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NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks to a patron of the party, musician George Brown of the band Kool & The Gang, about his new book, new record, and the "Celebration" of a long and funky career.
Copyright 2023 NPR
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks to a patron of the party, musician George Brown of the band Kool & The Gang, about his new book, new record, and the "Celebration" of a long and funky career.
Copyright 2023 NPR | https://www.kvpr.org/2023-07-30/george-brown-of-kool-the-gang-on-celebrating-the-bands-long-career | 2023-07-30T12:36:09 | 1 | https://www.kvpr.org/2023-07-30/george-brown-of-kool-the-gang-on-celebrating-the-bands-long-career |
Stark Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority celebrates 35 years
CANTON − The Stark County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority recently celebrated its 35th anniversary with a jazz brunch at the Quarry Golf Club at Sandstone Drive, 5650 Quarry Lake Drive SE.
Since its founding June 25, 1988, the local chapter has dedicated itself to a wide variety of community and social-service projects.
Nationally, Delta Sigma Theta was founded Jan. 13, 1913, at Howard University, one of America's Historically Black Colleges and Universities, in Washington, D.C.
The sorority is part of the National Pan Hellenic Council, an umbrella organization formed by the "Divine Nine," a group of Black fraternities and sororities. They include Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority; Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity; Omega Psi Phi Fraternity; Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity; Zeta Phi Beta Sorority; Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity.
Deltas oversee cotillion rebirthDelta alums to spearhead Black cotillion revival in Stark
At the brunch, Pro Football Hall of Fame Chief Relationship Officer Adrian Allison shared plans for the fourth annual Black College Hall of Fame Classic Weekend, which is Aug. 31-Sept. 3. Among the activities is a game between Morehouse College and Virginia Union University on Sept. 3 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
The Rev. Tomier Davenport, associate pastor of True Light Ministries, presented the chapter with a $2,000 check to support its scholarship program.
To learn more about Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, visit its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/scacdst. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/lifestyle/clubs/2023/07/30/stark-alumnae-chapter-of-delta-sigma-theta-celebrates-35-years/70419835007/ | 2023-07-30T12:36:14 | 1 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/lifestyle/clubs/2023/07/30/stark-alumnae-chapter-of-delta-sigma-theta-celebrates-35-years/70419835007/ |
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Senegal’s opposition leader Ousmane Sonko has been charged with conspiracy against the state and calls for insurrections among other offenses, the public prosecutor said Saturday.
The announcement comes weeks after Sonko was convicted on separate charges of corrupting youth and sentenced to two years in prison, which ignited deadly protests across the nation.
Prosecutor Abdou Karim Diop made the announcement on state television, a day after Sonko’s lawyer said he was taken into custody for questioning at the police courthouse in the capital, Dakar.
In June, Sonko was acquitted on charges of raping a woman who worked at a massage parlor and making death threats against her. But he was convicted on a lighter sentence of corrupting young people, which includes using one’s position of power to have sex with people under age 21. Corrupting youth is a criminal offense in Senegal that is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to more than $6,000.
The conviction led to deadly clashes across the country between Sonko supporters and police, where at least 23 people were killed and dozens injured.
Sonko placed third in Senegal’s 2019 presidential election and is popular with the country’s youth. His supporters maintain the charges against him are part of a government effort to derail his candidacy in the 2024 presidential election.
Sonko’s ongoing legal battles may bar him from running. Once in prison, he can ask for a retrial for his June conviction.
Saturday’s charges are separate, said the public prosecutor. The accusations include calling an insurrection, criminal conspiracy to commit terrorism, compromising public security and theft.
It is unclear what led to the charges. Sonko has mostly stayed in his house since being sentenced to prison.
In a tweet posted shortly before his arrest on Friday afternoon, Sonko said a team of soldiers were breaking down the door following an altercation with secret service agents who were taking videoing him.
Friday evening, an AP reporter saw around 20 protesters burning tires in the middle of the road in Parcelles Assainies, an outer neighborhood of Dakar. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/international/ap-senegals-opposition-leader-charged-with-conspiracy-against-the-state-and-calls-for-insurrection/ | 2023-07-30T12:36:13 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/international/ap-senegals-opposition-leader-charged-with-conspiracy-against-the-state-and-calls-for-insurrection/ |
After nearly five years, the Big Peanut statue has returned to Ashburn, Ga. The original roadside attraction went down during Hurricane Michael. The new one is stronger and locally crafted.
Copyright 2023 NPR
After nearly five years, the Big Peanut statue has returned to Ashburn, Ga. The original roadside attraction went down during Hurricane Michael. The new one is stronger and locally crafted.
Copyright 2023 NPR | https://www.kvpr.org/2023-07-30/georgias-famous-corn-statue-has-been-rebuilt-after-the-hurricane | 2023-07-30T12:36:15 | 1 | https://www.kvpr.org/2023-07-30/georgias-famous-corn-statue-has-been-rebuilt-after-the-hurricane |
Gary Brown: Celebrating the 'old days' at the 'Academy'
I just learned that the high school I attended in western New York is the oldest secondary school in that state, and it's the eighth oldest in the whole country.
Yes, I just found out that I went to a high school – not the same building, but the institution – that is way more than two centuries old. In fact, it's 232 years old.
"Canandaigua Academy ... has a proud history stretching all the way back to its establishment as a private boys school in 1791," the "About Us" page on the school's website notes. "It became a public school in 1900 and retained the beloved 'Academy' name."
Suddenly I feel the need to note that I wasn't a member of any of the early graduating classes at the "Academy."
In fact, I was one of the students in a class that didn't graduate until three quarters of the way into my school's history. And I say that with a certain amount of hesitance, knowing that we all apparently got through four years of education without ever learning that we were going to a school that had existed for that long.
None of us knew that our old school had been around long enough for a lot of its early students to really be daughters of the American Revolution. They didn't have to trace family trees through generations to discover that relationship. For those early grads, dad really was a colonist who beat back the Redcoats.
Oh, there likely was one arm-raising member of the Latin Club who figured out what the Roman numerals "MDCCXCI" might have meant on the class rings or the school seal or wherever such numbers appear. But, if he or she ever was called on in class and expounded on the school's history, the rest of us must have been busy passing notes or watching the clock inch toward lunchtime or dismissal because none of the classmates I am in contact with seemed to be aware of the school's milestone.
Personally, I never heard anybody rank our hallowed Academy halls on a list of oldest schools in America. If I had known, I might have tried to show off by slipping that fact into my college application essay.
Historical significance verified
How I learned about my school's historical standing was I saw it on social media.
Technically, it was an online article that was reposted on Facebook.
The facts of the article appeared verified. The 1791 founding as a private school and the 1900 change to a public school status was attributed to the history at the school's website, which I later sought out and read. Its ranking at the Empire State's eldest school and a top 10 oldest in the U.S. was confirmed by WorldAtlas.
"Originally a private boy's school, the educatiolnal institution has since been converted into a co-ed public school for grates 9 to 12 and has previously received the Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education," the article added as a quote from the website FamilyMinded.
OK, so as it turns out we probably shouldn't have spent so much time complaining about something as insignificant as the school's lunch food when I went there a few decades ago. What did we know about that anyway? We gobbled down our food and spent half the lunch period playing "football" by pushing a folded up paper triangle back and forth across the table, scoring touchdowns and kicking for extra points through the goalposts formed by our opponent's fingers.
What's in a name?
But, that was the old days. Currently, Canandaigua Academy apparently is garnering a good reputation. Most of us love our old alma mater, and have fond memories, which we cherish. But it's nice to find out that others think highly of them, as well.
"Newsweek Magazine recently named (Canandaigua Academy) one of the top 1,500 U.S. public high schools," said the online article.
So, I'm not bragging because I haven't had any impact on the school's success for more than 50 years now, but you can see that this recognition goes beyond the point where the school just sounds like a fine scholarly institution by still having the "Academy" in its name.
"Academy? You one of those stuck-up private school punks?" one college classmate later asked, semi-good-naturedly when I told him the name of my high school.
"No, but I may still be a public school punk ..." I answered, in all honesty.
High schooler and academian, we bonded and became friends. Neither the names nor the histories of our respective high schools ever came up in our conversations again. I've been sort of proud of my school lately though.
Reach Gary at gary.brown.rep@gmail.com.On Twitter: @gbrownREP. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/lifestyle/columns/2023/07/30/gary-brown-celebrating-the-old-days-at-the-academy/70471639007/ | 2023-07-30T12:36:20 | 0 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/lifestyle/columns/2023/07/30/gary-brown-celebrating-the-old-days-at-the-academy/70471639007/ |
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with University of California, Berkeley, digital forensics expert Hany Farid about a recent political ad that used an AI-cloned vocal clip.
Copyright 2023 NPR
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with University of California, Berkeley, digital forensics expert Hany Farid about a recent political ad that used an AI-cloned vocal clip.
Copyright 2023 NPR | https://www.kvpr.org/2023-07-30/how-real-is-the-threat-of-ai-deepfakes-in-the-2024-election | 2023-07-30T12:36:21 | 1 | https://www.kvpr.org/2023-07-30/how-real-is-the-threat-of-ai-deepfakes-in-the-2024-election |
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.wjhl.com/news/international/ap-son-of-colombias-president-arrested-as-part-of-money-laundering-probe/ | 2023-07-30T12:36:21 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/international/ap-son-of-colombias-president-arrested-as-part-of-money-laundering-probe/ |
Sky Shorts: Starting, ending August with brighter-than-normal moon
You might have heard the term “supermoon” before. A supermoon occurs when the moon is closest to Earth in its elliptical orbit. Because the moon’s orbit is not a perfect circle, there are times when it is closer to Earth than others.
Two of the four supermoons for 2023 will happen in August.
Supermoons for 2023 are overnight July 2-3, Aug. 1, overnight Aug. 30-31 and overnight Sept. 28-29. The closest supermoon will be overnight Aug. 30-31. On that night, the moon’s distance from Earth will be 222,043 miles. The moon’s average distance is 238,900. The next time we will experience a closer full supermoon is Nov. 5, 2025, when the moon will be 221,817 miles away.
The supermoon exceeds the moon’s disk size by at least 8% and is 16% brighter. If we compare a supermoon to a micro moon, when the moon is the most distant from Earth, a supermoon is 14% larger in size and 30% brighter.
Supermoons also have an extra effect on Earth’s oceans. The gravitational pull-on Earth’s oceans is always greatest at new or full moons when the Sun, Earth and moon align. During this alignment, there are spring tides which are highest and lowest tides that happen twice a month. Neap tides occur at high and low tide when the difference between high and low is at its least. Neap tides occur around the first and last quarter moon. King tides happen during supermoons creating exceptionally high tides.
In addition to the closest supermoon on Aug. 30-31, the full moon will also be a blue moon! A blue moon is the second of two full moons in one month. We will not have another blue moon until May 31, 2026.
Night Sky for August
It is time, once again, for one of the best meteor showers of the year. The Perseid Meteor Shower will be Aug. 12-13! This year, we will have very little moonlight. The waning crescent moon rises around 3:30 a.m., so there will be plenty of time to enjoy the show! If you are fortunate to be in a dark sky area, you may see 50 to 100 per hour. In light polluted areas the number will be much less, possibly 10 to 25 per hour. The Perseids are active from July 17-Aug. 24. The Perseids radiate from the constellation Perseus, which rises in the northeast around midnight, but you can expect to see some starting around 10 p.m. So, grab that lawn chair or blanket, family and friends and look towards the northeast, especially after midnight!
Planets and the moon −
The beautiful ringed planet, Saturn, returns to our evening sky in late August. Saturn reaches opposition on Aug. 27 and is visible from dusk to dawn. On Aug. 1, Saturn rises by 9:30 p.m. and pairs with the moon on both Aug. 2-3. On Aug. 30-31, Saturn pairs with the full blue moon. Mars is challenging in the twilight sky, at magnitude 1.8, but may be easier to find on Aug. 18. Mars will be one degree south of the waxing crescent moon. On Aug. 1, Mercury is six degrees high in the west, 30 minutes after sunset, shining at magnitude 0.1. Mercury dims to magnitude 0.4 by Aug. 10 and can be found five degrees above the western horizon. As with Mars, Mercury may be easier to find on Aug. 18 when it is six degrees below the waxing crescent moon. Neptune rises just after 10 p.m., on Aug. 1 and before 8:30 on Aug. 31, near the Circlet of Pisces. It may be easier to locate using a telescope. Jupiter rises shortly after midnight on Aug. 1 at a bright -2.4 magnitude. On the morning of Aug. 8, it pairs with the last quarter moon. During August, Uranus will be located between seven- and nine-degrees northeast of Jupiter, in the constellation Aries, the Ram. It is best viewed one hour before dawn through binoculars. Venus passes inferior conjunction on Aug. 13. It reappears at a height of four degrees in the east, 30 minutes before sunrise on Aug. 21. By the end of August, it dazzles ten degrees high, one hour before sunrise.
Constellations:
West: Look for a bright yellow, orange star, which is Arcturus. Above Arcturus is a semi-circle of stars, the Northern Crown or Corona Borealis. Continuing up, you will see a keystone or crooked square shape, which is the body of Hercules.
North: The Big Dipper continues to swing down in the northwestern sky. Following the two stars at the end of the cup to the next bright star, Polaris, or the North Star. The constellation Cassiopeia, the “W” shape is below Polaris.
East: The bright blue, white star is Vega. Down and to the left is Deneb and continuing to the right is Altair. When you connect these three bright stars you have made the Summer Triangle. Now head back to Deneb, imagine this to be the tail of Cygnus, the Swan. To the right will be three stars in a line. These would be the outstretched wings. Extending from the wings would be the long neck and head of the swan. The head of Cygnus is a double star, Albireo.
South: Look for the red, orange star, Antares, which is the heart of Scorpius. To the left of Scorpius is the shape of a teapot. The stars of the teapot are part of the constellation Sagittarius.
Binocular Highlights: Find Hercules and scan around the part of Hercules that faces Corona Borealis. You will see a fuzzy object which is the finest globular star cluster in the northern skies! Starting inside the Summer Triangle, scan right, all the way to the left of Antares, in the southern sky and left to Cassiopeia in the northern sky. You will see an abundance of stars which are part of our Milky Way galaxy! For a challenge, find Vega and Altair, two of the Summer Triangle stars. Scan one third of the way up from Altair to Vega. You will find a group of stars that resemble a upside down coat hanger.
For further night sky details, maps and audio, visit my website www.starrytrails.com.
Visit the Hoover Price Planetarium
There will be daily planetarium shows Tuesday through Saturday, through Sept. 2. Visit www.mckinleymuseum.org. Planetarium shows are free with Museum admission. The Planetarium is located inside the McKinley Presidential Library & Museum, 800 McKinley Monument Drive NW in Canton. For more information, please call the Museum at 330-455-7043. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/lifestyle/columns/2023/07/30/sky-shorts-starting-ending-august-with-brighter-than-normal-moon/70472168007/ | 2023-07-30T12:36:26 | 0 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/lifestyle/columns/2023/07/30/sky-shorts-starting-ending-august-with-brighter-than-normal-moon/70472168007/ |
Members of the mid-Columbia River tribes set off on an annual intertribal canoe journey after a three-year hiatus due to COVID. (This story first aired on All Things Considered on July 28, 2023.)
Copyright 2023 NPR
Members of the mid-Columbia River tribes set off on an annual intertribal canoe journey after a three-year hiatus due to COVID. (This story first aired on All Things Considered on July 28, 2023.)
Copyright 2023 NPR | https://www.kvpr.org/2023-07-30/intertribal-canoe-trip-from-oregon-to-seattle-will-set-out-for-first-time-since-covid | 2023-07-30T12:36:27 | 1 | https://www.kvpr.org/2023-07-30/intertribal-canoe-trip-from-oregon-to-seattle-will-set-out-for-first-time-since-covid |
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday signed a law moving the official Christmas Day holiday to Dec. 25 from Jan. 7, the day when the Russian Orthodox Church observes it.
The explanatory note attached to the law said its goal is to “abandon the Russian heritage,” including that of “imposing the celebration of Christmas” on Jan. 7. It cited Ukrainians’ “relentless, successful struggle for their identity” and “the desire of all Ukrainians to live their lives with their own traditions, holidays,” fueled by Russia’s 17-month-old aggression against the country.
Last year, some Ukrainians already observed Christmas on Dec. 25, in a gesture that represented separation from Russia, its culture and religious traditions.
The law also moves the Day of Ukrainian Statehood to July 15 from July 28, and the Day of Defenders of Ukraine to Oct. 1 from Oct. 14.
The Russian Orthodox Church, which claims sovereignty over Orthodoxy in Ukraine, and some other Eastern Orthodox churches continue to use the ancient Julian calendar. Christmas falls 13 days later on that calendar, or Jan. 7, than it does on the Gregorian calendar used by most church and secular groups.
The Catholic Church first adopted the modern, more astronomically precise Gregorian calendar in the 16th century. Protestants and some Orthodox churches have since aligned their own calendars for the purpose of calculating Christmas and Easter.
Ukraine’s religious landscape has fractured for years. There are two branches of Orthodox Christianity in the country, one aligned with the Russian church, even as it enjoys broad autonomy, the other completely independent of it. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the branch that is separate from the Russian church, announced earlier this year that it was switching to the Revised Julian calendar, which marks Christmas on Dec. 25.
Its leadership last year allowed believers to celebrate the holiday on Dec. 25.
Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti reported on Saturday that the rival Orthodox Church, which is aligned with the Russian Orthodox Church, vowed to continue observing Christmas on Jan. 7.
Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters Saturday that the move “is a sign of something that has been happening for centuries” and that “has to do with the relations between the Catholic church and the Orthodox one.”
Zelenskyy on Saturday traveled to the war-torn Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, which Russia has illegally annexed, but only partially occupies, and met with members of the country’s Special Operation Forces. Zelenskyy noted in an online statement that Saturday marks their official day of recognition and also the anniversary of the deadly attack on the Olenivka prison in the Russian-held part of the region in which dozens of prisoners of war were killed.
Russia and Ukraine accused each other of the attack, with both sides saying that the assault was premeditated in a bid to cover up atrocities. A United Nations fact-finding mission requested by Russia and Ukraine was sent to investigate the killings, but the team was disbanded in January 2023 due to security concerns.
Zelenskyy described the attack as one of Russia’s “most vile and cruel crimes” in a video statement Saturday.
In a separate Telegram statement, he hailed the soldiers in the Donetsk region for “bringing closer the day when all our land and all our people will be free from the occupiers” and underscored the Special Operations Forces’ role in the recent retaking of the village of Staromaiorske in the area.
His visit to the east comes just days after Western and Russian officials said that Kyiv’s forces intensified attacks in the southeast of the country as part of Ukraine’s counteroffensive.
Putin said Saturday that the intensity of Ukrainian atacks along the front line has gone down “compared to two days ago.” He reiterated that Russian forces are successfully repelling all attacks and in some parts of the front line are even mounting successful counteroffensive operations.
___
Litvinova reported from Tallinn, Estonia. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/international/ap-ukraine-moves-official-christmas-day-holiday-to-dec-25-denouncing-russian-imposed-traditions/ | 2023-07-30T12:36:28 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/international/ap-ukraine-moves-official-christmas-day-holiday-to-dec-25-denouncing-russian-imposed-traditions/ |
Straight Talk: Don't fall victim to vehicle transport scam
Better Business Bureau serving Canton Region and Greater West Virginia offers tips and advice for consumers to avoid fraudulent practices.
Moving is stressful, expensive and time-consuming! That makes it a perfect opportunity for scammers. If you are relocating and need help transporting your vehicle, watch out for this scam.
How the scam works
You search the internet for a vehicle transport service, to get a quote. After browsing a few companies, you find one offering a great deal. All you have to do is send them a deposit of a few hundred dollars, typically by a digital wallet service, like Paypal, Zelle, Venmo and others.
Once the deposit is made, you are given a pickup date, but when the date arrives, no one shows up. The company may tell you that the driver was held up, or you may not be able to reach your contact at all. Ultimately, you have lost any down payment to a fake company with no intention of transporting your items.
Some versions of this scam are more extreme. A few consumers reported to BBB Scam Tracker a variation where the “company” transported their vehicles, but issues arose when they tried to pick their vehicles up at their destination. The company was asking for more money than previously agreed, essentially holding the car, truck or motorcycle hostage.
One consumer reported this experience: “I booked a shipment to have a motorcycle transported. The motorcycle was picked up at the location and never delivered to me. I had already made payment with PayPal for the cost of the transport, but the representative told me the funds were kicked back. I checked my PayPal account and did not receive a credit. … I told him I didn’t feel comfortable with this and refused to send him any funds. He then stated the bike would be placed in a storage unit and it would cost $900 to have it released.” The consumer continued to receive Cash App requests for payments, which he refused to pay. The consumer has not been able to locate his motorcycle.
How to avoid vehicle transport scams
- Do thorough research to find a reputable shipping company. When it comes to expensive services and important, high-dollar possessions, doing research is critical. Look for companies with verifiable contact information, good customer service, and reviews on third-party websites. Avoid companies without a website, have poor or no reviews, or are difficult to contact. A good place to start your research is on BBB.org.
- Watch out for deals that sound too good to be true. If a company quotes you a price significantly lower than the market value for a service or product, consider it a red flag. In this scam (and many others), scammers try to lure their victims with unrealistic prices.
- Think about how you make payments. Making payments through digital wallet apps are essentially cash payments. These services are designed to be used with people you trust. Also, never make payments for services by wiring money or with prepaid debit cards. Anyone who requests payment this way is probably a scammer. Paying with a credit card makes it easier to contest fraudulent charges.
For more information – Have a successful move with these resources and BBB tips at BBB.org/all/moving. With technology and scammers tactics continuing to change, visit BBB's Scams HQ at BBB.org/all/scamtips for information and resources on the various types of scams and warning signs. If you spot a scam, report it to BBB.org/ScamTracker. Your report can help boost consumer awareness and make scammers’ tactics less effective.
For BBB information – Visit BBB.org or call 330-454-9401 to look up a business, file a complaint, write a customer review, read tips, find our events, follow us on social media, and more! | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/2023/07/30/straight-talk-dont-fall-victim-to-vehicle-transport-scam/70472507007/ | 2023-07-30T12:36:32 | 0 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/2023/07/30/straight-talk-dont-fall-victim-to-vehicle-transport-scam/70472507007/ |
More than 1,100 people have already been charged for their actions around Jan. 6 and many of them invoked Former President Donald Trump, who may also be indicted.
Copyright 2023 NPR
More than 1,100 people have already been charged for their actions around Jan. 6 and many of them invoked Former President Donald Trump, who may also be indicted.
Copyright 2023 NPR | https://www.kvpr.org/2023-07-30/over-1-100-rioters-have-been-charged-for-jan-6-many-name-trump-in-their-statements | 2023-07-30T12:36:33 | 0 | https://www.kvpr.org/2023-07-30/over-1-100-rioters-have-been-charged-for-jan-6-many-name-trump-in-their-statements |
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday pushed back against Australian demands for an end to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s prosecution, saying the Australian citizen was accused of “very serious criminal conduct” in publishing a trove of classified documents more than a decade ago.
Australia’s center-left Labor Party government has been arguing since winning the elections last year that the United States should end its pursuit of the 52-year-old, who has spent four years in a British prison fighting extradition to the United States.
Assange’s freedom is widely seen as a test of Australia’s leverage with President Joe Biden’s administration.
Blinken confirmed on Saturday that Assange had been discussed in annual talks with Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Brisbane, Australia.
“I understand the concerns and views of Australians. I think it’s very important that our friends here understand our concerns about this matter,” Blinken told reporters.
“Mr. Assange was charged with very serious criminal conduct in the United States in connection with his alleged role in one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of our country,” he added.
Wong said Assange’s prosecution had “dragged for too long” and that Australia wanted the charges “brought to a conclusion.”
Australia remains ambiguous about whether the United States should drop the prosecution or strike a plea bargain.
Assange faces 17 charges of espionage and one charge of computer misuse over WikiLeaks’ publication of of hundreds of thousands of classified diplomatic and military documents in 2010.
American prosecutors allege he helped U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning steal classified diplomatic cables and military files that WikiLeaks later published, putting lives at risk.
Australia argues there is a “disconnect” between the U.S. treatment of Assange and Manning. Then-U.S. President Barack Obama commuted Manning’s 35-year sentence to seven years, which allowed her release in 2017. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/international/ap-us-secretary-of-state-tells-australia-that-wikileaks-founder-is-accused-of-very-serious-crime/ | 2023-07-30T12:36:35 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/international/ap-us-secretary-of-state-tells-australia-that-wikileaks-founder-is-accused-of-very-serious-crime/ |
Stella Blake, 17, crowned 2023 Greater Alliance Carnation Festival queen
- Stella Blake, 17, a Marlington High School student, was crowned the 2023 Greater Alliance Carnation Festival queen on Saturday night in Alliance High School.
- Blake's court is First Attendant Mayze Leask, Second Attendant Meya Weatherspoon and Third Attendant Gabriella Hill.
- Blake also named Miss Congeniality by the five judges. Kayla Martin was last year's queen.
ALLIANCE − Stella Blake used to sit in the audience with her family and watch other girls get crowns.
"Last year, I was like, 'I'm going to do that'," the 17-year-old Paris Township girl said. "And, so to think I'm up here is just insane. It's even crazier that I won."
Blake, a Marlington High School student, was crowned the 2023 Greater Alliance Carnation Festival queen on Saturday night in Alliance High School. Her fellow contestants also named her Miss Congeniality. Blake was chosen from a group of 17 contestants.
The festival begins Thursday and ends Aug. 13.
All 17 candidatesMeet the 2023 Carnation Festival queen contestants
Blake is the daughter of Jennifer and William Blake. She was sponsored by Grey + Monroe Children's Boutique.
The other members of her court are 1st Attendant Mayze Leask; 2nd Attendant Meya Weatherspoon; and 3rd Attendant Gabriella Hill.
"I'm just over the moon," Blake said following the pageant. "I have so many emotions. I'm so excited to be with my court."
Former Carnation queens Taylor Penird Baxter (2016) and Mallory McCreedy (2017) emceed the 63rd annual pageant.
"It takes real heart and courage to be out here," Baxter told all the contestants before she and McCreedy announced the night's winners. "Regardless of the outcome ... I'm proud of you."
The contestants spent eight weeks getting ready for the pageant, attending community events and touring local businesses.
One of those events:Carnation Festival royalty thrills kids at dress-up party
"She made a lot of new friends," said William Blake, Stella's father. "She enjoyed every minute of it. I'm really happy for her."
Farewell, Kayla
Blake's coronation also meant saying goodbye to last year's queen Kayla Martin.
Martin and her court of 1st Attendant Chloe Orzo; 2nd Attendant Catarina Hagan; and 3rd Attendant Kenna McElroy − who dubbed themselves "The StarGirls" − shared a video of their 2022 experiences, and Martin tearfully read a farewell speech.
"I will forever be blessed and grateful to be the 62nd queen and all the amazing experiences that came with that," she said. "Through this experience we were able to give back to our community, inspire young girls and appreciate our city."
Like Blake, Martin also was Miss Congeniality for 2022.
In addition to her family and friends, Martin thanked her court, city officials, the community and festival president Staci Gurney, who also runs the pageant. Martin said Gurney was like their "second mom," which Gurney appreciated.
"It's just wonderful to spend time with them and get to know each and every one of them," she said.
Gurney added the judges had a tough decision Saturday night.
"We had a group of wonderful girls," she said, "so I don't envy (the judges) at all."
A reception followed the pageant.
Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @bduerREP.
2023 Carnation Festival Royalty
QUEEN - Stella Blake, 17, daughter of Jennifer and William Blake
1st ATTENDANT -Mayze Leask, 19, daughter of Jennie and Brian Craig, and Josh Leask
2nd ATTENDANT - Meya Weatherspoon, 17, daughter of Angela Weatherspoon
3rd ATTENDANT - Gabrielle Hill, 18, daughter of Aaron Hill Sr. and Sarita Hill
MISS CONGENIALITY - Stella Blake | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/alliance/2023/07/30/stella-blake-marlington-paris-carnation-festival-queen-alliance/70483541007/ | 2023-07-30T12:36:39 | 0 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/alliance/2023/07/30/stella-blake-marlington-paris-carnation-festival-queen-alliance/70483541007/ |
The new charges against former Pres. Trump in the classified documents case are in a different legal league and there are hints he is also not politically immune from them either.
Copyright 2023 NPR
The new charges against former Pres. Trump in the classified documents case are in a different legal league and there are hints he is also not politically immune from them either.
Copyright 2023 NPR | https://www.kvpr.org/2023-07-30/politics-chat-trump-could-face-political-blowback-from-new-charges-after-all | 2023-07-30T12:36:39 | 0 | https://www.kvpr.org/2023-07-30/politics-chat-trump-could-face-political-blowback-from-new-charges-after-all |
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Over 100 mercenaries belonging to the Russian-linked Wagner group in Belarus have moved close to the border with Poland, the Polish prime minister said Saturday.
Mateusz Morawiecki said at a news conference that the mercenaries had moved close to the Suwalki Gap, a strategic stretch of Polish territory situated between Belarus and Kaliningrad, a Russian territory separated from the mainland.
Poland is a member of both the European Union and NATO, and it has worried about its security with Russian ally Belarus and Ukraine on its eastern border.
Those fears have grown since Wagner group mercenaries arrived in Belarus since the group’s short-lived rebellion earlier this summer.
The Poland-Belarus border has already been a tense place for a couple of years, ever since large numbers of immigrants from the Middle East and Africa began arriving, seeking to enter the EU by crossing into Poland, as well as Lithuania.
Poland’s government accuses Russia and Belarus of using the migrants to destabilize Poland and other EU countries. It calls the migration a form of hybrid warfare, and has responded by building a high wall along part of its border with Belarus.
“Now the situation becomes even more dangerous,” Morawiecki told reporters.
He added that “this is certainly a step towards a further hybrid attack on Polish territory.”
Morawiecki spoke during a visit to an arms factory in Gliwice, in southern Poland, where Leopard tanks used by the Ukrainian army are being repaired. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/international/ap-wagner-mercenaries-in-belarus-move-closer-to-the-polish-border-polands-prime-minister-says/ | 2023-07-30T12:36:42 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/international/ap-wagner-mercenaries-in-belarus-move-closer-to-the-polish-border-polands-prime-minister-says/ |
NORTH CANTON
North Canton resident injured in apartment fire
Canton Repository
NORTH CANTON – A person was taken to a local hospital Saturday for non-life threatening injuries following a fire at an apartment in the 1700 block of Beechwood Avenue, authorities said.
Firefighters responded at 6:32 p.m. and found a third-floor apartment filled with smoke. The fire was out when they arrived. The occupant was found outside the building and was treated by North Canton Fire Department paramedics and taken to a hospital for injuries sustained while trying to put out the fire.
A cat that lived in the apartment was found unharmed.
The cause of the fire is under investigation but it is believed to be accidental, firefighters said. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/north-canton/2023/07/30/north-canton-resident-injured-in-apartment-fire/70493943007/ | 2023-07-30T12:36:45 | 1 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/north-canton/2023/07/30/north-canton-resident-injured-in-apartment-fire/70493943007/ |
On-air challenge: I'm going to give you some words. For each one, think of something that starts with the first letter of my word ... and that fits in the category named by the rest of my word.
Example: Factor — (Morgan) Freeman, (Henry) Fonda, (Harrison) Ford [actor starting with F]1. Scar
2. Aisle
3. Crank
4. Broom
5. Thorn
6. Bride
7. Swine
8. Cape
9. Trapper
Last week's challenge: Name a classic TV show in two words, in which the respective words rhyme with the first and last names of a famous writer - four letters in the first name, five letter in the last name. Who is it?
Challenge answer: "Get Smart" --> Bret Harte
Winner: Mary Butler from Columbus, Nebraska
This week's challenge: This challenge comes from listener Jim Vespe, of Mamaroneck, N.Y. Name a well-known U.S. city in nine letters. Change the third and fifth letters to get the name of a beverage. What is it?
If you know the answer to the challenge, submit it here by Thursday, August 3rd at 3 p.m. ET. Listeners whose answers are selected win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: include a phone number where we can reach you.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.kvpr.org/2023-07-30/sunday-puzzle-let-the-categories-guide-you | 2023-07-30T12:36:45 | 1 | https://www.kvpr.org/2023-07-30/sunday-puzzle-let-the-categories-guide-you |
Plain Township trustees delay proposed road levy hike taking effect by one year
- If approved by voters in November, the road levy tax hike would not start being collected until 2024.
- The change was made to avoid a potential double tax collection in 2023.
PLAIN TWP. ‒ Trustees have altered the proposed road levy increase on the November ballot, delaying by one year the increase taking effect if voters approve the issue.
The new resolution changes the first year the five-year 1.5-mill road levy replacement and 0.5-mill increase takes effect to 2024, according to the township's Law Director Eric Williams. Because collections are always the year after the effective year, township property owners wouldn't have to pay the higher road levy amount until 2025. That also means the township's road department wouldn't get the nearly $1 million a year in additional revenue until 2025.
Trustees Scott Haws and Brook Harless voted to amend the road levy resolution during Tuesday's meeting. Trustee John Sabo was absent.
Williams said that the road levy replacement and increase the trustees approved on July 11 to be placed on the Nov. 7 ballot set a first effective year of 2023 with collections to take place in 2024.
That could clash with the current road levy, renewed by voters in 2019. Williams said if voters had approved the language for the resolution approved July 11, it wasn't clear if property owners would have been double taxed, paying the last year of the current road levy and the first year of the new levy in one year.
Related:Plain Trustees place road levy increase on ballot, opt not to seek levy consolidation
To avoid that situation, trustees voted to withdraw the prior resolution and substitute a measure that postpones collections of the higher amounts from the road levy replacement and increase by a year.
The deadline for local governments to place levies on the November ballot is Aug. 9.
Williams said the trustees would give themselves two more elections to renew or replace the current levy before it expires if voters rejected the proposed levy on Nov. 7.
According to numbers provided by the Stark County auditor, if the higher road levy is approved, the owner of a $100,000 home would pay $33.25 more a year. The cost for a $100,000 home of supporting the township's two voter-approved road levies would rise to $102.12 a year from $68.87.
Township officials have cited the significantly rising costs of resurfacing and maintaining roads as reasons for seeking a higher levy.
Reach Robert at robert.wang@cantonrep.com. Twitter: @rwangREP | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/plain/2023/07/30/property-owners-wouldnt-pay-proposed-road-levy-increase-until-2025/70467645007/ | 2023-07-30T12:36:49 | 0 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/plain/2023/07/30/property-owners-wouldnt-pay-proposed-road-levy-increase-until-2025/70467645007/ |
OSHKOSH, Wis. (AP) — Two people were killed and two others injured Saturday in a midair collision at an airport in Wisconsin.
A Rotorway 162F helicopter and an ELA Eclipse 10 gyrocopter collided shortly after noon local time at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, authorities said. The aircraft belonged to individuals attending the Experimental Aircraft Association’s annual fly-in convention in Oshkosh but were not involved in the air show, a statement from the organization said.
The association, citing the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, said two people were killed and two injured. The injured were taken to a local hospital and were in stable condition.
The association said further information would be released as additional details are confirmed. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.
Separately, a plane earlier Saturday crashed into Lake Winnebago near Oshkosh, killing two people, according to the sheriff’s office. The NTSB is also investigating that case, which involved a single-engine North American T-6 aircraft. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/ap-4-dead-2-injured-in-separate-aircraft-accidents-in-wisconsin-authorities-say/ | 2023-07-30T12:36:49 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/ap-4-dead-2-injured-in-separate-aircraft-accidents-in-wisconsin-authorities-say/ |
Ayesha Rascoe is a White House correspondent for NPR. She is currently covering her third presidential administration. Rascoe's White House coverage has included a number of high profile foreign trips, including President Trump's 2019 summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi, Vietnam, and President Obama's final NATO summit in Warsaw, Poland in 2016. As a part of the White House team, she's also a regular on the NPR Politics Podcast. | https://www.kvpr.org/2023-07-30/the-irs-will-no-longer-knock-on-doors-unannounced | 2023-07-30T12:36:51 | 1 | https://www.kvpr.org/2023-07-30/the-irs-will-no-longer-knock-on-doors-unannounced |
Meet Sarah Lutz: She oversees the Enshrinement Festival Photo Contest
One of the many things that the Pro Football Hall of Fame festivities bring to the area is the chance to take a slew of photographs. Some of those photos make their way to the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Photo Contest.
Now in its 35th year, the contest has been managed for the past three years by Sarah Lutz, creative director at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce.
She is a Hoover High School graduate and a graduate of The Mary Schiller Myers School of Art – The University of Akron. She has a bachelor's degree in graphic design, with metalsmithing as a minor.
She lives with her daughter, Sunita, 17, and son, Ketan, 15, and two bunnies named Rory and Adrien.
“My first job after graduation was for an insurance company in Strongsville where I worked on a team with several other designers,” Lutz said. “The team support structure was exactly what I needed at the time because I had design skills but lacked practical application. I credit two of the senior designers who trained me during that time and am proud that we remain good friends today."
A few years later, she interviewed with the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce. She felt right at home with its beautiful building and the downtown Canton renaissance in full swing.
“I’ve been at the chamber ever since, first as a graphic designer, then as a contract employee, then as graphics manager and presently as creative director,” Lutz said.
She said the photo contest receives more than 200 submissions each year from both professional and non-professional photographers. Submissions are accepted from those taking photos of the outdoor Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival events such as the Canton Repository Grand Parade, Community Parade, Balloon Classic presented by Aultman, and Up, Up and Away 5K presented by OrthoUnited.
“The Balloon Classic is the most popular event to photograph with all the fascinating colors and impressive, unique hot air balloon designs," Lutz said. "The photos are an absolute joy and give us a unique perspective. ... You can often find stunning photos from the contest in event marketing, printed publications and in professional photography installations at the Akron-Canton Airport.”
Five questions with Dan Moeglin:Executive director of Stark Parks
Would you share some of your daily work tasks and activities as the creative director of the Canton Regional Chamber?
Daily tasks include fulfilling design requests and meeting our fast-paced deadlines. I work most closely with my boss, Kelly Piero, vice president of marketing, communications and public affairs; and our vice president of information technology, Angie Glancy.
I collaborate daily with almost every employee from several departments within the chamber. To give a glimpse into the diversity of my daily work, on my plate at the moment is the creation of a logo for our youth leadership programs, an invitation for Stark County Manufacturing Workforce Development Partnership, finalizing the commemorative poster for the Enshrinees’ Gold Jacket Dinner, membership marketing materials and designs for ystark! events.
The variety of our programming and the multiple, unique brands keeps my creativity ignited and allows me to challenge myself daily.
Outside of the HOF photo areas, where do you consider some of the more photographic areas of Stark County?
I love all the murals and art downtown — such great photo moments at every turn.
All the beautiful parks — (shout out to my friend Erin Thompson at Canton Parks & Rec!). And the gorgeous historic homes and architecture in Canton and Massillon.
What are some of your favorite mediums to work with?
I love watercolors and still-life/food photography. I also like playing around with interior design and feel like I’m always “feathering my nest” with rearranging, organizing, and DIY projects.
Who are a few of your favorite artists, authors and photographers?
I have really been inspired by artists who have a “designer-ly” feel — Alphonse Mucha, Maxfield Parrish, Arthur Rackham.
I also love vintage children’s books and love illustrators like Aliki, and Eloise Wilkin.
I’ve had the pleasure to observe the work of many local photographers over the years for chamber events and the Photo Contest and I continue to be impressed by their creativity and photographic storytelling abilities. Most recently I had the privilege to work alongside local photographer Kelly Klein who joined the chamber team this spring as our youth leadership program manager.
What is your favorite childhood memory or your favorite family tradition?
On Saturdays, we would go out for breakfast — one of our favorite spots was Jack Frost (now Beyesly's Restaurant) in North Canton. And every summer growing up, we would see how many hot air balloons would land in the field behind our house during Balloon Classic weekend.
Today, one of my favorite family traditions with my kids is taking some time off after the busy Enshrinement Festival season for a staycation in Vermillion where we enjoy paddleboarding and relaxation.
Editor's note: Five questions with ... is a Sunday feature that showcases a member of the Stark County community. If you'd like to recommend someone to participate, send an email to newsroom@cantonrep.com. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/stark-county/2023/07/30/meet-sarah-lutz-she-oversees-the-enshrinement-festival-photo-contest-canton-chamber-of-commerce/70366107007/ | 2023-07-30T12:36:55 | 1 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/stark-county/2023/07/30/meet-sarah-lutz-she-oversees-the-enshrinement-festival-photo-contest-canton-chamber-of-commerce/70366107007/ |
The planned execution of a 45-year-old Missouri man with schizophrenia is back on after an appellate court reversed course Saturday.
Johnny Johnson is scheduled to receive a lethal injection Tuesday at the state prison in Bonne Terre for killing 6-year-old Casey Williamson after trying to sexually assault her in 2002.
With questions swirling about his mental competency, the execution was halted last Tuesday by a divided three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court. But after the Missouri Attorney General’s Office asked that the full court reconsider, that decision was reversed in a 7-3 ruling.
The case will likely end up before the U.S. Supreme Court before the scheduled execution date.
Attorneys for Johnson have claimed his schizophrenia prevents him from understanding the link between his crime and the punishment. They have also said Johnson has delusions about the devil using his death to bring about the end of the world.
The Missouri Supreme Court in June declined to halt the execution based on the mental health claim. The attorney general’s office challenged the credibility of psychiatric evaluations of Johnson and contended that medical records indicate he is able to manage his mental illness through medication.
Johnson lured the girl to an abandoned glass factory, even carrying her on his shoulders on the walk to the dilapidated site. When he tried to sexually assault her, Casey screamed and tried to break free. He killed her with bricks and rocks, then washed off in the Meramec River. Johnson confessed to the crimes.
Casey’s disappearance set off a frantic search involving first responders and volunteers. Her body was found in a pit less than a mile (1.6 kilometers) from her home, buried beneath rocks and debris.
The execution would be the fourth in Missouri this year. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/ap-appellate-court-rules-that-missouri-man-with-schizophrenia-can-be-executed-after-all/ | 2023-07-30T12:36:55 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/ap-appellate-court-rules-that-missouri-man-with-schizophrenia-can-be-executed-after-all/ |
Washington became the first state to start deducting money from workers' paychecks to fund long-term care benefits. (This story first aired on All Things Considered on July 25, 2023.)
Copyright 2023 NPR
Washington became the first state to start deducting money from workers' paychecks to fund long-term care benefits. (This story first aired on All Things Considered on July 25, 2023.)
Copyright 2023 NPR | https://www.kvpr.org/2023-07-30/washingtons-new-tax-could-be-a-solution-to-fund-long-term-care | 2023-07-30T12:36:57 | 0 | https://www.kvpr.org/2023-07-30/washingtons-new-tax-could-be-a-solution-to-fund-long-term-care |
Stark County roundup: News from around the Canton region
Forchione sworn in as Stark County Bar Association president
CANTON − Frank G. Forchione was recently sworn in as president of the 750-member Stark County Bar Association. He became the 106th president when his one-year term began July 1. He takes over from Magistrate Stephan P. Babik with the Stark County Court of Common Pleas.
Forchione has served as a judge in the Stark County Court of Common Pleas General Division since 2009. He began working as an assistant city prosecutor for Canton. In 1994, he was named the Canton city prosecutor and served that office for 15 years. He is the founder and chairman of the “Stop Heroin from Killing Committee,” which has targeted the heroin epidemic in Ohio.
Also sworn in were the association’s officers: First Vice-President Angela T. Vagotis; Second Vice-President Andrea M. Scassa; Secretary Beverly Proctor-Donald; and Treasurer Gust Callas.
Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health has new board president
CANTON − Jennifer Meek Eells is Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health’s new board president. Her term began July 1 and ends June 30, 2025. Eells replaces outgoing board president Dr. Linda Sklar.
Eells, who is the executive director to the Ohio Workforce Association, has spent her career in workforce development/placement. Before her current role, she served as executive director of the Stark Tuscarawas Workforce Development Board/Ohio Means Jobs.
National First Ladies’ Library director of education has new job at KSU
CANTON − Alison Caplan, director of education at the National First Ladies’ Library, has been selected as the new director of Kent State University’s May 4 Visitors Center, a museum that tells the story of the shootings at Kent State on May 4, 1970.
Caplan’s range of responsibilities will include overseeing the center’s budget and personnel; managing programming and events; developing outreach initiatives to community and campus audiences; and securing funding to enhance the center’s public presence.
Veteran of the Year nominations being accepted
CANTON − The Greater Canton Veterans Council is accepting nominations for the 2023 Veteran of the Year. All veterans from Stark County will be considered.
Nominations should explain why the veteran is deserving of the honor. Nominees should be or have been active in supporting fellow veterans in their time of need. You can also nominate veterans who volunteered their time supporting nonprofits, such as working in soup kitchens, home meal delivery, medical transportation, hospice visits and home repairs.
Special consideration will be given to include wartime veterans; although they may not have done volunteer work, they have proven themselves worthy serving the country during time of combat.
Nominations must be postmarked by Aug. 25 and include a copy of DD214 proof of honorable discharge. Voting will be by secret ballot, and the chosen veteran will be honored at a special public Veterans Day program on Nov. 11. Mail nomination letters to Greater Canton Veterans Council, P.O. Box 8521, Canton, OH 44711-8521
Family-friendly movies in downtown Canton
CANTON − The Summer Kids Movie Series continues Monday at the Palace Theatre, 605 Market Ave. N, with a showing of "Encanto” at 1 p.m. Doors and box office open at noon. Admission is $2. A sensory-friendly showing of the movie is at 6:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m.
The Centennial Plaza Movie Series continues Wednesday with a free showing of “The Game Plan” at 7 p.m. at Centennial Plaza, 330 Court Ave. NW. The movie will be shown rain or shine; in case of severe weather, the showing will be canceled.
Author of 'Gameday in the USA’ series to be at library
CANTON – A meet-and-greet with author Marnie Schneider, CEO of Gameday and author of the children’s book series “Gameday in the USA,” will be held from 11 a.m. to noon Thursday at the Main Branch of the Stark Library, 715 Market Ave. N. For more information and to register, visit https://tinyurl.com/466t5vu4.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame has partnered with Schneider to produce “Football Freddie & Fumble the Dog, Gameday in Canton.” The book follows Football Freddie and her companion, Fumble the Dog, along with their friends Marion (named after Pro Football Hall of Famer Marion Motley) and Goldy the G.O.A.T., around Canton.
The group visits some of Canton’s historic landmarks and explores events during Enshrinement Week at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“Football Freddie & Fumble the Dog, Gameday in Canton” will be available for purchase at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Store.
Music, dancing Aug. 6 and 13
CANTON − Canton Country Music's next dances at the new location, American Legion, 1633 Cleveland Ave. NW, will be on Aug. 6 with Kenny Falls Band and Aug. 13 with Classic Rewind Band play. Admission at the door is $3, and the public is welcome. Doors open at 1:15 p.m. with music from 2 to 5 p.m. Food is available, as well as a 50/50 drawing and lottery tree.
Concert Thursday in Hartville
HARTVILLE – The Everly Brothers Experience featuring the Zmed Brothers will perform two concerts Thursday, from 1 to 3 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., at the Hartville Kitchen, 1015 Edison St. NW. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit https://hartvillekitchen.com/events/ or call 330-877-9353.
Local law enforcement, community collaborate for National Night Out
JACKSON TWP. − The Stark County Prosecutor’s Office, Jackson Township Police Department, Stark County Sheriff’s Office, Stark County Safe Communities and Tinseltown Cinemark will host the National Night Out from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Tinseltown parking lot on The Strip at 4720 Mega St. NW. All are welcome to this free event.
National Night Out is an annual event aimed at strengthening communities by encouraging partnership between citizens and law enforcement. The event will provide safety information, along with a meet and greet with local law enforcement and safety personnel.
There will be free food and prize giveaways, music, K-9 officers from local police departments and safety-related demonstrations and displays. Several community-based organizations will be present to share information about their organizations and activities.
Mission BBQ Tailgate Party is Wednesday
JACKSON TWP. − Mission BBQ, 4490 Everhard Road NW, will have a tailgate party from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday to celebrate Cleveland Browns legend Joe Thomas being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Thomas is a marketing partner with Mission BBQ. Dustin and Ally from the "Here We Go Brownies" show will broadcast from the site.
History Discussion Group’s topic is back-to-school memories
MASSILLON – The Massillon Museum’s History Discussion Group will meet from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday. Moderator Chris Craft will lead a discussion about back-to-school memories. Bring along stories, photographs and memorabilia.
The History Discussion Group meets on the first Tuesday of each month in the Fred F. Silk Community Room on the museum’s lower level. The museum is at 121 Lincoln Way E. Attendance is free and open to everyone.
Clay class at Massillon Museum’s Ceramics Studio
MASSILLON − Adults and children of all ages can make their own clay masterpieces during the Casual Clay class in the Massillon Museum’s Ceramics Studio from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Aug. 6. Registration is now open, and space is limited; visit MassMu.org/Tickets or call 330-833-4061. The fee, $25 ($20 for Massillon Museum member) per person, includes all supplies.
The Massillon Museum’s Ceramics Studio is at the corner of Lincoln Way E and City Hall Street. Access is through the museum’s main entrance at 121 Lincoln Way E.
Perseverance Award winners named
NORTH CANTON − Ashley Myers and Terry Price have been named winners of the Ron Russell Perseverance Award.
The award recognizes inspirational people who overcome obstacles to stay active at the YMCA. Russell began running in retirement and ran his first marathon at 75. The award honors a YMCA July 4th race participant who embodies that same determination. The selection committee included the previous winners, the YMCA and Russell’s family.
The awards were presented after the YMCA July 4th race.
Coffee with a Cop event Monday
PERRY TWP. – The public is invited to the next Coffee with a Cop event at 9 a.m. Monday at Clean Eats, 5111 Tuscarawas St. W. The Coffee with a Cop program is designed to provide an opportunity for community members to ask questions and to learn more about the Stark County Sheriff’s Office.
The Coffee with a Cop program is a national initiative adopted by the Stark County Sheriff’s Office. For more information, contact the Stark County Sheriff’s Office’s director of community engagement at 330-430-3889.
Plain trustees Aug. 8 meeting location changed
PLAIN TWP. − The regular trustees meeting Aug. 8 will be held at Central Fire Station, 1742 Schneider St. NE, due to the special election that day. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/stark-county/2023/07/30/stark-county-roundup-news-from-around-the-canton-region/70437878007/ | 2023-07-30T12:37:01 | 0 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/stark-county/2023/07/30/stark-county-roundup-news-from-around-the-canton-region/70437878007/ |
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.wjhl.com/news/national/ap-atlanta-cop-city-activists-say-theyre-confident-of-getting-70k-signatures-but-big-hurdles-remain/ | 2023-07-30T12:37:03 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/ap-atlanta-cop-city-activists-say-theyre-confident-of-getting-70k-signatures-but-big-hurdles-remain/ |
She's one of India's biggest Barbie fans. When Vichitra Rajasingh was growing up, family and friends helped her build her collection of Barbie dolls until she had almost 80 of them. She once owned a Barbie camper, a speedboat, supermarket and post office. The mermaid Barbie and scuba-diving Barbie were her favorites.
Since her family ran a hotel, they put the dolls on display in the lobby in the late '90s. On Rajasingh's 14th birthday, her parents painted her room bright pink and hired artists to draw her favorite Barbie dolls on the walls.
All her Barbies were blond. She says she didn't like the Indian ethnic ones that came on the local market.
Living the pink life
"My love for the color pink began with my childhood passion for Barbie," she says. "And now it's become my identity." For her, the color represents love, joy, femininity and playfulness, everything she once associated with Barbie, she says.
Today Rajasingh lives in the southern Indian city of Madurai, where she drives a pink mini-Cooper and runs a bakery and lives in an apartment that are dominated by that color.
When the Barbie movie released in India on July 21, she gathered a bunch of friends, "everyone dressed to the nines in pink," and watched it on the day of its release. "I loved the movie. It was fun to watch and brought back many joyful childhood memories," she says.
While she no longer has her huge doll collection — having long since given it away to family and friends — Rajasingh is still a Barbie lover. She bakes six or seven Barbie-themed cakes a week, with an actual doll at the center of a cake that serves as her frothy dress, constructed around her in a swirl of sugar and cream.
Rajasingh saw Barbie as an aspirational figure — and grew up admiring the doll's freedom, confidence, globe-trotting lifestyle and even her arched feet in sassy stilettos.
But for others in India, Barbie has a far more complicated legacy.
The pressures Barbie can bring
Shweta Sharan, a writer who lives in Mumbai, admits to being conflicted about whether or not to watch the movie with her 13-year-old daughter, Laasya, who until a year ago ardently loved Barbie but then outgrew playing with dolls.
"I am aware that these dolls have many complicated associations," Sharan says. "Watching my daughter love a doll that looked nothing like her — with blond hair, blue eyes, perfect breasts — I worried if she would always strive to be someone else and feel inadequate."
These worries are valid in the opinion of ElsaMarie DSilva, a social entrepreneur from India and an Aspen fellow. "While Barbie is almost universally loved among girls of all ages, many do aspire to look like her, unconsciously pressurizing young girls to conform to unrealistic body shapes and expectations," she says — a common criticism aimed at Barbie.
Indian Barbie is not a rousing success
Mattel did make an effort to adapt the doll for an Indian market. When Mattel launched Barbie in India in 1991, it was the familiar Western-looking blond-haired blue-eyed Barbie. Then in 1996, they rolled out Indian Barbie, with brown skin. She came either wearing a bright sari or a salwar kameez — a knee-length tunic over fitted trousers.
But the Indian Barbie was not popular. "Indian kids gravitated toward the white-skinned Barbie instead of the brown-skinned one because light-skinned women were considered more beautiful in India and an automatic choice," DSilva says.
She points out how even in Indian clothes, Barbie still had a body that did not represent real women in India or anywhere else — she was way too tall and way too thin.
Priti Nemani, an Indian American attorney living in Chicago, analyzed why Barbie failed so spectacularly in the Indian market in a research paper published in 2011. In addition to the unrealistic, impossibly thin appearance of the doll, she points out how other cultural factors were at play.
"We weren't seeing Indian features on Barbie," she says. "We were seeing white Barbies dipped in brown. And even those brown Barbies didn't last long on the shelves. The latest versions of the Indian Barbie have much lighter skin tone.
Meanwhile, even though blond Barbies sold well, Ken tanked in India. "Indian parents who wouldn't want their daughters in romantic relationships at such an early age weren't going to buy the boyfriend," Nemani says.
In spite of her initial misgivings, Sharan enjoyed the Barbie movie with her daughter, now 13, who especially liked the feminist overtones. Laasya loved the beginning, when they were told "Barbie has a great day everyday. Ken only has a great day if Barbie looks at him."
Barbie inspires a poem
There are other issues about Barbie in India. For many kids, the doll is too expensive.
Ankita Apurva, 26, a writer who grew up in a farming family in Ranchi, a city in the Eastern Indian state of Jharkhand, recalls a childhood bereft of Barbies.
Her parents, who struggled to pay for a good education that they hoped would be her armor against bullying and discrimination, could not afford to buy their daughter a Barbie.
"They weren't in a position to splurge on fancy dolls like a Barbie," she says. She recalls feeling inferior for not owning one of these expensive dolls that would help her connect with other Barbie owners in her circle. It was especially hard for her at lunch when girls would boast about how many dolls they owned.
"I believe that even if children from marginalized communities manage to enter [private] institutions [for the privileged], there are certain social, cultural and economic symbols which are consciously and subconsciously deployed to mark them out, and Barbie, as loved as it is, is definitely one of them," she says.
Over the years, Apurva's family has grown stronger financially. When she saw the global resurgence of interest in Barbie now, she didn't feel angry or alienated, but it did bring back memories of desperately wanting to fit in – and not just because she didn't have a Barbie.
"Growing up, I rarely felt represented in literature or media. If pens or cameras turned toward us, they inadvertently counted us as data: dead bodies of farmers or survivors of violence of umpteen kinds."
As a girl from a farming family in Jharkhand, Apurva felt invisible. And so, she decided to express those emotions. She wrote a poem that she posted on Instagram, not to shame anyone who is privileged enough to own a Barbie but to comfort those who, like her, may have felt left out.
Here are some excerpts:
"Here's to the girls who do not get the Barbie craze,
...
girls who had parents who could not
or did not or choose not
to get them Barbie dolls
...
it's okay,
to not relate to any of it
...
what is not okay are friends ...
who intentionally make you
feel low by asking how many Barbies
you owned as a kid even as they
know you weren't privileged enough
to have them.
...
you are also not "too much" ...
if you feel
that Barbie is a colonial icon
legitimizing racial supremacy
while being a 'white feminist' trope
...
and once again
remember,
you are everything,
they are just Ken
Kamala Thiagarajan is a freelance journalist based in Madurai, Southern India. She reports on global health, science, and development, and her work has been published in the New York Times, The British Medical Journal, BBC, The Guardian and other outlets. You can find her on twitter @kamal_t
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.kvpr.org/npr-news/2023-07-28/barbie-in-india-a-skin-color-debate-a-poignant-poem-baked-in-a-cake | 2023-07-30T12:37:03 | 0 | https://www.kvpr.org/npr-news/2023-07-28/barbie-in-india-a-skin-color-debate-a-poignant-poem-baked-in-a-cake |
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Editorial cartoonist Jerry King looks at more EV charging stations coming to Ohio
Canton Repository | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/opinion/cartoons/2023/07/30/cartoon-more-ev-charging-stations-coming-to-ohio-jerry-king/70463978007/ | 2023-07-30T12:37:07 | 1 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/opinion/cartoons/2023/07/30/cartoon-more-ev-charging-stations-coming-to-ohio-jerry-king/70463978007/ |
Police said at least eight dogs being transported inside an uncooled cargo van in Indiana died of heat-related injuries this week as temperatures soared amid an intense heat wave gripping much of the United States. The heat was not letting up Saturday in many areas, including in New York City, where temperatures were expected to surge into the lower 90s (around 35 C). Officials say the humid, thick air could make it feel well over the century mark for many Americans.
The sizzling air has heated up everything from the ocean to pools, making it difficult to cool off. One woman in the Southwest has been throwing blocks of ice in her pool.
Metro Phoenix hit its 30th consecutive day of record-breaking heat on Saturday. Scientists calculate this month will be the hottest globally on record and likely the warmest human civilization has seen.
Here’s what’s happening related to extreme weather and the climate right now:
— Police said the eight dogs that died were among 18 Shepherds being transported from O’Hare International Airport in Chicago to a K-9 training facility in Michigan City, Indiana. The driver told police he was unaware that the air conditioning unit was not cooling the back of the van until he heard dogs barking. He pulled over in Lake Station, Indiana, to open the back. Lake Station police said he then found several dogs dead and others suffering.
— Heat advisories continued in New York City, where high humidity has made it uncomfortable and dangerous. Some 500 cooling centers have opened across the city’s five boroughs, and the governor authorized the state’s swimming pools to stay open later. The extreme heat was forecast to ease Sunday.
— Parts of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut were under a heat advisory through Saturday night. In northern New England, temperatures were down 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit after getting into the 90s (around 35 degrees Celsius) on Friday, but the humidity lingered throughout the region.
— The weather was equally stifling and muggy in the center of the United States. An excessive heat warning was issued for much of Missouri, Kansas and western Illinois, where the sweaty mix of heat and humidity could make it feel like up to 112 degrees Fahrenheit (44.4 degrees Celsius) in some areas. St. Louis health director Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis said the risk of heat stroke was high and warned that interior car temperatures could reach lethal levels in minutes.
— Similar warnings were issued for much of the Deep South, which encompasses Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, with temperatures in the 90s (around 35 Celsius) and heat indexes past 100 (43.3 Celsius).
— The extreme heat has refocused attention on the lack of air conditioning in prisons. The Prison Policy Initiative, a national think tank, included Missouri and Kansas in a 2019 list of 13 “famously hot states” that lack universal air conditioning in prisons. In Missouri, only half of the prisons are fully air conditioned. And in Kansas, adding air conditioning to the newest prison sparked outrage among some lawmakers who saw it as coddling inmates.
— Phoenix broke another heat record Saturday, marking the 30th consecutive day of temperatures reaching or surpassing 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 Celsius). With the arrival of monsoon rains, temperatures are forecast to start to drop in the hottest areas in the U.S. Southwest, especially Phoenix. Temperatures are also expected to ease in Las Vegas, Albuquerque and Death Valley, California.
— With the scorching heat, even going for a swim offered little to no relief. Sea surface temperatures rose above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 Celsius) at a spot off Florida’s southern tip, while swimming pools in the Southwest gave the sensation of being in soup.
— The high temperatures are reaching across the globe, including in Bolivia, where a drought alert has been declared for Lake Titicaca after water levels of the world’s highest navigable lake receded to a critically low threshold.
___
Associated Press writers Bobby Caina Calvan in New York; Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas; Ken Ritter in Las Vegas; Chevel Johnson in New Orleans; John O’Connor in Springfield, Illinois; and Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire, contributed to this report.
___
Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about AP’s climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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People have asked me what I've learned so far through this series. Have I gotten any clarity on what makes up my own spiritual identity? And the answer is, not really. I'm still in the research phase of this project. I'm still collecting experiences and perspectives and I imagine I'll keep doing that forever, but it's too early to draw any definitive conclusions — except for one.
I believe each and every one of us is capable of making our own meaning. Some of us do that by living according to a set of religious principles. Or by feeling the beauty and sanctity of nature. Or by choosing to see spiritual connections in what others might call mere coincidence.
I don't need anyone to validate those experiences for them to be meaningful to me. But according to Lisa Miller, a professor in the Clinical Psychology Program at Teachers College, Columbia University, having a spiritual life is good for your mental health.
Miller is a psychologist and has dedicated most of her career to the study of neuroscience and spirituality. Her newest book is called The Awakened Brain, and in it she makes some really bold claims about how holding spiritual beliefs can decrease our rates of anxiety and depression and generally make us most likely to lead happier lives. I can hear your skepticism already! I get it. I'm a spiritually inclined kind of person but it's still hard for me to understand how, scientifically speaking, believing in something bigger than yourself can make you healthier and happier.
I needed to understand how Miller came to these conclusions. But before she got to the actual science, she told me a story.
It was the mid '90s. Miller was in the early stages of her career and working at a residential mental health facility in New York City. After she'd been there a few months, Yom Kippur rolled around — the day of atonement, considered the most significant of the Jewish religious holidays. One of the older male patients with severe bipolar disorder asked if there were any plans to mark the day. The doctor in charge shrugged his shoulders and said, no — there's no service planned. The patient walked out of the room with his shoulders slumped and Lisa, who is Jewish, saw an opportunity.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Lisa Miller: I approached the unit chief and said, "I'm certainly not a rabbi, but I've been to two-and-a-half decades of Yom Kippur services. I'd be happy to facilitate if that might be OK with you." So I showed up on Yom Kippur and the patients had arrived early to the kitchen, which was to be our sanctuary. The fluorescent lights were quite strong and as we crowded around the linoleum table there was an extraordinary feeling of specialness.
As we started the prayers that we all knew from our childhood, joining together saying in Hebrew the prayers of Yom Kippur, I looked over and noticed that as the gentleman with bipolar was davening, he could not have been further from explosive. He was holding our group in the cadence of the prayers and we were actually following him.
I took a pause and I said, "I feel so grateful to be here today in our Yom Kippur ceremony. Would anyone like to say anything?" We went around the table and the first person to speak was a very otherwise withdrawn woman with recurrent depression. She said, "You know, I always knew on Yom Kippur we could ask for forgiveness. But sitting here now with you all, I'm aware that we can be forgiven. God can forgive us." And she looked liberated.
As I looked around the table at the patients, whatever their symptoms had been yesterday, they were free in that moment. They were free of suffering. They were free of the characteristic patterns that had dragged them down in a way that was equal and opposite to their main symptoms. And so I thought a mental health system minus spirituality made no sense, and that became my life's work, to understand the place of spirituality in renewal, in recovery, in resilience, and to put this in the language of science.
Rachel Martin: What happened when you brought these kinds of questions to your peers, to the other people in your scientific community? Like when you said for the first time, "Hey, I think we need to look at the effect of spirituality on mental health." What did people say to you?
Miller: Well, the vast majority were very respectful, nodded, and didn't pick up the thread. Some of them would say, "That's not psychology, that's not psychiatry." And in fact, I remember early on giving a grand rounds presentation and I opened up saying, "I'm going to speak today about a body of data using nationally representative samples on spirituality and mental health with all the gold standard methods." And about 10 people got up and walked out. It was absolutely not of interest.
Martin: Using the gold standard, what did that mean in terms of the experiments you were running and the studies and the data you were collecting? How did you make sure that it would hold water in the scientific community?
Miller: If I were to characterize the first five years of my investigation, I would say I used the data sets that everyone else knew and trusted. I only asked one new question, which was: "What's the impact of spirituality on the DSM diagnosis of addiction and depression?" The findings were jaw dropping.
The protective benefit of personal spirituality, meaning someone who says their personal spirituality is very important, is 80% against addiction. They have 80% decreased relative risk for the DSM diagnosis of addiction to drugs or alcohol.
Martin: Wait, so someone who self-identifies as having a meaningful spiritual life is 80% less likely to get addicted to drugs or alcohol than someone who says they don't?
Miller: Yes.
Martin: Wow. And how can you prove that it is a spiritual life that is doing that and not some external factor? Because you heard this from other critics, too, some of your peers said you can't attribute that to spirituality, it's gotta be some other social conditioning.
Miller: Well, that's a very important point because in every study we controlled for all of the usual interpretations about this being social support or having resources. So we plugged into our equation every other possible explanation that was generally taken in mental health to explain the road to depression. And nonetheless, it actually turned out that the more high risk we are, the more that there's stress in our lives, the more that we might be genetically at risk for depression, the greater the impact of spirituality as a source of resilience as preventative against major depression.
Martin: What does that look like in the brain?
Miller: One of the most beautiful findings in my 20 years as an investigator was from an MRI study conducted together with our colleagues at Yale Medical School. We looked at people of many different faith traditions and the first finding was that there is one neuro seat of transcendent perception and we share it. Now there's human variability of course, and we can strengthen components.
Martin: How are you actually doing that with people? Are you asking your subjects to pray? What are the spiritual inputs that are going into them so that you can measure it on their brains?
Miller: The very specific prompt was, "Tell us about a time where you felt a deep connection to God, your higher power, the source of life." Everyone had a story like that and as they told their story, we recorded them and it was then played back in their ears while they were inside the scanner.
Martin: Ah, they heard themselves recounting their spiritual experience.
Miller: It was tailor made to their own moment.
Martin: And you saw their brains light up?
Miller: Oh yes. Connecting to these memories, the bonding network comes up online just as when we were held in the arms of our parents or grandparents.
Martin: Wait, when you say the bonding network you mean you can literally see that the brain will respond to spiritual stimuli in the same way that it does to a hug from a family member when you're a baby?
Miller: Precisely.
Martin: Can you tell me how this manifests in the real world? I'm thinking about this anecdote you include in the book about a client of yours. A girl you refer to as Iliana.
Miller: Iliana adored her father, I mean, he was the sun and the moon and the stars to her. They were so close. And one night two men who her father knew, came into his corner store, robbed him and murdered him. And she was devastated. This was a grief that was so deep. She simply could not free herself from the grief that was shackling her heart.
One day, Iliana skips into my office. There's a levity and joy. She plops into the seat and says, "Dr. Miller, you're never gonna believe this. My cousin and my cousin's girlfriend chaperoned me so I could go to a party and I met the most wonderful boy. We talked so long, it must have been 20 minutes. He was so polite and so kind. But here's the best part, his name." Which was the same very usual name as her father.
She said, "Don't you see? My father sent him. My father is looking out after me." And from that day on she was in the world of the living. What changed everything for Iliana was the awareness that her father walked with her. She maintained a deep transcendent relationship with her father, as most people around the world do.
Iliana trusted her deep inner knowing that this was far too probabilistic to have happened by chance. That this very rare name held both by this new boy and her father could possibly mean nothing.
Martin: Can I ask, what are you thinking as you hear this? I mean, are you thinking that is just a crazy coincidence, but if she needs to believe that this is a sign from God, who am I to tell her otherwise? Because it seems to be working.
Miller: Well, at the time, that was certainly the most common interpretive framework amongst psychologists and psychiatrists. But I could see plain as day that this was a tremendously sacred moment. This was a living miracle. This was a gift.
For me to have treated it like some kind of cultural diversity variable or that it's just the meaning she makes would've actually taken all of the energy and spirit out of that transformative awakening moment. I joined her.
Now I did that authentically because it was my view as well that this is far too nonprobabilistic to have happened by chance, that there are very few people by that very same name and that the first boy she met in a year and a half since her father's passing should have the name of the father. It was a synchronicity. There was a deeper meaning being revealed.
Martin: When you're talking to people who aren't scientists, someone who's skeptical, someone who doesn't have faith, who doesn't have what they define as a spiritual life, what do you want them to take away from your research and your message?
Miller: I've given a number of talks to audiences who, prior to seeing the science, would not necessarily consider themselves spiritual people. And, in fact, I oftentimes hear from people who consider themselves skeptics and very left-brained and when they see the peer reviewed science that says we're naturally spiritual beings, that when we cultivate our spirituality we're 80% less likely to be addicted, 82% less likely to take our lives, it speaks to the left side of their brains long enough that it quiets down the skepticism.
In other words, three cheers for the skeptic. Here is published, peer reviewed science for skeptical audiences to begin to explore, to be curious about our spiritual nature. You know, at the inner table of human knowing we all have an empiricist, a logician, an intuitive, a mystic, and a skeptic. And the skeptic is very welcome, but the skeptic is not the bouncer at the door.
It is not scientific to put a skeptic as a bouncer at the door. It is not more rigorous to toss out an idea before being examined in every way. We are wired to be able to investigate. So I simply say to the biggest skeptic of all, you are most welcome to your own inner table of inquiry, but be sure to invite everyone else.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.kvpr.org/npr-news/2023-07-30/this-ivy-league-researcher-says-spirituality-is-good-for-our-mental-health | 2023-07-30T12:37:09 | 0 | https://www.kvpr.org/npr-news/2023-07-30/this-ivy-league-researcher-says-spirituality-is-good-for-our-mental-health |
Johnny Manziel's story a tragedy in three acts
Just when Cleveland Browns fans were enjoying a spark of hope about the upcoming season and celebrating Joe Thomas' induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, along comes Netflix with a special about Johnny Manziel, the team's 2014 draft bust who made more news for his antics than his accuracy.
Rarely has such an opportunity been so spectacularly squandered.
Instead of being in the prime of his NFL career, Manziel, 31, has become a byword for what happens when a person blows through the guardrails.
It's a toxic tale of privilege, immaturity, fame, money, substance abuse, domestic violence and more second chances than a time traveler.
It's the story of what can happen when a person's worst instincts are indulged because the talent they possess is deemed worth the risk.
Not a stint in rehab, not arrests for domestic violence, not NFL fines, not losing two agents was enough to keep Manziel focused on Job One.
Now, Manziel isn't even remotely the first NFL player to blow a million-to-one chance to star in America's favorite game. Two weeks ago, Browns linebacker Perrion Winfrey joined the list of players jettisoned by a team that no longer has to put up with a player's antics out of sheer desperation.
No NFL team's roster, past or present, has been a roll call of virtue. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell probably still wakes up screaming at the mention of Ray Rice, Jovan Belcher, Antonio Brown and Henry Scruggs II.
Even nerdy Browns linebacker Myles Garrett was suspended indefinitely in 2019 after trying to behead a Pittsburgh Steeler with a helmet.
A quarterback's job
Everyone is fully aware that the Browns are rolling the dice on quarterback DeShaun Watson, whose past behavior was so tawdry, attending therapy is a term of his contract. But being a creep didn't preclude the other 31 teams from making Watson an offer; the Browns just happened to offer the biggest bag of guaranteed cash.
An NFL quarterback doesn't just throw a football. By nature of his position, he is the face of his franchise.
He guides the young players and respects the veterans.
He is supposed to be the team's go-to, not a whatever-happens-in-Vegas wingman.
But Manziel wasn't remotely interested being a fisher of men. For example, the Browns' former troubled wide receiver Josh Gordon may still hold the league record for time on suspension, but instead of working to steer Gordon away from temptation, Manziel made Gordon his plus-one, and the two partied like it was 1999.
However, let's not kid ourselves. We love train-wreck stories. It isn't news if a train doesn't jump the track. There isn't much call for documentaries on players who have done everything right unless they possess extraordinary talent, like LeBron James or a Michael Jordan.
No one is clamoring for a Netflix documentary on retired NFL star Warwick Dunn, whose charity has built 100 homes in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, Joe Thomas, one of the best Cleveland Browns to ever play the game.
An American Icarus
From to Manziel to Hunter Biden, we may say we're disgusted but we're also fascinated by people who not only color outside the lines, but ask: "Lines? What lines?"
An American Icarus, Manziel was a train wreck even before he reached the NFL, which is why we must suppose Netflix deemed his story a ratings-grabber.
His timeline of troubles lasted longer than the average NFL career, going back to 2012 at Texas A&M, where he became the first freshman in history to win the Heisman Trophy. It's also the same year he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and was caught with a fake driver's license following the fight.
College Station, Texas, was Manziel's kingdom, and really, who was going to tell the king to knock it off?
Part of the first generation of NFL stars to grow up under social media, Manziel's every escapade, including his now-infamous "money" sign, was fodder for viral videos. His father openly worried that unless his son got help, he probably wouldn't live to reach 24.
In 2018, Manziel revealed that he has bipolar disorder, and that he was abusing alcohol to deal with his illness. It helps to explain a lot, but it's not a get-out-of-trouble card. An estimated 5 million Americans suffer from bipolar disorder, and most have managed not to make headlines.
The NFL deserves credit for addressing the issue of mental health, but it's also a billion-dollar business, heavily dependent on image and the goodwill of fans who are willing to attend games, buy jerseys, and purchase the products advertised. A stigma remains in our culture and among too many fans who still equate mental illness with weakness, particularly if it preempts a game roster.
Manziel has washed out of the league. It's probably the best thing that ever happened to him.
Mental illness and sports:Sometimes, supermen crash to earth
Charita M. Goshay is a Canton Repository staff writer and member of the editorial board. Reach her at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @cgoshayREP | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/opinion/columns/2023/07/30/netflix-special-about-johnny-manziel-recounts-his-wild-life/70419601007/ | 2023-07-30T12:37:13 | 0 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/opinion/columns/2023/07/30/netflix-special-about-johnny-manziel-recounts-his-wild-life/70419601007/ |
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.wjhl.com/news/national/ap-do-you-believe-in-angels-about-7-in-10-u-s-adults-do-a-new-ap-norc-poll-shows/ | 2023-07-30T12:37:15 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/ap-do-you-believe-in-angels-about-7-in-10-u-s-adults-do-a-new-ap-norc-poll-shows/ |
Russian authorities say three Ukrainian drones attacked Moscow in the early hours on Sunday, injuring one person and prompting a temporary closure for traffic of one of four airports around the Russian capital.
It was the fourth such attempt at a strike on the capital region this month and the third this week, fueling concerns about Moscow's vulnerability to attacks as Russia's war in Ukraine drags into its 18th month.
The Russian Defense Ministry referred to the incident as an "attempted terrorist attack by the Kyiv regime" and said three drones targeted the city. One was shot down in the surrounding Moscow region by air defense systems and two others were jammed. Those two crashed into the Moscow City business district in the capital.
Photos from the site of the crash showed the facade of a skyscraper damaged on one floor. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the attack "insignificantly damaged" the outsides of two buildings in the Moscow City district. A security guard was injured, Russia's state news agency Tass reported, citing emergency officials.
No flights went into or out of the Vnukovo airport on the southern outskirts of the city for about an hour, according to Tass, and the air space over Moscow and the outlying regions was temporarily closed for any aircraft. Those restrictions have since been lifted.
Moscow authorities have also closed a street for traffic near the site of the crash in the Moscow City area.
There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian officials, who rarely if ever take responsibility for attacks on Russian soil.
Russia's Defense Ministry reported shooting down a Ukrainian drone outside Moscow on Friday. Two more drones struck the Russian capital on Monday, one of them falling in the center of the city near the Defense Ministry's headquarters along the Moscow River about 3 kilometers (2 miles) from the Kremlin. The other drone hit an office building in southern Moscow, gutting several upper floors.
In another attack on July 4, the Russian military said four drones were downed by air defenses on the outskirts of Moscow and a fifth was jammed by electronic warfare means and forced down.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.kvpr.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-29/a-drone-attack-on-moscow-briefly-shut-one-of-its-airports-and-injured-one | 2023-07-30T12:37:16 | 0 | https://www.kvpr.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-29/a-drone-attack-on-moscow-briefly-shut-one-of-its-airports-and-injured-one |
Making the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week the 'Place to be'
Thousands of football fans already have made reservations in Las Vegas to attend Super Bowl LVIII next February, and we’re still a few days away from the start of the National Football League’s 2023 preseason.
And most will go to the Super Bowl whether their favorite team is playing for the title or has fallen out of contention by October.
Thousands of fans who couldn’t name a single horse or jockey entered in the Kentucky Derby until right before race day already have circled the 2024 date on their calendars and will attend Churchill Downs in person. In crazy hats.
It’s the same for auto racing at the Indy 500 or Daytona. Throw in March Madness and the College Football Playoff National Championship game as other examples.
Year after year, the same “fanatics” will show up at the same venues regardless of the teams or individuals involved.
Why?
Because these are events — spectacles — and the specifics of who or what team is playing takes on less importance than simply being in the place deemed “the place to be” on that particular weekend.
Creating that kind of atmosphere and memorable experience around Enshrinement Week has become a driving goal at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
In a couple of days, thousands of fans will descend on Stark County to celebrate the Class of 2023 — the most recent to be honored as the greatest in the game in the 60-year history of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Rondé Barber, Don Coryell, Chuck Howley, Joe Klecko, Ken Riley, Darrelle Revis, Joe Thomas, Zach Thomas, DeMarcus Ware and their families will receive a warm welcome from this community.
It sure won’t hurt attendance to see a “hometown working guy” like Joe Thomas among the enshrinees. Browns fans have awaited this week since Joe’s incredible consecutive snap streak — and his career — came to a disappointing end in 2017. And we thank the fans from Cleveland and Northeast Ohio who are coming to Canton to show their respect for him.
Ditto for fans from New York, Miami, Tampa, Cincinnati and Dallas heading into town.
We don’t take their enthusiasm for granted.
Likewise, however, our community cannot depend on the “who” or the teams represented in the enshrinement class (or playing in the Hall of Fame Game) as the differentiator between a good year and a great year.
All of us should want the hotels, restaurants, party venues and stands filled every year.
And that’s why myself, Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Denny Saunier and many others in our community continually are working to evolve Enshrinement Week into the midsummer “gotta be there” event for people from all over the country.
This year, L.A. creative artist Steve Connell and Nashville recording artist JT Hodges have been added to both the Enshrinees’ Gold Jacket Dinner and Enshrinement programs to add more layers of entertainment and memories. In JT’s case, he also will anchor a new event: Rock the Lot, a free opportunity for fans to stay on the Hall’s campus Saturday for music and a classic car show.
We’re confident the visiting fans attending events this week will experience “wow” moments, and when they leave Canton to return home will say, “We’ve gotta do that again next year.”
Of course, none of these aspirations for the future of Enshrinement Week would be possible without a huge and committed corps of volunteers. Thank you for your dedication. So many of YOU come back year after year!
And a special thank you from me to Denny Saunier, a longtime friend who is stepping down at the chamber at the end of the year. He has made Canton his home for decades and has made building up Enshrinement Week a passion project.
Together, as a community, we can make Enshrinement Week so special that we’ll see not only past Hall of Famers returning year after year, but also many of the same fans.
Jim Porter is president of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. By his count, he is approaching 50 enshrinements attended in his lifetime. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/opinion/columns/guest/2023/07/30/jim-porter-making-pro-football-hall-of-fame-enshrinement-week-the-place-to-be/70464816007/ | 2023-07-30T12:37:19 | 1 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/opinion/columns/guest/2023/07/30/jim-porter-making-pro-football-hall-of-fame-enshrinement-week-the-place-to-be/70464816007/ |
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 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.
“After receiving the flag today, I earnestly felt that the war like that should never be fought again and that I do not wish anyone else to go through this sadness (of separation),” Toshihiro Mutsuda said.
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,” he 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.wjhl.com/news/national/ap-its-a-miracle-say-family-of-japanese-soldier-killed-in-wwii-as-flag-he-carried-returns-from-us/ | 2023-07-30T12:37:21 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/ap-its-a-miracle-say-family-of-japanese-soldier-killed-in-wwii-as-flag-he-carried-returns-from-us/ |
Top 10 Canton-area quarterbacks to watch in the 2023 high school football season
The quarterback position is deep, talented and very, very experienced in Stark County-area high school football.
There are a variety of guys entering their third year as starting varsity QBs, and a fourth-year guy in Canton South's Poochie Snyder, who has the county's all-time passing records in his crosshairs.
CantonRep.com will look at the top players in the Canton/Massillon area position by position in the coming weeks leading up to the start of the 2023 regular season. We begin here with what very well may be the toughest position in team sports, the quarterback spot.
Chase Badger, Northwest, junior
Badger could be in line for a big year in his second season as a varsity starting QB. He performed well as a sophomore, completing 61.9% of his passes for 1,778 yards, 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions while helping Northwest win a piece of the PAC-7 championship. His head coach, John DeMarco, is known for getting the most out of his passers.
Carson Colucci, Fairless, senior
Surrounded by talented playmakers through his career, the 6-foot-2 Colucci will now truly drive the Falcons offense as an experienced senior leader. He passed for 2,536 yards, 29 touchdowns and eight interceptions last year, completing 69.4% of his attempts. The third-team All-Ohioan ran for another 463 yards and seven TDs as Fairless won a share of its second straight PAC-7 championship.
Carson Dyrlund, North Canton Hoover, senior
One of the best dual-threat QBs in the area, Dyrlund threw for 1,727 yards (with a 60.3 completion percentage and only two interceptions) and ran for another 795 at 5.4 a clip as a junior. The second-team All-Ohioan accounted for 24 total touchdowns in making a tremendous leap from his sophomore season, when the 6-foot-2 athlete was thrown into the fire because of injury.
Cale Jarvis, Lake, senior
After starting as a sophomore, Jarvis split snaps last year with eventual Federal League Player of the Year Will Butler. He still managed to throw for 1,275 yards, 14 touchdowns and six interceptions, completing 61.2% of his attempts and averaging 18.0 yards a completion. Jarvis helped Lake to its first Federal League title in 24 years and its first regional final appearance in 12 years.
Nick Petro, Sandy Valley, senior
A Repository All-Stark County first teamer this past spring in baseball, the talented Petro missed four football games in the fall because of an injury. He still managed to throw for 1,013 yards, eight touchdowns and no interceptions. The Cardinals expect a monster season from a healthy Petro in 2023.
Keaton Rode, Canton McKinley, senior
The experienced Rode, entering his third year of starting QB experience for the Bulldogs, is a smart leader with some tantalizing weapons to target. He threw for 1,762 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions last year as he helped McKinley to a share of the Federal League title. He added 317 yards and three TDs on the ground.
Jalen Slaughter, Massillon, junior
The lefty, who could be pushed by Copley transfer DaOne Owens, slings one of the best deep balls in the area. He passed for 2,043 yards and 24 touchdowns last year, his second as Massillon's starter, as the Tigers advanced to a state semifinal. He completed 54.7% of his passes and was picked off nine times. With playmakers such as Willtrell Hartson and Ardell Banks graduated, it will interesting how much of the offense's identity revolves around Slaughter.
Jack "Poochie" Snyder, Canton South, senior
It will be fun to see what Snyder has in store for his senior season. All he did as a junior was account for a combined 4,723 yards and 56 TDs throwing and running, leading South to its first league title in 59 years. The Division IV first-team All-Ohioan, a rare 3,000-yard passer/1,000-yard rusher, already is South's all-time leading passer. He committed to Sacred Heart, an FCS program, on Saturday
Jared Witherow, Malvern, junior
Witherow is a small-school QB with a big arm. The 6-foot-4 Witherow, a Division VI third-team All-Ohioan passed for 2,238 yards and 24 TDs in helping the Hornets to an 8-3 record last season, which included a school-record 350 yards against Strasburg. He completed 61.9% of his passes and was intercepted 18 times. He added another 563 yards and seven TDs on the ground.
Brendan Zurbrugg, Alliance, senior
One of the most heavily recruited Stark County QBs in recent years, Zurbrugg does it all. The 6-foot-4 athlete passed for 2,184 yards and 23 touchdowns last year, completing a ridiculous 76.2% of his attempts with five interceptions. He ran for 804 yards at 7.4 a carry and 11 TDs. The Division III second-team All-Ohioan also averaged a county-best 39.1 yards a punt and handled the placekicking duties for the Aviators.
Reach Josh at josh.weir@cantonrep.com
On Twitter: @jweirREP | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/sports/high-school/fridaynightohio/2023/07/30/high-school-football-quarterbacks-stark-county-canton-massillon-brendan-zurbrugg-poochie-snyder/70482118007/ | 2023-07-30T12:37:25 | 1 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/sports/high-school/fridaynightohio/2023/07/30/high-school-football-quarterbacks-stark-county-canton-massillon-brendan-zurbrugg-poochie-snyder/70482118007/ |
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas is temporarily blocked from enforcing a law that would have allowed criminal charges against librarians and booksellers for providing “harmful” materials to minors, a federal judge ruled Saturday.
U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks issued a preliminary injunction against the law, which also would have created a new process to challenge library materials and request that they be relocated to areas not accessible by kids. The measure, signed by Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders earlier this year, was set to take effect Aug. 1.
A coalition that included the Central Arkansas Library System in Little Rock had challenged the law, saying fear of prosecution under the measure could prompt libraries and booksellers to no longer carry titles that could be challenged.
The judge also rejected a motion by the defendants, which include prosecuting attorneys for the state, seeking to dismiss the case.
The ACLU of Arkansas, which represents some of the plaintiffs, applauded the court’s ruling, saying that the absence of a preliminary injunction would have jeopardized First Amendment rights.
“The question we had to ask was — do Arkansans still legally have access to reading materials? Luckily, the judicial system has once again defended our highly valued liberties,” Holly Dickson, the executive director of the ACLU in Arkansas, said in a statement.
The lawsuit comes as lawmakers in an increasing number of conservative states are pushing for measures making it easier to ban or restrict access to books. The number of attempts to ban or restrict books across the U.S. last year was the highest in the 20 years the American Library Association has been tracking such efforts.
Laws restricting access to certain materials or making it easier to challenge them have been enacted in several other states, including Iowa, Indiana and Texas.
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin said in an email Saturday that his office would be “reviewing the judge’s opinion and will continue to vigorously defend the law.”
The executive director of Central Arkansas Library System, Nate Coulter, said the judge’s 49-page decision recognized the law as censorship, a violation of the Constitution and wrongly maligning librarians.
“As folks in southwest Arkansas say, this order is stout as horseradish!” he said in an email.
“I’m relieved that for now the dark cloud that was hanging over CALS’ librarians has lifted,” he added.
Cheryl Davis, general counsel for the Authors Guild, said the organization is “thrilled” about the decision. She said enforcing this law “is likely to limit the free speech rights of older minors, who are capable of reading and processing more complex reading materials than young children can.”
The Arkansas lawsuit names the state’s 28 local prosecutors as defendants, along with Crawford County in west Arkansas. A separate lawsuit is challenging the Crawford County library’s decision to move children’s books that included LGBTQ+ themes to a separate portion of the library.
The plaintiffs challenging Arkansas’ restrictions also include the Fayetteville and Eureka Springs Carnegie public libraries, the American Booksellers Association and the Association of American Publishers. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/ap-judge-blocks-arkansas-law-allowing-librarians-to-be-criminally-charged-over-harmful-materials/ | 2023-07-30T12:37:28 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/ap-judge-blocks-arkansas-law-allowing-librarians-to-be-criminally-charged-over-harmful-materials/ |
The House Republicans who craft the conference’s government funding bills are showing signs of frustration as hard-line conservatives pressure leadership for further cuts to spending that some worry could be too aggressive.
Some of the 12 Appropriations subcommittee chairs — the so-called cardinals — told reporters that they are struggling to see where those additional cuts could come from, as September’s shutdown deadline looms.
“I just don’t see the wisdom in trying to further cut to strengthen our hand. I don’t know how that strengthens our hand,” Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.), a House Appropriations subcommittee chairman, said of conservatives’ push to further cut the already-scaled-back spending bills.
“I do think it puts some of our members in a very difficult spot, particularly those in tough districts, because they’re going to be taking some votes that become problematic,” he added.
The House left Washington for a long summer recess Thursday after being forced to punt a bill to fund agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration.
Conservatives are dug in on their demand for steeper spending cuts, to the chagrin of moderates who are wary of slashing funding even more. The chamber has passed just one appropriations bill, funding military construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The internal divisions are gripping the party as time is running out: The House has just 12 days in September to move the remaining 11 appropriations measures and hash out their disagreements with the Senate, which is marking up its spending bills at higher levels, setting the scene for a hectic fall that could bring the U.S. to the brink of a shutdown.
Those dynamics are putting GOP appropriators in a bind, leaving them searching for ways to appease conservative requests without gutting their spending bills.
“We’ve done a lot of cuts, a lot of cuts,” House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-Texas) told The Hill this week. “And so if it’s cuts just for cut’s sake, I don’t agree with it. But if it’s something that we can do without, that’s fine.”
‘Not a lot of wiggle room left’
Republican appropriators in the House announced earlier this year that they would mark up their bills for fiscal 2024 at fiscal 2022 levels, as leaders sought to placate conservatives who thought the debt ceiling deal struck by President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) earlier this year didn’t do enough to curb spending.
The Senate is crafting its bills more in line with the budget caps agreed to in the deal, but House Republicans are already fuming about a bipartisan deal in the upper chamber that would allow for more than $13 billion in additional emergency spending on top of those levels.
House GOP negotiators also said they would pursue clawing back more than $100 billion in old funding that was allocated for Democratic priorities without GOP support in the previous Congress.
While that move drew support from hard-line conservatives, the right flank was far from pleased when it heard appropriators planned to repurpose that old funding — known as rescissions — to plus-up the spending bills.
In a letter to McCarthy earlier this month, a group of hard-line conservatives called for all 12 appropriations bills to be in line with fiscal 2022 spending levels “without the use of reallocated rescissions to increase discretionary spending above that top-line.”
Otherwise, the 21 lawmakers threatened, they would vote against the measures. But that request could prove difficult for GOP appropriators to fulfill.
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), chairman of the panel that proposes funding for the Department of State and foreign operations, said that appropriators are already “dramatically reducing spending,” suggesting that there are not too many remaining areas to trim from.
“My bill is below the 2016 levels,” he said, later adding, “When you’re below the 2016 level — and we’re still confronting China — I think there’s not a lot of wiggle room left.”
“It’s a challenge, but I think we’ll get through it. I really do,” he added.
Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), who heads the subcommittee that oversees funding for the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Interior, scoffed at the idea of even steeper cuts to his bill.
“Then you just drop it on the floor and stomp on it. What else do you do with it?” he told reporters. “You can’t make logical cuts in there.”
Republicans appropriators are voicing optimism that the conference will be able to sort out its differences on spending, but some also hope their levels will stick — even though they include rescissions.
Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.) — whose panel handles funding for the Department of Energy, which is proposing offsetting billions of dollars in spending with clawbacks — said it would be “extremely difficult” to craft his bill without the rescinded funds.
“And given our priorities in my bill, national defense with the nuclear weapons portfolio, nuclear cleanup, Army Corps including, all the community-directed fundings, I feel good about my bill, and I hope my numbers hold,” he said.
“Because it’s gonna have to be in negotiations with the Senate and the White House as well,” he added.
Womack — whose subcommittee crafts funding for the IRS and the Treasury Department — said he doesn’t think “moving the goalposts on these numbers is helpful in strengthening our ability to negotiate with the Senate.”
August preparations for a busy September
Frustrations among appropriators are bubbling up as Congress inches closer to the fall, when lawmakers are facing a Sept. 30 deadline to approve funding or risk a government shutdown.
With time running out, some House lawmakers say conversations may continue over the long August recess to try to hash out remaining differences.
“We’ll have to see,” Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) said when asked about potential plans for talks between leaders and House Freedom Caucus members over the break. “I mean, we got a lot of work to do.”
“I think a lot of work [has] got to be done behind the scenes,” he said. “If not, you know, here — You gotta beg the question about whether we should be gone for six weeks. We should be getting our job done.”
Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) echoed that sentiment, saying “I would think so” when asked if lawmakers will have conversations over the break.
Adding to the August workload, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) suggested earlier this week that bicameral negotiations could take place over the weeks-long recess as lawmakers stare down the shutdown deadline.
Not all Republicans, however, are viewing a shutdown as a risk.
During a House Freedom Caucus press conference this week, Good said “we should not fear a government shutdown,” claiming that “most of what we do up here is bad anyway; most of what we do up here hurts the American people.”
But that perspective does not jive with the view of McCarthy, who declared Thursday: “I don’t want the government to shut down.”
Multiple Republicans are ultimately expecting Congress to eventually pass what’s known as a continuing resolution (CR), or a measure that temporarily allows the government to be funded at the previous fiscal year’s levels, to prevent a lapse at the end of September.
But they also understand the task could be difficult in the GOP-led chamber, where Republicans aren’t happy about the idea of continuing funding at the current levels — which were last set when Democrats held control of Congress.
“I think there’s a very good chance that we’ll see a CR, but I know there’s a lot of work to get a CR done,” Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.), another appropriator, said Thursday, noting there are “a lot of members that don’t want CRs that are tired of them.”
But Aderholt suggested a CR could notch sufficient GOP backing if there’s a larger plan in sight that the party can support.
“The Speaker’s been very good about having a plan,” he said, adding, “I think that’s what he’s good at, and I’m optimistic that he can come up with something.”
Emily Brooks contributed. | https://www.pahomepage.com/hill-politics/frustration-emerges-among-gop-spending-cardinals-as-conservatives-push-for-cuts/ | 2023-07-30T12:37:33 | 0 | https://www.pahomepage.com/hill-politics/frustration-emerges-among-gop-spending-cardinals-as-conservatives-push-for-cuts/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Trader Joe’s is recalling a broccoli cheddar soup that may contain insects and cooked falafel that may contain rocks, about one week after the grocery chain recalled two cookie products over similar concerns.
The soup recall impacts Trader Joe’s Unexpected Broccoli Cheddar Soup with “Use By” dates ranging from July 18 to Sept. 15, according to a Thursday announcement from the company. On Friday, the grocer announced that Trader Joe’s Fully Cooked Falafel sold in 35 states and Washington, D.C., was also under recall.
On July 21, Trader Joe’s announced that it was recalling Trader Joe’s Almond Windmill Cookies and Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies with “sell by” dates ranging from Oct. 17 to Oct. 21. Like the falafel, the cookies may also contain rocks, the company said.
When asked for further information about how the insects and rocks may have gotten into these products, a Trader Joe’s spokesperson said that “there was an issue in the manufacturing processes in the facilities.” Suppliers alerted Trader Joe’s of the possible foreign material for each recall, the company said.
“We pulled the product from our shelves as soon as we were made aware of the issue. Once we understood the issue we notified our customers,” the spokesperson said in a statement sent to The Associated Press Saturday.
All of the recalled cookies, soup and falafel have been removed from sale or destroyed, Trader Joe’s said in its announcements. But the Monrovia, California-based company is still urging consumers to check their kitchens for the products.
Trader Joe’s says customers who have the recalled products should throw them away or return them to any store for a full refund. Lot codes and further details about the products under recall, as well as customer service contact information, can be found on the company’s website.
Trader Joe’s did not specify how many products were impacted with each recall or identify suppliers. But one Food and Drug Administration notice cited by NBC News says that the Unexpected Broccoli Cheddar Soup recall impacts around 10,889 cases sold in seven states. Winter Gardens Quality Foods, Inc. is identified as the recalling firm, per the notice.
No formal releases about the three recalls were published on the FDA’s Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts page as of Saturday. The Associated Press reached out to the FDA and Winter Gardens Quality Foods for information on Saturday.
“We have a close relationship with our vendors and they alerted us of these issues. We don’t hesitate or wait for regulatory agencies to tell us what to do,” the Trader Joe’s spokesperson said. “We will never leave to chance the safety of the products we offer.” | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/ap-more-trader-joes-recalls-this-soup-may-contain-bugs-and-falafel-may-have-rocks-grocer-says/ | 2023-07-30T12:37:34 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/ap-more-trader-joes-recalls-this-soup-may-contain-bugs-and-falafel-may-have-rocks-grocer-says/ |
The argument taking place in Boulder between those in favor of development and those against it tends to be spoken of in black-and-white terms. Development, in general, is either good or bad. A given project will either be a solution to our housing crisis or bring more people to our already overcrowded city and line the pockets of developers. You are either for it or against it.
The reality, of course, is far more nuanced. Different projects have different drawbacks and benefits. Some really are great strides in bolstering our housing stock with affordable options, while others are just cash cows for out-of-state venture capital funds.
Our conversations, though, often feel reductive and predicated on an either/or situation. Pro-development versus anti-development.
This brings us to the commotion over the future of the Millennium Harvest House hotel and a proposal to redevelop the lot into CU student housing.
After three years of planning and roughly eight hours of debate spread over two Planning Board meetings, board members remain at an impasse about whether or not to approve the project and recommend it to the City Council.
Many of the concerns that have held up the project are legitimate, and a robust debate of such plans should always be conducted. But elements of the contentious discussions that took place felt like a microcosm of the flawed binary approach to development in our city: pro versus anti.
To be clear, it is not a perfect project, and there are several elements that should be reconsidered. But the big picture is that Boulder needs more housing — and this is more housing.
First things first, our broken-record refrain: Boulder is facing a housing crisis. Not only do we lack affordable housing, but we also lack stock to meet the demand of our workforce. We lack middle-income housing and starter homes for young people looking to start a family. (On the other hand, we do have plenty of million-dollar-plus homes.)
The proposal for three four-story buildings containing 303 student-housing rental apartments — a mix of studio, one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom units — would create 944 new bedrooms in our city.
These bedrooms would be for CU students, but adding nearly 1,000 new bedrooms should help remove pressure from the housing stock elsewhere in the city. If 1,000 students who live on The Hill or in Martin Acres can move into this new development, that can free up hundreds of units for nonstudents.
The counterargument is that if CU keeps growing — as many fear it is striving to do — this new housing will only serve as an excuse to accelerate that growth. But CU has not been growing. In fact, the school expects to see enrollment decline by about 0.7% next academic year.
And while it is true that we did approve more student housing at CU South last year, that project is years away from delivering any new bedrooms. The redevelopment of the Millennium is a ways off, too — assuming it gets approved — but undoubtedly closer than CU South.
Another argument against the redevelopment centers on retaining the character of Boulder. At one point, the Millennium Harvest House certainly had character and contributed to some of our city’s beauty. But those years are clearly behind us. The hotel’s charm has been stripped away with numerous remodels, and its Tripadvisor page shows a hotel on the decline.
No one wants to see a bulldozer wantonly demolish our city to make way for new housing and development. But being realistic about what is worth preserving and where and how we can best use our limited space to meet our housing demands should be one of our central priorities. If a better proposal for what to do with this space exists, we haven’t seen it.
Two other sticking points in the proposal discussions are typically Boulder: height and parking.
The three four-story buildings would top out around 53 feet, but the area is only zoned for three-story buildings at a max height of 35 feet, thus the project would require a height waiver. Keeping towering skyscrapers out of Boulder has been a great forward-thinking move to help keep our majestic views equitable. Here, though, we must acknowledge that the Millennium hotel is already five stories tall — a full story taller than the buildings that would replace it.
The project is also seeking a parking waiver. The developer, Landmark Properties Inc., a Georgia-based builder specializing in student housing, has requested a “52.2% vehicle parking reduction to allow for 348 parking spaces where 728 are required.”
The fear is that such a reduction in parking would force students to park along already-overcrowded neighborhood streets. That is a legitimate concern. But at some point, we have to recognize that the future of our city cannot be constructed to revolve around cars. If we truly are a forward-thinking, climate-conscious community, we have to begin imagining Boulder to be a place with fewer cars.
That will require real work to better incentivize the use of public transit, biking and walking. To do that, Landmark has proposed allotting “$75 per year to be paid to residents without cars to be used for transportation alternatives, such as ride shares and free Eco Passes.”
It is also worth noting that the Millennium property is CU adjacent. Putting students right next to campus means they won’t need cars to get to class.
These points aside, there are real issues with the proposed project.
First and foremost is the intent of the developer to pay cash in lieu of including affordable housing. In Landmark’s case that would be about $20 million for Boulder’s affordable-housing coffers.
Cash payments to avoid including affordable housing is certainly better than nothing. But it is also an easy and profitable out for developers. Twenty million dollars will go a long way for the city, but 75 units of affordable housing might have done more for our community.
This issue, though, has less to do with this particular development and more to do with the city’s policy. If we are serious about affordable housing, we can’t let developers off the hook. There is a reason why so many choose cash in lieu — in the long run, it is cheaper for them, which invariably means it is more expensive for the city.
Finally, the concerns of the Rocky Mountain Tennis Center are worth taking into consideration. The tennis center’s courts and bubble are on the property and are slated for redevelopment. Ensuring that these amenities will live on somewhere in our community should be required in the proposal — especially considering the fact that the other businesses located on the property will have their spaces preserved.
Like all large redevelopment proposals, the plans for the Millennium hotel property are complicated. And it is always heartening to see a robust debate about the merits of such a big project — especially one that will likely be a financial windfall for the developer. Still, the benefits of this proposal seem to outweigh the drawbacks — primarily the fact that 944 new bedrooms are 944 more than we have now.
What can’t and shouldn’t happen is for this project to get bogged down in a debate about the merits of development. Our city is facing a debilitating housing crisis. We can’t keep expecting workers and students to fight over inadequate stock and for those who are priced out to commute in from an L-town. The people who work here and study here and contribute to the character that makes Boulder so great deserve to live here, too.
— Gary Garrison for the Editorial Board | https://www.dailycamera.com/2023/07/30/editorial-millennium-hotel-redevelopment-can-alleviate-pressure-on-housing-supply/ | 2023-07-30T12:37:39 | 0 | https://www.dailycamera.com/2023/07/30/editorial-millennium-hotel-redevelopment-can-alleviate-pressure-on-housing-supply/ |
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.wjhl.com/news/national/ap-two-supermoons-in-august-mean-double-the-stargazing-fun/ | 2023-07-30T12:37:40 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/ap-two-supermoons-in-august-mean-double-the-stargazing-fun/ |
By Michael Wysession
Between the record-breaking global heat and extreme downpours, it’s hard to ignore that something unusual is going on with the weather in 2023.
People have been quick to blame climate change — and they’re right, to a point: Human-caused global warming does play the biggest role. A recent study determined that the weekslong heat wave in Texas and Mexico that started in June 2023 would have been virtually impossible without it.
However, the extremes this year are sharper than anthropogenic global warming alone would be expected to cause. Human activities that release greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere have been increasing temperatures gradually, at an average of 0.2 degrees Fahrenheit (0.1 Celsius) per decade.
Three additional natural factors are also helping drive up global temperatures and fuel disasters this year: El Niño, solar fluctuations and a massive underwater volcanic eruption.
Unfortunately, these factors are combining in a way that is exacerbating global warming. Still worse, we can expect unusually high temperatures to continue through at least 2025, which means even more extreme weather in the near future.
How El Niño is involved
El Niño is a climate phenomenon that occurs every few years when surface water in the tropical Pacific reverses direction and heats up. That warms the atmosphere above, which influences temperatures and weather patterns around the globe.
Essentially, the atmosphere borrows heat out of the Pacific, and global temperatures increase slightly. This happened in 2016, the time of the last strong El Niño. Global temperatures increased by about 0.25 F (0.14 C) on average, making 2016 the warmest year on record. A weak El Niño also occurred in 2019-2020, contributing to 2020 becoming the world’s second-warmest year.
El Niño’s opposite, La Niña, involves cooler-than-usual Pacific currents flowing westward, absorbing heat out of the atmosphere, which cools the globe. The world just came out of three straight years of La Niña, meaning we’re experiencing an even greater temperature swing.
Based on increasing Pacific sea surface temperatures in mid-2023, climate modeling now suggests a 90% chance that Earth is headed toward its first strong El Niño since 2016.
Combined with the steady human-induced warming, Earth may soon again be breaking its annual temperature records. June 2023 was the hottest in modern record. July saw global records for the hottest days and a large number of regional records, including an incomprehensible heat index of 152 F (67 C) in Iran.
Solar fluctuations
The Sun may seem to shine at a constant rate, but it is a seething, churning ball of plasma whose radiating energy changes over many different time scales.
The Sun is slowly heating up and in half a billion years will boil away Earth’s oceans. On human time scales, however, the Sun’s energy output varies only slightly, about 1 part in 1,000, over a repeating 11-year cycle. The peaks of this cycle are too small for us to notice at a daily level, but they affect Earth’s climate systems.
Rapid convection within our Sun both generates a strong magnetic field aligned with its spin axis and causes this field to fully flip and reverse every 11 years. This is what causes the 11-year cycle in emitted solar radiation.
Earth’s temperature increase during a solar maximum, compared with average solar output, is only about 0.09 F (0.05 C), roughly a third of a large El Niño. The opposite happens during a solar minimum. However, unlike the variable and unpredictable El Niño changes, the 11-year solar cycle is comparatively regular, consistent and predictable.
The last solar cycle hit its minimum in 2020, reducing the effect of the modest 2020 El Niño. The current solar cycle has already surpassed the peak of the relatively weak previous cycle (which was in 2014) and will peak in 2025, with the Sun’s energy output increasing until then.
A massive volcanic eruption
Volcanic eruptions can also significantly affect global climates. They usually do this by lowering global temperatures when erupted sulfate aerosols shield and block a portion of incoming sunlight — but not always.
In an unusual twist, the largest volcanic eruption of the 21st century so far, the 2022 eruption of Tonga’s Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai is having a warming and not cooling effect.
The eruption released an unusually small amount of cooling sulfate aerosols but an enormous amount of water vapor. The molten magma exploded underwater, vaporizing a huge volume of ocean water that erupted like a geyser high into the atmosphere.
Water vapor is a powerful greenhouse gas, and the eruption may end up warming Earth’s surface by about 0.06 F (0.035 C), according to one estimate. Unlike the cooling sulfate aerosols, which are actually tiny droplets of sulfuric acid that fall out of the atmosphere within one to two years, water vapor is a gas that can stay in the atmosphere for many years. The warming impact of the Tonga volcano is expected to last for at least five years.
Underlying it all: Global warming
All of this comes on top of anthropogenic, or human-caused, global warming.
Humans have raised global average temperatures by about 2 F (1.1 C) since 1900 by releasing large volumes of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. For example, humans have increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by 50%, primarily through combustion of fossil fuels in vehicles and power plants. The warming from greenhouse gases is actually greater than 2 F (1.1 C), but it has been masked by other human factors that have a cooling effect, such as air pollution.
If human impacts were the only factors, each successive year would set a new record as the hottest year ever, but that doesn’t happen. The year 2016 was the warmest so far, in large part because of the last large El Niño.
What does this mean for the future?
The next couple of years could be very rough.
If a strong El Niño develops over the next year, combined with the solar maximum and the effects of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption, Earth’s temperatures would likely soar to uncharted highs. According to climate modeling, this would likely mean even more heat waves, forest fires, flash floods and other extreme weather events.
Both weather and climate forecasts have become very reliable in recent years, benefiting from vast amounts of data from Earth-orbiting satellites and enormous supercomputing power for forecasting the flow and interactions of heat and water among the complex components of the ocean, land and atmosphere.
Unfortunately, climate modeling shows that as temperatures continue to increase, weather events get more extreme.
There is now a greater than 50% chance that Earth’s global temperature will reach 2.7 F (1.5 C) by the year 2028, at least temporarily, increasing the risk of triggering climate tipping points with even greater human impacts. Because of the unfortunate timing of several parts of the climate system, it seems that the odds are not in our favor.
Michael Wysession is a professor of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. | https://www.dailycamera.com/2023/07/30/guest-opinion-michael-wysession-4-factors-driving-2023s-extreme-heat-and-climate-disasters/ | 2023-07-30T12:37:45 | 1 | https://www.dailycamera.com/2023/07/30/guest-opinion-michael-wysession-4-factors-driving-2023s-extreme-heat-and-climate-disasters/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Former Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon of Missouri is joining No Labels ‘ increasingly contentious effort to lay the groundwork for a moderate third-party presidential ticket in the 2024 election. He gives the embattled organization another prominent ally amid escalating concerns from Democratic officials that the No Labels campaign could unintentionally help Republican Donald Trump return to the White House.
Nixon, a 67-year-old lawyer, is stepping back into national politics for the first time since leaving office in 2017 and will serve as No Labels’ director of ballot integrity. He said in an interview that he was drawn to the role after learning that well-funded groups aligned with Democrats were working to stop No Labels from securing ballot access in key states.
He said that those seeking to block the group’s right to appear on the presidential ballot are attacking a pillar of American democracy.
“What do I say to those Democrats? I say, ‘You’re entitled to your opinion. But we are also entitled to use our constitutional and statutory rights to allow Americans to have another choice,’” Nixon told The Associated Press.
President Joe Biden and Trump have dominated the 2024 campaign conversation so far. But No Labels, a Washington-based group that promotes compromise, national unity and centrist policy solutions, has been preparing for the strongest third-party presidential bid at least since Texas businessman Ross Perot earned nearly 19% of the popular vote in 1992.
Working with an operating budget of roughly $70 million, No Labels is taking steps to secure presidential ballot spots in roughly 20 states this year; the group has done so already in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Oregon and Utah.
While No Labels has yet to nominate candidates for president and vice president, its leadership insists there is a path to victory for a centrist third-party ticket “if the two parties select unreasonably divisive presidential nominees.”
The group’s critics across the Democratic Party are terrified that No Labels will siphon votes that would otherwise go to Biden, who narrowly beat Trump in 2020 with a coalition that included moderate Democrats, independents and disaffected Republicans.
No Labels’ leadership has promised a series of checks and balances that would allow the organization to withdraw its presidential ticket if it appears the group’s participation would help Trump win. No Labels has not outlined a detailed plan about that, and leaders acknowledge privately there is some urgency to come out with their specific safeguards, which would vary state by state. They intend to do so by “early fall.”
Anxious Democrats are unconvinced.
On Thursday, two prominent Democratic groups, the centrist Third Way and more progressive MoveOn, hosted private meetings on Capitol Hill with dozens of chiefs of staff and senior aides to House and Senate Democrats to emphasize the need to stop No Label’s presidential ambitions. In a nod to the seriousness of the Democratic establishment’s concerns, the meetings were held in both the House and Senate Democrats’ campaign headquarters.
“We told them what we have been saying consistently now for a long time: This is dangerous,” said Third Way co-founder Matt Bennett, who helped lead the briefing along with MoveOn’s executive director, Rahna Epting.
The organizers detailed data showing that a No Labels ticket would undercut Biden in the general election and warned that it could handicap vulnerable House and Senate candidates is tight elections. They also questioned that No Labels’ promise to withdraw its ticket if necessary to stop Trump.
No Labels’ leaders are furious.
“They are telling the elected leaders of this country right now that our ballot is a runaway train. And that is categorically false. That is propaganda. And that is why we’re bringing on a director of ballot integrity to stop it because it’s outrageous,” said No Labels’ founder Nancy Jacobson, a former Democratic fundraiser.
For now, Democrats are not willing to take Jacobson’s word for it.
“I don’t want to be doing this. I’d much rather focus on other things. I am concerned, genuinely,” Epting said. “They’re in over their head. They have not given any assurances that they’re clear and sober in their analysis. And when they talk about being able to put the horse back in the barn, they are not consistent about when or how they’re going to do that.”
“They’re just saying, ‘Trust us,’” Epting said. “We can’t. We don’t know you. And the stakes are too high.”
Meanwhile, Nixon joins a growing roster of former elected officials in both parties now affiliated with No Labels. Among the others: Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.; former Govs. Jon Huntsman Jr., R-Utah, Larry Hogan, R-Md., and Pat McCrory, R-N.C.; and former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, a Democrat who became an independent late in his political career.
Manchin and Huntsman, ambassador to China under President Barack Obama and to Russia under Trump, hosted a town hall in New Hampshire this month, driving speculation they may ultimately become the No Labels presidential ticket.
No Labels plans to hold a presidential nominating convention next April in Dallas, and the group is showing no signs of backing off its 2024 plans. With a massive budget fueled by anonymous donations, No Labels can afford to be patient in the fights ahead.
Democrats in Arizona filed a complaint this month with the secretary of state asking to have the group suspended until it discloses it donors. In May, Maine’s top elections official sent a cease-and-desist letter regarding No Labels voter registration efforts after claiming the group was misleading voters.
The group Citizens to Save Our Republic formed a super political action committee this month specifically designed to stop No Labels. The group’s members includes Bennett from Third Way, several advisers to the anti-Trump Lincoln Project and former House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt, D-Mo.
Nixon, who declined to criticize Biden or Trump, said he understands that he is walking into a political firestorm. But he said he is passionate about No Labels’ constitutional right to secure a place on the ballot.
“I feel calm. I feel correct. I think we have a high moral ground here,” he said. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/politics/ap-ex-missouri-gov-jay-nixon-joins-push-for-third-party-presidential-bid-as-democrats-try-to-stop-it/ | 2023-07-30T12:37:46 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/politics/ap-ex-missouri-gov-jay-nixon-joins-push-for-third-party-presidential-bid-as-democrats-try-to-stop-it/ |
Waylon Lewis: Politics: Boulder can’t seem to focus on solutions
There’s a reason Boulder isn’t Bold, anymore.
Boulder is stuck. But the world isn’t static, nor are our challenges. So we find ourselves behind — behind on solutions on all fronts. Behind on homeless solutions, behind on public safety, which are two sides of the same challenging coin. Behind on fire mitigation, behind on taking climate change seriously (seriously — we mostly still consider this an environmental issue when it will undermine our local economy — no one will sit on the patio at Jax on toxic smoke days, insurance companies are beginning to pull out of fire/drought-prone locales, and that will threaten our real estate and home values, not to mention … our daily lives). Boulder is behind, finally, on affordability, though we’ve made far more headway there than surrounding towns and cities, it’s far from enough. As I often say to friends, I’ve only been to three housewarmings here in town over the last years. Folks can’t afford to stay here, renting, let alone buying. Our schools are emptying out, our streets quiet with second homes, and too many families having moved off to our beloved surrounding “L” towns. Folks can’t afford to work here: I’ve never seen so many HELP WANTED signs.
We all know this. We all know the issues. But we don’t seem to be focused on solutions, because we’re too invested in hating on the opposition. Well, as someone who grew up in Boulder, who loves what we have been and can be, Boulder politics should not be treated like Bravo reality TV.
Waylon Lewis, Boulder
Eunice Wilkinson: Public safety: Firetrucks should be kept for fires
On being 85: Someday the firetruck will come for me. I won’t need it of course; it arrives with the ambulance for my short trip to the BCH emergency services. It will clog up the streets and disturb the neighborhood and embarrass me if I’m conscious. It will burn gas and contribute to the ozone problem for no good reason other than backup support for the ambulance crew. EMT, paramedic support? There are other ways of doing this; I’ve lived elsewhere. Given the wildfire risk in windy Boulder, I have the recommended overnight packed for sudden evacuation and I watch for OEM alerts. I’d be more comfortable if firetrucks were kept for fires.
Eunice Wilkinson, Boulder | https://www.dailycamera.com/2023/07/30/letters-to-the-editor-boulder-cant-seem-to-focus-on-solutions-firetrucks-are-for-fires/ | 2023-07-30T12:37:51 | 1 | https://www.dailycamera.com/2023/07/30/letters-to-the-editor-boulder-cant-seem-to-focus-on-solutions-firetrucks-are-for-fires/ |
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The oldest historically Black collegiate fraternity in the U.S. says it is relocating a planned convention in two years from Florida because of what it described as Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration’s “harmful, racist and insensitive” policies towards African Americans.
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity said this week that it would move its 2025 convention from Orlando to another location that is yet undecided. The convention draws between 4,000 and 6,000 people and has an economic impact of $4.6 million, the fraternity said.
The decision comes after the NAACP and other civil rights organizations this spring issued a travel advisory for Florida, warning that recently passed laws and policies are openly hostile to African Americans, people of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Willis Lonzer, the fraternity’s general president, said in statement on Wednesday that the decision was motivated in part by Florida’s new education standards that require teachers to instruct middle school students that slaves developed skills that “could be applied for their personal benefit.”
“Although we are moving our convention from Florida, Alpha Phi Alpha will continue to support the strong advocacy of Alpha Brothers and other advocates fighting against the continued assault on our communities in Florida by Governor Ron DeSantis,” Lonzer said.
An email seeking comment on Saturday about the fraternity’s decision was sent to Jeremy Redfern, the governor’s press secretary and the governor’s office.
DeSantis, who is running for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, has come under fire this week over Florida’s new education standards. Among those criticizing the Florida governor on Friday was a rival for the Republican nomination, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the sole Black Republican in the Senate.
Responding to the criticism, DeSantis said Friday that he was “defending” Florida “against false accusations and against lies. And we’re going to continue to speak the truth.”
In May, the NAACP joined the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), a Latino civil rights organization, and Equality Florida, a gay rights advocacy group, in issuing travel advisories for the Sunshine State, where tourism is one of the state’s largest job sectors. The groups cited recent laws that prohibited state colleges from having programs on diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as critical race theory, and the Stop WOKE Act that restricts certain race-based conversations and analysis in schools and businesses.
They also cited laws that they say made life more difficult for immigrants in Florida and limited discussions on LGBTQ topics in schools.
At least nine other organizations or associations have pulled the plug on hosting conventions in Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, two of the state’s most population convention cities, because of Florida’s political climate, according to local media reports.
Florida is one of the most popular states in the U.S. for tourists, and tourism is one of its biggest industries. More than 137.5 million tourists visited Florida last year, marking a return to pre-pandemic levels, according to Visit Florida, the state’s tourism promotion agency. Tourism supports 1.6 million full-time and part-time jobs, and visitors spent $98.8 billion in Florida in 2019, the last year figures are available.
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Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at @MikeSchneiderAP | https://www.wjhl.com/news/politics/ap-historically-black-fraternity-drops-florida-for-convention-because-of-desantis-policies/ | 2023-07-30T12:37:53 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/politics/ap-historically-black-fraternity-drops-florida-for-convention-because-of-desantis-policies/ |
PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Not long ago, Marine Col. Jennifer Nash, a combat engineer with war deployments under her belt, made a vow to fellow officers as they headed to a dinner in Atlanta: She would get two new recruiting contacts by the end of the evening.
She admits recruiting is not the job that she or other Marines had in mind when they enlisted. But after stints as a recruiter and senior officer at the Eastern recruiting command, she has become emblematic of the Corps’ tradition of putting its best, battle-tested Marines on enlistment duty. They get results.
Marine leaders say they will make their recruiting goal this year, while the active-duty Army, Navy and Air Force all expect to fall short. The services have struggled in the tight job market to compete with higher-paying businesses for the dwindling number of young people who can meet the military’s physical, mental and moral standards.
On that night, Nash achieved her own goal. She had gotten the valet at the hotel and the hostess at the restaurant to provide their phone numbers and to consider a Marine career.
Nash’s boss, Brig. Gen. Walker Field, who head the Eastern recruiting region, says the Corps has historically put an emphasis on selecting top-performing Marines to fill recruiting jobs. He says that has been a key to the Marines’ recruiting success, along with efforts to increase the number of recruiters, extend those who do well and speed their return to high schools, where in-person recruiting stopped during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said his recruiters — who cover the territory between Canada and Puerto Rico and as far west as Mississippi — will meet their mission and expect to have 30% of their 2024 goal when they start the next fiscal year, Oct. 1. More broadly, Marine officials say they expect the Corps to achieve its recruiting target of more than 33,000.
Last year, the Navy, Air Force and Marines had to eat into their pools of delayed entry applicants in order to make their goals. The Marines will avoid that this year.
“That would be a great ending,” said Field, speaking to The Associated Press on a recent steamy day at South Carolina’s Parris Island, along the Atlantic Coast. “I’m bearish for not only concluding FY23 on a strong footing, but also how we set the conditions for FY24.”
The Marine Corps may get some help from its small size. The Army, for example, has a recruiting goal of 65,000 this year, which is nearly double the Corps’, and expects to fall substantially short of that. Air Force and Navy officials say they will also miss their goals, although the Space Force, which is the smallest service and does its recruiting within Air Force stations, is expected to meet its goal of about 500 recruits.
Sitting in the shadow of Parris Island’s replica of the Iwo Jima monument, Field said his biggest challenge is that a number of Marine hopefuls cannot pass the military’s academic test, known as the Armed Services Voluntary Aptitude Battery.
That is a widespread problem, but the Army recently set up a program that targets recruits who score below 30 on the test and provides schooling for several weeks to help them pass. Already more than 8,800 recruits have successfully gone through the classes, raised their scores and moved on to basic training.
The Navy is taking another route with a pilot program that allows up to 20% of their recruits to score below 30 on the test, as long as they meet specific standards for their chosen naval job. Marine leaders, however, do not take those lowest scoring recruits, and so far have no plans for any type of formal improvement program such as the Army’s.
Field said the Marines are repositioning recruiting stations, moving them around based on where population totals have increased in the latest census. More important, he said, the Corps maintains its focus on choosing the right recruiters, encouraging successful ones to stay in the job and increasing the number of Marine reservists tapped for recruit duties from the current 31 to 96 by the end of next year.
Nash, who until last month was assistant chief of staff for the Eastern region, said Marines are hand-selected for recruiting command jobs. Many three- and four-star Marines, including former Defense Secretary James Mattis, will cite their years doing enlistment duty.
“We put our best and brightest in those positions,” said Nash, adding that those chosen for recruiting posts have a proven track record of success in previous assignments and have demonstrated critical leadership skills. “That’s why they got selected, because they were above their peers.”
She acknowledged that the first time she was picked for a recruiting job she was “voluntold.” But now, recounting her sales pitch in Atlanta, her rapid fire pitch comes without taking a breath.
“I say, ‘Hey, ever thought about being Marine? We’re a bunch of Marines. And, you know, I think you potentially could be a good Marine. You ever thought about it?’ And usually you get, ‘Yeah, I thought about it.’ And I’m, like, ‘What’s holding you back? Would you like to learn more about your opportunities?’ ‘Absolutely.’ `OK. Mind giving me your name and phone number? I’ll have one of my recruiters give you a phone call.’”
The Marines have resisted increasing bonuses to attract recruits — something the other services have found helpful.
Gen. Eric Smith, the acting Marine Corps commandant, got some ribbing for his response when he was asked about bonuses during a naval conference in February.
“Your bonus is you get to call yourself a Marine,” he said. “That’s your bonus, right? There’s no dollar amount that goes with that.”
Field, Nash and others also say the Corps prefers to give a lot of recruits a few thousand dollars, rather than increasing the amount and giving money to far fewer people.
Field said that getting Marine recruiters in uniform back into high schools this year, after several years of COVID-19 restrictions, has been a key driver. There, young people line up to compete in pull-up contests, vying for a free T-shirt if they can do 20. And recruiters say many are drawn to the cache of being a Marine.
“If you told me you’ll give me $10 million worth of advertising and I can do something with it, or you’ll give me 10 great-looking Marines in a Marine uniform — what’s going to get the most value? Give me those 10 Marines and give me a day,” Nash said. “We’ll go out and we’ll get more out of that, I think, than $10 million in advertising.” | https://www.wjhl.com/news/politics/ap-the-few-and-the-proud-arent-so-few-marines-recruiting-surges-while-other-services-struggle/ | 2023-07-30T12:37:59 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/politics/ap-the-few-and-the-proud-arent-so-few-marines-recruiting-surges-while-other-services-struggle/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — At a moment of growing legal peril, Donald Trump ramped up his calls for his GOP rivals to drop out of the 2024 presidential race as he threatened to primary Republican members of Congress who fail to focus on investigating Democratic President Joe Biden and urged them to halt Ukrainian military aid until the White House cooperates with their investigations into Biden and his family.
“Every dollar spent attacking me by Republicans is a dollar given straight to the Biden campaign,” Trump said at a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Saturday night. The former president and GOP frontrunner said it was time for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and others he dismissed as “clowns” to clear the field, accusing them of “wasting hundreds of millions of dollars that Republicans should be using to build a massive vote-gathering operation” to take on Biden in November.
The comments came two days after federal prosecutors unveiled new criminal charges against Trump as part of the case that accuses him of illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago club and refusing to turn them over to investigators. The superseding indictment unsealed Thursday alleges that Trump and two staffers sought to delete surveillance at the club in an effort to obstruct the Justice Department’s investigation.
The case is just one of Trump’s mounting legal challenges. His team is currently bracing for additional possible indictments, which could happen as soon as this coming week, related to his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election brought by prosecutors in both Washington and Georgia. Trump already faces criminal charges in New York over hush money payments made to women who accused him of sexual encounters during his 2016 presidential campaign.
Nevertheless, Trump remains the dominant early frontrunner for the Republican nomination and has only seen his lead grow as the charges have mounted and as his rivals have struggled to respond. Their challenge was on display at a GOP gathering in Iowa Friday night, where they largely declined to go after Trump directly. The only one who did — accusing Trump of “running to stay out of prison” — was booed as he left the stage.
In the meantime, Trump has embraced his legal woes, turning them into the core message of his bid to return to the White House as he accuses Biden of using the Justice Department to maim his chief political rival. The White House has said repeatedly that the president has had no involvement in the cases.
At rallies — including Saturday’s — Trump has tried to frame the charges, which come with serious threats of jail time, as an attack not just on him, but those who support him.
“They’re not indicting me, they’re indicting you. I just happen to be standing in the way,” he told the arena crowd in Erie, adding that, “Every time the radical left Democrats, Marxists, communists and fascists indict me, I consider it actually a great badge of honor…. Because I’m being indicted for you.”
But the investigations are also sucking up enormous resources that are being diverted from the nuts and bolts of the campaign. The Washington Post first reported Saturday that Trump’s political action committee, Save America, will report Monday that it spent more than $40 million on legal fees during the first half of 2023 defending Trump and all of the current and former aides whose lawyers it is paying. The total is more than the campaign raised during the second quarter of the year.
“In order to combat these heinous actions by Joe Biden’s cronies and to protect these innocent people from financial ruin and prevent their lives from being completely destroyed, the leadership PAC contributed to their legal fees to ensure they have representation against unlawful harassment,” said Trump’s spokesman Steven Cheung.
At the rally — held in a former Democratic stronghold that Trump flipped in 2016, but Biden won narrowly in 2020 — Trump also threatened Republicans in Congress who refuse to go along with efforts to impeach Biden. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said this past week that Republican lawmakers may consider an impeachment inquiry into the president over unproven claims of financial misconduct.
Trump, who was impeached twice while in office, said Saturday that, “The biggest complaint that I get is that the Republicans find out this information and then they do nothing about it.”
“Any Republican that doesn’t act on Democrat fraud should be immediately primaries and get out — out!” he told the crowd to loud applause. “They have to play tough and … if they’re not willing to do it, we got a lot of good, tough Republicans around … and they’re going to get my endorsement every singe time.”
Trump, during the 2022 midterm elections, made it his mission to punish those who had voted in favor of his second impeachment and succeeded in unseating most who had by backing primary challengers.
At the rally, Trump also called on Republican members of Congress to halt the authorization of additional military support to Ukraine, which has been mired in a war fighting Russia’s invasion, until the Biden administration cooperates with Republican investigations into Biden and his family’s business dealings — words that echoed the call that lead to his first impeachment.
“He’s dragging into a global conflict on behalf of the very same country, Ukraine, that apparently paid his family all of these millions of dollars,” Trump alleged. “In light of this information,” Congress, he said, “should refuse to authorize a single additional payment of our depleted stockpiles … the weapons stockpiles to Ukraine until the FBI, DOJ and IRS hand over every scrap of evidence they have on the Biden crime family’s corrupt business dealings.”
House Republicans have been investigating the Biden family’s finances, particularly payments Hunter, the president’s son, received from Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company that became tangled in the first impeachment of Trump.
An unnamed confidential FBI informant claimed that Burisma company officials in 2015 and 2016 sought to pay the Bidens $5 million each in return for their help ousting a Ukrainian prosecutor who was purportedly investigating the company. But a Justice Department review in 2020, while Trump was president, was closed eight months later with insufficient evidence of wrongdoing.
Trump’s first impeachment by the House resulted in charges that he pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to dig up dirt on the Bidens while threatening to withhold military aid. Trump was later acquitted by the Senate. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/politics/ap-trump-amid-legal-perils-calls-on-gop-to-rally-around-him-as-he-threatens-primary-challenges/ | 2023-07-30T12:38:07 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/politics/ap-trump-amid-legal-perils-calls-on-gop-to-rally-around-him-as-he-threatens-primary-challenges/ |
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.wjhl.com/news/politics/ap-us-pledges-to-help-australia-manufacture-guided-missiles-by-2025/ | 2023-07-30T12:38:14 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/politics/ap-us-pledges-to-help-australia-manufacture-guided-missiles-by-2025/ |
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.wjhl.com/news/politics/ap-us-to-announce-345-million-military-aid-package-for-taiwan/ | 2023-07-30T12:38:21 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/politics/ap-us-to-announce-345-million-military-aid-package-for-taiwan/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Pamela Smith’s voice soared and quivered like a preacher in midsermon as she recalled her troubled childhood and how it helped prepare her for the challenges she faces as the new police chief in the nation’s capital.
“I stand before you as a child who had no hopes, who had no dreams — they were far beyond my reach. But I believe that all things are possible,” she said at her introductory news conference in Washington, in cadences honed by years as an ordained Baptist minister. “I believe I bring a fresh perspective, a different kind of energy, a different level of passion to what I’m going to do.”
Smith takes on the job at a precarious time.
Violent crime is rising sharply, fueled by more homicides and carjackings. The District of Columbia’s mayor, Muriel Bowser, and the D.C. Council have, at times, been at odds about crime legislation. On Capitol Hill, the Republican-led House has begun citing the city’s crime statistics while aggressively reviewing local public safety laws.
On July 24, the Mexican Consulate posted a tweet urging its nationals to “take precautions” in the city due to “a significant increase in crime in areas previously considered safe.”
Smith, 55, now becomes one of the public faces of this long-term fight even before the Council votes on her nomination as chief. She brings an inspirational story to her new role leading the Metropolitan Police Department. Raised in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, by a single mother who battled substance abuse, Smith and her siblings were at one point removed from their home and spent time in foster care. Smith emerged as a track star and went on to a 24-year career in the U.S. Park Police, where she served as the agency’s first Black female chief before retiring in 2022 to take up a senior leadership position at the MPD.
Law enforcement and government officials repeatedly point out that overall crime numbers in Washington have stayed relatively stable. But the crimes that have increased the most — murders and carjackings — are the ones most likely to damage public confidence.
“The scariest crimes are going up and regardless of what’s happening with other crimes, that’s what’s going to fuel the overall perception,” U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves told The Associated Press.
Graves’ office prosecutes most felonies in Washington, in a unique arrangement due to the district’s status as a nonstate. The city’s attorney general’s office prosecutes misdemeanors and juvenile crime, which is also on the rise.
This intricate dynamic among two separate sets of prosecutors, the city’s police force, Bowser’s administration and the Council has been publicly tested as the crime numbers have stayed high — all with Congress taking an increasing interest in the district’s affairs. Public safety was a primary topic of debate last year when Bowser, 50, successfully ran for a third term in office. She has spent this term sparring with both the Council and the House Oversight and Accountability Committee over how best to address crime.
July has been a particular bloody month, with 22 homicides as of Friday, including murders on the campuses of both Howard and Catholic universities. The victims include an Afghan man who survived years of working as a translator for the U.S. Army in Afghanistan only to be murdered in America while driving for Lyft. Nine people, including two children, were shot at a July Fourth party, when an assailant in an SUV opened fire on the crowd. A 12-year old girl remains hospitalized after being shot in the back Tuesday night by a bullet that penetrated the walls of her home.
Although the local murder rate is well below the levels in the 1980s and early 1990s, when Washington regularly led the nation in murders per capita, it has climbed steadily in recent years. In 2022, there was a roughly 10% drop in homicides, but now, homicides are up 15 percent compared with this time a year ago and the city is on pace to surpass 200 for the third year in a row. Police also reported 140 carjacking incidents in the month of June — the highest monthly total in more than five years.
Crime in Washington is now a national headline issue in Congress. In the spring, Bowser and Council members were summoned before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee for a heated session on local crime rates.
Congress voted to completely overturn the Council’s comprehensive rewrite of the district’s criminal code. Bowser was caught in the middle of the dispute. She had vetoed the overhaul, saying the reduction of maximum penalties for certain violent crimes “sent the wrong message,” but was overridden by the Council.
The mayor opposes congressional intervention in local affairs as part of Washington’s long push for statehood, but her initial veto was frequently cited by Republican lawmakers as proof that the rewrite was soft on crime. In an embarrassment for the heavily Democratic city, the move to cancel the criminal code revision drew support from dozens of congressional Democratic and was signed into law by President Joe Biden.
Earlier this month, the Council, with Bowser’s support, passed emergency public safety legislation meant to serve as a temporary fix. The bill makes it a felony to fire a gun in public and makes it easier for judges, in cases where people are charged with a violent crime, to detain them before trial. As an emergency bill, the changes will only last 90 days and will not be subject to congressional review; plans to make the changes permanent in the fall will face scrutiny by lawmakers.
“It is no secret … to the public that we are in a state of emergency right now,” said Brooke Pinto, the D.C. Council member who was the bill’s architect. “Like in any emergency, we have to act like it and we have to act urgently to address the problem we’re seeing.”
But some pushing for a criminal justice overhaul said city lawmakers were reverting to mass incarceration policies that had long ago been discredited.
“We’re way beyond thinking that we can just incarcerate more people,” said Patrice Sulton, executive director of the D.C. Justice Lab, who helped draft the now-canceled criminal code revision. “I think everybody who voted for it knows that it will not have an impact.”
The local branch of the American Civil Liberties Union said in a statement on Twitter that the new bill “essentially flips due process on its head — treating people as guilty and detaining them.”
All sides point to one primary factor fueling the violence: a flood to firearms entering Washington.
Graves, the district’s federal prosecutor, said the number of guns being used in crimes has skyrocketed, turning petty disputes into deadly battles. This includes a new wave of “ghost guns” — firearms that can be ordered in kits and assembled at home. Other kits can easily turn a semiautomatic weapon into an automatic, enabling a rapid-fire and generally less accurate spray of dozens of bullets. In 2018, authorities recovered three such guns; in 2022, the number was 461.
Graves compared the illegal guns to “a virus” in the neighborhood.
“The more virus there is in the community, the more people are going to get sick,” he said. “The more illegal firearms are in the community, the more likelihood those illegal firearms are going to be used.” | https://www.wjhl.com/news/politics/ap-violent-crime-is-rising-in-the-nations-capital-dc-seeks-solutions-as-congress-keeps-close-watch/ | 2023-07-30T12:38:27 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/politics/ap-violent-crime-is-rising-in-the-nations-capital-dc-seeks-solutions-as-congress-keeps-close-watch/ |
Five-year anniversary gifts
Shop this article: Roses, I Love You Anniversary Card and 2-Stem Natural Wood Roses with Vase
Spending a half-decade together is a reason to celebrate. Roses, chocolate and champagne are fitting gifts for almost any anniversary or milestone. However, when you hit the five-year mark in your relationship, you might want to take things up a notch.
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Tradition dictates that the five-year wedding anniversary gift is wood and meant to signal long-lasting strength, wisdom and forgiveness. Still, nowhere does it say that you have to stick to that, and some great gift ideas include perfume, jewelry, shoes, bags and self-care options.
Five-year anniversary wooden gift ideas
I Love You Anniversary Card
If you’re a stickler for tradition and want to make sure you give a gift of wood, one simple way to achieve this is with your card. This laser-cut classic hearts design is more than just any old anniversary card. It’s a keepsake that can last for years to come.
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Kate Posh 5-Years of Marriage Photo Frame
Simple yet also sentimental. This wooden picture frame is engraved and comes in multiple sizes. It has a back-stand easel to display on a table and clips to mount it on the wall.
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2-Stem Natural Wood Roses with Vase
Carved from sugar wood and stained rich chocolate, this stylish, sentimental and symbolic anniversary gift comes with two wooden roses in an oak vase.
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The best fragrance gifts for her
With dazzling floral accents and woodsy notes, this scent exudes femininity and mystery. The may rose and jasmine with citrus notes and soft bourbon vanilla help create this sensual Chanel fragrance, making the perfect gift for a romantic anniversary.
Sold by Sephora
This scent oozes femininity without being overpowering, with an intoxicating blend of warm and spicy, with keynotes of jasmine, orange blossom and woods and patchouli. It’s also ageless, which makes it perfect for either your 5th or 50th anniversary.
Sold by Sephora
The best self-care gifts for her
Goop “The Martini” Emotional Detox Bath Soak
Treat your loved one to some peace and tranquility with a soothing bath to relax the mind and body. The pink salt will ease muscles. The chia seed oil hydrates and moisturizes the skin, while the wildcrafted frankincense will soothe the mind. This combination is just as good as a day at the spa.
Sold by Sephora
Give the gift that spoils your loved one night after night with this slip silk pillowcase that’s a known beauty secret of both beauty experts and dermatologists. Cover her pillow in the highest-grade mulberry silk to help create the ultimate night’s rest.
Herbivore Coco Rose Exfoliating Body Scrub
Pamper your partner with a body scrub made from virgin coconut oil, sugar and Moroccan rose to leave her skin moisturized and smelling of rose petals and coconuts. This luxe body scrub has been clinically tested and proven to offer softer, smoother and less dry skin.
The best jewelry gifts for her
TruMiracle Diamond Stud Earrings
These exquisite half-carat diamonds with side accents will dazzle and sparkle from every angle. They are available in 14-carat gold, white gold and rose gold.
Sold by Macy’s
Sarah Chloe Andi Initial Pendant Necklace in 14k Gold-Plate Over Sterling Silver
This is a delicate and sophisticated pendant necklace you can wear casually or when dressing to impress. It’s set in 14 carat-gold-plate over sterling silver, with a lobster clasp for closure and a beaded chain.
Sold by Macy’s
Le Vian Deep-Sea Blue Topaz & Diamond Statement Ring in 14k Rose Gold
Give her something she can’t help but show off with this dazzling deep-blue-sea topaz ring. It’s enhanced with nude and chocolate diamond rings that add to the color and sparkle. These gorgeous stones are set in a beautiful strawberry gold that will make your anniversary one to remember.
Sold by Macy’s
The best handbag gifts for her
Michael Kors Bedford Legacy Logo Ladies Leather Crossbody Bag
There’s just something about a new handbag that makes a girl smile, so make her grin ear-to-ear with a stylish yet practical black, leather crossbody. This sleek and structured silhouette is an ideal everyday bag to match all outfits while remaining chic.
Sold by Amazon
The best shoes gifts for her
Badgley Mischka Kiara Embellished Peep-Toe Evening Pumps
You can never go wrong with super sexy shoes, and these sapphire satin peep-toe pumps with embellished detail fit the bill. These showstoppers will make her feel like a million bucks and make for one extraordinary anniversary.
Nine West Women’s Toe Dress Pumps
These shoes will be a gift for you and your loved one because you won’t be able to keep your eyes off her when she’s in these ultra-sexy t-strap stilettos. A mix of faux leather and skinny straps from the toe to the ankle make this exotic heel a special occasion in itself.
Sold by Macy’s
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Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wjhl.com/reviews/br/beauty-personal-care-br/tools-accessories-br/best-five-year-anniversary-gifts-for-her/ | 2023-07-30T12:38:34 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/reviews/br/beauty-personal-care-br/tools-accessories-br/best-five-year-anniversary-gifts-for-her/ |
While the kids are on home instruction, there’s no better time than now to school them — on the 80s and 90s movies, that is. These decades are pop-culture treasure troves from which many of our fondest memories are plucked.
That’s why you and the kiddos should curl up on the couch and revisit your favorite flicks. Believe it or not, many of them are rich in educational value, even if it’s a matter of drawing the line with feathered bangs.
Our team rounded up essential 80s and 90s cinematic masterpieces for you to share with your kids as they begin their new favorite class, Film Studies 101: The Wonder Years.
Shop this article: Sister Act (1993), 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) and Sixteen Candles (1984)
Rated PG
Sister Act (1993)
Witness protection doesn’t need to be boring, especially when you send a Vegas lounge singer into a nunnery for selling out her mob boyfriend. Sister Mary Clarence brings a little jazz to the sisterhood, and you’ll probably sing along to this one — much to the chagrin of the kids.
Other subjects covered: Music theory, criminal justice, religion
Also available at Disney+
The Sandlot (1993)
The summer of 1962 is a formative one for this motley crew of young baseball players. From awkward interactions with girls to dealing with bullying, it’s an all-ages relatable story. And yes, there are plenty of inside jokes that only true baseball fans will appreciate.
Other subjects covered: Bildungsroman, baseball history, bullying
Also available at Starz
Beetlejuice (1988)
Introduce the kiddos to Lydia, a teen undergoing major life adjustments. Moving and making new friends in less-than-ideal situations isn’t easy, especially when you befriend the ghosts of tenants past in your new home — some of whom have colorful personalities.
Other subjects covered: Blended families, real estate ethics, exorcisms
Life is Beautiful (1998)
In an attempt to shield his son from the reality of Nazi occupation in Italy, a quirky Jewish bookshop owner turns their new way of life into a game. The lighthearted approach to keeping young Guido out of harm’s way without further traumatizing him is truly touching.
Other subjects covered: WW2 history, European geography, family dynamics
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Soul-sucking witches from 1693 surface 300 years later to give young Max a run for his money in Salem, Mass. Kids will be enthralled with his journey, as it shows how the actions of a single person has the potential to impact — or save — an entire town.
Other subjects covered: Early American history, time management, the effervescent Bette Midler
Also available at Disney+
Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)
Whoa! Bill and Ted are the unintentional professors of this crash-course in world history. Join them as they adapt to ancient cultures and interact with historical figures — in a most excellent way.
Other subjects covered: the French Revolution, Greek philosophy, DIY repairs
Also available at Starz
Jungle 2 Jungle (1997)
The concrete jungle of New York City is a far cry from where Mimi-Siku was raised in the remote Canaima region of Venezuela. Upon arrival, he has to get used to Western traditions, a father he’s never met, and unexpected shenanigans involving the Russian mob.
Other subjects covered: Cultural diffusion, New York City architecture, table manners
Top Gun (1986)
Follow Kenny Loggins’s advice: Ride into the danger zone. Few things are as cool as Maverick rocking Ray-Bans and breaking the sound barrier. Cruise through the skies in style — and in preparation for this summer’s second installment to the iconic 80s blockbuster.
Other subjects covered: Aerospace engineering, gravity, classic 80s music
Rated PG-13
10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
A star-studded cast does Shakespeare justice in this modern spin on The Taming of the Shrew. High school can be the cruelest of times with unrequited love, impenetrable cliques, and popularity contests. Personality perseveres, though: being nice matters, and true love can prevail.
Other subjects covered: Courtly love, sibling rivalries, puberty
Also available at Disney+
Jurassic Park (1993)
Who doesn’t love a nature versus nurture story told through misadventures in a dinosaur theme park? Kids can flex their problem-solving skills by coming up with ways to escape velociraptors running amok — and may emerge as budding paleontologists.
Other subjects covered: Evolution, GMOs, the dangers of portable toilets
Titanic (1997)
Follow the larger-than-life story of Jack and Rose, star-crossed lovers divided by class, set on the ill-fated Titanic. Besides learning about the ship’s history, you’ll also explore how this mega-budget movie managed to pull off its special effects.
Other subjects covered: Early 20th century history, cinematic history, anatomy of a ship
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Think it’s hard to relate to a high school slacker cutting class when you miss school? Think again. Ferris Bueller plays hooky and bites off more than he can chew trying to evade the principal. It’s a great lesson on the snowball effects of decision-making — not to mention joyriding.
Other subjects covered: Driver’s education, historic Chicago, the dramatic fourth wall
Clueless (1995)
This satirical commentary on 90s Valley Girls is very loosely based on Jane Austen’s Emma. Slice through the vivacious verbiage to see the true heart of the story. Cher’s tireless mission as a social butterfly reveals good intentions, despite hang-ups with designer clothing.
Other subjects covered: 90s fashion, British Romantic literature, epic closet organization
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Running with scissors is not encouraged, and neither is falling in love when you have them for hands. This Franken-fantasy love story is endearing and illustrates the importance of not judging others by their appearance. Besides, we’re all one snip away from having our hearts broken, too.
Other subjects covered: Human anatomy, Johnny Depp as a film icon, landscape architecture
Wayne’s World (1992)
Your kids will never hear an electric guitar the same way again. This 90s spectacle incorporates all things pop culture, including the music and fashion of the era. It’s also fascinating to draw similarities between this low-budget basement show and modern-day live-streaming.
Other subjects covered: History of social media, 80s classic rock and metal, fashionable flannel
Rated R
Sixteen Candles (1984)
Sixteen is already hard enough, and things get more complicated when your sister’s wedding overshadows your birthday. Follow Sam as she becomes embroiled in a challenging relationship with her crush and navigates the antics of nerdy teenage boys.
Other subjects covered: Sex education, Molly Ringwald as a cultural icon, event planning
Also available at Starz
Coming to America (1988)
When Crown Prince Akeem of Zamunda breaks with tradition and refuses an arranged marriage, he travels to none other than New York City to find an independent woman. East and West collide during Akeem’s courtship attempts, which are awkward and borderline inappropriate.
Other subjects covered: Cultural diffusion, courtship, international travel
Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1994)
To be fair, this film is technically PG-13, but it should be R. Set in jolly England, this comical delight is an un-PC retelling of Robin Hood. Toilet humor abounds, including a character named Latrine. The puns are awful, the names are worse, and if you do nothing else, duck and cover when Blinkin picks up a crossbow.
Other subjects covered: Medieval times, scriptwriting, personal hygiene
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Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wjhl.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/internet-streaming-br/best-movies-to-watch-with-your-kids/ | 2023-07-30T12:38:42 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/internet-streaming-br/best-movies-to-watch-with-your-kids/ |
Types of residential water heaters
Residential water heaters come in tank, tankless and hybrid varieties. Each type has its own distinct characteristics; benefits as well as drawbacks. By looking at factors including cost, energy efficiency, maintenance and lifespan, you’ll be able to determine which type is right for your home.
Shop this article: Rheem 50-Gallon Residential Electric Water Heater, Stiebel Eltron Tempra 36 Plus Tankless Heater, A.O. Smith 50-Gallon Hybrid Heat Pump Water Heater
Tank water heaters
Traditional water heaters feature a tank that stores hot water until it’s needed. They range in size from 30-50 gallons and run on either gas or electricity. These units cost less upfront compared to tankless and hybrid water heaters. Since they’re the most common type, costs associated with installation, repairs and maintenance are relatively low in comparison. Tank water heaters are associated with the most energy loss, referred to as standby heat loss. They waste energy by maintaining hot water in the tank when not in use.
Traditional water heaters have the shortest lifespan compared to the other types, typically lasting 8-12 years. Exposure to water, oxygen and minerals corrodes the tank over time, causing it to leak; this process is usually what causes a tank water heater to cease functioning.
Tankless water heaters
Also referred to as on-demand water heaters, tankless models are powered by gas or electricity. According to the Department of Energy, “for homes that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily, demand water heaters can be 24–34% more energy efficient than conventional storage tank water heaters.” While tankless water heaters cost more up-front and are pricier to install compared to tank units, energy savings make them more cost-effective in the long run. Tankless heaters also take up significantly less space compared to tank and hybrid models.
Tankless water heaters have the longest lifespan, capable of lasting around 15 to 20 years. This is in part due to the fact that they do not operate constantly the way a traditional tank heater does. However, tankless water heater components may also experience corrosion, eventually.
Hybrid water heaters
Hybrid water heaters run on minimal electricity, consisting of a tank and a heat pump. They’re larger than tank water heaters, with sizes ranging from 50 to 80 gallons. Unlike tank and tankless units, they don’t directly generate heat — heat is taken from the surrounding air and transferred into the tank. For this reason, hybrid water heaters are among the most energy-efficient options on the market. However, they are costly and more expensive to install compared to traditional storage tank heaters. Hybrid water heaters function best when the temperature of the surrounding air remains at or above 40 degrees.
Hybrid water heaters tend to last around 13-15 years. Similar to tankless water heaters, they do not run continuously, which increases their lifespan. They still contain a tank capable of corroding, though, so they won’t last as long as tankless units.
Best tank water heaters
Rheem 50-Gallon Residential Electric Water Heater
This electric water heater has a 50-gallon capacity suitable for households of 3-5 people. The water heater includes a 6-year tank and parts warranty.
Sold by Walmart
Rheem 40-Gallon Residential Electric Water Heater
If you’re looking for an electric model for a smaller household, this unit is a better option. It can reliably heat water for two to four people, with an included six-year tank and parts warranty.
Sold by Walmart
Rheem 40-Gallon Natural Gas Water Heater
This natural gas heater with a 40-gallon capacity can support households of 2-4 people. It features a push-button ignition for an easier startup process. You’re covered with a 6-year tank and parts warranty, as well.
Sold by Walmart
Best tankless water heaters
Stiebel Eltron Tempra 36 Plus Tankless Heater
This tankless electric option provides a continuous output of hot water for three to four bathrooms in warm climates or two to three bathrooms in cooler climates. It has a digital display and preset temperature buttons that simplify operation. This heater comes with seven-year leakage and three-year parts warranties.
Sold by Amazon
EcoSmart ECO 27 Tankless Water Heater
Another electric pick, this tankless model can heat up to 6 gallons of water per minute, ideal for apartment and condo units in warmer climates. It features a digital display and dial temperature controls. The lifetime warranty offers peace of mind.
Sold by Amazon
Eemax Electric Tankless Water Heater
In cold climates, this tankless electric model produces enough hot water for one shower and two sinks to run simultaneously. In warmer climates, this heater can support up to four showers running at once. It features a digital display and dial controls, plus 5-year leak and 1-year parts warranties with purchase.
Sold by Amazon
Best hybrid water heater
A.O. Smith 50-Gallon Hybrid Heat Pump Water Heater
This hybrid water heater has a 50-gallon tank capable of servicing households of three to five people. You can access efficiency, hybrid, electric and vacation operating modes using the electronic interface. The electric heater comes with a six-year tank and parts warranty.
Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wjhl.com/reviews/br/home-br/heating-cooling-air-quality-br/which-type-of-water-heater-is-best-for-you/ | 2023-07-30T12:38:49 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/reviews/br/home-br/heating-cooling-air-quality-br/which-type-of-water-heater-is-best-for-you/ |
Best time to fertilize your lawn
Whether you’re creating a comfortable space for your family to spend their free time or increasing the curb appeal of your property, maintaining a green and healthy lawn can be difficult. One of the most effective steps you can take is applying fertilizer, but correctly applying it can be tricky. And an incorrect application can do more harm than good.
We at BestReviews want you to be knowledgeable when utilizing fertilizer and have created this guide to help you feel confident you’re adding the correct amount at the appropriate time.
Shop this article: EGO Power+ 21-inch 56-volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Mower, Scotts Turf Builder Classic Drop Spreader and Flexzilla Garden Hose
Fertilizer nutrients
Most fertilizers found in a store will have three numbers printed on the packaging, referring to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Though all these nutrients are necessary for a better lawn, each performs a specific role in facilitating healthy grass growth.
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is the most important nutrient required for a healthy lawn. All plants, including grass, need nitrogen to produce chlorophyll. Chlorophyll not only acts as food for the plant but also gives the plant its green color. Applying a nitrogen fertilizer helps your grass grow faster, recover from environmental stresses and deters disease and invasive weeds.
Although nitrogen needs to be applied in the correct amount, too much nitrogen can lead to rapid growth with an underdeveloped root system. Too little nitrogen and the yard may become nitrogen deficient, causing the grass to yellow.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus promotes vigorous root growth and helps the grass pull water from the soil. A robust root system encourages proper hydration, helps plants reach full maturity, aids in survival during dry weather and keeps soil and nutrients from blowing away during strong winds and storms.
Potassium
Potassium helps a plant’s cells maintain ‘turgor pressure,’ also known as hydrostatic pressure. Simply put, turgor pressure is what gives the plant’s cell its structural integrity. This allows the plant to survive harsh conditions, like cold weather or drought.
Best grass mowers
EGO Power+ 21-inch 56-volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Mower
Cordless, self-propelled, and able to run 80 minutes on a single charge, the EGO Power 21-inch 56-volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Mower is the rare full-electric mower that feels like a gas model.
Sold by Amazon
Black & Decker 6.5A 12-inch Electric 3-in-1 Trimmer/Edger and Mower
This Black and Decker lawn edger is an affordable and quality option for those with medium to small yards looking for a versatile machine.
Sold by Amazon
Types of fertilizer
Fast-release vs. slow-release
With nitrogen as the most critical component in facilitating plant growth, you should pay careful attention to how you introduce it into your yard’s ecosystem. Fast-release nitrogen fertilizers provide rapid growth and greening but increase the risk of nitrogen oversaturation.
Slow-release nitrogen fertilizers, also known as controlled-release fertilizers, allow for a more gradual introduction of nitrogen. Plant greening and maturation won’t be rapid, but you can expect even grass growth and lessen the chance of lawn damage.
Liquids vs. granules
Most home fertilizers come in either liquid or granule form. Though both contain the same nutrients needed to facilitate healthy lawn growth, they each have specific benefits and drawbacks.
Liquid fertilizers have a consistent distribution of nutrients and are easy to apply. Liquid fertilizers do not have a slow-release nitrogen option, and the initial cost of a distribution system can be steep.
Granular fertilizers are cheap to purchase, especially in bulk, are easy to store and provide slow-release nitrogen fertilizer options. Though granular fertilizers don’t spread as evenly as their liquid counterparts, the cost of granule distribution systems is far less.
Best granular spreaders
Scotts Turf Builder Classic Drop Spreader
With its straightforward operation and ease of use, the Turf Builder Classic Drop Spreader is an ideal fit for those who need to distribute fertilizer over a large area.
Sold by Amazon
Scotts Turf Builder EdgeGuard Mini Broadcast Spreader
For gardeners on a budget, Scotts Turf Builder EdgeGuard Mini Broadcast Spreader has plenty of capacity to cover most lawns and gardens.
Sold by Amazon
Scotts Wizz Hand-Held Spreader
Lightweight and handheld, the Scotts Wizz Hand-Held Spreader is an excellent fit for the gardener with a small or atypical-shaped yard in need of fertilizing.
Sold by Amazon
When is the best time to fertilize your lawn?
Depending on the needs of your soil and climate, your lawn may require multiple applications of fertilizer throughout the year. However, there are two critical times during the year when spreading fertilizer can most benefit your yard.
Spring
When fertilizer is applied to frozen soil, the plants cannot absorb nitrogen and other nutrients. Instead, the nitrogen rests on top of the soil and can be washed away, collecting in the low parts of a yard or into storm drains and ditches. These areas become damaged from an over-concentration of nitrogen and will need further attention and maintenance.
In spring, wait until the soil has sufficiently thawed and warmed before applying fertilizer. Creating a solid root system early will lead to a healthier and greener yard later, so be cautious not to apply too much nitrogen too fast.
Fall
Late fall is arguably the most critical time to apply fertilizer, as the winter months will be the hardest on your lawn. Research the expected climate in your area and spread fertilizer 2-3 weeks before the soil will freeze. The morning dews during those few weeks will bring the essential nutrients from the fertilizer into the soil. The result will be a lawn more prepared for the cold winter months and a healthier root system when the soil thaws again in the spring.
When to water the lawn after fertilizing
If you decide to apply granular fertilizer to your lawn, water the area immediately to ensure the nutrients are absorbed. Never apply granular fertilizer to wet grass, as wet grass can cause nitrogen to wash away before entering the soil, damaging your lawn.
Rugged enough to discourage kinks, yet flexible and easy to use, the Flexzilla garden hose is an ideal purchase for the gardener who prefers a hands-on approach to lawn maintenance.
Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wjhl.com/reviews/br/lawn-garden-br/fertilizers-br/when-to-fertilize-your-lawn/ | 2023-07-30T12:38:55 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/reviews/br/lawn-garden-br/fertilizers-br/when-to-fertilize-your-lawn/ |
Adult lawn games
When you’re a kid, outdoor games help you develop both fine and gross motor skills. They can increase your coordination, teach you admirable character traits such as good sportsmanship and help you burn off excess energy.
However, when you become an adult, outdoor games serve a different purpose. While they still provide entertainment and recreation, outdoor games encourage and facilitate social interaction. The best outdoor games for adults create an atmosphere that sparks conversation and healthy but not too serious competition.
Read on for a list of favorite outdoor games that are best suited for backyard gatherings of adult friends and family members. To make it easy for you to find one that’s best for your needs, they’re organized in five categories: classic games, tossing games, active games, supersized games and novelty options.
Shop this article: Franklin Sports Croquet Set, Hey! Play! Family Bocce Ball Set and St. Pierre American Professional Series Horseshoes
Classic games
These lawn games are timeless favorites that have been around for a hundred years or more.
Croquet is a fun game of skill that’s been around for nearly 200 years. It involves hitting a ball through a course made of wire hoops and a peg. This set comes with everything you need: six durable mallets, six balls, nine hoops, two pegs and a carrying case.
Sold by Amazon
Hey! Play! Family Bocce Ball Set
Bocce is a simple game of skill that’s been around for over 7,000 years. This set from Hey! Play! offers quality materials at a low price, which translates to value. The balls come in two colors with two distinct patterns to facilitate four-person play.
Sold by Amazon
You thought bowling was only an indoor sport? In 5,000 B.C., ancient Egyptians used to have fun knocking down objects by rolling stones. With this quality set of ten hardwood pins and two hardwood balls, you can carry on the tradition at your next picnic. This game works best on level, short-cut lawns or dirt.
Sold by Amazon
Tossing games
Whether tossing steel or beanbags, these fun adult games are designed to test your underarm throwing skills.
St. Pierre American Professional Series Horseshoes
This is not a set for kids. The durable blue and gray horseshoes in this kit are manufactured using forged steel. The set also includes two solid steel 24-inch stakes, an official rule book and a carrying case.
Sold by Amazon and Dick’s Sporting Goods
GoSports Premium Metal Ladder Toss Game Set
If you’re looking for a high-quality ladder toss game, this model is made out of steel, is easy to assemble and comes with a carrying case. The bolos are manufactured using soft rubber with thicker strings to help prevent tangles.
Sold by Amazon
This regulation-size cornhole game has a vintage style and is manufactured to look like steel-framed barnwood planks but is UV- and water-resistant. The set comes with eight 16-ounce, all-weather beanbags.
Sold by Amazon
Active games
These active games are best for individuals who like to get a little workout in while playing.
For the individual who takes paddle ball seriously, this high-quality, solid wooden set is made using pine, sapele and beechwood to create a distinctive design. The handles are wrapped in neoprene to provide a confident grip, and the set comes with a canvas drawstring bag for storage and transport.
Sold by Amazon
Franklin Sports Family Badminton Set
If you’d like to save a little money and still get a great badminton set, this is the way to go. This family-friendly unit features a net that is 20 feet x 1 foot, 6 inches. It’s easy to set up and comes with four steel badminton rackets, two nylon birdies and six ropes and stakes.
Sold by Amazon
Park & Sun Sports Permanent Outdoor Tetherball Set
Tetherball is a fun and challenging game that is permanently installed so you can play whenever you’d like. The object is simply to wrap the rope completely around the pole. This kit features a two-piece galvanized steel pole to resist rusting along with a soft-touch ball with a durable nylon-wound bladder.
Sold by Amazon
Supersized games
The fun only gets bigger when you play these tabletop games in extra-large size.
This is the official Hasbro version of the popular stacking game. However, in this supersized version, you can use the 54 hardwood blocks to create towers that are over 5 feet tall.
Sold by Amazon
ECR4Kids Jumbo 4-to-Score Game Set
Yes, this is the popular kids’ game that goes by a slightly different name when sold by other manufacturers. The object is to connect four giant rings in a straight line on the huge 4-foot-tall game grid. It’s manufactured using lightweight, weather-resistant material so it can be played either indoors or outdoors.
Sold by Amazon
Triumph Sports 28-Piece Lawn Domino Set
If you’ve ever wanted to play dominoes outside, this is your chance. This wooden set features 28 pieces that are 3 1/2 x 7 inches, making them large enough to play on a picnic table or in the grass. The color-coded pips add a splash of fun while the varnish finish helps with durability.
Sold by Amazon
Novelty options
If you’d like to look a little off the beaten path for backyard entertainment, these outdoor novelty games might be the best option for you.
University Games Flickin’ Chicken
This creative novelty game is modeled after golf. There’s a target that serves as the hole, and each round, players see who can land their chicken on the target with the least number of throws. Up to four players can play a game.
Sold by Amazon
GoSports Foam Fire Trophy Hunt
Admittedly, this game was designed for kids, but that doesn’t mean adults can’t have just as much fun playing. Players take turns shooting foam balls at a target that features big game animals to try and earn the most points. The set includes two blasters, 40 foam balls, a target, a carrying case and a rule book.
Sold by Amazon
GoPong 8-Foot Portable Beer Pong Table
Yes, we’ve saved the best for last! This regulation-size beer pong table is what every serious competitor needs. The compact, fold-up design turns this table into a 2-foot square case in a matter of seconds. While the table comes with six pong balls, you need to supply your own red Solo cups.
Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wjhl.com/reviews/br/toys-games-br/outdoor-toys-br/best-adult-lawn-games/ | 2023-07-30T12:39:01 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/reviews/br/toys-games-br/outdoor-toys-br/best-adult-lawn-games/ |
A comprehensive guide to pop-up campers
A pop-up camper provides a tentlike experience without having to sleep on the ground. When hitting the road in your pop-up camper, consider what and how to eat, what to sleep in, what toiletries to bring and what to do in case of an emergency.
Shop this article: Eagles Nest Outfitters Spark Camp Quilt, Sea to Summit X-Pot Collapsible Camping Cookpot and Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight Watertight .5 Medical First Aid Kit
What is a pop-up camper?
Pop-up campers are lightweight, compact vehicles that can park in more secluded areas due to their size. They are more affordable than the average camper and are quick to pack up and hook up, making the road trip easier. They can also keep you warmer than a tent in colder months but cooler in the heat of summer.
Pop-up camper setup
There are five aspects of pop-up camper setup.
- Location: Locate where you want to set up your camper and consider the slope of the ground, nearby trees and electrical hookups. This is where to check if your camper is level. If it is not level, you can use blocks to prop up one of the sides before unhooking the tow vehicle.
- Power: To power up the camper, run its electrical cord to the campsite’s electrical hookup after turning off the breaker. Once connected, you can turn the breaker on to provide electricity to amenities such as the sink and the refrigerator. At this point, users can crank down the leg support and crank up the roof.
- Beds: Make sure that the canvas is not holding onto anything and pull the first bed handle out to start setting up the beds. From there, pull the support pole free and position this onto the stud on the frame. Repeat this process for the remaining poles. Lastly, lift both beds to latch the supports until the beds sit down firmly.
- Water and propane: To set up water and propane in your pop-up camper, lift and lower the galley handle until it is in position. Then, link the male end of the propane hose to the female end on the lower frame of the camper. Finally, connect a sanitary water hose from your trailer to the water spigot at the campsite.
- Water heater: To set up the water heater, you need to access the hot water tank, turn the gas knob to “pilot” and hold down. Place a flame on the pilot end of the tube using a long lighter. Hold this down until it stays lit. You should be able to turn on the knob, and the hot water tank should start to heat your water.
Pre-make your food
Before hitting the road in your pop-up camper, make your meals ahead of time. These meals can be complete meals stored in a cooler or prepped to be quickly cooked at a campsite. Also, pre-pack any portion meals that you plan to make by the fire for convenience.
Stock your pop-up camper with necessities
Buy a set of camping pots and pans in advance to prepare for every meal and anything that goes on in the kitchen. This ensures that you do not have to go back and forth for camping utilities or go without food for a short time because you were unprepared. Moreover, pack extra sleeping bags and sheets of various insulation to prepare for any situation that may occur.
Air out your pop-up camper after it rains
Mold and other bacteria are more likely to form when it rains. Due to the foldable nature of the pop-up camper, this bacteria can get into crevices and breed. Before packing up your camper after it rains, make sure everything is dry so that it can be clean to use for the next trip.
Tips for hitting the road in a pop-up camper
If you are a first-time camper, keep your trip close to home in case something goes wrong, or it turns out that you are underprepared. This ensures that you are close to safety and have everything that you need. Additionally, make a grocery list and a checklist for all items that you think you need to bring in advance.
Pop-up camper FAQ
Where do I go to the bathroom while camping?
A. If there is no bathroom in your pop-up camper and you do not want to go out in nature, travel with a portable camping toilet. This item is best for rooftop tents, car campers and drive-up camp spots.
What style of chair is best to bring on a camping trip?
A. Classic camp chairs are a good choice. These chairs have four legs and are very stable. They make sitting and standing an act of ease in comparison to low chairs and rocking chairs. They’re also affordable.
Sleep essentials
Eagles Nest Outfitters Spark Camp Quilt
This 3-in-1 blanket, quilt and sleeping bag provides warmth and comfort in 40- to 60-degree weather. The weather-resistant materials help protect the sleeping bag from rain and any other damage caused by the elements.
Sold by Backcountry
Kelty Mistral Sleeping Bag: 40 Fahrenheit Down
This mummy-style sleeping bag keeps heat in while being lightweight and durable. It comes with a stuff sack for storage and features an offset quilt construction to prevent cold spots. CloudLoft insulation locks in heat. The zipper is anti-snag, and the bag fits up to 6 feet in length. Use it inside or outside the pop-up tent.
Sold by Amazon
Kitchen essentials
Sea to Summit X-Pot Collapsible Camping Cookpot
This camping cook pot is heat-resistant and BPA-free to ensure food safety. The entire pot is collapsible for storage in small spaces. Its aluminum base conducts heat evenly for the best cooking experience and it comes with a strainer lid.
Sold by Amazon
MalloMe Camping Cookware Mess Kit Gear
This camping cookware kit is portable and made with food-safe, non-toxic anodized aluminum. The kit includes an aluminum nonstick pot, a pot cover, a nonstick pan, two bowls, a folding stainless steel spork, a soup spoon, a wooden spoon spatula, a cleaning sponge and a nylon travel drawstring pouch. It can be easily attached to a backpack and carried to campsites.
Sold by Amazon
First-aid essentials
Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight Watertight .5 Medical First Aid Kit
This first aid kit provides all the needed materials for any accidents that could happen while camping in your pop-up camper. It includes a wide array of medical supplies to treat pain, inflammation and common allergies. The wraps and bandages assist in immobilizing fractures and provide support. The antiseptic wipes and butterfly bandages help clean small wounds.
Sold by Amazon
Adventure Medical Sportsman Series Medical Kit
This medical kit provides items that treat common camping injuries. It is organized by injury type for quick access in an emergency and provides all the basic tools needed. This kit is also lightweight and portable.
Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wjhl.com/reviews/br/travel-br/travel-essentials-br/pop-up-camper-guide-everything-you-need-in-order-to-hit-the-road/ | 2023-07-30T12:39:07 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/reviews/br/travel-br/travel-essentials-br/pop-up-camper-guide-everything-you-need-in-order-to-hit-the-road/ |
(STACKER) – Flooding is the most common and expensive natural disaster in the United States, costing more than $850 million in damages since 2000. Much of this flooding comes from massive amounts of rainfall over short periods of time.
Stacker documented the highest 24 hours of precipitation in every state by analyzing data from the State Climate Extremes Committee of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. States are ranked from lowest amount of rainfall in a 24-hour period to highest. The list includes Puerto Rico and excludes Kansas, for which there was no data available. Data is current as of July 2023.
Along with the number of inches in 24 hours, some NOAA data detailed the devastating damage and lives lost during some of the rainiest days. While some of the specific rain days were caused by hurricanes and tropical storms, others were simply due to very heavy rains. Climate change-related rainfall has become a concern, with many experts predicting dangerous water cycles, rising sea levels, and other irregular weather patterns to come.
In describing precipitation measurement missions and climate change, NASA detailed that since 1900, the average U.S. precipitation has risen overall. At the same time, severe droughts and floods have become an increasing problem, with their incidence varying across the country.
As meteorologists continue to look to the past to determine possible future weather patterns, the following dates will remain notable until the next wettest day.
#50. Utah
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 5.08 inches
– Location: Deer Creek Dam
– Date: Feb. 1, 1963
#49. Wyoming
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 6.06 inches
– Location: Cheyenne
– Date: Aug. 1, 1985
#48. Idaho
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 7.17 inches
– Location: Rattlesnake Creek
– Date: Nov. 23, 1909
#47. Nevada
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 7.78 inches
– Location: Mount Charleston
– Date: Oct. 20, 2004
#46. North Dakota
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 8.1 inches
– Location: Litchville
– Date: June 29, 1975
#45. South Dakota
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 8.74 inches
– Location: Groton
– Date: May 6, 2007
#44. Vermont
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 9.92 inches
– Location: Mt. Mansfield
– Date: Sept. 17, 1999
#43. Kentucky
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 10.48 inches
– Location: Louisville
– Date: March 1, 1997
#42. Indiana
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 10.5 inches
– Location: Princeton
– Date: Aug. 6, 1905
#41. Ohio
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 10.75 inches
– Location: Lockington Dam (nr. Sidney, Shelby Co. OH)
– Date: Aug. 7, 1995
#40. New Hampshire
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 11.07 inches
– Location: Mount Washington
– Date: Oct. 20, 1996
#39. New Mexico
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 11.28 inches
– Location: Lake Maloya
– Date: May 18, 1955
#38. Arizona
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 11.4 inches
– Location: Workman Creek
– Date: Sept. 4, 1970
#37. Montana
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 11.5 inches
– Location: Circle (Springbrook)
– Date: June 20, 1921
#36. Wisconsin
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 11.72 inches
– Location: Mellen
– Date: June 24, 1946
#35. Oregon
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 11.77 inches
– Location: Nehalem 9NE
– Date: Nov. 6, 2006
#34. Colorado
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 11.85 inches
– Location: USGS Rod & Gun (Ft. Carson)
– Date: Sept. 12, 2013
#33. West Virginia
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 12.02 inches
– Location: Brushy Run
– Date: June 18, 1949
#32. Rhode Island
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 12.13 inches
– Location: Westerly
– Date: Sept. 16, 1932
#31. Delaware
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 12.48 inches
– Location: Harbeson
– Date: Sept. 28, 2016
#30. Connecticut
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 12.77 inches
– Location: Burlington
– Date: Aug. 19, 1955
#29. Michigan
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 12.92 inches
– Location: 6E Fountain
– Date: July 20, 2019
#28. Nebraska
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 13.15 inches
– Location: York
– Date: July 8, 1950
#27. Iowa
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 13.18 inches
– Location: Atlantic 1NE
– Date: June 14, 1998
#26. Maine
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 13.32 inches
– Location: Portland
– Date: Oct. 20, 1996
#25. Pennsylvania
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 13.5 inches
– Location: York 3SSW Pump Stn
– Date: June 22, 1972
#24. New York
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 13.57 inches
– Location: Long Island MacArthur Airport
– Date: Aug. 12, 2014
#23. Arkansas
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 14.06 inches
– Location: Big Fork
– Date: Dec. 3, 1982
#22. Washington
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 14.26 inches
– Location: Mt. Mitchell #2
– Date: Nov. 23, 1986
#21. Virginia
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 14.28 inches
– Location: Williamsburg 2N
– Date: Sept. 16, 1999
#20. Maryland
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 14.75 inches
– Location: Jewell (nr. Friendship)
– Date: July 26, 1897
#19. South Carolina
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 14.8 inches
– Location: Myrtle Beach
– Date: Sept. 16, 1999
#18. New Jersey
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 14.81 inches
– Location: Tuckerton
– Date: Aug. 19, 1939
#17. Alaska
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 15.05 inches
– Location: Seward
– Date: Oct. 10, 1986
#16. Minnesota
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 15.1 inches
– Location: Hokah 1S
– Date: Aug. 19, 2007
#15. Oklahoma (tie)
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 15.68 inches
– Location: Enid
– Date: Oct. 11, 1973
#14. Mississippi (tie)
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 15.68 inches
– Location: Columbus
– Date: July 9, 1968
#13. Illinois
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 16.91 inches
– Location: Aurora
– Date: July 18, 1996
#12. Massachusetts
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 18.15 inches
– Location: Westfield
– Date: Aug. 18, 1955
#11. Missouri
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 18.18 inches
– Location: Edgerton
– Date: July 20, 1965
#10. Tennessee
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 20.73 inches
– Location: McEwen
– Date: Aug. 21, 2021
#9. Georgia
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 21.1 inches
– Location: Americus
– Date: July 6, 1994
#8. Louisiana
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 22 inches
– Location: Hackberry
– Date: Aug. 28, 1962
#7. North Carolina
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 22.22 inches
– Location: Altapass
– Date: July 15, 1916
#6. Florida
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 23.28 inches
– Location: Key West
– Date: Nov. 11, 1980
#5. Puerto Rico
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 23.75 inches
– Location: Toro Negro Forest
– Date: Oct. 7, 1985
#4. California
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 25.83 inches
– Location: Hoegees Camp
– Date: Jan. 22, 1943
#3. Alabama
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 32.52 inches
– Location: Dauphin Island Sea Lab
– Date: July 19, 1997
#2. Texas
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 42 inches
– Location: Alvin
– Date: July 25, 1979
#1. Hawaii
– All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 49.69 inches
– Location: Waipā Garden (Kauai)
– Date: April 14, 2018 | https://www.krqe.com/news-resources/ranking/record-rainfall-in-every-state/ | 2023-07-30T12:39:13 | 1 | https://www.krqe.com/news-resources/ranking/record-rainfall-in-every-state/ |
BALTIMORE (AP) — Aaron Judge is giving the New York Yankees an immediate boost — at a time when their front office has some tough decisions to make.
Judge homered and singled twice in his second game back from the injured list and the Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-3 on Saturday night. Giancarlo Stanton and Kyle Higashioka went deep as well for New York, which is still 3 1/2 games behind Toronto and Houston for the last two wild cards in the American League.
That’s a tricky spot with Tuesday’s trade deadline approaching.
“We’ve had years where we stick with who we got. We’ve had years where we get some bullpen arms, starters, a big bat,” Judge said. “It comes down to us doing our job on the field and then letting them take care of the rest. We’ll see what happens.”
The Yankees knocked out struggling Orioles starter Tyler Wells (7-6) in the third inning. In the sixth, Isiah Kiner-Falefa capped a 10-pitch at-bat with a three-run double to make it 8-3.
Judge has three walks and three hits in nine plate appearances since returning Friday from the toe injury that kept him out since early June.
Ryan Mountcastle homered for the Orioles, but Clarke Schmidt (7-6) made it through five tough innings and the New York bullpen took it from there.
The Orioles remained 1 1/2 games ahead of Tampa Bay atop the AL East.
Judge walked three times Friday night, but the Yankees lost that game 1-0 on a ninth-inning homer by Baltimore’s Anthony Santander. New York’s offense was relentless a night later.
Stanton’s first-inning drive easily cleared the big wall in left field at Camden Yards. Mountcastle tied it in the second, and Baltimore went ahead 2-1 on an RBI infield single by Ramón Urías. That lead was short-lived.
Judge hit a two-run shot — 442 feet to center field — in the third. Then Gleyber Torres added a sacrifice fly an inning later.
Santander made it 4-3 with an RBI groundout in the fifth, but New York broke the game open in the sixth. Cole Irvin allowed a leadoff homer by Higashioka — his third hit of the night — and then one-out singles to Judge, Stanton and Anthony Rizzo.
Bryan Baker came in and struck out DJ LeMahieu, but after fouling off five pitches, Kiner-Falefa cleared the bases with a line drive to left.
“One of the best at-bats of the season right there,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
Wells entered the game with a major league-leading WHIP of 0.99, but he allowed three runs, three hits and three walks in 2 2/3 innings. In three starts since the All-Star break, he’s lasted just nine innings total.
“I think we’re going to be talking about a lot of things here coming up,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “Obviously, we’re in a weird week. He’s had tough times his last few starts. I think there are going to be discussions going on.”
Boone said he’s leaning toward giving Judge a day off in the series finale Sunday night. The Yankees are in a stretch of 13 games in 13 days.
“I kind of look at it as, hopefully he’s in a position to start nine or 10 of them,” Boone said. “Forget the toe. He hasn’t come close to playing games for almost two months. As much as I want him in there, we’ve got to be smart here a little bit, especially in this run.”
DIFFERENT ORDER
The Orioles used catcher Adley Rutschman in the leadoff spot because of his ability to get on base. He was hit by a pitch, walked and scored a run.
UP NEXT
New York’s Luis Severino (2-4) starts Sunday night against Baltimore’s Dean Kremer (10-4). It’s the final game of the season series, which is tied 6-all.
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Follow Noah Trister at https://twitter.com/noahtrister
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-aaron-judge-has-a-homer-and-3-hits-in-his-2nd-game-back-to-help-the-yankees-top-the-orioles-8-3/ | 2023-07-30T12:39:13 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-aaron-judge-has-a-homer-and-3-hits-in-his-2nd-game-back-to-help-the-yankees-top-the-orioles-8-3/ |
BALTIMORE (AP) — Aaron Judge homered for the first time since returning from a toe injury, sending a 442-foot drive over the wall in center field in the third inning against Baltimore on Saturday night.
The two-run shot gave the New York Yankees a 3-2 advantage. Giancarlo Stanton hit a solo homer in the first.
Judge was hitless since returning Friday, although he drew three walks in that game. He hit a towering flyout in his first plate appearance Saturday. Then he connected off Tyler Wells two innings later.
It was his 20th home run of the season. Judge started in right field Saturday after he was the designated hitter Friday.
Judge had been out since tearing a ligament in his right big toe June 3.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-aaron-judge-slugs-442-foot-homer-in-2nd-game-back-for-yankees-from-toe-injury/ | 2023-07-30T12:39:20 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-aaron-judge-slugs-442-foot-homer-in-2nd-game-back-for-yankees-from-toe-injury/ |
TORONTO (AP) — Los Angeles Angels manager Phil Nevin was suspended for one game and fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball on Saturday for a postgame outburst at an umpire following a loss to the Toronto Blue Jays a night earlier.
Bench coach Ray Montgomery managed the Angels during the second game of the three-game series as Nevin served his suspension.
Nevin was seen holding up a tablet computer and yelling at plate umpire Mike Estabrook as the crew left the field after the 4-1 loss Friday night.
The umpires access their locker room through the tunnel at the end of the visitor’s dugout on the first base side of Rogers Centre.
A Toronto police officer accompanied the umpire crew as it descended the dugout steps. Montgomery had to restrain Nevin as the umpires passed through the end of the dugout.
Nevin was angry about the game-ending called third strike against pinch hitter Michael Stefanic, who entered in the ninth inning with the bases loaded after Shohei Ohtani left because of cramping in both of his calves.
“I just explained to him that I thought the pitch to Stefanic was outside,” Nevin later told reporters.
Ohtani hit his major league-leading 39th home run in the series opener — part of a streak of three homers in three at-bats over two games — before exiting early.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-angels-manager-phil-nevin-suspended-1-game-for-outburst-at-umpire/ | 2023-07-30T12:39:27 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-angels-manager-phil-nevin-suspended-1-game-for-outburst-at-umpire/ |
TORONTO (AP) — Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward was taken to a Toronto hospital for tests after being hit in the head by a pitch from Blue Jays right-hander Alek Manoah in the fifth inning Saturday.
Angels manager Phil Nevin said he planned to visit Ward in the hospital after leaving the stadium following the Angels’ 6-1 loss.
Batting with the bases loaded, Ward was hit by a 2-0 pitch clocked at 91 mph. The ball appeared to strike Ward next to his next left eye, knocking off his batting helmet.
“It got him pretty flush,” Nevin said.
Plate umpire Andy Fletcher motioned to the Angels’ dugout for the trainer as Ward went down with blood running down his face.
“It’s scary,” Angels left-hander Reid Detmers said. “You’re just hoping and praying that he’s all right, that he gets up.”
Angels trainers rushed to the plate and held a towel to Ward’s face. After a couple of minutes, Ward got to his feet and left the field on a cart. His left eye appeared to be swollen shut.
“Obviously it didn’t look very good,” Angels infielder Mike Moustakas said. “Hopefully we get some good news here in a little bit. We’re all praying for him.”
Manoah put his hands on his head as he stood on the mound. It was the second hit batter of the game for Manoah, who hit Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani on the left foot in the first.
Andrew Velazquez ran for Ward, who drove in the first run of the game. Velazquez went to shortstop and Luis Rengifo, who scored on the play, moved to left field in the bottom of the inning.
Asked whether the Angels might visit Ward in hospital, Moustakas said he thought it was better to let his teammate rest.
“I’m sure we’ll all send him some text messages and see how he’s doing, but I don’t know if going over there is a good thing,” Moustakas said. “I don’t think that’s the right thing to do right now. Let him rest and recover, get healthy.”
Before play resumed, Blue Jays manager John Schneider came to the mound and replaced Manoah with left-hander Génesis Cabrera.
After the game, Manoah called it “a terrible moment.”
“That’s probably the worst feeling ever,” Manoah said. “Definitely want to pray for him and his family. That’s the last thing you want to do, no matter the situation, no matter the team, no matter anything. I feel really bad about it. I’ll definitely be looking to see how he’s doing.”
In September 2021, Manoah hit Oakland’s Starling Marte in the helmet with a 92 mph pitch. Marte stayed in the game to run the bases but was later replaced.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-angels-outfielder-taylor-ward-leaves-game-after-being-hit-in-head-by-alek-manoah-pitch/ | 2023-07-30T12:39:33 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-angels-outfielder-taylor-ward-leaves-game-after-being-hit-in-head-by-alek-manoah-pitch/ |
Dear Abby: Friend's teasing spouse ducks out during visits
Dear Abby,
About 10 years ago, I visited my oldest and dearest friend, who I see a few times a year. The last time, her husband, who I've also known for years and who I thought was a friend, started teasing me. I can take a joke, but the teasing got mean. Eventually he stopped, and I continued my visit.
I was really angry at him, but because I didn't want to involve my friend, I sent him an email. I told him I thought his teasing went too far and to please not do it again. He never replied. Now when I visit my friend, her husband is never there. He stays away. I haven't seen him in years.
My friend makes silly excuses why he isn't at home when I visit. In fact, the last time I went I saw him driving away when I drove up! I don't hold a grudge against the guy. I think it's sad that he has to run away. Should I say something?
— Perplexed in California
No. You dealt with your friend's husband appropriately without involving his wife. Enjoy your visits with her, and do not drag her into this. I see no reason to raise the subject. Your problem is solved.Dear Abby,
I'm a gentleman who would like to date more than I do. I want to ask a woman in my church choir out for coffee or lunch on a Sunday afternoon. But I get so nervous I get knots in my stomach. I know dating is one of the things I need to leave in God's hands and have His help in getting over the nerves.
I like my friend in the choir a lot. I think she's a wonderful and caring person. I want to get to know her better because, even though we've said "Hi" and "Bye" and exchanged glances during choir practice on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings, I don't know her heart and what makes her tick. Can you offer some advice?
— Painfully Shy in Missouri
Start treating the woman as you would a friend rather than a love interest. Asking a fellow choir member to join you for coffee afterward or for a lunch could be a healthy, nonthreatening beginning of a relationship. (Notice I didn't use the word "romance.") Because you want to get to know her better, summon your courage and let her get to know YOU better. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.Dear Abby,
I have a friend I occasionally meet for breakfast. She always stops someplace en route and brings takeout coffee into the restaurant. I am often kept waiting because she's in a drive-thru getting that drink. I find it embarrassing that she joins me with drink in hand from elsewhere. How should I handle this?
— Embarrassed in the East
Ask your friend why she does it. It's possible she simply doesn't like the coffee that restaurant serves, although she does enjoy their food and your company. I don't think you should tell her it embarrasses you, because it is really no reflection ON you.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069. | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/lifestyle/advice/2023/07/30/dear-abby-friends-teasing-spouse-ducks-out-during-visits/70413033007/ | 2023-07-30T12:39:40 | 1 | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/lifestyle/advice/2023/07/30/dear-abby-friends-teasing-spouse-ducks-out-during-visits/70413033007/ |
COLFAX, Iowa (AP) — In the small central Iowa town of Colfax, thousands of cyclists participating in the largest and oldest recreational bike ride in the world were stopped along its historic main street, staring ahead at a daunting climb that would lead them out of town.
The hill, coupled with soaring temps and the vibrant downtown, made a morning sitting in the shade quite appealing.
It’s become almost simplistic to say that “small-town America” is slowly dying. That opportunities for young people have dried up, just like businesses and main streets. That the only way forward in life involves moving to a big city. But the reality is towns such as Colfax are flourishing, and that was especially evident on RAGBRAI, the annual bike ride across the state, where dozens of small towns dotting the 500-mile route welcomed some 50,000 riders with open arms.
Colfax is a prime example. It experienced a nearly 8% increase in population from the 2010 census to the most recent in 2020, turning around two decades of decline. Its population of 2,255 represented its highest since the 1990s.
Sure, many small towns are still struggling, but what has allowed those such as Colfax to thrive?
“Mostly, a wonderful mayor and council and volunteers that just ensure a vital community,” explains Wade Wagoner, the former city manager for the small town of Lake Park, and now the city administrator for Colfax.
“Des Moines and the metro growing to the east doesn’t hurt,” Wagoner said. “Also, the fact that we still have a high school and citizens just approved a $14 million bond for athletic and academic improvements make people want to raise a family here.”
Wagoner underscores that location is important. After the COVID-19 pandemic, when many jobs became partially or fully remote, people who may have once worked in a city could suddenly live just about anywhere, including small towns across America.
Wagoner goes on to talk about the smallest Fareway grocery store in the state, the coffee shop and bank and city hall, all of which make for a bustling hub. There’s also a rich history with mineral water that makes Colfax’s downtown large for its size.
In other words, Colfax has leaned into its strengths to create a community that people want to call home.
And every few years, big events such as RAGBRAI roll through, giving them a chance to shine.
“Lots of trash and (Port-o-potties,” Wagoner said of the traveling circus, “but it is actually pretty cool. It lets us show off the town and certain businesses do make some money. Others find it a pain. But it’s only for a single day.”
If nothing else, the horde of cyclists are good for making money.
In Polk City, between the busy metros of Ames and Des Moines, high school students collected money to fund their after-prom party. Elsewhere on the ride, residents of Slater were using donations to build a new community center and library. In Breda, where the route went through Monday, the town was trying to raise $300,000 to replace the lights at its baseball grandstand, which was built in 1946 and has withstood the test of time.
Breda, population 500, is another example of a small town doing well. It has steadily gained residents for the past 30 years.
In the quiet hamlet of Oxford, just past the fire department and the Deja Brew Coffee House & Bakery, four boys took turns in a dunk tank Friday as cyclists passed through on a day of unrelenting heat — the index topped out at 112 degrees.
For just $5, riders got three shots at the tank. All the proceeds went to their little league program.
The boys were winning on two fronts: staying cool and making cash.
The population of Slater, just north of Polk City, has steadily grown the past three decades.
“Many young families have moved into Slater recently for the school system, and safety of our small town, and ease of getting around,” said Evy Raes of the Slater Area Historical Association. “Our sense of community was tested when a derecho roared through in August 2020. Never fear: anyone with a pickup truck, a chain saw and a six-pack was out in the streets after the storm, helping neighbors clear and dispose of the debris. People really pulled together and no one was a stranger.”
That sense of community isn’t always felt in bigger cities. And more than anything, Raes said, that has helped them to thrive.
“We are a small town with big ideals,” Raes said. “Many people who move into Slater feel an instant connection with the community. It is said though, ‘Don’t gossip about anybody who’s lived here awhile, because they may be related to the person you’re talking to.’ My family has lived here over 74 years, and some days we feel like the new people.”
Turns out that, at least in some small towns, there are in fact plenty of new people.
___
Dave Skretta is a Kansas City, Missouri-based AP Sports Writer. He grew up in the small-but-vibrant northeast Iowa town of Decorah and and has ridden RAGBRAI many times, though he’s never written about it while doing it. Skretta wrote periodic updates from the road. He covered 579 miles from start to finish.
___
AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-bike-ride-across-iowa-puts-vibrant-small-town-america-into-sharp-focus/ | 2023-07-30T12:39:41 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-bike-ride-across-iowa-puts-vibrant-small-town-america-into-sharp-focus/ |
What happened at Aquapalooza? Why one state official is calling the outcome 'miraculous'
Aquapalooza, the unsanctioned floating party that draws more than 1,000 boaters and Jet Skiers to Prudence Island's Potter Cove on the last Saturday of July, resulted in a slew of citations and arrests but no major injuries this year.
"We caught a huge break with the weather," said Michael Healey, a spokesman for the Department of Environmental Management, which was one of the many agencies keeping a close eye on the event.
A line of severe thunderstorms had been expected to pass over Narragansett Bay in the afternoon, which could have resulted in a disastrous scenario if hundreds of boaters, many of whom had been drinking, had all attempted to leave amid high winds and heavy rains.
More:These Newport Folk Festival performances served up legendary music, historic events
But that didn't happen. Instead, a few attendees were transported to the mainland for medical attention because of the extreme heat, Healey said on Saturday evening. One Jet Ski sank, and its operator was charged with "boating under the influence."
"As far as we know at this point, there were no major injuries, which is tremendous news," Healey said. "It's honestly miraculous."
A long list of government agencies — the Portsmouth Police Department, Portsmouth Fire Department, Warwick Police Department, Providence Police Department, Rhode Island State Police, and the U.S. Coast Guard, in addition to the DEM — patrolled the event from the water.
Summer Bucket List:How to make the most out of summers in Rhode Island
As of Saturday evening, there had been two boating under the influence arrests – one conducted by Warwick and one by Portsmouth – and one disorderly conduct arrest. Additionally, about 10 to 15 people received citations for other boating violations that didn't involve alcohol, Healey said.
"It’s such a strain on law enforcement," Healey said, estimating that that the cost of monitoring the event to ensure public safety adds up to tens of thousands of dollars. "I think every Rhode Islander who doesn’t have a boat, who wasn’t at Aquapalooza today, should think about that."
The event drew about 1,000 boats and personal watercraft such as Jet Skis, a similar number to last year, Healey said. He added that in recent years, the number of Jet Skis seems to have grown.
One consequence of the festivities: There will be no clamming allowed in Potter's Cove and the surrounding area for a week.
Due to "the risk of accidental and illicit discharge of sewage" when so many boaters gather in an undeveloped area with no facilities, the popular shellfishing destination will be closed until sunrise on Aug. 5, the DEM announced on Thursday. | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2023/07/30/aquapalooza-2023-portsmouth-rhode-island-ends-with-arrests-and-citations-no-major-injuries/70491827007/ | 2023-07-30T12:39:46 | 1 | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2023/07/30/aquapalooza-2023-portsmouth-rhode-island-ends-with-arrests-and-citations-no-major-injuries/70491827007/ |
ÉVIAN-LES-BAINS, France (AP) — Céline Boutier carded a 4-under 67 in the third round of the Évian Championship on Saturday to increase her lead to four shots going into the final day.
The 29-year-old Boutier aims to become the first Frenchwoman to win the tournament, which became a major in 2013.
“I didn’t start that good to be honest. I missed the first three greens but got a good break on 2 and was able to chip in. Then I just had really good chances on the two par-fives, seven and nine, and was able to take advantage of that,” said Boutier, who had a bogey on the 12th hole in a round of five birdies.
“I was just trying to focus on making, hitting a good shot, and if I happen to have a birdie opportunity, I hit a solid putt. It was definitely positive and felt pretty good to start very good on the front.”
Boutier’s closest challenger is Japan’s Nasa Hataoka, who posted a 68 on Saturday after rounds of 70 and 67.
“Hopefully I will get more birdies tomorrow. It was good iron shots and distance control,” Hataoka said. “Also I was good too with my putting stroke, so I was really comfortable. Tomorrow is another new day, and I want to enjoy the next 18 holes.”
Minjee Lee of Australia and Brooke Henderson of Canada are joint-third, a shot behind Hataoka.
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-boutier-takes-4-shot-lead-into-final-round-of-evian-championship/ | 2023-07-30T12:39:48 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-boutier-takes-4-shot-lead-into-final-round-of-evian-championship/ |
Got a letter about North Kingstown's data breach? Here's why the town had your information
The Town of North Kingstown says there's no reason to panic if you're one of the 103,000 people who received a letter about a data breach in the mail last week.
"Please know that we have no indication that your data has been used or compromised," says a notice that was posted on the town's website on Friday. "This letter is being sent due to your name simply being in our system and out of an abundance of caution, we are offering complimentary access to a credit monitoring service."
North Kingstown fell victim to a ransomware attack in April, and mailed out notices about the "security incident" last week. Since then, officials have been inundated with "hundreds of phone calls," the town's statement says.
More:Local probate judge among group charged with theft of millions from Cranston man's estate
The notices inform recipients that their personal information — including name, address, Social Security number and driver's license number — may have been "affected" by the breach. However, there's no indication that data was "used or compromised," the letters say.
The letters weren't just sent to North Kingstown residents, but also to thousands of other people who may not have known that their information was stored somewhere on the town's computers. As a result, they've generated widespread confusion.
"There could be several reasons why your name was in our system,'" the town's statement says. "Traffic incidents, police reports, fire service, beach passes, marriage certificates, municipal court and probate court matters are just some of the reasons your name was included."
More:Lawsuit alleges smells from Woonsocket sewage plant are a nuisance
Another source of confusion: Though the mass-mailed letters feature North Kingstown's town seal and Town Manager Ralph Mollis' signature, the return address is a post office box in Suwanee, Georgia — leading some recipients to suspect a scam.
"Please note — this is not a scam — this is a legitimate letter," the message on the town's website says.
Anyone who receives one of the letters is eligible for two years of free credit monitoring from Equifax. The letter contains details about how to sign up. | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2023/07/30/north-kingstown-data-breach-town-explains-security-incident-letters/70492739007/ | 2023-07-30T12:39:52 | 0 | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2023/07/30/north-kingstown-data-breach-town-explains-security-incident-letters/70492739007/ |
PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Mercury say All-Star center Brittney Griner will not travel for the team’s next two games so she can focus on her mental health.
The 6-foot-9 center — who became an international story during her 10-month detainment in Russia last year — is averaging 18.2 points and 6.7 rebounds over 20 games this season.
“The Mercury fully support Brittney and we will continue to work together on a timeline for her return,” the team said in a statement on Saturday.
Griner’s impressive individual season hasn’t translated to success for the Mercury, who have a 6-17 record and fired Vanessa Nygaard earlier in the season.
The Mercury’s tough season and coaching change are among the multiple challenges Griner has faced in her return to the WNBA following her ordeal in Russia on drug-related charges that caused her to miss the entire 2022 season.
Griner and her teammates were confronted by what the WNBA called a “provocateur” at the Dallas airport in June and she’s also dealt with a hip injury that caused her to miss a handful of games.
Griner will miss road games against Chicago on Sunday and Indiana on Tuesday.
___
Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-brittney-griner-wont-travel-for-next-2-games-to-focus-on-her-mental-health-team-says/ | 2023-07-30T12:39:55 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-brittney-griner-wont-travel-for-next-2-games-to-focus-on-her-mental-health-team-says/ |
Providence Journal columnist Bill Reynolds loved his craft and was willing to share it | Opinion
Richard Lawrence teaches English at Mount Saint Charles Academy.
Teaching writing is no easy task.
During the initial week of my classes each year with high school seniors, one of the first things I tell them is that I am committed to helping them to find and learn how to write in their own unique writing voice.
Not an easy thing to describe.
Not an easy thing for them to understand
Not an easy thing for them to learn.
More:For What It's Worth: Friends pay tribute to the great Bill Reynolds
I tell them that as they have come through elementary, middle and high school, they have been taught a lot of dos and don'ts about writing.
Avoid the don’ts and you might become a decent writer − they are told.
But not so fast I tell them − as they are ready to make a fast track to some place of higher learning. It is important as a writer, I tell them, to develop an authenticity in what they put on paper. They need to find their own unique writing voice.
At first, they look at me out of the corner of their eyes and give me a look that says "what on earth are you talking about? We are going off to college soon. We already know how to put words on paper."
But none of that deters me. I go on my way, day after day, week after week, showing them what I mean and then having them try something similar.
More:So long Bunky, you'll be missed: Bill Reynolds, Providence Journal columnist, remembered
And in this process, I am always looking for models. Writers with a certain uniqueness of voice that makes it clear to the reader that they are writing in a very personal and authentic voice.
About 10 years ago when Bill Reynolds was still writing for The Providence Journal, I thought to myself: Here is an example of someone who is writing in his own unique voice. I was one of his biggest fans. It was not unusual for me to go to his column to read first on the days when it was published.
A number of years ago, in a moment of madness (something that occurs with great frequency in my life), I thought, "What the heck. I think I will invite Bill Reynolds to come to my classes and speak about his writing craft. He might ignore it or … maybe, just maybe, he might accept an invitation from a perfect stranger.”
I invited him.
He accepted the invitation.
And he came and spoke to both of my senior English classes.
He was great. Talking with my students and not at them as he tried to give some of his successful writing secrets away.
More:Bill Reynolds among 9 who will be inducted into RI Heritage Hall of Fame
When he completed his task and was out the door, he left me with these thoughts: What acclaimed and award-winning writer would accept an invitation from a perfect stranger and come to speak to a group of teenagers (probably most of whom never read a newspaper)?
Bill Reynolds would.
When he finally retired from writing his weekly column in The Journal, I was selfishly (probably like a legion of others) disappointed.
And now he is gone. Taken too early. He definitely made his mark on the reading public with his writing. That certainly will be part of his legacy. But not all.
Because I also knew Bill Reynolds − although only for the briefest of times − for his generosity of spirit and for his good will. And for his willingness to share his talents with the next generation of writers. That too will be missed. | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/opinion/columns/2023/07/30/talking-with-my-students-and-not-at-them-as-he-tried-to-give-some-of-his-successful-writing-secrets/70416268007/ | 2023-07-30T12:39:58 | 1 | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/opinion/columns/2023/07/30/talking-with-my-students-and-not-at-them-as-he-tried-to-give-some-of-his-successful-writing-secrets/70416268007/ |
Consumer demand for speed and convenience drives labor unrest among workers in Hollywood and at UPS
NEW YORK (AP) — Six straight days of 12-hour driving. Single-digit paychecks. The complaints come from workers in vastly different industries: UPS delivery drivers and Hollywood actors and writers.
But they point to an underlying factor driving a surge of labor unrest: The cost to workers whose jobs have changed drastically as companies scramble to meet customer expectations for speed and convenience in industries transformed by technology.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated those changes, pushing retailers to shift online and intensifying the streaming competition among entertainment companies. Now, from the picket lines, workers are trying to give consumers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to produce a show that can be binged any time or get dog food delivered to their doorstep with a phone swipe.
Overworked and underpaid employees is an enduring complaint across industries — from delivery drivers to Starbucks baristas and airline pilots — where surges in consumer demand have collided with persistent labor shortages. Workers are pushing back against forced overtime, punishing schedules or company reliance on lower-paid, part-time or contract forces.
At issue for Hollywood screenwriters and actors staging their first simultaneous strikes in 40 years is the way streaming has upended entertainment economics, slashing pay and forcing showrunners to produce content faster with smaller teams.
“This seems to happen to many places when the tech companies come in. Who are we crushing? It doesn’t matter,” said Danielle Sanchez-Witzel, a screenwriter and showrunner on the negotiating team for the Writers Guild of America, whose members have been on strike since May. Earlier this month, the Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists joined the writers’ union on the picket line.
Actors and writers have long relied on residuals, or long-term payments, for reruns and other airings of films and television shows. But reruns aren’t a thing on streaming services, where series and films simply land and stay with no easy way, such as box office returns or ratings, to determine their popularity.
Consequently, whatever residuals streaming companies do pay often amount to a pittance, and screenwriters have been sharing tales of receiving single-digit checks.
Adam Shapiro, an actor known for the Netflix hit “Never Have I Ever,” said many actors were initially content to accept lower pay for the plethora of roles that streaming suddenly offered. But the need for a more sustainable compensation model gained urgency when it became clear streaming is not a sideshow, but rather the future of the business, he said.
“Over the past 10 years, we realized: ‘Oh, that’s now how Hollywood works. Everything is streaming,’” Shapiro said during a recent union event.
Shapiro, who has been acting for 25 years, said he agreed to a contract offering 20% of his normal rate for “Never Have I Ever” because it seemed like “a great opportunity, and it’s going to be all over the world. And it was. It really was. Unfortunately, we’re all starting to realize that if we keep doing this we’re not going to be able to pay our bills.”
Then there’s the rising use of “mini rooms,” in which a handful of writers are hired to work only during pre-production, sometimes for a series that may take a year to be greenlit, or never get picked up at all.
Sanchez-Witzel, co-creator of the recently released Netflix series “Survival of the Thickest,” said television shows traditionally hire robust writing teams for the duration of production. But Netflix refused to allow her to keep her team of five writers past pre-production, forcing round-the-clock work on rewrites with just one other writer.
“It’s not sustainable and I’ll never do that again,” she said.
Sanchez-Witzel said she was struck by the similarities between her experience and those of UPS drivers, some of whom joined the WGA for protests as they threatened their own potentially crippling strike. UPS and the Teamsters last week reached a tentative contract staving off the strike.
Jeffrey Palmerino, a full-time UPS driver near Albany, New York, said forced overtime emerged as a top issue during the pandemic as drivers coped with a crush of orders on par with the holiday season. Drivers never knew what time they would get home or if they could count on two days off each week, while 14-hour days in trucks without air conditioning became the norm.
“It was basically like Christmas on steroids for two straight years. A lot of us were forced to work six days a week, and that is not any way to live your life,” said Palmerino, a Teamsters shop steward.
Along with pay raises and air conditioning, the Teamsters won concessions that Palmerino hopes will ease overwork. UPS agreed to end forced overtime on days off and eliminate a lower-paid category of drivers who work shifts that include weekends, converting them to full-time drivers. Union members have yet to ratify the deal.
The Teamsters and labor activists hailed the tentative deal as a game-changer that would pressure other companies facing labor unrest to raise their standards. But similar outcomes are far from certain in industries lacking the sheer economic indispensability of UPS or the clout of its 340,000-member union.
Efforts to organize at Starbucks and Amazon stalled as both companies aggressively fought against unionization.
Still, labor protests will likely gain momentum following the UPS contract, said Patricia Campos-Medina, executive director of the Worker Institute at the School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, which released a report this year that found the number of labor strikes rose 52% in 2022.
“The whole idea that consumer convenience is above everything broke down during the pandemic. We started to think, ‘I’m at home ordering, but there is actually a worker who has to go the grocery store, who has to cook this for me so that I can be comfortable,’” Campos-Medina said.
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Associated Press video journalist Leslie Ambriz contributed from Los Angeles.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2023/07/30/consumer-demand-speed-convenience-drives-labor-unrest-among-workers-hollywood-ups/ | 2023-07-30T12:40:00 | 0 | https://www.wnem.com/2023/07/30/consumer-demand-speed-convenience-drives-labor-unrest-among-workers-hollywood-ups/ |
(CNN) — Christian leadership in the US has typically been seen as a male occupation. The right for women to be ordained and serve as faith leaders has been hard-won over decades, and in several major factions, like the Roman Catholic and Southern Baptist churches, women are barred from the highest levels of leadership.
However, among mainstream denominations that do ordain women, a sea change is occurring. More women are entering seminary and other theological programs with the intent of becoming priests. As it follows, more women are also occupying those roles after being ordained.
Experts say one of the main reasons for the increase is that women of faith are looking at their religious traditions and sensing a need for change.
“Women — and men — in the church, have seen abuse and suffering. They’ve seen the role of the patriarchy in the church. They want to address constructively some of these challenges that have been facing both the church and in our society,” says Alexis Abernethy, chief academic officer at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. “They’re saying, ‘Enough of this. We need to be different.’ So I think a lot of these women are marshaling energy in that direction.”
However, female priests still face an alarming number of challenges navigating institutional structures built by and for men — challenges that are similar to those faced by women in other workplaces. These challenges also sow deep examinations of faith: If church traditions have historically marginalized women and others, what leads those who have been excluded to forge on anyway?
How the presence of women church leaders has grown
The definitions of Christian leaders, the process by which they are selected and the specific credentials needed to fill such positions vary from denomination to denomination. A church leader could be called a priest, a pastor, a rector, a minister or some other term. Ordination is the process by which someone is given the authority for these positions, and there is sometimes a hierarchy within each position. Oftentimes, training at a seminary or theological institution is necessary for ordination. This process can get a little murky with some groups that have less centralized leadership structures. However, numbers across different denominations reveal the same pattern: More women in training, more women being ordained.
Let’s look at a specific example: In the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, a large denomination with about 4 million members in the US, 40% of the church’s pastors are women, according to a 2022 report from the church. Women also made up 46% of all bishop positions, and 54% of associate or assistant pastors (though only 22% of senior pastor positions). Across the board, these numbers marked a dramatic increase from the ELCA’s 2015 data. (The ELCA began ordaining women in 1970.)
Research from noted theologian Eileen Campbell-Reed paints a broader picture. Her 2018 report reveals the proportion of US clergy who are women rose from 2.3% in 1960 to 20.7% in 2016. She also noted most mainline denominations have seen their proportion of clergywomen rise in multiples since the early 1990s. In some denominations, like Unitarian Universalists and the United Church of Christ, the number of women in clergy positions has pulled even with men.
How women can change the church that is
Fuller Theological Seminary, where Abernethy works, is one of the largest seminaries in the US and one with a noted history of championing female faith leaders.
“The question used to be whether women should even be pastors, but that’s not as critical a question anymore in some denominations,” she tells CNN. “Now the question is, how can we make the environment in which women are pastors more fruitful, productive and supportive?”
She says having women in roles of power can help amend church structures that are inhospitable to underrepresented people and clear wider paths for acceptance and empowerment among communities.
“Power and privilege is not always a bad thing. Sometimes it can mean the opportunity to speak and share your perspective,” she says. “Folks who’ve been marginalized or oppressed, have a clearer radar regarding things like power and when it’s abusive, or when people are being excluded. At their best, they would then not set up systems that perpetuate that exclusion — although that requires courage and energy and people need to be attentive to that fact.”
When considering women in the priesthood, this history of exclusion can appear to be a major conflict. The argument against women in Christian leadership is largely based on a specific interpretation of the Bible, but even in cultures where the theology has been decided in favor of women, they still face things like lower pay, less opportunities, and inconsistent support in areas like maternity leave.
However, Abernethy says it’s because of this history that a lot of women feel called to such work.
“I’ve heard over my 25 years in this field, that women want to be a part of the movement for change. Even recognizing that they may not at this moment, or in this decade, serve in a way they want to, there are playing a role in contributing to that change,” she says. “And I have to tell you, I hear that with admiration because it really is quite a sacrifice. And yet, you understand. Because how would we have we gotten to the place we are without women, without other people, doing the same thing in the past?”
How women can create the church that will be
Emily Badgett is a fellow at Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta. A lifelong Episcopalian, Emily grew up with a supportive network of family, friends and mentors and plans to be ordained in 2024.
Whether training for a clergy role or already occupying one, community and mentorship are critical for women in the church. In Badgett’s case, these circles have also been a way to find specific purpose in faith.
“Working with my older church mentors, we often look back at the early church mothers and how, at the very beginning of Christianity, there were a lot of women doing this work,” she tells CNN. “They were community organizers. Many of them literally ran churches as administrators and secretaries.”
Badgett recalls a trip to a Tanzanian church where the women showed her what they called “trunk archives” — years and years of church records, safely tucked away in, yes, trunks.
“They were passed down from woman to woman, and we wouldn’t have that documentation without them,” she says.
In addition to shedding light on the ways women have always contributed to the church, Badgett says she also sees her contemporaries looking at priesthood as something more than a staid, traditional profession. The women in her circles see their calling as an opportunity for activism, justice and a reinvigoration of faith.
“When it comes to its social duties, the church kind of gets, in my opinion, lazy,” she says. “And when we saw the pandemic happen you saw the church kind of reinvent itself because it had gotten so comfortable in its existence.”
Activism as part of the Christian church life is not a universally recognized concept. Some communities prefer to stay out of political tides and have hesitated at formulating clear public stances on what could be considered nonreligious issues. Moments of upheaval like the racial justice movements of 2020 and the multilateral impact of the pandemic tested these outlooks. However, for many women entering religious leadership, the relationship between pastoral work and social responsibility is inextricable to their identity.
“The thing about women, and specifically women of color, is that it’s never a singular thing,” Suzie Sang, the director of the Women in Leadership Initiative at Fuller, tells CNN. “It’s always a multiplicity of things that make up their identity and their place in the world. So women and women of color have never really served just one function or one role. To them, justice and advocacy is never separate from the gospel, and it’s never separate from their theological framing.”
Today, American Christianity is in a place of crisis. Church attendance is falling, less people are identifying as Christians, and some of the religion’s biggest denominations are stuck at controversial crossroads. The Southern Baptist Convention recently expelled several women-led churches, and ousted several female leaders. The Methodist Church has been fraying over the fallout from a decision by the denomination’s international governing body to deny same-sex marriage and the ordination of LGBTQ clergy.
Sang says women who belong to faiths that don’t align with their views on how the church should be — for instance, in terms of gender outlook, face an added challenge when they feel called to the clergy.
“Women already need to make so many difficult choices when looking to seminary (or theological training). They need to think about their plans for a family, about how they will find avenues of support and success in a very difficult field,” she says. “Then, if you are part of denomination that not only doesn’t ordain women but upholds ideas of subservience, you have to say, what is the cost to me? If I feel a sense of call to seminary, will I at some point have to ask the question, ‘Can I stay with my denomination or do I need to go elsewhere?’ And if I have to go elsewhere, where do I go?”
These issues are echoed in our national dialogue, where the influence of Christianity and the rights of women are constantly at the political forefront. From the outside, one could wonder why women — or women of color, or any marginalized person — would seek to wade into such waters against the current of tradition, or of a narrow theology, or of their own upbringing. However, in the language of seminary, one doesn’t just decide to become a priest. They are called, they discern their purpose, and they feel moved to help others. They weigh a lot of heavy decision in the balance. If they decide to seek leadership in spite of prejudice and uncertainty, it’s not because they think their religion is perfect. It’s because they can see the good in it, and hope they can make it better.
“The church is not perfect, it’s not a heaven. It is a human institution trying to do the will of God and that means we’re going to fail,” Badgett says. “And that means the church is not always going to get things right. Even in the Bible, there were people who got things wrong. The whole point is people are redeemable. And the church is a redeemable place.”
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wlfi.com/news/national/more-women-are-aiming-to-become-church-leaders-together-they-could-change-american-christianity/article_20d9bc6c-e359-536d-9db0-905e46036dfd.html | 2023-07-30T12:40:00 | 1 | https://www.wlfi.com/news/national/more-women-are-aiming-to-become-church-leaders-together-they-could-change-american-christianity/article_20d9bc6c-e359-536d-9db0-905e46036dfd.html |
Consumer demand for speed and convenience drives labor unrest among workers in Hollywood and at UPS
NEW YORK (AP) — Six straight days of 12-hour driving. Single-digit paychecks. The complaints come from workers in vastly different industries: UPS delivery drivers and Hollywood actors and writers.
But they point to an underlying factor driving a surge of labor unrest: The cost to workers whose jobs have changed drastically as companies scramble to meet customer expectations for speed and convenience in industries transformed by technology.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated those changes, pushing retailers to shift online and intensifying the streaming competition among entertainment companies. Now, from the picket lines, workers are trying to give consumers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to produce a show that can be binged any time or get dog food delivered to their doorstep with a phone swipe.
Overworked and underpaid employees is an enduring complaint across industries — from delivery drivers to Starbucks baristas and airline pilots — where surges in consumer demand have collided with persistent labor shortages. Workers are pushing back against forced overtime, punishing schedules or company reliance on lower-paid, part-time or contract forces.
At issue for Hollywood screenwriters and actors staging their first simultaneous strikes in 40 years is the way streaming has upended entertainment economics, slashing pay and forcing showrunners to produce content faster with smaller teams.
“This seems to happen to many places when the tech companies come in. Who are we crushing? It doesn’t matter,” said Danielle Sanchez-Witzel, a screenwriter and showrunner on the negotiating team for the Writers Guild of America, whose members have been on strike since May. Earlier this month, the Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists joined the writers’ union on the picket line.
Actors and writers have long relied on residuals, or long-term payments, for reruns and other airings of films and television shows. But reruns aren’t a thing on streaming services, where series and films simply land and stay with no easy way, such as box office returns or ratings, to determine their popularity.
Consequently, whatever residuals streaming companies do pay often amount to a pittance, and screenwriters have been sharing tales of receiving single-digit checks.
Adam Shapiro, an actor known for the Netflix hit “Never Have I Ever,” said many actors were initially content to accept lower pay for the plethora of roles that streaming suddenly offered. But the need for a more sustainable compensation model gained urgency when it became clear streaming is not a sideshow, but rather the future of the business, he said.
“Over the past 10 years, we realized: ‘Oh, that’s now how Hollywood works. Everything is streaming,’” Shapiro said during a recent union event.
Shapiro, who has been acting for 25 years, said he agreed to a contract offering 20% of his normal rate for “Never Have I Ever” because it seemed like “a great opportunity, and it’s going to be all over the world. And it was. It really was. Unfortunately, we’re all starting to realize that if we keep doing this we’re not going to be able to pay our bills.”
Then there’s the rising use of “mini rooms,” in which a handful of writers are hired to work only during pre-production, sometimes for a series that may take a year to be greenlit, or never get picked up at all.
Sanchez-Witzel, co-creator of the recently released Netflix series “Survival of the Thickest,” said television shows traditionally hire robust writing teams for the duration of production. But Netflix refused to allow her to keep her team of five writers past pre-production, forcing round-the-clock work on rewrites with just one other writer.
“It’s not sustainable and I’ll never do that again,” she said.
Sanchez-Witzel said she was struck by the similarities between her experience and those of UPS drivers, some of whom joined the WGA for protests as they threatened their own potentially crippling strike. UPS and the Teamsters last week reached a tentative contract staving off the strike.
Jeffrey Palmerino, a full-time UPS driver near Albany, New York, said forced overtime emerged as a top issue during the pandemic as drivers coped with a crush of orders on par with the holiday season. Drivers never knew what time they would get home or if they could count on two days off each week, while 14-hour days in trucks without air conditioning became the norm.
“It was basically like Christmas on steroids for two straight years. A lot of us were forced to work six days a week, and that is not any way to live your life,” said Palmerino, a Teamsters shop steward.
Along with pay raises and air conditioning, the Teamsters won concessions that Palmerino hopes will ease overwork. UPS agreed to end forced overtime on days off and eliminate a lower-paid category of drivers who work shifts that include weekends, converting them to full-time drivers. Union members have yet to ratify the deal.
The Teamsters and labor activists hailed the tentative deal as a game-changer that would pressure other companies facing labor unrest to raise their standards. But similar outcomes are far from certain in industries lacking the sheer economic indispensability of UPS or the clout of its 340,000-member union.
Efforts to organize at Starbucks and Amazon stalled as both companies aggressively fought against unionization.
Still, labor protests will likely gain momentum following the UPS contract, said Patricia Campos-Medina, executive director of the Worker Institute at the School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, which released a report this year that found the number of labor strikes rose 52% in 2022.
“The whole idea that consumer convenience is above everything broke down during the pandemic. We started to think, ‘I’m at home ordering, but there is actually a worker who has to go the grocery store, who has to cook this for me so that I can be comfortable,’” Campos-Medina said.
___
Associated Press video journalist Leslie Ambriz contributed from Los Angeles.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbtv.com/2023/07/30/consumer-demand-speed-convenience-drives-labor-unrest-among-workers-hollywood-ups/ | 2023-07-30T12:40:02 | 1 | https://www.wbtv.com/2023/07/30/consumer-demand-speed-convenience-drives-labor-unrest-among-workers-hollywood-ups/ |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Bronny James plays piano in a video posted by his father, LeBron James, on Saturday, five days after the teenager went into cardiac arrest during a basketball workout at the University of Southern California.
The 18-year-old plays a brief melody in front of his family, smiles and gets up without speaking in the video posted on his father’s Instagram account. The video doesn’t indicate where or when it was shot.
“A man of many talents,” the Los Angeles Lakers superstar can be heard saying in the background as Bronny finishes playing with his two younger siblings looking on.
TMZ posted photos of Bronny out to dinner with his family, which it says were taken Friday night. They show the teenager with his father outside celebrity hot spot Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica.
Wearing black pants and a zip-up hoodie, Bronny carried his phone while standing outside the Italian restaurant.
Bronny was released from the hospital on Thursday. He will continue to undergo tests to determine the cause of his cardiac arrest, which occurred Monday morning during a workout at USC’s Galen Center.
Bronny, whose full name is LeBron James Jr., committed to USC in May after the 6-foot-3 guard became one of the nation’s top prospects out of Sierra Canyon School in nearby Chatsworth.
___
AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/lebron-james | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-bronny-james-plays-piano-dines-out-in-video-photos-emerging-days-after-he-suffers-cardiac-arrest/ | 2023-07-30T12:40:02 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-bronny-james-plays-piano-dines-out-in-video-photos-emerging-days-after-he-suffers-cardiac-arrest/ |
Five people shot in Michigan
LANSING, Mich. (WILX/Gray News) - Five people were shot in Lansing, Michigan, WILX reports.
Lansing Police officers responded to a shooting in the 1300 block of W. Holmes Road around 1:00 a.m. on Sunday.
When officers arrived, they found a large crowd of people and multiple shooting victims.
The Lansing Fire Department responded to treat and transport several of the victims to a local hospital. Due to the size of the crowd, the Lansing Police Department requested assistance from neighboring jurisdictions.
Five shooting victims were identified ranging in age from 16 to 26 years old. Two of the victims are listed in critical condition.
Police detained several suspects and recovered multiple firearms from the scene.
This is an active investigation and Lansing Police Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators are at the scene working to determine the events which led up to the shootings.
Copyright 2023 WILX via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2023/07/30/five-people-shot-michigan/ | 2023-07-30T12:40:06 | 1 | https://www.wnem.com/2023/07/30/five-people-shot-michigan/ |
Braves vs. Brewers Predictions & Picks: Odds, Moneyline, Spread - July 30
Sunday's game between the Atlanta Braves (66-36) and Milwaukee Brewers (57-48) matching up at Truist Park has a projected final score of 6-4 (according to our computer prediction) in favor of the Braves, who is listed as a slight favorite by our model. The game will begin at 1:35 PM ET on July 30.
This contest's pitching matchup is set, as the Braves will send AJ Smith-Shawver to the mound, while Colin Rea (5-4) will answer the bell for the Brewers.
Braves vs. Brewers Game Info & Odds
- When: Sunday, July 30, 2023 at 1:35 PM ET
- Where: Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia
- How to Watch on TV: MLB Network
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo!
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Braves vs. Brewers Score Prediction
Our pick for this matchup is Braves 6, Brewers 4.
Total Prediction for Braves vs. Brewers
- Total Prediction: Under 11.5 runs
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Braves Performance Insights
- The Braves have played as the favorite in 10 of their past 10 games and won five of those contests.
- In its last 10 games with a total, Atlanta and its opponents have failed to hit the over five times.
- Bookmakers have not set a spread for any of the Braves' last 10 games.
- The Braves have won 58, or 65.2%, of the 89 games they've played as favorites this season.
- This season Atlanta has won 20 of its 28 games, or 71.4%, when favored by at least -210 on the moneyline.
- The Braves have a 67.7% chance to win this game based on the implied probability of the moneyline.
- Atlanta has scored the third-most runs in the majors this season with 575.
- The Braves' 3.87 team ERA ranks sixth among all MLB pitching staffs.
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Braves Schedule
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbtv.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/braves-brewers-mlb-picks-predictions/ | 2023-07-30T12:40:09 | 0 | https://www.wbtv.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/braves-brewers-mlb-picks-predictions/ |
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Kyler Murray’s football career was nearly flawless for the first 25 years of his life: First, he was a Texas high school phenom, then a Heisman Trophy winner, then the No. 1 overall pick for the Arizona Cardinals, then a two-time Pro Bowl selection.
In all those situations, Murray was being compared to other football players.
These days, the competition is with himself.
“This is different,” Murray said. “This is you-on-you. Nobody really knows what you’re going through except for yourself and whoever you’re working out with.”
Murray, who turns 26 on Aug. 7, is working his way back to football relevancy following an underwhelming fourth season that was cut short by a torn ACL in his right knee against the New England Patriots on Dec. 12.
The quarterback acknowledged some tough days after the surgery — nights when it was tough to sleep because of the pain — but said he’s not feeling sorry for himself as he works to get back to the field.
“I get to do what I love every day — play quarterback in the NFL,” Murray said. “Did I get hurt? Yeah. Did I experience something no one wants to experience? Yeah. But it’s nothing for me to get up and work out. I was already doing that before I got hurt.”
Murray’s expected to miss at least a few games of the upcoming season while he continues to recover, and the quarterback watched Saturday’s practice at State Farm Stadium in a gray hooded sweatshirt and long black sleeve over his entire right leg.
His impending return is the hottest topic for the Cardinals during camp, but says he’s not committing to a certain return date.
“I don’t have a timetable,” Murray said.
Murray said he saw Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow at a recent UFC event and the two discussed the perils of an ACL injury. Burrow tore the ACL in his left knee during his rookie season in 2020, but returned to play 16 games in 2021.
“I wouldn’t want to go out there and hurt the team or hurt myself,” Murray said. “The advice that I’ve gotten from a lot of people around me is to go when you’re ready. Don’t listen to outside noise. Don’t feel pressure to come back because of this situation or that situation.
“Whenever you’re ready, you’ll know you’re ready.”
Murray has been very good — at times spectacular — for much of his first four seasons. His uncanny scrambling ability has produced several highlight-reel plays and he’s got plenty of arm to make all the throws he needs to make.
The apex of his pro career came in 2021, when the Cardinals started the season with a 10-2 record and looked like a Super Bowl favorite. But the franchise collapsed, losing four of the next five games before getting blown out against the Los Angeles Rams in an embarrassing playoff performance.
With high hopes in 2022, the Cardinals were one of the league’s most disappointing teams, finishing with a 4-13 record. Murray was far from the only reason for those struggles, but also wasn’t blameless, as his performance regressed in several areas.
“It’s not a bad thing to sit back, watch, and try to make this a positive deal,” Murray said. “I feel good. Getting better each and every day, taking one day at a time. Just trying to be there for my teammates and learn as much as possible before I do stuff on the field.”
Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill made big changes after last season’s debacle, bringing in a defensive-minded coach in Jonathan Gannon and a new general manager in Monti Ossenfort. The new regime seems just as smitten with Murray as the previous one — Gannon said one major reason he took the Cardinals job was Murray’s presence.
Murray says he’s excited about what the changes can bring.
The Cardinals have a large monetary interest in making things work: Murray signed a $230.5 million, five-year deal before last offseason that keeps him in the desert until 2028.
“It’s been great so far,” Murray said. “We’re actually establishing a run game. I believe we’ll be able to run the ball a lot better, which will only be a weapon for us. Get under center, mix it up, not be as predictable.”
Veteran Colt McCoy is the Cardinals’ most likely quarterback while Murray continues to recover. The 36-year-old has been the team’s backup for the past two seasons and has a 3-3 record in the six games he’s started.
The other current options are David Blough, who played decently in two starts last season, and Clayton Tune, a rookie fifth-round pick out of Houston.
“To me, whoever is available, we’re trying to put the best guy out there to win football games,” Gannon said. “Obviously, Kyler’s not available right now, but we’ve got a lot of guys who are very capable who I’m excited to see play and compete if he’s not ready to go.”
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-cardinals-kyler-murray-says-his-knee-rehab-is-going-well-but-has-no-timetable-for-his-return/ | 2023-07-30T12:40:10 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-cardinals-kyler-murray-says-his-knee-rehab-is-going-well-but-has-no-timetable-for-his-return/ |
A refreshing Sunday followed by small rain chances Monday.
TV5 First Alert Sunday Morning Forecast Update
SAGINAW, Mich. (WNEM) - Temperatures are starting out ranging anywhere from the upper 40s to lower 60s depending on location as folks up north saw little cloud cover overnight, allowing us to really cool off up there. We had a few isolated showers move through overnight giving way to some very isolated swaths of light rainfall. Now this morning we are dry and are likely to stay dry for the rest of the day.
With that said, there is a very low chance of very isolated pop up showers this afternoon/evening but as of now that chance is ~ 10% or less for the entire area. Expect a mix of clouds and sun through the day & temperatures remaining slightly below normal. Highs should again make it into the middle and upper 70s.
Lows overnight cool off nicely into the middle and lower 50s with mostly clear skies.
TOMORROW
Monday will feature far more sunshine as skies will be clear. This clear skies during the night and morning leading into Monday, will allow any heat received Sunday, to escape during the night cooling us off into the lower and middle 50s thus resulting is a very cool and refreshing morning.
Going into the afternoon our temperatures should end up very similar to Sunday, being below normal with middle-upper 70s. Some folks may reach the 80 mark. Humidity will remain quite low tomorrow as well.
A few isolated downpours are possible tomorrow afternoon and evening. Severe weather chances are very very low as just heavy rainfall and isolated lightning are expected.
Copyright 2023 WNEM. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2023/07/30/refreshing-sunday-followed-by-small-rain-chances-monday/ | 2023-07-30T12:40:13 | 0 | https://www.wnem.com/2023/07/30/refreshing-sunday-followed-by-small-rain-chances-monday/ |
Braves vs. Brewers Probable Starting Pitchers Today - July 30
The Atlanta Braves (66-36) have a 2-0 series lead, hoping to sweep the Milwaukee Brewers (57-48) on Sunday at Truist Park, at 1:35 PM ET.
The probable starters are AJ Smith-Shawver for the Braves and Colin Rea (5-4) for the Brewers.
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Braves vs. Brewers Pitcher Matchup Info
- Date: Sunday, July 30, 2023
- Time: 1:35 PM ET
- TV: MLB Network
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
- Venue: Truist Park
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo!
- Probable Pitchers: Smith-Shawver - ATL (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs Rea - MIL (5-4, 4.53 ERA)
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Braves Probable Starting Pitcher Tonight: AJ Smith-Shawver
- The Braves will send out Smith-Shawver for his first start of the season.
- The 20-year-old right-hander will make his MLB debut.
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Brewers Probable Starting Pitcher Tonight: Colin Rea
- Rea makes the start for the Brewers, his 18th of the season. He is 5-4 with a 4.53 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 91 1/3 innings pitched.
- In his last time out on Tuesday, the right-hander tossed six innings against the Cincinnati Reds, giving up two earned runs while surrendering five hits.
- The 33-year-old has put up an ERA of 4.53, with 7.4 strikeouts per nine innings in 18 games this season. Opposing hitters have a .237 batting average against him.
- Rea has four quality starts this year.
- Rea will aim to go five or more innings for his third straight appearance. He's averaging 5.1 innings per outing.
- In two of his 18 total appearances this season he has not allowed an earned run.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbtv.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/braves-vs-brewers-mlb-probable-starting-pitchers/ | 2023-07-30T12:40:15 | 1 | https://www.wbtv.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/braves-vs-brewers-mlb-probable-starting-pitchers/ |
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (AP) — Two-time reigning Formula One champion Max Verstappen won the rain-hit sprint race at the Belgian Grand Prix on Saturday to extend his huge lead over Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez to 118 points.
It was Verstappen’s ninth straight win including the two sprint races he has won this season. He collected eight points for the victory and will look to extend his overall lead further in Sunday’s main race as he continues his march to a third straight world title.
“That was not bad,” Verstappen said with casual understatement.
He finished a comfortable 6.7 seconds ahead of McLaren driver Oscar Piastri and 10.7 clear of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.
“I’m getting more and more comfortable with the car, which is much better than it was at the start of the year,” said the 22-year-old Piastri. “It’s been amazing for me.”
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton crossed the line in fourth but dropped down to seventh after being given a five-second time penalty for causing a collision when trying to overtake Perez, who scored no points after retiring near the end.
“Lewis crashed into me and took the whole right hand side of my car off,” said Perez, blaming that incident on his failure to finish.
Hamilton’s penalty moved Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. into fourth spot ahead of his teammate Charles Leclerc, with McLaren’s Lando Norris sixth and Mercedes driver George Russell in eighth behind his teammate Hamilton
This was the third of six scheduled sprint races this season, with Perez winning in Azerbaijan and Verstappen winning in Austria and here. The top eight drivers all score points from eight down to one.
The sprint race was delayed by more than one hour due to heavy rain, getting underway with a rolling start procedure after several laps behind a safety car, in order to clear more water off the track for the sprint, which lasted 11 laps.
“I think the rolling start was the smart thing to do,” Verstappen said. “(But) I think we could have a raced a little earlier, maybe two laps earlier.”
Safety was paramount at the Spa track, which has seen two drivers from other racing series killed in the past four years.
F2 driver Anthoine Hubert died in a multi-car crash at the track in 2019, on the eve of the F1 race.
Dutch teenage driver Dilano van ’t Hoff was killed earlier this month on the same circuit while competing in the Formula Regional European Championship.
Two years ago, six drivers from the all-female W Series needed medical checks following a heavy crash during a qualifying session on the same track.
Spa’s layout features a notorious flat-out uphill section known as Eau Rouge, which is followed by a blind corner sequence into Radillon.
The most serious issue during rain is a lack of visibility with so much spray from the cars flying up.
“The water just stayed in the air. I couldn’t see anything so I can only imagine how bad it was at the back,” said Gasly, who was close friends with Hubert. “I was hoping no car (goes) off the track or collides on the straight because we know what happened (in the past).”
Even Verstappen was unsighted when at slow speed.
“I couldn’t even see the safety car sometimes and I was the first car,” Verstappen said. “Unfortunately we had these accidents happen over the years.”
It was a welcome result for Gasly, who crashed out of the Hungarian GP last weekend and whose team is undergoing an overhaul after some disappointing results.
The encouraging performance was also a poignant one for Gasly.
“It feels very special to have done it here in Spa,” he said. “So obviously a thought for Anthoine.”
Earlier, Verstappen edged out Piastri by just .011 seconds to take the sprint pole.
The shortened qualifying format — known as the “sprint shootout” — was delayed by 35 minutes because of wet and rainy conditions, with air blowers used to clear water from the track.
Piastri shot to the top of the leaderboard on his last run, only for Verstappen to typically find extra pace.
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll pushed too hard in the final seconds of Q2, the second part of qualifying, and slid off into the barriers, mangling his right tire and bringing out a red flag. His teammate Fernando Alonso was on his out lap when the crash happened and couldn’t set a time, meaning he also failed to make it into Q3.
Heavy rain had also impacted Friday’s running at the 7-kilometer (4.3-mile) Spa-Francorchamps circuit, which is nestled in a forest amid the Ardennes countryside and is often impacted by gloomy weather.
Verstappen also set the fastest time in qualifying for Sunday’s main race, but Leclerc will start from pole because of Verstappen’s five-place grid penalty for a gearbox change. He begins Sunday’s race from sixth, but that will not bother Verstappen considering he won here last year from 14th.
Verstappen and Perez have won every F1 race and sprint race between them in the ultra-dominant Red Bull car.
___
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-f1-leader-verstappen-wins-rain-hit-belgian-gp-sprint-race-piastri-is-second/ | 2023-07-30T12:40:17 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-f1-leader-verstappen-wins-rain-hit-belgian-gp-sprint-race-piastri-is-second/ |
MLB Games Tonight: How to Watch on TV, Streaming & Odds - Sunday, July 30
Today's MLB schedule has plenty of quality competition on the docket. Among those games is the Texas Rangers squaring off against the San Diego Padres.
You will find info on how to watch today's MLB action right here.
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How to Watch Today's MLB Games
The Toronto Blue Jays (59-46) take on the Los Angeles Angels (54-51)
The Angels hope to get a road victory at Rogers Centre against the Blue Jays on Sunday at 12:05 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- TOR Key Player: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (.268 AVG, 17 HR, 65 RBI)
- LAA Key Player: Shohei Ohtani (.302 AVG, 39 HR, 81 RBI)
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The Atlanta Braves (66-36) face the Milwaukee Brewers (57-48)
The Brewers will hit the field at Truist Park versus the Braves on Sunday at 1:35 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: MLB Network
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 1:35 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- ATL Key Player: Ronald Acuña Jr. (.333 AVG, 24 HR, 61 RBI)
- MIL Key Player: Christian Yelich (.286 AVG, 15 HR, 58 RBI)
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The Pittsburgh Pirates (46-58) play host to the Philadelphia Phillies (56-48)
The Phillies will look to pick up a road win at PNC Park versus the Pirates on Sunday at 1:35 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: MLB Network
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 1:35 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- PIT Key Player: Bryan Reynolds (.255 AVG, 11 HR, 47 RBI)
- PHI Key Player: Bryson Stott (.306 AVG, 9 HR, 37 RBI)
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The Miami Marlins (56-49) play the Detroit Tigers (47-58)
The Tigers will take to the field at LoanDepot park against the Marlins on Sunday at 1:40 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- MIA Key Player: Luis Arraez (.381 AVG, 3 HR, 51 RBI)
- DET Key Player: Spencer Torkelson (.230 AVG, 15 HR, 58 RBI)
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The New York Mets (49-55) play the Washington Nationals (44-61)
The Nationals will hit the field at Citi Field versus the Mets on Sunday at 1:40 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- NYM Key Player: Pete Alonso (.217 AVG, 30 HR, 73 RBI)
- WSH Key Player: Lane Thomas (.286 AVG, 16 HR, 55 RBI)
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The Chicago White Sox (43-63) take on the Cleveland Guardians (52-53)
The Guardians will look to pick up a road win at Guaranteed Rate Field against the White Sox on Sunday at 2:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- CHW Key Player: Luis Robert (.270 AVG, 29 HR, 60 RBI)
- CLE Key Player: José Ramírez (.288 AVG, 16 HR, 60 RBI)
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The Kansas City Royals (31-75) face the Minnesota Twins (54-52)
The Twins will hit the field at Kauffman Stadium against the Royals on Sunday at 2:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- KC Key Player: Bobby Witt Jr. (.263 AVG, 18 HR, 60 RBI)
- MIN Key Player: Carlos Correa (.228 AVG, 12 HR, 45 RBI)
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The Houston Astros (59-46) take on the Tampa Bay Rays (63-44)
The Rays will take to the field at Minute Maid Park versus the Astros on Sunday at 2:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: SportsNet SW
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 2:10 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- HOU Key Player: Kyle Tucker (.299 AVG, 18 HR, 69 RBI)
- TB Key Player: Wander Franco (.267 AVG, 12 HR, 49 RBI)
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The St. Louis Cardinals (46-60) face the Chicago Cubs (53-51)
The Cubs will hit the field at Busch Stadium versus the Cardinals on Sunday at 2:15 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- STL Key Player: Nolan Arenado (.282 AVG, 22 HR, 77 RBI)
- CHC Key Player: Nico Hoerner (.278 AVG, 7 HR, 57 RBI)
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The Colorado Rockies (40-64) host the Oakland Athletics (30-76)
The Athletics will take to the field at Coors Field against the Rockies on Sunday at 3:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: SportsNet RM
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 3:10 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- COL Key Player: Ryan McMahon (.255 AVG, 16 HR, 48 RBI)
- OAK Key Player: Brent Rooker (.248 AVG, 17 HR, 47 RBI)
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The San Francisco Giants (57-48) play the Boston Red Sox (56-48)
The Red Sox will look to pick up a road win at Oracle Park versus the Giants on Sunday at 4:05 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 (.288 AVG, 16 HR, 68 RBI)
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The Los Angeles Dodgers (59-44) take on the Cincinnati Reds (57-49)
The Reds will look to pick up a road win at Dodger Stadium versus the Dodgers on Sunday at 4:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
- TV Channel: SportsNet LA
- Stream Live: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
- Game Time: 4:10 PM ET
Hitters to Watch
- LAD Key Player: Freddie Freeman (.328 AVG, 21 HR, 73 RBI)
- CIN Key Player: Spencer Steer (.276 AVG, 15 HR, 57 RBI)
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The San Diego Padres (51-54) play host to the Texas Rangers (60-45)
The Rangers will look to pick up a road win at PETCO Park versus the Padres on Sunday at 4:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- SD Key Player: Juan Soto (.265 AVG, 20 HR, 63 RBI)
- TEX Key Player: Marcus Semien (.275 AVG, 15 HR, 64 RBI)
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The Arizona Diamondbacks (56-49) host the Seattle Mariners (53-51)
The Mariners will take to the field at Chase Field against the Diamondbacks on Sunday at 4:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- ARI Key Player: Corbin Carroll (.288 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 Baltimore Orioles (63-41) play the New York Yankees (55-49)
The Yankees will look to pick up a road win at Oriole Park at Camden Yards against the Orioles on Sunday at 7:10 PM ET.
How to Watch
Hitters to Watch
- BAL Key Player: Adley Rutschman (.267 AVG, 14 HR, 46 RBI)
- NYY Key Player: Gleyber Torres (.258 AVG, 16 HR, 44 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.wnem.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/mlb-odds-how-to-watch/ | 2023-07-30T12:40:19 | 1 | https://www.wnem.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/mlb-odds-how-to-watch/ |
Mystics vs. Dream: Odds, spread, over/under and other Vegas lines - July 30
Published: Jul. 30, 2023 at 7:36 AM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
The Washington Mystics (12-12), on Sunday, July 30, 2023 at 3:00 PM ET, hope to halt a six-game road losing streak at the Atlanta Dream (13-11).
In this article, you will check out the spread and odds across multiple sportsbooks for the Mystics vs. Dream matchup.
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Mystics vs. Dream Game Info
- Game Day: Sunday, July 30, 2023
- Game Time: 3:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN3, NBCS-DC, Monumental, and BSSO
- Location: College Park, Georgia
- Arena: Gateway Center Arena
Mystics vs. Dream Odds, Spread, Over/Under
Take a look at the odds, spread and over/under for this WNBA matchup available on different sportsbooks.
Mystics vs. Dream Betting Trends
- The Dream have put together a 13-9-0 ATS record so far this year.
- The Mystics have covered 11 times in 23 chances against the spread this year.
- Atlanta has been favored by 6.5 points or more four times this season, and covered the spread in three of those contests.
- Washington has been an underdog by 6.5 points or more four times this year, and covered the spread in two of those games.
- A total of 12 out of the Dream's 23 games this season have gone over the point total.
- A total of nine Mystics games this season have gone over the point total.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbtv.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/mystics-dream-wnba-odds-spread-over-under/ | 2023-07-30T12:40:21 | 1 | https://www.wbtv.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/mystics-dream-wnba-odds-spread-over-under/ |
The House Republicans who craft the conference’s government funding bills are showing signs of frustration as hard-line conservatives pressure leadership for further cuts to spending that some worry could be too aggressive.
Some of the 12 Appropriations subcommittee chairs — the so-called cardinals — told reporters that they are struggling to see where those additional cuts could come from, as September’s shutdown deadline looms.
“I just don’t see the wisdom in trying to further cut to strengthen our hand. I don’t know how that strengthens our hand,” Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.), a House Appropriations subcommittee chairman, said of conservatives’ push to further cut the already-scaled-back spending bills.
“I do think it puts some of our members in a very difficult spot, particularly those in tough districts, because they’re going to be taking some votes that become problematic,” he added.
The House left Washington for a long summer recess Thursday after being forced to punt a bill to fund agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration.
Conservatives are dug in on their demand for steeper spending cuts, to the chagrin of moderates who are wary of slashing funding even more. The chamber has passed just one appropriations bill, funding military construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The internal divisions are gripping the party as time is running out: The House has just 12 days in September to move the remaining 11 appropriations measures and hash out their disagreements with the Senate, which is marking up its spending bills at higher levels, setting the scene for a hectic fall that could bring the U.S. to the brink of a shutdown.
Those dynamics are putting GOP appropriators in a bind, leaving them searching for ways to appease conservative requests without gutting their spending bills.
“We’ve done a lot of cuts, a lot of cuts,” House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-Texas) told The Hill this week. “And so if it’s cuts just for cut’s sake, I don’t agree with it. But if it’s something that we can do without, that’s fine.”
‘Not a lot of wiggle room left’
Republican appropriators in the House announced earlier this year that they would mark up their bills for fiscal 2024 at fiscal 2022 levels, as leaders sought to placate conservatives who thought the debt ceiling deal struck by President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) earlier this year didn’t do enough to curb spending.
The Senate is crafting its bills more in line with the budget caps agreed to in the deal, but House Republicans are already fuming about a bipartisan deal in the upper chamber that would allow for more than $13 billion in additional emergency spending on top of those levels.
House GOP negotiators also said they would pursue clawing back more than $100 billion in old funding that was allocated for Democratic priorities without GOP support in the previous Congress.
While that move drew support from hard-line conservatives, the right flank was far from pleased when it heard appropriators planned to repurpose that old funding — known as rescissions — to plus-up the spending bills.
In a letter to McCarthy earlier this month, a group of hard-line conservatives called for all 12 appropriations bills to be in line with fiscal 2022 spending levels “without the use of reallocated rescissions to increase discretionary spending above that top-line.”
Otherwise, the 21 lawmakers threatened, they would vote against the measures. But that request could prove difficult for GOP appropriators to fulfill.
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), chairman of the panel that proposes funding for the Department of State and foreign operations, said that appropriators are already “dramatically reducing spending,” suggesting that there are not too many remaining areas to trim from.
“My bill is below the 2016 levels,” he said, later adding, “When you’re below the 2016 level — and we’re still confronting China — I think there’s not a lot of wiggle room left.”
“It’s a challenge, but I think we’ll get through it. I really do,” he added.
Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), who heads the subcommittee that oversees funding for the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Interior, scoffed at the idea of even steeper cuts to his bill.
“Then you just drop it on the floor and stomp on it. What else do you do with it?” he told reporters. “You can’t make logical cuts in there.”
Republicans appropriators are voicing optimism that the conference will be able to sort out its differences on spending, but some also hope their levels will stick — even though they include rescissions.
Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.) — whose panel handles funding for the Department of Energy, which is proposing offsetting billions of dollars in spending with clawbacks — said it would be “extremely difficult” to craft his bill without the rescinded funds.
“And given our priorities in my bill, national defense with the nuclear weapons portfolio, nuclear cleanup, Army Corps including, all the community-directed fundings, I feel good about my bill, and I hope my numbers hold,” he said.
“Because it’s gonna have to be in negotiations with the Senate and the White House as well,” he added.
Womack — whose subcommittee crafts funding for the IRS and the Treasury Department — said he doesn’t think “moving the goalposts on these numbers is helpful in strengthening our ability to negotiate with the Senate.”
August preparations for a busy September
Frustrations among appropriators are bubbling up as Congress inches closer to the fall, when lawmakers are facing a Sept. 30 deadline to approve funding or risk a government shutdown.
With time running out, some House lawmakers say conversations may continue over the long August recess to try to hash out remaining differences.
“We’ll have to see,” Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) said when asked about potential plans for talks between leaders and House Freedom Caucus members over the break. “I mean, we got a lot of work to do.”
“I think a lot of work [has] got to be done behind the scenes,” he said. “If not, you know, here — You gotta beg the question about whether we should be gone for six weeks. We should be getting our job done.”
Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) echoed that sentiment, saying “I would think so” when asked if lawmakers will have conversations over the break.
Adding to the August workload, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) suggested earlier this week that bicameral negotiations could take place over the weeks-long recess as lawmakers stare down the shutdown deadline.
Not all Republicans, however, are viewing a shutdown as a risk.
During a House Freedom Caucus press conference this week, Good said “we should not fear a government shutdown,” claiming that “most of what we do up here is bad anyway; most of what we do up here hurts the American people.”
But that perspective does not jive with the view of McCarthy, who declared Thursday: “I don’t want the government to shut down.”
Multiple Republicans are ultimately expecting Congress to eventually pass what’s known as a continuing resolution (CR), or a measure that temporarily allows the government to be funded at the previous fiscal year’s levels, to prevent a lapse at the end of September.
But they also understand the task could be difficult in the GOP-led chamber, where Republicans aren’t happy about the idea of continuing funding at the current levels — which were last set when Democrats held control of Congress.
“I think there’s a very good chance that we’ll see a CR, but I know there’s a lot of work to get a CR done,” Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.), another appropriator, said Thursday, noting there are “a lot of members that don’t want CRs that are tired of them.”
But Aderholt suggested a CR could notch sufficient GOP backing if there’s a larger plan in sight that the party can support.
“The Speaker’s been very good about having a plan,” he said, adding, “I think that’s what he’s good at, and I’m optimistic that he can come up with something.”
Emily Brooks contributed. | https://www.fox16.com/hill-politics/frustration-emerges-among-gop-spending-cardinals-as-conservatives-push-for-cuts/ | 2023-07-30T12:40:22 | 1 | https://www.fox16.com/hill-politics/frustration-emerges-among-gop-spending-cardinals-as-conservatives-push-for-cuts/ |
METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Jimmy Graham offered a few reasons why — at age 36 and without having played football last year — he could become a playmaker again for the New Orleans Saints.
“I’m feeling better than ever. I’m still 6-(foot)-7 and I like the red zone,” the veteran tight end said Saturday in his first public comments since rejoining his first NFL team Tuesday. “I definitely came into this with a chip on my shoulder and with something to prove.”
Estimating he weighed as much as 285 pounds in his previous stint with the Saints, when he worked out like “a meathead,” Graham said he has been cycling “hundreds of miles a week” and has changed his workout and eating habits to suit to his age.
“I know I’m definitely in shape,” said Graham, now listed at 265 pounds. “That’s not a problem at all.”
Graham, who has caught at least eight touchdown passes in six of his 12 NFL seasons, was a favorite target of former star quarterback Drew Brees and among the most popular players in New Orleans before the club surprisingly traded him to Seattle in 2015.
Many fans were upset, including general manager Micky Loomis’ own daughter. So, too, was Graham.
“For me, it was pretty shocking,” Graham said. “I thought I would never leave this place. … I woke up to the part of the business that hurt.”
Alluding to a difficult childhood in which he sometimes lived in an orphanage, Graham added, “at first it was very difficult because of my connection with Drew as an ‘older brother’ and all the people in this building.”
“It was family, you know?” Graham continued. “So, for me, a guy who didn’t have a lot of family, it was definitely a difficult time.”
Graham played three seasons with the Seahawks — where he had a major knee injury 2015, but also his last 10-TD season in 2017 — before spending two seasons each at Green Bay and Chicago. He said he spent several of those seasons avoiding interviews because he “didn’t really have a lot to say that was positive.”
In recent years, Graham said, he longed for another chance to play in New Orleans.
“I’ve been trying to come home for a long time,” Graham said, adding that by last season, he didn’t want to play anywhere else. He said several teams reached out to him in 2022, but he told his agent, Jimmy Sexton, “that if I don’t retire as a Saint that I wasn’t going to play again.”
Sitting out last season was “extremely weird, especially after you spend a whole offseason preparing (to play), working out and making sure you’re in shape,” he said. “I think everything happens for a reason and I think it’ll be to my benefit.”
The Saints used a third-round pick to draft Graham in 2010, despite the fact that he’d played just one season of football at Miami after spending four seasons as a basketball power forward for the Hurricanes.
In just his second NFL season, Graham caught 99 passes for 1,310 yards and 11 touchdowns and was selected to his first of five Pro Bowls. He had another banner season in 2013, with 1,215 yards and a career-high 16 TDs receiving.
Around that time, current Saints tight end Foster Moreau was playing for Jesuit High School in New Orleans and had a signed No. 80 Graham Saints jersey in a shadow box in his room.
“Jimmy was a dog, and he still is. Honestly, he runs great,” Moreau said. “So, it’s just such a funny situation. You walk into the locker room and, ‘Oh my God! Jimmy Graham right there.’”
Graham’s production plummeted in his final season with the Bears in 2021, when he caught 14 passes for 167 yards and three TDs in 15 games.
And while the Saints cannot be sure how well he’ll play this season, they expressed confidence he’ll be a leader in the locker room. Graham sounded ready to embrace that role, noting that he, along with 13th-year defensive end Cameron Jordan, are the only players on the roster who’d once been teammates with most of the stars of the Saints’ 2009 championship team.
“I understand what that culture was like and what that looks like, the sacrifice that it takes and the brotherhood – that bond – that needs to be molded,” Graham said.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-jimmy-graham-is-grateful-to-be-back-with-the-saints-and-confident-he-can-still-play/ | 2023-07-30T12:40:24 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-jimmy-graham-is-grateful-to-be-back-with-the-saints-and-confident-he-can-still-play/ |
MLB Probable Starting Pitchers Tonight: Sunday, July 30
Who are the probable pitchers lined up to start on Sunday? Below, we list every starting pitching matchup for the day, which includes Luis Castillo toeing the rubber for the Mariners, and Merrill Kelly getting the call for the Diamondbacks.
Keep reading to find the probable starters for every contest on the docket for July 30.
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Today's Probable Starting Pitchers
Angels at Blue Jays Probable Pitchers
The Los Angeles Angels will send Tyler Anderson (5-2) to the hill as they play the Blue Jays, who will give the start to Jose Berrios (8-7) for the game between the clubs on Sunday.
Vegas Odds for Angels at Blue Jays
- TOR Odds to Win: -200
- LAA Odds to Win: +165
- Total: 9.5 runs
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Live Stream Angels at Blue Jays
- Game Time: 12:05 PM ET
- Streaming: Peacock (regional restrictions may apply)
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Brewers at Braves Probable Pitchers
The Milwaukee Brewers will send Colin Rea (5-4) to the mound as they play the Braves, who will counter with AJ Smith-Shawver (0-0) for the game between the clubs on Sunday.
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Live Stream Brewers at Braves
- Game Time: 1:35 PM ET
- Streaming: MLB Network (regional restrictions may apply)
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Phillies at Pirates Probable Pitchers
The Philadelphia Phillies will send Cristopher Sanchez (0-3) to the hill as they take on the Pirates, who will look to Rich Hill (7-10) when the teams face off Sunday.
Vegas Odds for Phillies at Pirates
- PHI Odds to Win: -150
- PIT Odds to Win: +125
- Total: 9 runs
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Live Stream Phillies at Pirates
- Game Time: 1:35 PM ET
- Streaming: MLB Network (regional restrictions may apply)
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Tigers at Marlins Probable Pitchers
The Detroit Tigers will send Tarik Skubal (1-1) to the bump as they face the Marlins, who will counter with Jesus Luzardo (8-5) when the clubs face off on Sunday.
Vegas Odds for Tigers at Marlins
- MIA Odds to Win: -150
- DET Odds to Win: +125
- Total: 7 runs
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Live Stream Tigers at Marlins
- Game Time: 1:40 PM ET
- Streaming: BSFL (regional restrictions may apply)
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Nationals at Mets Probable Pitchers
The Washington Nationals will send Trevor Williams (5-5) to the hill as they face the Mets, who will look to Justin Verlander (5-5) for the matchup between the clubs on Sunday.
Vegas Odds for Nationals at Mets
- NYM Odds to Win: -275
- WSH Odds to Win: +220
- Total: 8.5 runs
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Live Stream Nationals at Mets
- Game Time: 1:40 PM ET
- Streaming: WPIX (regional restrictions may apply)
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Guardians at White Sox Probable Pitchers
The Cleveland Guardians will send Aaron Civale (4-2) to the mound as they play the White Sox, who will counter with Michael Kopech (4-9) for the game between the clubs Sunday.
Vegas Odds for Guardians at White Sox
- CLE Odds to Win: -145
- CHW Odds to Win: +120
- Total: 9 runs
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Live Stream Guardians at White Sox
- Game Time: 2:10 PM ET
- Streaming: NBCS-CHI (regional restrictions may apply)
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Twins at Royals Probable Pitchers
The Minnesota Twins will send Kenta Maeda (2-5) to the hill as they play the Royals, who will look to Ryan Yarbrough (3-5) for the game between the clubs Sunday.
Vegas Odds for Twins at Royals
- MIN Odds to Win: -185
- KC Odds to Win: +150
- Total: 9 runs
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Live Stream Twins at Royals
- Game Time: 2:10 PM ET
- Streaming: BSKC (regional restrictions may apply)
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Rays at Astros Probable Pitchers
The Tampa Bay Rays will send Zack Littell (0-2) to the bump as they play the Astros, who will counter with Brandon Bielak (5-5) when the teams play on Sunday.
Vegas Odds for Rays at Astros
- HOU Odds to Win: -110
- TB Odds to Win: -110
- Total: 9 runs
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Live Stream Rays at Astros
- Game Time: 2:10 PM ET
- Streaming: SportsNet SW (regional restrictions may apply)
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Cubs at Cardinals Probable Pitchers
The Chicago Cubs will send Kyle Hendricks (4-4) to the mound as they take on the Cardinals, who will counter with Steven Matz (1-7) when the teams play on Sunday.
Vegas Odds for Cubs at Cardinals
- STL Odds to Win: -145
- CHC Odds to Win: +120
- Total: 9 runs
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Live Stream Cubs at Cardinals
- Game Time: 2:15 PM ET
- Streaming: BSMW (regional restrictions may apply)
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Athletics at Rockies Probable Pitchers
The Oakland Athletics will send Luis Medina (3-7) to the hill as they play the Rockies, who will counter with Ty Blach (0-0) when the clubs play Sunday.
Vegas Odds for Athletics at Rockies
- COL Odds to Win: -110
- OAK Odds to Win: -110
- Total: 12.5 runs
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Live Stream Athletics at Rockies
- Game Time: 3:10 PM ET
- Streaming: SportsNet RM (regional restrictions may apply)
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Red Sox at Giants Probable Pitchers
The Boston Red Sox will send Brennan Bernardino (1-0) to the mound as they play the Giants, who will look to Scott Alexander (6-1) when the clubs meet on Sunday.
Live Stream Red Sox at Giants
- Game Time: 4:05 PM ET
- Streaming: NBCS-BA (regional restrictions may apply)
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Reds at Dodgers Probable Pitchers
The Cincinnati Reds will send Graham Ashcraft (5-7) to the bump as they take on the Dodgers, who will give the start to Michael Grove (2-2) for the matchup between the clubs Sunday.
Vegas Odds for Reds at Dodgers
- LAD Odds to Win: -185
- CIN Odds to Win: +150
- Total: 10.5 runs
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Live Stream Reds at Dodgers
- Game Time: 4:10 PM ET
- Streaming: SportsNet LA (regional restrictions may apply)
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Rangers at Padres Probable Pitchers
The Texas Rangers will send Cody Bradford (2-1) to the hill as they play the Padres, who will give the start to Blake Snell (7-8) for the game between the clubs Sunday.
Live Stream Rangers at Padres
- Game Time: 4:10 PM ET
- Streaming: SDPA (regional restrictions may apply)
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Mariners at Diamondbacks Probable Pitchers
The Seattle Mariners will send Castillo (6-7) to the mound as they take on the Diamondbacks, who will counter with Kelly (9-4) when the teams play Sunday.
Vegas Odds for Mariners at Diamondbacks
- SEA Odds to Win: -120
- ARI Odds to Win: +100
- Total: 8.5 runs
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Live Stream Mariners at Diamondbacks
- Game Time: 4:10 PM ET
- Streaming: ARID (regional restrictions may apply)
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Yankees at Orioles Probable Pitchers
The New York Yankees will send Luis Severino (2-4) to the bump as they play the Orioles, who will hand the ball to Dean Kremer (10-4) when the teams face off Sunday.
Vegas Odds for Yankees at Orioles
- BAL Odds to Win: -125
- NYY Odds to Win: +105
- Total: 9 runs
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Live Stream Yankees at Orioles
- Game Time: 7:10 PM ET
- Streaming: ESPN (regional restrictions may apply)
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/mlb-probable-starting-pitchers/ | 2023-07-30T12:40:27 | 0 | https://www.wnem.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/mlb-probable-starting-pitchers/ |
A jury has ordered anti-government extremist Ammon Bundy and associates to pay more than $50 million in damages to Idaho's largest hospital in connection with armed protests last year that led to a security lockdown.
The decision handed down late Monday follows a ten day civil trial in which Bundy was a no show and where attorneys with St. Luke's Hospital outlined what they called an extensive campaign of bullying, intimidation and disinformation directed at doctors and medical staff that they say continues today.
"Standing up to threats, bullying, intimidation, disruption and self serving actions was necessary. Inaction would have signaled that their menacing behavior was acceptable," said Chris Roth, CEO of St. Luke's Health System, in a statement.
The drama goes back to March of 2022 when Bundy led a series of tense protests against the hospitalization of one of his associate's infant grandkids who state social workers said was malnourished. According to court documents, protesters, some armed, tried to force their way into the hospital's locked exits. Some held "wanted" signs naming individual doctors and nurses and even blocked an ambulance entrance as car horns blared.
At the trial, the hospital's security director, Abbey Abbondandolo told the jury that he ordered a security lockdown and diverted all incoming ambulances to other hospitals because he feared Bundy and his militia followers were close to taking over the hospital and carrying out a "Pizzagate" style attack.
"This is not just a guy going rogue. He's like a military leader who's able to coordinate actions and mobilize people on different fronts," Abbondandolo said.
The jury trial offered a window into the dark world of far-right extremism, with intimidation and threats being directed at top officials even in one of the most conservative states in the nation.
Ammon Bundy, who ran for governor in Idaho in 2022, receiving some 90,000 votes, routinely attacks the state's Republican leaders, including its conservative governor, on social media. Bundy and his followers frequently spread Q Anon conspiracy theories that St. Luke's and its staff who cared for the infant grandson were part of a global child sex trafficking cabal.
Meanwhile, it's unclear how much if any of the $50 million in damages, half of them punitive, will ever get paid. St Luke's says it plans to donate the money upon collection to one of its child health services organizations.
Bundy, who has defied a civil arrest warrant, appears to remain holed up in his home in a rural area outside Boise where he's been claiming erroneously that he has no assets left to be taken.
"People in a jury deciding how much St. Luke's is going to take from those who exposed the truth about them is a mockery to justice. When a baby is born he or she does not become property of the state or hospital executives," Bundy said in a tweet responding to the verdict.
This is just the latest legal drama for Bundy, who a jury actually acquitted in 2016 for leading a 41 day armed takeover of a federal bird sanctuary in Oregon. Bundy has also been arrested for trespassing in the Boise area several times more recently, even leading to his being banned from the Idaho state capitol for one year.
"They are, to some degree, terrorists in the way that they're acting. And then he turns around and makes himself the martyr or the victim, which is just ludicrous," says Gary Raney, a retired sheriff in Ada County, Idaho's most populous.
Leading up to the civil trial, Raney was advising local law enforcement to wait things out and not immediately go in and serve the warrant. The local sheriff had warned earlier this year that Bundy was becoming increasingly aggressive toward his deputies.
Raney told NPR he thinks Bundy will get served soon but there's no rush while tempers are flaring.
"The predicament is just keeping the community safe over there with all these - I'll use the technical term - yahoos that are over living on Bundy's property, trying to protect him from who knows what," Raney said.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.ijpr.org/npr-news/2023-07-25/ammon-bundy-ordered-to-pay-50-million-but-will-the-hospital-ever-see-the-money | 2023-07-30T12:40:30 | 0 | https://www.ijpr.org/npr-news/2023-07-25/ammon-bundy-ordered-to-pay-50-million-but-will-the-hospital-ever-see-the-money |
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks with children's book author Matt de la Peña about summer reading recommendations for kids of all ages when they complain, "I'm bored!"
Copyright 2023 NPR
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks with children's book author Matt de la Peña about summer reading recommendations for kids of all ages when they complain, "I'm bored!"
Copyright 2023 NPR | https://www.nepm.org/2023-07-30/a-childrens-book-author-recommends-books-to-keep-your-kids-busy-this-summer | 2023-07-30T12:40:32 | 1 | https://www.nepm.org/2023-07-30/a-childrens-book-author-recommends-books-to-keep-your-kids-busy-this-summer |
WESTFIELD, Ind. (AP) — Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has requested a trade, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Saturday night.
Taylor, the 2021 NFL rushing champ, has been seeking a contract extension before his rookie contract expires at the end of this season and he’s been one of several running backs to publicly air their grievances throughout the offseason.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the request hadn’t been made public. NFL Network first reported Taylor’s request to be traded.
It came shortly after Taylor left team owner Jim Irsay’s motorhome after a meeting that lasted nearly an hour as the Colts conducted a night practice.
“It was just a good conversation and, you know, hopeful going forward,” Irsay told reporters after practice. “We’re looking forward to a great season, hoping that Jonathan’s a big part of that and I think we had a good conversation.”
Taylor has not spoken with reporters since being placed on the physically unable to perform list Tuesday. General manager Chris Ballard said then the Colts wanted to wait for a new deal until they could see how a healthy Taylor fit the new offense installed by first-year coach Shane Steichen.
Taylor topped the 2,000-yard mark twice in college at Wisconsin and rushed for 2,980 yards and 29 TDs in his first two NFL seasons. He was a unanimous All-Pro selection in 2021, when he led the league with 2,171 total yards and tied for the league lead in total touchdowns with 20.
Last year, he rushed for 861 yards despite missing six games with an ankle injury that required offseason surgery. Indy also struggled, finishing the season 4-11-1.
Irsay posted on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday suggesting some player agents were acting in bad faith by complaining about how much running backs earned with a franchise tag designation after the collective bargaining agreement was negotiated in good faith. The $10.1 million price tag is the lowest of any position other than kickers or punters.
On Saturday, in front of a capacity crowd at Grand Park in Westfield a staff member took Taylor to the nearby motorhome. Irsay did not divulge details of the meeting afterward, but did talk about two other former Colts star runners — Marshall Faulk, who was traded after Peyton Manning’s rookie season in 1998, and Edgerrin James, who left as a free agent between the 2005 and 2006 seasons.
“I’m responsible for everyone on the team and to look at the cap money as you go forward,” Irsay said. “It’s a great responsibility and you try to be as fair as you possibly can be with the whole football team. So again, I’m hopeful.”
Now the Colts may be looking to move Taylor before he even gets a chance to team up rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick in April.
“We need to make sure he (Taylor) is healthy, and we expect he should have an outstanding year,” Irsay said. “(Linebacker) E.J. Speed had the same surgery and is doing well, but it’s early in the process and we want to make sure Jonathan is 100%.”
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-jonathan-taylor-requests-trade-after-meeting-with-owner-jim-irsay-at-colts-practice-source-says/ | 2023-07-30T12:40:32 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-jonathan-taylor-requests-trade-after-meeting-with-owner-jim-irsay-at-colts-practice-source-says/ |
Consumer demand for speed and convenience drives labor unrest among workers in Hollywood and at UPS
NEW YORK (AP) — Six straight days of 12-hour driving. Single-digit paychecks. The complaints come from workers in vastly different industries: UPS delivery drivers and Hollywood actors and writers.
But they point to an underlying factor driving a surge of labor unrest: The cost to workers whose jobs have changed drastically as companies scramble to meet customer expectations for speed and convenience in industries transformed by technology.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated those changes, pushing retailers to shift online and intensifying the streaming competition among entertainment companies. Now, from the picket lines, workers are trying to give consumers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to produce a show that can be binged any time or get dog food delivered to their doorstep with a phone swipe.
Overworked and underpaid employees is an enduring complaint across industries — from delivery drivers to Starbucks baristas and airline pilots — where surges in consumer demand have collided with persistent labor shortages. Workers are pushing back against forced overtime, punishing schedules or company reliance on lower-paid, part-time or contract forces.
At issue for Hollywood screenwriters and actors staging their first simultaneous strikes in 40 years is the way streaming has upended entertainment economics, slashing pay and forcing showrunners to produce content faster with smaller teams.
“This seems to happen to many places when the tech companies come in. Who are we crushing? It doesn’t matter,” said Danielle Sanchez-Witzel, a screenwriter and showrunner on the negotiating team for the Writers Guild of America, whose members have been on strike since May. Earlier this month, the Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists joined the writers’ union on the picket line.
Actors and writers have long relied on residuals, or long-term payments, for reruns and other airings of films and television shows. But reruns aren’t a thing on streaming services, where series and films simply land and stay with no easy way, such as box office returns or ratings, to determine their popularity.
Consequently, whatever residuals streaming companies do pay often amount to a pittance, and screenwriters have been sharing tales of receiving single-digit checks.
Adam Shapiro, an actor known for the Netflix hit “Never Have I Ever,” said many actors were initially content to accept lower pay for the plethora of roles that streaming suddenly offered. But the need for a more sustainable compensation model gained urgency when it became clear streaming is not a sideshow, but rather the future of the business, he said.
“Over the past 10 years, we realized: ‘Oh, that’s now how Hollywood works. Everything is streaming,’” Shapiro said during a recent union event.
Shapiro, who has been acting for 25 years, said he agreed to a contract offering 20% of his normal rate for “Never Have I Ever” because it seemed like “a great opportunity, and it’s going to be all over the world. And it was. It really was. Unfortunately, we’re all starting to realize that if we keep doing this we’re not going to be able to pay our bills.”
Then there’s the rising use of “mini rooms,” in which a handful of writers are hired to work only during pre-production, sometimes for a series that may take a year to be greenlit, or never get picked up at all.
Sanchez-Witzel, co-creator of the recently released Netflix series “Survival of the Thickest,” said television shows traditionally hire robust writing teams for the duration of production. But Netflix refused to allow her to keep her team of five writers past pre-production, forcing round-the-clock work on rewrites with just one other writer.
“It’s not sustainable and I’ll never do that again,” she said.
Sanchez-Witzel said she was struck by the similarities between her experience and those of UPS drivers, some of whom joined the WGA for protests as they threatened their own potentially crippling strike. UPS and the Teamsters last week reached a tentative contract staving off the strike.
Jeffrey Palmerino, a full-time UPS driver near Albany, New York, said forced overtime emerged as a top issue during the pandemic as drivers coped with a crush of orders on par with the holiday season. Drivers never knew what time they would get home or if they could count on two days off each week, while 14-hour days in trucks without air conditioning became the norm.
“It was basically like Christmas on steroids for two straight years. A lot of us were forced to work six days a week, and that is not any way to live your life,” said Palmerino, a Teamsters shop steward.
Along with pay raises and air conditioning, the Teamsters won concessions that Palmerino hopes will ease overwork. UPS agreed to end forced overtime on days off and eliminate a lower-paid category of drivers who work shifts that include weekends, converting them to full-time drivers. Union members have yet to ratify the deal.
The Teamsters and labor activists hailed the tentative deal as a game-changer that would pressure other companies facing labor unrest to raise their standards. But similar outcomes are far from certain in industries lacking the sheer economic indispensability of UPS or the clout of its 340,000-member union.
Efforts to organize at Starbucks and Amazon stalled as both companies aggressively fought against unionization.
Still, labor protests will likely gain momentum following the UPS contract, said Patricia Campos-Medina, executive director of the Worker Institute at the School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, which released a report this year that found the number of labor strikes rose 52% in 2022.
“The whole idea that consumer convenience is above everything broke down during the pandemic. We started to think, ‘I’m at home ordering, but there is actually a worker who has to go the grocery store, who has to cook this for me so that I can be comfortable,’” Campos-Medina said.
___
Associated Press video journalist Leslie Ambriz contributed from Los Angeles.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbrc.com/2023/07/30/consumer-demand-speed-convenience-drives-labor-unrest-among-workers-hollywood-ups/ | 2023-07-30T12:40:32 | 1 | https://www.wbrc.com/2023/07/30/consumer-demand-speed-convenience-drives-labor-unrest-among-workers-hollywood-ups/ |
Sky vs. Mercury Injury Report, Betting Odds - July 30
The Chicago Sky's (9-15) injury report has two players listed as they ready for a Sunday, July 30 matchup with the Phoenix Mercury (6-17) at Wintrust Arena. It begins at 4:00 PM ET.
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The Sky are coming off of an 83-74 loss to the Storm in their most recent outing on Friday.
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Chicago Sky Injury Report Today
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Phoenix Mercury Injury Report Today
Sky vs. Mercury Game Info
- Game Day: Sunday, July 30, 2023
- Game Time: 4:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN3 and AZFamily
- Location: Chicago, Illinois
- Arena: Wintrust Arena
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Sky Player Leaders
- Courtney Williams puts up a team-best 6.0 assists per contest. She is also putting up 9.2 points and 6.1 rebounds, shooting 39.5% from the field and 40.0% from downtown (ninth in league) with 1.1 made 3-pointers per contest.
- Kahleah Copper is tops on the Sky at 18.6 points per game, while also putting up 1.9 assists and 4.7 rebounds. She is 10th in the WNBA in scoring.
- Alanna Smith paces her squad in rebounds per game (6.9), and also averages 9.5 points and 1.8 assists. At the other end, she averages 1.4 steals (10th in the league) and 1.6 blocked shots (fifth in the league).
- Elizabeth Williams posts 9.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, shooting 50.8% from the field (seventh in WNBA).
- Marina Mabrey is averaging 14.1 points, 3.7 assists and 3.9 rebounds per contest.
Sky vs. Mercury Betting Info
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/sky-vs-mercury-wnba-injury-report/ | 2023-07-30T12:40:33 | 1 | https://www.wnem.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/sky-vs-mercury-wnba-injury-report/ |
Updated July 27, 2023 at 3:40 PM ET
When The Sims came out back in the year 2000, it changed the gaming landscape. Here was a game made for everybody, a game that looked and played like real life, if only real life was a lot more fun.
It was such a big deal that even mainstream news outlets like us were talking about it. Dan Morris, former executive editor of PC Gamer Magazine, told NPR that part of its appeal was its familiarity and relatability. "It's sort of the part of us that always liked, you know, playing with dollhouses," he said. In a medium where players were usually confronted with science fiction and fantasy, it was the mundanity of The Sims' world that proved refreshing.
But while The Sims spawned many sequels, you can't officially buy the original, and even if you have it, it's not designed to run on modern systems. That fate, sadly, isn't an anomaly — most classic video games can't be played on today's hardware. A new study from The Video Game History Foundation finds that only 13% of titles produced before 2010 are available on modern platforms.
Games made before 1985 fare even worse, with only 3% still being sold. Salvador calls that period the "silent film" era of video games, when designers established the medium's basic grammar. "There's a very real danger," says study author Phil Salvador, "that in a few decades these games will be unavailable and unplayable to a wide audience." That concern took on new urgency this year, when Nintendo shuttered its 3DS and Wii eShops, taking whole generations of games off the market.
But why does it matter that we can't, for example, play the original Sims when its commercially successful sequels are easily purchasable? "That's like saying, well, you know, why do we need the original Psycho if we can get Gus Van Sant's remake of Psycho?" argues Salvador. "Video games are cultural history in the same way that film is cultural history or books or movies."
That history can tell you a lot about a video game, and the time and place it was born into.
In the early 1990's, Sega was a video game giant. But when they released their Sega Saturn video game console in America in 1995, it flopped. Many of the games on that system are now out of print. But fans are keeping its memory alive.
David Lee writes about the system and its games on the blog SegaSaturnShiro, which he co-founded. "I just really love the mystique of it," he explains. "I love how it kind of has this troubled and complex story." Games like Clockwork Knight, he says, have a colorful and chaotic visual style that felt uniquely 90's Sega. "It's just got a look to it, a visual charm to it, that's just very much of the time," he explains.
Fan communities have played a major role preserving video games, but official institutions are lagging behind. Phil Salvador argues that libraries also need the power to make these games and their histories more accessible to researchers. "I worry about the long-term future of video games [is] going to be if we have to sort of rely entirely on the fan community for this kind of documentation."
Kendra Albert at the Harvard Cyberlaw Clinic says that current copyright law makes that difficult, and video game companies want to keep it that way. "The rationale that the lobbying groups often come forward with is that this will harm the market for existing games," Albert says.
But Albert feels that this perspective is out of step with both the reality of consumer demand and the goals of preservationists. Preservationists want libraries to have more flexibility when it comes to making games available to researchers. For example, current copyright law makes it legally questionable to share video games remotely through software emulation. Games historians want access to the original titles, because companies change old games when they re-enter the market as remasters and remakes.
Professor Adrienne Shaw of Temple University, who founded the LGBTQ Video Game Archive, points to the game Baldur's Gate as an example. The 2012 remaster of the original game added same-sex relationship options for some of its characters. While the game became accessible to more players, it became a fundamentally different object to a researcher studying queer relationships in video games.
Albert and other advocacy organizations will ask the U.S. Copyright Office to exempt video games from some of these copyright laws when the appeals process begins this fall. Similar appeals have been denied in the past, leaving official preservation of the young medium in doubt.
James Perkins Mastromarino contributed to this story. contributed to this story
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.ijpr.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-21/these-are-the-classic-video-games-you-can-no-longer-play-spoiler-its-most-of-them | 2023-07-30T12:40:36 | 1 | https://www.ijpr.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-21/these-are-the-classic-video-games-you-can-no-longer-play-spoiler-its-most-of-them |
Persian-American Chef Nasim Alikhani has published her first cookbook, based on her highly acclaimed restaurant in Brooklyn. She brought the feast to Los Angeles for a recent series of pop up dinners.
Copyright 2023 NPR
Persian-American Chef Nasim Alikhani has published her first cookbook, based on her highly acclaimed restaurant in Brooklyn. She brought the feast to Los Angeles for a recent series of pop up dinners.
Copyright 2023 NPR | https://www.nepm.org/2023-07-30/acclaimed-persian-american-chef-nasim-alikhani-has-published-her-first-cookbook | 2023-07-30T12:40:38 | 1 | https://www.nepm.org/2023-07-30/acclaimed-persian-american-chef-nasim-alikhani-has-published-her-first-cookbook |
First Alert Weather Day: Strong storms possible Sunday afternoon; Heat Advisory continues until 9 p.m.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) -A Heat Advisory continues until 9 p.m. tonight for Heat Index Values up to 108. Counties in West Alabama could see Heat Index Values near 110-degrees this afternoon. The added cloud cover in northern counties will limit Heat Index Values so the warning has been canceled for these areas.
Heat indices will range from 105 to 108 degrees this afternoon across the area and Monday afternoon in South Alabama. Heat indices may approach or exceed 105 degrees across parts of the area through the remainder of the upcoming workweek.
The overnight storm complex diminished as it moved into North Alabama early this morning but additional storms could fire along the out flow boundaries this afternoon. Outside the rain areas very hot conditions continue. High rainfall rates will be possible with any storm with some limited potential for localized flash flooding within any slow moving storm complex. A few stronger storms are possible with an isolated severe storm still possible.
Slightly drier air will return tomorrow and Tuesday which will still produce Heat Index Values near 100-degrees, but below Heat Advisory Criteria. Wednesday and Thursday some stronger disturbances with increasing moisture will produce better chances for showers and thunderstorms. The heat will be rebuilding as well and more Heat Advisories may be needed by the end of the upcoming week.
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Copyright 2023 WBRC. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbrc.com/2023/07/30/first-alert-weather-day-strong-storms-possible-sunday-afternoon-heat-advisory-continues-until-9-pm/ | 2023-07-30T12:40:39 | 1 | https://www.wbrc.com/2023/07/30/first-alert-weather-day-strong-storms-possible-sunday-afternoon-heat-advisory-continues-until-9-pm/ |
FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) — Here’s why Katie Ledecky is one of the greatest freestyle swimmers in the history of the sport: She is never quite satisfied.
The 26-year-old American won the 800-meter freestyle on Saturday at the world championships to become the first swimmer to win six golds in the same event at worlds. It was also her 16th individual world title, breaking a tie with Michael Phelps for the most golds at worlds.
She also is a seven-time Olympic gold medalist and the world record holder in both the 800 and 1,500.
But that winning time — 8 minutes, 8.87 seconds, which is the seventh-quickest she’d ever swum — wasn’t quite good enough in her favorite event.
“I’m just always trying to think of new ways to improve. I mean I’ve already got everything turning in my head right now. I kind of wanted to be better than I was tonight,” she said, twirling her right hand beside her right ear, trying to stir up ideas.
“I’m pretty tough on myself,” she said. “But I think I have found the balance of being tough on myself but also having that grace.”
The 800 was Ledecky’s second individual gold following her win in the 1,500 free on Tuesday. She also took silver in the 400 free. Li Bingjie of China took silver in 8:13.31, and Ariarne Titmus of Australia got the bronze in 8:13.59.
“It’s fun to leave a meet with your favorite event, and I just wanted to leave it all in the pool,” Ledecky said.
It was only the fourth gold for the United States in the seventh of eight days in the pool. Meanwhile, Australia has been piling it on with 13 golds, matching its best at the worlds. Australia won three more golds on Saturday.
The Americans lead the overall table with 31 medals (16 silver), Australia has 20 and China 13.
Kaylee McKeown of Australia made history of her own with gold in the women’s 200 backstroke. McKeown’s victory gave her a sweep of all three backstroke events after earlier wins in the 50 and 100. She became the first swimmer to sweep all three backstrokes at the worlds.
It all made up for her disqualification earlier in the 200 IM.
“You can’t change the rules,” she said. “I got ruled out. It’s just the cards I was dealt with and I couldn’t do much more than that. So I just had to carry myself the best I could and channel all my anger and turn a huge negative into a positive.”
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 Sjöström of Sweden continued her dominance with gold in the 50 butterfly. The 29-year-old won in 24.77 seconds and has now won the event five consecutive times at the worlds. The win brought Sjöström’s individual medals at the worlds to 20, equaling Phelps’ mark.
Sjöström also broke her own record in the 50 free, going 23.61 in a semifinal heat. Her old mark was 23.67 set in 2017.
“There are not too many secrets,” Sjöström said about her longevity. “Just do the work every day, go to practice, and stay humble.”
Zhang Yufei of China, who took gold in the 100 fly, claimed the silver in 25.05, while American Gretchen Walsh got the bronze in 25.46.
Japanese fan favorite Rikako Ikee finished seventh (25.78) in the 50 fly but was greeted warmly by the home crowd.
The 23-year-old Ikee won six gold medals at the 2018 Asian Games and was expected to be a favorite in the Tokyo Olympics. But she was diagnosed with leukemia in February 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 50 free in 21.06. It was his first individual gold in the worlds or Olympics.
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.
Caeleb Dressel won the event at the Olympics but did not qualify for the U.S. team. McEvoy’s time was quicker than Dressel’s winning time in Tokyo — 21.07.
Maxime Grousset of France won gold in the 100 fly in 50.14. The 24-year-old took the early lead and held on. 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 50 breaststroke.
Australia won the 4×100 mixed freestyle relay in a world record of 3:18.83. The Americans took silver in 3:20.82, with Britain getting the bronze in 3:21.68. The relay is not an Olympic event.
___
AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-katie-ledecky-passes-michael-phelps-for-most-individual-golds-at-world-championships/ | 2023-07-30T12:40:39 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-katie-ledecky-passes-michael-phelps-for-most-individual-golds-at-world-championships/ |
Tigers vs. Marlins Predictions & Picks: Odds, Moneyline, Spread - July 30
Sunday's game at LoanDepot park has the Miami Marlins (56-49) matching up with the Detroit Tigers (47-58) at 1:40 PM ET (on July 30). Our computer prediction projects a narrow 4-3 victory for the Marlins, so expect a competitive matchup.
The probable starters are Jesus Luzardo (8-5) for the Marlins and Tarik Skubal (1-1) for the Tigers.
Tigers vs. Marlins Game Info & Odds
- When: Sunday, July 30, 2023 at 1:40 PM ET
- Where: LoanDepot park in Miami, Florida
- How to Watch on TV: BSFL
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo!
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Tigers vs. Marlins Score Prediction
Our pick for this contest is Marlins 4, Tigers 3.
Total Prediction for Tigers vs. Marlins
- Total Prediction: Over 7 runs
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Tigers Performance Insights
- The Tigers have played as the underdog in seven of their past 10 games and have gone 2-5 in those contests.
- In its previous 10 games with a total, Detroit and its opponents have combined to exceed the over/under on four occasions.
- The Tigers' previous 10 matchups have not had a spread posted by bookmakers.
- The Tigers have come away with 34 wins in the 84 contests they have been listed as the underdogs in this season.
- This year, Detroit has won 24 of 53 games when listed as at least +125 or worse on the moneyline.
- The moneyline set for this matchup implies the Tigers have a 44.4% chance of coming away with a victory in the contest.
- The offense for Detroit is No. 28 in MLB play scoring 3.9 runs per game (411 total runs).
- Tigers pitchers have a combined ERA of 4.49 ERA this year, which ranks 20th in MLB.
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Tigers Schedule
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/tigers-marlins-mlb-picks-predictions/ | 2023-07-30T12:40:40 | 0 | https://www.wnem.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/tigers-marlins-mlb-picks-predictions/ |
Of all extreme weather conditions, heat is the most deadly. It kills more people in the U.S. in an average year than hurricanes, tornadoes and floods combined. The human body has a built-in cooling mechanism – sweat. But that system can only do so much, especially in soaring temperatures with high humidity.
Here's a look at what happens to the human body in extreme temperatures – and the three main pathways to fatal consequences.
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Organ failure caused by heatstroke
When the surrounding temperatures approach your internal body temperature – which is about 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit for most of us – your body starts to cool off through evaporative cooling, better known as sweating. But when it's very humid out, that sweat won't evaporate as well and cool you down.
When your body is exposed to heat, it will try to cool itself down by redirecting more blood to the skin, says Ollie Jay, a professor of heat and health at the University of Sydney, where he directs the Heat and Health Research Incubator. But that means less blood and less oxygen are going to your gut. If these conditions go on long enough, your gut can become more permeable.
"So, nasty things like endotoxins that usually reside and stay inside the gut start leaking out of the gut, entering the circulation. And that sets off a cascade of effects that ultimately result in death," Jay says.
For example, those toxins can activate white blood cells, says Camilo Mora, a climate scientist and professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa who has researched how heat can turn fatal. "They say, Oh my God, we're getting attacked right now. And the white blood cells are going to attack this contamination in the blood, creating coagulation" – or blood clots, Mora says. Those clots can lead to multiple organ failure.
"And at that point, it's pretty irreversible," Jay adds.
Cardiovascular collapse
The second way people die in high heat also has to do with your body pumping more blood to the skin. Your heart has to pump faster – which can make you feel lightheaded – to keep your blood pressure up.
"We might have a heart rate of 60 beats per minute, all of a sudden, we might be asking the heart to contract 100 times per minute, 110 times per minute. So now you're asking the heart to do a lot more work," Jay says.
Those spikes in the heart rate can be triggers for a heart attack, he says, especially for the elderly and those with underlying heart conditions.
Fluid loss leading to kidney failure
The third deadly danger has to do with the fluids your body is losing in extreme heat. People can sweat as much as a liter and half per hour, Jay says. And if you don't replenish those fluids, you get dehydrated and your blood volume shrinks, which makes it harder to maintain blood pressure. That can strain your heart and your kidneys.
"People with kidney disorders can be at greater risk of a negative health outcome during extreme heat exposure," Jay says.
Mora notes another danger to the kidneys that people who work physically demanding jobs in high heat outdoors face. Rhabdomyolysis causes muscle tissue to break down, releasing proteins into the blood that can clog kidneys. This usually occurs in the acute phase of heatstroke. Jay says there's also some evidence that habitually working outdoors in high heat without proper hydration can increase the risk of chronic kidney disease.
What you can do to stay safe
Watch for the first signs of mild heat exhaustion:
If that happens, Jay says, get out of the heat and into the shade or indoors ASAP. Drink plenty of water and wet your clothes and skin. Immersing your feet in cold water can also help.
Jay says the goal is to cool down so you don't progress to severe heat exhaustion, where you might start vomiting or seem to lose coordination – signs of neurological disturbance.
If your core body temperature rises to about 104 degrees Fahrenheit, Jay says, that's where you risk heatstroke.
How hot is too hot?
Experts say there's no absolute temperature at which extreme heat can turn dangerous.
"It depends on the individual," says Lewis Halsey, a professor of environmental physiology at the University of Roehampton in the U.K. "It depends on how acclimated they are to heat. It depends how long they're exposed to the heat for. It depends on how they're experiencing this heat."
If sweating is our superpower to keep cool, then "the kryptonite to that superpower is humidity," Halsey says.
So a person might start feeling overwhelmed much sooner in higher humidity at lower temperatures than if they're in dry heat, he says. Direct sunlight will heat us up faster than when we're in the shade. A nice breeze could help sweat evaporate and cool us off.
The elderly and very young are considered particularly vulnerable in the heat. But Mora of the University of Hawaii at Manoa notes heat stress can hit anyone.
He points to the story of a young family who died after becoming dangerously overheated while hiking on a day in August 2021 when temperatures reached 109 degrees Fahrenheit in Northern California. The husband, wife, their one-year-old daughter and even the family dog were found dead two days later.
Mora says those kinds of conditions could kill within a few hours — even if you are young and healthy.
"The military has done a lot of research into heat exposure and they find the first symptoms of heat exhaustion, heatstroke after only a few hours, even among the healthiest of people," Mora says.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.ijpr.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-23/how-heat-kills-what-happens-to-the-body-in-extreme-temperatures | 2023-07-30T12:40:42 | 1 | https://www.ijpr.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-23/how-heat-kills-what-happens-to-the-body-in-extreme-temperatures |
The U.S. auto industry is experiencing unanticipated stumbles and challenges as it pivots to producing more electric vehicles, even as it makes large profits.
Copyright 2023 NPR
The U.S. auto industry is experiencing unanticipated stumbles and challenges as it pivots to producing more electric vehicles, even as it makes large profits.
Copyright 2023 NPR | https://www.nepm.org/2023-07-30/auto-companies-are-making-big-profits-but-still-stumbling-when-it-comes-to-evs | 2023-07-30T12:40:44 | 1 | https://www.nepm.org/2023-07-30/auto-companies-are-making-big-profits-but-still-stumbling-when-it-comes-to-evs |
Five people shot in Michigan
LANSING, Mich. (WILX/Gray News) - Five people were shot in Lansing, Michigan, WILX reports.
Lansing Police officers responded to a shooting in the 1300 block of W. Holmes Road around 1:00 a.m. on Sunday.
When officers arrived, they found a large crowd of people and multiple shooting victims.
The Lansing Fire Department responded to treat and transport several of the victims to a local hospital. Due to the size of the crowd, the Lansing Police Department requested assistance from neighboring jurisdictions.
Five shooting victims were identified ranging in age from 16 to 26 years old. Two of the victims are listed in critical condition.
Police detained several suspects and recovered multiple firearms from the scene.
This is an active investigation and Lansing Police Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators are at the scene working to determine the events which led up to the shootings.
Copyright 2023 WILX via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbrc.com/2023/07/30/five-people-shot-michigan/ | 2023-07-30T12:40:45 | 0 | https://www.wbrc.com/2023/07/30/five-people-shot-michigan/ |
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Wendie Renard was threatening to skip the Women’s World Cup and Eugénie Le Sommer wasn’t in selection contention just a few months ago under France’s previous coaching regime.
A management overhaul and a change of heart ultimately led to two of French football’s most experienced players combining for Les Bleues on Saturday to deliver a 2-1 win over Brazil that put them into a strong position to progress to the round of 16.
Le Sommer missed with a diving header in the 13th minute but needed only four more minutes to convert her next chance, beating Brazilian goalkeeper Leticia with a more emphatic header to score her record-extending 90th international goal.
Debinha equalized for Brazil as the hour approached, and the game opened up as both teams pressed for a winner. That’s when Renaud stepped in.
Renard, who’d been in doubt for the match because of a calf injury she picked up in France’s lackluster opening 0-0 draw against Jamaica, drifted unmarked to the back edge of the box to meet a corner kick with a powerful header in the 83rd and clinch victory.
It meant the well-traveled Hervé Renard, who was hired in March to replace Corinne Diacre, became the first head coach to win games at both the women’s and men’s World Cups.
His upset victory with Saudi Arabia over eventual champion Argentina was one of the highlights of the men’s World Cup in Qatar last year. His French women’s team showed signs against Brazil that it could go deep in the tournament.
He credited his veteran players, either recalled or convinced to remain, for the turnaround.
Wendie Renard “is the most important player in the dressing room. Always talking, motivating the the other girls,” the France coach said, describing his captain’s influence on the team. Of other veterans like Le Sommer and Kadidiatou Diani, he added: “You need leaders in the team — they have a good experience and we need them to motivate also the other players.”
Le Sommer, who missed selection for the 2022 Euros under former coach Diacre, was in the thick of the early action for France.
The French started with a high tempo and had three chances before Sakina Karchaoui’s long floating ball into the area found Diani, who leaped and headed square for Le Sommer to finish off from directly in front.
The Brazilian women had never beaten France but started to meet them for intensity as halftime approached, helped by the majority of an almost 50,000-strong crowd.
Debinha equalized in the 58th, finishing off a quick passing movement into the area, controlling a deflected ball with the outside of her leg before firing in a right-foot shot.
Leticia kept Brazil in the game with a string of impressive saves, and Selma Bacha hit the side netting with her shot from the right in the 75th, unable to break the deadlock for France.
After Renard broke the deadlock, Brazil sent Marta in the 86th for her 22nd World Cup appearance — moving her to outright second on the country’s all-time list — but she wasn’t able to equalize in a frenetic finish.
Brazil is now winless in 12 women’s internationals against France, a setback for a team that opened the Women’s World Cup with a thumping 4-0 win over Panama, with Ary Borges scoring three goals and providing the back-heel assist for one of the goals of the tournament.
Against a more disciplined defense, the Brazilians weren’t able to finish despite creating ample opportunities.
Coach Pia Sundhage said she was disappointed with her Brazilian team’s first half and overall lack of cohesion.
The defensive lapse on the set piece that led to France’s winning goal was discouraging, she said, before adding: “I’m more disappointed we couldn’t make this a game where we play like the Brazilian style.”
Jamaica edged Panama 1-0 later Saturday in Perth to join France on four competition points in Group F, one ahead of Brazil. On Wednesday, three teams will be vying for two spots in the next round when Brazil meets Jamaica in Melbourne and France takes on Panama in Sydney.
___
AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-womens-world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-le-sommer-renard-score-as-france-edges-brazil-2-1-at-the-womens-world-cup/ | 2023-07-30T12:40:46 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-le-sommer-renard-score-as-france-edges-brazil-2-1-at-the-womens-world-cup/ |
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with Morristown Medical Center sports cardiologist Matthew Martinez about why some young athletes suffer from sudden cardiac-related medical emergencies.
Copyright 2023 NPR
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with Morristown Medical Center sports cardiologist Matthew Martinez about why some young athletes suffer from sudden cardiac-related medical emergencies.
Copyright 2023 NPR | https://www.nepm.org/2023-07-30/cardiac-issues-among-young-athletes-are-rare-but-there-are-precautions-to-take | 2023-07-30T12:40:51 | 1 | https://www.nepm.org/2023-07-30/cardiac-issues-among-young-athletes-are-rare-but-there-are-precautions-to-take |
One of a kind Gulf museum opens in New Market
NEW MARKET, Ala. (WAFF) - One man in Madison County is showing off his love for old-fashioned service stations in a unique way. He’s built his own replica Gulf station in his driveway.
Jacoby Rice held the grand opening for his labor of love Saturday afternoon. There’s vintage pumps, a store, and three bay garage.
“I got involved with collecting Gulf some years ago” Rice told WAFF. “I got involved with the historical society that wanted to preserve the history of Gulf, which was a company that was bought out some years ago. I decided this was a path I wanted to pursue to give the history behind these gas stations.” Rice says his dad worked at a service station just like this when he was growing up.
The grand opening included tours, a classic car show and back to school fundraiser.
Rice is a school teacher, and is using this museum as a learning tool. He has a working body shop on his property where he teaches students mechanical work, body repair and detailing.
If you want to check out Jacoby’s museum, it’s on St. Clair Drive in New Market.
Click Here to Subscribe on YouTube: Watch the latest WAFF 48 news, sports & weather videos on our YouTube channel!
Copyright 2023 WAFF. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbrc.com/2023/07/30/one-kind-gulf-museum-opens-new-market/ | 2023-07-30T12:40:52 | 0 | https://www.wbrc.com/2023/07/30/one-kind-gulf-museum-opens-new-market/ |
BLAINE, Minn. (AP) — Chasing his first PGA Tour victory Lee Hodges shot a 5-under 66 on Saturday to stretch his lead to five strokes with a round left in the 3M Open.
Hodges had a 20-under 193 total at the TPC Twin Cities to break the tournament 54-hole mark of 195 set last year by Scott Piercy. Hodges led at 8 under after the first round and a record 15 under after the second.
“I have nothing to lose,” Hodges said. “I’m out here playing with house money. I have a job next year on the PGA Tour, this is all great. This is just icing on the cake.”
J.T. Poston was second after a 66. Defending champion Tony Finau was another stroke back at 14 under after a 67.
Hodges’ best finish in 64 prior events was a tie for third at The American Express in 2022, the only other time the 28-year-old Alabama player has led or shared the lead after 54 holes.
And he almost certainly has played himself into the playoffs that begin in two weeks. He began the week 74th in the FedEx Cup standings, with the top 70 players qualifying.
“I honestly don’t think I’ll be that nervous tonight.” Hodges said. “I’ll hang out with my wife. We’ll go do something fun. I mean, yeah, it’s just golf at the end of the day. I’m lucky to be here.”
Hodges opened with an up-and-down even nine holes, then had five birdies on the back nine.
“I didn’t think I played bad on the front nine, I just couldn’t really get it close to the hole and when I did, I couldn’t make the putt,” he said.
Things were much different after the turn.
Hodges dropped birdie putts from 12 feet on No. 10 and nearly 11 feet on No. 11. His tee shot on the par-3 13th stopped 4 1/2 feet from the cup for another birdie. He added a 5-foorter for birdie on 16 and a 7-footer on 18.
He’ll be paired with Poston on Sunday the final group.
“We play some practice rounds together and I know him really well,” Poston said. “He’s a good friend. So, if I can’t get it done tomorrow, I’ll be pulling for him.”
Finau birdied four of his final eight holes. Last year, he trailed by five shots early in the final round and won by three at 17 under.
“It was just nice to make a run on the back nine today just to give myself a chance,” Finau said. “If I’m eight back, that’s a whole different feeling than five or six. I was just happy with the way I finished my round today and to creep up and just be a little closer to the lead.”
Aaron Baddeley was fourth at 13 under after a 65.
Sam Ryder (65), Keith Mitchell (67), Billy Horschel (68) and Kevin Streelman (69) were 12 under. Ryder birdied in his final five holes — and seven of nine — to toe the tournament back-nine record of 29. Mitchell set that mark two years ago.
Kevin Yu shot 29 on his first nine, tying a score recorded by five others, but he was 5 over for his final six holes to finish with a 67. He was tied for 11th.
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-looking-for-1st-pga-tour-title-lee-hodges-takes-5-shot-lead-onto-3m-open-final-round/ | 2023-07-30T12:40:54 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/sports/us-world-sports/ap-looking-for-1st-pga-tour-title-lee-hodges-takes-5-shot-lead-onto-3m-open-final-round/ |