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Dalvin Cook visits with the Jets and watches practice as he considers his options
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Dalvin Cook got an up-close view of Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets while watching practice from the sideline Sunday.
The free agent running back has to see if he’ll spend the rest of training camp in their backfield — or elsewhere.
Cook spent Sunday meeting with the Jets as he ponders the next stop of his playing career. The four-time Pro Bowl selection was released by the Vikings on June 8 for salary cap savings, according to a person familiar with Minnesota’s decision.
The Jets are the first team Cook has officially visited as a free agent, with his hometown Miami Dolphins also among possible suitors. New York also must consider whether to make him an offer before he leaves the team’s practice facility.
Cook, who turns 28 on Aug. 10, was greeted by chants of “Dal-vin Cooook! Sign that contract!” from fans in the stands as he walked onto the field. He later responded to the post on X, formerly known as Twitter, with a green heart emoji.
Several Jets players, including Rodgers, greeted Cook and he spent a few moments chatting with owner Woody Johnson.
“He’s a good young man, a very good young man,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said. “We didn’t interact too much. There’s a lot of stuff going on, especially when it’s open to the public. But it was good to say hello.”
Cook has talked up the Jets in TV interviews in recent days, telling NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” on Friday they “are right at the top of the list” and the odds of him signing with them were “pretty high.”
“It’s a unique situation because I think they’re building something special over there,” Cook told “Good Morning Football” during the interview. “When you look at it, you always want to be around a great QB, you always want to be around somebody you can pick his brain and just learn from. A-Rod is a four-time MVP. So, just being around a guy like that you can learn a lot more and just develop as a player.
“That’s what I’m looking to do.”
He reiterated those comments Saturday during an interview with ESPN, saying he thinks “the coaching staff, I think everything about what they got going on, just says winning.”
But Cook, a former Florida State star, also said in the interview he was interested in the Dolphins and it would be “a Cinderella story” to play for his hometown team.
He was the guest of the Jets on Sunday, though. And now they have to wait to see if they offer Cook a deal and he accepts — or explores his options.
Both sides have expressed interest, and the Jets wanted Cook to take a physical to be sure his surgically repaired shoulder is healthy.
“That’s pretty much it,” Saleh said. “Call it a meet and greet.”
Cook, who has run for at least 1,000 yards in each of the past four seasons, was scheduled to count more than $14.1 million against the Vikings’ salary cap before he was released. He’s third on Minnesota’s career rushing list with 5,993 yards in six seasons.
With the Jets, Cook could give New York some insurance in the backfield with Breece Hall working his way back from a knee injury that cut short a promising rookie season. New York also has Michael Carter, Zonovan Knight, Damarea Crockett, fifth-round draft pick Israel Abanikanda and undrafted free agent Travis Dye at the position.
NOTES: Saleh said WR Garrett Wilson has a lower right ankle injury and the Jets are being cautious by holding him out of practice. Wilson appeared to have a slight limp and his right ankle was wrapped. … WR Corey Davis remains out with an illness, but Saleh said he could return to practice Monday. … WR Randall Cobb was activated from the physically unable to perform list and participated in practice. … Saleh said the starters aren’t expected to play Thursday night in the Hall of Fame game against Cleveland in Canton, Ohio. Among those players who will play include QB Zach Wilson and OT Mekhi Becton.
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AP Pro Football Writers Dave Campbell and Rob Maaddi contributed.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.kaaltv.com/sports/national-sports/dalvin-cook-visits-with-the-jets-and-watches-practice-as-he-considers-his-options/ | 2023-07-30T19:35:40 | 1 | https://www.kaaltv.com/sports/national-sports/dalvin-cook-visits-with-the-jets-and-watches-practice-as-he-considers-his-options/ |
Ex-Chiefs linebacker Frank Clark reunites with Russell Wilson in Denver
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Frank Clark has reunited with Russell Wilson in Denver and now the outside linebacker has former teammate Patrick Mahomes in his sights instead.
The 30-year-old outside linebacker signed with Denver after being jettisoned by the Kansas City Chiefs in a cost-cutting move this offseason and the Broncos are counting on him to add some oomph to their pass rush.
Still in the AFC West, Clark gets two opportunities at beating his former team this season, something the Broncos haven’t done since 2015. Their 15-game skid against the Chiefs is the fourth longest by one team to a single opponent in NFL history.
Unlike his reunion with Wilson, revenge and rivalry aren’t top of mind for Clark as he embraces his fresh start in the Rocky Mountains.
“I wouldn’t call it a rivalry. A rivalry is competitive,” Clark interjected in his first public comments since signing a one-year, $5.5 million deal with Denver last month. “I’m (with) the Broncos now. I’ve been on the other side. We didn’t call it a rivalry then.”
And before anyone around Denver can call it that the Broncos will have to beat Mahomes, something they have a better shot at doing with Clark on their side.
The Chiefs parted ways with Clark just a year after signing him to a two-year, $30 million extension. The Broncos haven’t had a fearsome pass rush since trading Von Miller two years ago. And with Baron Browning sidelined by a knee injury and Randy Gregory coming off an injury-filled debut season in Denver, first-year head coach Sean Payton eagerly welcomed the veteran with 58 1/2 sacks.
Clark had 23 1/2 sacks in four seasons in Kansas City and another 10 1/2 in the playoffs, helping the Chiefs go 10-2 in the postseason and make three trips to the Super Bowl.
“What we did in Kansas City was special,” Clark said. “Four-year run, two Super Bowl (rings), three AFC titles. It was fun, but at the end of the day all good things come to an end.”
Bad things, too, he hopes. Such as Denver’s 15-game skid to the Chiefs.
One thing Clark insists isn’t nearing the finish line in his proclivity for getting after the passer even though his five sacks in 2022 and two-game suspension for gun possession incidents a year earlier meant an end to his three-year run as a Pro Bowler.
“I wouldn’t say it was the end” in Kansas City last season, Clark said. “It’s never the end when you get the job finished.”
Now he aims to help the Broncos and Wilson bounce back in 2023.
“He’s still dangerous. Don’t get it twisted,” Clark said of Wilson, whom he played with in Seattle from 2015-18. “Russ is a veteran. He’s a guy that’s won on multiple levels. … I was a part of Seahawks teams that were successful; I was a part of teams where we didn’t make the playoffs. But it was the same Russ.
“So don’t think a bad season’s going to shake a guy like Russ,” Clark added. “Naw, bro, we start fresh every year. Every summer’s a fresh start.”
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.kaaltv.com/sports/national-sports/ex-chiefs-linebacker-frank-clark-reunites-with-russell-wilson-in-denver/ | 2023-07-30T19:35:47 | 1 | https://www.kaaltv.com/sports/national-sports/ex-chiefs-linebacker-frank-clark-reunites-with-russell-wilson-in-denver/ |
Russia's defense ministry says it has thwarted an attack on Moscow by three Ukrainian drones. The strike damaged an office building just a few kilometres from the Kremlin. Ukraine's president says the attack shows the war is returning to Russian territory. | https://www.dw.com/en/russia-says-ukrainian-drones-attack-moscow/video-66391040 | 2023-07-30T19:35:49 | 1 | https://www.dw.com/en/russia-says-ukrainian-drones-attack-moscow/video-66391040 |
Rangers acquire Scherzer from Mets in blockbuster move by surprise AL West leaders
The Texas Rangers acquired three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer in a blockbuster trade with the New York Mets, an all-in move for the surprise AL West leaders.
Both teams announced the deal Sunday after news of the agreement broke Saturday evening. Texas manager Bruce Bochy said Scherzer will make his Rangers debut Thursday when he starts at home against the Chicago White Sox.
“It’s great. We’re pumped about it. We’re getting an experienced guy with a tremendous resume,” Bochy said in San Diego before the Rangers played the Padres.
He said the message to his players is: “Hey, we mean business. We’re here to win. And it’s always a great message when a team does something like this.”
The trade netted the Mets one of Texas’ top prospects in infielder Luisangel Acuña, the younger brother of Atlanta star Ronald Acuña Jr. New York said he will be optioned to Double-A Binghamton.
Scherzer waived his no-trade clause to complete the deal, and the Mets will send cash to Texas. The pitcher also agreed to opt in on the final year of his contract in 2024 at $43.3 million, according to reports that said the Mets were paying about $35 million of the remaining $58 million on the right-hander’s contract.
“Obviously, Max’s pedigree is a future Hall of Fame pitcher and the winner that he is is a perfect fit for what we need right now. You can never have enough starting pitching and to add someone of Max’s caliber is a great addition to our club,” Rangers general manager Chris Young said. “We landed the player we feel like is going to help us get where we want to go this year.”
The 39-year-old Scherzer joins another former Mets ace in Texas: injured right-hander Jacob deGrom. However, the two-time Cy Young Award winner had Tommy John surgery last month that could sideline him through the end of next season.
The Mets, one of baseball’s biggest disappointments, unloaded Scherzer just days after sending closer David Robertson to Miami for two minor leaguers Thursday night.
New York began the season with the highest payroll in baseball at a record $355 million but started Sunday 18 games behind first-place Atlanta in the NL East and seven games back in the wild-card race with a string of teams to catch.
“We just couldn’t get the consistency clicking,” general manager Billy Eppler said.
The next question is what the Mets will do with Justin Verlander, another three-time Cy Young Award winner signed through next season. There should be plenty of suitors for the 40-year-old right-hander, who pitched Sunday against Washington.
Texas has emerged from six consecutive losing seasons to lead the AL West all but one day in Bochy’s first season in charge. Bochy won three World Series championships from 2010-14 as manager of the San Francisco Giants.
The Rangers made the first notable move of this trading season by getting once-dominant closer Aroldis Chapman from Kansas City in June. Chapman has stayed in a setup role with Will Smith handling most of the closing duties.
Now, Texas has bolstered the rotation knowing deGrom might be out until Scherzer’s contract expires at the end of next season.
The trade announcement came on the same day the Rangers placed All-Star right-hander Nathan Eovaldi on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to July 27, with a right forearm strain.
The Rangers added deGrom in the offseason on a $185 million, five-year contract, knowing there was risk in signing the oft-injured right-hander.
He lasted just six starts — all Texas wins — before elbow issues sidelined deGrom for a month. It took multiple MRIs to determine the extent of the damage to his elbow, and the Tommy John procedure in June was the second of his career. The other was in rookie ball with the Mets in 2010.
“I think we need to improve as a starting rotation,” Bochy said before the Rangers’ game at San Diego on Saturday night, as reports of the trade were circulating. “I think that’s fair to say.”
Scherzer (9-4) was leading the Mets in wins but had his highest ERA (4.01) since 2011 with Detroit. The eight-time All-Star started Friday at home against Washington, allowing one run over seven innings in a 5-1 New York victory.
With 210 career wins, Scherzer is third among active pitchers behind Verlander and Kansas City’s Zack Greinke.
“Adding him not only to this rotation for this year but also for next year, is a huge pickup,” Eovaldi said. “He brings that experience. He’s accomplished everything. What he’s going to be able to do for the guys, the energy, and you see how he goes out there and competes on the mound, and then just that extra experience for the postseason as well. We’ve got more guys that have experienced it and been through it, and the more guys you have with everything that he’s been able to accomplish, the better it is for the whole rotation and the team itself.”
The 21-year-old Acuña was batting .315 with seven homers, 51 RBIs and an .830 OPS in 84 games with Double-A Frisco this season. He also had 25 doubles and was leading the Texas League in stolen bases (42) and runs (68).
Acuña was the third-ranked prospect in Texas’ farm system and No. 44 overall in the majors, according to MLB Pipeline.
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AP Sports Writer Bernie Wilson in San Diego contributed to this report.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.kaaltv.com/sports/national-sports/rangers-acquire-scherzer-from-mets-in-blockbuster-move-by-surprise-al-west-leaders/ | 2023-07-30T19:35:53 | 0 | https://www.kaaltv.com/sports/national-sports/rangers-acquire-scherzer-from-mets-in-blockbuster-move-by-surprise-al-west-leaders/ |
ConflictsNigerWest African bloc issues ultimatum to Niger juntaTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 videoConflictsNiger24 minutes ago24 minutes agoWest African nations have given the coup leaders in Niger a one-week ultimatum to give up power. Leaders of the ECOWAS bloc also authorized the possible use of force if the country's ousted elected president is not reinstated within a week.https://p.dw.com/p/4UZLyAdvertisement | https://www.dw.com/en/west-african-bloc-issues-ultimatum-to-niger-junta/video-66391086 | 2023-07-30T19:35:56 | 0 | https://www.dw.com/en/west-african-bloc-issues-ultimatum-to-niger-junta/video-66391086 |
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 televisions 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.
Daily Top Stories
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. | https://www.capitalgazette.com/news/nation-world/ct-aud-nw-consumer-demand-labor-unrest-20230730-bmbcqpm2xfhpnmyi7zapnzoxki-story.html | 2023-07-30T19:37:33 | 0 | https://www.capitalgazette.com/news/nation-world/ct-aud-nw-consumer-demand-labor-unrest-20230730-bmbcqpm2xfhpnmyi7zapnzoxki-story.html |
Kentucky author speaks on his involvement in new music video
LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Tyler Childers’ new music video has taken the world by storm, garnering more than 2 million views on Youtube in just a few days.
Rolling Stone calls it “the music video of compassion and caring we need right now.”
Childers penned the song with fellow Kentuckian Geno Seale.
“He wanted it to be a gay love story, and he thought it important that a gay writer do that,” said Silas House, Kentucky Poet Laureate.
Silas and his husband, Jason Kyle Howard, wrote and provided creative direction for the video. It depicts the love story of two 1950′s coal miners.
“It’s a symbol of the region,” said Jason. “Also, I loved the idea of playing with the notion of them being underground, having a secret...being in kind of darkness and then coming up to the light.”
In the video, the couple faces backlash for their relationship. Now, the music video is receiving some backlash too.
“Some people are outraged,” said Silas. “When you’re raised rural, one of the main things you’re told is ‘we take care of our own’ and it makes me wonder if those people have misunderstood to mean ‘you only take care of your own if they’re just like you.’”
With the outrage has also come gratitude from folks seeing themselves represented in country music for the first time.
“It’s struck a chord for people whose stories have not been told or who have been overlooked or swept under the rug because we know that gay people have always been in Appalachia,” said Jason.
The video comes at a time where we’ve seen an increase in anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and legislation in the commonwealth.
“We hear so much...we see so much division today and to be able to listen to and experience a song that is just grounded in good old fashioned deep love is pretty remarkable,” said Jason.
With the release of ‘In Your Love,’ Childers announced his new album ‘Rustin in The Rain.’ It’s set to be released on September 8th.
Copyright 2023 WKYT. All rights reserved. | https://www.wkyt.com/2023/07/30/kentucky-author-speaks-his-involvement-new-music-video/ | 2023-07-30T19:37:42 | 1 | https://www.wkyt.com/2023/07/30/kentucky-author-speaks-his-involvement-new-music-video/ |
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The Fresno Fire Department is investigating a fire that damaged three homes on Sunday morning.
Over 50 firefighters responded to the blaze on Grant Avenue and Fifth Street just after 2:00 a.m.
Officials say the flames spread to two neighboring homes.
The home where the fire started was fully involved when crews arrived.
No injuries have been reported, and officials have not released whether the houses were vacant. | https://abc30.com/fire-house-central-fresno-firefighters-department/13573671/ | 2023-07-30T19:39:20 | 0 | https://abc30.com/fire-house-central-fresno-firefighters-department/13573671/ |
(The Conversation) – Should smartphones be allowed in classrooms? A new report from UNESCO, the education arm of the United Nations, raises questions about the practice. Though smartphones can be used for educational purposes, the report says the devices also disrupt classroom learning, expose students to cyberbullying and can compromise students’ privacy.
About 1 in 7 countries globally, such as the Netherlands and France, have banned the use of smartphones in school – and academic performance improved as a result, particularly for low-performing students, the report notes.
As school leaders in the U.S. wrestle with whether or not to ban smartphones, The Conversation has invited four scholars to weigh in on the issue.
Daniel G. Krutka: Use smartphones to encourage ‘technoskepticism’
While the issue of smartphone use in schools is complicated, evidence suggests that spending more time on smartphones is associated with young people being less happy and less satisfied with life.
Technology scholars have long argued that the key to living well with technology is in finding limits. However, in banning smartphones, I worry educators might be missing opportunities to use smartphones to encourage what I and other researchers refer to as technoskeptical thinking; that is, questioning our relationship with technology.
For example, students might be encouraged to consider the benefits and drawbacks of using navigational apps to travel from one place to another, as opposed to old-fashioned paper maps. Or, students might explore their social media feeds to critique what algorithms feed them, or how notifications get their attention.
In my research, I have looked at how teachers can encourage students to go on techno-fasts – that is, abstaining from the use of technology for a certain period of time. This, I argue, will give students time to reflect on the time they spend away from their devices.
Policy debates often focus on whether or not to put smartphones out of reach during the school day. But I believe educators might find it more beneficial to make the phones an object of inquiry.
Sarah Rose: Consult parents, teachers and students
While there is evidence that classroom phone usage can be a distraction, it can also promote engagement and learning. While research about the potential positive and negative consequences of classroom phones can be used to inform school phone policies, the views of those who are most directly impacted by the policies should also be taken into account.
The views of parents matter because their views may influence the extent to which their children follow the policy. The views of children matter because they are the ones being expected to follow the policy and to benefit from it. The views of teachers matter because they are often the ones that have to enforce the policies. Research shows that enforcing cellphone policies is not always a straightforward issue.
In my research, I have found that children – aged 10 and 11 years old – in collaboration with their parents, were able to come up with ideas for ideal policies and solutions to help enforce them. For example, one parent-child pair suggested mobile phone use in school could be banned but that a role of “telephone monitor” could be given to an older pupil. This “telephone monitor” would have a class mobile phone that children and parents could use to contact each other during the school day when necessary.
This recommendation reflected how parents and middle and high school students – whether from rural and urban areas – felt cellphones were important to keep in touch with each other during the school day. Beyond safety, children and parents also told us that phones were important for keeping in touch about changing plans and for emotional support during the school day.
I believe policies that simply ban phones in schools may be missing an opportunity to educate children about responsible mobile device use. When parents and children are involved in policy development, it has the potential to increase the extent to which these policies are followed and enforced.
Arnold L. Glass: Cellphone use in college lectures hurts performance in ways that are hard to see
The intrusion of internet-enabled electronic devices, such as laptops, tablets and cellphones, has transformed the modern college lecture. Students now divide their attention between the lecture and their devices. Classroom studies reveal that when college students use an electronic device for a nonacademic purpose during class, it hurts their performance on exams.
When attention is divided between an electronic device and the classroom lecture, it does not reduce comprehension of the lecture – at least, not when measured by within-class quizzes. Instead, divided attention reduces long-term retention of the classroom lecture, which hurts performance on unit exams and final exams.
When some students open electronic devices, it also negatively affects the performance of all the students around them. Research has shown that student performance on final exams was worse when electronic devices were permitted during classes that covered exam material versus when the devices were not.
Many students won’t think their divided attention is affecting their retention of new information. It may not be for the moment, but a couple of weeks later or down the line, research shows, it does.
Louis-Philippe Beland: Bans help low-achieving students the most
Numerous studies indicate that low-achieving students stand to benefit the most from the implementation of mobile phone bans in schools.
In a 2015 study, my co-author, Richard Murphy, and I examined the impact of banning mobile phones on student performance in high schools, using data from England. By comparing schools with phone bans to similar schools without the bans, we isolated the effect of mobile phones on performance. Our study found that banning mobile phones significantly increased test scores among 16-year-old students. The effect is equivalent to adding five days to the school year or an extra hour per week. Low-achieving students benefited more, while high-achieving students remained unaffected.
Similar studies in Spain and Norway using a similar approach demonstrated compelling evidence supporting the benefits of banning mobile phones. In Spain, grades improved and bullying incidents decreased. In Norway, the ban raised middle school students’ grade-point averages and their likelihood of attending academic high schools while reducing bullying. Evidence from Belgium suggests banning mobile phones can be beneficial for college student performance.
Psychological research sheds light on potential mechanisms behind the impact of mobile phones and technology on student performance. Multitasking, common with mobile phone use, has been found to hinder learning and task execution. Taking notes by hand has been shown to better enhance memory retention compared to typing on a computer.
In sum, banning mobile phones in schools can yield positive effects, improve academic performance and narrow the achievement gap between high- and low-achieving students. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that mobile phones and technology can also be valuable educational tools when used appropriately. | https://www.wfla.com/nextstar-news-wire/do-smartphones-belong-in-classrooms-four-scholars-weigh-in/ | 2023-07-30T19:40:32 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/nextstar-news-wire/do-smartphones-belong-in-classrooms-four-scholars-weigh-in/ |
DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — The FBI has issued arrest warrants and released disturbing details in the armed home invasion and kidnapping of an elderly North Carolina couple and the theft of more than $150,000 of their cryptocurrency in April.
The incident took place at gunpoint at the couple’s home the morning of April 12 after thieves allegedly posed as construction workers and forced their way into the home, according to the Durham Police Department and the FBI.
According to an FBI criminal complaint obtained by Nexstar’s WNCN, the incident began when two men, dressed as construction workers, came to the victims’ home around 7:30 a.m. The duo claimed they would be inspecting pipes for damage and told the husband they would be “walking around the house.”
After a few minutes, the pair knocked on the door again and the wife answered the door. The suspects, who allegedly both had guns, then pushed their way inside.
“The men restrained and zip-tied the husband’s hands and the wife’s hands,” the FBI complaint said.
A man armed with a pink gun showed the wife it was loaded by opening the cylinder and then dragged her into a bathroom by her legs, the criminal complaint said.
The husband was taken to his Apple iMac and forced at gunpoint to log in and install a remote desktop application called AnyDesk. A person on the phone with a thief already knew “details about the account without being told,” the FBI complaint said.
The FBI believes the husband’s email account was compromised in the past, allowing the thieves to learn the details ahead of the trip to Durham and the home invasion.
The suspects were able to transfer $156,853 worth of cryptocurrency during the next 45 minutes, the FBI said. Before leaving, the thieves allegedly smashed the couple’s cellphones and the iMac.
The elderly couple managed to get out of their home and ask neighbors to call 911 for help. The pair suffered minor injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital, Durham police said.
The arrest warrants released Thursday for kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping indicate two West Palm Beach, Florida, men are wanted — Jarod Gabriel Seemungal and Remy Ra St. Felix.
According to the FBI criminal complaint filed the same day, the suspects began targeting retirees who had cryptocurrency as early as February. The accused men even had the license plate number for the husband’s car, authorities said. A third man is also named in the criminal complaint, but no arrest warrant was issued for him as of Thursday.
Messages sent between those involved identified actual cryptocurrency amounts and their locations, the criminal complaint said. One suspect had a photo of the husband’s North Carolina driver’s license in his email account, according to the FBI.
The two suspects also discussed in internet messages how potential victims “have so much” money in accounts that it would be “retirement licks” — the FBI explained in the complaint that “licks” is slang for a robbery.
The thieves apparently rented a car in Florida and visited the Millennium Hotel in Durham a couple of days before the actual robbery, according to the complaint. Video from a home near the victims’ showed the thieves’ BMW SUV “conducting surveillance” at the couple’s home each of the three days before the alleged kidnapping, the FBI said.
The FBI also noted that a person driving a similar vehicle purchased costumes — a clipboard, reflective vest, sunglasses and a pair of khaki pants — at a nearby Walmart that allowed the suspected thieves to get into the victims’ home. Both suspects were seen on surveillance video from the store.
Additional details about potential victims wasn’t immediately available. As of Sunday, authorities have not said whether either man is in custody. | https://www.wfla.com/nextstar-news-wire/elderly-couple-bound-held-at-gunpoint-during-north-carolina-home-invasion-fbi-investigating/ | 2023-07-30T19:40:38 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/nextstar-news-wire/elderly-couple-bound-held-at-gunpoint-during-north-carolina-home-invasion-fbi-investigating/ |
CLEVELAND (WJW) – Verizon customers with older phone plans could see their bill go up next month.
According to the company, starting Aug. 29, some older plans will be charged an additional $3 or $5 per mobile phone line every month.
Customers with Go Unlimited 2.0, Beyond Unlimited 2.0, Above Unlimited, and 5G Start 1.0 plans will see the $3 monthly increase, while single basic phone plans will see the $5 monthly increase.
The company says unlimited plans that are currently available to new customers won’t get hit with the additional charge.
Verizon says lines with tablets, smartwatches, and other devices also won’t be affected.
This comes after a price hike back in April, which, as reported by USA Today, saw a $2 monthly increase for some wireless plans.
In June 2022, Verizon raised some plan fees in response to “pressure,” the company’s head of business said at the time. It led to a $1.35 increase on its administrative fees, and an “Economic Adjustment Charge” for companies using the business plans. It was the first time the fees had been increased since 2019. | https://www.wfla.com/nextstar-news-wire/have-an-older-verizon-phone-plan-your-bill-could-increase-soon/ | 2023-07-30T19:40:44 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/nextstar-news-wire/have-an-older-verizon-phone-plan-your-bill-could-increase-soon/ |
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A man died at a Disney Resort in Orlando on Wednesday.
According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, deputies received a call around 5:30 a.m. regarding an unresponsive person at Disney’s Contemporary Resort near Magic Kingdom.
The man, identified as 39-year-old Jeffrey Vanden Boom of Greendale, Wisconsin, was pronounced dead on the scene.
The Orange County Medical Examiner determined Vanden Boom fell from a hotel room balcony, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. The fall was ruled as accidental.
Walt Disney World did not immediately respond to Nexstar’s request for comment.
The death remains an ongoing investigation.
Last fall, an 83-year-old man died after riding the Tomorrowland Authority PeopleMover at Disney World. Authorities said he experienced a “cardiac event,” and his death was “deemed natural” by medical officials.
Earlier this year, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed against Disneyland, accusing park employees of laughing at a 66-year-old disabled woman who fell while getting off the Jungle Cruise ride in 2021 and later died. | https://www.wfla.com/nextstar-news-wire/man-dies-at-disney-resort-deputies-investigating-2/ | 2023-07-30T19:40:50 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/nextstar-news-wire/man-dies-at-disney-resort-deputies-investigating-2/ |
(NEXSTAR) — For five days this year, all national parks will be offering free admission to all visitors. One of those special days is nearly upon us.
The National Park Service announced the 2023 free days late last year. There are more than 400 parks, monuments, seashores and other NPS lands, the majority of which do not require an entrance fee. For the roughly 100 that do, these free admission days open the gates to everyone.
We’ve already had two free days this year: Jan. 16, which is Martin Luther King Day, and April 22, which was the first day of National Park Week.
Now, on Friday, Aug. 4, we’ll have another, which marks the anniversary of the Great Americans Outdoors Act.
The act, GAOA, was signed in 2020 and brought bipartisan investments to “improve visitor experiences, bolster climate resilience, and invest in the economy by creating good-paying jobs” at the parks, the Department of the Interior explains.
In honor of the bill signing anniversary, you won’t need to pay entrance fees at parks that usually require them. Fees will, however, still be necessary for overnight camping, cabin rentals, transportation, group day use and use of special areas.
The next two free admission days are Sept. 23, National Public Lands Day, and Nov. 11, Veterans Day.
Last year, there were roughly 312 million recreational visits to 395 national parks that track attendance, a 15 million increase over 2021. The most visited park was Blue Ridge Parkway, which received 15.7 million visits last year, edging out the Golden Gate National Recreation Area by slightly more than 72,000 visits. | https://www.wfla.com/nextstar-news-wire/you-can-get-into-the-national-parks-for-free-this-week-heres-when/ | 2023-07-30T19:40:56 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/nextstar-news-wire/you-can-get-into-the-national-parks-for-free-this-week-heres-when/ |
(The Conversation) – Should smartphones be allowed in classrooms? A new report from UNESCO, the education arm of the United Nations, raises questions about the practice. Though smartphones can be used for educational purposes, the report says the devices also disrupt classroom learning, expose students to cyberbullying and can compromise students’ privacy.
About 1 in 7 countries globally, such as the Netherlands and France, have banned the use of smartphones in school – and academic performance improved as a result, particularly for low-performing students, the report notes.
As school leaders in the U.S. wrestle with whether or not to ban smartphones, The Conversation has invited four scholars to weigh in on the issue.
Daniel G. Krutka: Use smartphones to encourage ‘technoskepticism’
While the issue of smartphone use in schools is complicated, evidence suggests that spending more time on smartphones is associated with young people being less happy and less satisfied with life.
Technology scholars have long argued that the key to living well with technology is in finding limits. However, in banning smartphones, I worry educators might be missing opportunities to use smartphones to encourage what I and other researchers refer to as technoskeptical thinking; that is, questioning our relationship with technology.
For example, students might be encouraged to consider the benefits and drawbacks of using navigational apps to travel from one place to another, as opposed to old-fashioned paper maps. Or, students might explore their social media feeds to critique what algorithms feed them, or how notifications get their attention.
In my research, I have looked at how teachers can encourage students to go on techno-fasts – that is, abstaining from the use of technology for a certain period of time. This, I argue, will give students time to reflect on the time they spend away from their devices.
Policy debates often focus on whether or not to put smartphones out of reach during the school day. But I believe educators might find it more beneficial to make the phones an object of inquiry.
Sarah Rose: Consult parents, teachers and students
While there is evidence that classroom phone usage can be a distraction, it can also promote engagement and learning. While research about the potential positive and negative consequences of classroom phones can be used to inform school phone policies, the views of those who are most directly impacted by the policies should also be taken into account.
The views of parents matter because their views may influence the extent to which their children follow the policy. The views of children matter because they are the ones being expected to follow the policy and to benefit from it. The views of teachers matter because they are often the ones that have to enforce the policies. Research shows that enforcing cellphone policies is not always a straightforward issue.
In my research, I have found that children – aged 10 and 11 years old – in collaboration with their parents, were able to come up with ideas for ideal policies and solutions to help enforce them. For example, one parent-child pair suggested mobile phone use in school could be banned but that a role of “telephone monitor” could be given to an older pupil. This “telephone monitor” would have a class mobile phone that children and parents could use to contact each other during the school day when necessary.
This recommendation reflected how parents and middle and high school students – whether from rural and urban areas – felt cellphones were important to keep in touch with each other during the school day. Beyond safety, children and parents also told us that phones were important for keeping in touch about changing plans and for emotional support during the school day.
I believe policies that simply ban phones in schools may be missing an opportunity to educate children about responsible mobile device use. When parents and children are involved in policy development, it has the potential to increase the extent to which these policies are followed and enforced.
Arnold L. Glass: Cellphone use in college lectures hurts performance in ways that are hard to see
The intrusion of internet-enabled electronic devices, such as laptops, tablets and cellphones, has transformed the modern college lecture. Students now divide their attention between the lecture and their devices. Classroom studies reveal that when college students use an electronic device for a nonacademic purpose during class, it hurts their performance on exams.
When attention is divided between an electronic device and the classroom lecture, it does not reduce comprehension of the lecture – at least, not when measured by within-class quizzes. Instead, divided attention reduces long-term retention of the classroom lecture, which hurts performance on unit exams and final exams.
When some students open electronic devices, it also negatively affects the performance of all the students around them. Research has shown that student performance on final exams was worse when electronic devices were permitted during classes that covered exam material versus when the devices were not.
Many students won’t think their divided attention is affecting their retention of new information. It may not be for the moment, but a couple of weeks later or down the line, research shows, it does.
Louis-Philippe Beland: Bans help low-achieving students the most
Numerous studies indicate that low-achieving students stand to benefit the most from the implementation of mobile phone bans in schools.
In a 2015 study, my co-author, Richard Murphy, and I examined the impact of banning mobile phones on student performance in high schools, using data from England. By comparing schools with phone bans to similar schools without the bans, we isolated the effect of mobile phones on performance. Our study found that banning mobile phones significantly increased test scores among 16-year-old students. The effect is equivalent to adding five days to the school year or an extra hour per week. Low-achieving students benefited more, while high-achieving students remained unaffected.
Similar studies in Spain and Norway using a similar approach demonstrated compelling evidence supporting the benefits of banning mobile phones. In Spain, grades improved and bullying incidents decreased. In Norway, the ban raised middle school students’ grade-point averages and their likelihood of attending academic high schools while reducing bullying. Evidence from Belgium suggests banning mobile phones can be beneficial for college student performance.
Psychological research sheds light on potential mechanisms behind the impact of mobile phones and technology on student performance. Multitasking, common with mobile phone use, has been found to hinder learning and task execution. Taking notes by hand has been shown to better enhance memory retention compared to typing on a computer.
In sum, banning mobile phones in schools can yield positive effects, improve academic performance and narrow the achievement gap between high- and low-achieving students. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that mobile phones and technology can also be valuable educational tools when used appropriately. | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/do-smartphones-belong-in-classrooms-four-scholars-weigh-in/ | 2023-07-30T19:41:30 | 0 | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/do-smartphones-belong-in-classrooms-four-scholars-weigh-in/ |
DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — The FBI has issued arrest warrants and released disturbing details in the armed home invasion and kidnapping of an elderly North Carolina couple and the theft of more than $150,000 of their cryptocurrency in April.
The incident took place at gunpoint at the couple’s home the morning of April 12 after thieves allegedly posed as construction workers and forced their way into the home, according to the Durham Police Department and the FBI.
According to an FBI criminal complaint obtained by Nexstar’s WNCN, the incident began when two men, dressed as construction workers, came to the victims’ home around 7:30 a.m. The duo claimed they would be inspecting pipes for damage and told the husband they would be “walking around the house.”
After a few minutes, the pair knocked on the door again and the wife answered the door. The suspects, who allegedly both had guns, then pushed their way inside.
“The men restrained and zip-tied the husband’s hands and the wife’s hands,” the FBI complaint said.
A man armed with a pink gun showed the wife it was loaded by opening the cylinder and then dragged her into a bathroom by her legs, the criminal complaint said.
The husband was taken to his Apple iMac and forced at gunpoint to log in and install a remote desktop application called AnyDesk. A person on the phone with a thief already knew “details about the account without being told,” the FBI complaint said.
The FBI believes the husband’s email account was compromised in the past, allowing the thieves to learn the details ahead of the trip to Durham and the home invasion.
The suspects were able to transfer $156,853 worth of cryptocurrency during the next 45 minutes, the FBI said. Before leaving, the thieves allegedly smashed the couple’s cellphones and the iMac.
The elderly couple managed to get out of their home and ask neighbors to call 911 for help. The pair suffered minor injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital, Durham police said.
The arrest warrants released Thursday for kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping indicate two West Palm Beach, Florida, men are wanted — Jarod Gabriel Seemungal and Remy Ra St. Felix.
According to the FBI criminal complaint filed the same day, the suspects began targeting retirees who had cryptocurrency as early as February. The accused men even had the license plate number for the husband’s car, authorities said. A third man is also named in the criminal complaint, but no arrest warrant was issued for him as of Thursday.
Messages sent between those involved identified actual cryptocurrency amounts and their locations, the criminal complaint said. One suspect had a photo of the husband’s North Carolina driver’s license in his email account, according to the FBI.
The two suspects also discussed in internet messages how potential victims “have so much” money in accounts that it would be “retirement licks” — the FBI explained in the complaint that “licks” is slang for a robbery.
The thieves apparently rented a car in Florida and visited the Millennium Hotel in Durham a couple of days before the actual robbery, according to the complaint. Video from a home near the victims’ showed the thieves’ BMW SUV “conducting surveillance” at the couple’s home each of the three days before the alleged kidnapping, the FBI said.
The FBI also noted that a person driving a similar vehicle purchased costumes — a clipboard, reflective vest, sunglasses and a pair of khaki pants — at a nearby Walmart that allowed the suspected thieves to get into the victims’ home. Both suspects were seen on surveillance video from the store.
Additional details about potential victims wasn’t immediately available. As of Sunday, authorities have not said whether either man is in custody. | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/elderly-couple-bound-held-at-gunpoint-during-north-carolina-home-invasion-fbi-investigating/ | 2023-07-30T19:41:36 | 1 | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/elderly-couple-bound-held-at-gunpoint-during-north-carolina-home-invasion-fbi-investigating/ |
CLEVELAND (WJW) – Verizon customers with older phone plans could see their bill go up next month.
According to the company, starting Aug. 29, some older plans will be charged an additional $3 or $5 per mobile phone line every month.
Customers with Go Unlimited 2.0, Beyond Unlimited 2.0, Above Unlimited, and 5G Start 1.0 plans will see the $3 monthly increase, while single basic phone plans will see the $5 monthly increase.
The company says unlimited plans that are currently available to new customers won’t get hit with the additional charge.
Verizon says lines with tablets, smartwatches, and other devices also won’t be affected.
This comes after a price hike back in April, which, as reported by USA Today, saw a $2 monthly increase for some wireless plans.
In June 2022, Verizon raised some plan fees in response to “pressure,” the company’s head of business said at the time. It led to a $1.35 increase on its administrative fees, and an “Economic Adjustment Charge” for companies using the business plans. It was the first time the fees had been increased since 2019. | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/have-an-older-verizon-phone-plan-your-bill-could-increase-soon/ | 2023-07-30T19:41:43 | 0 | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/have-an-older-verizon-phone-plan-your-bill-could-increase-soon/ |
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A man died at a Disney Resort in Orlando on Wednesday.
According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, deputies received a call around 5:30 a.m. regarding an unresponsive person at Disney’s Contemporary Resort near Magic Kingdom.
The man, identified as 39-year-old Jeffrey Vanden Boom of Greendale, Wisconsin, was pronounced dead on the scene.
The Orange County Medical Examiner determined Vanden Boom fell from a hotel room balcony, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. The fall was ruled as accidental.
Walt Disney World did not immediately respond to Nexstar’s request for comment.
The death remains an ongoing investigation.
Last fall, an 83-year-old man died after riding the Tomorrowland Authority PeopleMover at Disney World. Authorities said he experienced a “cardiac event,” and his death was “deemed natural” by medical officials.
Earlier this year, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed against Disneyland, accusing park employees of laughing at a 66-year-old disabled woman who fell while getting off the Jungle Cruise ride in 2021 and later died. | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/man-dies-at-disney-resort-deputies-investigating/ | 2023-07-30T19:41:46 | 1 | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/man-dies-at-disney-resort-deputies-investigating/ |
(NEXSTAR) — For five days this year, all national parks will be offering free admission to all visitors. One of those special days is nearly upon us.
The National Park Service announced the 2023 free days late last year. There are more than 400 parks, monuments, seashores and other NPS lands, the majority of which do not require an entrance fee. For the roughly 100 that do, these free admission days open the gates to everyone.
We’ve already had two free days this year: Jan. 16, which is Martin Luther King Day, and April 22, which was the first day of National Park Week.
Now, on Friday, Aug. 4, we’ll have another, which marks the anniversary of the Great Americans Outdoors Act.
The act, GAOA, was signed in 2020 and brought bipartisan investments to “improve visitor experiences, bolster climate resilience, and invest in the economy by creating good-paying jobs” at the parks, the Department of the Interior explains.
In honor of the bill signing anniversary, you won’t need to pay entrance fees at parks that usually require them. Fees will, however, still be necessary for overnight camping, cabin rentals, transportation, group day use and use of special areas.
The next two free admission days are Sept. 23, National Public Lands Day, and Nov. 11, Veterans Day.
Last year, there were roughly 312 million recreational visits to 395 national parks that track attendance, a 15 million increase over 2021. The most visited park was Blue Ridge Parkway, which received 15.7 million visits last year, edging out the Golden Gate National Recreation Area by slightly more than 72,000 visits. | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/you-can-get-into-the-national-parks-for-free-this-week-heres-when/ | 2023-07-30T19:41:46 | 0 | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/you-can-get-into-the-national-parks-for-free-this-week-heres-when/ |
ERIE COUNTY, Pa. — State police are investigating a case of human trafficking after a victim escaped from her captor.
Shevalis Johnson, 27, of Memphis, Tennessee was arrested on Friday and is facing multiple charges.
Police say the victim escaped from Johnson on July 28, and ran to a Dollar General in Summit Township, to call police.
When police arrived, the victim was taken to a safe location where she told police she and another victim had met Johnson through social media months before the incident.
After meeting Johnson in person, he forced them into prostitution, traveling to various states and advertising the victims online, encouraging the transaction of money for services from the victims.
During the investigation, police saw a man walking in Summit Township who matched the victim's description of Johnson.
He was taken into custody and charged with several crimes, including human trafficking and kidnapping.
Johnson remains in Erie County Prison.
The investigation is ongoing. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/crime/tennessee-man-arrested-in-pa-after-human-trafficking-victim-flees-to-dollar-general-fox43/521-a1031ef7-c80f-4d1e-9726-caaa38167051 | 2023-07-30T19:42:25 | 1 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/crime/tennessee-man-arrested-in-pa-after-human-trafficking-victim-flees-to-dollar-general-fox43/521-a1031ef7-c80f-4d1e-9726-caaa38167051 |
NEW YORK — A week later, the “Barbenheimer” boom has not abated.
Seven days after Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” conspired to set box office records, the two films held unusually strongly in theaters. “Barbie” took in a massive $93 million in its second weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. “Oppenheimer” stayed in second with a robust $46.2 million. Sales for the two movies dipped 43% and 44%, respectably — well shy of the usual week-two drops.
“Barbenheimer” has proven to be not a one-weekend phenomenon but an ongoing box-office bonanza. The two movies combined have already surpassed $1 billion in worldwide ticket sales. Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for data firm Comscore, call it “a touchstone moment for movies, moviegoers and movie theaters.”
“Having two movies from rival studios linked in this way and both boosting each other's fortunes — both box-office wise and it terms of their profile — I don't know if there's a comp for this in the annals of box-office history," said Dergarabedian. “There's really no comparison for this.”
Following its year-best $162 million opening, the pink-infused pop sensation of “Barbie” saw remarkably sustained business through the week and into the weekend. The film outpaced Nolan's “The Dark Knight" to have the best first 11 days in theaters of any Warner Bros. release ever.
“Barbie” has rapidly accumulated $351.4 million in U.S. and Canadian theaters, a rate that will soon make it the biggest box-office hit of the summer. Every day it’s played, “Barbie" has made at least $20 million.
And the “Barbie” effect isn't just in North America. The film made $122.2 million internationally over the weekend. Its global tally has reached $775 million. It's the kind of business that astounds even veteran studio executives.
“That's a crazy number,” said Jeff Goldstein, distribution chief for Warner Bros. “There's just a built-in audience that wants to be part of the zeitgeist of the moment. Wherever you go, people are wearing pink. Pink is taking over the world."
Amid the frenzy, “Barbie” is already attracting a lot of repeat moviegoers. Goldstein estimates that 12% of sales are people going back with friends or family to see it again.
For a movie industry that has be trying to regain its pre-pandemic footing — and that now finds itself largely shuttered due to actors and screenwriters strikes — the sensations of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” have showed what's possible when everything lines up just right.
“Post-pandemic, there's no ceiling and there's no floor," said Goldstein. "The movies that miss, really miss big time and the movies that work really work big time."
Universal Pictures' “Oppenheimer,” meanwhile, is performing more like a superhero movie than a three-hour film about scientists talking.
Nolan’s drama starring Cillian Murphy as atomic bomb physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer has accrued $174.1 million domestically thus far. With an additional $72.4 million in international cinemas, “Oppenheimer” has already surpassed $400 million globally.
Showings in IMAX have typically been sold out. “Oppenheimer” has made $80 million worldwide on IMAX. The large-format exhibitor said Sunday that it will extend the film's run through Aug. 13.
The week’s top new release, Walt Disney Co.’s “Haunted Mansion,” an adaptation of the Disney theme park attraction, was easily overshadowed by the “Barbenheimer” blitz. The film, which cost about $150 million, debuted with $24 million domestically and $9 million in overseas sales. “Haunted Mansion,” directed by Justin Simien (“Dear White People,” “Bad Hair”) and starring an ensemble of LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito and Rosario Dawson, struggled to overcome mediocre reviews.
“Talk to Me,” the A24 supernatural horror film, fared better. It debuted with $10 million. The film, directed by Australian filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou and starring Sophie Wilde, was a midnight premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January and received terrific reviews from critics (95% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes). It was made for a modest $4.5 million.
While theaters being flush with moviegoers has been a huge boon to the film industry, it’s been tougher sledding for Tom Cruise, the so-called savior of the movies last summer with “Top Gun: Maverick.” “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part I,” which debuted the week before the arrival of “Barbenheimer,” grossed $10.7 million in its third weekend. The film starring Cruise and directed by Christopher McQuarrie, has grossed $139.2 million domestically and $309.3 million overseas.
Instead, the sleeper hit “Sound of Freedom” has been the best performing non-“Barbenheimer” release in theaters. The Angel Studios’ release, which is counting crowdfunding pay-it-forward sales in its box office totals, made $12.4 million in its fourth weekend, bringing its haul thus far to nearly $150 million.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. “Barbie,” $93 million.
2. “Oppenheimer,” $46.2 million.
3. “Haunted Mansion,” $24.2 million.
4. “Sound of Freedom,” $12.4 million.
5. “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One,” $10.7 million.
6. “Talk to Me,” $10 million.
7. “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” $4 million.
8. “Elemental,” $3.4 million.
9. “Insidious: The Red Door,” $3.2 million.
10. “Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani,” $1.6 million. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/nation-world/box-office-barbie-oppenheimer-haunted-mansion-talk-to-me/507-d4801fe6-1fb5-4869-b859-274995702f22 | 2023-07-30T19:42:31 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/nation-world/box-office-barbie-oppenheimer-haunted-mansion-talk-to-me/507-d4801fe6-1fb5-4869-b859-274995702f22 |
KHAR, Pakistan — A powerful bomb ripped through a political rally by supporters of a hard-line cleric and political leader on Sunday in the country’s northwestern Bajur district, police and health officials said. At least 40 people were killed and nearly 200 wounded, including children, in one of the worst attacks in recent years.
Senior police officer Nazir Khan said the workers' convention of Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s Jamiat Ulema Islam party was taking place on the outskirts of Khar, the capital of Bajur district, when the explosion took place. AP video showed wounded people being carried from the scene in the chaotic aftermath of the explosion.
Bajur used to be a haven for Islamic militants. It is the former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, a militant group that is a close ally of the Taliban government of Afghanistan. The TTP was in recent years evicted from the area as a result of operations by the Pakistani military.
In a statement sent to The Associated Press, the TTP condemned the bombing, saying it was aimed at pitching Islamists against each other. Zabiullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Afghan Taliban, also condemned the bombing. “Such crimes cannot be justified in any way,” he said in a message on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Though a separate group, the TTP remains a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in Afghanistan in mid-August 2021. The takeover emboldened the TTP. They unilaterally ended a cease-fire agreement with the Pakistani government last November and have since stepped up attacks across the country.
One of the victims, Adam Khan, 45, was hit by splinters in his leg and both hands. He said it was around 4 p.m. when the explosion knocked him to the ground.
“There was dust and smoke around and I was under some injured people from where I could hardly stand up, only to see chaos and some scattered limbs,” he said.
Initially, police said 10 people were killed but later more bodies arrived at a local hospital, bringing the death toll to 40. Feroz Jamal, the provincial information minister, told The Associated Press that so far 40 people had been “martyred” and nearly 200 wounded in the bombing.
The JUI workers' convention was arranged in a hall close to a market, but later tents were added because of the large number of supporters who turned out. The venue was being guarded by party volunteers with batons. An announcement was being made for the arrival of Abdul Rasheed, a senior leader of the party, when the bomb exploded.
The bombing was one of the four worst attacks in the northwest since 2014, when 147 people, mostly schoolchildren, were killed in a Taliban attack on an army-run school in Peshawar. In January, 74 people were killed in a bombing at a mosque in Peshawar. More than 100 people, mostly policemen, died in a bombing at the city's mosque at police headquarters in February this year.
District health officer Dr. Faisal Khan said 40 bodies from the blast were at Khar's main hospital. Some of the wounded were in critical condition and were being transferred to a facility in Peshawar and the adjoining district of Dir, including by army helicopters.
Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif and President Arif Alvi condemned the attack and asked officials to provide all possible assistance to the wounded and the bereaved families.
Maulana Ziaullah, the local chief of Rehman's party, was among the dead. JUI leaders Rasheed and former lawmaker Maulana Jamaluddin were also on the stage but escaped unhurt. Party officials said Rehman was not at the rally.
Rasheed, the regional chief of the party, said the attack was an attempt to remove JUI from the field before parliamentary elections in November, but he said such tactics would not work.
Rehman is considered to be a pro-Taliban cleric and his political party is part of the coalition government in Islamabad. Meetings are being organized across the country to mobilize supporters for the upcoming elections.
“Many of our fellows lost their lives and many more wounded in this incident. I will ask the federal and provincial administrations to fully investigate this incident and provide due compensation and medical facilities to the affected ones,” Rasheed said.
Mohammad Wali, another attendant at the rally, said he was listening to a speaker address the crowd when the huge explosion temporarily deafened him.
“I was near the water dispenser to fetch a glass of water when the bomb exploded, throwing me to the ground," he said. "We came to the meeting with enthusiasm but ended up at the hospital seeing crying, wounded people and sobbing relatives taking the bodies of their loved ones.”
___
Riaz Khan reported from Peshawar. Associated Press writer Munir Ahmad contributed from Islamabad. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/nation-world/political-rally-in-northwest-pakistan-bomb/507-6e3f6092-dc77-4608-a95c-9ee5a6c22522 | 2023-07-30T19:42:37 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/nation-world/political-rally-in-northwest-pakistan-bomb/507-6e3f6092-dc77-4608-a95c-9ee5a6c22522 |
Roof and sides collapse at Peoria church, requiring emergency demolition
The Peoria Fire Department responded to a report of a roof collapse around 7:49 a.m. on July 29 at United Fellowship Ministries.
Crews found a "major collapse" of the sides and roof of the building, located at 231 S. Saratoga St. No victims were found when crews searched the area.
There were also downed power lines and the smell of natural gas at the scene, according to a press release from the fire department. Residents near the church were evacuated from the area if they were considered at risk.
A Peoria city building inspector "ordered an emergency demolition" after evaluating the building. The total damage is estimated to be more than $1.5 million.
'An amazing life':Local bookstore owner dies
The fire department was on site to help control dust from the demolition, and the Peoria Police Department helped keep drivers and bystanders from the area. Ameren crews also came to isolate the power and gas lines.
No injuries have been reported. | https://www.pjstar.com/story/business/briefs/2023/07/30/roof-collapses-at-peoria-church-united-fellowship-ministries/70494188007/ | 2023-07-30T19:43:10 | 0 | https://www.pjstar.com/story/business/briefs/2023/07/30/roof-collapses-at-peoria-church-united-fellowship-ministries/70494188007/ |
One man killed, 17 wounded in shooting on Muncie's east side
MUNCIE, Ind. — One man was killed and 17 other people were wounded early Sunday in a shooting at Willard and Hackley streets on Muncie's east side.
Delaware County Coroner Gavin Greene later identified the victim of the fatal shooting as Joseph E. Bonner III, a 30-year-old Muncie resident.
Deputy Police Chief Melissa Criswell said "multiple victims" were being treated at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, with some suffering from critical injuries being transferred by medical helicopter to other faciltiies.
"All scenes are contained and there is no immediate threat to public safety," Criswell said in a release.
Neil Gifford of IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital said 19 patients were brought from the shooting scene to the Muncie hospital.
Other sources said 18 of those people, including Bonner, were believed to have suffered gunshot wounds.
Four victims were then transferred to other hospitals, presumably in Indianapolis.
Thirteen of the victims were admitted to the Muncie hospital.
Emergency dispatchers received reports of the gunfire at 1:14 a.m., resulting in city police and Muncie Fire Department emergency medical personnel being sent to the scene.
Initial indications were that a large party was being held when the shootings occurred.
"Due to the number of victims and nature of the incident, multiple agencies were contacted to assist," Criswell said.
Those agencies included the Delaware County Sheriff's Department, Indiana State Police and officers from the Ball State University, Ball Memorial Hospital and Eaton police departments.
Officers remained at the scene, with crime scene tape used to mark off a large area, late Sunday morning. Several evidence markers, sometimes used to mark shell casings at shooting scenes, were visible in the intersection.
By early Sunday afternoon, information had not been released concerning the events leading to the shootings, or whether more than one shooter was responsible.
No related arrests had apparently been made.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to the Muncie Police Department's detective division at 765-747-4867 or dispatchers at 765-747-4838.
(This story will be updated.)
Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com. | https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/crime/2023/07/30/one-man-killed-several-wounded-in-shooting-on-muncies-east-side/70494072007/ | 2023-07-30T19:43:35 | 0 | https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/crime/2023/07/30/one-man-killed-several-wounded-in-shooting-on-muncies-east-side/70494072007/ |
Hicks: Midwest has a neighborhood crisis
MUNCIE, Ind. – Every time I’ve sat down with economists over the past few months, we have lamented the dismal state of the housing policy discussion. Against stiff competition, it is easily the most poorly informed policy debate in America. Maybe a few facts will help.
The first matter to consider is that we’re on the flip side of the most acute economic interruption of modern times; the COVID pandemic. In a matter of weeks, we experienced Great Depression rates of job losses, across the globe. Then, most of these jobs came roaring back. Millions of Americans retired earlier than planned, and 44 million American workers found themselves working remotely, half of them full time. These events all changed future housing plans.
At the same time, mortgage rates plummeted, just as tens of millions of Americans wished to relocate. COVID virtually stopped home construction in early 2020, and supply chain disruptions further reduced new construction thereafter. All these factors drove up prices in almost every housing market.
All of this is transient disequilibrium. It is not a crisis, and it will pass without any government intervention. Home prices are already in retreat and new home construction is planned for next year across much of the country. Across the nation, there are empty office buildings in every major city, offering the opportunity for residential conversion. And, population loss in major cities has prompted broad review of restrictions on new housing. Markets work, and housing markets work better than most.
Second, for the past 50 years, we’ve been building homes at about the same rate the population has risen. However, we’ve been eliminating older homes at a tiny pace. That means today there are some 16 million unoccupied homes in the U.S., or more than 11 percent of the full housing stock. Indiana’s share of unoccupied homes are close to 300,000. That is sufficient to fully house all the growth of population in our state so far this century.
These Census counts of homes do not include those that appear damaged or unlivable. And, as with any Census estimate, the number may be off a few percent, high or low. But, any housing discussion that ignores the actual Census housing data is a waste of time. Any policy debate that ignores this data is negligent. Too often, we look only at Multiple Listing Service (MLS) data provided by realtors. This is superb data for everything, except for understanding housing supply. For that it is nearly worthless.
The problem is that this glut of homes is located in the places that people don’t wish to live. These don’t make it into the MLS listings, because neither the owner nor realtor are willing to pay the cost of listing. That has nothing to do with the quality of the home, or its level of disrepair. Realtors and owners don’t waste time trying to sell homes in many neighborhoods. Most of the 300,000 vacant homes in Indiana that don’t make it into the MLS would sell for several hundred thousand dollars if they could only be moved to Chicago, Boston or Albuquerque.
For these homes, we don’t have a housing problem, we have a neighborhood problem. That is the single most important thing to understand in all this debate. The reason new homes aren’t being built in much of the Midwest is because a new home cannot sell for the cost of construction. This isn’t an abstract problem. There are more than a million homes in Indiana alone that’d be worth more disassembled and stacked on a rail car than they are currently assembled in the towns in which they’re located.
Subsidizing new homes construction in a community with declining population won’t fix the neighborhood problem. Thus, it won’t increase population. In fact, it is almost certain to worsen the situation by further depressing the price of surrounding homes. I dislike being so flippant, but this is the sort of thing we cover in high school economics. Just to be clear, I’m talking about the 200 or so Midwest counties that are shrinking, or the 60 or so Hoosier counties that are in decline. Growing communities have a different problem.
Looking beyond the COVID disruption is difficult. Still, places that are growing have housing challenges that differ greatly from places in decline. The counties that are in between probably have a bit of both problems, as do large cities like Indianapolis, Cleveland or Milwaukee.
The Midwest doesn’t have the types of housing restrictions that have clobbered San Francisco, Seattle, New York or Portland. Faddish urban growth boundaries and building limits are in the process of being rolled back in these places. It is easy for fast-growing cities to slip in accidental growth restrictions that generate long-term problems.
The easiest of these is to simply ignore the need for different types of housing. Midwestern cities with large numbers of single-family homes are thriving, much to the chagrin of many urban planners. But, thriving suburban type communities also need housing of mixed type. This means some apartments and duplexes, as well as starter homes. This is delicate balance, of course. Still, my rule of thumb is that if a local police officer and school teacher cannot make a life together in your city because of housing costs, you have a problem.
There is much legitimate concern about the plight of low-income renters. These are the folks most likely to face a real budget crunch when we have home price spikes like we just experienced. However, this is not technically a housing issue. Low-income families have few housing choices because they are low income, not because there are few housing choices. In these cases, the problem is either in labor markets or in educational attainment. Trying to fix these problems through housing markets might offer temporary relief, but it won’t solve the underlying problem.
There are also frequently voiced concerns about the gentrification of neighborhoods currently occupied by low-income families. I find this argument to be appallingly incoherent. Thriving cities go through change, and attractive neighborhoods appreciate in value, while unattractive ones decline in value. There’s almost no better source of wealth for poor people than by owning an appreciating home. Arguably, the fastest path to growing intergenerational wealth would be through gentrification.
The simple fact is that housing markets in the Midwest operate smoothly and efficiently. The ‘housing crisis’ that so many folks talk about is largely non-existent, or at least massively overblown. Housing availability is only a symptom. When you hear someone say there’s a housing crisis or housing shortage, they are mistaken. What they should really say is that there is a neighborhood problem that starts with a lack of quality schools and public safety. Not housing.
Michael J. Hicks, PhD, is the director of the Center for Business and Economic Research and the George and Frances Ball distinguished professor of economics in the Miller College of Business at Ball State University. | https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2023/07/30/hicks-midwest-has-a-neighborhood-crisis/70484461007/ | 2023-07-30T19:43:41 | 1 | https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2023/07/30/hicks-midwest-has-a-neighborhood-crisis/70484461007/ |
Four people found clinging to the hull of an overturned boat off New Jersey were rescued and taken to a hospital, authorities said.
Coast Guard officials in New York say Coast Guard crews and New York police and fire units were deployed to the area off Sandy Hook after receiving a distress call over VHF Channel 16.
Petty Officer Logan Kaczmarek told the Asbury Park Press that rescue crews found a floating debris field of items from the boat. They then found the four people at about 2:15 a.m. Sunday holding onto the floating hull near the Romer Shoal Light Station about 2½ nautical miles (4.6 kilometers) from the tip of Sandy Hook.
Crews from Station Sandy Hook pulled two people from the water while the other two were rescued by New York fire crews. All four were taken to Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch; there was no immediate word on their condition. Coast Guard officials didn't immediately release information about the type of vessel or the reason it capsized.
Get Philly local news, weather forecasts, sports and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC Philadelphia newsletters. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/4-people-found-clinging-to-hull-of-overturned-boat-off-jersey-shore-rescued/3614574/ | 2023-07-30T19:43:41 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/4-people-found-clinging-to-hull-of-overturned-boat-off-jersey-shore-rescued/3614574/ |
Bomb squad investigates mysterious packages parachuted into neighborhood
SAN DIMAS, Calif. (Gray News) – A bomb squad was called in to investigate after packages were apparently parachuted into a city in California.
The San Dimas Sheriff’s Station said deputies responded to a call Thursday for a suspicious package in San Dimas. When they arrived at the location, they said they discovered a parachute with two packages attached to it.
The responding deputies then evacuated the residents of nearby homes and called in the arson and explosives unit.
After an investigation, officials determined the packages did not contain explosives or other dangerous materials and seemed to be a science project.
Officials informed the neighborhood of the finds, and the residents returned safely to their homes.
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2023/07/30/bomb-squad-investigates-mysterious-packages-parachuted-into-neighborhood/ | 2023-07-30T19:43:42 | 1 | https://www.kxii.com/2023/07/30/bomb-squad-investigates-mysterious-packages-parachuted-into-neighborhood/ |
Opinion: NATO reinvigorated; no time for isolationism
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Star Press received the following commentary related to the recent NATO summit.
The mid-July summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Vilnius, Lithuania, was the second to take place following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But it was the first to take place following the most recent expansion of NATO. Finland joined in April.
On July 10, Turkey’s President Erdogan ended his veto against Sweden. It is therefore now up to Turkey’s Parliament to ratify Sweden’s membership. These are challenging, though encouraging, times for an alliance that had become moribund before the war.
As a young lieutenant in Germany, I was fortunate to have a very atypical assignment working at the grassroots level of NATO. Instead of being stationed at a more common Cold War-era U.S. Army unit on a compound with thousands of soldiers, civilian employees, and dependents, I was the liaison/linguist officer for a detachment of 40 Americans on a Bundeswehr (German Army) base of 2,000 German soldiers and lived “on the economy” in a rural town. In such a small unit, officers wore many hats: I also served as Platoon Leader, S-2 (Intelligence Officer), Executive Officer, and acting Commander.
By this time, as the Cold War was over, terrorism had become a bigger concern within NATO (IRA, PLO, ETA, etc.). Having earlier graduated from the Individual Terrorism Awareness Course at the JFK Special Warfare Center at Fort Bragg, NC, I taught counter-terrorism within our Group, whose area covered much of two German states. My unit was inactivated in 1992, at which point I chose to depart active duty, was honorably discharged, and returned home to begin my civilian career and, later, MBA school.
Many more Cold War-era units in Germany were inactivated during this same period. As a result, NATO became a hollowed-out alliance, with most allies spending less and less on their defense (the so-called “Peace Dividend”). While it was refreshing to see many formerly Communist countries gain their freedom, with most becoming NATO members, many allies became dependent on Russian petroleum.
Many of these newly-free NATO members partnered with various National Guards. For example, the Indiana National Guard helped train Slovakia’s Army, while the California National Guard helped train Ukraine’s Army. Some formerly Communist countries who did not join NATO became part of its Partnership for Peace (PfP). Although neutral, Austria, Ireland, and Switzerland are also PfP members. Kosovo, whose Security Forces are partnered with the Iowa National Guard, has applied to join the PfP.
Having watched the NATO public forum simulcast from Vilnius, I was reminded that Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are true frontiers of freedom. In fact, Vilnius is located about halfway between the border with Belarus, a Russian ally, and Kaliningrad, the Russian enclave on the Baltic Sea. Among the panelists were Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), who co-chair the US Senate NATO Observers Group. They were joined by a French Senator and the speaker of Lithuania’s Senate. All stated that China is watching NATO’s response to Russia’s war in Ukraine very closely. Could Taiwan be next?
As I now represent my employer on NATO’s Industrial Advisory Group (NIAG), I am reminded that next year’s NATO Summit will take place in Washington, DC. At that time, our country will be in the midst of a Presidential election which could include an isolationist as one of the major party nominees. This is clearly not the time to turn back the clock to 1920s/1930s isolationism.
Putin invaded Georgia in 2008 and Crimea in 2014. The world did nothing. Every time history repeats itself, the price goes up. Ukraine needs us and NATO needs our continued leadership of the alliance.
Nate LaMar, an international manager, also served as Henry County Council President from 2009-2019. | https://www.thestarpress.com/story/opinion/2023/07/30/opinion-nato-reinvigorated-no-time-for-isolationism/70477108007/ | 2023-07-30T19:43:47 | 0 | https://www.thestarpress.com/story/opinion/2023/07/30/opinion-nato-reinvigorated-no-time-for-isolationism/70477108007/ |
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.
Jimmie Johnson expressed his gratitude to those who have reached out amid his family's recent tragedy.
A month ago, on June 27, police reported that the NASCAR driver’s in-laws and nephew were found dead in an apparent murder-suicide in Oklahoma.
Muskogee Police Department identified the victims as Jack Janway, 69, his wife Terry Lynn Janway, 68, and their 11-year-old grandson Dalton Janway, per a press release.
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Speaking out for the first time since the deaths, the driver released a statement on his Instagram on July 28.
“Our family is devastated by the profound loss of (Terry) Lynn, Jack and Dalton Janway,” Johnson's statement read. “We have been humbled by the outpouring of love and support during this unthinkably sad time and remain grateful for all of your compassion.”
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Johnson and wife Chandra Janway have been married since 2004. The couple are parents to two daughters.
At the time of the shooting, police department spokesperson Lynn Hamlin told NBC News that Terry Janway was the “suspect” in the attack.
On July 28, Hamlin confirmed that Terry Janway had gone by her middle name, Lynn, and told TODAY.com there were no updates in the case that she could share publicly.
On June 26 at approximately 9:05 p.m., dispatch received a 911 call from a female caller who said that there was a disturbance and someone had a gun then hung up, per the Muskogee PD. When police arrived at the scene, they found a person laying in the hallway in the front door before hearing another gunshot further inside the house. While searching the house, they found two more bodies.
Following the deaths, the seven-time champion’s team withdrew the No. 84 Carvana Chevrolet from the NASCAR Cup Series event in Chicago.
“The Johnson family has asked for privacy at this time and no further statements will be made,” the Legacy Motor Club tweeted on June 27.
Additionally, that same day, NASCAR also released a statement: “We are saddened by the tragic deaths of members of Chandra Johnson’s family. The entire NASCAR family extends its deepest support and condolences during this difficult time to Chandra, Jimmie and the entire Johnson & Janway families.”
This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY: | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/sports/jimmie-johnson-speaks-out-after-nephew-in-laws-killed-in-apparent-murder-suicide/3614585/ | 2023-07-30T19:43:48 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/sports/jimmie-johnson-speaks-out-after-nephew-in-laws-killed-in-apparent-murder-suicide/3614585/ |
Excessive Heat Warning for Monday
This is the beginning of a very hot week in Texoma
New Heat Advisories and Excessive Heat Warnings have been issued in Texoma for Sunday and Monday. For Sunday all Texoma counties excluding Carter, Garvin, Murray, Pontotoc and Stephens counties are under a Heat Advisory. High temperatures expected to reach 103-105 with Heat Index values between 104 and 107.
For Monday, all counties North of the Red River will be under a Heat Advisory while South of the Red River will be under an Excessive Heat Warning. Texas counties are expected to see high temperatures between 105-107 with Heat Index values nearing 110 for Monday. It will be a scorching end to July, but this heat wave is not slowing down for August.
Expect mores Excessive Heat Warnings this week as Tuesday, August 1st looks like temperatures will be even hotter than Monday. This is due to the upper air high pressure area moving on top of Texoma that we often refer to as the Heat Dome. This will make Tuesday and Wednesday the hottest days of the week.
As far as relief, the newest models are showing a potential cold front not moving through Texoma until the end of next Sunday. With such a hot start for this Sunday, it’s looking like this could be the hottest week of the year in Texoma. Stay hydrated and stay cool Texoma.
Brady Blackstock
Weekend Meteorologist
News 12 / KXII-TV
Copyright 2021 KXII. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2023/07/30/excessive-heat-warning-monday/ | 2023-07-30T19:43:49 | 1 | https://www.kxii.com/2023/07/30/excessive-heat-warning-monday/ |
Honduran child travels alone to U.S. to reunite with mother, unaware of her passing
Published: Jul. 30, 2023 at 1:22 PM CDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
EAGLE PASS, Texas (Gray News) – A child from Honduras made the dangerous trek to the United States up through Mexico on her own, according to authorities.
The Texas Department of Public Safety announced on Facebook that their brush team encountered the Honduran child Thursday.
The department said the girl was found in Mexico by three undocumented women who crossed her illegally through the river.
Officials said the girl was traveling to the U.S. to find her mother. After an investigation, however, authorities determined the girl’s mother had sadly died three days before.
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2023/07/30/honduran-child-travels-alone-us-reunite-with-mother-unaware-her-passing/ | 2023-07-30T19:43:56 | 1 | https://www.kxii.com/2023/07/30/honduran-child-travels-alone-us-reunite-with-mother-unaware-her-passing/ |
Bomb squad investigates mysterious packages parachuted into neighborhood
SAN DIMAS, Calif. (Gray News) – A bomb squad was called in to investigate after packages were apparently parachuted into a city in California.
The San Dimas Sheriff’s Station said deputies responded to a call Thursday for a suspicious package in San Dimas. When they arrived at the location, they said they discovered a parachute with two packages attached to it.
The responding deputies then evacuated the residents of nearby homes and called in the arson and explosives unit.
After an investigation, officials determined the packages did not contain explosives or other dangerous materials and seemed to be a science project.
Officials informed the neighborhood of the finds, and the residents returned safely to their homes.
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kfyrtv.com/2023/07/30/bomb-squad-investigates-mysterious-packages-parachuted-into-neighborhood/ | 2023-07-30T19:44:04 | 1 | https://www.kfyrtv.com/2023/07/30/bomb-squad-investigates-mysterious-packages-parachuted-into-neighborhood/ |
Bomb squad investigates mysterious packages parachuted into neighborhood
SAN DIMAS, Calif. (Gray News) – A bomb squad was called in to investigate after packages were apparently parachuted into a city in California.
The San Dimas Sheriff’s Station said deputies responded to a call Thursday for a suspicious package in San Dimas. When they arrived at the location, they said they discovered a parachute with two packages attached to it.
The responding deputies then evacuated the residents of nearby homes and called in the arson and explosives unit.
After an investigation, officials determined the packages did not contain explosives or other dangerous materials and seemed to be a science project.
Officials informed the neighborhood of the finds, and the residents returned safely to their homes.
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.azfamily.com/2023/07/30/bomb-squad-investigates-mysterious-packages-parachuted-into-neighborhood/ | 2023-07-30T19:44:04 | 1 | https://www.azfamily.com/2023/07/30/bomb-squad-investigates-mysterious-packages-parachuted-into-neighborhood/ |
Bomb squad investigates mysterious packages parachuted into neighborhood
SAN DIMAS, Calif. (Gray News) – A bomb squad was called in to investigate after packages were apparently parachuted into a city in California.
The San Dimas Sheriff’s Station said deputies responded to a call Thursday for a suspicious package in San Dimas. When they arrived at the location, they said they discovered a parachute with two packages attached to it.
The responding deputies then evacuated the residents of nearby homes and called in the arson and explosives unit.
After an investigation, officials determined the packages did not contain explosives or other dangerous materials and seemed to be a science project.
Officials informed the neighborhood of the finds, and the residents returned safely to their homes.
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wkyt.com/2023/07/30/bomb-squad-investigates-mysterious-packages-parachuted-into-neighborhood/ | 2023-07-30T19:44:04 | 1 | https://www.wkyt.com/2023/07/30/bomb-squad-investigates-mysterious-packages-parachuted-into-neighborhood/ |
Two people killed in shooting near University of Florida campus
Published: Jul. 30, 2023 at 1:13 PM CDT|Updated: 34 minutes ago
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB/Gray News) - Two people were killed after gunshots rang out in a crowd early Sunday near the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, Florida, WCJB reports.
Gainesville Police were near the Checkers and Bodytech on West University Avenue around 2:40 a.m. when they heard gunshots. There were three victims, two of which died from their injuries.
Police were seeking the public’s help for any information on the shooting.
Copyright 2023 WCJB via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2023/07/30/two-people-killed-after-shooting-near-university-florida-campus/ | 2023-07-30T19:44:03 | 1 | https://www.kxii.com/2023/07/30/two-people-killed-after-shooting-near-university-florida-campus/ |
Doctors concerned brain-eating amoeba infection could increase due to warmer water temperatures
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) -- While very rare, some scientists predict brain-eating amoeba cases could grow since we’ve had record heat and water temperatures are increasing.
They can enter the body through the nose and travel to the brain, resulting in an infection. While cases are limited over the years, there have been multiple right here in Arizona at lake pleasant and lake mead.
Most recently in Nevada, a child died because of the disease. Brain-eating amoeba is a microscopic parasite found in warm, fresh bodies of water like hot springs or lakes. You can’t get it by accidentally swallowing the water or through a cut. The only way to get infected is by getting it far up your nose through diving or cannonballing into a lake.
Though infection is rare, the disease has a 97% fatality rate since symptoms are common at first. Only when the disease is late-stage does it progress to more severe illness like hallucinations and seizures that it’s usually diagnosed. Usually, by that point, it’s too late to treat the disease effectively. There are only about 10 cases per year. But experts say because the amoebas live in warm, fresh bodies of water, they expect to see that number increase with rising temperatures.
“This is definitely a concern, as are a lot of other infectious diseases. We are probably going to see a change in trends because of the climate changing and the temperatures rising. So there is a lot of concern in the infectious disease community about a lot of different infections, including amoebic infections becoming more common as the climate is warming,” said Dr. Wassim Ballan, an infectious disease specialist at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
He also says if you notice your child feeling unwell after a day of swimming, getting them checked out is the right choice. Early symptoms usually start five days after infection. They include sudden fever, headache, and stiff neck. Because the amoebas can only be deadly by entering through the nose, doctors recommend you not jump or dive into the water and instead hold your nose or wear nose clips. Or better yet, keep your head above water.
Digging in shallow water is also not advised since it stirs up the sediment where they live. It’s important to note there haven’t been any recent cases at Saguaro Lake. Since they started tracking the disease in 1962, there have been only 160 reported cases, so it’s infrequent. Still, Dr. Ballan says it isn’t worth the risk when prevention is so easy.
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Copyright 2023 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved. | https://www.azfamily.com/2023/07/30/doctors-concerned-brain-eating-amoeba-infection-could-increase-due-warmer-water-temperatures/ | 2023-07-30T19:44:10 | 0 | https://www.azfamily.com/2023/07/30/doctors-concerned-brain-eating-amoeba-infection-could-increase-due-warmer-water-temperatures/ |
Orioles vs. Yankees Predictions & Picks: Odds, Moneyline, Spread - July 30
Sunday's contest at Oriole Park at Camden Yards has the Baltimore Orioles (63-41) matching up with the New York Yankees (55-49) at 7:10 PM ET (on July 30). Our computer prediction projects a close 5-4 victory for the Orioles, so it should be a competitive matchup.
The probable starters are Dean Kremer (10-4) for the Orioles and Luis Severino (2-4) for the Yankees.
Orioles vs. Yankees Game Info & Odds
- When: Sunday, July 30, 2023 at 7:10 PM ET
- Where: Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland
- How to Watch on TV: ESPN
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo!
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Orioles vs. Yankees Score Prediction
Our prediction for this matchup is Orioles 5, Yankees 4.
Total Prediction for Orioles vs. Yankees
- Total Prediction: Over 8.5 runs
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Explore More About This Game
Orioles Performance Insights
- The Orioles have been the favorite once in the past 10 games and lost that contest.
- When it comes to hitting the over, Baltimore and its opponents are 4-6-0 in its last 10 games with a total.
- Sportsbooks have not set a spread for any of the Orioles' last 10 games.
- The Orioles have entered the game as favorites 47 times this season and won 33, or 70.2%, of those games.
- Baltimore has entered 33 games this season favored by -135 or more and is 24-9 in those contests.
- The implied probability of a win from the Orioles, based on the moneyline, is 57.4%.
- Baltimore has scored 502 runs (4.8 per game) this season, which ranks 11th in MLB.
- The Orioles have a 4.19 team ERA that ranks 15th among all league pitching staffs.
Yankees Performance Insights
- In three games as the underdog over the last 10 matchups, the Yankees have a record of 1-2.
- In its last 10 matchups with a total posted by sportsbooks, New York and its foes are 5-5-0 when it comes to hitting the over.
- Oddsmakers have not posted a spread in any of the Yankees' past 10 games.
- The Yankees have been underdogs in 31 games this season and have come away with the win 13 times (41.9%) in those contests.
- This season, New York has come away with a win eight times in 16 chances when named as an underdog of at least +115 or worse on the moneyline.
- The Yankees have an implied victory probability of 46.5% according to the moneyline set by oddsmakers for this matchup.
- New York scores the 21st-most runs in baseball (454 total, 4.4 per game).
- The Yankees have pitched to a 3.86 ERA this season, which ranks fifth in baseball.
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Orioles Schedule
Yankees Schedule
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/orioles-yankees-mlb-picks-predictions/ | 2023-07-30T19:44:11 | 1 | https://www.kxii.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/orioles-yankees-mlb-picks-predictions/ |
MORGAN COUNTY, Ga. — Investigators with the Morgan County Sheriff's Office are looking into a shooting that occurred at an outdoor party on Bethany Road around midnight Sunday.
Deputies said one person was shot and is currently in critical condition.
They add that around 200 to 300 people were at the party the time of the shooting.
Anyone who witnessed the shooting or has knowledge about it is asked to contact the lead investigator on the case at 706-342-1507. In addition, you can call the tip line at 706-342-1000 or email tipline@morgancountyga.gov. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/crime/shooting-morgan-county-party-bethany-road/85-2f7116d5-a348-44f4-9a2e-4ae2e0785087 | 2023-07-30T19:44:13 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/crime/shooting-morgan-county-party-bethany-road/85-2f7116d5-a348-44f4-9a2e-4ae2e0785087 |
Fire officials: Racetrack Fire expected to be 100% contained by Sunday night
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) - Fire officials believe that by the end of Sunday, the Racetrack Fire will finally be 100% contained.
The fire has burned around 400 acres, sparked by lightning on July 23 south of Crater Mountain near Cherry, Arizona. There is no threat that the fire will spread, officials believe. The blaze is anticipated to die out fully due to a strong likelihood of monsoon storms.
Last week, mandatory evacuations were lifted for the Cherry community, and residents were allowed to return to their homes. U.S. Forest Service officials said using aircraft and firefighters to fight the blaze helped slow it down.
The Prescott National Forest continues to sit at a Stage 1 fire restriction, prohibiting all fires and the firing of any weapons. Roads are still closed in the forest region, from Forest Road 104 to Forest Road 143, down a quarter of a mile on either side of Forest Road 413 until Forest Road 132 and County Road 75 meet.
For all continuous updates on the fire, call 928-925-1111 or check the Prescott National Forest website here.
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Copyright 2023 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved. | https://www.azfamily.com/2023/07/30/fire-officials-racetrack-fire-expected-be-100-contained-by-sunday-night/ | 2023-07-30T19:44:16 | 0 | https://www.azfamily.com/2023/07/30/fire-officials-racetrack-fire-expected-be-100-contained-by-sunday-night/ |
BOSTON — Monday marks the 50th anniversary of a tragic air disaster that killed 89 occupants aboard Delta Air Lines Flight 723.
Author Paul Houle wrote a book on the tragedy and described it as the "worst air disaster in New England history."
To write his book, Houle dug into the National Archives in Boston and spoke with family members of those who died onboard. He also talked to doctors that treated a survivor from the crash who ultimately died from an infection.
The crash
Houle said there were multiple causes of the plane's crash.
They included a malfunctioning flight director in the cockpit of the plane, air traffic control not giving timely information to the crew as a fog bank enveloped the runway, and the fact that the crew was preoccupied with the flight director, having to respond to late transmissions.
"And it just all culminated at a moment when they should have had their full attention focussed on the landing. It was just a multitude of factors that snowballed and caused the tragedy," Houle said.
A survivor
While 88 people died in the crash that day. One survivor named Leopold Chouinard made it out of the crash. He was a sergeant in the U.S. Air Force from Vermont. At the time of the crash, the author said Chouinard was going back to duty.
Houle said Chouinard's struggle to survive after the crash captivated all of New England and the rest of the U.S.
The author said he spoke with some of the doctors who treated the survivor.
The Associated Press reported in 1973 that Chouinard had both of his legs amputated at mid-thigh, and that eliminated "an overwhelming threat" to his life.
"They just couldn't get over this incredible will Leo hard to survive this crash," Houle said. "Everyone was just praying for this young man to live."
Despite that, Chouinard died of infection 134 days after the crash, the author told NEWS CENTER Maine.
Crash victims
Most of the crash victims were New Englanders, according to Houle, but some were from other parts of the country. This being July, it was summer and vacation time.
Houle actually spoke at the Aviation Museum of N.H. on Thursday about his book and the crash anniversary. A few family members who lost their father in the tragedy came to the event and spoke with the author.
"[It was a] sobering experience for me. They were very gracious about me writing the book," he said.
A man named Geoffrey F. Keating also spoke with Houle at the museum, and it turns out he was at the airport working on a construction project at the time of the crash.
Keating heard the plane go down and saw the flames since he was working near that runway.
"That was an emotional experience for me because I had written about what he had done. Frankly, I didn't even know he was still around. I'm glad he is. We had a great talk. That was an emotional experience for me on a personal level," Houle told NEWS CENTER Maine.
Right after the crash happened, according to Houle, Keating tried to alert others about the blaze. But the radio in the pickup truck Keating used wasn't working right. So, he rushed in person to notify the fire department.
"That plane sat on that runway for eight or nine minutes until air traffic control realized a crash had taken place," Houle said. "It was only when they noticed the fire engines and the vehicles trying to cross the runway, calling for permission to cross, that air traffic control realized something bad had happened."
Michelle Brennen was just a girl when her father, who was aboard Delta Flight 723, died in the crash. She told NEWS CENTER Maine one thing she remembers about her father is just how creative he was.
He built a camping trailer that held the family's gear and bought an empty van, modifying it to sleep all eight family members.
Brennen has connected with the families of all but four people who died on Delta Flight 723.
She said the tragedy impacted her family in expected ways, like not having Brennen's father there to support her mother, not having him take the family camping, and not being able to listen to his stories about his time in the military.
"But my mom did a terrific job trying to fill in and make sure we didn’t feel his loss any more than possible," Brennen said. "My grandmother [her dad’s mom] also spent a lot of time at our house helping my mom out. Still, because it has been 50 years since the accident occurred, I have lived longer without him than with him, so it’s really difficult to know how different my life would have been."
Brennen added that a memorial is being held Sunday to honor the lives of those who died in the crash.
Remembering the crash when it happened
Houle said he was just nine years old when the crash happened in 1973.
"I just remember it vividly. I remember following Leo Chouinard's struggles in the newspaper. Never did I ever forget his name," he said.
The author spent five years writing and getting the book published.
"What I want them to know is that, you know, there are people that were lost on this flight. They were parents, kids, grandparents, kids, aunts, uncles, cousins. All of them have a story."
Afterward
After the crash, improvements were made to better communication between air traffic controllers in the tower who have different jobs, Houle said.
"Sometimes there's a lack of communication. That affected the response on this crash," he said.
Rules and policies have been put into place to alleviate that.
The flight directors are also made better now, Houle said. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/history/50-years-later-remembering-new-englands-worst-air-disaster-history/97-6158beeb-e29e-4a8d-a52a-7e6377019582 | 2023-07-30T19:44:19 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/history/50-years-later-remembering-new-englands-worst-air-disaster-history/97-6158beeb-e29e-4a8d-a52a-7e6377019582 |
Honduran child travels alone to U.S. to reunite with mother, unaware of her passing
Published: Jul. 30, 2023 at 11:22 AM MST|Updated: 1 hour ago
EAGLE PASS, Texas (Gray News) – A child from Honduras made the dangerous trek to the United States up through Mexico on her own, according to authorities.
The Texas Department of Public Safety announced on Facebook that their brush team encountered the Honduran child Thursday.
The department said the girl was found in Mexico by three undocumented women who crossed her illegally through the river.
Officials said the girl was traveling to the U.S. to find her mother. After an investigation, however, authorities determined the girl’s mother had sadly died three days before.
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.azfamily.com/2023/07/30/honduran-child-travels-alone-us-reunite-with-mother-unaware-her-passing/ | 2023-07-30T19:44:22 | 1 | https://www.azfamily.com/2023/07/30/honduran-child-travels-alone-us-reunite-with-mother-unaware-her-passing/ |
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A man was killed last Thursday after jumping off a dock into Lake Lanier, according to Georgia DNR.
This happened near Lanier Beach South Road in Forsyth County.
Officials provided limited details on what precisely occurred other than to say the victim, 24-year-old Thomas Milner entered the water from his family's dock and was heard screaming shortly after.
The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office said neighbors took a boat over to help Milner, jumped into the water, and described "a burning sensation he recognized as an electric shock."
Authorities add that the neighbor swam ashore and turned off a power box before pulling Milner from the water.
DNR adds that the victim was taken to Northside Forsyth Hospital where he later died.
News happens fast. Download our 11Alive News app for all the latest breaking updates, and sign up for our Speed Feed newsletter to get a rundown of the latest headlines across north Georgia. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/man-electrocuted-killed-lake-lanier/85-a0ef155a-53a9-4a9c-a473-18d4d9825768 | 2023-07-30T19:44:25 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/man-electrocuted-killed-lake-lanier/85-a0ef155a-53a9-4a9c-a473-18d4d9825768 |
More storms on their way to Phoenix area after morning showers
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) -- Some Valley residents woke up to rain early Sunday morning, and more storms are expected to hit the state. Many viewers shared photos and videos of rain in the West Valley, including Glendale, Peoria, Sun City and Surprise.
Last Thursday, Queen Creek, Apache Junction, and San Tan Valley also received a lot of damage as a monsoon storm passed through the region. The storm knocked out power for over 43,000 APS and SRP customers in Phoenix, Glendale, East Valley and Gold Canyon. Some neighborhoods and homes near Mesa Drive and McKellips saw roofs torn off and uprooted trees. Fortunately, no one was injured in the powerful storm.
In addition, storms have been spreading across southern Arizona, particularly over Tucson as hail fell, powerlines were downed, and trees were split on Saturday night.
According to Arizona’s Family’s First Alert Weather Team, the Phoenix metro area is likely to finally get a taste of some much-needed rain starting Sunday night and moving into Monday. Because of the impending rain, much of the Valley can expect slightly cooler temperatures. Keep an eye on the storm radar for the next 12 hours across the region below:
To keep an eye on power outages in your area should your neighborhood experience downed power lines, check here for SRP’s outage map and here for the APS outage map.
Download our First Alert Weather App at the link below to get updates on the weather in your region and share photos of the weather your community is experiencing through Burst! Your photos and video may just end up on air! This story will continue to be updated throughout the day as the monsoon storm approaches.
AZFamily's First Alert Weather Mobile App
AZFamily's First Alert Weather App First lets you track storms and get severe weather alerts wherever you are. Get animated radar, hourly and 10-day forecasts, video updates, rainfall totals, and an interactive traffic map. It also provides a 250-meter radar, which is the highest resolution possible. This radar allows you to look into the future so you can see where the storm is headed.
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Copyright 2023 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved. | https://www.azfamily.com/2023/07/30/more-storms-their-way-phoenix-area-after-morning-showers/ | 2023-07-30T19:44:29 | 1 | https://www.azfamily.com/2023/07/30/more-storms-their-way-phoenix-area-after-morning-showers/ |
NEW YORK — A week later, the “Barbenheimer” boom has not abated.
Seven days after Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” conspired to set box office records, the two films held unusually strongly in theaters. “Barbie” took in a massive $93 million in its second weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. “Oppenheimer” stayed in second with a robust $46.2 million. Sales for the two movies dipped 43% and 44%, respectably — well shy of the usual week-two drops.
“Barbenheimer” has proven to be not a one-weekend phenomenon but an ongoing box-office bonanza. The two movies combined have already surpassed $1 billion in worldwide ticket sales. Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for data firm Comscore, call it “a touchstone moment for movies, moviegoers and movie theaters.”
“Having two movies from rival studios linked in this way and both boosting each other's fortunes — both box-office wise and it terms of their profile — I don't know if there's a comp for this in the annals of box-office history," said Dergarabedian. “There's really no comparison for this.”
Following its year-best $162 million opening, the pink-infused pop sensation of “Barbie” saw remarkably sustained business through the week and into the weekend. The film outpaced Nolan's “The Dark Knight" to have the best first 11 days in theaters of any Warner Bros. release ever.
“Barbie” has rapidly accumulated $351.4 million in U.S. and Canadian theaters, a rate that will soon make it the biggest box-office hit of the summer. Every day it’s played, “Barbie" has made at least $20 million.
And the “Barbie” effect isn't just in North America. The film made $122.2 million internationally over the weekend. Its global tally has reached $775 million. It's the kind of business that astounds even veteran studio executives.
“That's a crazy number,” said Jeff Goldstein, distribution chief for Warner Bros. “There's just a built-in audience that wants to be part of the zeitgeist of the moment. Wherever you go, people are wearing pink. Pink is taking over the world."
Amid the frenzy, “Barbie” is already attracting a lot of repeat moviegoers. Goldstein estimates that 12% of sales are people going back with friends or family to see it again.
For a movie industry that has be trying to regain its pre-pandemic footing — and that now finds itself largely shuttered due to actors and screenwriters strikes — the sensations of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” have showed what's possible when everything lines up just right.
“Post-pandemic, there's no ceiling and there's no floor," said Goldstein. "The movies that miss, really miss big time and the movies that work really work big time."
Universal Pictures' “Oppenheimer,” meanwhile, is performing more like a superhero movie than a three-hour film about scientists talking.
Nolan’s drama starring Cillian Murphy as atomic bomb physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer has accrued $174.1 million domestically thus far. With an additional $72.4 million in international cinemas, “Oppenheimer” has already surpassed $400 million globally.
Showings in IMAX have typically been sold out. “Oppenheimer” has made $80 million worldwide on IMAX. The large-format exhibitor said Sunday that it will extend the film's run through Aug. 13.
The week’s top new release, Walt Disney Co.’s “Haunted Mansion,” an adaptation of the Disney theme park attraction, was easily overshadowed by the “Barbenheimer” blitz. The film, which cost about $150 million, debuted with $24 million domestically and $9 million in overseas sales. “Haunted Mansion,” directed by Justin Simien (“Dear White People,” “Bad Hair”) and starring an ensemble of LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito and Rosario Dawson, struggled to overcome mediocre reviews.
“Talk to Me,” the A24 supernatural horror film, fared better. It debuted with $10 million. The film, directed by Australian filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou and starring Sophie Wilde, was a midnight premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January and received terrific reviews from critics (95% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes). It was made for a modest $4.5 million.
While theaters being flush with moviegoers has been a huge boon to the film industry, it’s been tougher sledding for Tom Cruise, the so-called savior of the movies last summer with “Top Gun: Maverick.” “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part I,” which debuted the week before the arrival of “Barbenheimer,” grossed $10.7 million in its third weekend. The film starring Cruise and directed by Christopher McQuarrie, has grossed $139.2 million domestically and $309.3 million overseas.
Instead, the sleeper hit “Sound of Freedom” has been the best performing non-“Barbenheimer” release in theaters. The Angel Studios’ release, which is counting crowdfunding pay-it-forward sales in its box office totals, made $12.4 million in its fourth weekend, bringing its haul thus far to nearly $150 million.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. “Barbie,” $93 million.
2. “Oppenheimer,” $46.2 million.
3. “Haunted Mansion,” $24.2 million.
4. “Sound of Freedom,” $12.4 million.
5. “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One,” $10.7 million.
6. “Talk to Me,” $10 million.
7. “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” $4 million.
8. “Elemental,” $3.4 million.
9. “Insidious: The Red Door,” $3.2 million.
10. “Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani,” $1.6 million. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/nation-world/box-office-barbie-oppenheimer-haunted-mansion-talk-to-me/507-d4801fe6-1fb5-4869-b859-274995702f22 | 2023-07-30T19:44:31 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/nation-world/box-office-barbie-oppenheimer-haunted-mansion-talk-to-me/507-d4801fe6-1fb5-4869-b859-274995702f22 |
Two people killed in shooting near University of Florida campus
Published: Jul. 30, 2023 at 11:13 AM MST|Updated: 33 minutes ago
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB/Gray News) - Two people were killed after gunshots rang out in a crowd early Sunday near the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, Florida, WCJB reports.
Gainesville Police were near the Checkers and Bodytech on West University Avenue around 2:40 a.m. when they heard gunshots. There were three victims, two of which died from their injuries.
Police were seeking the public’s help for any information on the shooting.
Copyright 2023 WCJB via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.azfamily.com/2023/07/30/two-people-killed-after-shooting-near-university-florida-campus/ | 2023-07-30T19:44:35 | 0 | https://www.azfamily.com/2023/07/30/two-people-killed-after-shooting-near-university-florida-campus/ |
A woman from New Hampshire who works for a nonprofit organization in Haiti and her young daughter have been reported as kidnapped as the U.S. State Department issued a “do not travel advisory” in the country and ordered nonemergency personnel to leave there amid growing security concerns.
Alix Dorsainvil, a nurse for El Roi Haiti, and her daughter were kidnapped on Thursday, the organization said in a statement Saturday. El Roi, which runs a school and ministry in Port au Prince, said the two were taken from campus. Dorsainvil is the wife of the program's director, Sandro Dorsainvil.
“Alix is a deeply compassionate and loving person who considers Haiti her home and the Haitian people her friends and family,” El Roi president and co-founder Jason Brown said in the statement. “Alix has worked tirelessly as our school and community nurse to bring relief to those who are suffering as she loves and serves the people of Haiti in the name of Jesus.”
A State Department spokesperson said in a statement Saturday is it “aware of reports of the kidnapping of two U.S. citizens in Haiti," adding, “We are in regular contact with Haitian authorities and will continue to work with them and our U.S. government interagency partners.”
In its advisory Thursday, the department said that “kidnapping is widespread, and victims regularly include U.S. citizens.”
It said kidnappings often involve ransom negotiations and U.S. citizen victims have been physically harmed.
Earlier this month, the National Human Rights Defense Network issued a report warning about an upsurge in killings and kidnappings and the U.N. Security Council met to discuss Haiti's worsening situation.
WMUR-TV reported that Dorsainvil is from Middleton, New Hampshire, and went to Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts, which has a program to support nursing education in Haiti.
“It doesn’t surprise me that Alex chose to get involved in this type of service work,” Regis College president Toni Hays told the station. “She was amazing. She was passionate, she was compassionate.” | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/nation-world/us-mother-daughter-reported-kidnapped-in-haiti/507-dffeb51f-530c-4af0-9846-d782c40b2a43 | 2023-07-30T19:44:38 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/nation-world/us-mother-daughter-reported-kidnapped-in-haiti/507-dffeb51f-530c-4af0-9846-d782c40b2a43 |
Bomb squad investigates mysterious packages parachuted into neighborhood
SAN DIMAS, Calif. (Gray News) – A bomb squad was called in to investigate after packages were apparently parachuted into a city in California.
The San Dimas Sheriff’s Station said deputies responded to a call Thursday for a suspicious package in San Dimas. When they arrived at the location, they said they discovered a parachute with two packages attached to it.
The responding deputies then evacuated the residents of nearby homes and called in the arson and explosives unit.
After an investigation, officials determined the packages did not contain explosives or other dangerous materials and seemed to be a science project.
Officials informed the neighborhood of the finds, and the residents returned safely to their homes.
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kait8.com/2023/07/30/bomb-squad-investigates-mysterious-packages-parachuted-into-neighborhood/ | 2023-07-30T19:44:38 | 0 | https://www.kait8.com/2023/07/30/bomb-squad-investigates-mysterious-packages-parachuted-into-neighborhood/ |
Jose Herrera Player Prop Bets: Diamondbacks vs. Mariners - July 30
Published: Jul. 30, 2023 at 11:24 AM MST|Updated: 1 hour ago
After going 1-for-4 in his last game, Jose Herrera and the Arizona Diamondbacks take on the Seattle Mariners (who will hand the ball to Luis Castillo) at 4:10 PM ET on Sunday.
In his previous game he had a one-hit showing (1-for-4) against the Mariners.
Jose Herrera Game Info & Props vs. the Mariners
- Game Day: Sunday, July 30, 2023
- Game Time: 4:10 PM ET
- Stadium: Chase Field
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo!
- Mariners Starter: Luis Castillo
- TV Channel: ARID
- Hits Prop: Over/under 0.5 hits (Over odds: -105)
- Home Runs Prop: Over/under 0.5 home runs (Over odds: +1100)
- RBI Prop: Over/under 0.5 RBI (Over odds: +340)
- Runs Prop: Over/under 0.5 runs (Over odds: +275)
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Read More About This Game
Jose Herrera At The Plate
- Herrera has four doubles and eight walks while batting .234.
- Herrera has gotten at least one hit in 40.0% of his games this season (10 of 25), with at least two hits five times (20.0%).
- In 25 games played this season, he has not hit a home run.
- Herrera has driven in a run in five games this year (20.0%), including one multiple-RBI game.
- In 10 games this season (40.0%), he has scored, including multiple runs twice.
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Jose Herrera Home/Away Batting Splits
Mariners Pitching Rankings
- The 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings compiled by the Mariners pitching staff ranks eighth in the league.
- The Mariners have a 3.88 team ERA that ranks seventh among all league pitching staffs.
- Mariners pitchers combine to surrender the ninth-fewest home runs in baseball (115 total, 1.1 per game).
- The Mariners are sending Castillo (6-7) out for his 22nd start of the season. He is 6-7 with a 3.09 ERA and 142 strikeouts through 125 1/3 innings pitched.
- In his last outing on Monday against the Minnesota Twins, the right-hander threw seven innings, giving up two earned runs while surrendering four hits.
- This season, the 30-year-old ranks seventh in ERA (3.09), fifth in WHIP (1.045), and 13th in K/9 (10.2) among pitchers who qualify.
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.azfamily.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/jose-herrera-mlb-player-prop-bets/ | 2023-07-30T19:44:41 | 0 | https://www.azfamily.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/jose-herrera-mlb-player-prop-bets/ |
Orioles vs. Yankees Predictions & Picks: Odds, Moneyline, Spread - July 30
Sunday's contest at Oriole Park at Camden Yards has the Baltimore Orioles (63-41) matching up with the New York Yankees (55-49) at 7:10 PM ET (on July 30). Our computer prediction projects a close 5-4 victory for the Orioles, so it should be a competitive matchup.
The probable starters are Dean Kremer (10-4) for the Orioles and Luis Severino (2-4) for the Yankees.
Orioles vs. Yankees Game Info & Odds
- When: Sunday, July 30, 2023 at 7:10 PM ET
- Where: Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland
- How to Watch on TV: ESPN
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo!
Bet on this matchup with BetMGM Sportsbook and use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
Orioles vs. Yankees Score Prediction
Our prediction for this matchup is Orioles 5, Yankees 4.
Total Prediction for Orioles vs. Yankees
- Total Prediction: Over 8.5 runs
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Explore More About This Game
Orioles Performance Insights
- The Orioles have been the favorite once in the past 10 games and lost that contest.
- When it comes to hitting the over, Baltimore and its opponents are 4-6-0 in its last 10 games with a total.
- Sportsbooks have not set a spread for any of the Orioles' last 10 games.
- The Orioles have entered the game as favorites 47 times this season and won 33, or 70.2%, of those games.
- Baltimore has entered 33 games this season favored by -135 or more and is 24-9 in those contests.
- The implied probability of a win from the Orioles, based on the moneyline, is 57.4%.
- Baltimore has scored 502 runs (4.8 per game) this season, which ranks 11th in MLB.
- The Orioles have a 4.19 team ERA that ranks 15th among all league pitching staffs.
Yankees Performance Insights
- In three games as the underdog over the last 10 matchups, the Yankees have a record of 1-2.
- In its last 10 matchups with a total posted by sportsbooks, New York and its foes are 5-5-0 when it comes to hitting the over.
- Oddsmakers have not posted a spread in any of the Yankees' past 10 games.
- The Yankees have been underdogs in 31 games this season and have come away with the win 13 times (41.9%) in those contests.
- This season, New York has come away with a win eight times in 16 chances when named as an underdog of at least +115 or worse on the moneyline.
- The Yankees have an implied victory probability of 46.5% according to the moneyline set by oddsmakers for this matchup.
- New York scores the 21st-most runs in baseball (454 total, 4.4 per game).
- The Yankees have pitched to a 3.86 ERA this season, which ranks fifth in baseball.
Put your picks to the test and bet on with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.azfamily.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/orioles-yankees-mlb-picks-predictions/ | 2023-07-30T19:44:48 | 0 | https://www.azfamily.com/sports/betting/2023/07/30/orioles-yankees-mlb-picks-predictions/ |
A U.S. District Court in Mississippi on Tuesday temporarily blocked a voting law in the state that was supposed to go into effect July 1. The law, known as Senate Bill 2358, creates new restrictions for who can assist someone while voting by mail.
Voting rights and disability rights advocates, who filed the lawsuit, argue Mississippi's law violates a federal protection that allows a voter to choose who helps them cast a ballot.
In his order striking down the law, U.S. District Court Judge Henry Wingate wrote, "voting polls are expected to extend outstretched hands of welcome and provide unfettered access to conscientious citizens anxious to enjoy 'participatory democracy'- whether those citizens be among the vulnerable and the disabled."
SB 2358, which was signed into law earlier this year, set new limits on who can collect and transmit a ballot that was mailed to someone else. In Mississippi, the state's absentee-by-mail voting program is for limited groups of voters — people out of town on Election Day, people 65 or older and people with a temporary or permanent physical disability.
Under the new law, though, only election officials, postal workers, a family member or household member or a caregiver would be able to assist these voters in mailing back their ballot. The law also set new criminal penalties. Under SB 2358, not following these restrictions is punishable by imprisonment of up to one year in county jail and/or a fine of up to $3,000.
Opponents of Mississippi's law say voters should be able to choose who helps them vote — including a friend or someone from a community organization.
Ahmed Soussi, a staff attorney with the Southern Poverty Law Center, said in a written statement that "Mississippians may now continue to assist voters without the fear of prosecution."
"We are glad that the Court recognized the federal guarantee to voters with a disability or language barrier to select a person of their choice to provide them assistance," he said. "What is important now is to make sure everyone who is eligible to vote does vote in the upcoming elections."
Supporters of the Mississippi law argued it was necessary to prevent ballot harvesting, which is when someone collects and returns other people's ballots.
Many Republicans have argued this practice leads to vote stealing and fraud, which studies have found to be extremely rare in United States elections.
Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves said in a video address earlier this year that across the country "bad actors have used ballot harvesting to take advantage of elderly and vulnerable voters." He said the practice is an effort to undermine the democratic process.
"Senate Bill 2358 is now law and Mississippi's elections are safer because of it," Reeves said.
However, Judge Wingate wrote that state and local election officials were "unable to provide any data illustrating whether Mississippi has a widespread ballot harvesting problem" when asked in court.
"Seemingly, no fact-findings or committee-finding investigations or legislative committee inquiries have focused upon this perceived threat," he wrote. "This may explain why the definitional approach of the statute is so barren."
The court's injunction blocking SB 2358 applies to Mississippi's upcoming general election in November — as well as the state's August primary, which is currently underway.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wdiy.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-26/a-mississippi-law-limits-who-can-help-mail-in-voters-a-federal-court-struck-it-down | 2023-07-30T19:45:19 | 1 | https://www.wdiy.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-26/a-mississippi-law-limits-who-can-help-mail-in-voters-a-federal-court-struck-it-down |
Updated July 29, 2023 at 11:35 AM ET
Two Supreme Court decisions are changing the way students, educators and even the Biden administration are approaching higher education.
The first ruling ended affirmative action for public and private colleges. It declared that race conscious admissions programs at both Harvard and the University of North Carolina violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
The second put a halt to President Biden's student loan cancellation plan. Now the Biden administration is trying to find new ways to make college more accessible. The administration recently unveiled a new student loan repayment plan that will save borrowers thousands of dollars by keeping monthly payments low and preventing interest from accumulating.
This week, the administration's focus is on affirmative action: The U.S. Department of Education has opened a civil rights investigation into the practice of legacy admissions at Harvard University, and on Friday, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona visited Wesleyan University, which recently got rid of legacy admissions.
Legacy admissions are on the chopping block
The federal inquiry comes after to three Boston-based groups — the Chica Project, the African Community Economic Development of New England and the Greater Boston Latino Network — filed a complaint with the Education Department against Harvard. It accuses the university of discriminating against Black, Hispanic, Asian and other non-white undergraduate applicants by showing preference for those who have family relationships with donors or alumni.
In a statement to NPR, Harvard spokesperson Nicole Rura said the university is reviewing its admissions policy to ensure it is "complying with the law and to carry forward Harvard's longstanding commitment to welcoming students from a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences."
Ivory Toldson, the national director of Education Innovation and Research at the NAACP, said that legacy admissions compromise a university's ability to create a diverse student body. He said if colleges are committed to diversity, they should not be favoring applicants from wealthier backgrounds.
"Now that race conscious admissions has been outlawed by the Supreme Court, you have to look at other ways to achieve diversity," Toldson said during an interview for Morning Edition.
Toldson said legacy admissions should be abolished.
The impact of legacy admissions policies on a student body
A study released this week by the Harvard School of Economics showed that richer applicants are getting a leg up in the college admissions process. Students from affluent backgrounds are twice as likely to get into top colleges than students from more middle class backgrounds, even if the students have similar GPAs and SAT scores.
Admissions data cited in documents that were part of the affirmative action case revealed that nearly 70% of the university's legacy applicants were white — including applicants who have relationships with donors, those who are children of faculty or staff, and athletes applicants. And while legacy applicants make up less than 5% of applicants to Harvard, the data showed they constitute around 30% of the applicants admitted each year, the ruling cited.
Some schools have gotten rid of legacy admissions altogether.
Wesleyan University, a private liberal arts college in Connecticut that has a 16% acceptance rate, recently eliminated its legacy admissions policy. Wesleyan President Michael Roth told NPR's Leila Fadel, during an interview for Morning Edition, the decision to end the policy was a direct response to the Supreme Court ruling that effectively ended affirmative action as part of college admissions.
"It became clear to me that any advantage you give to incumbents, to people who already have advantages, is a glaring sign of unfairness," Roth said.
Other schools have done the same. The University of Minnesota Twin Cities also ended legacy admissions this month, and Colorado passed a state law banning the practice at all public colleges and universities.
"Not getting in" is just one concern for students
Whitney Gouche is vice president of a nonprofit called EMERGE that serves high-achieving students from low-income areas in Texas. She said her students feel discouraged by the recent Supreme Court decision.
"We've explained to our students, that regardless of the decision, you still belong here, she said. "You have the merits to be a successful student at this campus."
Convincing students to apply isn't the easiest task — concerns about high cost are also on students' minds. Even if they get in, it could cost about $70,000 in tuition for an elite college like Wesleyan.
Roth said that while admitted students who qualify for financial aid will receive it at Wesleyan, the university has to do more to convince students to apply in the first place.
"We have to be very aggressive in recruiting students from places that haven't typically looked at schools like Wesleyan," Roth said.
Roth said that ending legacy admissions won't solve the more widespread problem of education disparities in the United States.
"Legacy admissions is attractive to talk about, but the real issues are elsewhere," Roth said.
This story was edited by Erika Aguilar.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wdiy.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-26/colleges-are-ending-legacy-admissions-to-diversify-campuses-post-affirmative-action | 2023-07-30T19:45:25 | 0 | https://www.wdiy.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-26/colleges-are-ending-legacy-admissions-to-diversify-campuses-post-affirmative-action |
A hot Thursday afternoon kicked-off the three day Taste of Wisconsin festival at Kenosha’s harbor with food, live music, drinks and fun.
Over 30 food and drink vendors were present offering their cuisine at the event, which had its start in 2009.
Admission is free as is abundant adjacent parking.
The fun ends at 11 p.m. Saturday.
Lake Geneva-based JR European, operated by Joanne Bonsetch and Richuva Bonsetch, marked their 13th year offering German and Eastern European recipes.
“It seems like every year there’s a few more vendors and a bigger turnout which is awesome,” Joanne Bonsetch said. “You can tell it’s well organized because more and more people come to it.”
Richuva Bonsetch said his favorite part about being a vendor at the festival is being on the lakefront. “It’s a nice location,” he said.
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JR European doesn’t have a storefront for their business, but they sell their food at local festivals throughout Wisconsin.
“Our moms were sisters (referring to her and Richuva) and they had German restaurants and we helped them as kids,” Joanne said. “We helped them at festivals and we enjoyed it, so as adults we decided ‘maybe we should do this.’”
Sanita Hofer, owner of Wisconsin Fried Cheese Curds of Milwaukee, has participated in Taste of Wisconsin since its inception.
“It’s fun,” Hofer said. “It’s just community summer fun.”
Although Hofer said their menu hasn’t changed since they came the very first year of the festival, their prices have a bit.
“It’s changed with the times. As far as the menu ... everything we sell is made in Wisconsin,” Hofer said.
Hofer said Taste of Wisconsin is special because there’s “a little bit of everything for everyone.”
Skip Duevel and Deb Loiselle came together to sample Taste of Wisconsin on the opening day. Being from Kenosha, Duevel has attended the event three times and decided to introduce Loiselle to the festival since she’s from “Up North.”
‘Good food, good bands’
“It’s cool. There’s a lot of good food, there’s good bands, it’s fun,” Duevel said. “It’s a cool place to come and there’s a lot of awesome smells.”
Duevel and Loiselle decided to grab a frozen lemonade from Wisconsin Fried Cheese Curds to cool off and were walking around looking at foods they could try.
Despite attending for three years, Duevel said he likes to “try new things” instead of going to the same vendors every year.
“I would come again,” Loiselle said. “It’s a nice environment and it’s enjoyable.”
Hannah Kromm also attended Taste of Wisconsin for the first time alongside her 3-year-old son, Luca Allen and her boyfriend Tyler Allen.
“There’s really good food here and there’s state fair lemonade, I love it,” Kromm said.
Although she hadn’t eaten anything yet aside from having a lemonade, Kromm said she had her eyes on the cheese curds.
“I love cheese. It’s a problem,” Kromm laughed.
Kromm said she loved Taste of Wisconsin and simply being in the environment.
“I just love being out with everybody,” Kromm said. “I’m a very social person so I love being here. I love this kind of stuff.” | https://kenoshanews.com/news/taste-of-wisconsin-kicks-off-thursday/article_8344720c-2d51-11ee-b014-a7d04139bbb8.html | 2023-07-30T19:45:34 | 0 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/taste-of-wisconsin-kicks-off-thursday/article_8344720c-2d51-11ee-b014-a7d04139bbb8.html |
Bomb squad investigates mysterious packages parachuted into neighborhood
SAN DIMAS, Calif. (Gray News) – A bomb squad was called in to investigate after packages were apparently parachuted into a city in California.
The San Dimas Sheriff’s Station said deputies responded to a call Thursday for a suspicious package in San Dimas. When they arrived at the location, they said they discovered a parachute with two packages attached to it.
The responding deputies then evacuated the residents of nearby homes and called in the arson and explosives unit.
After an investigation, officials determined the packages did not contain explosives or other dangerous materials and seemed to be a science project.
Officials informed the neighborhood of the finds, and the residents returned safely to their homes.
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kwch.com/2023/07/30/bomb-squad-investigates-mysterious-packages-parachuted-into-neighborhood/ | 2023-07-30T19:45:34 | 1 | https://www.kwch.com/2023/07/30/bomb-squad-investigates-mysterious-packages-parachuted-into-neighborhood/ |
ALLEN PARK -- Brian Branch took advantage of his increased reps this week, with Dan Campbell saying you can see the lightbulb flash above the Detroit Lions rookie defensive back’s head to open training camp.
Branch, one of the team’s second-round picks in this year’s draft, and Will Harris took over after C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s injury scare to open the week of practices. Gardner-Johnson has since returned and shunned all injury-related questions. But that doesn’t mean the rookie defensive back still isn’t considered one of the fastest risers to watch in Allen Park.
“Great. It feels like Malcolm Jenkins and Ceedy Duce when I was young, or Von Bell and Ceedy Duce,” Gardner-Johnson said of the pairing. “I feel like Brian is trending up. I’m not a coach. All I can go is say, ‘Good job, grow and let’s get back to it.’ The more you make plays -- you know this, the fans know this, I’m not here to judge you, I’m here to help you get better.”
The rookie made a handful of impressive plays in coverage, getting love around the football world for one shared by the team’s social media accounts, reinforcing the perception that the Lions were lucky to draft the Alabama standout where they did back in April. And the team’s head coach said everything that they saw in Branch inside the SEC is starting to show up through the first week of training camp at the next level.
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“But he’s one of those guys -- you kind of see the lightbulb,” Campbell said. “It’s -- what showed up on the tape in college is beginning to show up already, up here, quickly. He’s an instinctive guy. He’s got some ball hawk ability.
“He’s -- and look he’s -- we did one-on-ones the other day and he’s out there on (receiver Kalif Raymond) ‘Leaf’ as outside corner, first three plays and I think we all know ‘Leaf,’ ‘Leaf’s’ got some stripes on the wall here and can run and do a pretty good job and then the next day you come back, ‘Leaf’ got him back, which you would expect, but he’s not out of place. So, there’s things to him. You can see him grow and he’s another guy that is wired correctly. He is wired right. He’s got a chip on his shoulder. He goes to work and he just wants more. He wants more, he wants more, he wants more. We’re happy with where he’s at, at this point.”
Branch said after Sunday’s practice that Raymond is making him better through their daily matchups, and that “some days he’s going to get me and some days I’m going to get him.”
Related: Lions’ Brian Branch channels Amon-Ra St. Brown on quest to fill NFL with regret
Related: ‘I’m like the flu’: C.J. Gardner-Johnson shows fire in return to Lions
Branch was one of the best slot corners and safeties while at Alabama, with most thinking he’d be off the board on Day 1 of the draft. He drew 1,209 snaps from the nickel over three seasons there, flashing against the run while posting a ridiculous 15.8% forced incompletion rate last season. Branch also posted 14 tackles for loss, three sacks, two interceptions and 90 tackles, so he’s a potential all-around threat.
And Campbell said that tape from Alabama in the nation’s deepest and toughest conference showed someone who was “uber productive” while handling the top athletes around week in and week out. The head coach was impressed by Branch’s work holding his own against Raymond and others in one-on-one drills, mentioning that as an example again during his praise for the rookie defensive back.
“He’s a football-playing dude and he has a feel for it. He has a knack. In the heat of the moment. He doesn’t panic,” Campbell said. “ ... we put him outside and he’s covering and doing a pretty good job for a guy that that’s not necessarily where we see him. So, I just, man, I think he’s -- there’s no panic in him and he’s a worker. He loves it. He’s not worried about anything else other than getting better so, it’s a good start for him. He still has a long way to go, but it’s a good start.”
That said, it’s going to be interesting to see how the Lions deploy their versatile defensive backfield in 2023. Gardner-Johnson will bounce between those spots, while seeing most of his work from the inside. And Will Harris is back, earning more praise than ever before, to add depth at nickelback and safety, if needed.
The Lions added cornerbacks Cam Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley in free agency. They also return starting safety Tracy Walker and breakout rookie Kerby Joseph, so there is more depth to work with back deep.
“Just learning from them,” Branch said. “They have experience. Just picking what they do in each situation, as far as that. And just, you know, how they handle their body on the regular, daily basis.” | https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/07/detroit-lions-impressed-by-brian-branchs-quick-growth-to-open-training-camp.html | 2023-07-30T19:45:38 | 0 | https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/07/detroit-lions-impressed-by-brian-branchs-quick-growth-to-open-training-camp.html |
SAGINAW, MI — Three years and a day after drunkenly crashing into two motorcyclists and putting them in comas, a Saginaw County man has received jail time and probation. He has several months before he needs to start serving his time behind bars, however.
Saginaw County Chief Circuit Judge Andre R. Borrello on July 19 sentenced 22-year-old Cole J. Severn to six months in jail with credit for one day already served. Borrello gave Severn until Nov. 15 to report to the jail. | https://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw-bay-city/2023/07/saginaw-county-man-gets-jail-time-for-drunkenly-crashing-into-2-motorcyclists-in-2020.html | 2023-07-30T19:45:44 | 1 | https://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw-bay-city/2023/07/saginaw-county-man-gets-jail-time-for-drunkenly-crashing-into-2-motorcyclists-in-2020.html |
While who moves from Group C in this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, the battle for Round of 16 spots in Group A is set to hit a climax on Monday.
- Watch the FIFA Women’s World Cup on FuboTV (7-day free trial) and Peacock
GROUP C
Costa Rica (0-0-2) vs. Zambia (0-0-2)
- When: Monday, July 31
- Time: 3 a.m. ET
- Where: Waikato Stadium (Hamilton, N.Z.)
- Channel: FOX Sports 1, NBC Universo
- Stream: FuboTV (Free Trial), Sling, DirecTV Stream, Peacock
In a match solely for pride, Costa Rica and Zambia look for their first points in this year’s World Cup.
Following losses to Japan and Spain, Costa Rica has lost three-straight matches in their tournament history, but they have not picked a point since their two draws in 2015. Zambia has been hammered in their first two World Cup matches, losing both contests by a combined score of 10-0.
This will be the first-ever meeting between Zambia and Costa Rica.
Japan vs. Spain
- When: Monday, July 31
- Time: 3 a.m. ET
- Where: Wellington Regional Stadium (Wellington, N.Z.)
- Channel: FOX, Telemundo
- Stream: FuboTV (Free Trial), Sling, DirecTV Stream, Peacock
While both Japan and Spain have already clinched spots in the knockout stage, both Japan and Spain look for better seeding in their group-stage finale.
Having punched their ticket to the Round of 16 for the fourth consecutive tournament, many believe this might be the best Japanese squad since their back-to-back championship game appearances in 2011 and 2015. Led by Hinata Miyazawa, Japan will have a chance to prove they are contenders on Monday.
This is only the third time Spain has ever qualified for the World Cup, but La Roja has looked like a dominant figure. After beating Costa Rica by a three-goal margin, they took down Zambia, 5-0, last Wednesday to clinch a Round of 16 spot for the second-straight tournament.
Spain is 2-1-0 all-time against Japan.
- Watch the FIFA Women’s World Cup on FuboTV (7-day free trial) and Peacock
GROUP B
The two spots in Group B are up for grabs thanks to three of its teams having wins. After drawing their opening matches, both Canada and Nigeria came out on top on Matchday #2. Canada came back from an early deficit to beat the Irish, while Nigeria stunned co-host Australia last Thursday, putting the Matildas at a disadvantage coming into Monday.
While they battled hard in their two matches, Ireland is out of contention to advance. That is, because they lost in heartbreaking fashion to both Canada and Australia.
Republic of Ireland (0-2-0) vs. Nigeria (1-1-0)
- When: Monday, July 31
- Time: 6 a.m. ET
- Where: Brisbane Stadium (Brisbane, Australia)
- Channel: FOX Sports 1, NBC Universo
- Stream: FuboTV (Free Trial), Sling, DirecTV Stream, Peacock
Nigeria and Ireland have never met on the pitch in women’s football (soccer).
Canada (1-1-0) vs. Australia (1-0-1)
- When: Monday, July 31
- Time: 6 a.m. ET
- Where: Melbourne Rectangular Stadium (Melbourne, Australia)
- Channel: FOX, Telemundo
- Stream: FuboTV (Free Trial), Sling, DirecTV Stream, Peacock
Canada has the historical edge over Australia, coming into Monday with an 8-7-3 record over the host nation.
Clinching Scenarios
Nigeria advances with: Win vs. Ireland, OR draw vs. Ireland AND Australia draw/loss vs. Canada, OR loss vs. Ireland AND Australia win vs. Canada by smaller goal differential
Canada advances with: Win/draw vs. Australia, OR loss vs. Australia AND Nigeria loss vs. Ireland by bigger goal differential
Australia advances with: Win vs. Canada, draw vs. Canada AND Nigeria loss vs. Ireland by two goals
Follow the Women’s World Cup here | https://www.mlive.com/sports/2023/07/how-to-watch-the-2023-fifa-world-cup-today-july-31-japan-v-spain-canada-v-australia-and-more-channel-stream-preview.html | 2023-07-30T19:45:50 | 0 | https://www.mlive.com/sports/2023/07/how-to-watch-the-2023-fifa-world-cup-today-july-31-japan-v-spain-canada-v-australia-and-more-channel-stream-preview.html |
A former Detroit Tigers pitcher is headed to the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Rays selected Erasmo Ramirez, making room for him on the roster by sending down pitcher Calvin Faucher.
Ramirez signed with Detroit at the start of the 2021 season but was released that August after pitching in 17 games and putting up a 5.74 ERA.
He spent 2022 and part of this season with the Nationals, who released him in June. He then signed with the Rays and pitching in nine games at Triple-A Durham. | https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2023/07/ex-tigers-pitcher-back-in-majors-with-tampa-bay.html | 2023-07-30T19:45:56 | 1 | https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2023/07/ex-tigers-pitcher-back-in-majors-with-tampa-bay.html |
WISH-TV partners with Teachers’ Treasures for Gr8 Paper Push
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — WISH-TV is teaming up with Teachers’ Treasures, a free store for teachers, for the ninth annual Gr8 Paper Push to help stock classrooms with school supplies.
Margaret Sheehan from Teachers’ Treasures joined Daybreak to speak more about the organization and how they help teachers across Indiana.
According to the National Education Association, more than 90% of teachers spend their own money on school supplies and each year they spend an average of $800-$1,200 to help their students succeed.
Every dollar raised turns into $15 of supplies. In 2022, we collected more than $310,000 to help support area teachers.
To donate, click here. The last day to donate is Aug. 3.
Watch the interview above to learn more. | https://www.wishtv.com/news/education/wish-tv-partners-with-teachers-treasures-for-gr8-paper-push/ | 2023-07-30T19:46:54 | 0 | https://www.wishtv.com/news/education/wish-tv-partners-with-teachers-treasures-for-gr8-paper-push/ |
Indiana search teams recover body of missing man from Lake Michigan
GARY, Ind. (AP) — Search teams have recovered the body of an 18-year-old man who went missing Saturday in Lake Michigan off Indiana shore.
Emergency responders were sent to Miller Beach in Gary on Saturday afternoon, and dive teams from multiple agencies joined in the search for a missing man presumed to be in the lake, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources said in a statement on Sunday.
Strong rip currents and waves up to six feet (1.8 meters) in height made the area dangerous for divers and slowed their efforts, the department said. Around 6 p.m., roughly three hours after responders began their search, a beachgoer spotted the man’s body three-quarters of a mile from where he was last seen. Searchers recovered the body and pronounced the man dead.
The name of the man was being withheld pending notification of his family, and conservation officers were investigating the death. | https://www.wishtv.com/news/indiana-news/indiana-search-teams-recover-body-of-missing-man-from-lake-michigan/ | 2023-07-30T19:47:00 | 1 | https://www.wishtv.com/news/indiana-news/indiana-search-teams-recover-body-of-missing-man-from-lake-michigan/ |
A bomb at a political rally in northwest Pakistan kills at least 40 people and wounds nearly 200
KHAR, Pakistan (AP) — A powerful bomb ripped through a political rally by supporters of a hardline cleric and political leader on Sunday in Pakistan’s northwestern Bajur district, police and health officials said. At least 40 people were killed and nearly 200 wounded, including children, in one of the worst attacks in recent years.
Senior police officer Nazir Khan said the workers’ convention of Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s Jamiat Ulema Islam party was taking place on the outskirts of Khar, the capital of Bajur district, when the bomb went off. AP video showed wounded people being carried from the scene in the chaotic aftermath.
Bajur used to be a haven for Islamic militants. It is the former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, a militant group that is a close ally of the Taliban government of Afghanistan. The TTP was in recent years evicted from the area as a result of operations by the Pakistani military.
The bombing came hours before the arrival of Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Islamabad, where he was to participate in an event to mark a decade of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, or CPEC, a sprawling package under which Beijing has invested billions of dollars in Pakistan.
In recent months, China has helped Pakistan avoid a default on sovereign payments. However, some Chinese nationals have also been targeted by militants in northwestern Pakistan and elsewhere.
In a statement sent to The Associated Press, the TTP condemned the bombing, saying it was aimed at pitching Islamists against each other. Zabiullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Afghan Taliban, also condemned the bombing. “Such crimes cannot be justified in any way,” he said in a message on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Though a separate group, the TTP remains a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in Afghanistan in mid-August 2021. The takeover emboldened the TTP. They unilaterally ended a cease-fire agreement with the Pakistani government last November and have since stepped up attacks across the country.
One of the victims, Adam Khan, 45, was hit by splinters in his leg and both hands. He said it was around 4 p.m. when the explosion knocked him to the ground.
“There was dust and smoke around, and I was under some injured people from where I could hardly stand up, only to see chaos and some scattered limbs,” he said.
Initially, police said 10 people were killed but later more bodies arrived at a local hospital, bringing the death toll to 40. Feroz Jamal, the provincial information minister, told The Associated Press that so far 40 people had been “martyred” and nearly 200 wounded in the bombing.
The JUI workers’ convention was arranged in a hall close to a market, but tents were later added because of the large number of supporters who turned out. The venue was being guarded by party volunteers with batons. The arrival of Abdul Rasheed, a senior party leader, was being announced when the bomb exploded.
The bombing was one of the four worst attacks in the northwest since 2014, when 147 people, mostly schoolchildren, were killed in a Taliban attack on an army-run school in Peshawar. In January, 74 people were killed in a bombing at a mosque in Peshawar. n February, more than 100 people, mostly policemen, died in a bombing at a mosque inside a high-security compound housing Peshawar police headquarters.
District health officer Dr. Faisal Khan said 40 bodies from the blast were at Khar’s main hospital. Some of the wounded were in critical condition and were being transferred to a facility in Peshawar and the adjoining district of Dir, including by army helicopters.
Prime Minister Sharif and President Arif Alvi condemned the attack and asked officials to provide all possible assistance to the wounded and the bereaved families.
Maulana Ziaullah, the local chief of Rehman’s party, was among the dead. JUI leaders Rasheed and former lawmaker Maulana Jamaluddin were also on the stage but escaped unhurt. Party officials said Rehman was not at the rally.
Rasheed, the regional chief of the party, said the attack was an attempt to remove JUI from the field before parliamentary elections in November, but he said such tactics would not work.
Rehman is considered to be a pro-Taliban cleric and his political party is part of the coalition government in Islamabad. Meetings are being organized across the country to mobilize supporters for the upcoming elections.
“Many of our fellows lost their lives and many more wounded in this incident. I will ask the federal and provincial administrations to fully investigate this incident and provide due compensation and medical facilities to the affected ones,” Rasheed said.
Mohammad Wali, another attendant at the rally, said he was listening to a speaker address the crowd when the huge explosion temporarily deafened him.
“I was near the water dispenser to fetch a glass of water when the bomb exploded, throwing me to the ground,” he said. “We came to the meeting with enthusiasm but ended up at the hospital seeing crying, wounded people and sobbing relatives taking the bodies of their loved ones.”
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Riaz Khan reported from Peshawar. Associated Press writer Munir Ahmad contributed from Islamabad. | https://www.wishtv.com/news/international/a-bomb-at-a-political-rally-in-northwest-pakistan-kills-at-least-40-people-and-wounds-nearly-200/ | 2023-07-30T19:47:06 | 1 | https://www.wishtv.com/news/international/a-bomb-at-a-political-rally-in-northwest-pakistan-kills-at-least-40-people-and-wounds-nearly-200/ |
Russian missile attacks leave few options for Ukrainian farmers looking to export grain
PAVLIVKA, Ukraine (AP) — The summer winds carried the smell of burned grain across the southern Ukrainian steppe and away from the shards of three Russian cruise missiles that struck the unassuming metal hangars.
The agricultural company Ivushka applied for accreditation to export grain this year, but the strike in mid-July destroyed a large portion of the stock, days after Russia abandoned the grain deal that would have allowed the shipments across the Black Sea without fear of attack.
Men shirtless and barefoot, with blackened soles from ash, swept unburnt grain into piles and awaited the loader, whose driver deftly steered around twisted metal shrapnel, bits of missile and craters despite his shattered windshield.
They hoped to beat the next rain to rescue what was left of the crop. According to the Odesa Regional Prosecutor’s Office, Russia struck the facility July 21 with three Kalibr- and Onyx-class cruise missiles.
“We don’t have a clue why they did it,” explained Olha Romanova, the head of Ivushka. Romanova, who worked in the debris alongside the others, wore a red headscarf and an exhausted expression and was too frazzled to even estimate her losses.
She cannot comprehend why the Russians targeted Ivushka, as there are no nearby military facilities and the frontlines are far from the village in the Odesa region.
“They spent so much money on us,” she said, puzzled. The missiles that ruined the silos are worth millions of dollars — far more than the crop they destroyed.
But Ivushka wasn’t the only target in Odesa. The main port also was struck, leaving Black Sea shipping companies that relied upon the grain deal to keep them safe and food supplies flowing to the world at a standstill.
The Black Sea handled about 95% of Ukrainian grain exports before Russia’s invasion and the U.N.-brokered initiative allowed Ukraine to ship much of what farmers harvested in 2021 and 2022, said Joseph Glauber, senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute.
Ukraine, a major supplier of corn, wheat, barley and vegetable oil, shipped 32.9 million metric tons (36.2 million U.S. tons) of grain under the nearly yearlong deal designed to ease a global food crisis. It has been able to export an additional 2 million to 2.5 million metric tons (2.2 to 2.7 million U.S. tons) monthly by the Danube River, road and rail through Europe.
Those are now the only routes to ship grain, but have stirred divisions among nearby European countries and generated higher costs to be absorbed by Ukrainian farmers, said Glauber, former chief economist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Russian missiles strikes against the Danube port last Monday also raised questions about how much longer that route will remain viable.
That’s a disincentive to keep planting fields already threatened by missiles and strewn with explosive mines. Corn and wheat production in agriculture-dependent Ukraine is down nearly 40% this year from prewar levels, analysts say.
From the first of July last year until June 30 this year, Ukraine exported 68 million tons of grain, according to data from Mykola Horbachov, the president of the Ukrainian Grain Association. Ukrainian farmers shipped 11.2 million tons via railways, 5.5 million tons by road transport and around 18 million tons through Danube ports. Additionally, nearly half of the total exported grain, 33 million tons, was delivered through seaports under the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
Ihor Osmachko, the general director of Agroprosperis Group, was unsurprised by Russia’s withdrawal from the deal leading to its collapse. His company had never considered it a reliable or permanent solution during wartime.
He said Russians frequently stymied the deal, even while it was functioning, by delaying ship inspections until the cargos were sent back, leading to $30 million in losses for his company alone. Now, they are once again forced to pay to reroute 100,000 tons of grain trapped in ports that are no longer safe, Osmachko said.
“We have been preparing for this whole time,” Osmachko said. “We haven’t stopped. We are moving forward.”
Osmachko estimated around 80% to 90% of the approximately 3.2 million tons of grain Agroprosperis exported to China, Europe and African countries during the past year went through the grain corridor.
“The most significant problem today is the cost of logistics,” explained Mykola Horbachov, president of the Ukrainian Grain Association. Before the war, farmers paid approximately $20 to $25 per ton to transport grain to the Odesa ports. Now, logistics costs have tripled as they are forced to pay more than $100 to transport a single ton via alternative routes through the Danube port to Constanta, Romania.
“If we were to go on the Danube with the grain corridor closed, practically all our production would be unprofitable,” Osmachko said.
The Danube ports can’t handle the same volume as seaports. The most Agroprosperis has sent through this route is 75,000 tons per month, compared with a monthly average of 250,000 tons through Black Sea ports.
The Ukrainian harvest this year is the lowest in a decade, according to a July report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Horbachov said shipping costs to export around the world and uncertainty about the length of the war will last could quickly make new planting unprofitable for Ukrainian farmers.
Ukraine currently produces three times more grain than it consumes, while global prices will inevitably rise if the country’s exports decrease.
“I think you’re looking at a diminished Ukraine for at least the next couple of years and maybe longer,” said Glauber, the former U.S. agricultural official. “That’s something the rest of the world just needs to make up.”
The war from all sides poses risks for Agroprosperis.
In the Sumy region on the Russian border, farmers harvest their crops wearing body armor. Sometimes they must stop their combines in the middle of the wheat fields to pick up shrapnel from Russian projectiles.
“It can get tough at times,” Osmachko acknowledged. “But there are responsibilities — some have duties on the front. Some must grow food and ensure the country’s and world’s security.”
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Volodymyr Yurchuk in Lviv, Ukraine, and Courtney Bonnell in London contributed.
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Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | https://www.wishtv.com/news/international/russian-missile-attacks-leave-few-options-for-ukrainian-farmers-looking-to-export-grain/ | 2023-07-30T19:47:13 | 0 | https://www.wishtv.com/news/international/russian-missile-attacks-leave-few-options-for-ukrainian-farmers-looking-to-export-grain/ |
Bomb squad investigates mysterious packages parachuted into neighborhood
SAN DIMAS, Calif. (Gray News) – A bomb squad was called in to investigate after packages were apparently parachuted into a city in California.
The San Dimas Sheriff’s Station said deputies responded to a call Thursday for a suspicious package in San Dimas. When they arrived at the location, they said they discovered a parachute with two packages attached to it.
The responding deputies then evacuated the residents of nearby homes and called in the arson and explosives unit.
After an investigation, officials determined the packages did not contain explosives or other dangerous materials and seemed to be a science project.
Officials informed the neighborhood of the finds, and the residents returned safely to their homes.
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wcjb.com/2023/07/30/bomb-squad-investigates-mysterious-packages-parachuted-into-neighborhood/ | 2023-07-30T19:47:14 | 0 | https://www.wcjb.com/2023/07/30/bomb-squad-investigates-mysterious-packages-parachuted-into-neighborhood/ |
Ukraine again reported bringing war deep into Russia with attacks on Moscow and border region
Ukraine brought the war far from the front line into the heart of Russia again Sunday in drone penetrations that Russian authorities said damaged two office buildings a few miles (kilometers) from the Kremlin and a pig breeding complex on the countries’ border.
The attacks, which Ukraine didn’t acknowledge in keeping with its security policy, reflected a pattern of more frequent and deeper cross-border strikes the Kyiv government has launched since starting a counteroffensive against Russian forces in June. A precursor and the most dramatic of the strikes happenned in May on the Kremlin itself, the seat of power in the capital, Moscow.
Sunday’s was the fourth such strike on the capital region this month and the third this week, showing Moscow’s vulnerability as Russia’s war in Ukraine drags into its 18th month.
The Russian Defense Ministry said three drones targeted the city in an “attempted terrorist attack by the Kyiv regime.” Air defenses shot down one drone in Odintsovo in the surrounding Moscow region, while two others were jammed and crashed into the Moscow City business district.
Photos and video showed that a drone had ripped off part of the facade of a modern skyscraper, IQ-Quarter, located 7.2 kms (4.5 miles) from the Kremlin. When the drone hit, sparks, flames and smoke spewed from the building, with debris falling on the sidewalk and street. Windows were blown out, and metal window frames were mangled. A security guard was injured, Russia’s state news agency Tass reported, citing emergency officials. Russia’s Ria-Novosti news agency reported the building’s tenants included several government agencies.
Flights were temporarily suspended at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport, and the airspace over Moscow and the outlying regions was temporarily closed.
President Vladimir Putin, who was in his hometown of St. Petersburg at the time of the attempted attacks for meetings with African leaders and a naval celebration, was briefed, his spokesman said.
Ukrainian officials didn’t acknowledge the attacks but President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address: “Gradually, the war is returning to the territory of Russia — to its symbolic centers and military bases, and this is an inevitable, natural and absolutely fair process.”
A Ukrainian air force spokesman also didn’t claim responsibility but said the Russian people were seeing the consequences of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“All of the people who think the war ‘doesn’t concern them’ — it’s already touching them,” spokesperson Yurii Ihnat told journalists Sunday.
“There’s already a certain mood in Russia: that something is flying in, and loudly,” he said. “There’s no discussion of peace or calm in the Russian interior any more. They got what they wanted.”
Ihnat also referenced an early Sunday drone attack on Crimea, Ukrainian territory which Russia occupied and illegally annexed in 2014. The Russian Defense Ministry announced it had shot down 16 Ukrainian drones and neutralized eight others through electronic jamming. No casualties were reported.
Zelenskyy has vowed to take back all land Russian forces have occupied, including Crimea, and his efforts have been strengthened by the receipt and deployment of increasingly advanced Western weapons.
In the earlier attacks on Moscow, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported shooting down a Ukrainian drone outside the city on Friday. Four days earlier, two drones struck the Russian capital, 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 air defenses downed four drones on Moscow’s outskirts and jammed a fifth that was forced down.
Russia has also blamed Ukrainian forces for attacking border areas, and on Sunday, the governor of one such region, Bryansk, said a Ukrainian strike damaged a pig breeding complex and injured three people.
In Ukraine, the air force reported Sunday it had destroyed four Russian drones above the Kherson and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Information on the attacks could not be independently verified.
Meanwhile, a Russian missile strike late Saturday killed two people and wounded 20 in the city of Sumy in northeast Ukraine. A four-story vocational college building was hit, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry said. Local authorities said that dormitories and teaching buildings were damaged in the blast and a fire that followed.
While the attacks continued on the war front, so did the war of words. Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy secretary of Russia’s Security Council, issued his latest nuclear war threat in a Telegram post Sunday. In it, he claimed Russian forces were preventing a nuclear war. He contended that if Ukraine, with NATO countries’ support, succeeded in its counteroffensive, including if “they seized part of our land,” then Russia would “go for the use of nuclear weapons.” Western leaders have repeatedly warned of the dangers of making such statements.
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Associated Press writer Andrew Katell in New York contributed to this report.
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Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | https://www.wishtv.com/news/international/ukraine-again-reported-bringing-war-deep-into-russia-with-attacks-on-moscow-and-border-region/ | 2023-07-30T19:47:19 | 1 | https://www.wishtv.com/news/international/ukraine-again-reported-bringing-war-deep-into-russia-with-attacks-on-moscow-and-border-region/ |
A boom in apartment construction is helping to curb rents but not all renters will benefit
LOS ANGELES (AP) — When viewed through a wide lens, renters across the U.S. finally appear to be getting some relief, thanks in part to the biggest apartment construction boom in decades.
Median rent rose just 0.5% in June, year over year, after falling in May for the first time since the pandemic hit the U.S. Some economists project U.S. rents will be down modestly this year after soaring nearly 25% over the past four years.
A closer look, however, shows the trend will likely be little comfort for many U.S. renters who’ve had to put an increasing share of their income toward their monthly payment. Renters in cities such as Cincinnati and Indianapolis are still getting hit with increases of 5% or more. Much of the new construction is located in just a few metro areas, and many of the new units are luxury apartments, which rent for well north of $2,000.
Median U.S. rent has risen to $2,029 this June from $1,629 in June 2019, according to rental listings company Rent, which tracks rents in 50 of the largest U.S. metropolitan areas. Demand for apartments exploded during the pandemic as people who could work remotely sought more space or decided to relocate to another part of the country.
The steep rent increases have left tenants like Melissa Lombana, a high school teacher who lives in the South Florida city of Miramar, with progressively less income to spend on other needs.
The rent on her one-bedroom apartment jumped 13% last year to $1,700. It climbed another 6% to $1,800 this month when she renewed her lease.
“Even the $1,700 was a stretch for me,” said Lombana, 43, who supplements her teaching income with a side job doing educational testing. “In a year, I will not be able to afford living here at all.”
Lombana’s rent is now gobbling up nearly half her monthly income. That puts her in a category referred to as “cost-burdened” by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, denoting households that pay 30% or more of their income toward rent. Last year, the average rent-to-income ratio per household rose to 30%. This March, it was 29.6%.
Lombana hasn’t had any luck finding a more affordable apartment. While South Florida is one of the metropolitan areas seeing a rise in apartment construction, the units are mostly high-end and not a viable option.
That scenario is playing out across the nation. Developers are rushing to complete projects that were green-lit during the pandemic-era surge in demand for rentals or left in limbo by delays in supplies of fixtures and building materials. Nearly 1.1 million apartments are currently under construction, according to the commercial real estate tracker CoStar, a pace not seen since the 1970s.
Increasing the supply of apartments tends to moderate rent increases over time and can give tenants more options on where to live. But more than 40% of the new rentals to be completed this year will be concentrated in about 10 high job growth metropolitan areas, including Austin, Nashville, Denver, Atlanta and New York, according to Marcus & Millichap. In many areas, the boost to overall inventory will be barely noticeable.
Even within metros where there’ll be a notable increase in available apartments, such as Nashville, most of it will be in the luxury category, where rents average $2,270, nationally. Some 70% of the new rental inventory will be the luxury class, said Jay Lybik, national director of multifamily analytics at CoStar.
That will leave most tenants unlikely to see a big enough reduction in rent to make a difference, industry experts and economists say.
“I think we’re in a period of rent flattening for 12 or 18 months, but it’s certainly not a big rent decline,” said Hessam Nadji, CEO of commercial real estate firm Marcus & Millichap.
“We’re building a multi-decade record number of units,” Nadji said. “It’s going to cause some softening and some pockets of overbuilding, but it’s not going to fundamentally resolve the housing shortage or the affordability problem for renters across the U.S.”
The surge in rents has made it difficult for workers to keep up with inflation despite solid wage gains the past few years and exacerbated a long-term trend. Between 1999 and 2022, U.S. rents soared 135%, while income grew 77%, according to data from Moody’s Analytics.
Realtor.com is forecasting that rents will drop an average of 0.9% this year. But while down nationally, rents are still rising in many markets around the country, especially those where hiring remains robust.
In the New York metro area, the median rent climbed 4.7% in June from a year earlier to $2,899, according to Realtor.com. In the Midwest, rents surged 5.6% in the Cincinnati metro area to $1,188, and 6.9% to $1,350 in the Indianapolis metro area.
The current spike in apartment construction alone isn’t going to be enough to address how costly renting has become for many Americans.
“For the rest of the 2020s rents will continue to grow because millennials are such a big generation and we’re very much in the hole in terms of building housing for that generation,” said Daryl Fairweather, chief economist at Redfin. “It will take many good years of new construction to build adequate housing for millennials.”
The bigger challenge is building more work force housing, because the cost of land, labor and navigating the government approval process incentivize developers to put up luxury apartments buildings.
Expanding the supply of modestly priced rentals would help alleviate the strain from so many new apartments targeting renters with high incomes, “although additional subsidies will be needed to make housing affordable to households with the lowest incomes,” researchers at Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies wrote in a recent report.
Despite the overall pullback in U.S. rents, Joey Di Girolamo, in Pembroke Pines, Florida, worries that he’ll face more sharp rent increases in coming years.
Last year, the web designer left a two-bedroom, two-bath townhome he rented for $2,200 a month to avoid a $600 a month increase. This year, his rent went up by $200, a nearly 10% jump.
“That blew me away,” said Di Girolamo, 50. “I’m just kind of dreading what it’s going to be like next year, but especially 3 or 4 years from now.” | https://www.wishtv.com/news/national/a-boom-in-apartment-construction-is-helping-to-curb-rents-but-not-all-renters-will-benefit/ | 2023-07-30T19:47:25 | 1 | https://www.wishtv.com/news/national/a-boom-in-apartment-construction-is-helping-to-curb-rents-but-not-all-renters-will-benefit/ |
Biden administration launches new income-driven student debt repayment plan
(CNN) — The Biden administration is launching a beta website for its new income-driven student loan repayment plan today, officials told CNN, allowing borrowers to begin submitting applications for the program as federal student loan payments are set to resume in October.
The SAVE, or Saving on a Valuable Education, plan was finalized after the Supreme Court struck down President Joe Biden’s student debt forgiveness initiative in June. It marks a significant change to the federal student loan system that could lower monthly loan payments for some borrowers and reduce the amount they pay back over the lifetime of their loans.
“Part of the president’s overall commitment is to improve the student loan system and reduce the burden of student loan debt on American families,” a senior administration official said, previewing the beta website first to CNN. “The SAVE plan is a big part of that. It is important in this moment as borrowers are getting ready to return to repayment.”
Federal student loan borrowers can access the beta website at https://studentaid.gov/idr/. The enrollment process is estimated to take 10 minutes, and many sections can be automatically populated with information the government has on hand, including tax returns from the IRS, administration officials said.
“We will be able to show borrowers their exact monthly payment amount and give them the ability to choose the most affordable repayment plan for them,” one official said.
Borrowers will only need to apply one time, not yearly as past systems require, which officials said would make this plan “much easier to use.” Users will receive a confirmation email once the application is submitted, and the approval process, which can be tracked online, is expected to take a few weeks.
Those already enrolled in the federal government’s REPAYE, or Revised Pay As You Earn, income-driven repayment plan will be automatically switched to the new plan.
The full website launch will occur in August, and applications submitted during the beta period will not need to be resubmitted. The beta period will allow the Department of Education to monitor site performance in real time to identify any issues, and the site may be paused to make any necessary updates, officials said.
The SAVE plan, which applies to current and future federal student loan borrowers, will determine payments based on income and family size, and some monthly payments will be as small as $0. The income threshold to qualify for $0 payments has been increased from 150% to 225% of federal poverty guidelines, which translates to an annual income of $32,805 for a single borrower or $67,500 for a family of four. The Education Department estimates this means more than 1 million additional borrowers will qualify for $0 payments under the plan.
Some borrowers could have their payments cut in half when the program is in full effect next year and see their remaining debt canceled after making at least 10 years of payments, a significant change from previous plans.
With the new plan, unpaid interest will not accrue if a borrower makes their full monthly payments.
But the new plan does come at a cost to the federal government. Estimates of the program’s expense have varied depending on how many borrowers sign up for the new plan, but they range from $138 billion to $361 billion over 10 years. By comparison, Biden’s student loan forgiveness program was expected to cost about $400 billion.
The Education Department has created similar income-driven repayment plans in the past and has not faced a successful legal challenge, officials noted.
The beta site launch comes as borrowers will need to begin making federal student loan payments again in October after a pause of more than three years because of the pandemic.
Since the Supreme Court struck down Biden’s effort to cancel up to $20,000 of student debt for millions of borrowers, the administration has taken a number of steps aimed at helping federal student loan borrowers in other ways.
Earlier this month, the Education Department announced that 804,000 borrowers will have their student debt wiped away – about $39 billion worth of debt – after fixes that more accurately count qualified monthly payments under existing income-driven repayment plans. | https://www.wishtv.com/news/national/biden-administration-launches-new-income-driven-student-debt-repayment-plan/ | 2023-07-30T19:47:31 | 0 | https://www.wishtv.com/news/national/biden-administration-launches-new-income-driven-student-debt-repayment-plan/ |
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 televisions 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. | https://www.wishtv.com/news/national/consumer-demand-for-speed-and-convenience-drives-labor-unrest-among-workers-in-hollywood-and-at-ups/ | 2023-07-30T19:47:37 | 1 | https://www.wishtv.com/news/national/consumer-demand-for-speed-and-convenience-drives-labor-unrest-among-workers-in-hollywood-and-at-ups/ |
In summer heat, bear spotted in Southern California backyard Jacuzzi
BURBANK, Calif. (AP) — With the summer heat wave in full swing in Southern California, a backyard pool is a tempting place to take a dip.
Even for a bear.
Police in the city of Burbank responded to a report of a bear sighting in a residential neighborhood and found the animal sitting in a Jacuzzi behind one of the homes.
After a short dip, the bear climbed over a wall and headed to a tree behind the home, police said in a statement Friday.
Police released a video of the animal in the neighborhood, which is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of Los Angeles and near the Verdugo Mountains.
The Burbank police have issued warnings for residents to avoid bears and to keep all garbage and food locked up to discourage bears from coming to their residences. | https://www.wishtv.com/news/national/in-summer-heat-bear-spotted-in-southern-california-backyard-jacuzzi/ | 2023-07-30T19:47:43 | 0 | https://www.wishtv.com/news/national/in-summer-heat-bear-spotted-in-southern-california-backyard-jacuzzi/ |
Record heat waves illuminate plight of poorest Americans who suffer without air conditioning
DENVER (AP) — As Denver neared triple-digit temperatures, Ben Gallegos sat shirtless on his porch swatting flies off his legs and spritzing himself with a misting fan to try to get through the heat. Gallegos, like many in the nation’s poorest neighborhoods, doesn’t have air conditioning.
The 68-year-old covers his windows with mattress foam to insulate against the heat and sleeps in the concrete basement. He knows high temperatures can cause heat stroke and death, and his lung condition makes him more susceptible. But the retired brick layer, who survives on about $1,000 a month largely from Social Security, says air conditioning is out of reach.
“Take me about 12 years to save up for something like that,” he said. “If it’s hard to breath, I’ll get down to emergency.”
As climate change fans hotter and longer heat waves, breaking record temperatures across the U.S. and leaving dozens dead, the poorest Americans suffer the hottest days with the fewest defenses. Air conditioning, once a luxury, is now a matter of survival.
As Phoenix weathered its 27th consecutive day above 110 degrees (43 Celsius) Wednesday, the nine who died indoors didn’t have functioning air conditioning, or it was turned off. Last year, all 86 heat-related deaths indoors were in uncooled environments.
“To explain it fairly simply: Heat kills,” said Kristie Ebi, a University of Washington professor who researches heat and health. “Once the heat wave starts, mortality starts in about 24 hours.”
It’s the poorest and people of color, from Kansas City to Detroit to New York City and beyond, who are far more likely to face grueling heat without air conditioning, according to a Boston University analysis of 115 U.S. metros.
“The temperature differences … between lower-income neighborhoods, neighborhoods of color and their wealthier, whiter counterparts have pretty severe consequences,” said Cate Mingoya-LaFortune of Groundwork USA, an environmental justice organization. “There are these really big consequences like death. … But there’s also ambient misery.”
Some have window units that can offer respite, but “in the dead of heat, it don’t do nothing,” said Melody Clark, who stopped Friday to get food at a nonprofit in Kansas City, Kansas, as temperatures soared to 101, and high humidity made it feel like 109. When the central air conditioning at her rental house went on the fritz, her landlord installed a window unit. But it doesn’t do much during the day.
So the 45-year-old wets her hair, cooks outside on a propane grill and keeps the lights off indoors. She’s taken the bus to the library to cool off. At night she flips the box unit on, hauling her bed into the room where it’s located to sleep.
As far as her two teenagers, she said: “They aren’t little bitty. We aren’t dying in the heat. … They don’t complain.”
While billions in federal funding have been allocated to subsidize utility costs and the installation of cooling systems, experts say they often only support a fraction of the most vulnerable families and some still require prohibitive upfront costs. Installing a centralized heat pump system for heating and cooling can easily reach $25,000.
President Joe Biden announced steps on Thursday to defend against extreme heat, highlighting the expansion of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which funnels money through states to help poorer households pay utility bills.
While the program is critical, said Michelle Graff, who studies the subsidy at Cleveland State University, only about 16% of the nation’s eligible population is actually reached. Nearly half of states don’t offer the federal dollars for summer cooling.
“So people are engaging in coping mechanisms, like they’re turning on their air conditioners later and leaving their homes hotter,” Graff said.
While frigid temperatures and high heating bills birthed the term “heat or eat,” she said, “we can now transition to AC or eat, where people are going to have to make difficult decisions.”
As temperatures rise, so does the cost of cooling. And temperatures are already hotter in America’s low-income neighborhoods like Gallegos’ Denver suburb of Globeville, where people live along stretches of asphalt and concrete that hold heat like a cast-iron skillet. Surface temperatures there can be roughly 8 degrees hotter than in Denver’s wealthier neighborhoods, where a sea of vegetation cools the area, according to the environmental advocacy group American Forests.
This disparity plays out nationwide. Researchers at the University of San Diego analyzed 1,056 counties and in over 70%, the poorest areas and those with higher Black, Hispanic and Asian populations were significantly hotter.
About one in 10 U.S. households have no air conditioning, a disparity compounded for marginalized groups, according to a study by the Brookings Institution. Less than 4% of Detroit’s white households don’t have air conditioning; it’s 15% for Black households.
At noon on Friday, Katrice Sullivan sat on the porch of her rented house on Detroit’s westside. It was hot and muggy, but even steamier inside the house. Even if she had air conditioning, Sullivan said she’d choose her moments to run it to keep her electricity bill down.
The 37-year-old factory worker pours water on her head, freezes towels to put around her neck, and sits in her car with the air conditioner on. “Some people here spend every dollar for food, so air conditioning is something they can’t afford,” she said.
Shannon Lewis, 38, lived in her Detroit home for nearly 20 years without air conditioning. Lewis’s bedroom was the only place with a window unit, so she’d squeeze her teenager, 8-year-old and 3-year-old-twins into her queen-size bed to sleep, eat meals and watch television.
“So it was like cool in one room and a heat stroke in another,” Lewis said. For the first time, Lewis now has air conditioning through a local non-profit, she said. “We don’t have to sleep or eat in the same room, we are able to come out, sit at the dining room table, eat like a family.”
After at least 54 died during a 2021 heat wave, mostly elderly people without air conditioning, in the Portland area, Oregon passed a law prohibiting landlords from placing blanket bans on air conditioning units. By and large, however, states don’t have laws requiring landlords to provide cooling.
In the federal Inflation Reduction Act, billions were set aside for tax credits and rebates to help families install energy-efficient cooling systems, but some of those are yet to be available. For people like Gallegos, who doesn’t pay taxes, the available credits are worthless.
The law also offers rebates, the kind of state and federal point-of-sale discounts that Amanda Morian has looked into for her 640-square-foot home.
Morian, who has a 13-week-old baby susceptible to hot weather, is desperate to keep her house in Denver’s Globeville suburb cool. She bought thermal curtains, ceiling fans and runs a window unit. At night she tries to do skin-to-skin touch to regulate the baby’s body temperature. When the back door opens in the afternoon, she said, the indoor temperature jumps a degree.
“All of those are just to take the edge off, it’s not enough to actually make it cool. It’s enough to keep us from dying,” she said.
She got estimates from four different companies for installing a cooling system, but every project was between $20,000 and $25,000, she said. Even with subsidies she can’t afford it.
“I’m finding that you have to afford the project in the first place and then it’s like having a bonus coupon to take $5,000 off of the sticker price,” she said.
Lucy Molina, a single mom in Commerce City, one of Denver’s poorest areas, said her home has reached 107 degrees without air conditioning. Nearby, Molina’s two teenage children slurped popsicles to cool off, lingering in front of the open freezer.
For Molina, who bustled around her kitchen on a recent day when temperatures reached 99 degrees outdoors, it’s hard to see any path to a cooling respite.
“We’re just too poor,” she said.
____
Associated Press writers Heather Hollingsworth in Kansas City, Kansas, and Corey Williams in Detroit contributed to this report.
——
Bedayn is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. | https://www.wishtv.com/news/national/record-heat-waves-illuminate-plight-of-poorest-americans-who-suffer-without-air-conditioning/ | 2023-07-30T19:47:50 | 0 | https://www.wishtv.com/news/national/record-heat-waves-illuminate-plight-of-poorest-americans-who-suffer-without-air-conditioning/ |
DEAR AMY: I have two friends, both of whom live across the country, who like to call me for extended conversations.
Both of these people talk nonstop and miraculously seem to have evolved out of the need for air, because I spend these calls waiting for a tiny pause that would allow me to blurt out that I have to go.
When I imagine telling them that I really don’t like talking on the phone, I feel sure they will feel insulted.
As it is, I only answer every third or so call, but it’s still too much.
Any ideas for how I can end these calls without sparking animosity?
– Desperate Phone Hostage
DEAR HOSTAGE: “I have to be honest – I don’t take all of your calls because I don’t really like talking on the phone” is describing a personal preference, not delivering an insult.
And – the way you describe these encounters as a hostage situation makes these people seem less like actual friends and more like bored and boring cold-calling phone bots.
In short, if you want a monologue, you can watch Jimmy Kimmel. And even he comes up for air.
If you dodge a call, you could use texting (or email) to contact them: “I see you called. What’s up?”
This might unleash a new wave of annoyance, but that would be another challenge for another day.
***
MORE FROM ASK AMY:
Ask Amy: Father/daughter trip leaves mother feeling left out
Ask Amy: Neighbor opens misdirected mail ... not once, but twice
Ask Amy: My son’s wife made it clear he was too close to his mother and that it must stop
Ask Amy: Vietnam vet hopes to reconcile with his sister and her husband, who dodged the draft
Ask Amy: Life with a low-level pot dealer
***
(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)
©2023 Amy Dickinson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. | https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/advice/2023/07/ask-amy-i-dont-take-all-of-your-calls-because-i-dont-really-like-talking-on-the-phone.html | 2023-07-30T19:47:52 | 1 | https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/advice/2023/07/ask-amy-i-dont-take-all-of-your-calls-because-i-dont-really-like-talking-on-the-phone.html |
Morocco’s Benzina becomes the first senior-level Women’s World Cup player to compete in hijab
ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) — Stepping onto the field against South Korea in Morocco’s second Women’s World Cup match, defender Nouhaila Benzina made history as the first player to wear a hijab while competing at a senior-level global tournament.
A FIFA ban on playing in religious head coverings in its sanctioned games for “health and safety reasons” was overturned in 2014 after advocacy from activists, athletes and government and soccer officials.
“I have no doubt that more and more women and Muslim girls will look at Benzina and just really be inspired – not just the players, but I think decision makers, coaches, other sports as well,” said Assmaah Helal, a co-founder of the Muslim Women in Sports Network.
Benzina plays professional club soccer for the Association’s Sports of Forces Armed Royal – the eight-time defending champion in Morocco’s top women’s league. She did not play in Morocco’s opening 6-0 loss to Germany in Melbourne, and had to wait six days to finally get her start in the Group H game in Adelaide.
It was worth it. The Atlas Lionesses played with more freedom in an afternoon game against South Korea, scoring in the 6th minute and hanging on for a 1-0 win. Benzina played an important role in the defensive line, and picked up a yellow card late in the game as South Korea counter-attacked.
Morocco is the first Arab or North African nation to qualify for the Women’s World Cup.
“We are honored to be the first Arab country to take part in the Women’s World Cup,” Morocco captain Ghizlane Chebbak told reporters before tournament, “and we feel that we have to shoulder a big responsibility to give a good image, to show the achievements the Moroccan team has made.”
___
Cassidy Hettesheimer contributed to this report from Melbourne, Australia.
___
Hettesheimer is a student at the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.
___
AP Women’s World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-womens-world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wishtv.com/sports/moroccos-benzina-becomes-the-first-senior-level-womens-world-cup-player-to-compete-in-hijab/ | 2023-07-30T19:47:56 | 0 | https://www.wishtv.com/sports/moroccos-benzina-becomes-the-first-senior-level-womens-world-cup-player-to-compete-in-hijab/ |
Summer is definitely heating up, and you may be looking for a little extra relief from the heat and humidity.
A tower fan can cool you off and help you feel more comfortable on hot, sticky days. These fans offer many features to keep you cool, including multiple power settings, sleep modes and programmable shutoffs.
But deciding on the right tower fan to buy can be a challenge with so many options on the market today.
To help, here’s a roundup of the most recommended tower fans available, including models from Dyson and Lasko.
- Dyson Purifier Cool TP07 Tower Fan: “From the fan side, you get a whopping 350-degrees of oscillation and 10 fan speeds. You can even adjust the fan flow by having the air push out straight or angled up towards the ceiling,” Men’s Health says.
- Lasko Portable Electric Oscillating Tower Fan: “Its three power settings, optional oscillation and programmable shut-off timer get the job done, and it’s affordable enough to buy a few for different rooms,” Forbes says.
- Dreo Pilot Max Tower Fan: “This stylish fan features a whopping 120-degree oscillation that offers widespread, cool air throughout an entire room,” HGTV says.
- Honeywell QuietSet Whole Room Tower Fan: “We’ve found that it cools a room quickly and effectively, even in spaces that don’t have an air conditioner, and continue to appreciate its sleek design,” The Spruce says.
- Pelonis Quiet Oscillating Tower Fan: “Its three modes include a calm sleep mode, an intense strong mode, and a middle-of-the-road natural mode. You can set these modes to run for up to 15 hours using the timer function,” This Old House says.
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Dawn Magyar can be reached at dmagyar@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. | https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/business/2023/07/the-best-tower-fans-to-buy-in-2023-according-to-reviews.html | 2023-07-30T19:47:58 | 1 | https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/business/2023/07/the-best-tower-fans-to-buy-in-2023-according-to-reviews.html |
Drivers ‘can’t wait’ for sports car race at IMS in September
Speedway, Ind. (WISH) — The roar of the engines was back at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend as sports cars hit the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course to test for September’s TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks.
The event in September will be the first time since 2014 that the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will be at IMS.
“It’s going to be an amazing event,” Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 driver Ricky Taylor told News 8 Sports’ Andrew Chernoff.
The two-day test at IMS wrapped up on Saturday.
“This place is interesting,” Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian driver Colin Braun said. “It’s a new challenge with a new kind of car. So, a lot to take in for us, a lot to understand. It’s a blast.”
Both Bruan and Taylor said they are expecting an exciting race weekend in September.
“With the high-speed front straight, other technical bits in the middle, I don’t know what to expect when we come back with 40 cars,” Taylor said. “It’s going to be a lot of unknown, which I think makes IMSA racing so exciting.”
IMSA race weekend at IMS consists of practice on Sept. 15, followed by a qualification day on Sept. 16 and race day on Sept. 17.
“I think it’s going to be really exciting race and there’s going to be a lot of action,” Braun said. “Turn one is going to be crazy on the starts and the restarts. I can’t wait.”
The WeatherTech Championship event on Sept. 17 will last two hours and 40 minutes. | https://www.wishtv.com/sports/motorsports/drivers-cant-wait-for-sports-car-race-at-ims-in-september/ | 2023-07-30T19:48:02 | 0 | https://www.wishtv.com/sports/motorsports/drivers-cant-wait-for-sports-car-race-at-ims-in-september/ |
PHILADELPHIA – Eagles wide receiver Quez Watkins lined up in the slot, mentally going over his assignment while watching cornerback Zech McPhearson, the defender tasked with covering him on the play. As Watkins pushed off his back foot at the snap and ran his route toward the sideline, he reached out to catch quarterback Jalen Hurts’ pass, with McPhearson ready to break it up.
Watkins fought with McPhearson for the ball, landing in bounds as the two were tangled together, each trying to pry the ball away from the other, with Watkins walking away as the victor from that battle, with the servicemen and women in attendance for “Military Day” cheering after the play. | https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/philadelphia-eagles/2023/07/eagles-training-camp-observations-receiver-has-a-standout-day-haason-reddick-returns-from-injury.html | 2023-07-30T19:48:05 | 0 | https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/philadelphia-eagles/2023/07/eagles-training-camp-observations-receiver-has-a-standout-day-haason-reddick-returns-from-injury.html |
Bomb squad investigates mysterious packages parachuted into neighborhood
SAN DIMAS, Calif. (Gray News) – A bomb squad was called in to investigate after packages were apparently parachuted into a city in California.
The San Dimas Sheriff’s Station said deputies responded to a call Thursday for a suspicious package in San Dimas. When they arrived at the location, they said they discovered a parachute with two packages attached to it.
The responding deputies then evacuated the residents of nearby homes and called in the arson and explosives unit.
After an investigation, officials determined the packages did not contain explosives or other dangerous materials and seemed to be a science project.
Officials informed the neighborhood of the finds, and the residents returned safely to their homes.
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.1011now.com/2023/07/30/bomb-squad-investigates-mysterious-packages-parachuted-into-neighborhood/ | 2023-07-30T19:48:35 | 1 | https://www.1011now.com/2023/07/30/bomb-squad-investigates-mysterious-packages-parachuted-into-neighborhood/ |
OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV) – A 62-year-old man from Milwaukee was arrested just before noon on Sunday on I-41 in Oshkosh for a 4th OWI offense.
According to the Wisconsin State Patrol (WSP), Ricardo Hughes was stopped by a WSP Trooper at 11:30 a.m. on July 30 on I-41 north, just south of Ripple Avenue.
The trooper reportedly noticed signs of impairment and Standardized Field Sobriety Tests were conducted. As a result of the tests, Hughes was arrested for OWI, Fourth Offense.
Authorities say Hughes was taken and released to the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office Jail Division.
No other details were provided. | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/local-news/milwaukee-man-arrested-in-oshkosh-sunday-afternoon-for-4th-owi-offense/ | 2023-07-30T19:49:34 | 0 | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/local-news/milwaukee-man-arrested-in-oshkosh-sunday-afternoon-for-4th-owi-offense/ |
MADISON, Wis. (WFRV) – A man who authorities were not able to identify was arrested on a trespassing charge after being found watching TV at a fraternity house in southern Wisconsin.
According to the Madison Police Department, officers were sent to the 200 block of West Lakelawn Place just before 11 p.m. on July 24 when a man called officers after seeing a stranger watching TV in the main living area of his fraternity house.
Officers entered the residence and were able to take the man into custody. However, authorities say that efforts to positively identify him were unsuccessful.
The man’s prints will be sent to the FBI for identification, officers noted in the release.
The suspect was booked into the Dane County Jail for Criminal Trespass to a Dwelling and Obstructing charges.
The investigation is ongoing and no other details were provided. | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/local-news/unknown-intruder-at-wisconsin-frat-house-unable-to-be-identified-prints-sent-to-fbi/ | 2023-07-30T19:49:40 | 0 | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/local-news/unknown-intruder-at-wisconsin-frat-house-unable-to-be-identified-prints-sent-to-fbi/ |
(NerdWallet) – Inflation has rattled nearly every aspect of Americans’ finances, including vacation budgets. But one major travel cost isn’t just lower than it was last year — it’s even lower than pre-pandemic.
June 2023 airfares are 18.9% lower than what they were in June 2022, according to July 2023 consumer price index data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Considering that booming demand — alongside other factors like high jet fuel costs — led to record-high airfares last summer, it’s not surprising to see prices normalize. Not only have air travel costs come back down to earth from 2022’s highs, they’re even lower than pre-pandemic prices.
According to BLS data, June 2023 airfares are down 1.33% from what they were in 2019, when airfares were already trending lower. Relative to what prices were a decade ago, they’re even cheaper.
Pandemic aside, airfares have been trending cheaper
Before the pandemic, airfares had steadily been trending downward since 2014, save for a small bump in 2019. In 2020, prices dropped sharply with the onset of the pandemic, with June 2020 airfares averaging 27% lower than June 2019 airfares.
But as travel returned, so did higher prices. June 2021 airfares spiked 25% over the prior year, and airfares rose 34% more between June 2021 and June 2022.
If you take a long-term view, those increases aren’t necessarily as big as they seem. In fact, in June 2022, airfares averaged just 0.4% more than in 2014.
Here’s a look at how airfares have changed relative to prices in 2014, using June prices from BLS inflation data:
In 2023, airfares are 19% lower than a decade ago.
Compare that with something like the cost of milk, which is up 9% over that same period, according to BLS data. Hotel prices are up 28%. Admission to movies, theaters and concerts is up 33%.
If airfares are lower, why do they feel so high?
Over the past decade, prices for most items have increased. But if airfares are down 19%, why do they feel so expensive?
For starters, not every route is necessarily cheaper. Data from travel booking app Hopper indicates airfares to Europe this summer are averaging nearly $1,200 per ticket, the highest prices in the past six years. That’s perhaps a response to people who might usually book a low-cost domestic flight finally taking extravagant bucket list trips.
And given recent major flight cancellations on airlines including United and Southwest, more travelers might opt for more expensive direct flights to reduce risk of flight disruptions.
Hayley Berg, Hopper’s lead economist, has her own theories as to why people feel like airfares are higher, including recency bias, shorter booking windows and unbundling.
Recency bias
Berg pointed to how many people traveled for this summer’s major holidays.
For example, Fourth of July weekend set records for U.S. air travel, with more than 2.884 million people passing through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints on the Friday before July 4, according to TSA checkpoint data. That topped the previous record of 2.882 million people flying on the Sunday after Thanksgiving 2019.
“A lot of times, we anchor the cost of travel to our most recent trips,” Berg says. “For many, that meant July Fourth and Memorial Day. It’s always expensive to travel on those weekends.”
Shorter booking windows
Airfares typically get more expensive the closer they’re booked to departure, and Berg says people are booking trips later than usual — perhaps a holdover from those pandemic times when people intentionally booked last minute given the extreme uncertainty.
Berg recommends typically booking one to two months in advance for domestic travel and three to four months ahead for most international travel.
“Now, people are searching for travel three weeks later than they did pre-pandemic, and they’re subsequently booking later,” she says. “If I’m booking a trip today that I intend to take two weeks from now, it’s going to be expensive because it’s always more expensive to book at the last minute.”
Unbundling
Then there’s unbundling, where airlines advertise lower fares, often in the form of basic economy seats that offer few frills. But low base fares typically entail upcharges in the form of ancillary fees to check bags or to guarantee a window seat or early boarding.
“On the whole, unbundling is a good thing because you’re not paying a premium for things you may not necessarily want,” Berg says. “I don’t care if I’m in the middle seat if it means I save $100.”
Berg acknowledges that it can be painful when you search for a flight that has a low advertised price but doesn’t turn out to be that cheap.
“It feels like death by a thousand cuts when you add in all those fees,” she says. | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/national/airfares-are-back-to-normal-so-why-do-they-feel-so-high/ | 2023-07-30T19:49:46 | 0 | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/national/airfares-are-back-to-normal-so-why-do-they-feel-so-high/ |
(The Conversation) – Should smartphones be allowed in classrooms? A new report from UNESCO, the education arm of the United Nations, raises questions about the practice. Though smartphones can be used for educational purposes, the report says the devices also disrupt classroom learning, expose students to cyberbullying and can compromise students’ privacy.
About 1 in 7 countries globally, such as the Netherlands and France, have banned the use of smartphones in school – and academic performance improved as a result, particularly for low-performing students, the report notes.
As school leaders in the U.S. wrestle with whether or not to ban smartphones, The Conversation has invited four scholars to weigh in on the issue.
Daniel G. Krutka: Use smartphones to encourage ‘technoskepticism’
While the issue of smartphone use in schools is complicated, evidence suggests that spending more time on smartphones is associated with young people being less happy and less satisfied with life.
Technology scholars have long argued that the key to living well with technology is in finding limits. However, in banning smartphones, I worry educators might be missing opportunities to use smartphones to encourage what I and other researchers refer to as technoskeptical thinking; that is, questioning our relationship with technology.
For example, students might be encouraged to consider the benefits and drawbacks of using navigational apps to travel from one place to another, as opposed to old-fashioned paper maps. Or, students might explore their social media feeds to critique what algorithms feed them, or how notifications get their attention.
In my research, I have looked at how teachers can encourage students to go on techno-fasts – that is, abstaining from the use of technology for a certain period of time. This, I argue, will give students time to reflect on the time they spend away from their devices.
Policy debates often focus on whether or not to put smartphones out of reach during the school day. But I believe educators might find it more beneficial to make the phones an object of inquiry.
Sarah Rose: Consult parents, teachers and students
While there is evidence that classroom phone usage can be a distraction, it can also promote engagement and learning. While research about the potential positive and negative consequences of classroom phones can be used to inform school phone policies, the views of those who are most directly impacted by the policies should also be taken into account.
The views of parents matter because their views may influence the extent to which their children follow the policy. The views of children matter because they are the ones being expected to follow the policy and to benefit from it. The views of teachers matter because they are often the ones that have to enforce the policies. Research shows that enforcing cellphone policies is not always a straightforward issue.
In my research, I have found that children – aged 10 and 11 years old – in collaboration with their parents, were able to come up with ideas for ideal policies and solutions to help enforce them. For example, one parent-child pair suggested mobile phone use in school could be banned but that a role of “telephone monitor” could be given to an older pupil. This “telephone monitor” would have a class mobile phone that children and parents could use to contact each other during the school day when necessary.
This recommendation reflected how parents and middle and high school students – whether from rural and urban areas – felt cellphones were important to keep in touch with each other during the school day. Beyond safety, children and parents also told us that phones were important for keeping in touch about changing plans and for emotional support during the school day.
I believe policies that simply ban phones in schools may be missing an opportunity to educate children about responsible mobile device use. When parents and children are involved in policy development, it has the potential to increase the extent to which these policies are followed and enforced.
Arnold L. Glass: Cellphone use in college lectures hurts performance in ways that are hard to see
The intrusion of internet-enabled electronic devices, such as laptops, tablets and cellphones, has transformed the modern college lecture. Students now divide their attention between the lecture and their devices. Classroom studies reveal that when college students use an electronic device for a nonacademic purpose during class, it hurts their performance on exams.
When attention is divided between an electronic device and the classroom lecture, it does not reduce comprehension of the lecture – at least, not when measured by within-class quizzes. Instead, divided attention reduces long-term retention of the classroom lecture, which hurts performance on unit exams and final exams.
When some students open electronic devices, it also negatively affects the performance of all the students around them. Research has shown that student performance on final exams was worse when electronic devices were permitted during classes that covered exam material versus when the devices were not.
Many students won’t think their divided attention is affecting their retention of new information. It may not be for the moment, but a couple of weeks later or down the line, research shows, it does.
Louis-Philippe Beland: Bans help low-achieving students the most
Numerous studies indicate that low-achieving students stand to benefit the most from the implementation of mobile phone bans in schools.
In a 2015 study, my co-author, Richard Murphy, and I examined the impact of banning mobile phones on student performance in high schools, using data from England. By comparing schools with phone bans to similar schools without the bans, we isolated the effect of mobile phones on performance. Our study found that banning mobile phones significantly increased test scores among 16-year-old students. The effect is equivalent to adding five days to the school year or an extra hour per week. Low-achieving students benefited more, while high-achieving students remained unaffected.
Similar studies in Spain and Norway using a similar approach demonstrated compelling evidence supporting the benefits of banning mobile phones. In Spain, grades improved and bullying incidents decreased. In Norway, the ban raised middle school students’ grade-point averages and their likelihood of attending academic high schools while reducing bullying. Evidence from Belgium suggests banning mobile phones can be beneficial for college student performance.
Psychological research sheds light on potential mechanisms behind the impact of mobile phones and technology on student performance. Multitasking, common with mobile phone use, has been found to hinder learning and task execution. Taking notes by hand has been shown to better enhance memory retention compared to typing on a computer.
In sum, banning mobile phones in schools can yield positive effects, improve academic performance and narrow the achievement gap between high- and low-achieving students. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that mobile phones and technology can also be valuable educational tools when used appropriately. | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/national/do-smartphones-belong-in-classrooms-four-scholars-weigh-in/ | 2023-07-30T19:49:52 | 1 | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/national/do-smartphones-belong-in-classrooms-four-scholars-weigh-in/ |
DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — The FBI has issued arrest warrants and released disturbing details in the armed home invasion and kidnapping of an elderly North Carolina couple and the theft of more than $150,000 of their cryptocurrency in April.
The incident took place at gunpoint at the couple’s home the morning of April 12 after thieves allegedly posed as construction workers and forced their way into the home, according to the Durham Police Department and the FBI.
According to an FBI criminal complaint obtained by Nexstar’s WNCN, the incident began when two men, dressed as construction workers, came to the victims’ home around 7:30 a.m. The duo claimed they would be inspecting pipes for damage and told the husband they would be “walking around the house.”
After a few minutes, the pair knocked on the door again and the wife answered the door. The suspects, who allegedly both had guns, then pushed their way inside.
“The men restrained and zip-tied the husband’s hands and the wife’s hands,” the FBI complaint said.
A man armed with a pink gun showed the wife it was loaded by opening the cylinder and then dragged her into a bathroom by her legs, the criminal complaint said.
The husband was taken to his Apple iMac and forced at gunpoint to log in and install a remote desktop application called AnyDesk. A person on the phone with a thief already knew “details about the account without being told,” the FBI complaint said.
The FBI believes the husband’s email account was compromised in the past, allowing the thieves to learn the details ahead of the trip to Durham and the home invasion.
The suspects were able to transfer $156,853 worth of cryptocurrency during the next 45 minutes, the FBI said. Before leaving, the thieves allegedly smashed the couple’s cellphones and the iMac.
The elderly couple managed to get out of their home and ask neighbors to call 911 for help. The pair suffered minor injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital, Durham police said.
The arrest warrants released Thursday for kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping indicate two West Palm Beach, Florida, men are wanted — Jarod Gabriel Seemungal and Remy Ra St. Felix.
According to the FBI criminal complaint filed the same day, the suspects began targeting retirees who had cryptocurrency as early as February. The accused men even had the license plate number for the husband’s car, authorities said. A third man is also named in the criminal complaint, but no arrest warrant was issued for him as of Thursday.
Messages sent between those involved identified actual cryptocurrency amounts and their locations, the criminal complaint said. One suspect had a photo of the husband’s North Carolina driver’s license in his email account, according to the FBI.
The two suspects also discussed in internet messages how potential victims “have so much” money in accounts that it would be “retirement licks” — the FBI explained in the complaint that “licks” is slang for a robbery.
The thieves apparently rented a car in Florida and visited the Millennium Hotel in Durham a couple of days before the actual robbery, according to the complaint. Video from a home near the victims’ showed the thieves’ BMW SUV “conducting surveillance” at the couple’s home each of the three days before the alleged kidnapping, the FBI said.
The FBI also noted that a person driving a similar vehicle purchased costumes — a clipboard, reflective vest, sunglasses and a pair of khaki pants — at a nearby Walmart that allowed the suspected thieves to get into the victims’ home. Both suspects were seen on surveillance video from the store.
Additional details about potential victims wasn’t immediately available. As of Sunday, authorities have not said whether either man is in custody. | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/national/elderly-couple-bound-held-at-gunpoint-during-north-carolina-home-invasion-fbi-investigating/ | 2023-07-30T19:49:58 | 1 | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/national/elderly-couple-bound-held-at-gunpoint-during-north-carolina-home-invasion-fbi-investigating/ |
CLEVELAND (WJW) – Verizon customers with older phone plans could see their bill go up next month.
According to the company, starting Aug. 29, some older plans will be charged an additional $3 or $5 per mobile phone line every month.
Customers with Go Unlimited 2.0, Beyond Unlimited 2.0, Above Unlimited, and 5G Start 1.0 plans will see the $3 monthly increase, while single basic phone plans will see the $5 monthly increase.
The company says unlimited plans that are currently available to new customers won’t get hit with the additional charge.
Verizon says lines with tablets, smartwatches, and other devices also won’t be affected.
This comes after a price hike back in April, which, as reported by USA Today, saw a $2 monthly increase for some wireless plans.
In June 2022, Verizon raised some plan fees in response to “pressure,” the company’s head of business said at the time. It led to a $1.35 increase on its administrative fees, and an “Economic Adjustment Charge” for companies using the business plans. It was the first time the fees had been increased since 2019. | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/national/have-an-older-verizon-phone-plan-your-bill-could-increase-soon/ | 2023-07-30T19:50:04 | 1 | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/national/have-an-older-verizon-phone-plan-your-bill-could-increase-soon/ |
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A man died at a Disney Resort in Orlando on Wednesday.
According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, deputies received a call around 5:30 a.m. regarding an unresponsive person at Disney’s Contemporary Resort near Magic Kingdom.
The man, identified as 39-year-old Jeffrey Vanden Boom of Greendale, Wisconsin, was pronounced dead on the scene.
The Orange County Medical Examiner determined Vanden Boom fell from a hotel room balcony, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. The fall was ruled as accidental.
Walt Disney World did not immediately respond to Nexstar’s request for comment.
The death remains an ongoing investigation.
Last fall, an 83-year-old man died after riding the Tomorrowland Authority PeopleMover at Disney World. Authorities said he experienced a “cardiac event,” and his death was “deemed natural” by medical officials.
Earlier this year, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed against Disneyland, accusing park employees of laughing at a 66-year-old disabled woman who fell while getting off the Jungle Cruise ride in 2021 and later died. | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/national/man-dies-at-disney-resort-deputies-investigating/ | 2023-07-30T19:50:10 | 1 | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/national/man-dies-at-disney-resort-deputies-investigating/ |
(NEXSTAR) — For five days this year, all national parks will be offering free admission to all visitors. One of those special days is nearly upon us.
The National Park Service announced the 2023 free days late last year. There are more than 400 parks, monuments, seashores and other NPS lands, the majority of which do not require an entrance fee. For the roughly 100 that do, these free admission days open the gates to everyone.
We’ve already had two free days this year: Jan. 16, which is Martin Luther King Day, and April 22, which was the first day of National Park Week.
Now, on Friday, Aug. 4, we’ll have another, which marks the anniversary of the Great Americans Outdoors Act.
The act, GAOA, was signed in 2020 and brought bipartisan investments to “improve visitor experiences, bolster climate resilience, and invest in the economy by creating good-paying jobs” at the parks, the Department of the Interior explains.
In honor of the bill signing anniversary, you won’t need to pay entrance fees at parks that usually require them. Fees will, however, still be necessary for overnight camping, cabin rentals, transportation, group day use and use of special areas.
The next two free admission days are Sept. 23, National Public Lands Day, and Nov. 11, Veterans Day.
Last year, there were roughly 312 million recreational visits to 395 national parks that track attendance, a 15 million increase over 2021. The most visited park was Blue Ridge Parkway, which received 15.7 million visits last year, edging out the Golden Gate National Recreation Area by slightly more than 72,000 visits. | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/national/you-can-get-into-the-national-parks-for-free-this-week-heres-when/ | 2023-07-30T19:50:16 | 1 | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/national/you-can-get-into-the-national-parks-for-free-this-week-heres-when/ |
LUNENBURG COUNTY, Va. -- Deputies said a man was killed in a shooting in rural Lunenburg County early Saturday morning.
Deputies were called to the 13000 block of Oral Oaks Road for a report of a shooting just after 1 a.m., according to officials with the Lunenburg County Sheriff’s Office. That is about a half-mile from Route 40 and two miles from Main Street in Victoria.
When deputies arrived, the found a man's body, according to officials.
No details about the circumstances surrounding the shooting were available at last check.
Officials said their investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Anyone with any information about the case was "strongly encouraged" to call the the Lunenburg County Sheriff’s Office at 434-696-4452 or Crime Solvers at 434-696-3100.
This is a developing story, so anyone with more information can email newstips@wtvr.com to send a tip. | https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/oral-oaks-road-fatal-shooting-lunenburg-virginia-july-30-2023 | 2023-07-30T19:51:15 | 0 | https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/oral-oaks-road-fatal-shooting-lunenburg-virginia-july-30-2023 |
Bomb squad investigates mysterious packages parachuted into neighborhood
SAN DIMAS, Calif. (Gray News) – A bomb squad was called in to investigate after packages were apparently parachuted into a city in California.
The San Dimas Sheriff’s Station said deputies responded to a call Thursday for a suspicious package in San Dimas. When they arrived at the location, they said they discovered a parachute with two packages attached to it.
The responding deputies then evacuated the residents of nearby homes and called in the arson and explosives unit.
After an investigation, officials determined the packages did not contain explosives or other dangerous materials and seemed to be a science project.
Officials informed the neighborhood of the finds, and the residents returned safely to their homes.
Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2023/07/30/bomb-squad-investigates-mysterious-packages-parachuted-into-neighborhood/ | 2023-07-30T19:52:30 | 0 | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2023/07/30/bomb-squad-investigates-mysterious-packages-parachuted-into-neighborhood/ |
MUNCIE, Ind. — Police are investigating after one person was killed and multiple people were shot in Muncie, according to police.
Muncie Police Department officers were dispatched to the area of S. Hackley St. and E. Willard St. around 1:14 a.m. on a report of multiple people shot. When officers arrived, they learned that a large party was hosted at this location.
Upon further investigation, they have determined that a 30-year-old man has died and multiple people are wounded and seeking treatment at an area hospital. Other victims have been airlifted to area facilities.
This is an active investigation being conducted by multiple agencies. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Muncie Police Department Detective Division at 765-747-4867 or Muncie Police Dispatch at 765-747-4838.
More information will be updated to this story as it becomes available. | https://www.wane.com/top-stories/1-person-killed-and-multiple-others-shot-in-muncie/ | 2023-07-30T19:52:31 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/top-stories/1-person-killed-and-multiple-others-shot-in-muncie/ |
A new business focused on keeping people moving is now open on Temple’s west side.
StretchLab — the business launched with a soft opening late last month — is at 7075 W. Adams Ave., Suite 110, in the Trinity Plaza strip center.
“We will introduce people of all ages and fitness levels to the various health and wellness benefits of working with our highly trained flexologists in an open and approachable environment,” said owner Bill McCarver, an Army veteran who served seven of his 24 years of military service at Fort Hood, now Fort Cavazos.
McCarver said he discovered StretchLab in Dallas while in a desperate attempt to cure constant pain he was experiencing associated with chronic shoulder and hamstring injuries.
“I couldn’t sit for more than an hour and I had limited mobility in my right arm,” he said. “I wanted to chase the grandkids, and I was losing that ability. I gave StretchLab a try, and after four months of regular visits, my improvement was absolutely amazing — today I can say I am pain free. Six months later, I started looking into opening a franchise in Temple.”
“There are a lot of people like me in the Temple/Belton area, and my goal in opening this business is to help others in my community reap the benefits of assisted stretching,” he said. “Range of motion and flexibility diminish as people age.”
Christina Botha, StretchLab’s sales manager and daughter of McCarver, said StretchLab could benefit anyone who values wellness and quality of life.
“We want you to be comfortable in your body,” she said. “Our customers include athletes and people who want to live their best life.”
The 1,200-square-foot studio includes 10 beds, and once a base of members is built, the business will offer group classes.
Once fully staffed, StretchLab Temple will employ about 15 people, and most employees will be flexologists who assist in performing stretches.
“Our flexologists are young experts who are passionate about what they do,” McCarver said. “The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor offers great programs, and all of our employees are either students or graduates of those programs.”
Flexologists also complete a StretchLab certification and training process before they actually begin assisting customers.
“Our goal is to reach out to high school and college athletic teams and offer our services,” he said. We’ve had players from UMHB in, and we have talked to Belton and Rosebud-Lott ISD’s. We are in the business to prevent injuries, not treat injuries.”
StretchLab offers a variety of one-on-one personalized stretching services including a 25-minute stretch that concentrates on the client’s needs, as well as a 50-minute head-to-toe deep stretch that addresses all major muscle groups, Botha said.
Monthly memberships are available for four or eight visits per month, as well as drop-in stretches.
“We are offering introductory rates on our one-time stretches to give people the opportunity to see what we do,” she said. “A one-time, 25-minute stretch is $29.”
“Memberships depend on the services the customer wants,” she said. “Once-a-week 25-minute stretches — that’s four sessions — are $169 a month. We sell monthly memberships in 25- and 50-minute sessions and you can come once or twice a week.”
The Temple-Belton studio is equipped with a MAPS machine, which identifies movement inefficiencies across four critical categories: Mobility, Activation, Posture and Symmetry. The MAPS score is created utilizing 3D technology to perform a total body movement assessment scan in under 30 seconds as users perform three body-weight squats.
“This creates a customized movement plan and offers a measurable way to see progress in flexibility,” McCarver said.
StretchLab is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. For additional information, visit www.StretchLab.com or call 254-863-2502. | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/business/article_6430ade6-2e8b-11ee-bb66-1b3a2c3fc57c.html | 2023-07-30T19:53:48 | 0 | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/business/article_6430ade6-2e8b-11ee-bb66-1b3a2c3fc57c.html |
BELTON — Dozens of families crowded Yeti Polk Park on Saturday morning for the “Back to School with God” backpack and school supply giveaway event and left more prepared for the upcoming school year.
Kids grabbed their backpacks, ate snacks, played games, jumped around in bounce houses and even got eye exams free of charge. Shelly White, one of the coordinators and a member of the First United Methodist Church, said her church and Mount Zion United Methodist Church worked together to hold the event.
White said this was the third year FUMC has participated in the event while it marks 11 years for Mount Zion.
According to White, there were 650 backpacks for pre-K through 12th grade packed with items from Belton ISD’s supply list. The backpacks were broken into four categories: pre-K and kindergarten, first and second grade, third through fifth grade, and middle school and high school.
“Each bag is tailored to their grade level,” White said. “We based it off of Belton ISD’s school supply list. They don’t have everything, but they do have a good variety.”
Rachael Tidwell of Belton said this was the second year she brought her twin 8-year-olds to the annual giveaway.
“We did it last year for the first time,” Tidwell said. “I like it, and they have fun. Last year we came out, and my son got a haircut. It looks like they’re doing eye exams this year. There’s no telling what all we’ll get into.”
Saturday was Kay Lopez’s first time bringing Ember, her soon-to-be second-grade granddaughter whom she’s adopted, to the event. On the way back to their car, Lopez said they’ll likely be making a return next year.
“Ember did all of it. She went around and got her school stuff, jumped around in the castle and got her eye exam,” Lopez said. “It was fun. It gives them something to do, and it really helps. School supplies can get so expensive.”
At the end of the event, White said they had given away 600 backpacks and gave the remaining 50 to Child Protective Services. While they were able to keep up with demand this time, it would be wise to pre-register and come early next year if you’re interested in getting a bag.
“We do usually run out,” White said. “They are first come, first served, and we do have a pre-registration. However, the pre-registration doesn’t guarantee you a backpack. It just depends on what line you get in.”
White said it was decided this year that the event would be held on the last Saturday of July. | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_1905efe0-2e89-11ee-bd41-2709970f5cd3.html | 2023-07-30T19:53:54 | 1 | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_1905efe0-2e89-11ee-bd41-2709970f5cd3.html |
ANKENY, Iowa — A Des Moines man was arrested on Saturday for allegedly touching a child inappropriately and violating the sex offender registry.
At around 2 p.m. on Saturday 34-year-old Charles William Mitchell Cheek, who is a registered sex offender, was seen at a gas station in Ankeny with a child unsupervised, court documents state.
According to a criminal complaint, Cheek was seen by witnesses and on surveillance camera inappropriately touching the child and attempting to kiss her.
Court records state a no contact order has been put in place for the victim.
Cheek has been charged with child endangerment, indecent contact with a child, assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, and sex offender – registration violation 1st offense. Cheek is being held at the Polk County Jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond. | https://who13.com/news/des-moines-man-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-a-child/ | 2023-07-30T19:53:55 | 1 | https://who13.com/news/des-moines-man-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-a-child/ |
PORT ANGELES, Wash. — An 8-year-old suffered minor injuries after being attacked by a cougar while camping at Lake Angeles in the Olympic National Park on Saturday.
The cougar "casually abandoned" the attack after the child's mother yelled at it, according to the National Park Service.
Park personnel responded and escorted the child and their family back to the trailhead. The child was then taken to a local hospital for further evaluation.
All remaining campers in the Lake Angeles area have been evacuated and access to the Lake Angeles and Heather Park areas are closed to the public until further notice.
“Due to the extreme nature of this incident, we are closing the Lake Angeles area and several trails in the vicinity,” said Olympic National Park Wildlife Biologist Tom Kay. “Out of an abundance of caution, the Lake Angeles Trail, Heather Park Trail, Switchback Trail, and the entire Klahhane Ridge Trail are closed until further notice.”
Law enforcement and wildlife personnel specializing in cougar tracking were dispatched to the cougar's last known location Sunday morning. If the cougar is located it will be euthanized and removed for necropsy, according to the National Park Service.
The Olympic National Park is considered cougar territory. The National Park Service recommends visitors do not hike or jog alone and to keep children within sight and close to adults.
Cougar/human interactions are rare in the northwest. But if you encounter one, officials say to do the following:
- Do not run
- Make noise and appear large
- If attacked, fight back
- Carry bear spray
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Download our free KING 5 app to stay up-to-date on news stories from across western Washington. | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/cougar-attack-child-olympia-national-park/281-102e0158-a488-48ac-aea0-54a5578d0a36 | 2023-07-30T19:53:56 | 1 | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/cougar-attack-child-olympia-national-park/281-102e0158-a488-48ac-aea0-54a5578d0a36 |
A Texas Ranger who served the Temple area for years was inducted into the law enforcement organization’s Hall of Fame recently.
“It was quite an honor,” Johnnie Aycock said of the Hall of Fame recognition in a phone interview. “I don’t know that I’m deserving of it” and mentioned others he thought were more deserving than himself.
That wasn’t how others saw it about the soft-spoken man with 33 years with the Texas Department of Public Safety and was promoted to Texas Ranger in 1983.
Texas Ranger Chief Jason Taylor said, “Johnnie Aycock truly exemplifies all that it means to be a Texas Ranger, and the department was proud to learn of his recent induction into the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame.
“In addition to his years of service as a Ranger, Johnnie served the state as a Highway Patrol Trooper and DPS Narcotics Agent, as well as his country in Vietnam. He served bravely and honorably in all facets including during two on-duty incidents as a Ranger in which he was awarded the DPS Medal of Valor for each one.”
Aycock became one of four Texas Rangers to receive the Texas DPS’s Medal of Valor, and the only Ranger to receive the award twice, the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame website noted.
“I remember them, but I don’t like to talk about them,” Aycock said of the two incidents for which he received the Texas Medal of Valor.
“Stan Guffey was a country boy from up in the Panhandle,” Aycock said of a fellow Ranger who died after being shot in one of the Medal of Valor incidents in which a kidnapped girl was saved. He and Guffey were hired at the DPS at the same time and drove together with a group from San Angelo that went for training.
“He and I were in the same class,” he said of his close friend.
The rescued girl years later died with other family members in an airplane crash returning from a ski vacation and the girl’s grandfather asked Aycock to bring their bodies home. He served as a pall bearer in the girl’s funeral.
“I was supposed to be on that airplane,” he noted. “They had asked me to go with them and … something happened about the time they were going to leave and I couldn’t get away to go.
“Looking back on it, that was something to do with God,” Aycock said.
In the other Medal of Valor incident, Aycock recalled negotiating with a former GI who had an affair with a woman. He broke into her home after she stopped seeing him, and grabbed the woman’s 14-month-old baby.
“He wasn’t an evil person,” Aycock recalled, telling of talking with the man about similar experiences and eventually getting the baby released without a shootout.
He said both he and the man thanked each other for not shooting each other after the incident was over.
Temple holds another fond place in Aycock’s heart. He said he worked well with “excellent cooperation” from the Temple Police Department. “I never had a bad day in Temple,” he said.
Temple Police Detective David Miller assisted him with blood pattern analysis, with the agreement that Miller could help Aycock with cases and that Aycock would assist in Temple as needed.
They went all over the country, including several trips to Mexico, helping with blood stain pattern analysis, Aycock recalled.
Aycock also recognized Detective Sgt. Bill Roy Pitrucha for his many talents. “I learned a lot from him.”
“All of the folks at Temple PD I had respect for,” Aycock said.
The respect was shared by those who worked with Aycock.
Taylor, the Texas Ranger chief, said, “For those who know Johnnie, his gallantry comes as no surprise. Johnnie’s humble spirit and selfless actions are a great representation of the Texas Rangers and an inspiration to the men and women who have followed. We congratulate him on his induction into the Texas Ranger of Hall of Fame and thank him for his incredible legacy.”
Aycock credited the DPS with having excellent people to work for and with as he began his career after returning in 1968 from four tours of service in Vietnam, including three with a unit that worked with the Vietnamese.
His first Highway Patrol partner, Wilbert Horstmann, was a guard for the Enola Gay, which delivered the first atomic bomb that exploded over Japan. “He was a good break-in partner for me.”
He noted that he had “good bosses everywhere,” supervisors who understood things.
“My career was blessed,” he said.
Aycock said he felt blessed, noting that a lot of times he “shouldn’t have come home” and did.
“The only one I can give credit for that is God, and I do,” Aycock said. “Without Him, there were many times I wouldn’t be here.” | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_37ff58d8-2e88-11ee-8e58-7b95ea1df290.html | 2023-07-30T19:54:00 | 1 | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_37ff58d8-2e88-11ee-8e58-7b95ea1df290.html |
JOHNSTON, Iowa — Des Moines Police and Fire are giving young women a first-hand look at what it takes to join the ranks with the Iowa Hero Academy.
The week-long camp is back for its second year with more participants.
“I didn’t know what it was going to be like, I’m going to be honest,” Rosa Schell, from Des Moines, said.
“I actually came here because I was thinking about becoming a school resource officer,” Halley Beaudet, from Dallas Center, said. “Now in the middle of this, I’m thinking I might go to the Army or to the fire department, so I don’t know yet.”
“I thought one of them could win me over,” Ciera Hutton-Spieker, from St. Charles, said.
This summer, 33 young women ages 16 to 18 spent the week at Camp Dodge to learn how to become firefighters, police officers, and members of the military.
“When you see the new faces getting in and asking questions and being excited about working hard and what they can do to get in this line of work and be the best officers and the best firefighters, go protect our country. It just reignites that fire of why I go to work every day,” Des Moines Police Officer Peyton Mercer said.
Females already in the profession are teaching them what it takes.
“To realize that they can do this job,” Hali Van Velzen, a firefighter and medic with Des Moines Fire Department, said. “And not only can they do them, they can excel at them.
With real-life training exercises they’ve learned in their roles.
“It’s really inspiring and empowering knowing that they can do everything,” Beaudet said. “Like they can do it so we can do it and they’re just on the same levels as the males.”
Inspiring the next generation of first responders where the future looks to be female.
“It’s more than just the camp. It’s more than just putting on fire gear,” Van Velzen said. “It’s the relationships that you build that you can apply to the future.”
The Iowa Hero Academy ends with a graduation ceremony for the participants. | https://who13.com/news/iowa-hero-academy-grows-in-second-year/ | 2023-07-30T19:54:01 | 0 | https://who13.com/news/iowa-hero-academy-grows-in-second-year/ |
NEW YORK — A week later, the “Barbenheimer” boom has not abated.
Seven days after Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” conspired to set box office records, the two films held unusually strongly in theaters. “Barbie” took in a massive $93 million in its second weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. “Oppenheimer” stayed in second with a robust $46.2 million. Sales for the two movies dipped 43% and 44%, respectably — well shy of the usual week-two drops.
“Barbenheimer” has proven to be not a one-weekend phenomenon but an ongoing box-office bonanza. The two movies combined have already surpassed $1 billion in worldwide ticket sales. Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for data firm Comscore, call it “a touchstone moment for movies, moviegoers and movie theaters.”
“Having two movies from rival studios linked in this way and both boosting each other's fortunes — both box-office wise and it terms of their profile — I don't know if there's a comp for this in the annals of box-office history," said Dergarabedian. “There's really no comparison for this.”
Following its year-best $162 million opening, the pink-infused pop sensation of “Barbie” saw remarkably sustained business through the week and into the weekend. The film outpaced Nolan's “The Dark Knight" to have the best first 11 days in theaters of any Warner Bros. release ever.
“Barbie” has rapidly accumulated $351.4 million in U.S. and Canadian theaters, a rate that will soon make it the biggest box-office hit of the summer. Every day it’s played, “Barbie" has made at least $20 million.
And the “Barbie” effect isn't just in North America. The film made $122.2 million internationally over the weekend. Its global tally has reached $775 million. It's the kind of business that astounds even veteran studio executives.
“That's a crazy number,” said Jeff Goldstein, distribution chief for Warner Bros. “There's just a built-in audience that wants to be part of the zeitgeist of the moment. Wherever you go, people are wearing pink. Pink is taking over the world."
Amid the frenzy, “Barbie” is already attracting a lot of repeat moviegoers. Goldstein estimates that 12% of sales are people going back with friends or family to see it again.
For a movie industry that has be trying to regain its pre-pandemic footing — and that now finds itself largely shuttered due to actors and screenwriters strikes — the sensations of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” have showed what's possible when everything lines up just right.
“Post-pandemic, there's no ceiling and there's no floor," said Goldstein. "The movies that miss, really miss big time and the movies that work really work big time."
Universal Pictures' “Oppenheimer,” meanwhile, is performing more like a superhero movie than a three-hour film about scientists talking.
Nolan’s drama starring Cillian Murphy as atomic bomb physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer has accrued $174.1 million domestically thus far. With an additional $72.4 million in international cinemas, “Oppenheimer” has already surpassed $400 million globally.
Showings in IMAX have typically been sold out. “Oppenheimer” has made $80 million worldwide on IMAX. The large-format exhibitor said Sunday that it will extend the film's run through Aug. 13.
The week’s top new release, Walt Disney Co.’s “Haunted Mansion,” an adaptation of the Disney theme park attraction, was easily overshadowed by the “Barbenheimer” blitz. The film, which cost about $150 million, debuted with $24 million domestically and $9 million in overseas sales. “Haunted Mansion,” directed by Justin Simien (“Dear White People,” “Bad Hair”) and starring an ensemble of LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito and Rosario Dawson, struggled to overcome mediocre reviews.
“Talk to Me,” the A24 supernatural horror film, fared better. It debuted with $10 million. The film, directed by Australian filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou and starring Sophie Wilde, was a midnight premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January and received terrific reviews from critics (95% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes). It was made for a modest $4.5 million.
While theaters being flush with moviegoers has been a huge boon to the film industry, it’s been tougher sledding for Tom Cruise, the so-called savior of the movies last summer with “Top Gun: Maverick.” “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part I,” which debuted the week before the arrival of “Barbenheimer,” grossed $10.7 million in its third weekend. The film starring Cruise and directed by Christopher McQuarrie, has grossed $139.2 million domestically and $309.3 million overseas.
Instead, the sleeper hit “Sound of Freedom” has been the best performing non-“Barbenheimer” release in theaters. The Angel Studios’ release, which is counting crowdfunding pay-it-forward sales in its box office totals, made $12.4 million in its fourth weekend, bringing its haul thus far to nearly $150 million.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. “Barbie,” $93 million.
2. “Oppenheimer,” $46.2 million.
3. “Haunted Mansion,” $24.2 million.
4. “Sound of Freedom,” $12.4 million.
5. “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One,” $10.7 million.
6. “Talk to Me,” $10 million.
7. “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” $4 million.
8. “Elemental,” $3.4 million.
9. “Insidious: The Red Door,” $3.2 million.
10. “Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani,” $1.6 million. | https://www.king5.com/article/news/nation-world/box-office-barbie-oppenheimer-haunted-mansion-talk-to-me/507-d4801fe6-1fb5-4869-b859-274995702f22 | 2023-07-30T19:54:02 | 0 | https://www.king5.com/article/news/nation-world/box-office-barbie-oppenheimer-haunted-mansion-talk-to-me/507-d4801fe6-1fb5-4869-b859-274995702f22 |
The inaugural class of Baylor College of Medicine’s Temple campus will hit the books, lecture halls and hospitals next week.
Forty BCM students will report for class Monday at the Baylor Scott & White educational complex on the medical center’s Temple campus.
“The students were here this week for orientation and to prepare for the upcoming year,” said Dr. Alejandro Arroliga, the lead clinical innovation officer for BSW and the regional dean of the Baylor College of Medicine’s Temple campus. Arroliga also serves as BSW’s chief academic officer in charge of research and education.
“Baylor College of Medicine is one medical college with two campuses,” he said. “There will be a total of 226 new medical students, and 40 of those will be in Temple. Eventually, there will be 160 medical students at the Temple campus year round.”
Arroliga said the two BCM campuses will follow the same curriculum. In addition to lectures and classes, the students will get involved in clinical experiences early in their medical education process.
“This process is more than just learning medicine,” Dr. Arroliga said. “We also teach the students the importance of interacting with people. That’s a priority.”
Arroliga said an ongoing shortage of medical personnel has become an issue in Texas and across America.
“There is a need for more doctors in the community — the state has a significant shortage — and it is our responsibility to train medical students,” he said. “Eighty-five to 90% of Baylor College of Medicine students are from Texas, and we hope to educate them and keep them in the state.”
Baylor College of Medicine announced in 2021 that it would be opening a Temple campus in the summer of 2023 in facilities currently used by Texas A&M’s medical school.
“As a health care system, Baylor Scott & White can accommodate three medical schools,” he said. “We now have the TCU medical school in Fort Worth, Texas A&M in Dallas and Baylor College of Medicine in Temple. There are more than 400 medical students in the three colleges affiliated with BSW.”
Arroliga said Baylor Scott & White plans to add more educational facilities at the Temple campus to help meet the future needs of Baylor College of Medicine.
“We plan to continue modifying our facility to provide students with the best education possible,” he said. “BCM and BSW will continue to partner with Temple College, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and Baylor University to help improve the wellbeing of the Central Texas community.”
“This is going to be a combined effort between two of America’s finest institutions,” he said. “Baylor College of Medicine is one of the top medical schools in the nation, and Baylor Scott & White is a top medical system.”
Arroliga emphasized that the path to becoming a physician can be a long journey. After four years of college and four years of medical school, there are three to seven years of residency. Then, there is additional education needed for those wanting to specialize in a particular medical field. Becoming a surgeon also requires additional training.
“System wide, Baylor Scott & White will have 400 medical students, plus about 960 medical residents,” he said. “In all, we have about 1,500 people getting a medical education.”
Baylor College of Medicine students at the Temple campus will also train at the Temple VA and McLane Children’s Medical Center.
For about a year, Temple will be home to two medical schools. According to Dee Dee Grays, a spokesperson for Texas A&M Health, A&M will graduate its last students from the local hospital in May 2024. | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_391d3fc4-2e87-11ee-8b4e-735aa42f9943.html | 2023-07-30T19:54:06 | 1 | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_391d3fc4-2e87-11ee-8b4e-735aa42f9943.html |
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Iowa – Storms and at least one tornado damaged some buildings across northern Iowa Friday night.
A tornado tracked along southern Franklin county, lifting just north of the Hardin county line and the Iowa Falls area. WHO 13 was live on the air as the tornado happened, and several viewers submitted Photolink videos and photos.
The tornado likely caused damage in these same areas. One barn was badly damaged east of Popejoy, Iowa.
The National Weather Service in Des Moines does not currently have plans to survey the damage in Franklin county. As a result, it can’t be said definitively whether the storm damage was caused by the tornado or the storm itself. A survey would also be needed to determine the strength of the tornado.
More damage was reported in Marshall county, where a 93 mph wind gust was reported along with tree damage. Other locations in eastern and northern Iowa reported large hail Friday evening. | https://who13.com/news/iowa-news/friday-night-storms-leave-behind-damage-near-iowa-falls/ | 2023-07-30T19:54:07 | 0 | https://who13.com/news/iowa-news/friday-night-storms-leave-behind-damage-near-iowa-falls/ |
Students across Bell County — including those in the Temple, Belton and Salado school districts — showed improvements across the board for the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, according to Texas Education Agency data from the 2022-23 spring semester.
Students were scored on a “did not meet,” “approaches,” “meets,” and “masters” grade level standard for Algebra I, English I, English II, Biology and U.S. History.
“This year’s (end-of-course) results show progress and continued academic recovery among Texas public school students who endured multiple years of pandemic-induced disruptions to learning,” the education agency said in a news release. “The number of students that achieved approaches grade level or above increased in all five tested subjects.”
Texas high school students are required to earn at least an “approaches” grade level to graduate under state law.
This year, the number of students who earned at least an “approaches” grade level in Texas exceeded pre-pandemic levels in each subject matter except for Algebra I.
“Results in biology mark the largest year-over-year gain in this performance category, increasing seven percentage points to 89% of test takers,” TEA said in its news release.
Although just 78% of test takers earned an “approaches” grade level score in Algebra I — a six percentage-point decrease from 84% in 2019 — it is a 4% increase from 2022.
“I appreciate the dedication and skill of Texas educators as they work to meet the needs of their students every day,” Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said. “STAAR is designed to provide parents and teachers with a clear understanding of how well students learned this year’s academic material and whether they are prepared for the next grade level and for life after graduation.”
Temple ISD
In Bell County, Temple ISD registered an improvement in the percentage of students that earned at least an “approaches” grade level score for each of the five subject matters, according to data obtained from TEA.
“We feel like the high school had a pretty good year last year and I’m proud of the teachers,” Temple ISD Superintendent Bobby Ott told the Telegram. “They worked really hard and so did our students.”
Although English I remained the worst-tested area for Temple ISD students with 71.4% of students earning at least an “approaches” grade level score, it marked a 12.8 percentage-point improvement from 2022.
“Those students in English were dealing with the COVID piece at the end of junior high and then of course their freshman year,” Ott said. “So we’re moving out of that, which is good, and it’s good to see a double-digit increase. We always want to see double-digit increases as much as we possibly can, so yeah.”
Despite that welcomed improvement, Temple ISD is striving to be even better.
“I know they put a lot of work in at the high school but we still have goals that we want to reach,” Ott said. “They’ve been following the effective schools framework approach to instruction and coaching and are really being active in working with or producing lessons that are highly engaging. We have more work to do and we’re gonna keep charging. We want to see improvement every year.”
The district’s best tested area, meanwhile, was once again U.S. History with 96.2% of students earning at least an “approaches” grade level score.
Belton ISD
Like its neighboring district to the north, Belton ISD registered an improvement in the percentage of students that earned at least an “approaches” grade level score for each of the five subject matters, according to state data.
In 2023, the district’s worst-tested area was English I with 85.6% of students earning at least an “approaches” grade level score, while the best-tested area was U.S. History with 98.2% of students earning at least an “approaches” grade level score.
During a school board meeting earlier this month, Belton ISD trustees and Superintendent Matt Smith discussed a report on key progress measures from the 2022-23 school year, which included highlights for instructional design days, curriculum redesign and professional learning.
“We feel good about where we are entering the next school year and the professional learning that is going to happen for our teachers at every campus and classroom across the district,” Smith said at the time. “That is work that is going on in our administrative team and our leaders throughout the system. We’re going to shoot for the stars. We’re going to keep pushing.”
Belton ISD will discuss its key progress measures for the 2023-24 school year during the next regular school board meeting on Aug. 21.
“We set these targets annually to try and achieve them and they’ve done a lot of really good work this year,” Smith said. “We’re really proud of the things that have to fruition for us. So we look forward to bringing forward the key progress ... and want to thank our administrative leaders because they’ve done good work this year.”
Salado ISD
The only subject matter that Salado ISD did not register an improvement on in regards to the percentage of students that earned at least an “approaches” grade level score was Algebra I, according to data obtained from TEA.
However, that figure for 2023 still exceeded 95%.
“Our high school teachers and students did an outstanding job and their scores reflected that,” Salado ISD Superintendent Michael Novotny said. “I’m very proud of their performance.”
Of the Salado ISD students that took the end-of-course 2023 STAAR exam, more than 90% earned at least an “approaches” grade level score in each of the five subject matters.
Test redesign
Despite these reported local and statewide improvements, public school officials across Texas are bracing themselves for low accountability ratings that will be released in the fall.
Ott, the Temple ISD superintendent, is among those in Bell County who has repeatedly cited a redesign of the STAAR exam — which was implemented during the 2022-23 school year after consulting with a 12-member Assessment Education Advisory Committee that Morath appointed — as one of the factors.
It was a result of the 86th Texas Legislature passing House Bill 3906 in 2019.
“We’re not used to being told, ‘We’re going to have new item types and writing for the STAAR that your kids are going to take this year,’” Ott told the Telegram last month. “Then they don’t give us item types. They don’t give us examples. They don’t give any of that until well after the school year has started.”
However, the 2022 Texas Superintendent of the Year is pleased that the assessment is now re-geared with online testing and accommodations, new question types, cross-curricular passages and evidence-based writing.
“We want to see this type of thinking in our classrooms,” Ott said. “What I disagree with is the fact that TEA has not worked with districts in providing adequate time to prepare our classroom teachers for these changes.”
Ratings impact
Novotny also is among the plethora of district administrators who are wary of how accountability ratings — which are expected to be released sometime in late September — could be impacted.
“Even though our students scored very well, and even improved, there’s a chance that the school accountability rating could actually still drop,” he said. “For example, our high school had an ‘A’ rating this past year but there’s a chance that it could actually go down to a ‘B’ even though our students scored even higher than they did the year before.
“It’s just because the state is increasing the difficulty to earn those ratings.”
However, Novotny noted how Salado ISD also looks at other indicators for measuring success, including LSAT, dual-credit and AP scores.
“I am very pleased with those EOC scores, but again, that’s just one of many indicators we look at for how our students are performing,” he said.
TEA, meanwhile, has already called the swift transition a success.
“We celebrate these results, and also recognize they provide objective information for parents and educators for the year to come,” Morath said. | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_3cd805fa-2e86-11ee-ace0-2b01da7c8853.html | 2023-07-30T19:54:12 | 0 | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_3cd805fa-2e86-11ee-ace0-2b01da7c8853.html |
SIOUX COUNTY, Iowa (KCAU) — A single-vehicle crash in Sioux County sent two people to the hospital on Sunday.
According to a minimal crash report from the Iowa State Patrol, two people were traveling west on 300th Street near Filmore Avenue. The driver was allegedly unable to make a curve in the road and left the roadway.
When the vehicle entered the ditch, it hit a cement culvert causing the passenger to be ejected from the vehicle. The force of hitting the culvert resulted in the car becoming airborne.
The report states after the vehicle landed, the passenger became trapped underneath the vehicle.
Both parties were taken to a nearby hospital where the passenger would be pronounced dead. The victim was identified as Halee Bliek, 35, of Rock Valley.
The release alleges that Bliek was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
No additional details have been released. | https://who13.com/news/isp-woman-becomes-trapped-under-vehicle-during-fatal-sioux-county-crash/ | 2023-07-30T19:54:13 | 1 | https://who13.com/news/isp-woman-becomes-trapped-under-vehicle-during-fatal-sioux-county-crash/ |
The heat wave that has swept across the state has taken a toll on many water wells in Texas, which were already affected by extended drought conditions.
With a lack of moisture and record-setting temperatures, people who rely on well water need to be aware of the signs that their well may run out and take steps to prevent that from happening.
Joel Pigg, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialist and coordinator for the Texas Well Owner Network in Bryan-College Station, doesn’t want Texans in rural areas to be left high and dry. He shares some useful tips for anyone who depends on groundwater for their everyday needs.
How to identify a problem
If your well starts to sputter, loses pressure or if your water looks anything less than clear, it’s a problem. If your pump is rapidly cycling on and off, turn it off, Pigg said. If your pump sounds like it is sucking air, let it rest.
Low or slow-recovering water levels will make your pump cycle rapidly and can burn out the motor, he said. Low water levels also can cause submersible pumps to overheat and damage PVC pipes. If the water level doesn’t rise, you may need to reduce your pumping rate or lower the pump. If the water level drops below the point of your pump intake, the pump could burn up.
There are warnings for well owners that their water level is dropping and may go dry. The well may begin to produce sand and air bubbles. Watch for sand in the toilet tank and cloudy-looking tap water that clears up after a while.
Understand where your water comes from
Most people take for granted that if they turn on a faucet in their home, water comes out, Pigg said. But people may not always think beyond that until that tap dries up or water starts coming out with a funny taste, smell or cloudiness.
People, especially new home or landowners, need to make sure they know if they have a water well, a city water supply or are on a water system.
“A lot of people who are buying properties in more rural areas don’t know that and don’t think to ask that question,” Pigg said. “Folks with a piece of property that they may not have owned for very long, or if it is their secondary vacation property, may not consider what being on well water entails and requires.”
During droughts, people rely more heavily on groundwater, which is the water held underground in aquifers. When more water is pumped out of the aquifer than is replenished by rain or other water sources, it becomes depleted.
Be conscious of your usage and conserve
Low pressure from a well may leave you needing to space out things that require water, such as showering or washing dishes or clothes.
“Essentially that aquifer needs time to fill back up,” Pigg said. “You do not want to run it down so low that you are sucking air or sediments into your pump.”
A pump without water can burn up and lead to costly repairs, he said. You may also want to consult with your neighbors on a schedule to distribute heavy water use over the week to help individual wells recover and to maintain the water supply for everyone in your area.
During drought, it is also important to prioritize what you’ll use water for and when. You also may want to add a pumped-water storage tank. This type of tank can help meet peak demand when you need more water than your pump can produce.
Give up on green and think native
Implementing native landscapes can reduce irrigation demands during summertime, Pigg said.
“If you’re coming out of Austin, San Antonio, Houston or a metro area and buying a private place in somewhere like Rock Springs, which has rocks on the ground and not green, lush grass, that is telling you something,” Pigg said.
Don’t try to get the lush grass that you’re used to having in your city yard when you are on a well, he said, because it’s just not meant to be.
Pigg said to look at native landscaping and utilize what belongs and can survive in your area. Plus, he added, not having to mow is a bonus of not having the perfect green lawn aesthetic that many people think they need.
“Basically, it comes down to conservation and common sense when you’re in the drier parts of our state — the closer to a natural state your yard is in, the better for saving water,” he said.
A rainwater harvesting system is a good way for catching and storing water to use for purposes such as watering plants in a garden or washing your car.
You don’t need rain for a catchment system to work. Even a slight amount of dew on your roof overnight helps, but a 1-inch rain can produce 620 gallons from a 1,000-square foot roof that can be stored as water for future use. In Texas, every drop counts.
Call a professional
Water well repairs are not a DIY-project. Call a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation professional when you start to have issues; often it is something that can be fixed and is better addressed sooner rather than later.
“It is important with your pump to know what’s happening underneath the ground, because nine times out of 10 it’s a submersible pump that is inside your well,” Pigg said. “Which means it is not something you can just readily look at.”
The inability to see a pump makes it hard to troubleshoot. Pigg said homeowners may need to utilize local drillers or pump installers to fix situations.
“Hopefully, whenever your well was initially put into the ground, they did not put your pump all the way down to the bottom of the hole,” he said. “So typically, you should have a little bit more room to add more pipe to your pump and be able to go down further into the aquifer to get water.”
Adding 10-20 feet of pipe to a well can make more water available to your home.
Stay safe
Pigg said residents with water wells should also test their well water quality regularly, especially during and after times of drought.
As the water levels drop, air enters the aquifer and changes its chemistry. Oxygen in the aquifer will increase concentrations of naturally occurring contaminants such as arsenic.
If your well normally contains low concentrations of arsenic, you can expect it to increase during a drought. The concentrations of other contaminants, such as total dissolved solids or salt, can also change.
It is important that people and their pets don’t drink well water that has changed or hasn’t been tested recently. If it smells, tastes or looks funny, do not consume it.
Utilize educational resources
AgriLife Extension, TWON, Texas Water Resources Institute and regional water districts can all assist homeowners with water conservation and well questions.
TWON offers fact sheets on many common well questions and issues and offers educational events including trainings.
Some AgriLife Extension county offices can also aid with well water testing. Those counties that don’t have a testing program in place can connect you to local testing facilities and point Texans in the right direction to make sure all is well with their wells. | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_5f3ffbda-2e8a-11ee-bcb4-873e563c17fa.html | 2023-07-30T19:54:18 | 0 | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_5f3ffbda-2e8a-11ee-bcb4-873e563c17fa.html |
Editor’s note: One in an ongoing series.
Temple has relied on surface water to meet its drinking-water needs for decades, and the Leon River likely will continue to supply the city for years to come. But, city officials intend to supplement a growing thirst for water with at least one option.
“Early Temple leaders had the foresight to plan for the future, and today we are committed to finding innovative ways of making sure the city has plenty of water in the years to come,” Temple City Manager Brynn Myers said this week.
Temple’s association with the Leon River goes back to 1915 when the city acquired Run of the River rights, a move that gives the city seniority under state law during times of water restrictions, Myers said.
“Temple has the right to meet its needs first when water is in short supply,” she said. “The river rights law allows Temple 12,500 acre feet per year of Leon River water.”
An acre foot is equivalent to 325,851 gallons, so that 12,500 acre feet translates to about 4.1 billion gallons every year.
“The Temple City Commission made a strategic water-rights purchase in 1962 that has set the community up for success,” Myers said.
“They bought storage rights for 18,500 acre feet of water in newly formed Lake Belton from the Brazos River Authority,” she said.
That move gave the city rights to an additional 6 billion gallons of water every year, she said.
Since that time, the city has bought two additional system contracts through BRA — one for 9,453 acre feet, the other for 2,500 acre feet — giving Temple surface-water rights to a total of nearly 14 billion gallons of water annually.
Temple’s water from the Leon is pumped out of the river below the Belton Dam and is treated at either the city’s traditional water treatment plant or its membrane treatment plant. The membrane plant is nearing completion on an expansion project that will increase its treatment capacity to 12 million gallons per day. Once operational, Temple will have two interconnected stand-alone treatment plants capable of producing more than 52 million gallons of water every day.
First groundwater well
Two weeks ago, Temple was granted a Clearwater Underground Water Conservation District permit to drill the city’s first public groundwater well.
“We are excited to diversify and not just have surface water as our source,” Myers said.
Under the water-well plan, Temple will drill on a 45.55 acre tract located at 4331 Tower Road on the east side of the city. The well will give the city an additional 239 acre feet — about 77.9 million gallons — of water rights each year.
The eastside water well would be part of an Aquifer Storage & Recovery system that also would allow water to be put into the ground and stored for times of higher need, Myers said.
“The plan would take Temple’s treated affluent and inject it into the aquifer for storage,” she said. “We would be the first municipality in Texas to renew water in this way. We are looking at new technologies to maximize what we have. We want to utilize innovative and responsible ways to capture and reuse water.”
Myers said the city is finalizing paperwork with Clearwater and will then start bidding out the well-drilling project’s initial phase.
Dirk Aaron, general manager for the Belton-based Clearwater district, said an injection site usually takes about 12 to 18 months from permitting until it is operational.
Once operational, the system will allow Temple to remove 95% of the water it injects into the aquifer, he said.
“Aquifer Storage & Recovery systems are needed to meet the growing demands for drinking water,” Aaron said. “San Antonio and Kerrville have ASR in place, and there are about 10 total projects in the state. These systems give cities and water districts an option for water during extreme drought.”
Experts say a booming population and ongoing drought related to climate change are taking a toll on water supplies.
Temple and much of Central Texas are in the middle of a growing region — more than 55,000 new residents have moved to Bell, Coryell and Lampasas counties in the past five years and another 58,000 are expected by 2028. | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_8081fbd4-2e87-11ee-82db-43b7c6f6e6bd.html | 2023-07-30T19:54:24 | 1 | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_8081fbd4-2e87-11ee-82db-43b7c6f6e6bd.html |
Capt. David Beckham and other Salvation Army of Bell County personnel accepted donations of new air mattresses Saturday morning in front of the Salvation Army McLane Center of Hope, 419 W. Ave. G.
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‘Grateful for this community’: Salvation Army McLane Center of Hope collects air mattresses
Larry Causey
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Services for Kenneth Marvin Morgan, 86, of Rogers will be 10 a.m. Aug. 11 at First Baptist Church of Rogers with the Rev. Billy Ray Crow officiating.
Mr. Morgan died Wednesday, July 19, at his residence.
He was born Jan. 20, 1937, in Rogers to Florence Taylor and Dee Morgan Sr. He lived in Bell County most of his life. He graduated from Rogers High School in 1956. He attended Temple Junior College. He married Geraldine Williams Clanton in Cameron on March 20, 1961. He worked for the city of Temple in several positions. He was a fireman with Temple Fire & Rescue, city fire marshal, civil defense and sanitation superintendent from July 1973 thru December 1997. He was a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Rogers.
He was preceded in death by his wife, a stepson, a stepdaughter and a step-great-grandson.
Survivors include four brothers, J.P. Morgan Sr. and Freddy Morgan, both of Rogers, Maxie
Morgan of Cameron and David Morgan of Onalaska; two sisters, Darleen Woods of Temple and Mary Ann Morgan of Rogers; two step-grandchildren; a step-great-grandchild; and a step-great-great-grandchild.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital (www.stjude.org), or to the Reed Lake Cemetery Fund. | https://www.tdtnews.com/obituaries/article_1e13ecae-2e7e-11ee-b283-cb79b3417d34.html | 2023-07-30T19:54:36 | 0 | https://www.tdtnews.com/obituaries/article_1e13ecae-2e7e-11ee-b283-cb79b3417d34.html |
BELTON — Services for Clifford Lee Honeycutt, 72, of Temple will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Abundant Life Church in Temple.
Burial will be in Garden of Memories in Temple.
A luncheon will be served at the church following the burial.
Mr. Honeycutt died Sunday, July 16, at a Temple hospital.
He was born July 19, 1950, in Miami, Okla., to John Clifford and Barbara Lovonne Woods Honeycutt. BIO: Clifford was a hard, working, loving, caring person. My mother and him were married for 34 years. He served in the military. He was retired from the city of Temple. He married Patsy Honeycutt in 1989 in Belton.
He was preceded in death by a son, Clifford Lee Honeycutt Jr.
He is survived by his wife of Temple; two sons, Randy Honeycutt of Mojave, Calif., Isaiah’s Gonzalez of Temple; a daughter, Brenda Lohman of Temple; a brother, Greg Honeycutt of Temple; three grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren.
Dossman Funeral Home of Belton is in charge of arrangements. | https://www.tdtnews.com/obituaries/article_eabf459e-2e80-11ee-a01a-238c1a16a2cd.html | 2023-07-30T19:54:42 | 1 | https://www.tdtnews.com/obituaries/article_eabf459e-2e80-11ee-a01a-238c1a16a2cd.html |