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LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers, who have made pitching a priority in advance of the trade deadline, acquired starter Lance Lynn and reliever Joe Kelly on Friday in a swap with the Chicago White Sox.
The NL West leaders sent outfielder Trayce Thompson, pitcher Nick Nastrini and reliever Jordan Leasure to the White Sox.
Lynn and Kelly join utilityman Kiké Hernández from the Boston Red Sox and infielder-outfielder Amed Rosario from the Cleveland Guardians in Los Angeles, ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline.
“I would argue we have raised the floor and the ceiling,” manager Dave Roberts said.
The Dodgers may not be done, either, with a need for more starting pitching.
“I think there’s always a chance,” Roberts said. “There’s still time on the clock.”
Lynn has been mostly underwhelming this season. The 36-year-old right-hander is 6-9 with a 6.18 ERA and leads the American League in earned runs (79) and home runs allowed (28).
Roberts called Lynn a “victim of sort of the circumstance” with the sub-.500 White Sox, who are 13 games back of AL Central leader Minnesota.
“I just feel like getting in this environment, playing meaningful games will bring out the best in him,” Roberts said.
Lynn has 139 strikeouts in 115 innings and 10.9 per nine innings. In June, Lynn struck out 16 in a game against Seattle, setting a major-league mark for most strikeouts in a game by a pitcher with an ERA above 6.00.
He was an All-Star for the White Sox in 2021 and shortly after signed a $38 million, two-year contract extension that included a club option.
“I’m happy to have had the time that I had here, but it is a business and sometimes these things happen,” Lynn said. “I’m just looking forward to the possibility of making a playoff push.”
Lynn began the 2022 season on the injured list with a meniscus tear suffered in spring training. He returned in mid-June and finished the season with an 8-7 record in 21 starts and a 3.99 ERA. He recorded 121 strikeouts in 121 2/3 innings.
Lynn has spent most of his career in the AL. Besides the White Sox, he has pitched for Minnesota, the New York Yankees and Texas. He began his career with St. Louis, and missed the 2016 season with them after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Lynn won a World Series with the Cardinals in 2011, his debut season in the majors. The following year he earned his first All-Star berth.
The Dodgers have not yet decided who Lynn will replace in the rotation. He’ll arrive in Los Angeles this weekend and discuss a possible start against Oakland next week.
Kelly returns to Los Angeles for his second stint with the Dodgers. The hard-throwing right-handed reliever recently returned from the injured list for elbow inflammation. He has one save, a 4.97 ERA and 41 strikeouts this season.
Like Lynn, Kelly is eager to join a contending team.
“It’s something that I thrive on,” he said. “I think my personality type is to love the adrenaline, love the big moments. So, I’m super, super stoked to go back for sure.”
Kelly pitched for the Dodgers from 2019-21, winning the World Series during the pandemic-delayed 2020 season. He had a 3.59 ERA in 105 1/3 innings during that span.
“I would argue that his stuff is even better than it was then when he was with us, the velocity, the curveball, all that stuff,” Roberts said. “He’s a guy, like most players when they’re in a winning environment, they thrive.”
Kelly isn’t the only former Dodger to land back in Los Angeles. Hernández returns three years after he departed for the East Coast.
Rosario was set to start at shortstop Friday night in the series opener against the Reds. But the plan is for him to get acclimated to second base and also play some center field. He’ll mostly start against left-handed pitching.
“It’s certainly a big upgrade for our ballclub,” Roberts said. “He’s been good versus right-handed pitching, but he’s been a killer versus lefties and that’s something we want to capture.”
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AP Baseball Writer Jay Cohen, AP Sports Writer Eric Olson and AP freelancer Seth Engle contributed to this report.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cbs4indy.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-lance-lynn-and-joe-kelly-are-heading-to-the-dodgers-in-a-trade-with-the-white-sox-source-tells-ap/ | 2023-07-29T12:10:58 | 1 | https://cbs4indy.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-lance-lynn-and-joe-kelly-are-heading-to-the-dodgers-in-a-trade-with-the-white-sox-source-tells-ap/ |
BLAINE, Minn. (AP) — 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.
Hodges, 74th in the FedEx Cup points race, opened with a 63 for the first-round lead and had a 15-under 127 total to break the tournament 36-hole record of 128 set by Bryson DeChambeau in 2019.
Hodges 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.
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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cbs4indy.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-lee-hodges-leads-the-3m-open-while-justin-thomas-misses-the-cut-to-hurt-his-playoff-hopes/ | 2023-07-29T12:11:06 | 1 | https://cbs4indy.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-lee-hodges-leads-the-3m-open-while-justin-thomas-misses-the-cut-to-hurt-his-playoff-hopes/ |
MIAMI (AP) — Miguel Cabrera’s farewell tour has reached a special location.
The Detroit Tigers’ slugger is approaching the last two months of his major league career. And in his final season, Cabrera has received numerous tributes in visiting stadiums.
This weekend, the honors bring added significance.
The Tigers opened a three-game series Friday in Miami against the Marlins. The 40-year-old Cabrera is returning to the city where he spent his first five seasons and is facing the organization that signed him shortly after his 16th birthday.
“It is very emotional because this is where it all started,” Cabrera, a native of Venezuela, said before the Tigers lost to the Marlins 6-5 in Friday’s series opener. “To be back here is awesome.”
The Marlins brought up the then-20-year-old Cabrera two months into the 2003 season. Cabrera made an immediate impact, hitting a walk-off home run to help the Marlins beat Tampa Bay in his major league debut.
“I remember it well because in all the stadiums I’ve visited, that is the first video presented,” said Cabrera, who went 0 for 3 and was hit by a pitch. “My teammates kid me because I was so skinny back then.”
It was a sign of things to come. Cabrera played a key role in the Marlins’ postseason run in 2003 that culminated with a World Series championship.
Cabrera was a four-time All-Star during his time with the Marlins. But the club, fearing it would lose Cabrera to free agency once he became eligible, dealt him to Detroit following the 2007 season.
“When I received that call, I had many questions on why I was being traded,” Cabrera said. “The club had a good young group and was growing tremendously. Had the group stayed together, we had a chance to contend for the division. They told me to be calm, that you’re going to a good club with a chance to win.”
Cabrera flourished in Detroit, becoming one of the game’s top hitters and a two-time AL MVP. In 2012, Cabrera won the AL Triple Crown, the first to accomplish the feat since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967.
But the offensive production, which included four AL batting titles, declined as Cabrera reached his late 30s. Nonetheless, Cabrera reached the career 3,000-hit and 500-homer milestones over the last two seasons.
Now limited to a parttime role, Cabrera will play the three games against Miami. The second game on Saturday also will be promoted as Venezuelan Heritage Day.
“It is going to be great for me and my family,” Cabrera said of the ceremony,” Cabrera said. “You have to enjoy this moment, every second, every minute. After that, you prepare for the game and do your best to help our team win.”
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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Jalen Ramsey, set for surgery on Friday, addressed his Miami Dolphins teammates a day earlier about the injury and told them not to worry or feel sorry for him.
The six-time Pro Bowl cornerback suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee at the end of Thursday’s practice and is expected to miss the start of the regular season. But he vowed — bragged a little — that he could beat whatever timeline for return doctors give him.
“It really moved a lot of people,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Friday. “He first let everybody know how much he appreciated this team, how this team has accepted him, how he has been in the league a little bit and how he knows what we’re doing here, in his opinion, is special, for his position group not to waiver, and exuded all the confidence that he had in that position group.”
McDaniel said Ramsey will have surgery Friday afternoon to repair the tear and his timeline for return won’t be known until the procedure is complete.
The injury happened during an 11-on-11 drill during Miami’s second practice of training camp. McDaniel said it was a non-contact injury that happened while he was matched up against receiver Tyreek Hill. Ramsey and Hill collided on the play, but the injury, McDaniel clarified, happened before the contact.
“That end of the season push (will) be legendary!” Ramsey tweeted Thursday night.
Miami acquired the All-Pro cornerback Ramsey in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams in March.
When veteran players reported to training camp on Monday, Ramsey spoke of the potential of the Dolphins defense, which is adjusting to a new scheme under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
“I’ve been a part of his defense for the past three years so I kind of know how to play it,” Ramsey said. “I know what’s needed to play this defense and be one of the best defenses in the league and be elite. And we got all the pieces — edge rushers to the secondary. We even got the linebackers and all that. Like I said, I don’t compare, but I look at other teams I’ve been a part of and I feel like we, on paper, we stack up well. But the work comes first.”
The Dolphins dealt with several injuries at the cornerback position last season. Veteran cornerback Xavien Howard played through groin injuries all year.
Byron Jones missed the entire season after having surgery on his Achilles tendon. The Dolphins cut him earlier this year in a cost-cutting move.
Trill Williams tore the ACL in his left knee during the preseason. Nik Needham tore his Achilles last October.
Williams and safety Brandon Jones are still working their way back from their respective season-ending injuries.
McDaniel said he’s confident in the team’s cornerback room, which also includes Kader Kohou, who had a breakout 2022 season as an undrafted rookie free agent, Keion Crossen and 2020 first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene.
Earlier this week, Howard pointed to Kohou as a player to watch as camp opened.
“My boy, Kader. Dude is a straight dawg,” Howard said. “His mentality he has, just being an undrafted guy, I continue to see him grow and get better on the field.”
Miami also drafted cornerback Cam Smith in the second round in April to add more depth. Smith’s role will likely increase in Ramsey’s absence.
“I feel good about the entire crew,” McDaniel said. “We are dealing with some injuries now in that group, but I feel very, very, very good about the competition there and the guys that are ready to go see some more opportunities.”
With the cornerback room not at full strength, McDaniel said the team will work out a cornerback soon for “depth purposes.”
Notes: McDaniel said linebacker Jaelan Phillips was “stepped on” during the first practice of training camp. McDaniel said the team is not worried about the injury, but it would “not be healed” if he continues practicing with it. Phillips did not practice Thursday. … Crossen has an undisclosed injury and will not practice Friday. … McDaniel said he’s happy with Miami’s running back group as the Dolphins continue to be linked to Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://cbs4indy.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-mike-mcdaniel-confident-in-dolphins-cb-depth-amid-jalen-ramsey-injury/ | 2023-07-29T12:11:19 | 0 | https://cbs4indy.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-mike-mcdaniel-confident-in-dolphins-cb-depth-amid-jalen-ramsey-injury/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA told teams Friday that Damian Lillard and his agent confirmed that the All-Star guard would honor his contract in any potential trade, despite the agent saying Lillard only wanted to be dealt to the Miami Heat.
A memo sent to general managers and obtained by The Associated Press also warned that Lillard would be subject to discipline by the league if he or Aaron Goodwin make additional comments suggesting he won’t fully perform the requirements of his contract in the event of a trade.
Lillard told the Portland Trail Blazers earlier this month he wanted to be traded and Goodwin subsequently made clear his preference was Miami.
“Dame’s position won’t change,” Goodwin told AP on July 6. “This entire situation was about building an opportunity for Portland to win or giving him another opportunity that he wants, which is Miami.”
The league said it interviewed Lillard and Goodwin, along with several teams with whom Goodwin spoke. Goodwin denied telling teams that Lillard would refuse to play for them and the teams provided descriptions that were “mostly, though not entirely, consistent with Goodwin’s statements to us.”
Players are not allowed to publicly request trades. The league also stated in the memo that it told the Players Association that further comments such as Goodwin’s will be subject to discipline.
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TORONTO (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit his major league-leading 39th home run for the Angels before leaving with leg cramps as the Toronto Blue Jays slugged three solo homers and rallied to beat Los Angeles 4-1 on Friday night.
Ohtani was replaced by pinch-hitter Michael Stefanic when his at-bat came up with the bases loaded in the ninth inning. Ohtani was lifted because of cramping in both of his calves, Angels manager Phil Nevin said.
“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.”
A day earlier, Ohtani left the second game of a doubleheader at Detroit because of cramps. The two-way superstar threw a one-hitter in the opener Thursday for his first career MLB shutout, then homered twice in the second game.
Nevin said Ohtani’s soreness developed after he grounded out to begin the eighth.
“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.
After the game, an angry Nevin was seen holding up a tablet computer and yelling at plate umpire Mike Estabrook as the crew left the field.
“I just explained to him that I thought the pitch to Stefanic was outside,” Nevin said.
Matt Chapman, Danny Jansen and Whit Merrifield homered for the Blue Jays, who are 24-11 when they hit two or more home runs.
“Our team has been playing a good brand of baseball for a while now,” Chapman said. “I think maybe we’re just starting to find ways to come out on top of some of those close games.”
Chapman hit a two-out drive in the second, his 14th of the season. Jansen homered to lead off the third, his 14th. Both home runs came off right-hander Lucas Giolito, who made his first start for the Angels since being acquired from the White Sox earlier this week.
Giolito (6-7) allowed three runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out five.
“I felt relatively sharp, throwing a lot of strikes, but they hammered my mistakes pretty good,” Giolito said.
Bo Bichette hit an RBI double off Giolito in the sixth and Merrifield made it 4-1 with a two-out homer off José Soriano in the seventh, his eighth. Merrifield finished 3 for 4 and has six home runs in his last 17 games. He hit a three-run homer in Thursday’s road win over the Dodgers.
The Blue Jays began the day in the third AL wild-card spot, three games ahead of the Angels. Los Angeles trails Boston and the New York Yankees in the postseason race.
After being greeted with a loud ovation from the sellout crowd of 42,106, Ohtani homered on the first pitch he faced, going deep in three straight at-bats over two games.
Ohtani’s 397-foot drive came off Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman. Ohtani homered in consecutive games for the ninth time this season.
Ohtani’s streak of homers ended when he struck out swinging on a 2-2 pitch from Gausman in the third. Ohtani singled in the sixth and grounded out against left-hander Tim Mayza in the eighth.
Gausman (8-5) allowed one run and five hits in six-plus innings to win for the first time since June 21 at Miami. Gausman walked three and struck out nine, increasing his AL-leading total to 171.
Erik Swanson relieved Gausman after the Angels loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh. Swanson struck out Trey Cabbage and pinch-hitter Eduardo Escobar, then retired Luis Rengifo on a fly ball.
“Not getting one across, that hurts,” Nevin said.
Mayza worked one inning and Romano got two outs in the ninth before Yimi García finished for his third save in six chances. Romano was pitching for the fifth time since leaving the July 11 All-Star game because of a sore back.
“He’s doing alright,” manager John Schneider said of Romano. “Just lower back discomfort, it kind of locked up on him a little bit. Just kind of wanted to play it safe there.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: Before the game, Nevin said Ohtani would get an extra day of rest before his next start, which was scheduled for next Thursday’s home game against Seattle. … SS Zach Neto (sore back) was scratched from the starting lineup and replaced by Andrew Velazquez. Rengifo took over in the leadoff spot.
Blue Jays: LHP Hyun Jin Ryu (Tommy John surgery) will start on Tuesday against Baltimore, Schneider said. With the Blue Jays beginning a stretch of 17 games in 17 days Friday, Schneider said Ryu will be part of a six-man rotation. … RHP Chad Green (Tommy John surgery) will make a rehab appearance with Class-A Dunedin Saturday, his third.
ANGRY WORDS
Cameras caught Chapman yelling at Schneider in the dugout after the top of the first.
“That’s just everybody being competitive, wanting to win baseball games,” Chapman said. “Just a heat-of-the-moment kind of thing. What was said and what it’s about, I’m just going to keep between us.”
NEW-LOOK LINEUP
Blue Jays OF George Springer, who came in stuck in an 0-for-16 slump, was dropped from the leadoff spot to fifth. Springer finished 0 for 4. Merrifield moved up to hit leadoff.
ROSTER MOVES
The Angels optioned RHP Gerardo Reyes to Triple-A Salt Lake to make room on the roster for Giolito.
UP NEXT
RHP Alek Manoah (2-8, 6.10 ERA) starts for the Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon. LHP Reid Detmers (2-7, 4.38) goes for the Angels.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cbs4indy.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-ohtani-hits-majors-best-39th-hr-before-leaving-with-leg-cramps-in-angels-4-1-loss-to-blue-jays/ | 2023-07-29T12:11:33 | 1 | https://cbs4indy.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-ohtani-hits-majors-best-39th-hr-before-leaving-with-leg-cramps-in-angels-4-1-loss-to-blue-jays/ |
TORONTO (AP) — 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.
“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.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cbs4indy.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-ohtani-hits-majors-leading-39th-home-run-against-blue-jays-extends-hr-streak-to-3-at-bats/ | 2023-07-29T12:11:40 | 1 | https://cbs4indy.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-ohtani-hits-majors-leading-39th-home-run-against-blue-jays-extends-hr-streak-to-3-at-bats/ |
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Colorado’s return to the Big 12 in 2024 fits right into Deion Sanders’ recruiting blueprint, allowing him to get an even better foothold in the teeming Texas and Florida markets.
“I think Colorado is already an exciting team on the recruiting trail with Coach Prime and his experienced staff full of college coaches who have been around for a while and a lot of guys with NFL pedigree,” said Steve Wiltfong, national recruiting director for 247Sports. “So I think more than anything it adds to the excitement because it’s moving to what is certainly a more stable conference and one that just had a football team (TCU) in the playoff.”
Athletic director Rick George said he kept basketball coaches Tad Boyle and JR Payne in the loop along with Sanders, who’s entering his first season in Boulder, before the CU board of regents rubber-stamped Colorado’s return to the Big 12 on Thursday.
“I think all of them felt like: Whatever you think’s best for us, we’re going to play whomever you ask us to play,” George said. “I will tell you, there are tremendous benefits for being in the Big 12 for the direction that Coach Prime’s going as it relates to recruiting, being able to play in Orlando against UCF, where he’s recruiting very heavily (and) the state of Texas has always been a priority for us.”
The newfangled Big 12 isn’t the same league the Buffs left in 2011 during the initial rounds of conference realigment when Texas A&M, Missouri and Nebraska also left. Texas and Oklahoma are leaving next year for the Big Ten. TCU and West Virginia came on board a decade ago and Cincinnati, Houston, BYU and Central Florida were added this year.
Sanders, who’s overseen the biggest roster overhaul in the nation since his hiring this spring, already has strong roots in Florida and Texas.
He was born in Fort Myers and starred at Florida State before embarking on a dual sports career as an NFL defensive back and a Major League outfielder. Some of his best years came during his half decade with the Cowboys from 1995-99 and he still has a home in the Dallas area.
When the Buffaloes return to the Big 12 next year, they will have four conference opponents in the Lone Star State in TCU, Texas Tech, Baylor and Houston, which features one of the nation’s largest television markets.
“Houston has always been a favorable market for us in recruiting,” said George, who then mentioned a few players from CU’s heyday in the late 1980s and early ’90s. “You think back to Alfred Williams, Kanavis McGhee and Chris Hudson. That area — the fifth-largest market in the country — also was a factor” in Colorado’s decision to return to the Big 12.
“Colorado recruits Texas hard because it’s an obvious state to go recruit,” Wiltfong said, “and now being in the Big 12, with all those Texas teams, it gives them one more inch to say, ’Hey, we’re going to be coming to the Lone Star State a lot throughout your career to play some big games.’”
Wiltfong expects Sanders to compete with the big boys when it comes to the recruiting trails of Texas.
“Deion’s lived in Texas, right? Deion is going to go where the players are. He’s going to recruit nationally because his name is electric,” Wiltfong said.
Colorado is the third school to leave the Pac-12 in the last year, joining UCLA and USC, which are going to the Big Ten next year. The moves coincide with the expiration of current media rights deals with ESPN and Fox.
Colorado is expected to get $31.7 million in annual TV revenue in the Big 12, which last year came to an agreement with ESPN and Fox on a six-year extension worth more than $2 billion that runs through 2030-31.
After Colorado’s vote to leave, the Pac-12 issued a statement that read, “We are focused on concluding our media rights deal and securing our continued success and growth. Immediately following the conclusion of our media rights deal, we will embrace expansion opportunities and bring new fans, markets, excitement and value to the Pac-12.”
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AP College Football Writer Eric Olson contributed to this report.
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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Broncos coach Sean Payton said Friday he regrets disparaging his predecessor in an interview in which he called the work Nathaniel Hackett and his staff did in Denver last season “one of the worst coaching jobs in the NFL” and said there were “20 dirty hands” around Russell Wilson’s career-worst season.
“Listen, I had one of those moments where I still had my Fox hat on and not my coaching hat,” said Payton, who’s returning to the sideline this season after a year’s sabbatical during which he worked as a studio football analyst for Fox Sports following a 15-year stint with the New Orleans Saints.
Payton’s comments in an interview with USA Today’s Jarrett Bell rocked the NFL because he broke the coaches code in which they refrain from publicly lambasting one another and because he spent his first six months on the job admonishing his players not to look back at last year’s dismal season and to ignore “outside noise.”
“I said this to the team in the meeting yesterday: we’ve had a great offseason relative to that, you know, and I’ve been preaching that message and here I am the veteran” doing just that, Payton said during a lengthy mea culpa in his first comments since he ignited the firestorm.
“It was a learning experience for me. It was a mistake. Obviously, I needed a little bit more filter … I needed a little bit more restraint. And I regret that,” Payton continued.
Payton said he’s usually pretty media savvy “and I just had one of those moments. Jarrett’s a good friend, real good at his job. And two lattes in the morning, first one I see and 40 minutes later, I’m regretting it.”
In the interview, Payton also took potshots at the Jets, who hired Hackett as their offensive coordinator this year, and criticized Broncos general manager George Paton and team President Damani Leech for allowing Hackett and his staff to give Wilson so much free rein, including having his personal quarterback coach with him at team headquarters.
That was one of many unconventional allowances — another was having his own office upstairs next to the coaches — that drew heavy scrutiny when Wilson looked nothing like the star he’d been in Seattle or like a QB who deserved the $245 million extension he signed last summer.
Payton’s criticisms were part of a spirited defense of Wilson, whom he expects to have a big comeback this year and help the Broncos end a seven-year playoff drought.
“Listen, I’m not afraid of the expectation,” Payton said Friday. “I’ve talked with several people about, you know, being used to contending for the postseason. You don’t take it for granted. But that mindset needs to be present here. And so yeah, I see this as a team that has that ability.”
Payton didn’t specifically apologize for his critical comments but he did say he’ll reach out to Hackett and Jets head coach Robert Saleh “at the right time” to do so.
The Broncos host the Jets on Oct. 8, and the row he started “certainly will bring more interest to the game when we play them,” Payton said. “But that seems like years from now.”
Closer to home, Payton has some damage control to do with his GM and the team president who came on board late last summer.
“The front office and the ownership are the two reasons I came here,” Paton said. “So, George and I are close. He was one of the big attractions, he and ownership. My point was it was across the board organizationally, it wasn’t just one person” responsible for Wilson’s dismal season.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://cbs4indy.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-sean-payton-says-he-regrets-criticizing-predecessor-nathaniel-hackett-and-his-own-general-manager/ | 2023-07-29T12:11:55 | 1 | https://cbs4indy.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-sean-payton-says-he-regrets-criticizing-predecessor-nathaniel-hackett-and-his-own-general-manager/ |
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid watched his team work out in pads for the first time since their Super Bowl triumph last February and saw his players’ energy rise.
“Naturally it does that,” Reid said. “But I like the way they did it, how they got after each other.”
The defending champions ratcheted up the competition for an hour, 40 minutes in sweltering conditions as the heat index soared into the mid-90s.
The air wasn’t all that was hot, like when cornerback Dicaprio Bootle continued hacking at the football in the grasp of tight end Travis Kelce after a play. Cornerback Lamar Jackson raised eyebrows when he delivered a late hit on receiver Kekoa Crawford out of bounds.
Reid doesn’t mind trash-talking and spirited play as long as players keep their wits about them.
“They’re going to jaw,” Reid said. “It’s hot, humid, they’re going to jaw a little bit. As long as there are no punches thrown we’re all right.”
The Chiefs dug in during practice for three separate periods of 11-on-11, along with a nine-on-seven run session.
However, the most anticipated session in Friday’s practice focused on offensive and defensive linemen facing off in pass-rushing scenarios.
“It’s you mano a mano,” guard Trey Smith said. “All the technical details, every little piece matters. Being able to lock in those little seconds and get your job done.”
Linebacker Willie Gay said the hard, hot practice was tailor made for Reid. Although it was grueling, “I told the guys, as long as we continue to get better, it’s going to make the games and preseason even easier, and we’ll start winning,” he continued.
There’s rust to knock off whenever the pads first come on.
“You have some things that you got to clean up, some things you can be a little tighter technique-wise, but it’s always good to put the pads back on,” Smith said. “It’s always good knowing the season’s around the corner.”
Off the field, defensive tackle Chris Jones held out for seventh day and Reid, who hasn’t communicated with Jones recently, didn’t know when the holdout would end.
“We’re moving fast and furious even though he’s not here,” Reid said.
The 29-year-old-Jones is set to earn $19.5 million in base salary this season in the final year of a four-year extension signed in 2020. The All-Pro is seeking an extension that would make him the league’s second-highest-paid defensive tackle behind Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald, whose contract sports an annual average value of $31.67 million.
Jones has been fined $50,000 fine for each missed day of training camp missed, a total that’s grown to $350,000 00 so far. If Jones doesn’t report by Aug. 13, he will be assessed an additional fine of $1.147 for missing the team’s preseason opener against New Orleans.
NOTES: Linebacker Nick Bolton returned to practice Friday following a brief illness, but fellow linebacker Drue Tranquill exited practice early due to a sprained neck. Defensive end Mike Danna left with a strained calf while tight end Jody Fortson is undergoing further examination on a shoulder injury. Wide receiver Kadarius Toney expects to miss the remainder of training camp after surgery Tuesday for a torn meniscus.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://cbs4indy.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-super-bowl-champion-chiefs-hold-hot-tough-practice-in-1st-day-of-pads/ | 2023-07-29T12:12:02 | 1 | https://cbs4indy.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-super-bowl-champion-chiefs-hold-hot-tough-practice-in-1st-day-of-pads/ |
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.
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AP Sports Writer Greg Beacham and AP Health & Science Writer Lauran Neergard contributed to this report.
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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 | https://cbs4indy.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-usc-still-preparing-for-a-european-tour-as-bronny-james-recovers-at-home-after-cardiac-arrest/ | 2023-07-29T12:12:08 | 1 | https://cbs4indy.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-usc-still-preparing-for-a-european-tour-as-bronny-james-recovers-at-home-after-cardiac-arrest/ |
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The city of San Francisco has opened a complaint and launched an investigation into a giant “X” sign that was installed Friday on top of the downtown building formerly known as Twitter headquarters as owner Elon Musk continues his rebrand of the social media platform.
City officials say replacing letters or symbols on buildings, or erecting a sign on top of one, requires a permit for design and safety reasons.
The X appeared after San Francisco police stopped workers on Monday from removing the brand’s iconic bird and logo from the side of the building, saying they hadn’t taped off the sidewalk to keep pedestrians safe if anything fell.
Any replacement letters or symbols would require a permit to ensure “consistency with the historic nature of the building” and to make sure additions are safely attached to the sign, Patrick Hannan, spokesperson for the Department of Building Inspection said earlier this week.
Erecting a sign on top of a building also requires a permit, Hannan said Friday.
“Planning review and approval is also necessary for the installation of this sign. The city is opening a complaint and initiating an investigation,” he said in an email.
Musk unveiled a new “X” logo to replace Twitter’s famous blue bird as he remakes the social media platform he bought for $44 billion last year. The X started appearing at the top of the desktop version of Twitter on Monday.
Musk, who is also CEO of Tesla, has long been fascinated with the letter X and had already renamed Twitter’s corporate name to X Corp. after he bought it in October. One of his children is called “X.” The child’s actual name is a collection of letters and symbols.
On Friday afternoon, a worker on a lift machine made adjustments to the sign and then left. | https://cbs4indy.com/technology/ap-technology/ap-x-logo-installed-atop-twitter-building-spurring-san-francisco-to-investigate-permit-violation/ | 2023-07-29T12:12:14 | 1 | https://cbs4indy.com/technology/ap-technology/ap-x-logo-installed-atop-twitter-building-spurring-san-francisco-to-investigate-permit-violation/ |
Fruit and fruit juices are among the most refreshing and delicious things to enjoy in hot weather. So it’s probably no surprise that the new wave of Hazy IPAs are so popular. They’re occasionally called juicy IPAs, after all, and their flavors often remind us of orange or grapefruit juice. Hazy IPAs are relative newcomers to the brewing scene, but brewers have been using fruit to make beer for millennia.
One of the earliest known beverages made with fruit was found in Northern China and dated from 9,000 years ago: Pottery jars found in the Neolithic village of Jiahu in Henan province contained the residue of a mixed fermentation drink made with rice, honey and fruit.
Molecular archaeologist Patrick McGovern, from the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, asked Dogfish Head Craft Brewery to re-create the drink. The result was Chateau Jiahu, brewed with orange blossom honey, muscat grape juice, barley malt and hawthorn fruit and then fermented on sake yeast. Although it’s no longer in production, you can still find bottles of it in stores, if you don your Indiana Jones fedora. But many other, more recent fruit beers are easy to find.
Lambics
Lambic brews originated around the 13th century in what today is Belgium, in the area around Brussels known as the Pajottenland. One type, gueuze, is made by blending a year-old lambic with a two- to three-year old versio, then bottling the mixture so it ferments a second time. But there’s also Kriek and Framboise, which are two of the most common lambics. Kriek is fermented the second time with cherries, traditionally sour Morello cherries, and Framboise with raspberries. The beers are still sour, but the intense fruit flavor balances that somewhat, and some modern producers add additional sugars to sweeten them further.
Authentic lambic can only be produced in Belgium, but brewers throughout the world make lambic-style beers.
Gose
Another beer to try is gose, which originated in the small German town of Goslar, then rose to fame in Leipzig. What makes this sour wheat beer unique is its high carbonation and the addition of salt to the taste profile. The style almost died out, but has enjoyed a recent resurgence thanks to modern versions that include fruit.
Boonville’s Anderson Valley Brewing, for example, has an entire line of them, including a traditional take — The Kimmie, the Yink and the Holy Gose — and several fruited varieties such as blood orange, briny melon, cherry and framboise rose. And Southern California’s Lost Abbey has a line of Tiny Bubbles that includes brews with orange and guava, raspberries, and salt and lime.
Berliner Weisse
Dubbed the Champagne of the North, Berliner Weisse was born in Berlin, as its name suggests. This low-alcohol, lightly sour wheat beer was traditionally served with a sweet syrup, usually raspberry or woodruff flavor. You don’t see it as often in Berlin these days, but the beer has spread everywhere else, though modern versions ditch the syrup and instead add fruit before bottling or canning. Fort Bragg’s North Coast Brewing makes one with peaches and another with tart cherries.
Radlers
Radlers emerged a century ago in Bavaria, when innkeeper Franz Kugler created a refreshing drink he dubbed the Radlermass or “cyclist liter.” Fascinated by the growing popularity of the sport of cycling, Kugler had created a biking trail that led from Munich directly to — wait for it — his inn. But one busy day, he was so inundated with customers, he feared he would run out of beer, so he mixed it with lemon soda, and the Radler was born.
Today, many German and American breweries offer radlers — no mixing required — and it’s still a very refreshing drink. You may spot it in other flavors, too, such as grapefruit or raspberry.
Other fruit beers
Of course, any beer can have fruit (or anything else for that matter) added to it to enhance flavor. In those heady early days of craft beer, many brewers added fruit to amber ales to produce blueberry ale or raspberry ale, etc. Happily, that practice has grown more intentional and sophisticated with time.
The key to a great fruit beer is simple: It should harmoniously mix the beer and fruit, so you don’t lose the beerishness, but it still allows the fruit flavors to shine through. There are so many great, local fruit beers waiting to be discovered. Start with San Leandro’s 21st Amendment and its Hell or High Watermelon. Try Alameda’s Almanac Beer Co. and its Fruit Punch Sournova. Check out Windsor’s Barrel Brothers and its barrel-aged blonde sour ale, The Snozberries Taste Like Snozberries. Pick a fruit you love and start tasting.
Contact Jay R. Brooks at BrooksOnBeer@gmail.com. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/5-ways-to-mix-fruit-and-beer-from-lambics-to-radlers/ | 2023-07-29T12:12:48 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/5-ways-to-mix-fruit-and-beer-from-lambics-to-radlers/ |
SAN MATEO, Calif. (AP) — A man allegedly stabbed a woman to death in the San Francisco Bay Area on Wednesday and then posted a video of the slaying to Facebook, authorities said.
The footage helped police track down the suspect, who was later identified as 39-year old Mark Mechikoff. He was arrested about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of where the victim was found dead in a San Mateo apartment complex.
“While the motive for stabbing the victim is still under investigation, we do know Mechikoff mercilessly filmed the last moments of the victim’s life and posted the video to Facebook, then fled the area,” San Mateo police said in a statement.
Prosecutors identified the victim as Claribel Estrella. The San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office on Friday charged Mechikoff with a single count of murder with enhancements for inflicting great bodily injury and the use of a knife.
He appeared in court but did not enter a plea. His arraignment was postponed for a week while his court-appointed attorney is chosen, District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe said in an email.
Mechikoff knew the victim but the extent of their relationship was unclear and the motive was under investigation, the district attorney said.
The stabbing was first reported to the Nye County Sheriff’s Office in Nevada when a caller said she saw video of it on Facebook. The sheriff’s office “pinged” the phone number associated with the Facebook page and traced it to a large San Mateo apartment complex.
It was Mechikoff’s cellphone and his Facebook page and the video apparently has been taken down, the district attorney said.
Officers went door-to-door at the San Mateo apartment complex and found Estrella nearly three hours later inside a unit, authorities said.
Mechikoff was arrested two hours later in San Jose. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/a-bay-area-man-fatally-stabbed-a-woman-and-posted-video-of-it-on-facebook-police-say/ | 2023-07-29T12:12:54 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/a-bay-area-man-fatally-stabbed-a-woman-and-posted-video-of-it-on-facebook-police-say/ |
By MATTHEW BROWN and RIO YAMAT (Associated Press)
HAVRE, Mont. (AP) — An Arizona teenager who disappeared days before her 15th birthday nearly four years ago is safe after walking into a small-town police station in Montana this week, authorities announced Wednesday.
Police in Havre, Montana, said Alicia Navarro, now 18, showed up alone Sunday morning in the town of about 9,200 people near the Canadian border and identified herself as a missing teenager from the Phoenix suburb of Glendale.
Navarro’s disappearance on Sept. 15, 2019, sparked a massive search that included the FBI. Glendale police spokesperson Jose Santiago said over the years, police had received thousands of tips.
Investigators are now trying to determine what happened to Navarro after vanishing at age 14 and how she ended up in Montana, more than 1,300 miles (2,090 kilometers) away from her hometown.
When she disappeared, Navarro left a signed note that read: “I ran away. I will be back, I swear. I’m sorry.”
But her mother, Jessica Nunez, raised concerns that Navarro, who was diagnosed as on the autism spectrum, may have been lured away by someone she met online.
Law enforcement officers took a man into custody at an apartment just a few blocks from the Havre police station on Wednesday night, according to several witnesses interviewed by The Associated Press.
As many as 10 heavily-armed uniformed and undercover officers showed up about 8 p.m. and took away in handcuffs the man who had been living in the apartment, said Rick Lieberg, who lives across the street.
A young woman later emerged from the apartment who Lieberg said he had not previously seen. He said the woman resembled a photograph of Navarro that has been released by police.
“She came out, talked to the officers, then two ladies pulled up and then she got into a car with them and they left,” Lieberg said.
Officers remained on the scene for several hours, taking pictures and doing other work inside the apartment, Lieberg said. He said the young woman returned to the apartment building with the two women on Thursday, but he did not see her go into the apartment.
A second witness, Jonathan Michaelson, who lives next door, said he was questioned at the scene by a plainclothes police officer who said he was from Arizona and asked if Michaelson had ever seen a girl at the apartment. He said he had not.
“If she was in that apartment, I’m surprised I never saw her,” Michaelson said.
Glendale police Lt. Scott Waite, the lead investigator, said they were looking into all the possible scenarios that could have led to Navarro’s disappearance, including kidnapping.
“As much as we’d like to say this is the end,” Waite said, “we know this is only the beginning of where this investigation will go.”
Police said Navarro told them after her arrival at the station she hadn’t been harmed, wasn’t being held and could come and go as she pleased. She does not face any criminal charges, they added.
In a short video clip that police said was taken shortly after Navarro arrived at the police station this week, she can be heard telling authorities, “No one hurt me.”
In another short video, Navarro thanked the police.
“Thank you for offering help to me,” she said.
Authorities in both Montana and Arizona haven’t said how long Navarro had been in Havre before walking into the police station. Havre is surrounded by farmland and is north of the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation.
Waite described Navarro’s reunion this week with her mother as “emotionally overwhelming” and that Navarro said she was sorry for “what she has put her mother through.”
In an emotional video posted Wednesday to a Facebook account titled “Finding Alicia,” Nunez told her tens of thousands of followers, “I want to give glory to God for answering prayers and for this miracle.”
Nunez had been documenting her efforts to find her daughter on the Facebook page throughout the years. The account features hundreds of posts with photos of Navarro as a young child and pictures of Nunez holding up signs that read, “Children don’t just disappear!”
“For everyone who has missing loved ones, I want you to use this case as an example,” Nunez said in the video, which had been viewed more than 200,000 times. “Miracles do exist. Never lose hope and always fight.”
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Yamat reported from Las Vegas. Associated Press writers Robert Jablon in Los Angeles and Amy Hanson in Helena, Montana, contributed. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/arizona-teen-alicia-navarro-missing-since-2019-shows-up-safe-at-montana-police-station/ | 2023-07-29T12:13:00 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/arizona-teen-alicia-navarro-missing-since-2019-shows-up-safe-at-montana-police-station/ |
A man suspected in a fatal shooting at an apartment complex in Casselberry late Thursday is still at large and considered “armed and dangerous,” according to police.
Joel Thomas Ferrer, 22, is wanted on a second-degree murder warrant in the shooting death of 41-year-old David Jackson at the Goldelm at Regency Oaks Apartments, Casselberry police Capt. Michael Schaefer said in a statement Friday morning.
According to Schaefer, officers responded to the complex about 11 p.m. Thursday after receiving a report of a shooting. Jackson was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center where he underwent surgery but didn’t survive.
Jackson’s girlfriend, 32-year-old Trisha Ferrer, told officers that Jackson got into a heated argument with Joel Ferrer, her nephew, over Joel Ferrer mishandling a handgun.
“During the quarrel, Joel fired his gun at Mr. Jackson,” Schaefer said. “Mr. Jackson was hit several times. Joel Thomas immediately fled the scene.”
In a 911 call released Friday, a distraught Trisha Ferrer pleaded for help.
“I need an ambulance, please. I need an ambulance, please! … He just got shot. He’s pleading! Please,” she told a dispatcher. “Please hurry up!”
Schaefer said officers from Casselberry and other local law enforcement agenies are “actively” searching for Joel Ferrer
“The Casselberry Police Department strongly encourages Joel to turn himself in, so this incident can be resolved,” Schaefer said. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/armed-and-dangerous-suspect-at-large-in-fatal-casselberry-shooting-cops-say/ | 2023-07-29T12:13:06 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/armed-and-dangerous-suspect-at-large-in-fatal-casselberry-shooting-cops-say/ |
By NICOLE WINFIELD and DEREK GATOPOULOS (Associated Press)
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Pope Francis urged governments to do more to fight climate change and protect “our common home” as improving weather conditions Friday helped firefighters contain wildfires in Greece, Italy and other countries in southern Europe.
Francis, who has been outspoken on environmental issues, sent a telegram of condolences to Greece, where wildfires killed five people over the past week, including the pilots of a water-dropping aircraft.
The pope noted that successive heat waves have exacerbated the dangers of the summer fire season. He offered his prayers for firefighters and emergency personnel in particular.
“(I hope) that the risks to our common home, exacerbated by the present climate crisis, will spur all people to renew their efforts to care for the gift of creation, for the sake of future generations,” Francis said.
Fueled by the heat waves and strong gusts of wind, wildfires in Europe’s Mediterranean region have kept travelers and residents on alert. In Greece, fires scorched hundreds of square kilometers of land outside Athens, on the island of Rhodes and elsewhere this month.
As the situation improved considerably on Friday, Greece’s minister for the police unexpectedly stepped down, citing “personal grounds.” Greek media said Notis Mitarachi’s resignation was requested after it emerged he had been on a family holiday during the wildfire crisis.
The main opposition Syriza party issued a statement accusing the center-right government of using “personal grounds” as a euphemism for “(Mitarachi’s) holidays while the country was burning from end to end.”
In central Greece, authorities maintained an exclusion zone around one of the country’s largest air force bases after a wildfire triggered powerful explosions at a nearby ammunition depot Thursday. Fighter jets stationed at the 111th Combat Wing base were moved to other facilities.
The depot blasts near the central city of Volos shattered windows in nearby towns and prompted the evacuation of more than 2,000 people. Local news broadcasts showed a ground-shaking fireball erupting.
Residents were rushed onto private boats mobilized by the coast guard and taken to a conference center in Volos, some 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) from the weapons storage site. A civilian traffic ban and evacuation order remained in effect Friday within a 3-kilometer (2-mile) radius of the depot.
The explosions did not affect flights at Volos international airport, officials told The Associated Press.
A drop in temperatures and calmer winds helped firefighters get a handle on the blazes in Greece and all major fires were contained by midday Friday, Greek Fire Service officials said.
Conditions also improved elsewhere in Europe’s Mediterranean regions thanks to cooler temperatures, allowing firefighters to contain wildfires along the Croatian coast and in Sicily.
Firefighting teams in Turkey also brought a wildfire burning close to the southern Mediterranean resort of Kemer under control, four days after it erupted, Ibrahim Yumakli, the country’s forestry minister, said.
The governments of the countries hit by heat waves and fires have steered public debate away from the potential impact on tourism. Rhodes, where a fire last weekend required about 19,000 people to be evacuated from several locations on the island, was promised state support Friday for its international advertising campaign.
In Germany, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach sought Friday to address Italian irritation over a mid-July social media post in which he described the heat wave he encountered on a visit to Italy as “spectacular” and added that “if it goes on like this, these vacation destinations will have no future in the long term.”
Lauterbach told reporters in Berlin that he wasn’t warning against vacations in southern Europe and plans to visit Italy again himself.
“Of course, it is more difficult now for the southern countries to organize heat protection in such a way that it is also accessible for every tourist, but I think those countries will know exactly what they have to do,” he said.
Vassilis Kikilias, the Greek minister for climate change and civil protection, said fires had burned 400 square kilometers (155 square miles) of land in the country in July alone, while the recent average is 500 square kilometers (nearly 200 square miles) in a year.
“Is the situation any better in other countries bordering the Mediterranean? It’s a fair question … but the answer is no,” Kikilias said.
“The climate crisis that brought us this unprecedented heat wave is here. It’s not a theory. It is our actual experience,” he said. “This is not something that will just occur this year. It will last and we have to face the consequences of what that means.”
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Winfield reported from Rome. Jovana Gec in Belgrade, Serbia, Geir Moulson in Berlin, and Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey contributed.
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Follow AP’s coverage of climate issues at https://apnews.com/climate-and-environment | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/as-crews-contain-europe-fires-pope-francis-sounds-alarm-on-climate-threat-to-our-common-home/ | 2023-07-29T12:13:12 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/as-crews-contain-europe-fires-pope-francis-sounds-alarm-on-climate-threat-to-our-common-home/ |
Dear Amy: We live in a quiet cul-de-sac. Our homes are spread apart, and noise has never been an issue.
Our next-door neighbor is a sweet widow.
When the pandemic hit, her thirtysomething son “Brad,” who worked in the restaurant industry, moved in with her to make ends meet after his restaurant was shut down.
He has a car that has been modified to be very, very loud. You can hear it coming from almost a mile away.
Their garage is right next to our master bedroom. Brad has a habit of starting the car and sitting for up to 30 minutes before he leaves the driveway.
He will also sit for an extended period before he turns off the car when he arrives home, which – because of his shift – is often in the middle of the night.
We didn’t say anything initially, believing Brad’s tenancy was only temporary.
But it’s been three years now, and he recently purchased another vehicle – one that is louder than the first!
Because we have waited so long, I feel bad saying something, and struggle with what to say.
What should we do?
Vroomed Out
Dear Vroomed Out: Most towns have noise ordinances, and Brad’s hot rod is likely violating yours.
Tolerance is a virtue, but so is speaking frankly about an issue when it first comes up. This gives everyone the benefit of making adjustments.
I assume that Brad’s car bothers everyone in the area as he circles the cul-de-sac at night and then sits with the motor running (this also likely violates a local ordinance). And imagine the impact on his mother!
So – tell him now. Say, “Brad, we appreciate having you as a neighbor, but our bedroom is right next to your garage. Your new car is even louder than your previous car, and you sometimes run the engine for several minutes right underneath our window. I should have said something sooner, but can you be more aware of the impact on us?”
That’s the friendly first attempt. Depending on his response, you might need to rev up your efforts.
Dear Amy: I am incredibly hurt by not being invited to either of my two employees’ baby showers.
It’s just the three of us in this office. Because of my choice to provide growth and creative opportunities for these employees, as well as flexibility and generous compensation and benefits – my life is pretty miserable.
They are flourishing while I am left with a hugely complicated list of administrative tasks, including being a one-person HR department. This is in addition to managing the many other responsibilities essential to the existence of the organization.
It is very hard to find someone willing and able to handle these essential but extremely boring tasks, although I keep trying, while I chip away.
We all know a lot about each other’s personal lives, which are entwined in various ways (through relatives and friends), and I care about them very much.
This feels like a personal rejection. Do you think I am overreacting?
Hurt Boss
Dear Hurt Boss: I don’t think you are overreacting.
After addressing this with these women calmly and honestly, you should also reassess your business model.
You’ve described your own life as “pretty miserable,” while these employees flourish. The experience of small organization proprietors is one of extreme hard work and sacrifice, but you should not place your own needs below that of the people who work for you. Ideally, everyone flourishes, each in their own way.
Perhaps you could rebalance the workload, offering your employees fewer creative opportunities and more of the administrative tasks which you currently shoulder.
If you professionalize your office experience, you’ll create more of a boundary between yourself and these employees; thus you would also be less hurt by their personal choices.
Dear Amy: The letter from “Frustrated Mom” was ridiculous, and your answer was terrible.
Grandmothers the world over have given their grandchildren treats and sweets, and let them do things they can’t do at home.
You should not side with parents who insist on ridiculous rules.
Upset
Dear Upset: I am a grandmother and … yes, I do side with parents and respect their basic rules when their children are with me.
Do we enjoy an occasional soft-serve ice cream for dinner and an overly long game of mini golf afterward? Guilty.
But do I let them open secret social media accounts to use at my house, as this grandmother had done? Nope.
You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/ask-amy-our-neighbors-annoying-habit/ | 2023-07-29T12:13:18 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/ask-amy-our-neighbors-annoying-habit/ |
By JOSH BOAK and SEUNG MIN KIM (Associated Press)
AUBURN, Maine (AP) — President Joe Biden — buoyed by new signs the economy is continuing on the upswing — took a swipe on Friday at House Republicans’ flirtations with an impeachment inquiry, quipping that GOP lawmakers may decide to impeach him because inflation is cooling down.
Standing in a textile manufacturing facility in Auburn Biden pointed to inflation statistics that showed the U.S. has the lowest rate of price increases among the world’s biggest economies. Though he was careful to say he was not taking a victory lap on the economy, Biden suggested that his Republican opponents in Congress may need to find a fresh line of attack against him because of improving economic circumstances.
“Maybe they’ll decide to impeach me because it’s coming down,” Biden said. “I don’t know. I’d love that one.”
Earlier this week, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy made his most direct remarks yet that GOP lawmakers could launch an impeachment inquiry into Biden over unproven claims of financial misconduct related to Hunter Biden, the president’s son. However, the California Republican has acknowledged privately that it’s too soon to know whether the president was aware of — much less involved in — his son’s financial dealings in a way that would rise to the level of impeachable conduct.
While McCarthy publicly floated the inquiry this week, the White House has engaged little with those efforts, instead focused on promoting “Bidenomics” and the president’s domestic agenda. Aides have repeatedly played down any inquiry as a hypothetical and pointed out the hesitation among McCarthy’s own ranks about pursuing impeachment against the president.
“We’re not going to get into what House Republicans want to do, may not do, hypotheticals, that’s on them,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Air Force One en route to Maine earlier Friday. “What I can speak to is exactly what we’re doing today, right? We’re going to Maine. We’re going to be able to talk about an issue that matters to Americans: investing in America, manufacturing, bringing good union-paying jobs back to America.”
Indeed, that was the focus of the White House on Friday, as Biden used the trip to Maine to sign an executive order that would encourage companies to manufacture new inventions in the United States. It was Biden’s first trip to the state as president.
“I’m not here to declare victory on the economy. We have more work to do,” Biden said. But “we have a plan for turning things around. ‘Bidenomics’ is just another way of saying restoring the American dream.”
The Democrat won three out of the state’s four electoral votes in 2020 and is seeking to shore up his support in the state. Maine allocates its electoral votes by congressional district, and Biden lost the vote in the state’s 2nd District, which provided the only electoral vote in New England for then-President Donald Trump, a Republican.
By going to that district on Friday, Biden sought to show its blue-collar voters that he’s committed to them, as a single electoral vote could be critical in a narrow 2024 presidential election.
Democrats can compete in Maine’s 2nd District as Rep. Jared Golden has been its congressman since 2019. But Golden has also been one of the Democratic lawmakers who has openly criticized Biden over his handling of debt limit talks this year and the administration’s forgiveness of student debt that has since been overturned by the Supreme Court. Despite distancing himself from the White House on some policies, Golden traveled with Biden on Air Force One on Friday.
And shortly before Biden spoke at Auburn Manufacturing Inc., Golden noted to the audience that “it’s no secret” he doesn’t always agree with the president’s agenda but that he “proudly” supports Bidenomics.
Republicans have said that Biden’s policies have led to higher inflation. Consumer prices climbed to a four-decade high last summer, but inflation has eased over the past 12 months to a rate of 3% annually.
“ Bidenomics is hurting working people in my district,” said Maine state Rep. Joshua Morris, a Republican. “The cost of groceries, heating oil, gas, health care and electricity have gone up as a result of Joe Biden’s policies. He should be apologizing to us while he’s here, not bragging.”
The National Republican Congressional Committee went on the attack against Golden, calling him “Joe Biden’s loyal foot soldier” who had backed inflation-boosting policies earlier in his presidency.
The White House outlined the executive order being signed by Biden, which would improve the transparency of federal research and development programs to meet the administration’s goals for domestic manufacturing. The order asks agencies to weigh U.S. national security and economic interests when determining if domestic manufacturing requirements should be broadened.
The order also urges federal agencies to consider domestic production when investing in research and development and to use their own legal authorities to encourage manufacturing new technologies in the U.S. But when goods cannot be made in the U.S., the order instructs the Commerce Department to create a clearer and timelier process for receiving a waiver.
Auburn Manufacturing Inc., where Biden spoke Friday, is a maker of heat- and fire-resistant fabrics for industries that include shipbuilding, oil refining and electricity generation. The company challenged China for its unfair trade practices regarding amorphous silica fabric, or ASF, which is a heat-resistant material.
Biden was also scheduled to appear at a fundraiser in Freeport, Maine, later Friday.
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Kim reported from Washington. AP writer David Sharp contributed to this report from Portland, Maine. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/biden-jokes-that-republicans-may-impeach-him-because-inflation-is-starting-to-cool-down/ | 2023-07-29T12:13:24 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/biden-jokes-that-republicans-may-impeach-him-because-inflation-is-starting-to-cool-down/ |
BEIJING, July 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hundreds of English education experts and scholars from all over the world assembled in Macao on Friday for a three-day event to explore new opportunities for global cooperation in English education brought by China's development.
The 2023 Global English Education China Assembly, an online-and-offline event that opened at the City University of Macau (CityU), attracted over 1,600 experts, front-line educators and scholars from more than 20 countries and regions. Participants were mainly from China, the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Italy, Thailand, Russia, Singapore, Nepal, Mongolia, Indonesia and Pakistan.
They shared their insights to facilitate cross-cultural dialogue and discussed the most recent trends in English language teaching.
The event's theme is "New opportunities for the world with new advances in China's development: Opening up new prospects in English education cooperation worldwide", and features nine keynote speeches and 23 parallel sessions.
This year's assembly is hosted by China Daily and Shanghai International Studies University, and co-hosted by the Macao SAR Government Education and Youth Development Bureau, and organized by CityU and China Daily's 21st Century English Education Media.
For the first time, the assembly, which started in 2018, was held in Macao — one of the engine cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. This location echoes the Outline Development Plan for the GBA released in 2019, which set out to, among other goals, build the region as a model area for high-quality education and promote opening up education to the world.
At the event's opening ceremony, Qu Yingpu, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily, highlighted that 2023 marks the 10th year since President Xi Jinping put forward both the idea of "building a community with a shared future for mankind" and the Belt and Road Initiative.
It is, therefore, appropriate that for the first time, the conference this year has moved out of the Chinese mainland to Macao where East meets West and multiple cultures blend, Qu said.
He said he believes the event will catalyze many innovative outcomes. Qu further said that English education could be a bridge to promote high-quality development of the BRI and people-to-people cultural exchanges could provide momentum for "building a community with a shared future for mankind".
He urged the audience to cultivate talent in order to bolster the promotion of the three global initiatives brought forward by Xi — the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative.
Qu also said China attaches great importance to education and cultural exchange. Xi, in his several correspondences with foreign students studying in China, has encouraged the latter to see with their own eyes the development of China and tell the world about what they have seen, to boost people-to-people bonding and friendship between their countries and China.
Zha Mingjian, vice-president of Shanghai International Studies University, said development in recent times has brought many opportunities as well as challenges. In this context, the English education sector in China has the responsibility to serve as a vital bridge for English education globally.
Opening education more extensively to the outside world will significantly strengthen China's efforts to modernize education in the new era, Zha said.
Svetlana V. Sannikova, coordination council chairperson of the National Association of Teachers of English in Russia, said the Macao event offers a high-end international academic platform where teachers can learn many practical ideas and methods to improve their English teaching skills.
On Friday, the event's organizer and CityU jointly established the Belt and Road English Education Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Exchange Base, which will use English education as a means to promote cultural exchanges and people-to-people bonding in countries and regions participating in the BRI.
The GBA Exchange Base will also strive to promote high-quality development in the BRI landscape.
Liu Jun, rector of CityU and president of the International Research Foundation for English Language Education, and Zeng Qingkai, editor-in-chief of 21st Century English Education Media, were the signatories of the document for the establishment of the base.
Among the several dignitaries who graced Friday's opening ceremony were Ao Ieong U, secretary for social affairs and culture of the Macao SAR government, participating in the event on behalf of Macao SAR Chief Executive Ho Iat-seng; Yan Zhichan, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR; Liu Xianfa, commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Macao SAR; Kong Chimeng, director of the Macao SAR government Education and Youth Development Bureau; and Chan Meng-kam, chairman of the council of CityU.
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SOURCE China Daily | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/29/experts-foresee-china-role-english-learning/ | 2023-07-29T12:13:29 | 1 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/29/experts-foresee-china-role-english-learning/ |
Showers and storms return today, but the better chance will be east of I-75 as opposed to west like the last couple of days. That better rain chance at the coast returns by mid week next week.
Forecast: Higher rain chance back inland today
Florida's Most Accurate Forecast
Posted at 7:56 AM, Jul 29, 2023
and last updated 2023-07-29 07:56:52-04
Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. | https://www.abcactionnews.com/weather/forecast-higher-rain-chance-back-inland-today | 2023-07-29T12:13:29 | 1 | https://www.abcactionnews.com/weather/forecast-higher-rain-chance-back-inland-today |
By TARA COPP (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Friday giving decisions on the prosecution of serious military crimes, including sexual assault, to independent military attorneys, taking that power away from victims’ commanders.
The order formally implements legislation passed by Congress in 2022 aimed at strengthening protections for service members, who were often at the mercy of their commanders to decide whether to take their assault claims seriously.
Members of Congress, frustrated with the growing number of sexual assaults in the military, fought with defense leaders for several years over the issue. They argued that commanders at times were willing to ignore charges or incidents in their units to protect those accused of offenses and that using independent lawyers would beef up prosecutions. Military leaders balked, saying it could erode commanders’ authority.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York spent about a decade in an uphill battle to reform how the military handles sexual assaults and get the legislative changes passed that were codified through Biden’s order.
“While it will take time to see the results of these changes, these measures will instill more trust, professionalism, and confidence in the system,” Gillibrand said.
The change was among more than two dozen recommendations made in 2021 by an independent review commission on sexual assault in the military that was set up by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. And it was included in the annual defense bill last year. But since it requires a change to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, it needed formal presidential action.
In a call with reporters previewing the order, senior Biden administration officials said it was the most sweeping change to the military legal code since it was created in 1950.
The Pentagon had already been moving forward with the change. A year ago, the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force set up the new special trial counsel offices, which will assume authority over prosecution decisions by the end of this year. Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, that prosecution authority will expand to include sexual harassment cases.
The changes come as the military grapples with rising numbers of reported sexual assaults in its ranks.
While the services have made inroads in making it easier and safer for troops to come forward, they have had far less success reducing the number of assaults, which have increased nearly every year since 2006. Overall, there were more than 8,942 reports of sexual assaults involving service members during the 2022 fiscal year, a slight increase over 8,866 the year before.
Defense officials have long argued that an increase in reported assaults is a positive trend because so many people are reluctant to report them, both in the military and in society as a whole. Greater reporting, they say, shows there is more confidence in the reporting system, greater comfort with the support for victims, and a growing number of offenders who are being held accountable.
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Associated Press writer Lolita Baldor contributed to this report. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/biden-signs-an-order-designed-to-strengthen-protections-for-sexual-assault-victims-in-the-military/ | 2023-07-29T12:13:30 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/biden-signs-an-order-designed-to-strengthen-protections-for-sexual-assault-victims-in-the-military/ |
ODESSA, Ukraine, July 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ukrainian entrepreneur, Vadim Novynskyi has announced a donation of up to $1 million to help restore the Transfiguration Church in Odessa, Ukraine that was seriously damaged during rocket attacks on Sunday, July 23. The destruction of one of the most beautiful Ukrainian churches, which was erected by the founders of Odessa at the end of the 18th century is a true tragedy. This cathedral was the center of the spiritual life of Odessa.
This is not the first time the church has been destroyed. In 1936, the Bolsheviks destroyed the cathedral and it was restored in the early 2000's after tens of thousands of ordinary people participated in the restoration with their donations.
"I sincerely mourn with the inhabitants of Odessa and I want to assure them and all the people of Ukraine that this cathedral will be rebuilt and the people of Odessa will once again be able to worship and seek community in this hallowed place," said Vadim Novynskyi. "In the days of war and persecution of the Church, it is very important to be able to protect and revive the shrines of Orthodoxy, demonstrating faith, unity and mutual support. After all, the true Orthodox Church is based on these principles."
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SOURCE Vadym Novynskyi | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/29/restoration-transfiguration-chuch-odessa-ukraine-by-ukrainian-entrepreneur-vadym-novynskyi/ | 2023-07-29T12:13:30 | 1 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/29/restoration-transfiguration-chuch-odessa-ukraine-by-ukrainian-entrepreneur-vadym-novynskyi/ |
How to Watch NASCAR, F1, IndyCar & More: Auto Racing Streaming Live - Saturday, July 29
Published: Jul. 29, 2023 at 6:44 AM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
Need more auto racing in your life? Well, you're in luck. The race slate on Saturday, July 29 includes Formula 1, Formula E, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Racing Series, and NHRA Drag Racing action that can be watched on Fubo. For a complete list, along with information on how to watch or live stream it all, check out the article below.
Watch even more racing action with ESPN+!
Auto Racing Streaming Live Today
Watch Formula 1: Belgium Grand Prix - Sprint Shootout
- Series: Formula 1
- Game Time: 5:55 AM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch Formula 1: Belgium Grand Prix - Sprint
- Series: Formula 1
- Game Time: 10:25 AM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch Formula E: Round 15: London - Race
- Series: Formula E
- Game Time: 11:30 AM ET
- TV Channel: CBS Sports Network
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch NHRA Drag Racing: DENSO Sonoma Nationals - Qualifying
- Series: NHRA Drag Racing
- Game Time: 12:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: FOX Sports Networks
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch Formula E: Hankook London E-Prix
- Series: Formula E
- Game Time: 12:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: CBS
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch NASCAR Cup Series: Cook Out 400 - Qualifying
- Series: NASCAR Cup Series
- Game Time: 12:30 PM ET
- TV Channel: USA Network
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch NASCAR Xfinity Racing Series: Henry 180
- Series: NASCAR Xfinity Racing Series
- Game Time: 3:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: NBC
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch NASCAR Xfinity Racing Series: Road America 180
- Series: NASCAR Xfinity Racing Series
- Game Time: 3:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: NBC
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Worldwide Express 250
- Series: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
- Game Time: 7:30 PM ET
- TV Channel: FOX Sports Networks
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Make sure you're following along with racing action all year long on Fubo and ESPN+!
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbtv.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/auto-racing-live-stream/ | 2023-07-29T12:13:31 | 1 | https://www.wbtv.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/auto-racing-live-stream/ |
Alpha Phi Alpha, the nation’s oldest historically Black fraternity, is joining a growing list of groups canceling their Orlando conventions over political concerns.
The fraternity is pulling its 2025 convention out of Florida because of a “hostile” political environment created by Gov. Ron DeSantis, General President Willis L. Lonzer III said in a prepared statement.
“In this environment of manufactured division and attacks on the Black community, Alpha Phi Alpha refuses to direct a projected $4.6 million convention economic impact to a place hostile to the communities we serve,” he said.
The event was planned for the Rosen Shingle Creek hotel and was expected to draw about 4,000 to 6,000 fraternity members in addition to family members and guests, said Eric Webb, an Alpha Phi Alpha spokesman.
In its announcement, Alpha Phi Alpha cited concerns about Florida’s new curriculum standards for African American history. In particular, controversy has erupted over a requirement that teachers include lessons on “how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.”
Yes, tourism has slowed in Orlando, but don’t blame Disney vs. DeSantis
Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to Florida to criticize the standards, while DeSantis and his supporters defended them and said a national Advanced Placement course includes similar language.
The College Board, the organization that runs the AP program, took issue with that characterization, issuing a statement that it disagrees “with the notion that enslavement was in any way a beneficial, productive, or useful experience for African Americans.”
Jeremy Redfern, a DeSantis spokesman, dismissed Alpha Phi Alpha’s cancellation when asked for comment.
“This a stunt,” he said in an email.
Founded in 1906, Alpha Phi Alpha’s members have included civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, among other notable alumni.
A search is underway for a new location for the 2025 conference, Webb said.
At least four events planned for the Orange County Convention Center have been canceled over political concerns, spokeswoman Nicolette Sewell said.
The National Society of Black Engineers moved its 2024 convention out of Orlando, an event that organizers say attracts up to 15,000 people. The American Education Research Association and AnitaB.org, an organization of female and nonbinary tech workers, also nixed events planned for 2024.
The Association of perioperative Registered Nurses cited political concerns in canceling a conference and surgical expo planned for 2027, according to the convention center.
And organizers of Con of Thrones canceled an event planned for the Hyatt Regency Orlando they say draws 3,000 to 4,000 fans of the “Game of Thrones” books and television shows.
Black engineers, Game of Thrones fans cancel Orlando events over political concerns
Several groups have issued travel warnings for Florida, including the NAACP, the League of United Latin American Citizens and Equality Florida, a gay rights advocacy group.
Groups canceling their events have cited laws that banned most abortions after six weeks, allowed Floridians to carry concealed weapons without a permit, cracked down on illegal immigration and targeted transgender and LGBTQ+ issues.
DeSantis, though, has said Florida’s overall tourism numbers are rebounding from the pandemic. More than 74 million visitors came to the Orlando area in 2022, up 25% from the previous year and just shy of pre-pandemic levels, tourism officials said in May.
But as of late, Orange County’s tourism tax collections have dipped, posting back-to-back monthly declines in May, which officials attributed to pent-up demand normalizing after the pandemic. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/black-fraternity-joins-list-of-orlando-convention-cancellations/ | 2023-07-29T12:13:36 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/black-fraternity-joins-list-of-orlando-convention-cancellations/ |
By ZOYA TEIRSTEIN, Grist
NEW YORK (AP) — In 2022, doctors recorded the first confirmed case of tick-borne encephalitis virus acquired in the United Kingdom.
It began with a bike ride.
A 50-year-old man was mountain biking in the North Yorkshire Moors, a national park in England known for its vast expanses of woodland and purple heather. At some point on his ride, at least one black-legged tick burrowed into his skin. Five days later, the mountain biker developed symptoms commonly associated with a viral infection — fatigue, muscle pain, fever.
At first, he seemed to be on the mend, but about a week later, he started to lose coordination. An MRI scan revealed he had developed encephalitis, or swelling of the brain. He had been infected with tick-borne encephalitis, or TBE, a potentially deadly disease that experts say is spreading into new regions due in large part to global warming.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is part of a collaboration between The Associated Press and Grist exploring the intersection of climate change and infectious diseases.
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For the past 30 years, the U.K. has become roughly 1 degree Celsius warmer (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) on average compared to the historical norm. Studies have shown that several tick-borne illnesses are becoming more prevalent because of climate change. Public health officials are particularly concerned about TBE, which is deadlier than more well-known tick diseases such as Lyme, due to the way it has quickly jumped from country to country.
Gábor Földvári, an expert at the Center for Ecological Research in Hungary, said the effects of climate change on TBE are unmistakable.
“It’s a really common problem which was absent 20 or 30 years ago,” he added.
Ticks can’t survive more than a couple of days in temperatures below zero, but they’re able to persevere in very warm conditions as long as there’s enough humidity in the environment. As Earth warms on average and winters become milder, ticks are becoming active earlier in the year. Climate change affects ticks at every stage of their life cycle — egg, six-legged larva, eight-legged nymph, and adult — by extending the length of time ticks actively feed on humans and animals. Even a fraction of a degree of global warming creates more opportunity for ticks to breed and spread disease.
“The number of overwintering ticks is increasing and in spring there is high activity of ticks,” said Gerhard Dobler, a doctor who works at the German Center for Infection Research. “This may increase the contact between infected ticks and humans and cause more disease.”
Since the virus was first discovered in the 1930s, it has mainly been found in Europe and parts of Asia, including Siberia and the northern regions of China. The same type of tick carries the disease in these areas, but the virus subtype — of which there are several — varies by region. In places where the virus is endemic, tick bites are the leading cause of encephalitis, though the virus can also be acquired by consuming raw milk from tick-infected cattle. TBE has not been found in the United States, though a few Americans have contracted the virus while traveling in Europe.
According to the World Health Organization, there are between 10,000 and 12,000 cases of the disease in Europe and northern Asia each year. The total number of cases worldwide is likely an undercount, as case counts are unreliable in countries where the population has low awareness of the disease and local health departments are not required to report cases to the government. But experts say there has been a clear uptick since the 1990s, especially in countries where the disease used to be uncommon.
“We see an increasing trend of human cases,” Dobler said, citing rising cases in Austria, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, and other European countries.
TBE is not always life-threatening. On average, about 10 percent of infections develop into the severe form of the illness, which often requires hospitalization. Once severe symptoms develop, however, there is no cure for the disease. The death rate among those who develop severe symptoms ranges from 1 to 35 percent, depending on the virus subtype, with the far-eastern subtype being the deadliest. In Europe, for example, 16 deaths were recorded in 2020 out of roughly 3,700 confirmed cases.
Up to half of survivors of severe TBE have lingering neurological problems, such as sleeplessness and aggressiveness. Many infected people are asymptomatic or only develop mild symptoms, Dobler said, so the true caseload could be up to 10 times higher in some regions than reports estimate.
While there are two TBE vaccines in circulation, vaccine uptake is low in regions where the virus is new. Neither vaccine covers all of the three most prevalent sub-types, and a 2020 study called for development of a new vaccine that offers higher protection against the virus. In Austria, for example, the TBE vaccine rate is near 85 percent, Dobler said, and yet the number of human cases continues to trend upward — a sign, in his opinion, of climate change’s influence on the disease.
In central and northern Europe, where for the past decade average annual temperatures have been roughly 2 degrees Celsius above pre industrial times (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), documented cases of the virus have been rising in recent decades — evidence, some experts say, that rising global temperatures are conducive to more active ticks. The parasitic arachnids are also noted to be moving further north and higher in altitude as formerly inhospitable terrain warms to their preferred temperature range. Northern parts of Russia are a prime example of where TBE-infected ticks have moved north. Some previously tick-free mountains in Germany, Bavaria, and Austria are reporting a 20-fold increase in cases over the past 10 years.
The virus’s growing shadow across Europe, Asia, and now parts of the United Kingdom throws the dangers of tick-borne disease into sharp relief. The U.K. bicyclist who was the first domestically acquired case of the disease survived his bout with TBE, but the episode serves as a warning to the region: though the virus is still rare, it may not stay that way for long.
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Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about AP’s climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/cases-of-tick-borne-illnesses-are-on-the-rise-some-experts-believe-climate-change-is-the-cause-2/ | 2023-07-29T12:13:42 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/cases-of-tick-borne-illnesses-are-on-the-rise-some-experts-believe-climate-change-is-the-cause-2/ |
MIAMI GARDENS — Let’s go beyond the left knee injury that could sideline All Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey until December and speculate on how things might go for the Dolphins in the interim.
I’m thinking the Dolphins can survive the Ramsey injury in the short term.
I’m thinking they could even make the playoffs without Ramsey, who they just acquired in March.
Why not? They made the playoffs last season even in the face of potentially crushing injuries to players such as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, left tackle Terron Armstead and cornerback Xavien Howard. And they didn’t have Ramsey.
In fact, last season told us a lot about this team’s depth and mentality. The verdict is both were good, both are trustworthy. I expect that to carry over to the 2023 season. So does coach Mike McDaniel.
“If that one player dictated the ultimate success or failure of the team maybe you would have lost sleep (about Ramsey’s injury),” McDaniel said.
For now, even with the Ramsey injury, I’m sticking with my prediction that the Dolphins win 10 games and make the playoffs.
I remain unsure the Dolphins are good enough to win a playoff game.
You know my reasoning, I’ve stated this a few times previously.
The Dolphins were 2-6 against playoff teams last year, including the 34-31 wild-c
ard loss at Buffalo, and 2-3 against playoff teams in games quarterback Tua Tagovailoa started and finished (so we’re not including Cincinnati).
There’s work to do before the Dolphins are good enough to win a playoff game.
But I give these guys lots of credit for their mentality, as does edge rusher Bradley Chubb, who was acquired last season at the trade deadline.
“The depth, I learned a lot,” said Chubb who had a 4-6 record with the Dolphins last season. “The mentality, I learned even more because I came in at a weird time. It was a winning streak when I came in and then we started to decline a little bit, we started stacking losses.
“But nobody ever was like, ‘It’s this person’s fault or this person’s fault.’ Everybody just stayed the path.”
Last year’s Dolphins team had a strong mentality and a good attitude. Credit general manager Chris Grier, McDaniel, scouts, the front office, and most of all, the players because, after all, it’s a player’s league.
I expect the same from this year’s Dolphins team.
This team’s mental fortitude is ahead of its physical skill level, and that’s meant as a credit to the team’s mentality and not a shot at its talent.
Last season showed this is a tough-minded, no-excuses crew.
Yes, the Ramsey injury hurts badly. The Dolphins lost one of the league’s top cornerbacks, and they potentially lost the ability to lock down two opposing wide receivers at the same time as they’d have had Ramsey and fellow Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard on the field together.
Now, the Dolphins look to cornerbacks such as Kader Kohou, Noah Igbinoghene and Cam Smith to replace Ramsey. None is nearly as good as Ramsey.
It’s a substitution that’s got to have defensive coordinator Vic Fangio going crazy. There’s a good chance he’s scrapping a major part of his initial defensive plan and going with a less creative and more conventional approach.
Recall Fangio saying he’d dreamed up some new defensive ideas last year while taking a year away from the game. Recall Howard saying they don’t know what Fangio is “cooking up,” but it’ll be something good.
From that standpoint, Ramsey is a crushing injury.
On the either hand, listen to Chubb, who played in Denver when Fangio was head coach, talking about Fangio on Friday.
“He’s a mastermind; he’s got a lot up his sleeve and I’m excited to see where it goes,” Chubb said.
So you’ve got to think Fangio has something brewing, and when you combine that with the cornerback depth and this team’s mentality, they should be OK until Ramsey returns.
Last year taught the Dolphins they can persevere, and even excel through rough injury situations. I expect that experience will come in handy this year.
McDaniel thinks the same.
“I think it’s an invaluable lesson,” McDaniel said of how his team dealt with last year’s injury situation. “Like everything in life, you can turn a perceived negative into a positive if your mind is right and trying to attack today and not yesterday.” | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/chris-perkins-dolphins-depth-attitude-should-keep-them-afloat-until-jalen-ramsey-returns/ | 2023-07-29T12:13:48 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/chris-perkins-dolphins-depth-attitude-should-keep-them-afloat-until-jalen-ramsey-returns/ |
By JESSE BEDAYN (Associated Press/Report for America)
DENVER (AP) — A Colorado police officer who put a handcuffed woman in a parked police vehicle that was hit by a freight train was found guilty of reckless endangerment and assault but was acquitted of a third charge of criminal attempt to commit manslaughter during a trial Friday.
Jordan Steinke was the first of two officers to go to trial over the Sept. 16, 2022, crash that left Yareni Rios-Gonzalez seriously injured.
“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,” said Judge Timothy Kerns.
But the evidence didn’t convince Kerns that Steinke “knowingly intended to harm Ms. Rios-Gonzalez,” and he added that Stienke had shown “shock and remorse.”
Steinke testified that she did not know that the patrol car of another officer she was helping was parked on the tracks even though they can be seen on her body camera footage along with two railroad crossing signs. Steinke said she was focused on the threat that could come from Rios-Gonzalez and her pickup truck, not the ground.
Steinke said she put Rios-Gonzalez in the other officer’s vehicle because it was the nearest spot to temporarily hold her. She said she didn’t know the train was coming until just before it hit.
The judge found that Steinke observed the tracks, but failed to “appreciate the risk.”
There was no jury in Steinke’s trial, which started Monday. Instead, Kerns listened to the evidence and issued the verdict. Mallory Revel, Steinke’s attorney, didn’t immediately respond to requests by phone and email for comment.
Steinke, who was working for the Fort Lupton Police Department at the time of the crash, was charged with criminal attempt to commit manslaughter, a felony; and reckless endangerment and third-degree assault, both misdemeanors.
The other officer, Pablo Vazquez, who worked for the police department in nearby Platteville, is being prosecuted for misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment and traffic offenses. He hasn’t entered a plea yet. His lawyer, Reid Elkus, didn’t immediately respond to a request by phone for comment.
Vazquez pulled over Rios-Gonzalez on a rural road that intersects U.S. Highway 85 after she was accused of pointing a gun at another driver. Trains pass on tracks that parallel the highway about a dozen times a day, prosecutors said, and the sound of their horns is common in the area north of Denver.
Rios-Gonzalez, who suffered a traumatic brain injury, is suing over her treatment. She later pleaded no contest to misdemeanor menacing, said one of her lawyers, Chris Ponce, who was in court to watch the trial. Rios-Gonzalez did not testify or attend herself.
Steinke said she placed Rios-Gonzalez in the other police car temporarily because it was the nearest place to keep her secure, a move that is standard practice for high-risk traffic stops, said defense expert witness Steve Ijames. He also testified that in dangerous situations officers can become hyperfocused on particular threats and overlook things that turn out to be important in hindsight.
Steinke, who drove at around 100 mph (161 kph) at times on her way to backup Vazquez, testified that she was surprised to see him sitting in his vehicle when she arrived, rather than pointing a gun at Rios-Gonzalez’s truck. She said she quickly parked her patrol vehicle behind his and got out because it was the quickest way “to get a gun in the fight.”
Steinke also said she did not notice the tracks or the ground when she squatted down to arrest a kneeling Rios-Gonzalez along the tracks after the suspect was ordered out of her pickup truck.
When pressed by Deputy District Attorney Christopher Jewkes, Steinke replied, “I am sure I saw the tracks sir, but I did not perceive them.” She said she was focused on the suspect and the potential threat she posed and was “fairly certain” that the traffic stop would end in gunfire.
“I never in a million years thought a train was going to come plowing through my scene,” Steinke said.
The Weld County District Attorney’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request by phone for comment.
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This story has been updated to correct that the officer was acquitted of the charge of criminal attempt to commit manslaughter, not manslaughter.
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Bedayn is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/colorado-officer-who-put-suspect-in-car-hit-by-train-found-guilty-of-reckless-endangerment/ | 2023-07-29T12:13:54 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/colorado-officer-who-put-suspect-in-car-hit-by-train-found-guilty-of-reckless-endangerment/ |
HOYLAKE, England — Wyndham Clark was on the 18th green, 60 feet away from the hole. Rory McIlroy was in the scoring room, watching on television. Clark rolled the long putt to within a foot of the hole and pumped his fist. All that remained was tapping in for par to win the U.S. Open.
That was the extent of Sunday drama in the majors this year.
The champions are not about to complain, least of all Clark at Los Angeles Country Club or Brian Harman at Royal Liverpool, both of them first-time major winners who played as though they had been there before.
Not every Masters can have the remarkable back-and-forth between Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose, much less a comeback by Tiger Woods. Augusta National always seems to deliver, but the slogan of the Masters not starting until the back nine on Sunday would be a tough sell the last four years.
All that can salvage 2023 for edge-of-the-seat theater is the Ryder Cup.
Rahm becoming a Masters champion is a big deal, particularly winning on the birthday of the late Seve Ballesteros with caddie Adam Hayes being assigned No. 49 — 4/9 is Seve’s birthday — for his caddie bib. But with Brooks Koepka going 22 holes without a birdie, Rahm all but sealed it with an 8-iron from the trees to 3 feet for birdie on the 14th and a four-shot lead with four to play.
Clark also hit his money shot on the 14th hole, a 3-wood onto the green at the 623-yard par 5 for a two-putt birdie, right after Rory McIlroy couldn’t hit the same green with a wedge. Clark had a three-shot lead with four to play.
The PGA Championship at Oak Hill was reasonably tight until it wasn’t. Brooks Koepka was one shot ahead when Viktor Hovland hit 9-iron from the bunker into an embedded lie in the face, leading to double bogey. Koepka made birdie and the lead was four shots with two to play.
As for the British Open, consider that Harman took the lead on Friday morning with a 25-foot birdie putt on the third hole. No one caught him the rest of the week. On the weekend, his lead was never fewer than two shots (that lasted one hole). He won by six.
While dull, the majors did not lack for inspiration, particularly the last two.
Most amazing about Harman winning the British Open was how seldom he had won for his ability. No one ever questioned his talent or his ability, particularly his putting. But he had won just two tournaments in his 335 previous starts as a PGA Tour member.
Why? Not even Harman knew.
“It just hasn’t happened,” he said. “I don’t know why it hasn’t happened, but I’m not going to quit. I’m going to stick with it and just keep after it. And hopefully, it’ll pop one day.”
It didn’t pop at Hoylake, it burst. And then he was asked the same question with the silver claret jug at his side. And he still had no answers. He had the pedigree as an amateur. He was 18 when he partnered with Anthony Kim in the Walker Cup.
He poured time into his iron play at the expense of his reliable putting. The iron play was sublime, and the putting caught up in a big way. He missed only one putt inside 10 feet over 72 holes at Royal Liverpool.
“I don’t know why this week,” he said. “But I’m very thankful that it was this week.”
He never looked happier.
Clark was highly sought as a high school player in Colorado and landed at powerhouse Oklahoma State. His mother died of cancer and he lost his way, transferring to Oregon and eventually returning to his potential. His U.S. Open victory was preceded by beating a field of stars at Quail Hollow.
Koepka, already a prolific major champion, also returned to his potential. His journey was more about health, particularly his knee and hip that made him question his future and might have led to him taking Saudi cash to join LIV Golf.
He joined Curtis Strange as the only back-to-back U.S. Open winners in the last 50 years. He joined Tiger Woods as the only back-to-back PGA champions in stroke play. But his win at Oak Hill, considering how much he had to overcome, was the sweetest of all.
As for Rahm? The Masters was the last surprising outcome of the majors. He is among the best in the world. He already had won three times this year before arriving at Augusta National. This felt a little like destiny.
Rahm was fresh from disappointment of the British Open, and he was soaking wet from the Sunday rain. The first question that came his way was about the Ryder Cup.
“I just finished The Open Championship. I’m not going to lie. I love the Ryder Cup, but it’s not really on my mind right now. Especially after the day like we had today. I’m looking forward to a shower,” he said.
But he’s excited about a chance to regain the cup in Italy. He expects Europe to have a lot of fresh faces. If called upon to be a leader, he said he would try to “channel my inner-Seve.”
It should be a good one. The Ryder Cup never lacks for excitement.
Whether it’s a nail-biter remains to be seen the way this year has gone. It’s worth noting the last four Ryder Cups have been decided by five points or more. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/column-golfs-majors-delivered-inspiring-comebacks-minus-the-drama-2/ | 2023-07-29T12:14:00 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/column-golfs-majors-delivered-inspiring-comebacks-minus-the-drama-2/ |
MIAMI GARDENS — Free agent running back Dalvin Cook may be in New York for the weekend to visit the Jets, but don’t discount how high his interest in his hometown Miami Dolphins remains.
“Playing in my hometown would mean so much for me, for my community, for my family, for just everything around,” Cook told NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” Friday morning. “It’s a Cinderella story. It’s just something that’ll bring so much joy to the city, and I know what I can bring to the city. So it’ll be big for the city and myself.”
Cook, though, passed by the league-owned network’s studio in New York before a trip to Florham Park, New Jersey and the division-rival Jets facilities.
“Just a great vibe, just getting around people that want to love on Dalvin Cook,” he said about what he’s looking for in the meeting, “that want to share that value that I want. And just getting around some guys that want to win.”
Cook said the opportunity to play with a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers plays a role in his interest in the Jets’ pursuit.
HE'S HERE 🚨@dalvincook gives us the details of his @nyjets visit planned for this weekend 👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/g5eKJl3vdU
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) July 28, 2023
“It’s a unique situation because I feel like they’re building something special over there,” Cook said. “You always want to be around a great QB. You always want to be around somebody that you can pick his brain and learn from. A-Rod’s a full-time MVP. Being around a guy like that, you can learn a lot more and develop as a player.”
Cook said, following meetings with the Jets, he’s going to sit down with his agent and go over things.
He has not yet scheduled a visit with the Dolphins or any other suitors.
Cook said his free agency could “possibly” conclude with the trip to New Jersey and the Jets if everything lines up and he hears what he likes.
“If it works on both sides, it makes sense for somebody, you’re adding a player to the team, the organization and the player, all the things that they both need, need to be met for it to work,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Friday morning. “He’s a free agent, and he’s visiting the Jets. And that’s what I have to say.”
Cook is a Miami native who won multiple state high school championships at Miami Central High before a standout college career at Florida State and six professional seasons with the Minnesota Vikings that resulted in four Pro Bowl selections.
Sieler mum on contract talks
Over the past several seasons, Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler has outplayed his status as a former seventh-round pick of the Ravens and waiver claim of the Dolphins, along with his current contract.
Sieler has been in communication with the organization about an extension, but he didn’t delve into details about those talks speaking with the media after Friday’s practice.
“That’s really between my agent and the Dolphins,” Sieler said. “We’re working together to see what we can do, but my main focus is just playing as well as I can each year.”
Sieler said he wants to be in Miami for the long haul.
“I love Miami. I love it down here,” he said.
Sieler, who had 70 tackles and 3½ sacks in 2022 and formed one of the top league’s run-stopping tandems with Christian Wilkins, was present for organized team activities and mandatory minicamp over the offseason but didn’t participate before getting back into the mix for training camp.
“That’s kind of between us and the Dolphins and my agent and what we’re doing there,” said Sieler, who added he’s fine physically.
Wilson not asking for trade
Dolphins wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. underperformed and was buried on the depth chart in his first season in Miami after signing on for three years and just north of $22 million.
He said Friday he has not asked for a trade nor has it been communicated to him that the Dolphins and general manager Chris Grier have pursued dealing him.
“I’m definitely happy to be here,” Wilson said. “The mindset when I left Dallas was to come here, put my best foot forward, and I feel like maybe I fell short of that last year. And that’s my goal this whole offseason, is to show that I can play.”
Wilson had just 12 receptions for 136 yards in his first season with the Dolphins. Trent Sherfield surpassed him for wide receiver reps behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Sherfield and tight end Mike Gesicki are out from Miami’s pass-catching corps this year, but the team brought in receivers Robbie Chosen and Braxton Berrios.
Jaelan Phillips update
Star cornerback Jalen Ramsey isn’t the only Dolphins starting defender to sustain an injury early in training camp. Third-year outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips missed Thursday’s practice after an apparent lower leg ailment at Wednesday’s first practice.
McDaniel said Friday morning Phillips’ absence was more of a precaution than anything serious.
“He has an injury that we’re not worried about but would not be healed if he continued to practice,” McDaniel said, noting Phillips had his foot stepped on during the second play of team drills.
Phillips finished Wednesday’s session, in on other snaps in the team setting following the injury.
After safety Brandon Jones and cornerback Trill Williams participated in Wednesday’s first practice, they sat for Thursday’s second set of drills. Both are coming off season-ending knee injuries last year, and it seems more like workload management after they didn’t have full clearance yet through organized team activities and minicamp this offseason.
“It is to protect them from themselves,” McDaniel said. “All the players that haven’t been fully participating throughout the entirety of practice for their individual regiment purposes, none of them had any setbacks. They’re good to go.”
McDaniel did not go into detail on cornerback Keion Crossen’s Thursday absence from practice but said he does not expect him to participate in Friday drills. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/dalvin-cook-visiting-jets-says-playing-for-dolphins-would-be-cinderella-story-jaelan-phillips-injury-update/ | 2023-07-29T12:14:06 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/dalvin-cook-visiting-jets-says-playing-for-dolphins-would-be-cinderella-story-jaelan-phillips-injury-update/ |
Trader Joe's has recalled its frozen falafel for potentially having rocks in it, after it recalled two of its cookie products for the same reason recently.
The company's supplier informed them of the concern, and Trader Joe's said in a statement Friday that "all potentially affected product has been removed from sale and destroyed."
Customers who purchased the product should discard it or return it to a Trader Joe's location for a full refund, the company said.
The falafel, which is fully cooked and frozen, has the SKU number 93935 and is sold in Washington, D.C., and 34 states.
Last Friday, Trader Joe's said rocks could also possibly be found in its Almond Windmill Cookies and Dark Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.knkx.org/2023-07-28/trader-joes-recalls-its-frozen-falafel-for-possibly-having-rocks-in-it | 2023-07-29T12:14:11 | 0 | https://www.knkx.org/2023-07-28/trader-joes-recalls-its-frozen-falafel-for-possibly-having-rocks-in-it |
By LUKE WINSTEL
Associated Press
BRISBANE, Australia — The Matildas missing out on the knockout rounds of the Women’s World Cup barely factored into pre-tournament reckoning in Australia.
The prospect of star striker Sam Kerr leading Australia to unprecedented heights was the focus of attention. But an upset 3-2 loss to Nigeria has set up what is essentially a must-win showdown for Australia against Olympic champion Canada on Monday.
With a win, Australia will advance to the round of 16 for the fifth consecutive time. A loss could result in Australia becoming the first host nation eliminated in the group stage of a Women’s World Cup (co-host New Zealand is also in danger of missing out). A draw would have Aussie hopes hinging on Ireland beating Nigeria.
The scenario has unfolded all without Kerr playing a minute of her home tournament so far because of a calf muscle injury sustained on the eve of Australia’s opening 1-0 win over Ireland last week in front of almost 76,000 fans in Sydney.
Steph Catley, deputizing for Kerr as Matildas captain, summed up the loss to Nigeria succinctly: “This was a massive opportunity for us that we’ve obviously let slide.”
Though the Matildas controlled 64% of possession and had 28 shots on goal — including eight on target — they squandered key scoring opportunities and had costly defensive miscues.
“We created a lot of opportunities that we could’ve finished,” Catley said. “We weren’t patient enough, and we weren’t clinical enough.”
Head coach Tony Gustavsson echoed those sentiments, and acknowledged Australia doesn’t have much time to make adjustments on the run.
The Australians had lost only one of their previous 11 matches before the Nigeria game, although they’ve struggled with injuries since the start of the tournament.
Chelsea star Kerr missed the first two games and isn’t certain of returning to take on Canada. Manchester City forward Mary Fowler missed the Nigeria match with a concussion, also picked up in practice.
Kerr is Australia’s all-time leading goal scorer with 63 goals in 121 games, and its undisputed star.
“I know it’s going to be tight,” Gustavsson said of Kerr’s availability for the Canada match. “I most likely will not get the confirmation on that until the night before the game.
“It might even be where we need to test her to see if she can play on game day. That’s how tight it is.”
He knows Kerr will be desperate to get her first minutes, knowing her country needs her.
“That’s going to be her mindset,” Gustavsson said. “And that’s what I love with Sam.”
The absence of Kerr and two other forwards has seemingly thrown tactical planning into disarray.
With the home team down 3-1 and desperate for goals late against Nigeria, Gustavsson introduced defender Clare Polkinghorne in the 81st minute and midfielder Alex Chidiac in the 85th minute in an attempt to spark the Matildas’ offense. Alanna Kennedy’s stoppage time goal narrowed the margin, but it was too little, too late.
Gustavsson was asked about his decision to wait until so late in the game to make changes.
“I think that’s a fair question and that’s something I need to look at as a coach,” Gustavsson said. “Did I find the right timing for the subs? We did get a massive effect positively when we did it. Did we get that because I did it in the right moment or should I have done it earlier?”
With the nature of the “day-to-day” injury status of Kerr and Fowler, Gustavsson could elect to make more tactical changes against Canada. One player who could see increased minutes is Chidiac, who impressed her coach in her limited time against Nigeria.
Chidiac “came in and was that game changer,” Gustavsson said. “She was upset afterwards that she didn’t score but I said ‘Hey, you were brilliant. When you came in you were that game changer.’”
The Matildas will again be forced to lean on depth for production against a team that only needs a draw to advance. The Canadians are coming off a 2-1 win over Ireland following a 0-0 opener against Nigeria. Canada and Nigeria are tied for the Group B lead with four points, one clear of Australia.
“We’ve just got to move on as quick as possible,” Catley said. “Our backs are up against the wall now. It’s not how we would’ve liked it, but nothing good comes easy.” | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/danger-time-for-co-hosts-as-australia-faces-a-must-win-match-against-canada-at-the-womens-world-cup/ | 2023-07-29T12:14:12 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/danger-time-for-co-hosts-as-australia-faces-a-must-win-match-against-canada-at-the-womens-world-cup/ |
SAN FRANCISCO — The city of San Francisco has opened a complaint and launched an investigation into a giant "X" sign that was installed Friday on top of the downtown building formerly known as Twitter headquarters as owner Elon Musk continues his rebrand of the social media platform.
City officials say replacing letters or symbols on buildings, or erecting a sign on top of one, requires a permit for design and safety reasons.
The X appeared after San Francisco police stopped workers on Monday from removing the brand's iconic bird and logo from the side of the building, saying they hadn't taped off the sidewalk to keep pedestrians safe if anything fell.
Any replacement letters or symbols would require a permit to ensure "consistency with the historic nature of the building" and to make sure additions are safely attached to the sign, Patrick Hannan, spokesperson for the Department of Building Inspection said earlier this week.
Erecting a sign on top of a building also requires a permit, Hannan said Friday.
"Planning review and approval is also necessary for the installation of this sign. The city is opening a complaint and initiating an investigation," he said in an email.
Musk unveiled a new "X" logo to replace Twitter's famous blue bird as he remakes the social media platform he bought for $44 billion last year. The X started appearing at the top of the desktop version of Twitter on Monday.
Musk, who is also CEO of Tesla, has long been fascinated with the letter X and had already renamed Twitter's corporate name to X Corp. after he bought it in October. One of his children is called "X." The child's actual name is a collection of letters and symbols.
On Friday afternoon, a worker on a lift machine made adjustments to the sign and then left.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.knkx.org/2023-07-28/x-logo-installed-atop-twitter-building-spurring-san-francisco-to-investigate | 2023-07-29T12:14:17 | 1 | https://www.knkx.org/2023-07-28/x-logo-installed-atop-twitter-building-spurring-san-francisco-to-investigate |
MIAMI GARDENS — The Dolphins’ defense, playing without injured All Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey, won the day in impressive fashion Friday, especially during the latter part of practice, recording 12 sacks against an offense that struggled to find answers to the oncoming pass rush and run stops.
Defensive lineman Christian Wilkins and edge rusher Bradley Chubb taunted and harassed the offense for the latter part of 11-on-11 drills as they made play after play after play against the pass and run.
It appeared both Chubb and Wilkins got especially fired up after the offense cheered a 2-yard run by running back Salvon Ahmed.
After that, it was all over for the offense.
The thing that fired up the defense on that play was Chubb thought he made the tackle on Ahmed. Players weren’t in pads, meaning there was no tackling, so it was tough to judge whether Chubb would have made the tackle and the distance of Ahmed’s run.
Some reporters thought Chubb was being blocked, so it was a 12-yard gain because Ahmed would have eluded Chubb’s attempted tackle. Chubb and Wilkins, on the other hand, thought Chubb would have made the tackle for a short gain.
Chubb was told by reporters after practice the Ahmed run wasn’t a 2-yard run gain.
“What was it, one and a half?” Chubb asked with an incredulous smile.
On a related note, Monday is the first day players are in pads.
Stock up
Defensive front seven. These guys came alive late in practice, led by Wilkins and Chubb, but also joined by linebackers Duke Riley, defensive lineman Zach Sieler and linebacker Jerome Baker. They were decent during the first part of practice and unstoppable during the later part of practice.
Stock down
Mike McDaniel. The architect of the Dolphins’ offense (and the head coach) had no answers for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense. Of course, it’s only Day 3 of training camp and players weren’t in pads, so let’s not go overboard. We know this offense can produce. But the defense was dominant in the latter part of practice, and the offense had no answers.
Injury report
Among the players who missed Friday’s practice, or were limited, are cornerbacks Ramsey (knee) and Keion Crossen, wide receivers Freddie Swain and edge rusher Jaelan Phillips (leg).
Safety Brandon Jones (knee) and Trill Williams (knee) are still recovering from injuries they sustained last season.
Cornerback Nik Needham (Achilles), left tackle Terron Armstead (knee), guard tackle Isaiah Wynn and tight end Tanner Conner are on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list. They can be activated at any time during training camp.
Observations
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had another so-so day, his second consecutive. He had some overthrows in 1-on-1 drills and didn’t have much time to do good things in 11-on-11s…
Credit Tagovailoa for two plays that shows how much growth he’s made since last season. On one play he threw the ball away when pressure was approaching, and on another he showed pocket presence by using his feet to elude pressure. Last season Tagovailoa held the ball too long a few times hoping to get an extra half-second to make the throw, or stayed in the pocket too long hoping to get that extra half-second to make the throw…
Quarterback Mike White, who took third-team snaps behind Tagovailoa and Skylar Thompson, didn’t have an impressive day. He lost a fumble on a snap on one play and didn’t appear sharp throwing the ball…
Backup center Dan Feeney had at least one bad snap to Thompson…
Linebacker Cameron Goode had a sack Friday, as did defensive tackle Josiah Bronson. Goode had a fairly productive day Thursday…
Rookie defensive tackle Brandon Pili had a tackle for loss against Ahmed…
Rookie running back DeVon Achane had some nice runs up the middle. The significance isn’t necessarily the result, but the willingness to use the 5-foot-9, 188-pound Achane on runs between the tackles…
Ahmed had some nice runs Friday and seems to be ahead of Myles Gaskin in the battle for a roster spot…
Rookie cornerback Cam Smith had a nice pass breakup against wide receiver Daewood Davis on a pass thrown by Tagovailoa. Smith had a decent day overall, his second consecutive, even though he was beaten deep by wide receiver Jaylen Waddle during 1-on-1 drills and Tagovailoa overthrew Waddle…
Cornerback Kader Kohou made an excellent play against Waddle by ripping the ball out of Waddle’s hand after a long completion in 11-on-11s, but Kohou was flagged for holding against Waddle on a play where he was beaten badly at the line of scrimmage. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/dolphins-camp-defense-dominates-without-jalen-ramsey-plus-stock-up-stock-down/ | 2023-07-29T12:14:18 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/dolphins-camp-defense-dominates-without-jalen-ramsey-plus-stock-up-stock-down/ |
Flor Marte knows someone will die. She knows when and how, because it came to her in a dream. That's her gift – all the women in the Marte family have one.
But Flor refuses to share who the dream is about. Instead, she insists on throwing herself a living wake, a reason for the entire family to come together and celebrate their lives. That's the starting point for Elizabeth Acevedo's debut novel for adults, Family Lore.
Acevedo grew up in Harlem, with summer visits to the Dominican Republic, and aspirations of becoming a rapper – until a literature teacher invited her to join an after-school poetry club.
She attended reluctantly; but what she found in spoken word performance broke her world and the possibilities of language wide open.
"I think for folks who maybe have felt it difficult to occupy their bodies and take up space and demand attention, to have three minutes where that is the requirement is really powerful," she says.
Acevedo went on to become a National Poetry Slam champion and earn degrees in performing arts and creative writing. After college, she taught language arts in Prince George's County, Maryland. Teaching, she says, is its own kind of performance – one where the audience doesn't always want to be there. But her students were struggling in other ways.
"So many of my young people weren't at grade level, but they'd also not encountered literature that they felt reflected them," she says. "Trying to meet some of those students where they were was really a kickoff for my writing."
So Acevedo began writing young adult books. The Poet X, her first novel about a Dominican-American teen finding her voice through poetry, won a National Book Award in 2018.
Pivoting to a new audience
Now, with Family Lore, Acevedo turns her attention to adult readers.
"I think the way this pushes forward her work and the growing body of Dominican-American literature is how deeply she writes into the interiors of her women characters," says author Naima Coster, who read an early draft of the novel.
The story is told through memories, out of order, sometimes a memory within a different memory. Acevedo jumps from the Dominican countryside to Santo Domingo to New York, as sisters Matilde, Flor, Pastora and Camila – along with younger generation Ona and Yadi – reflect on their childhoods and teenage romances and the secrets that bind them all together. Though the Marte women grow older together, their relationships do not get easier.
"What does it mean if these women have really just had a different experience of their mother?" says Acevedo. "And how that different experience of their mother automatically will create a schism, because now it's like, 'You don't remember her the way I remember her, and because of that, I can't trust you."
There are infidelities, miscarriages, childhood love affairs and therapeutic dance classes. Acevedo explains that she needed to tell this story in a non-linear format, in the way memories surface and warp; the way family gossip is passed on from person to person, in a roundabout way.
Returning to the body
That format, she says, was more suited for adult readers; and writing for adults also allowed her to be candid about bodies: how they move, change, excite, disappoint.
"The generation I was raised by felt like their relationship to their body was very othered," Acevedo says. "When I speak to my cousins, when I think about myself, it's been a return to desire, a return to the gut, a return to health in a way that isn't necessarily about size but is about: who am I in this vessel and how do I love it?"
That tension is felt especially by the younger Marte women, whose supernatural gifts radiate from within. Ona has a self-described "alpha vagina," Yadi has a special taste for sour limes.
Naima Coster says it's easy to feel pressure to write about marginalized communities as clean-cut, exemplary characters. But Family Lore relishes in airing out the Marte family's dirty laundry– in showing Afro-Dominican women as full, complicated protagonists.
"It feels major, the way she writes about the ways that these women misunderstand each other, but still love each other," she says.
Acevedo says those themes – family, home, Blackness, power – will be in every book she writes, "because those are the questions that haunt me."
Family Lore reads like the feeling of getting older and no longer having moms and aunts lower their voices when you enter the room – like finally being privy to what makes a family flawed and perfect.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.knkx.org/2023-07-29/in-family-lore-award-winning-ya-author-elizabeth-acevedo-turns-to-adult-readers | 2023-07-29T12:14:23 | 1 | https://www.knkx.org/2023-07-29/in-family-lore-award-winning-ya-author-elizabeth-acevedo-turns-to-adult-readers |
By MARCIA DUNN (AP Aerospace Writer)
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Wildlife and environmental groups sued the Federal Aviation Administration on Monday over SpaceX’s launch last month of its giant rocket from Texas.
SpaceX’s Starship soared 24 miles (39 kilometers) high before exploding over the Gulf of Mexico on April 20. The rocket’s self-destruct system caused the nearly 400-foot (120-meter) rocket to blow up, as it spun out of control just minutes into the test flight.
An attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity, one of the plaintiffs, said the groups are suing over what they consider to be the FAA’s failure to fully consider the environmental impacts of the Starship program near Boca Chica Beach in South Texas. They asked the court to throw out the five-year license the FAA granted to SpaceX.
The FAA declined comment, noting it doesn’t comment on ongoing litigation. The agency is overseeing the accident investigation and has ordered all SpaceX Starships grounded until it’s certain that public safety will not be compromised.
Over the weekend, SpaceX founder and chief executive, Elon Musk, said his company could be ready to launch the next Starship in six to eight weeks with the FAA’s OK.
No injuries or significant damage to public property were reported from any of the rocket wreckage or flying pad debris. A large crater was carved into the concrete pad, as most of the rocket’s 33 main engines ignited at liftoff.
The launch pad is on a remote site on the southernmost tip of Texas, just below South Padre Island, and about 20 miles from Brownsville.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported last week that large concrete chunks, stainless steel sheets, metal and other objects were hurled thousands of feet (hundreds of meters) from the pad. In addition, a plume of pulverized concrete sent material up to 6.4 miles (10 kilometers) northwest of the pad, the service noted.
It was the first launch of a full-size Starship, with the sci-fi-looking spacecraft on top the huge booster rocket. The company plans to use it to send people and cargo to the moon and, ultimately, Mars. NASA wants to use Starship to ferry astronauts to the lunar surface as soon as 2025.
Joining the Center for Biological Diversity in the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, are the American Bird Conservancy, Surfrider Foundation, Save RGV (Rio Grande Valley) and the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation of Texas.
“It’s vital that we protect life on Earth even as we look to the stars in this modern era of spaceflight,” the Center for Biological Diversity’s Jared Margolis said in a statement. “Federal officials should defend vulnerable wildlife and frontline communities, not give a pass to corporate interests that want to use treasured coastal landscapes as a dumping ground for space waste.”
Over the weekend, Musk said changes are being made at the launch pad to avoid what he called a dust storm and “rock tornado” at the next launch.
“To the best of our knowledge there has not been any meaningful damage to the environment that we’re aware of,” Musk said.
Musk has promised to make improvements to the next Starship before it flies. The self-destruct system will need to be modified, he said, so that the rocket explodes immediately — not 40 seconds or so afterward, as was the case with this inaugural run, he said.
His remarks were made to a subscriber-only Twitter chat Saturday night that was later posted by others online.
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This story was first published on May 1, 2023. It was updated on July 28, 2023 to correct the metric conversion for 6.4 miles to 10 kilometers.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/environmental-groups-sue-faa-over-spacex-texas-rocket-launch-2/ | 2023-07-29T12:14:24 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/environmental-groups-sue-faa-over-spacex-texas-rocket-launch-2/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — The explosion early on a June morning ignited a blaze that engulfed a New York City shop filled with motorized bicycles and their volatile lithium-ion batteries. Billowing smoke quickly killed four people asleep in apartments above the burning store.
As the ubiquity of e-bikes has grown, so has the frequency of fires and deaths blamed on the batteries that power them, prompting a campaign to establish regulations on how the batteries are manufactured, sold, reconditioned, charged and stored.
Consumer advocates and fire departments, particularly in New York City, are urging the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to establish mandatory safety standards and confiscate noncompliant imports when they arrive at the border or shipping ports, so that unsafe e-bikes and poorly manufactured batteries don't reach streets and endanger homes.
During a forum focused on e-bikes and lithium-ion batteries held Thursday in Bethesda, Maryland, the commission's chair, Alexander D. Hoehn-Saric, said it was an “urgent moment” that requires attention.
“Voluntary standards are not enough,” he said, siding with fire officials and other safety advocates who expressed broad support for mandatory standards for batteries and electrical systems in micromobility devices that include battery-powered scooters, bicycles and hoverboards.
These aren’t typical fires, said New York City Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh. The batteries don’t smolder; they explode.
“The number of fire incidents has rapidly increased. Other cities across the country have begun seeing these issues as well, and municipalities that are not yet experiencing this phenomenon may be facing similar incidents in the future," Kavanagh told the commission. “We have reached a point of crisis in New York City, with ion batteries now a top cause of fatal fires in New York."
With some 65,000 e-bikes zipping through its streets — more than any other place in the U.S. — New York City is the epicenter of battery-related fires. There have been 100 such blazes so far this year, resulting in 13 deaths, already more than double the six fatalities last year.
Nationally, there were more than 200 battery-related fires reported to the commission — an obvious undercount — from 39 states over the past two years, including 19 deaths blamed on micromobility devices.
Hoehn-Saric called on Congress to strengthen the commission’s authority so it can “move rapidly toward establishing mandatory standards” that could reduce destructive and deadly fires caused by malfunctioning lithium-ion batteries. The task is being spearheaded by Democratic members in New York’s congressional delegation, including U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, as well as U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres.
Because mandatory standards don't exist, Schumer said, poorly made batteries have flooded the U.S., increasing the risk of fires.
In many cases, authorities have been challenged to track the source of batteries manufactured overseas, many of them bought online or from aftermarket dealers.
Earlier this year, New York City urgently enacted a sweeping package of local laws intended to crack down on defective batteries, including a ban on the sale or rental of e-bikes and batteries that aren’t certified as meeting safety standards by an independent product testing lab.
The new rules also outlaw tampering with batteries or selling refurbished batteries made with lithium-ion cells scavenged from used units.
Meanwhile, New York City officials also announced they had received a $25 million federal grant for e-bike charging stations across the city, which fire marshals hope will reduce the risk of fires.
“When they fail, they fail quite spectacularly,” Kavanagh said in interview last week. “Once one of these ignites, there is a huge volume of fire, often so much so that the person in their home can’t get out and the firefighters can’t get in to get them."
Such was the case in April when two siblings, a 7-year-old boy and his 19-year-old sister, died when a scooter battery ignited a fire in Queens.
Because of the fire hazard, some residential buildings have banned e-bikes. Last summer, the New York City Housing Authority sought to prohibit tenants in all of its 335 developments from keeping or charging e-vehicles in their units, only to back down a few months later after protests from delivery workers.
Use of motorized bicycles grew dramatically in the city during the COVID-19 pandemic as homebound people turned more to food delivery workers for meals and groceries.
With the rash of fires, delivery workers like Lizandro Lopez say they are now more mindful about precautions.
“As soon as the battery is charged, I disconnect it. You shouldn’t leave it charging for too long,” Lopez said in Spanish, “because if you leave it on there too long, that’s when you can cause a fire.”
Los Deliveristas Unidos, which represents app-based delivery workers in the New York area, estimates that fewer than 10% of e-bikes sold in the city have been deemed safe by a third-party evaluator, such as UL Solutions, a product testing company that certifies safety compliance for a host of electrical products, including Christmas lights and televisions.
E-bike batteries rely on the same chemistry to generate power as the lithium-ion batteries in cellphones, laptops and most electric vehicles — products that were initially prone to overheating.
Tighter regulations, safety standards and compliance testing drastically reduced the risk of fires in such devices, according to Robert Slone, the senior vice president and chief scientist for UL Solutions.
The same can happen with e-bike batteries, he said, if they are made to comply with established safety standards. One feature most of these batteries lack is the ability to automatically shut off to prevent overheating and “thermal runaways” that lead to explosions and fires.
“We just need to make them safe, and there is a way to make them safe through testing and certification," Slone said, “given the history that we’ve seen in terms of fires and injuries and unfortunately, deaths as well — not just in New York, but across the country and around the world.”
Last year, some 1.1 million e-bikes were imported into the U.S., according to the Light Electric Vehicle Association, an industry group. In 2021, more than 880,000 e-bikes came into the country — about double from the year before and triple the number in 2019.
Many of the batteries now on the road are substandard or aftermarket products that are known fire hazards but are popular with delivery workers because they are cheaper.
PeopleForBikes Coalition, an industry trade group, called on the government Thursday to close off the borders to unsafe lithium-ion batteries.
“If the agency follows through and creates these regulations, those regulations alone won't be enough,” Matt Moore, the group's general and policy counsel, told the commission.
Even with new rules and standards, he said, overseas sellers and manufacturers could still ship possibly unsafe products to the United States.
“Our research has shown there are over 400 online sellers of e-bikes who are not our members, companies that are not present in the United States except to sell their products to consumers,” he said, including generic products and accessories that falsely claim they are certified. | https://www.knkx.org/transportation/2023-07-29/as-e-bikes-proliferate-so-do-deadly-fires-blamed-on-exploding-lithium-ion-batteries | 2023-07-29T12:14:30 | 1 | https://www.knkx.org/transportation/2023-07-29/as-e-bikes-proliferate-so-do-deadly-fires-blamed-on-exploding-lithium-ion-batteries |
BY DREW COSTLEY, JOSEPH B. FREDERICK and TASSANEE VEJPONGSA (Associated Press)
NEW YORK (AP) — Carlos Reyes sought shade under a tree in the Bronx on a day that felt like it was over 100 degrees (38 degrees Celsius) because of the heat and humidity.
“It’s not like when you were younger, you were playing around,” said the 56-year-old who runs a daycare center. “Now it’s like you got the humidity. It makes you kind of not breathe the same way. So when you walk, you get a little more tired, a little more exhausted.”
Reyes was one of nearly 200 million people in the United States, or 60% of the U.S. population, under a heat advisory or flood warning or watch since Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.
Dangerous heat engulfed much of the eastern half of the United States Friday as extreme temperatures spread from the Midwest into the Northeast and mid-Atlantic where some residents saw their hottest temperatures of the year.
Although much of the country does not cool much on normal summer nights, night temperatures are forecast to stay hotter than usual, prompting excessive heat warnings from the Plains to the East Coast.
From Thursday to Friday, the number of people under a heat advisory rose from 180 to 184 million and the number of people under a flood warning or watch dropped from 17 to 10 million.
Moisture moved into the Southwest, cooling somewhat the southernmost counties of California and parts of southern Arizona, but excessive heat warnings remain for much of the region.
On top of the heat, severe thunderstorms are forecast for multiple regions of the country. There are forecasts with flash flood warnings for Great Lakes and Ohio Valley, west to the Middle Missouri Valley through Saturday morning. There are severe thunderstorm warnings with a chance of quarter-sized hail Friday night for the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
Tornado watches are posted in Wisconsin and New Hampshire, in addition to the heat advisories and potential for severe storms.
The prediction for continued excessive heat comes as the World Meteorological Organization and the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service declared July 2023 the hottest month on record this week.
Scientists have long warned that climate change, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, by deforestation and by certain agricultural practices, will lead to more and prolonged bouts of extreme weather.
On Thursday, heat and humidity in major cities along the East Coast, including Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City, made it feel above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius). Forecasters expect several records may break Friday with temperatures 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit (5.5 to 8 degrees Celsius) above average.
The “dangerous” heat wave, as the National Weather Service called it, may begin to subside on Saturday as thunderstorms and a cold front from Canada progress through the region. It seems the hottest temperatures happened on Friday.
“By Sunday, the high temperature is going to be 86,” he said, “so that’s more typical weather you would expect in July.”
The Salvation Army in the Bronx was one of hundreds of cooling centers open in New York City to give people a respite from the scorching heat.
“It’s very hot every year. This year, it started last week, becoming very hot,” said Robert Ciriaco, a corps officer with The Salvation Army. “(It’s) very dangerous for people. Some people die. So that’s why we open to offer people (a place) to come to be comfortable.”
Philadelphia declared a heat health emergency as temperatures soared into the 90s, and city authorities opened cooling centers.
But some residents took the heat in stride. Alexander Roman, who brought his children to play in the fountain at the city’s iconic Love Park, said he is not worried about heat stroke as long as his family can cool down. “A lot of water with ice and it will be O.K,” he said.
In the Southwest and southern Plains, oppressive temperatures have been a blanket for weeks. One meteorologist based in New Mexico called the prolonged period of temperatures over 100 degrees (37.8 Celsius) unprecedented.
Due to the extreme heat, some of the nation’s large power grids and utilities are under stress, which could affect Americans’ ability to cool off.
In New York City, utility Con Edison sent out a text blast asking residents to be frugal with air conditioning to conserve electricity. Overtaxing an electrical grid can mean blackouts, which are not just an inconvenience, but can lead to equipment failures and major pollution as equipment restarts.
The country’s largest power grid, PJM Interconnection, declared a level one energy emergency alert for its 13-state grid on Wednesday, meaning the company had concerns about ability to provide enough electricity.
“PJM currently has enough generation to meet forecast demand, but operators continue to monitor the grid conditions for any changes,” said spokesperson Jeffrey Shields on Thursday.
PJM isn’t the only electrical grid to issue such an alert. The Midcontinent Independent System Operator, which mostly covers states in the Midwest and Northern Plains, issued a similar one Thursday.
The California Independent System Operator also issued an energy emergency alert for the evening on Wednesday, in part due to excess heat in Southern California, but that expired the same day. Anne Gonzales, a CAISO spokesperson, said they expect to be able to meet demand the next few days.
A spokesperson for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which covers most of Texas, said they expect their grid will operate per usual during this latest blast of extreme weather across the country.
The dangerous heat peaks in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and Midwest Friday and Saturday before a cold front is expected to bring some relief Sunday and into next week.
Heat experts and environmental advocates said that these effects of the high temperatures will not be felt equally.
“The impacts of heat are highly inequitable,” said Ladd Keith, an assistant professor at the University of Arizona who studies heat policy and governance. He explained that people experiencing homelessness feel heat effects more than the housed, and low-income and communities of color are often hotter than more affluent and whiter neighborhoods.
“When we’re talking about how to keep people safe, we not only need to be thinking about the neighborhoods that are disproportionately warmer during these heat waves,” said Jeremy Hoffman, director of climate justice and impact at Groundwork USA, an environmental justice nonprofit. “But (also) the folks that can’t avoid being outside during these heat waves, people that rely on public transportation, people that work outside, and the extremely elderly that may be living in substandard housing without a lot of ventilation and air conditioning.”
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Follow Drew Costley on Twitter: @drewcostley.
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/extreme-heat-moves-east-where-many-will-see-their-hottest-days-of-the-year/ | 2023-07-29T12:14:30 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/extreme-heat-moves-east-where-many-will-see-their-hottest-days-of-the-year/ |
Outdoor adventure and scenic views are often high on the list of vacation priorities. Here are five places that fit the bill:
1. Opt for Banff and Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada
For a top-notch opportunity to experience emerald lakes, snow-capped peaks and epic views in every direction, visit this alpine destination tucked within the majestic Canadian Rockies. Explore on foot, paddle, bike or hop in a golf cart to test your skills on the links. Stay at the Fairmont Banff Springs Resort, a caste-like landmark property inside Banff National Park. Offering stunning mountain, valley and winding-river views, the 745-room hotel is a destination in itself. Hiking, rafting, fly-fishing, championship golf, tennis, indoor and outdoor pool-time and horseback riding are all available within minutes. The Willow Stream Spa offers a full range of soothing options within 27 treatment rooms for those seeking a relaxing stay. Choose from more than a dozen on-site dining options, including an afternoon tea service, or wander into town for additional possibilities. Ask about the Kids in the Castle program and other adventure options for the younger set.
For more: https://www.fairmont.com/banff-springs/ ; https://www.banfflakelouise.com
2. Sample Idaho lake life
With a 25-mile-long lake as the centerpiece, the Idaho resort town of Coeur d’Alene lures families with the promise of beach days, a range of water sports, scenic boat rides, fishing and hiking on an assortment of nearby trails. Stay at the Coeur d’Alene Resort for easy access to amenities that include boat and jet ski rentals, spa time, outdoor dining, and a lakeside infinity pool. Play a round on the resort’s golf course that is home to the world’s only floating green. Families traveling with young children will appreciate easy access to multiple play areas and parks within walking distance. For a more laid-back vibe, visit Priest Lake, 90 miles to the north and tucked within the Selkirk Mountain Range. Check in to one of Elkins Resort’s 30 cedar log cabins, on the tree-lined shores of the pristine lake and choose from the sports of the season or claim your Adirondacks on the grassy lawn. Hike through old-growth forests, discover local waterfalls, paddle a canoe, go kayaking or test your balance on a paddleboard.
Contact: www.VisitIdaho.org. www.cdaresort.com www.ElkinsResort.com
3. Explore Bar Harbor, Maine
Located on Mount Desert Island and the gateway to Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor provides opportunities to observe Humpback, Finback and Pilot whales along with puffins, dolphins, and seals during the warmer months. Sample tasty ice cream, stroll through quaint shops to discover locally made watercolors, sweetgrass baskets and gemstone jewelry and crack open a lobster during your stay. Spend the nights at Terramor, an outdoor resort, where you’ll sleep in a luxurious platform tent, stroll through the trees on boardwalks and have the option to consult your onsite outfitter for hiking tips, trail options and even grilling basics.
For more: www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm; https://terramoroutdoorresort.com
4. Take in Traverse City, Mich.
This popular Michigan vacation spot is known for celebrating all things cherry with music, parades, tastings and art during the summer. Throughout the warmer months, family travelers enjoy the local freshwater lakes and streams, where searching for Petoskey stones, swimming, kayaking and paddling are favorite pastimes.
Visit the diverse ecosystem of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, stretching 35 miles along Lake Michigan, for miles of trails, shoreline and forested islands. Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes that encompass 20 percent of the world’s fresh water. Adults might want to arrange time to visit a handful of the more than 50 wineries in the area.
For more: www.traversecity.com.
5. Choose your backcountry
For an outdoor lover’s paradise, establish a pure connection with nature, off the beaten path. Hike, paddle or float into a pristine location where your family can learn or hone their wilderness skills. Choose a destination suitable for the ages and abilities of your crew. Encourage each person to take responsibility for the adventure whether that is early research, carrying a small pack, collecting kindling or serving as master storyteller around the fire. For the youngest set, get started with an overnight in the backyard or a nearby park. That way, should the weather or unforeseen forces create a kink in your plan, warm and dry shelter is nearby.
For more: www.Backcountry.com; www.NPS.gov.; http://www.huts.org
(Lynn O’Rourke Hayes (LOHayes.com) is an author, family travel expert and enthusiastic explorer. Gather more travel intel on Twitter @lohayes, Facebook, or via FamilyTravel.com)
©2023 FamilyTravel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/family-travel-5-in-search-of-pristine-nature-2/ | 2023-07-29T12:14:36 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/family-travel-5-in-search-of-pristine-nature-2/ |
Outdoor adventure and scenic views are often high on the list of vacation priorities. Here are five places that fit the bill:
1. Opt for Banff and Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada
For a top-notch opportunity to experience emerald lakes, snow-capped peaks and epic views in every direction, visit this alpine destination tucked within the majestic Canadian Rockies. Explore on foot, paddle, bike or hop in a golf cart to test your skills on the links. Stay at the Fairmont Banff Springs Resort, a caste-like landmark property inside Banff National Park. Offering stunning mountain, valley and winding-river views, the 745-room hotel is a destination in itself. Hiking, rafting, fly-fishing, championship golf, tennis, indoor and outdoor pool-time and horseback riding are all available within minutes. The Willow Stream Spa offers a full range of soothing options within 27 treatment rooms for those seeking a relaxing stay. Choose from more than a dozen on-site dining options, including an afternoon tea service, or wander into town for additional possibilities. Ask about the Kids in the Castle program and other adventure options for the younger set.
For more: https://www.fairmont.com/banff-springs/ ; https://www.banfflakelouise.com
2. Sample Idaho lake life
With a 25-mile-long lake as the centerpiece, the Idaho resort town of Coeur d’Alene lures families with the promise of beach days, a range of water sports, scenic boat rides, fishing and hiking on an assortment of nearby trails. Stay at the Coeur d’Alene Resort for easy access to amenities that include boat and jet ski rentals, spa time, outdoor dining, and a lakeside infinity pool. Play a round on the resort’s golf course that is home to the world’s only floating green. Families traveling with young children will appreciate easy access to multiple play areas and parks within walking distance. For a more laid-back vibe, visit Priest Lake, 90 miles to the north and tucked within the Selkirk Mountain Range. Check in to one of Elkins Resort’s 30 cedar log cabins, on the tree-lined shores of the pristine lake and choose from the sports of the season or claim your Adirondacks on the grassy lawn. Hike through old-growth forests, discover local waterfalls, paddle a canoe, go kayaking or test your balance on a paddleboard.
Contact: www.VisitIdaho.org. www.cdaresort.com www.ElkinsResort.com
3. Explore Bar Harbor, Maine
Located on Mount Desert Island and the gateway to Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor provides opportunities to observe Humpback, Finback and Pilot whales along with puffins, dolphins, and seals during the warmer months. Sample tasty ice cream, stroll through quaint shops to discover locally made watercolors, sweetgrass baskets and gemstone jewelry and crack open a lobster during your stay. Spend the nights at Terramor, an outdoor resort, where you’ll sleep in a luxurious platform tent, stroll through the trees on boardwalks and have the option to consult your onsite outfitter for hiking tips, trail options and even grilling basics.
For more: www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm; https://terramoroutdoorresort.com
4. Take in Traverse City, Mich.
This popular Michigan vacation spot is known for celebrating all things cherry with music, parades, tastings and art during the summer. Throughout the warmer months, family travelers enjoy the local freshwater lakes and streams, where searching for Petoskey stones, swimming, kayaking and paddling are favorite pastimes.
Visit the diverse ecosystem of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, stretching 35 miles along Lake Michigan, for miles of trails, shoreline and forested islands. Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes that encompass 20 percent of the world’s fresh water. Adults might want to arrange time to visit a handful of the more than 50 wineries in the area.
For more: www.traversecity.com.
5. Choose your backcountry
For an outdoor lover’s paradise, establish a pure connection with nature, off the beaten path. Hike, paddle or float into a pristine location where your family can learn or hone their wilderness skills. Choose a destination suitable for the ages and abilities of your crew. Encourage each person to take responsibility for the adventure whether that is early research, carrying a small pack, collecting kindling or serving as master storyteller around the fire. For the youngest set, get started with an overnight in the backyard or a nearby park. That way, should the weather or unforeseen forces create a kink in your plan, warm and dry shelter is nearby.
For more: www.Backcountry.com; www.NPS.gov.; http://www.huts.org
(Lynn O’Rourke Hayes (LOHayes.com) is an author, family travel expert and enthusiastic explorer. Gather more travel intel on Twitter @lohayes, Facebook, or via FamilyTravel.com)
©2023 FamilyTravel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/family-travel-5-in-search-of-pristine-nature/ | 2023-07-29T12:14:42 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/family-travel-5-in-search-of-pristine-nature/ |
By JIM GOMEZ (Associated Press)
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A small Philippine ferry turned upside down when passengers suddenly crowded to one side in panic as fierce winds pummeled the wooden vessel, leaving at least 26 people dead while 40 others were rescued, officials said Friday.
Coast guard and police said search and rescue efforts had resumed after a pause Thursday night. Officials said it remained unclear how many people were aboard the M/B Princess Aya, which capsized Thursday in Laguna de Bay in Rizal province east of Manila.
When people rushed to one side of the vessel amid severe winds, the boat tilted and its outrigger broke, then the boat capsized shortly after leaving a wharf in the town of Binangonan for nearby Talim island, police and the coast guard said.
The accident happened only about 46 meters (150 feet) from shore, officials said at a news conference.
The Rizal provincial police said that they immediately launched a rescue operation with the help of the coast guard and other local authorities, but that at least 26 people drowned. Forty others were saved.
“This is really a tragic event that has to be investigated,” coast guard Rear Adm. Hostillo Arturo Cornelio told reporters.
The ferry was supposed to carry a maximum of 42 passengers and crewmembers but was overloaded, Cornelio said. He said investigators would also look into reports that the passengers were not wearing life vests as required by safety regulations.
Asked how many people were on the boat, Cornelio said it was unclear if there were more than the 66 who died or were save. “We assume there could be more,” he said.
The search was continuing Friday.
A video released by the coast guard showed rescuers on a local government boat pulling a body out of the lake. Another video showed local fishermen aboard vessels approaching the overturned boat.
Typhoon Doksuri blew away Thursday after battering the northern Philippines and whipping up seasonal monsoon rains in a large swath of the archipelago.
The capsizing brought the death toll from a week of stormy weather across the main island of Luzon to 39. At least 13 people were reported killed earlier due to Doksuri’s onslaught, mostly due to landslides, flooding and toppled trees and thousands were displaced, disaster response officials said.
Sea travel was suspended in many ports during Doksuri’s onslaught from Tuesday to Wednesday, stranding thousands of passengers and cargo trucks. The no-sail orders were gradually lifted Thursday as weather improved in many areas.
Coast guard Rear Adm. Armand Balilo said the boat that capsized had set out after a no-sail order was lifted for Binangonan town. Only 22 passengers were listed on the ferry’s manifest and criminal complaints may be filed against the vessel’s owner, skipper and two crewmen, he said.
Sea accidents are common in the Philippine archipelago because of frequent storms, badly maintained boats, overcrowding and weak enforcement of safety regulations. In December 1987, the ferry Dona Paz sank after colliding with a fuel tanker, killing more than 4,300 people in the world’s worst peacetime maritime disaster. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/fierce-winds-caused-panic-on-ferry-that-capsized-in-philippines-killing-at-least-26-officials-say/ | 2023-07-29T12:14:48 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/fierce-winds-caused-panic-on-ferry-that-capsized-in-philippines-killing-at-least-26-officials-say/ |
The Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium gave details regarding the recent death of a manatee named Hugh in their care.
Hugh died at the Sarasota aquarium on April 29 due to injuries from having sex with his brother Buffett, according to NBC News.
On Friday, Mote officials reported Hugh and Buffett’s sexual behavior was natural but increased on the day Hugh died, according to a statement published on Mote’s Facebook page.
Mote’s attending veterinarians instructed the animal care team to monitor both manatees throughout the day closely.
The statement said no apparent signs of distress or discomfort were seen that would require staff intervention.
Instead, the animal care team, taking cues from the veterinarians, opted to use distraction techniques instead of separating the animals.
Previous attempts at separation between Hugh and Buffet “has previously caused undue anxiety and negative effects in both manatees,” according to Mote.
They tried to redirect the manatees’ attention with positive reinforcement tools and enrichment, both of which succeeded in the past.
“[We] acted within the professional standards and practices that we have observed throughout the 27 years Hugh and Buffett have lived together,” Mote said. “[These techniques were] recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership.”
The statement thanked everyone for their support as they “continue to mourn the loss of Hugh.” | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/florida-aquarium-details-how-manatee-died-from-sexual-encounter/ | 2023-07-29T12:14:54 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/florida-aquarium-details-how-manatee-died-from-sexual-encounter/ |
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Ford is recalling more than 870,000 newer F-150 pickup trucks in the U.S. because the electric parking brakes can turn on unexpectedly.
The recall covers certain pickups from the 2021 through 2023 model years with single exhaust systems. Ford’s F-Series pickups are the top-selling vehicles in the U.S.
The company says in documents posted by government safety regulators Friday that a rear wiring bundle can come in contact with the rear axle housing. That can chafe the wiring and cause a short circuit, which can turn on the parking brake without action from the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
Drivers may see a parking brake warning light and a warning message on the dashboard.
Ford says in documents that it has 918 warranty claims and three field reports of wire chafing in North America. Of these, 299 indicated unexpected parking brake activation, and 19 of these happened while the trucks were being driven.
The company says it doesn’t know of any crashes or injuries caused by the problem.
Dealers will inspect the rear wiring harness. If protective tape is worn through, the harness will be replaced. If the tape isn’t worn, dealers will install a protective tie strap and tape wrap.
Owners will be notified by letter starting Sept. 11.
Owners with questions can call Ford customer service at (866) 436-7332. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/ford-recalls-870k-f-150-pickups-in-us-because-parking-brakes-can-turn-on-unexpectedly/ | 2023-07-29T12:15:00 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/ford-recalls-870k-f-150-pickups-in-us-because-parking-brakes-can-turn-on-unexpectedly/ |
A former Apopka police officer is suing the city for allegedly discriminating against her after she began mental health treatment following a traumatic incident in the field.
The complaint filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court in Orlando on behalf of Ashley Eller alleges the city violated the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act when it suspended and subsequently terminated Eller “in retaliation for seeking treatment related to her disability.”
The complaint also says the city “purposefully delayed” her hearing for disability benefits, causing her a “loss of income and emotional distress.”
Eller began mental health treatment through the University of Central Florida’s RESTORES program in March 2022. Eller had been working for the police department since September 2010.
Eller sought counseling after she began “experiencing post traumatic stress disorder” because of “a work-related incident” that occurred in January, the complaint says.
After about a few months of counseling, the administration “was made aware that [Eller] had been seeking counseling through the UCF Restores program.”
According to the complaint, Eller was placed on administrative leave in June 2022.
In August, Eller emailed the city requesting to be a dispatcher “while she completed her mental health counseling program.” The email included other accommodations Eller had requested under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the complaint says.
Eller had experience working as a dispatcher, according to court records. And, at the time of her email, the city was “actively looking to hire additional hire additional [dispatchers]” and “was in such a need for additional [dispatchers] that [the city] was routinely paying overtime to its current staff of [dispatchers] and sworn officers.”
Two days after she sent the email, Eller was terminated from the police department, the complaint says.
Later that month, Eller provided the city with a note from her psychiatrist indicating she was cleared for clerical, office-based,
or record-keeping positions. Her request to be transferred to a dispatcher position was denied.
Eller filed for disability benefits in September 2022. The same month, she filed a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Florida Commission on Human Relations.
In May, after six months, the city held the first hearing about Eller’s disability request. The city issued an order approving Eller’s request for disability benefits days later.
“At all times, [Eller] was ready, able, and willing to perform the essential functions of the [police office] position had [the city] allowed her to continue treatment,” the complaint says. “[Eller] believes she was discriminated against because of her actual and/or perceived disability, and in retaliation for seeking treatment related to her disability.”
The police department and the city have not responded to multiple phone calls and voicemails seeking comment.
Eller is suing for damages “for emotional pain and suffering” as well as costs and attorney’s fees, injunctive relief and a judgment that the city violated the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act.
She has requested a jury trial.
ccann@orlandosentinel.com | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/former-apopka-police-officer-sues-city-alleges-discrimination-after-seeking-ptsd-treatment-at-ucf/ | 2023-07-29T12:15:07 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/former-apopka-police-officer-sues-city-alleges-discrimination-after-seeking-ptsd-treatment-at-ucf/ |
Four of the new head coaches entering the Orlando area high school football scene this fall are directing the teams they played for.
The new faces at Cypress Creek, Deltona, Seminole and Umatilla are driven by a unique allegiance to their school and the opportunity to prove their leadership. They up the number of Orlando area head coaches serving their high school alma mater to 10. That list includes Scott Perry, entering his 19th season at Lake Mary, and Rodney Wells, in Year 13 at Dr. Phillips; along with Kissimmee Osceola’s third-year Eric Pinellas. Skip Clayton at Lake Brantley, Geno Thompson at West Orange, and Eric Poyner at Pine Ridge are second-year head coaches.
Official practices begin Monday but these coaches, alongside others, have been putting in the work over the hot summer months.
Karl Calhoun Jr.
At age 28, Calhoun accepted the head post at Seminole High of Sanford, one of the top football programs in the state. He graduated from the school in 2013.
“I had aspirations of doing this, but I didn’t think it would happen so early,” Calhoun told the Sentinel. “I’m ready for the challenge. I’m just very fortunate to be in this position.”
He takes over for Eric Lodge, who went 32-5 in three seasons, including a 12-0 Class 8A state championship season in 2020, before he left for a higher-paying head coach position in South Carolina last spring. Lodge followed Don Stark, who departed for a more lucrative Georgia coaching job after compiling a 40-6 record in four seasons (2016-19).
Seminole also won a state title in 2008 under Mike Cullison.
Calhoun played on varsity his junior and senior years, racking up 104 tackles at linebacker.
“Playing at Seminole, the feeling of wearing orange and black is just so thorough,” he said. “To come back and coach some of the same kids that remind you of yourself is something I can’t describe.”
Calhoun played for Virginia Union University and tallied 171 tackles in 38 games.
“I think playing at the next level is a feeling and standard that needs to be upheld,” Calhoun said. “It is my job to get the kids to understand the academics, wake up every day with a goal they have to do, go to practice and workouts, eat right, go to meetings. It is easy for me to tell the guys what they need to do to get there since I’ve been there. It’s been really beneficial to them, and they are buying in.”
He added: “We currently have 18 guys with at least one [college] offer. One is committed to Duke [senior Preston Watson], another has 30 offers [junior Ethan Pritchard].”
Calhoun began his coaching career in 2018 as an assistant at Huguenot High in Richmond, Virginia. He returned to Seminole in 2021, serving as the defensive coordinator under Lodge the past two seasons.
He is familiar with the program’s success, unafraid of the challenge to maintain it.
“I think my job is to show the kids that the standard is the standard,” Calhoun said. “We’re still Seminole year in and year out, and you have to keep the same edge and mentality that you’ve had. Whether I am a first year head coach or 10 year head coach, it needs to be the same standard and same attitude going forward.”
Yet Calhoun is eager to make his mark.
“We’ve got tricks for some guys this year, some special things,” he added.
Calhoun believes that enhancing Seminole pride is the answer to another championship ring.
“What I’ve done is bring back that feeling of wearing orange and black and really appreciating it,” he said. “I think it’s been forgotten about, and now these kids wake up, and when they say ‘Seminole’, they say ‘Sanford’ or ‘Noles’. It really means something different.”
The Seminoles host a Kickoff Classic preseason game, Aug. 18 against Edgewater.
Raul Gomez
After 17 years as someone’s second-in-command, former Cypress Creek coach Raul Gomez is the Bears’ new head coach.
“Very honored and excited,” said Gomez in a social media post. “For those who know me personally know how much I wanted this to happen. Finally going back home to where it all started.”
Gomez is the program’s fifth coach in seven seasons but Cypress Creek finally gained some momentum last year. The Bears went 7-3, counting a forfeit win vs. Lake Nona — joining 2004 (6-5) as their second winning season in 31 years of football.
“We’re going to compete, not just in the playoffs but at states,” he told the Orlando Sentinel. “People think it’s crazy, but I think there is talent in Cypress to do it.”
The 2002 graduate played on the Bears’ offensive and defensive lines and earned a scholarship to Morehead State.
Football brought Gomez back to Florida. He began his coaching career as a Cypress Creek assistant (2006-2008) before transitioning to Ocoee (2009-2010), Olympia (2011-2012), Celebration (2013-2015), and Lyman (2016-2020). He was a head coach at Feltrim Academy of Haines City in 2021 before serving as the offensive coordinator at West Orange last season.
No matter where he went, Gomez kept his sights on Cypress Creek.
“It’s been my only dream job that I’ve ever had,” he said. “I’ve been everywhere, but this is where I wanted to be. I applied and interviewed four or five times.”
Gomez plans to put an end to the program’s high coaching turnover.
“I’m not going anywhere else,” he affirmed. “I told the principal that I am going to outlast everyone. There is no other job that one could offer me. This is the only place I want to be.”
He believes his passion and creative playbook lay the foundation for a team that will surprise opponents this fall.
“I bring an exciting offense. It is fast. It’s a little complex,” said Gomez. “I’ve put points on the board everywhere I’ve been, and I bring just a mindset. I want the guys to be proud to be here. They deserve wins, and they deserve to be recognized. If I can get all the kids to come back and see what I see, it can be a very special place.”
The Bears ‘preseason game is at Lake Howell on Aug. 18.
Eric Samuels
Umatilla’s 2009 Homecoming King made his homecoming.
Samuels takes over for Charlie Cerney as head coach, bringing SEC and professional experience to a program that has mostly struggled since its banner 2002 and 2003 district championship teams made playoff runs.
“Coming back to my alma mater means everything,” Samuels told the Orlando Sentinel. “If you’re an Umatilla guy, you’re always an Umatilla guy. My goal is to teach these young guys the game of football, teaching them to compete and everything we do, to get back to that hard-nosed football that Umatilla is known for.”
Umatilla went 6-5 in 2021 and 5-5 last season, moved in the right direction for a program that went 2-37 from 2016 through 2019. But losing a talented senior class means Samuels has a lot of holes to fill.
“We had five or six guys graduate last year, and they were a bunch of athletes,” said senior quarterback and free safety Logan Bowling.
Samuels was a three-year starter at running back and defensive back and team captain as a senior for a 2009 Bulldogs team that went 0-10.
“In high school, we didn’t do very well, but I enjoyed my four years,” Samuels said. “If I can go back, I would do the exact same thing at the same school. We ended up going 0-10, but one thing I can say about my team is that we played hard. We competed every game.”
Samuels earned a scholarship to Vanderbilt and playing safety. He saw action all four years and concluded his senior season with 35 tackles and 20 solo stops.
Samuels then played linebacker for the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League.
The Florida native returned after two Canadian winters (2013-2014) and spent two seasons at Umatilla (2015-2016) before becoming Wildwood’s top assistant for six years (2017-2022). He accepted Umatilla’s head position in January.
“The guys have been working hard,” said Samuels. “I was hired Jan. 23, and in February, we started right away with 6 a.m. workouts. We’ve been going nonstop with seven on seven (events). The guys are led by [seniors] Nick Adams and Logan Bowling. Those are two guys we are going to lean on this year.”
The leaders are excited for the change in coaching staff and hopeful for a winning season.
“Coach definitely brings a fire to us,” said Adams, a two-way lineman. “He has a different style of coaching and pushes us to a different level.”
The Bulldogs’ preseason game is against Halifax Academy on Aug. 18.
Matt Martin
Martin comes back to Deltona as head coach after serving as DeLand’s defensive line assistant.
“It means everything to come back,” Martin told the Sentinel. “Deltona High School is very special to me. I have been in the system for over 10 years now, and I purposely stayed away from Deltona because I wanted to come back here and see my own vision through.”
He takes over for Jeff Smothers, who accepted a defensive coordinator post in Georgia after three years with the Wolves.
Deltona went 7-3 last season, achieving a seven-win season for only the fourth time in 35 years of football. The Wolves outscored opponents 401-187, but missed the Class 3S playoffs. Their only playoff appearances were 2015 and 2016 under Allen “B.J.” Johnson but Martin is optimistic.
“I do fully believe this place can be a monster,” he said. “The talent is different than when I was a player here. The demographic is different. The community is different. I am excited about these young boys that we have.”
The 2010 graduate was a tight end and defensive end on the Wolves’ varsity team.
“We went (8-3) my sophomore year,” said Martin. “The young men we have here are arguably more talented than the team I played on. We just have to get better every single day and be the best version of us.”
He returns with a decade of coaching experience. He recently served as defensive coordinator at Pine Ridge and Daytona Beach Mainland before joining DeLand’s defensive side in 2022.
“I’ve gotten the chance to coach at some really big-time schools, but I’ve also had the chance to coach at some smaller schools,” said Martin. “I learned first-hand how to build a program.”
The Wolves preseason game is at Oviedo on Aug. 18.
Varsity Content Editor Buddy Collings contributed to this report. He can be reached by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/head-coaches-high-school-football-alma-mater-alums/ | 2023-07-29T12:15:13 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/head-coaches-high-school-football-alma-mater-alums/ |
Florida Senate Bill 1580, now signed into law and in effect as of July 1, brings back disturbing memories.
In 1981, the medical community was beginning to learn how to recognize HIV/AIDS, but its cause continued to elude us. At the time, I was a junior resident in internal medicine at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, a large public hospital. Under normal circumstances, we cared for anyone that came through our doors, but something began to change. My faculty, the senior physicians — not all, but enough — were afraid. They began to stay away from patients who “looked gay,” who might be Haitian, who were potentially drug users. “You take care of them,” they said. “I will not be involved.” Some said it was against their moral beliefs. Most were just afraid.
Adherence to ethical codes in medicine has been greatly strengthened since then, but backward legislation threatens this advancement. Over 40 years later, behaviors that physicians would consider unacceptable are now permissible under Florida law.
Florida Senate Bill 1580 provides for what it refers to as “the right of medical conscience” for health-care providers pursuant to their “moral, ethical, and religious convictions.” The law never defines what constitutes such convictions, meaning that, in theory, any bias can be invoked to deny care. Put simply, the law intends that providers be free from consequences as they discriminate against the people they are meant to serve.
Under this new law, anyone who is a health-care provider can decide they do not want to care for a patient. Maybe she looks gay, or maybe he looks like a drug user. Maybe she has come in for birth-control medication but looks “too young” or “too unmarried.” Maybe he is an accident victim who smells of alcohol, and the EMT on the scene decides she does not wish to care for someone who drinks excessively. There are literally millions of possible examples of how individual health-care workers could abuse this law to deny life-saving care for arbitrary reasons.
By enacting this law, the Republican-led Legislature and the governor have given free rein to people’s prejudices. While the law states that it does not give the right to discriminate on the basis of protected categories like race, sex, or religion, anyone who wishes to do so can construct a rationale — a “conscience-based objection” — that achieves this goal by proxy. While organized medicine recognizes that there will be times when a physician cannot, for many reasons, provide optimal care for a patient, ethical codes hold that the physician is obligated to assist the patient in finding another clinician who will care for them. Bill 1580 demands no such thing. If a practitioner decides that you offend them in some way, they are free to deny you care and to leave you without any alternatives. Imagine how this plays out in a situation where you or a family member are severely ill or in pain. Where will you go? What will you do?
If a health-care worker has a problem dealing with sick humans of any stripe, then that health-care worker needs to leave the field. There is no place in our system, already beset by high costs, inequalities, and needless suffering, for such intolerance. I lived and practiced through the horror of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. I watched health-care workers refuse to care for fellow humans because of fear and hatred. A return to this immoral and unethical behavior would be a huge step backward for medicine in this country. Instead of allowing growing hatred to spill over into our health system, we need to focus on making sure that every person in this country has access to quality, affordable care, no matter who they are.
Dr. A Joseph Layon is professor of anesthesiology at the UCF College of Medicine, as well as Medical Director of the Medical Surgical ICU at HCA Florida Lake City Hospital. He is a member of Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP). | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/health-care-workers-hamstrung-by-law-denying-care-to-some-commentary/ | 2023-07-29T12:15:19 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/health-care-workers-hamstrung-by-law-denying-care-to-some-commentary/ |
By Sam Kemmis | NerdWallet
It’s not just you: Shopping for airfare is harder than ever. Choosing between basic economy and regular economy fares and navigating add-on fees makes booking more complicated, and that’s no accident. Airlines are harnessing lessons from a still-emerging academic field known as behavioral economics to nudge customers into spending more.
“Behavioral economics was developed by incorporating ideas from psychology into standard economic theories,” says Cait Lamberton, a professor of marketing at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. “If you see a deal that is available for only a short amount of time, and you pay more than you usually would, standard economics would say you’ve made an irrational decision. Behavioral economics says that no, what your brain is doing is responding to scarcity.”
These seemingly irrational choices are called “biases,” many of which can affect how we shop.
For example, “loss aversion” makes us hyper-sensitive to losing money and more likely to buy something like trip protection. The “decoy effect” makes us more likely to choose between two suboptimal options when a third, even worse option is presented. For example, airlines may offer a decoy like an expensive premium ticket with fewer amenities, which may make the cheaper premium ticket with more benefits look more appealing.
Airlines are well aware of these tendencies and how they drive our decisions. So to save money on flights, customers need to understand how the airfare shopping experience has been engineered to exploit our biases.
Don’t buy because everyone else is
Airlines will use a technique called “social proof” to upsell certain products, such as trip protection, by suggesting that many other travelers are adding it to their itineraries. Yet these marketing tactics don’t offer much real-world value for consumers, according to experts.
Lamberton explains that those messages during the checkout process, like the number of people who have insured their trip today, shouldn’t sway your decision to purchase because they often lack context. “Is that a lot of people or a few people?,” she says.
Be prepared for add-on fees
Another bias that should ring true for anyone trying to buy an airline ticket: “decision fatigue.” That is, we tend to make worse decisions when we have to make several of them in a row.
This airline or that? Early flight or later? Pay for a window seat? Pay now for a checked bag? Upgrade to premium economy? With each decision, our ability to make ideal choices diminishes.
“Once I’m four or five clicks into purchasing this, the price has changed completely,” Lamberton says, suggesting that airlines will withhold information until later in the process, when consumers are less likely to start over.
Indeed, a 2020 study published in Marketing Science found that customers made suboptimal decisions when prices were “dripped” throughout the checkout process, largely because of their unwillingness to start over.
Overcoming decision fatigue isn’t easy. Realizing a flight is more expensive than you imagined and then starting over takes time and energy, so consider booking flights at a time when you’re not in a rush and you can spend more time doing comparison shopping.
“If you want to overcome these biases, you will have to slow down and give yourself the space to pay attention to these things,” Lamberton suggests.
Know your preferences
Budget airlines like Spirit and Frontier offer rock-bottom fares while charging more for basic add-ons like carry-on bags and seat selection. Skipping the extra fees means forgoing amenities that many travelers consider vital.
The trick is to determine ahead of time what you really need. Otherwise, you could get swayed by the upsell.
“My doctoral advisor gave me a great piece of advice: Know your own utility function,” Lamberton says, referencing an economic term for the satisfaction you gain from a certain product. “You have to know what actually matters to you.”
For example, travelers with small children may be more willing to pay for seat selection to ensure the family sits together. For solo travelers, paying $15 to select a seat might not be worth it.
The same holds for basics like when to fly. An early flight might be cheaper, but how much is a few more hours’ sleep worth? The answer will vary from person to person, and even then, there are unconscious behaviors preventing us from making the best decision.
“We don’t know what we’re going to prefer in the future — we’re terrible forecasters,” Lamberton says. “I always think, ‘I won’t mind taking that 4:30 a.m. flight.’ But of course I do.”
As a general rule, if an airline seems to be pushing an option — whether it’s upgrading your seat or adding a bundle of benefits — go back to your original preferences. Do you need it?
If you take the time to evaluate your own biases and the airline’s incentives, you might realize you don’t need to pay as much to travel.
This article was written by NerdWallet and was originally published by The Associated Press.
More From NerdWallet
Sam Kemmis writes for NerdWallet. Email: skemmis@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @samsambutdif. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/how-behavioral-economics-can-help-you-save-on-airfare/ | 2023-07-29T12:15:25 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/how-behavioral-economics-can-help-you-save-on-airfare/ |
The National Hurricane Center was back to keeping tabs on three systems with potential to form into the next tropical depression or storm including the mass of swirling rain that drenched Florida on Thursday.
Only one of the three systems, far in the Atlantic, has a high chance to form, the NHC said in its 8 p.m. tropical outlook.
The disorganized showers and thunderstorms now off the coast of northeast Florida and Georgia are associated with a weak area of low pressure that crept in over the state Thursday prompting flood warnings in South Florida and storms all up the coast and into Central Florida.
A tropical wave is moving west across the Caribbean and into southern Florida early this morning. This wave will lift across Florida today and tomorrow bringing increased chances for showers and thunderstorms to the Sunshine State. #FLwx pic.twitter.com/oSzPIzfayh
— NWS Tampa Bay (@NWSTampaBay) July 27, 2023
While it won’t form into a storm, “the disturbance could bring locally heavy rainfall to portions of northeastern Florida, eastern Georgia, and eastern South Carolina during the next day or so,” forecasters said.
The system with the biggest chance to develop is a tropical wave located about halfway between the Cape Verde Islands and the Lesser Antilles.
Its shower and thunderstorm activity has increased since Thursday.
Environmental conditions are expected to be favorable for additional gradual development of this system during the next few days, and a tropical depression
could form early next week while the system moves generally west-northwestward over the tropical Atlantic,” forecasters said.
Its projected path, though, has it remaining in the Atlantic curling to the north within a week.
The NHC gives it a 20% chance to form in the next two days, and 70% chance to form in the next seven days.
If it were to spin up into a named storm, it would become Tropical Storm Emily.
The NHC is also tracking a system in the far southwestern Caribbean near Central America with a low chance of formation.
The large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms are a mix of a tropical wave and broad area of low pressure.
It also has a 0% chance of forming.
“However, locally heavy rainfall is possible over portions of Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador during the next day or so,” the NHC said. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/hurricane-center-back-to-tracking-3-systems-including-one-that-doused-florida/ | 2023-07-29T12:15:31 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/hurricane-center-back-to-tracking-3-systems-including-one-that-doused-florida/ |
YORK, S.C. (AP) — A fatal boat crash believed to have spun the downfall of Alex Murdaugh has resulted in a $15 million settlement in a lawsuit against a convenience store that sold beer to the disgraced attorney’s underage son.
A judge on Thursday approved the deal between the victim’s family and Parker’s Kitchen, according to local media reports. An investigation revealed that a clerk for the Southern chain did not stop Paul Murdaugh from using his older brother’s ID to buy beer on the same February 2019 night that authorities said the 19-year-old steered a boat into a bridge in Beaufort County, South Carolina.
The wreck killed Mallory Beach, 19, and injured three others.
Parker’s Kitchen did not undertake liability for Beach’s death through the settlement. The Beach family has said they hope the high total will compel stores to seriously follow alcohol laws.
Paul Murdaugh faced charges of boating under the influence at the time of his death.
Alex Murdaugh is serving a life sentence without parole for the June 2021 killings of his wife, Maggie, and Paul, his youngest son. Prosecutors in this year’s double murder trial argued that Alex Murdaugh feared a wrongful death lawsuit stemming from the boat crash would uncover the millions of dollars he had stolen from his clients and law firm. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/judge-oks-15m-payout-from-store-where-alex-murdaughs-underage-son-got-beer-before-fatal-crash/ | 2023-07-29T12:15:37 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/judge-oks-15m-payout-from-store-where-alex-murdaughs-underage-son-got-beer-before-fatal-crash/ |
By MARK SHERMAN (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Samuel Alito says Congress lacks the power to impose a code of ethics on the Supreme Court, making him the first member of the court to take a public stand against proposals in Congress to toughen ethics rules for justices in response to increased scrutiny of their activities beyond the bench.
“I know this is a controversial view, but I’m willing to say it. No provision in the Constitution gives them the authority to regulate the Supreme Court—period,” Alito said in an interview he gave to the Wall Street Journal opinion pages. An account of the interview, which the paper said took place in New York in early July, was published Friday.
Democrats last week pushed Supreme Court ethics legislation through a Senate committee, though the bill’s prospects in the full Senate are dim.
All federal judges other than the justices already adhere to an ethics code that was developed by the federal judiciary. But the Supreme Court’s unique status — it’s the only federal court created by the Constitution — puts it outside the reach of those standards that apply to other federal jurists.
Democrats first sought to address that after ProPublica reported earlier this year that Justice Clarence Thomas participated in lavish vacations and a real estate deal with a top Republican donor — and after Chief Justice John Roberts declined to testify before the committee about the ethics of the court.
Since then, ProPublica also revealed that Alito had taken a luxury vacation in Alaska with a Republican donor who had business interests before the court. The Associated Press reported in early July that Justice Sonia Sotomayor, aided by her staff, has advanced sales of her books through college visits over the past decade.
The 73-year-old Alito, who joined the court in 2006, has rejected the idea that he should have disclosed the Alaska trip or stepped away from cases involving the donor, hedge fund owner Paul Singer. Alito penned his own Wall Street Journal op-ed, which was published hours before ProPublica posted its story.
Alito said that he is unwilling to leave allegations unanswered, though he acknowledged judges and justices typically don’t respond to their critics.
“And so at a certain point I’ve said to myself, nobody else is going to do this, so I have to defend myself,” he said in the newest column.
While no other justice has spoken so definitively about ethics legislation, Roberts has raised questions about Congress’ authority to oversee the high court.
In his year-end report in 2011, Roberts wrote that the justices comply with legislation that requires annual financial disclosures and limits their outside earned income. “The Court has never addressed whether Congress may impose those requirements on the Supreme Court. The Justices nevertheless comply with those provisions,” Roberts wrote.
The justices have so far resisted adopting an ethics code on their own, although Roberts said in May that there is more the court can do to “adhere to the highest standards” of ethical conduct, without providing specifics.
The column is co-written by James Taranto, the paper’s editorial features editor, and David Rivkin, a Washington lawyer. Rivkin represents Leonard Leo, the onetime leader of the conservative legal group The Federalist Society, in his dealings with Senate Democrats who want details of Leo’s dealings with the justices. Leo helped arrange Alito’s trip to Alaska.
Rivkin, in a letter Tuesday to leading Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the request was politically motivated and violates Leo’s constitutional rights. Rivkin also wrote that a congressionally imposed ethics code for the Supreme Court would falter on constitutional grounds. Separately, Rivkin represents a couple whose tax case will be argued before the court in the fall.
Alito talked with the Taranto and Rivkin for four hours in interviews in April and July, they wrote. They published an account of the earlier interview in April. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/justice-alito-says-congress-lacks-the-power-to-impose-an-ethics-code-on-the-supreme-court/ | 2023-07-29T12:15:43 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/justice-alito-says-congress-lacks-the-power-to-impose-an-ethics-code-on-the-supreme-court/ |
‘Depoliticizing military’ column was too political
As a journalist who has written for military publications for more than 20 years, I take issue with Demetries Grimes’ column (“Bans on gender-affirming care, CRT help to depoliticize US military,” July 25). He ignores a threat to the country, and imposes his own political views.
Grimes supports “the prohibition of the DoD from carrying out climate change-related executive actions.” In fact, the DoD has considered climate change as a pivotal element of its strategic planning for decades, as it has a significant effect on military operations.
By studying climate change, the U.S. military has recognized that a whole new battlefield has opened up in the Arctic region. Rising atmospheric temperatures have melted thousands of years-old glacial ice packs in the Arctic Ocean and Barents Sea, creating new open waters for Russian ship operations.
According to many military sources, Russia will build a base in the Arctic, and believes that the country that owns the Arctic region will rule the world. The DoD, U.S. Navy and allies have had to adapt to this threat, radically having to change strategic planning and operations to deal with this new peril.
Grimes also advocates “the cutting of critical race theory and diversity and inclusion programs.” Sources for my articles on recruitment have reported that all of the U.S. services have employed diversity programs to encourage interest in a military career. Such efforts are critical to meeting recruitment goals. The Army was short 15,000 recruits last year.
Chuck Weirauch Casselberry
Proposed Black history curriculum is balanced
I’ve long admired the work of Scott Maxwell, but found the July 26 piece on Florida’s Black History curriculum a bit narrow (“Florida teaches warped version of history”).
As a teacher, I’ve tried to present potentially sensitive topics with honesty and objectivity, always trying to explore many views including causes, logic, corroborations, reasons, beliefs and outcomes. This engages students’ thinking skills as they learn to sort out for themselves the tsunami of today’s information overload.
It’s significant that this curriculum was designed by Black history professors with the benefits of lifetime study of these issues. The work seems to balance an unfiltered view of evil and inhumane conditions during slavery, with what could be learned from the experience — both from those who experienced it and those who learned to regret their participation.
I’m reminded of Shakespeare’s “uses of adversity.” We’ve had to face history’s painful events from lion’s den to Inquisition to Holocaust and beyond — endless examples of man’s cruelty and inhumanity. We either learn from them, or personally climb out of them. After the Civil War, some Confederate leaders did not want to be honored with statues, but preferred to focus on unity and mending. Trying to erase our past is futile; we’d never snare it all. We’ve been inspired by the resilience that has pulled humans out of poverty, war injuries, abuse and so much more.
So — it seems that this curriculum is balanced in showing the horrors of slavery and the resiliency of the human spirit as proved by including the powerful contributions of Black Americans.
Nan Williams Winter Park
Rubio has no credibility on climate change
Marco Rubio has no credibility on climate change issues (“U.S. must decouple from Chinese solar,” July 28). He has rejected the science of climate change and said there is nothing we can do about it anyway. He apparently ignores the water in Miami streets from king tides.
It is unconscionable that Rubio, along with Sen. Rick Scott and Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida’s top elected officials reject the science of global warming when Florida is most vulnerable to its effects.
Mary Spera Melbourne | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/letters-military-isnt-political-black-history-teaching-balanced-rubio-off-base-on-climate-change/ | 2023-07-29T12:15:49 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/letters-military-isnt-political-black-history-teaching-balanced-rubio-off-base-on-climate-change/ |
MIAMI — Jon Berti’s second hit of the game was a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning, helping the Miami Marlins to a 6-5 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night.
Luis Arraez doubled and had two singles to raise his major league-leading batting average to .380, and Bryan De La Cruz homered and doubled and drove in three runs for the Marlins.
Miami squandered an early four-run lead before Jesús Sánchez reached on a leadoff infield single in the eighth against Tigers reliever Jason Foley (2-3) and advanced on Yuli Gurriel’s single. Berti then hit a sharp grounder past first baseman Spencer Torkelson that scored pinch-runner Garrett Hampson from second and advanced Gurriel two bases. Joey Wendle’s sacrifice fly to deep center scored Gurriel.
The Tigers had tied the game at 4 in the top of the inning when Nick Maton hit a two-run double off Marlins reliever J.T. Chargois (2-0).
A.J. Puk allowed a double by Torkelson and an RBI single by Andy Ibañez before eventually striking out the side for his 16th save. Former New York Mets closer David Robertson, acquired in a trade by Miami late Thursday, will join the club Saturday.
Tigers’ star slugger Miguel Cabrera went 0 for 3 and was hit by a pitch. Cabrera, who will retire at the end of the season, spent the first five seasons of his career with the Marlins. The club honored Cabrera with a video tribute and gifts before the game.
Many in the crowd of 15,918 chanted “Let’s Go Miggy” during Cabrera’s plate appearances.
De La Cruz put Miami ahead early with a two-run homer in the first. He drove a sinker from Tigers starter Reese Olson over the wall in left-center for his 14th homer.
The Marlins padded the lead on Jean Segura’s RBI infield single in the second and De La Cruz’s run-scoring double in the third.
Marlins starter Braxton Garrett limited Detroit to one unearned run and five hits over six innings. The left-hander struck out six, walked one and hit a batter.
Detroit got on the board in the fourth when third baseman Segura muffed Cabrera’s grounder, allowing Javier Báez to score from first.
Torkelson’s RBI single off reliever Tanner Scott in the seventh got the Tigers within 4-2.
Olson settled down after the third and matched a career-high six innings. The rookie right-hander, in his eighth major league start, gave up four runs and eight hits.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Marlins: Scott exited because of a mild right calf strain while trying to beat Báez to the bag on an infield single with one out in the eighth. … OF Jazz Chisholm Jr. (left oblique strain) did a full workout Friday.
UP NEXT
The Marlins send RHP Johnny Cueto (0-1, 4.50) against Detroit in the middle game of the three-game set. The Tigers didn’t announce a starter. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/marlins-tigers-friday/ | 2023-07-29T12:15:55 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/marlins-tigers-friday/ |
I’m not a cook. We’ve discussed this. I do, however, love to entertain. Because having guests to my home typically involves feeding them, I try to compensate for my lack of culinary skills with stylish presentation. A little sleight of hand never hurt anyone.
With a few hostess hacks, I can elevate the most humdrum potato salad from the grocery store deli, chicken wings from the hot counter and a plastic tub of watermelon chunks into a sublime picnic. More on that in a minute.
Chef David Tiner, director of the Louisiana Culinary Institute in Baton Rouge, is unsurprised. “We eat with our eyes first,” he said. “Then we eat with our nose. I’m a big believer that if looks good and smells good, I’m going to like it.”
The presentation may not be everything, but it’s at least two-thirds.
“As long as the food is out of the box and on your serving pieces, which will reflect your style, guests won’t care where it came from,” said Sharon Brenner, a caterer in Winter Park. “Everything tastes better in a pretty bowl, and pizza set out on a cake riser looks instantly nicer.”
How does your herb garden grow? By making friends
Whether you are a culinary institute graduate or you buy take-out tacos from a food truck, here are 10 more ways Tiner and Brenner say that home hosts can make their food look better than it is:
- Use platter power. Anything that comes in a to-go container will instantly look better on a platter. Pick one that’s the right size. Too small, and the food is hard to serve. Too big makes guests think you don’t have enough. “When placing sliced food on a platter, don’t just dump it in a pile; set it in same position it was when you sliced it,” said Tiner. “It looks more appealing.”
- Elevate. Height is important when presenting food. Fight the flat. Rather than serve everything at counter level, use risers and cake stands. You can even turn a Dutch oven or a cast iron skillet upside down to create a food stand or set dishes on a wooden wine crate. A tall decorative vase filled with flowers, branches or fresh lemons can also break up the landscape.
- Use the unexpected. You don’t need silver platters and fine china to serve your fare, though use them if you like and you have them. Shop your cupboards for trays and breadboards that can double as platters. Repurpose commonplace containers. Use a piece of crockery or a galvanized bucket lined with a napkin for flatware. Brenner likes to put breadsticks, long crackers or pretzel rods in wine glasses.
- Compose your colors. When selecting serving dishes, make sure the colors work with the food. “No one wants to see salmon on an orange platter,” Tiner said. But it would work well on a cedar plank. Even better, set the salmon on a bed of steamed spinach, Brenner said. Though she likes to mix wood, glass and ceramic serving pieces, her go-to is plain white dishes. “They’re inexpensive, go with everything and let the food be the focal point.”
- Layer, don’t divide. If foods are meant to go together, like turkey and stuffing or meatloaf and mashed potatoes, stack them so guests help themselves to both in one scoop.
- Drizzle, don’t drown. When a dish has gravy or sauce to go with it, use it as an accent. Artfully drizzle it over the dish; don’t drench it. Serve the rest on the side so that guests can add more.
- Garnish with intention. Adding a garnish, like a lemon slice or an herb sprig, separates the amateur from the pro. It’s like putting the right throw pillow on the sofa. But the secret is the garnish must be an ingredient that is or could be in the dish, Tiner said. For example, don’t put a rosemary sprig by the lemon squares. Rosemary stands up well next to red meat or certain chicken dishes. And lemon squares would look nice surrounding a mound of fresh whole lemons.
- Manage the flow. When creating a buffet line, Tiner likes to put the main dish at the end. “By putting all the side dishes up front and the star of the show at the end, your guests will likely try more items. If you put the main dish first, they may take three helpings and then exit. Create stations to keep guests circulating and prevent traffic jams. At my home, I often set up a drink station and dessert table apart from the main buffet.
- Swirl in some swag. Whether a strip of burlap or a linen tablecloth, lengths of fabric nestled and looped under and around dishes on a buffet add texture and interest.
- Make it yours. “‘Semi-homemade’ is the term we use when you change a premade item and make it yours,” Tiner said. Take that deli dinner mentioned earlier. Maybe you add a tablespoon of mustard and fresh dill to the store-bought potato salad and put it in a pretty bowl, arrange the wings on a wooden platter on top of a bed of arugula, and toss the watermelon chunks with some fresh mint and crumbled feta cheese, and presto. When someone asks, “Did you make this?” You smile and nod.
Marni Jameson is the author of six home and lifestyle books, including What to Do With Everything You Own to Leave the Legacy You Want, Downsizing the Family Home – What to Save, What to Let Go, and Downsizing the Blended Home – When Two Households Become One. You may reach her at marnijameson.com. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/marni-jameson-10-hostess-hacks-food/ | 2023-07-29T12:16:01 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/marni-jameson-10-hostess-hacks-food/ |
TAMPA — Baker Mayfield entered the interview tent at Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp just as coach Todd Bowles exited and playfully lobbed the first question of the quarterback’s news conference.
“Are you the starter, Baker?” Bowles asked, smiling as he continued walking away.
Mayfield grinned, too, though he didn’t provide much insight Thursday into where the competition for Tom Brady’s old job stands.
Instead, the No. 1 overall pick from the 2018 NFL draft who’s battling third-year pro Kyle Trask to become Brady’s successor reiterated he’s simply focused on learning the offense and making the most of an opportunity to jumpstart his career.
“We just work each day. One day at a time, right now,” Mayfield began. “We are just getting into the swing of things offensively with the recall of what we worked on in the spring.”
Trask is a 2021 second-round draft pick who spent the past two seasons a third-stringer learning from Brady, who retired last winter after a historic 23-year run that included six Super Bowl titles with the New England Patriots and one with the Bucs.
Mayfield, 28, is with his fourth team in two years. He’s 31-38 in 69 starts, including 29-30 over four seasons with the Cleveland Browns.
“We’re trying to make the quarterback room as good as possible. … No matter what position I am in, I’m going to try and get everybody better,” Mayfield said of the competition, which began during offseason workouts.
“I’m still going to be me. I’ll work my tail off, obviously, to start. That’s the goal,” he added. “But so is to get everybody else better around me, to raise that competition level and that standard as well.”
In addition to leading the Browns to the playoffs once in four seasons, Mayfield spent time last season with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams.
“Being in different places and experiences always helps you. If you don’t take lessons from that and learn from it, then you are doing it wrong,” Mayfield said. “I have taken lessons from that in understanding how to approach the game from different seats. I am approaching it like I want to be the starter.”
Trask has appeared in one regular-season game, completing 3 of 9 passes for 23 yards.
“As cliche as it sounds, you just want to compete with yourself and make sure you’re progressing every single day. … That’s been my main focus,” Trask said.
Bowles is not in a hurry to make a decision.
“Obviously, you take notes and you look at things in the spring to see how they learn, see how they handle the team, see how they grow, see how they encourage others and see who is the best fit for the offense. You evaluate it as the time goes,” Bowles said.
“I’ve got a timetable in my head. Obviously, it will be preseason,” the coach added. “I’m not going to make it in the regular season.”
If general manager Jason Licht knows how Bowles is leaning, he’s not saying.
“People can have in their head, ‘Well, it seems like it’s for sure going to be this person or it’s not going to be this person.’ But until we’re out there, anything can happen,” the GM said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun just to really focus on how this is going to play out.” | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/mayfield-trask-competing-to-become-buccaneers-starter-hoping-to-make-one-another-better-2/ | 2023-07-29T12:16:07 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/mayfield-trask-competing-to-become-buccaneers-starter-hoping-to-make-one-another-better-2/ |
By Deb Balzer | Mayo Clinic News Network (TNS)
There is a growing body of evidence that shows ultraprocessed foods are not only unhealthy but increase the risk of cancers. The term ultraprocessed food was created as a way to categorize food, known at the NOVA classification. The system allows experts to better understand the health impact of different food categories.
Mayo Clinic’s Dr. Dawn Mussallem talks more about the connection of ultraprocessed food and cancer.
“The average American in the United States consumes at least 63% ultraprocessed foods,” says Dr. Mussallem.
She says vegetables only account for 12% of the average American diet – and half of those vegetables consumed are processed.
“We know that ultraprocessed foods are linked directly to premature mortality or deaths.”
They also are linked to colorectal, ovarian and breast cancer.
“Studies are showing us is that not only do the ultraprocessed foods increase the risk of cancer, but that after a cancer diagnosis such foods increase the risk of dying,” Dr. Mussallem says.
What qualifies as ultraprocessed food?
“Ultraprocessed foods would be things in a package — things like crackers, and pastries and cupcakes and muffins, processed meat,” she says.
They include ingredients you can’t bring into your own kitchen.
“With those ultraprocessed foods, you’re getting chemicals and additives that likely are very risky for cancer survivors,” says Dr. Mussallem.
Add plenty of fruits and vegetables to your diet. Eat whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds for optimal health benefits.
©2023 Mayo Clinic News Network. Visit newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/mayo-clinic-minute-is-there-a-connection-between-ultraprocessed-food-and-cancer/ | 2023-07-29T12:16:13 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/mayo-clinic-minute-is-there-a-connection-between-ultraprocessed-food-and-cancer/ |
MIAMI GARDENS — The left knee injury star Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey suffered Thursday will indeed keep him out until December, it appears.
The surgery involved a full meniscus repair, according to NFL Network, which was the long-term outcome of surgery that requires a lengthier rehab over the more optimistic timeline that could’ve brought him back early in the regular season.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Friday morning that the surgery was scheduled for 1 p.m. He noted the two possible outcomes from surgery, with a return before the start of the season out of the equation in both scenarios. A report from NFL Network Thursday evening said the more likely result was a recovery timeline that lasts into December.
“The length of this rehabilitation is kind of dictated on a couple of things that could occur in the surgery,” McDaniel said before surgery was performed. “The exact timeline there is a little to be determined. What I can tell you, I don’t think the beginning of the regular season is really a part of the scenario. It’s going to be into the season, and how deep that is depends on what happens (Friday).”
The good news from the series of Friday updates is that Ramsey’s anterior cruciate ligament remains intact. A tear to the ACL would’ve cost Ramsey his entire first season in Miami after the franchise traded for the six-time Pro Bowl cornerback in March.
The Dolphins’ prized offseason acquisition injured the knee toward the end of Thursday’s practice, covering wide receiver Tyreek Hill on a play. McDaniel said the injury was non-contact and occurred before Ramsey and Hill got tangled up.
Ramsey limped to the sideline, had his left knee attended to by trainers, sat down for several minutes while it was examined and eventually had a cart come out to take him into team facilities before as Thursday’s practice concluded.
“What was the most amazing thing about the whole thing was the way Jalen responded,” McDaniel said. “He spoke to the team (Thursday), and it really moved a lot of people. He first let everybody know how much he appreciated this team, how this team has accepted him, and how he knows that what we’re doing here, in his opinion, is special.
“He told all of his teammates not to worry, not to feel sorry for him. He’s going through whatever timeline the doctors give him. He’s going after that timeline, and trying to flex that he’ll beat it.
“He couldn’t be more committed and excited to join the team this year.”
McDaniel said he is happy with his cornerback depth, led by four-time Pro Bowl selection Xavien Howard, but the team may look into signing a free agent cornerback in the coming days.
“I feel good about the entire crew, ” McDaniel said. “I feel very, very, very good about the competition there and the guys that are ready to go see some more opportunities. There’s Pro Bowlers and hungry young guys, and everything in between.”
The Dolphins already went through a series of cornerback injuries last season, and 2022 undrafted rookie Kader Kohou emerged as a reliable starter amid the turmoil at the position.
“I see determination and hunger to build on what he’s already done,” McDaniel said of Kohou entering a second season. “Kader’s a prime example of seeking opportunity, and every player is very aware of that.”
Kohou said Thursday he feels comfortable contributing both inside in the nickel and outside as a boundary cornerback. He added the team’s depth in the secondary is better equipped now to handle the loss of a key cornerback.
Miami drafted a cornerback in the second round of the past draft, South Carolina’s Cam Smith. McDaniel was cautious not to project too far in advance for the rookie who has now gone through three training camp practices.
“It is a journey,” McDaniel said. “I have seen steps forward and steps back. I have seen a consistent human being that is earning the trust and respect of his teammates by how he’s approaching things professionally.”
Dolphins linebacker Duke Riley touted both cornerbacks’ footwork and said Kohou will maximize getting thrust into action last season.
“Two great young players with bright futures,” Riley said.
The Dolphins may also soon rely on Nik Needham once he returns from the physically-unable-to-perform list, which McDaniel expects will happen at some point during camp. Needham is recovering from an Achilles tear that cut his 2022 season short. Trill Williams, who may play some cornerback and safety, has come back from knee injury last preseason.
Other candidates to step up include 2020 first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene and special teams contributors Keion Crossen and Justin Bethel.
“There’s always going to be adversity,” said Igbinoghene, who has changed his mental approach after three underwhelming seasons since being selected in the first round of the 2020 draft. “For me, my mentality, it’s not really a competition to me anymore. … I’m going to have a different type of opportunity now that that happened, but moving forward, I’m just going to focus on myself and my teammates and supporting my teammates and continue to get better at my craft.”
Last season, the Dolphins had cornerback Byron Jones start training camp on the PUP list and never get activated throughout the year. He was released in the offseason after he never recovered from lower left leg surgery. Miami later lost Williams and Mackensie Alexander in the preseason. Needham was lost for the year in October, and Howard battled groin injuries throughout the season. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/mike-mcdaniel-dolphins-cb-jalen-ramsey-to-have-friday-afternoon-surgery/ | 2023-07-29T12:16:19 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/mike-mcdaniel-dolphins-cb-jalen-ramsey-to-have-friday-afternoon-surgery/ |
By FELIPE DANA and JIM HEINTZ (Associated Press)
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian forces on Friday struck the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro and pounded a key village in the southeast that Ukraine claimed to have recaptured in its grinding counteroffensive, while Moscow accused Kyiv of firing two missiles at southern Russia and wounding 20 people.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meanwhile, marked Ukraine’s Statehood Day by reaffirming the country’s sovereignty — a rebuke to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who used his claim that Ukraine didn’t exist as a nation to justify his invasion.
“Now, like more than a thousand years ago, our civilizational choice is unity with the world,” Zelenskyy said in a speech on a square outside St. Michael’s Monastery in Kyiv. “To be a power in world history. To have the right to its national history -– of its people, its land, its state. And of our children -– all future generations of the Ukrainian people. We will definitely win!”
He also honored servicemen and handed out first passports to young citizens as part of ceremonies. The holiday coincides with commemorations of the adoption of Christianity on lands that later became Ukraine, Russia and Belarus.
The Russian Defense Ministry said it shot down a Ukrainian missile in the city of Taganrog, about 40 kilometers (about 24 miles) east of the border with Ukraine, and local officials reported 20 people were injured, identifying the epicenter as an art museum.
Debris fell on the city, the ministry added, alleging the missile was part of a “terror attack” by Ukraine.
Oleksiy Danilov, Ukraine’s secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, blamed Russian air defense systems for the explosion.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said it downed a second Ukrainian missile near the city of Azov, which like Taganrog is in the Rostov region, and debris fell in an unpopulated location.
Earlier in the day, a Ukrainian drone was shot down outside Moscow, the Defense Ministry said, in the third drone strike or attempt on the capital region this month. The ministry reported no injuries or damage in the latest incident, and it didn’t give an exact location where the drone fell.
Since the war began, Russia has blamed Ukraine for drone, bomb and missile attacks on its territory far from the battlefield’s front line. Ukrainian officials rarely confirm being behind the attacks, which have included drone strikes on the Kremlin that unsettled Russians.
The strikes have hit Russian ammunition and fuel depots, as well as bridges the Russian military uses to supply its forces, and military recruitment stations. The attacks have also included killings of Russian-appointed officials on occupied Ukrainian territory.
Three months ago, a Russian warplane accidentally dropped a bomb on Belgorod, injuring two people, in an incident where Ukraine was initially suspected.
In Dnipro, an apparent Russian missile attack wounded nine people in the area of a newly constructed and as yet unoccupied 12-story apartment building, as well as an unoccupied adjacent Security Service of Ukraine building. “Russian missile terror again,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media.
Video showed the apartment building’s upper floors in ruins, with gray smoke billowing from them, and flames raging in the night at ground level, where shattered concrete and glass littered a courtyard.
Russia has often struck apartment buildings during the conflict, while denying it intentionally targets civilians.
Meanwhile, the commander of Ukraine’s armed forces, Col.-Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, said his troops were pushing forward in parts of eastern Ukraine occupied by Russia and meeting stiff resistance as the war drags into its 18th month.
“The enemy fiercely clings to every centimeter, conducting intense artillery and mortar fire,” he said in a statement.
Recent fighting has taken place at multiple places along the more than 1,000-kilometer (more than 600-mile) front, where Ukraine deployed its recently acquired Western weapons to push out the Kremlin’s forces. However, it is attacking without vital air support and faces a deeply entrenched foe.
A Western official said Thursday that Ukraine had launched a major push in the southeast. Putin acknowledged that fighting has intensified there, but insisted Kyiv’s push has failed.
Zelenskyy posted a video Thursday night in which Ukrainian soldiers said they had taken Staromaiorske in the Donetsk region. Russian military bloggers said artillery fire at the Ukrainian troops had effectively razed the village and reported more barrages Friday.
Capturing the village, which in 2014 had a population of 682, would give Ukraine a platform to push deeper into Russian-held territory, the bloggers noted.
The area has been a focus of Ukraine’s counteroffensive since June, and its troops have previously captured several other villages there as they slowly work their way across extensive Russian minefields.
It was not possible to verify either side’s claims about what is happening in the war zone.
Syrskyi said fighting that targets the enemy’s artillery as well as its command and control structure is a priority as his troops probe Russian lines for weaknesses.
“In these conditions, it is crucial to make timely management decisions in response to the situation at hand and take measures for maneuvering forces and resources, shifting units and troops to areas where success is evident, or withdrawing them from the enemy’s fire,” he said.
Russia is trying to hold on to the territory it controls in the four provinces it illegally annexed in September — Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Kherson and Luhansk.
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Heintz reported from Tallinn, Estonia. Andrew Katell in New York contributed.
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An earlier version corrected that Oleksiy Danilov is Ukraine’s secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, not defense minister.
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Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/moscow-blames-kyiv-for-attacks-in-south-russia-as-kremlin-forces-hit-ukrainian-buildings/ | 2023-07-29T12:16:25 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/moscow-blames-kyiv-for-attacks-in-south-russia-as-kremlin-forces-hit-ukrainian-buildings/ |
Museum of Illusions Orlando attraction at Icon Park is now offering free admission to Florida’s teachers throughout the school year.
Current professors and teachers receive the complimentary tickets by presenting a valid school ID and email address. They can be booked online or in person at the International Drive location.
With online bookings, teachers use the discount code TEACH23 and then show credentials upon arrival. They can also secure companion tickets for $19.99 (discount code: BACK2SCHOOL) and a 10% discount in the Museum of Illusions gift shop. (Regular ticket prices vary with dates, starting as low as $24.99. The attraction website also lists a Florida resident rate of $20.99.)
Museum of Illusions features 50 reality-altering interactives, some as large as a room, others as flat as a wall painting. The walk-through experience’s tricks also can educate participants about perception, vision, the brain and other scientific concepts.
Teachers “deserve to be recognized for their hard work all year long. We’re excited to hopefully teach them something about the world of optical illusions and see them stunned by our mind-bending exhibits,” Stephanie Berrios, sales and marketing manager, said in a news release.
For more information or to book tickets (teachers and non-educators alike), go to moiorlando.com.
Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. My Threads account is @dbevil. You can subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/museum-of-illusions-orlando-florida-teachers-free-tickets/ | 2023-07-29T12:16:31 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/museum-of-illusions-orlando-florida-teachers-free-tickets/ |
People from around the country have descended on the Florida the Keys for a chance to grab some Florida spiny lobster.
The crustacean isn’t only craved locally, but also as far away as China.
The “bugs” can be found in other areas of the state, including Miami-Dade and Broward. But the Keys remain the most popular spot to search for spiny lobster during the annual two-day miniseason.
Here’s what to know:
Weather a factor during lobster miniseason
Held on the final Wednesday and Thursday of every July, the Florida lobster miniseason is typically marked by seasonal hot and humid mid-summer temperatures under a blazing sun. But high winds, heavy rain and white caps on the bay and ocean greeted snorkelers and divers this year.
Mother nature seemed determined on making opening day as uncomfortable as possible. Thursday looked a little better, but with a strong chance of thunderstorms through the day, according to the National Weather Service.
“In 18 years, I’ve never seen it like this,” said Monroe County Deputy Willie Guerra, a 30-year law enforcement officer, almost 20 of which have been spent on marine patrol in the Keys.
Although Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission officers enforce most conservation laws in the Keys, there’s a good chance that if you’ve been cited or arrested in the island chain on a fisheries violation, it was Guerra’s case.
He said stopping the poaching of the Keys’ natural resources is a priority for him because wildlife is the root of livelihoods in the Keys.
“We have no factories. We have no warehouses. We have tourism and fishing,” Guerra said. “It’s our main resource in the Keys, and we take it very seriously.”
Trouble on the water in Miami area
In Miami-Dade County, one man in his 60s drowned and a man in his 30s was hit by a boat, according to police spokesman Detective Argemis Colome.
Violations on the water in the Keys
Some of the most common violations Guerra said he sees are divers not having a measuring device with them in the water (lobsters must measure three inches at the carapace) and having a speargun or any other device that pierces the animals’ shell.
But on Wednesday, not only were the numbers of boaters and divers on the water down significantly compared to years past, those who braved the weather — and there were still plenty of them — respected the rules, for the most part. Guerra wrote no citations nor made arrests, only issuing some verbal warnings.
And despite the limited visibility caused by the weather-whipped-up shallow waters, many anglers quickly caught their limit — six per person, per day in the Keys.
Getting the catch
Dennis Milian, who came down to the Keys with a group of friends from Miami, said he got as soon as daylight dawned, before the storm clouds and crowds gathered.
“Earlier was good, Milian said around 10 a.m. “That’s we caught most of our lobsters.”
Heynor Mejai, 20, traveled from Jupiter for a shot to catch his six, which he did in about 20 minutes, he said. Asked if he’d be back Thursday for round two, he responded, “I wish. I gotta work.”
But others, like Humberto Pedroso III, 52, from Pinecrest, came up almost empty-handed.
“Over 30 years, this is probably the worst day I’ve had,” said Pedroso, walking down the side of U.S. 1 on Long Key holding a mesh bag with two lobsters in it and a yellow hookah diving rig.
Lisa Dinh, 62, said miniseason didn’t live up to the hype after she crossed the country with her husband and some friends to catch some spiny lobster.
“This is our first time. We’re from California and we’ve heard about this event,” she said drying off after exiting Florida Bay near Long Key with no lobsters. “Very disappointing.”
Her husband, Chien Dinh, also 62, didn’t let the goose egg and stormy conditions ruin his good time.
“The water’s beautiful,” he said. “I can’t complain.”
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©2023 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/never-seen-it-like-this-stormy-search-for-lobster-in-the-keys-see-what-it-looks-like/ | 2023-07-29T12:16:37 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/never-seen-it-like-this-stormy-search-for-lobster-in-the-keys-see-what-it-looks-like/ |
TALLAHASSEE — If it hadn’t been for a fender bender on Interstate 75 near Chattanooga, Tennessee, Tuesday morning, most folks wouldn’t know that Gov. Ron DeSantis was using state government vehicles for his 2024 run for president.
Tuesday’s four-vehicle collision on the way to a campaign fundraiser draws a curtain back on the campaign’s use of state resources. But finding out who’s paying for it is nearly impossible thanks to a new law passed by the Legislature to protect the governor’s travel records from public view.
“The legislature has enabled him to hide his travel records so we don’t know and have no way to hold him accountable if he is using state resources in his campaign or if that is even the case,” said Ben Wilcox, research director for Integrity Florida, a nonprofit government watchdog.
It was frustrating enough when trying to monitor his use of government resources while traveling around the state, Rep. Anna Eskamani said, but to take those people and vehicles out of state is even worse.
“It’s absurd that he’s using public resources and public infrastructure to campaign.” said Eskamani, D-Orlando. “He’s using state resources to boost himself politically.”
The governor’s campaign motorcade was on their way to a fundraiser in Chattanooga when an accident up ahead caused traffic to slow down. A Tennessee Highway Patrol officer leading the motorcade stopped short, Chattanooga police reported, causing the vehicles behind it to rear-end each other.
“If the accident hadn’t been reported, we wouldn’t have known otherwise about the use of state vehicles,” Eskamani said. “It makes you wonder how often state vehicles and public employees are being used at out-of-state campaign events.”
A female staffer was treated on the scene for minor injuries, but no one else was hurt, police said. Other accident victims included Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents. All the vehicles involved were government vehicles, the police report said.
The accident occurred at the start of a long day of campaign fundraisers scheduled in Tennessee, including in Knoxville and Nashville.
The DeSantis campaign did not respond to a request for more information about the use of state vehicles and personnel.
“We’ve never answered questions about our protective operations assets (number of agents used, vehicles etc.),” FDLE spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger said when asked how much the agency was charging for travel and security for the governor’s campaign.
The FDLE puts out an annual protective services report in August, but Plessinger didn’t say whether it would break down campaign expenses or show reimbursements for them.
The DeSantis campaign’s federal campaign finance report filed July 15 for the three-month period ending June 30 doesn’t show any payments to FDLE for travel or security expenses.
It does show the campaign spent $76,256 on private security firms, including $64,588 to Rubicon Protection security services of Sun City, Ariz.
The accountability issue comes at a time when the governor’s campaign has burned through contributions at an alarming rate, forcing DeSantis to tighten the belt and lay off 38 people, or a third of his campaign staff.
The largest expenditures seem to meet at the crossroad of staff and travel, as he’s been known to travel with a large entourage of staffers and security.
The campaign raised $20 million through June 30. Of the $8.2 million spent through that date, just over $1 million was spent on payroll and nearly that much on travel.
His presidential campaign spent $896,000 on travel-related costs through June 30, with more than half of that going to one company, N2024D LLC, located in Athens, Ga. It filed incorporation papers in Florida on May 22, two days before DeSantis officially announced his candidacy for president.
One of the LLC’s officers, Paul Kilgore, is a GOP operative responsible for running political committees and super PACs supporting candidates for federal office, including former Texas Gov. Rick Perry when he ran for president, and Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke. He currently is heading up a fundraising committee for North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who is also seeking the Republican nomination for president.
Kilgore owns several of companies that do political consulting, marketing and campaign compliance, including Capitol Hill Lists and Professional Data Services.
Another $98,000 went to Empyreal Jets and $31,205 to Avion Aviation, both charter services out of Houston.
It’s well-documented that DeSantis has a penchant for flying on private jets provided by a group of wealthy donors representing hoteliers, developers, restaurateurs, investment bankers, trucking magnates and oil and gas distributors.
Questions have dogged DeSantis since his reelection campaign began about whose private jets he’s traveling on and whether they are being reported as in-kind contributions or gifts.
An Orlando Sentinel review of state records in November documented more than $500,000 to cover his transportation costs for his re-election in 2022, on top of millions in straight-up donations.
It’s unprecedented, Wilcox said. “I don’t think we’ve ever had a sitting governor run for [president].”
DeSantis is also setting a precedent for lack of transparency, said Michael Barfield, director of public access for the Florida Center for Government Accountability.
“At the end of the day, taxpayers don’t know what their money is being spent on,” Barfield said.
His group is talking to its lawyers about next steps.
“We’re questioning the validity of the exemption,” Barfield said. “We don’t think it meets a public purpose, so we will brainstorm about potential legal action.”
Eskamani said if the Legislature wanted to make the governor more accountable, it could repeal the public records exemption.
But, she said, that would be a long shot. “It would take a political will that doesn’t exist, even for something as nonpartisan as access to travel records.” | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/new-law-shields-desantis-campaigns-use-of-state-vehicles-to-campaign/ | 2023-07-29T12:16:43 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/new-law-shields-desantis-campaigns-use-of-state-vehicles-to-campaign/ |
Hispanic Heritage Month begins in September, and the City of Orlando is celebrating by showcasing local art in the Terrace Gallery.
Interested artists can submit works for consideration through Aug. 25, and the chosen creators will have their art displayed on the first floor of Orlando City Hall.
This year’s theme aims to highlight domino-inspired art pieces, showcasing what is considered a sport in Hispanic culture. The game is often associated with values such as “family, community and friendship,” according to the call for artists.
Submissions must include the artist’s full name, biography or resume, photos of a minimum of five pieces of artwork in JPG format, descriptions and art information (title, year created, measurements and medium). These can be sent to Patrick Greene, the City of Orlando’s public art coordinator, by emailing patrick.greene@orlando.gov.
UCF’s Flying Horse Editions hosts printmaking studio open house this weekend
Appropriateness, clear communication of concepts and good professional history will all be considered when the city reviews submissions. In addition, all two-dimensional art submitted must be “wall ready” with hanging hardware attached.
The 2,000-square-foot Terrace Gallery first opened in 1992 with the dedication of City Hall and has featured national, international and renowned Florida artists.
The Hispanic Heritage Month art exhibit will run from Sept. 8-Nov. 13. For more information, go to orlando.gov.
Find me @PConnPie on Instagram or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/orlando-call-for-artists-hispanic-heritage-month/ | 2023-07-29T12:16:49 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/orlando-call-for-artists-hispanic-heritage-month/ |
Orlando City will continue its 2023 Leagues Cup campaign with a matchup against Liga MX side Santos Laguna.
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Exploria Stadium, with the game scheduled to be carried by MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+.
If either side wins in regulation, it will finish atop the group and advance. The Lions (0-0-1, 2 points) will be looking to win outright because a penalty-shootout win would send them to take on Lionel Messi and Inter Miami. Losing the penalty shootout with a score in regulation that is anything less than 3-3 would end the Lions’ run in the Leagues Cup.
This is only the second time the two sides have met. In the 2021 Leagues Cup, Santos (0-0-1, 1 point) won 1-0.
“It’s a great opportunity to compete against a good rival like Santos Laguna. Obviously, it’s going to increase this rivalry between the leagues of Mexico and the United States,” Lions coach Oscar Pareja said. “[Our] mission is to continue [in Leagues Cup] and advance to the next round. The players are good, we are optimistic and we are looking forward to a good game.”
Orlando City forward Duncan McGuire has 8 goals in 19 games, including 3 in his last four appearances. His regulation goal against the Houston Dynamo was instrumental in earning 2 points in that Leagues Cup penalty-shootout victory. Look for the Lions to provide opportunities early for him to score in this one as well.
Defender Antonio Carlos’ next appearance will mark his 100th across all competitions with the Lions, having earned the start in 91 appearances. A vital defender, he also is expected to start against Santos.
Forward Gastón González (left thigh) and defender Mikey Halliday (left thigh) are ruled out. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/orlando-city-hosts-santos-laguna-in-leagues-cup-match/ | 2023-07-29T12:16:55 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/orlando-city-hosts-santos-laguna-in-leagues-cup-match/ |
The multimillion-dollar renovation of The Plaza Live, owned by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, has kicked into high gear — with the venerable venue’s lobby and largest theater stripped to the bare walls.
The work has caused closure of the box office and relocation of the Philharmonic’s Summer Serenades series while keeping touring acts from performing here. But officials say the disruptions will pay off with a vastly improved guest experience and fresh new vibe.
And history buffs, take note: Part of the plan is to revive — and spruce up — the building’s marquee and iconic rooftop spire with its rotating sign.
“Am I excited?” rhetorically asked Al Michejda of the Plaza Live board. “I am thrilled.”
Michejda, an architect himself, has been involved with the refurbishment project for years, and the major overhaul has been a long time coming.
The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra bought the building, which had opened in 1963 as the city’s first two-screen movie theater in 2013. It had been known in its heyday as “the rocking chair theater” because of its unique seating for cinema patrons before becoming a family-oriented theater in the 1990s and then a touring house for concerts and other performances.
The Philharmonic bought the building and business with the idea of transforming the space and spent about $4.5 million on improvements, including the creation of its own suite of offices and the Mary Palmer Room, a rehearsal space and small theater named for a longtime orchestra board member and past president.
But it took a 2019 deal to really get things moving. That year, the orchestra received a $10 million grant from Orange County through the tourist-development tax collected on hotel and other overnight stays. As part of the deal, the city of Orlando took over ownership of the building, leasing it back to the orchestra for $1 annual rent in a 25-year contract.
After a COVID-19 delay, the most visible phase of the renovation project is underway: Completely gutting the public spaces inside the structure and upgrading the exterior, a landmark of the city’s Milk District, east of downtown.
A construction fence surrounds the front of the building’s visible spot on North Bumby Avenue near Colonial Drive as RBmarks Construction of Winter Springs works.
A recent visit shows the interior reduced to concrete floors and bare walls. Without seats, the main theater looks smaller. Conversely, removing the drop ceiling from the lobby makes it look bigger.
When finished — it is hoped by the end of the year — guests will notice changes before they even get inside. A new outdoor plaza will be served by an indoor/outdoor bar. New rapid security scanning from Evolv, the company that provides the machines at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and Walt Disney World, should eliminate the entry line that often snakes along the parking lot.
As designed by the Little architectural firm, the lobby will have a new VIP room, bigger and better bathrooms and a more contemporary vibe with a reflective black color scheme augmented by specialty lighting.
“Twinkle lights will give the illusion of depth,” Michejda said of the lobby’s new overhead decor. “It will feel higher.”
In the main theater, the floor’s various slopes will be reduced or eliminated, and acoustics and lighting will be improved. The redo will increase standing capacity from 1,250 to 1,329, Plaza Live general manager Megan Kelley said, with a boost in seated capacity from 903 to 996.
A new 2,800-square-foot patrons’ room will be accessible from the theater for special events.
In the theater, concertgoers should feel more comfortable thanks to a new duct sock on the roof’s mechanical system. It will disperse air better in the building, Kelley said, as well as dampen sound bleed in the Palmer Room.
Also on the roof, the iconic space-age spire will be removed and restored with new lighting and mechanics through a $500,000 historic-preservation state grant.
“It will be completely refurbished as if it were new,” Michejda said.
The building facade will also be updated with new, changeable lighting and new glass “so it’s elegant and consistent,” he said.
The marquee will keep its form but become digital, making it easier to change its messages.
Many of the new and improved features will have naming opportunities by donors, with the Philharmonic looking to raise $2 million toward the renovation costs.
“The public-private partnership is critical,” said Jennifer Coolidge, the orchestra’s director of philanthropy. “It’s a great way to appeal to a broader audience.”
All of the work has disrupted normal operations, most noticeably in the lack of touring shows at the venue. They won’t return until December at the earliest, Kelley said, though her team is already booking 2024 shows “so we can hit the ground running.”
The touring productions usually draw about 100,000 concertgoers each year, she said, with proceeds supporting the Philharmonic.
The construction has closed the physical box office, at least through the end of August. But those wishing to buy tickets to the upcoming Philharmonic season in person can make an appointment at boxoffice@orlandophil.org. (As always, tickets are also available directly at the orchestra’s website, orlandophil.org.)
The Philharmonic’s Summer Serenades concert series has relocated from the Plaza to the First United Methodist Church in downtown Orlando.
“Our audience was incredibly kind about that,” said orchestra spokeswoman Cristina Venturini, adding attendance is holding steady from previous years.
The church has helped with parking, provided in-house catering for the concerts’ optional brunch and has pleasing acoustics for the concerts, she said.
“It’s a very welcoming church,” she said. “We are happy; the patrons seem happy.”
Two Summer Serenades concerts are ahead in August, but Philharmonic and Plaza Live officials are looking further into the future.
“The whole thing is about meeting our century,” Michejda said of the venue’s rebuild. “We want to make this the entertainment center of the Milk District.”
Follow me at facebook.com/matthew.j.palm or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Find more arts news and reviews at orlandosentinel.com/arts, and go to orlandosentinel.com/theater for theater news and reviews. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/orlando-plaza-live-closed-renovations-changes/ | 2023-07-29T12:17:01 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/orlando-plaza-live-closed-renovations-changes/ |
The Orlando Pride head on the road to take on the North Carolina Courage in the UKG Challenge Cup on Saturday.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at WakeMed Soccer Park, and the game will be carried on Paramount+.
The last time these two sides met in North Carolina, Orlando lost 3-0. The Pride (0-2-1, 1 point in the Challenge Cup) are 5-13-5 all-time against the Courage (2-0-2, 8 points) and sit at the bottom of their group. A loss would effectively end any chance the Pride has of advancing out of the group stage.
The Courage enter this game after a 6-0 thrashing of the Washington Spirit last weekend. The Pride, meanwhile, suffered a 3-1 defeat at home to NY/NJ Gotham FC and will need to be at their best against an elite team in excellent form.
“In the last game [against North Carolina Courage], I think we gave them too much respect. We’re going to need to be fully committed to blocking shots,” Orlando coach Seb Hines said. “In their last game, they scored a lot of goals outside the box, and that’s a scenario that we need to improve on in this game.”
The Pride know they need to stick to their identity and not allow the Courage to dictate the game. If players such as forwards Messiah Bright and Julie Doyle can lead the line from the front, Orlando stands a chance of getting a positive result.
“We need to be fully committed to the press, but we need to stick to our identity and also be good in possession,” Hines added. “It should be an exciting game. It’s two teams that want to play and want to possess the ball with an objective to score.”
The Pride will be without Marta (Brazil), Adriana (Brazil), Rafaelle (Brazil) and Mariana Larroquette (Argentina) who remain on international duty at the Women’s World Cup. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/orlando-pride-visit-north-carolina-for-challenge-cup-match/ | 2023-07-29T12:17:07 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/orlando-pride-visit-north-carolina-for-challenge-cup-match/ |
It’s in the sun-soaked splendor of Florida’s sandy shores that watercolor artist Patty Kane feels most at home.
“To me, this is the most beautiful place in the world,” she said while soaking in the rays of New Smyrna Beach one recent July day. “I’ve really grown to believe that where the ocean meets the land is where heaven and earth meet.”
As a watercolor painter for more than 30 years, Kane has often drawn inspiration from nature, composing vibrant scenes with palm trees, fern leaves and coastal sunsets. Now she’s created a new process, literally taking inspiration from the sea by tossing heavy sheets of watercolor paper into the waves.
The paper tosses and turns with the motion of the ocean before drifting into the shimmering shallows, where the paper gets an infusion of texture from minuscule shells and sand.
As a teacher at Crealdé School of Art and one of McRae Art Studios’ artists, Kane often has experimented with different techniques and found ways of letting the paper “speak to her,” but this process feels especially unique.
“I love traditional beach scenes, but there’s something different here,” said Kane, who lives in Winter Springs but was enjoying a two-month retreat at New Smyrna Beach with her husband. “My whole process has changed. I pour the paint and I feel like I’m in collaboration with nature.”
This new method of working was born of experimentation one day a few years ago while swimming in shallow waters. Now, beachgoers often stop to ask what Kane is doing and observe the painter at work.
“Somebody saw me doing this and wanted to try, then she did it with computer paper,” she said. “I think it turned to pulp.”
Working with primary colors — red, yellow and blue — Kane pours paint onto the wet, sandy paper and watches as it flows between natural elements gathered from the sea.
Sometimes she leaves the paintings alone, letting the ocean’s collaborative effort speak for itself. Other times Kane will add palm trees, birds or shells after seeing what emerges from the “sea pour.”
As someone who tends to be a perfectionist, Kane said this experiment has been a lesson in giving up control.
“I tend to overthink things, to see it all the way through to the end,” she said. “With this, I can’t always see it through to the end. I never know what’s going to happen. It’s a letting-go process.”
More information: artbypattykane.com.
Find me @PConnPie on Instagram or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/orlando-watercolor-artist-sea-pours-ocean/ | 2023-07-29T12:17:13 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/orlando-watercolor-artist-sea-pours-ocean/ |
CHICAGO (AP) — 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.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/police-searching-apartment-of-chicago-man-charged-in-mans-killing-find-woman-dead-in-refrigerator/ | 2023-07-29T12:17:19 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/police-searching-apartment-of-chicago-man-charged-in-mans-killing-find-woman-dead-in-refrigerator/ |
The Miami Hurricanes struggled in Year 1 under Mario Cristobal, going 5-7 and missing out on a bowl game. But newcomers and returning players could give Miami fans reasons for hope as the 2023 season gets closer.
Each week, we’ll take a look at Miami’s position groups and see where they stand as the college football season rapidly approaches.
Last week, we previewed Miami’s overhauled defensive line. This week, we take a look at the Hurricanes’ linebacker corps.
Who left
Three Hurricanes linebackers departed in the offseason; one left through the transfer portal and two exhausted their eligibility.
Caleb Johnson played the most of those three linebackers. Johnson, who transferred from UCLA, played one season for the Hurricanes. He played in every game last season and started four, getting on the field for 299 defensive snaps.
Johnson racked up 48 tackles, four tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Pro Football Focus gave Johnson a 66.1 defensive rating with a 69.8 run-defense grade, a 75.2 pass-rushing grade and a 57.3 coverage grade. He signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent.
Sixth-year senior Waynmon Steed Jr. started four of Miami’s first five games before suffering a season-ending injury. He had 11 tackles in his limited time on the field.
Avery Huff, a former four-star prospect out of Fort Lauderdale’s St. Thomas Aquinas, transferred after playing just three defensive snaps in 2022. The South Florida native did not travel far, though, transferring to FIU.
Who returns
The Hurricanes brought back three of last year’s key linebackers: sophomore Wesley Bissainthe, fourth-year junior Corey Flagg and fifth-year senior Keontra Smith.
Bissainthe, a four-star prospect from Miami Central, made a quick impact on Miami’s linebacker unit. He was on the field for 276 defensive snaps, more than any other UM freshman on that side of the ball. Bissainthe’s role grew throughout the season; he had fewer than 10 snaps in the Hurricanes’ first four games but started their last three contests.
Playing primarily inside linebacker, Bissainthe ended the season with 30 tackles and had a 64.5 defensive grade. He scored best in run defense, earning a 72.7 grade. He had a 52.4 pass-rush grade and a 61.2 coverage grade. Bissainthe showed solid tackling ability, earning a 67.2 tackling grade for the season — he scored above 70 in eight games but poor marks against Duke, Virginia and Florida State dragged his score down.
“The biggest thing (I learned in my freshman season) was just be patient with yourself,” Bissainthe said in March. “It’s going to come. Just take your time with it, and it’ll all fall in place.”
Flagg played more than any other UM linebacker last season, starting 10 games and playing in 11. He had 56 tackles and tied for the team lead with 10.5 tackles for loss. Flagg had 2.5 sacks and one pass deflection.
The veteran inside linebacker had a 63.2 overall defensive grade with a 61.7 run-defense grade, a 60.2 coverage grade, a 70.4 pass-rush grade and a 57 tackling grade.
Flagg, who is returning from a late-season injury, said he is working on dictating more in pass coverage this season.
“Being able to … make the quarterback do what I want him to do,” Flagg said in March. “Because I know the plays, I know what they’re doing, I just have to trust myself, trust my instincts, trust my eyes and what I see.
“I’m a film junkie. I like watching film. So, once I know what to do defensively-wise, what the defensive scheme of Coach Guidry wants to do, I think I really can do (well) this year. I’m excited.”
Smith played in all 12 of Miami’s games last year, starting three of them. The former Chaminade-Madonna star played 290 defensive snaps, notching 33 tackles, three tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and one interception.
The veteran linebacker has areas to improve upon after last season. He had a 56.8 defensive grade but his 28.1 tackling grade was second-lowest on the team among players with more than 100 defensive snaps. Smith missed 14 tackles, tied for most on the team, and his 33 percent miss rate was tied for second-most on the team among players with more than 100 snaps.
The Hurricanes also return Chase Smith, who played 12 defensive snaps last season before suffering a season-ending injury, and Ryan Ragone, who played 41 snaps.
Who arrived
Miami brought in a new linebackers coach to replace Charlie Strong. Former FSU linebacker and Louisville linebackers coach Derek Nicholson joined the staff in February, drawing strong reviews from players this spring.
“Coach Nicholson is a great coach,” Bissainthe said. “He’s a hype man. He gets you ready to practice, gets you ready to play. Just looking forward to spending the season with him.”
Nicholson has several new faces joining him in the linebacker room. The Hurricanes added three transfers and signed four high school linebackers in their 2023 class.
Former Washington State linebacker Francisco Mauigoa, the older brother of UM five-star freshman offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa, is poised to play a major role on Miami’s defense this season. The junior linebacker had 60 tackles, 3.5 sacks and three forced fumbles for the Cougars last year. Pro Football Focus gave him a 75.7 defensive grade last year.
“He’s one of the more natural guys that we have, I think,” new defensive coordinator Lance Guidry said early in spring camp. “I’m excited when the pads come on, to see what that’s going to look like. But yeah, I’ve been really impressed with him.”
K.J. Cloyd was a late transfer addition, arriving in June after transferring from Louisville. Last season, Cloyd had 15 tackles in 12 games. Pro Football Focus gave him a 57.2 defensive grade in his 149 defensive snaps.
The third transfer addition also came from an ACC rival. Former Duke linebacker Rocky Shelton, a St. Thomas Aquinas alum, transferred after five seasons with the Blue Devils. Last year, he had 10 tackles and one tackle for loss while primarily playing on special teams.
The Hurricanes brought in four freshman linebackers: Raul Aguirre, Malik Bryant, Marcellius Pulliam and Bobby Washington. Aguirre, Bryant and Washington were rated four-star prospects in 247Sports’ composite rankings, while Pulliam was listed as a three-star prospect. Bryant and Washington enrolled in time for spring football, while Aguirre and Pulliam arrived later.
Aguirre, who is listed as the No. 20 linebacker and No. 203 player in the class, starred at Fayetteville (Georgia) Whitewater High, racking up 96 tackles with one sack and one interception as a senior.
Bryant, an Orlando native, offers a pass-rushing threat off the edge. He had 77 tackles, nine tackles for loss, five sacks and one interception for Orlando’s Jones High last season. Bryant was rated the No. 16 linebacker and No. 169 player in the class.
Bryant was limited by an injury in the spring but still impressed his teammates.
“I’m excited to see what he does,” Flagg said. “His work ethic is phenomenal.”
Like Aguirre, Pulliam hails from Georgia. At Tyrone (Georgia) Sandy Creek High, Pulliam had 43 tackles, five tackles for loss, four sacks and one interception. He was listed as the No. 64 linebacker and No. 760 player in the class.
Washington brings a South Florida pedigree to the UM linebacker room. His twin brother, Robby, also signed with the Hurricanes as a wide receiver. His father, Bobby, was a star running back at Miami Killian and originally signed with Miami before playing at NC State and Eastern Kentucky.
Like his brother, Washington starred at Miami Palmetto High as a senior, racking up 52 tackles and eight sacks. He was listed as the No. 37 linebacker and No. 433 player in the class.
“He’s progressing really well,” Flagg said. “He listens, he follows instructions, he does everything off the field right. He’s your average, prototype linebacker that guys look for. He’s 6-2, 6-3 and he’s fast. I’m excited for his future.” | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/previewing-the-miami-hurricanes-linebackers-entering-the-2023-season-summer-camp-series/ | 2023-07-29T12:17:25 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/previewing-the-miami-hurricanes-linebackers-entering-the-2023-season-summer-camp-series/ |
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin courted leaders from Africa at a summit on Friday, hailing the continent’s growing role in global affairs and offering to expand political and business ties.
Addressing the Russia-Africa summit for a second day, Putin said Moscow would closely analyze a peace proposal for Ukraine that African leaders have sought to pursue.
“This is an acute issue, and we aren’t evading its consideration,” the Russian leader said, emphasizing that his government was treating the African initiative with respect and “looking at it attentively.”
He encouraged the African leaders to talk to Ukraine, which has refused to engage in talks until Russian troops pull back. “I believe it’s necessary to also talk to the other side, although we are grateful to our African friends for their attention to the issue,” Putin said at the St. Petersburg summit.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said African leaders were looking forward to engaging further with Putin later Friday on their peace proposal.
“It is our hope that constructive engagement and negotiation can bring about an end to the ongoing conflict,” Ramaphosa, who leads sub-Saharan Africa’s most developed country, said, adding in South Africa, “our own history has taught us that this is indeed possible.”
Without specifically mentioning the fighting in Ukraine, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni denounced those who foment ideologically-driven military conflicts as “time and opportunity wasters,” adding that “human history will move on, whether they like it or not.”
“The only justified wars are the just wars, like the anti-colonial wars,” Museveni said. “Wars of hegemony will fail and waste time and opportunity. Dialogue is the correct way.”
In the public portion of a late night meeting Friday about the peace proposal, Putin repeated to the African leaders his explanations for the conflict’s origins and Russia’s actions in it, without giving any specific reaction to their suggestions. The African leaders said they expected to hear Putin’s detailed reactions in a subsequent closed part of the meeting.
In his speech, Putin reaffirmed his pledge that Russia will maintain steady supplies of grain and other agricultural products to the continent after its withdrawal from a deal allowing grain shipments from Ukraine. Moscow’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative has fueled concerns of a global food crisis.
“Russia will always be a responsible international supplier of agricultural products and will continue to support the countries and region in need by offering free grain and other supplies,” the Russian leader said.
He declared at the summit’s opening Thursday that Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, Eritrea and Central African Republic each will receive 25,000 to 50,000 tons of Russian grain in the next three to four months.
In comparison, the U.N. World Food Program shipped 725,000 tons of grain to several countries, including Somalia, under the Black Sea deal.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres responded to Putin’s pledge of no-cost grain shipments by noting that such donations of grain can’t compensate for the impact of Moscow cutting off grain exports from Ukraine, which along with Russia is a top supplier to the world market.
Guterres said the U.N. was in contact with Turkey, Ukraine, Russia and other countries to try to reestablish the year-old agreement, under which Ukraine exported more than 32 million tons of grain. The resumption of shipments from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports allowed global food prices to drop significantly from the levels they reached after Putin sent troops into the neighboring country.
The deal brokered a year ago by the U.N. and Turkey reopened Ukrainian Black Sea ports blocked by fighting and provided assurances that ships entering them wouldn’t be attacked. Russia declined to renew the agreement last week, complaining that its own exports were being held up.
Putin used the summit to repeat his accusations against the West of obstructing the export of Russian grain and fertilizers, including proposed no-cost supplies of fertilizers to Africa.
The Russia-Africa summit marks a renewed Kremlin effort to bolster ties with a continent of 1.3 billion people that is increasingly assertive on the global stage. Africa’s 54 nations make up the largest voting bloc at the United Nations and have been more divided than any other region on General Assembly resolutions criticizing Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
Only 17 heads of state were at the summit, compared to 43 at the first Russia-Africa summit in 2019, a sharp drop in attendance that the Kremlin has attributed to what it described as “outrageous” Western pressure to discourage African countries from showing up.
Putin hailed Africa’s role in the emerging “multipolar world order,” noting that “the era of hegemony of one or several countries is receding into the past, albeit not without resistance on the part of those who got used to their own uniqueness and monopoly in global affairs.”
“Russia and Africa are united by an innate desire to defend true sovereignty and the right to their own distinctive path of development in the political, economic, social, cultural and other spheres,” he said.
He said Russia plans to expand trade and economic ties with Africa and continue efforts to relieve their debt burden by writing off another $90 million of their debts.
Putin noted that Moscow also stands ready to bolster defense ties with African countries by helping train their military and expanding supplies of military equipment, some of them on a no-cost basis.
___
This story corrects the amount that Ukraine exported under the Black Sea deal to 32 million tons.
___
Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow and Cara Anna in Nairobi, Kenya contributed to this report. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/putin-woos-african-leaders-at-a-summit-in-russia-with-promises-of-expanding-trade-and-other-ties/ | 2023-07-29T12:17:31 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/putin-woos-african-leaders-at-a-summit-in-russia-with-promises-of-expanding-trade-and-other-ties/ |
First Alert Weather: Heat Advisory until Sunday night; limited rain chances
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - A Heat Advisory is in effect until 9 p.m. Sunday for Heat index values up to 107. Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses to occur. Temperatures will likely range from 97-99-degrees Saturday and Sunday with heat indices of 104 to 108.
Above normal temperatures will continue into next week, but a weak front will reduce the heat indices to below advisory criteria, but very hot conditions are expected to continue through the weekend with limited rain chances as only isolated storms expected mainly to the north. There is also a low threat for a storm complex to develop over North Alabama tomorrow, but the main impacts through the weekend will be the heat. Wind flow across the area will become more north / northwesterly into next week which could help develop more storm complexes.
For now, Monday appears to see a continued dry weather pattern with a slight chance for a few showers or thunderstorms Tuesday with increasing moisture. This pattern will continue through Wednesday with a more pronounced moisture increase Thursday and Friday.
As the ridge of high pressure to the east moves slightly farther west the potential for showers and thunderstorms will begin increasing. The ridge does start to retreat westward on Friday which will allow for the development of more showers and thunderstorms. With drier air advancing from the north Monday, Heat Advisory Criteria will likely be more limited to South Alabama. This pattern is expected to continue Tuesday through Wednesday with an increasing moisture return beginning Thursday with Heat Index Values at or above 105-degrees becoming more widespread by Friday.
Meanwhile in The Tropics, The National Hurricane Center reports a tropical wave located about midway between the Cabo Verde Islands and the Lesser Antilles continues to produce disorganized cloudiness and showers. Environmental conditions are expected to be favorable for gradual development of this system during the next few days, and a tropical depression is likely to form early next week while the disturbance moves west northwestward to northwestward at about 15 mph. There is a 20% chance for development over the weekend but a 70% chance for development over the next seven days.
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Copyright 2023 WBRC. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbrc.com/2023/07/29/first-alert-weather-heat-advisory-until-sunday-night-limited-rain-chances/ | 2023-07-29T12:17:31 | 0 | https://www.wbrc.com/2023/07/29/first-alert-weather-heat-advisory-until-sunday-night-limited-rain-chances/ |
How to choose the best bike shorts
Whether you’re a casual cyclist or ride competitively, a pair of bike shorts are an essential part of your attire when out on the open roads or in the backcountry. A good pair of bike shorts offers support, flexibility and ventilation in all the right places to keep you riding for hours. Plus, with options like gel cushioning, you can ride in comfort without losing out on performance.
If you’re in the market for a new pair of bike shorts, here are some of the best options available.
Best bike shorts for men
[ Assos Men’s Cento EVO Bib Short ]
These high-quality cycling bibs are designed with performance in mind. They are moisture-wicking, fast-drying and comfortable with chamois technology that prevents chafing and keeps the material from awkwardly bunching up as you ride. These bib shorts are perfect for endurance or long-distance rides.
Sold by Backcountry
[ Sponeed Men’s Cycling Shorts ]
These form-fitting cycling tights are made with quick-drying material and have four-way stretch for optimal performance and long-term comfort. The material is highly breathable, durable and stretchy enough to keep up with even competitive cyclists. Plus, these shorts are tailored with the right amount of padding for men.
Sold by Amazon
[ Louis Garneau Men’s Gel Cycling Shorts ]
With a supportive fit and active gel chamois, these moisture-wicking cycling shorts offer flexibility and comfort during long rides. They also have anti-chafing seams and silicone leg grippers to keep them in place without causing discomfort. The reflective properties make them great for evening rides as well.
Sold by Amazon
[ Sportneer Men’s Cycling Shorts ]
Affordable and comfortable, these bike shorts offer triple-layer padding at the seat and maximum saddle support to eliminate strain during long rides. The foam padding is absorbent and breathable, which prevents moisture from building up and chafing. On the whole, these shorts are designed for maximum efficiency and comfort. They also have a reflector for visibility in poor lighting.
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[ KPSUN Men’s Mountain Bike Shorts ]
With 3D padding and UPF 50+ protection, these bike shorts are lightweight and baggy, which makes them great for casual riders or those who need a little extra ventilation. Made for mountain biking specifically, these shorts offer superior shock absorption. Plus, the material is moisture-wicking and antibacterial.
Sold by Amazon
Best bike shorts for women
[ Baleaf Women’s High-Waist Biker Shorts ]
Versatile enough for biking, running and other types of exercise, these shorts hold up against both light and strenuous workouts. With a gusseted crotch and elastic material, these shorts are non-restricting, breathable and comfortable. They also have a handy pair of side pockets for valuables.
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[ Pearl Izumi Women’s Interval Bib Short ]
Made from the elastic material, Lycra, these shorts offer compression support, flexibility and comfort. They also have a near seamless fit to minimize chafing and maximize performance. The seven-panel construction keeps these shorts from restricting movements, while the chamois is supportive and breathable for long bike rides. Plus, these shorts have a drop-tail back design that is open and convenient for quick rest stops.
Sold by Backcountry
Stretchy and with a perfect fit, these bike shorts are made for casual cyclists, yogis and runners. They come with a secure inner pocket and side pockets for small things like a cell phone or keys. These shorts come in several different colors for those who want to add a little variety to their wardrobe. Every pair of shorts also has four-way stretch for optimal flexibility and movement. Plus, they’re non-see-through, moisture-wicking and quick-drying.
Sold by Amazon
[ Louis Garneau Women’s Gel Cycling Shorts ]
With the right level of active gel chamois padding and anti-chafing seams, these shorts provide maximum comfort and support without weighing you down while you ride. They are form-fitting, which makes them convenient for layering as well. The reflective logos increase visibility on dark roads for added safety.
Sold by Amazon
[ Santic Women’s Cycling Shorts ]
These capri-style bike shorts are aerodynamic, anti-skid, form-fitting and highly breathable. They have a padded seat and ventilation at the thighs. Near the calves are two reflective lines for those who prefer evening rides.
Sold by Amazon
Best bike shorts for kids
Made from a stretchy, breathable material, these unisex shorts for kids are simple but effective. The material is UPF 50+ for added protection from the sun, while the reflective logo increases visibility during rides with low lighting. With an inner silicone gripper, these shorts stay in place during everything from casual rides to triathlons.
Sold by Amazon
How to dress for bike riding
Even if you prefer short, casual rides, it’s important to dress appropriately for the activity and the weather conditions. Doing so will make the experience more enjoyable and, for those who cycle competitively, it will maximize performance.
Here are some tips on what to wear when cycling.
- Depending on the weather conditions, you may need to layer up. Layer a pair of tight-fitting bike shorts or cycling underwear underneath a baggier outer layer like bike pants. This will provide support and warmth without causing chafing.
- When wearing layers, choose clothes with built-in ventilation and moisture-wicking, breathable material. This will prevent moisture from getting trapped between the clothes and the skin.
- Don’t wear just any shorts for biking. Bike shorts are specifically designed to allow freedom of movement during rides. What’s more, they usually come with a padded liner at the crotch and other key areas that need extra support.
- During hotter days when you need to keep cool, choose a pair of bib shorts. These don’t come up quite as high as other shorts, so they can help prevent overheating during rides.
- In cold-weather cycling, wear a base layer, middle layer and outer layer. The base layer should be moisture-wicking to keep sweat or other moisture from your skin. The middle and outer layers can be insulated but shouldn’t be too heavy.
- For the top layer, choose something aerodynamic, well-ventilated and breathable. Particularly, materials like polyester and Lycra are generally good options.
Consider getting a pair of bike gloves and socks. Both will prevent blisters from forming and add another layer of protection while riding. Plus, bike gloves add extra grip while cycling.
- Bring a pair of cycling glasses to protect you from the sun and wind. Consider helmet compatibility if you choose goggle-style sunglasses.
- Wear a pair of bike shoes with cleats or a clip that’s compatible with your bike to keep your feet on the pedals.
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Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/ride-in-comfort-with-these-great-bike-shorts/ | 2023-07-29T12:17:37 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/ride-in-comfort-with-these-great-bike-shorts/ |
How to Watch NASCAR, F1, IndyCar & More: Auto Racing Streaming Live - Saturday, July 29
Published: Jul. 29, 2023 at 5:44 AM CDT|Updated: 2 hours ago
Need more auto racing in your life? Well, you're in luck. The race slate on Saturday, July 29 includes Formula 1, Formula E, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Racing Series, and NHRA Drag Racing action that can be watched on Fubo. For a complete list, along with information on how to watch or live stream it all, check out the article below.
Watch even more racing action with ESPN+!
Auto Racing Streaming Live Today
Watch Formula 1: Belgium Grand Prix - Sprint Shootout
- Series: Formula 1
- Game Time: 5:55 AM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch Formula 1: Belgium Grand Prix - Sprint
- Series: Formula 1
- Game Time: 10:25 AM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch Formula E: Round 15: London - Race
- Series: Formula E
- Game Time: 11:30 AM ET
- TV Channel: CBS Sports Network
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch NHRA Drag Racing: DENSO Sonoma Nationals - Qualifying
- Series: NHRA Drag Racing
- Game Time: 12:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: FOX Sports Networks
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch Formula E: Hankook London E-Prix
- Series: Formula E
- Game Time: 12:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: CBS
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch NASCAR Cup Series: Cook Out 400 - Qualifying
- Series: NASCAR Cup Series
- Game Time: 12:30 PM ET
- TV Channel: USA Network
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch NASCAR Xfinity Racing Series: Henry 180
- Series: NASCAR Xfinity Racing Series
- Game Time: 3:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: NBC
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch NASCAR Xfinity Racing Series: Road America 180
- Series: NASCAR Xfinity Racing Series
- Game Time: 3:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: NBC
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Worldwide Express 250
- Series: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
- Game Time: 7:30 PM ET
- TV Channel: FOX Sports Networks
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Make sure you're following along with racing action all year long on Fubo and ESPN+!
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbrc.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/auto-racing-live-stream/ | 2023-07-29T12:17:37 | 1 | https://www.wbrc.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/auto-racing-live-stream/ |
Enter the unlisted suite, the secret accommodation that can be booked only by those who know it exists. Not only does it shun the customary online booking engine, it practically evades public awareness altogether. These suites are wiped from hotel websites and missing from search results—all but phantoms in the highly visible, over-Instagrammed universe of luxury stays.
Pricing is available only by direct inquiry, and you must really dig extremely to see a photograph, even a description, in any published format. In the past year, they’ve sprouted by the dozens.
Take Villa de France, the new Jacques Grange-designed five-bedroom suite at Cheval Blanc in St. Barts. It’s a palatial retreat so discreetly nestled in the resort’s flora, it’s nearly impossible to spot in real life. It’s also virtually impossible to find online. Snoop and scroll the hotel’s accommodations page deeply enough and you might come across a few details that confirm it exists, including mentions of the villa’s private spa and two infinity pools, but prospective guests get nary a clue about securing it for a night.
Those resourceful enough to call or email the hotel directly (+590-590-27-5666) can try their luck with one of Cheval Blanc’s reservation ambassadors. After a vetting process that has distinct parallels to buying unlisted Birkin bags from Hermès, these representatives will determine whether the €30,000-per-night ($33,600) Villa de France is available.
Christelle Hilpron, general manager of Cheval Blanc in St. Barts, confirms the reason for the secrecy: “Complete privacy,” she says. With a chef’s kitchen, a 10-person dining table, private spa and fitness center, and direct access to Flamands Beach, the villa makes it possible to entirely avoid interaction with the resort’s other guests. “It also allows us to fully understand their needs, preferences and expectation,” Hilpron adds.
Other accommodations are even more elusive.
The Newt in Somerset, in Bruton, England, is home to an exquisite collection of rooms and suites filled with Georgian antiques, crackling fireplaces and oversize bathtubs. None is more private than Gate Lodge, a two-bedroom cottage that was quietly added to the 1,000-acre estate’s grounds last year.
It comes with plenty of extras—an open-plan kitchen, a dedicated golf buggy and bicycles—but its secretive status is what’s most tempting to in-the-know guests. The $2,600-per-night accommodation is absent from the hotel’s website, and bookable only by directly calling the Newt’s reservation line.
According to Jack Ezon, founder of the boutique travel firm Embark Beyond, these rumored accommodations carry a cachet equivalent to the unlisted phone numbers of the 1990s. They’re even more tempting than hard-to-get dinner reservations or clubs you can’t get into, given that these hideaways are virtually unknown.
In a world where everything is photographed, posted and reposted ad nauseum, there’s something downright irresistible about going incognito, even if you’re not a celebrity hiding from paparazzi.
“More and more clients want the unattainable,” Ezon says, adding that many of his monied clients are concerned less with privacy and personal safety than going “somewhere that is not already plastered over Instagram—a place that no one has heard of or has access to.”
The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado, keeps a secret accommodation that’s like a resort inside a resort inside a resort. It’s part of the little-known Cloud Camp, a cluster of mountaintop rooms and suites roughly 20 minutes from the Broadmoor’s main building. The secluded, all-inclusive Fire Tower Suite is a two-story, one-bedroom cabin that occupies a former fire tower, with a private hot tub set among the treetops. It starts at $1,167 per night and can be booked only by phone, at (800) 634-7711.
The unlisted trend has even hit the high seas: A door marked “Staff Only” aboard Windstar’s Wind Surf sailing cruise ship leads to a clandestine, one-bedroom Officer’s Suite, the only accommodation on the captain’s bridge deck. Rates vary according to sailing itineraries, and bookings can be made exclusively by calling (855) 706-5766.
For Bushcamp Co., a high-end safari operator in Zambia, going unlisted was less about creating the air of luxury and more about beta testing a new idea, says founder Andy Hogg. Last year, he decided to upcycle a pair of large shipping containers that had previously been used for furniture deliveries, refitting them with large windows, spacious, en suite bathrooms, and expansive living quarters.
Now the former industrial containers are private homes at the entrance of South Luangwa National Park. Each comes with a private kitchen, al fresco dining area and accommodations for up to four guests in a more flexible and private safari stay, compared to the stringent—and often communal—camp experience.
Hogg adds that keeping the accommodations hush-hush allows his team to continuously “finesse the offering, test how guests use the space and continue to innovate.” (E-mail to inquire about booking.)
Going unlisted isn’t always the best strategy, as the Mandarin Oriental, New York proved last year when its 3,000-square-foot Suite 5,000, long shrouded in mystery for its secretive status, suddenly appeared on the hotel’s website. It immediately saw a 31% increase in bookings compared with 2019.
Still, says Danielle Choi, the hotel’s director of marketing and commerce, the majority of reservations for the suite continue to come through direct contact, rather than through the site. “In the rare case that a reservation is made online,” she adds, “our guest relations team immediately connects with guests to customize their stay.”
The personal touch was precisely what inspired Amanda Zaslow, co-owner of the Villa at Saugerties in New York’s Hudson Valley, to take her hotel almost entirely offline. None of the property’s guest rooms can be booked without calling or emailing; indeed, the inn’s website is just a splash page with contact information at the bottom.
“People sometimes call and say, ‘Did you know your website isn’t working?’” Zaslow says with a laugh. “And I say, ‘Actually, it’s working exactly as intended.’”
Zaslow’s motives are less about quiet luxury or exclusivity and more about providing a special experience, whether it’s making sure a guest’s preferred refreshments are on hand or surprising them with a favorite bottle of wine—a gesture that can be made only by forging one-on-one relationships.
“A lot of guests think it’s really cool that they have to work a little bit harder to find us,” she says, “but it also gives us an opportunity to create a more curated stay for every single person who walks through our doors.”
___
©2023 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/secret-villas-inside-hotels-are-the-ultimate-in-quiet-luxury/ | 2023-07-29T12:17:43 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/secret-villas-inside-hotels-are-the-ultimate-in-quiet-luxury/ |
What are the best ways to travel for cheap?
The world is an incredible place with so much to see and do, but traveling can seem like it’s only for people with ample expendable income. Luckily, it’s possible to see the world on a budget if you’re willing to learn how to travel for cheap and are prepared to be flexible.
While traveling to far-flung reaches of the globe might seem exciting, there’s more closer to home than you may realize. That’s not to say international travel on a budget is impossible, you may just need to get creative with how you save money. Traveling for cheap is easier than you might think if you spend some time planning.
Consider staying local
We’re not suggesting staying in a motel 10 minutes down the road from your house but instead staying in your home country rather than traveling internationally. Depending on where you live and where you want to go, this might mean a few hours’ drive to your nearest beach town or a domestic flight. Either way, it’s cheaper than traveling internationally.
Search for cheap flights
Booking directly from an airline’s website isn’t always the cheapest way to travel. Instead, it’s best to use travel comparison sites that scan the web for the cheapest flights, a bit like a search engine, and display the results so you can easily see the cheapest flights for your route of choice. Popular comparison sites include Google Flights, Skyscanner and Kayak.
Bring a carry-on only
Some cheap airlines keep their costs down by charging extra for checked baggage, so you’ll save money if you can get away with only bringing a carry-on. You should be able to pack enough for a week or two if you buy a roomy carry-on suitcase and take advantage of the personal item allowance to bring an extra bag that will fit under the seat in front of you. The Amazon Basics 21-Inch Hardside Spinner is an excellent yet affordable choice of carry-on luggage.
Fly at less popular times
Overnight flights or flights that arrive at your destination late at night are usually cheaper than flights that take off during the day. You’ll also find that midweek flights are cheaper than those that depart on a Monday or the weekend. If you’re willing to be flexible with the days and times at which you travel, you might just find yourself a bargain.
Travel off-season
Traveling at less popular times of the year not only beats the bulk of the tourists but also makes both travel and accommodation cheaper. It’s often more pleasant visiting cities in the late fall or early winter when you won’t spend your whole time roasting in the sun. Doing your research on your destination will help you find the best off-season travel time. For example, it’s best to avoid visiting the Caribbean between June 1 and Nov. 30 due to hurricane season, but some islands, such as Grenada, are out of the hurricane belt and rarely hit, making them relatively safe to visit during this period and much quieter and cheaper than at peak times.
Keep accommodation costs down
Resourceful travelers can find plenty of ways to keep accommodation costs down or even to get completely free accommodation. Before you pack your luggage and head to the airport without a second thought, here are some ideas for cheap travel deals.
Use comparison sites
Much like their flight comparison counterparts, accommodation comparison sites — such as Trivago and Tripadvisor — search through different accommodation providers and booking sites to bring you the best deals. You can often find cheap travel deals this way and might find some hotels or other types of accommodation that you would never have discovered otherwise.
Stay in hostels
They aren’t for everyone, but hostels are great for saving money. If you don’t mind sharing a room with strangers, you’ll get the cheapest deals, but some hostels also have private rooms. Hostels can vary in quality, so you may want to travel with a sleeping bag or sleeping bag liner in case the bedding isn’t up to scratch.
Work for accommodation
You can often bag free accommodation if you’re willing to work for it. Some hostels offer free beds in return for a couple of hours a day working at the reception desk or behind the bar. Fans of the outdoors can check out Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF), which is a platform that connects people willing to work on organic farms with farm owners who will provide free accommodation. If you have experience or qualifications, there are other options for you, some of which might pay in addition to providing accommodation, including teaching surfing or yoga. However, you’ll need a work permit to take on paid work outside of the U.S.
House sit or pet sit
You can find people willing to let you stay in their homes for free in return for watching the house or taking care of their pets. You’ll need to be flexible with dates, but it’s an excellent way to get a place to stay for free. TrustedHousesitters is the biggest website that connects house sitters or pet sitters with people who need their services.
Stay in a self-catering accommodation
If you eat out for every meal while you’re traveling, it soon adds up. Staying in self-catering accommodation lets you cook your own meals and save a bunch of cash. Of course, you don’t want to cook the whole time you’re on vacation, so consider supplementing with cheaper street food and casual dining options. When self-catering isn’t an option, packing CLIF Bars or granola bars can at least take care of breakfast.
Visit cheaper cities
You’ll find plenty of cheap places to travel in the U.S. and they can be cheaper for a range of reasons. For example, Washington, D.C., isn’t the cheapest place to stay, but it contains loads of free museums and other attractions so you won’t spend much on entertainment.
Atlanta is a huge hub for flights from all over the country, so it’s often possible to travel there for cheap. Knoxville is smaller than other more popular Tennessee cities, such as Memphis and Nashville, but accommodations and food are significantly cheaper.
Think about flights, accommodation and expenses when looking for cheap places to travel outside of the States. If you want to go to Europe, for instance, tickets to Paris and Prague might be similar in price, but food, drink and accommodations are significantly cheaper in Prague.
Bring reusable cups and bottles
Instead of buying bottles of water while out and about, bring your own reusable water bottle — such as a Chilly’s Reusable Water Bottle — and fill it up wherever you find water for free. You can also bring a reusable coffee cup as many coffee shops offer a discount when you bring your own. It might not seem like a huge money saver, but every little adds up, especially when traveling for an extended period of time.
Walk when possible
You can save money and see more of the place that you’re staying by walking whenever possible, rather than paying for public transport or cab fares. Just make sure you pack a good pair of comfortable shoes so your feet don’t hurt from all that walking.
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Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/see-the-world-on-a-budget-how-to-travel-for-cheap/ | 2023-07-29T12:17:49 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/see-the-world-on-a-budget-how-to-travel-for-cheap/ |
Aleksandar Vukic vs. Ugo Humbert: Prediction and Match Betting Odds | Truist Atlanta Open
In the Truist Atlanta Open semifinals on Saturday, Aleksandar Vukic takes on Ugo Humbert.
Humbert carries -160 odds to win a spot in the final with a win over Vukic (+125).
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Aleksandar Vukic vs. Ugo Humbert 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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Aleksandar Vukic vs. Ugo Humbert Prediction and Odds
Based on the moneyline in this match, Ugo Humbert has a 61.5% chance to win.
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Aleksandar Vukic vs. Ugo Humbert Trends and Insights
- In the quarterfinals on Friday, Vukic took down Christopher Eubanks 6-4, 6-4.
- Humbert advanced past Alex de Minaur 7-6, 6-3 in the quarterfinals on Friday.
- Through 34 matches over the past 12 months (across all court surfaces), Vukic has played 24.6 games per match (23.3 in best-of-three matches) and won 51.5% of them.
- In his 21 matches on hard courts over the past 12 months, Vukic has played an average of 23.8 games (22.8 in best-of-three matches).
- Humbert has averaged 24.8 games per match (22.5 in best-of-three matches) in his 40 matches played in the past year across all court types, while winning 51.0% of the games.
- Humbert has averaged 24.1 games per match (21.7 in best-of-three matches) and 10.6 games per set through 25 matches on hard courts in the past 12 months, winning 51.7% of those games.
- Vukic and Humbert have not played each other since 2015.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.kttc.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/aleksandar-vukic-vs-ugo-humbert-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-truist-atlanta-open/ | 2023-07-29T12:17:51 | 1 | https://www.kttc.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/aleksandar-vukic-vs-ugo-humbert-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-truist-atlanta-open/ |
There were some people that decades ago discouraged Cynthia Sutphin from growing lavender on Cape Cod. It wasn’t as popular a plant as it is today, and there were challenges getting the Mediterranean flower to grow in the soils of Cape Cod.
Sutphin tried it out anyway, and now she and her husband, Matthew Sutphin, have owned Cape Cod Lavender Farm located off Weston Woods Road in Harwich for 28 years.
The farm is surrounded by 100 acres of conservation land but within their land lies 12-acres of property which includes a small store, fairy houses, and several thousand plants for the public to enjoy.
Read more: Visiting Hudson? MassLive found these 15 things you should absolutely do on your next trip
“Lavender gained popularity,” said Cynthia Sutphin. “We kind of have been able to ride that wave because it’s so good for so many things. It’s the most versatile plant on Earth, because you can eat it, it smells great, it appeals to all the senses.”
Currently the farm sells 25 lavender products, and a lot of them are locally made in Cape Cod such as their soaps, lavender marmalade, and a roll on with CBD and lavender.
Additionally, Sutphin has partnered with people outside of Massachusetts. She has two candlemakers, one in Pennsylvania and another in New Hampshire, and also a woman from Ohio who supplies Sutphin with body creams and body wash.
The farm is opened to the public from March until Christmas but people can still buy their products online.
“I was actually discouraged from doing it,” said Sutphin about her lavender farm. “I chose it because nobody was doing it. I also did homework before I decided to do it because I wasn’t sure if it was going to be a good choice. "
While speaking with other agricultural experts about lavender, Sutphin was told that Cape Cod’s climate “is not right” and “the soil is not right” for the Mediterranean plant.
“I did a test garden of 400 and they thrived the first year,” said Sutphin. “That’s when my husband gave me several thousand more the next year.”
The reason for the lavender’s success was because of Cape Cod’s moderate climate, sandy soil and the coast’s winters that allowed the plant to go into their dormant period.
The only trouble Sutphin came across is the acidity of the soil, since lavender likes sweeter soil. By liming, which is the process of spreading limestone in the soil, causing the pH to go up to seven or above, Sutphin was able to create that sweeter soil the lavender craved.
Now Sutphin collects over a 100 bunches of lavender in the first two to three weeks of lavender’s harvest in June and July.
After picking her bunches, Sutphin distills the flowers she doesn’t sell fresh, which results in the separation of the plant and its properties, providing about two gallons of hydrosol and one to two ounces of oil.
The hydrosol is sold as a face toner and the oil is sold as a way to alleviate headaches, bug bites, bee stings and more according to Sutphin.
While touring the farm, Sutphin suggests people do a self-guided tour by walking around, enjoying the lavender field, and visiting the fairy garden.
On each side of the fantasy trail are small fairy and toad houses, and the trail leads to a large stone castle. Stonemason Eddie Foisy made the path about 20 years ago and today it’s decorated with shiny coins as “offerings” for the fairies.
Sutphin added that people can also sit on their benches and take in the smell of lavender if they don’t want to walk around the farm. But if people do want to walk, especially with their dogs, there are 60 acres worth of maintained trails off the farm.
“We love dogs,” said Sutphin. “We don’t allow them on the farm but we have trails that they can walk.... It’s all conservation land... all preserved for walking.”
Sutphin has no plans of expanding the farm. In fact, she prefers to stay small, adding that the lavender farm is “an actual physical pleasure to visit.” She wants the farm to continue being a destination while still maintaining an online presence.
At the end of the interview, Sutphin spoke about the future of Cape Cod Lavender Farm, mentioning she had four kids, whom she hopes “will take it over when it’s my time” so they can carry on the farm’s success.
In the mean time, the lavender farm is doing such good business that Sutphin said she doesn’t have any plants left over for herself.
“There was a time when I had plenty leftover to dry,” she said. “Those days are long gone.”
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. | https://www.unionleader.com/news/back_page/cape-cod-lavender-farm-celebrates-the-most-versatile-plant-on-earth/article_974acf9b-6082-53b3-bd8c-f486b5d0c7e0.html | 2023-07-29T12:17:54 | 1 | https://www.unionleader.com/news/back_page/cape-cod-lavender-farm-celebrates-the-most-versatile-plant-on-earth/article_974acf9b-6082-53b3-bd8c-f486b5d0c7e0.html |
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — 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 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.
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.wtvr.com/news/national-news/fury-325-roller-coaster-second-crack-carowinds-july-29-2023 | 2023-07-29T12:17:54 | 1 | https://www.wtvr.com/news/national-news/fury-325-roller-coaster-second-crack-carowinds-july-29-2023 |
By MARY CLARE JALONICK (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has repeatedly said he is “fine” since he froze up midsentence during a press conference on Wednesday. And now his office is trying to tamp down speculation that he might not fill out his term as leader because of his health.
In a statement, his office said McConnell appreciates the continued support of his colleagues and “plans to serve his full term in the job they overwhelmingly elected him to do.”
The statement, first reported by Politico, comes after McConnell, 81, has suffered health problems in recent months. At his weekly press conference this week, he froze and stared vacantly for about 20 seconds before his GOP colleagues standing behind him grabbed his elbows and asked if he wanted to go back to his office. He later returned to the news conference and answered questions as if nothing had happened.
When asked about the episode, he said he was “fine,” a statement he repeated in a hallway to reporters later that day. Neither McConnell nor his office would answer questions about whether he got medical help afterward.
Even as McConnell tried to brush off the concerns, the episode raised new questions among his colleagues about his health and also whether McConnell, who was first elected to the Senate in 1984 and has served as Republican leader since 2007, might soon step aside from his leadership post.
He was elected to a two-year term as leader in January by a large majority of his conference, despite an insurgent challenge from Florida Sen. Rick Scott. He would be up for re-election as leader again after the 2024 elections.
By then, he will have to decide also if he wants to run again for another Senate term. He is up for re-election in 2026.
In March, McConnell suffered a concussion and a broken rib after falling and hitting his head after a dinner event at a hotel. He didn’t return to the Senate for almost six weeks. He has been using a wheelchair in the airport while commuting back and forth to Kentucky. And his speech has recently sounded more halting.
But McConnell, famously reticent and often private about his personal life and health, has said very little about what is going on.
Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota said after Wednesday’s episode that McConnell’s job as leader calls for more transparency than it would for others.
“We should find out, you know, fairly soon what happened and how serious it is,” Cramer said. “But I don’t have to tell you, Mitch is also, as an individual, a pretty private guy. So we’ll see.”
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said he talked to McConnell on Wednesday night and he seemed “strong and alert.” But he said what happened at the news conference on Wednesday was disturbing to watch.
“Mitch is strong, he’s stubborn as a mule,” Cruz said. “My prayers are with them. I hope that — we’re going into the August recess — I hope he has time to fully recuperate.”
GOP senators who are seen as potential successors have been cautious in their reaction.
“He’s fine, he’s back to work,” said South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Senate Republican and one of the senators standing behind McConnell when he froze up.
“I support Senator McConnell as long as he wants to serve as leader,” said Texas Sen. John Cornyn, another potential replacement.
Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, the No. 3 Senate Republican and a former orthopedic surgeon, guided McConnell back to his office to rest during the news conference. Afterwards, he told reporters that he has been concerned since McConnell was injured earlier this year, “and I continue to be concerned.”
Barrasso then added: “I said I was concerned when he fell and hit his head a number of months ago and was hospitalized. And I think he’s made a remarkable recovery, he’s doing a great job leading our conference and was able to answer every question the press asked him today.”
Several other GOP senators projected confidence in the Republican leader.
“I do have confidence in his leadership,” said Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis. “At lunch yesterday, he spoke. He was completely on his game using numbers that were pulled out of his head and he was completely with it. So I don’t know what precipitated the freeze, but he’ll be careful to evaluate his own capabilities.”
Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall said he was “a little concerned” after the news conference.
“He said that he got a little overheated, a little dehydrated,” said Marshall, who is also a doctor. “That’s what it looks like to me. I can tell you, he’s got a strong, strong voice in our conference. He’s providing steady leadership. And I think he’s doing a great job as leader.”
McConnell had polio in his early childhood and he has long acknowledged some difficulty as an adult in climbing stairs. In addition to his fall in March, he also tripped and fell four years ago at his home in Kentucky, causing a shoulder fracture that required surgery.
The Republican leader carried on with his full schedule after the episode on Wednesday. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he spoke with his Republican counterpart at an event Wednesday evening for Major League Baseball owners.
“I said I’m so glad you’re here,” Schumer said. “And he made a very good speech.”
The Republican leader is one of several senators who have been absent due to health issues this year. Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, 90, was out of the Senate for more than two months as she recovered from a bout of shingles. And Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., 53, took leave for several weeks to get treatment for clinical depression.
—-
Associated Press writer Lisa Mascaro and AP videojournalist Mike Pesoli contributed to this report. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/sen-mcconnell-plans-to-serve-his-full-term-as-republican-leader-despite-questions-about-his-health/ | 2023-07-29T12:17:55 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/sen-mcconnell-plans-to-serve-his-full-term-as-republican-leader-despite-questions-about-his-health/ |
Trader Joe's has recalled its frozen falafel for potentially having rocks in it, after it recalled two of its cookie products for the same reason recently.
The company's supplier informed them of the concern, and Trader Joe's said in a statement Friday that "all potentially affected product has been removed from sale and destroyed."
Customers who purchased the product should discard it or return it to a Trader Joe's location for a full refund, the company said.
The falafel, which is fully cooked and frozen, has the SKU number 93935 and is sold in Washington, D.C., and 34 states.
Last Friday, Trader Joe's said rocks could also possibly be found in its Almond Windmill Cookies and Dark Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.kcbx.org/npr-top-news/2023-07-28/trader-joes-recalls-its-frozen-falafel-for-possibly-having-rocks-in-it | 2023-07-29T12:17:57 | 0 | https://www.kcbx.org/npr-top-news/2023-07-28/trader-joes-recalls-its-frozen-falafel-for-possibly-having-rocks-in-it |
How to Watch NASCAR, F1, IndyCar & More: Auto Racing Streaming Live - Saturday, July 29
Published: Jul. 29, 2023 at 5:44 AM CDT|Updated: 2 hours ago
Need more auto racing in your life? Well, you're in luck. The race slate on Saturday, July 29 includes Formula 1, Formula E, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Racing Series, and NHRA Drag Racing action that can be watched on Fubo. For a complete list, along with information on how to watch or live stream it all, check out the article below.
Watch even more racing action with ESPN+!
Auto Racing Streaming Live Today
Watch Formula 1: Belgium Grand Prix - Sprint Shootout
- Series: Formula 1
- Game Time: 5:55 AM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch Formula 1: Belgium Grand Prix - Sprint
- Series: Formula 1
- Game Time: 10:25 AM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch Formula E: Round 15: London - Race
- Series: Formula E
- Game Time: 11:30 AM ET
- TV Channel: CBS Sports Network
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch NHRA Drag Racing: DENSO Sonoma Nationals - Qualifying
- Series: NHRA Drag Racing
- Game Time: 12:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: FOX Sports Networks
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch Formula E: Hankook London E-Prix
- Series: Formula E
- Game Time: 12:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: CBS
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch NASCAR Cup Series: Cook Out 400 - Qualifying
- Series: NASCAR Cup Series
- Game Time: 12:30 PM ET
- TV Channel: USA Network
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch NASCAR Xfinity Racing Series: Henry 180
- Series: NASCAR Xfinity Racing Series
- Game Time: 3:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: NBC
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch NASCAR Xfinity Racing Series: Road America 180
- Series: NASCAR Xfinity Racing Series
- Game Time: 3:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: NBC
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Worldwide Express 250
- Series: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
- Game Time: 7:30 PM ET
- TV Channel: FOX Sports Networks
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Make sure you're following along with racing action all year long on Fubo and ESPN+!
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.kttc.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/auto-racing-live-stream/ | 2023-07-29T12:17:58 | 0 | https://www.kttc.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/auto-racing-live-stream/ |
Mastercard has told U.S. banks to stop allowing marijuana purchases with its debit cards, highlighting the legal and financial gray area the industry exists within even as more states legalize the drug.
Large banks and credit card companies have generally restricted cannabis purchases because marijuana is illegal under federal law, leaving few payment options for buyers in places where it is legal. Thirty-eight states, two territories and D.C. allow medical use for some conditions, and 23 states, two territories and the D.C. have legalized recreational use.
Mastercard said in an emailed statement Thursday that "the federal government considers cannabis sales illegal, so these purchases are not allowed on our systems."
But some buyers, and dispensaries, had found a loophole in PIN transactions with debit cards.
"As we were made aware of this matter, we quickly investigated it," the company said. "In accordance with our policies, we instructed the financial institutions that offer payments services to cannabis merchants and connects them to Mastercard to terminate the activity."
Josh Glasstetter, spokesperson for the U.S. Cannabis Council, said the industry's estimated $30 billion in revenue this year would be "overwhelmingly" generated through cash transactions, which he says put workers and communities at greater risk.
Supporters of efforts to allow cashless transactions at dispensaries say forcing the businesses to operate only with cash invites would-be thieves. "It makes absolutely no sense that legal businesses are being forced to operate entirely in cash, and it's dangerous - and sometimes even fatal - for employees behind the register," Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said in a statement to the Associated Press last year amid a surge in dispensary robberies in her state.
"State-legal cannabis businesses are locked out of most banking and financial services," Glasstetter said in a text message. "[The] announcement by Mastercard is a powerful reminder of the need for action by Congress."
In 2019, California State Treasurer Fiona Ma told a House subcommittee looking at the SAFE Banking Act that cannabis dispensaries have dropped off duffel bags and suitcases full of cash to pay their taxes.
The act would protect banks and their employees from punishment for providing services to cannabis businesses that are legal on a state level.
"We have the power in this committee to prevent murders and armed robberies, and we must use it," Rep. Denny Heck (D-Wash.) said at the time.
The bill is still being debated. The Senate Banking Committee held its first hearing on the bill in May.
Glasstetter said the bill's passage would "open up new payment methods and vital sources of financing."
But some lawmakers have concerns. Sen. Tim Scott, (R-S.C.) said in a May hearing on the bill that authorities were concerned it could "create loopholes in our money-laundering laws, making it harder to catch criminals."
In a survey conducted in October, the Pew Research Center found that 88 percent of Americans support the legalization of marijuana for medical use and 59 percent support legalization for recreational use. Support was lower among Republicans and people age 75 or older. Support for legalization has increased dramatically over the past two decades. | https://www.unionleader.com/news/business/dont-let-people-buy-pot-with-debit-cards-mastercard-tells-banks/article_7117ac3c-7ccc-56d0-bc62-af9ab1633574.html | 2023-07-29T12:18:00 | 0 | https://www.unionleader.com/news/business/dont-let-people-buy-pot-with-debit-cards-mastercard-tells-banks/article_7117ac3c-7ccc-56d0-bc62-af9ab1633574.html |
Losing the heat and humidity this weekend, small rain chances
TV5 First Alert Saturday Morning Forecast
SAGINAW, Mich. (WNEM) - This weekend will be marked by a far more pleasant air mass settling over the Great Lakes that will filter in much cooler and drier air. We also leave behind the higher rain chances, though rain chances are not gone entirely. A few isolated showers and weak thunderstorms will be possible at times this Saturday evening & other into Sunday morning. Additional isolated showers are even possible Sunday evening.
SATURDAY
Heavy rain from overnight Friday into this morning is gradually coming to an end just before 7am. Lingering showers may exist through 9am before entirely evening the area. In it’s wake, very heavy rainfall for much of Mid-Michigan with some areas experiencing flooding (Isabella and Gratiot Counties were hit especially hard, as was Flint) as rain totals over 1″ where widespread with several communities exceeding 2″.
With this rain ending now this morning, clouds will also be slowly clearing out of the area through the morning, eventually giving way to a decent amount of sunshine during the afternoon. Winds will be turning out of the north today, thus allowing a much cooler and drier air mass to slip into the Great Lakes. This will allow temperatures to only make it into the middle-upper 70s with quickly decreasing humidity this afternoon. Its possible that it still feels a little humid today, but by tomorrow we will have great improvement.
During the evening, a few pop-up showers and/or weak thunderstorms may develop mainly near the Saginaw Bay. These should be generally weak with a threat for a moderate downpour and some isolated lightning. During the overnight hours tonight a weak disturbance will sweep through Mid-Michigan with enough lingering moisture and just enough energy to bring a few weak showers overnight, possibly through early Sunday morning. Really no impacts are expected and this wont be a washout.
SUNDAY
As stated above, a few weak showers may be moving through early Sunday morning but otherwise expect a much cooler start to the day. Overnight lows should dip back into the middle and upper 50s with decreasing humidity. The cooler and drier air mass will hang on through the entirety of Sunday with another afternoon of highs into the middle-upper 70s and a light northwesterly wind.
A few isolated showers may develop again Sunday afternoon and evening.
Copyright 2023 WNEM. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2023/07/29/losing-heat-humidity-this-weekend-small-rain-chances/ | 2023-07-29T12:18:01 | 0 | https://www.wnem.com/2023/07/29/losing-heat-humidity-this-weekend-small-rain-chances/ |
By MARY CLARE JALONICK and SCOTT BAUER (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — A freshman Republican congressman from Wisconsin is refusing to apologize after he yelled and cursed at high school-aged Senate pages during a late night tour of the Capitol this week, eliciting a bipartisan rebuke from Senate leaders.
Rep. Derrick Van Orden, speaking in a round of interviews Friday on Wisconsin conservative talk radio, did not refute reports of his actions or back down from what he did.
Van Orden used a profanity to describe the pages as lazy and and another to order them off the floor of the Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday night, according to a report in the online political newsletter PunchBowl News. The pages were laying down to take photos in the Rotunda, according to the publication.
“I’m not going to apologize for making sure that anybody — I don’t care who you are and who you’re related to — defiles this House,” Van Orden said on “The Dan O’Donnell Show.” “It’s not going to happen on my watch, man.”
Van Orden said he was protecting the integrity of the Capitol Rotunda because it served as a field hospital during the Civil War and it’s where presidents have lain in state upon their deaths. He said the young people he confronted were “goofing off” and that Democrats were making it an issue.
“Would this be an issue if those young people did not have political connections?” Van Orden said on “The Jay Weber Show.” “Why do you think this is an issue, pal?”
A former Navy SEAL who was outside of the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection, Van Orden also appeared to embrace the presence of alcohol in his office the same evening he encountered the pages. Images were posted on social media showing bottles of liquor and beer cans on a desk in his office. Van Orden said on X, the platform previously known as Twitter, that the alcohol was from constituents.
And his spokeswoman Anna Kelly posted: “As the Congressman says, once you cross the threshold to our office, you are in Wisconsin!” She followed that with a beer mug emoji.
Van Orden represents Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, a GOP-leaning jurisdiction that comprises parts of central, southwestern and western Wisconsin, including moderate exurbs of Minnesota’s Twin Cities.
On Thursday evening, just before the Senate left for its August recess, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., rebuked Van Orden’s behavior and thanked the pages, high school-age students who serve as helpers and messengers around the Senate. Several of the pages were sitting on the Senate floor at the time, smiling and nodding as dozens of senators stood and gave them a standing ovation.
Without mentioning Van Orden by name, Schumer said he was “shocked” to hear about the behavior of a member of the House Republican majority and “further shocked at his refusal to apologize to these young people.” He noted that Thursday was the final day for this class of pages.
“They’re here when we need them,” Schumer said. “And they have served this institution with grace.”
McConnell said he associated himself with Schumer’s words. “Everybody on this side of the aisle feels exactly the same way,” he said.
When asked about McConnell’s rebuke, Van Orden said Friday “I don’t know what it was because I honestly have not tracked any of this stuff.”
Van Orden was elected to Congress in 2022 after a losing bid in 2020. He has insisted that he did not enter the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and on Friday again condemned those who did, calling them “buffoons.” That didn’t stop fellow Wisconsin Rep. Mark Pocan, a Democrat, from invoking the Jan. 6 attack in criticizing Van Orden.
“Wonder if he told that to his fellow insurrectionists, who were beating police officers on the same ground?” Pocan said on X.
Rebecca Cooke, a Democrat who is running to challenge Van Orden in 2024, called him an embarrassment and a hypocrite. She called Van Orden a “serial harasser” and referenced an incident in June 2021 when Van Orden was upset about a display of LGBTQ+ books at a southwestern Wisconsin library and yelled at a teenager who was working there.
“For someone to perhaps drunkenly, and definitely belligerently, yell at these kids for enjoying our nation’s Capitol is just stupid,” Pocan said Friday. “He would be best to say it was stupid and just move on.”
___
EDITORS’ NOTE: An earlier version of this story misidentified the name of “The Dan O’Donnell Show.”
___
Bauer reported from Madison, Wisconsin. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/senators-rebuke-wisconsin-congressman-who-yelled-vulgarities-at-high-school-age-pages/ | 2023-07-29T12:18:01 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/senators-rebuke-wisconsin-congressman-who-yelled-vulgarities-at-high-school-age-pages/ |
SAN FRANCISCO — The city of San Francisco has opened a complaint and launched an investigation into a giant "X" sign that was installed Friday on top of the downtown building formerly known as Twitter headquarters as owner Elon Musk continues his rebrand of the social media platform.
City officials say replacing letters or symbols on buildings, or erecting a sign on top of one, requires a permit for design and safety reasons.
The X appeared after San Francisco police stopped workers on Monday from removing the brand's iconic bird and logo from the side of the building, saying they hadn't taped off the sidewalk to keep pedestrians safe if anything fell.
Any replacement letters or symbols would require a permit to ensure "consistency with the historic nature of the building" and to make sure additions are safely attached to the sign, Patrick Hannan, spokesperson for the Department of Building Inspection said earlier this week.
Erecting a sign on top of a building also requires a permit, Hannan said Friday.
"Planning review and approval is also necessary for the installation of this sign. The city is opening a complaint and initiating an investigation," he said in an email.
Musk unveiled a new "X" logo to replace Twitter's famous blue bird as he remakes the social media platform he bought for $44 billion last year. The X started appearing at the top of the desktop version of Twitter on Monday.
Musk, who is also CEO of Tesla, has long been fascinated with the letter X and had already renamed Twitter's corporate name to X Corp. after he bought it in October. One of his children is called "X." The child's actual name is a collection of letters and symbols.
On Friday afternoon, a worker on a lift machine made adjustments to the sign and then left.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.kcbx.org/npr-top-news/2023-07-28/x-logo-installed-atop-twitter-building-spurring-san-francisco-to-investigate | 2023-07-29T12:18:03 | 1 | https://www.kcbx.org/npr-top-news/2023-07-28/x-logo-installed-atop-twitter-building-spurring-san-francisco-to-investigate |
As they struggle to reduce drug overdose deaths, policymakers across the United States are embroiled in a heated debate over creating and increasing criminal penalties related to fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that’s up to 100 times more potent than morphine.
Legislators pushing the new wave of criminal penalties say the laws will deter drug distributors and hold offenders accountable. But opponents — including some public health officials — warn of potential consequences such as worsening the opioid crisis and pushing users toward more dangerous synthetic alternatives.
As of this month, 28 states have enacted one or more fentanyl criminal provisions, according to the Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association, which researches and drafts potential legislation on public safety and substance use.
In this year’s legislative sessions alone, lawmakers introduced hundreds of fentanyl crime bills in at least 46 state legislatures, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. While they vary, the bills generally would increase or stiffen penalties for the illegal production, possession and distribution of the substance.
Lawmakers in Virginia designated fentanyl as “a weapon of terrorism,” enacting a bill this spring that makes knowingly manufacturing or distributing substances containing any detectable amount of fentanyl punishable by up to 10 years of jail time.
An Iowa statute, signed into law in May, enhanced the penalties for selling and manufacturing fentanyl, with prison sentences ranging from up to 10 years to up to 50 years. While the bill passed with bipartisan support, some Democrats also proposed that the state improve access to substance use treatment and resources, such as fentanyl testing strips, which remain illegal in Iowa.
Arkansas and Texas are the latest states to pass legislation that makes it a homicide to give fentanyl to someone who then dies of an overdose. About 30 other states and the District of Columbia have laws, known as drug-induced homicide laws, that allow murder prosecutions, even in cases where individuals share drugs socially, if those drugs contain lethal doses.
Texas’ new law imposes harsher penalties, including first-degree felony charges for those involved in manufacturing, distributing or possessing with intent to deliver between 200 and 400 grams of fentanyl, and second-degree felony charges for those involved in manufacturing or distributing fentanyl that results in an overdose.
The law’s supporters say the measure will not only protect Texans from potentially overdosing, but also hold distributors accountable.
“The intent is to deter the behavior and make it to where prosecutors throughout the state can take the sort of action that needs to be taken with this drug,” Texas Rep. David Cook, a Republican who co-authored the bill, said in an interview with Stateline. “This is a necessary measure in order to protect the public safety of our citizens.”
Republican state Rep. Kronda Thimesch, who also co-authored the bill, wrote in an email that the law garnered “overwhelming support” from families, community leaders and law enforcement agencies across the state.
“We have learned from the past that stronger penalties do work. We need to use every resource available to go after drug dealers,” Thimesch wrote.
But critics raise concerns over whether these types of measures truly address the root causes of substance use.
“You cannot deal with fentanyl without dealing with the overall issue of drug addiction and drug usage,” Texas state Rep. Gene Wu, a Democrat who voted against the measure, said in an interview with Stateline.
“If you make illegal things that human beings want, you will make things worse,” Wu said. “You will create more organized crime, you will create more unintended consequences, you will create more disparity and destruction in poor communities, because this crap never affects the communities of the people who make the laws.”
Some criminal justice advocates say fentanyl should be treated as a public health issue rather than a law enforcement problem.
By attaching criminal consequences to drug-related incidents, fear and stigma may deter people with substance use disorders from reaching out for help, said Maritza Perez Medina, the director of federal affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance, which advocates for reducing criminal drug penalties.
“Public health interventions, things like harm reduction services would actually go a long way in curbing overdose deaths and connecting people to treatment. Unfortunately, that’s not the route that many lawmakers both at the state and federal level are choosing to follow,” Perez Medina said in an interview with Stateline. “There’s still an overinvestment in criminal justice approaches at the expense of public health solutions.”
Criminalization measures also have a disproportionate impact on marginalized communities, which amplify existing racial and socioeconomic disparities, Perez Medina said.
“[These criminalization policies are] also falling on people who are on the lowest level of the drug distribution chain, people who probably also use drugs who would benefit most from public health interventions rather than handcuffs,” she said.
More overdoses
Fentanyl, originally developed in 1959 and introduced in the 1960s, emerged as an intravenous anesthetic and is used particularly to relieve pain after operations, according to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. Fentanyl also serves as a medication for patients with chronic pain who have developed a tolerance to other opioids.
Before 2013, overdose outbreaks linked to illegally manufactured fentanyl were often localized and attributed to specific chemists in Mexico or elsewhere, according to Beau Kilmer, the co-director of the RAND Drug Policy Research Center, a nonpartisan research group.
A shift occurred when illegally manufactured fentanyl began flowing into the United States from China in 2013, leading to its widespread distribution, Kilmer said. Over time, dealers mixed fentanyl with heroin and later transitioned to counterfeit pills.
More than 110,500 people in the United States died of drug overdoses in 2022, according to provisional statistics released by the National Center for Health Statistics, a federal agency. Sixty-eight percent, or 75,778, of those deaths involved synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl. The Drug Enforcement Administration also attributes more deaths to illegal fentanyl among Americans under 50 than any other cause of death.
The use of fentanyl laced with xylazine — a cheap animal sedative not meant for human consumption that can cause blackouts and lesions that sometimes result in amputations — also is on the rise, causing growing concerns among policymakers. The Biden administration recently unveiled a plan to curb the growing threat by increasing testing and coordinating standardized data collection to better understand how xylazine-related overdoses are affecting the country.
Several states also have taken steps to restrict access to xylazine, also known as “tranq.” Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro announced the addition of xylazine to the state’s controlled substances list in April, joining Ohio and West Virginia, where similar restrictions have been implemented. Florida already categorizes xylazine as a Schedule I controlled substance.
Alternative approaches
A recent study published in the American Journal of Public Health suggests that drug busts and police crackdowns on dealers may worsen the overdose crisis.
The research, conducted in Indianapolis, identified a pattern where overdose rates involving opioids doubled in the vicinity surrounding a drug seizure and persisted over several weeks. The study suggested that the increase in overdoses may be linked to people seeking alternatives due to the loss of their stable supply, without knowing their tolerance to other opioids that have varying potency.
Some drug policy experts worry that criminalizing fentanyl may push individuals toward more dangerous substances, as suppliers seek to evade law enforcement scrutiny.
“Anytime you ban a drug, if people respond to that at all, they just respond by using a whole different drug. It doesn’t address the issue because it doesn’t address demand, and as long as there is a demand for the drug, there will be a supply for it,” said Katharine Harris, a drug policy fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, in an interview with Stateline.
She also argued that the focus on this substance alone does not address the root causes and complexities of the overdose crisis.
“We’re always going to be one step behind and I feel like that’s what we’re seeing right now with xylazine,” Harris said.
Some states have chosen to pursue alternative approaches. California and North Carolina have embraced harm reduction strategies, such as syringe exchange programs and increasing distribution of naloxone, an overdose-reversal drug. New Hampshire also recently outlined its plan to use $6.5 million to fund programs that aim to treat and prevent substance use in the state.
Missouri recently became the latest state to decriminalize fentanyl testing strips. Only New York City and Rhode Island have legalized “safe injection sites,” where people can use drugs under the supervision of trained staff who can reverse overdoses.
There are more than 1,100 communities nationwide that have committed to creating non-arrest pathways into treatment and recovery to address substance use, according to Zoe Grover-Scicchitano, the executive director of the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative, which helps law enforcement agencies turn to treatment programs rather than arrests.
“Effective drug policy, including addressing root causes of addiction and supporting harm reduction efforts, requires creating public health and public safety partnerships. Collaboration between law enforcement and other stakeholders can reduce stigma, create more pathways into treatment and reduce overdose deaths,” Grover-Scicchitano wrote in an email.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. | https://www.unionleader.com/news/crime/states-stiffen-penalties-for-fentanyl-despite-public-health-concerns/article_2f0da96f-be93-5265-8d55-d487e33b871a.html | 2023-07-29T12:18:06 | 1 | https://www.unionleader.com/news/crime/states-stiffen-penalties-for-fentanyl-despite-public-health-concerns/article_2f0da96f-be93-5265-8d55-d487e33b871a.html |
Faced with alarming teacher shortages, Virginia last month agreed to partner with a for-profit online teacher credentialing company, hoping to get more teachers into classrooms faster and without the higher tuition costs of traditional colleges and universities.
While some of the Virginia school board members had qualms about the process, they agreed to give it a try due to the nagging high teacher vacancy rate. The board unanimously approved a three-year pilot program and partnered with one of the bigger companies in the fast-track credentialing business, iteach.
Such companies pledge they will get a candidate teacher-ready in about a year. The iteach program includes online courses, after which candidates are placed in classrooms, with some supervision and the agreement of the school districts.
According to state statistics, Virginia had more than 3,500 full-time teacher vacancies for the 2022-2023 school year, which is about a 4.5% rate, though vacancies in some specialties are higher. The situation was worse than the year before, the statistics showed.
Daniel Gecker, a then-member of the state board of education who voted for the online certification plan, said he agreed only because the program is a three-year pilot and an "opportunity to gather data."
"We are in the middle of a fairly significant teacher shortage," Gecker said in an interview. "Having the online-trained teachers is better than having the untrained subs we've been having."
He said that before the COVID-19 pandemic, it probably would have been possible to make up the teacher gap with better retention. "Post-pandemic, the gulf is just too wide; we can't fill it with better retention and people coming out of school."
Virginia is just the latest state to turn to for-profit teacher certification companies in an urgent effort to recruit and train more teachers. The states hope the new paths to certification will help ease the shortages, but critics argue those who take the programs are not as well trained as traditionally credentialed teachers and will do a disservice to young students.
States have other options to address the teacher shortage, including lowering standards to try to bring in more recruits.
Education Week reported last year that about a dozen states had relaxed credentialing standards for teachers or were considering doing so. California lawmakers decided in 2021 to allow aspiring teachers to eliminate two different exams as long as they had taken courses to address basic skills and the subject matter they intend to teach. Oklahoma enacted a law last year to remove the requirement for a general education exam.
Some states are pressing "temporary" teachers into service. Arizona last year allowed substitute teachers to take full-time positions to address the teacher shortage in that state. In addition, a law passed last year allows Arizona teacher candidates working toward a college degree to teach at the same time.
Iteach is working in 11 states, according to its website: Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Louisiana, Nevada, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. The Mississippi Teacher Licensure Commission, a panel created to evaluate such programs for that state, unanimously recommended iteach as a certification provider at the commission's meeting July 7. That recommendation now goes to the state board of education.
Another large company, Teachers of Tomorrow, is working in nine states, though its credentials may be in jeopardy in Texas, where the company has been placed on probation after state regulators found the company misled potential teachers in its advertising, and hadn't shown that its training was based in research.
Iteach has been accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, which credentials traditional educator training colleges. Andrew Rozell, president of certification at iteach, said it is the only for-profit program of its kind so credentialed.
The for-profit companies are separate and different from online university programs, such as Western Governors University or the Southern New Hampshire University, which also have teacher education courses but are not focused on quick credentialing. The for-profit credentialing firms tout their ability to get people into classrooms within a year or 18 months, depending on when they begin.
Serious need
Nationwide, teacher shortages are just as bad as in Virginia, particularly in very rural or low-income inner-city school districts. A working paper from Brown University "conservatively" estimated that as of August 2022, there were 36,000 teacher vacancies across the United States.
And the paper noted that those vacancies are not distributed equally. "The vacancy rate per 10,000 students is more than 159 times as high in Mississippi as it is in Missouri," the authors wrote. The paper found a shortage of 0.43 teachers per 10,000 students in Missouri and 68.59 teachers per 10,000 in Mississippi.
By taking the step to help fill the vacancies, the Virginia state education board was following Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin's Executive Directive No. 3 to address the teacher shortage, in part by reducing "red tape associated with teacher licensure, while assuring high standards."
Iteach fills that criteria, according to Youngkin spokesperson Macaulay Porter, in an email to Stateline. "Governor Youngkin fully supports high-quality alternative pathways to becoming a teacher. The State Board of Education rigorously reviewed iteach data to ensure that iteach will provide school divisions with another effective and efficient option for recruiting and preparing new teachers," Porter wrote.
The iteach method counts on reducing barriers to time and cost, according to Rozell, "without reducing rigor." It is designed to take about a year to get candidates ready for initial teaching, if they pass state exams.
Then, the newly trained teachers are granted temporary licenses and teach under intermittent observation by iteach professionals who drop into classes, sometimes unannounced. All this occurs with the knowledge of school administrators, who can provide their own support.
Critics question fast-track credentialing
But critics contend that iteach and the other programs that turn out teachers quickly are not subject to the same requirements and depth of instruction as teachers who go the traditional path of four undergraduate years, sometimes at least a year getting a master's degree, and many months of student teaching under nearly constant supervision by a trained teacher.
Heather Peske, president of the National Council on Teacher Quality, a research and advocacy group, said in a phone interview that for-profit online teaching programs are a "blunt instrument" to address teacher shortages. The programs, she said, don't take into account whether the teachers are qualified for the subjects they will be teaching or whether they will be satisfied with their jobs and stay in the profession or leave after a year or two.
"If you have a fast-track program and your model is entirely online, it begs the question of how they are assuring aspiring teachers get a place to practice ... content knowledge and clinical practice," she said. School districts should tailor recruiting and educating new teachers to the vacancies and needs, she said, which are most often "specialized teachers" such as special education or multi-language learners.
Iteach advertises that its cost for a complete program is $4,399, plus a $99 enrollment fee. Teachers of Tomorrow's program costs about $5,000.
By contrast, annual average tuition at a four-year institution in education can range from $9,193 at an in-state school to $26,543 at an out-of-state school, according to the website College Tuition Compare, an independent college evaluation site. Elite institutions are higher. Graduate tuition ranges from $10,806 annually to $19,796, the site found.
Iteach's Rozell said many of the students in his company's programs are already working in classrooms, as paraprofessionals, aides for special needs kids or in other non-teaching capacities, and already have some idea of classroom management and other skills needed to be a teacher.
But Peske said the "grow your own" movement, which takes paraprofessionals or other employees and turns them into teachers, while a good idea, still requires "thoughtful clinical experience to prepare them. The notion that you would rely on candidates themselves to already be in the classrooms or already working with students, that concerns me," she said.
"Someone could have been a paraprofessional working as an aide to a student with disabilities, but may never have had the experience [learning] about neuro-differences in those students or who may never had had a mentor."
The American Federation of Teachers, the nation's largest teachers union, in a 2022 report called for more rigor in teacher training, not less, criticizing state efforts to lower the qualifications needed to be a teacher.
"[T]here are more alternative and nontraditional ways to become a teacher in the U.S. than ever before, and unfortunately many of them are low quality," the report said.
The teachers union stressed methods that are reflected in traditional training, saying aspiring teachers should get "extensive" classroom experiences "alongside a skilled practitioner over a significant period," and "a strong foundation in subject-area content."
"We cannot put a bandage on the teacher and school staff shortage by cutting corners and lowering the bar for entry," the report said.
The biggest knock on the swift accreditation companies came in Texas, where Texas Teachers of Tomorrow, also known as A+ Texas Teachers, has been put on probation. The Texas Education Agency found that the company failed to address numerous deficiencies, including the number of content hours required for teacher candidates, and whether they are evaluated regarding whether their existing skills are "appropriate for the certification sought." The audit came after complaints from school districts and teacher candidates who utilized the firm, The Dallas Morning News reported.
Attempts to reach Texas Teachers of Tomorrow were unsuccessful.
A University of Texas at Austin College of Education 2021 study of teacher preparation nationally found that in every tested subject, "students do better if they have university-certified teachers," and that for low-income students, "having a university-certified teacher can offset half or more of the disadvantages that comes from living in poverty."
In addition, the study showed that university-certified teachers had a 73% retention rate over nine years, while only 59% of "alternatively certified" teachers remained teaching.
But Rozell said that study was skewed because of the problems with Teachers of Tomorrow. He said an internal survey of his company's students showed that after the first year in the classroom, 93% said "they were excited to be back next year," and that they planned to be a teacher for at least five years.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. | https://www.unionleader.com/news/education/plagued-by-teacher-shortages-some-states-turn-to-fast-track-credentialing/article_e5d8453c-46d1-593c-a9d7-9223ffd676cf.html | 2023-07-29T12:18:07 | 1 | https://www.unionleader.com/news/education/plagued-by-teacher-shortages-some-states-turn-to-fast-track-credentialing/article_e5d8453c-46d1-593c-a9d7-9223ffd676cf.html |
By JOE LISTER
Associated Press
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Christine Sinclair. Megan Rapinoe. Sarina Bolden.
Like many players in the Women’s World Cup, all three stars built their skills at the U.S. collegiate level.
Of the 736 players competing at this year’s Women’s World Cup, 137 have roots in American college-level soccer, according to the NCAA. The total includes 16 players who currently compete for Division I schools or lower divisions.
Across the 32 teams that qualified for the group stage, more than one in every six players has had a career stop at an American school.
Not all the NCAA athletes in the tournament are tied to the United States.
Canada has 22 of 23 athletes who played or still play on U.S. college teams, most of any team in the tournament. That includes Sinclair, the the all-time leader in international goals for men and women, who played at the University of Portland.
The United States ranks second with 20 players. Rapinoe also played at Portland, but Alyssa Thompson, Trinity Rodman, and Lindsey Horan all turned professional without playing a college match. Horan also did not play for a high school team.
More than 70 U.S. schools are represented in the 2023 tournament, with Florida State the leader with eight current or former players competing. Stanford and North Carolina each have six, Penn State has five and four universities have four former players.
Even schools with lesser-known soccer programs have players competing in New Zealand and Australia. Hilary Jaen of Panama plays for Jones County Community College in Mississippi, Carleigh Frilles of the Philippines plays for Coastal Carolina and Chiara Singarella of Argentina plays for South Alabama. Erin Nayler of New Zealand previously played at Purdue Fort Wayne in Indiana.
TITLE IX
The success of American college soccer can trace its roots back just over 50 years, with the introduction of Title IX. As the U.S. government required universities to establish equal opportunities for men and women in education, those protections – and funding – spread to college athletics.
“The U.S. was providing one of the only games in town so to speak, in terms of opportunities for women to get some kind of compensation,” said Ellen Staurowsky, a professor in sports media at Ithaca College.
Title IX drew female athletes from outside the United States to American schools. Since the passage of Title IX, the number of female athletes competing in NCAA athletics has increased seven-fold and currently represents 44% of all university athletes, according to the National Women’s Law Center.
NCAA TRENDS
In 2021, there were 1,464 international student-athletes playing in NCAA Division I and Division II women’s soccer.
Traditional soccer powerhouses such as Germany and Sweden are sending significant numbers of players to college soccer, even though they have developmental programs of their own. There were 114 from Sweden and 128 from Germany in 2021.
In that same year, NCAA teams had 38 players from New Zealand, 35 players from the Netherlands, 16 players from Japan, and 5 players from South Africa.
“Then you would see those women going back to their own countries, taking what they learned with them,” Staurowsky said. “And you can begin to see how the sport begins to expand out.”
Penn State women’s soccer coach Erica Dambach has seen the collegiate process up close for some time. She’s coached at the Division I level since 1997, won the national title in 2015, and worked as an assistant coach for the U.S. women’s national teams at both the youth and senior levels.
“Until these players are making millions, I think an education is going to be the most important thing for these young women,” Dambach said. “I don’t think it’s for everyone, you have to be invested in getting your education.”
THE AMERICAN SYSTEM
That can be easier than it sounds.
“Educational systems around the globe are so different that our international students really don’t know how to navigate the (U.S.) system,” said Nicole LaVoi, a former collegiate tennis coach and the director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport at the University of Minnesota.
Coumba Sow, a Swiss midfielder, attended Monroe Community College in Rochester, New York, for two years before transferring to play Division I soccer at Oklahoma State.
“I didn’t understand the system. I was in a rush to just go to the States,” Sow said. “I wanted to keep on learning a language and studying and also play soccer. It’s a lot of paperwork, so I just looked at the facility. I was like, ‘Oh, New York,’ and I went. Then I got there I was like, ‘OK, maybe I should have checked it out better.’”
For New Zealand forward Gabi Rennie, taking the pathway to Division I soccer was an easy decision after watching others succeed. Rennie is entering her final year of NCAA eligibility at Arizona State after spending two seasons at Indiana.
“I wasn’t too sure what to do. But obviously, the college circuit was a really good option,” Rennie said. “Being able to kind of look to the likes of Ali Riley and Katie Bowen and the likes of those girls that had done the college circuit was cool, and just opened those doors for me.”
A PROVING GROUND
Katrina Guillou, a starting forward for the Philippines, spent four years at North Carolina–Wilmington. Her time playing soccer in Wilmington was pivotal to her career.
“The way the season is, with everything so condensed into the three-month span, playing two games every week, I think it really helps build the stamina that’s needed,” Guillou said. “And coming to this level, I think I’ve been able to build on top of that.”
Like many others, Sow saw her experience with American teams impact her style of play.
“Before I went to the U.S., I wasn’t really a physical player,” said Sow. “I learned how to fight in the U.S. because it’s a lot, a lot of long balls. You have to fight for the second ball. And before, I was just a technical player.”
Jody Brown of Jamaica was named the best young players in CONCACAF at the age of 16 and now plays for Florida State.
“The coaches helped us,” said Brown of Florida State. “I feel like college also prepared me for this moment and I’m just so grateful for that and the work that I’ve put in to get to this point because it’s all paid off right now.” | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/several-stars-at-the-womens-world-cup-honed-their-skills-with-us-collegiate-teams-2/ | 2023-07-29T12:18:07 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/several-stars-at-the-womens-world-cup-honed-their-skills-with-us-collegiate-teams-2/ |
With $14 billion in new federal funding, the infrastructure law was supposed to jolt efforts to protect the U.S. highway network from a changing climate and curb carbon emissions that are warming the planet. New records show the effort is off to an unsteady start as hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent elsewhere.
Last year, 38 states made use of a provision in the law to shift about $755 million to general-purpose highway construction accounts, according to Federal Highway Administration records. The sum is more than one-quarter of the total annual amount made available to states in two new climate-related programs.
California shifted $97 million to pay for safety projects. New York moved $36 million to fund what officials called the state's "core capital program." Arizona said it used $20 million for its five-year highway construction program, largely for "pavement preservation," and Louisiana used $8.2 million to fund roundabouts near an outlet mall.
Five states couldn't account for how the money was used after it was transferred.
The nibbling away of climate funding highlights a fundamental tension in the 2021 law, which was crafted to secure bipartisan support. Protections to long-standing flexibility in how states use federal highway funding are hampering efforts by Democrats and the Biden administration to make progress on environmental goals. Amid clashes over federal guidance, the financial transfers from two climate programs - coming as weather events batter the nation's infrastructure with increased intensity - illustrate how states have wide latitude to discount the wishes of leaders in Washington.
The records, released under a Freedom of Information Act request, show several states said they were still putting together plans for how to use the money, typically an injection of tens of millions of dollars annually for each state. Some blamed slow guidance on how to spend the money.
Transportation projects can take years to develop, and many states have only begun grappling with what a changing climate means for their infrastructure and have argued that their power to cut emissions is limited. The overall picture is one of states slowly coming to grips with how to best use a windfall of money intended to shield thousands of miles of roads and bridges and curb carbon emissions.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) credited President Biden's focus on the environment for securing the first-of-its-kind money in the infrastructure law. The agency said it would implement the law as Congress intended, aiming to reduce the role the transportation sector plays in contributing to climate change.
"The Biden Administration recognizes climate change as a crisis facing our nation and has adopted a whole of government response, which has already meant critical new investments in carbon emissions reduction and resiliency in all elements of our nation's infrastructure," FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt said in a statement. "These investments are making a difference as states put them to use."
The agency pointed to projects in five states as examples of how funding from the new programs was shoring up the nation's infrastructure for a changing climate. They include raising a two-mile stretch of highway above a flood plain in Kentucky, deepening the foundations of a bridge carrying Interstate 20 in South Carolina and raising the elevation of a highway in Louisiana.
A legal provision predating the infrastructure law allows states to shift up to half of their federal transportation funds among several different programs - a provision that also applies to transportation money from the new law. Kevin DeGood, director of the infrastructure program at the left-leaning Center for American Progress, said Congress clearly intended for money to be allocated to projects that would reduce emissions or protect against extreme weather.
"It's an absolute failure that this is allowed to happen," he said.
Some state transportation departments said the transferred money ultimately will contribute to climate resilience or emissions cuts. California and other states said they planned to transfer money back to the two climate programs in the future - a step that records show Virginia has already done.
In the meantime, federal and state transportation officials are increasingly turning their attention to how a changing climate is putting highways, bridges and rail lines at risk.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg witnessed the consequences earlier this month in Vermont, where a storm dropped as much as 9 inches of rain - about the norm for June and July combined - within 36 hours. The deluge closed almost 300 miles of state roads and affected more than 200 bridges, according to the Vermont Agency of Transportation.
After touring the damage, Buttigieg said punishing weather driven by climate change is increasingly putting infrastructure at risk.
"It feels like every few weeks we see a new flood, storm, heat wave, drought. It's not lost on me that our skies are hazy because of wildfires of a nature and severity that should not be an annual event, and yet, here we are," he said. "Americans are seeing the results of climate change with our own eyes and dealing with the consequences."
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) said the state would use money from the infrastructure law to guard against future disasters.
"By using all these federal resources, we have an opportunity to ensure the infrastructure Vermonters rely on is strong and more resilient," he said.
In November, Vermont's transportation agency submitted paperwork to the FHWA to transfer $7 million out of the climate resilience fund to a general purpose transportation building fund, almost the maximum amount allowed by the law. Vermont is among four states that said its transferred funds would still contribute to climate protection projects.
Andrea Wright, the state transportation agency's environmental policy manager, said the agency transferred the money to maximize federal contributions to projects that "meet the intent of the originating funding programs." Most of the money was used to overhaul a section of Interstate 89 that highway officials say was at risk of sinking.
At the same time, Wright said the agency is finalizing resilience and emissions reduction plans, and could transfer money back into the climate programs in the future. Jason Maulucci, a spokesman for Scott, said the state also used federal pandemic relief money to bolster climate resilience.
Officials in Maine, Oregon and Colorado, three other states that transferred money away, also said they might return funds to the climate programs.
"Maine is committed both to maximizing the amount of federal funding under these programs and doing everything we can to prudently and effectively strengthen our infrastructure and mitigate the impacts of climate change," Paul Merrill, spokesman for the state's transportation department, said in an email.
Other states have been quick to put the resilience money to use. Utah repaired flood damage and stabilized a slope. Delaware plans to elevate some its many flood-prone roads.
While most federal transportation funding is allocated to states using formulas - the method of distribution for the new climate and emissions programs - the infrastructure law also included $1.4 billion in new climate resilience grants for Buttigieg to award at his discretion. The FHWA said the agency launched the program this year to let states assess how they might use their formula funds before pursuing the grants.
Jim Tymon, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, said the criteria for using the resilience funding is strict and states will soon begin to have a pipeline of eligible projects.
"It's hard for any new programs, whether it's states or transit agencies, to be able to ramp up in that first year, especially if guidance and eligibility doesn't come out until later in the fiscal year," he said.
Tackling climate change has been a source of tension between Washington and some states since the infrastructure law passed.
The Biden administration has tried to encourage states to use the money for climate resilience or emission-reduction purposes. Guidance documents for the two programs remind states they are receiving an infusion of funding and to think twice before shifting money around, although many states didn't heed the advice.
After West Virginia became the first state to file paperwork to transfer money from the emissions-reduction program in April 2022, the FHWA's chief financial officer wrote to the state reiterating the guidance. State transportation secretary Jimmy Wriston defended the move during a Senate hearing five months later, saying coordination with federal agencies since the passage of the infrastructure law was "chaotic at best."
"We need the flexibility to do things that will get a result," he said. "By moving that money into a different bucket, you give me the flexibility to take a holistic approach, to look at the overall environmental concerns and put together comprehensive plans to address them."
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), said during the hearing the letter and what appeared to be contrasting guidance to different states "makes no sense, and you wonder, is the right hand talking to the left hand?"
The FHWA said West Virginia received the letter because it was the first to transfer money away from the emissions-focused program, adding that the agency subsequently took a different approach to communicating with states. It declined to describe the new approach.
A spokesman for Capito, her party's leader on the committee that wrote much of the transportation section of the infrastructure law, declined to comment on state fund transfers.
Sen. Thomas R. Carper (D-Del.), the committee's chairman, said the dedicated climate funds in the law are "a floor, not a ceiling." He said through a spokesman that "states should incorporate climate resilience into all of their transportation projects, regardless of the funding source."
Beth Osborne, director of advocacy group Transportation for America, said transfers show the infrastructure law did not overhaul how federal transportation funding flows to states, as some in Congress had hoped. Lawmakers instead opted to create programs intended to tackle federal priorities while leaving states free to continue expanding highways, she said.
"Members of Congress and the president asked us to believe that dedicating 2 to 3 percent of the bipartisan infrastructure law's funding to resilience and reducing greenhouse gas emissions was going to do the trick," Osborne said.
Some states transferred money from the climate programs to support spending on transit, a move encouraged by federal officials. Eleven states and the District did not transfer any money last year, according to federal records, and said they would allocate their full amount to resilience and emissions-reduction projects. (Kansas said it transferred its maximum $13 million from the programs, but the transfers were not reflected in federal records released to The Washington Post.)
Some states said they have yet to find ways to spend the new money. In other cases, money that wasn't transferred has been spent on congestion-fighting projects that experts say will have questionable long-term effects on reducing emissions.
South Carolina's transportation department said it used some of the money to redesign interchanges in Charleston and Columbia. Multiple states are investing in technology designed to improve traffic signals and ease vehicle flow.
Such technology can reduce congestion, but researchers have also found that unclogging roads tends to induce people to drive more, spurring more emissions. Alex Bigazzi, a civil engineering professor at the University of British Columbia who has studied the effects of congestion-reducing technology, said it's not the most efficient way to cut emissions.
"It's a stretch to say this is a carbon-reduction strategy," he said. "Traffic volumes are really the major driver of emissions from transportation systems."
The FHWA said the range of projects funded by the program reflects the need for "an all-of-the-above approach" to reducing emissions.
In Rhode Island, some of the resilience money is being used to redesign bridges and roads in Jamestown, on an island off Newport. Pam Cotter, the department's planning director, said the coastal state has been working for years to understand its vulnerability to sea level rise.
The emissions-reduction money in the infrastructure law, she said, will help the state reach a goal of spending $30 million a year on bike and pedestrian infrastructure.
"That's a big investment and a major change than what we've had previously," Cotter said. | https://www.unionleader.com/news/politics/national/states-siphoned-away-750-million-in-infrastructure-law-climate-funds/article_a6624bdb-a11c-5121-97ce-490f69674a4f.html | 2023-07-29T12:18:07 | 0 | https://www.unionleader.com/news/politics/national/states-siphoned-away-750-million-in-infrastructure-law-climate-funds/article_a6624bdb-a11c-5121-97ce-490f69674a4f.html |
Aleksandar Vukic vs. Ugo Humbert: Prediction and Match Betting Odds | Truist Atlanta Open
In the Truist Atlanta Open semifinals on Saturday, Aleksandar Vukic takes on Ugo Humbert.
Humbert carries -160 odds to win a spot in the final with a win over Vukic (+125).
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Aleksandar Vukic vs. Ugo Humbert 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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Aleksandar Vukic vs. Ugo Humbert Prediction and Odds
Based on the moneyline in this match, Ugo Humbert has a 61.5% chance to win.
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Aleksandar Vukic vs. Ugo Humbert Trends and Insights
- In the quarterfinals on Friday, Vukic took down Christopher Eubanks 6-4, 6-4.
- Humbert advanced past Alex de Minaur 7-6, 6-3 in the quarterfinals on Friday.
- Through 34 matches over the past 12 months (across all court surfaces), Vukic has played 24.6 games per match (23.3 in best-of-three matches) and won 51.5% of them.
- In his 21 matches on hard courts over the past 12 months, Vukic has played an average of 23.8 games (22.8 in best-of-three matches).
- Humbert has averaged 24.8 games per match (22.5 in best-of-three matches) in his 40 matches played in the past year across all court types, while winning 51.0% of the games.
- Humbert has averaged 24.1 games per match (21.7 in best-of-three matches) and 10.6 games per set through 25 matches on hard courts in the past 12 months, winning 51.7% of those games.
- Vukic and Humbert have not played each other since 2015.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/aleksandar-vukic-vs-ugo-humbert-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-truist-atlanta-open/ | 2023-07-29T12:18:07 | 0 | https://www.wnem.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/aleksandar-vukic-vs-ugo-humbert-tennis-prediction-betting-odds-truist-atlanta-open/ |
By EILEEN NG (Associated Press)
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Singapore conducted its first execution of a woman in 19 years on Friday and its second hanging this week for drug trafficking despite calls for the city-state to cease capital punishment for drug-related crimes.
Activists said another execution is planned next week.
Saridewi Djamani, 45, was sentenced to death in 2018 for trafficking about 31 grams (1 ounce) of diamorphine, or pure heroin, the Central Narcotics Bureau said. It said the amount was “sufficient to feed the addiction of about 370 abusers for a week.”
Singapore’s laws mandate the death penalty for anyone convicted of trafficking more than 500 grams (17.6 ounces) of cannabis and 15 grams (0.5 ounces) of heroin.
Djamani’s execution came two days after that of a Singaporean man, Mohammed Aziz Hussain, 56, for trafficking around 50 grams (1.7 ounces) of heroin.
The narcotics bureau said both prisoners were accorded due process, including appeals of their convictions and sentences and petitions for presidential clemency.
Human rights groups, international activists and the United Nations have urged Singapore to halt executions for drug offenses and say there is increasing evidence it is ineffective as a deterrent. Singapore authorities insist capital punishment is important to halting drug demand and supply.
Human rights groups say it has executed 15 people for drug offenses since it resumed hangings in March 2022, an average of one a month.
Anti-death penalty activists said the last woman known to have been hanged in Singapore was 36-year-old hairdresser Yen May Woen, also for drug trafficking, in 2004.
Transformative Justice Collective, a Singapore group which advocates for the abolishment of capital punishment, said a new execution notice has been issued to another prisoner for Aug, 3, the fifth this year alone.
It said the prisoner is an ethnic Malay citizen who worked as a delivery driver before his arrest in 2016. He was convicted in 2019 of trafficking around 50 grams (1.7 ounces) of heroin and his appeal was dismissed last year, it said.
The group said the man had maintained in his trial that he believed he was delivering contraband cigarettes for a friend to whom he owed money, and he didn’t verify the contents of the bag as he trusted his friend.
The High Court judge ruled that their ties weren’t close enough to warrant the kind of trust he claimed to have had for his friend. Although the court found he was merely a courier, the man still had to be given the mandatory death penalty because prosecutors didn’t issue him a certificate of having cooperated with them, it said.
“But how could he have cooperated if, as he told the police and the court, he had not even been aware that he was being used to deliver heroin?” the group said on Facebook.
The group said it “condemns, in the strongest terms, the state’s bloodthirsty streak” and reiterated calls for an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty.
Critics say Singapore’s harsh policy punishes low-level traffickers and couriers, who are typically recruited from marginalized groups with vulnerabilities. They say Singapore is also out of step with the trend of more countries moving away from capital punishment. Neighboring Thailand has legalized cannabis while Malaysia ended the mandatory death penalty for serious crimes this year. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/singapore-hangs-first-woman-in-19-years-after-she-was-convicted-of-trafficking-31-grams-of-heroin/ | 2023-07-29T12:18:09 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/singapore-hangs-first-woman-in-19-years-after-she-was-convicted-of-trafficking-31-grams-of-heroin/ |
Flor Marte knows someone will die. She knows when and how, because it came to her in a dream. That's her gift – all the women in the Marte family have one.
But Flor refuses to share who the dream is about. Instead, she insists on throwing herself a living wake, a reason for the entire family to come together and celebrate their lives. That's the starting point for Elizabeth Acevedo's debut novel for adults, Family Lore.
Acevedo grew up in Harlem, with summer visits to the Dominican Republic, and aspirations of becoming a rapper – until a literature teacher invited her to join an after-school poetry club.
She attended reluctantly; but what she found in spoken word performance broke her world and the possibilities of language wide open.
"I think for folks who maybe have felt it difficult to occupy their bodies and take up space and demand attention, to have three minutes where that is the requirement is really powerful," she says.
Acevedo went on to become a National Poetry Slam champion and earn degrees in performing arts and creative writing. After college, she taught language arts in Prince George's County, Maryland. Teaching, she says, is its own kind of performance – one where the audience doesn't always want to be there. But her students were struggling in other ways.
"So many of my young people weren't at grade level, but they'd also not encountered literature that they felt reflected them," she says. "Trying to meet some of those students where they were was really a kickoff for my writing."
So Acevedo began writing young adult books. The Poet X, her first novel about a Dominican-American teen finding her voice through poetry, won a National Book Award in 2018.
Pivoting to a new audience
Now, with Family Lore, Acevedo turns her attention to adult readers.
"I think the way this pushes forward her work and the growing body of Dominican-American literature is how deeply she writes into the interiors of her women characters," says author Naima Coster, who read an early draft of the novel.
The story is told through memories, out of order, sometimes a memory within a different memory. Acevedo jumps from the Dominican countryside to Santo Domingo to New York, as sisters Matilde, Flor, Pastora and Camila – along with younger generation Ona and Yadi – reflect on their childhoods and teenage romances and the secrets that bind them all together. Though the Marte women grow older together, their relationships do not get easier.
"What does it mean if these women have really just had a different experience of their mother?" says Acevedo. "And how that different experience of their mother automatically will create a schism, because now it's like, 'You don't remember her the way I remember her, and because of that, I can't trust you."
There are infidelities, miscarriages, childhood love affairs and therapeutic dance classes. Acevedo explains that she needed to tell this story in a non-linear format, in the way memories surface and warp; the way family gossip is passed on from person to person, in a roundabout way.
Returning to the body
That format, she says, was more suited for adult readers; and writing for adults also allowed her to be candid about bodies: how they move, change, excite, disappoint.
"The generation I was raised by felt like their relationship to their body was very othered," Acevedo says. "When I speak to my cousins, when I think about myself, it's been a return to desire, a return to the gut, a return to health in a way that isn't necessarily about size but is about: who am I in this vessel and how do I love it?"
That tension is felt especially by the younger Marte women, whose supernatural gifts radiate from within. Ona has a self-described "alpha vagina," Yadi has a special taste for sour limes.
Naima Coster says it's easy to feel pressure to write about marginalized communities as clean-cut, exemplary characters. But Family Lore relishes in airing out the Marte family's dirty laundry– in showing Afro-Dominican women as full, complicated protagonists.
"It feels major, the way she writes about the ways that these women misunderstand each other, but still love each other," she says.
Acevedo says those themes – family, home, Blackness, power – will be in every book she writes, "because those are the questions that haunt me."
Family Lore reads like the feeling of getting older and no longer having moms and aunts lower their voices when you enter the room – like finally being privy to what makes a family flawed and perfect.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.kcbx.org/npr-top-news/npr-top-news/2023-07-29/in-family-lore-award-winning-ya-author-elizabeth-acevedo-turns-to-adult-readers | 2023-07-29T12:18:09 | 0 | https://www.kcbx.org/npr-top-news/npr-top-news/2023-07-29/in-family-lore-award-winning-ya-author-elizabeth-acevedo-turns-to-adult-readers |
How to Watch NASCAR, F1, IndyCar & More: Auto Racing Streaming Live - Saturday, July 29
Published: Jul. 29, 2023 at 6:44 AM EDT|Updated: 2 hours ago
Need more auto racing in your life? Well, you're in luck. The race slate on Saturday, July 29 includes Formula 1, Formula E, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Racing Series, and NHRA Drag Racing action that can be watched on Fubo. For a complete list, along with information on how to watch or live stream it all, check out the article below.
Watch even more racing action with ESPN+!
Auto Racing Streaming Live Today
Watch Formula 1: Belgium Grand Prix - Sprint Shootout
- Series: Formula 1
- Game Time: 5:55 AM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch Formula 1: Belgium Grand Prix - Sprint
- Series: Formula 1
- Game Time: 10:25 AM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch Formula E: Round 15: London - Race
- Series: Formula E
- Game Time: 11:30 AM ET
- TV Channel: CBS Sports Network
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch NHRA Drag Racing: DENSO Sonoma Nationals - Qualifying
- Series: NHRA Drag Racing
- Game Time: 12:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: FOX Sports Networks
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch Formula E: Hankook London E-Prix
- Series: Formula E
- Game Time: 12:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: CBS
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch NASCAR Cup Series: Cook Out 400 - Qualifying
- Series: NASCAR Cup Series
- Game Time: 12:30 PM ET
- TV Channel: USA Network
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch NASCAR Xfinity Racing Series: Henry 180
- Series: NASCAR Xfinity Racing Series
- Game Time: 3:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: NBC
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch NASCAR Xfinity Racing Series: Road America 180
- Series: NASCAR Xfinity Racing Series
- Game Time: 3:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: NBC
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Watch NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Worldwide Express 250
- Series: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
- Game Time: 7:30 PM ET
- TV Channel: FOX Sports Networks
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Make sure you're following along with racing action all year long on Fubo and ESPN+!
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/auto-racing-live-stream/ | 2023-07-29T12:18:14 | 1 | https://www.wnem.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/auto-racing-live-stream/ |
By Mayo Clinic News Network (TNS)
You step off a sidewalk curb, land wrong after shooting a basketball or stumble on uneven ground. Your ankle pops, twists or crunches, and now you’re limping and sore. You may just have sprained your ankle.
An ankle sprain typically happens when you roll your ankle inward, which stretches or tears the ligaments supporting the outer part of the joint. An ankle sprain is the most common injury among athletes and active adults, but it can happen to anyone.
What to do immediately following a sprain
While common, if an ankle sprain isn’t treated properly, it can lead to chronic issues, such as ankle instability or pain, limited ability to return to sports and degenerative arthritis. Also, significant tendon or ligament injuries, cartilage damage or even fractures may be missed if a severe sprain isn’t properly evaluated.
If you’ve sprained your ankle, promptly begin following the “RICE” treatment to improve comfort, and minimize the risk of complications and long-term issues:
— Rest: Avoid any activity that causes pain in the ankle. Rest your ankle, and minimize walking for the rest of the day.
— Ice: Apply ice to the sore part of your ankle, typically for 15 minutes on and then 15 minutes off, as much as possible for the rest of the day. Continue with 15 minutes of icing three times a day until the pain and swelling subside. Don’t apply ice directly to your skin, and use a towel or cloth for protection.
— Compression: Using a compression sleeve, elastic bandage wrap or brace on the affected ankle can prevent excessive swelling, protect the area from repeated injuries and provide support. Some inflammation is needed for healing, but too much can be harmful.
— Elevation: Elevate your foot and ankle at or above the level of your heart as often as possible for the rest of the day. This will help control pain and decrease swelling.
Depending on the severity of your symptoms, for the first one to two weeks:
— Continue with RICE, gradually reducing the steps as pain and swelling decrease.
— Take over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen or aspirin, if you can safely take them. To manage pain, consider applying topical medications or patches.
— Start resistance-free, nonweight-bearing, range-of-motion exercises, such as drawing each letter of the alphabet with your foot. Or move your ankle to the compass points: north to south and east to west. Maintaining this range of motion can help prevent long-term stiffness, reduce swelling and help the stretched ligaments heal. Keep motion within your pain-free zone to avoid making the injury worse.
— Gradually return to your normal activities as long as your pain doesn’t increase. At first, this includes walking short distances, such as to the bathroom, then progressing to your normal level of walking.
If there’s little or no improvement after the first week, consider consulting with a health care professional, such as a sports medicine specialist, your primary care provider or a physical therapist.
What to expect for recovery, additional treatment
Once you’ve passed the initial recovery period, further treatment depends on the extent of the injury. If it was a straightforward injury, didn’t require an evaluation and you did not have any setbacks, you can expect symptoms to last for 10 to 12 weeks as the ligament heals.
Once you’ve sprained your ankle, it’s more susceptible to future injury. An ankle sleeve or lace-up brace can provide added support and stability.
If your sprain was significant, especially if it prompted you to see a health care professional, you may experience a slower, longer recovery that could include:
— A brief period of immobilization and nonweight-bearing with crutches or a knee scooter
— One to two weeks of protected weight-bearing in a tall walking boot
— Physical therapy to help increase stability, strength and balance
— Possible ankle surgery
If your health care professional suspects the injury requires surgery, you’ll undergo X-rays and possibly an MRI to determine the extent of the damage. Then you’ll be evaluated by a surgical podiatrist or orthopedic surgeon to discuss your injury and surgical options.
You may need surgery if there is:
— Evidence of a complete rupture of one or more of the lateral ankle ligaments requiring repair
— History of repeated sprains and a determination that ligament reconstruction is needed
— An associated injury, such as a partially or completely torn tendon, a fracture, or damage to cartilage in the ankle joint
While an ankle sprain is relatively common, most of the time it heals, and patients and athletes recover with little intervention. Thoroughly addressing any issues early can help you return to your best activity level.
____
Alecia Gende, D.O. , is a sports medicine specialist in La Crosse and Onalaska, Wisconsin.
©2023 Mayo Clinic News Network. Visit newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/sprained-your-ankle-now-what/ | 2023-07-29T12:18:15 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/sprained-your-ankle-now-what/ |
As SpaceX gears up for its next crewed mission to the International Space Station, NASA and Boeing have taken a “step back” from plotting out just when its beleaguered CST-100 Starliner will attempt its first ever crewed launch.
The continued delays have meant a loss of more than $1.1 billion to Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program to date including another $257 million reported in the company’s 2nd quarter earning report this week,
“On Starliner we’re in lockstep with our customer. We prioritize safety, and we’re taking whatever time is required,” said Boeing President and CEO David Calhoun during the 2nd quarter earnings call on Tuesday. “We’re confident in that team and committed to getting it right.”
The program has been mired in extended delays since 2019 when its first uncrewed test flight was not able of rendezvous with the ISS. While the capsule did make it safely back to Earth, NASA dubbed the mission a “high visibility close call” that forced a major overhaul of the program including hardware, software and management practices from both Boeing and NASA oversight.
More than 2 1/2 years later, Boeing was able to complete the uncrewed test docking flight launching atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in May 2022 and making a safe return six days later. That opened the door for Boeing to finally attempt its test flight with humans on board, which could then lead to it finally sharing crew transport duties with SpaceX. But that too has now been put on hold after new issues crept up this year.
When the two companies won the NASA contract announced in 2016, Boeing’s take was $4.2 billion for the two test flights and six rotational crew missions.
As a fixed-price contract, the onus of delays including the uncrewed demo test reflight have meant a buildup of quarterly losses as part of Boeing’s Defense, Space, & Security division, which in the last quarter reported a total loss of $527 million, so nearly half of that was blamed on Starliner.
“This is a complex business. We expect items to come up and when they do, we’re transparent. We take action and we move forward. This is what progress looks like,” Calhoun said.
NASA, Boeing call off Starliner launch plans after parachute, flammable tape issues
The most recent delay came after teams halted plans for a July launch with NASA astronauts on board after finding issues with joints used in the spacecraft’s parachute system as well as identifying flammable tape used throughout the hardware that has to be replaced.
“When we found the problems with the parachute joint and the … flammable tape back in June, we took a step back and decided to pause really everything that we’re doing with the vehicle,” said NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager Steve Stich on Tuesday during a press conference for the upcoming SpaceX Crew-7 mission.
He said the parachute solution is well underway with teams having found a replacement for the joint that was identified as a risk, and the new joint is undergoing testing now with a plan in the works to get the new joints into the existing Starliner parachute system. In tandem, teams have already begun to remove a lot of the tape that was deemed a fire risk, but it’s a big job as it was used in a lot of places to protect wire bundles in the spacecraft.
So for now NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore will have to bide their time before their ride is declared safe and ready for flight.
So while Boeing’s future Starliner launch remains a question mark, SpaceX continues its duties as the sole U.S.-based transportation of NASA astronauts, which it has been doing on a regular basis since the May 2020 test flight Demo-2 took up Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley followed by regular rotation missions about every six months.
Crew-7 is the seventh such flight for its Crew Dragon, this one aiming for liftoff no earlier than Aug. 17 flying with four astronauts from four different space agencies for the first time: NASA astronaut and mission commander Jasmin Moghbeli, ESA astronaut and pilot Andreas Mogensen, mission specialist JAXA astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, and mission specialist Roscosmos cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov.
The launch of the quartet in the Crew Dragon Endurance making its third-ever flight is aiming for a 6:56 a.m. liftoff atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-A with a docking at the ISS the next day. The Crew-6 members awaiting Crew-7’s arrival to the station will stay on board for about five days transitioning duties before their return for a splashdown in their Crew Dragon Endeavour off the coast of Florida.
Crew-7 will remain on board for around 190 days before SpaceX takes up Crew-8 sometime in early 2024 while Starliner continues efforts to fix its latest issues.
“The work on Starliner is progressing well,” Stich said. “We need to step back a little bit and take a look at how all this work lines up. We’re not really ready to talk about a launch opportunity yet. We’re going to work the technical issues first and then we’ll sit down with the Boeing team when the time is right and pick a launch target.” | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/starliner-launch-delays-have-sucked-more-than-1-billion-from-boeing/ | 2023-07-29T12:18:21 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/starliner-launch-delays-have-sucked-more-than-1-billion-from-boeing/ |
Trader Joe's has recalled its frozen falafel for potentially having rocks in it, after it recalled two of its cookie products for the same reason recently.
The company's supplier informed them of the concern, and Trader Joe's said in a statement Friday that "all potentially affected product has been removed from sale and destroyed."
Customers who purchased the product should discard it or return it to a Trader Joe's location for a full refund, the company said.
The falafel, which is fully cooked and frozen, has the SKU number 93935 and is sold in Washington, D.C., and 34 states.
Last Friday, Trader Joe's said rocks could also possibly be found in its Almond Windmill Cookies and Dark Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/2023-07-28/trader-joes-recalls-its-frozen-falafel-for-possibly-having-rocks-in-it | 2023-07-29T12:18:26 | 1 | https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/2023-07-28/trader-joes-recalls-its-frozen-falafel-for-possibly-having-rocks-in-it |
Tavistock Development unveiled plans Wednesday for a 54-acre lifestyle shopping center called Lake Nona West to serve Orlando’s fastest-growing community, GrowthSpotter reports.
The announcement came on the same day Tavistock owner Joe Lewis pleaded not guilty in New York to insider trading charges alleging that he fed corporate secrets to romantic partners, personal assistants, friends and his pilots, earning them millions of dollars illegally.
In a statement to GrowthSpotter, the developer said Lake Nona West would incorporate “elevated architecture and landscaping, outdoor entertainment spaces and vibrant public art, which are hallmarks of the Lake Nona experience.”
Lake Nona West will have 405,000 square feet of retail and dining space, anchored by a 150,000-square-foot big box store.
“We are in advanced conversations with several sought-after national and local brands, along with best-in-class shops, restaurants, specialty grocers and personal service operators that will continue to serve our growing Lake Nona community and the broader southeast Orlando region,” said Skipper Peek, senior vice president of commercial development.
Tavistock Spokeswoman Lismarie Gomez said tenants would be announced this winter, and groundbreaking is slated for 2024. The center would open in the fall of 2025.
A prototypical Costco membership warehouse store, like the one under construction in Clermont, is just over 150,000 square feet. Sam’s Club announced this year it’s new prototype store would be 160,000 square feet.
Lake Nona has also recently opened three new office buildings in the heart of the Lake Nona Town Center and will soon celebrate the grand opening of aviation training company SIMCOM, which will welcome 10,000 pilots annually to Lake Nona’s innovative ecosystem.
Lake Nona ranks 45th among the nation’s top-selling master-planned communities, according to RCLCO’s midyear report released Tuesday.
To read more about early-stage development in Central Florida, go to GrowthSpotter.com and subscribe. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/tavistock-moves-forward-with-lake-nona-west-plans-amid-lewis-indictment/ | 2023-07-29T12:18:29 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/tavistock-moves-forward-with-lake-nona-west-plans-amid-lewis-indictment/ |
SAN FRANCISCO — The city of San Francisco has opened a complaint and launched an investigation into a giant "X" sign that was installed Friday on top of the downtown building formerly known as Twitter headquarters as owner Elon Musk continues his rebrand of the social media platform.
City officials say replacing letters or symbols on buildings, or erecting a sign on top of one, requires a permit for design and safety reasons.
The X appeared after San Francisco police stopped workers on Monday from removing the brand's iconic bird and logo from the side of the building, saying they hadn't taped off the sidewalk to keep pedestrians safe if anything fell.
Any replacement letters or symbols would require a permit to ensure "consistency with the historic nature of the building" and to make sure additions are safely attached to the sign, Patrick Hannan, spokesperson for the Department of Building Inspection said earlier this week.
Erecting a sign on top of a building also requires a permit, Hannan said Friday.
"Planning review and approval is also necessary for the installation of this sign. The city is opening a complaint and initiating an investigation," he said in an email.
Musk unveiled a new "X" logo to replace Twitter's famous blue bird as he remakes the social media platform he bought for $44 billion last year. The X started appearing at the top of the desktop version of Twitter on Monday.
Musk, who is also CEO of Tesla, has long been fascinated with the letter X and had already renamed Twitter's corporate name to X Corp. after he bought it in October. One of his children is called "X." The child's actual name is a collection of letters and symbols.
On Friday afternoon, a worker on a lift machine made adjustments to the sign and then left.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/2023-07-28/x-logo-installed-atop-twitter-building-spurring-san-francisco-to-investigate | 2023-07-29T12:18:32 | 1 | https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/2023-07-28/x-logo-installed-atop-twitter-building-spurring-san-francisco-to-investigate |
Friday’s temperatures are back to yearly averages while storms make their way inland.
Scattered showers and lightning storms are ongoing across the Atlantic Friday morning, according to NWS Melbourne.
Some showers are on the coast and pushing inland as far as I-95 before dissolving.
Temperatures are back to the low-90s after a slightly cooler Thursday, according to NWS Melbourne. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/temperatures-back-to-near-average-while-storms-dissipate-near-i-95/ | 2023-07-29T12:18:35 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/temperatures-back-to-near-average-while-storms-dissipate-near-i-95/ |
Flor Marte knows someone will die. She knows when and how, because it came to her in a dream. That's her gift – all the women in the Marte family have one.
But Flor refuses to share who the dream is about. Instead, she insists on throwing herself a living wake, a reason for the entire family to come together and celebrate their lives. That's the starting point for Elizabeth Acevedo's debut novel for adults, Family Lore.
Acevedo grew up in Harlem, with summer visits to the Dominican Republic, and aspirations of becoming a rapper – until a literature teacher invited her to join an after-school poetry club.
She attended reluctantly; but what she found in spoken word performance broke her world and the possibilities of language wide open.
"I think for folks who maybe have felt it difficult to occupy their bodies and take up space and demand attention, to have three minutes where that is the requirement is really powerful," she says.
Acevedo went on to become a National Poetry Slam champion and earn degrees in performing arts and creative writing. After college, she taught language arts in Prince George's County, Maryland. Teaching, she says, is its own kind of performance – one where the audience doesn't always want to be there. But her students were struggling in other ways.
"So many of my young people weren't at grade level, but they'd also not encountered literature that they felt reflected them," she says. "Trying to meet some of those students where they were was really a kickoff for my writing."
So Acevedo began writing young adult books. The Poet X, her first novel about a Dominican-American teen finding her voice through poetry, won a National Book Award in 2018.
Pivoting to a new audience
Now, with Family Lore, Acevedo turns her attention to adult readers.
"I think the way this pushes forward her work and the growing body of Dominican-American literature is how deeply she writes into the interiors of her women characters," says author Naima Coster, who read an early draft of the novel.
The story is told through memories, out of order, sometimes a memory within a different memory. Acevedo jumps from the Dominican countryside to Santo Domingo to New York, as sisters Matilde, Flor, Pastora and Camila – along with younger generation Ona and Yadi – reflect on their childhoods and teenage romances and the secrets that bind them all together. Though the Marte women grow older together, their relationships do not get easier.
"What does it mean if these women have really just had a different experience of their mother?" says Acevedo. "And how that different experience of their mother automatically will create a schism, because now it's like, 'You don't remember her the way I remember her, and because of that, I can't trust you."
There are infidelities, miscarriages, childhood love affairs and therapeutic dance classes. Acevedo explains that she needed to tell this story in a non-linear format, in the way memories surface and warp; the way family gossip is passed on from person to person, in a roundabout way.
Returning to the body
That format, she says, was more suited for adult readers; and writing for adults also allowed her to be candid about bodies: how they move, change, excite, disappoint.
"The generation I was raised by felt like their relationship to their body was very othered," Acevedo says. "When I speak to my cousins, when I think about myself, it's been a return to desire, a return to the gut, a return to health in a way that isn't necessarily about size but is about: who am I in this vessel and how do I love it?"
That tension is felt especially by the younger Marte women, whose supernatural gifts radiate from within. Ona has a self-described "alpha vagina," Yadi has a special taste for sour limes.
Naima Coster says it's easy to feel pressure to write about marginalized communities as clean-cut, exemplary characters. But Family Lore relishes in airing out the Marte family's dirty laundry– in showing Afro-Dominican women as full, complicated protagonists.
"It feels major, the way she writes about the ways that these women misunderstand each other, but still love each other," she says.
Acevedo says those themes – family, home, Blackness, power – will be in every book she writes, "because those are the questions that haunt me."
Family Lore reads like the feeling of getting older and no longer having moms and aunts lower their voices when you enter the room – like finally being privy to what makes a family flawed and perfect.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-29/in-family-lore-award-winning-ya-author-elizabeth-acevedo-turns-to-adult-readers | 2023-07-29T12:18:39 | 0 | https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-29/in-family-lore-award-winning-ya-author-elizabeth-acevedo-turns-to-adult-readers |
Which vegan snacks are best?
Whether you’ve been fully vegan for years or you’re just trying to cut back on dairy, eggs and meat, finding delicious plant-based snacks is a great place to start. And the good news is that with the rising trend of vegan eating, there are plenty of crunchy, crispy, sweet and savory vegan snacks to try.
Top vegan snacks
Best cheese puffs
[ Outstanding Foods Outstanding Cheese Balls – Chedda ]
These crunchy, airy cheese balls are the stuff of childhood nostalgia, without any dairy. They’ll even turn your fingers orange, but you won’t mind as you dive back into the bag for more.
Sold by Amazon
Best veggie crisps
[ Rhythm Organic Cauliflower Bites ]
You’ll look forward to eating your veggies when they’re as crisp and addicting as these air-dried cauliflower florets. These are lightly seasoned with sea salt, but if you prefer a bolder flavor, opt for the Buffalo Ranch version.
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Best snack clusters
[ Clusterbucks Grain-Free Superfood Clusters ]
The Snickerdoodle flavor of these crunchy buckwheat clusters is subtly sweet and nicely spiced. This is a great healthy snack that will satisfy your sweet tooth without sending you headed for a sugar crash. The clusters are big, but there are always plenty of smaller pieces in the bottom of the bag that make a great yogurt topping.
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Best lupini beans snack
[ Brami Lupini Beans Variety Pack ]
If you haven’t tried lupini beans, prepare to fall in love. These soft, nutty beans are marinated in mild spices and come packed with plant-based protein. Each little pouch from Brami has just 60 calories and 7 grams of protein. They’re great on their own or as a salad topper.
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Best vegan superfood popcorn
[ Azzizah’s Herbal Green Popcorn – Original Savory Cheddar ]
Don’t let the green color throw you off: all of that seasoning means tons of flavor. This crunchy corn is covered in a spicy blend of nutritional yeast, curry powder, herbs, cayenne, garlic, and of course, spirulina. Spirulina is derived from algae and not only tastes great, but it’s also full of B vitamins, which can be difficult to incorporate into a vegan diet.
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Best crackers
[ Simple Mills Organic Seed Crackers – Everything ]
These buttery crackers get their rich flavor and crumbly texture from a blend of gluten-free flours, including sunflower, pumpkin and flax seeds, cassava and tapioca. They’re flavored with a classic everything bagel seasoning for a nice garlicky taste that’s great with anything from a slice of vegan cheese to guacamole.
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Best spicy vegan jerky
[ Beyond Meat Plant-Based Jerky – Original and Teriyaki Variety Pack ]
You’ll love all of the flavors of this meaty, savory plant-based jerky from meat alternative giant Beyond Meat. The protein is made from peas and mung beans and is free of soy, gluten and GMO ingredients. Plus, there are a whopping 10 grams of protein per serving.
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Best crunchy chickpeas
[ Saffron Road Organic Crunchy Chickpeas – Korean BBQ ]
These crispy seasoned chickpeas are great on their own or tossed into a salad. For added protein. They come in a range of flavors, including Buffalo, Chipotle, Sea Salt and Korean BBQ, to suit any taste buds.
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Best potato chips
[ Popchips Sea Salt Potato Chips ]
Get your fill of crispy potatoes without a grease overload. These light, airy chips are just as tasty straight from the bag as they are stuffed into a sandwich. Try the barbecue flavor if you like some heat.
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Best sweet-savory popcorn
[ LesserEvil Organic Popcorn, Himalayan Sweetness ]
This light, healthy popcorn is certified organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and has less fat and more fiber than traditional kettle corn, but all of the sweet-and-savory flavor you crave.
Sold by Walmart
Best vegan queso
[ Siete Dairy-Free Cashew Queso ]
This fluffy, smooth cheese-free queso dip is the perfect topping for nachos, tacos and pretty much anything that dips. It has a melty texture that’s great warm or cold and is flavored with tomatoes, carrots, pepper, and nutritional yeast for a bold, slightly smoky flavor.
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Best vegan cookie dough
[ Whoa Dough Edible Cookie Dough Bars Variety Pack ]
Soft, gooey and with flavors include Brownie Batter, Sugar Sprinkle and Chocolate Chip, it’s hard to beat these cookie dough bars. They’re shelf-stable but hold their soft, chewy texture like homemade dough.
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Best chocolatey vegan snack
[ Undercover Quinoa Crisps, Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt ]
These snacks are made of crispy puffed quinoa cakes coated in rich dark chocolate with a touch of sea salt. Other vegan flavors include dark chocolate and pumpkin spice and dark chocolate with blueberries for extra antioxidants.
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Best vegan graham crackers
[ Healing Home Foods Lemon Chia Graham Bites ]
These cute graham cracker-like bites taste homemade, with a buttery flavor and thick, crunchy texture that’s made for dunking in your favorite plant-based milk. They have a hint of brightness from lemon.
Sold by Amazon
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Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/the-14-best-vegan-snacks/ | 2023-07-29T12:18:41 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/the-14-best-vegan-snacks/ |
By JACQUES BILLEAUD AND ANITA SNOW (Associated Press)
PHOENIX (AP) — The backup Uber driver for a self-driving vehicle that killed a pedestrian in suburban Phoenix in 2018 pleaded guilty Friday to endangerment in the first fatal collision involving a fully autonomous car.
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge David Garbarino, who accepted the plea agreement, sentenced Rafaela Vasquez, 49, to three years of supervised probation for the crash that killed 49-year-old Elaine Herzberg. Vasquez told police that Herzberg “came out of nowhere” and that she didn’t see Herzberg before the March 18, 2018, collision on a darkened Tempe street.
Vasquez had been charged with negligent homicide, a felony. She pleaded guilty to an undesignated felony, meaning it could be reclassified as a misdemeanor if she completes probation.
Authorities say Vasquez was streaming the television show “The Voice” on a phone and looking down in the moments before Uber’s Volvo XC-90 SUV struck Herzberg, who was crossing with her bicycle.
Vasquez’s attorneys said she was was looking at a messaging program used by Uber employees on a work cellphone that was on her right knee. They said the TV show was playing on her personal cellphone, which was on the passenger seat.
Defense attorney Albert Jaynes Morrison told Garbarino that Uber should share some blame for the collision as he asked the judge to sentence Vasquez to six months of unsupervised probation.
“There were steps that Uber failed to take,” he said. By putting Vasquez in the vehicle without a second employee, he said. “It was not a question of if but when it was going to happen.”
Prosecutors previously declined to file criminal charges against Uber, as a corporation. The National Transportation Safety Board concluded Vasquez’s failure to monitor the road was the main cause of the crash.
“The defendant had one job and one job only,” prosecutor Tiffany Brady told the judge. “And that was to keep her eyes in the road.”
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in a statement after the hearing that her office believes the sentence was appropriate “based on the mitigating and aggravating factors.”
The contributing factors cited by the NTSB included Uber’s inadequate safety procedures and ineffective oversight of its drivers, Herzberg’s decision to cross the street outside of a crosswalk and the Arizona Department of Transportation’s insufficient oversight of autonomous vehicle testing.
The board also concluded Uber’s deactivation of its automatic emergency braking system increased the risks associated with testing automated vehicles on public roads. Instead of the system, Uber relied on the human backup driver to intervene.
It was not the first crash involving an Uber autonomous test vehicle. In March 2017, an Uber SUV flipped onto its side, also in Tempe when it collided with another vehicle. No serious injuries were reported, and the driver of the other car was cited for a violation.
Herzberg’s death was the first involving an autonomous test vehicle but not the first in a car with some self-driving features. The driver of a Tesla Model S was killed in 2016 when his car, operating on its Autopilot system, crashed into a semitrailer in Florida.
Nine months after Herzberg’s death, in December 2019, two people were killed in California when a Tesla on Autopilot ran a red light, slammed into another car. That driver was charged in 2022 with vehicular manslaughter in what was believed to be the first felony case against a motorist who was using a partially automated driving system.
In Arizona, the Uber system detected Herzberg 5.6 seconds before the crash. But it failed to determine whether she was a bicyclist, pedestrian or unknown object, or that she was headed into the vehicle’s path, the board said.
The backup driver was there to take over the vehicle if systems failed.
The death reverberated throughout the auto industry and Silicon Valley and forced other companies to slow what had been a fast march toward autonomous ride-hailing services. Uber pulled its self-driving cars out of Arizona, and then-Gov. Doug Ducey prohibited the company from continuing its tests of self-driving cars.
Vasquez had previously spent more than four years in prison for two felony convictions — making false statements when obtaining unemployment benefits and attempted armed robbery — before starting work as an Uber driver, according to court records. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/the-backup-driver-in-the-1st-death-by-a-fully-autonomous-car-pleads-guilty-to-endangerment/ | 2023-07-29T12:18:47 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/28/the-backup-driver-in-the-1st-death-by-a-fully-autonomous-car-pleads-guilty-to-endangerment/ |