structure cobbled together with a frame of scavenged wood and metal covered by blue vinyl tarp. The space inside is large enough to stand up and walk around in and features an old recliner and a bicycle Livengood uses less now that he spends more time inside with the sides of his dwelling open.
“Some of the friends that I’ve made down here, they come check on me if they don’t see me moving around,” he said.
Homeless people are among those most likely to die in the extreme heat in metro Phoenix. The city is seeing its longest run of consecutive days of 110 Fahrenheit (43.3 Celsius) ever recorded, clocking 28 in a row as of Thursday, even as the first monsoon storm of the season brought some overnight relief.
“It has been a scary situation this year and it’s especially scary for our homeless population,” said Dr. Geoff Comp, an emergency room physician for Valleywise Health in central Phoenix. “They have a more constant exposure to the heat than most of us.”
People living outside are also vulnerable to surface burns from contact with hot metal, concrete or asphalt.
Surgeons at the Arizona Burn Center–Valleywise Health recently warned about burns caused by walking, sitting or falling on outside surfaces reaching up to 180 degrees Fahrenheit (82.2 degrees Celsius). The burn center last year saw 85 people admitted with heat-related surface burns for the months of June through August. Seven died.
Record high overnight temperatures persisted above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32.2 degrees Celsius) for 16 days straight after finally slipping to 89 Fahrenheit (31.6 Celsius) on Thursday after a storm Wednesday evening kicked up dust, high winds and a bit of rainfall.
If temperatures don’t drop sufficiently after the sun sets, it’s hard for people’s bodies to cool down, health professionals say, especially those who live in flimsy structures without air conditioning or fans.
“People really need a lot of water and a cooling system to recover overnight,” Comp said.
There is no air conditioner, fan or even electricity in Livengood’s home, just a little, flat piece of plastic he uses as a hand fan.
Unhoused people accounted for about 40% of the 425 heat-associated deaths tallied last year in Maricopa County, home to Phoenix, during its hottest summer on record. More than half of the 425 deaths occurred in July and 80% occurred outdoors.
Maricopa County reported Wednesday that as of July 22, there were 25 heat-associated deaths confirmed this year going back to April 11. Another 249 deaths remain under investigation.
Livengood’s shack stands among some 800 people living in tents and other makeshift dwellings outside Arizona’s largest temporary shelter. The tents stand close together on concrete sidewalks, and seem to increase the stifling heat from the encampment called “The Zone.”
But the location is convenient. Nearby agencies provide social services, food and life-saving water, including the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Boys and Girls Club, the YMCA and St. Mary’s Food Bank.
Livengood can get breakfast and lunch with faith-based groups in the area before taking a nap in his recliner.
On some hot days, the local transportation agency Valley Metro send over a couple of empty buses so people can sit for hours in the air conditioning. On other days, Livengood and a few friends walk to a nearby city park and sit in the grass under shade trees outside a public swimming pool.
“It’s a definite part of what keeps everybody safe down here in the ‘The Zone,’” Livengood said, ticking off the things people distribute: hygiene items, sunscreen, lip balm, hats and cooling rags. “A lot of love is given out here.”
Livengood tells of a childhood of trauma and neglect. Born in Phoenix and originally named Jesse James Acosta Jr., Livengood spent much of his early years in public housing in a low-income, largely African American neighborhood of south Phoenix. Both of his parents spent time in prison. His mother struggled with addiction, giving birth to a daughter behind bars, and later slipped into homelessness.
“My childhood has been filled with a lot of memories of being bounced around, never really having anything stable,” Livengood said.
Livengood was adopted at age 12 by a woman named Denise who legally changed his name to the current one. He and the rest of his adoptive family moved to Alaska, where his adoptive mother died in a traffic accident.
Livengood struggled in school and met the mother of his son. He later left behind the woman and their child to return to Phoenix, a decision he regrets.
Back in the desert, Livengood said he is well aware of the dangers from extreme heat from the pamphlets volunteers pass out with bottles of icy water.
“Yeah, it gets really hot out here, guys,” he said. “Stay hydrated, drink plenty of water even when you think you’ve had a lot of water. And drink more.” | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/national-news/homeless-struggle-to-stay-safe-from-record-high-temperatures-in-blistering-phoenix/ | 2023-07-29T04:57:25 | 0 | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/national-news/homeless-struggle-to-stay-safe-from-record-high-temperatures-in-blistering-phoenix/ |
(NEXSTAR) — Is it your lucky day? Friday’s Mega Millions jackpot is a massive $940 million, the eighth-largest prize in the game’s history. Winning numbers for the July 28 jackpot are: 52, 28, 5, 63, and 10. The Mega ball number is 18. Friday’s Megaplier is 5X.
The estimated $940 million prize has been building since someone last matched all six numbers and won the jackpot April 18. Since then, there have been 28 straight drawings without a jackpot winner.
The $940 million pot on the line Friday night will be that high only if a single player wins and they choose to be paid through an annuity of one immediate payment or 30 annual allotments. But jackpot winners nearly always take the cash in a lump sum, which for Friday night’s drawing would be an estimated $472.5 million.
Mega Millions is played in 45 states and the District of Columbia. Tickets are $2 and there are a total of nine ways to win a prize. Drawings are held at 11 p.m. ET Tuesdays and Fridays.
USA Mega, which tracks Mega Millions statistics, says the most common Mega Millions numbers are 17, 10, 14, 31 and 4 for the first five numbers. The most common Mega ball number is 22.
The biggest jackpot in Mega Millions history is $1.537 billion back in 2018 and was claimed by one lucky winner in South Carolina.
If no one claims Friday’s jackpot, the next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled to be held Tuesday, August 1. | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/national-news/mega-millions-here-are-the-winning-numbers-for-940m-jackpot-2/ | 2023-07-29T04:57:31 | 1 | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/national-news/mega-millions-here-are-the-winning-numbers-for-940m-jackpot-2/ |
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Another structural issue has been located with a large roller coaster that’s been closed for weeks since a large crack in a support column was discovered, a North Carolina agency confirmed on Friday.
A Swiss-based engineering company that designed and built the Fury 325 roller coaster at Carowinds, which sits along the North Carolina-South Carolina border, replaced that steel support column earlier this month, news outlets reported.
But the North Carolina Department of Labor, which inspects the ride and decides whether it can operate, said in an email that the agency has now been notified of a separate “weld indication,” which “could be either a break or a crack.”
“No certificate of operation has been issued nor do we have a timeline of when the certificate of operation will be issued for the Fury 325,” department spokesperson Meredith Watson said, referring other questions to Carowinds.
In a statement released Friday, Carowinds said it was conducting a full maintenance review of the ride while test runs are performed.
“During such reviews, it is not uncommon to discover slight weld indications in various locations of a steel superstructure. It is important to note that these indications do not compromise the structural integrity or safety of the ride,” the statement reads. “Once a repair is completed, it undergoes inspection and approval before the ride is deemed operational.”
Park staff closed Fury 325 on June 30 after a visitor pointed out the sizable crack. State Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson said earlier this month that the crack had been visible for at least a week before it was shut down.
Video of the coaster, which reaches 325 feet (99 meters) in height, had showed a key support beam bending with the top visibly detached as cars with passengers barreled by. The roller coaster runs at speeds of up to 95 mph (150 kph).
The department’s Elevator and Amusement Device Bureau said it had conducted its annual inspection of Fury 325 in February and only found a few signage issues, which the park quickly corrected.
Inspections by the park, the engineering company, a third-party testing firm and the Department of Labor have been ongoing. Carowinds has said it’s changing how it inspects rides daily, including the use of drone cameras to examine areas.
While the park straddles the border between the two states, North Carolina regulators inspect Fury 325 because its nearby entrance is in North Carolina. | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/national-news/roller-coaster-with-big-crack-has-a-second-structural-issue-inspectors-say/ | 2023-07-29T04:57:37 | 0 | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/national-news/roller-coaster-with-big-crack-has-a-second-structural-issue-inspectors-say/ |
DETROIT (AP) — The U.S. government wants to raise the fuel economy of new vehicles 18% by the 2032 model year so the fleet would average about 43.5 miles per gallon in real world driving.
The proposed numbers were released Friday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which eventually will adopt final mileage requirements.
Currently the fleet of new vehicles must average 36.75 mpg by 2026 under corporate average fuel economy standards adopted by the administration of President Joe Biden, who reversed a rollback made by former President Donald Trump.
The highway safety agency says it will try to line up its regulations so they match the Environmental Protection Agency’s reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. But if there are discrepancies, automakers likely will have to follow the most stringent regulation.
In the byzantine world of government regulation, both agencies essentially are responsible for setting fuel economy requirements since the fastest way to reduce greenhouse emissions is to burn less gasoline.
“I want to make clear that EPA and NHTSA will coordinate to optimize the effectiveness of both agency standards while minimizing compliance costs,” NHTSA Acting Administrator Ann Carlson said.
A large auto industry trade group which includes General Motors, Toyota, Ford, Stellantis and others said requirements from the agencies should be lined up. “If an automaker complies with EPA’s yet-to-be-finalized greenhouse gas emissions rules, they shouldn’t be at risk of violating CAFE rules (from NHTSA) and subject to civil penalties,” John Bozzella, CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, said in a statement.
However the alliance has said the EPA’s proposed cut in carbon emissions will require a huge increase in electric vehicle sales that’s not attainable by 2032. The EPA says the industry can reach the greenhouse gas emissions goals if 67% of new vehicles sold in 2032 are electric. Currently, EVs make up about 7% of new vehicle sales.
NHTSA said its proposal includes a 2% annual improvement in fuel mileage for passenger cars, and a 4% increase for light trucks. It’s proposing a 10% improvement per year for commercial pickup trucks and work vans. Automakers can meet the requirements with a mix of electric vehicles, gas-electric hybrids and efficiency improvements in gas and diesel vehicles.
The agency says the new regulations will save more than $50 billion on fuel over the vehicles’ lifetimes and save more than 88 billion gallons of gasoline through 2050 if NHTSA’s preferred alternative is adopted. The standards would cut new-vehicle fuel consumption nearly in half by the 2035 model year, and benefits will exceed costs by $18 billion, the agency said.
NHTSA will take comments from the public for 60 days before drafting a final regulation. | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/national-news/us-proposes-18-fuel-economy-increase-for-new-vehicle-fleet-from-2027-through-2032/ | 2023-07-29T04:57:43 | 1 | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/national-news/us-proposes-18-fuel-economy-increase-for-new-vehicle-fleet-from-2027-through-2032/ |
HURON, Ohio (WJW) – A suspected bank burglar was busted when he gave new meaning to the term “direct deposit.”
Police in Huron, Ohio watched as the suspected bank thief dropped from the ceiling over the drive-thru, right in front of their eyes.
Police body camera video obtained by the WJW shows the incident. Officers can be heard ordering the suspect on the ground, and then helping get him out of the recycling can. The suspect was not injured.
“In my 35-plus years in law enforcement, this is the first time I ever saw a suspect fall into a garbage can,” said Huron Police Chief Terry Graham.
Graham said around 2:12 a.m. Wednesday, police received an alarm from the VacationLand Federal Credit Union located on University Drive East.
While checking the building, officers could hear noises coming from inside the roof area over the drive-thru.
They also noticed the recycling can positioned in the middle of the drive-thru lane, directly under a roof access door. The officers heard noises coming from inside the bank and patiently waited.
“I am most impressed with our officers’ patience in a very difficult situation,” the chief said. “The tactics they used, I think, substantially contributed to no one being injured and the suspect being taken into custody.”
Tristan Heidl, 27, was arrested and charged with breaking and entering, possession of criminal tools and safecracking.
Police say Heidl had a backpack full of construction tools.
“He did get inside the bank and attempt to open numerous areas in the bank that contain money,” the chief said.
Police say Heidl was unable to get inside the safe and crash-landed with empty pockets.
“He didn’t get a dime,” Graham said.
Heidl is being held in the Erie County Jail on a $50,000 bond. He is due back in court soon. | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/national-news/watch-ohio-bank-burglary-suspect-falls-from-ceiling-lands-in-recycling-can-near-officers/ | 2023-07-29T04:57:49 | 0 | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/national-news/watch-ohio-bank-burglary-suspect-falls-from-ceiling-lands-in-recycling-can-near-officers/ |
Adrian Houser and the Brewers learned just how dominant the Braves offense can be
ATLANTA – Abraham Toro hasn’t been up here much this year, but that didn’t stop him from hitting the nail on the head from the visitor’s clubhouse at Truist Park Friday night.
“I thought we had really good at-bats. We just got out-hit,” Toro said. “They’re a really good team.”
That good team Toro was talking about: The Atlanta Braves, who sport the best record in the majors. Their lineup may very well be tops, as well.
Fourteen hits, three of which left the yard, 19 base runners and double-digit runs amounted to the final damage by the Braves in a 10-7 win over Toro and the Milwaukee Brewers in the first of a three-game series.
Here are three takeaways from the loss.
Adrian Houser gets too much plate and pays for it
For a pitcher like Adrian Houser who is going to go to his sinker with frequency, it’s imperative he keep the ball down with solid command.
Houser did the first part for the most part against the Braves, but didn’t complete the second half of the equation.
An aggressive Braves lineup pounded Houser’s sinker, as well as his four-seamer, on their way to putting up six runs over four-plus innings from the righty.
Through the first four innings, Atlanta tallied each of its five hits, including a Marcell Ozuna solo homer in the fourth, against fastballs.
In the second, the Braves strung together four straight two-out hits in a span of seven pitches. Houser didn’t make the adjustment to go to a different pitch early in counts quick enough, and the National League’s second-highest scoring offense pounced.
“They’re a really good lineup over there,” Houser said. “They’re ready to hit. They’re ready to attack you when they smell blood.”
Sure, Houser and reliever Bryse Wilson, who allowed the other four runs in one inning of work, didn’t pitch well Friday, but the offensive outburst was more an indicator of Atlanta’s prowess than anything.
At times, it feels like it comes easy for the Braves lineup. The hitter with the lowest OPS on the team, Ozuna, socked his 19th homer of the year. His .746 OPS would be fourth-best on the Brewers among hitters with at least 100 plate appearances.
Six of Atlanta’s hits against Houser were over 100 mph off the bat. They had 11 batted balls with triple-digit velocity for the game; 10 went for hits and one was a sacrifice fly.
“They’ve got good hitters and they squared some balls up,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell summarized.
A minor-league adjustment for Abraham Toro has major payoff
Toro was scorching at the time of his promotion to Milwaukee on Wednesday. Over his previous 10 games and 46 plate appearances at Class AAA Nashville, Toro was batting .476 with 10 extra-base hits and a 1.351 OPS.
With Jesse Winker going to the injured list, the Brewers have given Toro two chances to see if those results can carry over to the majors.
So far, they have.
The 26-year-old infielder went 3 for 4 with a three-run homer and four RBI on Friday.
In a very small sample of 16 MLB plate appearances this year, Toro is batting .533 with a 1.496 OPS and two homers.
He hopes that some of the mechanical tweaks made to his swing with Nashville hitting coach Al LaBeouf can pay dividends in Milwaukee.
“One of the things was how I was able to use my legs a little better,” Toro said of his adjustments at the plate. “That helped me to stay through the zone, and the swing takes care of itself when I’m able to do that.”
Playing time in the immediate future isn’t a guarantee for Toro, though, regardless of how sizzling his bat is. Carlos Santana, the first baseman acquired via trade from the Pirates on Thursday, is expected to be in Atlanta for his Brewers debut Saturday.
Perhaps Toro will get some action at second base with Brice Turang still unable to get things going offensively, but it’s unlikely the Brewers sacrifice the defense of Turang they value so highly. Designated hitter may be a place for Toro, though the Brewers have often utilized that spot to get Christian Yelich or William Contreras a day off their feet recently.
Willy Adames’ second half struggles continue
It’s often true that the Brewers go as Willy Adames goes.
If the Brewers want to go far, then that’s going to require more production from Adames – especially if he’s going to bat third in the lineup.
With an 0-for-5 showing against the Braves, Adames dropped to 7 for 49 (.143) in the second half. He has just two extra-base hits in his last 52 plate appearances.
Adames has shown the ability to turn things around offensively on a dime before in his career. Because shortstop is a position the Brewers are highly unlikely to seek an upgrade at, it will ultimately come down to Adames and Adames alone producing for Milwaukee to get the production it’s banking on from that spot.
“That’s accurate – he has not gotten going,” Counsell said “He’s played great defense but we need offense, especially where he’s hitting in the lineup in the middle of those guys. We need some offense, for sure.” | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2023/07/28/braves-offense-pours-in-10-runs-against-adrian-houser-brewers/70485566007/ | 2023-07-29T04:57:53 | 1 | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2023/07/28/braves-offense-pours-in-10-runs-against-adrian-houser-brewers/70485566007/ |
ACADIANA, La. (KLFY) – From low paying wages to state regulations, many daycares face the challenge of not only having qualified employees, but having enough of those qualified employees.
An Acadiana daycare director says there is a process when it comes to hiring early childhood care employees. These processes include fingerprint and background checks, as well as childcare classes and a mandatory 12 certification hours in a six-month period.
With these processes in place, the question now becomes, why has Pumpkin Patch Daycare joined 3 other facilities in having employees under investigation?
A daycare director says there are challenges in finding qualified employees with experience. Such as the low paying status of the position, with employment websites listing position’s pay as low as $9 per hour. The low wage has resulted in several teachers and instructors resigning across Acadiana. With a limited wage, the number of applicants will also be limited to a younger group with less experience.
A second challenge comes from federal law requiring a state regulated ratio of instructors to students. These regulations include one instructor for every ten, 4-year-old children, and one instructor for every 8 preschoolers.
A daycare director says the need to fill this ratio can make many facilities desperate to fill the role, resulting in younger employees without an established track record of childcare.
When asking the director for any possible solutions to keep employees up to standard, the director tells me all directors should be involved and present on campus to make any needed corrections as soon as their needed.
The director also says what’s truly needed is employees that have both a love for the job and a patience for the kids, both factors that you can’t teach. | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/struggle-to-find-daycare-employees-a-growing-problem/ | 2023-07-29T04:57:55 | 1 | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/struggle-to-find-daycare-employees-a-growing-problem/ |
(The Hill) – A court in France sentenced a United Airlines pilot to a six-month suspended prison term and one-year suspended license for showing up to work intoxicated Tuesday, local media outlets reported.
The pilot, reportedly a 63-year-old American, referred to only as “Henry W.” in French media, showed up to work at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Airport with a blood alcohol content three times the legal limit for pilots in Europe. According to an emailed statement by United sent to The Hill, the flight was headed to Washington Dulles International Airport, despite other reports it was going to Dallas.
“The safety of our customers and crew is always our top priority,” the United statement said. “We hold all our employees to the highest standards and have a strict no-tolerance policy for alcohol. This employee was immediately removed from service and we are fully cooperating with local authorities.”
According to a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, by the National Gendarmerie, a French national law enforcement organization, the pilot’s license is suspended for a year. The incident reportedly occurred at 3 p.m. Sunday. | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/united-airlines-pilot-has-license-suspended-after-turning-up-drunk-to-work/ | 2023-07-29T04:58:01 | 0 | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/united-airlines-pilot-has-license-suspended-after-turning-up-drunk-to-work/ |
WEST MONROE, La. (KTVE/KARD)— On FOX 14 News at 6:30; Sports Reporter Dominique Williams recaps Louisiana Tech football open first day of Fall practice. Ruston High makes a positive impact with its annual Bearcats Football Camp ahead of the start of fall practice next week.
Lastly, the Ruston Sweetees 6U Softball set to compete at Dixie Softball World Series in Alexandra. Hear from Head Coach Travis Whitehead on the team’s journey to the title match.
For complete coverage of all sports teams in Northeast Louisiana, please follow KTVE Sports on social media at
@KTVEKARDSports (Twitter), KTVE10KARD14 (Facebook), or visit the sports page at MyArkLaMiss.com. | https://www.myarklamiss.com/sports/local-sports/fox-14-sportscast-at-630-july-28/ | 2023-07-29T04:58:07 | 1 | https://www.myarklamiss.com/sports/local-sports/fox-14-sportscast-at-630-july-28/ |
RUSTON, La. (KTVE/KARD)— In high school sports, Ruston High held its annual Bearcats football camp this week. A total of 260 kids from elementary to 9th grade participated in the camp Tuesday and Wednesday.
The kids were able to learn drills and techniques from current players and the coaching staff. Plus the players got to have some of playing bearcat football which in other words back yard football.
Ruston Junior High football players Kendrick Waldon and Tristen Smith shared their favorite moments of the camp.
Now the Ruston high school football team will open fall practice starting Monday
the Bearcats head into the 2023 season after finishing 2022 as state runner-up, after the long drought of no-state appearance.
I spoke with head coach Jerrod Baugh on the takeaway from last season as they enter a new one.
“I think the guys that are returning have a chip on her shoulder,” said Baugh. “You know it was a really good season. We were able to accomplish a lot of things here that haven’t been done in a long time but you know when you enjoy that while you’re in the middle of it. Then once it’s over and you don’t win that last ball game. I think the guys are returning to look back at that and feel like we missed an opportunity and I think they put in the work this summer. I think they’ll do that through the season to try to make sure we’re doing enough to not only make it back but allow themselves to win.
The Ruston Bearcats will begin the regular season on Friday, Sept. 1, at home against Warren Easton. One of Ruston’s only two losses last season.
Ruston’s 2022 season saw many first during the ride to the state championships. Ruston ended West Monroe’s district streak and claimed the District 2-5A title after defeating the rebels 35-18 to close the regular season.
The Bearcats returned to the Super Dome for the first time since 1998 and finished as state runner-up.
Coach has started the theme for the upcoming 2023 season as #UnfinishedBusiness. | https://www.myarklamiss.com/sports/ruston-high-makes-a-positive-impact-with-its-annual-bearcats-football-camp-ahead-of-the-start-of-fall-practice-next-week/ | 2023-07-29T04:58:13 | 0 | https://www.myarklamiss.com/sports/ruston-high-makes-a-positive-impact-with-its-annual-bearcats-football-camp-ahead-of-the-start-of-fall-practice-next-week/ |
PHOENIX, July 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - 4Front Ventures Corp. (CSE: FFNT) (OTCQX: FFNTF) ("4Front" or the "Company"), a vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis operator and retailer, announced that it has entered into a consulting agreement with Leo Gontmakher, Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the "Consulting Agreement"). Pursuant to the Consulting Agreement, the Company has agreed to: (i) pay Mr. Gontmakher an annual base fee of US$400,000 payable in regular installments; (ii) issue 6,000,000 subordinate voting shares in the capital of the Company (each a "SVS") at a deemed issue price of CAD$0.17 per SVS as a signing bonus; (iii) if Mr. Gontmakher completes the initial term of the Consulting Agreement ending December 31, 2023, issue 1,800,000 SVS if certain financial metrics of the Company are achieved by year-end 2023 and such number of SVS sufficient to make him a 1.00% owner calculated on a fully diluted basis to the extent not the case at the time of issuance, such SVS to be priced in accordance with the Canadian Securities Exchange policy at the time of issuance; and (iv) if Mr. Gontmakher remains continuously retained through the date of the closing of a transaction that results in a Change in Control (as defined in the Consulting Agreement), Mr. Gontmakher shall be eligible to receive a portion of the transaction bonus pool allocated for senior executives, which shall be equal to 1.00% of the fair market value of all consideration paid to the Company's stockholders in the transaction, subject to applicable terms and conditions.
In addition, the Company has agreed to issue 3,300,250 SVS at a deemed issue price of CAD$0.17 per SVS to Mr. Gontmakher in connection with his fiscal year-end 2022 compensation package (collectively with the issuances contemplated by the Consulting Agreement, the "Gontmakher Issuances").
The Company also announced that it has agreed to issue a total of 9,853,830 restricted share units ("RSUs"), at a deemed issue price of CAD$0.165 based on the closing price of the SVS on July 27, 2023, to certain officers and employees of the Company in payment of fiscal year-end 2022 bonus entitlements. The RSUs are fully vested as of the grant date and represent the right to receive one (1) SVS upon the earliest to occur of a change in control, disability, death, unforeseeable emergency, separation from service other than for cause, or the date that is eighteen (18) months following the grant date, each as more particularly described in the applicable restricted share unit agreement (collectively, the "RSU Grant").
Additionally, the Company has entered into a definitive agreement with its senior secured lender, LI Lending, LLC (the "Lender") to extend the maturity date, reduce the interest payable, and expand the third-party financings available under the December 17, 2020 Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement ("Loan") between 4Front and the Lender on the terms and conditions set out in the amending agreement (collectively, the "Extension"), as initially announced in a press release dated May 6, 2023. Under the Extension, the Lender has extended the maturity date of the Loan to May 1, 2026 and reduced the interest payable to 12.0% per year, payable monthly.
Currently, the Lender holds a senior secured position on all assets of 4Front and certain of its subsidiaries and the right of consent over any additional financings secured by those assets. Pursuant to the Extension, the Lender consents to equipment financing collateralized by 4Front equipment of up to US$5 million; secured convertible debt senior to the Loan collateralized by all assets of 4Front of up to US$10 million; and secured debt senior to the Loan collateralized by the assets of new Illinois retail locations of up to US$20 million, with Lender agreeing to take a junior secured position on those assets.
Under the terms of the Extension, the Lender will receive a number of warrants equal to 33% of the Loan balance as of the current maturity date (US$17,061,000) each exercisable into one SVS for a term equal to the term of the Loan and with an exercise price not less than US$0.17 (each a "Warrant"). If 4Front obtains a bona fide offer from a third party to refinance the Loan within six months of the effective date of the definitive documents effectuating the Extension, the Lender will have the option to match the proposed terms of the offer or keep the Loan in force; upon exercise of either option, the Lender's Warrant coverage will be reduced to 30% of the Loan balance as of the current maturity date. If 4Front obtains permitted secured debt senior to the Loan up to US$8 million, 75% of the Warrants will become exercisable by cashless exercise. If 4Front obtains permitted secured debt senior to the Loan in excess of US$8 million (up to the US$10 million maximum), 100% of the Warrants will become exercisable by cashless exercise. The Extension also provides that the Company will pay the Lender an origination fee equal to 1.00% of the Loan balance at the current maturity date (US$51 million), payable in cash on May 1, 2024.
Under the terms of the Extension, while the Loan is outstanding, if 4Front unilaterally removes its CEO or President from their current positions without either cause or Lender consent the maturity date of the Loan will be accelerated to the date that is 30 days after the first unilateral removal.
Leo Gontmakher, the CEO and a director of the Company, and Roman Tkachenko, a director of the Company, each own 14.28% of the Lender.
Participation of related parties of the Company in the Gontmakher Issuances and RSU Grant constitute "related party transactions" as defined under Multilateral Instrument - 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company intends to rely on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements provided under sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(a) of MI 61-101 on the basis that participation in the Gontmakher Issuances and RSU Grant by insiders will not exceed 25% of the fair market value of the Company's market capitalization and also because the SVS trade only on the Canadian Securities Exchange. A material change report was not filed in connection with the participation of the insiders at least 21 days in advance of the closing of the Gontmakher Issuances and RSU Grant, which the Company deemed reasonable in the circumstances.
4Front is a national, vertically integrated multi-state cannabis operator who owns or manages operations and facilities in strategic medical and adult-use cannabis markets, including California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan and Washington. Since its founding in 2011, 4Front has built a strong reputation for its high standards and low-cost cultivation and production methodologies earned through a track record of success in facility design, cultivation, genetics, growing processes, manufacturing, purchasing, distribution, and retail. To date, 4Front has successfully brought to market more than 20 different cannabis brands and over 1800 products, which are strategically distributed through its fully owned and operated Mission dispensaries and retail outlets in its core markets. As the Company continues to drive value for its shareholders, its team is applying its decade of expertise in the sector across the cannabis industry value chain and ecosystem. For more information, visit https://4frontventures.com/.
Certain statements in this press release may be considered forward-looking, such as statements containing the terms and conditions of the proposed Extension, the entering into of definitive documentation and regulatory approval and other forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words and phrases such as "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "continue," "could," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "seek," "should," "will," "would," "expect," "objective," "projection," "forecast," "goal," "guidance," "outlook," "effort," "target" or the negative of such words and other comparable terminology. However, the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Any forward-looking statements expressing an expectation or belief as to future events is expressed in good faith and believed to be reasonable at the time such forward-looking statement is made. However, these statements are not guarantees of future events and involve risks, uncertainties and other factors beyond 4Front's control. Therefore, you are cautioned against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed in any forward-looking statement. Except as required by applicable law, including Canadian and U.S. federal securities laws, 4Front does not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform them to actual results or revised expectations.
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SOURCE 4Front Ventures Corp. | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2023/07/29/4front-announces-executive-team-equity-compensation-details-signs-definitive-agreement-extension-senior-secured-debt/ | 2023-07-29T04:58:32 | 0 | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2023/07/29/4front-announces-executive-team-equity-compensation-details-signs-definitive-agreement-extension-senior-secured-debt/ |
Arthur Fils vs. Alexander Zverev: Prediction and Match Betting Odds | Hamburg European Open
Arthur Fils will face Alexander Zverev in the Hamburg European Open semifinals on Saturday, July 29.
In this Semifinal matchup, Zverev is the favorite (-375) against Fils (+270) .
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Arthur Fils vs. Alexander Zverev Match Information
- Tournament: The Hamburg European Open
- Round: Semifinals
- Date: Saturday, July 29
- Venue: MatchMaker Sports Gmbh
- Location: Hamburg, Germany
- Court Surface: Clay
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Arthur Fils vs. Alexander Zverev Prediction and Odds
Based on the moneyline in this match, Alexander Zverev has a 78.9% chance to win.
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Arthur Fils vs. Alexander Zverev Trends and Insights
- In the quarterfinals on Friday, Fils eliminated No. 4-ranked Casper Ruud, 6-0, 6-4.
- Zverev was victorious 6-3, 6-4 versus Luca van Assche in the quarterfinals on Friday.
- In his 29 matches over the past year across all court types, Fils has played an average of 21.4 games (20.7 in best-of-three matches).
- Fils has played 14 matches on clay over the past 12 months, and 22.2 games per match (21.2 in best-of-three matches).
- In his 42 matches in the past 12 months across all court types, Zverev is averaging 26.0 games per match (22.6 in best-of-three matches) and winning 53.2% of those games.
- Zverev has averaged 24.1 games per match (21.4 in best-of-three matches) and 9.7 games per set in 22 matches on clay surfaces in the past 12 months.
- Dating back to 2015, Fils and Zverev have not matched up on the court.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.ktre.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/arthur-fils-vs-alexander-zverev-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-hamburg-european-open/ | 2023-07-29T04:58:38 | 1 | https://www.ktre.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/arthur-fils-vs-alexander-zverev-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-hamburg-european-open/ |
Fabio Fognini vs. Joris de Loore: Prediction and Match Betting Odds | ATP Challenger Zug, Switzerland Men Singles 2023
In the ATP Challenger Zug, Switzerland Men Singles 2023 semifinals on Saturday, Fabio Fognini faces Joris de Loore.
With -175 odds, Fognini is favored over de Loore (+125) for this match.
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Fabio Fognini vs. Joris de Loore Match Information
- Tournament: The ATP Challenger Zug, Switzerland Men Singles 2023
- Round: Semifinals
- Date: Saturday, July 29
- Venue: Tennisclub Zug
- Location: Zug, Switzerland
- Court Surface: Clay
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Fabio Fognini vs. Joris de Loore Prediction and Odds
Based on the moneyline in this match, Fabio Fognini has a 63.6% chance to win.
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Fabio Fognini vs. Joris de Loore Trends and Insights
- Fognini advanced past Jakub Mensik 6-4, 6-2 in the quarterfinals on Friday.
- In the quarterfinals on Friday, de Loore took down No. 209-ranked Matteo Gigante, winning 3-6, 7-6, 6-4.
- Fognini has played 39 matches over the past 12 months (across all court surfaces), and 25.3 games per match (23.5 in best-of-three matches).
- In his 16 matches on clay over the past year, Fognini has played an average of 24.8 games (22.0 in best-of-three matches).
- de Loore has played two matches in the past year across all court types, averaging 22.5 games per match (22.5 in best-of-three matches) and winning 42.2% of those games.
- de Loore has averaged 18.0 games per match (18.0 in best-of-three matches) and 9.0 games per set in one match on clay courts in the past year.
- This is the first time that Fognini and de Loore have matched up in the last five years.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.ktre.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/fabio-fognini-vs-joris-de-loore-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-atp-challenger-zug-switzerland-men-singles-2023/ | 2023-07-29T04:58:45 | 0 | https://www.ktre.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/fabio-fognini-vs-joris-de-loore-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-atp-challenger-zug-switzerland-men-singles-2023/ |
Matteo Arnaldi vs. Alexei Popyrin: Prediction and Match Betting Odds | Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag
On Saturday, Matteo Arnaldi (No. 76 in the world) meets Alexei Popyrin (No. 90) in the semifinals of the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag.
Arnaldi is the favorite (-150) in this match, compared to the underdog Popyrin, who is +115.
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Matteo Arnaldi vs. Alexei Popyrin Match Information
- Tournament: The Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag
- Round: Semifinals
- Date: Saturday, July 29
- Venue: Stadium Goran Ivanisevic in ITC Stella Maris
- Location: Umag, Croatia
- Court Surface: Clay
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Matteo Arnaldi vs. Alexei Popyrin Prediction and Odds
Based on the moneyline in this match, Matteo Arnaldi has a 60.0% chance to win.
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Matteo Arnaldi vs. Alexei Popyrin Trends and Insights
- In the quarterfinals on Friday, Arnaldi advanced past No. 33-ranked Jiri Lehecka, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
- In the quarterfinals on Friday, Popyrin beat No. 287-ranked Dino Prizmic, winning 7-6, 7-5.
- Arnaldi has played 24.5 games per match (23.2 in best-of-three matches) in his 35 matches over the past year (across all court types).
- On clay, Arnaldi has played 18 matches over the past 12 months, totaling 24.5 games per match (23.4 in best-of-three matches) while winning 54.2% of games.
- In the past year, Popyrin has competed in 47 total matches (across all court types), winning 49.3% of the games. He averages 28.0 games per match (25.3 in best-of-three matches) and 10.6 games per set.
- On clay surfaces, Popyrin has played 16 matches and averaged 26.7 games per match (26.0 in best-of-three matches) and 10.2 games per set.
- Dating back to 2015, Arnaldi and Popyrin have not competed against each other.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.ktre.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/matteo-arnaldi-vs-alexei-popyrin-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-plava-laguna-croatia-open-umag/ | 2023-07-29T04:58:52 | 0 | https://www.ktre.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/matteo-arnaldi-vs-alexei-popyrin-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-plava-laguna-croatia-open-umag/ |
UN says it’s forced to cut food aid to millions globally because of a funding crisis
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations has been forced to cut food, cash payments and assistance to millions of people in many countries because of “a crippling funding crisis” that has seen its donations plummet by about half as acute hunger is hitting record levels, a top official said Friday.
Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the World Food Program, told a news conference that at least 38 of the 86 countries where WFP operates have already seen cuts or plan to cut assistance soon — including Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen and West Africa.
He said WFP’s operating requirement is $20 billion to deliver aid to everyone in need, but it was aiming for between $10 billion and $14 billion, which was what the agency had received in the past few years.
“We’re still aiming at that, but we have only so far this year gotten to about half of that, around $5 billion,” Skau said.
He said humanitarian needs were “going through the roof” in 2021 and 2022 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine and its global implications. “Those needs continue to grow, those drivers are still there,” he said, “but the funding is drying up. So we’re looking at 2024 (being) even more dire.”
“The largest food and nutrition crisis in history today persists,” Skau said. “This year, 345 million people continue to be acutely food insecure while hundreds of millions of people are at risk of worsening hunger.”
Skau said conflict and insecurity remain the primary drivers of acute hunger around the world, along with climate change, unrelenting disasters, persistent food price inflation and mounting debt stress — all during a slowdown in the global economy.
WFP is looking to diversify its funding base, but he also urged the agency’s traditional donors to “step up and support us through this very difficult time.”
Asked why funding was drying up, Skau said to ask the donors.
“But it’s clear that aid budgets, humanitarian budgets, both in Europe and the United States, (are) not where they were in 2021-2022,” he said.
Skau said that in March, WFP was forced to cut rations from 75% to 50% for communities in Afghanistan facing emergency levels of hunger, and in May it was forced to cut food for 8 million people — 66% of the people it was assisting. Now, it is helping just 5 million people, he said. In Syria, 5.5 million people who relied on WFP for food were already on 50% rations, Skau said, and in July the agency cut all rations to 2.5 million of them. In the Palestinian territories, WFP cut its cash assistance by 20% in May and in June. It cut its caseload by 60%, or 200,000 people. And in Yemen, he said, a huge funding gap will force WFP to cut aid to 7 million people as early as August.
In West Africa, where acute hunger is on the rise, Skau said, most countries are facing extensive ration cuts, particularly WFP’s seven largest crisis operations: Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad, Central African Republic, Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon.
He said cutting aid to people who are only at the hunger level of crisis to help save those literally starving or in the category of catastrophic hunger means that those dropped will rapidly fall into the emergency and catastrophe categories, “and so we will have an additional humanitarian emergency on our hands down the road.”
“Ration cuts are clearly not the way to go forward,” Skau said.
He urged world leaders to prioritize humanitarian funding and invest in long-tern solutions to conflicts, poverty, development and other root causes of the current crisis.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.weau.com/2023/07/29/un-says-its-forced-cut-food-aid-millions-globally-because-funding-crisis/ | 2023-07-29T04:58:55 | 1 | https://www.weau.com/2023/07/29/un-says-its-forced-cut-food-aid-millions-globally-because-funding-crisis/ |
The San Diego Padres inducted Jake Peavy into the Major League Baseball team’s Hall of Fame on Friday night in a ceremony before a game against the Texas Rangers.
“I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart that the day I showed up as a small-town Alabama boy to San Diego, you loved me,” Peavy told the crowd at Petco Park. “My family, my support system, I couldn’t have a better one. … To you fans, it was an honor to put a uniform on and play for you as a San Diego Padre -- the honor of a lifetime, like a dream.”
The Padres selected Peavy from St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Mobile a few days after his 18th birthday in the 15th round of the 1999 draft, and he picked the pros over Auburn. Peavy reached the big leagues in 2002 and pitched through the 2016 campaign, playing in eight seasons with San Diego, five with the Chicago White Sox, three with San Francisco and two with the Boston Red Sox.
While with San Diego, Peavy went to the MLB All-Star Game in 2005 and 2007 and was the National League’s starting pitcher for the latter contest. He led the National League in strikeouts twice and earned-run average twice and in wins once.
In 2007, Peavy achieved a pitching triple crown by leading the league in wins, strikeouts and ERA.
Peavy remains the Padres’ career strikeout leader and is tied for second in franchise history in wins.
RELATED: ASTROS TRADE FOR FORMER ALABAMA HIGH SCHOOL STAR FOR SECOND TIME
Bruce Bochy served as San Diego’s manager during the first four seasons of the pitcher’s career, and he was at Friday night’s game as the manager of the Rangers.
“I still remember this young kid coming up pitching his first game against the Yankees,” Bochy said. “What a terrific job he did. Just the way handled himself, I knew we had something special at the time.”
Peavy became the ninth former Padres player inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame, joining Ken Caminiti, Nate Colbert, Tony Gwynn, Trevor Hoffman, Randy Jones, Benito Santiago, Garry Templeton and Dave Winfield. He’s the second starting pitcher in the lineup after Jones.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1. | https://www.al.com/sports/2023/07/former-mobile-prep-star-enters-san-diego-padres-hall-of-fame.html | 2023-07-29T04:58:55 | 1 | https://www.al.com/sports/2023/07/former-mobile-prep-star-enters-san-diego-padres-hall-of-fame.html |
Stan Wawrinka vs. Lorenzo Sonego: Prediction and Match Betting Odds | Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag
In the semifinals of the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag on Saturday, Stan Wawrinka (ranked No. 72) faces Lorenzo Sonego (No. 43).
In this Semifinal matchup against Sonego (+100), Wawrinka is the favorite with -125 odds.
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Stan Wawrinka vs. Lorenzo Sonego Match Information
- Tournament: The Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag
- Round: Semifinals
- Date: Saturday, July 29
- Venue: Stadium Goran Ivanisevic in ITC Stella Maris
- Location: Umag, Croatia
- Court Surface: Clay
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Stan Wawrinka vs. Lorenzo Sonego Prediction and Odds
Based on the moneyline in this match, Stan Wawrinka has a 55.6% chance to win.
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Stan Wawrinka vs. Lorenzo Sonego Trends and Insights
- Wawrinka is looking to stay on track after a 6-4, 7-5 victory over No. 59-ranked Roberto Carballes Baena in Friday's quarterfinals.
- Sonego advanced to the semifinals by taking down No. 104-ranked Jaume Munar 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 on Friday.
- Wawrinka has played 27.3 games per match (24.6 in best-of-three matches) in his 40 matches over the past year (across all court surfaces).
- On clay, Wawrinka has played 11 matches over the past year, totaling 28.7 games per match (23.4 in best-of-three matches) while winning 49.7% of games.
- Sonego has averaged 25.4 games per match (22.7 in best-of-three matches) through his 55 matches played in the past year across all court surfaces, while winning 50.8% of the games.
- Sonego has averaged 27.9 games per match (23.1 in best-of-three matches) and 9.8 games per set in 13 matches on clay courts in the past 12 months.
- Wawrinka and Sonego have not played each other since 2015.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.ktre.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/stan-wawrinka-vs-lorenzo-sonego-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-plava-laguna-croatia-open-umag/ | 2023-07-29T04:58:58 | 0 | https://www.ktre.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/stan-wawrinka-vs-lorenzo-sonego-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-plava-laguna-croatia-open-umag/ |
USC still preparing for European tour as Bronny James recovers at home after cardiac arrest
LOS ANGELES (AP) — As Bronny James continues to recover after going into cardiac arrest, his Southern California teammates have been at practice to prepare for a 10-day exhibition tour of Greece and Croatia that begins next week.
The tour will run from from Aug. 5-15 and see the Trojans visit Athens and Mykonos, Greece, and Dubrovnik, Croatia. Teams are allowed to go on a foreign tour once every four years under NCAA rules.
James was discharged from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Thursday and is resting at home, according to a statement from the hospital. His father, Lakers superstar LeBron James, also posted on social media that his family is “safe and healthy.”
Bronny James will continue to undergo tests to determine the cause of his cardiac arrest, which occurred Monday morning during a workout at USC’s Galen Center.
Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart abruptly stops beating, because of a problem with its electrical activity. While uncommon in young people, sudden cardiac arrest is the leading medical cause of death in young athletes. Some studies have estimated one sudden cardiac death in 50,000 to 80,000 young athletes each year.
No information has been made public about what may have caused Bronny James’ cardiac arrest. But one of the most common causes in young athletes is an underlying problem with the heart’s structure, such as a genetic condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that leads to a thickened heart muscle more prone to irregular electrical activity. A more rare cause is commotio cordis, which occurs when someone receives a sharp blow to the chest during a specific part of the heartbeat’s cycle — what happened to Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin earlier this year.
James was the second high-profile USC basketball recruit to go into cardiac arrest in the last year. Vincent Iwuchuwku also was stricken during a workout last July, but the 7-foot-1 center returned to the court six months later and appeared in 14 games.
It’s too soon to know how James’ playing career could be affected, especially without a lot of information being made public. Various experts point to James’ quick move out of intensive care and being released three days later as encouraging.
The upcoming trip is important for the Trojans as James recovers. USC had the nation’s fourth-ranked recruiting class, including the top-rated player in guard Isaiah Collier.
James committed to the Trojans in May after the 6-foot-3 18-year-old became one of the nation’s top prospects as a two-way point guard for Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, California.
He is the sixth McDonald’s All-American to come to USC since Andy Enfield became coach in 2013.
With his family fame and huge social media following, Bronny James also has the top name, image and likeness valuation in sports at $6.3 million, as estimated by On3.com. He is the oldest of LeBron and Savannah James’ three children.
___
AP Sports Writer Greg Beacham and AP Health & Science Writer Lauran Neergard contributed to this report.
___
AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/lebron-james
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.weau.com/2023/07/29/usc-still-preparing-european-tour-bronny-james-recovers-home-after-cardiac-arrest/ | 2023-07-29T04:59:01 | 0 | https://www.weau.com/2023/07/29/usc-still-preparing-european-tour-bronny-james-recovers-home-after-cardiac-arrest/ |
Taylor Fritz vs. Jeffrey John Wolf: Prediction and Match Betting Odds | Truist Atlanta Open
Taylor Fritz (No. 9 ranking) will face Jeffrey John Wolf (No. 46) in the semifinals of the Truist Atlanta Open on Saturday, July 29.
With -250 odds, Fritz is the favorite against Wolf (+190) for this matchup.
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Taylor Fritz vs. Jeffrey John Wolf Match Information
- Tournament: The Truist Atlanta Open
- Round: Semifinals
- Date: Saturday, July 29
- Venue: Atlantic Station
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
- Court Surface: Hard
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Taylor Fritz vs. Jeffrey John Wolf Prediction and Odds
Based on the moneyline in this match, Taylor Fritz has a 71.4% chance to win.
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Taylor Fritz vs. Jeffrey John Wolf Trends and Insights
- In the quarterfinals on Friday, Fritz beat No. 439-ranked Kei Nishikori, 6-4, 6-2.
- Wolf came out on top 6-2, 6-3 versus Dominik Koepfer in the quarterfinals on Friday.
- Fritz has played 68 matches over the past 12 months across all court surfaces, and 26.2 games per match (24.1 in best-of-three matches).
- In his 44 matches on hard courts over the past 12 months, Fritz has played an average of 25.8 games (24.3 in best-of-three matches).
- Wolf is averaging 24.5 games per match (22.3 in best-of-three matches) through his 59 matches played in the past 12 months across all court types, winning 52.6% of those games.
- Wolf has averaged 24.9 games per match (22.8 in best-of-three matches) and 9.9 games per set in 41 matches on hard courts in the past 12 months, winning 52.7% of those games.
- This is the first time that Fritz and Wolf have played in the last five years.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.ktre.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/taylor-fritz-vs-jeffrey-john-wolf-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-truist-atlanta-open/ | 2023-07-29T04:59:05 | 1 | https://www.ktre.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/taylor-fritz-vs-jeffrey-john-wolf-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-truist-atlanta-open/ |
Arthur Fils vs. Alexander Zverev: Prediction and Match Betting Odds | Hamburg European Open
Arthur Fils will face Alexander Zverev in the Hamburg European Open semifinals on Saturday, July 29.
In this Semifinal matchup, Zverev is the favorite (-375) against Fils (+270) .
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Arthur Fils vs. Alexander Zverev Match Information
- Tournament: The Hamburg European Open
- Round: Semifinals
- Date: Saturday, July 29
- Venue: MatchMaker Sports Gmbh
- Location: Hamburg, Germany
- Court Surface: Clay
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Arthur Fils vs. Alexander Zverev Prediction and Odds
Based on the moneyline in this match, Alexander Zverev has a 78.9% chance to win.
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Arthur Fils vs. Alexander Zverev Trends and Insights
- In the quarterfinals on Friday, Fils eliminated No. 4-ranked Casper Ruud, 6-0, 6-4.
- Zverev was victorious 6-3, 6-4 versus Luca van Assche in the quarterfinals on Friday.
- In his 29 matches over the past year across all court types, Fils has played an average of 21.4 games (20.7 in best-of-three matches).
- Fils has played 14 matches on clay over the past 12 months, and 22.2 games per match (21.2 in best-of-three matches).
- In his 42 matches in the past 12 months across all court types, Zverev is averaging 26.0 games per match (22.6 in best-of-three matches) and winning 53.2% of those games.
- Zverev has averaged 24.1 games per match (21.4 in best-of-three matches) and 9.7 games per set in 22 matches on clay surfaces in the past 12 months.
- Dating back to 2015, Fils and Zverev have not matched up on the court.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.weau.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/arthur-fils-vs-alexander-zverev-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-hamburg-european-open/ | 2023-07-29T04:59:07 | 0 | https://www.weau.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/arthur-fils-vs-alexander-zverev-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-hamburg-european-open/ |
Fabio Fognini vs. Joris de Loore: Prediction and Match Betting Odds | ATP Challenger Zug, Switzerland Men Singles 2023
In the ATP Challenger Zug, Switzerland Men Singles 2023 semifinals on Saturday, Fabio Fognini faces Joris de Loore.
With -175 odds, Fognini is favored over de Loore (+125) for this match.
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Fabio Fognini vs. Joris de Loore Match Information
- Tournament: The ATP Challenger Zug, Switzerland Men Singles 2023
- Round: Semifinals
- Date: Saturday, July 29
- Venue: Tennisclub Zug
- Location: Zug, Switzerland
- Court Surface: Clay
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Fabio Fognini vs. Joris de Loore Prediction and Odds
Based on the moneyline in this match, Fabio Fognini has a 63.6% chance to win.
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Fabio Fognini vs. Joris de Loore Trends and Insights
- Fognini advanced past Jakub Mensik 6-4, 6-2 in the quarterfinals on Friday.
- In the quarterfinals on Friday, de Loore took down No. 209-ranked Matteo Gigante, winning 3-6, 7-6, 6-4.
- Fognini has played 39 matches over the past 12 months (across all court surfaces), and 25.3 games per match (23.5 in best-of-three matches).
- In his 16 matches on clay over the past year, Fognini has played an average of 24.8 games (22.0 in best-of-three matches).
- de Loore has played two matches in the past year across all court types, averaging 22.5 games per match (22.5 in best-of-three matches) and winning 42.2% of those games.
- de Loore has averaged 18.0 games per match (18.0 in best-of-three matches) and 9.0 games per set in one match on clay courts in the past year.
- This is the first time that Fognini and de Loore have matched up in the last five years.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.weau.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/fabio-fognini-vs-joris-de-loore-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-atp-challenger-zug-switzerland-men-singles-2023/ | 2023-07-29T04:59:13 | 1 | https://www.weau.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/fabio-fognini-vs-joris-de-loore-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-atp-challenger-zug-switzerland-men-singles-2023/ |
Matteo Arnaldi vs. Alexei Popyrin: Prediction and Match Betting Odds | Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag
On Saturday, Matteo Arnaldi (No. 76 in the world) meets Alexei Popyrin (No. 90) in the semifinals of the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag.
Arnaldi is the favorite (-150) in this match, compared to the underdog Popyrin, who is +115.
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Matteo Arnaldi vs. Alexei Popyrin Match Information
- Tournament: The Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag
- Round: Semifinals
- Date: Saturday, July 29
- Venue: Stadium Goran Ivanisevic in ITC Stella Maris
- Location: Umag, Croatia
- Court Surface: Clay
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Matteo Arnaldi vs. Alexei Popyrin Prediction and Odds
Based on the moneyline in this match, Matteo Arnaldi has a 60.0% chance to win.
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Matteo Arnaldi vs. Alexei Popyrin Trends and Insights
- In the quarterfinals on Friday, Arnaldi advanced past No. 33-ranked Jiri Lehecka, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
- In the quarterfinals on Friday, Popyrin beat No. 287-ranked Dino Prizmic, winning 7-6, 7-5.
- Arnaldi has played 24.5 games per match (23.2 in best-of-three matches) in his 35 matches over the past year (across all court types).
- On clay, Arnaldi has played 18 matches over the past 12 months, totaling 24.5 games per match (23.4 in best-of-three matches) while winning 54.2% of games.
- In the past year, Popyrin has competed in 47 total matches (across all court types), winning 49.3% of the games. He averages 28.0 games per match (25.3 in best-of-three matches) and 10.6 games per set.
- On clay surfaces, Popyrin has played 16 matches and averaged 26.7 games per match (26.0 in best-of-three matches) and 10.2 games per set.
- Dating back to 2015, Arnaldi and Popyrin have not competed against each other.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.weau.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/matteo-arnaldi-vs-alexei-popyrin-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-plava-laguna-croatia-open-umag/ | 2023-07-29T04:59:19 | 0 | https://www.weau.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/matteo-arnaldi-vs-alexei-popyrin-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-plava-laguna-croatia-open-umag/ |
Stan Wawrinka vs. Lorenzo Sonego: Prediction and Match Betting Odds | Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag
In the semifinals of the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag on Saturday, Stan Wawrinka (ranked No. 72) faces Lorenzo Sonego (No. 43).
In this Semifinal matchup against Sonego (+100), Wawrinka is the favorite with -125 odds.
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Stan Wawrinka vs. Lorenzo Sonego Match Information
- Tournament: The Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag
- Round: Semifinals
- Date: Saturday, July 29
- Venue: Stadium Goran Ivanisevic in ITC Stella Maris
- Location: Umag, Croatia
- Court Surface: Clay
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Stan Wawrinka vs. Lorenzo Sonego Prediction and Odds
Based on the moneyline in this match, Stan Wawrinka has a 55.6% chance to win.
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Stan Wawrinka vs. Lorenzo Sonego Trends and Insights
- Wawrinka is looking to stay on track after a 6-4, 7-5 victory over No. 59-ranked Roberto Carballes Baena in Friday's quarterfinals.
- Sonego advanced to the semifinals by taking down No. 104-ranked Jaume Munar 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 on Friday.
- Wawrinka has played 27.3 games per match (24.6 in best-of-three matches) in his 40 matches over the past year (across all court surfaces).
- On clay, Wawrinka has played 11 matches over the past year, totaling 28.7 games per match (23.4 in best-of-three matches) while winning 49.7% of games.
- Sonego has averaged 25.4 games per match (22.7 in best-of-three matches) through his 55 matches played in the past year across all court surfaces, while winning 50.8% of the games.
- Sonego has averaged 27.9 games per match (23.1 in best-of-three matches) and 9.8 games per set in 13 matches on clay courts in the past 12 months.
- Wawrinka and Sonego have not played each other since 2015.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.weau.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/stan-wawrinka-vs-lorenzo-sonego-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-plava-laguna-croatia-open-umag/ | 2023-07-29T04:59:25 | 1 | https://www.weau.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/stan-wawrinka-vs-lorenzo-sonego-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-plava-laguna-croatia-open-umag/ |
CHICAGO — Officers searching the apartment of a Chicago man accused of fatally stabbing a man on a restaurant's roof discovered the body of a young woman in his refrigerator earlier this month, authorities said.
Brandon Sanders, 33, has not been charged in the death of Iman Al-Sarraj, 18, whose beaten body was found in early July in a refrigerator at his apartment in Chicago's West Ridge neighborhood.
But he was arrested June 29 and charged with murder, robbery and burglary in the May killing of Rasim Katanic, a 69-year-old who was a Bosnian War refugee, WLS-TV reported.
Prosecutors said surveillance footage shows Sanders climbing a stairwell on May 12 to a rooftop where Katanic was working on a cooler compressor atop Tahoora Sweets & Bakery. Katanic was later found stabbed to death on that roof.
At his bail hearing, Sanders’ attorney said, “There are some issues with a mental state.” Sanders remains held without bail.
Katanic’s daughter, Aida Sutardio, told the Chicago Sun-Times her father had retired at 66 but continued doing maintenance work for longtime clients of his heating, ventilation and air conditioning business, including the restaurant where he was found on the roof.
She said she is having a difficult time grasping “that he was slaughtered on top of a roof.”
“We never thought that this is how his life would end,” Sutardio said.
The Associated Press left telephone messages Friday with the Cook County State's Attorney’s Office seeking comment on the status of the investigation into Al-Sarraj's death.
Al-Sarraj's father, Khalil Sarraj, said his daughter was born in Chicago after he came to the United States from Israel. “My heart is shattered in a million pieces,” he said. | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/nation-world/chicago-police-find-woman-dead-in-refrigerator/507-1ad830b3-25ba-4509-b0ce-c6a282b5fa37 | 2023-07-29T04:59:31 | 1 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/nation-world/chicago-police-find-woman-dead-in-refrigerator/507-1ad830b3-25ba-4509-b0ce-c6a282b5fa37 |
Taylor Fritz vs. Jeffrey John Wolf: Prediction and Match Betting Odds | Truist Atlanta Open
Taylor Fritz (No. 9 ranking) will face Jeffrey John Wolf (No. 46) in the semifinals of the Truist Atlanta Open on Saturday, July 29.
With -250 odds, Fritz is the favorite against Wolf (+190) for this matchup.
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Taylor Fritz vs. Jeffrey John Wolf Match Information
- Tournament: The Truist Atlanta Open
- Round: Semifinals
- Date: Saturday, July 29
- Venue: Atlantic Station
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
- Court Surface: Hard
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Taylor Fritz vs. Jeffrey John Wolf Prediction and Odds
Based on the moneyline in this match, Taylor Fritz has a 71.4% chance to win.
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Taylor Fritz vs. Jeffrey John Wolf Trends and Insights
- In the quarterfinals on Friday, Fritz beat No. 439-ranked Kei Nishikori, 6-4, 6-2.
- Wolf came out on top 6-2, 6-3 versus Dominik Koepfer in the quarterfinals on Friday.
- Fritz has played 68 matches over the past 12 months across all court surfaces, and 26.2 games per match (24.1 in best-of-three matches).
- In his 44 matches on hard courts over the past 12 months, Fritz has played an average of 25.8 games (24.3 in best-of-three matches).
- Wolf is averaging 24.5 games per match (22.3 in best-of-three matches) through his 59 matches played in the past 12 months across all court types, winning 52.6% of those games.
- Wolf has averaged 24.9 games per match (22.8 in best-of-three matches) and 9.9 games per set in 41 matches on hard courts in the past 12 months, winning 52.7% of those games.
- This is the first time that Fritz and Wolf have played in the last five years.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.weau.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/taylor-fritz-vs-jeffrey-john-wolf-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-truist-atlanta-open/ | 2023-07-29T04:59:31 | 0 | https://www.weau.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/taylor-fritz-vs-jeffrey-john-wolf-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-truist-atlanta-open/ |
WASHINGTON — It's official: lottery players have another billion-dollar jackpot to play for after nobody won the $940 million jackpot in Friday night's Mega Millions drawing.
The $1.05 billion jackpot for Tuesday is tied for the seventh-largest U.S. lottery prize and the fourth-largest in Mega Millions history. July has been a hot month for lottery prizes after a ticket sold in downtown Los Angeles won the $1.08 billion Powerball jackpot.
While no one took home the jackpot Friday, six players still came out on top: five players won $1 million by matching the first five white balls, and another won $5 million with the Megaplier option.
Mega Millions hasn't seen a grand prize winner since April 18, when a 71-year-old man from New York won the state's largest Mega Millions jackpot ever. Johnnie Taylor of Howard Beach in Queens, New York, won $476 million but opted for the cash option — a lump sum of more than $157 million after taxes.
Since mid-April, there have been 29 drawings without a grand prize winner.
Winners almost always take the cash option, but they do have a choice to instead get the full amount in regular payments over 29 years. The cash option for Tuesday's drawing is $422 million.
Mega Millions winning numbers for July 28, 2023:
The winning numbers were: 5-10-28-52-63, Mega Ball: 18 and Megaplier: 5.
When is the Mega Millions drawing?
Mega Millions drawings take place on Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. Eastern Time.
What are the largest lottery jackpots ever?
- $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 8, 2022 (one ticket, from California)
- $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016 (three tickets, from California, Florida, Tennessee)
- $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018 (one ticket, from South Carolina)
- $1.35 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023 (one ticket, from Maine)
- $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022 (one ticket, from Illinois)
- $1.08 billion, Powerball, July 19, 2023 (one ticket, from California)
- $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021 (one ticket, from Michigan)
- $940 million, Mega Millions (estimated), July 28, 2023
- $768.4 million, Powerball, March 27, 2019 (one ticket, from Wisconsin)
- $758.7 million, Powerball, Aug. 23, 2017 (one ticket, from Massachusetts)
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/nation-world/mega-millions-940m-jackpot-winning-numbers-friday-july-28-2023/507-f6918143-63c8-4129-ba3c-afd22afbc18d | 2023-07-29T04:59:37 | 0 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/nation-world/mega-millions-940m-jackpot-winning-numbers-friday-july-28-2023/507-f6918143-63c8-4129-ba3c-afd22afbc18d |
WESTCHESTER, N.Y. (PIX11) — It’s time for what we like to call ‘New York’s Very Own,’ where PIX11 features one of the best and brightest local high school athletes.
This week’s feature is a graduate of Walter Panas High School class of 2023, Sammy Stafura.
Stafura played Shortstop for his high school baseball team but is now suiting up for a different team.
PIX11 sports reporter Perry Sook has more on this story in the video player. | https://pix11.com/news/local-news/athlete-of-the-week-sammy-stafura/ | 2023-07-29T05:00:38 | 0 | https://pix11.com/news/local-news/athlete-of-the-week-sammy-stafura/ |
UN says it’s forced to cut food aid to millions globally because of a funding crisis
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations has been forced to cut food, cash payments and assistance to millions of people in many countries because of “a crippling funding crisis” that has seen its donations plummet by about half as acute hunger is hitting record levels, a top official said Friday.
Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the World Food Program, told a news conference that at least 38 of the 86 countries where WFP operates have already seen cuts or plan to cut assistance soon — including Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen and West Africa.
He said WFP’s operating requirement is $20 billion to deliver aid to everyone in need, but it was aiming for between $10 billion and $14 billion, which was what the agency had received in the past few years.
“We’re still aiming at that, but we have only so far this year gotten to about half of that, around $5 billion,” Skau said.
He said humanitarian needs were “going through the roof” in 2021 and 2022 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine and its global implications. “Those needs continue to grow, those drivers are still there,” he said, “but the funding is drying up. So we’re looking at 2024 (being) even more dire.”
“The largest food and nutrition crisis in history today persists,” Skau said. “This year, 345 million people continue to be acutely food insecure while hundreds of millions of people are at risk of worsening hunger.”
Skau said conflict and insecurity remain the primary drivers of acute hunger around the world, along with climate change, unrelenting disasters, persistent food price inflation and mounting debt stress — all during a slowdown in the global economy.
WFP is looking to diversify its funding base, but he also urged the agency’s traditional donors to “step up and support us through this very difficult time.”
Asked why funding was drying up, Skau said to ask the donors.
“But it’s clear that aid budgets, humanitarian budgets, both in Europe and the United States, (are) not where they were in 2021-2022,” he said.
Skau said that in March, WFP was forced to cut rations from 75% to 50% for communities in Afghanistan facing emergency levels of hunger, and in May it was forced to cut food for 8 million people — 66% of the people it was assisting. Now, it is helping just 5 million people, he said. In Syria, 5.5 million people who relied on WFP for food were already on 50% rations, Skau said, and in July the agency cut all rations to 2.5 million of them. In the Palestinian territories, WFP cut its cash assistance by 20% in May and in June. It cut its caseload by 60%, or 200,000 people. And in Yemen, he said, a huge funding gap will force WFP to cut aid to 7 million people as early as August.
In West Africa, where acute hunger is on the rise, Skau said, most countries are facing extensive ration cuts, particularly WFP’s seven largest crisis operations: Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad, Central African Republic, Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon.
He said cutting aid to people who are only at the hunger level of crisis to help save those literally starving or in the category of catastrophic hunger means that those dropped will rapidly fall into the emergency and catastrophe categories, “and so we will have an additional humanitarian emergency on our hands down the road.”
“Ration cuts are clearly not the way to go forward,” Skau said.
He urged world leaders to prioritize humanitarian funding and invest in long-tern solutions to conflicts, poverty, development and other root causes of the current crisis.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.cleveland19.com/2023/07/29/un-says-its-forced-cut-food-aid-millions-globally-because-funding-crisis/ | 2023-07-29T05:00:38 | 0 | https://www.cleveland19.com/2023/07/29/un-says-its-forced-cut-food-aid-millions-globally-because-funding-crisis/ |
Stone Harbor, NJ Events for the remaining 2023 Summer Season
August is the final full month of the Summer Season and Stone Harbor has a full slate of family-friendly activities lined up for the remaining weeks before we transition to Football Season.
The month of August kicks off in Stone Harbor with National Night Out, a Police-Community Partnership event to strengthen support for local community anticrime prevention. 2023 marks the 40th year of National Night Out and Tuesday, August 1st you are invited out to Stone Harbor's Water Tower Lot located at 95th Street and Second Avenue. There will be Prize Giveaways and Games to play along with Food on site for this Freed Admission event.
The final two Thursdays for the Saint Mary's Episcopal Church Concert Series will be August 3rd and August 10th. Located on the corner of 95th Street and Third Avenue, the church has been hosting Thursdays on the Lawn Concerts where they invite people to bring their favorite lawn chairs or beach blankets to enjoy music starting at 730pm each week. The final upcoming performers on the concert schedule are C. Lynne Smith on August 3rd followed by Three And One on August 10th. If there is rain either night, concerts will be moved inside the Parish Hall.
The Stone Harbor Farmers Market will continue each Sunday for the month of August at the Water Tower Plaza from 8 am to 1230 pm each week. The Stone Harbor Famers Market features Local Food Trucks, Locally-grown Produce, Freshly Baked Goods, along with Specialty Drinks and Foods available for customers to purchase. Located at 95th Street and Second Avenue, the final Sunday for the Stone Harbor Farmers Market will be September 3rd.
The Tuesdays at the Tower Concert Series continue starting on August 8th through September 5th starting at 7 pm each week. Sponsored by the Stone Harbor Chamber of Commerce, the Water Tower Lot Concerts are a Bring-Your-Own-Chair event with this upcoming schedule of performers for you to enjoy:
-August 8th: "Pure Jerry" performs music from The Grateful Dead
-August 15th: "Marnie's Musicians" presents Jersey-Cape All-Stars rocking the stage
-August 22nd: "Fat Mezz" is South Jersey's Hottest Rock-n-Roll Band
-August 29th: "The Seabillys" bring the party thanks to "The Island's favorite sons"
-September 5th: "NJ British Invasion" performs 60's, 70's, and 80's music from across the pond
The Stone Harbor Property Owners Association presents the Harbor Hustle 5K Race and 1 Mile Run/Walk on Sunday, August 20th. Proceeds from the race are going to the Stone Harbor Museum and prizes will be awarded to the top overall runners and prizes for age categories plus there will be a team competition. Registration is $35 for the 5K Run and $25 for the 1 Mile Race/Walk with the event starting at 730 am. For more information and to register, you can visit their event page here. | https://catcountry1073.com/stone-harbor-nj-events-for-the-remaining-2023-summer-season/ | 2023-07-29T05:00:38 | 1 | https://catcountry1073.com/stone-harbor-nj-events-for-the-remaining-2023-summer-season/ |
QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11) — A NYCHA building in Astoria has been without gas service since April.
Some people who live there say they aren’t getting any answers as to when it will be restored.
They reached out to PIX11 News for some help.
Simone Leslie and her neighbors are beyond frustrated, they have endured no gas service in their building at the Astoria houses. Leslie states when she asks why, she is given the run-around.
“They are being inconsistent on providing information and gas lighting residents on when our gas service will be restored,” said Leslie.
Gabriela Asitimbay says tenants were given hot plates. She says they take too long to heat up. She can’t afford to order takeout.
Leslie also says it’s impossible to cook for a family of four on a hot plate. It takes hours.
Gas outages are a problem across the city.
According to NYCHA’s own website, 60 developments across the city have gas outages.
A Con Edison spokesperson tells PIX11 News “Our records indicate a gas leak was reported on April 25th, 2023, and service to the gas lines for cooking were turned off for safety. Once the customer notifies us that the necessary repairs have been made and appropriate certifications are secured, we’ll restore service as quickly and safely as possible.”
NYCHA told PIX11 News “Gas service interruptions are a matter of public safety and gas restoration requires multiple partners and steps. The work, however, is essential for the safety of the building. Environmental work was concluded earlier this week, and repair work can now commence.” | https://pix11.com/news/nycha-building-without-gas-service-since-april-residents/ | 2023-07-29T05:00:42 | 1 | https://pix11.com/news/nycha-building-without-gas-service-since-april-residents/ |
Cody Rhodes on his WWE journey, SummerSlam and what it's like to fight Brock Lesnar
The 38-year-old is currently one of WWE's brightest stars, but it didn't happen overnight.
Cody Rhodes' World Wrestling Entertainment career started in Detroit.
It was WrestleMania weekend in 2007, and Rhodes — alongside his brother, Dustin Runnels — appeared before a spirited crowd at Detroit's Fox Theatre, where he inducted his father, "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, into the WWE Hall of Fame. At just 21 years of age, it was Rhodes' first appearance in front of a WWE audience.
He would debut in a WWE ring just a few months later, and his journey since has been anything but a straight line. He was a part of WWE's roster through 2016 and then left to perform on wrestling's independent circuit, eventually helping start WWE competitor All Elite Wrestling in 2019. He then left AEW in 2022 and returned to WWE, where at SummerSlam on Saturday he fights Brock Lesnar in the latest chapter of the pair's ongoing feud.
Meanwhile, Rhodes hasn't taken his eyes off his main goal, which is winning the WWE heavyweight title that eluded his father. He fought in the main event of this year's WrestleMania, losing to Roman Reigns, but wrestling has a way of working in cycles, and all signs point to an eventual rematch at next year's WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
We talked to Rhodes, 38, about his journey, his relationship with Detroit and what he plans to do as soon as SummerSlam is finished.
You're heading to Detroit for SummerSlam at Ford Field, which is just down the street from the Fox Theater, where you inducted your father into the WWE Hall of Fame back in 2007. What do you remember about that night?
That was really the start of my career. I had already been contracted by WWE and I was in Ohio Valley Wrestling and I was having the best time. I obviously was very excited when my dad told me that Dustin and I would be inducting him. But I knew, from the perspective of the world really seeing me for the first time, that I had to lay out a pretty good induction speech for our dad. And pretty much from the moment that happened, the ball started rolling, and I was quickly plucked from OVW and put on "Monday Night Raw." I was very green, and it was far too early, but I do love that the world got me as a rookie, and I was presented as a rookie.
What went into you writing your speech that night?
I almost wish I could go back and write stuff like I was putting together that night, because I really didn't know any of the parameters. I was just prepared to lay out a manifesto, and I was lucky that there wasn't any real time constraints on what I was going to say. Because I also wanted to talk about my brother, because I don't think I got the opportunity to tell him — I still don't get the opportunity to tell him that often — about how special he was to WWE. So that was a time where I could be very free and nothing I was writing was disingenuous, because it's easy to write about your favorite person and your father, your hero. It was an easy task.
It was maybe just a couple of months later that you were wrestling on TV for the first time, and the ride really started.
They got me right away. So it was very nerve-racking, because there were guys who were far more along in terms of their physicality, their musculature, and also what they could do in the ring, doing cool moves and having experience. I say I had less than 50 matches, but it might have been less than 30 matches. And the next thing you know you're on the flagship show of all of pro wrestling and sports entertainment. So it was a trial by fire, for sure.
You did have a moment during that speech, I think when Dusty first hit the stage, maybe it was when his music hit, that you got a bit choked up. And the cameras are there, and you couldn't stop it, and it's a real moment.
I think for better or for worse, something that fans of mine understand is I wear my emotions very much on my sleeve. I'm very, I don't know if vulnerable is the term, but I'm not pretending to be made of steel by any means. And it's because what I'm doing is real. We're in this world of entertainment and suspension of disbelief, but what I do is real. I really am his youngest son, I really am trying to do this thing that he was never able to do. So it's all emotional for me now. And then of course you become a girl dad, and Brandi and I having our first child, and everything just brings you down. I can't even get into the trailers of movies these days without something getting me.
You're just a big softie.
Yeah, big time. By the way, big shout out, because Detroit was, like, part of my life from a wrestling perspective, because wrestling is so great in Detroit. Also my wife is from Canton, and her family is as Detroit as Detroit gets. Working at the Ford plant, just the just salt of the Earth, great people, and I'd be remiss if I didn't bring it up. When we're out there for SummerSlam, my task is wrestling Brock Lesnar, which, you know, what a task to have. And then my wife is going to be doing a signing for Dream Detroit Skating Academy. So I'm very excited for that, and for her to be home, and for me to feel like it's my home, too.
Do you guys get up to Michigan often?
I feel like my in-laws get down to us often. I'd love to go to Detroit. I remember looking at a place in Novi and thinking, I could live here. But Brandi, she's just not into the cold. She did it, she grew up in it, and she's not interested in going back to it at the moment. We're in our spot, which is near where I grew up in Georgia. Never say never, though.
What's the most Michigan thing about Brandi?
That's a really good question. What's the most Michigan thing? Well, now I don't want to say something that's offensive. (Laughs.) I'll say this, and I'm not naming any names, but her friends — some of them who I love, she has a really great group of friends — are the most Midwestern women I've ever met. And what I mean is they're the type who go to Vegas, and they're already in their best dress the moment they get off the plane. Here's what I've understood about Midwestern women: they will maximize their minutes. They go somewhere like Miami or Vegas and they're not easing into that trip. The trip starts when they get on the plane. And I think that's a good attitude to have. They're maximizing their time away. They're going to return to whatever their sense of normalcy is, but they're gonna go hard.
Your father had a history in Detroit. What did you learn about the city growing up?
He was doing stuff at Cobo with Sheik, and I recall him giving me the history of what's in the Detroit area, and how great Sheik was, and Cobo Hall and its significance. And I kind of learned place by place. You've got Jack Briscoe here like in a place like Tampa, you've got Sheik at Cobo, you've got Ray Stevens in San Francisco, et cetera. So I had this fun, Goody-Two-Shoes, know-it-all attitude when I was getting into developmental and talking wrestling, because I had all this information that was just, like, breakfast table information. 'We did this in Detroit, and a dude threw a fireball in my face.' It was really cool.
As you head into SummerSlam, how do you feel about your journey in WWE and your decision to return to the company?
I feel that I came back for one thing, and I was very transparent in interviews — hey, this is the thing I want, and this is why. There's one story in mind, really. The byproduct of coming back was I found a zillion other things that I can't believe. I do love the position that WWE has put me in, to carry "Monday Night Raw," and to have all this responsibility. It's all I ever wanted when I was here the first time. So every day is a new discovery. I feel like it's tailor-made for me, and me now, in terms of having some executive experience and knowing a little bit about the business side of things. But yeah, so many things have come up. I came back for WWE Undisputed Universal Championship, and in the process of that, I get to have a documentary about my life on Peacock. These are things I wasn't expecting when I signed the deal.
When you signed the deal, did you always have this idea of 'finishing the story' in mind? Was that something that you knew would be the driver of your story and your character?
I had that privately in my mind, but also I wanted to share that with everybody I came across. It was privately always there, since I was 8 years old: I want to do this thing, and I even I have the WWWF Championship title — the one he held but he technically didn't win — I have it in my house. But I let everyone know, so now I feel like everybody knows. Because you put pressure on yourself when you say your goal aloud. You're more driven to make sure that it happens, so I've been big on saying it aloud.
Brock Lesnar is a gigantic person. Can you describe what it's like being on the receiving end of one of his German suplexes?
Say you're on a bicycle, and you're going down a hill, and you know you're going to fall. Or you're skiing, and you start to lose control. The period from when he launches you to when you land is genuinely scary, because you don't know where your body is in the air. This is a man who literally lifts up cows on his farm in Saskatchewan. You don't know where you're going to land: you could hit the ropes, you could hit the buckle, you could hit the top of your head. It's like a legit ride, you are taking a legit ride whether you want to or you're enjoying it or not. But that's a scary few seconds that feels like eternity as you're floating through the air, because you really never know where you're going to land.
Is there any enjoyment in it for you?
I don't enjoy being suplexed by Brock Lesnar. But I can say I have a weird wrestler bone in my body, and one of the discoveries that I have found from competing with Brock is I'm all about getting hit in the face. I don't know what it is, maybe it's toxic, maybe it's all these things that we shouldn't be promoting these days. But I like when it gets a little nitty-gritty, and I love being on the receiving end of a shot from a former UFC World Heavyweight champion, a two-time NCAA champion, and still being able to hang in there. Because I feel like it's a nice sign of my progress in terms of how far I've come, especially at a place like this.
What can you tell me about your day on the day of SummerSlam? What is your routine going to be that day? What time will you get to the stadium, what's the plan from the time you open your eyes until bell time?
On a day before a big show, you're waking up on your own. You're not sleeping in. It's like you're getting ready to go on some trip you're really excited about: there's some natural excitement, so you just can't just stay laying there. And with this being the third, the trilogy of these matches, I know I'll get up as early as possible. That's also part of being a dad. I'll just have a lot of peace that day. On the big match days, I need a lot of peace. I don't like a lot of questions, as much as I love doing interviews like these, I will probably go hide somewhere on my bus that day. I want to be seen as little as possible before I walk to the Gorilla Position and go out there, because it can become so, so overwhelming. A stadium show can really ice a young talent. The only thing I say that is a nice difference from a normal show day is on a big stadium show day, I feel like you can eat whatever you want. You diet so hard to get there, and your muscles naturally need to fill up, so it's the kind of day that you're not afraid to really dig in on some good stuff.
So what are you going to eat?
That's a good question. I think SummerSlam, I would hope it has to be a victory, you want to leave with a victory. So I'd say I'm looking more on the pizza side of the spectrum. I don't know why. It seems satisfying enough, it's gluttonous enough. Yeah, I'd say pizza.
Buddy's Pizza is what you want since you're in Detroit, I'm sure Brandi knows all about it.
I'll have to ask her about it, I feel like she's told me about Buddy's Pizza before. Yeah, we're going to try Buddy's, that's it.
agraham@detroitnews.com
WWE SummerSlam
7:30 p.m. Aug. 5
Ford Field, 2000 Brush St., Detroit
Tickets $100 and up
Ticketmaster.com | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/2023/07/28/wwe-superstar-cody-rhodes-talks-summerslam-fighting-brock-lesnar/70459620007/ | 2023-07-29T05:00:43 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/2023/07/28/wwe-superstar-cody-rhodes-talks-summerslam-fighting-brock-lesnar/70459620007/ |
USC still preparing for European tour as Bronny James recovers at home after cardiac arrest
LOS ANGELES (AP) — As Bronny James continues to recover after going into cardiac arrest, his Southern California teammates have been at practice to prepare for a 10-day exhibition tour of Greece and Croatia that begins next week.
The tour will run from from Aug. 5-15 and see the Trojans visit Athens and Mykonos, Greece, and Dubrovnik, Croatia. Teams are allowed to go on a foreign tour once every four years under NCAA rules.
James was discharged from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Thursday and is resting at home, according to a statement from the hospital. His father, Lakers superstar LeBron James, also posted on social media that his family is “safe and healthy.”
Bronny James will continue to undergo tests to determine the cause of his cardiac arrest, which occurred Monday morning during a workout at USC’s Galen Center.
Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart abruptly stops beating, because of a problem with its electrical activity. While uncommon in young people, sudden cardiac arrest is the leading medical cause of death in young athletes. Some studies have estimated one sudden cardiac death in 50,000 to 80,000 young athletes each year.
No information has been made public about what may have caused Bronny James’ cardiac arrest. But one of the most common causes in young athletes is an underlying problem with the heart’s structure, such as a genetic condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that leads to a thickened heart muscle more prone to irregular electrical activity. A more rare cause is commotio cordis, which occurs when someone receives a sharp blow to the chest during a specific part of the heartbeat’s cycle — what happened to Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin earlier this year.
James was the second high-profile USC basketball recruit to go into cardiac arrest in the last year. Vincent Iwuchuwku also was stricken during a workout last July, but the 7-foot-1 center returned to the court six months later and appeared in 14 games.
It’s too soon to know how James’ playing career could be affected, especially without a lot of information being made public. Various experts point to James’ quick move out of intensive care and being released three days later as encouraging.
The upcoming trip is important for the Trojans as James recovers. USC had the nation’s fourth-ranked recruiting class, including the top-rated player in guard Isaiah Collier.
James committed to the Trojans in May after the 6-foot-3 18-year-old became one of the nation’s top prospects as a two-way point guard for Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, California.
He is the sixth McDonald’s All-American to come to USC since Andy Enfield became coach in 2013.
With his family fame and huge social media following, Bronny James also has the top name, image and likeness valuation in sports at $6.3 million, as estimated by On3.com. He is the oldest of LeBron and Savannah James’ three children.
___
AP Sports Writer Greg Beacham and AP Health & Science Writer Lauran Neergard contributed to this report.
___
AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/lebron-james
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.cleveland19.com/2023/07/29/usc-still-preparing-european-tour-bronny-james-recovers-home-after-cardiac-arrest/ | 2023-07-29T05:00:42 | 0 | https://www.cleveland19.com/2023/07/29/usc-still-preparing-european-tour-bronny-james-recovers-home-after-cardiac-arrest/ |
(NEXSTAR) — Is it your lucky day? Friday’s Mega Millions jackpot is a massive $940 million, the eighth-largest prize in the game’s history. Winning numbers for the July 28 jackpot are: 52, 28, 5, 63, and 10. The Mega ball number is 18. Friday’s Megaplier is 5X.
The estimated $940 million prize has been building since someone last matched all six numbers and won the jackpot April 18. Since then, there have been 28 straight drawings without a jackpot winner.
The $940 million pot on the line Friday night will be that high only if a single player wins and they choose to be paid through an annuity of one immediate payment or 30 annual allotments. But jackpot winners nearly always take the cash in a lump sum, which for Friday night’s drawing would be an estimated $472.5 million.
Mega Millions is played in 45 states and the District of Columbia. Tickets are $2 and there are a total of nine ways to win a prize. Drawings are held at 11 p.m. ET Tuesdays and Fridays.
USA Mega, which tracks Mega Millions statistics, says the most common Mega Millions numbers are 17, 10, 14, 31 and 4 for the first five numbers. The most common Mega ball number is 22.
The biggest jackpot in Mega Millions history is $1.537 billion back in 2018 and was claimed by one lucky winner in South Carolina.
If no one claims Friday’s jackpot, the next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled to be held Tuesday, August 1. | https://pix11.com/news/us-world-news/mega-millions-here-are-the-winning-numbers-for-940m-jackpot-2/ | 2023-07-29T05:00:44 | 1 | https://pix11.com/news/us-world-news/mega-millions-here-are-the-winning-numbers-for-940m-jackpot-2/ |
Arthur Fils vs. Alexander Zverev: Prediction and Match Betting Odds | Hamburg European Open
Arthur Fils will face Alexander Zverev in the Hamburg European Open semifinals on Saturday, July 29.
In this Semifinal matchup, Zverev is the favorite (-375) against Fils (+270) .
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Arthur Fils vs. Alexander Zverev Match Information
- Tournament: The Hamburg European Open
- Round: Semifinals
- Date: Saturday, July 29
- Venue: MatchMaker Sports Gmbh
- Location: Hamburg, Germany
- Court Surface: Clay
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Arthur Fils vs. Alexander Zverev Prediction and Odds
Based on the moneyline in this match, Alexander Zverev has a 78.9% chance to win.
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Arthur Fils vs. Alexander Zverev Trends and Insights
- In the quarterfinals on Friday, Fils eliminated No. 4-ranked Casper Ruud, 6-0, 6-4.
- Zverev was victorious 6-3, 6-4 versus Luca van Assche in the quarterfinals on Friday.
- In his 29 matches over the past year across all court types, Fils has played an average of 21.4 games (20.7 in best-of-three matches).
- Fils has played 14 matches on clay over the past 12 months, and 22.2 games per match (21.2 in best-of-three matches).
- In his 42 matches in the past 12 months across all court types, Zverev is averaging 26.0 games per match (22.6 in best-of-three matches) and winning 53.2% of those games.
- Zverev has averaged 24.1 games per match (21.4 in best-of-three matches) and 9.7 games per set in 22 matches on clay surfaces in the past 12 months.
- Dating back to 2015, Fils and Zverev have not matched up on the court.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.cleveland19.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/arthur-fils-vs-alexander-zverev-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-hamburg-european-open/ | 2023-07-29T05:00:44 | 1 | https://www.cleveland19.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/arthur-fils-vs-alexander-zverev-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-hamburg-european-open/ |
Dear Abby: PDA by son and girlfriend makes his mom uncomfortable
Dear Abby: My son is dating a girl I can’t stand. I’m not too crazy about my son right now, either. I no longer want to be out in public with them because their public displays of affection are so over the top it makes me ill. I cannot imagine spending every holiday, birthday or whatever with them for the rest of my life. He hasn’t told us anything about this person. We don’t even know her last name. Help!
Also: Middle-age daughter takes no responsibility in life
— Turned-off Mom in Indiana
Dear Mom: You didn’t mention your son’s age or how long he has been involved with this young woman. It appears they are both quite young. Romances that burn with this kind of intensity usually cool down fairly quickly. In the meantime, be patient. Say nothing that will cause you to be perceived as the “enemy.”
If you would like more information about the girl, ask her in a non-threatening way. (”Are you a schoolmate?” “Do you have a last name?” “Does your family live in town?”) Then make sure your son knows how to protect them both from unwanted pregnancy and STDs “should the need arise,” and wait them out.
Dear Abby: I am a 49-year-old mother of 10. I always loved my kids dearly and tried my best. But I wanted to be a friend rather than a disciplinarian, and I always gave in. I assumed that because my husband and I never did bad things around them while they were growing up, and because I always resisted peer pressure when I was a teenager, they would follow in our footsteps, but I was wrong. They are now mean to me, and most of them hate me.
I sometimes feel like I don’t want to go on because I’ll always feel sad and depressed. I can’t remember the last time I was happy and didn’t dread waking up every morning. Please find time to answer and give me some hope again.
— Broken in West Virginia
Dear Broken: It’s time you stopped depending on your children to validate you, and began recognizing that, for better or worse, you did the best you could as a parent. Please discuss this with your religious adviser AND your physician. You need more help than I can offer in a letter, but those are the places to start. There are better days ahead.
Dear Abby: I am adopted, and 10 years ago I met my birth mom and her family. I go to their family gatherings and see them for holidays. I am getting married, and I’ve asked my birth mom to be my matron of honor, which my parents are OK with.
After the ceremony, we are going to have a reception at the church and then a dinner with 20 people hours later. I’m not sure if I should invite my birth mom to the dinner or not. My parents said it might be awkward for her and for them. I am just trying to do the right thing. What should I do?
— Nervous in New Mexico
Dear Nervous: This is something you should discuss with your birth mother. While one would think that as part of the wedding party she would be welcome at all of the festivities, if it would make the couple who raised you uncomfortable, she should understand why she isn’t being asked to attend.
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com. | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/life/advice/2023/07/29/dear-abby-pda-by-son-and-girlfriend-makes-his-mom-uncomfortable/70489477007/ | 2023-07-29T05:00:44 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/life/advice/2023/07/29/dear-abby-pda-by-son-and-girlfriend-makes-his-mom-uncomfortable/70489477007/ |
Fabio Fognini vs. Joris de Loore: Prediction and Match Betting Odds | ATP Challenger Zug, Switzerland Men Singles 2023
In the ATP Challenger Zug, Switzerland Men Singles 2023 semifinals on Saturday, Fabio Fognini faces Joris de Loore.
With -175 odds, Fognini is favored over de Loore (+125) for this match.
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Fabio Fognini vs. Joris de Loore Match Information
- Tournament: The ATP Challenger Zug, Switzerland Men Singles 2023
- Round: Semifinals
- Date: Saturday, July 29
- Venue: Tennisclub Zug
- Location: Zug, Switzerland
- Court Surface: Clay
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Fabio Fognini vs. Joris de Loore Prediction and Odds
Based on the moneyline in this match, Fabio Fognini has a 63.6% chance to win.
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Fabio Fognini vs. Joris de Loore Trends and Insights
- Fognini advanced past Jakub Mensik 6-4, 6-2 in the quarterfinals on Friday.
- In the quarterfinals on Friday, de Loore took down No. 209-ranked Matteo Gigante, winning 3-6, 7-6, 6-4.
- Fognini has played 39 matches over the past 12 months (across all court surfaces), and 25.3 games per match (23.5 in best-of-three matches).
- In his 16 matches on clay over the past year, Fognini has played an average of 24.8 games (22.0 in best-of-three matches).
- de Loore has played two matches in the past year across all court types, averaging 22.5 games per match (22.5 in best-of-three matches) and winning 42.2% of those games.
- de Loore has averaged 18.0 games per match (18.0 in best-of-three matches) and 9.0 games per set in one match on clay courts in the past year.
- This is the first time that Fognini and de Loore have matched up in the last five years.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.cleveland19.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/fabio-fognini-vs-joris-de-loore-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-atp-challenger-zug-switzerland-men-singles-2023/ | 2023-07-29T05:00:50 | 1 | https://www.cleveland19.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/fabio-fognini-vs-joris-de-loore-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-atp-challenger-zug-switzerland-men-singles-2023/ |
Matteo Arnaldi vs. Alexei Popyrin: Prediction and Match Betting Odds | Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag
On Saturday, Matteo Arnaldi (No. 76 in the world) meets Alexei Popyrin (No. 90) in the semifinals of the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag.
Arnaldi is the favorite (-150) in this match, compared to the underdog Popyrin, who is +115.
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Matteo Arnaldi vs. Alexei Popyrin Match Information
- Tournament: The Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag
- Round: Semifinals
- Date: Saturday, July 29
- Venue: Stadium Goran Ivanisevic in ITC Stella Maris
- Location: Umag, Croatia
- Court Surface: Clay
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Matteo Arnaldi vs. Alexei Popyrin Prediction and Odds
Based on the moneyline in this match, Matteo Arnaldi has a 60.0% chance to win.
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Matteo Arnaldi vs. Alexei Popyrin Trends and Insights
- In the quarterfinals on Friday, Arnaldi advanced past No. 33-ranked Jiri Lehecka, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
- In the quarterfinals on Friday, Popyrin beat No. 287-ranked Dino Prizmic, winning 7-6, 7-5.
- Arnaldi has played 24.5 games per match (23.2 in best-of-three matches) in his 35 matches over the past year (across all court types).
- On clay, Arnaldi has played 18 matches over the past 12 months, totaling 24.5 games per match (23.4 in best-of-three matches) while winning 54.2% of games.
- In the past year, Popyrin has competed in 47 total matches (across all court types), winning 49.3% of the games. He averages 28.0 games per match (25.3 in best-of-three matches) and 10.6 games per set.
- On clay surfaces, Popyrin has played 16 matches and averaged 26.7 games per match (26.0 in best-of-three matches) and 10.2 games per set.
- Dating back to 2015, Arnaldi and Popyrin have not competed against each other.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.cleveland19.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/matteo-arnaldi-vs-alexei-popyrin-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-plava-laguna-croatia-open-umag/ | 2023-07-29T05:00:56 | 1 | https://www.cleveland19.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/matteo-arnaldi-vs-alexei-popyrin-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-plava-laguna-croatia-open-umag/ |
Tips sought after dogs found abandoned in Washtenaw County
The Humane Society of Huron Valley is asking for information after two puppies were found abandoned and abused this week in Washtenaw County.
The first, found Monday, was running loose in an apartment complex's parking lot, the group said in a statement. Witnesses reported seeing a man kick the 5-month-old puppy before abandoning it, according to the release.
The second, found Tuesday, was left emaciated in a crate in Ypsilanti's Recreation Park, HSHV officials said. That puppy, believed to be 10 months old, was covered in diarrhea and urine and was later found to have multiple sores all over its body, according to a statement from the group.
Both dogs are now under the care of the Humane Society of Huron Valley, which reports the puppies are getting the medical attention and support they need. The incidents do not appear to be related, the shelter said.
“This happens more than people think in Washtenaw County,” Eric Wright, the rescue and cruelty investigations supervisor at the Humane Society of Huron Valley, said Friday. “People just abandon their animals. It’s sad and frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be that way.”
Animal welfare groups and law enforcement have noted a rise in violence against animals in recent years.
Annual reports showed that animal cruelty incidents rose fourfold between 2016 and 2021, rising from 123 to 607 incidents. As The Detroit News reported last year, there is a studied link between cruelty to animals and domestic violence against people.
Regional shelters have also been exploring ways to deal with overcrowding since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anyone with information on either dog found in Washtenaw County this week is asked to contact the Humane Society of Huron Valley's cruelty and rescue department at (734) 661-3512. Information can also be reported at hshv.org/report. The shelter says all tips will be investigated.
“We completely understand people falling on hard times, but please for the animal’s sakes — like this innocent young puppy — don’t just leave them to starve and suffer in pain. Please bring them to us,” Tanya Hilgendorf, HSHV’s CEO, said in a statement. “Our intake department is open 7 days a week. And thanks to donors, we also have many programs to help people feed and care for their pets.” | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/07/28/tips-sought-after-dogs-found-abandoned-in-washtenaw-county/70490911007/ | 2023-07-29T05:00:58 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/07/28/tips-sought-after-dogs-found-abandoned-in-washtenaw-county/70490911007/ |
Stan Wawrinka vs. Lorenzo Sonego: Prediction and Match Betting Odds | Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag
In the semifinals of the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag on Saturday, Stan Wawrinka (ranked No. 72) faces Lorenzo Sonego (No. 43).
In this Semifinal matchup against Sonego (+100), Wawrinka is the favorite with -125 odds.
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Stan Wawrinka vs. Lorenzo Sonego Match Information
- Tournament: The Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag
- Round: Semifinals
- Date: Saturday, July 29
- Venue: Stadium Goran Ivanisevic in ITC Stella Maris
- Location: Umag, Croatia
- Court Surface: Clay
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Stan Wawrinka vs. Lorenzo Sonego Prediction and Odds
Based on the moneyline in this match, Stan Wawrinka has a 55.6% chance to win.
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Stan Wawrinka vs. Lorenzo Sonego Trends and Insights
- Wawrinka is looking to stay on track after a 6-4, 7-5 victory over No. 59-ranked Roberto Carballes Baena in Friday's quarterfinals.
- Sonego advanced to the semifinals by taking down No. 104-ranked Jaume Munar 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 on Friday.
- Wawrinka has played 27.3 games per match (24.6 in best-of-three matches) in his 40 matches over the past year (across all court surfaces).
- On clay, Wawrinka has played 11 matches over the past year, totaling 28.7 games per match (23.4 in best-of-three matches) while winning 49.7% of games.
- Sonego has averaged 25.4 games per match (22.7 in best-of-three matches) through his 55 matches played in the past year across all court surfaces, while winning 50.8% of the games.
- Sonego has averaged 27.9 games per match (23.1 in best-of-three matches) and 9.8 games per set in 13 matches on clay courts in the past 12 months.
- Wawrinka and Sonego have not played each other since 2015.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.cleveland19.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/stan-wawrinka-vs-lorenzo-sonego-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-plava-laguna-croatia-open-umag/ | 2023-07-29T05:00:58 | 0 | https://www.cleveland19.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/stan-wawrinka-vs-lorenzo-sonego-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-plava-laguna-croatia-open-umag/ |
Friday's golf: Justin Thomas misses cut at 3M Open to hurt playoff hopes
Blaine, Minn. – With the FedEx Cup two weeks away, Lee Hodges can breathe easier.
Justin Thomas can't.
Hodges birdied four of his last six holes for a 7-under 64 and a four-stroke lead over Tyler Duncan on Friday after almost two rounds of the 3M Open.
A nearly two-hour afternoon weather delay led to play being suspended due to darkness with six players yet to finish – none within 10 shots of the lead.
More:Famed Black golfer Ben Davis honored with plaque at Rackham course
Hodges, the first-round leader and 74th in the FedEx Cup points race, was at 15-under 127. He was 3 under on the front nine and added a 33-foot birdie putt on No. 13, followed by birdies from 14 feet on No. 14 and 11 feet on No. 17.
“I’ve got a great attitude out there. Me and my caddie (Andrew Medley), we’re 70-something on the points list, like what do we have to lose, you know?” Hodges said. "We’ve committed to every shot we’ve hit so far, which has been great. We’ll continue to do it, because what do we have to lose."
A lengthy last-hole putt was not enough to overcome a couple bad holes as Thomas aims to make the FedEx Cup playoffs for the eighth straight season. He birdied four of his last five holes to shoot a shot an even-par 71, leaving him 2 under for the tournament and two strokes short.
Thomas, at No. 75 in the FedEx Cup standings, has missed five cuts in his last seven starts. The top 70 next week after the Wyndham Championship will advance to the playoffs. Looking to stay in strong consideration for the U.S. Ryder Cup team, Thomas has just two top-10 finishes in 14 tournaments since mid-February.
Starting on the back nine, Thomas put two balls in the water on the par-5 18th, falling to 1 under. An errant tee shot and poor chip led to another double bogey on the par-3 fourth, before a strong finishing stretch was punctuated by a 30-foot putt on No. 9.
“This is a good chance for me to learn a little bit about myself and push myself and become better,” Thomas said before the tournament. “I mean, this game, nothing’s given to you. I’ve had great chances to win the FedEx Cup the last five or six years and now I’m trying to make the playoffs. That’s just the way that this sport is. And it can happen to anybody, so you’ve just got to go out and get it.”
He wasn’t the only player to put untimely dents in possible playoff plans by missing the cut. No. 70 K.H. Lee (1 under), No. 72 Davis Thompson (2 under) and No. 90 Gary Woodland (3 over) also get the weekend off.
Duncan, who has missed six cuts in his past eight events and 17 of 27 this season, shot a 67. He has back-to-back bogey-free rounds.
“You never know when it’s coming, but I’ve been putting in the work and you always hope it shows up,” Duncan said. “But it doesn’t always show up when you want it to."
Defending champion Tony Finau (66), J.T. Poston (66), Brandt Snedeker (68) and Kevin Streelman (68) were 10 under.
With one top-10 in 25 starts this season, Streelman is in a rare position.
“I haven’t been in the final groups in a while on a Saturday, so looking forward to that. At my age I don’t have much to lose, so go out and have some fun this weekend,” the 44-year-old Streelman said.
Senior British Open
Steven Alker moved to the top of the Senior British Open leaderboard on Friday with a 3-under 68 after Miguel Angel Jimenez followed up a round to remember with one to forget.
Playing on his birthday, Alker hit four birdies in the second round along with a bogey at the par-4 10th. The New Zealander is 4 under overall and leads his fellow 52-year-old Alex Cejka (71) of Germany by a shot at Royal Porthcawl in Bridgend, Wales.
Alker is chasing his second major victory in the over-50 ranks. He won the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship last year.
Scotland's Greig Hutcheon (68) is a further stroke back in third.
Overnight leader Jimenez had an opening-round 5-under 66 but dropped down to an eight-way tie for eighth after a 5-over 76, including four bogeys between Nos. 13-17. Jimenez was the first Spaniard to win the tournament, in 2018. Bernhard Langer, who won the last time the Senior British Open was held at Royal Porthcawl in 2017, carded a 69 to also share eighth. He is a four-time winner of this major and has been runner-up three times.
Defending champion Darren Clarke (74) is 5 over
The tournament is the last of five majors on the senior schedule. The winner gets into the British Open next year at Royal Troon.
Evian Championship
Celine Boutier posted a 2-under 69 in the second round of the Evian Championship to move to 7 under overall, giving her a one-shot lead on Friday in Evian-Les-Bains, France.
But surprise overnight leader Paula Reto dropped down the leaderboard after a 4-over 75.
The 29-year-old Boutier, who was two shots back from Reto overnight, is looking to become the first Frenchwoman to win the tournament, which became a major in 2013.
“It's really great to feel the support from the fans when you play some good shots and some good putts go in,” Boutier said. “This kind of support used to put me under pressure in the past, and I didn't cope well with it, but this year I'm trying to stay very relaxed.”
Her solid round kept her narrowly ahead of Thailand's Patty Tavatanakit, who carded 67, and Japan's Yuka Saso (69), in a tie for second.
They are one shot ahead of Nasa Hataoka of Japan (67), Mexico's Gaby Lopez (68) and American Alison Lee (71).
Reto struggled badly on the back nine, with a double bogey on the 12th hole followed by three bogeys over the next four holes.
The 33-year-old South African ended the day in a tie for eighth at 3 under overall along with defending champion Brooke Henderson of Canada, who finished on 70.
Boutier was level with 2015 champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand overnight, but Ko drifted way back into a tie for 22nd after a dismal round of 76 at the Evian Resort Golf Club. | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/golf/2023/07/28/fridays-golf-justin-thomas-misses-cut-at-3m-open-to-hurt-playoff-hopes/70491096007/ | 2023-07-29T05:01:04 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/golf/2023/07/28/fridays-golf-justin-thomas-misses-cut-at-3m-open-to-hurt-playoff-hopes/70491096007/ |
Taylor Fritz vs. Jeffrey John Wolf: Prediction and Match Betting Odds | Truist Atlanta Open
Taylor Fritz (No. 9 ranking) will face Jeffrey John Wolf (No. 46) in the semifinals of the Truist Atlanta Open on Saturday, July 29.
With -250 odds, Fritz is the favorite against Wolf (+190) for this matchup.
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Taylor Fritz vs. Jeffrey John Wolf Match Information
- Tournament: The Truist Atlanta Open
- Round: Semifinals
- Date: Saturday, July 29
- Venue: Atlantic Station
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
- Court Surface: Hard
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Taylor Fritz vs. Jeffrey John Wolf Prediction and Odds
Based on the moneyline in this match, Taylor Fritz has a 71.4% chance to win.
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Taylor Fritz vs. Jeffrey John Wolf Trends and Insights
- In the quarterfinals on Friday, Fritz beat No. 439-ranked Kei Nishikori, 6-4, 6-2.
- Wolf came out on top 6-2, 6-3 versus Dominik Koepfer in the quarterfinals on Friday.
- Fritz has played 68 matches over the past 12 months across all court surfaces, and 26.2 games per match (24.1 in best-of-three matches).
- In his 44 matches on hard courts over the past 12 months, Fritz has played an average of 25.8 games (24.3 in best-of-three matches).
- Wolf is averaging 24.5 games per match (22.3 in best-of-three matches) through his 59 matches played in the past 12 months across all court types, winning 52.6% of those games.
- Wolf has averaged 24.9 games per match (22.8 in best-of-three matches) and 9.9 games per set in 41 matches on hard courts in the past 12 months, winning 52.7% of those games.
- This is the first time that Fritz and Wolf have played in the last five years.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.cleveland19.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/taylor-fritz-vs-jeffrey-john-wolf-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-truist-atlanta-open/ | 2023-07-29T05:01:04 | 1 | https://www.cleveland19.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/taylor-fritz-vs-jeffrey-john-wolf-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-truist-atlanta-open/ |
Angels' Ohtani homers in 3 straight at-bats against Blue Jays, Tigers
Toronto – Shohei Ohtani hit his major league-leading 39th home run – for a streak of three homers in three at-bats over two games – before being sidelined due to cramping for a second consecutive game.
Ohtani was replaced by pinch-hitter Michael Stefanic when his at-bat came up with the bases loaded in the ninth inning due to leg cramps. The Blue Jays beat the Angels 4-1 Friday.
Los Angeles manager Phil Nevin said Ohtani was removed because of cramping in both of his calves.
More:Q&A with Tigers' Miguel Cabrera: 'I want to stay in baseball. Hopefully that will happen'
“We’ll evaluate it tomorrow when he gets up,” Nevin said. “It’s just cramping right now. It’s kind of in both legs. He’s done a lot of work the last two days and wasn’t able to go.”
Ohtani homered twice in the second game of a doubleheader at Detroit on Thursday before leaving with cramps. He threw an eight-strikeout, one-hitter in the opener for his first career MLB shutout.
The two-way superstar became the first player to throw a shutout in one game of a doubleheader and hit one homer – much less two – in the other.
Thursday’s performance against the Tigers came hours after the team confirmed Ohtani will stay with the Angels for the rest of the season before he becomes a free agent.
Nevin said Ohtani’s soreness developed after he grounded out to begin the eighth inning.
“He came in and was trying to get some work done and just kept cramping up,” Nevin said.
Stefanic struck out looking at a 3-2 pitch from right-hander Jordan Romano as Toronto ended the Angels’ four-game winning streak.
On Friday, Ohtani homered on the first pitch he faced, going deep in three straight at-bats. His drive to right came off Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman and traveled 397 feet.
Ohtani streak of homers ended when he struck out swinging on a 2-2 pitch from Gausman in the third. He singled off Gausman in the sixth and grounded out to shortstop against left-hander Tim Mayza in the eighth, slowing up as he approached first base. | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2023/07/28/angels-ohtani-homers-in-3-straight-at-bats-against-blue-jays-tigers/70491142007/ | 2023-07-29T05:01:10 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2023/07/28/angels-ohtani-homers-in-3-straight-at-bats-against-blue-jays-tigers/70491142007/ |
Three Red Wings prospects competing at world junior showcase in Plymouth
Three Detroit Red Wings prospects will compete this week at the 2023 World Junior Summer Showcase at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth beginning Saturday at 1 p.m.
Team Sweden, which features defensemen Axel Sandin Pellikka (2023 first rounder) and Anton Johansson (2022 fourth rounder), will open against Team USA Blue.
At 4 p.m., South Lyon's Trey Augustine (2023 second rounder) will lead Team USA White against Finland.
Here's the rest of the 8-game lineup, which is the first step toward the three countries selecting its teams for the 2024 world juniors from Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Sweden.
Monday, July 31
∎ 4 p.m. USA Blue vs. Finland
∎ 7 p.m. USA White vs. Sweden
Wednesday, Aug. 2
∎ 1 p.m. Sweden vs. Finland
∎ 4 p.m. USA White vs. USA Blue
Friday, Aug. 4
∎ 1 p.m. USA Blue vs. Sweden
∎ 4 p.m. USA White vs. Finland
More:Where the Red Wings stand in the winners and losers of the NHL summer
All practices are free of charge and open to the public. Tickets are $10 or $30 for a weekly pass. The eight games will be streamed live at usahockeytv.com. | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2023/07/28/three-red-wings-prospects-competing-at-world-junior-showcase-in-plymouth/70490877007/ | 2023-07-29T05:01:16 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2023/07/28/three-red-wings-prospects-competing-at-world-junior-showcase-in-plymouth/70490877007/ |
Aaron Hernandez's brother now facing federal charges over alleged threatening messages
Hartford, Conn. — The troubled brother of the late NFL player Aaron Hernandez was charged Friday, now in federal court, with new counts of threatening and stalking after authorities say he threatened to shoot up the University of Connecticut and kill three people in another state.
Dennis Hernandez was ordered to be held in custody after his appearance in the court in Hartford. A message seeking comment was sent Friday night to his attorney.
The new charges came days after it emerged that Hernandez was arrested July 18 on state charges after police said he threatened to kill officers and then urged them to shoot him at his home in Bristol. Officers had gone there after two people close to him raised concerns about his mental health, police said.
The arrest report said the 37-year-old had sent threatening messages, including ones about carrying out a shooting at UConn. He was a Huskies quarterback and wide receiver who went by DJ Hernandez in the mid-2000s.
Court filings in the new federal case include the same messages. Some say the writer is struggling financially, is frustrated at seeing other people get hired as coaches, feels owed by UConn, is planning on “taking down everything” and doesn't care “who gets caught in the crossfire.”
“I've died for years now and now its others peoples turn,” read a July 7 message sent to a woman in Hernandez's life. It followed a message the day before that warned: “UConn’s gonna see how accurate I am too with my targets."
Hernandez told another person that he drove July 7 to UConn’s campus in Storrs and to Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island, where he coached quarterbacks during the 2010-11 season, according to court papers.
He had been due in state court that day on another case stemming from allegations that he threw a bag containing a brick and a note over a fence and onto ESPN’s property in Bristol.
UConn police confirmed that a vehicle linked to Hernandez was on campus that day. Brown has said that its investigation didn't indicate Hernandez had been on campus in recent weeks.
Hernandez is due back in state court Tuesday and in federal court Aug. 11.
His younger brother, former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, killed himself in 2017 while serving a murder sentence. | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/other/2023/07/29/aaron-hernandezs-brother-now-facing-federal-charges-over-alleged-threatening-messages/70491225007/ | 2023-07-29T05:01:28 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/other/2023/07/29/aaron-hernandezs-brother-now-facing-federal-charges-over-alleged-threatening-messages/70491225007/ |
Two Lunar Trines
People are nice for their own reasons, which could have little to do with the nuances of any single interaction. So, while you may prefer to earn your niceties, two lunar trines strongly suggest we don’t worry too much about who deserves what. Take the goodness when it comes and assume it’s a bit of indirect karma circling back.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You can leverage the special connection you share with your fellow fire signs (Aries and Sagittarius) to tick off an item on your wish list. Getting what you want will have a ripple effect, and others will have what they want too.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Take advantage of calm stretches. What needs doing? Handle the little details you won’t have time for when the action picks up, like sharpening your tools or your skills. Also, the day will show you what you need to learn next.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Instead of listening to people tell you what they can do, observe the work they actually have done. In general, interactions will be lucky when you keep it short and leave them wanting more.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Your day has a strange rhythm of fast action then odd lulls. In the blur of a quick pace, it’s easy to overlook basic information like what exactly is expected of you. Keep checking in about that because it will change.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). It is said that the squeaky wheel gets the grease, but it could also get thrown in the garbage bin, traded out for a wheel that spins quietly. Before complaining you will carefully assess whether you can fix a problem yourself.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Even on days like today when you’re not committed, obligated or in any way pressured to show up any place in particular, your energy and time are still sacred commodities. You’ll spend them well, ever mindful of the good they can do.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Some silences are heavy, and others float, glow, gloat or grow. You read silence very well now and assign accurate meanings to the pauses, which communicate more than words.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Moods happen. People will erroneously assign reasons for them, but the circumstances are not to blame. Mood lifters that work consistently include exercise, sunshine and connecting with others, especially in a helping capacity.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Emotions can come over you at seemingly inopportune times, though keep in mind that this is just what makes life interesting. Also, a feeling doesn’t have to be optimal, comfortable or even appropriate to be perfectly acceptable.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Dorothy had to land in Oz to appreciate everyone back home. Travel will do the same for you. Get your ticket to a magical place, or anyplace different really. Anticipating a trip will begin your appreciation process.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Even the most intellectual problem will benefit from some physicalization. Your brain is a body part too and needs circulation and hydration to be at its best. Engaging your body in the thought process will help you figure everything out.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Because you believe in yourself, the idea that your work has flaws is not a threat to your self-worth. Also, optimism does not preclude you from having a backup strategy. A plan B can actually give you more confidence.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (JULY 29). The year is one long celebration of love in its many forms. Your devotion to an endeavor will define your lifestyle for several months at a time. You’ll stick with things until they bear fruit. More highlights: The universe throws you for a loop intended to better your fortunes. You’ll make a product, attract buyers and cash in. You’ll often master the art of contentment. Capricorn and Libra adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 10, 4, 37, 8 and 15.
CELEBRITY PROFILES: Martina McBride recently supported her friend Wynonna Judd by joining her on stage in Judd’s final tour. McBride is a loyal Leo who is perpetually in creativity mode. The County Music Hall of Famer has created podcasts, cookbooks, albums, tours and a show on the Food Network, but like a true lioness (Leo is the sign of children) she’ll confess her favorite role is mom to three daughters with sound engineer husband John McBride.
Holiday Mathis’ debut novel, “How To Fail Epically in Hollywood,” is out now! This fast-paced romp about achieving Hollywood stardom is available as a paperback and ebook. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information.
Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com.
COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM | https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/advice/2023/07/todays-daily-horoscope-for-july-29-2023.html | 2023-07-29T05:01:29 | 1 | https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/advice/2023/07/todays-daily-horoscope-for-july-29-2023.html |
Election disinformation campaigns targeted voters of color in 2020. Experts expect 2024 to be worse
By CHRISTINE FERNANDO
Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) — Leading up to the 2020 election, Facebook ads targeting Latino and Asian American voters described Joe Biden as a communist. A local station claimed a Black Lives Matter co-founder practiced witchcraft. Doctored images showed dogs urinating on Donald Trump campaign posters.
None of these claims was true, but they scorched through social media sites that advocates say have fueled election misinformation in communities of color.
As the 2024 election approaches, community organizations are preparing for what they expect to be a worsening onslaught of disinformation targeting communities of color and immigrant communities. They say the tailored campaigns challenge assumptions of what kinds of voters are susceptible to election conspiracies and distrust in voting systems.
“They’re getting more complex, more sophisticated and spreading like wildfire,” said Sarah Shah, director of policy and community engagement at the advocacy group Indian American Impact, which runs the fact-checking site Desifacts.org. “ What we saw in 2020, unfortunately, will probably be fairly mild in comparison to what we will see in the months leading up to 2024.”
A growing subset of communities of color, especially immigrants for whom English is not their first language, are questioning the integrity of U.S. voting processes and subscribing to Trump’s lies of a stolen 2020 election, said Jenny Liu, mis/disinformation policy manager at the nonprofit Asian Americans Advancing Justice. Still, she said these communities are largely left out of conversations about misinformation.
“When you think of the typical consumer of a conspiracy theory, you think of someone who’s older, maybe from a rural area, maybe a white man,” she said. “You don’t think of Chinese Americans scrolling through WeChat. That’s why this narrative glosses over and erases a lot of the disinformation harms that many communities of colors face.”
Tailoring disinformation
In addition to general misinformation themes about voting machines and mail-in voting, groups are catering their messaging to communities of color, experts say.
For example, immigrants from authoritarian regimes in countries like Venezuela or who have lived through the Chinese Cultural Revolution may be “more vulnerable to misinformation claiming politicians are wanting to turn the U.S. into a Socialist state,” said Inga Trauthig, head of research for the Propaganda Research Lab at the Center for Media Engagement at the University of Texas at Austin. People from countries that have not recently had free and fair elections may have a preexisting distrust of elections and authority that may make them vulnerable to misinformation as well, Trauthig said.
Disinformation efforts often hinge on topics most important to each community, whether that is public safety, immigration, abortion, education, inflation or alleged extramarital affairs, said Laura Zommer, co-founder of the Spanish-language fact-checking group Factchequeado.
“It takes advantage of their very real fear and trauma from their experiences in their home countries,” Zommer said.
Other vulnerabilities include language barriers and a lack of knowledge of the U.S. media landscape and how to find credible U.S. news sources, several misinformation experts told The Associated Press. Many immigrants rely on translated content for voting information, leaving space for bad actors to inject misinformation.
“These tactics exploit information vacuums when there’s a lot of uncertainty around how these processes work, especially because a lot of election materials may not be translated in the languages our communities speak or be available in forms they are likely to access,” said Clara Jiménez Cruz, another co-founder of Factchequeado.
Misinformation can also arise from mistranslations. The Brookings Institute, a nonprofit think tank, found examples of mistranslations in Colombian, Cuban and Venezuelan WhatsApp groups, where “progressive” was translated to “progresista,” which carries “far-left connotations that are closer to the Spanish words ‘socialista’ and ‘comunista.’”
How disinformation spreads
Disinformation, often in languages like Spanish, Mandarin or Hindi, flows onto social media apps like WhatsApp and WeChat heavily used by communities of color.
Minority communities that believe their views and perspectives aren’t represented by the mainstream are likely to “retreat into more private spaces” found on messaging apps or groups on social media sites like Facebook, Trauthig said.
“But disinformation also targets them on these platforms, even though it may feel to them to be that safer space,” she said.
Messages on WhatsApp are also encrypted and can’t be easily seen or traced by moderators or fact-checkers.
“As a result, messages on apps like WhatsApp often fly under the radar and are allowed to spread and spread, largely unchecked,” said Randy Abreu, policy counsel for the National Hispanic Media Coalition, which leads the Spanish Language Disinformation Coalition.
Abreu also raised concerns about Spanish YouTube channels and radio shows that are growing in popularity. He said the coalition is tracking more and more YouTube and radio personalities who are spreading misinformation in Spanish.
A 2022 report by the left-leaning watchdog group Media Matters tracked 40 Spanish-language YouTube videos spreading misinformation about U.S. elections. Many of these videos remained on the platform, despite violating YouTube election misinformation policy, the report said.
Disinformation and disenfranchising communities of color
Amid changes in voting policies at state and local levels, advocates are sounding the alarm on how disinformation about voting in 2024 may target communities of color. Many of these efforts have surged as Asian American, Black and Latino communities have grown in political power, said María Teresa Kumar, founding president of the nonprofit advocacy group Voto Latino.
“Disinformation is, at its core, meant to be a sort of voter suppression tactic for communities of color,” she said. “It targets communities of color in a way that feeds into their already justifiable concerns that the system is stacked against them.”
The tactics also feed into a history “as old as the Jim Crow era of attempting to disenfranchise people of color, going back to voter intimidation and suppression efforts after the Civil Rights Act of 1866,” said Atiba Ellis, a professor of law at Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
While many of the same recycled claims around alleged fraud in the 2020 and 2022 elections are expected to resurface, experts say disinformation campaigns will likely be more sophisticated and granular in attempts to target specific groups of voters of color.
Trauthig also raised concerns about how layoffs and instability at social media platforms like Twitter may leave them less prepared to tackle misinformation in 2024. It also remains to be seen how new social media platforms like Threads will approach the threat of misinformation. Changes in policies like WhatsApp launching a “Communities” function connecting multiple groups and expanding group chat sizes may also “have big implications for how quickly misinformation will spread on the platform,” she said.
In response to the mounting threat of misinformation, Indian American Impact is ramping up its fact-checking efforts through what the organization says is the first fact-checking website specifically for South Asian Americans. Shah said the group is drawing inspiration from 2022 projects, including a voting toolkit using memes with Bollywood characters and passing out Parle-G crackers with voting information stickers at Indian grocery stores.
Cruz of Factchequeado is paying close attention to misinformation in swing states with significant Latino populations like Nevada and Arizona. And Liu of Asian Americans Advancing Justice is reviewing misinformation trends from previous elections to strategize about how to inoculate Asian American voters against them.
Still, they say there is more work to be done.
Critics are urging social media companies to invest in content moderation and fact-checking in languages other than English. Government and election officials should also make voting information more accessible to non-English speakers, organize media literacy trainings in community spaces and identify “trusted messengers” in communities of color to help approach trends in misinformation narratives, experts said.
“These are not monolithic groups,” Cruz said. “This disinformation is very specifically tailored to each of these communities and their fears. So we also need to be partnering with grassroots organizations in each of these communities to tailor our approaches. If we don’t take the time to do this work, our democracy is at stake.”
___
The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | https://kion546.com/ap-colorado/2023/07/28/election-disinformation-campaigns-targeted-voters-of-color-in-2020-experts-expect-2024-to-be-worse/ | 2023-07-29T05:01:32 | 0 | https://kion546.com/ap-colorado/2023/07/28/election-disinformation-campaigns-targeted-voters-of-color-in-2020-experts-expect-2024-to-be-worse/ |
Are you tonight’s lucky winner? Grab your tickets and check your numbers. The Mega Millions lottery jackpot continues to rise after someone won the $20 million prize on April 18.
Here are the winning numbers in Friday’s drawing:
5-10-28-52-63; Mega Ball: 18; Megaplier: 5X
The estimated jackpot for the drawing is $940 million. The cash option is about $472.5 million. If no one wins, the jackpot climbs higher for the next drawing.
According to the game’s official website, the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350.
Players pick six numbers from two separate pools of numbers -- five different numbers from 1 to 70 and one number from 1 to 25 -- or select Easy Pick. A player wins the jackpot by matching all six winning numbers in a drawing.
Jackpot winners may choose whether to receive 30 annual payments, each five percent higher than the last, or a lump-sum payment.
Mega Millions drawings are Tuesdays and Fridays and are offered in 45 states, Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets cost $2 each. | https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/news/2023/07/mega-millions-numbers-are-you-the-lucky-winner-of-fridays-940-million-jackpot.html | 2023-07-29T05:01:32 | 1 | https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/news/2023/07/mega-millions-numbers-are-you-the-lucky-winner-of-fridays-940-million-jackpot.html |
Ex-Puerto Rico boxer Félix Verdejo found guilty on two charges tied to death of his pregnant lover
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Former Puerto Rican boxer Félix Verdejo has been found guilty on two charges related to the death of his 27-year-old pregnant lover. The jury could not agree on verdicts for two other charges Friday after a 25-week trial in which the jury heard gruesome details about the April 2021 killing of Keishla Rodríguez that shocked the U.S. territory. The jury convicted Verdejo on the charge of kidnapping that leads to a death and one count of causing the death of an unborn child. Federal prosecutors relied on the testimony of Luis Antonio Cádiz, who was a friend of Verdejo who also was charged in the case. He pleaded guilty last year after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors. A Nov. 3 sentencing hearing has been set for Verdejo. | https://kion546.com/ap-colorado/2023/07/28/ex-puerto-rico-boxer-felix-verdejo-found-guilty-on-two-charges-tied-to-death-of-his-pregnant-lover/ | 2023-07-29T05:01:38 | 0 | https://kion546.com/ap-colorado/2023/07/28/ex-puerto-rico-boxer-felix-verdejo-found-guilty-on-two-charges-tied-to-death-of-his-pregnant-lover/ |
French President Macron visits his counterpart in Sri Lanka
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron is visiting his Sri Lankan counterpart in the first visit by a French leader to the Indian Ocean island nation. The two discussed an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region Saturday, along with politics, maritime activities and climate change. Macron’s visit follows his trip to the South Pacific region. Sri Lanka’s presidential office says the visit marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. | https://kion546.com/ap-colorado/2023/07/28/french-president-macron-visits-his-counterpart-in-sri-lanka/ | 2023-07-29T05:01:44 | 1 | https://kion546.com/ap-colorado/2023/07/28/french-president-macron-visits-his-counterpart-in-sri-lanka/ |
Fresh charges tie Trump even more closely to coverup effort. That could deepen his legal woes
By ERIC TUCKER and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s a stunning new allegation in an already serious case: Former President Donald Trump sought to delete Mar-a-Lago surveillance footage to obstruct the Justice Department’s investigation into his handling of classified documents.
The latest criminal charges unsealed Thursday deepen Trump’s legal jeopardy, alleging a more central role for the former president than previously known in a cover-up that prosecutors say was meant to prevent them from recovering top-secret documents he took with him after he left the White House. Coming as Trump braces for possible additional indictments related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election, the new allegations strengthen special counsel Jack Smith’s already powerful case against Trump while undercutting potential defenses floated by the former president, experts say.
“Before these new charges, you could maybe try some sort of defense that ‘this was all a mistake, it was my staff’ or confusion about what documents he actually had,” said former federal prosecutor Randall Eliason, a George Washington University law professor.
“But especially now, when you’re trying to destroy video footage,” he added, “that’s kind of the final nail in the coffin. I don’t see much in the way of a defense, not a real defense. All he can do is claim he’s being persecuted and hope for a holdout juror or something.”
Trump resorted to that familiar playbook on Friday, writing in a post on his Truth Social platform that “this is textbook Third World intimidation by rabid, lawless prosecutors.” He insisted during an interview with radio host John Fredericks that he did nothing wrong and accused prosecutors of trying to intimidate his staff into making up lies about him.
Later Friday, Trump posted on Truth Social that Mar-a-Lago security tapes were voluntarily handed over to prosecutors. Trump said he was told they were not “deleted in any way, shape or form.”
The new Florida charges came as a surprise given that Trump and his legal team have been focused on the prospect of an additional indictment in Washington — possibly within days — related to his efforts to cling to power after he lost to President Joe Biden. Trump received a letter this month informing him that he’s a target in that probe, and his lawyers met Thursday with special counsel Jack Smith’s office.
Hours after that meeting, Smith revealed the new classified documents case charges on top of a 38-count indictment issued last month against Trump and his valet, Walt Nauta. The updated indictment includes a detailed chronology of phone conversations and other interactions between Trump, Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager, Carlos De Oliveira, in the days after the Justice Department last June drafted a subpoena for security camera footage at Mar-a-Lago.
Video from the home would ultimately become vital to the government’s case because, prosecutors said, it shows Nauta moving boxes in and out of a storage room — an act alleged to have been done at Trump’s direction and in an effort to hide records not only only from investigators but Trump’s own lawyers.
The day after a draft subpoena was sent to the Trump Organization, the indictment says, Trump called De Oliveira and spoke with him for about 24 minutes. Though the details of that conversation are not included in the indictment, De Oliveira is described by prosecutors as asking a Mar-a-Lago information technology staffer several days later how long the server retained footage for and is quoted as telling the employee that “the boss” wanted it deleted.
Lawyers for Nauta, who has pleaded not guilty, and De Oliveira declined to comment on the allegations. De Oliveira is expected to make his first court appearance in Miami on Monday.
To the extent that evidence of Trump’s involvement in trying to delete video is circumstantial rather than direct, it might present a challenge for prosecutors, said David Aaron, a former Justice Department national security prosecutor who has worked on cases involving the mishandling of classified documents.
But if they can tie the effort to Trump, he added, “it’s devastating in its own right, because it doesn’t matter at that point what he thought he had the right to do, or whatever other defense he’s going to have about the classified documents. That’s in and of itself very bad.”
It could also help prosecutors establish that Trump knew what he was doing was wrong because “you only delete video of what you’ve done if you think it’s going to get you in trouble,” Aaron said. And Trump’s own accusations against others, like his claims against Hillary Clinton, his opponent in the 2016 presidential race, could boomerang against him.
Trump has claimed that Clinton deleted emails from her private server for the purpose of obstructing a criminal investigation into her own handling of classified information — something the FBI and Justice Department never alleged — but now stands himself accused of scheming to delete evidence he feared would be incriminating.
“He has specifically criticized other public figures for deleting data when he says they thought they were going to be in trouble,” Aaron said. “So if you needed to prove his consciousness of guilt, it’s not just an obvious thing that you would ask the jury to rely on common sense for — he’s actually made statements about what it means when someone does this.”
Trump and Nauta are set for trial next May, though it’s not clear if that date will hold.
Smith’s team also added a new count of willful retention of national defense information related to a classified document about a Pentagon plan of attack on a foreign country prosecutors say Trump showed off during a July 2021 meeting at his Bedminster, New Jersey resort.
That charge comes after Trump repeatedly claimed he didn’t have any secret documents when he spoke, only magazine and newspaper clippings, even though an audio recording captured him saying “this is secret information.” The document was returned to the government in January 2022, months before the subpoena for classified records.
It’s not clear why prosecutors moved now to indict another one of Trump’s underlings, though bringing charges against De Oliveira that could carry significant prison time adds serious pressure on him, potentially increasing the odds that he could decide to cut a plea deal and cooperate.
“But, you know, Trump seems to inspire a lot of loyalty, at least in some people,” Eliason said. “Maybe they are holding out for the idea that he is reelected and he can pardon them.”
____
Richer reported from Boston. | https://kion546.com/ap-colorado/2023/07/28/fresh-charges-tie-trump-even-more-closely-to-coverup-effort-that-could-deepen-his-legal-woes/ | 2023-07-29T05:01:50 | 1 | https://kion546.com/ap-colorado/2023/07/28/fresh-charges-tie-trump-even-more-closely-to-coverup-effort-that-could-deepen-his-legal-woes/ |
UN says it’s forced to cut food aid to millions globally because of a funding crisis
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations has been forced to cut food, cash payments and assistance to millions of people in many countries because of “a crippling funding crisis” that has seen its donations plummet by about half as acute hunger is hitting record levels, a top official said Friday.
Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the World Food Program, told a news conference that at least 38 of the 86 countries where WFP operates have already seen cuts or plan to cut assistance soon — including Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen and West Africa.
He said WFP’s operating requirement is $20 billion to deliver aid to everyone in need, but it was aiming for between $10 billion and $14 billion, which was what the agency had received in the past few years.
“We’re still aiming at that, but we have only so far this year gotten to about half of that, around $5 billion,” Skau said.
He said humanitarian needs were “going through the roof” in 2021 and 2022 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine and its global implications. “Those needs continue to grow, those drivers are still there,” he said, “but the funding is drying up. So we’re looking at 2024 (being) even more dire.”
“The largest food and nutrition crisis in history today persists,” Skau said. “This year, 345 million people continue to be acutely food insecure while hundreds of millions of people are at risk of worsening hunger.”
Skau said conflict and insecurity remain the primary drivers of acute hunger around the world, along with climate change, unrelenting disasters, persistent food price inflation and mounting debt stress — all during a slowdown in the global economy.
WFP is looking to diversify its funding base, but he also urged the agency’s traditional donors to “step up and support us through this very difficult time.”
Asked why funding was drying up, Skau said to ask the donors.
“But it’s clear that aid budgets, humanitarian budgets, both in Europe and the United States, (are) not where they were in 2021-2022,” he said.
Skau said that in March, WFP was forced to cut rations from 75% to 50% for communities in Afghanistan facing emergency levels of hunger, and in May it was forced to cut food for 8 million people — 66% of the people it was assisting. Now, it is helping just 5 million people, he said. In Syria, 5.5 million people who relied on WFP for food were already on 50% rations, Skau said, and in July the agency cut all rations to 2.5 million of them. In the Palestinian territories, WFP cut its cash assistance by 20% in May and in June. It cut its caseload by 60%, or 200,000 people. And in Yemen, he said, a huge funding gap will force WFP to cut aid to 7 million people as early as August.
In West Africa, where acute hunger is on the rise, Skau said, most countries are facing extensive ration cuts, particularly WFP’s seven largest crisis operations: Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad, Central African Republic, Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon.
He said cutting aid to people who are only at the hunger level of crisis to help save those literally starving or in the category of catastrophic hunger means that those dropped will rapidly fall into the emergency and catastrophe categories, “and so we will have an additional humanitarian emergency on our hands down the road.”
“Ration cuts are clearly not the way to go forward,” Skau said.
He urged world leaders to prioritize humanitarian funding and invest in long-tern solutions to conflicts, poverty, development and other root causes of the current crisis.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/07/29/un-says-its-forced-cut-food-aid-millions-globally-because-funding-crisis/ | 2023-07-29T05:01:55 | 0 | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/07/29/un-says-its-forced-cut-food-aid-millions-globally-because-funding-crisis/ |
CHICAGO – Leading up to the 2020 election, Facebook ads targeting Latino and Asian American voters described Joe Biden as a communist. A local station claimed a Black Lives Matter co-founder practiced witchcraft. Doctored images showed dogs urinating on Donald Trump campaign posters.
None of these claims was true, but they scorched through social media sites that advocates say have fueled election misinformation in communities of color.
As the 2024 election approaches, community organizations are preparing for what they expect to be a worsening onslaught of disinformation targeting communities of color and immigrant communities. They say the tailored campaigns challenge assumptions of what kinds of voters are susceptible to election conspiracies and distrust in voting systems.
“They’re getting more complex, more sophisticated and spreading like wildfire,” said Sarah Shah, director of policy and community engagement at the advocacy group Indian American Impact, which runs the fact-checking site Desifacts.org. “ What we saw in 2020, unfortunately, will probably be fairly mild in comparison to what we will see in the months leading up to 2024."
A growing subset of communities of color, especially immigrants for whom English is not their first language, are questioning the integrity of U.S. voting processes and subscribing to Trump's lies of a stolen 2020 election, said Jenny Liu, mis/disinformation policy manager at the nonprofit Asian Americans Advancing Justice. Still, she said these communities are largely left out of conversations about misinformation.
“When you think of the typical consumer of a conspiracy theory, you think of someone who’s older, maybe from a rural area, maybe a white man,” she said. “You don’t think of Chinese Americans scrolling through WeChat. That’s why this narrative glosses over and erases a lot of the disinformation harms that many communities of colors face.”
Tailoring disinformation
In addition to general misinformation themes about voting machines and mail-in voting, groups are catering their messaging to communities of color, experts say.
For example, immigrants from authoritarian regimes in countries like Venezuela or who have lived through the Chinese Cultural Revolution may be “more vulnerable to misinformation claiming politicians are wanting to turn the U.S. into a Socialist state,” said Inga Trauthig, head of research for the Propaganda Research Lab at the Center for Media Engagement at the University of Texas at Austin. People from countries that have not recently had free and fair elections may have a preexisting distrust of elections and authority that may make them vulnerable to misinformation as well, Trauthig said.
Disinformation efforts often hinge on topics most important to each community, whether that is public safety, immigration, abortion, education, inflation or alleged extramarital affairs, said Laura Zommer, co-founder of the Spanish-language fact-checking group Factchequeado.
“It takes advantage of their very real fear and trauma from their experiences in their home countries,” Zommer said.
Other vulnerabilities include language barriers and a lack of knowledge of the U.S. media landscape and how to find credible U.S. news sources, several misinformation experts told The Associated Press. Many immigrants rely on translated content for voting information, leaving space for bad actors to inject misinformation.
“These tactics exploit information vacuums when there’s a lot of uncertainty around how these processes work, especially because a lot of election materials may not be translated in the languages our communities speak or be available in forms they are likely to access,” said Clara Jiménez Cruz, another co-founder of Factchequeado.
Misinformation can also arise from mistranslations. The Brookings Institute, a nonprofit think tank, found examples of mistranslations in Colombian, Cuban and Venezuelan WhatsApp groups, where “progressive” was translated to “progresista,” which carries “far-left connotations that are closer to the Spanish words ‘socialista’ and ‘comunista.’”
How disinformation spreads
Disinformation, often in languages like Spanish, Mandarin or Hindi, flows onto social media apps like WhatsApp and WeChat heavily used by communities of color.
Minority communities that believe their views and perspectives aren’t represented by the mainstream are likely to “retreat into more private spaces” found on messaging apps or groups on social media sites like Facebook, Trauthig said.
“But disinformation also targets them on these platforms, even though it may feel to them to be that safer space,” she said.
Messages on WhatsApp are also encrypted and can’t be easily seen or traced by moderators or fact-checkers.
“As a result, messages on apps like WhatsApp often fly under the radar and are allowed to spread and spread, largely unchecked,” said Randy Abreu, policy counsel for the National Hispanic Media Coalition, which leads the Spanish Language Disinformation Coalition.
Abreu also raised concerns about Spanish YouTube channels and radio shows that are growing in popularity. He said the coalition is tracking more and more YouTube and radio personalities who are spreading misinformation in Spanish.
A 2022 report by the left-leaning watchdog group Media Matters tracked 40 Spanish-language YouTube videos spreading misinformation about U.S. elections. Many of these videos remained on the platform, despite violating YouTube election misinformation policy, the report said.
Disinformation and disenfranchising communities of color
Amid changes in voting policies at state and local levels, advocates are sounding the alarm on how disinformation about voting in 2024 may target communities of color. Many of these efforts have surged as Asian American, Black and Latino communities have grown in political power, said María Teresa Kumar, founding president of the nonprofit advocacy group Voto Latino.
“Disinformation is, at its core, meant to be a sort of voter suppression tactic for communities of color,” she said. “It targets communities of color in a way that feeds into their already justifiable concerns that the system is stacked against them."
The tactics also feed into a history “as old as the Jim Crow era of attempting to disenfranchise people of color, going back to voter intimidation and suppression efforts after the Civil Rights Act of 1866,” said Atiba Ellis, a professor of law at Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
While many of the same recycled claims around alleged fraud in the 2020 and 2022 elections are expected to resurface, experts say disinformation campaigns will likely be more sophisticated and granular in attempts to target specific groups of voters of color.
Trauthig also raised concerns about how layoffs and instability at social media platforms like Twitter may leave them less prepared to tackle misinformation in 2024. It also remains to be seen how new social media platforms like Threads will approach the threat of misinformation. Changes in policies like WhatsApp launching a “Communities” function connecting multiple groups and expanding group chat sizes may also “have big implications for how quickly misinformation will spread on the platform,” she said.
In response to the mounting threat of misinformation, Indian American Impact is ramping up its fact-checking efforts through what the organization says is the first fact-checking website specifically for South Asian Americans. Shah said the group is drawing inspiration from 2022 projects, including a voting toolkit using memes with Bollywood characters and passing out Parle-G crackers with voting information stickers at Indian grocery stores.
Cruz of Factchequeado is paying close attention to misinformation in swing states with significant Latino populations like Nevada and Arizona. And Liu of Asian Americans Advancing Justice is reviewing misinformation trends from previous elections to strategize about how to inoculate Asian American voters against them.
Still, they say there is more work to be done.
Critics are urging social media companies to invest in content moderation and fact-checking in languages other than English. Government and election officials should also make voting information more accessible to non-English speakers, organize media literacy trainings in community spaces and identify “trusted messengers” in communities of color to help approach trends in misinformation narratives, experts said.
“These are not monolithic groups,” Cruz said. “This disinformation is very specifically tailored to each of these communities and their fears. So we also need to be partnering with grassroots organizations in each of these communities to tailor our approaches. If we don’t take the time to do this work, our democracy is at stake.”
___
The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | https://www.wsls.com/news/politics/2023/07/29/election-disinformation-campaigns-targeted-voters-of-color-in-2020-experts-expect-2024-to-be-worse/ | 2023-07-29T05:01:55 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/news/politics/2023/07/29/election-disinformation-campaigns-targeted-voters-of-color-in-2020-experts-expect-2024-to-be-worse/ |
LGBTQ+ community proud and visible at Women’s World Cup
By MAX RALPH
Associated Press
AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — The website Outsports, which covers the gay sports community, says there’s at least 95 out LGBTQ+ athletes competing in the Women’s World Cup. Pride flags and gay-friendly signs have been visible at games around the tournament. Professor of sociology and anthropology Lindsey Freeman says “It’s just the ad hoc, fun culture of women’s soccer that you’re seeing in this World Cup.” Outsports co-founder Jim Buzinski agrees: “In the Western world, it’s such a non-issue that it really just doesn’t get talked about. And I think that’s in a good way.” | https://kion546.com/ap-colorado/2023/07/28/lgbtq-community-proud-and-visible-at-womens-world-cup/ | 2023-07-29T05:01:56 | 0 | https://kion546.com/ap-colorado/2023/07/28/lgbtq-community-proud-and-visible-at-womens-world-cup/ |
USC still preparing for European tour as Bronny James recovers at home after cardiac arrest
LOS ANGELES (AP) — As Bronny James continues to recover after going into cardiac arrest, his Southern California teammates have been at practice to prepare for a 10-day exhibition tour of Greece and Croatia that begins next week.
The tour will run from from Aug. 5-15 and see the Trojans visit Athens and Mykonos, Greece, and Dubrovnik, Croatia. Teams are allowed to go on a foreign tour once every four years under NCAA rules.
James was discharged from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Thursday and is resting at home, according to a statement from the hospital. His father, Lakers superstar LeBron James, also posted on social media that his family is “safe and healthy.”
Bronny James will continue to undergo tests to determine the cause of his cardiac arrest, which occurred Monday morning during a workout at USC’s Galen Center.
Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart abruptly stops beating, because of a problem with its electrical activity. While uncommon in young people, sudden cardiac arrest is the leading medical cause of death in young athletes. Some studies have estimated one sudden cardiac death in 50,000 to 80,000 young athletes each year.
No information has been made public about what may have caused Bronny James’ cardiac arrest. But one of the most common causes in young athletes is an underlying problem with the heart’s structure, such as a genetic condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that leads to a thickened heart muscle more prone to irregular electrical activity. A more rare cause is commotio cordis, which occurs when someone receives a sharp blow to the chest during a specific part of the heartbeat’s cycle — what happened to Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin earlier this year.
James was the second high-profile USC basketball recruit to go into cardiac arrest in the last year. Vincent Iwuchuwku also was stricken during a workout last July, but the 7-foot-1 center returned to the court six months later and appeared in 14 games.
It’s too soon to know how James’ playing career could be affected, especially without a lot of information being made public. Various experts point to James’ quick move out of intensive care and being released three days later as encouraging.
The upcoming trip is important for the Trojans as James recovers. USC had the nation’s fourth-ranked recruiting class, including the top-rated player in guard Isaiah Collier.
James committed to the Trojans in May after the 6-foot-3 18-year-old became one of the nation’s top prospects as a two-way point guard for Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, California.
He is the sixth McDonald’s All-American to come to USC since Andy Enfield became coach in 2013.
With his family fame and huge social media following, Bronny James also has the top name, image and likeness valuation in sports at $6.3 million, as estimated by On3.com. He is the oldest of LeBron and Savannah James’ three children.
___
AP Sports Writer Greg Beacham and AP Health & Science Writer Lauran Neergard contributed to this report.
___
AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/lebron-james
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/07/29/usc-still-preparing-european-tour-bronny-james-recovers-home-after-cardiac-arrest/ | 2023-07-29T05:01:57 | 1 | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/07/29/usc-still-preparing-european-tour-bronny-james-recovers-home-after-cardiac-arrest/ |
WASHINGTON – It’s a stunning new allegation in an already serious case: Former President Donald Trump sought to delete Mar-a-Lago surveillance footage to obstruct the Justice Department’s investigation into his handling of classified documents.
The latest criminal charges unsealed Thursday deepen Trump’s legal jeopardy, alleging a more central role for the former president than previously known in a cover-up that prosecutors say was meant to prevent them from recovering top-secret documents he took with him after he left the White House. Coming as Trump braces for possible additional indictments related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election, the new allegations strengthen special counsel Jack Smith’s already powerful case against Trump while undercutting potential defenses floated by the former president, experts say.
“Before these new charges, you could maybe try some sort of defense that ‘this was all a mistake, it was my staff’ or confusion about what documents he actually had,” said former federal prosecutor Randall Eliason, a George Washington University law professor.
“But especially now, when you’re trying to destroy video footage,” he added, “that’s kind of the final nail in the coffin. I don’t see much in the way of a defense, not a real defense. All he can do is claim he’s being persecuted and hope for a holdout juror or something.”
Trump resorted to that familiar playbook on Friday, writing in a post on his Truth Social platform that “this is textbook Third World intimidation by rabid, lawless prosecutors.” He insisted during an interview with radio host John Fredericks that he did nothing wrong and accused prosecutors of trying to intimidate his staff into making up lies about him.
Later Friday, Trump posted on Truth Social that Mar-a-Lago security tapes were voluntarily handed over to prosecutors. Trump said he was told they were not “deleted in any way, shape or form.”
The new Florida charges came as a surprise given that Trump and his legal team have been focused on the prospect of an additional indictment in Washington — possibly within days — related to his efforts to cling to power after he lost to President Joe Biden. Trump received a letter this month informing him that he's a target in that probe, and his lawyers met Thursday with special counsel Jack Smith's office.
Hours after that meeting, Smith revealed the new classified documents case charges on top of a 38-count indictment issued last month against Trump and his valet, Walt Nauta. The updated indictment includes a detailed chronology of phone conversations and other interactions between Trump, Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager, Carlos De Oliveira, in the days after the Justice Department last June drafted a subpoena for security camera footage at Mar-a-Lago.
Video from the home would ultimately become vital to the government's case because, prosecutors said, it shows Nauta moving boxes in and out of a storage room — an act alleged to have been done at Trump's direction and in an effort to hide records not only only from investigators but Trump's own lawyers.
The day after a draft subpoena was sent to the Trump Organization, the indictment says, Trump called De Oliveira and spoke with him for about 24 minutes. Though the details of that conversation are not included in the indictment, De Oliveira is described by prosecutors as asking a Mar-a-Lago information technology staffer several days later how long the server retained footage for and is quoted as telling the employee that “the boss” wanted it deleted.
Lawyers for Nauta, who has pleaded not guilty, and De Oliveira declined to comment on the allegations. De Oliveira is expected to make his first court appearance in Miami on Monday.
To the extent that evidence of Trump's involvement in trying to delete video is circumstantial rather than direct, it might present a challenge for prosecutors, said David Aaron, a former Justice Department national security prosecutor who has worked on cases involving the mishandling of classified documents.
But if they can tie the effort to Trump, he added, "it’s devastating in its own right, because it doesn’t matter at that point what he thought he had the right to do, or whatever other defense he’s going to have about the classified documents. That’s in and of itself very bad.”
It could also help prosecutors establish that Trump knew what he was doing was wrong because "you only delete video of what you’ve done if you think it’s going to get you in trouble," Aaron said. And Trump's own accusations against others, like his claims against Hillary Clinton, his opponent in the 2016 presidential race, could boomerang against him.
Trump has claimed that Clinton deleted emails from her private server for the purpose of obstructing a criminal investigation into her own handling of classified information — something the FBI and Justice Department never alleged — but now stands himself accused of scheming to delete evidence he feared would be incriminating.
“He has specifically criticized other public figures for deleting data when he says they thought they were going to be in trouble," Aaron said. "So if you needed to prove his consciousness of guilt, it’s not just an obvious thing that you would ask the jury to rely on common sense for — he’s actually made statements about what it means when someone does this.”
Trump and Nauta are set for trial next May, though it's not clear if that date will hold.
Smith’s team also added a new count of willful retention of national defense information related to a classified document about a Pentagon plan of attack on a foreign country prosecutors say Trump showed off during a July 2021 meeting at his Bedminster, New Jersey resort.
That charge comes after Trump repeatedly claimed he didn’t have any secret documents when he spoke, only magazine and newspaper clippings, even though an audio recording captured him saying “this is secret information.” The document was returned to the government in January 2022, months before the subpoena for classified records.
It's not clear why prosecutors moved now to indict another one of Trump's underlings, though bringing charges against De Oliveira that could carry significant prison time adds serious pressure on him, potentially increasing the odds that he could decide to cut a plea deal and cooperate.
“But, you know, Trump seems to inspire a lot of loyalty, at least in some people,” Eliason said. “Maybe they are holding out for the idea that he is reelected and he can pardon them.”
____
Richer reported from Boston. | https://www.wsls.com/news/politics/2023/07/29/fresh-charges-tie-trump-even-more-closely-to-coverup-effort-that-could-deepen-his-legal-woes/ | 2023-07-29T05:01:57 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/news/politics/2023/07/29/fresh-charges-tie-trump-even-more-closely-to-coverup-effort-that-could-deepen-his-legal-woes/ |
WASHINGTON – Lawmakers broke for their August recess this week with work on funding the government largely incomplete, fueling worries about whether Congress will be able to avoid a partial government shutdown this fall.
Congress has until Oct. 1, the start of the new fiscal year, to act on government funding. They could pass spending bills to fund government agencies into next year, or simply pass a stopgap measure that keeps agencies running until they strike a longer-term agreement. No matter which route they take, it won't be easy.
“We're going to scare the hell out of the American people before we get this done," said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del.
Coons' assessment is widely shared in Congress, reflecting the gulf between the Republican-led House and the Democratic-led Senate, which are charting vastly different — and mostly incompatible — paths on spending.
The Senate is adhering mostly to the top-line spending levels that President Joe Biden negotiated with House Republicans in late May as part of the debt-ceiling deal that extended the government's borrowing authority and avoided an economically devastating default.
That agreement holds discretionary spending generally flat for the coming year while allowing increases for military and veterans accounts. On top of that, the Senate is looking to add $13.7 billion in additional emergency appropriations, including $8 billion for defense and $5.7 billion for nondefense.
House Republicans, many of whom opposed the debt-ceiling deal and refused to vote for it, are going a different way.
GOP leaders have teed up bills with far less spending than the agreement allows in an effort to win over members who insist on rolling back spending to fiscal year 2022 levels. They are also adding scores of policy add-ons broadly opposed by Democrats. There are proposals to reduce access to abortion pills, bans on the funding of hormone therapy and certain surgeries for transgender veterans, and a prohibition on training programs promoting diversity in the federal workplace, among many others.
At a press conference at the Capitol this past week, some members of the House Freedom Caucus, a conservative faction within the House GOP, said that voters elected a Republican majority in that chamber to rein in government spending and it was time for House Republicans to use every tool available to get the spending cuts they want.
“We should not fear a government shutdown," said Rep. Bob Good, R-Va. “Most of the American people won't even miss if the government is shut down temporarily.”
Many House Republicans disagree with that assessment. Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, called it an oversimplification to say most Americans wouldn't feel an impact. And he warned Republicans would take the blame for a shutdown.
“We always get blamed for it, no matter what,” Simpson said. ”So it’s bad policy, it’s bad politics."
But the slim five-seat majority Republicans hold amplifies the power that a small group can wield. Even though the debt ceiling agreement passed with a significant majority of both Republicans and Democrats, conservatives opponents were so unhappy in the aftermath that they shut down House votes for a few days, stalling the entire GOP agenda.
Shortly thereafter, McCarthy argued the numbers he negotiated with the White House amounted to a cap and “you can always do less.” GOP Rep. Kay Granger of Texas, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, followed that she would seek to limit nondefense spending at 2022 budget levels, saying the debt agreement “set a top-line spending cap — a ceiling, not a floor.”
The decision to cut spending below levels in the the debt ceiling deal helped get the House moving again, but put them on a collision course with the Senate, where the spending bills hew much closer to the agreement.
“What the House has done is they essentially tore up that agreement as soon as it was signed,” said Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. “And so we are in for a bumpy ride.”
Even as House Republicans have been moving their spending bills out of committee on party-line votes, the key committee in the Senate has been operating in a bipartisan fashion, drafting spending bills with sometimes unanimous support.
“The way to make this work is do it in a bipartisan way like we are doing in the Senate. If you do it in a partisan way, you’re heading to a shutdown. And I am really worried that that’s where the House Republicans are headed," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters this week.
McCarthy countered that people had the same doubts about whether House Republicans and the White House could reach an agreement to pass a debt ceiling extension and avoid a default.
“We’ve got 'til Sept. 30. I think we can get this all done," McCarthy said.
In a subsequent press conference, McCarthy said he had just met with Schumer to talk about the road ahead on an array of bills, including the spending bills.
“I don't want the government to shut down,” McCarthy said. “I want to find that we can find common ground.”
In all, there are 12 spending bills. The House has passed one so far, and moved others out of committee. The Senate has passed none, though it has advanced all 12 out of committee, something that hasn't happened since 2018.
Still, the difficulty ahead was evident on the House side, where Republicans gave up until after the recess on trying to pass a spending measure to fund federal agriculture and rural programs and the Food and Drug Administration, amid disagreements over its contents. They began their August recess a day early instead of holding votes Friday.
Simpson said some of his Republican colleagues don't want to take money approved already outside the appropriations process to cover some of this year's spending and avoid deeper cuts. For example, the House bills would take almost all of the money approved last year for the Internal Revenue Service in Biden's Inflation Reduction Act and use the savings to avoid deeper spending cuts elsewhere.
Simpson said that without such rescissions, as they are called in Washington, he couldn't vote for the agriculture spending bill because the cuts "would have just been devastating.”
“That's the challenge we're going to have when we get back in September,” he said.
Further complicating things in the House, a few Republicans are opposed to some of the policy riders being included in the spending bills. For example, the agriculture spending bill would reverse the FDA's decision to allow abortion pills to be dispensed in certified pharmacies, instead of only by prescribers in hospitals, clinics, and medical offices.
“I had a problem with abortion being put inside an ag bill," said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa. "I think that's ridiculous."
It's a strong possibility that Congress will have to pass a stopgap spending bill before the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1. The Senate can vote first on the measure, which would put the onus on House Republicans to bring it up for a vote or allow for a shutdown. | https://www.wsls.com/news/politics/2023/07/29/members-of-congress-break-for-august-with-no-clear-path-to-avoiding-a-shutdown-this-fall/ | 2023-07-29T05:01:58 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/news/politics/2023/07/29/members-of-congress-break-for-august-with-no-clear-path-to-avoiding-a-shutdown-this-fall/ |
COLOMBO – French President Emmanuel Macron held discussions with his Sri Lankan counterpart Saturday on an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region in the first-ever visit by a French leader to the Indian Ocean island nation.
As the fourth-largest creditor to Sri Lanka, France had pledged cooperation in debt restructuring to help the island nation recover from its economic crisis.
Macron arrived in Sri Lanka Friday night, following his trip to the South Pacific region, to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations, Sri Lanka's president's office said.
Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe praised France’s significant role in global affairs, particularly in areas such as climate mitigation, global debt restructuring, and matters related to the Indo-Pacific region, the statement said.
“Sri Lanka and France are two Indian Ocean nations that share the same goal: an open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific. In Colombo we confirmed it: strengthened by 75 years of diplomatic relations, we can open a new era of our partnership,” Macron said in a Twitter message after the meeting. | https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2023/07/29/french-president-macron-visits-his-counterpart-in-sri-lanka/ | 2023-07-29T05:01:59 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2023/07/29/french-president-macron-visits-his-counterpart-in-sri-lanka/ |
Arthur Fils vs. Alexander Zverev: Prediction and Match Betting Odds | Hamburg European Open
Arthur Fils will face Alexander Zverev in the Hamburg European Open semifinals on Saturday, July 29.
In this Semifinal matchup, Zverev is the favorite (-375) against Fils (+270) .
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Arthur Fils vs. Alexander Zverev Match Information
- Tournament: The Hamburg European Open
- Round: Semifinals
- Date: Saturday, July 29
- Venue: MatchMaker Sports Gmbh
- Location: Hamburg, Germany
- Court Surface: Clay
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Arthur Fils vs. Alexander Zverev Prediction and Odds
Based on the moneyline in this match, Alexander Zverev has a 78.9% chance to win.
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Arthur Fils vs. Alexander Zverev Trends and Insights
- In the quarterfinals on Friday, Fils eliminated No. 4-ranked Casper Ruud, 6-0, 6-4.
- Zverev was victorious 6-3, 6-4 versus Luca van Assche in the quarterfinals on Friday.
- In his 29 matches over the past year across all court types, Fils has played an average of 21.4 games (20.7 in best-of-three matches).
- Fils has played 14 matches on clay over the past 12 months, and 22.2 games per match (21.2 in best-of-three matches).
- In his 42 matches in the past 12 months across all court types, Zverev is averaging 26.0 games per match (22.6 in best-of-three matches) and winning 53.2% of those games.
- Zverev has averaged 24.1 games per match (21.4 in best-of-three matches) and 9.7 games per set in 22 matches on clay surfaces in the past 12 months.
- Dating back to 2015, Fils and Zverev have not matched up on the court.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/arthur-fils-vs-alexander-zverev-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-hamburg-european-open/ | 2023-07-29T05:01:58 | 0 | https://www.mysuncoast.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/arthur-fils-vs-alexander-zverev-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-hamburg-european-open/ |
TAIPEI – Typhoon Doksuri weakened into a tropical storm late Friday night after bringing heavy winds and rain that left more than a million people without power in southern China.
After making landfall Friday morning in southern Fujian province, where at least 400,000 people were evacuated, the storm flooded streets and toppled electric transmission towers in the province. Over a million households were left without power, according to the state-backed Xiamen Evening News.
The typhoon was downgraded to a tropical storm at 11 p.m. Friday night, China’s state-owned broadcaster CCTV announced.
Businesses and summer school classes had been ordered suspended and the public was urged to stay indoors. In the city of Quanzhou by China's southern coast, authorities reported some 50 individuals sustained minor injuries. Residents shared photos on social media showing downed trees with roots fully out of the ground Saturday morning.
The tropical storm is expected to move its way farther inland in China, bringing heavy rains to the capital, Beijing.
Earlier in the week, the storm grazed past Taiwan's main island after hitting the Philippines ' main island of Luzon, where it produced landslides, flooding and downed trees. The storm displaced thousands and caused 41 deaths — including 27 killed in the capsizing of a passenger ship. About 20 others remained missing, including four coast guard personnel whose boat overturned while on a rescue mission in hard-hit Cagayan province, officials said Saturday, adding that they were monitoring another approaching storm. | https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2023/07/29/typhoon-doksuri-is-downgraded-to-tropical-storm-status-as-it-leaves-southern-china/ | 2023-07-29T05:02:00 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2023/07/29/typhoon-doksuri-is-downgraded-to-tropical-storm-status-as-it-leaves-southern-china/ |
Members of Congress break for August with no clear path to avoiding a shutdown this fall
By KEVIN FREKING
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers broke for their August recess this week with work on funding the government largely incomplete, fueling worries about whether Congress will be able to avoid a partial government shutdown this fall.
Congress has until Oct. 1, the start of the new fiscal year, to act on government funding. They could pass spending bills to fund government agencies into next year, or simply pass a stopgap measure that keeps agencies running until they strike a longer-term agreement. No matter which route they take, it won’t be easy.
“We’re going to scare the hell out of the American people before we get this done,” said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del.
Coons’ assessment is widely shared in Congress, reflecting the gulf between the Republican-led House and the Democratic-led Senate, which are charting vastly different — and mostly incompatible — paths on spending.
The Senate is adhering mostly to the top-line spending levels that President Joe Biden negotiated with House Republicans in late May as part of the debt-ceiling deal that extended the government’s borrowing authority and avoided an economically devastating default.
That agreement holds discretionary spending generally flat for the coming year while allowing increases for military and veterans accounts. On top of that, the Senate is looking to add $13.7 billion in additional emergency appropriations, including $8 billion for defense and $5.7 billion for nondefense.
House Republicans, many of whom opposed the debt-ceiling deal and refused to vote for it, are going a different way.
GOP leaders have teed up bills with far less spending than the agreement allows in an effort to win over members who insist on rolling back spending to fiscal year 2022 levels. They are also adding scores of policy add-ons broadly opposed by Democrats. There are proposals to reduce access to abortion pills, bans on the funding of hormone therapy and certain surgeries for transgender veterans, and a prohibition on training programs promoting diversity in the federal workplace, among many others.
At a press conference at the Capitol this past week, some members of the House Freedom Caucus, a conservative faction within the House GOP, said that voters elected a Republican majority in that chamber to rein in government spending and it was time for House Republicans to use every tool available to get the spending cuts they want.
“We should not fear a government shutdown,” said Rep. Bob Good, R-Va. “Most of the American people won’t even miss if the government is shut down temporarily.”
Many House Republicans disagree with that assessment. Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, called it an oversimplification to say most Americans wouldn’t feel an impact. And he warned Republicans would take the blame for a shutdown.
“We always get blamed for it, no matter what,” Simpson said. ”So it’s bad policy, it’s bad politics.”
But the slim five-seat majority Republicans hold amplifies the power that a small group can wield. Even though the debt ceiling agreement passed with a significant majority of both Republicans and Democrats, conservatives opponents were so unhappy in the aftermath that they shut down House votes for a few days, stalling the entire GOP agenda.
Shortly thereafter, McCarthy argued the numbers he negotiated with the White House amounted to a cap and “you can always do less.” GOP Rep. Kay Granger of Texas, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, followed that she would seek to limit nondefense spending at 2022 budget levels, saying the debt agreement “set a top-line spending cap — a ceiling, not a floor.”
The decision to cut spending below levels in the the debt ceiling deal helped get the House moving again, but put them on a collision course with the Senate, where the spending bills hew much closer to the agreement.
“What the House has done is they essentially tore up that agreement as soon as it was signed,” said Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. “And so we are in for a bumpy ride.”
Even as House Republicans have been moving their spending bills out of committee on party-line votes, the key committee in the Senate has been operating in a bipartisan fashion, drafting spending bills with sometimes unanimous support.
“The way to make this work is do it in a bipartisan way like we are doing in the Senate. If you do it in a partisan way, you’re heading to a shutdown. And I am really worried that that’s where the House Republicans are headed,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters this week.
McCarthy countered that people had the same doubts about whether House Republicans and the White House could reach an agreement to pass a debt ceiling extension and avoid a default.
“We’ve got ’til Sept. 30. I think we can get this all done,” McCarthy said.
In a subsequent press conference, McCarthy said he had just met with Schumer to talk about the road ahead on an array of bills, including the spending bills.
“I don’t want the government to shut down,” McCarthy said. “I want to find that we can find common ground.”
In all, there are 12 spending bills. The House has passed one so far, and moved others out of committee. The Senate has passed none, though it has advanced all 12 out of committee, something that hasn’t happened since 2018.
Still, the difficulty ahead was evident on the House side, where Republicans gave up until after the recess on trying to pass a spending measure to fund federal agriculture and rural programs and the Food and Drug Administration, amid disagreements over its contents. They began their August recess a day early instead of holding votes Friday.
Simpson said some of his Republican colleagues don’t want to take money approved already outside the appropriations process to cover some of this year’s spending and avoid deeper cuts. For example, the House bills would take almost all of the money approved last year for the Internal Revenue Service in Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and use the savings to avoid deeper spending cuts elsewhere.
Simpson said that without such rescissions, as they are called in Washington, he couldn’t vote for the agriculture spending bill because the cuts “would have just been devastating.”
“That’s the challenge we’re going to have when we get back in September,” he said.
Further complicating things in the House, a few Republicans are opposed to some of the policy riders being included in the spending bills. For example, the agriculture spending bill would reverse the FDA’s decision to allow abortion pills to be dispensed in certified pharmacies, instead of only by prescribers in hospitals, clinics, and medical offices.
“I had a problem with abortion being put inside an ag bill,” said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa. “I think that’s ridiculous.”
It’s a strong possibility that Congress will have to pass a stopgap spending bill before the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1. The Senate can vote first on the measure, which would put the onus on House Republicans to bring it up for a vote or allow for a shutdown. | https://kion546.com/ap-colorado/2023/07/28/members-of-congress-break-for-august-with-no-clear-path-to-avoiding-a-shutdown-this-fall/ | 2023-07-29T05:02:02 | 0 | https://kion546.com/ap-colorado/2023/07/28/members-of-congress-break-for-august-with-no-clear-path-to-avoiding-a-shutdown-this-fall/ |
Fabio Fognini vs. Joris de Loore: Prediction and Match Betting Odds | ATP Challenger Zug, Switzerland Men Singles 2023
In the ATP Challenger Zug, Switzerland Men Singles 2023 semifinals on Saturday, Fabio Fognini faces Joris de Loore.
With -175 odds, Fognini is favored over de Loore (+125) for this match.
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Fabio Fognini vs. Joris de Loore Match Information
- Tournament: The ATP Challenger Zug, Switzerland Men Singles 2023
- Round: Semifinals
- Date: Saturday, July 29
- Venue: Tennisclub Zug
- Location: Zug, Switzerland
- Court Surface: Clay
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Fabio Fognini vs. Joris de Loore Prediction and Odds
Based on the moneyline in this match, Fabio Fognini has a 63.6% chance to win.
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Fabio Fognini vs. Joris de Loore Trends and Insights
- Fognini advanced past Jakub Mensik 6-4, 6-2 in the quarterfinals on Friday.
- In the quarterfinals on Friday, de Loore took down No. 209-ranked Matteo Gigante, winning 3-6, 7-6, 6-4.
- Fognini has played 39 matches over the past 12 months (across all court surfaces), and 25.3 games per match (23.5 in best-of-three matches).
- In his 16 matches on clay over the past year, Fognini has played an average of 24.8 games (22.0 in best-of-three matches).
- de Loore has played two matches in the past year across all court types, averaging 22.5 games per match (22.5 in best-of-three matches) and winning 42.2% of those games.
- de Loore has averaged 18.0 games per match (18.0 in best-of-three matches) and 9.0 games per set in one match on clay courts in the past year.
- This is the first time that Fognini and de Loore have matched up in the last five years.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/fabio-fognini-vs-joris-de-loore-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-atp-challenger-zug-switzerland-men-singles-2023/ | 2023-07-29T05:02:05 | 1 | https://www.mysuncoast.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/fabio-fognini-vs-joris-de-loore-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-atp-challenger-zug-switzerland-men-singles-2023/ |
Typhoon Doksuri is downgraded to tropical storm status as it leaves southern China
By HUIZHONG WU
Associated Press
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Typhoon Doksuri weakened into a tropical storm late night Friday after bringing heavy rain and winds that left more than a million people without power in southern China. After making landfall Friday morning in southern Fujian province, where at least 400,000 people were evacuated, the storm flooded streets and toppled electric transmission towers in the province. It is now headed north and expected to bring heavy rain to Beijing, Tianjin, and other provinces over the course of the weekend. | https://kion546.com/ap-colorado/2023/07/28/typhoon-doksuri-is-downgraded-to-tropical-storm-status-as-it-leaves-southern-china/ | 2023-07-29T05:02:08 | 1 | https://kion546.com/ap-colorado/2023/07/28/typhoon-doksuri-is-downgraded-to-tropical-storm-status-as-it-leaves-southern-china/ |
Matteo Arnaldi vs. Alexei Popyrin: Prediction and Match Betting Odds | Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag
On Saturday, Matteo Arnaldi (No. 76 in the world) meets Alexei Popyrin (No. 90) in the semifinals of the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag.
Arnaldi is the favorite (-150) in this match, compared to the underdog Popyrin, who is +115.
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Matteo Arnaldi vs. Alexei Popyrin Match Information
- Tournament: The Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag
- Round: Semifinals
- Date: Saturday, July 29
- Venue: Stadium Goran Ivanisevic in ITC Stella Maris
- Location: Umag, Croatia
- Court Surface: Clay
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Matteo Arnaldi vs. Alexei Popyrin Prediction and Odds
Based on the moneyline in this match, Matteo Arnaldi has a 60.0% chance to win.
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Matteo Arnaldi vs. Alexei Popyrin Trends and Insights
- In the quarterfinals on Friday, Arnaldi advanced past No. 33-ranked Jiri Lehecka, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
- In the quarterfinals on Friday, Popyrin beat No. 287-ranked Dino Prizmic, winning 7-6, 7-5.
- Arnaldi has played 24.5 games per match (23.2 in best-of-three matches) in his 35 matches over the past year (across all court types).
- On clay, Arnaldi has played 18 matches over the past 12 months, totaling 24.5 games per match (23.4 in best-of-three matches) while winning 54.2% of games.
- In the past year, Popyrin has competed in 47 total matches (across all court types), winning 49.3% of the games. He averages 28.0 games per match (25.3 in best-of-three matches) and 10.6 games per set.
- On clay surfaces, Popyrin has played 16 matches and averaged 26.7 games per match (26.0 in best-of-three matches) and 10.2 games per set.
- Dating back to 2015, Arnaldi and Popyrin have not competed against each other.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/matteo-arnaldi-vs-alexei-popyrin-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-plava-laguna-croatia-open-umag/ | 2023-07-29T05:02:11 | 1 | https://www.mysuncoast.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/matteo-arnaldi-vs-alexei-popyrin-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-plava-laguna-croatia-open-umag/ |
Family of fifth woman found dead in Portland area seeking answers
By Connor McCarthy
Click here for updates on this story
PORTLAND, Oregon (KPTV) — More than a week after the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office announced a person of interest they believe is connected to the death of four metro area women, the family of a fifth woman who was also found dead this year is speaking out.
Ariel Hamby said she’s determined to find out what happened to her step-sister, 32-year-old JoAnna Speaks.
For weeks, the community thought her death was connected to the death of five other women who were found in the Portland Metro Area over the last six months. However, the Multnomah County District Attorney only linked four women, Charity Perry, Kristin Smith, Ashley Real, and Bridget Webster to a potential person of interest.
Hamby said they haven’t learned any new information about JoAnna’s case, just the new information in the cases of the four other women. She said she is grateful investigators are making headwind on their cases but not having JoAnna included does feel like a setback.
“For a second were like dang, we’re one step behind now, but I do believe that there is a connection there,” Hamby said. “It’s maybe just not as obvious as they found for the other girls.”
JoAnna’s body was found in Ridgefield inside an abandoned barn this past April. Her death happened around the same time the bodies of other women were being discovered around the greater Portland Metro Area. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office ruled her death a homicide.
“I think the fact that we have a crime scene in Washington has a lot to do with how hard it is to put so many of these pieces together,” Hamby said. “We can place all of these girls in similar areas with similar people that have mutual friends.”
Hamby said she is waiting for evidence to show JoAnna’s death is linked to the person of interest announced by the Multnomah County District Attorney.
Even though JoAnna hasn’t been linked to the individual, Hamby said it’s relieving to know that she and the families of the other four women were onto something from the beginning.
“There was something about everyone seeing what you see from the inside that it feels like there’s a little bit of justice in that too,” Hamby said.
Hamby said she wakes every day with the goal of finding justice for JoAnna. You can see the motivation to find answers in her interview sitting behind Hamby with a poster that reads ‘JoAnna Speaks, Murdered.’
“I actually carry a stack of those around with me in my bag so I can hand them out,” Hamby said. “We are remembering her strength right now. There was nothing she couldn’t accomplish if she put her mind to it. She was so strong. She didn’t fear anything.”
Despite progress in the other four similar cases, Hamby wants everyone to remember JoAnna’s is still unsolved.
“I just don’t want her case to be forgotten,” Hamby said. “She was a loved, beautiful person who was going through some of her own struggles. But we miss her, more than anything.”
The Clark County Sheriff’s Office released a statement about JoAnna’s investigation when the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office made their announcement last week:
“The Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Major Crimes Unit (MCU) is in communication with detectives from the other involved area law enforcement agencies. MCU is investigating the possibility the murder of Joanna Speaks could be connected to other area cases. At this time, MCU detectives have no evidence confirming that Joanna Speaks homicide is connected to these other cases. Detectives are still gathering and reviewing evidence and statements.
As this is an active investigation, no additional details of the investigation are being released at this time.”
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BALTIMORE – Anthony Santander homered off Tommy Kahnle in the ninth inning to give the Baltimore Orioles a 1-0 victory over New York on Friday night, spoiling Aaron Judge's return for the Yankees.
Judge walked three times in his first game back from a toe injury, but the Orioles kept New York off the scoreboard with a spectacular defensive effort — particularly in the eighth inning, when Santander made a lunging, sliding catch in right field and second baseman Adam Frazier made a diving stop on Anthony Rizzo's grounder with a man on second.
Orioles rookie Grayson Rodriguez pitched 6 1/3 scoreless inning, going toe to toe with New York's Gerrit Cole, who went seven. Félix Bautista (6-1) struck out two in a scoreless ninth. Kahnle (1-1) couldn't match that in the bottom half, allowing Santander's one-out drive that went well beyond the fence in right-center field.
The Orioles remained 1 1/2 games ahead of Tampa Bay atop the AL East, and they now lead the last-place Yankees by nine.
The game was delayed 2 hours, 32 minutes. Judge lined out to right field on the first pitch to him in the first, but he reached base the other three times.
Anthony Volpe was robbed twice by stellar Baltimore defense. Third baseman Ramón Urías made a diving stop on his one-hopper in the fifth. In the eighth, Volpe led off with a fly to right that Santander reached out and caught before sliding on his stomach across the grass.
New York eventually had two on and two out that inning when Rizzo's grounder looked headed to right field. Frazier's diving play prevented that.
DEADLINE OUTLOOK
Orioles general manager Mike Elias said it's no secret that the Orioles are working on potentially adding pitching upgrades at the trade deadline. He said the team has the wherewithal to make “good baseball trades” even if they add payroll.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: Elias said he hopes OFs Cedric Mullins (right adductor groin strain) and Aaron Hicks (left hamstring strain) can return and play a large part of August. ... Elias said LHP John Means (left elbow UCL surgery) and RHP Mychal Givens (right shoulder inflammation) will probably be pitching in games in the Florida Complex League in the early part of August.
UP NEXT
Baltimore's Tyler Wells (7-5) takes the mound against New York's Clarke Schmidt (6-6) on Saturday night. Schmidt will be on extended rest, having last pitched July 21.
___
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Stan Wawrinka vs. Lorenzo Sonego: Prediction and Match Betting Odds | Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag
In the semifinals of the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag on Saturday, Stan Wawrinka (ranked No. 72) faces Lorenzo Sonego (No. 43).
In this Semifinal matchup against Sonego (+100), Wawrinka is the favorite with -125 odds.
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Stan Wawrinka vs. Lorenzo Sonego Match Information
- Tournament: The Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag
- Round: Semifinals
- Date: Saturday, July 29
- Venue: Stadium Goran Ivanisevic in ITC Stella Maris
- Location: Umag, Croatia
- Court Surface: Clay
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Stan Wawrinka vs. Lorenzo Sonego Prediction and Odds
Based on the moneyline in this match, Stan Wawrinka has a 55.6% chance to win.
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Stan Wawrinka vs. Lorenzo Sonego Trends and Insights
- Wawrinka is looking to stay on track after a 6-4, 7-5 victory over No. 59-ranked Roberto Carballes Baena in Friday's quarterfinals.
- Sonego advanced to the semifinals by taking down No. 104-ranked Jaume Munar 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 on Friday.
- Wawrinka has played 27.3 games per match (24.6 in best-of-three matches) in his 40 matches over the past year (across all court surfaces).
- On clay, Wawrinka has played 11 matches over the past year, totaling 28.7 games per match (23.4 in best-of-three matches) while winning 49.7% of games.
- Sonego has averaged 25.4 games per match (22.7 in best-of-three matches) through his 55 matches played in the past year across all court surfaces, while winning 50.8% of the games.
- Sonego has averaged 27.9 games per match (23.1 in best-of-three matches) and 9.8 games per set in 13 matches on clay courts in the past 12 months.
- Wawrinka and Sonego have not played each other since 2015.
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Gelof, Laureano homer to back Sears in the Athletics’ 8-5 victory over the Rockies
By JACK MAGRUDER
Associated Press
DENVER (AP) — Zack Gelof and Ramon Laureano homered, JP Sears won for the second time this season and the Oakland Athletics broke a three-game losing streak with an 8-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Friday night.
Shea Langeliers had a double, a triple and scored twice, Laureano had two hits and scored twice and Tony Kemp had two doubles as the major league-worst A’s pounded out 14 hits. They were 3-13 in their previous 16 games.
Oakland took a 7-2 lead into the eighth inning, but the Rockies closed to 7-5 on pinch-hitter Michael Toglia’s run-scoring single and Jurickson Profar’s two-run double. Lucas Erceg, Oakland’s third pitcher of the inning, got two groundouts to end the inning.
Laureano hit a 429-foot homer leading off the ninth.
Sears (2-7) gave up four hits including a homer to Randal Grichuk, struck out five and walked one while breaking a four-game losing streak. Sears has not missed a turn in the rotation this season, but his only other victory came against Milwaukee on June 11. A’s starting pitchers are 10-47 this season.
Gelof has 10 hits, seven for extra bases, since being recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on July 14. He has reached base in 10 of his 12 games.
After Laureano singled in Rooker in the first inning, Langeliers tripled in the first run of a three-run second for a 4-0 lead. His was the only ball the A’s got out of the infield in a rally fueled on errors by third baseman Ryan McMahon and second baseman Alan Trejo, a hit batter and a fielder’s choice that did not result in an out.
Allen drove in Langeliers with Oakland’s only other hit in the second, a liner the caromed off Colorado left-hander Kyle Freeland (4-11), who was activated from the injury list before the game.
Langeliers doubled with two outs in the third inning and scored on Allen’s triple to make it 5-0.
Grichuk’s 445-foot homer in the fourth inning broke Sears’ shutout. Gelof’s 393-foot homer with two outs in the fifth made it 7-1.
Freeland gave up nine hits and five runs, three earned, in his first start since suffering a right shoulder injury when he dove for a popup in San Francisco on July 9. He struck out three and hit a batter.
The Rockies have lost three in a row.
FAMILY REUNION
Rockies 1B CJ Cron returned from the injury listed Friday to face his father Chris, Oakland’s hitting coach, a career first. “It’s the greatest feeling in the world for a baseball dad,” said Chris, who spent 12 years as a player with two brief stops in the majors and has been a minor league coach or manager since retiring in 1995.
Cron was 1 for 5 with a single. Cron and Grichuk, who have expiring contracts, have been mentioned as possible trade candidates.
TRAINERS RO0M
Athletics: OF Esteury Ruiz (shoulder) was 1 for 2 with a triple and a throwing error in five innings in his first rehab game at Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday. There is no timeline for his return. He leads the AL with 43 stolen bases. … RHP Mason Miller (UCL strain) threw a 20-pitch fastball/changeup bullpen Wednesday and is scheduled to throw another before beginning a rehab assignment.
Rockies: RHP Chase Anderson (shoulder inflammation) was placed on the IL retroactive to July 15 when Freehand was activated for his start Friday. RHP Tommy Doyle was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque to replace RHP Riley Pint, who was optioned to Albuquerque on Wednesday. … RHP Tyler Kinley (elbow) has made four rehab appearances and could return during the homestand that ends Wednesday. … 2B Brendan Rodgers (left shoulder) homered for Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday and has made 33 plate appearances on a rehab assignment. The Rockies have set 40-50 as a benchmark before considering his return.
UP NEXT
Rockies RHP Chris Flexen (0-4, 7.71 ERA) is to face A’s RHP Paul Blackburn (1-2, 5.06) in the second game of a three-game series. Flexen will make his first appearance for the Rockies after appearing in 17 games with Seattle this season. Blackburn has never faced the Rockies.
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Taylor Fritz vs. Jeffrey John Wolf: Prediction and Match Betting Odds | Truist Atlanta Open
Taylor Fritz (No. 9 ranking) will face Jeffrey John Wolf (No. 46) in the semifinals of the Truist Atlanta Open on Saturday, July 29.
With -250 odds, Fritz is the favorite against Wolf (+190) for this matchup.
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Taylor Fritz vs. Jeffrey John Wolf Match Information
- Tournament: The Truist Atlanta Open
- Round: Semifinals
- Date: Saturday, July 29
- Venue: Atlantic Station
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
- Court Surface: Hard
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Taylor Fritz vs. Jeffrey John Wolf Prediction and Odds
Based on the moneyline in this match, Taylor Fritz has a 71.4% chance to win.
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Taylor Fritz vs. Jeffrey John Wolf Trends and Insights
- In the quarterfinals on Friday, Fritz beat No. 439-ranked Kei Nishikori, 6-4, 6-2.
- Wolf came out on top 6-2, 6-3 versus Dominik Koepfer in the quarterfinals on Friday.
- Fritz has played 68 matches over the past 12 months across all court surfaces, and 26.2 games per match (24.1 in best-of-three matches).
- In his 44 matches on hard courts over the past 12 months, Fritz has played an average of 25.8 games (24.3 in best-of-three matches).
- Wolf is averaging 24.5 games per match (22.3 in best-of-three matches) through his 59 matches played in the past 12 months across all court types, winning 52.6% of those games.
- Wolf has averaged 24.9 games per match (22.8 in best-of-three matches) and 9.9 games per set in 41 matches on hard courts in the past 12 months, winning 52.7% of those games.
- This is the first time that Fritz and Wolf have played in the last five years.
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Ukraine’s top fencer granted place at Olympics after disqualification for Russia handshake snub
By Svitlana Vlasova, Victoria Butenko and Tim Lister, CNN
(CNN) — The Ukrainian fencing champion banned from the world championships in Italy for refusing to shake hands with a Russian opponent has been readmitted to the tournament and given an automatic place at next year’s Paris Olympics.
Olga Kharlan, leader of Ukraine’s national fencing team, was earlier disqualified at the tournament after she refused to shake hands with the Russian rival Anna Smirnova she defeated. Smirnova then walked away before staging a sit-down protest for about 45 minutes.
An athlete’s refusal to shake hands after a contest results in a black card and expulsion, according to International Fencing Federation rules.
The symbolic move, made as her country fights back against Russia’s invasion, was risky for Kharlan because her disqualification looked set to also scupper the four-time individual world champion and four-time Olympic medalist’s chances of racking up enough points to qualify for Paris next year.
But the International Fencing Federation said on Friday that while it stands “fully behind the penalty’, it would allow Kharlan to participate in the women’s team sabre competition.
The federation said it has met with Kharlan and spoken with the International Olympic Committee and finds the reinstatement “in keeping with the Olympic Spirit”.
“It also sends a message of sensitivity and understanding to our members and all sports federations,” it said.
IOC chief’s intervention
That turnaround came came after a pointed intervention from the President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, himself a former fencer.
In a letter to Kharlan, Bach said: “The war against your country, the suffering of the people of Ukraine, the uncertainty about your participation at the World Fencing Championships in Milan, the difficult inner conflicts that you and many of your fellow Ukrainian athletes may have, and then the events that unfolded yesterday”.
“All this is a rollercoaster of emotions and feelings,” he wrote.
Expressing his “full support” for Kharlan, Bach said the IOC would offer her an automatic place at the Paris Olympics next year because of her “unique situation” and because her disqualification in Milan could cost her sufficient qualifying points for the Olympiad.
The International Fencing Federation said Kharlan had since conceded the appropriateness of the penalty against her, though the fencer has not apologized, despite saying she was thankful to the federation’s decision.
Responding to the news, Kharlan also thanked Bach for her qualification at the Olympics.
“This is the moment when you see no hope, feel unbearable pain and despair, and think you are all alone. And then a whole multi-million country of Heroes stands up for you and changes everything in your life,” she said.
“I knew what I was risking, but I didn’t expect that it would shake up the entire Ukrainian society and that everyone would join the fight with me!”
The fencer champion said she “acted with my heart” shortly after the original news of her disqualification, calling for a change of rules “because the world is changing”.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, also weighed in – tweeting: “Congratulations to Ukraine’s fencing star Olha Kharlan on having her unfair disqualification reversed and her right to compete restored, including in the Olympics. Truth and dignity prevail when we all stand up for them and fight as one.”
Kharlan not alone
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered tanks and troops into Ukraine in February last year, triggering Europe’s largest land war since the Second World War.
Some 16-months later the war grinds on with Ukrainians fighting a battle for survival and trying to push Russian forces out of their country.
Smirnova was competing as a neutral athlete as representatives of Russia are not eligible to take part in most sporting tournament since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
The issue of Ukrainians and Russians not shaking hands in sport is not confined to fencing – Ukrainian tennis star Marta Kostyuk, who is from Kyiv, said at the start of the year that she would not shake hands with Russian or Belarusian players while the war rages in her country, along with Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko.
Kostyuk was booed at the French Open when she refused to meet Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka at the net. Sabalenka condemned the booing and said she understands why Ukrainian players won’t shake her hand.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina took to Twitter to support Kharlan, writing: “We are not shaking hands with Russian and Belarusian athletes. That is our position! I call on international sports organisations and federations to respect our decision!”
She added that “All our love and respect goes to @olgakharlan.”
The-CNN-Wire
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Colorado officer who placed handcuffed suspect into a vehicle that was hit by train is found guilty of misdemeanors, but acquitted of felony
By Andy Rose, CNN
(CNN) — A Colorado police officer who put a handcuffed suspect in a patrol SUV that was then hit by a train near Denver lat year was found guilty of two misdemeanors Friday.
Fort Lupton police Officer Jordan Steinke was convicted of reckless endangerment and third-degree assault, but acquitted of a felony charge of criminal attempt to commit manslaughter.
“There’s no reasonable doubt that placing a handcuffed person in the back of a patrol car parked on railroad tracks creates a substantial and unjustifiable risk of harm by the train,” Judge Timothy Kerns said when reading the verdict after a weeklong bench trial.
Steinke, who had waived her right have the case decided by a jury, laid her head on the table and sobbed after the verdict was read.
In September, Steinke joined a traffic stop in which officers pulled over Yareni Rios-Gonzalez, who authorities said was suspected of brandishing a gun at another driver in a road rage case earlier in the evening. Steinke put Rios into the cruiser of Platteville police Officer Pablo Vasquez, who arrived first and parked in the middle of a railroad crossing.
Body-worn camera and dashboard camera video released by police showed Rios screaming for help as the train approaches and strikes the vehicle. She suffered nine broken ribs and a broken arm in addition to other injuries.
“Ms. Rios respects the verdict in this case against Ms. Steinke and believes that justice was done,” Rios’ attorney, Chris Ponce, told CNN on Friday.
An attorney for Steinke argued in court that the officer couldn’t be held responsible because there was no proof she was aware that she had placed the suspect in harm’s way.
“Your honor cannot hold a defendant responsible if she was actually unaware of a risk, even if a reasonable person would have perceived it,” defense attorney Erin O’Neill said.
Steinke had argued throughout her testimony that she did not notice the location of the railroad tracks, despite multiple warning signs, including one next to where she parked her own vehicle. She said she was too concerned about approaching a suspect who might have a gun to be fully aware of her surroundings. “You can only divide your attention so much,” Steinke testified.
Officers were searching Rios’ truck, checking to see whether anyone else was in her vehicle before searching it for a weapon, as the train approached.
The Weld County district attorney’s office on Friday declined to comment on the verdict. Steinke’s attorneys did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Steinke’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 15.
Vasquez faces misdemeanor charges but hasn’t entered a plea. Vasquez’s next court date is September 14.
Rios previously entered a no contest plea to misdemeanor menacing in connection with the road rage case, and a felony charge was dropped, her attorney told CNN.
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What Ukraine must do to win in its southern push – and what Russia has in reserve
CNN
By Tim Lister, CNN
(CNN) — The Ukrainian military is doubling down on efforts to break through thick Russian defenses in its counteroffensive in the south, which has struggled to gain momentum since being launched at the beginning of June.
Ukrainian officials have said little about what fresh units are being committed to the offensive, but the military has clearly added recently-minted units equipped with western armor in at least one important segment of the southern front.
The challenges faced by the Ukrainians are perhaps less to do with numbers and more to do with capabilities, training and coordination, factors that are critical when an attacking force is faced with such an array of defenses.
Fragments of geolocated video show that western armor such as Bradley fighting vehicles have been part of the renewed assault and that experienced units have been brought into the fray. But tight operational security on the part of the Ukrainians precludes a full assessment of what is being done to reboot the counteroffensive – and where.
There’s still debate about the size of the additional effort.
George Barros of the Institute for the Study of War – a Washington-based group – told CNN: “We had not seen any evidence of a battalion-level attack and certainly no brigade-level attacks. If the Ukrainians are indeed committing full battalions and brigades now as reported, that would mark a clear new phase of the Ukrainian counteroffensive.”
A Ukrainian brigade is roughly 3,000 troops.
Mines and more mines
For weeks Ukrainian forces have struggled to break through Russian lines because of layers of defenses: tank traps, other obstacles and dense minefields. According to some Ukrainian accounts, they have resorted to using small groups of military engineers working through forested areas to cut a path through or evade these minefields.
But navigating them will not break the back of Russian defenses. Satellite imagery shows multiple layers of Russian fortifications, sometimes 20 kilometers deep: breach one and another awaits.
Despite hurried training, some of it in western Europe, Ukrainian forces appear to be struggling to carry out combined arms operations: the use of multiple different assets to suppress and degrade Russian defenses both in the air and on the ground.
“Russian attack helicopters and fighter-bombers are exploiting weaknesses in Ukraine’s air defenses, enabling the Russians to strike Ukrainian ground forces. Conducting a mechanized penetration of this magnitude while the adversary has air superiority is extremely difficult,” says Barros at the ISW.
“Operations are more sequential than synchronized,” says analyst Franz-Stefan Gady after a visit to the front lines and extensive conversations with the Ukrainian military.
“Ukraine will have to better synchronize and adapt current tactics, without which western equipment will not prove tac[tically] decisive in the long run. This is happening but it is slow work in progress.”
Gady says that in addition, Ukrainian troops he spoke with “are all too aware that lack of progress is often more due to force employment, poor tactics, lack of coordination (between) units, bureaucratic red tape/infighting, Soviet style thinking etc.”
He says that makes the Ukrainians more vulnerable as they try to advance, and there is some evidence of that in the few videos that have emerged on social media.
“It’s not just about equipment. There’s simply no systematic pulling apart of the Russian defensive system that I could observe,” Gady tweeted. “Weakening Russian defenses to a degree that enables maneuver,” which will include the use of cluster munitions, is a critical task in the weeks ahead.
The commitment of new units this week does appear to have enabled the Ukrainians make modest advances south of the town of Orikhiv, edging closer to the important Russian hub of Tokmak some 20 kilometers to the south of the current frontline.
There are other modest successes further east, but the few frontline accounts to have emerged speak of unceasing Russian aviation and artillery strikes.
Kostyantyn Denysov, a member of the Freedom Legion, said the fighting was relentless.
“In a word, it’s hell,” he told RFE/Radio Liberty this week. “There are small arms battles along the entire contact line, counter-battery fighting.”
“Their helicopters are flying here in pairs and shelling our positions, Su-25 assault aircraft are working, dropping bombs on our guys’ heads. Many units have been brought here to try not only to stop our movement, but also to recapture lost positions in certain areas.”
The Ukrainian military’s critical need is to gain momentum – and force Russian commanders to make painful choices about where and how to deploy their units.
It is far too early to tell whether the Ukrainian counteroffensive has entered a more dynamic phase. The ISW cautions that “this kind of penetration battle will be one of the most difficult things for Ukrainian forces to accomplish.”
Nor can the Ukrainians focus their entire effort on the south. The Russians still hope to make tactical advances of their own in the north and eastern fronts, so the Ukrainians have to retain substantial and capable forces along the straggling northern front.
As former Australian general Mick Ryan writes: “General Gerasimov, who we assume retains overall command of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine, is implementing a defensive strategy. But concurrently he is conducting offensive activities at the tactical and operation levels,” especially along the front that leads north from Kreminna to Kupyansk.
The Kremlin has seized upon the slow progress of the Ukrainian counter-offensive: a rare opportunity to go beyond damage limitation.
President Vladimir Putin said on July 21 that it was “clear today that the Western curators of the Kiev regime are certainly disappointed with the results of the counteroffensive that the current Ukrainian authorities announced in previous months.”
But this conflict has been a graveyard of premature declarations.
There are factors that may work in Ukraine’s favor.
George Barros at the ISW says the Ukrainians may be able to exploit geographical advantages.
“Russian defensive lines are not all contiguous or uniformly suited for strong defence. Some lines are bisected by water features or difficult terrain. Some lines are arrayed in such a manner that it could make a controlled withdrawal from one prepared defensive line to the other difficult.”
Pointing to successful Ukrainian attacks along the Mokri Yaly river, Barros says that “many such exploitable terrain intricacies exist along the southern frontline.”
Russian units are suffering battle fatigue, with insufficient rotation or relief even as reinforcements are brought forward. Elements of the 58th Combined Arms Army have been fighting in Zaporizhzhia non-stop for nearly two months.
Its commander, Major General Ivan Popov, was dismissed earlier this month for complaining to the Russian Defense Ministry about the situation.
Most observers say that in contrast, Ukrainian morale remains robust.
Even so, Gady contends that “Russian forces, even if severely degraded and lacking ammo, are likely capable of delaying, containing or repulsing individual platoon- or company-sized Ukrainian advances unless these attacks are better coordinated & synchronized along the broader frontline.”
The long road
Some Ukrainian officials have complained that allied expectations have been unreasonable given the depth of Russian defenses and Russian air superiority – and the speed with which they have had to stand up new brigades.
While grateful for Western equipment such as mine engineering vehicles and cluster munitions, they say much more is needed. F16s would neutralize Russia’s air superiority; longer-range artillery would accelerate the damage to the Russian military’s logistics.
Absent an unexpected collapse of Russian lines, Ukrainian gains “are likely to occur over a long period of time and interspersed with lulls and periods of slower and more grinding efforts as the Ukrainians come to successive Russian defensive lines and themselves require relief and rotation,” says the ISW.
Gady concurs. “I suspect this will remain a bloody attritional fight with reserve units being fed in incrementally in the coming weeks and months,” he tweeted.
If that is the case, and this conflict begins to resemble the static frontlines that began to solidify in Donbas in 2015-16, when Russian-backed forces captured Ukrainian territory, other questions arise.
Will western governments begin to exert pressure on Ukraine to seek a settlement? And given the losses suffered thus far, Russia’s ability to generate reinforcements and the uncertainties surrounding the US presidential election – will the Ukrainian government’s own calculations shift?
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://kion546.com/news/national-world/cnn-world/2023/07/28/what-ukraine-must-do-to-win-in-its-southern-push-and-what-russia-has-in-reserve-2/ | 2023-07-29T05:02:37 | 1 | https://kion546.com/news/national-world/cnn-world/2023/07/28/what-ukraine-must-do-to-win-in-its-southern-push-and-what-russia-has-in-reserve-2/ |
(NEXSTAR) — Is it your lucky day? Friday’s Mega Millions jackpot is a massive $940 million, the eighth-largest prize in the game’s history. Winning numbers for the July 28 jackpot are: 52, 28, 5, 63, and 10. The Mega ball number is 18. Friday’s Megaplier is 5X.
The estimated $940 million prize has been building since someone last matched all six numbers and won the jackpot April 18. Since then, there have been 28 straight drawings without a jackpot winner.
The $940 million pot on the line Friday night will be that high only if a single player wins and they choose to be paid through an annuity of one immediate payment or 30 annual allotments. But jackpot winners nearly always take the cash in a lump sum, which for Friday night’s drawing would be an estimated $472.5 million.
Mega Millions is played in 45 states and the District of Columbia. Tickets are $2 and there are a total of nine ways to win a prize. Drawings are held at 11 p.m. ET Tuesdays and Fridays.
USA Mega, which tracks Mega Millions statistics, says the most common Mega Millions numbers are 17, 10, 14, 31 and 4 for the first five numbers. The most common Mega ball number is 22.
The biggest jackpot in Mega Millions history is $1.537 billion back in 2018 and was claimed by one lucky winner in South Carolina.
If no one claims Friday’s jackpot, the next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled to be held Tuesday, August 1. | https://www.krqe.com/news/national/mega-millions-here-are-the-winning-numbers-for-940m-jackpot-2/ | 2023-07-29T05:02:39 | 0 | https://www.krqe.com/news/national/mega-millions-here-are-the-winning-numbers-for-940m-jackpot-2/ |
What Ukraine must do to win in its southern push – and what Russia has in reserve
By Tim Lister, CNN
(CNN) — The Ukrainian military is doubling down on efforts to break through thick Russian defenses in its counteroffensive in the south, which has struggled to gain momentum since being launched at the beginning of June.
Ukrainian officials have said little about what fresh units are being committed to the offensive, but the military has clearly added recently-minted units equipped with western armor in at least one important segment of the southern front.
The challenges faced by the Ukrainians are perhaps less to do with numbers and more to do with capabilities, training and coordination, factors that are critical when an attacking force is faced with such an array of defenses.
Fragments of geolocated video show that western armor such as Bradley fighting vehicles have been part of the renewed assault and that experienced units have been brought into the fray. But tight operational security on the part of the Ukrainians precludes a full assessment of what is being done to reboot the counteroffensive – and where.
There’s still debate about the size of the additional effort.
George Barros of the Institute for the Study of War – a Washington-based group – told CNN: “We had not seen any evidence of a battalion-level attack and certainly no brigade-level attacks. If the Ukrainians are indeed committing full battalions and brigades now as reported, that would mark a clear new phase of the Ukrainian counteroffensive.”
A Ukrainian brigade is roughly 3,000 troops.
Mines and more mines
For weeks Ukrainian forces have struggled to break through Russian lines because of layers of defenses: tank traps, other obstacles and dense minefields. According to some Ukrainian accounts, they have resorted to using small groups of military engineers working through forested areas to cut a path through or evade these minefields.
But navigating them will not break the back of Russian defenses. Satellite imagery shows multiple layers of Russian fortifications, sometimes 20 kilometers deep: breach one and another awaits.
Despite hurried training, some of it in western Europe, Ukrainian forces appear to be struggling to carry out combined arms operations: the use of multiple different assets to suppress and degrade Russian defenses both in the air and on the ground.
“Russian attack helicopters and fighter-bombers are exploiting weaknesses in Ukraine’s air defenses, enabling the Russians to strike Ukrainian ground forces. Conducting a mechanized penetration of this magnitude while the adversary has air superiority is extremely difficult,” says Barros at the ISW.
“Operations are more sequential than synchronized,” says analyst Franz-Stefan Gady after a visit to the front lines and extensive conversations with the Ukrainian military.
“Ukraine will have to better synchronize and adapt current tactics, without which western equipment will not prove tac[tically] decisive in the long run. This is happening but it is slow work in progress.”
Gady says that in addition, Ukrainian troops he spoke with “are all too aware that lack of progress is often more due to force employment, poor tactics, lack of coordination (between) units, bureaucratic red tape/infighting, Soviet style thinking etc.”
He says that makes the Ukrainians more vulnerable as they try to advance, and there is some evidence of that in the few videos that have emerged on social media.
“It’s not just about equipment. There’s simply no systematic pulling apart of the Russian defensive system that I could observe,” Gady tweeted. “Weakening Russian defenses to a degree that enables maneuver,” which will include the use of cluster munitions, is a critical task in the weeks ahead.
The commitment of new units this week does appear to have enabled the Ukrainians make modest advances south of the town of Orikhiv, edging closer to the important Russian hub of Tokmak some 20 kilometers to the south of the current frontline.
There are other modest successes further east, but the few frontline accounts to have emerged speak of unceasing Russian aviation and artillery strikes.
Kostyantyn Denysov, a member of the Freedom Legion, said the fighting was relentless.
“In a word, it’s hell,” he told RFE/Radio Liberty this week. “There are small arms battles along the entire contact line, counter-battery fighting.”
“Their helicopters are flying here in pairs and shelling our positions, Su-25 assault aircraft are working, dropping bombs on our guys’ heads. Many units have been brought here to try not only to stop our movement, but also to recapture lost positions in certain areas.”
The Ukrainian military’s critical need is to gain momentum – and force Russian commanders to make painful choices about where and how to deploy their units.
It is far too early to tell whether the Ukrainian counteroffensive has entered a more dynamic phase. The ISW cautions that “this kind of penetration battle will be one of the most difficult things for Ukrainian forces to accomplish.”
Nor can the Ukrainians focus their entire effort on the south. The Russians still hope to make tactical advances of their own in the north and eastern fronts, so the Ukrainians have to retain substantial and capable forces along the straggling northern front.
As former Australian general Mick Ryan writes: “General Gerasimov, who we assume retains overall command of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine, is implementing a defensive strategy. But concurrently he is conducting offensive activities at the tactical and operation levels,” especially along the front that leads north from Kreminna to Kupyansk.
The Kremlin has seized upon the slow progress of the Ukrainian counter-offensive: a rare opportunity to go beyond damage limitation.
President Vladimir Putin said on July 21 that it was “clear today that the Western curators of the Kiev regime are certainly disappointed with the results of the counteroffensive that the current Ukrainian authorities announced in previous months.”
But this conflict has been a graveyard of premature declarations.
There are factors that may work in Ukraine’s favor.
George Barros at the ISW says the Ukrainians may be able to exploit geographical advantages.
“Russian defensive lines are not all contiguous or uniformly suited for strong defence. Some lines are bisected by water features or difficult terrain. Some lines are arrayed in such a manner that it could make a controlled withdrawal from one prepared defensive line to the other difficult.”
Pointing to successful Ukrainian attacks along the Mokri Yaly river, Barros says that “many such exploitable terrain intricacies exist along the southern frontline.”
Russian units are suffering battle fatigue, with insufficient rotation or relief even as reinforcements are brought forward. Elements of the 58th Combined Arms Army have been fighting in Zaporizhzhia non-stop for nearly two months.
Its commander, Major General Ivan Popov, was dismissed earlier this month for complaining to the Russian Defense Ministry about the situation.
Most observers say that in contrast, Ukrainian morale remains robust.
Even so, Gady contends that “Russian forces, even if severely degraded and lacking ammo, are likely capable of delaying, containing or repulsing individual platoon- or company-sized Ukrainian advances unless these attacks are better coordinated & synchronized along the broader frontline.”
The long road
Some Ukrainian officials have complained that allied expectations have been unreasonable given the depth of Russian defenses and Russian air superiority – and the speed with which they have had to stand up new brigades.
While grateful for Western equipment such as mine engineering vehicles and cluster munitions, they say much more is needed. F16s would neutralize Russia’s air superiority; longer-range artillery would accelerate the damage to the Russian military’s logistics.
Absent an unexpected collapse of Russian lines, Ukrainian gains “are likely to occur over a long period of time and interspersed with lulls and periods of slower and more grinding efforts as the Ukrainians come to successive Russian defensive lines and themselves require relief and rotation,” says the ISW.
Gady concurs. “I suspect this will remain a bloody attritional fight with reserve units being fed in incrementally in the coming weeks and months,” he tweeted.
If that is the case, and this conflict begins to resemble the static frontlines that began to solidify in Donbas in 2015-16, when Russian-backed forces captured Ukrainian territory, other questions arise.
Will western governments begin to exert pressure on Ukraine to seek a settlement? And given the losses suffered thus far, Russia’s ability to generate reinforcements and the uncertainties surrounding the US presidential election – will the Ukrainian government’s own calculations shift?
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://kion546.com/news/national-world/cnn-world/2023/07/28/what-ukraine-must-do-to-win-in-its-southern-push-and-what-russia-has-in-reserve/ | 2023-07-29T05:02:43 | 1 | https://kion546.com/news/national-world/cnn-world/2023/07/28/what-ukraine-must-do-to-win-in-its-southern-push-and-what-russia-has-in-reserve/ |
Federal judge temporarily blocks Montana’s ban on ‘drag story hours’ in libraries
By Andy Rose and Piper Hudspeth Blackburn, CNN
(CNN) — A federal judge on Friday paused a Montana law that bans drag performers from hosting children’s story hours at public libraries and bars “sexually oriented shows” on public property that can be seen by minors.
In his opinion issuing the temporary restraining order, Judge Brian Morris said at least some of the speech regulated by the law has First Amendment protections and warned that the measure “likely will disproportionately harm not only drag performers, but any person who falls outside traditional gender and identity norms.”
The order prohibits Montana’s Republican Attorney General Austin Knudsen from enforcing the measure, which is among other restrictive laws targeting drag performers enacted in GOP-led states, while the court considers whether to issue a longer lasting preliminary injunction.
Montana Pride asked the judge earlier this month for an immediate order because the city of Helena had denied its request for a permit for its events, some of which include drag performers, that are scheduled to start Sunday. The city, according to the order, supports the organization’s application, but fears legal liability.
Noting that Montana Pride has been around for three decades, Morris said, “Nothing in the record currently before the Court indicates that speech and expression associated with Montana Pride has harmed minors or any other community members.”
Montana Pride organizers responded on Facebook Friday, saying, “In case you were wondering, EVERY EVENT IS HAPPENING!!”
Knudsen’s spokesperson, Emily Flower, told CNN in a statement Friday, “We look forward to presenting our written response and full argument at the upcoming preliminary injunction hearing to defend the law and protect minors from sexually oriented performances.”
Signed into law by Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte in May, House Bill 359 keeps children from attending “sexually oriented shows.” These events include so-called drag story hours, which the law defines as events hosted “by a drag queen or drag king who reads children’s books and engages in other learning activities with minor children present.”
The measure also bans public “sexually oriented performances” – including any involving “removal or simulated removal of clothing in a sexual manner” – seen by people under the age of 18.
Other plaintiffs in the case include a transgender indigenous author, Adria Jawort, who said a talk she was scheduled to give at a public library in Butte-Silver Bow last month was canceled because the librarian informed her, “It is too much of a legal risk to have a transgendered person in the library.”
Two independent movie theaters joined the suit, claiming that the law could be interpreted to prohibit them from showing films that contain “sexually oriented performances,” since even R-rated films can be legally seen by 17-year-olds and younger minors, if accompanied by parents. Both theaters are subject to the new law since they receive state funds.
CNN reached out for comment Friday to attorneys for other defendants in the case, including the chief executive of Butte-Silver Bow and the City of Helena.
While other laws clamping down on drag performances sailed through GOP-led state legislatures this year, they quickly met legal opposition.
In June, a federal judge temporarily blocked a Florida state law that opponents claim targets drag shows. That measure allows Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration to take away licenses from establishments if they allow children into an “adult live performance.” That same month, a federal judge ruled that a Tennessee law limiting the shows represented an “unconstitutional restriction on the freedom of speech.”
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
CNN’s Jared Formanek, Jennifer Henderson and Shawna Mizelle contributed to this report | https://kion546.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2023/07/28/federal-judge-temporarily-blocks-montanas-ban-on-drag-story-hours-in-libraries/ | 2023-07-29T05:02:49 | 0 | https://kion546.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2023/07/28/federal-judge-temporarily-blocks-montanas-ban-on-drag-story-hours-in-libraries/ |
Warmer Weekend!
No major changes expected for the overall weather pattern in the western U.S. However, subtle movements may have bigger changes for us in the coming week. The ridge to our southeast nudges back into the weekend with a warmer, sunnier trend. We’ll swing back the other way next week with a much cooler pattern while the longer term models are showing heat over California by the end of the first week of August. Looks like we’re in for a bit of a ride!
AIR QUALITY: Good
***GALE WARNING***
In effect Sunday 9 PM to Sunday 3AM for Coastal Waters from Point Pinos to Point Piedras Blancas California out to 10 nm.
* Northwest winds 15 to 25 kt with gusts up to 40 kt expected.
* Strong winds will cause hazardous seas which could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Mariners should alter plans to avoid these hazardous conditions. Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the vessel for severe conditions.
Overnight: Low clouds will take a while to show back up around the coast, but by morning you can expect gray coastal skies. Some of the low clouds will push a bit inland to Salinas and the northern portion of the Salinas Valley. Patchy fog, dense in spots especially near the water, is possible. Lows will be a touch warmer, with widespread 50s. Hills in the 60s.
Saturday: Mostly sunny on the coast with clouds (partly cloudy) favoring the south side of the bay during the afternoon. Expect mostly sunny skies elsewhere with a few high clouds moving through from the south. Coastal highs will top out in the low 60s to mid 70s—warmest on the north side of the bay—with upper 70s to around 105ºF inland. Northwesterly onshore winds at the coast becoming windy for the valleys and gaps during the late afternoon and early evening.
Sunday: More of the same with coastal clouds and patchy fog giving way to sunshine and seasonal temps, with sunny and hot conditions inland. Breezy onshore winds will continue in the coastal areas and Salinas valley.
Extended: Most of next week is looking cooler than normal, though there are some indications we’ll start warming back up quickly next weekend.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 55ºF
HIGH: 68ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 53ºF
HIGH: 86ºF
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for August 4th – 10th calls for the likelihood of ABOVE normal temperatures and ABOVE normal precipitation. Note: Little to no precipitation typically falls this time of year.
- ENSO (El Niño/La Niña) STATUS: El Niño Advisory
- Forecast: Moderate to strong El Niño expected this winter.
-Area drought status: Currently drought-free | https://kion546.com/weather-authority/2023/07/28/warmer-weekend/ | 2023-07-29T05:02:55 | 1 | https://kion546.com/weather-authority/2023/07/28/warmer-weekend/ |
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron held discussions with his Sri Lankan counterpart Saturday on an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region in the first-ever visit by a French leader to the Indian Ocean island nation.
As the fourth-largest creditor to Sri Lanka, France had pledged cooperation in debt restructuring to help the island nation recover from its economic crisis.
Macron arrived in Sri Lanka Friday night, following his trip to the South Pacific region, to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations, Sri Lanka’s president’s office said.
Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe praised France’s significant role in global affairs, particularly in areas such as climate mitigation, global debt restructuring, and matters related to the Indo-Pacific region, the statement said.
“Sri Lanka and France are two Indian Ocean nations that share the same goal: an open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific. In Colombo we confirmed it: strengthened by 75 years of diplomatic relations, we can open a new era of our partnership,” Macron said in a Twitter message after the meeting. | https://www.seattletimes.com/business/french-president-macron-visits-his-counterpart-in-sri-lanka/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_business | 2023-07-29T05:03:07 | 0 | https://www.seattletimes.com/business/french-president-macron-visits-his-counterpart-in-sri-lanka/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_business |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers broke for their August recess this week with work on funding the government largely incomplete, fueling worries about whether Congress will be able to avoid a partial government shutdown this fall.
Congress has until Oct. 1, the start of the new fiscal year, to act on government funding. They could pass spending bills to fund government agencies into next year, or simply pass a stopgap measure that keeps agencies running until they strike a longer-term agreement. No matter which route they take, it won’t be easy.
“We’re going to scare the hell out of the American people before we get this done,” said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del.
Coons’ assessment is widely shared in Congress, reflecting the gulf between the Republican-led House and the Democratic-led Senate, which are charting vastly different — and mostly incompatible — paths on spending.
The Senate is adhering mostly to the top-line spending levels that President Joe Biden negotiated with House Republicans in late May as part of the debt-ceiling deal that extended the government’s borrowing authority and avoided an economically devastating default.
That agreement holds discretionary spending generally flat for the coming year while allowing increases for military and veterans accounts. On top of that, the Senate is looking to add $13.7 billion in additional emergency appropriations, including $8 billion for defense and $5.7 billion for nondefense.
House Republicans, many of whom opposed the debt-ceiling deal and refused to vote for it, are going a different way.
GOP leaders have teed up bills with far less spending than the agreement allows in an effort to win over members who insist on rolling back spending to fiscal year 2022 levels. They are also adding scores of policy add-ons broadly opposed by Democrats. There are proposals to reduce access to abortion pills, bans on the funding of hormone therapy and certain surgeries for transgender veterans, and a prohibition on training programs promoting diversity in the federal workplace, among many others.
At a press conference at the Capitol this past week, some members of the House Freedom Caucus, a conservative faction within the House GOP, said that voters elected a Republican majority in that chamber to rein in government spending and it was time for House Republicans to use every tool available to get the spending cuts they want.
“We should not fear a government shutdown,” said Rep. Bob Good, R-Va. “Most of the American people won’t even miss if the government is shut down temporarily.”
Many House Republicans disagree with that assessment. Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, called it an oversimplification to say most Americans wouldn’t feel an impact. And he warned Republicans would take the blame for a shutdown.
“We always get blamed for it, no matter what,” Simpson said. ”So it’s bad policy, it’s bad politics.”
But the slim five-seat majority Republicans hold amplifies the power that a small group can wield. Even though the debt ceiling agreement passed with a significant majority of both Republicans and Democrats, conservatives opponents were so unhappy in the aftermath that they shut down House votes for a few days, stalling the entire GOP agenda.
Shortly thereafter, McCarthy argued the numbers he negotiated with the White House amounted to a cap and “you can always do less.” GOP Rep. Kay Granger of Texas, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, followed that she would seek to limit nondefense spending at 2022 budget levels, saying the debt agreement “set a top-line spending cap — a ceiling, not a floor.”
The decision to cut spending below levels in the the debt ceiling deal helped get the House moving again, but put them on a collision course with the Senate, where the spending bills hew much closer to the agreement.
“What the House has done is they essentially tore up that agreement as soon as it was signed,” said Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. “And so we are in for a bumpy ride.”
Even as House Republicans have been moving their spending bills out of committee on party-line votes, the key committee in the Senate has been operating in a bipartisan fashion, drafting spending bills with sometimes unanimous support.
“The way to make this work is do it in a bipartisan way like we are doing in the Senate. If you do it in a partisan way, you’re heading to a shutdown. And I am really worried that that’s where the House Republicans are headed,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters this week.
McCarthy countered that people had the same doubts about whether House Republicans and the White House could reach an agreement to pass a debt ceiling extension and avoid a default.
“We’ve got ’til Sept. 30. I think we can get this all done,” McCarthy said.
In a subsequent press conference, McCarthy said he had just met with Schumer to talk about the road ahead on an array of bills, including the spending bills.
“I don’t want the government to shut down,” McCarthy said. “I want to find that we can find common ground.”
In all, there are 12 spending bills. The House has passed one so far, and moved others out of committee. The Senate has passed none, though it has advanced all 12 out of committee, something that hasn’t happened since 2018.
Still, the difficulty ahead was evident on the House side, where Republicans gave up until after the recess on trying to pass a spending measure to fund federal agriculture and rural programs and the Food and Drug Administration, amid disagreements over its contents. They began their August recess a day early instead of holding votes Friday.
Simpson said some of his Republican colleagues don’t want to take money approved already outside the appropriations process to cover some of this year’s spending and avoid deeper cuts. For example, the House bills would take almost all of the money approved last year for the Internal Revenue Service in Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and use the savings to avoid deeper spending cuts elsewhere.
Simpson said that without such rescissions, as they are called in Washington, he couldn’t vote for the agriculture spending bill because the cuts “would have just been devastating.”
“That’s the challenge we’re going to have when we get back in September,” he said.
Further complicating things in the House, a few Republicans are opposed to some of the policy riders being included in the spending bills. For example, the agriculture spending bill would reverse the FDA’s decision to allow abortion pills to be dispensed in certified pharmacies, instead of only by prescribers in hospitals, clinics, and medical offices.
“I had a problem with abortion being put inside an ag bill,” said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa. “I think that’s ridiculous.”
It’s a strong possibility that Congress will have to pass a stopgap spending bill before the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1. The Senate can vote first on the measure, which would put the onus on House Republicans to bring it up for a vote or allow for a shutdown. | https://www.seattletimes.com/business/members-of-congress-break-for-august-with-no-clear-path-to-avoiding-a-shutdown-this-fall/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_business | 2023-07-29T05:03:14 | 0 | https://www.seattletimes.com/business/members-of-congress-break-for-august-with-no-clear-path-to-avoiding-a-shutdown-this-fall/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_business |
Arthur Fils vs. Alexander Zverev: Prediction and Match Betting Odds | Hamburg European Open
Arthur Fils will face Alexander Zverev in the Hamburg European Open semifinals on Saturday, July 29.
In this Semifinal matchup, Zverev is the favorite (-375) against Fils (+270) .
Looking to place a bet on this or other tennis matches? Head over to BetMGM, the King of Sportsbooks, and sign up today with our link!
Arthur Fils vs. Alexander Zverev Match Information
- Tournament: The Hamburg European Open
- Round: Semifinals
- Date: Saturday, July 29
- Venue: MatchMaker Sports Gmbh
- Location: Hamburg, Germany
- Court Surface: Clay
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Arthur Fils vs. Alexander Zverev Prediction and Odds
Based on the moneyline in this match, Alexander Zverev has a 78.9% chance to win.
Bet on tennis with BetMGM, the King of Sportsbooks!
Arthur Fils vs. Alexander Zverev Trends and Insights
- In the quarterfinals on Friday, Fils eliminated No. 4-ranked Casper Ruud, 6-0, 6-4.
- Zverev was victorious 6-3, 6-4 versus Luca van Assche in the quarterfinals on Friday.
- In his 29 matches over the past year across all court types, Fils has played an average of 21.4 games (20.7 in best-of-three matches).
- Fils has played 14 matches on clay over the past 12 months, and 22.2 games per match (21.2 in best-of-three matches).
- In his 42 matches in the past 12 months across all court types, Zverev is averaging 26.0 games per match (22.6 in best-of-three matches) and winning 53.2% of those games.
- Zverev has averaged 24.1 games per match (21.4 in best-of-three matches) and 9.7 games per set in 22 matches on clay surfaces in the past 12 months.
- Dating back to 2015, Fils and Zverev have not matched up on the court.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/arthur-fils-vs-alexander-zverev-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-hamburg-european-open/ | 2023-07-29T05:03:16 | 1 | https://www.wibw.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/arthur-fils-vs-alexander-zverev-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-hamburg-european-open/ |
Remember when “etiquette” mattered? Remember when learning to use a knife and fork at home before eating in a social setting was a thing? Remember when young ladies were taught how to sit in a dress?
When it came to Caribbean culture and etiquette, there were certain unspoken and expected behaviors that applied to every echelon of society. These behaviors (mannerisms) were taught and practiced within the family structure and also in schools. By the time young people reached puberty, they understood what the expectations were at home versus expectations when they mingled with others in high society.
Apart from saying please, thank you and excuse me, there were many other expected behaviors within the Caribbean culture. For instance, when you pass someone on the street, you always greet them with a good morning, good afternoon, good evening or good day depending on the time of day. When meeting or greeting someone, a firm handshake and maintaining eye contact is extremely important, especially when meeting with those in high positions like a government official, a doctor, a principal, a teacher or a business owner, and offering a warm smile with that handshake goes a long way as well.
Using professional and/or academic titles like Mr., Mrs., and Miss — with or without their surname (last name) — is the expected way that leaders are addressed whether in schools, colleges or a business setting. Once you become good friends with an acquaintance, then they will invite you to call them by their first name, and as the friendship deepens, they will invite you to call them by their nickname or, as we say in the Caribbean, their pet name.
Most of our brothers and sisters can relate to the culture shock from when they arrived in the United States and suddenly the titles Mr., Mrs. and Miss were not required. Everyone here in the U.S. is on a first-name basis no matter their age. Little 5-year-olds can call a 50-year-old Bob or Sue.
I can personally recall an experience at my first job here in Philadelphia. I worked for Girard Bank in the late 1970s, and my supervisor was an elderly woman. She introduced herself to me as Ann, but no way was I going to call her by just her first name. Furthermore, this lady was many years my senior. It felt like I was doing something horrific, something of the utmost disrespect.
When I called her Miss Ann, she corrected me immediately. How did I handle this? I simply avoided using her name when I spoke to her.
Today a lot of Caribbean people have disposed of the formalities, but according to traveletiquette.co.uk, there are still some basic protocols that have not changed in the Caribbean region:
Bahamas: In the resorts and around town or tourist attractions, casual wear is absolutely fine. Swimwear and beachwear are also the accepted mode of dress for sunbathing and swimming but should only be worn when visiting the beaches. Bahamians are actually quite modest and conservative in their attire, so wearing swimwear anywhere other than the beach would be considered disrespectful and improper.
Cayman Islands: Beachwear such as swimming trunks for men and all-in-one swimming costumes and bikinis for women are perfectly acceptable on the beach. However, if you intend on venturing off the beach, you should always change out of your swimwear. Walking around in shorts and a bikini top would be frowned upon and seen as disrespectful and inappropriate. You should also be aware that topless sunbathing is actually illegal in the Cayman Islands.
Dominican Republic: Clothes are thought to be one of the main indications of social status, which in turn denotes accomplishment and success. Designer brands are favored, but this does not mean that you are expected to wear such clothing all the time. Generally, by dressing modestly and trying to appear smart and well groomed — even when in casual attire — you will be seen to upholding your personal appearance and self-respect. As with many other Caribbean islands, beach and swimwear such as bikinis or swimming trunks are absolutely fine for wearing on the beach, but should only be worn on the beach.
Other etiquette tips for dining in the Caribbean:
When unsure, watch what others are doing and emulate their behavior.
Do not sit down until you are invited to and told where to sit.
Do not begin eating until the host invites you to start.
Try everything, since it demonstrates graciousness.
Always use utensils to eat.
It is considered polite to finish everything on your plate.
Good etiquette is great to have no matter where in the world you are because if the occasion ever arises, you will always be prepared.
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CHICAGO (AP) — Leading up to the 2020 election, Facebook ads targeting Latino and Asian American voters described Joe Biden as a communist. A local station claimed a Black Lives Matter co-founder practiced witchcraft. Doctored images showed dogs urinating on Donald Trump campaign posters.
None of these claims was true, but they scorched through social media sites that advocates say have fueled election misinformation in communities of color.
As the 2024 election approaches, community organizations are preparing for what they expect to be a worsening onslaught of disinformation targeting communities of color and immigrant communities. They say the tailored campaigns challenge assumptions of what kinds of voters are susceptible to election conspiracies and distrust in voting systems.
“They’re getting more complex, more sophisticated and spreading like wildfire,” said Sarah Shah, director of policy and community engagement at the advocacy group Indian American Impact, which runs the fact-checking site Desifacts.org. “ What we saw in 2020, unfortunately, will probably be fairly mild in comparison to what we will see in the months leading up to 2024.”
A growing subset of communities of color, especially immigrants for whom English is not their first language, are questioning the integrity of U.S. voting processes and subscribing to Trump’s lies of a stolen 2020 election, said Jenny Liu, mis/disinformation policy manager at the nonprofit Asian Americans Advancing Justice. Still, she said these communities are largely left out of conversations about misinformation.
“When you think of the typical consumer of a conspiracy theory, you think of someone who’s older, maybe from a rural area, maybe a white man,” she said. “You don’t think of Chinese Americans scrolling through WeChat. That’s why this narrative glosses over and erases a lot of the disinformation harms that many communities of colors face.”
Tailoring disinformation
In addition to general misinformation themes about voting machines and mail-in voting, groups are catering their messaging to communities of color, experts say.
For example, immigrants from authoritarian regimes in countries like Venezuela or who have lived through the Chinese Cultural Revolution may be “more vulnerable to misinformation claiming politicians are wanting to turn the U.S. into a Socialist state,” said Inga Trauthig, head of research for the Propaganda Research Lab at the Center for Media Engagement at the University of Texas at Austin. People from countries that have not recently had free and fair elections may have a preexisting distrust of elections and authority that may make them vulnerable to misinformation as well, Trauthig said.
Disinformation efforts often hinge on topics most important to each community, whether that is public safety, immigration, abortion, education, inflation or alleged extramarital affairs, said Laura Zommer, co-founder of the Spanish-language fact-checking group Factchequeado.
“It takes advantage of their very real fear and trauma from their experiences in their home countries,” Zommer said.
Other vulnerabilities include language barriers and a lack of knowledge of the U.S. media landscape and how to find credible U.S. news sources, several misinformation experts told The Associated Press. Many immigrants rely on translated content for voting information, leaving space for bad actors to inject misinformation.
“These tactics exploit information vacuums when there’s a lot of uncertainty around how these processes work, especially because a lot of election materials may not be translated in the languages our communities speak or be available in forms they are likely to access,” said Clara Jiménez Cruz, another co-founder of Factchequeado.
Misinformation can also arise from mistranslations. The Brookings Institute, a nonprofit think tank, found examples of mistranslations in Colombian, Cuban and Venezuelan WhatsApp groups, where “progressive” was translated to “progresista,” which carries “far-left connotations that are closer to the Spanish words ‘socialista’ and ‘comunista.’”
How disinformation spreads
Disinformation, often in languages like Spanish, Mandarin or Hindi, flows onto social media apps like WhatsApp and WeChat heavily used by communities of color.
Minority communities that believe their views and perspectives aren’t represented by the mainstream are likely to “retreat into more private spaces” found on messaging apps or groups on social media sites like Facebook, Trauthig said.
“But disinformation also targets them on these platforms, even though it may feel to them to be that safer space,” she said.
Messages on WhatsApp are also encrypted and can’t be easily seen or traced by moderators or fact-checkers.
“As a result, messages on apps like WhatsApp often fly under the radar and are allowed to spread and spread, largely unchecked,” said Randy Abreu, policy counsel for the National Hispanic Media Coalition, which leads the Spanish Language Disinformation Coalition.
Abreu also raised concerns about Spanish YouTube channels and radio shows that are growing in popularity. He said the coalition is tracking more and more YouTube and radio personalities who are spreading misinformation in Spanish.
A 2022 report by the left-leaning watchdog group Media Matters tracked 40 Spanish-language YouTube videos spreading misinformation about U.S. elections. Many of these videos remained on the platform, despite violating YouTube election misinformation policy, the report said.
Disinformation and disenfranchising communities of color
Amid changes in voting policies at state and local levels, advocates are sounding the alarm on how disinformation about voting in 2024 may target communities of color. Many of these efforts have surged as Asian American, Black and Latino communities have grown in political power, said María Teresa Kumar, founding president of the nonprofit advocacy group Voto Latino.
“Disinformation is, at its core, meant to be a sort of voter suppression tactic for communities of color,” she said. “It targets communities of color in a way that feeds into their already justifiable concerns that the system is stacked against them.”
The tactics also feed into a history “as old as the Jim Crow era of attempting to disenfranchise people of color, going back to voter intimidation and suppression efforts after the Civil Rights Act of 1866,” said Atiba Ellis, a professor of law at Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
While many of the same recycled claims around alleged fraud in the 2020 and 2022 elections are expected to resurface, experts say disinformation campaigns will likely be more sophisticated and granular in attempts to target specific groups of voters of color.
Trauthig also raised concerns about how layoffs and instability at social media platforms like Twitter may leave them less prepared to tackle misinformation in 2024. It also remains to be seen how new social media platforms like Threads will approach the threat of misinformation. Changes in policies like WhatsApp launching a “Communities” function connecting multiple groups and expanding group chat sizes may also “have big implications for how quickly misinformation will spread on the platform,” she said.
In response to the mounting threat of misinformation, Indian American Impact is ramping up its fact-checking efforts through what the organization says is the first fact-checking website specifically for South Asian Americans. Shah said the group is drawing inspiration from 2022 projects, including a voting toolkit using memes with Bollywood characters and passing out Parle-G crackers with voting information stickers at Indian grocery stores.
Cruz of Factchequeado is paying close attention to misinformation in swing states with significant Latino populations like Nevada and Arizona. And Liu of Asian Americans Advancing Justice is reviewing misinformation trends from previous elections to strategize about how to inoculate Asian American voters against them.
Still, they say there is more work to be done.
Critics are urging social media companies to invest in content moderation and fact-checking in languages other than English. Government and election officials should also make voting information more accessible to non-English speakers, organize media literacy trainings in community spaces and identify “trusted messengers” in communities of color to help approach trends in misinformation narratives, experts said.
“These are not monolithic groups,” Cruz said. “This disinformation is very specifically tailored to each of these communities and their fears. So we also need to be partnering with grassroots organizations in each of these communities to tailor our approaches. If we don’t take the time to do this work, our democracy is at stake.”
___
The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/election-disinformation-campaigns-targeted-voters-of-color-in-2020-experts-expect-2024-to-be-worse/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_business | 2023-07-29T05:03:20 | 1 | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/election-disinformation-campaigns-targeted-voters-of-color-in-2020-experts-expect-2024-to-be-worse/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_business |
Fabio Fognini vs. Joris de Loore: Prediction and Match Betting Odds | ATP Challenger Zug, Switzerland Men Singles 2023
In the ATP Challenger Zug, Switzerland Men Singles 2023 semifinals on Saturday, Fabio Fognini faces Joris de Loore.
With -175 odds, Fognini is favored over de Loore (+125) for this match.
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Fabio Fognini vs. Joris de Loore Match Information
- Tournament: The ATP Challenger Zug, Switzerland Men Singles 2023
- Round: Semifinals
- Date: Saturday, July 29
- Venue: Tennisclub Zug
- Location: Zug, Switzerland
- Court Surface: Clay
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Fabio Fognini vs. Joris de Loore Prediction and Odds
Based on the moneyline in this match, Fabio Fognini has a 63.6% chance to win.
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Fabio Fognini vs. Joris de Loore Trends and Insights
- Fognini advanced past Jakub Mensik 6-4, 6-2 in the quarterfinals on Friday.
- In the quarterfinals on Friday, de Loore took down No. 209-ranked Matteo Gigante, winning 3-6, 7-6, 6-4.
- Fognini has played 39 matches over the past 12 months (across all court surfaces), and 25.3 games per match (23.5 in best-of-three matches).
- In his 16 matches on clay over the past year, Fognini has played an average of 24.8 games (22.0 in best-of-three matches).
- de Loore has played two matches in the past year across all court types, averaging 22.5 games per match (22.5 in best-of-three matches) and winning 42.2% of those games.
- de Loore has averaged 18.0 games per match (18.0 in best-of-three matches) and 9.0 games per set in one match on clay courts in the past year.
- This is the first time that Fognini and de Loore have matched up in the last five years.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/fabio-fognini-vs-joris-de-loore-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-atp-challenger-zug-switzerland-men-singles-2023/ | 2023-07-29T05:03:22 | 1 | https://www.wibw.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/fabio-fognini-vs-joris-de-loore-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-atp-challenger-zug-switzerland-men-singles-2023/ |
Justin Simien came on the scene with his directorial debut “Dear White People” in 2014. He has since turned it into a successful Netflix film, followed by “Bad Hair” in 2020, and in his latest work, he takes on a classic and favorite Disney attraction, “Haunted Mansion.”
Simien’s version is still family-friendly and contains all of the scarier elements of the previous incarnations, but its main focus is on grieving and overcoming loss.
The film centers on Gabbie (Rosario Dawson) who is a single mother returning to New Orleans with her son Travis (Chase W. Dillion) to start over. She purchases this old mansion, but little does she know that it’s haunted. This sets off a series of events bringing a group of locals together to unlock the mysteries held within the home. The incidents at the house prompt her to recruit a former paranormal investigator turned tour guide (LaKeith Stanfield), a priest (Owen Wilson), a psychic (Tiffany Haddish), and a college history professor (Danny DeVito).
Simien sat down to talk about how he approached this family classic for a new generation — Simien is a member of the Directors Guild of America, enabling him to conduct interviews.
It was asked of him what attracted him to change course a bit and want to make a family movie.
“I grew up on these movies, they were my first inklings of wanting to be a filmmaker,” he explains. “There is so much film history at Disney. Those characters inspired that journey. Some of my favorite movies remain Disney movies, particularly the Pixar movies. I see a movie like “Coco,” I’m a full grown man and I’m devastated by it and entertained. I think family movies have a bad rap.”
Ultimately, it was the screenplay by Katie Dippold that drew him in. It’s her words that bring the audience into the mansion in a way that doesn’t alienate people.
“All I had to do is bring my perspective as a Black man familiar with New Orleans and the culture that makes it up,” he adds. “The history of a mansion like this and my passion for ensemble casts and practical effects.”
While this is a stellar, cast one would be remiss without mentioning the involvement of a particular veteran actor. DeVito, who came to fame as the grumpy head dispatcher Louie De Palma on the hit show “Taxi,” portrays Bruce Davis, a college historian.
“He is exactly who you want him to be because he is a filmmaker as well,” Simien shared, “he understands how an actor plays a part in telling an overall story, he’s effortlessly funny, and truly magical. He’d do these takes and work, then get an apple box and sit right next to me while I shot.
“I grew up idolizing him, and you never know what to expect when you meet your idols or someone who is as famous as Danny [DeVito]. ... I found him to be grounded, heartfelt and funny.”
The beauty of a film like “Haunted Mansion” is that it appeals to people of all ages. There is something for younger children, teenagers, and adults. Dillon, who originally appeared in Barry Jenkins’ “The Underground Railroad,” is another standout in the film. He portrays a young man dealing with the loss of his father and adjusting to life in a new place.
“I really related to Travis. I lost my dad at a young age, so that character is so much of an avatar for me,” Simien said. “And so is Ben, LaKeith’s [Stanfield] character.
“To walk into a space and stare into a spitting image of everything that I’d hope that kid could be was amazing. We had to remember that this is a child actor. We often joked that Chase [Dillon] is a 45-year-old man in a 12-year-old body. That’s because he has a maturity that is beyond his years. He is also really funny and prepared to work.”
The “Haunted Mansion” arrives in theaters at a period when much of the content is geared toward older audiences. Themes of loss and community are intertwined in this film, which is wrapped in light-hearted horror that appeals to the entire family. The film scares into theaters Friday.
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BRISBANE, Australia — Australia will accelerate efforts to make missiles for export to the United States and other countries under a plan announced Saturday by Australian officials, who also said that they had paused a joint military exercise with the United States to search for the four-person crew of an Australian army helicopter that crashed overnight.
“Our focus at the moment is with finding our people,” said Angus Campbell, chief of the Australian defense force.
The crash and the new missile agreement highlight deepening military ties between the two allies — and the risks that come with the increased tempo of training exercises led by the United States in the region to strengthen deterrence against a more assertive China.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are both in Brisbane this weekend for bilateral meetings with Australian officials, focused primarily on expanding and clarifying how the two countries will work together on security in the region.
The gathering comes two years after a landmark deal called AUKUS, which also includes the United Kingdom and aims to build a collaborative mechanism for sharing nuclear-powered submarines and developing other kinds of advanced technology, including hypersonic missiles and quantum computers and sensors. But beyond AUKUS, the two countries have a long history of military collaboration reaching back more than a century to World War I.
For the new missiles, to be built with U.S. defense industry partners, Washington has agreed to fast-track licensing, with production expected to begin in 2025. The Australian government recently set aside $2.7 billion to acquire long-range strike missiles, which would bolster Australian stockpiles and could be exported to the United States or other countries, such as Ukraine. For Australia, it reflects both continuity and what many U.S. and Australian officials have described as a higher level of interdependence among the United States and its allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific.
“It makes such a huge difference to have close friends as we tackle the challenges that we both face around the world,” said Richard Marles, Australia’s defense minister.
Military analysts said the missile news reflected a growing realization that the defense industrial base in the United States, struggling to keep up with requests from Ukraine and the U.S. Defense Department, stands to benefit from the manufacturing support of other countries.
“As the war in Ukraine has made clear, defense industrial production is necessary to sustaining a war effort,” said Charles Edel, the Australia chair and a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “It’s also critical to deterring wars from breaking out in the first place.”
As part of the latest defense plan announced by U.S. and Australian officials, the two countries will also work together to upgrade two air bases in northern Australia for an expansion of joint training exercises.
The United States is currently leading an annual exercise called Talisman Sabre, which involves several locations and branches of the U.S. military, along with the militaries of more than a dozen countries.
The helicopter crash during training occurred late Friday, around 11 p.m., near Hamilton Island in the far north of Australia, according to military officials. It was a two-helicopter mission — when one went down, the second helicopter began searching for the missing crew members. But as of Saturday morning, they had not been found.
“Our hopes and thoughts are very much with the aircrew and their families,” Marles said. | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/australia-to-fast-track-missile-production-for-u-s-exports/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_world | 2023-07-29T05:03:26 | 0 | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/australia-to-fast-track-missile-production-for-u-s-exports/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_world |
Matteo Arnaldi vs. Alexei Popyrin: Prediction and Match Betting Odds | Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag
On Saturday, Matteo Arnaldi (No. 76 in the world) meets Alexei Popyrin (No. 90) in the semifinals of the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag.
Arnaldi is the favorite (-150) in this match, compared to the underdog Popyrin, who is +115.
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Matteo Arnaldi vs. Alexei Popyrin Match Information
- Tournament: The Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag
- Round: Semifinals
- Date: Saturday, July 29
- Venue: Stadium Goran Ivanisevic in ITC Stella Maris
- Location: Umag, Croatia
- Court Surface: Clay
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Matteo Arnaldi vs. Alexei Popyrin Prediction and Odds
Based on the moneyline in this match, Matteo Arnaldi has a 60.0% chance to win.
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Matteo Arnaldi vs. Alexei Popyrin Trends and Insights
- In the quarterfinals on Friday, Arnaldi advanced past No. 33-ranked Jiri Lehecka, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
- In the quarterfinals on Friday, Popyrin beat No. 287-ranked Dino Prizmic, winning 7-6, 7-5.
- Arnaldi has played 24.5 games per match (23.2 in best-of-three matches) in his 35 matches over the past year (across all court types).
- On clay, Arnaldi has played 18 matches over the past 12 months, totaling 24.5 games per match (23.4 in best-of-three matches) while winning 54.2% of games.
- In the past year, Popyrin has competed in 47 total matches (across all court types), winning 49.3% of the games. He averages 28.0 games per match (25.3 in best-of-three matches) and 10.6 games per set.
- On clay surfaces, Popyrin has played 16 matches and averaged 26.7 games per match (26.0 in best-of-three matches) and 10.2 games per set.
- Dating back to 2015, Arnaldi and Popyrin have not competed against each other.
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ATLANTA — Authorities in Alabama said Friday they filed criminal charges against a woman who confessed to fabricating a story that she was kidnapped after stopping to check on a toddler she saw walking on the side of the interstate.
Carlee Russell was charged with false reporting to law enforcement and falsely reporting an incident, both misdemeanors that carry up to a year in jail, Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis said. Russell turned herself into jail Friday and was released on bond, he said.
“Her decisions that night created panic and alarm for citizens of our city and even across the nation as concern grew that a kidnapper was on the lose using a small child as bait,” he said. “Numerous law enforcement agencies, both local and federal, began working tireless not only to bring Carlee home to her family but locate a kidnapper that we now know never existed. Many private citizens volunteered their time and energy in looking for a potential kidnapping victim that we know now was never in any danger.”
Derzis said he was frustrated that Russell was only being charged with two misdemeanors despite the panic and disruption she caused, but he said the law did not allow for enhanced charges.
Russell, 25, disappeared after calling 911 on July 13 to report a toddler wandering beside a stretch of interstate. She returned home two days later and told police she had been abducted and forced into a vehicle.
Her disappearance became a national news story. Images of the missing woman were shared broadly on social media.
“We don’t see this as a victimless crime,” Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said at Friday’s news conference. “There are significant hours spent, resources expended as a result of this investigation.”
Marshall’s office was asked to handle the prosecution because of the attention the case has received, Derzis said. Marshall said he intends to “fully prosecute” Russell and said his office will monitor the police investigation to see whether additional charges are warranted.
Russell, through her attorney, Emory Anthony, acknowledged earlier that she made the story up. In a statement read by police on Monday, Anthony said Russell was not kidnapped, did not see a baby on the side of the road, did not leave the city and acted alone. He said Russell apologized and he asked for prayers and forgiveness as she “addresses her issues and attempts to move forward, understanding that she made a mistake in this matter.”
A message left Friday at Anthony’s office was not immediately returned.
Russell told detectives she was taken by a man who came out of the trees when she stopped to check on the child, put her in a car and an 18-wheel truck, blindfolded her and held her at a home where a woman fed her cheese crackers, authorities said at a news conference last week. At some point, Russell said she was put in a vehicle again but managed to escape and run through the woods to her neighborhood.
“This story opened wounds for families whose loved ones really were victims of kidnappings,” Derzis said.
He said police have not determined where Russell went during the 49 hours she was missing. They plan to talk to the attorney general’s office about recovering some of the money spent on the investigation.
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Stan Wawrinka vs. Lorenzo Sonego: Prediction and Match Betting Odds | Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag
In the semifinals of the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag on Saturday, Stan Wawrinka (ranked No. 72) faces Lorenzo Sonego (No. 43).
In this Semifinal matchup against Sonego (+100), Wawrinka is the favorite with -125 odds.
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Stan Wawrinka vs. Lorenzo Sonego Match Information
- Tournament: The Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag
- Round: Semifinals
- Date: Saturday, July 29
- Venue: Stadium Goran Ivanisevic in ITC Stella Maris
- Location: Umag, Croatia
- Court Surface: Clay
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Stan Wawrinka vs. Lorenzo Sonego Prediction and Odds
Based on the moneyline in this match, Stan Wawrinka has a 55.6% chance to win.
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Stan Wawrinka vs. Lorenzo Sonego Trends and Insights
- Wawrinka is looking to stay on track after a 6-4, 7-5 victory over No. 59-ranked Roberto Carballes Baena in Friday's quarterfinals.
- Sonego advanced to the semifinals by taking down No. 104-ranked Jaume Munar 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 on Friday.
- Wawrinka has played 27.3 games per match (24.6 in best-of-three matches) in his 40 matches over the past year (across all court surfaces).
- On clay, Wawrinka has played 11 matches over the past year, totaling 28.7 games per match (23.4 in best-of-three matches) while winning 49.7% of games.
- Sonego has averaged 25.4 games per match (22.7 in best-of-three matches) through his 55 matches played in the past year across all court surfaces, while winning 50.8% of the games.
- Sonego has averaged 27.9 games per match (23.1 in best-of-three matches) and 9.8 games per set in 13 matches on clay courts in the past 12 months.
- Wawrinka and Sonego have not played each other since 2015.
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Ida Cartlidge, right, her son Jakavien Cartlidge, left, and husband Charles Jones, who were injured while inside their mobile home when it was destroyed by a deadly tornado, talk about their experience in their room in the Rolling Fork Motel, where they are now living, in Rolling Fork, Miss., Tuesday, May 9, 2023. “It sounded like a real loud train coming through,” Cartlidge said. “And I could feel the wind, it was so powerful you couldn’t even breathe while you were in the air. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
ROLLING FORK, Miss. — Streams of air whirled by Ida Cartlidge in every direction, but she couldn't breathe.
Between the thin walls and above the shaky foundation of a mobile home, Cartlidge, 32, miraculously survived a March tornado that carved a path of destruction through Rolling Fork, Mississippi. Mobile home residents in the path of a twister's fury often don't live to recount the experience.
"It sounded like a real loud train coming through," Cartlidge said. "And I could feel the wind, it was so powerful you couldn't even breathe while you were in the air."
Cartlidge and her husband, Charles Jones, 59, had forged a quiet life in Rolling Fork with their three sons. She worked in customer service for an appliance company and Jones for a local auto parts shop. They viewed Rolling Fork as a refuge from city life and an ideal place to raise kids. The family lived in a mobile home park behind Chuck's Dairy Bar, a diner that had long been a nexus of local life for Rolling Fork residents.
Then the tornado tore through the park, making it a point of misery.
Most of the 14 people who died in Rolling Fork when the March 24 tornado hit the Mississippi Delta lived in the mobile home park, with large families crowding into one or two-bedroom units. Such living arrangements have been a way to offset the financial strain endemic to the Mississippi Delta, where poverty is prevalent and stable jobs are scarce.
Tornadoes in the United States are disproportionately killing more people in mobile or manufactured homes, especially in the South. Since 1996, tornadoes have killed 815 people in mobile or manufactured homes. That's 53% of all the people killed in their homes during a tornado, according to an Associated Press data analysis of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tornado deaths.
Cramped living arrangements forced mobile home inhabitants to shelter just as they lived: with little space between them.
"The only thing I could tell them to do was get on the floor," said Charles Jones, Cartlidge's husband. "And I got on top. I got on top of my family."
Just seconds before Cartlidge found herself burrowed beneath her husband on the mobile home's living room floor, her father had called her. He had been watching the news and saw that a tornado had touched down in Rolling Fork.
Cartlidge heard car windows shattering outside. The home's windows shattered next. She scooped up her 1-year-old son and dove to the floor, with her 11- and 12-year-old sons next to her and Jones atop them. They didn't know the incoming winds had reached 200 mph (320 kph). The storm's force was instead measured by the fear it induced.
"The only thing that's holding a mobile home down are the little straps in the ground," Cartlidge said. "It picked up the home one time, set it down. It picked it up again, set it down. It picked it up a third time, and we were in the air."
Her future was suspended in the air alongside her home. "You don't know what's happening next, whether you're going to live it through it or not," she said.
The next thing Cartlidge remembers is lying with her back on the ground and the baby resting on her chest. He was the only member of the family who made it through the storm unscathed.
Her fear didn't subside. "All you could hear were people screaming and hollering for help," she recalled.
Cartlidge propped herself up with a piece of wood and walked to the highway. She could feel her bones shifting with every step.
She suffered a crushed pelvis bone and broken shoulder. One of her sons punctured a lung and had shattered bones in his spine and shoulder blade. Jones injured his ribs and spine.
Since returning from the hospital, the family has been living in a motel room only minutes down the highway from where their mobile home used to be. Rain storms still make Cartlidge and Jones anxious, as they experienced the raw force of twister first-hand.
"The tornado's going to win every time," Jones said. "It's just like when a nail meets a tire."
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Taylor Fritz vs. Jeffrey John Wolf: Prediction and Match Betting Odds | Truist Atlanta Open
Taylor Fritz (No. 9 ranking) will face Jeffrey John Wolf (No. 46) in the semifinals of the Truist Atlanta Open on Saturday, July 29.
With -250 odds, Fritz is the favorite against Wolf (+190) for this matchup.
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Taylor Fritz vs. Jeffrey John Wolf Match Information
- Tournament: The Truist Atlanta Open
- Round: Semifinals
- Date: Saturday, July 29
- Venue: Atlantic Station
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
- Court Surface: Hard
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Taylor Fritz vs. Jeffrey John Wolf Prediction and Odds
Based on the moneyline in this match, Taylor Fritz has a 71.4% chance to win.
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Taylor Fritz vs. Jeffrey John Wolf Trends and Insights
- In the quarterfinals on Friday, Fritz beat No. 439-ranked Kei Nishikori, 6-4, 6-2.
- Wolf came out on top 6-2, 6-3 versus Dominik Koepfer in the quarterfinals on Friday.
- Fritz has played 68 matches over the past 12 months across all court surfaces, and 26.2 games per match (24.1 in best-of-three matches).
- In his 44 matches on hard courts over the past 12 months, Fritz has played an average of 25.8 games (24.3 in best-of-three matches).
- Wolf is averaging 24.5 games per match (22.3 in best-of-three matches) through his 59 matches played in the past 12 months across all court types, winning 52.6% of those games.
- Wolf has averaged 24.9 games per match (22.8 in best-of-three matches) and 9.9 games per set in 41 matches on hard courts in the past 12 months, winning 52.7% of those games.
- This is the first time that Fritz and Wolf have played in the last five years.
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In a ceremony held at the Truman Library Institute, President Joe Biden paid tribute to a pivotal moment in American history — the 75th anniversary of the executive order signed by President Harry Truman that desegregated the U.S. Armed Forces.
The commemoration not only honored the courage and sacrifice of Black veterans but also highlighted the profound impact of diversity on the strength and capabilities of the military.
President Harry S. Truman’s landmark order, signed on July 26, 1948, declared that there should be “equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin,” Biden emphasized.
During the three-day symposium, Biden championed the significance of this decision, which paved the way for future civil rights laws and legal rulings and laid the foundation for a more inclusive and powerful military.
In his address, the President praised the contributions of service members of color, acknowledging their equal bravery and sacrifices.
He celebrated the increasing diversity within the U.S. military, noting that over 40 percent of the active-duty force comprises people of color, a significant increase from the mere 2 percent representation in 1948.
“As our military became more diverse, it became stronger, tougher, and more capable — proving our diversity is a strength, not a weakness — a necessary part of our warfighting and our deterrence and our successful military operations,” the President insisted.
“And our unity out of many, not division, ensures good order and discipline, unit cohesion, effectiveness, and military readiness. We’ve seen it with generations of patriots, regardless of who they are mentored and trained by. Fellow servicemen from every background, like my friend, the late Colin Powell.”
Biden also highlighted the progress made in promoting gender equality, with about 20 percent of the current active-duty force comprised of women.
“Our military became stronger, tougher, and more capable as it became more diverse,” Biden asserted.
He noted that diversity is not a weakness but a strength, vital to successful military operations, warfighting, and deterrence.
Unity, he said, is a critical factor in maintaining good order, discipline, and unit cohesion.
However, the President also used the occasion to address a pressing issue affecting the military—the political blockade on military appointments.
He pointed out that Republican senators, particularly Sen. Tommy Tuberville from Alabama, have been obstructing more than 300 military operations nominations for political reasons, causing significant harm to military readiness, security, leadership, and troop morale.
Among the pending appointments is General C.Q. Brown, an F-16 pilot and wing commander, who is poised to become the first African American to lead any Armed Services branch as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Additionally, Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the second woman in the Navy to achieve the rank of four-star admiral, is awaiting confirmation as the first female Chief of Naval Operations.
Biden voiced his concern that this partisan freeze on appointments is disrupting military families’ lives, freezing their pay, and impacting their ability to plan for the future.
He argued that it’s crucial to have these outstanding leaders confirmed to address national security challenges effectively and support military families in their critical career decisions.
The President also criticized the opposition to Pentagon policies that would grant servicemen and women and their family’s access to reproductive healthcare rights in states where such access is currently denied.
He condemned the GOP blockade, stressing that it was affecting the lives of military spouses and service members stationed in those states.
Biden urged an end to the political impasse, emphasizing the importance of putting the needs of the military first and prioritizing national security above partisan agendas.
“A growing cascade of damage and disruption, all because one senator from Alabama and 48 Republicans who refuse to stand up to him, to lift the blockade over the Pentagon policy offering servicemen and women, their families access to reproductive healthcare rights they deserve if they’re stationed in states that deny it,” Biden remarked.
“I think it’s outrageous. But don’t just take it from me. Hundreds of military spouses petitioned to end the extreme blockade. One spouse referencing the senator from Alabama said, quote, ‘This isn’t a football game. This nonsense must stop right now.’”
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A 2-year-old girl was shot in the back of the head and died Thursday after she was left alone in a room with an unsecured handgun in the company of her 14-year-old cousin, who has severe Down syndrome.
The child’s grandmother, Twanda Harmon, 54, of Brewerytown has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a child and recklessly endangering another person, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office said.
The handgun used in the incident, in the 1600 block of North 29th Street, had been reported stolen in South Carolina.
A 9-year-old cousin was also in the second-floor room with the children, but was uninjured. The 2-year-old was pronounced dead at Temple University Hospital at 12:33 p.m.
The death has again highlighted the dangers of access to handguns by minors.
Last week, a 17-year-old was accidentally shot by another child at a private residence on the 6300 block of Reedland Street, authorities said. The teen was been shot once in the left leg and twice in the right leg and was listed in stable condition at a local hospital. Philadelphia police said they believe the cause of that shooting was “accidental discharge” of a gun handled by a 14-year-old boy. The case is still under investigation.
“What happened was a horrible tragedy, but we don’t want to victim-blame,” said Cpl. Jasmine Reilly of Police Public Affairs. “Be careful. We want to send a message that gun injuries are preventable. It is a big responsibility to own a gun because of the injuries that can occur. It is best to lock that gun up,” Reilly said.
There are several choices when it comes to gun safety. “Some choices are more or less expensive, but it is important to secure weapons,” Reilly said. “The cheapest is to use a gun lock. Gun locks make weapons inoperable and have to be removed in order for them to fire. Gun safes are another idea (but) they can be pricey. And people will take the time to break the gun apart and separate the ammunition,” she said.
“It is important to have conversations with kids. You have to communicate with them about how guns are not to be touched,” Reilly said. “Whatever you relay to your kids about weapons, it is important to keep guns away from kids.”
A free safety kit and cable-style gun locks are available by filling out an application at projectchildsafe.org. Free gun locks are also available from the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Department at 215-686-3560.
Almost 500 people, mostly under age 25, are unintentionally killed by a gun in an average year in the United States, according to Aftermath Services, a company that specializes in crime scene cleanup.
“Adolescents are particularly susceptible to accidental shooting due to specific behavioral characteristics associated with adolescents, such as impulsivity, feelings of invincibility and curiosity about firearms,” according to an Aftermath report on accidental gun death statistics.
In 2021, there were at least 377 unintentional shootings by children in the U.S., resulting in 154 deaths and 242 injuries, Aftermath said.
In 2021, unintentional shooting deaths accounted for 2,007 (4%) out of a total of 44,912 gun-related deaths in the United States.
Close to 70% of unintentional shooting deaths of children occur inside a home, according to statistics based on death certificates and medical examiner reports. Young victims of firearms accidents are usually shot by someone else, often their own age. The shooter is typically a friend or family member, often an older brother.
Gun sales spiked by 70% during the COVID-19 pandemic, and accidental deaths by minors spiked by 43%.
Over 4.6 million American children live in homes with at least one unloaded, unlocked gun, “setting the scene for tragedy if guns are not locked and stored properly … And around 315 of accidental deaths caused by firearms might be prevented with child-proof safety locks and loaded chamber indicators,” Aftermath said.
The Journal of the American Medical Association suggests following these tips to prevent pediatric gun-related injury or death:
Store all guns unloaded.
Store ammunition in a separate lockable container.
Ensure children cannot access keys or codes to safety and locks.
Teach kids to stop, do not touch, and tell a grown-up if they find a gun.
Ask if there are other guns in homes where children visit and play.
JAMA says firearms injuries among children jumped 52% during the pandemic and remained elevated during 2021. During 2021, 2,759 children were treated in U.S. hospitals for gun-related injuries. Children from homes where guns are present have two times the risk of a homicide and three times the risk of suicide, JAMA Pediatrics said.
Common but wrong ways to store guns include placing the gun on a high shelf or in a locked or unlocked drawer, according to the projectchildsafe.org.
“If you use a gun safe or locker, you are not going to just leave the key to it on top of the case for kids to get a hold of,” Reilly said.
Allowing minors to gain access to guns can lead to legal issues in addition to danger and death. “The penalties are case-specific,” Reilly said. “If the parent or guardian wasn’t allowed to have a gun in the first place — like if the person has a criminal record — there could be VUFA (gun possession felony) charges. Then there is endangering the welfare of a child,” she said.
Reilly added that Pennsylvania law requires citizens to be age 21 to buy a traditional handgun. “Different people have different lifestyles — some people are into hunting and fishing — but whatever your lifestyle, safety trumps all.” | https://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/law-enforcement-offers-tips-on-preventing-accidental-shootings-among-children/article_192dffc6-f7e7-58e3-bed5-2a61120a437b.html | 2023-07-29T05:03:47 | 1 | https://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/law-enforcement-offers-tips-on-preventing-accidental-shootings-among-children/article_192dffc6-f7e7-58e3-bed5-2a61120a437b.html |
The city’s housing agency will use a $50 million grant from the U.S. to redevelop Bartram Village in southwest Philadelphia based on input from residents, city officials, development partners and other stakeholders. — WHYY PHOTO
The city’s housing agency will use a $50 million federal grant to redevelop Bartram Village in southwest Philadelphia based on a roadmap created by the residents, city officials, development partners and other stakeholders.
Next Friday, officials from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will travel to Philadelphia to announce the Neighborhood Choice grant to the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA), as part of a $370 million investment in eight communities, including Atlanta, Birmingham, Lake Charles, Miami, Pittsburgh, Tucson and Wilmington. Each of the cities will receive $50 million, except Miami, which will get $40 million.
Last week, HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge spoke about the grants in Birmingham.
“This investment represents HUD’s commitment to create new housing for Birmingham residents and communities across the country,” Fudge said. “When we envision the future of public housing investment, we think of programs like Choice Neighborhoods. These awards promote the innovative collaboration needed to tackle the affordable housing crisis. A community-driven, whole of government approach to neighborhood revitalization is what leads to impactful changes in neighborhoods that need it the most.”
A PHA-owned apartment complex with 500 units, Bartram Village is situated along Lindbergh Ave. and 56th St. It was built in the 1940s to house workers building weapons and U.S. Navy ships during World War II. One of PHA’s oldest developments, it was later converted to public housing and is now home to about 1,000 residents. It sits next to Bartram Gardens, a 50-acre public garden and National Historic Landmark along the Schuylkill River. Bartram Village is a trolley ride from the city’s Kingsessing section and sits on the No. 36 trolley line.
The revitalization plan, known as “Blossom at Bartram,” is a 200-plus document that was crafted by the residents, city officials, PHA and development partners, and made possible by a $1.3 million grant from HUD.
The Philadelphia grant was championed by U.S. Sens. Bob Casey, D-Pa., John Fetterman, D-Pa. and U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-5th District.
Kelvin Jeremiah, PHA president and chief executive officer, said the grant will allow PHA and its development partner, Pennrose, to leverage additional public, private financing and tax credits to transform the neighborhood.
“We now have the funding to implement that transformation plan,” Jeremiah said.
“It reintegrates the site into the city streetscape, secondly, it adds another 100 units to the development, it builds high-quality energy efficient housing and it includes 30 homeownership units.”
According to Jeremiah, PHA and its partner Pennrose expects to close on the financing early next year for the first phase of the development which will include 64 units. Construction is scheduled to start in May 2024.
“The federal government is prioritizing the investments going into these communities, like the ones we are privileged to serve,” Jeremiah said. “It allows us to bring together a varied number of funding sources.”
PHA has received a total of five HUD grants related to the Neighborhood Choice program, more than any other city, Jeremiah said.
“It’s good to know that the Biden administration and Secretary Fudge recognize the important work that we are doing in Philadelphia,” he said. “We are incredibly grateful. These are highly competitive and coveted awards.”
According to Casey’s office, the grant will be used to rehabilitate and transform affordable housing at Bartram Village and to provide the investments to help to create a neighborhood that is vibrant, near services, public transportation, along with being safe and welcoming.
Housing is more than just a roof over your head, Casey said, it’s the place where well-being and community start.
“As the foundation of a neighborhood, housing determines whether businesses can thrive, the potential of future economic development, and the sense of community residents that feel,” Casey said. “Community leaders in Philadelphia have been working tirelessly for years to re-imagine Bartram Village into a neighborhood anchor where residents can live, work, and play in a vibrant and safe environment, and with this funding, they can make that vision a reality.”
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SEPTA’s permit to run a controversial gas-powered generator in Philadelphia’s Nicetown neighborhood is up for renewal. Some Philadelphia residents and advocates want the city to impose stricter rules around air pollution monitoring and how much the facility can operate. Some are even calling for the city to reject the permit renewal.
“I’m here advocating for the Black community and for the youth of the Black community,” said Jeremiah White, a student-athlete at Imhotep Institute Charter High School, who spoke against air pollution during a public hearing about the permit renewal Thursday. “I really just want to see a change.”
The facility, known as a combined heat and power plant, is located between SEPTA’s Roberts Yard and Midvale Bus Depot in Nicetown. The company characterizes it as efficient, as it both powers some of SEPTA’s Regional Rail lines and heats buildings at the Midvale bus depot.
But neighbors and activists fought the city’s initial permitting of the facility in 2017, citing concerns about climate change and air pollution caused by burning natural gas.
The advocacy group POWER Interfaith filed a complaint with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, alleging the city’s permitting of the facility was an example of environmental racism. More than 87% of residents in the census tract where the facility is located are Black, and the surrounding ZIP code has one of the highest childhood asthma hospitalization rates in the city.
In a rare move, the EPA took up the civil rights complaint in 2021 and launched an investigation into the city’s decision.
That investigation is still ongoing, with the parties in the process of negotiating an informal resolution agreement.
The operating permit currently up for renewal covers not just the combined heat and power units, but other equipment at SEPTA’s Roberts Complex, including oil- and gas-fired boilers and a diesel-fueled emergency generator. A spokesperson for the city’s Department of Public Health said officials don’t anticipate the pending negotiations over the civil rights complaint to affect the permit renewal.
During Thursday’s virtual hearing, city officials did not address the EPA investigation, but characterized the gas plant’s emissions and overall air quality in the neighborhood as nothing out of the ordinary.
“So far they’ve been emitting well below their potential emissions,” said Ed Wiener of the city’s Air Management Services.
Air Management Services Director Kassahun Sellassie shared data from a mobile air monitoring van and a stationary sensor placed near the SEPTA facility which he said showed levels of unhealthy fine particulate matter, ground-level ozone, and NO2 — which can react with other chemicals to form particulate matter and ozone — in line with air quality standards.
“So still, everything looks good there,” Sellassie said, referring to ozone levels measured by the mobile monitoring van in the community near the plant.
Philadelphia as a whole is considered to be in “nonattainment” of federal ambient air quality standards for ozone. This was already the case the year the city first permitted the SEPTA gas plant. Ozone and fine particle pollution can make asthma and other respiratory issues worse.
The advocacy groups Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania and Neighbors Against the Gas Plants are calling for continuous monitoring of several categories of air pollutants on site year round, a permanent air quality monitor in a residential area within three blocks of the facility, a reduction in gas burned at the facility during ozone season and on poor air quality days, and installation of solar panels on site and at other SEPTA properties, to reduce the need for the gas-fired generators.
Currently, emissions stack testing at the combined heat and power units is required once every 8,760 hours of operation or every three years, whichever comes first. A simpler test is required quarterly to ensure pollution control devices are working, Wiener said.
An EPA compliance database shows the SEPTA plant failed an emissions stack test in January 2022, then passed the following month. Advocates worry such violations could go unnoticed for long periods of time without more frequent monitoring.
“We need better transparency of the data,” said Walter Tsou, former Philadelphia Health Commissioner and member of the board of Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania. “We need better rules for [Air Management Services] that favor renewable energy.”
State Representative Darisha Parker, whose district includes the SEPTA plant and who lives less than a mile away, also called for continuous air monitoring during Thursday’s hearing. She said she suffers from asthma.
“I believe we need to do everything we can to reduce the air pollution that poisons us daily,” Parker said.
Karena Jackson, who lives in the Fernhill area near the facility, urged SEPTA to plant trees in the surrounding neighborhoods.
“Because they’re natural air cleaners,” Jackson said. “SEPTA owns a lot of property around the city, so it shouldn’t be an issue to plant these trees.”
SEPTA is already planning a tree planting initiative near the facility and currently generates 15 to 20% of its electricity needs from solar energy, said David Montvydas, chief engineer of SEPTA’s Engineering, Maintenance & Construction Division, during Thursday’s hearing.
“SEPTA remains committed to being environmentally conscious,” Montvydas said.
Montvydas said SEPTA self-reported the stack test violation and noted there are numerous other combined heat and power plants in the city.
But advocates argue SEPTA should move away from burning fossil fuels, which help warm the planet and exacerbate heat waves, wildfires, and floods.
“SEPTA has an opportunity to meet the moment of the climate crisis and protect community health at the same time,” said Flora Cardoni, field director at PennEnvironment.
The city is accepting public comment on the permit renewal until August 31.
“This is very important to the Department of Public Health,” said Deputy Health Commissioner Palak Raval-Nelson about Thursday’s public hearing. “We have a focus on equity.”
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(The Hill) – President Biden on Friday made his first public remarks about his 4-year-old grandchild Navy, the daughter of his son Hunter Biden, after silence from the White House over the young girl amid legal disputes between her parents.
Biden said, in a statement exclusively provided to People, that his son and Lunden Roberts, the mother, are working to provide a life for her.
“Our son Hunter and Navy’s mother, Lunden, are working together to foster a relationship that is in the best interests of their daughter, preserving her privacy as much as possible going forward,” the president said. “This is not a political issue, it’s a family matter. Jill and I only want what is best for all of our grandchildren, including Navy.”
The New York Times earlier this month published a piece about the child, writing that she’s never met Hunter Biden or her grandfather. After that was published, the White House dealt with questions in the briefing room from reporters asking whether Biden accepted Hunter Biden’s daughter in Arkansas as his granddaughter.
Roberts, who is in Arkansas, filed a paternity suit against Hunter Biden in May 2019, and the younger Biden appeared in court this May. In June, he reached a settlement in his child support case after he was ordered to sit for a deposition under oath to answer questions about his finances.
An anonymous source told People that the president and first lady Jill Biden have been “giving Hunter and Lunden the space and time to figure things out” and have been “following Hunter’s lead” throughout the legal proceedings involving the young girl.
Hunter Biden’s personal and legal troubles have been increasingly in the spotlight lately. He appeared in a Delaware court Wednesday, where his plea deal on federal tax and gun charges was put on hold by a judge who questioned the scope of the agreement. | https://www.pahomepage.com/news/national-news/biden-offers-first-statement-on-hunters-4-year-old-daughter/ | 2023-07-29T05:04:00 | 1 | https://www.pahomepage.com/news/national-news/biden-offers-first-statement-on-hunters-4-year-old-daughter/ |
Students walk outdoors at Occidental College campus in Los Angeles, Thursday, July 27, 2023. Occidental College is the latest school to end legacy admissions in the wake of a Supreme Court decision removing race from admissions decisions. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
WASHINGTON — A California college where President Barack Obama started his undergraduate studies will no longer give special treatment to the children of alumni.
Occidental College, a private liberal arts school in Los Angeles, is the latest school to end legacy admissions in the wake of a Supreme Court decision removing race from college admissions decisions.
A campus letter from the school's president said an applicant's family ties to Occidental alumni "could be considered" in the past but had only "minimal impact" on decisions.
"Still, to ensure we are removing any potential barriers to access and opportunity, Occidental will no longer ask applicants about alumni relationships as part of the application," President Harry J. Elam Jr. said in a campus message on Wednesday. He cited the Supreme Court's decision.
The school of about 2,000 students is known for being the campus where Obama began his college career in 1979. Obama spent two years at Occidental before transferring to Columbia University. Obama gave his first political speech at the college in 1981, urging its leaders to divest from South Africa.
An Occidental spokesman said Obama was not a legacy student and his parents did not attend the school.
Colleges across the nation have faced mounting pressure to end legacy admissions following the Supreme Court's decision. Seen as an extra perk for the white and wealthy, opponents say it's no longer defensible without a counterbalance in affirmative action.
Occidental announced the change a week after Wesleyan University in Connecticut ended legacy admissions. An applicant's family connection to Wesleyan graduate "indicates little about that applicant's ability to succeed at the university," the school's president wrote.
The U.S. Education Department is now investigating Harvard's use of the practice after a civil rights group filed a complaint alleging that legacy admissions are discriminatory and given an unfair boost to white students. The complaint from Lawyers for Civil Rights argues that students with legacy ties are up to seven times more likely to be admitted to Harvard, can make up nearly a third of a class and that about 70% are white.
Opponents have redoubled their efforts after the end of affirmative action. The NAACP has asked more than 1,500 colleges to end legacy admissions this month, and the group Ed Mobilizer revived a campaign urging alumni of 30 prestigious colleges to withhold donations until their schools end the practice.
Democrats in Congress reintroduced legislation Wednesday that would cut federal money from colleges that favor students based on their ties to alumni or donors. State legislators in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York have proposed similar bills after Colorado banned the practice at public universities in 2021.
Some colleges defend the practice, saying it builds an alumni community and encourages donations. It's unclear how many schools use the practice, but it's most common at the nation's wealthiest and most selective colleges.
Some colleges abandoned the policy long before the Supreme Court opinion, including Amherst College and Johns Hopkins University. Some other prestigious schools say they have never used it, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Occidental's shift was announced among other efforts to promote campus diversity. The school will also expand outreach to schools with higher concentrations of low-income students and will work to increase the number of students transferring from community colleges, the president said in his letter.
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(The Hill) — A federal judge in Montana issued a temporary restraining order on Friday, blocking the state from enforcing a law that bans certain drag performances, writing in an order that the law likely suffers from “constitutional maladies.”
Montana’s House Bill 359, passed by the state’s majority Republican legislature and signed into law by GOP Gov. Greg Gianforte in May, prohibits schools or libraries that receive state funding from hosting a drag story hour or “sexually oriented performance.” Performances are also prohibited from taking place in public or in the presence of a minor.
A group of 10 plaintiffs challenged the law in federal court earlier this month, arguing that the bill is “breathtakingly ambiguous and overbroad.” Plaintiffs include Adria Jawort, a transgender and two-spirit author whose lecture at a public library in Butte was canceled last month after officials determined that having her speak posed “too much of a legal risk” under the new law.
Montana Pride, the host of an annual LGBTQ Pride celebration in Helena, joined the lawsuit last week, arguing that city officials — as a result of the law — have withheld permits that are needed for this year’s Pride festival, which is slated to run from July 30 to August 6.
“The thirtieth annual Montana Pride is slated to begin in less than two days,” Chief Judge Brian Morris wrote in Friday’s order. “Plaintiffs, along with the approximately 15,000 Montanans who wish to attend the events, cannot avoid chilled speech or exposure to potential civil or criminal liability under H.B. 359 in the absence of the extraordinary remedy of a [temporary restraining order.]”
Republicans in the state legislature this session had argued the law was necessary to protect children from “mature themes” and obscene material.
But “Montana law already protects minors from obscene material,” Morris wrote Friday.
On top of that, the state conceded during a July 26 hearing that the statutory text of House Bill 359 regulates speech and expression outside of what is considered “legally obscene.”
The law additionally “contains no carveout for speech or expression with serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value,” Morris argued, and the First Amendment protects “at least some of the speech and expression” regulated by the law.
Morris noted in the order that the only two other district courts to have considered First Amendment challenges to similar state drag bans in Tennessee and Florida “have confirmed that those laws constitute facially content-based restrictions” and are therefore discriminatory.
A federal judge in June ruled that a Tennessee law banning drag shows in public or where children could view them is unconstitutional. The same month, a federal judge in Florida temporarily blocked the state from enforcing a similar ban on drag performances.
Attorneys for the state had sought to distinguish the Montana law from those of Florida and Tennessee on the basis that those laws failed to define “lewd.” But Morris on Friday argued that Montana’s drag ban also failed to define it.
The measure also fails to define “lascivious,” “flamboyant or parodic persona,” “salacious dancing” and “sexual manner,” Morris wrote. “The absence of definitions for these terms raises concerns for the Court about vagueness and overbreadth.”
In a statement to the Montana Free Press following Friday’s order, Montana Pride’s lead organizer, Kevin Hamm, said the court “got it right.”
“As I said throughout the legislature, drag is art. And drag bans not only infringe on free speech, but they are crafted (by design) to be so broad to allow for discrimination against trans & nonbinary people as well,” state Democratic Rep. Zooey Zephyr posted Friday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, in response to Morris’s decision.
Zephyr, one of two openly transgender lawmakers in Montana, was censured by House Republicans in April after she said legislators who voted to pass a bill banning gender-affirming health care for transgender minors would have “blood on your hands.”
In a statement to The Hill, Emily Flower, a spokesperson for Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen (R), who is a defendant in the case, said the state will present its response at an upcoming preliminary injunction hearing.
“We look forward to presenting our written response and full argument at the upcoming preliminary injunction hearing to defend the law and protect minors from sexually oriented performances,” she said. | https://www.pahomepage.com/news/national-news/federal-judge-halts-montana-ban-on-drag-performances/ | 2023-07-29T05:04:06 | 0 | https://www.pahomepage.com/news/national-news/federal-judge-halts-montana-ban-on-drag-performances/ |
Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis greets local residents during a meet and greet at the Hotel Charitone, July 27, in Chariton, Iowa.
GOP presidential primary candidate Sen. Tim Scott speaks during an event in Des Moines last month. — Washington Post Photo/Christopher Smith
Christopher Smith
Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis greets local residents during a meet and greet at the Hotel Charitone, July 27, in Chariton, Iowa.
Sen. Tim Scott rebuked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a rival for the GOP presidential nomination, on Thursday over new state standards on how Black history is taught in Florida schools, saying "there is no silver lining" in slavery.
The social studies standards, which DeSantis has defended, include teaching middle-schoolers that "slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit."
Scott, the only Black Republican member of the U.S. Senate, strongly pushed back on that idea while speaking to reporters on the campaign trail in Ankeny, Iowa.
"As a country founded upon freedom, the greatest deprivation of freedom was slavery," Scott said. "There is no silver lining … in slavery. … What slavery was really about [was] separating families, about mutilating humans and even raping their wives. It was just devastating. So, I would hope that every person in our country - and certainly running for president - would appreciate that."
Speaking of DeSantis, Scott added: "Listen, people have bad days. Sometimes they regret what they say."
During a campaign stop Friday in Iowa, when asked about Scott's comments, DeSantis suggested the senator was misinformed.
"Part of the reason our country has struggled is because D.C. Republicans all too often accept false narratives, accept lies that are perpetrated by the Left," DeSantis said, without elaborating on what lies he was accusing Scott of spreading.
DeSantis initially sought to distance himself from the State Board of Education's new curriculum, contained in a 216-page document, telling reporters last week that "I wasn't involved in it."
But DeSantis also defended it, saying, "I think that they're probably going to show - some of the folks that eventually parlayed, you know, being a blacksmith into doing things later in life."
The instructions on teaching about slavery have come under fire from an array of politicians, including Vice President Harris and Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), both of whom are Black. Donalds has endorsed former president Donald Trump for the presidential nomination.
At a campaign stop in Iowa on Thursday, when asked about Scott's comments, DeSantis reportedly questioned his loyalty.
"So at the end of the day you've got to choose," DeSantis said. "Are you going to side with Kamala Harris and liberal media outlets, or are you going to side with the state of Florida?"
DeSantis also assailed Harris after she traveled to Jacksonville, Fla., last week to slam the curriculum. She emphasized that slavery involved rape, torture and "some of the worst examples of depriving people of humanity in our world."
DeSantis responded in a statement that "Democrats like Kamala Harris have to lie about Florida's educational standards to cover for their agenda of indoctrinating students and pushing sexual topics onto children."
The curriculum also has been heavily criticized by former congressman Will Hurd (Tex.), another Republican presidential hopeful.
"Slavery wasn't a jobs program that taught beneficial skills," Hurd, the son of a Black father and a White mother, tweeted last week. "It was literally dehumanizing and subjugated people as property because they lacked any rights or freedoms."
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DELMAR, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Many across social media feel confused about Twitter rebranding its iconic bird logo to a simple “X” symbol. At his Albany, New York-area studio on Thursday, the artist behind the original logo talked about its creation and leaving the brand behind.
Phil Pascuzzo is hard at work in his quiet suburban home in Delmar, mainly designing the inviting covers that tempt you to pick up a good book. You’d never guess he’s the designer of the world-famous Twitter bird icon.
“It’s so interesting. Most people have no idea,” laughed Pascuzzo. “It’s kind of like how Milton Glaser created the ‘I love New York’ logo, but when you see the I ‘heart’ NY, it doesn’t feel like anybody did it. It’s just there.”
Pascuzzo has run Pepco Studio, his independent freelance design studio, for the last 20 years, but he said that his first graphic design job out of college was where he met Biz Stone, one of the three Twitter co-founders. “We were both junior designers, so we were lowest on the rank, but he would just after every subway ride have all these wild ideas and we would just talk about them,” Pascuzzo recollected with NEWS10’s Mikhaela Singleton. “I would do these little doodles on Post-it notes, and he just liked my drawings.”
He said that Stone approached him around 2005 looking for a unique bird-themed design. The iStock image by Simon Oxley that was used when Twitter first launched couldn’t be its official logo, as that would violate iStock’s terms of service.
“I started sketching different birds. We knew we were going with blue, which — it’s great for like, feeling optimistic, feels like the future, blue skies,” Pascuzzo explained. “[Stone] had a rough idea, but he really left it to me to get creative with. He’s got a great sense of humor so he had all these ideas for little things he wanted the bird to be doing.”
Pascuzzo said that first bird design took about 30 minutes and a chat between friends, landing him $500 for the work. “I was in an apartment in Arbor Hill at the time and thought, $500 will make rent so yeah let’s do it,” he said. “Twitter wasn’t some huge thing like it is now that everybody is on.”
For years, he continued creating many marketing items that helped Twitter take flight. Shifting the bird’s design to a silhouette, Pascuzzo then sold the design to the studio outright in 2010, when it took shape in the most recent version used from 2012 to 2023. He added that he did reapproach his friend and the company to renegotiate pay for the logo design when Twitter truly took off.
“When I realized the weight of what this icon had become, I went back with an intellectual property lawyer, and it was extremely cordial,” Pascuzzo said. “It didn’t give me anything close to Elon Musk money, but it was a down payment on a house.”
On the topic of Musk and the many changes since his takeover of the social media giant in October, Pascuzzo said the news to clip the bird’s wings for a simple “X” symbol came as a surprise. “I was like, ‘What?’ What is this white — because it’s just a Unicode symbol,” he said. “It’s not even a logo. Nobody even designed it.”
After 20 years in the business, he said that he’s learned not to get too attached to any creation, so he’s not sad to see the bird go. But he worries that Musk’s future for Twitter leaves behind much of what made the platform unique.
“He seems obsessed with the ‘X.’ I mean you look at his child with Grimes — X Æ A-Xii — he loves X. It’s everywhere. So in his world, it may make sense, but I think, in the Twitter world, it doesn’t really make much sense,” Pascuzzo concluded. “I feel he threw away a lot of brand equity. The name, the color, the language — it’s so ubiquitous. It’s part of our lexicon.” | https://www.pahomepage.com/news/national-news/original-designer-behind-twitter-bird-icon-talks-the-x-rebrand/ | 2023-07-29T05:04:12 | 0 | https://www.pahomepage.com/news/national-news/original-designer-behind-twitter-bird-icon-talks-the-x-rebrand/ |
FILE - An aerial view of President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate is seen Aug. 10, 2022, in Palm Beach, Fla. A third defendant has been charged alongside former President Donald Trump and his valet in the classified documents case in Florida, court records show. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump faced new charges Thursday in a case accusing him of illegally possessing classified documents, with prosecutors alleging that he asked a staffer to delete camera footage at his Florida estate in an effort to obstruct a federal investigation into the records.
The new indictment includes extra charges of obstruction and willful retention of national defense information, adding fresh detail to a criminal case issued last month against Trump and a close aide.
The Florida charges came as a surprise at a time of escalating anticipation of a possible additional indictment in Washington over his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The latest allegations also make clear the vast, and still not fully known, scope of legal exposure faced by Trump as he seeks to reclaim the White House in 2024 while fending off criminal cases in multiple cities.
The updated indictment from special counsel Jack Smith centers on surveillance footage at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, evidence that has long been vital to the case. Trump is alleged to have asked for the footage to be deleted after FBI and Justice Department investigators visited in June 2022 to collect classified documents he took with him after leaving the White House. The new indictment also charges him with illegally holding onto a document he's alleged to have shown off to visitors in New Jersey.
A Trump spokesperson dismissed the new charges as "nothing more than a continued desperate and flailing attempt" by the Biden administration "to harass President Trump and those around him" and to influence the 2024 presidential race.
Prosecutors accuse Trump of scheming with his valet, Walt Nauta, and a Mar-a-Lago property manager, Carlos De Oliveira, to conceal the footage from federal investigators after they issued a subpoena for it. Video from the property would ultimately play a significant role in the investigation because, prosecutors said, it captured Nauta moving boxes of documents in and out of a storage room — including a day before an FBI visit to the property. The boxes were moved at Trump's direction, the indictment alleges.
According to the indictment, Nauta met with De Oliveira on June 25, 2022, at Mar-a-Lago, where they went to a security guard booth where surveillance video is displayed on monitors and walked with a flashlight through a tunnel where the storage room was located, observing and pointing out surveillance cameras.
Two days later, according to the indictment, De Oliveira walked through a basement tunnel with an unidentified Trump employee to an audio closet, where De Oliveira in a private conversation asked how many days the server retained footage.
De Oliveira, prosecutors said, told the employee that "the boss" wanted the server deleted and asked, "What are we going to do?"
During a voluntary interview with the FBI last January, prosecutors say, De Oliveira lied when he said he "never saw nothing" with regard to boxes at Mar-a-Lago.
De Oliveira was added to the indictment, charged with obstruction and false statements related to that FBI interview. His lawyer declined to comment Thursday evening.
The new charges were filed as Trump is bracing for the prospect of an additional indictment related to his efforts to undo the 2020 election in the run-up to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. Last week, he revealed he had received a letter from the Justice Department informing him he was a target in that probe, suggesting that charges could be forthcoming. His lawyers met with prosecutors on Smith's office earlier Thursday to discuss that case.
But despite the anticipation, the only charges filed Thursday were in Florida, not Washington.
The superseding indictment also charges Trump with an additional count of willfully retaining national defense information, arising from a document he showed off to visitors at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club during an July 2021 interview for a memoir of his onetime chief of staff Mark Meadows. Prosecutors have described the document as a Pentagon plan of attack and Meadows, in his subsequent book, said the country it concerned was Iran.
The indictment says the document was returned to the federal government on Jan. 17, 2022, which is the date Trump provided 15 boxes of records to the National Archives. The decision to charge him with possession of that document is notable since the other records cited in the indictment are ones that Trump either handed over to authorities in June 2022 in response to a grand jury subpoena demanding the return of classified documents, or are ones the FBI found during an August search of Mar-a-Lago.
Trump has denied he had secret documents before him when he spoke.
"There wasn't a document. I had lots of paper. I had copies of newspaper articles, I had copies of magazines, I had copies of everything," he said in an interview with Fox News host Bret Baier.
Both Trump and Nauta have pleaded not guilty to the original 38-count indictment. De Oliveira is due in court in Florida on Monday.
The trial for Trump and Nauta is currently scheduled for May 20, 2024. It was unclear if the addition of a new defendant could result in a postponement.
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(KTLA) – A labor union representing thousands of hotel housekeepers in Southern California is asking Taylor Swift to postpone her upcoming concerts at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood until they are paid “a living wage.”
UNITE HERE Local 11 published an open letter to the pop star in the Los Angeles Times on Thursday.
“We make beds, clean bathrooms, and take care of every guest need. Your shows make our hotels a lot of money,” the letter reads. “In Los Angeles, hotels are doubling and tripling what they charge because you are coming. They also add junk fees on rooms, just like Ticketmaster does. But we see none of it.”
Hotel workers have been staging labor actions in the Los Angeles area since the start of July as they negotiate for increased pay and benefits. They have also joined striking Hollywood writers and actors on the picket lines.
Experts predict Swift’s 52-night, 20-city tour will become the highest-grossing of all time. It is also having a notable economic impact on each city she visits with the surge of Swifties snatching up hotel rooms at jacked-up rates.
She is slated to perform six straight nights at SoFi Stadium beginning August 3.
Union leaders hope Swift will lend support to their cause.
“She has taken on corporate greed to make sure artists get fairly compensate and that those workers behind the scenes in her own music get the treatment they deserve,” Ada Briceno, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11, said at a rally on Thursday outside of the Hyatt Regency at LAX.
There is no indication the pop star is considering postponing her Inglewood shows. KTLA’s request for comment on Thursday was not immediately returned. | https://www.pahomepage.com/news/national-news/taylor-swift-urged-to-postpone-los-angeles-area-shows/ | 2023-07-29T05:04:18 | 0 | https://www.pahomepage.com/news/national-news/taylor-swift-urged-to-postpone-los-angeles-area-shows/ |