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ATLANTA (AP) — “Excuse me, are you a city of Atlanta voter? Do you know about ‘Cop City?’”
Clipboards in hand, canvassers Sienna Giraldi and Gabriel Sanchez approached shopper after shopper at a Kroger supermarket lot on a recent evening collecting signatures for a referendum over whether to cancel the city’s lease of a proposed police and firefighter training center that’s become a national rallying cry for environmentalists and anti-police protesters.
Most people kept on walking. Others said they weren’t registered to vote or didn’t live within the city limits, both of which are required. Many seemed to have no idea what “Cop City” was and weren’t interested in finding out. The fact that it began raining certainly didn’t help. By the end of a 90-minute shift, 21 people had signed.
“We definitely need to come back here,” Sanchez said. “I was on a roll before the rain started.”
Over the past month, hundreds of people like them — many volunteers, some paid — have spread out across the city of about 500,000, in hopes of persuading more than 70,000 registered voters to sign on to the petition drive. The deadline had been mid-August, but the effort got a boost Thursday when a federal judge extended it to late September, though significant logistical and legal hurdles remain.
Technically, organizers say, they need just 58,203 signatures by Aug. 14 to qualify for the November ballot — the equivalent of 15% of registered voters as of the last city election — but they set the higher goal knowing some will be disqualified. If that’s not reached until late August or September, the referendum wouldn’t happen until March, when a competitive GOP presidential primary could turn out conservative voters and hurt its chances. The city also could move forward with construction in the meantime, unless a judge intervenes.
As of July 25, the drive had collected more than 30,000 signatures, according to Paul Glaze, a spokesperson for the Vote to Stop Cop City Coalition. And with the paid canvassing effort still ramping up, he expects the pace to pick up significantly.
“We’re confident of hitting our number,” Glaze said. “How much extra padding we’re able to get is still a question. … Our experience is that when you talk about this with people, when they hear the price tag, when you ask them if they would choose this or something else to spend the money on, the vast majority are against it.”
Organizers of the drive say Mayor Andre Dickens and the City Council have failed to listen to a groundswell of opposition to the $90 million, 85-acre (34-hectare) training center, which they fear will lead to greater militarization of the police and exacerbate environmental damage in the South River Forest in a poor, predominantly Black area.
Officials counter that the campus would replace outdated, far-flung facilities and boost police morale, which is beset by hiring and retention struggles, especially in the wake of 2020 protests over racial injustice. Dickens has said that the facility will teach the “most progressive training and curriculum in the country” and that officials have repeatedly revised their plans to address concerns about noise pollution and environmental impact.
In June, after hearing about 14 hours of public testimony that was overwhelmingly against the training center, council members voted 11-4 to approve $67 million toward the project. Outraged but not surprised, organizers of the petition drive announced it the next day.
Outside the Kroger, located in a majority-Black neighborhood a few miles south of a Wendy’s parking lot where officers fatally shot Rayshard Brooks in 2020, Giraldi chatted with Lee Little, a Black construction worker who stopped to talk despite the rain, his hands full of bagged groceries.
Little was working near the proposed training center in March and saw the helicopters and mass of armed officers that descended on the area after about 150 masked activists stormed the site and torched construction equipment. He hadn’t thought about it much since, but he signed the petition after hearing Giraldi’s pitch.
“She was just saying that City Council approved 60-something million dollars without listening to the taxpayers. Does that sound fair to you? That should be for the voters to decide,” Little said afterward.
Another who signed was Makela Atchison, who was wearing a “Black Voters Matter” T-shirt as she left the store with her two children.
“I’m not saying I’m for it or against it,” Atchison said, “but I want to be able to have my input.”
The signature drive is the most ambitious in terms of numbers that has ever been launched in a Georgia city, but it has precedent from last year in Camden County, where voters overwhelmingly rejected a planned launchpad for blasting commercial rockets into space. The Georgia Supreme Court in February unanimously upheld the legality of that referendum, though it remains an open question whether citizens can veto decisions of city governments.
In a recent court filing seeking to quash the Atlanta referendum, attorneys for the city said residents can’t force officials to retroactively revoke the lease agreement, which was made in 2021. They called organizers’ efforts “futile” and “invalid.” The state agreed with the city in a separate filing, though that dispute is on hold for now.
Still, activists see the referendum as the best remaining option to block the project. They’ve gotten support from numerous groups, including the Working Families Party and the New Georgia Project Action Fund, which pledged to get 15,000 signatures over the next few weeks.
Activist Hannah Riley tries to collect a handful of them whenever she is out in public, including on a recent afternoon as she worked remotely from Muchacho, a popular taco restaurant in the ultra-liberal Reynoldstown neighborhood. At the end of her table, she taped a sign that read: “Voter? Sign Stop Cop City Petition Here.”
“This is a bit of a Hail Mary, but it’s a Hail Mary that makes a lot of sense,” Riley said. “They’ve begun to clear-cut the trees. They’re getting close to pouring concrete. … Our options are quite limited right now, so this does feel like the most practical, effective next step.”
At the same time, a small number of activists have continued taking a more violent tack, including torching eight police motorcycles over the Fourth of July weekend, actions that canvass organizers have not condemned.
Curtis Duncan, 40, said the first day he went out canvassing, a man approached and accused him of being one of the vandals.
“I said, ‘Well, sir, respectfully, I wasn’t burning cars, and the majority of people within this movement have not been engaging in any type of violent actions,’” Duncan said. He added that troopers fatally shot an activist in the forest and that authorities have brought dozens of “very flimsy” domestic terrorism charges against “Stop Cop City” protesters this year — actions he considers far worse.
Sanchez, who works for a voting rights nonprofit, said that even if the signature drive falls short, it will have made an important impact.
“I feel like we’ve exhausted all the other options, aside from full-on revolution, which I don’t think we need for this,” he said. “There’s a lot of obstacles in our way. … If we only get to 50,000, I think that still shows a real warning sign for these politicians for the 2025 election.” | https://www.krqe.com/news/national/ap-atlanta-cop-city-activists-say-theyre-confident-of-getting-70k-signatures-but-big-hurdles-remain/ | 2023-07-29T13:57:17 | 0 | https://www.krqe.com/news/national/ap-atlanta-cop-city-activists-say-theyre-confident-of-getting-70k-signatures-but-big-hurdles-remain/ |
Compared with the devil, angels carry more credence in America.
Angels even get more credence than, well, hell. More than astrology, reincarnation, and the belief that physical things can have spiritual energies.
In fact, about 7 in 10 U.S. adults say they believe in angels, according to a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
“People are yearning for something greater than themselves — beyond their own understanding,” said Jack Grogger, a chaplain for the Los Angeles Angels and a longtime Southern California fire captain who has aided many people in their gravest moments.
That search for something bigger, he said, can take on many forms, from following a religion to crafting a self-driven purpose to believing in, of course, angels.
“For a lot of people, angels are a lot safer to worship,” said Grogger, who also pastors a nondenominational church in Orange, California, and is a chaplain for the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks.
People turn to angels for comfort, he said. They are familiar, regularly showing up in pop culture as well as in the Bible. Comparably, worshipping Jesus is far more involved; when Grogger preaches about angels it is with the context that they are part of God’s kingdom.
American’s belief in angels (69%) is about on par with belief in heaven and the power of prayer, but bested by belief in God or a higher power (79%). Fewer U.S. adults believe in the devil or Satan (56%), astrology (34%), reincarnation (34%), and that physical things can have spiritual energies, such as plants, rivers or crystals (42%).
The widespread acceptance of angels shown in the AP-NORC poll makes sense to Susan Garrett, an angel expert and New Testament professor at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Kentucky. It tracks with historical surveys, she said, adding that the U.S. remains a faith-filled country even as more Americans reject organized religion.
But if the devil is in the details, so are people’s understandings of angels.
“They’re very malleable,” Garrett said of angels. “You can have any one of a number of quite different worldviews in terms of your understanding of how the cosmos is arranged, whether there’s spirit beings, whether there’s life after death, whether there’s a God … and still find a place for angels in that worldview.”
Talk of angels, Garrett said, is often also about something else, like the ways God interacts with the world and other hard-to-articulate ideas.
The large number of U.S. adults who say they believe in angels includes 84% of those with a religious affiliation — 94% of evangelical Protestants, 81% of mainline Protestants and 82% of Catholics — and 33% of those without one. And of those angel-believing religiously unaffiliated, that includes 2% of atheists, 25% of agnostics and 50% of those identified as “nothing in particular.”
The broad acceptance is what fascinates San Francisco-based witch and author Devin Hunter: Angels show up independently in different religions and traditions, making them part of the fabric that unites humanity.
“We’re all getting to the same conclusion,” said Hunter, who spent 16 years as a professional medium, and started communicating as a child with what he believed were angels.
Hunter estimates that a belief in angels applies to about half of those practicing modern witchcraft today, and for some who don’t believe, their rejection is often rooted in the religious trauma they experienced growing up.
“Angels become a very big deal” for long-time practitioners who’ve made occultism their primary focus, said Hunter, an angel-loving occultist. “We cannot escape them in any way, shape or form.”
Jennifer Goodwin of Oviedo, Florida, also is among the roughly seven in 10 U.S. adults who say they believe in angels. She isn’t sure if God exists and rejects the afterlife dichotomy of heaven and hell, but the recent deaths of her parents solidified her views on these celestial beings.
Goodwin believes her parents are still keeping an eye on the family — not in any physical way or as a supernatural apparition, but that they manifest in those moments when she feels a general sense of comfort.
“I think that they are around us, but it’s in a way that we can’t understand,” Goodwin said. “I don’t know what else to call it except an angel.”
Angels mean different things to different people, and the idea of loved ones becoming heavenly angels after death is neither an unusual belief nor a universally held one.
In his reading of Scripture as an evangelical Protestant, Grogger said he believes angels are something else entirely — they have never been human and are on another level in heaven’s hierarchy. “We are higher than angels,” he said. “We do not become an angel.”
Angels do interact with humans though, said Grogger, but what “that looks like we’re not 100% sure.” They worship God who created this angelic legion of unknown numbers, he said, adding that evangelicals often attribute the demonic forces in the world to the angels who fell from heaven when the devil rebelled.
The Western ideas about angels can be traced through the Bible — and to the worldviews of its monotheistic authors, Garrett said. Those beliefs have changed and developed for millennia, influenced by cultures, theologians and even the ancient polytheistic beliefs that came before the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, she said.
“There are sort of lines of continuity from the Bible that you can trace all the way up to the New Age movement,” said Susan Garrett, who wrote “No Ordinary Angel: Celestial Spirits and Christian Claims about Jesus.”
The angels in the Bible do God’s bidding, and angelic violence is one part of their job description, said Esther Hamori, author of the upcoming book, “God’s Monsters: Vengeful Spirits, Deadly Angels, Hybrid Creatures, and Divine Hitmen of the Bible.”
“The angels of the Bible are just as likely to assassinate individuals and slaughter entire populations as they are to offer help and protect and deliver,” said Hamori. She doesn’t believe in these angels, but studies them as a Hebrew Bible professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York where she teaches a popular “Monster Heaven” class.
“They’re just God’s obedient soldiers doing the task at hand, and sometimes that task is in human beings’ best interests, and sometimes it’s not,” she said.
The perception that angels act angelic and look like the idyllic, winged figurines atop Christmas trees could be attributed to an early centuries belief that people are assigned one good angel and one bad — or have a good and bad spirit to guide them, Garrett said.
This idea shows up on the shoulders of cartoon characters and is likely what Abraham Lincoln was alluding to in his famous appeal for unity when he referenced “the better angels of our nature” in his first inaugural address, she said.
“It’s also tied in with ideas about guardian angels, which again, very ancient views that got developed over the centuries,” Garrett said.
For Sheila Avery of Chicago, angels are protectors, capable of keeping someone from harm. Avery, who belongs to a nondenominational church, credits them with those moments like when a person’s plans fall through, but ultimately it saves them from being in the thick of an unexpected disaster.
“They turn on the news and a terrible tragedy happened at that particular place,” Avery said, suggesting it was an “angel that was probably watching over them.”
___
Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. | https://www.krqe.com/news/national/ap-do-you-believe-in-angels-about-7-in-10-u-s-adults-do-a-new-ap-norc-poll-shows/ | 2023-07-29T13:57:23 | 0 | https://www.krqe.com/news/national/ap-do-you-believe-in-angels-about-7-in-10-u-s-adults-do-a-new-ap-norc-poll-shows/ |
(NEXSTAR) – The current Mega Millions jackpot is now tied for the fourth-largest in the game’s history after yet another drawing produced no grand-prize winners.
Friday’s winning numbers — 5, 10, 28, 52, 63, and Mega Ball 18 — went unmatched, continuing a 29-drawing trend that began after the last jackpot-winner was announced on April 18.
The current jackpot now stands at an estimated $1.05 billion, with a cash option of $527.9 million. That amount officially qualifies as the fourth-largest grand prize in Mega Millions history, tied with a jackpot awarded in Jan. 2021.
The current jackpot has steadily grown since April, after a ticketholder in New York matched all six numbers to win a $20-million prize. (The previous jackpot, awarded days before on April 14, was worth $483 million.) A total of 46 players, meanwhile, have won second-tier prizes worth $1 million or more since the last jackpot was won, the Mega Millions lottery confirmed in a press release.
Friday night’s drawing produced five of those second-tier winners, including one each in Arizona, California and New York, and two in Pennsylvania. One of the winning ticketholders in Pennsylvania had also purchased the Megaplier option (which multiplied Friday’s winnings by five times), making that ticket worth $5 million.
“In the current Mega Millions matrix and Megaplier configuration, which has been in place since October 28, 2017, there has never been a Megaplier of 5x drawn at this extraordinary jackpot level,” reads a portion of the Mega Millions press release. “That means a lot of prizes in other tiers have been multiplied by a factor of five!”
The next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 1. | https://www.krqe.com/news/national/mega-millions-jackpot-exceeds-1-billion-now-4th-largest-in-games-history/ | 2023-07-29T13:57:29 | 0 | https://www.krqe.com/news/national/mega-millions-jackpot-exceeds-1-billion-now-4th-largest-in-games-history/ |
(NEXSTAR) – With heat records already falling this summer, you may be running your ceiling fan nearly non-stop, but did you know you may not be as cool as you could be?
If you’ve ever taken a close look at the fan, you may have noticed a small switch located on the side of the fan base. The switch, which is found on nearly every fan, can change the direction the fan spins.
Using that switch according to the season will not only keep you more comfortable, but it can also help you save money.
In the summer, make sure that your fan is going in a counterclockwise direction, which forces cool air directly downward and creates a “wind chill effect,” according to Home Depot. In the winter, you can switch it up so the fan rotates clockwise at a low speed, circulating the warm air that gets trapped near the ceiling.
If you have ceiling fans as well as air conditioning, using the fan correctly will allow you to raise the thermostat by roughly 4 degrees Fahrenheit and still feel just as comfortable, according to the Department of Energy. In moderately hot weather, you may even be able to turn off the AC. The DOE reminds people to turn off fans in unoccupied rooms.
According to Energy Star, if you raise your thermostat by just two degrees and use your ceiling fan, you can lower the cost of air conditioning by up to 14%.
If you’re in the market for a ceiling fan, larger fan blades will move more air than smaller ones, but you have to make sure it’s an appropriate size for the space.
The Department of Energy recommends blades be 7 to 9 feet above the floor and 10 to 12 inches away from the ceiling. The blades should be no closer than 8 inches from the ceiling and 18 inches from any walls. | https://www.krqe.com/news/national/overlooked-ceiling-fan-switch-could-make-you-cooler-this-summer/ | 2023-07-29T13:57:35 | 1 | https://www.krqe.com/news/national/overlooked-ceiling-fan-switch-could-make-you-cooler-this-summer/ |
(The Conversation) – Like any millennial pop music fan active on social media, I’ve been following Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour – the surprise songs, the scramble to get tickets, her brief romance with that guy from The 1975 with a history of racist comments.
But as a political scientist, I was intrigued by something else: reaction to the tour by government officials. New Jersey renamed the state’s famed Taylor ham, egg and cheese in her honor – it’s now the “Taylor Swift Ham, Egg, and Cheese” official state sandwich.
Pittsburgh’s mayor briefly renamed the city “Swiftsburgh” when her tour hit town.
And in my neck of the woods, Swift Street in North Kansas City was temporarily rebranded “Swift Street (Taylor’s Version).”
Local or state governments have lauded Swift in some way at virtually every stop on her tour. While these honors make for great photo opportunities for Swifties, the politics of these moves is worth examining. Do politicians have something to gain in appealing to Swift’s fans?
Celebrities can help politicians
Unlike many celebrities, Swift does not involve herself much in politics. One particular tool of politicians looking to boost their numbers is to get celebrity endorsements. But Swift’s use of endorsements has been limited, save for backing two Democrats in her adopted home state of Tennessee: Phil Bredesen in his Senate race and U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper in his 2018 reelection campaign. Swift also endorsed Joe Biden in 2020.
Bredesen’s peak in Google search interest from 2010 to the present coincided with Swift’s endorsement in October 2018. Cooper saw more Google search traffic with Swift’s endorsement than at any point since his vote for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in March 2010.
While the specific impact of Swift’s endorsements is difficult to assess, an Emerson College poll of Tennesseans in 2018 found that 11.7% of those surveyed said Swift’s endorsement would make them more likely to support Bredesen – a number unlikely to make a difference in a race Bredesen lost by nearly 11 points despite Swift’s support. Cooper easily won reelection in his heavily Democratic Nashville-based district.
Although Swift’s endorsements likely did not sway these particular races, celebrity endorsements can matter in close races, particularly when the celebrity making the endorsement is viewed favorably – a likely scenario in Swift’s case.
Fawning = attention
A slight majority of Americans consider themselves at least something of a fan of Swift’s music – that includes me – and a June 2023 Echelon Insights poll showed 50% of likely voters view Swift at least somewhat favorably. This is a higher favorability rating than Joe Biden, Donald Trump and both major political parties.
We’re not talking about endorsements here, though – we’re talking about politicians aligning themselves with Swift with no reciprocity. One clear benefit to public officials fawning over Swift? Attention – not unlike that seen for Bredesen and Cooper in 2018.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s tweet declaring the “Taylor Swift ham, egg, and cheese” garnered 5,700 likes; his next unrelated tweet had fewer than 100.
A cursory analysis of social media data seems to support the idea that the use of Swift’s name in honorary government actions produces a result similar to that of Swift’s endorsements: it drives engagement. Murphy’s Instagram post lauding Swift garnered the most likes on any post of his in 2023, with the exception of an early June post on the state’s air-quality crisis.
OK, so politicians need publicity, and they can use Taylor Swift’s name to get it. But what about Swifties as a voting bloc?
The idea that Swifties might be a key demographic in future elections is not far-fetched given their location and age. A majority of Swift’s fans live in the suburbs, the swing territory of American politics. Further, most are Gen Zers or Millennials. These groups encompass an increasing share of the electorate with each passing year – up to 31% in 2020. Swift’s favorability among those ages 18 to 29 stands at 72%, and by one poll’s estimate, 21% in that age cohort say they would vote for Swift over Trump and Biden.
Taylor Swift Post Office?
World leaders from numerous countries have taken to social media to ask Swift to bring her tour to their countries. There’s an economic angle to this, of course, as a Swift tour stop can generate huge sums in consumer spending. In the U.S., however, the honorifics bestowed upon Swift have come since her tour dates were confirmed.
There is a question of whether these Swift-adjacent stunts boil down to campaigning thinly disguised as official government action. This is perhaps best demonstrated in Canada, where a member of Parliament filed a parliamentary grievance over the singer’s lack of Canadian tour dates.
Such behavior is perhaps analogous to, on a larger scale, the renaming of post offices in the U.S. Congress. While generally innocuous and locally meaningful, these moves still require government resources and staffers to put their attention toward them as opposed to substantive policy matters.
Taylor Swift is an enormously popular figure, particularly among demographic groups that will be increasingly important in future American elections. In close races, voices such as Swift’s could prove critical – not necessarily because she influences how fans vote, but because her voice provides attention and credibility to candidates. | https://www.krqe.com/news/national/the-taylor-swift-official-state-sandwich-politicians-understand-swifties-are-a-key-demographic/ | 2023-07-29T13:57:41 | 1 | https://www.krqe.com/news/national/the-taylor-swift-official-state-sandwich-politicians-understand-swifties-are-a-key-demographic/ |
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The United States will expand its military industrial base by helping Australia manufacture guided missiles and rockets for both countries within two years, the allies announced on Saturday as they ramped up defense cooperation to counter China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific.
The new cooperation on guided weapon production follows a trilateral partnership announcement in March that will see Britain provide Australia with a fleet of eight submarines powered by U.S. nuclear technology.
The greater integration of U.S. and Australian militaries was announced after annual talks between U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken and their Australian counterparts, Defense Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
They agreed to cooperate on Australia producing Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems by 2025, a communique said.
U.S. companies Raytheon and Lockheed Martin only established an Australian enterprise to build such weapons last year. That followed the drain on Western countries’ munitions caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Austin said the move on missiles would strengthen the two allies’ defense industrial base and technological edge.
“We’re racing to accelerate Australia’s priority access to munitions through a streamlined acquisition process,” Austin told reporters in Brisbane, Australia.
Marles welcomed U.S. support to achieve Australian missile production within two years.
“We are really pleased with the steps that we are taking in respect of establishing a guided weapons and explosive ordnance enterprise in this country,” Marles said.
The two governments also agreed to upgrade joint military facilities in Australia and to increase U.S. nuclear submarine visits as the United States increases its focus on the South Pacific.
The region came to the forefront of the U.S. competition with China for influence last year, when Beijing signed a security pact with Solomon Islands and raised the prospect of a Chinese naval base being established there.
Austin became the first U.S. defense secretary to visit Papua New Guinea and Blinken visited New Zealand and Tonga before they arrived in Australia.
Saturday’s meeting was overshadowed by the loss of an Australian Army helicopter with four air crew late Friday, during military exercises with the U.S. off the northeastern coast of Australia.
U.S., Australian and Canadian militaries are taking part in the search for potential survivors near Whitsunday Islands off the Queensland state coast.
Austin and Marles will travel to north Queensland on Sunday to inspect Talisman Sabre, a biennial military exercise between the two countries that this year includes 13 nations and more than 30,000 military personnel. | https://www.krqe.com/news/politics/ap-us-pledges-to-help-australia-manufacture-guided-missiles-by-2025/ | 2023-07-29T13:57:47 | 0 | https://www.krqe.com/news/politics/ap-us-pledges-to-help-australia-manufacture-guided-missiles-by-2025/ |
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Political instability in Niger resulting from a military takeover that deposed the president this week threatens the economic support provided by Washington to the African nation, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said Saturday.
Members of the Niger military announced on Wednesday they had deposed democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum and on Friday named Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani as the country’s new leader, adding Niger to a growing list of military regimes in West Africa’s Sahel region.
Blinken, who is in Australia as part of a Pacific tour, said the continued security and economic arrangements that Niger has with the U.S. hinged on the release of Bazoum and “the immediate restoration of the democratic order in Niger.”
“Our economic and security partnership with Niger — which is significant, hundreds of millions of dollars — depends on the continuation of the democratic governance and constitutional order that has been disrupted by the actions in the last few days,” Blinken said. “So that assistance, that support, is in clear jeopardy as a result of these actions, which is another reason why they need to be immediately reversed.”
Blinken stopped short of calling the military actions in Niger a coup, a designation that could result in the African country losing millions of dollars of military aid and assistance.
Speaking in Brisbane, Blinken said he had spoken with President Bazoum on Saturday but did not provide details. He cited the support of the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States and other regional entities in trying to bring an end to the unrest.
“The very significant assistance that we have in place that’s making a material difference in the lives of the people of Niger is clearly in jeopardy and we’ve communicated that as clearly as we possibly can to those responsible for disrupting the constitutional order and Niger’s democracy,” Blinken said.
Blinken said the U.S. Embassy in Niger had accounted for the safety of all staff members and their families, while issuing a security alert advising U.S. citizens in the country to limit unnecessary movements and avoid areas impacted by the coup.
The military group that conducted the coup, calling itself the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Country, said its members remained committed to engaging with the international and national community.
“This is as a result of the continuing degradation of the security situation, the bad economic and social governance,” air force Col. Major Amadou Abdramane said in the video released by the coup leaders Wednesday. He said aerial and land borders were closed and a curfew was in place until the situation stabilized.
Bazoum was elected two years ago in Niger’s first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since independence from France.
Niger is seen as the last reliable partner for the West in efforts to battle jihadis linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group in Africa’s Sahel region, where Russia and Western countries have vied for influence in the fight against extremism.
France has 1,500 soldiers in the country who conduct joint operations with Niger’s military, while the U.S. and other European countries have helped train the nation’s troops.
___
Hannon reported from Bangkok. | https://www.krqe.com/news/top-stories/ap-top-headlines/ap-blinken-says-us-economic-support-for-niger-is-at-risk-as-military-takeover-threatens-stability/ | 2023-07-29T13:57:53 | 0 | https://www.krqe.com/news/top-stories/ap-top-headlines/ap-blinken-says-us-economic-support-for-niger-is-at-risk-as-military-takeover-threatens-stability/ |
AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand striker Hannah Wilkinson has helped create two milestones at the Women’s World Cup.
With her 48th-minute goal in the tournament opener against Norway, she led the co-host Football Ferns to their first win in six trips to the Women’s World Cup. She’s also one of at least 95 out members of the LGBTQ+ community competing in this year’s tournament, according to a count being kept by Outsports, a website that covers the LGBTQ+ sports.
The Ferns were greeted with a fan-made sign at their next match in Wellington: “Gay for soccer, gay for Wilkie,” it read.
The 95 out participants make up roughly 13% of the 736 total players at the Women’s World Cup, more than doubling the 40 players and coaches Outsports counted in 2019.
The 2023 tournament also is hosting the first openly trans and non-binary player in either a men’s or Women’s World Cup, Quinn of Canada.
“Last World Cup was so big, especially with the visibility of the U.S. women’s national team winning and (Megan Rapinoe) fighting with (Donald) Trump. So I think that was a huge year for LGBTQ+ visibility,” said Lindsey Freeman, a professor of sociology and anthropology at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia.
“It’s just the ad hoc, fun culture of women’s soccer that you’re seeing in this World Cup,” said Freeman, who is in New Zealand conducting research on the topic.
Jim Buzinski, co-founder of Outsports, agreed. “In the Western world, it’s such a non-issue that it really just doesn’t get talked about,” he said. “And I think that’s in a good way.”
VISIBILITY
Prior to the start of the tournament, FIFA designated eight socially conscious armbands team captains could wear throughout the Women’s World Cup. The decision came after “One Love” armbands were denied to men’s teams in Qatar in 2022.
The armbands being used this year include anti-discriminatory sayings and multiple colors, but the rainbow version Germany wanted to use is not allowed. None of the available options explicitly mention LGBTQ+ rights.
The decision has led many players to express their support in more creative ways across Australia and New Zealand.
New Zealand midfielder Ali Riley was interviewed on the official Women’s World Cup broadcast after her team’s upset of Norway. Her painted fingernails, left hand in the colors of the pride flag and right hand as the trans flag, were clearly visible as she held her head and fought back tears.
“She’s such an advocate and she’s definitely someone who uses her platform in such a positive way. We are all so proud of her and the way she represents the LGBTQ+ community,” teammate CJ Bott said. “Good on her. We’re all backing her, and we all back the community as well.”
The Philippines, making its Women’s World Cup debut, took home its own historic win over New Zealand 1-0 thanks to the foot of Sarina Bolden. Bolden’s Instagram bio reads, “i just wanna have fun n b gay.”
Irish star Katie McCabe wowed fans with a goal directly from a corner kick. She’s also made tabloid news for her relationships with other players.
Thembi Kgatlana, who has scored in the tournament for South Africa, has a patch of her hair dyed rainbow colors.
“My personality is very big for me, and my hair has become a part of my personality,” Kgatlana said. “And I did this rainbow because I want to represent all the people that are part of the LGBTQ and cannot talk while in countries where they’re oppressed.”
FAN EXPERIENCE
Kristen Pariseau and her wife started a U.S. women’s national team supporters group on Facebook ahead of traveling to this year’s Women’s World Cup. Aside from some hateful users she blocked, it’s been “super LGBT friendly.”
She and her wife did not go to Qatar for the 2022 men’s World Cup to avoid referencing each other as friends and receiving questions on their sexuality. In New Zealand, she said she’s met many same-sex couples at games and while traveling around the country.
“Everywhere you turn, it’s like, ‘Oh, my wife, my girlfriend.’ It’s been so welcoming and open,” Pariseau said. “In a way, it is kind of cool to be where there’s a lot of other people like you.”
Kelsie Bozart took her own pride flag armband to the United States’ second match in Wellington, along with a pride scarf.
“If you look back a couple years, I feel like it just wasn’t really talked about or there just wasn’t much of a presence,” Bozart said. “But moving forward I feel like, especially for the U.S., they’ve done an amazing job of just incorporating pride and LGBTQ.”
NOT UNIVERSAL
Though this year’s tournament has highlighted vast gains for the LGBTQ+ community in women’s soccer, advocates feel there is still work to be done.
According to Buzinski and Outsports, there were at least 186 LGBTQ+ athletes at the Tokyo Olympics. Women outnumbered men by a 9:1 ratio. There also were no confirmed out players at the 2022 men’s World Cup.
“I think women’s sports have always been open,” Denmark striker Pernille Harder said, adding that there are many role models for women who want to come out.
Freeman said it would be good to see men feel the same level of comfort.
“What can happen in the women’s game, I would love to spill over to the men’s game,” she said. “Because obviously, there’s way more queer players in the men’s game and it’s just not safe for them to come out.
“If you want to say that you’re in an inclusive space, you really have to be an inclusive space,” Freeman added. “And I think that that includes also holding the World Cup in places where it’s fine to be a queer person.”
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Max Ralph is a student in John Curley Center for Sports Journalism at Penn State.
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Contributing reporters included Joe Lister in Wellington and Rafaela Pontes in Auckland, students in the John Curley Center for Sports Journalism at Penn State, and Clay Witt in Sydney, Australia, a student at the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.
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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-womens-world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.krqe.com/news/top-stories/ap-top-headlines/ap-lgbtq-community-proud-and-visible-at-womens-world-cup/ | 2023-07-29T13:58:00 | 1 | https://www.krqe.com/news/top-stories/ap-top-headlines/ap-lgbtq-community-proud-and-visible-at-womens-world-cup/ |
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The cosmos is offering up a double feature in August: a pair of supermoons culminating in a rare blue moon.
Catch the first show Tuesday evening as the full moon rises in the southeast, appearing slightly brighter and bigger than normal. That’s because it will be closer than usual, just 222,159 miles (357,530 kilometers) away, thus the supermoon label.
The moon will be even closer the night of Aug. 30 — a scant 222,043 miles (357,344 kilometers) distant. Because it’s the second full moon in the same month, it will be what’s called a blue moon.
“Warm summer nights are the ideal time to watch the full moon rise in the eastern sky within minutes of sunset. And it happens twice in August,” said retired NASA astrophysicist Fred Espenak, dubbed Mr. Eclipse for his eclipse-chasing expertise.
The last time two full supermoons graced the sky in the same month was in 2018. It won’t happen again until 2037, according to Italian astronomer Gianluca Masi, founder of the Virtual Telescope Project.
Masi will provide a live webcast of Tuesday evening’s supermoon, as it rises over the Coliseum in Rome.
“My plans are to capture the beauty of this … hopefully bringing the emotion of the show to our viewers,” Masi said in an email.
“The supermoon offers us a great opportunity to look up and discover the sky,” he added.
This year’s first supermoon was in July. The fourth and last will be in September. The two in August will be closer than either of those.
Provided clear skies, binoculars or backyard telescopes can enhance the experience, Espenak said, revealing such features as lunar maria — the dark plains formed by ancient volcanic lava flows — and rays emanating from lunar craters.
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the August full moon is traditionally known as the sturgeon moon. That’s because of the abundance of that fish in the Great Lakes in August, hundreds of years ago.
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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.krqe.com/news/top-stories/ap-top-headlines/ap-two-supermoons-in-august-mean-double-the-stargazing-fun/ | 2023-07-29T13:58:07 | 0 | https://www.krqe.com/news/top-stories/ap-top-headlines/ap-two-supermoons-in-august-mean-double-the-stargazing-fun/ |
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Four air crew members were missing after an Australian army helicopter ditched into waters off the Queensland state coast during joint military exercises with the United States, officials said Saturday.
The MRH-90 Taipan helicopter went down near Lindeman Island, a Great Barrier Reef tourist resort, at about 11 p.m. Friday, exercise director Australian Army Brigadier Damian Hill said.
A search involving U.S., Canadian and Australian personnel was underway to find the crew who are all Australian men, officials said.
Debris that appeared to be from a helicopter had been recovered, Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Douglas McDonald said.
The Taipan was taking part in Talisman Sabre, a biennial joint U.S.-Australian military exercise that is largely based in Queensland. This year’s exercise involves 13 nations and more than 30,000 military personnel.
Defense Minister Richard Marles said the helicopter ditched, which refers to an emergency landing on water.
“Defense exercises, which are so necessary for the readiness of our defense force, are serious. They carry risk,” Marles told reporters in Brisbane. “As we desperately hope for better news during the course of this day we are reminded about the gravity of the act which comes with wearing our nation’s uniform.”
Hill said the exercise was postponed on Saturday morning but had restarted limited activity later in the day. Australia had grounded its Taipan fleet as a precaution, Hill said.
It was the second emergency involving an Australian Taipan this year, after one ditched into the sea off the New South Wales state coast in March. That helicopter was taking part in a nighttime counterterrorism training exercise when it ran into trouble. All 10 passengers and crew members were rescued.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was in Brisbane for a meeting on Saturday and is due to travel with Marles to north Queensland on Sunday to see the exercise.
Austin and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken paid tribute to the missing air crew at the outset of a meeting with their Australian counterparts, Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
“It’s always tough when you have accidents in training, but … the reason that we train to such high standards is so that we can be successful and we can protect lives when we are called to answer any kind of crisis,” Austin said.
“Our guys tend to make this look easy and they make it look easy because they’re so well exercised and rehearsed and trained, and this is unfortunately a part of that, what it takes to get them to where we need them to be,” Austin added.
Blinken said, “We’re so grateful to them for their dedication, for their service, for everything they’ve been doing to stand up for the freedom that we share and that is what unites us more than anything else.”
Marles thanked the United States for their contribution to the search and rescue effort.
The missing helicopter had just dropped off two Australian commandos before it hit the water, Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.
Australia announced in January that its army and navy would stop flying the European-built Taipans by December 2024, 13 years earlier than originally planned, because they had proven unreliable. They will be replaced by 40 U.S. Black Hawks. Marles said at the time the Lockheed Martin-designed Black Hawks “have a really good proven track record in terms of their reliability.”
Australia’s Taipans had been plagued by problems since the first helicopter arrived in the country in 2007.
Australia’s entire fleet of 47 Taipans was grounded in 2019 to fix a problem with their tail rotor blades. A year later, 27 Taipans were grounded because of a problem with doors.
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Find more of AP’s Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific | https://www.krqe.com/news/world/ap-4-air-crew-members-are-missing-after-australian-army-helicopter-ditched-off-australias-coast/ | 2023-07-29T13:58:13 | 1 | https://www.krqe.com/news/world/ap-4-air-crew-members-are-missing-after-australian-army-helicopter-ditched-off-australias-coast/ |
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Salvage crews were preparing Saturday to tow a car-carrying cargo ship that has been burning for days to an anchor point in the North Sea after flames and smoke on board subsided, the Dutch government said.
Fire erupted in the Fremantle Highway late Tuesday night near a chain of islands in the northern Netherlands and has been blazing ever since. The ship is carrying 3,783 new vehicles, including 498 electric vehicles, the company that chartered the vessel said.
One crew member died and others were injured after the fire broke out on the ship that was heading from Bremerhaven in Germany to Singapore. The crew was evacuated in the early hours of Wednesday. The cause of the fire has not been established.
Measurements Friday showed that heat, flames and smoke had subsided enough for salvage experts to board the ship for the first time and establish a strong towing connection with a tugboat, the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management said.
It will be towed, likely over the weekend, to a new position 16 kilometers (10 miles) north of the island of Schiermonnikoog , the ministry said in a statement. The timing of the operation that is expected to take 12-14 hours depends on smoke development and weather, the ministry added. The aim is ultimately “once conditions on board allow,” to tow the ship to a port, though the destination has not yet been decided.
The ministry said the ship is stable and intact below the waterline.
The burning vessel is close to the shallow Wadden Sea, a World Heritage-listed area that is considered one of the world’s most significant habitats for migratory birds. It’s also near the Netherlands’ border with Germany, whose environment minister, Steffi Lemke, has warned of “an environmental catastrophe of unknown proportions,” if the ship were to sink. | https://www.krqe.com/news/world/ap-burning-cargo-ship-off-dutch-coast-will-be-towed-to-a-new-location-after-flames-and-smoke-subsided/ | 2023-07-29T13:58:19 | 1 | https://www.krqe.com/news/world/ap-burning-cargo-ship-off-dutch-coast-will-be-towed-to-a-new-location-after-flames-and-smoke-subsided/ |
BAGHDAD (AP) — The leader of Lebanon’s Shiite militant group Hezbollah said Saturday that if governments of Muslim-majority nations do not act against countries that allow the desecration of the Quran, Muslims should “punish” those who facilitate attacks on Islam’s holy book.
The comments by Hassan Nasrallah came in a video address to tens of thousands gathered in Beirut’s southern suburbs to mark Ashoura, a Shiite holy day commemorating the 7th century martyrdom of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson Hussein.
Nasrallah often uses religious occasions to send political messages to followers, and on Saturday slammed recent incidents in which the Quran was burned or otherwise desecrated at authorized demonstrations in Sweden and Denmark.
He said Muslims should watch for the outcome of an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, scheduled to take place in Baghdad on Monday to discuss the organization’s response to the Quran burnings.
The organization and its member states should “send a firm, decisive and unequivocal message to these governments that any repeat of the attacks will be met with a boycott,” Nasrallah said. If they do not, he said, Muslim youth should “punish the desecrators.”
He did not elaborate what such a boycott and punishment should entail.
Members of the crowd, who carried banners with religious slogans alongside the flags of Hezbollah, Lebanon and Palestine, chanted, “Oh, Quran, we are at your service; Oh, Hussein, we are at your service.”
Shiites represent over 10% of the world’s 1.8 billion Muslims and view Hussein as the rightful successor to the Prophet Muhammad. Hussein’s death in battle at the hands of Sunnis at Karbala, south of Baghdad, ingrained a deep rift in Islam and continues to this day to play a key role in shaping Shiite identity.
Millions of Shiite Muslims in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and around the world on Friday commemorated Ashoura, while Saturday marked the culmination of the observances in countries such as Lebanon, Iraq and Syria.
Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims gathered in the Iraqi city of Karbala, where Hussein is entombed in a gold-domed shrine. In the streets of the Baghdad suburb of Sadr City, mourners gathered to watch reenactments of the Battle of Karbala and Hussein’s death.
In the streets, young men clad in black and white slashed their heads with swords and knives to demonstrate their grief. Friends swabbed each other’s heads with tissues and handed each other water.
In Syria’s capital, Damascus, the crowds were mourning not only the death of Hussein but a deadly attack in the suburb of Sayida Zeinab, home to a shrine to Zeinab, the daughter of the first Shiite imam, Ali, and granddaughter of the Prophet Muhammad.
A bomb hidden in a motorcycle exploded there on Thursday, killing at least six people and wounding dozens more. On Tuesday, another bomb in a motorcycle had wounded two people.
On Friday, the Islamic State group — a Sunni militant group that often targets Shiites — claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying Thursday’s bombing came “during their annual polytheistic rituals.” The group’s extreme interpretation of Islam holds Shiite Muslims to be apostates.
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Associated Press writers Anmar Khalil in Karbala, Iraq, and Hassan Ammar in Beirut contributed to this report. | https://www.krqe.com/news/world/ap-lebanons-hezbollah-leader-urges-muslims-to-punish-quran-desecrators-if-governments-fail-to-do-so/ | 2023-07-29T13:58:25 | 0 | https://www.krqe.com/news/world/ap-lebanons-hezbollah-leader-urges-muslims-to-punish-quran-desecrators-if-governments-fail-to-do-so/ |
FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) — Katie Ledecky added to her legacy as the greatest female swimmer in history when she won the 800-meter freestyle on Saturday at the World Aquatics Championships, establishing two more notable records with the triumph.
The victory by the 26-year-old Ledecky made her the first swimmer ever to win the same event six times at the world championships and also marked her 16th individual world title, breaking a tie with Michael Phelps for the most individual golds ever at the worlds.
Ledecky, who had the 30 top times ever in the 800 entering the race, led all the way, dominating her competitors and winning in a time of 8 minutes, 8.87 seconds.
The gold in the 800 was Ledecky’s second individual gold of these championships following her win in the 1,500 free on Tuesday. She also took silver in the 400 free here.
Li Bingjie of China claimed the silver in 8:13.31, with Ariarne Titmus of Australia took the bronze in 8:13.59.
Kaylee McKeown of Australia made some history of her own with her gold in the women’s 200 backstroke. McKeown’s victory gave her a sweep of all three backstroke events here, after her earlier wins in the 50 and 100. She became the first swimmer ever to sweep all three backstrokes at the worlds.
McKeown took the lead at the final turn and steamed home in 2:03.85. She joined Leon Marchand of France and Qin Haiyang of China as swimmers who swept all three events in the same discipline at these worlds.
Regan Smith of the United States picked up the silver in 2:04.94, while Peng Xuwei of China got the bronze in 2:06.74.
Sarah Sjoestroem of Sweden continued her dominance with gold in the women’s 50-meter butterfly. The 29-year-old won in 24.77 and has now won the event five consecutive times at the worlds. The win brought Sjoestroem’s total number of individual medals at worlds to 20, equaling Phelps’ mark.
Zhang Yufei of China, who took gold in the 100 fly here, claimed the silver in 25.05, while American Gretchen Walsh got the bronze in 25.46.
Fan favorite Rikako Ikee of Japan finished seventh (25.78), but was greeted warmly by the home crowd. The 23-year-old Ikee won six gold medals at the 2018 Asian Games, but was diagnosed with leukemia in February of 2019. Her comeback continues to resonate with both the Japanese public and her fellow competitors.
Cameron McEvoy of Australia led all the way to capture the gold in the men’s 50-meter free in 21.06. American Jack Alexy collected his second silver of the worlds in 21.57 to go with his silver in the 100 free. Benjamin Proud of Britian, last year’s world champion, took the bronze in 21.58.
Maxime Grousset of France won gold in the men’s 100 fly in 50.14. The 24-year-old took the early lead and held on for the victory. Josh Liendo of Canada earned the silver in 50.34, while American Dare Rose made the podium with the bronze (50.46).
Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania equaled the world record of 29.30 in her semifinal in the women’s 50 breaststroke.
Australia won gold in the 4×100 mixed freestyle relay in a world-record time of 3:18.83. The U.S. took the silver in 3:20.82, with Britain getting the bronze in 3:21.68.
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AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.krqe.com/sports/ap-katie-ledecky-passes-michael-phelps-for-most-individual-golds-at-world-championships/ | 2023-07-29T13:58:31 | 0 | https://www.krqe.com/sports/ap-katie-ledecky-passes-michael-phelps-for-most-individual-golds-at-world-championships/ |
Gene X Hwang knew his days on Twitter as @x were numbered.
"Elon had been kind of tweeting about X previously," Hwang said. "So I kind of knew, you know, I had an inkling that this was going to happen. I didn't really know when."
Since 2007, Hwang's username on the site was @x — but after Elon Musk renamed the social media platform to X earlier this week, it was only a matter of time before the company commandeered the handle.
The news came shortly after Hwang had competed in a pinball tournament in Canada.
"So when I landed and fired up my phone, I just got all these messages and I was like: 'What is what is going on?' "
Hwang received an email from the company explaining that his account data would be preserved, and he'd get a new handle. It offered Hwang merchandise, a tour of its offices and a meeting with company management as compensation.
Hwang's account is one of the latest casualties in the chaos following Musk's takeover of the social media company. On Monday, Twitter's iconic blue bird logo was replaced with the letter "X."
Our headquarters tonight pic.twitter.com/GO6yY8R7fO
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 24, 2023
The rebrand is the company's next step in creating what Musk has called "the everything app." Musk and CEO Linda Yaccarino envision the platform becoming a U.S. parallel to WeChat — a hub for communication, banking and commerce that's become a part of everyday life in China.
X is the future state of unlimited interactivity – centered in audio, video, messaging, payments/banking – creating a global marketplace for ideas, goods, services, and opportunities. Powered by AI, X will connect us all in ways we’re just beginning to imagine.
— Linda Yaccarino (@lindayacc) July 23, 2023
But experts are skeptical X will be able to become an "everything app."
"I'm not sure he has enough trust from his user base to get people to actually exchange money or attach any type of financial institution to his app," Jennifer Grygiel, a professor at Syracuse University, told NPR.
Hwang is among those who have been looking for Twitter alternatives.
"I've been checking out, you know, other options like Threads and Mastodon and Bluesky," he said. "I'm still on Twitter for now, but ... it's changed a lot. So we'll see how much longer I'm on there."
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wvia.org/news/business/2023-07-29/after-rebranding-x-took-x-from-its-original-twitter-owner-and-offered-him-merch | 2023-07-29T13:58:33 | 0 | https://www.wvia.org/news/business/2023-07-29/after-rebranding-x-took-x-from-its-original-twitter-owner-and-offered-him-merch |
AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — United States midfielder Savannah DeMelo can speak some Portuguese and may be able to put it to use in the Women’s World Cup.
The U.S. plays Portugal on Tuesday to wrap up the tournament’s group stage, and a fter a disappointing 1-1 draw against the Netherlands, the Americans needs a win. At stake is both the top spot in Group E and also a much-needed boost to team confidence.
That’s where DeMelo can help.
The 25-year-old’s dad, Robert, is from Portugal and had a successful career as a player in that country before becoming a coach. DeMelo has dual citizenship and understands Portuguese.
“I’ll definitely be listening for it,” she laughed.
DeMelo made her first international start for the United States against Vietnam in the group opener, a 3-0 victory for the Americans.
Prior to the World Cup, DeMelo had played in only one other match for the United States: she was a substitute in the team’s send-off match against Wales in San Jose in early July. DeMelo, who plays for Racing Louisville FC in the National Women’s Soccer League, was the first U.S. player since Shannon Boxx in 2003 and third overall to be named to the World Cup roster without any previous appearances for the national team.
U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski started DeMelo in the both of the American’s World Cup matches. She played both opening halves before being subbed off for veteran Rose Lavelle, who has been playing limited minutes for the United States because of a knee injury suffered in April.
The journey from being named to the team to getting a start in the World Cup has “been a crazy roller coaster of emotions,” said DeMelo.
“But I think I’ve had a lot of great people, including the girls on the team, who have been super helpful with getting me acclimated to the team,” she said. “And I’m just super grateful to be here.”
The United States may need to switch up its tactics against Portugal.
The Americans are tied on points with the Netherlands in Group E and have an advantage over the Dutch on goal difference. The top two teams in the group advance to the knockout round.
But the results haven’t been as emphatic as they were in 2019, when the U.S. opened with a 13-0 victory over Thailand and went on to win their second straight World Cup title, and fourth overall.
The United States trailed the Netherlands by a goal in the first half before Lindsey Horan scored a game-tying header in the 62nd minute.
One reason for the less-than-dominant play could be inexperience. DeMelo is among 14 U.S. players appearing in their first World Cup.
Fellow midfielder Andi Sullivan, who is also making her tournament debut, said it takes some adjustment to play together as newcomers.
“That’s definitely a challenge that we’re going through, is that we just kind of came together,” Sullivan said. “It’s not like a team that you’re training with all year round, constantly. You’re in and out all the time. So I think you’re constantly adjusting.
“But the way that you get in sync is we watch a lot of stuff together, we communicate constantly. We’re very direct when something’s not going the way we want it to go,” Sullivan added. “You have to be direct and clear and honest and loud.”
DeMelo is also among six players at the World Cup who play for Racing Louisville. Among the Racing Louisville representatives are Ary Borges, who scored a hat trick for Brazil in its 4-0 victory over Panama to start the tournament.
DeMelo, who said her father never pushed her into soccer growing up, could have played for Portugal at the senior level.
“It could have been an option,” she said, “but I think my heart was always with the United States.”
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AP Women’s World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-womens-world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.krqe.com/sports/ap-savannah-demelos-ability-to-speak-portuguese-may-help-us-in-critical-womens-world-cup-match/ | 2023-07-29T13:58:37 | 0 | https://www.krqe.com/sports/ap-savannah-demelos-ability-to-speak-portuguese-may-help-us-in-critical-womens-world-cup-match/ |
This week's show was recorded at the Studebaker Theater in Chicago, with guest host Karen Chee, official judge and scorekeeper Bill Kurtis, Not My Job guest Randall Park and panelists Tom Bodett, Zainab Johnson and Josh Gondelman. Click the audio link above to hear the whole show.
Who's Bill This Time
ET Phone Washington; Twitter Exec X's Out Twitter; A Fun New Excuse
Panel Questions
You Can Leave Your Hat On, But Take These Off
Bluff The Listener
Our panelists read three stories about someone taking a bold stand, only one of which is true.
Not My Job: We ask Randall Park, the person, about Randall Park, the mall
For some, being a triple-threat actor/writer/comedian is enough, but not for Randall Park, who decided to add "director" to the list with his debut Shortcomings. He may be the most famous person named Randall Park, but can he answer our questions about the most famous abandoned mall named Randall Park?
Panel Questions
What is Phubbing; A Jobs Trend for People Who Hate Jobs; The Enterprise Ensuite
Limericks
Bill Kurtis reads three news-related limericks: A Rocky Road for Cookies; A Robot Feels the Heat; Candy that Pairs Well With Hot Dogs
Lightning Fill In The Blank
All the news we couldn't fit anywhere else
Predictions
Our panelists predict what will be the big revelation at the next UFO hearing.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wvia.org/news/news/arts/2023-07-29/wait-wait-for-july-29-2023-with-not-my-job-guest-randall-park | 2023-07-29T13:58:38 | 1 | https://www.wvia.org/news/news/arts/2023-07-29/wait-wait-for-july-29-2023-with-not-my-job-guest-randall-park |
A large explosion at a fireworks warehouse in Thailand kills at least 10 people and wounds scores
BANGKOK (AP) — A large explosion at a fireworks warehouse in southern Thailand on Saturday killed at least ten people and wounded scores, officials said.
The Narathiwat province’s Public Relations Department also said that also at least 118 people were hurt, and that residents of more than 200 households were affected. It said that officials believe there are still a number of people trapped under the debris waiting to be rescued.
Videos posted on social media from the site show a huge plume of smoke over the area and many damaged structures, cars and motorbikes, as well as streets covered with debris. Many of the houses and other buildings have collapsed roofs and walls.
The local public relations agency reported that the explosion cased damages in a radius of about 500 meters (1,640 feet). About 100 residences in the area were damaged, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.
Sanan Pongaksorn, the provincial governor, told public broadcaster Thai PBS that the blast was likely ignited by construction work that was taking place in the warehouse, with sparks from metal welding causing the fireworks stored inside to catch fire and explode.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.kob.com/news/business-money/a-large-explosion-at-a-fireworks-warehouse-in-thailand-kills-at-least-10-people-and-wounds-scores/ | 2023-07-29T13:59:27 | 1 | https://www.kob.com/news/business-money/a-large-explosion-at-a-fireworks-warehouse-in-thailand-kills-at-least-10-people-and-wounds-scores/ |
Do you believe in angels? About 7 in 10 U.S. adults do, a new AP-NORC poll shows
Compared with the devil, angels carry more credence in America.
Angels even get more credence than, well, hell. More than astrology, reincarnation, and the belief that physical things can have spiritual energies.
In fact, about 7 in 10 U.S. adults say they believe in angels, according to a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
“People are yearning for something greater than themselves — beyond their own understanding,” said Jack Grogger, a chaplain for the Los Angeles Angels and a longtime Southern California fire captain who has aided many people in their gravest moments.
That search for something bigger, he said, can take on many forms, from following a religion to crafting a self-driven purpose to believing in, of course, angels.
“For a lot of people, angels are a lot safer to worship,” said Grogger, who also pastors a nondenominational church in Orange, California, and is a chaplain for the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks.
People turn to angels for comfort, he said. They are familiar, regularly showing up in pop culture as well as in the Bible. Comparably, worshipping Jesus is far more involved; when Grogger preaches about angels it is with the context that they are part of God’s kingdom.
American’s belief in angels (69%) is about on par with belief in heaven and the power of prayer, but bested by belief in God or a higher power (79%). Fewer U.S. adults believe in the devil or Satan (56%), astrology (34%), reincarnation (34%), and that physical things can have spiritual energies, such as plants, rivers or crystals (42%).
The widespread acceptance of angels shown in the AP-NORC poll makes sense to Susan Garrett, an angel expert and New Testament professor at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Kentucky. It tracks with historical surveys, she said, adding that the U.S. remains a faith-filled country even as more Americans reject organized religion.
But if the devil is in the details, so are people’s understandings of angels.
“They’re very malleable,” Garrett said of angels. “You can have any one of a number of quite different worldviews in terms of your understanding of how the cosmos is arranged, whether there’s spirit beings, whether there’s life after death, whether there’s a God … and still find a place for angels in that worldview.”
Talk of angels, Garrett said, is often also about something else, like the ways God interacts with the world and other hard-to-articulate ideas.
The large number of U.S. adults who say they believe in angels includes 84% of those with a religious affiliation — 94% of evangelical Protestants, 81% of mainline Protestants and 82% of Catholics — and 33% of those without one. And of those angel-believing religiously unaffiliated, that includes 2% of atheists, 25% of agnostics and 50% of those identified as “nothing in particular.”
The broad acceptance is what fascinates San Francisco-based witch and author Devin Hunter: Angels show up independently in different religions and traditions, making them part of the fabric that unites humanity.
“We’re all getting to the same conclusion,” said Hunter, who spent 16 years as a professional medium, and started communicating as a child with what he believed were angels.
Hunter estimates that a belief in angels applies to about half of those practicing modern witchcraft today, and for some who don’t believe, their rejection is often rooted in the religious trauma they experienced growing up.
“Angels become a very big deal” for long-time practitioners who’ve made occultism their primary focus, said Hunter, an angel-loving occultist. “We cannot escape them in any way, shape or form.”
Jennifer Goodwin of Oviedo, Florida, also is among the roughly seven in 10 U.S. adults who say they believe in angels. She isn’t sure if God exists and rejects the afterlife dichotomy of heaven and hell, but the recent deaths of her parents solidified her views on these celestial beings.
Goodwin believes her parents are still keeping an eye on the family — not in any physical way or as a supernatural apparition, but that they manifest in those moments when she feels a general sense of comfort.
“I think that they are around us, but it’s in a way that we can’t understand,” Goodwin said. “I don’t know what else to call it except an angel.”
Angels mean different things to different people, and the idea of loved ones becoming heavenly angels after death is neither an unusual belief nor a universally held one.
In his reading of Scripture as an evangelical Protestant, Grogger said he believes angels are something else entirely — they have never been human and are on another level in heaven’s hierarchy. “We are higher than angels,” he said. “We do not become an angel.”
Angels do interact with humans though, said Grogger, but what “that looks like we’re not 100% sure.” They worship God who created this angelic legion of unknown numbers, he said, adding that evangelicals often attribute the demonic forces in the world to the angels who fell from heaven when the devil rebelled.
The Western ideas about angels can be traced through the Bible — and to the worldviews of its monotheistic authors, Garrett said. Those beliefs have changed and developed for millennia, influenced by cultures, theologians and even the ancient polytheistic beliefs that came before the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, she said.
“There are sort of lines of continuity from the Bible that you can trace all the way up to the New Age movement,” said Susan Garrett, who wrote “No Ordinary Angel: Celestial Spirits and Christian Claims about Jesus.”
The angels in the Bible do God’s bidding, and angelic violence is one part of their job description, said Esther Hamori, author of the upcoming book, “God’s Monsters: Vengeful Spirits, Deadly Angels, Hybrid Creatures, and Divine Hitmen of the Bible.”
“The angels of the Bible are just as likely to assassinate individuals and slaughter entire populations as they are to offer help and protect and deliver,” said Hamori. She doesn’t believe in these angels, but studies them as a Hebrew Bible professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York where she teaches a popular “Monster Heaven” class.
“They’re just God’s obedient soldiers doing the task at hand, and sometimes that task is in human beings’ best interests, and sometimes it’s not,” she said.
The perception that angels act angelic and look like the idyllic, winged figurines atop Christmas trees could be attributed to an early centuries belief that people are assigned one good angel and one bad — or have a good and bad spirit to guide them, Garrett said.
This idea shows up on the shoulders of cartoon characters and is likely what Abraham Lincoln was alluding to in his famous appeal for unity when he referenced “the better angels of our nature” in his first inaugural address, she said.
“It’s also tied in with ideas about guardian angels, which again, very ancient views that got developed over the centuries,” Garrett said.
For Sheila Avery of Chicago, angels are protectors, capable of keeping someone from harm. Avery, who belongs to a nondenominational church, credits them with those moments like when a person’s plans fall through, but ultimately it saves them from being in the thick of an unexpected disaster.
“They turn on the news and a terrible tragedy happened at that particular place,” Avery said, suggesting it was an “angel that was probably watching over them.”
___
Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.kob.com/news/us-and-world-news/do-you-believe-in-angels-about-7-in-10-u-s-adults-do-a-new-ap-norc-poll-shows/ | 2023-07-29T13:59:34 | 1 | https://www.kob.com/news/us-and-world-news/do-you-believe-in-angels-about-7-in-10-u-s-adults-do-a-new-ap-norc-poll-shows/ |
Captain Wendie Renard scored the game-winner in the 83rd minute to lead France over Brazil, 2-1, in a thrilling Group F match at Brisbane Stadium.
Renard went unmarked as she charged toward the back post on a corner kick by Selma Bacha and headed it in to bounce over keeper Leticia. It's her 35th career goal for France in her fourth World Cup appearance. She played all 90 minutes in the opener, but appeared to be injured in stoppage time and was questionable for this match.
Wendie Renard towers over the defense 🇫🇷
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 29, 2023
The captain was inexplicably unmarked at the far post and was never going to miss from there! pic.twitter.com/lbWBDXuXtW
Brazil coach Pia Sundhage immediately made three substitutions in a last-ditch push for the equalizer. But the fresh legs of Ana Vitoria, Monica and Marta couldn't find it. Their best chance came in the 86th minute off a corner that Monica collected to miss high in the stands.
France, ranked fifth in the world, came into the tournament as a favorite to win it all, but was held scoreless against Jamaica in its opener. It moves to the top of Group F with four points and a final match against Panama. Brazil, ranked eighth, has three points in second place and could have secured its spot in the knockout round with a victory. It will play Jamaica for its spot in the knockout round.
Eugénie Le Sommer, France's all-time leading scorer, gave her country the early 1-0 lead with a header in the 17th minute. It was a beautiful sequence of teamwork and chemistry. France is 10-1-0 all-time when scoring first in the World Cup.
OF COURSE IT'S FRANCES ALL-TIME LEADING GOALSCORER TO PUT LES BLEUES IN FRONT 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/AhyqdzMMin
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 29, 2023
Brazil, held to four shots in the first half, charged back in the second and Debinha scored the equalizer in the 58th minute to roars from the exuberant crowd.
DEBINHA DOES IT 🇧🇷@thekccurrent | @NWSL pic.twitter.com/ZKrfKm8A98
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 29, 2023
Sweden 5, Italy 0
Sweden clinched its spot in the knockout rounds with a resounding 5-0 victory against Italy that will likely seal their spot atop Group G. Sweden scored three goals in six minutes to end the first half leading, 3-0, and Amanda Ilestedt tied for the lead in the Golden Boot race with two goals scored.
Italy held strong early and pushed for an opening goal in the opening minutes, but couldn't break through Swedish keeper Zecira Musovic. Sweden had its first significant chance in the 27th minute and began the scoring onslaught in the 38th off a header by Ilestedt on the corner kick.
Set pieces continued to be successful for Sweden, which went up 2-0 off a Fridolina Rolfo header on the corner five minutes later. In the first minute of stoppage tie, Stina Blackstenius placed one at the back post for the three-goal lead heading into the break.
Sweden came out of half in control and put two more quick shots on goal that resulted in corners. Ilestedt scored off the corner in the 50th minute for her third goal of the tournament. Brazil's Ary Borges also has three, all on a hat trick against Panama.
Rebecka Blomqvist came on in the 89th minute and added the final goal in the sixth minute of stoppage time to put the topper on a strong night for Sweden.
The 29,143 in the stands set an attendance record for Wellington Regional Stadium. Sweden is atop the group with six points and a significant goal differential (+6) compared to Italy (-4), which is second in the group with three points. It is the first time Italy allowed four or more goals in a World Cup match.
Italy can advance from the group stage with a win over South Africa or a draw if Argentina pulls an upset against Sweden. Both matches are Tuesday overnight in the U.S. | https://www.star945.com/news/national/womens-world-cup/V63HKICDZNJ3BO45BFNFUFLGU4/ | 2023-07-29T13:59:37 | 0 | https://www.star945.com/news/national/womens-world-cup/V63HKICDZNJ3BO45BFNFUFLGU4/ |
It’s a miracle, say family of Japanese soldier killed in WWII, as flag he carried returns from US
TOKYO (AP) — Toshihiro Mutsuda was only 5 years old when he last saw his father, who was drafted by Japan’s Imperial Army in 1943 and killed in action. For him, his father was a bespectacled man in an old family photo standing by a signed good-luck flag that he carried to war.
On Saturday, when the flag was returned to him from a U.S. war museum where it had been on display for 29 years, Mutsuda, now 83, said: “It’s a miracle.”
The flag, known as “Yosegaki Hinomaru,” or Good Luck Flag, carries the soldier’s name, Shigeyoshi Mutsuda, and the signatures of his relatives, friends and neighbors wishing him luck. It was given to him before he was drafted by the Army. His family was later told he died in Saipan, but his remains were never returned.
The flag was donated in 1994 and displayed at the museum aboard the USS Lexington, a WWII aircraft carrier, in Corpus Christi, Texas. Its meaning was not known until it was identified by the family earlier this year, said the museum director Steve Banta, who brought the flag to Tokyo.
Banta said he learned the story behind the flag earlier this year when he was contacted by the Obon Society, a nonprofit organization that has returned about 500 similar flags as non-biological remains, to the descendants of Japanese servicemembers killed in the war.
The search for the flag’s original owner started in April when a museum visitor took a photo and asked an expert about the description that it had belonged to a “kamikaze” suicide pilot. When Shigeyoshi Mutsuda’s grandson saw the photo, he sought help from the Obon Society, group co-founder Keiko Ziak said.
“When we learned all of this, and that the family would like to have the flag, we knew immediately that the flag did not belong to us,” Banta said at the handover ceremony. “We knew that the right thing to do would be to send the flag home, to be in Japan and to the family.”
The soldier’s eldest son, Toshihiro Mutsuda, was speechless for a few seconds when Banta, wearing white gloves, gently placed the neatly folded flag into his hands. Two of his younger siblings, both in their 80s, stood by and looked on silently. The three children, all wearing cotton gloves so they wouldn’t damage the decades-old flag, carefully unfolded it to show to the audience.
The soldier’s daughter, Misako Matsukuchi, touched the flag with both hands and prayed. “After nearly 80 years, the spirit of our father returned to us. I hope he can finally rest in peace,” Matsukuchi said later.
Toshihiro Mutsuda said his memory of his father was foggy. However, he clearly remembers his mother, Masae Mutsuda, who died five years ago at age 102, used to make the long-distance bus trip almost every year from the farming town in Gifu, central Japan, to Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine, where the 2.5 million war dead are enshrined, to pay tribute to her husband’s spirit.
The shrine is controversial, as it includes convicted war criminals among those commemorated. Victims of Japanese aggression during the first half of the 20th century, especially China and the Koreas, see Yasukuni as a symbol of Japanese militarism. However, for the Mutsuda family, it’s a place to remember the loss of a father and husband.
“It’s like an old love story across the ages coming together … It doesn’t matter where,” Banta said, referring to the Yasukuni controversy. “The important thing is this flag goes to the family.”
That’s why Toshihiro Mutsuda and his siblings chose to receive the flag at Yasukuni and brought the framed photos of their parents.
“My mother missed him and wanted to see him so much and that’s why she used to pray here,” Toshihiro Mutsuda said. “Today her wish finally came true, and she was able to be reunited.”
Keeping the flag on his lap, he said, “I feel the weight of the flag.”
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.kob.com/news/us-and-world-news/its-a-miracle-say-family-of-japanese-soldier-killed-in-wwii-as-flag-he-carried-returns-from-us/ | 2023-07-29T13:59:41 | 0 | https://www.kob.com/news/us-and-world-news/its-a-miracle-say-family-of-japanese-soldier-killed-in-wwii-as-flag-he-carried-returns-from-us/ |
This week's show was recorded at the Studebaker Theater in Chicago, with guest host Karen Chee, official judge and scorekeeper Bill Kurtis, Not My Job guest Randall Park and panelists Tom Bodett, Zainab Johnson and Josh Gondelman. Click the audio link above to hear the whole show.
Who's Bill This Time
ET Phone Washington; Twitter Exec X's Out Twitter; A Fun New Excuse
Panel Questions
You Can Leave Your Hat On, But Take These Off
Bluff The Listener
Our panelists read three stories about someone taking a bold stand, only one of which is true.
Not My Job: We ask Randall Park, the person, about Randall Park, the mall
For some, being a triple-threat actor/writer/comedian is enough, but not for Randall Park, who decided to add "director" to the list with his debut Shortcomings. He may be the most famous person named Randall Park, but can he answer our questions about the most famous abandoned mall named Randall Park?
Panel Questions
What is Phubbing; A Jobs Trend for People Who Hate Jobs; The Enterprise Ensuite
Limericks
Bill Kurtis reads three news-related limericks: A Rocky Road for Cookies; A Robot Feels the Heat; Candy that Pairs Well With Hot Dogs
Lightning Fill In The Blank
All the news we couldn't fit anywhere else
Predictions
Our panelists predict what will be the big revelation at the next UFO hearing.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.iowapublicradio.org/2023-07-29/wait-wait-for-july-29-2023-with-not-my-job-guest-randall-park | 2023-07-29T13:59:42 | 1 | https://www.iowapublicradio.org/2023-07-29/wait-wait-for-july-29-2023-with-not-my-job-guest-randall-park |
PHOENIX — A backup driver of an autonomous car pleaded guilty to endangerment Friday in Maricopa County, Arizona after a pedestrian was killed in 2018.
The crash occurred in March 2018 in Tempe, Arizona between a self-driving car and a pedestrian named Elaine Herzberg, according to KSAZ. Herzberg was walking a bike outside the crosswalk lines when she was struck and killed.
The crash became the first deadly crash involving a self-driving vehicle, according to The Associated Press.
Rafaela Vasquez, 49, the backup driver for the self-driving Uber car pleaded guilty Friday to endangerment, the AP reported. Vasquez was sentenced to three years of supervised probation by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge David Garbarino who accepted Vasquez’s plea deal.
Vasquez was charged with negligent homicide which is a felony, the AP reported. Since she pleaded guilty to “an undesignated felony,” that meant her charge was reclassified to a misdemeanor.
Vasquez reportedly told police that Herzberg “came out of nowhere,” according to the AP. She said she didn’t see her before the crash happened.
Prosecutors claimed that Vasquez was watching a TV show on her phone at the time, KSAZ reported. Video showed Vasquez looking down just before the crash happened.
Vasquez’s attorney claimed that she was looking at a messaging activity which is something employees of Uber use on her work phone, the news outlet reported. They said that she was streaming a show on her personal phone which was in the passenger seat.
“The defendant had one job and one job only,” prosecutor Tiffany Brady told the judge, according to the AP. “And that was to keep her eyes in the road.”
Prosecutors did not file charges against Uber related to the crash following the National Transporation Safety Board’s investigation that found that the cause of the crash was Vasquez’s “failure to monitor the road,” KSAZ reported.
The deadly crash in 2018 was not the first crash involving a self-driving Uber vehicle. An Uber SUV flipped in March 2017 in Tempe as well but there were no injuries, the news outlet reported. The driver of the other car however was cited for some kind of violation.
“The defendant in this matter was responsible for the operation of a vehicle on our city streets that ended with a woman being killed,” Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in a news release. “Determining an appropriate plea in this case involved considering a multitude of factors. We believe the Judge ordered an appropriate sentence based on the mitigating and aggravating factors.”
“Getting behind the wheel of a car is a serious responsibility. Regardless of whatever technology might be available to drivers, safety for everyone on the street and in the vehicle must always be a driver’s first priority,” Mitchell continued. | https://www.star945.com/news/trending/backup-uber-driver-self-driving-car-that-killed-pedestrian-2018-pleads-guilty-endangerment/Y5U3FKI2RRHKHOKML4NW2IWXW4/ | 2023-07-29T13:59:44 | 1 | https://www.star945.com/news/trending/backup-uber-driver-self-driving-car-that-killed-pedestrian-2018-pleads-guilty-endangerment/Y5U3FKI2RRHKHOKML4NW2IWXW4/ |
Two supermoons in August mean double the stargazing fun
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The cosmos is offering up a double feature in August: a pair of supermoons culminating in a rare blue moon.
Catch the first show Tuesday evening as the full moon rises in the southeast, appearing slightly brighter and bigger than normal. That’s because it will be closer than usual, just 222,159 miles (357,530 kilometers) away, thus the supermoon label.
The moon will be even closer the night of Aug. 30 — a scant 222,043 miles (357,344 kilometers) distant. Because it’s the second full moon in the same month, it will be what’s called a blue moon.
“Warm summer nights are the ideal time to watch the full moon rise in the eastern sky within minutes of sunset. And it happens twice in August,” said retired NASA astrophysicist Fred Espenak, dubbed Mr. Eclipse for his eclipse-chasing expertise.
The last time two full supermoons graced the sky in the same month was in 2018. It won’t happen again until 2037, according to Italian astronomer Gianluca Masi, founder of the Virtual Telescope Project.
Masi will provide a live webcast of Tuesday evening’s supermoon, as it rises over the Coliseum in Rome.
“My plans are to capture the beauty of this … hopefully bringing the emotion of the show to our viewers,” Masi said in an email.
“The supermoon offers us a great opportunity to look up and discover the sky,” he added.
This year’s first supermoon was in July. The fourth and last will be in September. The two in August will be closer than either of those.
Provided clear skies, binoculars or backyard telescopes can enhance the experience, Espenak said, revealing such features as lunar maria — the dark plains formed by ancient volcanic lava flows — and rays emanating from lunar craters.
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the August full moon is traditionally known as the sturgeon moon. That’s because of the abundance of that fish in the Great Lakes in August, hundreds of years ago.
___
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.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.kob.com/news/us-and-world-news/two-supermoons-in-august-mean-double-the-stargazing-fun/ | 2023-07-29T13:59:47 | 0 | https://www.kob.com/news/us-and-world-news/two-supermoons-in-august-mean-double-the-stargazing-fun/ |
Gene X Hwang knew his days on Twitter as @x were numbered.
"Elon had been kind of tweeting about X previously," Hwang said. "So I kind of knew, you know, I had an inkling that this was going to happen. I didn't really know when."
Since 2007, Hwang's username on the site was @x — but after Elon Musk renamed the social media platform to X earlier this week, it was only a matter of time before the company commandeered the handle.
The news came shortly after Hwang had competed in a pinball tournament in Canada.
"So when I landed and fired up my phone, I just got all these messages and I was like: 'What is what is going on?' "
Hwang received an email from the company explaining that his account data would be preserved, and he'd get a new handle. It offered Hwang merchandise, a tour of its offices and a meeting with company management as compensation.
Hwang's account is one of the latest casualties in the chaos following Musk's takeover of the social media company. On Monday, Twitter's iconic blue bird logo was replaced with the letter "X."
Our headquarters tonight pic.twitter.com/GO6yY8R7fO
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 24, 2023
The rebrand is the company's next step in creating what Musk has called "the everything app." Musk and CEO Linda Yaccarino envision the platform becoming a U.S. parallel to WeChat — a hub for communication, banking and commerce that's become a part of everyday life in China.
X is the future state of unlimited interactivity – centered in audio, video, messaging, payments/banking – creating a global marketplace for ideas, goods, services, and opportunities. Powered by AI, X will connect us all in ways we’re just beginning to imagine.
— Linda Yaccarino (@lindayacc) July 23, 2023
But experts are skeptical X will be able to become an "everything app."
"I'm not sure he has enough trust from his user base to get people to actually exchange money or attach any type of financial institution to his app," Jennifer Grygiel, a professor at Syracuse University, told NPR.
Hwang is among those who have been looking for Twitter alternatives.
"I've been checking out, you know, other options like Threads and Mastodon and Bluesky," he said. "I'm still on Twitter for now, but ... it's changed a lot. So we'll see how much longer I'm on there."
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.iowapublicradio.org/news-from-npr/2023-07-29/after-rebranding-x-took-x-from-its-original-twitter-owner-and-offered-him-merch | 2023-07-29T13:59:48 | 1 | https://www.iowapublicradio.org/news-from-npr/2023-07-29/after-rebranding-x-took-x-from-its-original-twitter-owner-and-offered-him-merch |
Atlanta ‘Cop City’ activists say they’re confident of getting 70K signatures. But big hurdles remain
ATLANTA (AP) — “Excuse me, are you a city of Atlanta voter? Do you know about ‘Cop City?’”
Clipboards in hand, canvassers Sienna Giraldi and Gabriel Sanchez approached shopper after shopper at a Kroger supermarket lot on a recent evening collecting signatures for a referendum over whether to cancel the city’s lease of a proposed police and firefighter training center that’s become a national rallying cry for environmentalists and anti-police protesters.
Most people kept on walking. Others said they weren’t registered to vote or didn’t live within the city limits, both of which are required. Many seemed to have no idea what “Cop City” was and weren’t interested in finding out. The fact that it began raining certainly didn’t help. By the end of a 90-minute shift, 21 people had signed.
“We definitely need to come back here,” Sanchez said. “I was on a roll before the rain started.”
Over the past month, hundreds of people like them — many volunteers, some paid — have spread out across the city of about 500,000, in hopes of persuading more than 70,000 registered voters to sign on to the petition drive. The deadline had been mid-August, but the effort got a boost Thursday when a federal judge extended it to late September, though significant logistical and legal hurdles remain.
Technically, organizers say, they need just 58,203 signatures by Aug. 14 to qualify for the November ballot — the equivalent of 15% of registered voters as of the last city election — but they set the higher goal knowing some will be disqualified. If that’s not reached until late August or September, the referendum wouldn’t happen until March, when a competitive GOP presidential primary could turn out conservative voters and hurt its chances. The city also could move forward with construction in the meantime, unless a judge intervenes.
As of July 25, the drive had collected more than 30,000 signatures, according to Paul Glaze, a spokesperson for the Vote to Stop Cop City Coalition. And with the paid canvassing effort still ramping up, he expects the pace to pick up significantly.
“We’re confident of hitting our number,” Glaze said. “How much extra padding we’re able to get is still a question. … Our experience is that when you talk about this with people, when they hear the price tag, when you ask them if they would choose this or something else to spend the money on, the vast majority are against it.”
Organizers of the drive say Mayor Andre Dickens and the City Council have failed to listen to a groundswell of opposition to the $90 million, 85-acre (34-hectare) training center, which they fear will lead to greater militarization of the police and exacerbate environmental damage in the South River Forest in a poor, predominantly Black area.
Officials counter that the campus would replace outdated, far-flung facilities and boost police morale, which is beset by hiring and retention struggles, especially in the wake of 2020 protests over racial injustice. Dickens has said that the facility will teach the “most progressive training and curriculum in the country” and that officials have repeatedly revised their plans to address concerns about noise pollution and environmental impact.
In June, after hearing about 14 hours of public testimony that was overwhelmingly against the training center, council members voted 11-4 to approve $67 million toward the project. Outraged but not surprised, organizers of the petition drive announced it the next day.
Outside the Kroger, located in a majority-Black neighborhood a few miles south of a Wendy’s parking lot where officers fatally shot Rayshard Brooks in 2020, Giraldi chatted with Lee Little, a Black construction worker who stopped to talk despite the rain, his hands full of bagged groceries.
Little was working near the proposed training center in March and saw the helicopters and mass of armed officers that descended on the area after about 150 masked activists stormed the site and torched construction equipment. He hadn’t thought about it much since, but he signed the petition after hearing Giraldi’s pitch.
“She was just saying that City Council approved 60-something million dollars without listening to the taxpayers. Does that sound fair to you? That should be for the voters to decide,” Little said afterward.
Another who signed was Makela Atchison, who was wearing a “Black Voters Matter” T-shirt as she left the store with her two children.
“I’m not saying I’m for it or against it,” Atchison said, “but I want to be able to have my input.”
The signature drive is the most ambitious in terms of numbers that has ever been launched in a Georgia city, but it has precedent from last year in Camden County, where voters overwhelmingly rejected a planned launchpad for blasting commercial rockets into space. The Georgia Supreme Court in February unanimously upheld the legality of that referendum, though it remains an open question whether citizens can veto decisions of city governments.
In a recent court filing seeking to quash the Atlanta referendum, attorneys for the city said residents can’t force officials to retroactively revoke the lease agreement, which was made in 2021. They called organizers’ efforts “futile” and “invalid.” The state agreed with the city in a separate filing, though that dispute is on hold for now.
Still, activists see the referendum as the best remaining option to block the project. They’ve gotten support from numerous groups, including the Working Families Party and the New Georgia Project Action Fund, which pledged to get 15,000 signatures over the next few weeks.
Activist Hannah Riley tries to collect a handful of them whenever she is out in public, including on a recent afternoon as she worked remotely from Muchacho, a popular taco restaurant in the ultra-liberal Reynoldstown neighborhood. At the end of her table, she taped a sign that read: “Voter? Sign Stop Cop City Petition Here.”
“This is a bit of a Hail Mary, but it’s a Hail Mary that makes a lot of sense,” Riley said. “They’ve begun to clear-cut the trees. They’re getting close to pouring concrete. … Our options are quite limited right now, so this does feel like the most practical, effective next step.”
At the same time, a small number of activists have continued taking a more violent tack, including torching eight police motorcycles over the Fourth of July weekend, actions that canvass organizers have not condemned.
Curtis Duncan, 40, said the first day he went out canvassing, a man approached and accused him of being one of the vandals.
“I said, ‘Well, sir, respectfully, I wasn’t burning cars, and the majority of people within this movement have not been engaging in any type of violent actions,’” Duncan said. He added that troopers fatally shot an activist in the forest and that authorities have brought dozens of “very flimsy” domestic terrorism charges against “Stop Cop City” protesters this year — actions he considers far worse.
Sanchez, who works for a voting rights nonprofit, said that even if the signature drive falls short, it will have made an important impact.
“I feel like we’ve exhausted all the other options, aside from full-on revolution, which I don’t think we need for this,” he said. “There’s a lot of obstacles in our way. … If we only get to 50,000, I think that still shows a real warning sign for these politicians for the 2025 election.”
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.kob.com/politics-news/atlanta-cop-city-activists-say-theyre-confident-of-getting-70k-signatures-but-big-hurdles-remain/ | 2023-07-29T13:59:53 | 0 | https://www.kob.com/politics-news/atlanta-cop-city-activists-say-theyre-confident-of-getting-70k-signatures-but-big-hurdles-remain/ |
(NEXSTAR) – The current Mega Millions jackpot is now tied for the fourth-largest in the game’s history after yet another drawing produced no grand-prize winners.
Friday’s winning numbers — 5, 10, 28, 52, 63, and Mega Ball 18 — went unmatched, continuing a 29-drawing trend that began after the last jackpot-winner was announced on April 18.
The current jackpot now stands at an estimated $1.05 billion, with a cash option of $527.9 million. That amount officially qualifies as the fourth-largest grand prize in Mega Millions history, tied with a jackpot awarded in Jan. 2021.
The current jackpot has steadily grown since April, after a ticketholder in New York matched all six numbers to win a $20-million prize. (The previous jackpot, awarded days before on April 14, was worth $483 million.) A total of 46 players, meanwhile, have won second-tier prizes worth $1 million or more since the last jackpot was won, the Mega Millions lottery confirmed in a press release.
Friday night’s drawing produced five of those second-tier winners, including one each in Arizona, California and New York, and two in Pennsylvania. One of the winning ticketholders in Pennsylvania had also purchased the Megaplier option (which multiplied Friday’s winnings by five times), making that ticket worth $5 million.
“In the current Mega Millions matrix and Megaplier configuration, which has been in place since October 28, 2017, there has never been a Megaplier of 5x drawn at this extraordinary jackpot level,” reads a portion of the Mega Millions press release. “That means a lot of prizes in other tiers have been multiplied by a factor of five!”
The next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 1. | https://www.kxnet.com/news/national-news/mega-millions-jackpot-exceeds-1-billion-now-4th-largest-in-games-history/ | 2023-07-29T14:00:37 | 1 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/national-news/mega-millions-jackpot-exceeds-1-billion-now-4th-largest-in-games-history/ |
‘Walk & Roll’ in Ripon to raise funds for all-inclusive playground at Riggs County Park, and more news in weekly dose
Here's your weekly dose of community news from throughout Fond du Lac County.
FOND DU LAC - Ripon Noon Kiwanis will present the “Walk & Roll” event Aug. 5 in downtown Ripon. The event is a fundraiser to build an all-inclusive playground at Riggs County Park. The club previously funded a splashpad at the park and this playground will be next to it.
All ages and abilities are welcome to walk, bike, ride in their wheelchair or scooter or push a stroller. Along the course will be information about the new playground.
Test your wheeling ability on the Rolling Skills Challenge Course whether you are on a bike, scooter, skates or wheelchair.
The fundraiser begins at 9 a.m. at Village Green Park, 114 Scott St. There is no registration fee, but donations are welcome.
For more information, email riponnoonkiwanis@gmail.com or visit riponnoonkiwanis.org/all-inclusive-playground. Donations can be made online as well.
Hospital wins award:Fond du Lac hospital awarded for stroke care, presentation on election reform set, and more news in weekly dose
Welcome to your weekly dose. Here is more news from throughout Fond du Lac County.
Sale to raise funds for SSM Health Volunteers
A Collective Goods sale, hosted by SSM Health Fond du Lac Volunteers, will run Aug. 1-4 in the SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital lobby concourse, 430 E. Division St., Fond du Lac.
Sale hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 1-3 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 4.
Hardcover books available for purchase include bestsellers, children’s, reference, hobby, nature and wildlife and sports, along with special gift items.
Proceeds benefit patient programs and services, as well as the scholarship fund sponsored by the SSM Health Fond du Lac Volunteers.
For more information, call 920-926-4895.
Walk with Audubon Society members around the county
Fond du Lac Audubon Society members will lead walks at various locations in Fond du Lac County. Walks begin at 6:30 p.m. Participants should wear proper shoes and take insect repellent and binoculars. Walks will be canceled when rain is steady.
Aug. 1, explore the Gottfried Prairie & Arboretum with Margie Winter. There are 37.5 acres of native prairie that feature 55 kinds of native wildflowers and six species of grass. The 3.5-acre formal arboretum includes 250 native trees and 140 native shrubs. Meet in the east parking lot at the UW campus, 400 University Drive.
Hike along the dike through Eldorado Marsh Aug. 8 with Lori Amend. Meet in the parking lot at the end of Dike Road on the east side of Eldorado Marsh.
For more about the summer walks, contact dianahbeck@gmail.com or 920-922-7931.
Red Cross blood drives will boost local supply
The American Red Cross continues to see a drop in available blood supply as donations are being sent to hospitals faster than they are coming in.
A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required. Individuals who are 17 years, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in general good health may be eligible to donate blood.
Local upcoming blood drives include the following:
- Aug. 2: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ripon High School, 850 Tiger Drive; and
- Aug. 4: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., North Fond du lac Community Center, 280 Garfield St.
To make an appointment, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information.
What do you think, Fond du Lac?:Does Fond du Lac have too many pizza places or Kwik Trips? We compared the numbers to nearby cities.
Fond du Lac library hosts craft swap, Bad Art Night
The Fond du Lac Public Library will host a craft swap in August. To participate, drop off unwanted craft supplies now through Aug. 4 at the library’s help desk.
From noon to 3 p.m. Aug. 6, participants can pick up new-to-you supplies. There is no charge or registration required.
Another crafting opportunity will be Bad Art Night at 6 p.m. Aug. 7. All supplies will be provided to create a Rock Paper Holder. Registration is required at calendar.fdlpl.org.
To promote summer reading, library staff — along with Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts and the Friends of Lakeside Park — will attend a gathering for the newly renovated lighthouse at Lakeside Park. The reintroduction to the local landmark will be at 11 a.m. Aug. 2. Visitors can drop in for a story, learn some history and take part in an art activity.
Upcoming activities for young children and their caregivers include cardboard cars and family bingo. Preschoolers may create cardboard cars and watch a short movie at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 3. All supplies are provided. Family bingo will be at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 4. Registration is not required for either of these programs.
Democrats' summer potluck is Aug. 6 in Fond du Lac
Fond du Lac County Democrats will host the annual Summer Potluck from noon to 3 p.m. Aug. 6. The event will be at the American Legion, 500 Fond du Lac Ave.
Free brats and hamburgers will be available. A $5 donation per person would be accepted. Those attending should take a dish to pass.
The program speaker is John Nichols, associate editor of Capital Times and correspondent for The Nation. There will be other speakers, a 50/50 raffle and more.
Members of city council, county board and school board also will be present.
RSVP via email to fdldemsprograms@yahoo.com.
'50s tunes showcased in Ripon theater musical
The Ripon Area Community Theatre will present the musical “A-Wop Bop A-Loo Bop” by Mark Brymer and John Jacobson Aug. 11-13.
As rock and roll takes the airwaves by storm in the 1950s, teenager Roberta “Ruby” Lester and her friends have dreams of making it big in the music business. But when the local radio station announces that “Rock ‘n' roll has got to go,” the kids take a stand for the music they love.
Show times are 7 p.m. Aug. 11 and 12 and 2 p.m. Aug. 13 at the Ripon High School Auditorium, 850 Tiger Drive.
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at showtix4u.com or at the door. Children 12 and younger are admitted free.
“A-Wop Bop A-Loop Bop” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International. For more information, visit mtishows.com. The Ripon Area Community Theatre is a sponsored program of the Ripon Noon Kiwanis.
Fond du Lac High School Athletic Hall of Fame plans weekend of events
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Fond du Lac High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Since 2009, there have been 98 individual inductees and 13 team inductions. A weekend of events will be held to celebrate this year’s inductees.
The Hall of Fame Football Game will begin at 7 p.m. Aug. 18 at Fruth Field. Fond du Lac High School will face Sussex Hamilton High School.
The 2023 Hall of Fame individual and team inductees will be introduced at halftime. A social at Schmitty’s Oar House will follow the game.
The Hall of Fame banquet will be Aug. 19 at the Knights of Columbus (Avenue 795). A social in the hall begins at 5 p.m. with dinner at 6 p.m.
Rounding out the weekend is a golf outing Aug. 20 at Rolling Meadows. Register for the outing online at rollingmeadowsgolfcourse.com.
Dr. Lo joins SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac
Dr. Horace Lo, a board-certified general surgeon, has joined SSM Health clinic locations in Waupun and Beaver Dam. He is accepting new patients.
Dr. Lo offers a range of surgical services, including advanced laparoscopic procedures, varicose veins and colonoscopies. He specializes in robotic surgery, hiatal hernias and reflux surgeries.
A graduate of the University of Wisconsin Medical School, Dr. Lo completed his general surgery residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals. He is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and a fellow with the American College of Surgeons.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 920-324-6853.
Envision Greater Fond du Lac hires Adams as bookkeeper
Tracy Adams has joined Envision Greater Fond du Lac as a bookkeeper. She will be the primary point of contact for all internal and external accounting needs.
Adams most recently served as an accounts payable specialist with Plyco Corporation in Elkhart Lake. Prior to that, she worked with Tom Kraus Dentistry and the Wisco Hotel Group, both in financial/accounting roles.
For more information, visit envisiongreaterfdl.com.
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Contact Mara Wegner at mwegner@gannett.com or 920-996-7241. | https://www.fdlreporter.com/story/news/local/2023/07/29/ripon-kiwanis-hosts-fundraiser-for-playground-at-riggs-county-park/70465019007/ | 2023-07-29T14:00:37 | 0 | https://www.fdlreporter.com/story/news/local/2023/07/29/ripon-kiwanis-hosts-fundraiser-for-playground-at-riggs-county-park/70465019007/ |
(NEXSTAR) – With heat records already falling this summer, you may be running your ceiling fan nearly non-stop, but did you know you may not be as cool as you could be?
If you’ve ever taken a close look at the fan, you may have noticed a small switch located on the side of the fan base. The switch, which is found on nearly every fan, can change the direction the fan spins.
Using that switch according to the season will not only keep you more comfortable, but it can also help you save money.
In the summer, make sure that your fan is going in a counterclockwise direction, which forces cool air directly downward and creates a “wind chill effect,” according to Home Depot. In the winter, you can switch it up so the fan rotates clockwise at a low speed, circulating the warm air that gets trapped near the ceiling.
If you have ceiling fans as well as air conditioning, using the fan correctly will allow you to raise the thermostat by roughly 4 degrees Fahrenheit and still feel just as comfortable, according to the Department of Energy. In moderately hot weather, you may even be able to turn off the AC. The DOE reminds people to turn off fans in unoccupied rooms.
According to Energy Star, if you raise your thermostat by just two degrees and use your ceiling fan, you can lower the cost of air conditioning by up to 14%.
If you’re in the market for a ceiling fan, larger fan blades will move more air than smaller ones, but you have to make sure it’s an appropriate size for the space.
The Department of Energy recommends blades be 7 to 9 feet above the floor and 10 to 12 inches away from the ceiling. The blades should be no closer than 8 inches from the ceiling and 18 inches from any walls. | https://www.kxnet.com/news/national-news/overlooked-ceiling-fan-switch-could-make-you-cooler-this-summer/ | 2023-07-29T14:00:43 | 1 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/national-news/overlooked-ceiling-fan-switch-could-make-you-cooler-this-summer/ |
The Mega Millions jackpot climbed to an estimated $1.05 billion Friday night, only the fifth time in the history of the game that the grand prize has reached into the billions.
No one managed to beat the massive odds and match all six numbers for Friday's estimated $940 million jackpot. The numbers drawn were: 5, 10, 28, 52, 63 and the gold ball 18.
There have been 29 straight draws without a Mega Millions jackpot winner since the last grand prize ticket on April 18.
The $1.05 billion prize up for grabs in the next drawing Tuesday night would be for a sole winner choosing to be paid through an annuity, with annual payments over 30 years. Jackpot winners almost always opt for a lump sum payment, which for Tuesday's drawing would be an estimated $527.9 million.
The potential jackpot is the fourth-largest in the game and the fifth over $1 billion, Mega Millions said in a statement early Saturday.
Although there were no jackpot winners, one ticket in Pennsylvania was worth $5 million and another in the state connected for $1 million. There also were $1 million winners in Arizona, California and New York, Mega Millions said.
It has been less than two weeks since someone in Los Angeles won a $1.08 billion Powerball prize that ranked as the sixth-largest in U.S. history. The winner of the prize is still a mystery.
Lottery jackpots grow so large because the odds of winning are so small. For Mega Millions, the odds of winning the jackpot are about 1 in 302.6 million.
Winners also would be subject to federal taxes, and many states also tax lottery winnings.
Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. | https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/jul/29/mega-millions-jackpot-climbs-to-105b-after-another-drawing-without-a-big-winner/ | 2023-07-29T14:00:45 | 0 | https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/jul/29/mega-millions-jackpot-climbs-to-105b-after-another-drawing-without-a-big-winner/ |
(The Conversation) – Like any millennial pop music fan active on social media, I’ve been following Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour – the surprise songs, the scramble to get tickets, her brief romance with that guy from The 1975 with a history of racist comments.
But as a political scientist, I was intrigued by something else: reaction to the tour by government officials. New Jersey renamed the state’s famed Taylor ham, egg and cheese in her honor – it’s now the “Taylor Swift Ham, Egg, and Cheese” official state sandwich.
Pittsburgh’s mayor briefly renamed the city “Swiftsburgh” when her tour hit town.
And in my neck of the woods, Swift Street in North Kansas City was temporarily rebranded “Swift Street (Taylor’s Version).”
Local or state governments have lauded Swift in some way at virtually every stop on her tour. While these honors make for great photo opportunities for Swifties, the politics of these moves is worth examining. Do politicians have something to gain in appealing to Swift’s fans?
Celebrities can help politicians
Unlike many celebrities, Swift does not involve herself much in politics. One particular tool of politicians looking to boost their numbers is to get celebrity endorsements. But Swift’s use of endorsements has been limited, save for backing two Democrats in her adopted home state of Tennessee: Phil Bredesen in his Senate race and U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper in his 2018 reelection campaign. Swift also endorsed Joe Biden in 2020.
Bredesen’s peak in Google search interest from 2010 to the present coincided with Swift’s endorsement in October 2018. Cooper saw more Google search traffic with Swift’s endorsement than at any point since his vote for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in March 2010.
While the specific impact of Swift’s endorsements is difficult to assess, an Emerson College poll of Tennesseans in 2018 found that 11.7% of those surveyed said Swift’s endorsement would make them more likely to support Bredesen – a number unlikely to make a difference in a race Bredesen lost by nearly 11 points despite Swift’s support. Cooper easily won reelection in his heavily Democratic Nashville-based district.
Although Swift’s endorsements likely did not sway these particular races, celebrity endorsements can matter in close races, particularly when the celebrity making the endorsement is viewed favorably – a likely scenario in Swift’s case.
Fawning = attention
A slight majority of Americans consider themselves at least something of a fan of Swift’s music – that includes me – and a June 2023 Echelon Insights poll showed 50% of likely voters view Swift at least somewhat favorably. This is a higher favorability rating than Joe Biden, Donald Trump and both major political parties.
We’re not talking about endorsements here, though – we’re talking about politicians aligning themselves with Swift with no reciprocity. One clear benefit to public officials fawning over Swift? Attention – not unlike that seen for Bredesen and Cooper in 2018.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s tweet declaring the “Taylor Swift ham, egg, and cheese” garnered 5,700 likes; his next unrelated tweet had fewer than 100.
A cursory analysis of social media data seems to support the idea that the use of Swift’s name in honorary government actions produces a result similar to that of Swift’s endorsements: it drives engagement. Murphy’s Instagram post lauding Swift garnered the most likes on any post of his in 2023, with the exception of an early June post on the state’s air-quality crisis.
OK, so politicians need publicity, and they can use Taylor Swift’s name to get it. But what about Swifties as a voting bloc?
The idea that Swifties might be a key demographic in future elections is not far-fetched given their location and age. A majority of Swift’s fans live in the suburbs, the swing territory of American politics. Further, most are Gen Zers or Millennials. These groups encompass an increasing share of the electorate with each passing year – up to 31% in 2020. Swift’s favorability among those ages 18 to 29 stands at 72%, and by one poll’s estimate, 21% in that age cohort say they would vote for Swift over Trump and Biden.
Taylor Swift Post Office?
World leaders from numerous countries have taken to social media to ask Swift to bring her tour to their countries. There’s an economic angle to this, of course, as a Swift tour stop can generate huge sums in consumer spending. In the U.S., however, the honorifics bestowed upon Swift have come since her tour dates were confirmed.
There is a question of whether these Swift-adjacent stunts boil down to campaigning thinly disguised as official government action. This is perhaps best demonstrated in Canada, where a member of Parliament filed a parliamentary grievance over the singer’s lack of Canadian tour dates.
Such behavior is perhaps analogous to, on a larger scale, the renaming of post offices in the U.S. Congress. While generally innocuous and locally meaningful, these moves still require government resources and staffers to put their attention toward them as opposed to substantive policy matters.
Taylor Swift is an enormously popular figure, particularly among demographic groups that will be increasingly important in future American elections. In close races, voices such as Swift’s could prove critical – not necessarily because she influences how fans vote, but because her voice provides attention and credibility to candidates. | https://www.kxnet.com/news/national-news/the-taylor-swift-official-state-sandwich-politicians-understand-swifties-are-a-key-demographic/ | 2023-07-29T14:00:49 | 1 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/national-news/the-taylor-swift-official-state-sandwich-politicians-understand-swifties-are-a-key-demographic/ |
The North Little Rock Police Department is investigating a shooting that killed a male victim early Saturday morning, a news release from the department said.
Officers responded to a call about shots fired in the 1200 block of Graham Avenue just after 2 a.m. They found one victim “lying in a residence, suffering from at least one gunshot wound,” the release said Saturday morning.
He was taken to a local hospital where he later died, authorities said.
The identity of the victim was not immediately released, pending the notification of the next-of-kin, the release said.
“Detectives are currently processing the scene for evidence and conducting interviews,” the release said.
Police have asked that anyone with information about the fatal shooting contact the North Little Rock Police Department Tip Line by calling (501) 680-8439 or Detective Michael Gibbons at (501) 771-7149. | https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/jul/29/north-little-rock-police-investigating-graham-avenue-fatal-shooting-early-saturday/ | 2023-07-29T14:00:51 | 0 | https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/jul/29/north-little-rock-police-investigating-graham-avenue-fatal-shooting-early-saturday/ |
Katie Ledecky passes Michael Phelps for most individual golds at world championships
FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) — Katie Ledecky added to her legacy as the greatest female swimmer in history when she won the 800-meter freestyle on Saturday at the World Aquatics Championships, establishing two more notable records with the triumph.
The victory by the 26-year-old Ledecky made her the first swimmer ever to win the same event six times at the world championships and also marked her 16th individual world title, breaking a tie with Michael Phelps for the most individual golds ever at the worlds.
Ledecky, who had the 30 top times ever in the 800 entering the race, led all the way, dominating her competitors and winning in a time of 8 minutes, 8.87 seconds.
The gold in the 800 was Ledecky’s second individual gold of these championships following her win in the 1,500 free on Tuesday. She also took silver in the 400 free here.
Li Bingjie of China claimed the silver in 8:13.31, with Ariarne Titmus of Australia took the bronze in 8:13.59.
Kaylee McKeown of Australia made some history of her own with her gold in the women’s 200 backstroke. McKeown’s victory gave her a sweep of all three backstroke events here, after her earlier wins in the 50 and 100. She became the first swimmer ever to sweep all three backstrokes at the worlds.
McKeown took the lead at the final turn and steamed home in 2:03.85. She joined Leon Marchand of France and Qin Haiyang of China as swimmers who swept all three events in the same discipline at these worlds.
Regan Smith of the United States picked up the silver in 2:04.94, while Peng Xuwei of China got the bronze in 2:06.74.
Sarah Sjoestroem of Sweden continued her dominance with gold in the women’s 50-meter butterfly. The 29-year-old won in 24.77 and has now won the event five consecutive times at the worlds. The win brought Sjoestroem’s total number of individual medals at worlds to 20, equaling Phelps’ mark.
Zhang Yufei of China, who took gold in the 100 fly here, claimed the silver in 25.05, while American Gretchen Walsh got the bronze in 25.46.
Fan favorite Rikako Ikee of Japan finished seventh (25.78), but was greeted warmly by the home crowd. The 23-year-old Ikee won six gold medals at the 2018 Asian Games, but was diagnosed with leukemia in February of 2019. Her comeback continues to resonate with both the Japanese public and her fellow competitors.
Cameron McEvoy of Australia led all the way to capture the gold in the men’s 50-meter free in 21.06. American Jack Alexy collected his second silver of the worlds in 21.57 to go with his silver in the 100 free. Benjamin Proud of Britian, last year’s world champion, took the bronze in 21.58.
Maxime Grousset of France won gold in the men’s 100 fly in 50.14. The 24-year-old took the early lead and held on for the victory. Josh Liendo of Canada earned the silver in 50.34, while American Dare Rose made the podium with the bronze (50.46).
Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania equaled the world record of 29.30 in her semifinal in the women’s 50 breaststroke.
Australia won gold in the 4x100 mixed freestyle relay in a world-record time of 3:18.83. The U.S. took the silver in 3:20.82, with Britain getting the bronze in 3:21.68.
___
AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbay.com/2023/07/29/katie-ledecky-passes-michael-phelps-most-individual-golds-world-championships/ | 2023-07-29T14:01:35 | 0 | https://www.wbay.com/2023/07/29/katie-ledecky-passes-michael-phelps-most-individual-golds-world-championships/ |
(The Center Square) – It’s not easy being green when it comes to recycling electronic devices in the state of Pennsylvania and one lawmaker wants to change that.
Difficulty in finding information on drop-off locations, inconvenient or limited schedules, and additional fees may all contribute to improper disposal of devices. A proposed bill by Rep. Lisa Borowski, D-Newtown Square, would update the state’s Covered Device Recycling Act to create solutions for those seeking to responsibly dispose of their unwanted electronic waste.
The CDRA – passed by the General Assembly in 2010 – requires manufacturers of covered devices to offer collection opportunities at no cost to consumers. However, Borowski says the system has failed to keep pace with the demand.
She said the existing program inhibits many Pennsylvanians from disposing of their electronics properly and has resulted in the accumulation of unusable electronic devices within households across the state.
Residents and businesses are prohibited from placing these devices in the regular trash, but they end up being improperly disposed of in landfills, or illegally dumped – creating potential health and environmental hazards and neighborhood blight.
“Currently there are no statewide standards for the responsible disposal of electronics, just a patchwork of county and local government options that leave individuals to sort it out on their own,” Borowski told The Center Square.
She said as a former township commissioner, she knows all too well the confusion, inconvenience, and costs this creates.
“My bill will simply require a nominal deposit at the time of purchase, guaranteeing the ability of folks to have these items disposed of properly, at their convenience, at no further cost,” Borowski said.
Borowski’s bill would allow counties throughout the state to participate in a collaborative, self-sustaining system comprised of the manufacturing, recycling, and retail industries, as well as local government and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, giving residents “access to convenient collection sites at no cost to themselves or their municipalities.”
Currently, manufacturers of covered devices are required to provide recycling at no cost to consumers, but the amount they are required to collect is based on the weight of devices sold two years prior to the year for which the weight is being reported.
Newer electronics are lighter, so the weight requirements decrease every year. This creates a problem when older, heavier items are recycled, and manufacturers can suspend their programs when the limit is reached.
In 2021, the Pennsylvania DEP presented a white paper to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee citing a need for better electronics recycling and suggesting ways the state can provide the greatest benefit to residents and the environment.
They recommend manufacturer programs be shifted from weight-based to a return or market share system that does not come from taxes or fees on consumers or local governments, and that enforcement authority could be improved by creating more explicit standards for compliance.
In addition, the report states they do not believe the DEP should play a role in overseeing contracts involving the coordination of 67 counties and thousands of local governments. While there is logic in central management, it would require a significant increase in staff and a transformation of its role and workload.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, consumer electronics may contain hazardous materials such as lead, cadmium, and mercury. For every million cell phones recycled, 35,000 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium can be recovered.
“These items cannot just be tossed in the trash. They must be safely handled. We all pay for it in some form or fashion now,” Bowowski said. “Structuring and streamlining this will result in a simpler and less costly process. Simply put, we need to make it easier for people to recycle electronics. This bill gets us there.” | https://www.mcall.com/2023/07/29/its-not-easy-being-electronically-green-in-pennsylvania-will-a-state-bill-make-it-easier-to-recycle/ | 2023-07-29T14:01:42 | 1 | https://www.mcall.com/2023/07/29/its-not-easy-being-electronically-green-in-pennsylvania-will-a-state-bill-make-it-easier-to-recycle/ |
Top Player Prop Bets for Marlins vs. Tigers on July 29, 2023
The Miami Marlins host the Detroit Tigers at LoanDepot park on Saturday at 4:10 PM ET. Those looking to place a player prop wager can find odds for Luis Arraez, Spencer Torkelson and others in this game.
Bet on this matchup or its props with BetMGM!
Marlins vs. Tigers Game Info
- When: Saturday, July 29, 2023 at 4:10 PM ET
- Where: LoanDepot park in Miami, Florida
- How to Watch on TV: Fox Sports 1
- Live Stream: Watch the MLB on Fubo!
Discover More About This Game
MLB Props Today: Miami Marlins
Johnny Cueto Props
- Strikeouts Prop: Over/Under 4.5 (Over Odds: -145)
Cueto Stats
- The Marlins will send Johnny Cueto to the mound for his third start of the season.
Cueto Recent Games
Check out the latest odds and place your bets on any of Johnny Cueto's player props with BetMGM.
Luis Arraez Props
- Hits Prop: Over/Under 1.5 (Over Odds: +145)
- Runs Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +115)
- Home Runs Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +1100)
- RBI Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +195)
Arraez Stats
- Arraez has 24 doubles, two triples, three home runs, 30 walks and 51 RBI (144 total hits). He has stolen one base.
- He has a .380/.428/.478 slash line so far this year.
- Arraez has picked up at least one hit in two straight games. In his last five games he is batting .500 with four doubles, a triple, a walk and five RBI.
Arraez Recent Games
Jorge Soler Props
- Hits Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: -233)
- Runs Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: -105)
- Home Runs Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +360)
- RBI Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +165)
Soler Stats
- Jorge Soler has collected 88 hits with 19 doubles, 24 home runs and 47 walks. He has driven in 54 runs with one stolen base.
- He has a .240/.332/.488 slash line on the year.
Soler Recent Games
Bet on player props for Luis Arraez, Jorge Soler or other Marlins players with BetMGM.
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MLB Props Today: Detroit Tigers
Spencer Torkelson Props
- Hits Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: -244)
- Runs Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +115)
- Home Runs Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +390)
- RBI Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +145)
Torkelson Stats
- Torkelson has 90 hits with 23 doubles, a triple, 15 home runs, 43 walks and 58 RBI. He's also stolen two bases.
- He's slashing .232/.311/.412 so far this year.
Torkelson Recent Games
Javier Báez Props
- Hits Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: -227)
- Runs Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +155)
- Home Runs Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +750)
- RBI Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +205)
Báez Stats
- Javier Baez has 86 hits with 12 doubles, four triples, seven home runs, 16 walks and 47 RBI. He's also stolen nine bases.
- He's slashed .225/.263/.332 so far this year.
Báez Recent Games
Bet on player props for Spencer Torkelson, Javier Báez or other Tigers players with BetMGM.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbay.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/marlins-vs-tigers-mlb-player-prop-bets/ | 2023-07-29T14:01:41 | 0 | https://www.wbay.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/marlins-vs-tigers-mlb-player-prop-bets/ |
The Northampton County League of Women Voters — which has long provided nonpartisan information to people ahead of elections, among other services — is likely disbanding.
The decision, local experts and politicians agree, would make it harder for county voters to get information about candidates, particularly in local races.
Margaret Skaarup, the Northampton league president, did not respond to interview requests except to say the group would release “some sort of official announcement” by summer’s end.
However, the league is down to about 10 people, according to Skaarup, and one member says it has struggled to attract new blood, particularly among younger generations.
Leslie Altieri, who has been a member of the Northampton County league since around 2010, said the group has not held any gatherings recently.
“I would like to see the group back together, but I think part of the issue was we needed some younger people involved,” she said.
She recalled one of the last events she attended in April 2021, at ArtsQuest in Bethlehem, during which the Lehigh and Northampton chapters honored two area Democratic lawmakers, state Sen. Lisa Boscola and state Rep. Steve Samuelson, for their work on legislative redistricting. She said as a board member, she would receive information about other events or meetings.
“Unfortunately I haven’t heard anything in a long time,” she said.
Altieri said the league used to participate in the Northampton County naturalization ceremonies for new citizens and hand out voter registration information.
Altieri serves as a Bethlehem Township and state Democratic committeeperson, and as such, declined to become a league officer, though she said she was willing to serve as a co-president with the other president coming from the Republican Party.
Officials with the Lehigh County and state league offices either did not know enough to speak or would not comment publicly about Northampton County’s situation.
If the league does disband, it would be a blow to election efforts, Muhlenberg College political science professor and pollster Christopher Borick said. The chapters in Lehigh and Northampton counties have, among other services to residents, for years produced a Voters Guide published by The Morning Call to help readers learn more about candidates running for government office.
With its years of service regarding elections, the league has been among the “crucial players” in America’s democracy, Borick said. “When they’re not able to survive, it’s a loss to the overall health of the democratic process.”
He said the league is also “an important part of the community discourse on the electoral process.”
Borick, a Northampton County resident, said he relies on the league’s information specifically for local races. This fall, voters will be choosing a district attorney, council members and controller in Northampton County, as well as many school board and municipal races, including in hot spots such as Lower Saucon and Upper Mount Bethel townships.
“As we get down-ballot, to county races, and trying to get information on the candidates that is not produced by their teams, it gets harder,” Borick said. “And having someone do that work for you that you trust is really important.”
Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure also said the league would be missed.
“I am very sad to learn that the League is disbanding,” he said in a statement. “It provided nonpartisan information to the voting public, that in my opinion, was very valuable.”
People have relied on the Voters Guide as a source for information on the candidates, said Matt Munsey, the county Democratic Party chairperson.
“There is nothing partisan [about the guide],” Munsey said. “They present it in the most neutral way possible.”
Munsey and Glenn Geissinger, the county Republican committee chairperson, agreed local voters could have one less source for election information.
“I think people should be concerned because people should stand up and say we want this kind of organization to thrive so democracy can be out in the public, and it can be debated and discussed,” Geissinger said.
But the party chairs differ on the organization’s evolution, with Republicans arguing the league has seemingly helped drive a wedge between the two major parties.
Long history
The League of Women Voters was formed in 1920, less than a year after the 19th Amendment to the Constitution granted women the right to vote. Since then, the organization has been dispensing unbiased information about all things elections and more at the national, state and local levels.
Skaarup was unsure when the Northampton County group began but said it was formed by consolidating leagues from Easton and Bangor.
“Our mission is to empower voters,” said Mary C. Erdman, president of the League’s Lehigh County chapter.
It has focused on voter registration and other things election-related, including candidate forums. It sponsored the first televised debate, in 1960, between John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon.
However, the league has come under fire in recent years for taking strong stances on policies. An August article by ProPublica noted how the national league grew more willing to speak boldly during the Trump era, with some Republicans portraying it as a tool of the radical left.
Erdman said the organization is not always nonpartisan. The state league’s website lists issues, with the group’s positions. Some cover government, such as redistricting legislative districts. The state group also has positions on policies some people have in recent years viewed as liberal, such as climate change and natural resources. Some positions cover social causes: ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment, for instance, and supporting abortion and gun control.
“We don’t advocate against a party or a politician,” Erdman said. “We advocate for policies.”
But Beverly Hernandez, who served the Northampton County league for 12 years as president or vice president, said the group has become left-leaning.
Hernandez, a conservative who is active in other political groups such as the Northampton County Republican Committee, said she kept her conservative politics to herself. But she left the group several years ago because “all their issues fail to have conservative viewpoints, nor are they interested in them.”
Geissinger, the county GOP chair who ran for county council in 2013, recalled how the organization was “geared toward providing a fair and balanced look at the politics in the local area.” In recent years, he said, “It became very one-sided.”
Munsey said the league has taken stances of importance to women in particular, but also to every voter on issues such as voting rights.
Borick said in today’s hyperpartisan political world, organizations such as the league can become embroiled in conflicts or controversy.
“But certainly they’ve worked hard to try and maintain their nonpartisan standing,” he said. “They don’t endorse candidates. They are interested in the democratic process. If they think those processes are being undermined, they engage.”
The future?
A merger of the Lehigh and Northampton County leagues to create a single Lehigh Valley chapter isn’t plausible, Erdman said.
The two leagues did more things together years ago besides the twice-yearly voters guide, including candidate forums, she said. The groups also used to publish government guides, which listed names, salaries, contact information and more for elected officials.
But the Lehigh group is stretched thin with just six board directors, down three board officers, and about 85 members overall, she said.
“We don’t have the bandwidth right now” for a merger, Erdman said. “I am trying really hard to get more members.”
Meghan Pierce, executive director of the Pennsylvania League of Women Voters, said the organization has 31 chapters statewide, including its first student-based group at Penn State University. She said the league saw a surge in membership in 2020 and has about 3,000 participants statewide.
“I think the popularity of the league and the growth of our membership is that people want nonpartisan, fact-based election information,” Pierce said.
Women and men — who have been eligible to join since 1974 — can find out more about the organization at palwv.org/join, she said.
Morning Call reporter Anthony Salamone can be reached at asalamone@mcall.com. | https://www.mcall.com/2023/07/29/league-of-women-voters/ | 2023-07-29T14:01:48 | 0 | https://www.mcall.com/2023/07/29/league-of-women-voters/ |
MLB Games Tonight: How to Watch on TV, Streaming & Odds - Saturday, July 29
In one of the many compelling matchups on the MLB schedule today, the Texas Rangers and the San Diego Padres take the field at PETCO Park.
In terms of live coverage, we have everything you need to know regarding today's MLB action here. Check out the links below.
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How to Watch Today's MLB Games
The Toronto Blue Jays (58-46) play the Los Angeles Angels (54-50)
The Angels will hit the field at Rogers Centre versus the Blue Jays on Saturday at 3:07 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: MLB Network
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 3:07 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- TOR Key Player: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (.270 AVG, 17 HR, 65 RBI)
- LAA Key Player: Shohei Ohtani (.301 AVG, 39 HR, 81 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Miami Marlins (56-48) take on the Detroit Tigers (46-58)
The Tigers will hit the field at LoanDepot park versus the Marlins on Saturday at 4:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: Fox Sports 1
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 4:10 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- MIA Key Player: Luis Arraez (.380 AVG, 3 HR, 51 RBI)
- DET Key Player: Spencer Torkelson (.232 AVG, 15 HR, 58 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
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The Pittsburgh Pirates (45-58) play the Philadelphia Phillies (56-47)
The Phillies will take to the field at PNC Park versus the Pirates on Saturday at 7:05 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: SportsNet PT
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 7:05 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- PIT Key Player: Bryan Reynolds (.256 AVG, 11 HR, 47 RBI)
- PHI Key Player: Bryson Stott (.302 AVG, 9 HR, 37 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Kansas City Royals (30-75) play the Minnesota Twins (54-51)
The Twins will take to the field at Kauffman Stadium against the Royals on Saturday at 7:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- KC Key Player: Bobby Witt Jr. (.257 AVG, 17 HR, 57 RBI)
- MIN Key Player: Carlos Correa (.229 AVG, 12 HR, 45 RBI)
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The Chicago White Sox (42-63) take on the Cleveland Guardians (52-52)
The Guardians hope to get a road victory at Guaranteed Rate Field versus the White Sox on Saturday at 7:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- CHW Key Player: Luis Robert (.267 AVG, 29 HR, 59 RBI)
- CLE Key Player: José Ramírez (.285 AVG, 16 HR, 60 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The New York Mets (49-54) face the Washington Nationals (43-61)
The Nationals will look to pick up a road win at Citi Field against the Mets on Saturday at 7:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- NYM Key Player: Pete Alonso (.220 AVG, 30 HR, 73 RBI)
- WSH Key Player: Lane Thomas (.287 AVG, 16 HR, 54 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The San Francisco Giants (56-48) host the Boston Red Sox (56-47)
The Red Sox will look to pick up a road win at Oracle Park versus the Giants on Saturday at 7:15 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- SF Key Player: LaMonte Wade Jr (.269 AVG, 9 HR, 29 RBI)
- BOS Key Player: Justin Turner (.286 AVG, 16 HR, 66 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The St. Louis Cardinals (46-59) take on the Chicago Cubs (52-51)
The Cubs hope to get a road victory at Busch Stadium against the Cardinals on Saturday at 7:15 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- STL Key Player: Nolan Arenado (.284 AVG, 22 HR, 77 RBI)
- CHC Key Player: Nico Hoerner (.281 AVG, 7 HR, 57 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Houston Astros (58-46) take on the Tampa Bay Rays (63-43)
The Rays will take to the field at Minute Maid Park versus the Astros on Saturday at 7:15 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- HOU Key Player: Kyle Tucker (.304 AVG, 18 HR, 69 RBI)
- TB Key Player: Wander Franco (.264 AVG, 11 HR, 48 RBI)
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The Baltimore Orioles (63-40) play host to the New York Yankees (54-49)
The Yankees will take to the field at Oriole Park at Camden Yards against the Orioles on Saturday at 7:15 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- BAL Key Player: Adley Rutschman (.268 AVG, 14 HR, 46 RBI)
- NYY Key Player: Gleyber Torres (.261 AVG, 16 HR, 43 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Atlanta Braves (65-36) play host to the Milwaukee Brewers (57-47)
The Brewers will hit the field at Truist Park versus the Braves on Saturday at 7:20 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- ATL Key Player: Ronald Acuña Jr. (.329 AVG, 23 HR, 59 RBI)
- MIL Key Player: Christian Yelich (.286 AVG, 15 HR, 58 RBI)
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The Arizona Diamondbacks (55-49) face the Seattle Mariners (53-50)
The Mariners will hit the field at Chase Field against the Diamondbacks on Saturday at 8:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- ARI Key Player: Corbin Carroll (.290 AVG, 21 HR, 57 RBI)
- SEA Key Player: Julio Rodríguez (.252 AVG, 17 HR, 55 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Colorado Rockies (40-63) play host to the Oakland Athletics (29-76)
The Athletics hope to get a road victory at Coors Field versus the Rockies on Saturday at 8:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: SportsNet RM
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 8:10 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- COL Key Player: Ryan McMahon (.254 AVG, 16 HR, 48 RBI)
- OAK Key Player: Tony Kemp (.216 AVG, 3 HR, 20 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The San Diego Padres (50-54) play the Texas Rangers (60-44)
The Rangers hope to get a road victory at PETCO Park versus the Padres on Saturday at 8:40 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- SD Key Player: Juan Soto (.266 AVG, 20 HR, 63 RBI)
- TEX Key Player: Marcus Semien (.277 AVG, 15 HR, 64 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Los Angeles Dodgers (58-44) take on the Cincinnati Reds (57-48)
The Reds will look to pick up a road win at Dodger Stadium versus the Dodgers on Saturday at 9:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: SportsNet LA
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 9:10 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- LAD Key Player: Freddie Freeman (.332 AVG, 21 HR, 73 RBI)
- CIN Key Player: Spencer Steer (.276 AVG, 15 HR, 56 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
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Germany vs. Colombia: Live Stream, TV Channel & Game Info - July 30
Published: Jul. 29, 2023 at 8:37 AM CDT|Updated: 24 minutes ago
Germany will meet Colombia, in the middle round of group-stage matches at the 2023 Women's World Cup, on July 30 at 5:30 AM ET in Sydney, Australia.
This game will be available on Fox Sports 1.
Watch the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup on Fubo! Sign up for a free trial and start watching live sports without cable today!
How to Watch Germany vs. Colombia
- Game Day: Sunday, July 30, 2023
- Game Time: 5:30 AM ET
- TV Channel: Fox Sports 1
- Location: Sydney, Australia
- Venue: Sydney Football Stadium
Sign up for a Fubo free trial now to watch the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and more live sports!
Germany Group Stage Schedule
Germany's Recent Performance
- In its previous match, Germany got a 6-0 victory over Morocco, taking 15 shots and outshooting by 10.
- Germany was led by Alexandra Popp, who scored two of her side's goals versus .
- Popp's Women's World Cup statline through one appearance for Germany includes two goals.
- In one Women's World Cup game so far, Klara Buehl has recorded one goal while adding one assist.
- During Women's World Cup play, Lea Schuller has scored one goal (but has no assists).
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Germany's 2023 Women's World Cup Roster
- Merle Frohms #1
- Chantal Hagel #2
- Kathrin Hendrich #3
- Sophia Kleinherne #4
- Marina Hegering #5
- Lena Oberdorf #6
- Lea Schuller #7
- Sydney Lohmann #8
- Svenja Huth #9
- Laura Freigang #10
- Alexandra Popp #11
- Ann Katrin Berger #12
- Sara Daebritz #13
- Lena Lattwein #14
- Sjoeke Nusken #15
- Nicole Anyomi #16
- Felicitas Rauch #17
- Melanie Leupolz #18
- Klara Buehl #19
- Lina Magull #20
- Stina Johannes #21
- Jule Brand #22
- Sara Doorsoun #23
Colombia Group Stage Schedule
Colombia's Recent Performance
- In its most recent match on July 24, Colombia defeated South Korea 2-0. Colombia outshot South Korea 15 to four.
- Linda Caicedo and Catalina Usme paced Colombia by tallying a goal each. They had one and three shots, respectively.
- Usme has one goal for Colombia in Women's World Cup (one game).
- Caicedo has one goal for Colombia in Women's World Cup.
Colombia's 2023 Women's World Cup Roster
- Catalina Perez #1
- Manuela Vanegas #2
- Daniela Arias #3
- Diana Ospina #4
- Lorena Bedoya #5
- Daniela Montoya #6
- Cami Reyes Calderon #7
- Marcela Restrepo #8
- Mayra Ramirez #9
- Leicy Santos #10
- Catalina Usme #11
- Sandra Sepulveda #12
- Natalia Giraldo Alzate #13
- Angela Daniela Baron #14
- Ana Maria Guzman #15
- Lady Andrade #16
- Caroline Arias #17
- Linda Caicedo #18
- Jorelyn Carabali #19
- Monica Ramos Santana #20
- Ivonne Chacon #21
- Daniela Caracas #22
- Elexa Marie Bahr Gutierrez #23
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbay.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/2023-womens-world-cup-germany-colombia-live-stream-tv/ | 2023-07-29T14:02:05 | 1 | https://www.wbay.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/2023-womens-world-cup-germany-colombia-live-stream-tv/ |
Top concerts playing Phoenix in August: Beyonce, Post Malone, Snoop Dogg, Zach Bryan, NF
Beyonce's Renaissance Tour is on its way to metro Phoenix.
This is arguably the biggest tour to make its way through State Farm Stadium in Glendale since Taylor Swift launched the Eras Tour there with two sold-out performances in March.
Will Glendale rise to occasion and rename itself Renaissance City in time for the show? We'll keep you posted.
In the meantime, here's a look at the best and biggest concerts playing metro Phoenix in August 2023, from Beyonce to arena shows by Rod Stewart, Marco Antonio Solis and Beck on a co-headlining tour with Phoenix (in Phoenix).
You'll also find plenty of outdoor concerts by a wide variety of acts, from Big Time Rush to Post Malone and 50 Cent's the Final Lap Tour, playing Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, and an assortment of smaller shows, including local artists, playing clubs across the Valley.
Weekend plans?Best things to do in Phoenix this weekend: Dinos, lowriders, tats, a freebie for families
Killer Mike and the Midnight Revival
The Run the Jewels rapper is touring the States with a small gospel choir, the Midnight Revival, in support of his first solo album in 11 years, a deeply introspective, gospel-flavored chronicle of his life story from childhood to his current status as a thinking person's hip-hop icon. HipHopDX responded to the album with "In a career that’s stretched more than 20 years, Michael sees Mike as his most honest self, and it’s his most comfortable role yet."
Details: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1. The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix. $30. 866-468-3399, thevanburenphx.com.
Eric Gales
This blues-rock guitar hero sounds like he's channeling Jimi Hendrix in some of the more incendiary leads on last year's "Crown," an album co-produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith. That he does it while reflecting on his struggles with substance abuse, his hopes for a new era of sobriety and the sorry state of race relations in America just makes it that much more compelling.
Details: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. Sold out. 480-478-6000, mim.org.
Remembering Jack Curtis:Why Alice Cooper calls this Phoenix teen-club impresario 'our patron saint'
Blondshell
Blondshell's self-titled debut has landed her on several Best of 2023 (So Far) lists, from Rolling Stone to Nylon, Uproxx and Paste Magazine. And it's easy to hear how that happened. For one, the album rocks with real authority and personality to spare. As NME raved, "Some albums devastate you with subtlety, and others bust your lip — Blondshell’s superb debut album is certainly the latter." This is the alt-rock revival we desperately needed.
Details: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1. Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. $16. valleybarphx.com.
Blood Red Shoes
There's a heavy industrial vibe underscoring the darkness of this British duo's latest album, "Ghosts on Tape," which singer-guitarist Laura-Mary Carter has said was fueled in part by "listening to a lot of murder podcasts." Under the Radar said the album "proves that after nearly two decades in the game Blood Red Shoes remain a dark irresistible force."
Details: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1. Rebel Lounge, 2303 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $18. 602-296-7013, therebellounge.com.
Steve Earle
As a young man, Steve Earle was famously mentored by three songwriting giants — Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark and Jerry Jeff Walker. In 2009, he released a heartfelt tribute album to Van Zandt titled "Townes." A decade later, he turned his attentions to Clark on the equally touching tribute album "Guy." Now, he's touring the States in support of an album titled "Jerry Jeff" honoring Walker, who died in 2021. This is a solo acoustic performance.
Details: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 2. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. Sold out. 480-478-6000, mim.org.
Little Feat
A year after swinging through town on a tour celebrating the 45th anniversary of a live release called "Waiting for Columbus" that remains their most successful album, the Southern rock legends are joined on the Boogie Your Summer Away Tour by the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Little Feat's best-known songs include “Dixie Chicken,” “Sailin’ Shoes," “Feats Don’t Fail Me Now" and "Willin'," a song Linda Ronstadt would go on to cover.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3. Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd St., Phoenix. $45-$120. 602-267-1600, celebritytheatre.com.
'We tried to find the good music':How one woman put KDKB on the map in the '70s
NF
This Christian rapper won a Dove Award for an album called "Therapy Session" before hitting the mainstream with 2017's "Perception," his first of two consecutive releases to hit No. 1 on Billboard's album chart. He arrives in support of "Hope," an album Clash Magazine said is "perhaps his most personal document yet," with special guest Cordae, who also guests on "Hope."
Details: 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4. Desert Diamond Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Ave., Glendale. $39.50 and up. 623-772-3800, desertdiamondarena.com.
Rod Stewart
Stewart is among the more expressive singers in the history of rock. As the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, in which he's been inducted as a solo artist and a member of the Faces, sums it up, "A singer’s singer, Stewart seemed made to inhabit the spotlight." He's joined by Cheap Trick, the Midwest power-pop legends who had to conquer Tokyo, as captured on "At Budokan," before the folks back home could even understand what they'd been missing.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4. Footprint Center, 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix. $35.50 and up. 602-379-7800, ticketmaster.com.
Grupo Frontera and Luis R. Conriquez
These regional Mexican stars are joining forces on the El Comienzo Tour. Grupo Frontera topped the Billboard Latin Songs chart in December with the Fuerza Regida collaboration "Bebé Dame," which also peaked at No. 25 on Billboard's Hot 100, becoming the norteño heroes' first Top 40 hit. An even bigger mainstream breakthrough followed when they teamed up with Bad Bunny on the Top 5 smash "Un x100to."
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5. Desert Diamond Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Ave., Glendale. $59.50 and up. 623-772-3800, desertdiamondarena.com.
Big Time Rush
Big Time Rush became an overnight sensation in 2009 with the launch of the Nickelodeon TV series "Big Time Rush." The show was a huge success that made the members of the made-for-TV band actual pop stars, much like the Monkees before them, as they went on to release three albums and perform across the globe. Last year, they reunited for their first headlining tour in more than a decade. Now they're back on the Can't Get Enough Tour.
Details: 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5. Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix. $29.95 and up. 602-254-7200, livenation.com.
Young the Giant with Milky Chance
California's Young the Giant, led by singer Sameer Gadhia, have sent five singles to the Top 10 on Billboard's alternative songs chart: "My Body," "Cough Syrup," "It's About Time," "Something to Believe In" and "Superposition." They're back in Phoenix on a co-headlining summer tour with Milky Chance in support of "American Bollywood," their first release in four years.
Details: 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5. Arizona Financial Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $43.50 and up. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
The Tubes
The Tubes spent the ’70s touring with strippers and sex toys as part of what Rolling Stone looked back on as “one of the wildest stage shows in the business (verging at times on soft-core pornography).” Then, they invaded the mainstream with "Talk to Ya Later," "Don't Want to Wait Anymore" and "She's a Beauty," a Top 10 smash inspired by singer Fee Waybill's attempt to have an actual conversation with a stripper in a nudie booth. This is their first Valley concert since the death of founding bassist Rick Anderson.
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5. Talking Stick Resort, Loop 101 and Pima Road, Salt River Reservation. $30 and up. 480-850-7734, talkingstickresort.com.
Pijama Piyama
According to the bio on their Bandcamp page, "their music embraces the multicultural nuances of growing up in Phoenix Arizona, influenced by Latin music, jazz, video games, Frank Zappa and the world of psychedelia." I can't say for sure how those video games came in to play, but the rest checks out in the spirited experimental fusion they manage on songs as willfully eccentric yet rhythmically intoxicating as "Cumbia Iluminado" and "Hongo Mofongo."
Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. $12. 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com.
Dominic Fike
Last year was a banner year for Fike. He made his acting debut with a recurring role as Elliott in season 2 of HBO's "Euphoria," for which he cut a hit duet with his co-star Zendaya called "Elliott's Song," and starred in major ad campaigns for Calvin Klein and Saint Laurent. He also played a bunch of festivals last summer. The New Yorker says, "His rise to superstardom has felt like an inevitability." He's touring on his second album, "Sunburn."
Details: 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6. Arizona Financial Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $55 and up. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
The Charles Lewis Quartet
Born in Philadelphia, this local jazz piano legend moved here at 20 to study at Arizona State University. He began performing at the famous 7th Avenue Elks Club jams in 1954 and played in several bands before forming the Charles Lewis Quintet. In 1961, he landed a gig at the Playboy Club in Phoenix and has been performing for audiences ever since. This is part of Crescent Ballroom's afternoon matinee series.
Details: 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $4.85. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
L.S. Dunes
L.S. Dunes is a post-hardcore supergroup featuring members of Thursday, My Chemical Romance and Coheed and Cambria with Circa Survive singer Anthony Green out front delivering the raw emotion that makes this kind of music so cathartic. Having made its live debut at last year's Riot Fest, L.S. Dunes delivered an electrifying debut album, "Past Lives." Kerrang! weighed in with "L.S. Dunes could well change the tide on all things post-hardcore."
Details: 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 7. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $30-$45. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
The Good Life
It's been eight years since Tim Kasher of Cursive and the other members of his celebrated side band blessed us with new music in the form of "Everybody's Coming Down." That album found him playing to the strengths that make both projects what they are, from the reflective nature of the lyrics to the instantly engaging melodies punctuated by noise-rocking shards of explosive guitar that take the whole thing somewhere even more exciting.
Details: 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 7. Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. $23; $20 in advance. valleybarphx.com.
Noah Kahan
The acclaimed singer-songwriter is joined on the Stick Season Tour by the formerly local Joy Oladokun. The tour shares a name with Kahan's latest album, a sleeper hit that peaked at No. 3 on Billboard's album chart in June after eight months of climbing the charts. The album marked a clear departure from the indie-pop sound of his earlier efforts in favor of a folkier approach inspired in part by Phoebe Bridgers and Sam Fender.
Details: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8. Arizona Financial Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. Resale ticket prices vary. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
The Offspring
The Offspring tore it up at Innings Festival this year, reasserting their standing at the forefront of the ‘90s punk explosion. After crashing the gate with the song that put them on the map outside the California punk scene, 1994’s “Come Out and Play,” they blazed their way through highlights of their catalog at the breakneck pace those songs demand. The Let the Bad Times Roll Tour finds them joined by kindred spirits Sum 41 and Simple Plan.
Details: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9. Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix. $29.50 and up. 602-254-7200, livenation.com.
Beck and Phoenix
Beck and French rockers Phoenix are headed to town on a co-headlining Summer Odyssey tour with Japanese Breakfast and Sir Chloe. This is Beck's first metro Phoenix concert since the Night Running Tour with Cage the Elephant and Spoon came through town in 2019. He's won eight Grammys since 1994, when "Mellow Gold" sent "Loser" up the pop charts, including Album of the Year for "Morning Phase."
Details: 5:45 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11. Footprint Center, 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix. $40 and up. 602-379-7800, ticketmaster.com.
Post Malone
Post Malone will bring his If Y'all Weren’t Here, I’d Be Crying Tour to Phoenix in support of one of this year's most anticipated albums, "Austin." The 2023 North America run will feature music from the Grammy-nominated multi-platinum superstar's forthcoming album as well as fan favorites in a completely reimagined show. Malone issued a statement promising "some cool new production, new songs, and a very very handsome man up on stage."
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12. Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix. Resale ticket prices vary. 602-254-7200, livenation.com.
An Evening with George Benson
The 10-time Grammy winner topped the Billboard album chart with 1976's "Breezin'," a triple-platinum effort that sent his epic reinvention of the Leon Russell song "This Masquerade" to No. 10 on Billboard's Hot 100. Benson's other hits include his jazzy remake of the Drifters smash "On Broadway," "Give Me the Night" and "Turn Your Love Around."
Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12. Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave. Sold out. 480-782-2680, chandlercenter.org.
ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd
Hats off to whoever came up with the Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour as a name for what you may be mystified to learn is the first-ever first co-headlining expedition by two legendary street survivors — one from Texas, one from Florida (although a casual fan would be forgiven for mistakenly believing Alabama was their sweet home). This tour coincides with the 50th anniversary on Skynyrd's iconic debut, "(Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd)."
Details: 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13. Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix. $34.50 and up. 602-254-7200, livenation.com.
The Ghost Inside
The Ghost Inside recently dropped their first music in three years, a punishing metalcore onslaught called "Earned It." And speaking of earning it, they earned raves for the self-titled effort they released in 2020, their first album back from a catastrophic bus crash. NME called the album "a towering statement of positivity, transforming pain into catharsis, determination and hope." This is a co-headlining tour with kindred spirits Underoath.
Details: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $52.50 and up. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
Ben Folds
Folds is touring on a brilliant new release, "What Matters Most." After setting the tone with the bittersweet musings of "But Wait, There's More," in which he answers "Do you still believe in the good of humankind?" with "I do," he proceeds through a series of breathtaking highlights. "Kristine from the 7th Grade" may be his finest hour, a heartbreaking character sketch of a childhood acquaintance who's taken to emailing all-caps conspiracy theories.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. $41-$81. 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com.
Mudvayne
The Psychotherapy Sessions Tour is Mudvayne's first headlining trek in nearly 15 years, having gone on hiatus in 2010, a year after releasing their fifth album, a self-titled effort for a band whose fame was based as much on their piledriving sonic experimentation as their painted faces. They're joined by Coal Chamber (performing for the first time in eight years), GWAR, Nonpoint and Butcher Babies. That's one very heavy lineup.
Details: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16. Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix. $35 and up. 602-254-7200, livenation.com.
Clutch
"Sunrise on Slaughter Beach" is a 13th album that effortlessly plays to every strength these stoner-rock legends have shown along the way, from the piledriving riff of an opening track that finds Neil Fallon snarling, "The greatest living science-fiction writer in the world? You're lookin' at him." They're joined by Giovannie and the Hired Guns and Mike Dillon & Punkadelick.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $36 and up. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
Rebelution
The Grammy-nominated reggae-rockers bring their Good Vibes Summer Tour to Phoenix with Iration, the Expendables, Passafire and DJ Mackle. When Rebelution topped the Billboard reggae charts with “Free Rein" in 2018, they passed Matisyahu to secure their spot behind Bob Marley with the second-most appearances at No. 1 on that chart. And they grooved their way to No. 1 again a year later with "Rebelution Vinyl Box Set."
Details: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17. Arizona Financial Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $42.90 and up. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
Jess Williamson
"Time Ain't Accidental" is a breathtaking triumph of cosmic American music blessed with introspective lyrics that draw you into the emotion of her story songs with vivid details, from "I read you Raymond Carver by the pool bar like a lady" to "Didn't go real far getting too drunk to tune your guitar/ But I was right there, baby, telling 'em all how good you are." As the Line of Best Fit raved, "God, Williamson can write."
Details: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. $28.50–$38.50. 480-478-6000, mim.org.
Boy George and Culture Club
Boy George and Culture Club are joined on the Letting It Go Show Tour by fellow New Wave veterans Howard Jones and Berlin. Culture Club will be performing all the hits, including “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me,” "Karma Chameleon," and "Church of the Poisoned Mind." Recent set lists have also included some interesting covers: "Sympathy for the Devil," "Everything I Own" and "Bang a Gong (Get It On)."
Details: 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18. Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix. $20 and up. 602-254-7200, livenation.com.
Chicago
Founding members Robert Lamm, Lee Loughnane and James Pankow are still going strong with a 10-piece ensemble whose shows are a crowd-pleasing mix of hit singles as timeless as "Colour My World" and "25 or 6 to 4" and deeper album cuts. Last year, they released a 38th studio album called "Born for This Moment" and "The Last Band on Stage," a documentary about their experience during the pandemic.
Details: 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18. Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd St., Phoenix. $68-$128. 602-267-1600, celebritytheatre.com.
Los Huracanes del Norte
The award-winning norteño legends, who were honored last year with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, recently celebrated their 50th anniversary. Founded by four Garcia brothers in Tangancícuaro, Mexico, they're now based in Portales, New Mexico.
Details: 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18. Orpheum Theatre, 203 W. Adams St., Phoenix. $49.50-109.50. 800-282-4842, etix.com.
Marco Antonio Solis
Since launching his solo career in 1993 after nearly 20 years with the regional Mexican band Los Bukis, Solis has landed more than 50 songs on Billboard's Latin charts, including several trips to No. 1. He's also earned five Latin Grammys, two Lo Nuestro Awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and an induction to the Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame.
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19. Footprint Center, 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix. $54.50 and up. 602-379-7800, ticketmaster.com.
Cigarettes After Sex
Among the more alluring albums of 2017, their self-titled debut was a haunting collection of cinematic pop songs owing much of their appeal to Greg Gonzalez's wistful delivery, underscoring the intimacy of the lyrics as he drifts from one romantic ballad to the next. And they more than lived up to the promise on 2019's "Cry." Although they haven't released a new album since then, their recent singles are enough to make you wish they would.
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19. Arizona Financial Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. Resale ticket prices vary. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
Souls of Mischief
These alternative hip-hop heroes are headed our way on a tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of "93 ’til Infinity," an inspired debut that effortlessly lives up to the promise of its title, sounding even better now than it did at the time. AllMusic proclaimed it "the best single album to come out of Oakland's Hieroglyphics camp" while the Source named it to a list of the 100 best rap albums of all time in 1998.
Details: 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $30; $25 in advance. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.
Foreigner
It may feel like the first time but this is the last for Foreigner. Guitarist Mick Jones, who recruited singer Kelly Hansen to relaunch the band in 2005, explained the reasoning behind the Historic Farewell Tour in an interview with Billboard. "Foreigner is a completely revitalized band with a whole new energy that has won the hearts of our fans all over the world," he said. "And I want to go out while the band is still at the top of its game."
Details: 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20. Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix. $29.50 and up. 602-254-7200, livenation.com.
Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa
Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa are joined on the High School Reunion Tour by Too $hort, Warren G and Berner with special guest DJ Drama. The co-headlining rappers have a history dating back to 2011, when they dropped the hit single “Young, Wild and Free,” which peaked at No. 7 on the Hot 100 and was featured on the soundtrack to a hit stoner comedy starring the hip-hop duo, "Mac and Devin Go to High School." Hence the title of the summer tour.
Details: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23. Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix. $47 and up. 602-254-7200, livenation.com.
My Morning Jacket
They took the blogosphere by storm in 1999 with "The Tennessee Fire," an acclaimed debut on which bandleader Jim James underscored the melancholy nature of his upper register by recording many of his vocal parts in an empty grain silo. They're doing a handful of shows this year celebrating the 20th anniversary of "It Still Moves," their iconic third studio album. This isn't one of those shows. But that's OK. They always bring their A game to the stage and that self-titled album they released in 2021 was a welcome addition to their catalog. They're joined by M. Ward.
Details: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23. Mesa Amphitheatre, 263 N. Center St. $50.50-$56 and up. 480-644-2560, mesaamp.com.
Beyonce
The Renaissance Tour launched in Stockholm, Sweden, with a concert the Guardian hailed as "a lavish leap forward for live entertainment, dripping with sci-fi disco decadence, sex and Black pride." This is the superstar's first Valley concert since 2018, when her On the Run II Tour with Jay-Z played at State Farm Stadium. She'll be performing all the songs from "Renaissance" in order, interspersed with highlights spanning her career.
Details: 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24. State Farm Stadium, 1 Cardinals Way, Glendale. $51 and up. 800-745-3000, seatgeek.com.
Dance Gavin Dance
These post-hardcore veterans have fathered an entire genre, Swancore, characterized by their signature blend of math-rock, prog and post-rock, and named for guitarist Will Swan and his Blue Swan Records label. Of course, that mix of genres doesn't take into account the way Jon Mess' unhinged howls of terror are offset by soaring ethereal vocals from Tilian Pearson. They're joined by SiM, Rain City Drive and Within Destruction.
Details: 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $35 and up. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
Zach Bryan
The Grammy-nominated country star and U.S. Navy veteran is joined by Charles Wesley Godwin, JR CarrollandLevi Turner on the Burn, Burn, Burn Tour in support of a major-label debut called "American Heartbreak" that topped the Billboard country, folk and rock charts. The Tennessean wrote that Bryan Bryan "plays sold-out shows that draw fevered fans ready to sing along with each syllable of the singer's heart-on-his-sleeve songwriting brand."
Details: 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25. Desert Diamond Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Ave., Glendale. SOLD OUT. 623-772-3800, desertdiamondarena.com.
Banda El Recodo
Originally from Sinaloa, Mexico, Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizarraga, also known as La Madre de Todas las Bandas, have been among the top musical acts in the banda genre of regional Mexican music for more than 85 years, releasing more than 200 albums. From 2010 to 2015, they landed six titles on the Mexican Regional Albums chart and eight on the Top Latin Albums list, including several No. 1 appearances.
Details: 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25. Arizona Financial Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $59 and up. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
Poppy
The headbanging YouTube sensation is about to drop the much-anticipated followup to "Flux," a contagious collection of frequently explosive rock songs incorporating elements of heavy metal, screamo, industrial, punk-rock and '90s alternative. The first female artist in history to earn a Best Metal Performance nomination from the Grammys, she brings the Godless/Godless Tour to town with Pvris and Tommy Genesis.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $35 and up. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
Junior H
With more than 21 million listeners on Spotify and more than 1 billion views on YouTube, this Mexican superstar has sent 11 singles up the Billboard Latin Songs chart, with songs like “Fin de Semana” and “El Hijo Mayor” becoming anthems of the corrido tumbado movement alongside hits by Peso Pluma and Natanael Cano. He's here on the Sad Boyz Tour.
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26. Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix. $129.50 and up. 602-254-7200, livenation.com.
Powerhouse with Kevin Gates
Power 98.3 and 96.1 join Lucky Man Concerts in presenting Powerhouse with Kevin Gates, French Montana, Saweetie, Coi Leray and Eric Bellinger. Gates hit the charts at No. 2 with his first proper studio album, 2016's triple-platinum "Islah." That album spawned his first Top 40 entry on the Billboard Hot 100, the quadruple-platinum "2 Phones." Other hits include "I Don't Get Tired," "Really Really," "Time For That" and "Me Too."
Details: 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26. Desert Diamond Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Ave., Glendale. $49 and up. 623-772-3800, desertdiamondarena.com.
Summer Jam
Morris Day and the Time join Zapp, Midnight Star, Klymaxx, Evelyn Champagne King, the Original Mary Jane Girls, One Way, Rob Base and Young MC. Day and the Time rose to fame with a self-titled effort of party-funk written by Prince and members of the Revolution. Three years later they really grabbed the mainstream by the collar with a star turn in the movie "Purple Rain," thanks to stellar performances of "Jungle Love" and "The Bird."
Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26. Footprint Center, 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix. $39.50 and up. 602-379-7800, ticketmaster.com.
Kaskade
This Grammy-nominated DJ was hailed in 2011 as the “new face of electronic dance music” in a New York Times profile and voted "America's Best DJ" in DJ Times in 2011 and 2013. He and Deadmau5 recently released a self-titled album by their new collaborative project, Kx5. He's in town for a poolside matinee at Talking Stick Resort.
Details: 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26. The Pool at Talking Stick Resort, Loop 101 and Pima Road, Salt River Reservation. $50 and up. 480-850-7734, talkingstickresort.com.
Christian Nodal
Hailing from Nogales, Mexico, Nodal is known as the creator of mariacheño, a fusion uniting the mariachi and norteño genres. He's promising a fresh show that remains true to the essence that has rapidly made him one of the most successful proponents of regional Mexican music, winning three Latin Grammys and two Billboard Latin Music Awards.
Details: 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27. Desert Diamond Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Ave., Glendale. $41 and up. 623-772-3800, desertdiamondarena.com.
KNIX Acoustic Summer
KNIX-FM presents an evening of acoustic country music from Ashley McBryde, Easton Corbin, Ashley Cooke, Frank Ray and Catie Offerman. McBryde turned in one of the stronger performances we saw this year at Country Thunder Arizona. It doesn't hurt that she's been blessed with an amazing voice. But it's the way she uses what she has to draw you into what she's singing that makes her feel like a country legend in the making.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27. Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd St., Phoenix. $10.25-$45. 602-267-1600, celebritytheatre.com.
Danzig
Glenn Danzig's leg—end may still ultimately rest on the handful of horror-punk records he made with the Misfits before forming Samhain and finally Danzig. But he's made some great records with Danzig as well, from their classic self-titled debut to the gothic "Deth Red Sabaoth," which hit the streets in 2010 and proved that he could still sound like the howling of an undead Elvis. And speaking of Elvis, his latest release called "Danzig Sings Elvis."
Details: 4:50 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27. Mesa Amphitheatre, 263 N. Center St. $55; $51 in advance. 480-644-2560, mesaamp.com.
Sonny Landreth
There's a quote from Eric Clapton on the venue website saying "Sonny Landreth is probably the most underestimated musician on the planet, and also probably one of the most advanced." That is some high praise, but I'm partial to how Mojo summed up what he does in a review of 2020's adventurous "Blacktop Run": The prodigious and progressive Landreth is his own man — a futuristic traditionalist."
Details: 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. $44.50-$49.50. 480-478-6000, mim.org.
50 Cent
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is joined by Busta Rhymes and Jeremih on the Final Lap Tour, a global tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of his game-changing debut, "Get Rich or Die Tryin’." The Final Lap Tour will feature the rap legend performing dozens of fan favorites and chart-topping hits along with select tracks that have not been performed live in decades, with more special guests to be announced.
Details: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29. Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix. $39.50 and up. 602-254-7200, livenation.com.
Sir Richard Bishop
A founding member of Phoenix-based underground avant-garde rock legends Sun City Girls, Sir Richard Bishop is an experimental acoustic guitarist whose work incorporates the sounds of India, the Middle East and North Africa, as captured brilliantly on his most recent effort, "Oneiric Formulary." There's a reason Pitchfork proclaimed him "one of the most riveting and dynamic acoustic guitarists on the planet."
Details: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. $23.50-$28.50. 480-478-6000, mim.org.
Weezer
These guys are always a good time, as their set at this year's Innings Festival reminded us, blowing the dust off such "Blue Album" classics as “My Name is Jonas,” “The World Has Turned and Left Me Here,” “Undone (The Sweater Song)” and “Buddy Holly.” That first album hasn't aged a day since 1994, holding up as one of the decade's most enduring triumphs. But what ultimately sets a Weezer show apart is the joy they invest in their performances. Well, that and Rivers Cuomo's glorious guitar tone.
Details: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30. Arizona Financial Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $69.50 and up. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
Counting Crows
Counting Crows' first album, "August and Everything After," went seven times platinum, largely on the strength of "Mr. Jones," a Top 5 entry on the Billboard Hot 100 that remains their biggest hit. But they're still adding to their legacy, as recently as "Butter Miracle, Suite One," a four-track, 19-minute suite released in 2021 on which the songs are all woven together like the second side of "Abbey Road" or The Who's "A Quick One, While He's Away."
Details: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31. Arizona Financial Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $39.50 and up. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
Reach the reporter at ed.masley@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4495. Follow him on Twitter @EdMasley.
Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/07/29/concerts-in-phoenix-august-2023/70459434007/ | 2023-07-29T14:02:28 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/07/29/concerts-in-phoenix-august-2023/70459434007/ |
Shopping center developer proposes new 20-acre project in Phoenix. Here's what we know
The developer of Tempe Marketplace and Desert Ridge Marketplace is planning another north Phoenix shopping center.
Phoenix-based Vestar submitted plans to the city to develop a 20-acre site near Deer Valley Drive and Black Mountain Parkway, about two miles from Desert Ridge Marketplace. Vestar plans to build a retail shopping center anchored by a grocery store at the development, called Black Mountain Village. The site primarily is surrounded by single-family houses and is north of Pinnacle High School.
The proposal includes a neighborhood grocery store, other retailers and restaurants. The project would total about 140,600 square feet.
The site is currently managed by the Arizona State Land Department. Vestar will need to buy or lease the property from the state before building anything. The department is required to sell its parcels at auction to the highest bidder. So far, no auctions are scheduled for the land.
According to an application submitted by Stephen Anderson, the zoning attorney for the project, the development will provide an alternative, smaller grocery, restaurant and retail center in the area. The application calls increased traffic in the area an “unintended consequence” of Desert Ridge Marketplace’s success. Creating a shopping center to serve only the neighborhood, rather than the whole region like Desert Ridge Marketplace does, will provide a more convenient option for people who live nearby, he wrote.
The application also claims the development would provide options for Pinnacle High School students before and after school, and during lunch, which could reduce their car trips. In the application, Vestar says it will work with school administration about the future tenants in the development.
Massive upgrade for city-owned course:Tempe's Rolling Hills Golf Course to get $15M in upgrades, lights for nighttime golfing
The proposal is scheduled to go before the Desert View Village Planning Committee Aug. 1 for an informal discussion and come back before the committee in October for a recommendation. The proposal will then have to go to the city’s Planning Commission and City Council.
Representatives from Vestar said Black Mountain Village is in the very early stages and did not provide additional details on the project.
Vestar has several other projects in the works around the Valley. Earlier this month, the Buckeye City Council approved a development agreement with Vestar to build Verrado Marketplace, a 512,000-square-foot regional retail center, which is planned to include retailers, restaurants and entertainment.
The 48-acre development is planned as similar in size and offerings to Tempe Marketplace or Desert Ridge Marketplace. Construction on the site must begin by July 2025, according to the agreement.
Reach the reporter at cvanek@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter @CorinaVanek. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/consumers/2023/07/29/vestar-submits-plans-for-20-acre-shopping-center-in-north-phoenix/70490056007/ | 2023-07-29T14:02:34 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/consumers/2023/07/29/vestar-submits-plans-for-20-acre-shopping-center-in-north-phoenix/70490056007/ |
When Isiah Young, 18, a recent graduate of Danvers High School, read about egregious racism at his school in 2021 — which included hazing on the hockey and wrestling teams and offensive graffiti — he wanted to find a way to help.
“I remember thinking, ‘There’s more that I can do,” Young said. “There’s got to be a role I can play as a leader to help change what’s occurring.”
Now, Young is attending his first-ever NAACP convention, thanks to fund-raising from the NAACP Mystic Valley Branch, where he serves as one of 32 members of its newly chartered youth council.
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He’s “really, really looking forward,” he said, to networking with peers and discussing solutions to issues like mass incarceration and online bigotry at the historic convention, which runs through Tuesday at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center in Seaport.
Young is one of dozens of New England-area young people attending their first-ever NAACP convention, drawn by the event’s rare proximity and made possible by regional NAACP branches’ fund-raising efforts.
The NAACP’s New England Area Conference is providing full funding for 23 young people to attend the convention, the vast majority of them first-time convention goers, according to Kamiya Parkin, president of the NEAC’s youth and college division.
“That’s the most youth attendance that we’ve had in at least the past two decades from NEAC,” said Parkin, 24, who graduated from UMass Boston last year. “I think that it’s just going to be a life-changing experience.”
Though the attendance of young people nationwide, including college students, is expected to be on par with previous conventions — about 400 to 500 — the Northeast contingent will be “huge,” said Amari Fennoy, the national training and program manager for the NAACP’s youth and college division.
Young participants from the region are in store for a lineup of youth-specific programming that national leaders hope will inspire the next generation of NAACP leadership.
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“Our goal is to really base our programs off of ‘What do our young leaders need right now that can really support and train them to be the next intern on the Hill, to lead a next election?’” said Fennoy. “It’s important to have youth at the forefront, because youth is where the movement is.”
The programming was designed in response to survey data from previous young convention-goers, who wanted to hear from elected officials more directly, as well as talk explicitly about the NAACP’s strategy ahead of the high-stakes 2024 presidential election, Fennoy said.
To address those needs, this weekend will feature workshops on civic engagement skills including digital organizing, a luncheon entitled “Young, Black, and Elected” featuring elected officials under the age of 35, and a meeting called “Black to the Future” discussing the future of the movement.
Fennoy said she hopes young people will come away with a feeling of “empowerment” and with a concrete “tool kit to activate change within their communities.”
In a first-time partnership, the events will also be livestreamed by HBCU Buzz, a news and social media site for historically Black colleges and universities that has hundreds of thousands of followers, for young people who can only attend virtually.
“It’s really about bringing the lessons of the past and the tools of the present together,” said Wisdom Cole, national director of the NAACP’s youth and college division. “Young people are the lifeblood of this organization.”
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The convention comes at a time when young people of color have an opportunity to be an increasingly powerful voting bloc, according to Leon W. Russell, chair of the NAACP’s national board of directors.
“The potential political power of organized young people ... other folks recognize that, and that’s why you see so many legislatures creating obstacles to the ability of young folks to register, to their ability to organize, to their ability to get the vote,” he said. “We have to start training leaders at a very early age, and we have to keep reminding them why they must be involved.”
Local leaders also hope the convention will reinvigorate the NAACP’s youth wing in the Northeast and amplify existing grassroots efforts.
“I’m hoping this convention ignites that fire within each of the young people to take ownership and accountability of what should be coming down the road for them,” said Janelle Ridley, associate director of the Racial Justice x Tech Policy Project at Brandeis University, who founded and now advises Mystic Valley’s youth council.
She hopes the convention will “spur the reestablishment of many youth councils across Massachusetts,” she said.
“I think that a lot of times on the local level, sometimes you forget that you have a network, you have a community that’s there to always back you,” Parkin said. “I hope that [first-time convention goers] realize that this work is bigger than themselves.”
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Carrie Mays, 22, a UMass Boston student who is attending her first NAACP convention, said she’s already feeling inspired.
“This week is one of the first weeks that I’ve seen this many Black events happening, and I think that this is a call to action for us, to inspire us to what the future of Black Boston looks like,” said Mays, who is part of the city’s Task Force on Reparations. “I’m just really excited.”
Maliya Ellis can be reached at maliya.ellis@globe.com. Follow her @EllisMaliya. | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/07/29/metro/young-convention-attendees-want-help-make-difference/ | 2023-07-29T14:02:40 | 0 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/07/29/metro/young-convention-attendees-want-help-make-difference/ |
Southern Arizonans tell attorney general that grocery merger could increase food deserts, prices, job loss
Southern Arizonans living in rural areas are worried that a potential merger of two of the state's largest grocery stores could exacerbate the current lack of grocery stores, causing increased food deserts, increased food prices and loss of jobs.
These are just a few of the concerns conveyed to Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes at a listening session in Sierra Vista on Wednesday about locals’ concerns over the potential Albertsons and Kroger merger.
Wednesday's listening session is part of an antitrust investigation of the proposed merger and has been just one of many listening sessions all over the state.
Mayes has visited cities and towns throughout the state that depend on one or both grocery stores for food. Having both stores puts these towns at risk of one of the stores closing, she said.
Mayes is gathering testimony from towns across the state to factor into her decision whether to sue to stop the merger.
Merger could disproportionately affect rural towns, parts of Sierra Vista
Sierra Vista is luckier than many other towns in rural Arizona, with a Fry’s Food Store, which is owned by Kroger, Safeway, and Food City.
However, in the 25 miles between Sierra Vista and Bisbee, there are no supermarkets.
Jaclyn Cruces, who works in Bisbee’s Safeway pharmacy, said if the merger happens and they decide to close stores, that would be a devastating job loss for not only Bisbee but also the surrounding communities who depend on Safeway for employment.
“Eighty percent of our coworkers in Safeway, they live in Douglas. They have to drive every day 30 miles. So, what would happen if they closed the Safeway? There’s no jobs in Douglas or Bisbee,” Cruces said.
Cruces also noted how Douglas residents travel to the Bisbee Safeway for their pharmaceutical needs, as Douglas’ Walmart pharmacy is swamped, causing people to wait days for medication.
Mayes said the companies have not publicly stated whether they will close stores if the merger goes through.
"They have not been open with us or anyone else about stores that they intend to close," Mayes said.
Much of southern Arizona considered a food desert; merger could exacerbate issue
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a significant amount of southern Arizona has limited access to healthy food.
Mayes’ office found that towns like Tombstone, Whetstone, Huachuca City, St. David and Bowie lack a grocery store, while others like Willcox and Benson have only one. The towns with no grocery stores ranged from 8 to 25 miles from the nearest town with a store.
Sierra Vista Mayor Clea McCaa said he disagreed with the merger, noting that Safeway is in the middle of town while Fry’s and Food City are on the east side of town. If Safeway were to close, that would disproportionally affect the west side of town, a lower income area.
Councilmember Mark Rodriguez said the west side of town has limited access to grocery stores.
“Safeway is on the border of our west end. Our west end is considered a food desert,” he said, noting that public transportation is limited, and many people walk to their nearest grocery store, which would make accessing a grocery store challenging if one of the stores were to close.
He reiterated that for many towns, Sierra Vista and Bisbee have the closest grocery stores.
“From here to Bisbee there is nothing else. And from here to I-10 there’s nothing else,” he said.
While there are Dollar General stores in the area, residents noted their lack of fresh produce and quality food.
Residents worry about loss of revenue, increased food prices
People also worried about a potential increase in food prices.
“We only have one grocery store (in Bisbee). If Sierra Vista loses a grocery store the prices will go up, not necessarily because there is more distance for food to travel,” said Bisbee resident Anne Carl.
Residents were also concerned about local small businesses near the large grocery stores that depend on that foot traffic for business in Sierra Vista. What would happen to their customer base if the large grocery store near them were to close?
They were also concerned about Sierra Vista and local towns losing more revenue to Tucson as any store closures could drive more people to travel to the bigger city. One resident said his neighbors travel to Tucson for their monthly Costco run. He worried that the number would increase exponentially if one store were to close.
Mayes reiterated to the 25-person crowd the importance of their testimonies to the potential lawsuit.
“Let's say the merger goes through and the merger is allowed by states or by the federal government, there's no going back on that … So this is our chance right now to get this right,” Mayes said.
Mayes said the timeline for the merger is likely to happen at the end of the year or in the beginning of 2024, and her decision must come soon about a potential lawsuit.
Reach the reporter at sarah.lapidus@gannett.com. The Republic’s coverage of southern Arizona is funded, in part, with a grant from Report for America. Support Arizona news coverage with a tax deductible donation at supportjournalism.azcentral.com. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/07/29/southern-arizona-residents-speak-out-on-albertsons-kroger-merger/70482461007/ | 2023-07-29T14:02:40 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/07/29/southern-arizona-residents-speak-out-on-albertsons-kroger-merger/70482461007/ |
As noted in this space last week, Mike Giardi was overdue for a good break to come his way.
This past week, he got one. But it comes in a format that might be surprising to those familiar with Giardi as a trustworthy sports anchor and reporter in this market for more than 20 years, first at New England Cable News and then NBC Sports Boston, before going national with NFL Network in 2018.
Giardi, who was let go by NFL Network in March in a decision that raised eyebrows and blood pressures of those that enjoyed his informed, good-natured reporting, signed on with Greg Bedard’s Boston Sports Journal website this past week. There, Giardi has returned to roots many didn’t know he had — as a writer.
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Giardi has been part of the site’s thorough coverage of the Patriots’ first few days of training camp, writing insightful, observational articles with such titles as, “Five Items I’ve Got My Eye On As Patriots Camp Opens” and “One Word May Define An Entire Season For Patriots, Mac Jones.”
“It been a little while since I was a full-time writer — try 25 years,” said Giardi, who began his career as the sports editor of the Falmouth Enterprise, where he worked for three years in the 1990s before turning to the television side. “So I’m a little nervous about it, but it’s exciting.
“One of the things I’ve always prided myself on is being adaptable, whether it’s doing a story and it ends up going in a different direction than I expected, or something where you just sort of have to switch on the fly. This is me switching on the fly and going back to my roots. I’d be lying to you if I said there weren’t moments of real nervousness in the first five or six days of doing this.”
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Giardi said Bedard was one of the first people to reach out after news broke that NFL Network would not extend Giardi a new contract.
“It was not just that Greg expressed disappointment for me, but he said, ‘Just stay in touch.’ At various points over the last four months, we’d have a message here, a text there, just to keep me in mind,” said Giardi.
“Then it was funny, I was actually closing in on taking a different writing job recently, and he was like, ‘We’ve got to do this,’ and just put it into overdrive. It all came together in about 10 days after that.”
Giardi is enthusiastic about the new job and happy to be reporting from the familiar territory of Patriots training camp, but he acknowledges that the wounds from losing a dream job that he did well have left scars, some more visible than others.
"There are just signs that it looks like a much more well-run, well-detailed offense"@MikeGiardi breaks down what he saw from the Patriots offense during the first day of training camp 👀#ForeverNE pic.twitter.com/GvQc0HJD7W
— NBC Sports Boston's Patriots Coverage (@NBCSPatriots) July 27, 2023
“It was rough. Everyone’s like, ‘Hey, look, you’re going to get another job, it’s going to happen fast.’ And I remember turning to my wife and being like, ‘I don’t know, I don’t know that it’s going to happen again,’ “ he said. “I’m 52 and the business isn’t about me anymore. And I mean that in a million different ways. I think there are places that don’t care if you’re good at TV anymore, as long as you’re younger and cheaper.”
Giardi said NFL Network personnel knew that layoffs would be coming for approximately a year. But his prominence on the network didn’t wane even as the Patriots became less of a national story, and he had reason to feel that his job was safe even with his contract soon to expire.
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Giardi’s responsibilities included covering the immediate news and the aftermath when Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest during a Monday night game. Giardi also was designated the Chiefs reporter during the Super Bowl, even though he had worked only one of their games during the season — the AFC Championship game, where he was the Bengals reporter.
Giardi met with his bosses at the NFL Combine in the first week of March, and came away feeling like he was in line to get a new contract. He was informed he would no longer be needed before the end of the month.
Giardi was let go at the same time NFL Network was receiving major backlash after reporter Jim Trotter revealed his contract was not being renewed. Trotter had made an admirable habit out of making commissioner Roger Goodell uncomfortable with public questions about NFL Media’s lack of diversity. Goodell denied having anything to do with Trotter’s departure, but historically, the commissioner’s denials and the truth eventually go their separate ways.
“I know a lot of people there, I love a lot of people there, they’re going to be friends for life,” said Giardi. “I think they trusted me and I think if it was up to the people that ran the newsroom, I’d still be working there. But that’s not how it goes anymore.
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“I’m just happy to be working. We figure out a way to cobble this together. I’ve got a junior to be at Lafayette and a senior in high school. So, got to keep those checks rolling in. You just want to be able to support your people. You want to be able to give them the things they deserve and need, and it just shakes you to the core a little bit, like, ‘How am I going to make all this happen for everybody?’ But I’m not the first to have this happen, and I won’t be the last. And I’ve been so fortunate for most of my career. If I had the chance to go back to the beginning of my television career, knowing how it would end, I still would have done it.”
Chad Finn can be reached at chad.finn@globe.com. Follow him @GlobeChadFinn. | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/07/29/sports/mike-giardi-is-back-covering-nfl-this-time-writer/ | 2023-07-29T14:02:46 | 1 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/07/29/sports/mike-giardi-is-back-covering-nfl-this-time-writer/ |
Rep. Ruben Gallego hit with complaint he mixed legislative appeal and campaign fundraising
A conservative watchdog group that has lodged ethics complaints against congressional Democrats filed one Friday against Senate hopeful Ruben Gallego, claiming he has improperly mixed fundraising and legislative appeals.
The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust asked the House Office of Congressional Ethics to investigate Gallego, D-Ariz., over the matter, which involves a bill seeking to allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency to add extreme heat to its list of natural disasters that can trigger relief resources.
The New York Post first reported the complaint.
According to the complaint, FACT contends Gallego’s campaign may have “solicited campaign contributions linked to official action.”
Gallego’s campaign email urged its readers to “support this critical legislation” by clicking a link that takes them to a page where they can add their name in support of his bill and makes a fundraising appeal directly below it, the four-page complaint said.
That, according to FACT, crossed an ethical line.
“Gallego inextricably intertwines a specific piece of legislation with a solicitation for a campaign donation,” the complaint said. “The ethics rules prohibit this type of link between any action taken in an official capacity and solicitations of campaign contributions. Moreover, this damages public confidence in our elected officials.”
Gallego's bill seeks to allow FEMA to add extreme heat conditions to those eligible for a federal response. The issue would figure to impact heat-scorched Phoenix, but also other parts of the country increasingly battling excessive heat, a problem that kills more people annually than most other weather conditions.
Hannah Goss, a spokesperson for Gallego’s campaign, said the organization’s effort won’t deter Gallego from tending to an actual problem.
“Right now Arizonans are dying because of this extreme heat. Congressman Gallego is focused on the real work of doing something about it,” she said. “Baseless attacks from right-wing, dark money organizations are not going to distract from helping Arizonans during this crisis.”
FACT is a conservative-leaning organization founded in 2014 and reportedly funded exclusively in its early years by DonorsTrust, a nonprofit headed at the time by Matthew Whitaker, who later served as the acting attorney general under former President Donald Trump after the departure of Jeff Sessions and before the confirmation of William Barr.
FACT has made numerous complaints against Democratic members of Congress in recent years. Earlier this year, it accused Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., of improper child-care spending; and it complained of at least four House Democrats it accused of improperly using official TikTok social media accounts for political messages. Among those accused is Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.
Gallego is running for the Senate seat held by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz. Since formally entering the race in January, Gallego has aggressively solicited donations and records show his campaign quickly raised $6.9 million, more than half of it from those who have given less than $200.
Sinema has filed preliminary paperwork to seek another six-year term but has not officially said whether she will do so.
She, too, was the target of a complaint earlier this year.
Phoenix federal aid:Feds would classify extreme heat as a major disaster under bipartisan Ruben Gallego bill
In May, a group seeking to oust Sinema filed a complaint to the Federal Election Commission claiming her campaign spending had her “living a lifestyle of luxury financed by her special interest donors.”
A Sinema spokesperson dismissed the complaint as “desperate political attacks” that are “based on lies.” | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2023/07/29/group-complains-rep-ruben-gallego-sought-campaign-money-improperly/70490143007/ | 2023-07-29T14:02:46 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2023/07/29/group-complains-rep-ruben-gallego-sought-campaign-money-improperly/70490143007/ |
Can Legislature and governor make last-minute deal on transportation tax? It all comes down to this
Lawmakers return to the state Capitol on Monday after a seven-week pause, amid hopes for a breakthrough on the much-debated transportation tax bill.
The House has scheduled debate on the bill, which would allow Maricopa County to call an election to continue a half-cent sales tax to pay for transportation projects over the next 20 years.
On Friday, numerous sources close to the negotiations said a deal was struck between Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs and the Republican leaders of the Legislature, House Speaker Ben Toma and Senate President Warren Petersen.
However, none of the officials or their spokespersons would confirm that.
Key to the breakthrough was the removal of a planned light rail line that would run west from downtown Phoenix and loop around the state Capitol.
Lawmakers, including Toma, R-Glendale, said they were offended at the notion of the rail running past their offices.
The route could see a reconfiguration, possibly to Van Buren Street or Grand Avenue as Phoenix continues light-rail expansion. The project is not dependent on the revenue from the proposed extended tax, but lawmakers were able to leverage it to get other concessions in negotiations with the Maricopa Association of Governments, which oversees regional transportation planning.
Whether Friday's deal will gain the needed votes to pass the Legislature is unclear. Legislative leaders need to sell the detailed proposal to rank-and-file members.
In addition, several Republican lawmakers, whose votes are critical to the passage of Senate Bill 1102, are out of town and not expected to attend Monday's session.
If the bill passes and is signed by Hobbs, Maricopa County officials are expected to place it on the November 2024 ballot. The measure is nicknamed Proposition 400 because it would continue the 2004 ballot measure of the same name.
The proposed tax would raise an estimated $14.9 billion over 20 years; with state and federal dollars added in, the regional plan would raise $28.2 billion.
House: We're going home Monday
Toma on Friday said regardless of the bill's fate, the House will adjourn sine die Monday. Sine die, Latin for "without a day", is the final sign off of the legislative session.
This Legislature has already run the longest session in state history: Monday would mark 204 days.
Numerous breaks have punctuated the seven-month session as lawmakers took time off to work behind the scenes on thorny issues, including the transportation tax and an effort to revive a bill that would end the ability of cities to impose a rental tax. Hobbs vetoed the rental tax repeal earlier this year, but sources say it could get her signature as part of the transportation tax deal.
Prop. 400:Transportation tax bill meets Gov. Katie Hobbs' veto as backers plan for what's next
During the most recent break, the 90 lawmakers earned a collective $221,605 in daily subsistence pay, or per diem, as they were technically still in session.
The regular rate of $238/day for rural lawmakers and $35/day for those who live in Maricopa County was reduced to $119 and $10 after the 120th day of the session.
The payments drew criticism, including from legislative Democrats, who argued the Legislature should have done its final adjournment in mid-June. However, the lawmakers collected their per diem, which is intended to cover the expense of housing and meals.
What could be in Proposition 400 deal
The proposed transportation plan has had a long and bumpy journey through the Legislature. Maricopa County is alone among the state's 15 counties for needing a legislative OK to ask its voters if they want to fund transportation projects, thanks to a law passed nearly 25 years ago.
The Legislature used that authority to get into the weeds of the proposal, with an especially critical eye to its transit and clean-air provisions. The Free Enterprise Club, which lobbies against tax increases, also was a vocal opponent of the bill as it worked its way through the Legislature.
Opinion:New poll shows how wrong Arizona's Republican lawmakers are on light rail
As of Friday, the broad outlines of the plan would allocate the money raised by the half-penny extension to three major areas:
- 40.5% for freeways, including building new highways such as State Route 24 in the far East Valley and SR30 as a parallel to Interstate 10 in the West Valley. Originally, MAG wanted 37% for these projects.
- 37% for transit, including 3.5% for maintenance of existing light rail projects. Early on, GOP lawmakers made it clear they did not want the money to pay for any light rail expansion, arguing it's a wasteful expenditure. MAG sought 41% of tax revenues for bus, light rail and Dial-a-Ride.
- 22.5% for arterial streets and intersections. The agreement eliminates earlier proposals for money from this pot to pay for "regional programs," which would include efforts to reduce air pollution. MAG initially wanted 22% for streets.
Reach the reporter at maryjo.pitzl@arizonarepublic.com or at 602-228-7566 and follow her on Twitter and Threads@maryjpitzl.
Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/legislature/2023/07/29/ariz-legislature-to-consider-transportation-tax-when-lawmakers-return/70477900007/ | 2023-07-29T14:02:52 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/legislature/2023/07/29/ariz-legislature-to-consider-transportation-tax-when-lawmakers-return/70477900007/ |
It took getting to the major leagues for Sal Frelick to finally bat cleanup.
The 23-year-old outfielder always hit first or second at Lexington High and Boston College. Even going back to Little League, he was the undersized kid whose job was to get on base in front of the power hitters.
But after Frelick went 3 for 3 with two RBIs in his major league debut July 22, Brewers manager Craig Counsell hit him cleanup the next day.
“I had to look twice at the lineup,” Frelick said. “I had literally never done it before. But they picked me for a reason. I know my role — put the ball in play with men on base.”
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Frelick went 1 for 3 with a walk and scored a run in that game. Then he homered the next day.
Counsell now calls his rookie right fielder “The Hit Collector.”
None of this can be considered unexpected. Frelick was the 15th overall pick of the 2021 draft for a reason. But there were some obstacles.
Frelick tore a ligament in his left thumb the second week of the Triple A season and needed surgery. The injury happened April 18, the same day Brewers outfielder Garrett Mitchell suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.
If not for jamming his thumb sliding into second base, Frelick likely would have been called up then. Instead, he missed nearly two months.
“It felt like the season was starting over,” he said. “I tried not to think about what it meant in terms of getting called up. I just rehabbed as much as I could and I was able to get back sooner than they expected.”
The Brewers, 14th in the National League in scoring, needed help and summoned Frelick. He found out at 10:30 p.m. in Nashville and immediately called home.
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His father, brother, and sister made it to Milwaukee for his debut. His mother, Patty, took one for the team and stayed home with their dog. She arrived the next day.
“It was so amazing to have them there,” Frelick said.
When Frelick signed in 2021, COVID protocols didn’t allow him to visit the ballpark. His debut marked his first time at American Family Field.
In addition to the three hits in his first game, Frelick made two outstanding catches in right field. Now he’s suddenly a key member of a team fighting for a playoff spot.
“We’re not getting production out of right field,” Counsell said. “We’re going to try to get more production out of right field and Sal’s going to get a shot to give us that.”
Pressure won’t be a problem. Frelick was a three-sport athlete at Lexington High, playing football, hockey, and baseball for four years. A dual-threat star quarterback, he initially planned to play football and baseball at BC but decided before his freshman year to focus on baseball.
“Playing three sports taught me to compete and be an athlete,” Frelick said. “I see kids specializing in one sport even before high school and it’s a mistake. College coaches want good athletes.
“I prided myself on being a competitor. I was never a showcase player. I was busy playing football and trying to win games. Then it was hockey. I feel like I’m still learning baseball.”
Frelick grew up a Red Sox fan, with Coco Crisp his first favorite player. That eventually became Dustin Pedroia because of their similar styles. Brewers bench coach Pat Murphy, who coached Pedroia at Arizona State, arranged a meeting during spring training.
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“He’s my idol and I was able to sit down and chat with him,” Frelick said. “It was surreal. When Murph first met me, he said, ‘Undersized guy, kind of plays the game a little wired, I’m getting Pedey to talk to you.’ It was great.”
Frelick said the day-to-day grind of baseball has helped keep his emotions in check.
“You can’t sit on one day,” he said. “You wake up the next day and it’s right back at it. You have to forget what happened the previous day. I celebrated with my family when they were here, but that was really it.”
That has always been his way. When the pandemic shut down BC’s season in 2020, Frelick was at a loss. For the first time in his life, there were no games to play.
He helped organize workouts at Lexington High. One of his friends, Northeastern outfielder Ryan Cervone, had a Hack Attack pitching machine, and soon other players started showing up.
“We would hit all day,” Frelick said. “Eventually we had 15-20 kids there a day. College players, pro players from other states. Just ripping baseballs and having fun. We called it the Hack Attack League.”
Frelick put up big numbers at BC in 2021, soared up the draft charts, and now he’s a Brewer.
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DECISION DUE
Red Sox, Verdugo in a waiting game
Alex Verdugo has one year of arbitration remaining, a point that typically leads to discussion about a contract extension.
Verdugo has made it clear he would welcome the opportunity for an extension because of course he would. He turns 28 next year and has two children. An extension at this stage of his career would be a life-changer.
Verdugo lives in Arizona but has found success in Boston and enjoys living in the suburbs with his family and commuting to Fenway Park.
“We like it here,” he said. “I’d love to stay, but that’s not up to me.”
It’s an interesting puzzle for the Sox. Verdugo has a .768 OPS in four seasons with the Sox but only 37 home runs. Still, he’s a well-above-average defender who puts the ball in play and stays off the injured list, all good qualities.
There are 24 outfielders who have played at least 400 games the last four seasons. Verdugo is third in plate appearances behind Juan Soto and Mookie Betts but 13th in bWAR and 16th in adjusted OPS. Good but not great.
Verdugo’s numbers are pretty close to what Andrew Benintendi had over four seasons before he agreed to a five-year, $75 million deal with the White Sox last winter.
Extensions are based on more than statistics. When the Red Sox signed Rafael Devers, Chaim Bloom spoke about the organization “trusting” the third baseman with that deal and how making that determination was important to the process.
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That’s where it gets tricky for Verdugo. Alex Cora felt it necessary to publicly identify him as a player who needed to improve after the 2022 season. Calling him out worked, and Verdugo showed up at spring training in much better condition.
Then Cora benched Verdugo earlier this season for a lack of hustle. Coincidentally or not, Verdugo has been slumping since. He also was benched for two games this past week, which Cora termed a mental reset.
Verdugo said there have been no talks with the Sox. So maybe the easiest decision would be no decision at all — just let him play out 2024 to determine their next step. He could be motivated by impending free agency and have a big season.
The risk is that Verdugo could then choose free agency. But with the big picture still incomplete, that may be the best path.
A few other observations on the Red Sox:
▪ In retrospect, Cora acknowledged it was a mistake for Kiké Hernández to play in the World Baseball Classic.
With Hernández needing work at shortstop, he left Sox camp for 11 days to play center field for Puerto Rico.
“If we had to do it again, with all due respect to team Puerto Rico, if we can go back in time, he should have stayed with us and played shortstop in spring training,” Cora said.
“He’s a good defender and he hadn’t played that position for a while. Him playing center field [for Puerto Rico], it didn’t work out for the Red Sox.”
The WBC unquestionably has been good for baseball. But it’s not always the right thing for an individual player.
For the Dodgers, one condition of the trade was Hernández understanding he would have a limited role. He’ll likely play only against lefthanders.
▪ This is the 13th trade deadline Justin Turner has experienced. He’s never been traded during the season but has empathy when he sees teammates packing up.
“This is an exciting time of the year because of the deadline and the rumors,” Turner said. “One aspect that gets missed by a lot of people is usually when you’re bringing someone in that also means that someone is going somewhere else.
“As exciting as it can be, it’s also hard for a lot of people — players, a lot of friends, a lot of families — when they’re the ones being told they’re the one being moved.”
For Turner, it’s never easy.
“You develop relationships in [the clubhouse], you get to know guys,” he said. “Kiké is one of my best friends in the game. I’ve seen it a bunch . . . Sometimes we’re on a flight, sometimes we’re in the clubhouse. The older I get, the more sensitive I am to both sides of it.”
▪ The Sox signed righthander Chansol Lee to a $300,000 deal this past week. He was one of the top high school prospects in South Korea and would likely have been a first-round pick in the Korean Baseball Organization draft.
Daniel Kim, an expert on Korean baseball, offered a scouting report:
“His fastball velocity sat around 92-94 consistently. His secondary pitches need work, as is the case with most high school pitchers. I’d say he’s close to fifth-or sixth-round talent in the MLB draft. Very athletic and he repeats his delivery. With the right coaching and a good pitching program, I’d expect him to throw harder.”
According to Kim, high school talent in Korea is on the upswing. Lee is the first amateur the Red Sox have signed from the country since righthander Byung Yoo in 2002. He topped out at High A.
The Sox see Lee being able to get stronger, and they really like his splitter. They’ll also likely cut down on his five-pitch mix. They had three scouts see him play and felt his competitiveness in high school and international tournaments showed he would fare well against better competition.
▪ Tanner Houck has an odd souvenir in his locker. He kept the model made of his skull that doctors used to fashion the titanium plate that is now permanently embedded in his cheek.
The model shows that Houck suffered several fractures when he was hit by a line drive June 16. Other than a small scar on his cheek, he looks fine.
Houck has the skull hanging on a plastic chain.
“It’s for good luck,” he said.
ETC.
MLB has amended its gambling rules
At last count, 10 NFL players have been suspended for violating that league’s gambling policy. The latest was Broncos defensive end Eyioma Uwazurike this past week, indefinitely suspended for betting on games last season.
It’s a matter of time before Major League Baseball faces the same issue, which led to amending its gambling policy.
The Globe obtained a copy. Rule 21 (the one Pete Rose broke) remains in effect. Gambling on the game is prohibited in any form, as is gambling on events within games and even the Home Run Derby.
Players also cannot play fantasy baseball for money or assist anyone who does. FanDuel and DraftKings are specifically mentioned.
Players are allowed to place legal bets on other sports or play fantasy basketball, football, etc. for money.
Giving out information about injuries, lineups, or transactions to a person “who desires to exploit such information” is prohibited.
What’s interesting about that rule is that many MLB teams issue media passes or on-field passes to people who work in the gambling industry. There also are members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America who provide readers with gambling advice.
The BBWAA is forming a committee to examine how to proceed with gambling issues. MLB also is formulating a policy on credentialing.
Players are allowed to endorse any form of legalized gambling, including casinos. But they cannot recommend how to bet on any baseball game. In essence, a player can get paid to say, “Bet on the World Series,” but not to say, “Take the Rays to win the World Series.”
Players are obligated to report any violation of the policy to the commissioner’s office.
“Please be aware that violations of Major League Rule 21 or this policy may result in discipline up to and including permanent ineligibility from Major League and Minor League Baseball,” the league communicated to players.
Extra bases
In an era when so many teams are run by bloodless actuaries, it was refreshing to see the Angels pull Shohei Ohtani off the market, then trade for Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo López. Ohtani’s response was to throw a 111-pitch shutout in the first game of a doubleheader against the Tigers Thursday, then hit two home runs in the second game. There’s still a good chance this doesn’t work and Ohtani leaves as a free agent after the Angels miss the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season. But isn’t it better to go down swinging trying to keep the best player in the game? . . . There is not much drama left in the draft. Teams generally select only players they know they can sign, evidenced by all but one player in the first 10 rounds agreeing to contracts. The outlier was UC Irvine outfielder Caden Kendle, who turned down the Cardinals after being the 305th pick. It was an odd choice considering Kendle will be a senior next season and have no leverage in negotiations. LSU stars Paul Skenes ($9.2 million from the Pirates) and Dylan Crews ($9 million from the Nationals) now have the two highest draft bonuses in history. Gerrit Cole ($8 million from the Pirates in 2011) had the record for nine years. That has since been surpassed five times . . . The Guardians signed ninth-round pick Jay Driver, who pitched at Harvard and Wellesley High. Driver is almost surely the only draft pick whose second sport in high school was Alpine skiing. He averaged 14.6 strikeouts per nine innings in the Cape Cod League last summer and impressed scouts with his slider. He took a slightly under-slot deal to start his pro career and should benefit by joining an organization that knows how to develop pitching . . . Did you know Jim Thorpe played the final year of his baseball career for the 1919 Boston Braves? The latest edition of the enjoyable Braves Historical Association Newsletter reports that a 32-year-old Thorpe hit .327 over 60 games. He played his final game Sept. 25, going 1 for 5. Thorpe grounded out to end a 14-2 loss to the New York Giants. Thorpe played in the minors another three years, including stops in Portland, Hartford, and a Single A team that played in Fitchburg and Worcester . . . The power of Big Papi: The Hall of Fame induction last Sunday drew a crowd estimated at 10,000. That was 25,000 fewer than last year . . . Happy birthday to Scott Fletcher, who is 65. The infielder had a 15-year career in the majors that included 184 games for the Red Sox from 1993-94. Fletcher was the regular second baseman in 1993 under Butch Hobson, then split time with Tim Naehring in ‘94.
Peter Abraham can be reached at peter.abraham@globe.com. Follow him @PeteAbe. | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/07/29/sports/sunday-baseball-notes/ | 2023-07-29T14:02:52 | 1 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/07/29/sports/sunday-baseball-notes/ |
Katie Ledecky passes Michael Phelps for most individual golds at world championships
FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) — Katie Ledecky added to her legacy as the greatest female swimmer in history when she won the 800-meter freestyle on Saturday at the World Aquatics Championships, establishing two more notable records with the triumph.
The victory by the 26-year-old Ledecky made her the first swimmer ever to win the same event six times at the world championships and also marked her 16th individual world title, breaking a tie with Michael Phelps for the most individual golds ever at the worlds.
Ledecky, who had the 30 top times ever in the 800 entering the race, led all the way, dominating her competitors and winning in a time of 8 minutes, 8.87 seconds.
The gold in the 800 was Ledecky’s second individual gold of these championships following her win in the 1,500 free on Tuesday. She also took silver in the 400 free here.
Li Bingjie of China claimed the silver in 8:13.31, with Ariarne Titmus of Australia took the bronze in 8:13.59.
Kaylee McKeown of Australia made some history of her own with her gold in the women’s 200 backstroke. McKeown’s victory gave her a sweep of all three backstroke events here, after her earlier wins in the 50 and 100. She became the first swimmer ever to sweep all three backstrokes at the worlds.
McKeown took the lead at the final turn and steamed home in 2:03.85. She joined Leon Marchand of France and Qin Haiyang of China as swimmers who swept all three events in the same discipline at these worlds.
Regan Smith of the United States picked up the silver in 2:04.94, while Peng Xuwei of China got the bronze in 2:06.74.
Sarah Sjoestroem of Sweden continued her dominance with gold in the women’s 50-meter butterfly. The 29-year-old won in 24.77 and has now won the event five consecutive times at the worlds. The win brought Sjoestroem’s total number of individual medals at worlds to 20, equaling Phelps’ mark.
Zhang Yufei of China, who took gold in the 100 fly here, claimed the silver in 25.05, while American Gretchen Walsh got the bronze in 25.46.
Fan favorite Rikako Ikee of Japan finished seventh (25.78), but was greeted warmly by the home crowd. The 23-year-old Ikee won six gold medals at the 2018 Asian Games, but was diagnosed with leukemia in February of 2019. Her comeback continues to resonate with both the Japanese public and her fellow competitors.
Cameron McEvoy of Australia led all the way to capture the gold in the men’s 50-meter free in 21.06. American Jack Alexy collected his second silver of the worlds in 21.57 to go with his silver in the 100 free. Benjamin Proud of Britian, last year’s world champion, took the bronze in 21.58.
Maxime Grousset of France won gold in the men’s 100 fly in 50.14. The 24-year-old took the early lead and held on for the victory. Josh Liendo of Canada earned the silver in 50.34, while American Dare Rose made the podium with the bronze (50.46).
Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania equaled the world record of 29.30 in her semifinal in the women’s 50 breaststroke.
Australia won gold in the 4x100 mixed freestyle relay in a world-record time of 3:18.83. The U.S. took the silver in 3:20.82, with Britain getting the bronze in 3:21.68.
___
AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wsaz.com/2023/07/29/katie-ledecky-passes-michael-phelps-most-individual-golds-world-championships/ | 2023-07-29T14:02:55 | 0 | https://www.wsaz.com/2023/07/29/katie-ledecky-passes-michael-phelps-most-individual-golds-world-championships/ |
The 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur can have a sense of the inevitable about it.
"He's blowing past all the stop signs," Allen Hughes, director and executive producer of the Emmy-nominated FX documentary series Dear Mama, told E! News in an exclusive interview, "and it's a moving train wreck at a certain point. It's heartbreaking."
At the same time, Tupac's violent death at 25—even when viewed through the prism of all the beefing and erratic behavior that make his legacy so complicated—was still wildly shocking.
"When he lost his life," Hughes said, "that was the first time people were like, 'Oh, s--t, this is real.'"
Though gunfire made headlines, the battle of words between rappers and their often sprawling cast of associates had for the most part remained just that. And there had always been a sense of the performative about these hip-hop feuds, which the Menace II Society director compared to professional wrestling.
"Even though they're emotional," Hughes explained, "it's still WWE action. But then with a lot of the labels at the time, the streets started coming into the suites, art was imitating life and that line started to blur, big-time. And keep in mind, no one had been killed up till that point. So it wasn't a reality that this was a reality."
But that's not to say Tupac, who had recovered from being shot in 1994, didn't already see himself as living on borrowed time.
"When I heard 'Hit 'Em Up' before he died," Hughes said of the brutal diss track released June 4, 1996, featuring Tupac going hard on onetime friend Notorious B.I.G. (whose murder six months after Tupac's also remains unsolved), "I knew he wasn't gonna be around. You can hear it, he's taking this to another level."
And the filmmaker still regrets never reconciling with Tupac in person after their own creative partnership unraveled 30 years ago.
"We loved hard for like a year and we were gonna do everything together," the now 51-year-old auteur recalled of the time when the Hughes Brothers (as he and twin brother Albert Hughes were credited) directed two music videos for Tupac in 1992 and were working on a third when an argument turned violent.
"What happened at the end, we were both very passionate, highly charged individuals—and my brother as well," Hughes said. "So it makes sense it kind of went like that."
Shakur ended up sentenced to 15 days in jail for his involvement in what Hughes described in Dear Mama as a rather unfair fight, the director briefly appearing on camera to reminisce about the incident.
"For the record," he said in the series, "Tupac didn't beat me up. Ten other motherf--kers beat me up." ("That's when n---as had posses," cracked Snoop Dogg, one of a number of Tupac's friends, family members and fellow artists interviewed in Dear Mama.)
Unfortunately, Hughes told E!, he and Tupac never spoke face to face again. He points to Tupac's 1995 sit-down with MTV News' Tabitha Soren—"Dissing the Hughes Brothers, I wish I hadn't done that"—and the prison interview the rapper gave to Vibe in which he said he "was apologizing" as signs they would have made up.
Hughes said he didn't even know until nine months ago, from reviewing all the raw footage, that Tupac had also told Soren he'd love to work with the Hughes Brothers again, if they'd have him.
"My biggest regret," he said, "was I wasn't man enough—even though he was in the wrong about the situation—to go see him in prison. I would've had a captive audience."
Hughes' own history with Tupac admittedly factored into his initial ambivalence about whether to do the docuseries at all, wary of the inevitable moment he'd become part of the story.
But ultimately, he said, a perfect storm of political, cultural and personal upheaval converged to make it exactly the right project for him.
Hughes was first approached about the series in 2018, when he was already grappling with the divisive political climate and resurgence of racist rhetoric in the public arena. And Tupac's mother, Afeni Shakur, who died in 2016, had been a member of the Black Panther Party, probably one of the most controversial—and misunderstood—organizations in American history.
"They believed in a rainbow alliance, they knew how to bring people together," Hughes said. "I'm that guy, I don't want to be disenfranchised from any culture."
But after current events started "making racism pop" again, he continued, "I'm back in therapy with that s--t."
Then along came "the perfect vehicle to explore all this stuff," he said, "and figure out, 'What is it that I can do? What can we do to shed light on what this condition is? Why are we like this? Where did this come from?' I had all these questions."
So Hughes dove in, thinking "this'll be three years of my life that I can devote towards exorcising this anger—poetically, artistically, creatively—through Dear Mama."
To be clear, though, he stressed, he was motivated because he was appalled by the division he was seeing.
"I believe in all of us doing this together," he said, "and I didn't like that feeling."
He was also reminded during the making of the series that "you're never at the top of the mountain," that the fight for civil rights, women's rights, human rights "is an eternal struggle," he said. "And I was naïve enough to forget that."
Weaving Tupac's story with Afeni's—they both contained multitudes, to say the very least—Dear Mama busts the myth of "two Tupacs," the charismatic poet raised by a radical feminist vs. the volatile face of small-t thug life who was arrested half a dozen times and spent eight months in prison after being convicted of sex abuse (charges he vehemently denied).
"What stayed with me, knowing Tupac," Hughes said, "was the sense of compassion I have for him and his journey now that I just didn't have before. I see the inherited trauma he's born into. I see the expectations the Black Panther Party, his mother had for him. I see what poverty does to the psyche of a young poet."
The prolific rapper and up-and-coming actor, who didn't live to see several of his films come out, basically spent his short adult life torn between the man he thought he was supposed to be and the rock star he was, with all the excesses that entailed.
Growing up with a single mother who accomplished so much as an activist but struggled to keep her household together taught Tupac to revere and protect women, but empowerment anthems were on a downswing and gangsta rap was on the rise when he signed his first record deal. "So there's always that conflict in his journey as an artist," Hughes said. "The toxic masculinity of hip-hop at the time, he was always struggling with it."
He was also the consummate performance artist who fully inhabited whatever character he was playing at any given time, be it fiery revolutionary, mama's boy or millionaire playboy rapper.
"His gift was the power of that transcendent charisma and passion, and anger and love and joy and pain," Hughes said. "All of it with Tupac was like a 10."
Dear Mama is streaming on Hulu. | https://www.eonline.com/news/1381620/what-no-one-understood-about-tupac-shakurand-why-his-murder-was-beyond-shocking?cmpid=rss-syndicate-genericrss-us-top_stories | 2023-07-29T14:02:55 | 0 | https://www.eonline.com/news/1381620/what-no-one-understood-about-tupac-shakurand-why-his-murder-was-beyond-shocking?cmpid=rss-syndicate-genericrss-us-top_stories |
Katie Ledecky passes Michael Phelps for most individual golds at world championships
FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) — Katie Ledecky added to her legacy as the greatest female swimmer in history when she won the 800-meter freestyle on Saturday at the World Aquatics Championships, establishing two more notable records with the triumph.
The victory by the 26-year-old Ledecky made her the first swimmer ever to win the same event six times at the world championships and also marked her 16th individual world title, breaking a tie with Michael Phelps for the most individual golds ever at the worlds.
Ledecky, who had the 30 top times ever in the 800 entering the race, led all the way, dominating her competitors and winning in a time of 8 minutes, 8.87 seconds.
The gold in the 800 was Ledecky’s second individual gold of these championships following her win in the 1,500 free on Tuesday. She also took silver in the 400 free here.
Li Bingjie of China claimed the silver in 8:13.31, with Ariarne Titmus of Australia took the bronze in 8:13.59.
Kaylee McKeown of Australia made some history of her own with her gold in the women’s 200 backstroke. McKeown’s victory gave her a sweep of all three backstroke events here, after her earlier wins in the 50 and 100. She became the first swimmer ever to sweep all three backstrokes at the worlds.
McKeown took the lead at the final turn and steamed home in 2:03.85. She joined Leon Marchand of France and Qin Haiyang of China as swimmers who swept all three events in the same discipline at these worlds.
Regan Smith of the United States picked up the silver in 2:04.94, while Peng Xuwei of China got the bronze in 2:06.74.
Sarah Sjoestroem of Sweden continued her dominance with gold in the women’s 50-meter butterfly. The 29-year-old won in 24.77 and has now won the event five consecutive times at the worlds. The win brought Sjoestroem’s total number of individual medals at worlds to 20, equaling Phelps’ mark.
Zhang Yufei of China, who took gold in the 100 fly here, claimed the silver in 25.05, while American Gretchen Walsh got the bronze in 25.46.
Fan favorite Rikako Ikee of Japan finished seventh (25.78), but was greeted warmly by the home crowd. The 23-year-old Ikee won six gold medals at the 2018 Asian Games, but was diagnosed with leukemia in February of 2019. Her comeback continues to resonate with both the Japanese public and her fellow competitors.
Cameron McEvoy of Australia led all the way to capture the gold in the men’s 50-meter free in 21.06. American Jack Alexy collected his second silver of the worlds in 21.57 to go with his silver in the 100 free. Benjamin Proud of Britian, last year’s world champion, took the bronze in 21.58.
Maxime Grousset of France won gold in the men’s 100 fly in 50.14. The 24-year-old took the early lead and held on for the victory. Josh Liendo of Canada earned the silver in 50.34, while American Dare Rose made the podium with the bronze (50.46).
Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania equaled the world record of 29.30 in her semifinal in the women’s 50 breaststroke.
Australia won gold in the 4x100 mixed freestyle relay in a world-record time of 3:18.83. The U.S. took the silver in 3:20.82, with Britain getting the bronze in 3:21.68.
___
AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kmvt.com/2023/07/29/katie-ledecky-passes-michael-phelps-most-individual-golds-world-championships/ | 2023-07-29T14:02:55 | 0 | https://www.kmvt.com/2023/07/29/katie-ledecky-passes-michael-phelps-most-individual-golds-world-championships/ |
BANGKOK (AP) — A large explosion at a fireworks warehouse in southern Thailand on Saturday killed at least ten people and wounded scores, officials said.
The Narathiwat province’s Public Relations Department also said that also at least 118 people were hurt, and that residents of more than 200 households were affected. It said that officials believe there are still a number of people trapped under the debris waiting to be rescued.
Videos posted on social media from the site show a huge plume of smoke over the area and many damaged structures, cars and motorbikes, as well as streets covered with debris. Many of the houses and other buildings have collapsed roofs and walls.
The local public relations agency reported that the explosion cased damages in a radius of about 500 meters (1,640 feet). About 100 residences in the area were damaged, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.
Sanan Pongaksorn, the provincial governor, told public broadcaster Thai PBS that the blast was likely ignited by construction work that was taking place in the warehouse, with sparks from metal welding causing the fireworks stored inside to catch fire and explode. | https://www.seattletimes.com/business/a-large-explosion-at-a-fireworks-warehouse-in-thailand-kills-at-least-9-people-and-wounds-scores/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2023-07-29T14:02:55 | 0 | https://www.seattletimes.com/business/a-large-explosion-at-a-fireworks-warehouse-in-thailand-kills-at-least-9-people-and-wounds-scores/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
A one-armed robot stood in front of a table. On the table sat three plastic figurines: a lion, a whale and a dinosaur.
An engineer gave the robot an instruction: “Pick up the extinct animal.”
The robot whirred for a moment, then its arm extended and its claw opened and descended. It grabbed the dinosaur.
Until very recently, this demonstration, which I witnessed during a podcast interview at Google’s robotics division in Mountain View, Calif., last week, would have been impossible. Robots weren’t able to reliably manipulate objects they had never seen before, and they certainly weren’t capable of making the logical leap from “extinct animal” to “plastic dinosaur.”
But a quiet revolution is underway in robotics, one that piggybacks on recent advances in so-called large language models — the same type of artificial intelligence system that powers ChatGPT, Bard and other chatbots.
Google has recently begun plugging state-of-the-art language models into its robots, giving them the equivalent of artificial brains. The secretive project has made the robots far smarter and given them new powers of understanding and problem-solving.
I got a glimpse of that progress during a private demonstration of Google’s latest robotics model, called RT-2. The model, which was being unveiled Friday, amounts to a first step toward what Google executives described as a major leap in the way robots are built and programmed.
“We’ve had to reconsider our entire research program as a result of this change,” said Vincent Vanhoucke, Google DeepMind’s head of robotics. “A lot of the things that we were working on before have been entirely invalidated.”
Robots still fall short of human-level dexterity and fail at some basic tasks, but Google’s use of AI language models to give robots new skills of reasoning and improvisation represents a promising breakthrough, said Ken Goldberg, a robotics professor at the University of California, Berkeley.
“What’s very impressive is how it links semantics with robots,” he said. “That’s very exciting for robotics.”
To understand the magnitude of this, it helps to know a little about how robots have conventionally been built.
For years, the way engineers at Google and other companies trained robots to do a mechanical task — flipping a burger, for example — was by programming them with a specific list of instructions. (Lower the spatula 6.5 inches, slide it forward until it encounters resistance, raise it 4.2 inches, rotate it 180 degrees, and so on.) Robots would then practice the task again and again, with engineers tweaking the instructions each time until they got it right.
This approach worked for certain, limited uses. But training robots this way is slow and labor-intensive. It requires collecting lots of data from real-world tests. And if you wanted to teach a robot to do something new — to flip a pancake instead of a burger, say — you usually had to reprogram it from scratch.
Partly because of these limitations, hardware robots have improved less quickly than their software-based siblings. OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, disbanded its robotics team in 2021, citing slow progress and a lack of high-quality training data. In 2017, Google’s parent company, Alphabet, sold Boston Dynamics, a robotics company it had acquired, to Japanese tech conglomerate SoftBank. (Boston Dynamics is now owned by Hyundai and seems to exist mainly to produce viral videos of humanoid robots performing terrifying feats of agility.)
In recent years, researchers at Google had an idea. What if, instead of being programmed for specific tasks one by one, robots could use an AI language model — one that had been trained on vast swaths of internet text — to learn new skills for themselves?
“We started playing with these language models around two years ago, and then we realized that they have a lot of knowledge in them,” said Karol Hausman, a Google research scientist. “So we started connecting them to robots.”
Google’s first attempt to join language models and physical robots was a research project called PaLM-SayCan, which was revealed last year. It drew some attention, but its usefulness was limited. The robots lacked the ability to interpret images — a crucial skill, if you want them to be able to navigate the world. They could write out step-by-step instructions for different tasks, but they couldn’t turn those steps into actions.
Google’s new robotics model, RT-2, can do just that. It’s what the company calls a “vision-language-action” model, or an AI system that has the ability not just to see and analyze the world around it, but to tell a robot how to move.
It does so by translating the robot’s movements into a series of numbers — a process called tokenizing — and incorporating those tokens into the same training data as the language model. Eventually, just as ChatGPT or Bard learns to guess what words should come next in a poem or a history essay, RT-2 can learn to guess how a robot’s arm should move to pick up a ball or throw an empty soda can into the recycling bin.
“In other words, this model can learn to speak robot,” Hausman said.
In an hourlong demonstration, which took place in a Google office kitchen littered with objects from a dollar store, my podcast co-host and I saw RT-2 perform a number of impressive tasks. One was successfully following complex instructions such as “move the Volkswagen to the German flag,” which RT-2 did by finding and snagging a model VW Bus and setting it down on a miniature German flag several feet away.
It also proved capable of following instructions in languages other than English, and even making abstract connections between related concepts. Once, when I wanted RT-2 to pick up a soccer ball, I instructed it to “pick up Lionel Messi.” RT-2 got it right on the first try.
The robot wasn’t perfect. It incorrectly identified the flavor of a can of LaCroix placed on the table in front of it. (The can was lemon; RT-2 guessed orange.) Another time, when it was asked what kind of fruit was on a table, the robot simply answered, “White.” (It was a banana.) A Google spokesperson said the robot had used a cached answer to a previous tester’s question because its Wi-Fi had briefly gone out.
Google has no immediate plans to sell RT-2 robots or release them more widely, but its researchers believe these new language-equipped machines will eventually be useful for more than just parlor tricks. Robots with built-in language models could be put into warehouses, used in medicine or even deployed as household assistants — folding laundry, unloading the dishwasher or picking up around the house, they said.
“This really opens up using robots in environments where people are,” Vanhoucke said. “In office environments, in home environments, in all the places where there are a lot of physical tasks that need to be done.”
Of course, moving objects around in the messy, chaotic physical world is harder than doing it in a controlled lab. And given that AI language models frequently make mistakes or invent nonsensical answers — which researchers call hallucination or confabulation — using them as the brains of robots could introduce new risks.
But Goldberg said those risks were still remote. “We’re not talking about letting these things run loose,” he said. “In these lab environments, they’re just trying to push some objects around on a table.”
Google said RT-2 was equipped with plenty of safety features. In addition to a big red button on the back of every robot — which stops the robot in its tracks when pressed — the system uses sensors to avoid bumping into people or objects.
The AI software built into RT-2 has its own safeguards, which it can use to prevent the robot from doing anything harmful. One benign example: Google’s robots can be trained not to pick up containers with water in them, because water can damage their hardware if it spills.
If you’re the kind of person who worries about AI going rogue — and Hollywood has given us plenty of reasons to fear that scenario, from the original “Terminator” to last year’s “M3gan” — the idea of making robots that can reason, plan and improvise on the fly probably strikes you as a terrible idea.
But at Google, it’s the kind of idea researchers are celebrating. After years in the wilderness, hardware robots are back — and they have their chatbot brains to thank. | https://www.seattletimes.com/business/aided-by-ai-language-models-googles-robots-are-getting-smart/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2023-07-29T14:02:56 | 1 | https://www.seattletimes.com/business/aided-by-ai-language-models-googles-robots-are-getting-smart/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
What politicians could learn from the young people thinning Arizona's forests
Opinion: Politicians often just want the other side to lose. But an effort to thin Arizona forests and provide lumber for tribes is a classic win-win.
“Getting to Yes,” a classic business book on negotiation, opens with a simple example.
Two people fight over a single orange. The usual solution would be to split it in half, leaving both sides somewhat satisfied and somewhat annoyed.
But after discussing the dilemma, one person wanted to eat the orange while the other just needed the peel to bake a cake. Both sides ended up with all they wanted, providing a classic win-win.
Everyone in D.C. should read “Getting to Yes.”
Many politicians want the other side to lose
Many assume politicians and policymakers are the best negotiators, but today they only want their side to win and the other to lose.
In fact, some partisans won’t even accept a win if it means their ideological enemy might see the slightest benefit from the deal.
Why improve immigration, the national debt or countless other problems when you can use the issue to bash your opponent in the next election cycle?
This mentality has broken Capitol Hill, ensuring Congress can’t advance any needed reforms.
About the only meaningful bills they pass are gargantuan “omnibus” bills — 4,000-page monstrosities that leave both sides wanting payback.
Thankfully, change doesn’t need to come from the Beltway. When the American people want to improve things, it’s best to work in our statehouses and local communities.
Wood for Life has found a win-win
One great example of people achieving a rare win-win outcome is happening right here in Arizona.
A project called Wood for Life found a way to protect Arizona forests while improving life for the Native American communities that surround them.
Considering our high summer temperatures and the lightning-laden monsoons heading our way, wildfires are a great danger. Making the threat worse is the excess dead and fallen trees littering the natural landscape.
At the same time, Indigenous communities have struggled for energy, especially since the Navajo Generating Plant closed in 2019.
Where can they find affordable fuel without that massive coal-fired power plant?
Before long, people working on each of these seemingly unrelated problems discovered a perfect solution. And it’s a classic win-win.
Arizona forests are thinned, tribes get fuel
The Wood For Life program salvages small-diameter timber and dead wood, restoring the forest while mitigating the threat of massive wildfires. This material is far too small for logging operations, but it is invaluable as a personal fuel source.
All of this wood is now made available to Navajo and Hopi tribal members, who use it for cooking, heating, building projects and mulching.
Crews of young people are given excellent work experience by gathering and distributing the wood to families most in need, especially those living in remote parts of the reservations.
After being trained on the procedures and equipment, young workers camp near the worksite in a nine-day cycle. Once finished, they benefit their communities with the fruits of their labor.
Challenges to thinning:Lumber mill struggles to pay bonds
Started in 2020, Wood For Life now operates not only in our state, but in New Mexico, Colorado and Idaho as well. The program has been so successful that organizers are looking to expand into new areas.
Imagine if elected leaders did the same
It might take a while for the program to launch in California, since a few extreme organizations there still resist forest thinning projects.
The Environmental Defense Center tried to stop a separate restoration effort in the Los Padres National Forest, northeast of ultra-wealthy Santa Barbara.
A federal judge refused their request on July 19, agreeing with growing consensus on forest fire reduction efforts.
Win-win solutions don’t lend themselves to blaring headlines and clickbait articles.
Nevertheless, Wood for Life is a great example of community leaders finding a pair of problems and hammering out a solution that helps everyone involved.
Imagine how many other problems could be solved if our leaders strove for win-win solutions instead of just punishing their opponents.
Jon Gabriel, a Mesa resident, is editor-in-chief of Ricochet.com and a contributor to The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. On Twitter: @exjon. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/2023/07/29/wood-for-life-arizona-forest-thinning-lesson-compromise/70477436007/ | 2023-07-29T14:02:58 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/2023/07/29/wood-for-life-arizona-forest-thinning-lesson-compromise/70477436007/ |
MLB Games Tonight: How to Watch on TV, Streaming & Odds - Saturday, July 29
In one of the many compelling matchups on the MLB schedule today, the Texas Rangers and the San Diego Padres take the field at PETCO Park.
In terms of live coverage, we have everything you need to know regarding today's MLB action here. Check out the links below.
Watch MLB games and tons of other live sports without cable! Use our link to get a free trial to Fubo..
How to Watch Today's MLB Games
The Toronto Blue Jays (58-46) play the Los Angeles Angels (54-50)
The Angels will hit the field at Rogers Centre versus the Blue Jays on Saturday at 3:07 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: MLB Network
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 3:07 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- TOR Key Player: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (.270 AVG, 17 HR, 65 RBI)
- LAA Key Player: Shohei Ohtani (.301 AVG, 39 HR, 81 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Miami Marlins (56-48) take on the Detroit Tigers (46-58)
The Tigers will hit the field at LoanDepot park versus the Marlins on Saturday at 4:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: Fox Sports 1
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 4:10 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- MIA Key Player: Luis Arraez (.380 AVG, 3 HR, 51 RBI)
- DET Key Player: Spencer Torkelson (.232 AVG, 15 HR, 58 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
Watch live MLB games on all your devices! Sign up now for a free trial to Fubo!
The Pittsburgh Pirates (45-58) play the Philadelphia Phillies (56-47)
The Phillies will take to the field at PNC Park versus the Pirates on Saturday at 7:05 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: SportsNet PT
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 7:05 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- PIT Key Player: Bryan Reynolds (.256 AVG, 11 HR, 47 RBI)
- PHI Key Player: Bryson Stott (.302 AVG, 9 HR, 37 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Kansas City Royals (30-75) play the Minnesota Twins (54-51)
The Twins will take to the field at Kauffman Stadium against the Royals on Saturday at 7:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- KC Key Player: Bobby Witt Jr. (.257 AVG, 17 HR, 57 RBI)
- MIN Key Player: Carlos Correa (.229 AVG, 12 HR, 45 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
Buy gear from your favorite teams and players NOW at Fanatics!
The Chicago White Sox (42-63) take on the Cleveland Guardians (52-52)
The Guardians hope to get a road victory at Guaranteed Rate Field versus the White Sox on Saturday at 7:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- CHW Key Player: Luis Robert (.267 AVG, 29 HR, 59 RBI)
- CLE Key Player: José Ramírez (.285 AVG, 16 HR, 60 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The New York Mets (49-54) face the Washington Nationals (43-61)
The Nationals will look to pick up a road win at Citi Field against the Mets on Saturday at 7:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- NYM Key Player: Pete Alonso (.220 AVG, 30 HR, 73 RBI)
- WSH Key Player: Lane Thomas (.287 AVG, 16 HR, 54 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The San Francisco Giants (56-48) host the Boston Red Sox (56-47)
The Red Sox will look to pick up a road win at Oracle Park versus the Giants on Saturday at 7:15 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- SF Key Player: LaMonte Wade Jr (.269 AVG, 9 HR, 29 RBI)
- BOS Key Player: Justin Turner (.286 AVG, 16 HR, 66 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The St. Louis Cardinals (46-59) take on the Chicago Cubs (52-51)
The Cubs hope to get a road victory at Busch Stadium against the Cardinals on Saturday at 7:15 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- STL Key Player: Nolan Arenado (.284 AVG, 22 HR, 77 RBI)
- CHC Key Player: Nico Hoerner (.281 AVG, 7 HR, 57 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Houston Astros (58-46) take on the Tampa Bay Rays (63-43)
The Rays will take to the field at Minute Maid Park versus the Astros on Saturday at 7:15 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- HOU Key Player: Kyle Tucker (.304 AVG, 18 HR, 69 RBI)
- TB Key Player: Wander Franco (.264 AVG, 11 HR, 48 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Baltimore Orioles (63-40) play host to the New York Yankees (54-49)
The Yankees will take to the field at Oriole Park at Camden Yards against the Orioles on Saturday at 7:15 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- BAL Key Player: Adley Rutschman (.268 AVG, 14 HR, 46 RBI)
- NYY Key Player: Gleyber Torres (.261 AVG, 16 HR, 43 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Atlanta Braves (65-36) play host to the Milwaukee Brewers (57-47)
The Brewers will hit the field at Truist Park versus the Braves on Saturday at 7:20 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- ATL Key Player: Ronald Acuña Jr. (.329 AVG, 23 HR, 59 RBI)
- MIL Key Player: Christian Yelich (.286 AVG, 15 HR, 58 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Arizona Diamondbacks (55-49) face the Seattle Mariners (53-50)
The Mariners will hit the field at Chase Field against the Diamondbacks on Saturday at 8:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- ARI Key Player: Corbin Carroll (.290 AVG, 21 HR, 57 RBI)
- SEA Key Player: Julio Rodríguez (.252 AVG, 17 HR, 55 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Colorado Rockies (40-63) play host to the Oakland Athletics (29-76)
The Athletics hope to get a road victory at Coors Field versus the Rockies on Saturday at 8:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: SportsNet RM
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 8:10 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- COL Key Player: Ryan McMahon (.254 AVG, 16 HR, 48 RBI)
- OAK Key Player: Tony Kemp (.216 AVG, 3 HR, 20 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The San Diego Padres (50-54) play the Texas Rangers (60-44)
The Rangers hope to get a road victory at PETCO Park versus the Padres on Saturday at 8:40 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- SD Key Player: Juan Soto (.266 AVG, 20 HR, 63 RBI)
- TEX Key Player: Marcus Semien (.277 AVG, 15 HR, 64 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Los Angeles Dodgers (58-44) take on the Cincinnati Reds (57-48)
The Reds will look to pick up a road win at Dodger Stadium versus the Dodgers on Saturday at 9:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: SportsNet LA
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 9:10 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- LAD Key Player: Freddie Freeman (.332 AVG, 21 HR, 73 RBI)
- CIN Key Player: Spencer Steer (.276 AVG, 15 HR, 56 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER.
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.kmvt.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/mlb-odds-how-to-watch/ | 2023-07-29T14:03:01 | 1 | https://www.kmvt.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/mlb-odds-how-to-watch/ |
Top Player Prop Bets for Marlins vs. Tigers on July 29, 2023
The Miami Marlins host the Detroit Tigers at LoanDepot park on Saturday at 4:10 PM ET. Those looking to place a player prop wager can find odds for Luis Arraez, Spencer Torkelson and others in this game.
Bet on this matchup or its props with BetMGM!
Marlins vs. Tigers Game Info
- When: Saturday, July 29, 2023 at 4:10 PM ET
- Where: LoanDepot park in Miami, Florida
- How to Watch on TV: Fox Sports 1
- Live Stream: Watch the MLB on Fubo!
Discover More About This Game
MLB Props Today: Miami Marlins
Johnny Cueto Props
- Strikeouts Prop: Over/Under 4.5 (Over Odds: -145)
Cueto Stats
- The Marlins will send Johnny Cueto to the mound for his third start of the season.
Cueto Recent Games
Check out the latest odds and place your bets on any of Johnny Cueto's player props with BetMGM.
Luis Arraez Props
- Hits Prop: Over/Under 1.5 (Over Odds: +145)
- Runs Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +115)
- Home Runs Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +1100)
- RBI Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +195)
Arraez Stats
- Arraez has 24 doubles, two triples, three home runs, 30 walks and 51 RBI (144 total hits). He has stolen one base.
- He has a .380/.428/.478 slash line so far this year.
- Arraez has picked up at least one hit in two straight games. In his last five games he is batting .500 with four doubles, a triple, a walk and five RBI.
Arraez Recent Games
Jorge Soler Props
- Hits Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: -233)
- Runs Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: -105)
- Home Runs Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +360)
- RBI Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +165)
Soler Stats
- Jorge Soler has collected 88 hits with 19 doubles, 24 home runs and 47 walks. He has driven in 54 runs with one stolen base.
- He has a .240/.332/.488 slash line on the year.
Soler Recent Games
Bet on player props for Luis Arraez, Jorge Soler or other Marlins players with BetMGM.
Buy officially licensed gear for your favorite teams and players at Fanatics!
MLB Props Today: Detroit Tigers
Spencer Torkelson Props
- Hits Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: -244)
- Runs Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +115)
- Home Runs Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +390)
- RBI Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +145)
Torkelson Stats
- Torkelson has 90 hits with 23 doubles, a triple, 15 home runs, 43 walks and 58 RBI. He's also stolen two bases.
- He's slashing .232/.311/.412 so far this year.
Torkelson Recent Games
Javier Báez Props
- Hits Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: -227)
- Runs Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +155)
- Home Runs Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +750)
- RBI Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +205)
Báez Stats
- Javier Baez has 86 hits with 12 doubles, four triples, seven home runs, 16 walks and 47 RBI. He's also stolen nine bases.
- He's slashed .225/.263/.332 so far this year.
Báez Recent Games
Bet on player props for Spencer Torkelson, Javier Báez or other Tigers players with BetMGM.
Not all offers available in all states. Please gamble responsibly. If you or someone you know has developed a gambling problem or addiction, contact 1-800-GAMBLER.
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wsaz.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/marlins-vs-tigers-mlb-player-prop-bets/ | 2023-07-29T14:03:01 | 0 | https://www.wsaz.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/marlins-vs-tigers-mlb-player-prop-bets/ |
If it feels like flying out of Seattle is more arduous than ever lately, you’re not alone — with the highs of summer come the lows of travel.
This summer, the average wait times in security lines at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport during peak travel hours are longer than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic.
While passenger traffic this year is still lower than in 2019, Sea-Tac recorded its busiest day in airport history Monday, in part thanks to Taylor Swift fans heading home after concerts last weekend.
Travelers passing through Sea-Tac at peak times this June and July spent about half an hour getting through security, according to data from the Port of Seattle provided to The Seattle Times. In 2019, before the pandemic-led air travel crash, the peak average wait time was 20 minutes.
Peak hours at Sea-Tac run from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m., with the most traffic between 5 a.m. and 12 p.m.
Aside from the average, the maximum wait time passengers spent in line for a security check at any point in June was over an hour and a half. That’s the longest wait time recorded since weather-related delays caused maximum wait times to hit new highs in November and December.
Wait times are usually far below those maximums throughout the day. Still, it’s a palpable increase from a max of 35 minutes in January.
On the whole, fewer travelers are waiting less than 20 minutes at Sea-Tac’s security checkpoints this year. For the first time in four years, less than 80% of travelers spent less than half an hour going through security. Less than half spent less than 20 minutes.
Sea-Tac has the sixth-longest wait times among all airports in the country, according to a study on airport wait times by luggage storage company Bounce released in June.
For those looking to avoid high wait times, consider booking flights outside the peak hours of 4 a.m. to 2 p.m. If that’s not possible, consider using TSA Precheck or Clear, or planning ahead with SEA Spot Saver, the Port’s free appointment system for security screenings.
So, does the growth in wait times since their pandemic lows mean air travel has bounced back? Not quite, Sea-Tac Airport spokesperson Perry Cooper said.
Passenger volumes are rising with a record cruise season this year, but traffic is still lighter than in 2019, when the airport recorded its busiest year ever.
“If you and I walk in through there, we’re not going to notice the difference, but we’re still down 5% to 6% from 2019, or 1% to 2% right now in the summer,” Cooper said.
From June to mid-July, the average number of passengers screened each day by the Transportation Security Administration was about 63,000; in 2019 it was about 64,000. The Port of Seattle, which operates the airport, projects a full return to 2019 levels in 2024.
As numbers rise, so will the challenges that come with Sea-Tac’s small footprint, which doesn’t allow for adding new security checkpoints.
Even with all checkpoints and lanes open, the airport can only push through so many passengers an hour. As airlines accommodate more passengers by adding larger aircraft to their fleets, more passengers can fly during the morning peak hours. Yet only so many can fit through, and backups have a domino effect.
“All our checkpoints lead to all gates, and that’s how we’re a little bit different from other airports,” Cooper said. “On the one hand, it’s convenient but on the other, without multiple terminals, we can’t separate folks to other areas.
“We just don’t have the space.”
On Monday, after over 140,000 Taylor Swift fans broke a Lumen Field attendance record last weekend, Sea-Tac recorded its busiest day in airport history. With a volume of 73,651 passengers, the day eclipsed the previous high of 72,154 recorded in August 2019. Yet, wait times did not peak.
“Quite honestly, we didn’t see big wait times at all on Monday, even though we had a record day,” Perry said.
Apart from passenger volumes, a major factor affecting wait times is staffing for shuttle buses, airline check-ins and security lanes. Technical problems with screening equipment, although less common, also create delays.
“The airport is not immune to the staffing shortages we’re facing across the country,” Cooper said. “Ideally, we want to have all of our lanes open during the peak periods and from a scheduling standpoint, that’s what TSA and all of us here at the airport are trying to manage.”
The number of open lanes to each of the Port’s five security checkpoints heavily depends on TSA staffing, which has faced a crunch since the pandemic. While TSA has added more staffers for Sea-Tac, the Port says it still needs more. | https://www.seattletimes.com/business/sea-tac-airport-just-set-a-passenger-record-wait-times-are-soaring-too/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2023-07-29T14:03:03 | 1 | https://www.seattletimes.com/business/sea-tac-airport-just-set-a-passenger-record-wait-times-are-soaring-too/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
Germany vs. Colombia: Live Stream, TV Channel & Game Info - July 30
Published: Jul. 29, 2023 at 7:37 AM MDT|Updated: 24 minutes ago
Germany will meet Colombia, in the middle round of group-stage matches at the 2023 Women's World Cup, on July 30 at 5:30 AM ET in Sydney, Australia.
This game will be available on Fox Sports 1.
Watch the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup on Fubo! Sign up for a free trial and start watching live sports without cable today!
How to Watch Germany vs. Colombia
- Game Day: Sunday, July 30, 2023
- Game Time: 5:30 AM ET
- TV Channel: Fox Sports 1
- Location: Sydney, Australia
- Venue: Sydney Football Stadium
Sign up for a Fubo free trial now to watch the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and more live sports!
Germany Group Stage Schedule
Germany's Recent Performance
- In its previous match, Germany got a 6-0 victory over Morocco, taking 15 shots and outshooting by 10.
- Germany was led by Alexandra Popp, who scored two of her side's goals versus .
- Popp's Women's World Cup statline through one appearance for Germany includes two goals.
- In one Women's World Cup game so far, Klara Buehl has recorded one goal while adding one assist.
- During Women's World Cup play, Lea Schuller has scored one goal (but has no assists).
Get your 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup gear at Fanatics!
Germany's 2023 Women's World Cup Roster
- Merle Frohms #1
- Chantal Hagel #2
- Kathrin Hendrich #3
- Sophia Kleinherne #4
- Marina Hegering #5
- Lena Oberdorf #6
- Lea Schuller #7
- Sydney Lohmann #8
- Svenja Huth #9
- Laura Freigang #10
- Alexandra Popp #11
- Ann Katrin Berger #12
- Sara Daebritz #13
- Lena Lattwein #14
- Sjoeke Nusken #15
- Nicole Anyomi #16
- Felicitas Rauch #17
- Melanie Leupolz #18
- Klara Buehl #19
- Lina Magull #20
- Stina Johannes #21
- Jule Brand #22
- Sara Doorsoun #23
Colombia Group Stage Schedule
Colombia's Recent Performance
- In its most recent match on July 24, Colombia defeated South Korea 2-0. Colombia outshot South Korea 15 to four.
- Linda Caicedo and Catalina Usme paced Colombia by tallying a goal each. They had one and three shots, respectively.
- Usme has one goal for Colombia in Women's World Cup (one game).
- Caicedo has one goal for Colombia in Women's World Cup.
Colombia's 2023 Women's World Cup Roster
- Catalina Perez #1
- Manuela Vanegas #2
- Daniela Arias #3
- Diana Ospina #4
- Lorena Bedoya #5
- Daniela Montoya #6
- Cami Reyes Calderon #7
- Marcela Restrepo #8
- Mayra Ramirez #9
- Leicy Santos #10
- Catalina Usme #11
- Sandra Sepulveda #12
- Natalia Giraldo Alzate #13
- Angela Daniela Baron #14
- Ana Maria Guzman #15
- Lady Andrade #16
- Caroline Arias #17
- Linda Caicedo #18
- Jorelyn Carabali #19
- Monica Ramos Santana #20
- Ivonne Chacon #21
- Daniela Caracas #22
- Elexa Marie Bahr Gutierrez #23
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.kmvt.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/2023-womens-world-cup-germany-colombia-live-stream-tv/ | 2023-07-29T14:03:07 | 1 | https://www.kmvt.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/2023-womens-world-cup-germany-colombia-live-stream-tv/ |
MLB Games Tonight: How to Watch on TV, Streaming & Odds - Saturday, July 29
In one of the many compelling matchups on the MLB schedule today, the Texas Rangers and the San Diego Padres take the field at PETCO Park.
In terms of live coverage, we have everything you need to know regarding today's MLB action here. Check out the links below.
Watch MLB games and tons of other live sports without cable! Use our link to get a free trial to Fubo..
How to Watch Today's MLB Games
The Toronto Blue Jays (58-46) play the Los Angeles Angels (54-50)
The Angels will hit the field at Rogers Centre versus the Blue Jays on Saturday at 3:07 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: MLB Network
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 3:07 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- TOR Key Player: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (.270 AVG, 17 HR, 65 RBI)
- LAA Key Player: Shohei Ohtani (.301 AVG, 39 HR, 81 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Miami Marlins (56-48) take on the Detroit Tigers (46-58)
The Tigers will hit the field at LoanDepot park versus the Marlins on Saturday at 4:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: Fox Sports 1
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 4:10 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- MIA Key Player: Luis Arraez (.380 AVG, 3 HR, 51 RBI)
- DET Key Player: Spencer Torkelson (.232 AVG, 15 HR, 58 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
Watch live MLB games on all your devices! Sign up now for a free trial to Fubo!
The Pittsburgh Pirates (45-58) play the Philadelphia Phillies (56-47)
The Phillies will take to the field at PNC Park versus the Pirates on Saturday at 7:05 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: SportsNet PT
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 7:05 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- PIT Key Player: Bryan Reynolds (.256 AVG, 11 HR, 47 RBI)
- PHI Key Player: Bryson Stott (.302 AVG, 9 HR, 37 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Kansas City Royals (30-75) play the Minnesota Twins (54-51)
The Twins will take to the field at Kauffman Stadium against the Royals on Saturday at 7:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- KC Key Player: Bobby Witt Jr. (.257 AVG, 17 HR, 57 RBI)
- MIN Key Player: Carlos Correa (.229 AVG, 12 HR, 45 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
Buy gear from your favorite teams and players NOW at Fanatics!
The Chicago White Sox (42-63) take on the Cleveland Guardians (52-52)
The Guardians hope to get a road victory at Guaranteed Rate Field versus the White Sox on Saturday at 7:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- CHW Key Player: Luis Robert (.267 AVG, 29 HR, 59 RBI)
- CLE Key Player: José Ramírez (.285 AVG, 16 HR, 60 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The New York Mets (49-54) face the Washington Nationals (43-61)
The Nationals will look to pick up a road win at Citi Field against the Mets on Saturday at 7:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- NYM Key Player: Pete Alonso (.220 AVG, 30 HR, 73 RBI)
- WSH Key Player: Lane Thomas (.287 AVG, 16 HR, 54 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The San Francisco Giants (56-48) host the Boston Red Sox (56-47)
The Red Sox will look to pick up a road win at Oracle Park versus the Giants on Saturday at 7:15 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- SF Key Player: LaMonte Wade Jr (.269 AVG, 9 HR, 29 RBI)
- BOS Key Player: Justin Turner (.286 AVG, 16 HR, 66 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The St. Louis Cardinals (46-59) take on the Chicago Cubs (52-51)
The Cubs hope to get a road victory at Busch Stadium against the Cardinals on Saturday at 7:15 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- STL Key Player: Nolan Arenado (.284 AVG, 22 HR, 77 RBI)
- CHC Key Player: Nico Hoerner (.281 AVG, 7 HR, 57 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Houston Astros (58-46) take on the Tampa Bay Rays (63-43)
The Rays will take to the field at Minute Maid Park versus the Astros on Saturday at 7:15 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- HOU Key Player: Kyle Tucker (.304 AVG, 18 HR, 69 RBI)
- TB Key Player: Wander Franco (.264 AVG, 11 HR, 48 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Baltimore Orioles (63-40) play host to the New York Yankees (54-49)
The Yankees will take to the field at Oriole Park at Camden Yards against the Orioles on Saturday at 7:15 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- BAL Key Player: Adley Rutschman (.268 AVG, 14 HR, 46 RBI)
- NYY Key Player: Gleyber Torres (.261 AVG, 16 HR, 43 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Atlanta Braves (65-36) play host to the Milwaukee Brewers (57-47)
The Brewers will hit the field at Truist Park versus the Braves on Saturday at 7:20 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- ATL Key Player: Ronald Acuña Jr. (.329 AVG, 23 HR, 59 RBI)
- MIL Key Player: Christian Yelich (.286 AVG, 15 HR, 58 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Arizona Diamondbacks (55-49) face the Seattle Mariners (53-50)
The Mariners will hit the field at Chase Field against the Diamondbacks on Saturday at 8:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- ARI Key Player: Corbin Carroll (.290 AVG, 21 HR, 57 RBI)
- SEA Key Player: Julio Rodríguez (.252 AVG, 17 HR, 55 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Colorado Rockies (40-63) play host to the Oakland Athletics (29-76)
The Athletics hope to get a road victory at Coors Field versus the Rockies on Saturday at 8:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: SportsNet RM
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 8:10 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- COL Key Player: Ryan McMahon (.254 AVG, 16 HR, 48 RBI)
- OAK Key Player: Tony Kemp (.216 AVG, 3 HR, 20 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The San Diego Padres (50-54) play the Texas Rangers (60-44)
The Rangers hope to get a road victory at PETCO Park versus the Padres on Saturday at 8:40 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- SD Key Player: Juan Soto (.266 AVG, 20 HR, 63 RBI)
- TEX Key Player: Marcus Semien (.277 AVG, 15 HR, 64 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Los Angeles Dodgers (58-44) take on the Cincinnati Reds (57-48)
The Reds will look to pick up a road win at Dodger Stadium versus the Dodgers on Saturday at 9:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: SportsNet LA
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 9:10 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- LAD Key Player: Freddie Freeman (.332 AVG, 21 HR, 73 RBI)
- CIN Key Player: Spencer Steer (.276 AVG, 15 HR, 56 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER.
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wsaz.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/mlb-odds-how-to-watch/ | 2023-07-29T14:03:07 | 1 | https://www.wsaz.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/mlb-odds-how-to-watch/ |
RAVE to my thoughtful late father, who handed me a packet of heirloom variety lettuce seeds shortly before he passed away 14 years ago. I came across the packet a couple of weeks ago in the back of a drawer and planted them. They sprouted this week.
RANT to campers who take over campsites. We were camping in the Wenatchee National Forest when a very large family reunion camped around us. It was fine until they blared their music all day/evening from 7:15 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. We moved to another area after two days of this going on. We go camping to enjoy the natural beauty and sounds in the forest.
RAVE to whoever found my wallet on a Metro bus and added $60 before turning it over to lost and found. You turned a bad day into feeling like I won the lottery. Thank you! | https://www.seattletimes.com/life/lifestyle/rant-and-rave-reader-finds-nice-reminder-of-late-father/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2023-07-29T14:03:09 | 0 | https://www.seattletimes.com/life/lifestyle/rant-and-rave-reader-finds-nice-reminder-of-late-father/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
Germany vs. Colombia: Live Stream, TV Channel & Game Info - July 30
Published: Jul. 29, 2023 at 9:37 AM EDT|Updated: 25 minutes ago
Germany will meet Colombia, in the middle round of group-stage matches at the 2023 Women's World Cup, on July 30 at 5:30 AM ET in Sydney, Australia.
This game will be available on Fox Sports 1.
Watch the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup on Fubo! Sign up for a free trial and start watching live sports without cable today!
How to Watch Germany vs. Colombia
- Game Day: Sunday, July 30, 2023
- Game Time: 5:30 AM ET
- TV Channel: Fox Sports 1
- Location: Sydney, Australia
- Venue: Sydney Football Stadium
Sign up for a Fubo free trial now to watch the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and more live sports!
Germany Group Stage Schedule
Germany's Recent Performance
- In its previous match, Germany got a 6-0 victory over Morocco, taking 15 shots and outshooting by 10.
- Germany was led by Alexandra Popp, who scored two of her side's goals versus .
- Popp's Women's World Cup statline through one appearance for Germany includes two goals.
- In one Women's World Cup game so far, Klara Buehl has recorded one goal while adding one assist.
- During Women's World Cup play, Lea Schuller has scored one goal (but has no assists).
Get your 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup gear at Fanatics!
Germany's 2023 Women's World Cup Roster
- Merle Frohms #1
- Chantal Hagel #2
- Kathrin Hendrich #3
- Sophia Kleinherne #4
- Marina Hegering #5
- Lena Oberdorf #6
- Lea Schuller #7
- Sydney Lohmann #8
- Svenja Huth #9
- Laura Freigang #10
- Alexandra Popp #11
- Ann Katrin Berger #12
- Sara Daebritz #13
- Lena Lattwein #14
- Sjoeke Nusken #15
- Nicole Anyomi #16
- Felicitas Rauch #17
- Melanie Leupolz #18
- Klara Buehl #19
- Lina Magull #20
- Stina Johannes #21
- Jule Brand #22
- Sara Doorsoun #23
Colombia Group Stage Schedule
Colombia's Recent Performance
- In its most recent match on July 24, Colombia defeated South Korea 2-0. Colombia outshot South Korea 15 to four.
- Linda Caicedo and Catalina Usme paced Colombia by tallying a goal each. They had one and three shots, respectively.
- Usme has one goal for Colombia in Women's World Cup (one game).
- Caicedo has one goal for Colombia in Women's World Cup.
Colombia's 2023 Women's World Cup Roster
- Catalina Perez #1
- Manuela Vanegas #2
- Daniela Arias #3
- Diana Ospina #4
- Lorena Bedoya #5
- Daniela Montoya #6
- Cami Reyes Calderon #7
- Marcela Restrepo #8
- Mayra Ramirez #9
- Leicy Santos #10
- Catalina Usme #11
- Sandra Sepulveda #12
- Natalia Giraldo Alzate #13
- Angela Daniela Baron #14
- Ana Maria Guzman #15
- Lady Andrade #16
- Caroline Arias #17
- Linda Caicedo #18
- Jorelyn Carabali #19
- Monica Ramos Santana #20
- Ivonne Chacon #21
- Daniela Caracas #22
- Elexa Marie Bahr Gutierrez #23
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wsaz.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/2023-womens-world-cup-germany-colombia-live-stream-tv/ | 2023-07-29T14:03:14 | 1 | https://www.wsaz.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/2023-womens-world-cup-germany-colombia-live-stream-tv/ |
Positively PNW
As Rose Vanderhoof trudged up Mount Rainier, the sun started coming up.
Lightning and dark clouds dissipated in the distance. More than 12,000 feet above sea level, she’d layered up with a puffy down jacket to keep out the chill. But despite the tough climb, the view was beautiful, and Vanderhoof prayed to God to give her strength.
She kept moving.
Finally, after 8 a.m. on July 10, Vanderhoof — 4 feet 11 inches tall and 78 years old — reached the summit. The Ashford, Pierce County, resident, who summited the mountain eight times before, became the oldest woman ever to summit Rainier. But that’s not why she climbed: Vanderhoof just wanted to get to the top once more. And making the moment more poignant, her son and granddaughter reached Rainier’s peak with her for the first time as she reached it for the last.
“I am hoping to inspire other people that it doesn’t — age doesn’t matter,” Vanderhoof said. “I want people to go out and see God’s beautiful creation. It’s just another world out there. It’s beautiful. I’ve been doing this for 45 years, and I never get enough of it.”
Setting a record hadn’t been part of Vanderhoof’s initial plan. She’d wanted to make the climb a few years earlier, when she wasn’t old enough to break the record her friend Bronka Sundstrom set at age 77. But that plan fell through when friends weren’t able to help Vanderhoof carry her 40-pound pack to the overnight stop at Camp Muir, about 10,000 feet up on Mount Rainier.
She made new plans to climb this summer, this time enlisting four companions to bring up the gear. Despite that, Vanderhoof faced another potential cancellation: The two people who were going to lead the climb backed out.
Vanderhoof considered scaling Mount Adams instead — until she talked with Leyton Jump, who she knows from the Mount Tahoma Trails Association Ski Patrol. He’d climbed Rainier 12 times before and stepped up to lead.
With their final plan intact, Vanderhoof began her ascent with Jump, her son Chris Haugen, her granddaughter Aleah Haugen and her friend Mingrey Hildebrandt around 7 a.m. on July 8. They started with a prayer for safety before setting off and arrived at Camp Muir later that day, though Vanderhoof said the group was too excited to get a particularly restful night’s sleep.
The second day, she said the group got caught in a hailstorm. Chris Haugen realized he lost his crampon — a glacial traction device climbers attach to their shoes — and scrambled down to retrieve it after climbers below said they saw the missing footwear.
“I was pretty scared, and I’m not saying that lightly. It was kind of terrifying at first, but after a while, you get used to it,” he said. “But my mom: For her, it’s second nature.”
The group of five set up tents near Ingraham Flats, about 11,000 feet up, and rested for about six hours. They started climbing around midnight on July 10 under a pitch black sky. Lightning flashed far off, and Aleah Haugen said she could barely see the outline of the glaciers under her.
Vanderhoof had to get on her knees and pull herself up on the rocks at some points. As they climbed, Chris said he started crying, getting to witness his mother and daughter persevere. And when Aleah tired, she said seeing her grandmother’s grit encouraged her to keep going.
“She just kept pushing herself, and she was determined, and so that made the rest of us determined to not give up,” Aleah said. “We call her Mosey Rosie, because she’s going to get there one way or another.”
The group reached the crater just below the summit after hours of climbing that morning. They embraced. They snapped photos. They signed the registry, documenting their achievement.
Then they walked up to the very top of the mountain: Columbia Crest, at about 14,400 feet elevation. Above the clouds, Jump said they could see Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams and Mount Hood.
“Only about 50% of people who climb it make it, and the other, I can see why the other 50% don’t,” Vanderhoof said. “We felt very thankful and blessed that we were able to do this … It’s just a journey I’ll never forget.”
Once the others in the group got ready to go, eager to start the long climb down, Vanderhoof asked for a moment longer. The rest of the group shut up and stopped, Hildebrandt said.
“She says, ‘I just, just give me a minute. Just give me a few minutes. I won’t be back here again,’” Hildebrandt recalled. “She has this deep love and relationship with this mountain. She’s been up here eight times. Well, this is No. 9. And she just wanted to stay a few more minutes before she has to say goodbye.”
The group — with the exception of Jump, who returned Monday night — finished the climb on Tuesday. Their friends met them with cheers and flower leis to drape over their shoulders.
As a devout Christian who cares deeply for family, Vanderhoof felt especially lucky to have completed her final climb with three generations of her family, Chris said.
She’d shared her love of hiking with her family all her life. When Aleah was 5 years old, Vanderhoof took her hiking near Mount Rainier. They snacked on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and visited a “cool rock” that Aleah still remembers. They summited Mount St. Helens together when Aleah was 14 and went backpacking when she was 15.
Aleah said her grandmother’s love of nature changed her life, pushing her to work in a mountaineering store and train to climb Mount Rainier.
On their hike up Rainier, Vanderhoof said seeing her son and granddaughter excel was the “true summit” for her. When they stopped at Camp Muir the first night, Vanderhoof watched as Aleah comforted another young woman who was scared of the climb. To her, that moment of kindness represented the spirit of mountain climbing.
“It’s all about teamwork. It’s all about encouragement,” Vanderhoof said. “Just being out there with people who love the things that you love.” | https://www.seattletimes.com/life/outdoors/one-last-climb-wa-hiker-becomes-oldest-woman-to-summit-mt-rainier/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2023-07-29T14:03:15 | 0 | https://www.seattletimes.com/life/outdoors/one-last-climb-wa-hiker-becomes-oldest-woman-to-summit-mt-rainier/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
Aptly named Boundary Bay hugs the curious corner of our region where Washington and British Columbia meet and mingle. There are border crossings on both ends of this saltwater haven, where shallow depths and vast tidal swings generate warm waters that attract beachcombers and birders alike. Here are six points of interest to explore on foot, bike, car or kayak.
Peace Arch Historical State Park and Provincial Park
Once you’ve dealt with border-crossing rigmarole, pull over instead of speeding off. This unique binational park allows visitors to freely cross the border as they admire the monuments and plaques commemorating U.S.-Canada relations — as long as they return to whichever side they started in. The Peace Arch itself missed out on its centennial celebration in 2021 due to pandemic border closures, but the stately structure in Blaine, which is surrounded by formal gardens, is worth pondering anytime.
File away these tidbits for your next Cascadia trivia night:
- What does the Peace Arch commemorate? (Answer: The signing of the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812.)
- What two vessels are depicted on the Peace Arch? (Answer: The Mayflower and the S.S. Beaver.)
123 Second St., Blaine; parks.wa.gov/562/Peace-Arch or bcparks.ca/peace-arch-park
1001 Steps
Escape the crowds in White Rock as you duck through a residential neighborhood of pricey waterfront real estate and down the exaggeratedly-named 1001 Steps. I lost the exact count but the zigzagging staircase is more like 200-and-some steps. A trail parallels the railroad tracks, then a tunnel takes you under them and out onto a quieter stretch of beach along Boundary Bay.
12500 Block of 15A Ave., Surrey, B.C.; surrey.ca/parks-recreation/parks/1001-steps
Crescent Beach
A smaller seaside resort flourished at Crescent Beach, just north of the White Rock beach resort town, with its own cluster of cottages, eateries and sandy respites. Reach the beach at Blackie Spit Park, a birding destination in fall and spring where you can also rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards (CA$40-$50 for one hour).
3136 McBride Ave., Surrey, B.C.; crescentbeachpaddleshack.com
Boundary Bay Dyke Trail
The northern reaches of Boundary Bay are a wildlife refuge home to Canada’s most cherished bird sanctuary where annually more than 1.5 million bird species hailing from 20 countries take advantage of this stop along the Pacific Flyway. Conveniently, the dyke that keeps the bay from inundating farmers’ fields doubles as a multiuse gravel trail so you can ride parallel to this pristine stretch of coastline. The trail runs about 12 miles each way, with trailheads at Mud Bay Park and Centennial Beach. Watch out for tractors — farm equipment has right of way on the trail in this active agricultural zone.
13030 48 Ave., Surrey, B.C.; surrey.ca/parks-recreation/parks/mud-bay-park
Centennial Beach and Secret Garden
Of all the places to dip your toes in the water along Boundary Bay, Centennial Beach in Boundary Bay Regional Park took my top prize. Only Tacoma’s Owen Beach can match the sharp architecture and clean, well-maintained facilities at this Metro Vancouver park.
The playground, built with funds raised by the local Lions Club chapter, already wins the family-friendly award. The enormous tangle of slides, rope climbs, swings and a zip line includes features like wheelchair-friendly ramps and a Braille learning area, making it the region’s first accessible design playground. It’s just steps from a generous expanse of sandy beach at high tide — and more shoreline than you can conceivably explore during low tide — as well as a cafe, bathrooms and changing facilities.
The park has a few miles of trail for some leg stretching, and a 10-minute walk out of the park will lead you to the Secret Garden of Boundary Bay, an easement between two housing developments that a retired roofer has lovingly turned into a horticultural gem of colorful flowers, quirky sculptures and an impressive monkey puzzle tree.
300 Boundary Bay Rd, Delta, B.C.; delta.ca/parks-recreation/parks-trails/park-and-amenity-search/boundary-bay-regional-park
399 67A St., Delta, B.C.; sunnytsawwassen.ca/secret-garden
Point Roberts
Geography nerds should jump at a chance to visit this Washington exclave, a tiny peninsula cut off from the rest of the Evergreen State by a surveying error. It turns out, there was land south of the 49th parallel (the agreed-upon boundary between the U.S. and Canada) that didn’t connect to the rest of the continental U.S. There is a full-fledged border crossing here, and once you’re through it, the landscape shifts from suburban Vancouver — Tim Horton’s and all — to rural Whatcom County.
On a holiday weekend, I saw a trio of locals riding around the sleepy streets of this 4.9-square-mile headland on a motorized couch. Among Point Roberts’ other quirks, gas is sold in U.S. dollars per liter and businesses follow Canadian holiday schedules.
Bring your binoculars to Lighthouse Marine Park for land-based whale-watching, then retreat to local watering hole Kinski’s Reef and Tavern, a family-friendly dive bar that is owned by a former professional wrestler and has views out to the Georgia Strait.
811 Marine Drive, Point Roberts, Whatcom County; whatcomcounty.us/3539/Lighthouse-Marine-Park
1334 Gulf Road, Point Roberts, Whatcom County; kiniskisreef.com | https://www.seattletimes.com/life/travel/6-places-to-explore-on-a-beachy-road-trip-to-british-columbia/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2023-07-29T14:03:31 | 1 | https://www.seattletimes.com/life/travel/6-places-to-explore-on-a-beachy-road-trip-to-british-columbia/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
Compared with the devil, angels carry more credence in America.
Angels even get more credence than, well, hell. More than astrology, reincarnation, and the belief that physical things can have spiritual energies.
In fact, about 7 in 10 U.S. adults say they believe in angels, according to a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
“People are yearning for something greater than themselves — beyond their own understanding,” said Jack Grogger, a chaplain for the Los Angeles Angels and a longtime Southern California fire captain who has aided many people in their gravest moments.
That search for something bigger, he said, can take on many forms, from following a religion to crafting a self-driven purpose to believing in, of course, angels.
“For a lot of people, angels are a lot safer to worship,” said Grogger, who also pastors a nondenominational church in Orange, California, and is a chaplain for the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks.
People turn to angels for comfort, he said. They are familiar, regularly showing up in pop culture as well as in the Bible. Comparably, worshipping Jesus is far more involved; when Grogger preaches about angels it is with the context that they are part of God’s kingdom.
American’s belief in angels (69%) is about on par with belief in heaven and the power of prayer, but bested by belief in God or a higher power (79%). Fewer U.S. adults believe in the devil or Satan (56%), astrology (34%), reincarnation (34%), and that physical things can have spiritual energies, such as plants, rivers or crystals (42%).
The widespread acceptance of angels shown in the AP-NORC poll makes sense to Susan Garrett, an angel expert and New Testament professor at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Kentucky. It tracks with historical surveys, she said, adding that the U.S. remains a faith-filled country even as more Americans reject organized religion.
But if the devil is in the details, so are people’s understandings of angels.
“They’re very malleable,” Garrett said of angels. “You can have any one of a number of quite different worldviews in terms of your understanding of how the cosmos is arranged, whether there’s spirit beings, whether there’s life after death, whether there’s a God … and still find a place for angels in that worldview.”
Talk of angels, Garrett said, is often also about something else, like the ways God interacts with the world and other hard-to-articulate ideas.
The large number of U.S. adults who say they believe in angels includes 84% of those with a religious affiliation — 94% of evangelical Protestants, 81% of mainline Protestants and 82% of Catholics — and 33% of those without one. And of those angel-believing religiously unaffiliated, that includes 2% of atheists, 25% of agnostics and 50% of those identified as “nothing in particular.”
The broad acceptance is what fascinates San Francisco-based witch and author Devin Hunter: Angels show up independently in different religions and traditions, making them part of the fabric that unites humanity.
“We’re all getting to the same conclusion,” said Hunter, who spent 16 years as a professional medium, and started communicating as a child with what he believed were angels.
Hunter estimates that a belief in angels applies to about half of those practicing modern witchcraft today, and for some who don’t believe, their rejection is often rooted in the religious trauma they experienced growing up.
“Angels become a very big deal” for long-time practitioners who’ve made occultism their primary focus, said Hunter, an angel-loving occultist. “We cannot escape them in any way, shape or form.”
Jennifer Goodwin of Oviedo, Florida, also is among the roughly seven in 10 U.S. adults who say they believe in angels. She isn’t sure if God exists and rejects the afterlife dichotomy of heaven and hell, but the recent deaths of her parents solidified her views on these celestial beings.
Goodwin believes her parents are still keeping an eye on the family — not in any physical way or as a supernatural apparition, but that they manifest in those moments when she feels a general sense of comfort.
“I think that they are around us, but it’s in a way that we can’t understand,” Goodwin said. “I don’t know what else to call it except an angel.”
Angels mean different things to different people, and the idea of loved ones becoming heavenly angels after death is neither an unusual belief nor a universally held one.
In his reading of Scripture as an evangelical Protestant, Grogger said he believes angels are something else entirely — they have never been human and are on another level in heaven’s hierarchy. “We are higher than angels,” he said. “We do not become an angel.”
Angels do interact with humans though, said Grogger, but what “that looks like we’re not 100% sure.” They worship God who created this angelic legion of unknown numbers, he said, adding that evangelicals often attribute the demonic forces in the world to the angels who fell from heaven when the devil rebelled.
The Western ideas about angels can be traced through the Bible — and to the worldviews of its monotheistic authors, Garrett said. Those beliefs have changed and developed for millennia, influenced by cultures, theologians and even the ancient polytheistic beliefs that came before the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, she said.
“There are sort of lines of continuity from the Bible that you can trace all the way up to the New Age movement,” said Susan Garrett, who wrote “No Ordinary Angel: Celestial Spirits and Christian Claims about Jesus.”
The angels in the Bible do God’s bidding, and angelic violence is one part of their job description, said Esther Hamori, author of the upcoming book, “God’s Monsters: Vengeful Spirits, Deadly Angels, Hybrid Creatures, and Divine Hitmen of the Bible.”
“The angels of the Bible are just as likely to assassinate individuals and slaughter entire populations as they are to offer help and protect and deliver,” said Hamori. She doesn’t believe in these angels, but studies them as a Hebrew Bible professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York where she teaches a popular “Monster Heaven” class.
“They’re just God’s obedient soldiers doing the task at hand, and sometimes that task is in human beings’ best interests, and sometimes it’s not,” she said.
The perception that angels act angelic and look like the idyllic, winged figurines atop Christmas trees could be attributed to an early centuries belief that people are assigned one good angel and one bad — or have a good and bad spirit to guide them, Garrett said.
This idea shows up on the shoulders of cartoon characters and is likely what Abraham Lincoln was alluding to in his famous appeal for unity when he referenced “the better angels of our nature” in his first inaugural address, she said.
“It’s also tied in with ideas about guardian angels, which again, very ancient views that got developed over the centuries,” Garrett said.
For Sheila Avery of Chicago, angels are protectors, capable of keeping someone from harm. Avery, who belongs to a nondenominational church, credits them with those moments like when a person’s plans fall through, but ultimately it saves them from being in the thick of an unexpected disaster.
“They turn on the news and a terrible tragedy happened at that particular place,” Avery said, suggesting it was an “angel that was probably watching over them.”
___
Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/do-you-believe-in-angels-about-7-in-10-u-s-adults-do-a-new-ap-norc-poll-shows/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2023-07-29T14:03:37 | 1 | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/do-you-believe-in-angels-about-7-in-10-u-s-adults-do-a-new-ap-norc-poll-shows/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
Tomatoes are a staple in any home cook’s vegetable arsenal, even though they’re technically a fruit. Whether you mix them into a paste, cut them into salad-ready cubes or eat them whole, they’re a key component in literally thousands of dishes. The only thing they can’t do? Last for a long time without help.
Most foodies know that summer is prime time for buying tomatoes at your grocery store, but there’s a solution that can extend their lifespan by months: Put them in the freezer.
Most people don’t think of preserving fresh tomatoes in the freezer, and there’s usually a good reason for that. If you don’t prep them before tossing them in, the fibers in the tomato can break down, giving them a mushy texture and robbing them of flavor. The secret is chilling them in an uncovered bowl or on a sheet pan, then sealing them up for the long haul after they’ve gone through the initial freeze.
Mind you, they won’t be quite the same texture, and will be better suited to using in a sauce or stew than eaten whole. If that’s your plan, you’ll also want to blanche them before freezing. For those not familiar with the technique, blanching means simply boiling things for a short while, then cooling them quickly. Not only will this curb the enzyme action that causes tomatoes to lose their flavor, it will also let the skins peel right off.
Here are the basic steps to follow for whole tomatoes:
- Wash them thoroughly under cold water, then wipe them completely dry with a cloth or paper towel.
- Cut off the stems, or any remnant of the stems (that little “belly button” that tomatoes often have at the top).
- Bring a pot of water to a boil, then add the tomatoes. Remove them after a short while — anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute.
- Place the tomatoes in an ice bath or run them under cold water. If you want to remove the skins at this point, you’ll find they should peel off easily.
- Dry off the tomatoes again and put them into a bowl or some other container with no lid. Put them into the freezer.
- Once they’re completely frozen (which should take no more than 3 hours), transfer them into a plastic bag or some other closed container, being careful to squeeze out as much air as you can.
If you already know you’re using the tomatoes for a sauce or gravy, you can liquefy them ahead of time. The process is much the same:
- Repeat the first four steps above.
- Slice your tomatoes (preferably peeled) into fourths.
- Let them simmer in a saucepan for at least five minutes.
- Liquefy them with a tomato press, or put them into a blender.
- Put the juice or paste into an airtight container, leaving an inch or two of space under the lid.
- Put the container into the freezer.
And there you have it! No matter what state they’re in, your tomatoes should last for up to eight months. It’s always a good idea to put a date on the container so that you can make sure they don’t overstay their welcome in the freezer. Also, resist the urge to season your tomatoes before you put them in storage. Onion, garlic and many herbs will undergo changes in flavor at different rates when frozen, so it’s best to use those when fresh.
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Check out Simplemost for additional stories. | https://www.lex18.com/how-to-freeze-tomatoes-so-they-last-for-months | 2023-07-29T14:03:43 | 1 | https://www.lex18.com/how-to-freeze-tomatoes-so-they-last-for-months |
ATLANTA (AP) — “Excuse me, are you a city of Atlanta voter? Do you know about ‘Cop City?’”
Clipboards in hand, canvassers Sienna Giraldi and Gabriel Sanchez approached shopper after shopper at a Kroger supermarket lot on a recent evening collecting signatures for a referendum over whether to cancel the city’s lease of a proposed police and firefighter training center that’s become a national rallying cry for environmentalists and anti-police protesters.
Most people kept on walking. Others said they weren’t registered to vote or didn’t live within the city limits, both of which are required. Many seemed to have no idea what “Cop City” was and weren’t interested in finding out. The fact that it began raining certainly didn’t help. By the end of a 90-minute shift, 21 people had signed.
“We definitely need to come back here,” Sanchez said. “I was on a roll before the rain started.”
Over the past month, hundreds of people like them — many volunteers, some paid — have spread out across the city of about 500,000, in hopes of persuading more than 70,000 registered voters to sign on to the petition drive. The deadline had been mid-August, but the effort got a boost Thursday when a federal judge extended it to late September, though significant logistical and legal hurdles remain.
Technically, organizers say, they need just 58,203 signatures by Aug. 14 to qualify for the November ballot — the equivalent of 15% of registered voters as of the last city election — but they set the higher goal knowing some will be disqualified. If that’s not reached until late August or September, the referendum wouldn’t happen until March, when a competitive GOP presidential primary could turn out conservative voters and hurt its chances. The city also could move forward with construction in the meantime, unless a judge intervenes.
As of July 25, the drive had collected more than 30,000 signatures, according to Paul Glaze, a spokesperson for the Vote to Stop Cop City Coalition. And with the paid canvassing effort still ramping up, he expects the pace to pick up significantly.
“We’re confident of hitting our number,” Glaze said. “How much extra padding we’re able to get is still a question. … Our experience is that when you talk about this with people, when they hear the price tag, when you ask them if they would choose this or something else to spend the money on, the vast majority are against it.”
Organizers of the drive say Mayor Andre Dickens and the City Council have failed to listen to a groundswell of opposition to the $90 million, 85-acre (34-hectare) training center, which they fear will lead to greater militarization of the police and exacerbate environmental damage in the South River Forest in a poor, predominantly Black area.
Officials counter that the campus would replace outdated, far-flung facilities and boost police morale, which is beset by hiring and retention struggles, especially in the wake of 2020 protests over racial injustice. Dickens has said that the facility will teach the “most progressive training and curriculum in the country” and that officials have repeatedly revised their plans to address concerns about noise pollution and environmental impact.
In June, after hearing about 14 hours of public testimony that was overwhelmingly against the training center, council members voted 11-4 to approve $67 million toward the project. Outraged but not surprised, organizers of the petition drive announced it the next day.
Outside the Kroger, located in a majority-Black neighborhood a few miles south of a Wendy’s parking lot where officers fatally shot Rayshard Brooks in 2020, Giraldi chatted with Lee Little, a Black construction worker who stopped to talk despite the rain, his hands full of bagged groceries.
Little was working near the proposed training center in March and saw the helicopters and mass of armed officers that descended on the area after about 150 masked activists stormed the site and torched construction equipment. He hadn’t thought about it much since, but he signed the petition after hearing Giraldi’s pitch.
“She was just saying that City Council approved 60-something million dollars without listening to the taxpayers. Does that sound fair to you? That should be for the voters to decide,” Little said afterward.
Another who signed was Makela Atchison, who was wearing a “Black Voters Matter” T-shirt as she left the store with her two children.
“I’m not saying I’m for it or against it,” Atchison said, “but I want to be able to have my input.”
The signature drive is the most ambitious in terms of numbers that has ever been launched in a Georgia city, but it has precedent from last year in Camden County, where voters overwhelmingly rejected a planned launchpad for blasting commercial rockets into space. The Georgia Supreme Court in February unanimously upheld the legality of that referendum, though it remains an open question whether citizens can veto decisions of city governments.
In a recent court filing seeking to quash the Atlanta referendum, attorneys for the city said residents can’t force officials to retroactively revoke the lease agreement, which was made in 2021. They called organizers’ efforts “futile” and “invalid.” The state agreed with the city in a separate filing, though that dispute is on hold for now.
Still, activists see the referendum as the best remaining option to block the project. They’ve gotten support from numerous groups, including the Working Families Party and the New Georgia Project Action Fund, which pledged to get 15,000 signatures over the next few weeks.
Activist Hannah Riley tries to collect a handful of them whenever she is out in public, including on a recent afternoon as she worked remotely from Muchacho, a popular taco restaurant in the ultra-liberal Reynoldstown neighborhood. At the end of her table, she taped a sign that read: “Voter? Sign Stop Cop City Petition Here.”
“This is a bit of a Hail Mary, but it’s a Hail Mary that makes a lot of sense,” Riley said. “They’ve begun to clear-cut the trees. They’re getting close to pouring concrete. … Our options are quite limited right now, so this does feel like the most practical, effective next step.”
At the same time, a small number of activists have continued taking a more violent tack, including torching eight police motorcycles over the Fourth of July weekend, actions that canvass organizers have not condemned.
Curtis Duncan, 40, said the first day he went out canvassing, a man approached and accused him of being one of the vandals.
“I said, ‘Well, sir, respectfully, I wasn’t burning cars, and the majority of people within this movement have not been engaging in any type of violent actions,’” Duncan said. He added that troopers fatally shot an activist in the forest and that authorities have brought dozens of “very flimsy” domestic terrorism charges against “Stop Cop City” protesters this year — actions he considers far worse.
Sanchez, who works for a voting rights nonprofit, said that even if the signature drive falls short, it will have made an important impact.
“I feel like we’ve exhausted all the other options, aside from full-on revolution, which I don’t think we need for this,” he said. “There’s a lot of obstacles in our way. … If we only get to 50,000, I think that still shows a real warning sign for these politicians for the 2025 election.” | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/atlanta-cop-city-activists-say-theyre-confident-of-getting-70k-signatures-but-big-hurdles-remain/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2023-07-29T14:03:44 | 1 | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/atlanta-cop-city-activists-say-theyre-confident-of-getting-70k-signatures-but-big-hurdles-remain/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
If you have a bare patch in your yard that needs some color and life — and bees and butterflies to boot — you may want to consider planting a wildflower garden. Wildflowers come in a range of colors and sizes, and add textural and visual appeal to any green space.
For those who don’t consider themselves to be expert gardeners, wildflowers can be a low-maintenance alternative to other flower varieties. However, while they are easier to care for than other flowers, they do require some legwork to get up and running.
Before you start your new garden, here’s what you need to know about wildflowers and how to plant and care for them.
What Are Wildflowers?
As the name suggests, wildflowers are flowers that can be found naturally in the wild. Unlike commercial flowers, wildflowers have not been cultivated or bred to have certain characteristics. In fact, all commercial flower varieties originate from wildflowers, and only after years of breeding and genetic manipulation have become what we cultivate in home gardens today.
Wildflowers can be found in woodlands, prairies and wetlands, and some states have even designated special refuges and reserves where you can observe them. They tend to be native species, ideally suited for the ecosystems where they live, and have been around as long as 100 million years, according to some fossil records.
MORE: 5 ways to attract dragonflies to your yard to help eliminate mosquitoes
In the U.S., the best time to see wildflowers can vary widely from state to state. In climates that are warmer year-round, you may find them blooming all year. In those that have cooler winters, wildflowers will typically surface in the springtime — and even then bloom time may still vary depending on the variety.
Because by definition wildflowers are native to their regions, they have co-evolved with other local plant species, allowing a symbiotic relationship between other native, non-invasive plants and animals such as pollinators.
Benefits Of Planting a Wildflower Garden
While many may consider planting a wildflower garden solely for visual appeal, the truth is that wildflowers serve a much more altruistic purpose. The World Wildlife Federation shares that one healthy wildflower field may contain a minimum of 100 different types of wildflowers, which can attract insects — then birds who prey on those insects — as well as other mammals that contribute to the overall biodiversity of an area.
Wildflowers are also a key food source for pollinators such as bees and butterflies, which are critical to our food supply chain. As bee populations have declined considerably over the years, wildflower gardens can become a safe haven for them to feed, which assists in boosting their numbers.
While a backyard wildflower garden is a considerably smaller scale, it can still attract pollinators and may even help keep garden pests at bay.
MORE: Did you know hostas are edible? Here’s how to prepare them
Planting wildflowers, which have extensive root systems, in a rain garden can also help reduce flooding and erosion in your yard while improving water quality.
On top of that, they require less water and fertilizer, are less likely to get disease and are more tolerant of pests. Experts at The Spruce say that because local wildflowers are native to your region, they’re already adapted to the soil and other growing conditions, and can thrive with minimal intervention.
Make Sure to Choose A Diverse Variety of Plants
Clay Bolt, a natural history photographer and communications lead for World Wildlife Fund’s Northern Great Plains program, explained to National Geographic how important it is to make sure you are planting a wide variety of different plants in your garden.
“The greater diversity of plants that you have, the more robust the habitat is for a variety of pollinators and wildlife,” he said. “All of these plants are also connected through fungi in the soil. Their roots create a network where they share resources, strengthening one another.”
Furthermore, if you plant a wider variety of flowers, they’ll bloom at different times over a couple of months, extending your wildflower season considerably.
One of the first things to consider before selecting your wildflower seeds is whether or not the flowers are native to your region. If they are not native, they may have a harder time thriving, and may even be considered an invasive species. As with anything you plant in your garden, know your USDA Hardiness zone before planting to make sure the plants are a good match for your area.
To find which varieties of flowers work best near you, you can contact local extension experts or nonprofit organizations.
MORE: Everything you need to know about caring for and growing lilacs
Which Wildflowers Will Attract Pollinators?
If one of your goals in planting a wildflower garden is to attract specific pollinators, it’ll help to know which plants work best for which pollinators. If you want to attract butterflies, some examples of flowers to plant include black-eyed Susans, cornflower and yarrow. If you want to attract hummingbirds, you can plant zinnia, nasturtium and cleome. And lastly, if you want to attract beneficial insects, be sure to add fennel, bishop’s weed and aromatic aster to your list.
How To Plant and Care For Wildflowers
To thrive, wildflowers prefer to be planted in an area where they can receive full to partial sun. If you must plant in an area that doesn’t receive enough light, some flowers can tolerate more shade than others, such as black-eyed Susans, common foxglove and Shasta daisies. Otherwise, you’ll need to make sure your flowers are getting between six to eight hours of sun a day.
It’s best to plant your wildflower garden in the spring; this will ensure they have enough time to set. If you decide to plant later, they’ll need a minimum of 10 weeks before the first frost to self-sow.
Before you plant your seeds, you’ll want to make sure that your garden is free of prior vegetation to create the best growing conditions. Next, you’ll want to till your soil at approximately 3 inches deep, and then rake and level out the soil.
Now it’s time to plant. If you decide to buy a seed mixture, be sure to follow the instructions on the back of the package that say how much space you’ll need to distribute the seeds. You may also want to add sand to your mixture to make it easier to spread out. After you’ve spread the seed, rake the ground once more, and then generously water the soil. After 10 to 21 days, you’ll begin to see your first plants.
The great thing about wildflower gardens is that they require a very small amount of care. With that said, experts do suggest watering during dry spells, staying on top of weeds and being sure to mow down the area to 4 to 6 inches in the late fall. Then, enjoy your profusion of dreamy flowers!
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Check out Simplemost for additional stories. | https://www.lex18.com/how-to-plant-and-grow-a-thriving-wildflower-garden | 2023-07-29T14:03:49 | 1 | https://www.lex18.com/how-to-plant-and-grow-a-thriving-wildflower-garden |
TOKYO (AP) — Toshihiro Mutsuda was only 5 years old when he last saw his father, who was drafted by Japan’s Imperial Army in 1943 and killed in action. For him, his father was a bespectacled man in an old family photo standing by a signed good-luck flag that he carried to war.
On Saturday, when the flag was returned to him from a U.S. war museum where it had been on display for 29 years, Mutsuda, now 83, said: “It’s a miracle.”
The flag, known as “Yosegaki Hinomaru,” or Good Luck Flag, carries the soldier’s name, Shigeyoshi Mutsuda, and the signatures of his relatives, friends and neighbors wishing him luck. It was given to him before he was drafted by the Army. His family was later told he died in Saipan, but his remains were never returned.
The flag was donated in 1994 and displayed at the museum aboard the USS Lexington, a WWII aircraft carrier, in Corpus Christi, Texas. Its meaning was not known until it was identified by the family earlier this year, said the museum director Steve Banta, who brought the flag to Tokyo.
Banta said he learned the story behind the flag earlier this year when he was contacted by the Obon Society, a nonprofit organization that has returned about 500 similar flags as non-biological remains, to the descendants of Japanese servicemembers killed in the war.
The search for the flag’s original owner started in April when a museum visitor took a photo and asked an expert about the description that it had belonged to a “kamikaze” suicide pilot. When Shigeyoshi Mutsuda’s grandson saw the photo, he sought help from the Obon Society, group co-founder Keiko Ziak said.
“When we learned all of this, and that the family would like to have the flag, we knew immediately that the flag did not belong to us,” Banta said at the handover ceremony. “We knew that the right thing to do would be to send the flag home, to be in Japan and to the family.”
The soldier’s eldest son, Toshihiro Mutsuda, was speechless for a few seconds when Banta, wearing white gloves, gently placed the neatly folded flag into his hands. Two of his younger siblings, both in their 80s, stood by and looked on silently. The three children, all wearing cotton gloves so they wouldn’t damage the decades-old flag, carefully unfolded it to show to the audience.
The soldier’s daughter, Misako Matsukuchi, touched the flag with both hands and prayed. “After nearly 80 years, the spirit of our father returned to us. I hope he can finally rest in peace,” Matsukuchi said later.
Toshihiro Mutsuda said his memory of his father was foggy. However, he clearly remembers his mother, Masae Mutsuda, who died five years ago at age 102, used to make the long-distance bus trip almost every year from the farming town in Gifu, central Japan, to Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine, where the 2.5 million war dead are enshrined, to pay tribute to her husband’s spirit.
The shrine is controversial, as it includes convicted war criminals among those commemorated. Victims of Japanese aggression during the first half of the 20th century, especially China and the Koreas, see Yasukuni as a symbol of Japanese militarism. However, for the Mutsuda family, it’s a place to remember the loss of a father and husband.
“It’s like an old love story across the ages coming together … It doesn’t matter where,” Banta said, referring to the Yasukuni controversy. “The important thing is this flag goes to the family.”
That’s why Toshihiro Mutsuda and his siblings chose to receive the flag at Yasukuni and brought the framed photos of their parents.
“My mother missed him and wanted to see him so much and that’s why she used to pray here,” Toshihiro Mutsuda said. “Today her wish finally came true, and she was able to be reunited.”
Keeping the flag on his lap, he said, “I feel the weight of the flag.” | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/its-a-miracle-say-family-of-japanese-soldier-killed-in-wwii-as-flag-he-carried-returns-from-us/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2023-07-29T14:03:50 | 1 | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/its-a-miracle-say-family-of-japanese-soldier-killed-in-wwii-as-flag-he-carried-returns-from-us/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) — Four inmates at the Sullivan County Jail were transported to a hospital on Friday afternoon after they all reportedly experienced a medical issue, according to the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO).
SCSO Captain Andy Seabolt told News Channel 11 that “four jail inmates experienced a medical issue that required transporting them to a local medical facility for treatment.” He said the four inmates are now stable and have been returned to the jail.
Seabolt said the incident remains under investigation to determine what exactly occurred. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/4-sullivan-county-jail-inmates-transported-to-hospital-following-medical-issue/ | 2023-07-29T14:03:53 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/4-sullivan-county-jail-inmates-transported-to-hospital-following-medical-issue/ |
First, two kinds of Trader Joe’s cookies were recalled for the possible presence of rocks.
Now, a Trader Joe’s soup is being recalled for the possible presence of insects.
In a report posted online this week, the Food and Drug Administration said Pennsylvania-based Winter Gardens Quality Foods initiated a recall of 20-ounce containers of Trader Joe’s Unexpected Broccoli Cheddar Soup “because the product has insects in the frozen broccoli florets.”
The recall affects nearly 11,000 cases of the product with multiple use-by dates between July 18 and Sept. 15.
The soup was distributed to California, Illinois, Texas, Washington, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.
In a statement Thursday, the store said no known health affects had been reported.
The recall was initiated by Winter Gardens on July 10, two weeks before Trader Joe’s announced a recall of its Almond Windmill and Dark Chocolate Chunk and Almond cookies.
The recalled sweets were removed from the stores’ shelves and destroyed.
The Monrovia-based grocery store chain advised customers to either toss the products or return them for a full refund.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/stones-in-sweets-now-bugs-in-broccoli-trader-joes-soup-is-recalled/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2023-07-29T14:03:56 | 0 | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/stones-in-sweets-now-bugs-in-broccoli-trader-joes-soup-is-recalled/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) – One person is dead after a crash involving a car and a motorcycle in Johnson City Friday night.
According to a release from the Johnson City Police Department (JCPD), the crash occurred on W Market Street just before 8 p.m. A westbound facing Honda Accord was waiting to turn left into a parking lot from the center lane when a motorcycle reportedly heading east failed to stop for the traffic light at the Indian Ridge Road intersection.
The JCPD reports the Suzuki motorcycle was traveling at a high rate of speed when it struck the Honda, which had started to make the left turn.
The release states the motorcyclist, identified as Anthony Brienze of Fall Branch, was transported to the Johnson City Medical Center. Brienze later died due to his injuries at the hospital.
The driver of the Honda was not injured in the crash, according to police.
As of Saturday, the crash remains under investigation. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/motorcyclist-killed-in-johnson-city-crash-jcpd-reports/ | 2023-07-29T14:03:59 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/motorcyclist-killed-in-johnson-city-crash-jcpd-reports/ |
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) —
A 9-year-old girl and her 10-year-old brother have been called as witnesses in a criminal case against their mother after she was accused of repeatedly “discrediting” the Russian army.
Lidia Prudovskaya and her two children were summoned by investigators in the northern Russian region of Arkhangelsk on Friday to give testimony in the case, Russian news outlet Sota reported.
Prudovskaya previously faced administrative charges on similar allegations after sharing anti-war posts on Russian social media platform VKontakte in September 2022.
Discrediting the Russian military is a criminal offense under a law adopted after Russia sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022. The law is regularly used against Kremlin critics.
In April, Russian authorities petitioned to restrict the parental rights of a single father convicted of discrediting the army following an anti-war sketch drawn by his daughter at school.
Alexei Moskalyov, 54, was sentenced to two years in prison for social media comments he had made criticizing Moscow’s war in Ukraine, while his daughter Maria was placed in an orphanage.
The 13-year-old was later moved to live with her mother. | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/world/russian-investigators-call-children-as-witnesses-against-their-mother-accused-of-discrediting-army/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2023-07-29T14:04:03 | 0 | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/world/russian-investigators-call-children-as-witnesses-against-their-mother-accused-of-discrediting-army/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
Good morning Tri-Cities! Here is a look at the week ahead.
The Storm Team 11 Forecast calls for a mix of sun and clouds on Saturday with a 40% chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms, especially during the afternoon and early evening. Some of the storms could be strong to severe with the biggest threat being damaging winds and heavy rainfall. The high will be 92 degrees with a feels-like temperature in the upper 90’s.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible Saturday night with a low near 69 degrees. The chance of rain Saturday night is 60%.
Look for a mix of sun and clouds on Sunday with a 50% chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms. There could be a few strong storms in the area. The high will be 86 degrees.
Partly cloudy skies are forecast for Monday with just a slight chance for a shower or thunderstorm. The high will be 85 degrees. Partly cloudy skies are forecast for Monday night with a low of 60 degrees.
Tuesday will be partly cloudy and slightly cooler with a high of 84 degrees. Fair skies are forecast for Tuesday night with a low of 60 degrees.
Partly cloudy skies are forecast for Wednesday with a 20% chance of a pop-up shower or thunderstorm. The high will be 86 degrees. Fair skies are forecast for Wednesday night with a low of 62 degrees.
Look for a mix of sun and clouds on Thursday with a 35% chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms. The high will be cooler at 84 degrees.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible Thursday night with a low of 63 degrees.
Friday will give way to a mix of sun and clouds with a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms. The high will be 84 degrees.
Enjoy the rest of your morning. | https://www.wjhl.com/wjhl-weather/forecast/scattered-showers-and-storms-possible-hot-and-humid-once-again-this-afternoon/ | 2023-07-29T14:04:05 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/wjhl-weather/forecast/scattered-showers-and-storms-possible-hot-and-humid-once-again-this-afternoon/ |
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombian police arrested the president’s son Saturday as part of a high-profile money laundering probe into funds he allegedly collected from convicted drug traffickers during last year’s presidential campaign.
President Gustavo Petro, a former rebel who rose through Colombia’s political ranks as an anti-corruption crusader, said he wouldn’t interfere with the investigation.
“As an individual and father, it pains me to see so much self destruction and one of my sons going to jail,” Petro said in an early morning message on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “As president of the republic, I’ve assured the chief prosecutor’s office that it will have all of the guarantees so it can proceed according to the law.”
The arrest of Nicolas Petro is a major blow to the government, which has been buffeted by conservative attacks from day one at the same time it has struggled to maintain bipartisan support for Colombia in the U.S., a longtime ally in the war on drugs and fight against illegal armed groups.
The investigation stems from shocking declarations made by Nicolas Petro’s ex-wife, Daysuris del Carmen Vasquez, to local media outlet Semana earlier this year.
In the extended interview, Vasquez detailed how she was present at meetings when her husband arranged a donation of more than 600 million pesos (around $150,000) from a politician once convicted in Washington of drug trafficking and who was seeking the Petro campaign’s support to resume his political career.
She said President Petro was unaware of her son’s dealings and the money he collected in his campaign’s name was kept inside a safe inside the couple’s home in the coastal city of Barranquilla.
Nicolas Petro has denied his ex wife’s claims as unfounded.
The chief prosecutor’s office said in a statement that Nicolas Petro and his ex-wife were taken into custody on orders of a court in Bogota around 6 a.m. local time Saturday. It said that once brought before a judge, prosecutors would seek their provisional detention as it investigates the two for money laundering. | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/world/son-of-colombias-president-arrested-as-part-of-money-laundering-probe/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2023-07-29T14:04:09 | 1 | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/world/son-of-colombias-president-arrested-as-part-of-money-laundering-probe/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
About 230,000 residents have lost access to their Medicaid, or Apple Health, coverage since Washington’s renewal process for the health insurance plan began this spring, according to new state and national data.
State insurance officials say it’s too early to reflect on overall disenrollment trends because Washington only began terminating plans two months ago, but they acknowledged the initial counts seem high.
“The numbers are high — there’s no doubt about that,” said Jason McGill, the state Health Care Authority’s director of Medicaid programs. “We care deeply about the people we serve and wanting to ensure nobody is inappropriately disenrolled and, more importantly, everybody has all the chances to stay enrolled.”
“But the fact remains, those numbers are as expected and they are reasonable,” he continued. “It’s almost right on as predicted.”
Of the roughly 230,000 Washingtonians who lost Apple Health coverage in May and June, about 175,249, or 76%, were dropped because they did not respond to renewal or verification requests, according to the state’s enrollment data.
Before the unwinding process began in April, about 2.4 million Washingtonians were enrolled.
Nationwide, at least 3.8 million Medicaid members had been disenrolled from their plans as of Friday, according to Kaiser Family Foundation’s Medicaid Enrollment and Unwinding Tracker, which includes the most recent data on monthly Medicaid enrollment, renewals and disenrollments reported by states to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The tracker includes data from 39 states and Washington, D.C.
According to KFF’s tracker, disenrollment rates range widely among states — from 82% in Texas to 8% in Wyoming — though some of the variation is likely due to differences in renewal policies, systems capacity and data reporting.
While Washington ranks third highest in the country in number of disenrollments on the tracker, after Texas and Florida, McGill said the state isn’t being accurately compared to other states.
CMS data only includes terminations for members whose plans are due for renewal in a particular month, while the state Health Care Authority shared data with KFF that includes all terminations regardless of renewal months.
If a Medicaid member is due for renewal in December but they moved out of state in June, for example, Washington would include them in the disenrollment count for June — and CMS would not, said Maggie Clay, section manager of the state’s Office of Medicaid Eligibility and Policy.
“That’s why numbers are looking really high compared to other states,” Clay said. “I expect us to be somewhere more in the middle once the map gets updated with our CMS reports.”
She expects the KFF dashboard to be updated within the next week.
“It’ll be hard to say what exactly Washington will be when they update it, but not number three after Texas and Florida,” McGill said. “Not usually a place where you’ll see Washington.”
Because the state ran renewals throughout the national public health emergency and extended members on a three-month basis if they were no longer eligible or if they didn’t respond to renewal notices, state officials expect disenrollment counts to be highest during the first three months of the unwinding, McGill said.
“We’re expecting numbers to normalize over the next 12 months to what would be, in essence, a pre-pandemic level,” he added.
The state has also seen an increase in new Apple Health application numbers in the past three months — not including those who are renewing their plans.
“We saw about 28,000 new applicants coming into the caseload, which was really interesting and unexpected,” Clay said, adding the bump is likely due to the state and health care organizations’ increased outreach.
The Health Care Authority hopes to continue sharing disenrollment and trend data over the next several months to see where some gaps might be emerging, Clay said.
The first renewal letters went out at the start of April, and the first terminations for failure to renew happened at the end of May. Over the next year, the state will continue to send postcards, call and text those whose plans are up for renewal.
For those who have been disenrolled in coverage, there’s a 90-day period for automatic retro reenrollment, though the state is encouraging members to visit its website at hca.gov/pca as soon as possible for more information about how to apply or renew coverage.
The state has started an ambassador program to increase outreach among community members and encourages residents to look out for messages from volunteer teams. | https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/230000-wa-residents-lost-medicaid-coverage-since-unwinding-began/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2023-07-29T14:04:15 | 1 | https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/230000-wa-residents-lost-medicaid-coverage-since-unwinding-began/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
EAST KING COUNTY — Wading through green waves of sword ferns that rolled into the distance and lapped at the roots of mossy tree trunks, Jim Oliver stopped below a particularly broad Douglas fir. Forty-nine inches in diameter at breast height, according to his measuring tape.
“That’s as big as a tree can get in 100 years,” or close to it, Oliver said, letting his gaze climb 200 feet skyward, into the sun-dappled canopy of a public forest outside Duvall that narrowly avoided a timber sale this past week.
More than 100 acres managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources were scheduled to be auctioned for logging Tuesday with a $1.62 million minimum bid. But DNR hit pause at the last moment, shelving the Wishbone sale of 4.7 million board feet of timber Monday night after environmentalists sued and seven of nine Metropolitan King County Council members shared concerns.
It’s not the first time DNR has halted a sale under pressure from local officials and environmentalists who oppose state-sanctioned commercial logging of what they call mature or “legacy” forests. Organizations like the Center for Responsible Forestry, where Oliver is a coordinator, have waged campaigns against multiple auctions in recent years, scoring a few other modest wins.
But it’s the first time Seattle-area politicians have gotten directly involved in a sale, advocates say, and it’s a dramatic example of how dynamic such battles can be, with the reprieve from Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz coming just hours before the auction was supposed to occur.
Another high-profile sale, of 126 acres near Port Angeles, went ahead Wednesday despite local opposition. Franz, who leads DNR, launched a 2024 bid for governor in May, giving the debate even more political juice.
Under an antiquated system, state timber revenue helps fund schools, county governments and other services. Of the 102 acres in the Wishbone plot, 15 are on lands managed for King County. Most money from the Wishbone sale would flow to a fund for building projects at the state Capitol in Olympia.
“Our vision is to work with DNR on a strategy to preserve these mature, legacy forests,” King County Councilmember Dave Upthegrove said after the Wishbone pause. “These are forests on their way to becoming old growth.”
The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe added its voice with a written statement Friday, calling for the auction to be delayed “until the climate impacts of cutting a mature forest can be fully assessed.”
DNR is describing the sale near Cherry Creek in the Snoqualmie River watershed as postponed rather than canceled, saying it was properly vetted and could still happen at a later date. Meanwhile, the environmentalists fighting it say its suspension is a sign their movement is gaining momentum.
“I think it’s a victory, because this type of forest is just so vanishingly rare,” said Tacoma-based advocate Stephen Kropp, who started the Center for Responsible Forestry and directs the Legacy Forests Defense Coalition.
Special place
In some ways, the Wishbone battle is like other skirmishes against DNR sales of mature forests. The territory was logged by hand in the 1920s and 1930s, so it isn’t a pristine “old-growth” forest. Yet it wasn’t subjected to chain-saw logging and it’s grown naturally for about a century, leading some environmentalists to argue it and similar forests should be protected.
They say such forests promote biodiversity, provide animal habitat and combat climate change better than forests that were logged more recently and subsequently regrown as homogeneous tree plantations. The latter are much more common on DNR lands, especially near Puget Sound, Kropp said.
In this case, the ecological region between Lake Sammamish and the Cascade Mountains has been extra “hammered” by logging, including all around the Wishbone territory, he said.
The Legacy Forests Defense Coalition and two other groups sued last month, accusing DNR of failing to disclose and mitigate the Wishbone sale’s climate impacts and to consider alternatives, like thinning plantation trees rather than logging mature ones. Environmentalists won a similar case in Jefferson County last year, but not until sales there went through and trees were cut.
“We believe it is critical for the [DNR] to bring an end to the logging of these forests,” that store carbon, cool their surroundings, support plants and animals, and guard against fires and floods, Upthegrove and six colleagues wrote in a July 20 letter, asking Franz to defer the Wishbone sale.
The signers included Councilmember Sarah Perry, who represents Duvall and the forest in question. It’s mostly fir trees, but Oliver also pointed out cedar, hemlock, maple, cottonwood and alder trees of varying heights as he bushwhacked through Wednesday, plus huckleberries, gooseberries and devil’s club plants. Huge stumps with ax notches left by early 20th-century loggers and tree snags bent at odd angles are homes for bugs and birds.
When you enter a mature forest, you instantly sense that it’s special, said Brel Froebe, interim executive director at the Center for Responsible Forestry.
“This feels like a place that’s alive,” he said. “Biodiversity is a sacred thing.”
DNR already conserves about half of the 2 million-plus acres of forests it manages, including almost all pre-1900 acres and most from before 1945, said Duane Emmons, the agency’s assistant deputy supervisor for state uplands, using data points that Kropp, with the Legacy Forests Defense Coalition, asserts are misleading overestimates. What gets protected is partly dictated by DNR’s habitat conservation plan, designed to shield at-risk animals like the northern spotted owl. However, some pre-1945 acres are appropriate for certain logging, Emmons said.
The 102-acre Wishbone sale was narrowed from a potential 250 acres to protect sensitive zones, Emmons said. If it is allowed to move forward, it will get a “variable retention harvest,” in which eight trees are left alone for each acre cut; it will also be reseeded with multiple species, rather than treated like a “true plantation,” he said.
Trees used by the Snoqualmie Tribe for cedar bark stripping will be among those left alone, Emmons added, saying DNR worked with the tribe to facilitate stripping for cultural purposes ahead of the sale. The tribe has done stripping in the vicinity in recent years but didn’t know a sale was imminent, said Jaime Martin, the tribe’s executive director for governmental affairs.
DNR’s forests are trust lands, granted to the state by Congress long ago to fund public institutions like schools or managed by DNR on behalf of various counties. For decades, DNR has engaged in harvesting based on the understanding that it’s required to produce revenue for its beneficiaries. Some counties and rural communities depend on the money and have supported the logging, while other jurisdictions have been less enthusiastic.
DNR timber sales generated about $188 million in revenue last year.
Timber politics
Few of the roughly 100 sales that DNR schedules each year are in King County and none received much public attention until recently, Kropp said.
That’s starting to change, he said. Environmentalists repelled DNR sales in Thurston and Whatcom counties in 2021 and 2022. The Washington Supreme Court ruled last year that DNR can, but isn’t constitutionally obligated, to harvest forests on trust lands, giving Franz more leeway. She announced a plan in 2022 to preserve an additional 10,000 acres of forests by leasing trees to polluters as carbon credits rather than selling them as timber.
Franz wrote to all nine King County Council members on June 7, touting DNR’s management of trust lands generally and inviting them to collaborate on local solutions. There are ways for counties to repossess trust lands and ways for DNR to safeguard forests using strategies like replacement purchases, she noted. Earlier this year, the state Legislature allocated $70 million for such purchases, with the aim of protecting up to 2,000 more acres.
The debate isn’t over, of course. Pro-logging interests, including Lewis and Skagit counties, have jammed Franz’s carbon-credits plan with a lawsuit, and a bill that could have unjammed it didn’t pass the Legislature this year.
The American Forest Resource Council, a timber industry group, pushed back Thursday against the campaign to stop the Wishbone sale. In a statement, the group’s president, Travis Joseph, said such efforts will force developers to “use more carbon-intensive building materials like concrete and steel,” push the state to “import more lumber and wood products from faraway countries” and reduce funding “for essential public services.” DNR’s Emmons echoed those points, also warning about potential job impacts for rural communities.
Environmentalists targeted Wishbone after identifying King County as a likely ally, said John Talberth, president at the Center for Sustainable Economy, which is part of the lawsuit against the auction. The lawsuit put the sale on Upthegrove’s radar, along with a deluge of emails from constituents, he said.
In a letter Tuesday, Franz agreed to defer the Wishbone auction and meet with the council members.
“While I believe that our forests with high ecological and cultural values should be conserved and managed to maximize their benefits, I also believe our working forests can and should continue to power our economy by providing a reliable, local, long-term timber supply as well as quality, family-supporting jobs for our communities,” Franz wrote in her Tuesday letter.
Kropp said the activists need to keep pushing: “That’s the reason DNR is doing anything at all to protect these legacy forests. It’s all political.” | https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/102-acre-king-county-timber-sale-paused-as-politicians-air-climate-concerns/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2023-07-29T14:04:21 | 1 | https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/102-acre-king-county-timber-sale-paused-as-politicians-air-climate-concerns/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
Ukraine fencer Olga Kharlan was promised a 2024 Olympic spot by the IOC president and reinstated by the International Fencing Federation (FIE) for Sunday’s team event at the world championships.
Kharlan, a four-time Olympic medalist, was disqualified during Thursday’s individual sabre event at worlds after she did not shake hands with Anna Smirnova, a fencer from Russia, whom she beat in the first round.
Kharlan offered to touch sabre blades instead, which was allowed earlier during the pandemic to replace the otherwise required handshake, but the handshake was recently mandated again. Kharlan said she asked the FIE president the day before the competition if she could touch blades rather than shake hands and that the president said it was “probably” possible.
The Ukraine Fencing Federation said that Kharlan was disqualified after Smirnova protested that Kharlan showed a lack of respect.
Kharlan’s penalty — a “black card” — normally means a suspension for the rest of the competition and for the following 60 days of the active season. That could significantly affect a fencer’s ability to earn enough points from international results to qualify for the Olympics. The period to earn Olympic qualifying points is April 3, 2023 through April 1, 2024.
In a letter dated Friday, IOC President Thomas Bach, a 1976 Olympic fencing gold medalist, wrote to Kharlan that she will be given an additional quota place in the Paris Games if she is unable to qualify.
“As a fellow fencer, it is impossible for me to imagine how you feel at this moment,” Bach wrote to begin the letter. “The war against your country, the suffering of the people in Ukraine, the uncertainty around your participation at the Fencing World Championships in Milan, the difficult inner conflicts you and many of your fellow Ukrainian athletes may have and then the events which unfolded yesterday -- all this is a roller coaster of emotions and feelings. It is admirable how you are managing this incredibly difficult situation, and I would like to express my full support to you.”
Later Friday, the FIE announced that Kharlan’s penalty will be suspended so that she can compete in the team sabre event at worlds on Sunday, a key competition for Ukraine’s bid to qualify the maximum three women’s sabre fencers for Paris.
“We have discussed this issue and decision thoroughly, and we have met with Ms. Kharlan,” FIE interim president Emmanuel Katsiadakis said in a press release. “Furthermore, and after consultation with the International Olympic Committee, we believe this decision is made in keeping with the Olympic Spirit. It also sends a message of sensitivity and understanding to our members and all sports federations, as the world faces tremendous challenges.”
Kharlan thanked both Ukrainians and people from around the world who supported her after the disqualification.
“When you don’t see hope, you feel unbearable pain and despair, you think you’re all alone,” she posted on social media, according to an Instagram translation. “And then an entire multimillion-dollar country of Heroes rises to your protection and changes everything in your life.”
NBC Sports’ Charlotte Edmonds contributed reporting from Milan. | https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/olga-kharlan-promised-olympic-spot-reinstated-for-fencing-worlds-team-event | 2023-07-29T14:04:22 | 0 | https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/olga-kharlan-promised-olympic-spot-reinstated-for-fencing-worlds-team-event |
With Seattle’s primary election on Tuesday, the big question hanging in the air is: Will it be a wave event that fundamentally resets City Hall?
Some are saying it already has been. Before a single vote has been counted.
“I think it’s very telling in Seattle that so many people are not running for reelection,” said U.S. Rep. Marilyn Strickland, a former mayor of Tacoma, who was speaking at a recent panel at Folio in Pike Place Market. “So many incumbents in this city have decided, ‘I’m not doing this anymore.’ That says a lot.”
What it says, Strickland was suggesting, is that they know the city is struggling. That at a minimum they have no confident answer to that old perennial: “Are we better off than we were four years ago?”
Four of the seven incumbents who would be up for reelection have bowed out. They range from a freshman (Alex Pedersen) to some two-termers (West Seattle’s Lisa Herbold and Council President Debora Juarez) to the body’s most senior member (Kshama Sawant). A fifth member, Teresa Mosqueda, also appears to be moving on, as she’s running for Metropolitan King County Council.
These departures are the biggest tell, Strickland was saying. This election isn’t as much about new ideas or movements as past elections were. In her view, it’s a referendum on the incumbents.
“It’s competence, period,” she said. “Competence at the basic stuff that is not sexy, that doesn’t get you on the news. … I do think there’s going to be more of a desire for that.”
We’ll see. In every Seattle election in recent years, the candidates have tended to populate two political lanes. There’s the activist left lane, and the center-left, moderate lane. Throughout the last decade, the activist left, responding far more passionately to deep societal problems of inequality and social injustice, has often had the upper hand with Seattle’s liberal voters.
That needle shifted back in 2021 — though only a bit, as Sawant, the council’s socialist, also won by surviving a recall attempt. Regardless, it’s revealing that the three incumbents running for reelection — Dan Strauss, Andrew Lewis and Tammy Morales — seem split as to which lane might be ascendant today.
Morales, in South Seattle, is continuing to campaign as the council’s most progressive, left-activist voice after Sawant. While Strauss, out in Ballard, is attempting a bold revision of his role in recent lefty history.
“Defund the police was a mistake,” says an eyebrow-raising Strauss campaign mailer, showing him in a suit standing tough with his arms crossed like a detective on “The Wire.” The mailer implies the mistake was somebody else’s: “I’ve voted time and time again to fund the police.”
Strauss, though, also voted for the council’s resolution to defund the police back in the protest-fueled summer of 2020. The staff report for this resolution specifically called it “defunding the police.” Strauss also said then he was in “100% agreement” with Decriminalize Seattle’s published plan to slash the department’s budget by 50%. The council attached that “Blueprint for Police Divestment” to its resolution, so it can’t be memory-holed that easily today.
It’s true the council didn’t make many of these promised cuts in subsequent years. Cops started quitting in droves, essentially defunding themselves.
This illustrates the incumbents’ dilemma. If you’re a Seattle voter in the moderate lane, you may be mad at them for overseeing such an erosion of the Police Department. But if you’re a voter in the left-activist lane, you have every right to be upset that they never did what they pledged — such as standing up an alternative 911 response team.
Voters may well cut them some slack, as they had a pandemic to navigate. But on countless issues, their inability to produce is glaring. After three years, where are the alternatives to police? Where is the drug crisis response, whatever it’s going to be? Why is there a big budget hole after they passed one of the biggest tax increases in city history, the JumpStart payroll tax? Where are the needed shelters, seven years into a homelessness emergency, for getting more people up off the streets?
And so on. One part of Seattle politics I don’t grasp is why the leftmost voices in the city aren’t furious with the incumbents for this track record. It makes the progressive project look terrible.
Take defund the police. For all the dirt thrown at it, the core idea of demilitarizing the response to many 911 calls has tremendous merit. But you’ve got to make it work out on the ground. Countless cities have managed to get these alternative public safety teams up and running. So it’s beyond maddening that our City Hall, for all its ideological preening, still can’t seem to press “Go.”
One thing about Seattle voters, though — they don’t seem all that mad. Polls show they give the City Council kind of “meh” ratings. A recent Seattle Times poll found that the council has a 34% approval rating, with 48% disapproving. Fourteen percentage points underwater isn’t good, but compare that to, say, Congress, which was 56 points negative in a recent Gallup poll.
That same Times poll also found that 42% of Seattleites think the City Council has gotten too liberal. But 31% said it’s “just about right,” and another 11% think it’s too conservative. Those two camps add up to … 42%. There, in perfect symmetry, are Seattle’s two lanes.
With Sawant not running, the temperature of city politics has noticeably cooled. That may mean less passion in the left-activist lane. But it also may mean less backlash. Seattle’s quieter out there on all fronts.
There also are about 40 candidates running who have never appeared on a ballot before.
“Seattle’s at an inflection point, but I’m not at all sure which direction it’s going,” said local political consultant Sandeep Kaushik. “The center-left lane has some structural advantages, but I could also see many of these progressive candidates still winning. The water’s gotten muddier between the two lanes.”
Maybe like the cops, who defused the defund the police movement by quitting in droves, Seattle’s council has weakened any “throw the bums out” drive by first throwing themselves out.
Do voters feel that job is finished? The next tell will be how the last incumbents standing do on Tuesday night. | https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/the-big-tell-in-this-years-seattle-city-council-elections/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2023-07-29T14:04:27 | 0 | https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/the-big-tell-in-this-years-seattle-city-council-elections/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The cosmos is offering up a double feature in August: a pair of supermoons culminating in a rare blue moon.
Catch the first show Tuesday evening as the full moon rises in the southeast, appearing slightly brighter and bigger than normal. That’s because it will be closer than usual, just 222,159 miles (357,530 kilometers) away, thus the supermoon label.
The moon will be even closer the night of Aug. 30 — a scant 222,043 miles (357,344 kilometers) distant. Because it’s the second full moon in the same month, it will be what’s called a blue moon.
“Warm summer nights are the ideal time to watch the full moon rise in the eastern sky within minutes of sunset. And it happens twice in August,” said retired NASA astrophysicist Fred Espenak, dubbed Mr. Eclipse for his eclipse-chasing expertise.
The last time two full supermoons graced the sky in the same month was in 2018. It won’t happen again until 2037, according to Italian astronomer Gianluca Masi, founder of the Virtual Telescope Project.
Masi will provide a live webcast of Tuesday evening’s supermoon, as it rises over the Coliseum in Rome.
“My plans are to capture the beauty of this … hopefully bringing the emotion of the show to our viewers,” Masi said in an email.
“The supermoon offers us a great opportunity to look up and discover the sky,” he added.
This year’s first supermoon was in July. The fourth and last will be in September. The two in August will be closer than either of those.
Provided clear skies, binoculars or backyard telescopes can enhance the experience, Espenak said, revealing such features as lunar maria — the dark plains formed by ancient volcanic lava flows — and rays emanating from lunar craters.
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the August full moon is traditionally known as the sturgeon moon. That’s because of the abundance of that fish in the Great Lakes in August, hundreds of years ago.
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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.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/science/two-supermoons-in-august-mean-double-the-stargazing-fun/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2023-07-29T14:04:33 | 1 | https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/science/two-supermoons-in-august-mean-double-the-stargazing-fun/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
Billy Frank Jr. was arrested over 50 times trying to preserve his and his tribe’s treaty right to fish in their ancestral waters.
Now, the legendary Nisqually elder who was a central figure in the fight for tribal fishing rights and environmental protections in the Pacific Northwest will have a U.S. Navy ship named after him.
A future U.S. Navy Navajo-class towing, salvage and rescue ship — TATS-11 — will be named the USNS Billy Frank Jr., officials announced this month.
“This is truly an honor for the Frank family, Wa-he-lut School and the Nisqually Nation,” said Willie Frank III, son of Billy Frank Jr. and chair of the Nisqually Indian Tribe, in a statement.
Starting in 2019, the Navy began naming a new class of ships after prominent Native Americans or Native American tribes in honor of their contributions to the armed forces — American Indians and Alaska Natives serve in the U.S. military at a higher rate than any other ethnic group in the country. Frank served in the Marine Corps for two years.
The USNS Billy Frank Jr., the sixth ship in the class, is the first to be named after an individual.
“We have a chance to tell our story and educate a whole new audience about the Nisqually Tribe, Billy Frank Jr., and the 29 tribes in the state of Washington,” said Willie Frank III.
William “Billy” Frank Jr. was born in 1931 as a member of the Nisqually tribe in Washington, and he grew up fishing on his tribal land.
He began his long career as an activist in 1945 as a boy, when he was arrested for catching steelhead and chum with his net in the Nisqually River. Over the years, he would become the face of a defining civil rights movement in the Pacific Northwest.
After serving as a military policeman in the Marine Corps during the Korean War, Frank returned to Washington, where he continued to fight for the right to fish Chinook and other salmon in his tribe’s historical waters.
Despite 19th century treaties guaranteeing Northwest tribes access to historical waters, commercial and sport fishing had led to a drop in stocks at local salmon fisheries. In response, state game agents began harassing and targeting tribal fishermen, including Frank and his father.
Over the years, Frank and others staged “fish-ins” at the Washington state Capitol, protesting the arrests and raids against Indigenous fishermen blamed for the decline.
That organizing culminated in a landmark decision in 1974, when U.S. District Judge George Boldt affirmed the tribes’ right to half of the fish harvest — as well as the country’s obligation to honor treaties. That ruling was extended to the harvest of shellfish in 1993.
“He’ll stand with all the great Indian names of the past two centuries in the Pacific Northwest and across the nation,” his longtime friend Hank Adams told The Seattle Times in 2014. “His is a name that will stand out in the future for all he’s given to Indians and the world.”
Frank would go on to serve as chair of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission for over three decades and receive numerous accolades. In the later half of his life, Frank turned his activism toward protecting forests and salmon streams from excessive timber harvest and development. He died in 2014 at age 83. A statue of Frank is set to be placed in the Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol, a revered civic space where each state is represented by two figures deserving of national commemoration.
Navajo-class ships provide “ocean-going tug, salvage and rescue capabilities to support Fleet operations,” according to U.S. Navy officials. They can tow other Navy vessels and have 6,000 square feet of deck space.
Other ships in the class have been named in honor of the Cherokee Nation, the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan, the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
“My father served this beautiful country as a United States Marine. He was proud to serve his country,” said Willie Frank III in a statement. “As Chairman of the Nisqually Tribe, we want to thank the United States Navy for recognizing and honoring our Nisqually veteran, father and uncle.” | https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/u-s-navy-ship-will-honor-billy-frank-jr-wa-tribal-rights-leader/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2023-07-29T14:04:40 | 1 | https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/u-s-navy-ship-will-honor-billy-frank-jr-wa-tribal-rights-leader/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) — Katie Ledecky added to her legacy as the greatest female swimmer in history when she won the 800-meter freestyle on Saturday at the World Aquatics Championships, establishing two more notable records with the triumph.
The victory by the 26-year-old Ledecky made her the first swimmer ever to win the same event six times at the world championships and also marked her 16th individual world title, breaking a tie with Michael Phelps for the most individual golds ever at the worlds.
Ledecky, who had the 30 top times ever in the 800 entering the race, led all the way, dominating her competitors and winning in a time of 8 minutes, 8.87 seconds.
The gold in the 800 was Ledecky’s second individual gold of these championships following her win in the 1,500 free on Tuesday. She also took silver in the 400 free here.
Li Bingjie of China claimed the silver in 8:13.31, with Ariarne Titmus of Australia took the bronze in 8:13.59.
Kaylee McKeown of Australia made some history of her own with her gold in the women’s 200 backstroke. McKeown’s victory gave her a sweep of all three backstroke events here, after her earlier wins in the 50 and 100. She became the first swimmer ever to sweep all three backstrokes at the worlds.
McKeown took the lead at the final turn and steamed home in 2:03.85. She joined Leon Marchand of France and Qin Haiyang of China as swimmers who swept all three events in the same discipline at these worlds.
Regan Smith of the United States picked up the silver in 2:04.94, while Peng Xuwei of China got the bronze in 2:06.74.
Sarah Sjoestroem of Sweden continued her dominance with gold in the women’s 50-meter butterfly. The 29-year-old won in 24.77 and has now won the event five consecutive times at the worlds. The win brought Sjoestroem’s total number of individual medals at worlds to 20, equaling Phelps’ mark.
Zhang Yufei of China, who took gold in the 100 fly here, claimed the silver in 25.05, while American Gretchen Walsh got the bronze in 25.46.
Fan favorite Rikako Ikee of Japan finished seventh (25.78), but was greeted warmly by the home crowd. The 23-year-old Ikee won six gold medals at the 2018 Asian Games, but was diagnosed with leukemia in February of 2019. Her comeback continues to resonate with both the Japanese public and her fellow competitors.
Cameron McEvoy of Australia led all the way to capture the gold in the men’s 50-meter free in 21.06. American Jack Alexy collected his second silver of the worlds in 21.57 to go with his silver in the 100 free. Benjamin Proud of Britian, last year’s world champion, took the bronze in 21.58.
Maxime Grousset of France won gold in the men’s 100 fly in 50.14. The 24-year-old took the early lead and held on for the victory. Josh Liendo of Canada earned the silver in 50.34, while American Dare Rose made the podium with the bronze (50.46).
Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania equaled the world record of 29.30 in her semifinal in the women’s 50 breaststroke.
Australia won gold in the 4×100 mixed freestyle relay in a world-record time of 3:18.83. The U.S. took the silver in 3:20.82, with Britain getting the bronze in 3:21.68.
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AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/katie-ledecky-passes-michael-phelps-for-most-individual-golds-at-world-championships/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2023-07-29T14:04:46 | 1 | https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/katie-ledecky-passes-michael-phelps-for-most-individual-golds-at-world-championships/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
Katie Ledecky passes Michael Phelps for most individual golds at world championships
FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) — Katie Ledecky added to her legacy as the greatest female swimmer in history when she won the 800-meter freestyle on Saturday at the World Aquatics Championships, establishing two more notable records with the triumph.
The victory by the 26-year-old Ledecky made her the first swimmer ever to win the same event six times at the world championships and also marked her 16th individual world title, breaking a tie with Michael Phelps for the most individual golds ever at the worlds.
Ledecky, who had the 30 top times ever in the 800 entering the race, led all the way, dominating her competitors and winning in a time of 8 minutes, 8.87 seconds.
The gold in the 800 was Ledecky’s second individual gold of these championships following her win in the 1,500 free on Tuesday. She also took silver in the 400 free here.
Li Bingjie of China claimed the silver in 8:13.31, with Ariarne Titmus of Australia took the bronze in 8:13.59.
Kaylee McKeown of Australia made some history of her own with her gold in the women’s 200 backstroke. McKeown’s victory gave her a sweep of all three backstroke events here, after her earlier wins in the 50 and 100. She became the first swimmer ever to sweep all three backstrokes at the worlds.
McKeown took the lead at the final turn and steamed home in 2:03.85. She joined Leon Marchand of France and Qin Haiyang of China as swimmers who swept all three events in the same discipline at these worlds.
Regan Smith of the United States picked up the silver in 2:04.94, while Peng Xuwei of China got the bronze in 2:06.74.
Sarah Sjoestroem of Sweden continued her dominance with gold in the women’s 50-meter butterfly. The 29-year-old won in 24.77 and has now won the event five consecutive times at the worlds. The win brought Sjoestroem’s total number of individual medals at worlds to 20, equaling Phelps’ mark.
Zhang Yufei of China, who took gold in the 100 fly here, claimed the silver in 25.05, while American Gretchen Walsh got the bronze in 25.46.
Fan favorite Rikako Ikee of Japan finished seventh (25.78), but was greeted warmly by the home crowd. The 23-year-old Ikee won six gold medals at the 2018 Asian Games, but was diagnosed with leukemia in February of 2019. Her comeback continues to resonate with both the Japanese public and her fellow competitors.
Cameron McEvoy of Australia led all the way to capture the gold in the men’s 50-meter free in 21.06. American Jack Alexy collected his second silver of the worlds in 21.57 to go with his silver in the 100 free. Benjamin Proud of Britian, last year’s world champion, took the bronze in 21.58.
Maxime Grousset of France won gold in the men’s 100 fly in 50.14. The 24-year-old took the early lead and held on for the victory. Josh Liendo of Canada earned the silver in 50.34, while American Dare Rose made the podium with the bronze (50.46).
Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania equaled the world record of 29.30 in her semifinal in the women’s 50 breaststroke.
Australia won gold in the 4x100 mixed freestyle relay in a world-record time of 3:18.83. The U.S. took the silver in 3:20.82, with Britain getting the bronze in 3:21.68.
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AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/2023/07/29/katie-ledecky-passes-michael-phelps-most-individual-golds-world-championships/ | 2023-07-29T14:04:48 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/2023/07/29/katie-ledecky-passes-michael-phelps-most-individual-golds-world-championships/ |
Top Player Prop Bets for Marlins vs. Tigers on July 29, 2023
The Miami Marlins host the Detroit Tigers at LoanDepot park on Saturday at 4:10 PM ET. Those looking to place a player prop wager can find odds for Luis Arraez, Spencer Torkelson and others in this game.
Bet on this matchup or its props with BetMGM!
Marlins vs. Tigers Game Info
- When: Saturday, July 29, 2023 at 4:10 PM ET
- Where: LoanDepot park in Miami, Florida
- How to Watch on TV: Fox Sports 1
- Live Stream: Watch the MLB on Fubo!
Discover More About This Game
MLB Props Today: Miami Marlins
Johnny Cueto Props
- Strikeouts Prop: Over/Under 4.5 (Over Odds: -145)
Cueto Stats
- The Marlins will send Johnny Cueto to the mound for his third start of the season.
Cueto Recent Games
Check out the latest odds and place your bets on any of Johnny Cueto's player props with BetMGM.
Luis Arraez Props
- Hits Prop: Over/Under 1.5 (Over Odds: +145)
- Runs Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +115)
- Home Runs Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +1100)
- RBI Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +195)
Arraez Stats
- Arraez has 24 doubles, two triples, three home runs, 30 walks and 51 RBI (144 total hits). He has stolen one base.
- He has a .380/.428/.478 slash line so far this year.
- Arraez has picked up at least one hit in two straight games. In his last five games he is batting .500 with four doubles, a triple, a walk and five RBI.
Arraez Recent Games
Jorge Soler Props
- Hits Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: -233)
- Runs Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: -105)
- Home Runs Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +360)
- RBI Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +165)
Soler Stats
- Jorge Soler has collected 88 hits with 19 doubles, 24 home runs and 47 walks. He has driven in 54 runs with one stolen base.
- He has a .240/.332/.488 slash line on the year.
Soler Recent Games
Bet on player props for Luis Arraez, Jorge Soler or other Marlins players with BetMGM.
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MLB Props Today: Detroit Tigers
Spencer Torkelson Props
- Hits Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: -244)
- Runs Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +115)
- Home Runs Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +390)
- RBI Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +145)
Torkelson Stats
- Torkelson has 90 hits with 23 doubles, a triple, 15 home runs, 43 walks and 58 RBI. He's also stolen two bases.
- He's slashing .232/.311/.412 so far this year.
Torkelson Recent Games
Javier Báez Props
- Hits Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: -227)
- Runs Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +155)
- Home Runs Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +750)
- RBI Prop: Over/Under 0.5 (Over Odds: +205)
Báez Stats
- Javier Baez has 86 hits with 12 doubles, four triples, seven home runs, 16 walks and 47 RBI. He's also stolen nine bases.
- He's slashed .225/.263/.332 so far this year.
Báez Recent Games
Bet on player props for Spencer Torkelson, Javier Báez or other Tigers players with BetMGM.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/marlins-vs-tigers-mlb-player-prop-bets/ | 2023-07-29T14:04:55 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/marlins-vs-tigers-mlb-player-prop-bets/ |
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says it has finished testing thousands of unprocessed sexual assault examination kits submitted by local law enforcement agencies.
In 2015, amid a national controversy over the issue, the BCA asked local law enforcement agencies for any untested kits. More than 2,300 were submitted for testing. The agencies cited various reasons for the unsubmitted kits, such as insufficient evidence, conflicting statements to investigators and dismissed charges.
Of the processed kits, 357 DNA profiles extracted from the kits matched someone who was listed in the state’s convicted sex offender database. About 130 of those were people not previously identified in sexual assault cases.
The BCA is working to improve turnaround time for kit testing. As a result, the agency anticipates a 90-day turnaround time on testing sexual assault kits by this fall.
“The BCA continues to look for ways to provide improved processes for victim survivors, local law enforcement agencies and in our own laboratories so that we can best serve victim survivors and the agencies investigating the incidents,” BCA Superintendent Drew Evans said in a statement. “These projects and steps illustrate our commitment to that continual improvement.” | https://www.twincities.com/2023/07/29/2300-unprocessed-sexual-assault-examination-kits-from-2015-have-now-been-tested-minnesota-bca-says/ | 2023-07-29T14:05:00 | 1 | https://www.twincities.com/2023/07/29/2300-unprocessed-sexual-assault-examination-kits-from-2015-have-now-been-tested-minnesota-bca-says/ |
MLB Games Tonight: How to Watch on TV, Streaming & Odds - Saturday, July 29
In one of the many compelling matchups on the MLB schedule today, the Texas Rangers and the San Diego Padres take the field at PETCO Park.
In terms of live coverage, we have everything you need to know regarding today's MLB action here. Check out the links below.
Watch MLB games and tons of other live sports without cable! Use our link to get a free trial to Fubo..
How to Watch Today's MLB Games
The Toronto Blue Jays (58-46) play the Los Angeles Angels (54-50)
The Angels will hit the field at Rogers Centre versus the Blue Jays on Saturday at 3:07 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: MLB Network
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 3:07 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- TOR Key Player: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (.270 AVG, 17 HR, 65 RBI)
- LAA Key Player: Shohei Ohtani (.301 AVG, 39 HR, 81 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Miami Marlins (56-48) take on the Detroit Tigers (46-58)
The Tigers will hit the field at LoanDepot park versus the Marlins on Saturday at 4:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: Fox Sports 1
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 4:10 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- MIA Key Player: Luis Arraez (.380 AVG, 3 HR, 51 RBI)
- DET Key Player: Spencer Torkelson (.232 AVG, 15 HR, 58 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
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The Pittsburgh Pirates (45-58) play the Philadelphia Phillies (56-47)
The Phillies will take to the field at PNC Park versus the Pirates on Saturday at 7:05 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: SportsNet PT
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 7:05 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- PIT Key Player: Bryan Reynolds (.256 AVG, 11 HR, 47 RBI)
- PHI Key Player: Bryson Stott (.302 AVG, 9 HR, 37 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Kansas City Royals (30-75) play the Minnesota Twins (54-51)
The Twins will take to the field at Kauffman Stadium against the Royals on Saturday at 7:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- KC Key Player: Bobby Witt Jr. (.257 AVG, 17 HR, 57 RBI)
- MIN Key Player: Carlos Correa (.229 AVG, 12 HR, 45 RBI)
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The Chicago White Sox (42-63) take on the Cleveland Guardians (52-52)
The Guardians hope to get a road victory at Guaranteed Rate Field versus the White Sox on Saturday at 7:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- CHW Key Player: Luis Robert (.267 AVG, 29 HR, 59 RBI)
- CLE Key Player: José Ramírez (.285 AVG, 16 HR, 60 RBI)
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The New York Mets (49-54) face the Washington Nationals (43-61)
The Nationals will look to pick up a road win at Citi Field against the Mets on Saturday at 7:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- NYM Key Player: Pete Alonso (.220 AVG, 30 HR, 73 RBI)
- WSH Key Player: Lane Thomas (.287 AVG, 16 HR, 54 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The San Francisco Giants (56-48) host the Boston Red Sox (56-47)
The Red Sox will look to pick up a road win at Oracle Park versus the Giants on Saturday at 7:15 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- SF Key Player: LaMonte Wade Jr (.269 AVG, 9 HR, 29 RBI)
- BOS Key Player: Justin Turner (.286 AVG, 16 HR, 66 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The St. Louis Cardinals (46-59) take on the Chicago Cubs (52-51)
The Cubs hope to get a road victory at Busch Stadium against the Cardinals on Saturday at 7:15 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- STL Key Player: Nolan Arenado (.284 AVG, 22 HR, 77 RBI)
- CHC Key Player: Nico Hoerner (.281 AVG, 7 HR, 57 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Houston Astros (58-46) take on the Tampa Bay Rays (63-43)
The Rays will take to the field at Minute Maid Park versus the Astros on Saturday at 7:15 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- HOU Key Player: Kyle Tucker (.304 AVG, 18 HR, 69 RBI)
- TB Key Player: Wander Franco (.264 AVG, 11 HR, 48 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Baltimore Orioles (63-40) play host to the New York Yankees (54-49)
The Yankees will take to the field at Oriole Park at Camden Yards against the Orioles on Saturday at 7:15 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- BAL Key Player: Adley Rutschman (.268 AVG, 14 HR, 46 RBI)
- NYY Key Player: Gleyber Torres (.261 AVG, 16 HR, 43 RBI)
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The Atlanta Braves (65-36) play host to the Milwaukee Brewers (57-47)
The Brewers will hit the field at Truist Park versus the Braves on Saturday at 7:20 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- ATL Key Player: Ronald Acuña Jr. (.329 AVG, 23 HR, 59 RBI)
- MIL Key Player: Christian Yelich (.286 AVG, 15 HR, 58 RBI)
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The Arizona Diamondbacks (55-49) face the Seattle Mariners (53-50)
The Mariners will hit the field at Chase Field against the Diamondbacks on Saturday at 8:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- ARI Key Player: Corbin Carroll (.290 AVG, 21 HR, 57 RBI)
- SEA Key Player: Julio Rodríguez (.252 AVG, 17 HR, 55 RBI)
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The Colorado Rockies (40-63) play host to the Oakland Athletics (29-76)
The Athletics hope to get a road victory at Coors Field versus the Rockies on Saturday at 8:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: SportsNet RM
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 8:10 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- COL Key Player: Ryan McMahon (.254 AVG, 16 HR, 48 RBI)
- OAK Key Player: Tony Kemp (.216 AVG, 3 HR, 20 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The San Diego Padres (50-54) play the Texas Rangers (60-44)
The Rangers hope to get a road victory at PETCO Park versus the Padres on Saturday at 8:40 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- SD Key Player: Juan Soto (.266 AVG, 20 HR, 63 RBI)
- TEX Key Player: Marcus Semien (.277 AVG, 15 HR, 64 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Los Angeles Dodgers (58-44) take on the Cincinnati Reds (57-48)
The Reds will look to pick up a road win at Dodger Stadium versus the Dodgers on Saturday at 9:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: SportsNet LA
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 9:10 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- LAD Key Player: Freddie Freeman (.332 AVG, 21 HR, 73 RBI)
- CIN Key Player: Spencer Steer (.276 AVG, 15 HR, 56 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/mlb-odds-how-to-watch/ | 2023-07-29T14:05:01 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/mlb-odds-how-to-watch/ |
By NOMAAN MERCHANT, ELLEN KNICKMEYER, ZEKE MILLER and TARA COPP (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States has announced $345 million in military aid for Taiwan, in what is the Biden administration’s first major package drawing on America’s own stockpiles to help Taiwan counter China.
The White House said Friday the package would include defense, education and training for the Taiwanese. Washington will send man-portable air defense systems, or MANPADS, intelligence and surveillance capabilities, firearms and missiles, according to two U.S. officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.
U.S. lawmakers have been pressuring the Pentagon and White House to speed weapons to Taiwan. The goals are to help it counter China and to deter China from considering attacking, by providing Taipei enough weaponry that it would make the price of invasion too high.
While Chinese diplomats protested the move, Taiwan’s representative office in the U.S. said the administration’s decision to pull arms and other materiel from its stores provided “an important tool to support Taiwan’s self-defense.” In a statement, it pledged to work with the United States to maintain “peace, stability and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.”
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense also expressed its appreciation in a statement that thanked “the U.S. for its firm commitment to Taiwan’s security.”
The package is in addition to nearly $19 billion in military sales of F-16s and other major weapons systems that the U.S. has approved for Taiwan. Delivery of those weapons has been hampered by supply chain issues that started during the COVID-19 pandemic and have been exacerbated by the global defense industrial base pressures created by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The difference is that this aid is part of a presidential authority approved by Congress last year to draw weapons from current U.S. military stockpiles — so Taiwan will not have to wait for military production and sales. This gets weapons delivered faster than providing funding for new weapons.
The Pentagon has used a similar authority to get billions of dollars worth of munitions to Ukraine.
Taiwan split from China in 1949 amid civil war. Chinese President Xi Jinping maintains China’s right to take over the now self-ruled island, by force if necessary. China has accused the U.S. of turning Taiwan into a “powder keg” through the billions of dollars in weapons sales it has pledged.
The U.S. maintains a “One China” policy under which it does not recognize Taiwan’s as an independent country and has no formal diplomatic relations with the island in deference to Beijing. However, U.S. law requires a credible defense for Taiwan and for the U.S. to treat all threats to the island as matters of “grave concern.”
Getting stockpiles of weapons to Taiwan now, before an attack begins, is one of the lessons the U.S. has learned from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Pentagon deputy defense secretary Kathleen Hicks told The Associated Press earlier this year.
Ukraine “was more of a cold-start approach than the planned approach we have been working on for Taiwan, and we will apply those lessons,” Hicks said. Efforts to resupply Taiwan after a conflict erupted would be complicated because it is an island, she said.
China regularly sends warships and planes across the center line in the Taiwan Strait that provides a buffer between the sides, as well as into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone, in an effort to intimidate the island’s 23 million people and wear down its military capabilities.
Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said in a statement that Beijing was “firmly opposed” to U.S. military ties with Taiwan. The U.S. should “stop selling arms to Taiwan” and “stop creating new factors that could lead to tensions in the Taiwan Strait,” Liu said. | https://www.twincities.com/2023/07/29/us-announces-345-million-military-aid-package-for-taiwan/ | 2023-07-29T14:05:06 | 1 | https://www.twincities.com/2023/07/29/us-announces-345-million-military-aid-package-for-taiwan/ |
Avery Brewing’s 30th Anniversary Party: Avery is celebrating its big birthday by tapping unlimited pours of more than 160 beers from over 60 breweries — including rare barrel-aged beers, like the new anniversary strong ale that pays homage to 30 years of brewing. On stage will be local groups Justin Garber and The Desert Furs, Drunken Hearts and The Avery All Stars, featuring guest artists. There will be food trucks around, too. Proceeds will benefit PLAY Boulder Foundation; 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Avery Brewing Company, 4910 Nautilus Court North, Boulder; $93; bit.ly/3Kl1UrX.
Block Party on The Hill: Celebrate the return of community with the Family Fun Block Party presented by The Hill Merchant Association. The party will have a balloon artist, face painters, SweetCow ice cream truck and a live magic show by Inspector Magic. Guests can bring blankets or camp chairs for the show; 2-6 p.m. Saturday, The Hill, 1235 Pennsylvania Ave., Boulder; Free; thehillboulder.com/ffbp.
RockyGrass: The annual event celebrating all things strings and ‘grass returns to Lyons for its 51st annual festival. Running through Sunday, some of the top area and national bands will hit the stage. Saturday’s lineup: Pick & Howl; The Slocan Ramblers; Hawktail; Laurie Lewis; Mighty Poplar; Big Richard; Sam Bush Bluegrass Band; gates open at 9 a.m. Saturday; Planet Bluegrass, 500 W. Main St., Lyons; bluegrass.com.
Ka Hula Ana: It’s Hawaiian Cultural weekend in Colorado. Come celebrate with hula, music, lectures and hō’ike; 9 a.m. Saturday, Avalon Ballroom, 6185 Arapahoe Road, Boulder; bit.ly/3rINZFL.
From Farm to Table — Vegetable Cooking Techniques at the Farmers Market: Chef Dallas from Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts will take participants around the farmers market then will will host a veggie-forward cooking class at Escoffie; meet at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Boulder Farmers Market, 13th Street, Boulder; $75-$95; bit.ly/3OeFda0.
15th Annual Jul-IPA Rooftop Party: Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence (SPAN) and West End Tavern will host the annual Jul-IPA fundraiser that will benefit survivors of domestic violence. This event will feature tastings from eight local breweries and two distilleries, food from West End Tavern, live music and auction items from local businesses; noon Saturday, West End Tavern, 926 Pearl St., Boulder; $45; thewestendtavern.com.
Upcoming
RockyGrass: The annual event celebrating all things strings and ‘grass returns to Lyons for its 51st annual festival. Sunday’s lineup: The Solar Sisters, featuring The Cody Sisters; Stillhouse Junkies; Jeremy Garrett & River Wild; Fireside Collective; AJ Lee & Blue Summit; Peter Rowan’s Bluegrass Band; Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway; gates open at 10 a.m. Sunday; Planet Bluegrass, 500 W. Main St., Lyons; bluegrass.com.
Summer Community Day with Street Wise: Community Day will highlight Street Wise’s 2023 Summer Mural Series with mural tours and an artist meet-and-greet at R Gallery (2027 Broadway) from 3-6 p.m. The artists include Moe Gram, whose “Creature Comforts” was created in June. Also at the meet-and-greet will be muralists Grow Love, Danielle DeRoberts, Latasha Dunston and Will Barker, who are currently painting murals around town. Tours take place before the meet-and-greet; 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. walking tours or 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. e-bike tours with JD’s Joyrides, Sunday, Street Wise Arts, 13th and Pearl streets, Boulder; donations accepted; bit.ly/44InOOf.
‘The Winter’s Tale’ at Colorado Shakespeare Festival: When King Leontes inexplicably accuses his pregnant wife of infidelity he makes a cruel, rash decision that he must spend two decades atoning for. Shakespeare’s nuanced epic explores both the heartrending corrosion of jealousy and the joyous redemption of forgiveness that is hard-won; 2 p.m. Sunday, Roe Green Theatre, University Theatre Building, 261 University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder; cupresents.org.
‘Incoming! Asteroids, Comets, and the Hard-Hitting Stories of Our Cosmic Origins’ at Fiske: A film narrated by George Takei from “Star Trek” looks at the past, present and future of our solar system and the landmark discoveries scientists have made sending spacecraft to visit tiny worlds; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Fiske Planetarium, 2414 Regent Drive, Boulder; $8-$12; calendar.colorado.edu. | https://www.dailycamera.com/2023/07/29/averys-30th-birthday-party-taps-loads-of-beer-and-other-boulder-events-for-today/ | 2023-07-29T14:05:06 | 0 | https://www.dailycamera.com/2023/07/29/averys-30th-birthday-party-taps-loads-of-beer-and-other-boulder-events-for-today/ |
Germany vs. Colombia: Live Stream, TV Channel & Game Info - July 30
Published: Jul. 29, 2023 at 9:37 AM EDT|Updated: 26 minutes ago
Germany will meet Colombia, in the middle round of group-stage matches at the 2023 Women's World Cup, on July 30 at 5:30 AM ET in Sydney, Australia.
This game will be available on Fox Sports 1.
Watch the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup on Fubo! Sign up for a free trial and start watching live sports without cable today!
How to Watch Germany vs. Colombia
- Game Day: Sunday, July 30, 2023
- Game Time: 5:30 AM ET
- TV Channel: Fox Sports 1
- Location: Sydney, Australia
- Venue: Sydney Football Stadium
Sign up for a Fubo free trial now to watch the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and more live sports!
Germany Group Stage Schedule
Germany's Recent Performance
- In its previous match, Germany got a 6-0 victory over Morocco, taking 15 shots and outshooting by 10.
- Germany was led by Alexandra Popp, who scored two of her side's goals versus .
- Popp's Women's World Cup statline through one appearance for Germany includes two goals.
- In one Women's World Cup game so far, Klara Buehl has recorded one goal while adding one assist.
- During Women's World Cup play, Lea Schuller has scored one goal (but has no assists).
Get your 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup gear at Fanatics!
Germany's 2023 Women's World Cup Roster
- Merle Frohms #1
- Chantal Hagel #2
- Kathrin Hendrich #3
- Sophia Kleinherne #4
- Marina Hegering #5
- Lena Oberdorf #6
- Lea Schuller #7
- Sydney Lohmann #8
- Svenja Huth #9
- Laura Freigang #10
- Alexandra Popp #11
- Ann Katrin Berger #12
- Sara Daebritz #13
- Lena Lattwein #14
- Sjoeke Nusken #15
- Nicole Anyomi #16
- Felicitas Rauch #17
- Melanie Leupolz #18
- Klara Buehl #19
- Lina Magull #20
- Stina Johannes #21
- Jule Brand #22
- Sara Doorsoun #23
Colombia Group Stage Schedule
Colombia's Recent Performance
- In its most recent match on July 24, Colombia defeated South Korea 2-0. Colombia outshot South Korea 15 to four.
- Linda Caicedo and Catalina Usme paced Colombia by tallying a goal each. They had one and three shots, respectively.
- Usme has one goal for Colombia in Women's World Cup (one game).
- Caicedo has one goal for Colombia in Women's World Cup.
Colombia's 2023 Women's World Cup Roster
- Catalina Perez #1
- Manuela Vanegas #2
- Daniela Arias #3
- Diana Ospina #4
- Lorena Bedoya #5
- Daniela Montoya #6
- Cami Reyes Calderon #7
- Marcela Restrepo #8
- Mayra Ramirez #9
- Leicy Santos #10
- Catalina Usme #11
- Sandra Sepulveda #12
- Natalia Giraldo Alzate #13
- Angela Daniela Baron #14
- Ana Maria Guzman #15
- Lady Andrade #16
- Caroline Arias #17
- Linda Caicedo #18
- Jorelyn Carabali #19
- Monica Ramos Santana #20
- Ivonne Chacon #21
- Daniela Caracas #22
- Elexa Marie Bahr Gutierrez #23
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/2023-womens-world-cup-germany-colombia-live-stream-tv/ | 2023-07-29T14:05:08 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/2023-womens-world-cup-germany-colombia-live-stream-tv/ |
Members of our Community Editorial Board, a group of community residents who are engaged with and passionate about local issues, respond to the following question: Research on traffic during and after the coronavirus pandemic shows altered driving patterns and an increase in severe car crashes and fatalities despite fewer drivers being on the road. Your take?
Perceived Behavioral Control, a psychological concept, suggests that an individual’s perception of how easy or difficult it is to engage in a specific behavior influences their intentions. In the case of dangerous driving, if people believe they can get away with reckless behavior due to a lack of law enforcement, their sense of control over the situation increases. As a result, they become more likely to indulge in risky driving actions.
The pandemic inadvertently triggered changes in traffic enforcement as well. In the aftermath of high-profile incidents during traffic stops and the George Floyd protests, some cities and states consciously reduced traffic stops for minor violations. The aim was to address racial disparities and limit unnecessary interactions between the police and citizens. While the intent was noble, critics (myself included) think that a certain level of enforcement is necessary to deter more serious violations and maintain road safety. It’s not the severity of punishment that deters individuals from breaking traffic laws; instead, it’s the certainty of getting caught. I believe this perspective is valid when we consider that deaths on American roads today remain 18% higher than in 2019.
The root of the problem lies in the perception of lax enforcement. When drivers believe they can escape accountability for dangerous behaviors, they’re more likely to speed, drive recklessly or flout traffic rules without fear. The diminished fear of getting caught or facing repercussions elevates the likelihood of engaging in hazardous actions.
I think speed enforcement and traffic stops need to make a comeback in the state of Colorado. While I advocate for police training that emphasizes de-escalation and safety during stops, there’s also a need to reinstate measures like speed enforcement and traffic stops for technical violations. Striking the right balance between equitable enforcement and road safety can help restore order to our roads and save lives. As we navigate the path to safer roads, let us find the middle ground between enforcement and public safety.
Hernán Villanueva, chvillanuevap@gmail.com
The human circulatory system is both a marvel and a good argument against Intelligent Design. It balances precariously on a knife edge between death-by-bleeding and death-by-clotting. At least 50 million people in the U.S. take some kind of blood thinner, mostly aspirin or more powerful prescriptions, to try to keep that balance going as they age. But thanks to that same inexorable aging process — and often poor health choices — it doesn’t take much to fall off to either side of the knife.
This cheery thinking about our blood system sounds remarkably like what transportation planners and managers try to do with vehicles and roads. Too many cars and trucks on an existing roadway will cause slowdowns, even to the point of sitting still: A veritable “clot,” causing a knock-on series of problems for those trapped in it and the system as a whole. Too few cars, on the other hand, results in a “free-for-all-way,” with massive amalgamated hunks of metal, plastic and glass hurtling along and — sadly — more frequently slamming into each other spectacularly, with catastrophic outcomes for all involved.
Unlike cardio docs, the only “drug” that the aforesaid planners and managers have at their disposal is controlling the capacity of the roads for a predicted number of users and vehicles. Hardly an exact science, especially in light of massive disruptions like COVID-19: It should not be a surprise that the sudden excess capacity (kind of like a big dose of blood thinner) resulted in speedier but more dangerous travels.
But, like doctors futilely urging healthy choices, planners and managers can’t prescribe for respectful, thoughtful, and alert drivers. If someone is determined to speed, imbibe, read email, do makeup, shave, etc., while operating a big machine, no “drug” in the world will prevent the disaster they choose to cause.
Fintan Steele, fsteele1@me.com
CU Boulder economics Professor Jonathan Hughes’ recent research findings maybe appear counterintuitive at first glance, but considered more deeply they point to logical outcomes during unusual and strange times we have endured. The pandemic was a confusing, anxious, fearful, disorderly, jumbled and uncertain period. Many of us lost friends, co-workers, neighbors and loved ones directly (from the virus) and indirectly (from fatal car crashes) during this generally morose time. Silver linings were scarce. While the pandemic has been declared over, the virus persists as it threatens immunocompromised members of our community and continues to complicate many aspects of life we may have previously taken for granted.
Among takeaways from Professor Hughes’ analysis and from the coronavirus pandemic, I remain optimistic that terrible experiences can inspire deeper caring for one another, greater humility, sharpened compassion and improved empathy that then make our lives and livelihoods better.
Here’s where I make a case for how systematic research adds important value to our lives, because this investigation illustrates it. Professor Hughes noted in Olivia Doak’s July 19 Daily Camera article that this work was motivated by an interest in helping provide greater understanding that lead to policy actions to reduce fatal car crashes. I hope that will prove to be the case and it feeds into policy and behavioral improvements.
Generally, research can yield new insights into past conditions, present circumstances, future trends and challenges. Findings and explanations from methodical studies give us opportunities to actively unmake or make things better for ourselves as well as others in our shared society. Going forward, research must continue to be supported and funded as a way of learning and knowing along with other ways (e.g. experiential, emotional, visceral and aesthetic) to access and learn about our world as well as how we behave in it.
Max Boykoff, mboykoff@gmail.com
Apparently, during the pandemic, people drove faster on emptier streets and highways. A high percentage of fatalities involved impaired drivers (alcohol, drugs, fatigue) and those not wearing seatbelts. In addition, the large, heavy vehicles that are popular in the U.S. make accidents more deadly. From a local point of view, it does seem like we’ve had more fatal car crashes in the last couple of years, particularly on roads like the Diagonal and 287.
My personal take is that we the people of Boulder need to slow way down. (And wear seatbelts, and not drive when impaired/fatigued.) That’s simplistic but in the end, it comes down to the personal choices we make when we drive. Can local government help us travel more safely? Sure. Better bike lanes are key, and municipalities should continue to prioritize improving ease of/access to public transit. I love that RTD buses are free this summer and look forward to the simplified fare schedule. I’m also pumped about the prospect of the Iris Avenue Transportation Improvements Project. Spring through fall, I push the button to cross Iris at Hermosa every day on my way to and from the community garden and observe a variety of blatant and creative traffic violations from running the red light, stopping and then proceeding straight through the red light after I cross, slowing way down in order to proceed through the red light at a “safe” speed, etc.
I’m no different from anyone else. I walk and bike but I also drive plenty, and sometimes a little too fast. When I get impatient and distracted, I try to remind myself that I’m driving through the community I love and in other people’s neighborhoods. If I need to vent some energy, I should wait till I’m not behind the wheel of my car.
Diane Schwemm, parksidediane@gmail.com | https://www.dailycamera.com/2023/07/29/community-editorial-board-driving-during-covid/ | 2023-07-29T14:05:12 | 0 | https://www.dailycamera.com/2023/07/29/community-editorial-board-driving-during-covid/ |
As part of an ongoing effort to honor and remember former Broomfield High School student Dominic DePalma, family members and loved ones will gather Sunday to dedicate a memorial bench in his honor at Country Estates Park in Broomfield.
DePalma was killed in a car crash at the intersection of U.S. 287 and Dillon Road in Lafayette in July 2022, when the car, containing four other juveniles, collided with a tractor-trailer.
Since his death, DePalma has been remembered as a kind-hearted young man who always made his friends laugh and loved to play soccer and video games. Various events have been held in Broomfield to honor his memory, including a candlelight vigil last July and a celebration in January on what would have been his 18th birthday.
On Sunday, just days after the one-year anniversary of his death, the community will gather in his honor once again from 2-4 p.m.. Community members are encouraged to join to celebrate DePalma’s life. | https://www.dailycamera.com/2023/07/29/friends-family-of-broomfield-high-student-to-dedicate-memorial-bench/ | 2023-07-29T14:05:18 | 1 | https://www.dailycamera.com/2023/07/29/friends-family-of-broomfield-high-student-to-dedicate-memorial-bench/ |
By Lily Roberts
Each time Congress debates its priorities for the Farm Bill every five years, as it is doing this year, it faces legislation that profoundly affects the economic well-being of Americans nationwide.
From managing natural resources to rural development to funding labs and researchers at institutions across America, the Farm Bill is the most important tool the federal government has for ensuring that Americans have access to the food they need while also boosting economic development and growing the middle class.
The Farm Bill’s implications go well beyond farms. These policies made by Congress will show up at kitchen tables and green spaces across the country. For example, the Farm Bill is essential to supporting families at risk of going hungry, a category that encompasses millions of Americans in every community across the country. In 2021, 33.8 million people (5 million of whom were children) lived in food-insecure households, meaning that they didn’t have enough food to lead an active, healthy lifestyle at some point in the year. At a time of great need, more kids than ever could receive free meals at school during the pandemic.
However, many benefits have expired even though families continue to struggle with the cost of food. The Farm Bill is a crucial way to support hungry kids, whose hunger often makes learning harder and leads to less preparedness for jobs and the workforce.
The moral imperative of making sure everyone has enough to eat pays off in growing the economy. Food support affects local businesses, farmers and employment. In a 2015 analysis of Great Recession policies, economists found that aid to hungry families had the biggest “bang for the buck” of any federal spending. In other words, every $1 policymakers allocated to SNAP created $1.22 in gross domestic product. Families spend their dollars in their communities, and investments in growing the middle class pay off for everyone.
Recognizing this, in 2018, Republicans and Democrats agreed to use the Farm Bill to support hungry kids and their families, passing a bipartisan bill. The 2018 Farm Bill included a small increase to the extremely modest monthly food budget based on hunger benefits and a commitment to revisiting budget standards every five years. It’s crucial to protect that update to how benefits are calculated, especially given the COVID-era increase in food prices and the end of some pandemic supports.
Also during the 2018 Farm Bill debate, bipartisan majorities agreed to avoid significant changes to so-called “work requirements,” which are really just paperwork requirements that prevent people from receiving the benefits for which they otherwise qualify.
But in the name of “fiscal responsibility,” some lawmakers now seek to punish those who lose their jobs by taking away the meager food benefits that help families get groceries. Research overwhelmingly shows that work requirements don’t lead to better financial outcomes for participants; on the contrary, the additional bureaucracy is costly to taxpayers and ineffective in promoting employment.
The Farm Bill also has the potential to grow the economy in rural communities. For example, it can help rural communities navigate the programs and support that federal agencies provide to grow the economy and the rural middle class. Research and agricultural extension funding can better support land-grant universities, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Tribal Colleges and Universities, so that federal funding makes investments in research taking place across the country.
Rural communities are on the front lines of the need for conservation investment and climate-smart agriculture, and the Farm Bill can protect those investments.
Programs that conserve wildlife habitats, clean water and open space are oversubscribed, while more private landowners want to conserve their forests and pursue climate-smart practices. Privately owned forests in the United States account for more than half of all forested lands and supply nearly a third of the water we drink. Preserving and building on the funds available for conservation is crucial for green spaces and clean water.
The Farm Bill also funds existing, crucial rural development programs, providing a unique opportunity to align conservation and climate investments with rural housing, water and utility services, and small-business development.
Coordinating and aligning programs in rural communities doesn’t cost the government more money, but it does grow the economy in rural communities.
Ultimately, the Farm Bill is a bit of a misnomer — it’s the vehicle for funding and improving programs and services beyond farms. Rural communities, American families and our environment depend on swift bipartisan action to pass a strong Farm Bill that protects conservation, rural development and families across the country.
Lily Roberts is the managing director for Inclusive Growth at the Center for American Progress. She wrote this for InsideSources.com. | https://www.dailycamera.com/2023/07/29/guest-opinion-lily-roberts-the-farm-bill-is-about-more-than-farmers/ | 2023-07-29T14:05:24 | 0 | https://www.dailycamera.com/2023/07/29/guest-opinion-lily-roberts-the-farm-bill-is-about-more-than-farmers/ |
By Mary Ann Paliani
The hearing on AI by the Senate’s Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law opened with a recorded speech by its chair, Sen. Richard Blumenthal. The voice in the recording sounded like the senator’s, and the message was appropriate for the occasion. However, the voice and the message were all created by generative AI! Subsequently, Blumenthal said, “What if I had asked it, and what if it had provided, an endorsement of Ukraine surrendering or (Russian President) Vladimir Putin’s leadership?”
The incident suggests one of the potential threats that generative AI poses to society.
Initially, generative AI was simply seen as a problem in the classroom where it could enable students to cheat on homework assignments. However, with its expanded toolkit, it can author new content, and also create the digital doppelganger of a given individual delivering an AI-authored message. The ramifications of such a capability are daunting.
To illustrate, let’s go back to the evening of October 30, 1938, when the CBS Mercury Theatre on the Air performed a radio adaptation of “The War of the Worlds” by H. G. Wells. The drama depicted a Martian invasion of New Jersey. Listeners who tuned into the show after its initial disclosures, found themselves listening to apparently authentic news reports of a disaster in progress. The production produced mass panic from coast to coast. Despite the improbability of the drama, millions believed a horrific disaster was in progress.
Now, let’s return to the issues surrounding generative AI. Consider how easily the technology could create similar deepfake events, which trigger national and even global panic, disrupt the 2024 elections, interfere with international relationships, news coverage, military operations and impact virtually every sector of our society. Ask yourself, what would you do if during the 5:00 p.m. CBS News, the broadcast was interrupted by breaking news, showing a deepfake digital equivalent of President Biden announcing that a nuclear attack on Washington D. C. by North Korea had just occurred.
In testifying before the Senate committee, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, stated, “As this technology advances, we understand that people are anxious about how it could change the way we live. We are too.” He added, “If this technology goes wrong, it can go quite wrong.” To deal with this existential threat he proposed creating a U. S. or global agency that would have the power to enforce compliance with safety AI standards — an approach tantamount to closing the barn door after the horse has bolted. Too little, too late!
Actually, how feasible is Altman’s proposal? International collaborations do not have a history of success. Inevitably, national priorities take precedence over international initiatives. Consider how the 2015 Paris Climate Accords involving 193 countries and the EU has failed, so far, to live up to its climate mitigation goals. Then, to expect a single regulatory body to control the global utilization of AI, a technology that is in the hands of the masses, is totally unrealistic.
Generative AI personnel readily admit that they do not fully understand how the technology works. How then, can society control and regulate it? As an example of the issue, the chatbots are presumably trained not to answer questions that can cause harm or danger. Yet an enterprising hacker got it to provide instructions for making napalm and meth by representing it as a bedtime story that grandma would tell.
Ultimately, human ingenuity, coupled with greed and man’s lust for power will outpace and overwhelm society’s efforts to control generative AI. Society lacks the intellectual bandwidth to anticipate when, where and how the next deepfake attack will happen. AI’s creators have opened an existential Pandora’s box. In so doing, they have unleashed a swarm of negative and unknown consequences into the world, none of which can be recaptured.
Mary Ann Paliani lives in Boulder. | https://www.dailycamera.com/2023/07/29/guest-opinion-mary-ann-paliani-is-generative-ai-a-ticking-time-bomb/ | 2023-07-29T14:05:30 | 0 | https://www.dailycamera.com/2023/07/29/guest-opinion-mary-ann-paliani-is-generative-ai-a-ticking-time-bomb/ |
Patrick Comer: Politics: Let’s look to the future in House District 10
While William DeOreo ostensibly invites us to “build bridges” with the “Lincoln and Eisenhower Republican Party” (July 22 guest opinion), he demonstrates through his own words just how distant that old-fashioned Republican Party is into the past.
Joe Biden’s rather tame 2021 comments about MAGA Republicans’ actions simply spoke the truth and (perhaps) helped unite the rest of us citizens against the clear and present danger of increasingly violent Republicans. As everyone is well aware of the evidence (i.e., invasion and destruction of the U.S. Capital, attacks on election officials, ongoing threats to our legal system, etc.), today’s Republican Party is no friend to freedom and democracy.
Some sensible issues for debate in House District 10 include:
• Further expand ballot access and ensure that the will of Colorado citizens is freely expressed, effects of gerrymandering are eliminated, and poll workers are fully protected.
• Advance common sense gun safety regulations (including gun buybacks) and vigorously enforce those regulations.
• Advance both training and oversight of law enforcement for our security while protecting of civil rights of all citizens.
• Expand support for humane treatment of refugees, immigrants and other vulnerable adults and children.
• Expand equity and fairness in state and local tax systems through progressive tax structures.
• Expand efficient and equitable public health insurance options for comprehensive and high-quality health care.
• Deepen state support to diverse public education options from preschool to PhD, and beyond.
• Expand production of renewable energy in Colorado and increase use efficiency in buildings and vehicles.
• Expand collaborative land use planning with environmental, economic and social sustainability as cornerstones.
• Expand investments in environmental resilience to address the accelerating effects of climate change on our lands, waters, infrastructure and way of life.
I think there is plenty of room for debate among the sensible center-right to center-left leaning citizens of HD 10 who make up the overwhelming majority of its citizens.
Patrick Comer, Boulder | https://www.dailycamera.com/2023/07/29/letters-to-the-editor-lets-look-to-the-future-in-house-district-10/ | 2023-07-29T14:05:36 | 1 | https://www.dailycamera.com/2023/07/29/letters-to-the-editor-lets-look-to-the-future-in-house-district-10/ |
The Chicago Tribune on Gov. Ron DeSantis’ campaign meltdown and what must be done to stop Trump:
As governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis reopened his state quickly after COVID-19, limited economic damage and managed to reopen schools by the fall of 2020, reducing learning loss. Florida also had an impressive vaccination rate and a lower age-adjusted COVID-19 death rate than most American states. Debates over COVID-19 policies and their consequences will continue for decades, but a growing number of nonpartisan historians are arguing that DeSantis was far more right than wrong.
His environmental record, including protection of the Everglades, is better than many Democratic strongholds, he raised pay for public schoolteachers and he offers most Floridians school choice. Cranes are a prominent part of the skylines in cities like Miami and Tampa, places that are booming as many Americans move south to find lower tax rates and cities that feel safer and friendlier to new businesses. And DeSantis won reelection in 2022 by a stunning 19 percentage points.
So why has DeSantis’ presidential campaign melted down faster than a soft-serve cone in Miami Beach?
One reason, of course, is that Democrats and the party’s media surrogates have pummeled away at DeSantis. Democrats know that Donald Trump, indictments and all, cannot beat Joe Biden in a head-to-head contest, whereas an unbloodied DeSantis represented far more of a threat. But that’s politics, not an excuse for DeSantis’ failures.
So far, the Florida governor has run a bloated campaign organization that has had none of the efficiency or effectiveness of the government in Tallahassee. On the contrary, it has been amateur hour. On Tuesday, Politico reported DeSantis had fired more than one third of his campaign staffers in part due to concerns about overspending.
But the main problem in DeSantis world has been DeSantis himself. Instead of running on his record in Florida, he’s embroiled himself in an absurd fight against Disney, which just happens to be one of Florida’s most important employers. He failed to stand up for the rights and freedoms of the LGBTQ community, which just happens to be one of Florida’s most important populations. And he found himself on the wrong side of an argument over Florida’s teaching of the history of slavery, of all things. The most egregious elements of that curriculum may have been cherry-picked by Democrats for political advantage on social media, but DeSantis should have predicted and had an answer for that.
We’re hardly done: DeSantis signed into law a bill that bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, an absurdly draconian policy that might as well be a total ban, given that many women don’t know they are pregnant at that point. Given the widespread support among Americans for abortion rights, at least in the first trimester of pregnancy, that decision was destined to infuriate legions of women whom DeSantis could potentially have won over.
A plurality of Americans believe that discussions of gender and sexual identity with young children should be age-appropriate and involve their parents, at least wherever possible. But DeSantis decided to parlay that into a crude banning of those topics in the classroom, thus turning him into a censor of open discourse and making him look squishy on the importance of free speech.
And don’t get us started on DeSantis calling Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a “territorial dispute,” even if he tried to walk it back. See how well that would go over in Odesa.
It should not have been this hard. Take, for example, the carefully worded statement handed out by Citadel hedge fund founder and former Chicagoan Ken Griffin in recent days after journalists asked him about his apparent step back from DeSantis. Griffin, as Illinoisans know, was burned by the disappointing campaign run by Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin in the Illinois gubernatorial race last year, and he clearly doesn’t intend to find himself there again.
“I care deeply about all children having access to a high-quality education, preserving American competitiveness,” Griffin said, “guarding personal liberties, ensuring our communities are safe and secure, fiscal prudence, and maintaining America’s leadership role on the global stage. I am committed to America being the greatest democracy in the world.”
If ever there was a coded message for DeSantis, the ever-shrewd Griffin was giving him one. Campaign on that, Griffin was saying, and you might even win the Republican nomination — along with my financial support.
Whether DeSantis is listening remains to be seen. In the meantime, his meltdown further increases the likelihood of Trump, with all 71 of his felony charges, being at the top of the ticket of a major presidential party with all the attendant risks for the nation. Mitt Romney, in an op-ed published Monday in The Wall Street Journal, raises the alarm over the number of minor candidates vying for the Republican nomination, perhaps for the personal benefits that accrue merely from running, and thus splitting the vote and paving the way for Trump.
“Our party and our country need a nominee with character, driven by something greater than revenge and ego, preferably from the next generation,” the Utah senator writes, rightly arguing it is critical that the Republican primary soon become a two-person race if Trump is to be stopped.
The remaining question is the identity of the vital second candidate.
The Citizens’ Voice on transparency and beyond:
Regardless of whether we’re alone in the universe, there’s no valid reason for us to be in the dark.
The House Oversight Committee on National Security conducted the first in a series of hearings Wednesday on unidentified anomalous phenomena, which used to be known as unidentified flying objects. The principle theme, with broad endorsement from members across the political spectrum, was transparency.
Defense officials have acknowledged the authenticity of a 2004 video recorded by a high-performance Navy F-18 fighter jet on a training mission over the Pacific Ocean near San Diego. The now-retired pilot, Cmdr. David Fravor, testified at the hearing that the object on the video descended rapidly from 80,000 feet, nearly twice the ceiling for his fighter, appeared to rendezvous with another craft on the ocean surface, and sped away at roughly three times his jet’s top speed.
Such capability might well pose national security concerns. But as Fravor and several other witnesses — mostly retired military and intelligence officers — testified, the military reflexively overclassifies all reports of UAP sightings.
Committee members plan to conduct several closed hearings on some of the classified material and with witnesses who claim to have detailed knowledge of advanced, but undisclosed knowledge about UAPs.
This isn’t about little green men; it’s about the very Earth-bound matter of government transparency. Known physics make it highly unlikely that UAPs are extraterrestrial, but that doesn’t mean Americans shouldn’t know as much as possible of what the government knows. | https://www.dailycamera.com/2023/07/29/views-from-the-nations-press-17/ | 2023-07-29T14:05:42 | 0 | https://www.dailycamera.com/2023/07/29/views-from-the-nations-press-17/ |
AUSTIN, Texas — Ready for a sure-fire way to win steak night? KVUE's got you covered!
Ingredients:
- Filet(s)
- Salt
- Pepper
- Salted butter
- Garlic
- Parsley
- Worcestershire
Instructions for the steak:
- Season all sides of the filet with coarse salt and pepper. Let the steak sit, seasoned, at room temperature for about 30 minutes
- Smoke the steak between 180 F and 200 F until it reaches an internal temperature between 130 F and 135 F
- Remove the steak from the grill and raise the grill's temperature to at least 500 F. I use a cast-iron griddle to help create a crust – preheat the tray in the grill, if you plan to use one.
- Add butter to the cast iron griddle and sear each side of the steak.
- Remove steak from the grill when the internal temperature hits 138 F (about three minutes per side).
- Immediately top with a thick slice of garlic herb butter
- Allow the steak to rest for 10 minutes.
Instructions for the garlic herb butter:
- Allow 1/2 cup of salted butter to soften
- Add two lobes of freshly minced garlic, two tablespoons of chopped parsley, one or two tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce and mix together.
- Lay out a sheet of wax paper.
- Roll the butter mixture into a log using the wax paper.
- Refrigerate for at least an hour.
- Remove from fridge, slice, and use on steak, seafood, etc.
Share your results:
Take pictures or videos of your food, and send them my way on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram (@Gameday_Grilling). | https://www.wfaa.com/article/life/food/recipes/gameday-grilling-filet-with-garlic-herb-butter-recipe/269-8b19a544-a776-4192-b44e-d74f3cdc0028 | 2023-07-29T14:06:23 | 0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/life/food/recipes/gameday-grilling-filet-with-garlic-herb-butter-recipe/269-8b19a544-a776-4192-b44e-d74f3cdc0028 |
MLB Games Tonight: How to Watch on TV, Streaming & Odds - Saturday, July 29
In one of the many compelling matchups on the MLB schedule today, the Texas Rangers and the San Diego Padres take the field at PETCO Park.
In terms of live coverage, we have everything you need to know regarding today's MLB action here. Check out the links below.
Watch MLB games and tons of other live sports without cable! Use our link to get a free trial to Fubo..
How to Watch Today's MLB Games
The Toronto Blue Jays (58-46) play the Los Angeles Angels (54-50)
The Angels will hit the field at Rogers Centre versus the Blue Jays on Saturday at 3:07 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: MLB Network
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 3:07 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- TOR Key Player: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (.270 AVG, 17 HR, 65 RBI)
- LAA Key Player: Shohei Ohtani (.301 AVG, 39 HR, 81 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Miami Marlins (56-48) take on the Detroit Tigers (46-58)
The Tigers will hit the field at LoanDepot park versus the Marlins on Saturday at 4:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: Fox Sports 1
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 4:10 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- MIA Key Player: Luis Arraez (.380 AVG, 3 HR, 51 RBI)
- DET Key Player: Spencer Torkelson (.232 AVG, 15 HR, 58 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
Watch live MLB games on all your devices! Sign up now for a free trial to Fubo!
The Pittsburgh Pirates (45-58) play the Philadelphia Phillies (56-47)
The Phillies will take to the field at PNC Park versus the Pirates on Saturday at 7:05 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: SportsNet PT
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 7:05 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- PIT Key Player: Bryan Reynolds (.256 AVG, 11 HR, 47 RBI)
- PHI Key Player: Bryson Stott (.302 AVG, 9 HR, 37 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Kansas City Royals (30-75) play the Minnesota Twins (54-51)
The Twins will take to the field at Kauffman Stadium against the Royals on Saturday at 7:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- KC Key Player: Bobby Witt Jr. (.257 AVG, 17 HR, 57 RBI)
- MIN Key Player: Carlos Correa (.229 AVG, 12 HR, 45 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
Buy gear from your favorite teams and players NOW at Fanatics!
The Chicago White Sox (42-63) take on the Cleveland Guardians (52-52)
The Guardians hope to get a road victory at Guaranteed Rate Field versus the White Sox on Saturday at 7:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- CHW Key Player: Luis Robert (.267 AVG, 29 HR, 59 RBI)
- CLE Key Player: José Ramírez (.285 AVG, 16 HR, 60 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The New York Mets (49-54) face the Washington Nationals (43-61)
The Nationals will look to pick up a road win at Citi Field against the Mets on Saturday at 7:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- NYM Key Player: Pete Alonso (.220 AVG, 30 HR, 73 RBI)
- WSH Key Player: Lane Thomas (.287 AVG, 16 HR, 54 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The San Francisco Giants (56-48) host the Boston Red Sox (56-47)
The Red Sox will look to pick up a road win at Oracle Park versus the Giants on Saturday at 7:15 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- SF Key Player: LaMonte Wade Jr (.269 AVG, 9 HR, 29 RBI)
- BOS Key Player: Justin Turner (.286 AVG, 16 HR, 66 RBI)
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The St. Louis Cardinals (46-59) take on the Chicago Cubs (52-51)
The Cubs hope to get a road victory at Busch Stadium against the Cardinals on Saturday at 7:15 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- STL Key Player: Nolan Arenado (.284 AVG, 22 HR, 77 RBI)
- CHC Key Player: Nico Hoerner (.281 AVG, 7 HR, 57 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Houston Astros (58-46) take on the Tampa Bay Rays (63-43)
The Rays will take to the field at Minute Maid Park versus the Astros on Saturday at 7:15 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- HOU Key Player: Kyle Tucker (.304 AVG, 18 HR, 69 RBI)
- TB Key Player: Wander Franco (.264 AVG, 11 HR, 48 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Baltimore Orioles (63-40) play host to the New York Yankees (54-49)
The Yankees will take to the field at Oriole Park at Camden Yards against the Orioles on Saturday at 7:15 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- BAL Key Player: Adley Rutschman (.268 AVG, 14 HR, 46 RBI)
- NYY Key Player: Gleyber Torres (.261 AVG, 16 HR, 43 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Atlanta Braves (65-36) play host to the Milwaukee Brewers (57-47)
The Brewers will hit the field at Truist Park versus the Braves on Saturday at 7:20 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- ATL Key Player: Ronald Acuña Jr. (.329 AVG, 23 HR, 59 RBI)
- MIL Key Player: Christian Yelich (.286 AVG, 15 HR, 58 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Arizona Diamondbacks (55-49) face the Seattle Mariners (53-50)
The Mariners will hit the field at Chase Field against the Diamondbacks on Saturday at 8:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- ARI Key Player: Corbin Carroll (.290 AVG, 21 HR, 57 RBI)
- SEA Key Player: Julio Rodríguez (.252 AVG, 17 HR, 55 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Colorado Rockies (40-63) play host to the Oakland Athletics (29-76)
The Athletics hope to get a road victory at Coors Field versus the Rockies on Saturday at 8:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: SportsNet RM
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 8:10 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- COL Key Player: Ryan McMahon (.254 AVG, 16 HR, 48 RBI)
- OAK Key Player: Tony Kemp (.216 AVG, 3 HR, 20 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The San Diego Padres (50-54) play the Texas Rangers (60-44)
The Rangers hope to get a road victory at PETCO Park versus the Padres on Saturday at 8:40 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- SD Key Player: Juan Soto (.266 AVG, 20 HR, 63 RBI)
- TEX Key Player: Marcus Semien (.277 AVG, 15 HR, 64 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
The Los Angeles Dodgers (58-44) take on the Cincinnati Reds (57-48)
The Reds will look to pick up a road win at Dodger Stadium versus the Dodgers on Saturday at 9:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: SportsNet LA
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 9:10 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- LAD Key Player: Freddie Freeman (.332 AVG, 21 HR, 73 RBI)
- CIN Key Player: Spencer Steer (.276 AVG, 15 HR, 56 RBI)
Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER.
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbrc.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/mlb-odds-how-to-watch/ | 2023-07-29T14:06:23 | 1 | https://www.wbrc.com/sports/betting/2023/07/29/mlb-odds-how-to-watch/ |
WACO, Texas — The Cameron Park Zoo is mourning the loss of another one of their beloved giraffes, a baby Masai calf named Zuri.
According to a release from the zoo, Zuri died on the morning of July 22.
Zuri's death comes just days after the death of her mother, 10-year-old Penelope, who died on Wednesday, July 19.
The zoo had been hand-rearing Zuri since Penelope's death, and had transitioned her to a milk formula to feed her. The zoo was also having Zuri connect with Jenny, another female giraffe at the zoo who they hoped could be a motherly figure for Zuri.
Zoo officials said they had been monitoring Zuri's development.
A necropsy, an animal autopsy, was performed to determine Zuri's cause of death, according to the zoo, who also said they plan to have an independent review performed. They say it could take several weeks to receive the results of the necropsy.
Zuri was born on Friday, June 23, 2023. The Cameron Park Zoological & Botanical Society hosted a naming contest on Facebook to choose her name.
Zuri was less than a month old.
More from 6 News: | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/cameron-park-zoo-mourns-death-baby-giraffe-zuri/500-4ca204f5-24ed-44bb-ab1e-af82d4f55038 | 2023-07-29T14:06:27 | 0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/cameron-park-zoo-mourns-death-baby-giraffe-zuri/500-4ca204f5-24ed-44bb-ab1e-af82d4f55038 |
Germany vs. Colombia: Live Stream, TV Channel & Game Info - July 30
Published: Jul. 29, 2023 at 8:37 AM CDT|Updated: 29 minutes ago
Germany will meet Colombia, in the middle round of group-stage matches at the 2023 Women's World Cup, on July 30 at 5:30 AM ET in Sydney, Australia.
This game will be available on Fox Sports 1.
Watch the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup on Fubo! Sign up for a free trial and start watching live sports without cable today!
How to Watch Germany vs. Colombia
- Game Day: Sunday, July 30, 2023
- Game Time: 5:30 AM ET
- TV Channel: Fox Sports 1
- Location: Sydney, Australia
- Venue: Sydney Football Stadium
Sign up for a Fubo free trial now to watch the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and more live sports!
Germany Group Stage Schedule
Germany's Recent Performance
- In its previous match, Germany got a 6-0 victory over Morocco, taking 15 shots and outshooting by 10.
- Germany was led by Alexandra Popp, who scored two of her side's goals versus .
- Popp's Women's World Cup statline through one appearance for Germany includes two goals.
- In one Women's World Cup game so far, Klara Buehl has recorded one goal while adding one assist.
- During Women's World Cup play, Lea Schuller has scored one goal (but has no assists).
Get your 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup gear at Fanatics!
Germany's 2023 Women's World Cup Roster
- Merle Frohms #1
- Chantal Hagel #2
- Kathrin Hendrich #3
- Sophia Kleinherne #4
- Marina Hegering #5
- Lena Oberdorf #6
- Lea Schuller #7
- Sydney Lohmann #8
- Svenja Huth #9
- Laura Freigang #10
- Alexandra Popp #11
- Ann Katrin Berger #12
- Sara Daebritz #13
- Lena Lattwein #14
- Sjoeke Nusken #15
- Nicole Anyomi #16
- Felicitas Rauch #17
- Melanie Leupolz #18
- Klara Buehl #19
- Lina Magull #20
- Stina Johannes #21
- Jule Brand #22
- Sara Doorsoun #23
Colombia Group Stage Schedule
Colombia's Recent Performance
- In its most recent match on July 24, Colombia defeated South Korea 2-0. Colombia outshot South Korea 15 to four.
- Linda Caicedo and Catalina Usme paced Colombia by tallying a goal each. They had one and three shots, respectively.
- Usme has one goal for Colombia in Women's World Cup (one game).
- Caicedo has one goal for Colombia in Women's World Cup.
Colombia's 2023 Women's World Cup Roster
- Catalina Perez #1
- Manuela Vanegas #2
- Daniela Arias #3
- Diana Ospina #4
- Lorena Bedoya #5
- Daniela Montoya #6
- Cami Reyes Calderon #7
- Marcela Restrepo #8
- Mayra Ramirez #9
- Leicy Santos #10
- Catalina Usme #11
- Sandra Sepulveda #12
- Natalia Giraldo Alzate #13
- Angela Daniela Baron #14
- Ana Maria Guzman #15
- Lady Andrade #16
- Caroline Arias #17
- Linda Caicedo #18
- Jorelyn Carabali #19
- Monica Ramos Santana #20
- Ivonne Chacon #21
- Daniela Caracas #22
- Elexa Marie Bahr Gutierrez #23
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbrc.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/2023-womens-world-cup-germany-colombia-live-stream-tv/ | 2023-07-29T14:06:27 | 0 | https://www.wbrc.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/2023-womens-world-cup-germany-colombia-live-stream-tv/ |
Compared with the devil, angels carry more credence in America.
Angels even get more credence than, well, hell. More than astrology, reincarnation, and the belief that physical things can have spiritual energies.
In fact, about 7 in 10 U.S. adults say they believe in angels, according to a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
“People are yearning for something greater than themselves — beyond their own understanding,” said Jack Grogger, a chaplain for the Los Angeles Angels and a longtime Southern California fire captain who has aided many people in their gravest moments.
That search for something bigger, he said, can take on many forms, from following a religion to crafting a self-driven purpose to believing in, of course, angels.
“For a lot of people, angels are a lot safer to worship,” said Grogger, who also pastors a nondenominational church in Orange, California, and is a chaplain for the NHL's Anaheim Ducks.
People turn to angels for comfort, he said. They are familiar, regularly showing up in pop culture as well as in the Bible. Comparably, worshipping Jesus is far more involved; when Grogger preaches about angels it is with the context that they are part of God's kingdom.
American's belief in angels (69%) is about on par with belief in heaven and the power of prayer, but bested by belief in God or a higher power (79%). Fewer U.S. adults believe in the devil or Satan (56%), astrology (34%), reincarnation (34%), and that physical things can have spiritual energies, such as plants, rivers or crystals (42%).
The widespread acceptance of angels shown in the AP-NORC poll makes sense to Susan Garrett, an angel expert and New Testament professor at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Kentucky. It tracks with historical surveys, she said, adding that the U.S. remains a faith-filled country even as more Americans reject organized religion.
But if the devil is in the details, so are people’s understandings of angels.
“They’re very malleable,” Garrett said of angels. “You can have any one of a number of quite different worldviews in terms of your understanding of how the cosmos is arranged, whether there’s spirit beings, whether there’s life after death, whether there’s a God … and still find a place for angels in that worldview.”
Talk of angels, Garrett said, is often also about something else, like the ways God interacts with the world and other hard-to-articulate ideas.
The large number of U.S. adults who say they believe in angels includes 84% of those with a religious affiliation — 94% of evangelical Protestants, 81% of mainline Protestants and 82% of Catholics — and 33% of those without one. And of those angel-believing religiously unaffiliated, that includes 2% of atheists, 25% of agnostics and 50% of those identified as “nothing in particular.”
The broad acceptance is what fascinates San Francisco-based witch and author Devin Hunter: Angels show up independently in different religions and traditions, making them part of the fabric that unites humanity.
“We’re all getting to the same conclusion,” said Hunter, who spent 16 years as a professional medium, and started communicating as a child with what he believed were angels.
Hunter estimates that a belief in angels applies to about half of those practicing modern witchcraft today, and for some who don't believe, their rejection is often rooted in the religious trauma they experienced growing up.
“Angels become a very big deal" for long-time practitioners who've made occultism their primary focus, said Hunter, an angel-loving occultist. “We cannot escape them in any way, shape or form.”
Jennifer Goodwin of Oviedo, Florida, also is among the roughly seven in 10 U.S. adults who say they believe in angels. She isn’t sure if God exists and rejects the afterlife dichotomy of heaven and hell, but the recent deaths of her parents solidified her views on these celestial beings.
Goodwin believes her parents are still keeping an eye on the family — not in any physical way or as a supernatural apparition, but that they manifest in those moments when she feels a general sense of comfort.
“I think that they are around us, but it’s in a way that we can’t understand,” Goodwin said. “I don’t know what else to call it except an angel.”
Angels mean different things to different people, and the idea of loved ones becoming heavenly angels after death is neither an unusual belief nor a universally held one.
In his reading of Scripture as an evangelical Protestant, Grogger said he believes angels are something else entirely — they have never been human and are on another level in heaven's hierarchy. “We are higher than angels,” he said. “We do not become an angel.”
Angels do interact with humans though, said Grogger, but what "that looks like we’re not 100% sure.” They worship God who created this angelic legion of unknown numbers, he said, adding that evangelicals often attribute the demonic forces in the world to the angels who fell from heaven when the devil rebelled.
The Western ideas about angels can be traced through the Bible — and to the worldviews of its monotheistic authors, Garrett said. Those beliefs have changed and developed for millennia, influenced by cultures, theologians and even the ancient polytheistic beliefs that came before the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, she said.
“There are sort of lines of continuity from the Bible that you can trace all the way up to the New Age movement,” said Susan Garrett, who wrote “No Ordinary Angel: Celestial Spirits and Christian Claims about Jesus.”
The angels in the Bible do God's bidding, and angelic violence is one part of their job description, said Esther Hamori, author of the upcoming book, “God's Monsters: Vengeful Spirits, Deadly Angels, Hybrid Creatures, and Divine Hitmen of the Bible.”
“The angels of the Bible are just as likely to assassinate individuals and slaughter entire populations as they are to offer help and protect and deliver,” said Hamori. She doesn't believe in these angels, but studies them as a Hebrew Bible professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York where she teaches a popular “Monster Heaven” class.
“They’re just God’s obedient soldiers doing the task at hand, and sometimes that task is in human beings' best interests, and sometimes it’s not," she said.
The perception that angels act angelic and look like the idyllic, winged figurines atop Christmas trees could be attributed to an early centuries belief that people are assigned one good angel and one bad — or have a good and bad spirit to guide them, Garrett said.
This idea shows up on the shoulders of cartoon characters and is likely what Abraham Lincoln was alluding to in his famous appeal for unity when he referenced “the better angels of our nature” in his first inaugural address, she said.
“It’s also tied in with ideas about guardian angels, which again, very ancient views that got developed over the centuries,” Garrett said.
For Sheila Avery of Chicago, angels are protectors, capable of keeping someone from harm. Avery, who belongs to a nondenominational church, credits them with those moments like when a person’s plans fall through, but ultimately it saves them from being in the thick of an unexpected disaster.
“They turn on the news and a terrible tragedy happened at that particular place,” Avery said, suggesting it was an “angel that was probably watching over them.”
___
Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/nation-world/poll-about-7-in-10-americans-believe-in-angels/507-abff1d00-b0a5-4235-880b-ab6e805d48e5 | 2023-07-29T14:06:33 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/nation-world/poll-about-7-in-10-americans-believe-in-angels/507-abff1d00-b0a5-4235-880b-ab6e805d48e5 |
DALLAS — If you're driving in Dallas-Fort Worth and using Apple Maps to navigate, you'll probably notice a slight change to the app.
Apple Maps has rolled out a new detailed city experience in Dallas and Houston, which expands on the pre-existing features. While driving in Dallas and Fort Worth, you'll notice the following changes:
More detailed navigation
There is enhanced navigation and new details for road markings, land cover, trees, elevation, and public transit routes. Turn lanes, medians, bus and taxi lanes, and crosswalks are also clearly displayed for navigating busy intersections.
Here is a look at some spots around DFW before and after the changes:
W. 7th Street bridge in Fort Worth
I-30 underpass
N. Tyler Street roundabout
Windshield view
When approaching complex interchanges, Maps shows a road-level view making it easier to see upcoming traffic conditions or the best lane for an approaching exit. Here's a look at the new windshield view:
Custom-designed 3D landmarks
When using Apple Maps, you'll notice new 3D landmarks on the app like AT&T Stadium, the Dallas Museum of Art, and the Sixth Floor Museum. When driving into work at WFAA, I noticed Reunion Tower was a 3D landmark, too. Here are a few examples Apple showed:
New walking experience
There will be immersive walking directions shown in augmented reality.
Night mode
A new night mode with moonlit glow activates at dusk.
Look Around Dallas
With Look Around Dallas, users anywhere in the world can now explore the city, which offers interactive street-level imagery with high-resolution 3D photography and smooth and seamless transitions.
More Texas headlines: | https://www.wfaa.com/article/traffic/apple-maps-new-dallas/287-8435a324-ff09-4aba-9f09-0b2cf01b873c | 2023-07-29T14:06:40 | 0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/traffic/apple-maps-new-dallas/287-8435a324-ff09-4aba-9f09-0b2cf01b873c |
TOKYO (AP) — Toshihiro Mutsuda was only 5 years old when he last saw his father, who was drafted by Japan’s Imperial Army in 1943 and killed in action. For him, his father was a bespectacled man in an old family photo standing by a signed good-luck flag that he carried to war.
On Saturday, when the flag was returned to him from a U.S. war museum where it had been on display for 29 years, Mutsuda, now 83, said: “It’s a miracle.”
The flag, known as “Yosegaki Hinomaru,” or Good Luck Flag, carries the soldier’s name, Shigeyoshi Mutsuda, and the signatures of his relatives, friends and neighbors wishing him luck. It was given to him before he was drafted by the Army. His family was later told he died in Saipan, but his remains were never returned.
The flag was donated in 1994 and displayed at the museum aboard the USS Lexington, a WWII aircraft carrier, in Corpus Christi, Texas. Its meaning was not known until it was identified by the family earlier this year, said the museum director Steve Banta, who brought the flag to Tokyo.
Banta said he learned the story behind the flag earlier this year when he was contacted by the Obon Society, a nonprofit organization that has returned about 500 similar flags as non-biological remains, to the descendants of Japanese servicemembers killed in the war.
The search for the flag’s original owner started in April when a museum visitor took a photo and asked an expert about the description that it had belonged to a “kamikaze” suicide pilot. When Shigeyoshi Mutsuda’s grandson saw the photo, he sought help from the Obon Society, group co-founder Keiko Ziak said.
“When we learned all of this, and that the family would like to have the flag, we knew immediately that the flag did not belong to us,” Banta said at the handover ceremony. “We knew that the right thing to do would be to send the flag home, to be in Japan and to the family.”
The soldier’s eldest son, Toshihiro Mutsuda, was speechless for a few seconds when Banta, wearing white gloves, gently placed the neatly folded flag into his hands. Two of his younger siblings, both in their 80s, stood by and looked on silently. The three children, all wearing cotton gloves so they wouldn’t damage the decades-old flag, carefully unfolded it to show to the audience.
The soldier’s daughter, Misako Matsukuchi, touched the flag with both hands and prayed. “After nearly 80 years, the spirit of our father returned to us. I hope he can finally rest in peace,” Matsukuchi said later.
Toshihiro Mutsuda said his memory of his father was foggy. However, he clearly remembers his mother, Masae Mutsuda, who died five years ago at age 102, used to make the long-distance bus trip almost every year from the farming town in Gifu, central Japan, to Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine, where the 2.5 million war dead are enshrined, to pay tribute to her husband’s spirit.
The shrine is controversial, as it includes convicted war criminals among those commemorated. Victims of Japanese aggression during the first half of the 20th century, especially China and the Koreas, see Yasukuni as a symbol of Japanese militarism. However, for the Mutsuda family, it’s a place to remember the loss of a father and husband.
“It’s like an old love story across the ages coming together … It doesn’t matter where,” Banta said, referring to the Yasukuni controversy. “The important thing is this flag goes to the family.”
That’s why Toshihiro Mutsuda and his siblings chose to receive the flag at Yasukuni and brought the framed photos of their parents.
“My mother missed him and wanted to see him so much and that’s why she used to pray here,” Toshihiro Mutsuda said. “Today her wish finally came true, and she was able to be reunited.”
Keeping the flag on his lap, he said, “I feel the weight of the flag.” | https://www.wivb.com/news/ap-its-a-miracle-say-family-of-japanese-soldier-killed-in-wwii-as-flag-he-carried-returns-from-us/ | 2023-07-29T14:06:50 | 0 | https://www.wivb.com/news/ap-its-a-miracle-say-family-of-japanese-soldier-killed-in-wwii-as-flag-he-carried-returns-from-us/ |
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The cosmos is offering up a double feature in August: a pair of supermoons culminating in a rare blue moon.
Catch the first show Tuesday evening as the full moon rises in the southeast, appearing slightly brighter and bigger than normal. That’s because it will be closer than usual, just 222,159 miles (357,530 kilometers) away, thus the supermoon label.
The moon will be even closer the night of Aug. 30 — a scant 222,043 miles (357,344 kilometers) distant. Because it’s the second full moon in the same month, it will be what’s called a blue moon.
“Warm summer nights are the ideal time to watch the full moon rise in the eastern sky within minutes of sunset. And it happens twice in August,” said retired NASA astrophysicist Fred Espenak, dubbed Mr. Eclipse for his eclipse-chasing expertise.
The last time two full supermoons graced the sky in the same month was in 2018. It won’t happen again until 2037, according to Italian astronomer Gianluca Masi, founder of the Virtual Telescope Project.
Masi will provide a live webcast of Tuesday evening’s supermoon, as it rises over the Coliseum in Rome.
“My plans are to capture the beauty of this … hopefully bringing the emotion of the show to our viewers,” Masi said in an email.
“The supermoon offers us a great opportunity to look up and discover the sky,” he added.
This year’s first supermoon was in July. The fourth and last will be in September. The two in August will be closer than either of those.
Provided clear skies, binoculars or backyard telescopes can enhance the experience, Espenak said, revealing such features as lunar maria — the dark plains formed by ancient volcanic lava flows — and rays emanating from lunar craters.
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the August full moon is traditionally known as the sturgeon moon. That’s because of the abundance of that fish in the Great Lakes in August, hundreds of years ago.
___
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.wivb.com/news/ap-two-supermoons-in-august-mean-double-the-stargazing-fun/ | 2023-07-29T14:06:56 | 1 | https://www.wivb.com/news/ap-two-supermoons-in-august-mean-double-the-stargazing-fun/ |
MITCHELL — It can be difficult to find good help.
Ask any school district superintendent in South Dakota, and they’re likely to agree, at least when it comes to staffing quality certified teachers to head up the front of their classrooms. As gaps in staffing crop up, districts around the state have to work hard to find good quality teachers, particularly in areas like special education, math and science.
But a new program from the state could help alleviate that teacher shortage, and school leaders are excited about the prospects of what it means for future hiring.
“We know that the teacher shortage is real. It has hit the nation and also South Dakota, and there are critical areas that are even harder to staff,” said Summer Schultz, superintendent of the Brookings School District and immediate past president of the South Dakota School Superintendents Association. “To me, this was the governor’s office and our state and department of education saying, ‘We hear you.’”
Schultz is referring to the Teacher Apprenticeship Program, the pilot effort for which will launch with the 2023-24 school year. The program is designed to take successful paraeducators — non-certified teaching aides already found in school districts around the state — and help them become certified teachers.
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Through the program, which takes place mostly online with follow-up live in-person student teaching, participants earn a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, special education or secondary education while gaining hands-on experience in the classroom and receiving support from experienced mentors. The expected time to complete the program is two years, assuming a full course load each term.
Originally set up to accommodate 60 paraeducators for the pilot program, the state announced recently that more than 90 had been selected to take part in the first year. Schultz, who is in her first year at Brookings after serving as superintendent in Dell Rapids, said she’s pleased to see a strong interest take hold.
“Both in Dell Rapids and Brookings, between the two schools, I have five paraeducators that got into the apprenticeship program, and we had more than that apply,” Schultz said. “But that’s five soon-to-be certified teachers that we hope will stay in the state.”
Camaraderie with the teachers
The program is drawing interest from districts throughout the state, including Mitchell, where another paraeducator was selected for the program. Tracy Christensen, special education director for the Mitchell School District, helps coordinate the selection process for the district and said paraeducators are uniquely suited for an accelerated path to becoming full-time certified teachers due to their experience within the classroom framework and a built-in interest in education itself.
Many do aspire to be certified teachers, and the new program should help open doorways to that goal.
“They have worked in the school building, they’ve been in a variety of classes. A high school paraeducator may be in math class or English class or special education classes. An elementary paraeducator may have been an assistant in art or physical education,” Christensen said. “They have a camaraderie with teachers and they understand the curriculum because they’re working with it.”
Through the program, paraeducators continue working for their home district while taking classes online. This allows them to maintain an income while studying, and reduces the need for long-distance travel that might be required for paraeducators at more remote school districts in the state.
Participants are responsible for up to $1,000 per year to assist with tuition, the cost of required books and state designated assessments, such as the Praxis test. Some districts, like Mitchell, subsidize some of the cost associated with the program.
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“The flexibility and income while still going to school (is a major benefit of the program). There would be no living expense, no commuting expense. They’re only paying for credits and textbooks, which reduces cost immensely,” Christensen said.
Joe Childs, superintendent for the Mitchell School District, said he was happy to see the program taking shape.
“This has continued to develop into a great opportunity for current school employees, for the school districts, and, most importantly, for the students we serve,” Childs said in an email to the Mitchell Republic. “The program is aimed at addressing teacher shortages, particularly those of highest need, in South Dakota schools. (The program) will allow a current employee to earn certification while also completing their position within the district.”
There were about 176 open teaching positions in the state at the end of December, and the Teacher Apprenticeship Program saw about 300 interested paraeducators apply for the first year. As the program progresses past its inaugural year, more paraeducators are expected to be admitted on a rolling schedule. As enrolled participants graduate or leave the program, new paraeducators will be selected to replace them.
Northern State University and Dakota State University have partnered through the support of the state board of regents to offer the coursework in the program. The state department of education is providing oversight and funding, and the department of labor and regulation is providing funding and guidance.
'Tough to find somebody'
The program is drawing in paraeducators from districts both large and small. About a quarter of the paraeducators in the Wessington Springs School District expressed interest in joining the program, with one being selected for the 2023-24 run.
Michael Ormsmith, superintendent of the Wessington Springs School District, said the program holds great promise.
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“I think it’s a really innovative way to fill those gaps we have trouble filling. We had three apply and we did get one into the program. We were really pleased,” Ormsmith said.
Ormsmith said his district doesn’t necessarily have trouble filling teaching positions for any one particular subject or area, but he has seen a substantial drop in the number of applications the district receives for open positions.
Several factors play into why it is hard to find teachers in South Dakota. Its historically low pay for teachers doesn’t help, nor does the exodus of many young teachers looking to spread their wings farther from home. An expanding job market in the state means that there is more competition for employees with other industries.
There is also a certain demand due to the number of older teachers in the system who are reaching retirement age with no immediate successor in place to succeed them.
“We don’t have trouble in any one area, but what we’re seeing is that there are fewer and fewer applications for the jobs we post. Usually there’s one or two, and that makes it tough to find somebody,” Ormsmith said. “We’ve seen teachers who are eligible to retire that have been hanging on trying to make it so we could find a good replacement. Those teachers are getting to the age where they have to step down regardless if we can find someone to replace them.”
The Teacher Apprenticeship Program’s convenience, cost and structure make it an appealing way to speed up the process of getting new classroom leaders on the payroll. The fact that districts are already familiar with their paraeducators is another nice aspect.
“I think from a school district perspective, we already have a relationship with these paraeducators, so we’re able to recommend people we’ve already been pleased with in the classroom. That takes a lot of the unknown out of it when trying to bring someone in,” Ormsmith said.
School leaders will be watching the program with interest as it goes through its first round of participants, and there’s a great deal of hope that it will continue and that more paraeducators will consider taking part.
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Christensen is optimistic that state funding for the program will continue if it comes through on its goals.
“The Mitchell School District will always be interested in participating and I would anticipate that the teacher shortage will continue. I believe that the powers that be realize the deficit and will continue to support it,” Christensen said. “I am very excited. We have some excellent paraeducators that through the years we have encouraged to go back and get their special education degree, and we do have some of those on staff. And I think there will be more.”
Schultz said she was looking forward to seeing how the program performs. Its convenience and easy accessibility for participants, its low cost and the chance it gives paraeducators to reach the next stage of their careers are all appealing factors, as is the fact it gives a chance for South Dakota to produce more home-grown teachers.
The program has enormous potential, she said, and it offers a bit of reassurance to school patrons statewide that the state and local school districts are working to keep the best quality instructors at the head of the classroom.
“People keep hearing that we have trouble filling spots, but we’re on top of it,” Schultz said. “We’re South Dakota and we’re going to keep putting good people in the classroom. That’s what we do when we find them. This will make it easier to find them and grow them in our own communities.”
More information on the Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway program can be found at ourdakotadreams.com/educators-overview/ | https://www.mitchellrepublic.com/news/local/new-state-program-looking-to-turn-paraeducators-into-certified-teachers-off-to-strong-start | 2023-07-29T14:07:01 | 1 | https://www.mitchellrepublic.com/news/local/new-state-program-looking-to-turn-paraeducators-into-certified-teachers-off-to-strong-start |