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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.fox16.com/news/world-news/ap-international/ap-overnight-drone-attack-on-moscow-injures-1-prompts-temporary-airport-closure/ | 2023-07-30T20:15:12 | 1 | https://www.fox16.com/news/world-news/ap-international/ap-overnight-drone-attack-on-moscow-injures-1-prompts-temporary-airport-closure/ |
Healthy morning routines for kids
If you’re a parent, you know mornings can be chaotic. Not only do you have to get up and out of bed to prepare for work or the rest of your day, but you also need to wrangle your kids and get them moving. Unfortunately, they don’t always cooperate. Not only is a family morning routine ideal to help things run smoothly but by getting organized, you and your family can lower stress, increase your productivity, boost your energy and even improve your relationships.
Start by sitting down with the entire family and creating a schedule that allows everyone the proper amount of time to get what they need done and walk out the door happy, excited and eager to start the day.
Shop this article: Eslite Toothbrush Toothpaste Holder Stand, Bento Box Lunch Containers and Gaiam Kids Yoga Mat Exercise Mat
Benefits of a Healthy Routine for Kids
- Helps kids adopt healthy habits early on: Establishing a solid daily routine helps kids implement healthy habits, such as washing their teeth and cleaning their room. Since habits require practice and repetition, you won’t have to worry about reminding them once they adopt them into their morning routine.
- Decreases parental exhaustion: Having to worry about your own routine alongside your tasks can leave you feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. Involving your entire family in creating a morning routine can make things less stressful for you.
- Limits screen time: Kids consume several hours of games, social media, TV shows and other forms of entertainment daily, which can take away from healthy habits. A healthy morning routine encourages them to step away from their devices to spend more time with family and prepare for the school day.
- Gives kids responsibility: A morning routine tells kids that they have tasks they need to complete before heading to school. Once they adapt to their routine, they understand that there are things they must do every day without being reminded. In addition, it can help them develop independence early.
- Bedtime is much easier: When your kids have a healthy morning routine, it helps them better navigate their days and makes it easier to go to bed at night. A daily routine establishes your child’s body clock, alerting them when it’s time for bed.
Helpful tips for creating a healthy morning routine
Start preparing the night before
Before you go to bed, pick out clothes that you and your kids will wear the next day, and prepare all of your food options, so you won’t be left scrambling at the last minute. You can spend Sunday preparing meals and picking out clothes to focus on other weekly tasks. In addition, it can be fun to involve your kids by having them help you in the kitchen.
Stock up on organizational items
JanSport SuperBreak One Backpacks
If it’s school you need to get your kids ready for, make sure their backpacks are packed and their lunch boxes are ready to go in the mornings. Aim to keep your pantry and fridge stocked and additional school supplies handy when your kids need them.
There are some excellent organizational items below that you can utilize during the school year or over the summer to make sure you and your kids know where their necessary supplies will be before everyone has to be out the door.
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Make sure you have the essentials
KINCMAX Shower Caddy Bathroom Shelf
Household essentials such as alarm clocks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash and any shower items your family needs can keep everyone on track. If you have a lot of products or a large family, consider investing in a shower caddy so everyone has exactly what they need at arm’s reach.
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Avoid the screens
As mentioned, kids can spend a lot of time on their phones and tablets, causing morning distractions. Make a no TV rule in the morning once everyone is awake and out of bed. That means taking away any video games, iPads and cell phones.
Create a positive atmosphere
Playco Reward Chart for Kids Chores
Preparing the night before and planning can reduce stress and urgency. Not only will this make things more convenient, but it will free up time to make positive strides in the right direction. Group activities, like meditation, can be a healthy way to get the entire family in the proper mindset.
And if you’re having trouble motivating your kids, it wouldn’t hurt to provide a little extra incentive with a rewards chart.
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The best organizational items for a healthy morning routine
Humble Crew Modern Toy Organizer
Give your kids the opportunity to tidy their environment with this organizer designed for their height. Having an organized space to wake up in helps start your kids off on the right foot for the morning while teaching them to sort and improve their cognitive skills.
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Eslite Toothbrush Toothpaste Holder Stand
Morning hygiene maintenance is an imperative part of a morning routine. This bathroom organizer allows kids to have everything they need to do in the bathroom each morning and evening together. It can hold five toothbrushes and has holes for toothpaste, combs and cups for water and mouthwash.
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Xoxo Parents Magnetic Chore Chart for Multiple Kids
Help keep everyone in the family organized in the morning with a dry-erase calendar, complete with daily to-do’s. This calendar lets kids know what to expect for the day and help them create a healthy routine while laying out all their tasks.
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Colgate Smart Manual Kids Toothbrush
Make brushing teeth fun for kids with this toothbrush. It includes augmented reality to help kids brush their teeth properly. It has an app that teaches kids to establish healthy hygiene habits, as well as a fun game they unlock when they brush their teeth.
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Gamenote Wooden Pen Holder and Pencil Holders
Having a clean environment in the morning can boost your family’s mood. If you have crafty kids, giving them a pen holder can help them tidy up before departing for school. This rainbow holder includes six different size compartments to fit pencils, pens, crayons and more.
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Zicoto Simplified To-Do List Notebook and Aesthetic Daily Planner
A planner is an excellent tool both kids and adults use to plan their days and stick to healthy routines. This planner has space to write daily to-do list notes, health tracking, appointments and meal plans. It has perforated pages, perfect for tearing them out after completing daily tasks.
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Rewards are a great way to incentivize your kids to stick to a morning routine. This reward chart encourages good behavior and promotes healthy habits. It is designed for kids ages 3 and up. It is laboratory-certified and safe for kids to use.
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The best food items to promote a healthy morning routine
Rubbermaid Brilliance BPA-Free Food Storage Containers with Lids
Plan ahead for your kids’ breakfasts and lunches with these food storage containers that are bisphenol A-free. These 100% leak-proof, splatter-resistant and microwave-safe containers easily stack in the refrigerator to keep you organized from morning till night.
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Kitch’nMore 38 Ounce Meal Prep Containers
Prepare up to 30 meals in advance and keep them neatly packaged in these microwave, dishwasher and freezer-safe containers. Each container holds up to 2.4 pounds of food. They are made of BPA-free material, leak-proof and durable.
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Pre-pack healthy, protein-rich breakfasts and lunches for your children in this eco-friendly bento lunch box. The smaller-sized compartments allow all your kids’ favorite foods to be packed separately for perfect meals that can be eaten whenever their schedule permits.
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Oniva Disney Mickey Mouse Lunch Bag
Your kids will never forget to bring their lunch box to school when it’s this cute! This Mickey Mouse lunch bag is insulated to ensure food stays at the correct temperature. It comes with a knife, fork, spoon, napkin and salt and pepper shakers.
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Lerine 10-Pack Dishwasher-Safe Reusable Bags
Save money and be environmentally friendly using reusable bags for your and your kids’ lunches. They are leakproof, BPA-free and dishwasher safe. They include three 1-gallon bags, four sandwich bags and three snack bags.
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Thermos Funtainer 10-Ounce Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated
This thermos keeps kids’ food cold for up to seven hours, and up to five hours for hot food. It has a lightweight, compact design with a push-button lid that’s easy for kids to carry and open. It also includes a spoon stored in the thermos.
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Topbooc Travel Utensils, Reusable Silverware Set-To-Go
Pack your kids’ lunches with reusable silverware to save money and be environmentally conscious. This set comes with a knife, fork, spoon, two straws, a straw cleaner, chopsticks and a compact case. It is available in a variety of colors and is dishwasher safe.
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The best items for a positive morning atmosphere
Meditation for Kids: 40 Activities to Manage Emotions, Ease Anxiety and Stay Focused
Meditation is an amazing way to start the day with a healthy and positive outlook. This book has options for 40 meditation activities kids can do in the morning to help them remain calm, relaxed and focused.
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Gaiam Kids Yoga Mat Exercise Mat
Yoga is a positive and healthy activity for a child’s morning routine. This adorable yoga mat is perfect for kids ages 5 to 8 and is decorated with a unicorn, lamb and lion. These kids’ yoga mats are non-toxic and phthalate-free while constructed with a textured surface to reduce slips.
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Hatch Rest+ Baby Sound Machine, Night Light
This sound machine helps kids to fall asleep and wake up easily. The time-to-rise programs help them handle the difficult transition from being sound asleep to starting their day. Waking up comfortably and naturally is the ideal first step in any morning routine.
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Big Red Rooster Sleep Training Alarm Clock
This alarm clock notifies your kids if it’s time to wake up or if more sleep is necessary. The ball glows green if it’s time to wake up or red if they should go back to sleep. The hidden parent compartment makes sure the alarm can’t be adjusted.
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The 3-Minute Gratitude Journal for Kids
Practicing gratitude is a great way for kids to start the morning with positivity. This journal teaches kids how to be thankful and enjoy the simple things in life. It contains daily pages where kids list out three things and people they’re grateful for and how they’re feeling each day.
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Sonoma Lavender Microwaveable Aromatherapy Pillow
Having a cuddly bear to snuggle in the morning can help kids prepare for the day. This plush bear not only provides snuggles but releases a lavender scent for aromatherapy benefits. It has 10 different animals, such as an elephant, bunny, monkey and lamb.
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Antdalis Sunrise Alarm Clock Wake-Up Light
After a long summer, it might be challenging for kids to readjust to waking up in the mornings. This alarm clock’s light gradually increases over 30 minutes to fill the room with bright, white light. It has two alarms, seven natural sounds and a 10-sound volume.
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Worth checking out
- Slip encouraging notes into your kids’ lunch bags with the Outus 120 Pieces Motivational Encouragement Quote Cards.
- Make mornings more exciting for your children with the Ainibab Boys Girls Hooded Robe.
- Ensure your kids stay hydrated throughout the day with a Bubba Brands Flo Kids Water Bottle with Leak-Proof Lid.
- Give your kids healthy, satisfying snacks such as the GoGo SqueeZ Fruit on the Go Variety Pack.
- This Be Prepared. Period Menstruation Kit is a great starter kit for teens to take to school.
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Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.fox16.com/reviews/br/baby-kids-br/health-safety-br/how-to-develop-a-healthy-morning-routine-for-you-and-your-kids/ | 2023-07-30T20:15:19 | 1 | https://www.fox16.com/reviews/br/baby-kids-br/health-safety-br/how-to-develop-a-healthy-morning-routine-for-you-and-your-kids/ |
Five-year anniversary gifts
Shop this article: Roses, I Love You Anniversary Card and 2-Stem Natural Wood Roses with Vase
Spending a half-decade together is a reason to celebrate. Roses, chocolate and champagne are fitting gifts for almost any anniversary or milestone. However, when you hit the five-year mark in your relationship, you might want to take things up a notch.
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Tradition dictates that the five-year wedding anniversary gift is wood and meant to signal long-lasting strength, wisdom and forgiveness. Still, nowhere does it say that you have to stick to that, and some great gift ideas include perfume, jewelry, shoes, bags and self-care options.
Five-year anniversary wooden gift ideas
I Love You Anniversary Card
If you’re a stickler for tradition and want to make sure you give a gift of wood, one simple way to achieve this is with your card. This laser-cut classic hearts design is more than just any old anniversary card. It’s a keepsake that can last for years to come.
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Kate Posh 5-Years of Marriage Photo Frame
Simple yet also sentimental. This wooden picture frame is engraved and comes in multiple sizes. It has a back-stand easel to display on a table and clips to mount it on the wall.
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2-Stem Natural Wood Roses with Vase
Carved from sugar wood and stained rich chocolate, this stylish, sentimental and symbolic anniversary gift comes with two wooden roses in an oak vase.
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The best fragrance gifts for her
With dazzling floral accents and woodsy notes, this scent exudes femininity and mystery. The may rose and jasmine with citrus notes and soft bourbon vanilla help create this sensual Chanel fragrance, making the perfect gift for a romantic anniversary.
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This scent oozes femininity without being overpowering, with an intoxicating blend of warm and spicy, with keynotes of jasmine, orange blossom and woods and patchouli. It’s also ageless, which makes it perfect for either your 5th or 50th anniversary.
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The best self-care gifts for her
Goop “The Martini” Emotional Detox Bath Soak
Treat your loved one to some peace and tranquility with a soothing bath to relax the mind and body. The pink salt will ease muscles. The chia seed oil hydrates and moisturizes the skin, while the wildcrafted frankincense will soothe the mind. This combination is just as good as a day at the spa.
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Give the gift that spoils your loved one night after night with this slip silk pillowcase that’s a known beauty secret of both beauty experts and dermatologists. Cover her pillow in the highest-grade mulberry silk to help create the ultimate night’s rest.
Herbivore Coco Rose Exfoliating Body Scrub
Pamper your partner with a body scrub made from virgin coconut oil, sugar and Moroccan rose to leave her skin moisturized and smelling of rose petals and coconuts. This luxe body scrub has been clinically tested and proven to offer softer, smoother and less dry skin.
The best jewelry gifts for her
TruMiracle Diamond Stud Earrings
These exquisite half-carat diamonds with side accents will dazzle and sparkle from every angle. They are available in 14-carat gold, white gold and rose gold.
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Sarah Chloe Andi Initial Pendant Necklace in 14k Gold-Plate Over Sterling Silver
This is a delicate and sophisticated pendant necklace you can wear casually or when dressing to impress. It’s set in 14 carat-gold-plate over sterling silver, with a lobster clasp for closure and a beaded chain.
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Le Vian Deep-Sea Blue Topaz & Diamond Statement Ring in 14k Rose Gold
Give her something she can’t help but show off with this dazzling deep-blue-sea topaz ring. It’s enhanced with nude and chocolate diamond rings that add to the color and sparkle. These gorgeous stones are set in a beautiful strawberry gold that will make your anniversary one to remember.
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The best handbag gifts for her
Michael Kors Bedford Legacy Logo Ladies Leather Crossbody Bag
There’s just something about a new handbag that makes a girl smile, so make her grin ear-to-ear with a stylish yet practical black, leather crossbody. This sleek and structured silhouette is an ideal everyday bag to match all outfits while remaining chic.
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The best shoes gifts for her
Badgley Mischka Kiara Embellished Peep-Toe Evening Pumps
You can never go wrong with super sexy shoes, and these sapphire satin peep-toe pumps with embellished detail fit the bill. These showstoppers will make her feel like a million bucks and make for one extraordinary anniversary.
Nine West Women’s Toe Dress Pumps
These shoes will be a gift for you and your loved one because you won’t be able to keep your eyes off her when she’s in these ultra-sexy t-strap stilettos. A mix of faux leather and skinny straps from the toe to the ankle make this exotic heel a special occasion in itself.
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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers.
Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.fox16.com/reviews/br/beauty-personal-care-br/tools-accessories-br/best-five-year-anniversary-gifts-for-her/ | 2023-07-30T20:15:26 | 0 | https://www.fox16.com/reviews/br/beauty-personal-care-br/tools-accessories-br/best-five-year-anniversary-gifts-for-her/ |
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.wnem.com/2023/07/30/bomb-squad-investigates-mysterious-packages-parachuted-into-neighborhood/ | 2023-07-30T20:15:34 | 0 | https://www.wnem.com/2023/07/30/bomb-squad-investigates-mysterious-packages-parachuted-into-neighborhood/ |
The debate over equal pay in pro sports has continued for decades.
"Everyone thinks women should be thrilled when we get crumbs. I want women to be able to have the cake, the icing, and the cherry on top too," said Billie Jean King at the 2016 Miami Open.
In late 2022, Congress passed the Equal Pay for Team USA law, ensuring that women playing for international teams must make the same as men.
For national teams and athletes, tennis leagues have made significant moves toward equal pay here in the U.S.
Earlier this year, the Women's Tennis Association announced there would be equal prize money offered to both male and female athletes at more competitions, including the grand slam tournaments.
But a fair solution for the pay gap across the rest of the sports world seems elusive.
A recent CNN analysis found that internationally, women playing in the 2023 World Cup earn 25 cents to the dollar of men, a quadruple jump from the last cup but still far below their peers.
Other pro sports have seen low wages for women.
In hockey, about half of Team USA holds second and third jobs to pay the bills despite training and playing year-round.
The average salary for WNBA athletes was just over $102,000 in 2022, and many athletes sought work overseas for higher pay. Countries like China and Russia can offer contracts for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The average NBA salary is $8.2 million per year.
Of the top 50 highest-paid athletes, according to Forbes, there is just one woman: Serena Williams, at number 49.
But some prominent athletes and sports officials have voiced skepticism over a blanket equal pay policy in a number of sports. Critics saythe pay gap is an unfortunate but fair distribution based on revenue generated and viewership. Major men's sports in the U.S. still bring in bigger revenues and audiences than women's sports.
But it's difficult to make a direct comparison between revenues and viewership without examining sports media coverage itself and the lucrative broadcast rights.
SEE MORE: Fewer Coaching Jobs In Women's Sports Are Going To Women
"It takes time now for women to catch up after 50 years of lack of investment. It takes time for them to catch up, and now develop the audience in the same way. And how do you develop an audience? You get on television," said Donna Lopiano.
Broadcast rights make up the biggest share of revenue for major sports teams in the U.S.
Skeptics for equal pay argue women’s sports have less interest and thus aren't worth the bigger deals.
But is it a matter of less interest or less exposure? Would more people be interested in seeing women play if the hype levels and ability to tune in were the same?
A University of Southern California and Purdue University study found 95% of total television sports coverage in 2019 focused on men’s sports.
The imbalance was similar in social media posts and sports newsletters.
"This has nothing to do with whether or not there are great, you know, women athletes. This has everything to do with who is controlling mass communications," said Lopiano.
There are signs that the existing TV deals for women aren't as rich as they could be.
A 2021 NCAA analysis of March Madness tournaments found the broadcast rights for the women’s teams were undervalued by millions.
Even though fewer people watched the final for women's college basketball between 2015 and 2021, total viewers for the women’s final increased by 32%. While for men it has declined by 40%.
The women’s game was only available on cable, while the men's had a wider reach with free network TV.
A 2021 white paper for YouGov surveyed reasons why viewers around the world don't engage with women’s sports as much.
The top reasons given were: "less media coverage," "lack of knowledge of teams and athletes," and "limited marketing."
When women athletes share a broadcast and marketing promotion with men, we see the gap in interest disappear.
For example, U.S. audiences tend to be equally interested in male and female athletes when it comes to the Olympics, compared to pro sports and college sports.
Pro tennis players also receive equal media coverage and are broadcast together.
Female tennis matches and players draw similar viewership numbers as the men's.
As American interest in women’s sports grows and major sports leagues prepare for new TV rights deals, we may see slow progress toward more equal media coverage.
And as the playing field slowly evens out, the rise of media coverage may bring higher revenues, viewership, interest, and pay for women athletes.
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com | https://www.wmar2news.com/equal-pay-in-women-s-sports-the-challenge-for-female-athletes | 2023-07-30T20:15:34 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/equal-pay-in-women-s-sports-the-challenge-for-female-athletes |
Which camera accessories are best for vacation?
During a trip, you want to make sure that your camera is safe and secure while at the same time easily accessible and at the ready to snap pics. From camera bags to straps, having the right accessories will be sure to save you from headaches while traveling.
Aside from accessories to keep your camera safe while on the move, there are tons of accessories on the market to make getting that perfect travel shot easy.
Shop this article: NOMATIC McKinnon Camera Pack, ONA The Presidio Cross-Body Strap and VSGO V-P01E Professional Lens Cleaning Pen
Best camera bags for vacation
Best of the best camera bag for vacation
What you need to know: This 35L pack has space for your camera and whatever other accessories you’re taking along for the adventure. It can expand up to 42L and even has extra space for traveling essentials.
What you’ll love: This bag is designed with travelers in mind. It features full access to the main compartment, a luggage handle pass-through, an external laptop pocket and is made with water-resistant material.
What you should consider: This pack is on the pricier side, but the quality is worth it.
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Best anti-theft camera bag for vacation
PacSafe Camsafe X25 Anti-theft Camera Backpack
What you need to know: This camera pack is designed for traveling with expensive equipment. If you want some extra peace of mind while traveling, this bag is the right choice.
What you’ll love: This bag comes with a ton of features to keep your equipment safe, such as a Robar Sport locking system for protection against pickpocketing and hidden stainless steel wire mesh to protect against snatch and grab theft.
What you should consider: If you’re not too worried about theft while traveling, you could opt for a bag that has more room and better organization for a comparable price.
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Best camera bag for multiple cameras on vacation
Think Tank Photo Streetwalker V2.0 Backpack
What you need to know: The Streetwalker is an excellent bag if you’re planning on bringing more than one camera on your trip as it can comfortably house two DSLR cameras.
What you’ll love: This bag is designed with comfort in mind with its padded shoulder straps. It has plenty of pockets and compartments to accommodate all of your accessories as well.
What you should consider: This bag is a smaller model which makes it great for vacation, but be sure to consider the amount of gear that you’ll be bringing along.
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Best bang for your buck camera bag for vacation
BAGSMART DSLR Waterproof Camera Bag
What you need to know: This bag from BAGSMART is not only stylish but also well-equipped to handle any travel situation. Comfortable and secure, this is a great camera bag to bring on vacation.
What you’ll love: The design is sleek without cutting corners on space. It comes with a rain cover to keep your gear safe from the elements. This bag also features some anti-theft protection.
What you should consider: This bag is hard to beat with its cheap price tag, but when it comes to camera bags the price is a good indicator of quality.
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Best camera straps for vacation
Best of the best camera strap for vacation
ONA The Presidio Cross-Body Strap
What you need to know: This strap is stylish, strong and durable. It can be used with camera kits up to 6 lb and is easily adjustable.
What you’ll love: This strap offers comfort while keeping your camera gear close and ready for snapping pics.
What you should consider: The strap is more expensive due to the material being leather. If you don’t like leather, a different strap would work better for you.
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Best bang for your buck camera strap for vacation
What you need to know: This over-the-shoulder strap is durable and comfy thanks to its neoprene shoulder pad and reinforced metal fasteners.
What you’ll love: It’s fully adjustable and even works well with tripods, as you can attach the camera to the tripod without having to unhook the strap.
What you should consider: This strap’s anchor plate may come undone with time, so proceed with caution if you use a heavier camera.
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Best camera accessories for vacation
Best tripod for vacation
What you need to know: The GorillaPod is great for traveling photographers since it’s adjustable and compact.
What you’ll love: This camera tripod is great for hiking trips especially, as the legs can be adjusted to fit all types of terrain.
What you should consider: This travel tripod works with cameras 2 lbs and under, so if you shoot with a larger camera, this won’t work for you.
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Best portable lighting for vacation
What you need to know: The Lume Cube Panel Mini is very portable and fits most DSLR cameras. It’s great for getting the perfect lighting in darker spaces.
What you’ll love: The Lume Cube Panel Mini has adjustable color temp and brightness with an internal battery life of 14 hours to ensure you’ll always have great lighting.
What you should consider: Be sure to check to see if this light is compatible with your camera, as it does not attach to all models. It can still be used without being attached to a camera.
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Best camera cleaning tool for vacation
VSGO V-P01E Professional Lens Cleaning Pen
What you need to know: A lens pen is a great option for travel, as you can store it in your bag without having to worry about it getting dirty.
What you’ll love: The brushes both cover up for seamless storage.
What you should consider: Depending on your needs, you may have to carry some additional lens-cleaning products while traveling.
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Best waterproof camera cover for vacation
Altura Photo Professional Camera Rain Cover
What you need to know: This camera rain cover is great for keeping your gear dry when shooting outside in rainy places.
What you’ll love: It’s made from waterproof nylon and has a great viewing window for rainy-day shooting.
What you should consider: The viewing window may fog up over time.
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Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.fox16.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/camera-photo-br/must-have-camera-accessories-for-your-next-vacation/ | 2023-07-30T20:15:33 | 1 | https://www.fox16.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/camera-photo-br/must-have-camera-accessories-for-your-next-vacation/ |
Best time to fertilize your lawn
Whether you’re creating a comfortable space for your family to spend their free time or increasing the curb appeal of your property, maintaining a green and healthy lawn can be difficult. One of the most effective steps you can take is applying fertilizer, but correctly applying it can be tricky. And an incorrect application can do more harm than good.
We at BestReviews want you to be knowledgeable when utilizing fertilizer and have created this guide to help you feel confident you’re adding the correct amount at the appropriate time.
Shop this article: EGO Power+ 21-inch 56-volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Mower, Scotts Turf Builder Classic Drop Spreader and Flexzilla Garden Hose
Fertilizer nutrients
Most fertilizers found in a store will have three numbers printed on the packaging, referring to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Though all these nutrients are necessary for a better lawn, each performs a specific role in facilitating healthy grass growth.
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is the most important nutrient required for a healthy lawn. All plants, including grass, need nitrogen to produce chlorophyll. Chlorophyll not only acts as food for the plant but also gives the plant its green color. Applying a nitrogen fertilizer helps your grass grow faster, recover from environmental stresses and deters disease and invasive weeds.
Although nitrogen needs to be applied in the correct amount, too much nitrogen can lead to rapid growth with an underdeveloped root system. Too little nitrogen and the yard may become nitrogen deficient, causing the grass to yellow.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus promotes vigorous root growth and helps the grass pull water from the soil. A robust root system encourages proper hydration, helps plants reach full maturity, aids in survival during dry weather and keeps soil and nutrients from blowing away during strong winds and storms.
Potassium
Potassium helps a plant’s cells maintain ‘turgor pressure,’ also known as hydrostatic pressure. Simply put, turgor pressure is what gives the plant’s cell its structural integrity. This allows the plant to survive harsh conditions, like cold weather or drought.
Best grass mowers
EGO Power+ 21-inch 56-volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Mower
Cordless, self-propelled, and able to run 80 minutes on a single charge, the EGO Power 21-inch 56-volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Mower is the rare full-electric mower that feels like a gas model.
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Black & Decker 6.5A 12-inch Electric 3-in-1 Trimmer/Edger and Mower
This Black and Decker lawn edger is an affordable and quality option for those with medium to small yards looking for a versatile machine.
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Types of fertilizer
Fast-release vs. slow-release
With nitrogen as the most critical component in facilitating plant growth, you should pay careful attention to how you introduce it into your yard’s ecosystem. Fast-release nitrogen fertilizers provide rapid growth and greening but increase the risk of nitrogen oversaturation.
Slow-release nitrogen fertilizers, also known as controlled-release fertilizers, allow for a more gradual introduction of nitrogen. Plant greening and maturation won’t be rapid, but you can expect even grass growth and lessen the chance of lawn damage.
Liquids vs. granules
Most home fertilizers come in either liquid or granule form. Though both contain the same nutrients needed to facilitate healthy lawn growth, they each have specific benefits and drawbacks.
Liquid fertilizers have a consistent distribution of nutrients and are easy to apply. Liquid fertilizers do not have a slow-release nitrogen option, and the initial cost of a distribution system can be steep.
Granular fertilizers are cheap to purchase, especially in bulk, are easy to store and provide slow-release nitrogen fertilizer options. Though granular fertilizers don’t spread as evenly as their liquid counterparts, the cost of granule distribution systems is far less.
Best granular spreaders
Scotts Turf Builder Classic Drop Spreader
With its straightforward operation and ease of use, the Turf Builder Classic Drop Spreader is an ideal fit for those who need to distribute fertilizer over a large area.
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Scotts Turf Builder EdgeGuard Mini Broadcast Spreader
For gardeners on a budget, Scotts Turf Builder EdgeGuard Mini Broadcast Spreader has plenty of capacity to cover most lawns and gardens.
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Scotts Wizz Hand-Held Spreader
Lightweight and handheld, the Scotts Wizz Hand-Held Spreader is an excellent fit for the gardener with a small or atypical-shaped yard in need of fertilizing.
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When is the best time to fertilize your lawn?
Depending on the needs of your soil and climate, your lawn may require multiple applications of fertilizer throughout the year. However, there are two critical times during the year when spreading fertilizer can most benefit your yard.
Spring
When fertilizer is applied to frozen soil, the plants cannot absorb nitrogen and other nutrients. Instead, the nitrogen rests on top of the soil and can be washed away, collecting in the low parts of a yard or into storm drains and ditches. These areas become damaged from an over-concentration of nitrogen and will need further attention and maintenance.
In spring, wait until the soil has sufficiently thawed and warmed before applying fertilizer. Creating a solid root system early will lead to a healthier and greener yard later, so be cautious not to apply too much nitrogen too fast.
Fall
Late fall is arguably the most critical time to apply fertilizer, as the winter months will be the hardest on your lawn. Research the expected climate in your area and spread fertilizer 2-3 weeks before the soil will freeze. The morning dews during those few weeks will bring the essential nutrients from the fertilizer into the soil. The result will be a lawn more prepared for the cold winter months and a healthier root system when the soil thaws again in the spring.
When to water the lawn after fertilizing
If you decide to apply granular fertilizer to your lawn, water the area immediately to ensure the nutrients are absorbed. Never apply granular fertilizer to wet grass, as wet grass can cause nitrogen to wash away before entering the soil, damaging your lawn.
Rugged enough to discourage kinks, yet flexible and easy to use, the Flexzilla garden hose is an ideal purchase for the gardener who prefers a hands-on approach to lawn maintenance.
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Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.fox16.com/reviews/br/lawn-garden-br/fertilizers-br/when-to-fertilize-your-lawn/ | 2023-07-30T20:15:40 | 1 | https://www.fox16.com/reviews/br/lawn-garden-br/fertilizers-br/when-to-fertilize-your-lawn/ |
This weekend marks the first anniversary of the passing of Tom, my stepfather of 25 years.
I remarked last year that in the weeks leading up to his death and in the months that followed, I was in a robotic state, assisting with the funeral arrangements in two cities, along with a set of bizarre circumstances that made grieving the loss an improbability.
Fast-forward one year, and I cannot believe I find myself in a similar scenario of chaos and logistics requiring detailed attention and not contemplation. It feels like I’m supposed to schedule grief.
I am deeply mindful of death anniversaries. They are the dates that often don’t make the calendars of people outside the family and yet command sensitivity and attention. The fresher the years, the more raw it feels.
The year after someone’s passing is full of firsts. Birthdays, holidays and anniversaries are especially hard, as they remind us of what we’ve lost.
Feelings of isolation are palpable.
There is no timeline or expiration for grief. It’s a steady hum in your heart with the occasional electric shock.
In a previous column on tips for grieving children, I interviewed local nonprofit Gerard’s House, which provides support for families experiencing death and dying. Its website at gerardshouse.org is full of helpful information, including advice for “anniversary grief.” I highly recommend it to those personally experiencing loss and to friends and family who are lending support.
I found the page on “awful firsts” to be especially helpful and have included it here.
- Plan for the anniversary. It may be helpful to know that many people find the anticipation of the anniversary day can be worse than the actual day. As you anticipate the anniversary, you can bring comfort and healing into this day.
Plan what you are going to do ahead of time, even if you plan to be alone, and set yourself up for a “good day.” Let your friends and relatives know in advance what your needs are and how they may be able to help.
- You can celebrate the life of your loved one. The first anniversary of the death is a special day for recognizing your loss. You have not only lost the presence of your loved one, but all of their gifts: the laughter, the love, the shared past and qualities you treasured.
Perhaps you are asking yourself how you can celebrate the life of your loved one on the death anniversary. One family took balloons to the high school track where their son had competed and released them, each with a written personal message.
One widow picnicked by the lake where she sprinkled her husband’s ashes. Another family had an annual dinner in memory of their daughter.
Creating a positive ritual, either alone or shared with others, can give support, healing and meaning to the death anniversary. (Visit gerardshouse.org for an article on “rituals, a way to heal and honor your loved one,” which suggests further ideas.)
- You can celebrate what you have accomplished together. The death anniversary is also a day for acknowledging the living. This certainly includes you. The last 12 months have been demanding. You have handled your loss in the best way you could in order to survive.
Take time to acknowledge the hard journey you’ve been on. Then look ahead to the new life you are creating for yourself. Do something special for yourself — perhaps schedule a massage, a special dinner or a trip to a nurturing place.
- Handle your memories with care. You can choose which parts of the life you shared that you wish to keep and which parts you want to leave behind.
The happiness you experienced with your loved one belongs to you forever. Hold on to those rich memories and give thanks for the life of the person you’ve lost. It may be easier to cope with memories you consciously choose to keep, rather than to have them emerge when you are not prepared to cope with them.
Perhaps you may decide to create a special place to honor your treasured memories, using photos, mementos and a candle. Journaling your memories will also help you in the healing process.
- Letting go doesn’t mean forgetting. Letting go of what used to be is not being disloyal, and it does not mean you have forgotten your loved one. A part of that person will remain within you always.
Letting go means leaving behind the sorrow and pain of grief and choosing to go on. It means you can take with you only those memories and experiences that enhance your ability to grow and expand your capacity for happiness.
- Plan for special support. It may be helpful to join a support group before and after the death anniversary of your loved one. Your local hospice will have support groups that you are welcome to join. Also, if you are accustomed to the Internet, there are special support groups suited to your exact needs.
For my family, this weekend is about supporting each another, which includes my widowed mother, my children and Tom’s children.
Without prompting, my mum was vocal about wanting to mark the occasion with a gathering of friends over dinner and an outing to a historical site with the grandchildren. It feels positive and celebratory.
I don’t think I’ve begun to process the loss, as a year just doesn’t feel that long. It’s more of a “Where is he?” feeling, the disbelief and frustration that he is actually gone from the earthly world.
It feels selfish to say, but Tom’s decline, death and absence have created a lot of work for me, and it’s a reminder that no passing is textbook. Healing is a personal journey and sometimes a messy one.
In an effort to tie up loose ends and help my mother in her next chapter, I’ll be talking some time off. In the meantime, I wish you peace in your heart on whatever journey you’re on. | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/life/family/planning-for-anniversary-of-loved-ones-death-can-help-bring-comfort/article_6c76f352-2c1f-11ee-b00f-8b4d68add9a3.html | 2023-07-30T20:15:45 | 1 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/life/family/planning-for-anniversary-of-loved-ones-death-can-help-bring-comfort/article_6c76f352-2c1f-11ee-b00f-8b4d68add9a3.html |
The Biden administration is launching a beta website for its new income-driven student loan repayment plan today (Sunday), 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.
The-CNN-Wire & 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://6abc.com/biden-student-debt-loan-repayment-plans-income-driven/13573949/ | 2023-07-30T20:15:45 | 0 | https://6abc.com/biden-student-debt-loan-repayment-plans-income-driven/13573949/ |
Invest in art supplies to spark creativity
Art is a fun, hands-on way for kids to play and express themselves. Whether they’re doodling, designing or painting, each art project taps into their creativity and provides hours of fun.
If you’re thinking of investing in art supplies for kids, you might be wondering where to begin. Start with foundational supplies, which include coloring, sketching and painting sets. Beyond these, opt for supplies and tools that cater to your kids’ unique artistic interests. Kids who are fascinated with fashion design, for example, will appreciate sewing machines, while others may want to dabble in sculpting with modeling clay.
Shop this article: Elmer’s Rainbow Glitter Glue Pen Set, Desk Organizer for Kids and Magic Erasers
What to know about art supplies for kids
Safety
Elmer’s Rainbow Glitter Glue Pen Set
Art supplies made for kids are designed to be safe and age-appropriate. Many of them have non-toxic components or ingredients, such as Elmer’s Rainbow Glitter Glue Pen Set. Like certain toys, some art supplies may have small parts warnings. Additionally, if art supplies or kits require adult supervision, manufacturers usually indicate it clearly on the packaging.
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Storage
It’s common to amass a modest collection of kids’ art supplies, which is why it’s smart to think about storage options, too.
- Markers, colored pencils and crayons can be placed in desktop organizers or caddies.
- Small or loose supplies, such as beads or card-making supplies, can be stored in stacking storage bins.
- When several types of art supplies are used on a regular basis, a utility rolling cart keeps them accessible and organized.
- Art supplies brought on trips can be stored in portable craft organizers.
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How to handle art project messes
It’s no secret that art projects can get messy. Even if you take precautionary measures — including laying a newspaper on the floor or wearing smocks — accidents happen. Fortunately, most messes can be cleaned up quickly with the right products.
Adhesive removers are ideal for lifting residue left by glue and stickers. Magic Erasers can remove stubborn pen and marker stains from walls and other hard surfaces. Stain-fighting detergent and pre-treat spot cleaners are effective at lifting most paint and ink stains from kids’ clothing.
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How much you can expect to spend on art supplies for kids
Basic art supplies for kids, including entry-level coloring and craft sets, cost $10 or less. Mid-range art supplies, such as deluxe painting, coloring or sculpting sets, run between $10-$30. High-end supplies, like artist-grade colored pencils, run $30-$75.
Best art supplies for kids
Deluxe marker set
Deluxe marker sets include dozens of markers in a wide variety of colors. In addition to the basic rainbow colors, they may have several unique shades.
Crayola Super Tips Marker Set includes 100 markers in 100 colors. Their tapered tips are suitable for fine color work or everyday doodling. The markers, intended for ages 3 and older, are non-toxic and washable.
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Graphite pencils
Graphite pencils are used for sketching and shading. Sets include a range of grades, which vary based on hardness and how much lead the pencil deposits on paper. The higher the grade, the lighter the mark it will leave.
Staedtler Mars Lumograph Art Pencil Set
Staedtler Mars Lumograph Art Pencil Set includes 12 graded pencils ranging from 6B through 4H. Considered an artist-grade set, they’re easy to sharpen and erase and are packaged in a sleek, protective tin.
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Sketchbook
Sketchbooks are blank canvases for budding artists. They’re available in more than one type of paper to accommodate various types of ink, pencils or paint.
Strathmore Sketch Pad, considered an ideal “first sketchbook,” is suitable for pencil, charcoal, pastel and sketch work. The spiral-bound design features a heavy cardboard front and back to protect pages.
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Modeling clay
Modeling clay is soft and malleable, which makes it a kid-friendly medium for sculpting. Some types of modeling clay air dry into tiny creations, whereas others are non-drying and lend themselves to repeated reshaping.
Faber-Castell Modeling Clay Set
Faber-Castell Modeling Clay Set comes with clay in 10 classic colors. The kit includes a few sculpting tools as well, such as shape cutters and push molds. Suitable for ages 4 and older, this non-drying clay is gluten-free and non-toxic.
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Easel
A kids’ easel is a versatile investment in art, as it can be used for upright sketching or painting. Many of these easels have built-in tables that hold art supplies, including paint pots or chalk.
Light box
Light boxes are designed for animation, comic book art and stenciling. Their illumination comes from bright white LED lights, which last through hours of use. Many light boxes offer more than one brightness option.
TickTeckLab A4 Ultra-Thin Portable LED Tracer
TickTeckLab A4 Ultra-Thin Portable LED Tracer is appreciated for its flicker-free glow. The portable light box comes with a micro USB port for easy charging through power banks, PCs or compatible AC adapters.
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Construction paper
Construction paper remains one of the most versatile types of paper for art projects. Its heavyweight design and bright colors make it ideal for designing cards, mobiles and other crafts.
Crayola Construction Paper comes with a set of 96 9×12-inch sheets in eight colors. The paper is suitable for all types of pencils and most types of ink, including bold markers and high-pigment pens.
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Acrylic paint set
Acrylic paint is considered a multipurpose paint since it can be used on a variety of surfaces, including glass, ceramic, stone, canvas and wood. It blends easily and is ideal for beginner painters.
Arteza Craft Acrylic Paint includes 20 popular colors packaged in squeezable bottles. The fast-dry formula minimizes smearing and messes. The paint is non-toxic and can be cleaned from most surfaces with soap and water.
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Lettering kit
Creative lettering, or calligraphy, is done with a diverse range of pens with contoured tips. These pens create unique designs and shapes, resulting in artistic signs, words, logos or monograms.
Prismacolor Premier Beginner Hand Lettering Set
Prismacolor Premier Beginner Hand Lettering Set is a popular introductory set that includes two graphite pencils and four pens. The kit comes with a tips pamphlet that explains basic techniques on letter shaping and design.
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Sewing machine
Sewing machines let users experiment with fashion design, home decor and other types of fabric crafting. While they’re more expensive than most art supplies, sewing machines lend themselves to considerable use and may last for the better part of a decade — or longer.
Singer M3330 Making the Cut Sewing Machine
Singer M3330 Making the Cut Sewing Machine, a user-friendly model, is equipped with 97 stitches and has a convenient front-loading bobbin. In addition to its compact design, the Singer sewing machine has a full-metal frame for lasting durability.
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Sian Babish is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers.
Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.fox16.com/reviews/br/lawn-garden-br/tools-br-lawn-garden-br/arts-crafts-br/best-art-supplies-for-kids/ | 2023-07-30T20:15:48 | 0 | https://www.fox16.com/reviews/br/lawn-garden-br/tools-br-lawn-garden-br/arts-crafts-br/best-art-supplies-for-kids/ |
In some ways, being immunocompromised suits my reserved personality.
I prefer to run alone; train, not race; practice guitar and not perform; and, as my wife, family and friends can tell you, I don’t mind being by myself most of the time. After surviving prostate cancer and radiation and hormone treatment relatively unscathed, I was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in 2021, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, I continue to I keep up with my vaccine boosters, wear a mask when needed, wash my hands frequently and practice physical distancing.
Skin cancer is the most prevalent secondary cancer to CLL, most commonly basal cell carcinoma and melanoma.
I try to stay out of the sun as much as possible and use sunscreen and protective clothing when I run in the morning.
I did attend my son’s and daughter’s large weddings, which required air travel, and I admit I wasn’t always wearing a mask or social distancing.
My looming disease prognosis and the pandemic lockdown did increase my anxiety and my drinking.
I have managed to get it under control with the help of a savvy psychologist and the support of my wife and family.
When the immune system doesn’t work as well as it should, or if the immune system isn’t working at full capacity, that is known as “immunocompromised.”
Patients with blood cancers, organ transplants, cancer tumors, diabetes, kidney disease, old age, HIV infection and those who use steroids may have suppressed immune systems. Those who are immunocompromised are encouraged to have a good primary care provider to manage any illness or infection as they occur and before they get worse.
Today, the majority of health care facilities are no longer requiring masking, as hospitalizations are lower than during the pandemic.
The New England Journal of Medicine recently published an article on the change in mask requirements, warning there remain important subgroups that continue to be at elevated risk for severe disease and death, and the SARS-CoV-2 influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus and other respiratory illnesses occur frequently.
According to the journal, one-fifth or more of cases of hospital-acquired pneumonia may be caused by viruses rather than bacteria.
But masks work best when everyone is wearing them, and today only a few people are wearing them.
KN95 or N95 masks are the most effective, and must fit correctly and be worn consistently without being removed.
If you require medical treatment in a hospital, you can request that a sign be placed on your door asking staff to wear a mask before entering the room.
If hospital personnel refuse to make accommodations for you, you can request a reasonable accommodation under the federal law, the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Other recommendations:
Consider utilizing telehealth options when appropriate.
Make medical appointments first thing in the morning, before the waiting areas become full.
Complete paperwork on line to reduce time spent in the waiting room.
When scheduling an in-person appointment, ask that a note be placed in your chart indicating you are immunocompromised, and you are requesting that masks be worn by any health care personnel who have direct contact with you.
If urgent care or emergency care is needed, share that you are immunocompromised and you are requesting reasonable accommodations to be placed in an isolated area while you wait to be evaluated by health care personnel.
Wash produce thoroughly.
Eat a healthy diet.
Brush and floss teeth daily.
Get vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19, flu, pneumonia and shingles.
Ask family, friends, and other people in your social circle to consider getting vaccinated.
Wear a mask when you can’t avoid close contact with others.
Wash hands frequently.
Practice social distancing.
Keep track of COVID-19 case counts in the local community.
Get enough sleep.
Quit smoking.
Andy Winnegar has spent his career in rehabilitation and lives in Santa Fe with his wife, Judy. | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/life/family/those-who-are-immunocompromised-should-continue-to-mask-up/article_51ec1f34-1b7c-11ee-bf00-8b57edca6226.html | 2023-07-30T20:15:51 | 1 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/life/family/those-who-are-immunocompromised-should-continue-to-mask-up/article_51ec1f34-1b7c-11ee-bf00-8b57edca6226.html |
What’s the best way to crate train a dog with separation anxiety?
Crate training can be a useful tool for many dog owners. Some may want their dog in a crate when they’re sleeping or when they leave the home, while others may want to give the dog space all their own. Crate training is also helpful for dogs with separation anxiety since the crate can provide calm and protection. Dogs that do not like being alone may welcome the crate during moments of distress. Crate training takes time and patience. Relieving separation anxiety requires an owner’s full attention and dedication. Don’t miss our testing insights on the Furbo Dog Camera.
Shop this article: MidWest Homes for Pets Dog Crate, Furbo Dog Camera and Merrick Power Bites Salmon Treats.
What is separation anxiety?
Separation anxiety is the fear of being alone. Dogs that have been abandoned, have moved to a new space or have undergone a sudden shift in lifestyle may develop separation anxiety. In particular, dogs that develop a strong bond with their owners may become anxious when alone. Especially if the owner has been home frequently only to have a new schedule in which they are often away. Separation anxiety may develop at any age among any breed. It can also be exacerbated by a lack of mental and physical stimulation, leading to a bored dog that may start to lash out.
How to identify separation anxiety
Separation anxiety is easy to identify and can manifest in a variety of ways. Most commonly, your dog barks excessively while you’re gone. They may also develop destructive behavior such as chewing furniture, rummaging for food or ripping up anything left out. They may also mark or relieve themselves when left alone. Some behavior may be noticeable before you leave. Dogs can associate certain sounds and actions, such as the handling of keys or putting on a coat, as signs they are about to be left alone. As a result, they may begin to pace, pant, drool, shake or even try to sneak out the door with you.
Crate training advantages
When afraid or anxious, a trained dog may retreat to its crate. If it becomes a place of refuge, dogs can be more comfortable when alone. It gives them security and confidence and offers you peace of mind while away. Many owners prefer to crate train a rescue dog since past trauma may be unknown and it’s likely they are in need of stability.
How to crate train
Crate training can take weeks or months and requires strict discipline and patience by the owner. The first step is to choose the right crate. Your dog should be able to comfortably stand up and turn around within the crate. Wire crates are most popular as they are durable and easy to set up and take down. Some have two doors for easier access, while others feature a bottom platform that can pull out for easy cleaning.
Initially, the crate should be a place your dog can safely explore without owners nearby. Fill it with a comfortable bed or blankets, especially ones that have a familiar smell to them. You may put in calming toys or clothes that have your scent on it to make the dog feel safe.
Spending time in the crate should be relaxing. If your dog does not initially explore the crate, a favorite toy or tasty treat might entice them. Let them enter and exit as they wish and keep your distance if they seem hesitant. Early on, their time in the crate needs to be rewarding and stimulating. A challenging puzzle or a treat-dispensing toy is useful to get them to make positive associations.
As they grow more comfortable, you can experiment with closing the door but keeping it unlocked, allowing your dog to push it open and leave if they wish. Over time, begin to lock the door, keeping them in for a few minutes. Slowly increase the time they stay in there as they grow more comfortable, building up to longer periods away.
Crate safety
There are some precautions to take when crate training your dog.
- Dogs with severe separation anxiety may seek to break free, which can be dangerous.
- They should never wear a collar or apparel within the crate as it may get caught.
- They should have water if you’re going away for more than an hour. Some water bowls can affix to the side so they don’t step in it or knock it over.
- Avoid leaving your dog in a crate for more than six to eight hours. Especially younger dogs that may not have full bladder control.
- If your dog is anxious and prone to chewing while stressed, do not leave any toys within that they could destroy and ingest.
Additional solutions
Crate training is only one way to curb separation anxiety. Before leaving, your dog should enjoy both physical and mental exertion. Tiring them out with a walk and playtime, even something as simple as fetch, can help them settle and relax. Some dogs also benefit from having the sides and top of the crate covered to create a cozier, more protective space with less stimulation.
Some dogs may enjoy calming treats and supplements. Popular ingredients include hemp and chamomile to soothe the dog and help them sleep. Some dog owners may want to keep an eye on their dog while they’re away to better see how they are coping with being alone; a dog camera may be a worthy investment. Our tester found the Furbo Dog Camera‘s treat-tossing feature excellent for interacting with your pet while away. They also liked the recording feature, saying it made training out their puppy’s bad behaviors much easier. For serious anxiety, your vet may prescribe medication in conjunction with dedicated training.
Best treats for crate training for separation anxiety
Merrick Power Bites Salmon Treats
Delicious, high-value dog treats should only be for training. These nutritious chews feature salmon and potatoes. Use these only for crate training so your dog makes positive associations.
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Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.fox16.com/reviews/br/pets-br/training-br/how-to-crate-train-a-dog-with-separation-anxiety/ | 2023-07-30T20:15:54 | 0 | https://www.fox16.com/reviews/br/pets-br/training-br/how-to-crate-train-a-dog-with-separation-anxiety/ |
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What are the best healthy road trip snacks?
Looking for some healthy road trip snacks? While celery sticks and grapes are great all-natural options, there are plenty more worth exploring.
While you’re on the road, convenience is everything. As far as snacks are concerned, the best ones are delicious, satisfying and relatively tidy. After all, you don’t want to derail your journey by having to pull over to clean up spills and messes.
To point you in the right direction, read on for some favorite road trip-worthy delights that range from organic fruit snacks to high-protein trail mixes.
Shop this article: Sistema Small Food Storage Containers, Navitas Organics Blueberry Hemp Organic Power Snacks and One Protein Best Sellers Variety Pack
What to know about healthy road trip snacks
What to look for in road trip snacks
If you’re wondering how road trip snacks vary compared to regular ones, it boils down to a few key characteristics.
- Road trip snacks should be somewhat mess-free. At the very least, they should be easy to clean up.
- The packages of snacks should be easy to open on their own. If possible, stick to individual snack bags that tear open, or purchase reusable containers with twist-off lids.
- To be considerate of other passengers, choose snacks without strong odors. Tuna or certain kinds of cheese, for example, might be a bit too pungent.
- To stave off hunger until the next stop at a restaurant, opt for nutrient-dense snacks. Foods that are high in protein and fiber may keep you feeling fuller longer.
Packaged snacks vs. homemade snacks
When it comes to healthy road trip snacks, there are two options: either keep it simple with packaged snacks or whip up your own.
Packaged snacks are convenient since they’re small and premeasured. Many of these snacks are affordable, especially when you buy them in bulk. However, some packaged snacks contain preservatives or ingredients you may wish to avoid.
Homemade snacks are the better choice for those who want full control over ingredients. While they involve considerable planning, shopping and preparation, making your own snacks can be healthier and more cost-effective than buying packaged snacks.
Healthy road trip snack ideas
Fruits and vegetables
Fruits and veggies make simple road trip snacks when they’re cut into finger food-size pieces. Celery, baby carrots and grape tomatoes are popular options, as are apples and pears.
Sistema Small Food Storage Containers
Enjoy them on their own, or consider bringing road trip-friendly dip. Hummus is a perennial favorite since it’s less likely to spill and can be enjoyed at room temperature. Add a few hearty dollops of your favorite hummus — sweet or savory — into mini food storage containers, like these from Sistema.
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Dehydrated foods
Road trippers may reach for dehydrated foods like jerky and dried apple slices since they’re easy to pack and mess-free.
Presto 06300 Dehydro Electric Food Dehydrator
There are several types of packaged organic, non-GMO and plant-based dehydrated foods, but they can be expensive. Instead, some people opt to buy food dehydrators, like this user-friendly Presto model. It only takes using the device a few times for it to pay for itself and for you to save big on dehydrated treats.
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Simple roll-ups
Roll-ups are mess-free alternatives to crumbly sandwiches, not to mention they’re much easier to hold when they’re cut into pinwheels.
Mr. Tortilla 1 Net Carb Tortilla Wraps
Choose ingredients like cold cuts, cheese or vegetables and roll them in low-carb wraps, like these from Mr. Tortilla. Or, you can slather wraps in nut butter or hummus for a simple, satisfying snack.
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Snack mixes
Snack mixes remain a road trip favorite since they deliver a robust burst of flavor with every bite.
Planters Nut-rition Heart Healthy Nut Mix
While traditional trail mix is available, some people make their own mixes instead. Many use low-salt nut mixes as a base and pair them with organic raisins, dark chocolate chips, coconut shavings or gluten-free cereal.
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Best healthy road trip snacks
Superfood bites
Navitas Organics Blueberry Hemp Organic Power Snacks
Packed with antioxidant-rich blueberries and hemp seeds, these vegan power bites are flavorful, filling and contain 30% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C.
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Gluten-free chips
Besides being non-GMO, these flavor-packed, gluten-free corn chips contain four or fewer ingredients and are free of trans fats.
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Mini fruit bars
That’s It. Mini Fruit Bars Variety Pack
These pocket-friendly fruit bars are only 60 calories apiece. They’re 100% plant-based and are free of the top 12 allergens.
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Seaweed sheets
GimMe Organic Roasted Seaweed Sheets
Indulge in these low-carb seaweed snacks, which are only 25 calories per serving. They’re an excellent source of vitamin B12, vitamin K, iodine and omega-3s.
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Pistachios
Wonderful Pistachios Variety Pack
These shelled pistachio packs come in three flavors and deliver up to 5 grams of protein per serving.
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Protein bars
One Protein Best Sellers Variety Pack
Sink your sweet tooth into these gluten-free protein bars which contain 20 grams of protein and only 1 gram of sugar.
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Organic figs
Sunny Fruit Rehydrated Dried Smyrna Figs
Juicy and sweet, these organic dried figs are rich in fiber and antioxidants. As an added bonus, they’re non-GMO, vegan and Kosher.
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Mini fiber bars
Fiber One Cinnamon Coffee Cake 70-Calorie Bars
In addition to 5 net carbs and only 2 grams of sugar, these bars contain 20% of your daily recommended fiber intake.
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Chocolate-covered almonds
Blue Diamond Dark Chocolate Roasted Almonds
These chocolate-covered almonds are packed in 100-calorie bags and covered in real cocoa powder, and they’re rich in vitamin E.
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Organic fruit snacks
YumEarth Organic Vegan Fruit Snacks
Organic, vegan and non-GMO, these fruit snacks are a tasty pick-me-up or sweet treat. They’re free of artificial dyes and flavors.
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Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.fox16.com/reviews/br/travel-br/travel-essentials-br/best-healthy-road-trip-snacks/ | 2023-07-30T20:16:01 | 0 | https://www.fox16.com/reviews/br/travel-br/travel-essentials-br/best-healthy-road-trip-snacks/ |
A state lawmaker said the New Mexico House Republican Campaign Committee has received an “overwhelmingly positive response” to a parental consent form letter it circulated earlier this month.
“So much so that we will be releasing our Parental Notification and Consent form in Spanish in coming days,” state Rep. Luis Terrazas, R-Silver City, wrote in an email.
The state’s top health and education officials have said, however, the form letter — urging parents to request notification from schools before their children receive medical or mental health care on campus or are exposed to information about gender identity, abortion or contraception — is unenforceable.
Public Education Secretary Arsenio Romero and Health Secretary Patrick Allen sent a letter July 14 to public school officials across New Mexico, stating the parental consent form “does not have any legal effect.”
The letter said the departments aimed to dispel “inaccurate information disseminated by others.”
It clarified parents have the right to consent to medical care for their child, including at school-based health centers. Such clinics do not provide abortions or gender affirming care, though they can provide referrals for students considering these options, the letter said.
“It is crucial to note that parental consent is generally required for a student to receive care,” including at a school-based health center, the letter said, “unless a federal or state statute specifies otherwise.”
Parents’ rights to consent to medical and mental health care for their children is codified in state law, written into the New Mexico Children’s Code’s definition of having “legal custody” of a child.
But state law allows for a few circumstances in which youth can consent to medical care on their own. Teens 14 and older, for instance, can consent to taking psychotropic medications or engaging in certain forms of therapy and counseling. The Children’s Code requires clinicians in such cases to promote the “healthy involvement of a child’s legal custodians and family members in developing and implementing the child’s treatment plan.”
New Mexico has no laws requiring parental consent for minors to receive abortions.
Terrazas wrote in an email the state officials’ response to the GOP initiative “overlooks the fact that courts determine questions of law, not agency bureaucrats.”
He added: “It is disappointing that State agencies are telling parents that they have little to no rights in knowing what is going on in their child’s life.”
The parental consent letter, posted July 10 on the House Republican Campaign Committee’s website, includes a form for parents and guardians to fill out, checking boxes to request notification prior to their child encountering “transgender ideology,” primary care, mental health care, or information or services related to gender-affirming care, abortion or contraception.
The letter also encourages parents to request that a copy of the form be placed in their child’s “permanent record” with the school district.
That isn’t likely to happen at Santa Fe Public Schools.
Sue O’Brien, executive director of student wellness at the district, said the House Republicans’ form is “not a record that is required to be maintained in student permanent records” under state or federal law.
She noted the district has a Gender Support Process that is designed to inform students, families and staff about how district policy protects and affirms transgender, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming students.
“We know that when students feel included, welcome and safe to be themselves, they are better able to fulfill their full potential in all areas of their lives, including school,” O’Brien said.
The GOP push for parental notification in New Mexico comes as states across the country consider Republican-backed legislation imposing strict parental consent requirements for basic student services. Passed in 2022, Florida’s House Bill 1557 — famously dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” law by critics — allows parents to accept or decline all health care services offered at their child’s school, in addition to prohibiting certain classroom discussions on sexual orientation or gender identity.
State Rep. Reena Szczepanski, D-Santa Fe, called the New Mexico House Republicans’ letter a divisive tactic for political gain, bringing “national political lightning rod issues” to a state where they’re not relevant following enactment of a new law, House Bill 7, affirming the right to gender-affirming and reproductive health care.
“I’m a mom with school-aged children, and one thing I have learned over the years is that the most important thing to help a child succeed is great communication between school, parents, teachers — everyone being involved in education is a great thing,” Szczepanski said.
“Unfortunately, I think this letter ... sows the opposite of that,” she continued. “It’s sowing fear and division and unnecessary concern.”
A July 19 letter to Romero and Allen signed by 23 House Republicans contends the Cabinet secretaries’ message to public school officials created further confusion for educators and parents.
“The letter you sent to school leaders suggests that parents have very little say in matters concerning their children,” the letter says.
It poses a list of questions for Romero and Allen, including: “Are you advising school leaders to reject, or ignore, the explicit request by parents to be informed via the parental notification/consent form?”
As of Friday, the GOP lawmakers had not received a response from either Cabinet secretary, House Republican spokesman Matthew Garcia-Sierra said. He added the lawmakers might request hearings on these topics ahead of the 2024 legislative session.
Kelly Pearce, a spokeswoman for the Public Education Department, said the agency has not drafted a response to the July 19 letter. Pearce declined to comment further.
The Department of Health also has not responded to the letter sent by House Republicans, David Barre, a spokesman for the department, wrote in an email Friday.
“We have no additional comment at this time,” Barre wrote. | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/education/new-mexico-school-officials-republican-groups-parent-consent-form-unenforceable/article_cb23760e-24be-11ee-9d14-ffd26f431c72.html | 2023-07-30T20:16:03 | 1 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/education/new-mexico-school-officials-republican-groups-parent-consent-form-unenforceable/article_cb23760e-24be-11ee-9d14-ffd26f431c72.html |
Waves crash against the shoreline on Simmons Island beach on Thursday, July 1, 2021.
An Illinois man died in a reported drowning following a water incident that occurred in Lake Michigan at Simmons Island Beach Saturday night.
The 58-year-old man was with his 28-year-old son, also from Illinois, when both were reportedly struggling while in the water shortly after 6 p.m., according to Sgt. Jeff Galley of the Kenosha Police Department.
“Someone operating a Wave Runner (Jet Ski) tried to get near them to help them out,” Galley said Sunday.
While the younger man was able to hold on as he was being rescued, the older man was not and “ultimately went under the water, Galley said.
“It sounds like he was under the water for 15 minutes before he was pulled out by the Coast Guard,” he said.
Kenosha Fire Department rescue personnel transported the older man to Froedtert Pleasant Prairie Hospital and continued to perform life-saving measures enroute to the medical center. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/one-rescued-another-dies-in-reported-drowning-saturday-night-at-simmons-island-beach/article_ebb77442-2ef5-11ee-ae48-030969e35e3f.html | 2023-07-30T20:16:06 | 0 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/one-rescued-another-dies-in-reported-drowning-saturday-night-at-simmons-island-beach/article_ebb77442-2ef5-11ee-ae48-030969e35e3f.html |
Robert Hake takes a close look at the bultos on display in artist James Cordova's booth during the Traditional Spanish Market and Contemporary Hispanic Market on Saturday in downtown Santa Fe. "There are no words," Hake said, shaking his head at the fine craftsmanship.
Local artists Chas Curtis, left, and Melanie Kirkpatrick dance as Las Flores del Valle perform during the Traditional Spanish Market and Contemporary Hispanic Market.
Art enthusiasts peruse the tinwork of Cleo Romero during the Traditional Spanish and Contemporary Hispanic markets on Saturday in downtown Santa Fe. The streets were filled with people visiting the booths.
Renee Garcia pauses outside the booth of jewelry and retablo artist Felipe Rivera on Saturday during the Traditional Spanish Market and Contemporary Hispanic Market in downtown Santa Fe.
Robert Hake takes a close look at the bultos on display in artist James Cordova's booth during the Traditional Spanish Market and Contemporary Hispanic Market on Saturday in downtown Santa Fe. "There are no words," Hake said, shaking his head at the fine craftsmanship.
Local artists Chas Curtis, left, and Melanie Kirkpatrick dance as Las Flores del Valle perform during the Traditional Spanish Market and Contemporary Hispanic Market.
Art enthusiasts peruse the tinwork of Cleo Romero during the Traditional Spanish and Contemporary Hispanic markets on Saturday in downtown Santa Fe. The streets were filled with people visiting the booths.
Renee Garcia pauses outside the booth of jewelry and retablo artist Felipe Rivera on Saturday during the Traditional Spanish Market and Contemporary Hispanic Market in downtown Santa Fe.
In its early years in the 1980s, the Contemporary Hispanic Market consisted of 11 artists set up in the courtyard at the Palace of the Governors.
Over the years, it has grown to occupy a lion's share of Lincoln Avenue, from Palace Avenue to South Federal Place.
This year the market, which takes place Saturday and Sunday alongside the older Traditional Spanish Market, features 126 artists.
The Contemporary Hispanic Market is a great place for collectors and visitors to see work that is strongly influenced by Spanish traditions — such as tinwork, retablos and woodcarving — yet "unconstrained and fully expansive" in artistic forms, said market President Ramona Vigil-Eastwood.
"We have a jury process every year," Vigil-Eastwood said. "We get new artists in here so we can keep our market fresh."
Tattoo artist Anthony Montoya of Albuquerque, who won the contemporary market's Award of Excellence on Saturday, was selling his art at the market for the first time. His works included wood burning on basswood and ballpoint pen drawings on doilies. His subjects include religious figures, influenced by the retablos and woodcarvings of his grandfather.
"I've always seen it in my life, so it's definitely inspired me to do something similar," Montoya said. "I love the permanence of ballpoint pen and wood burning — you get one shot at it, and it's very in the moment."
Vigil-Eastwood said collectors show up early Saturday morning each year, hunting for new artists as well as new works from artists they know and love. By early afternoon Saturday, Montoya only had two works left at his booth.
Other artists have come to the Contemporary Hispanic Market for decades.
Cynthia Cook has had a booth at the market for 34 years, with the exception of the two years the event was canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her display Saturday included mixed media collages and other works that featured reused food cans, as well as garlands made of bullet casings she found in various locations with "informal shooting ranges" in New Mexico.
There's a theory, Cook said, that traditional Hispanic tinwork in New Mexico evolved as a craft from work that was originally completed with food cans tossed off trains by soldiers crossing the state. She creates large frames, earrings and other items using a repoussé technique on such cans she finds herself.
"When I read that in high school that it was food cans that originally started the interested in tinwork, I just kind of skipped the tin part and went right to the can," Cook said.
Her proclivity for using food cans as an art medium also comes from a desire to reuse, as well as an aversion to "conspicuous consumption," she said.
"I always got really excited by saving things and by being resourceful with what you have," she said.
Artist Brandon Maldonado, who returned to the market for the first time since 2008, felt he could reach a different audience for his retablos and interact with the public more than he could selling his work in galleries.
Maldonado said his works have, for the last several years, been inspired by famous painters like Pablo Picasso as well as New Mexican santeros Antonio Molleno and José Rafael Aragón.
"I'm a fan of art," Maldonado said, "but I can't afford a Picasso — I can't even afford [Molleno's and Aragón's] work — so I have to make my own."
Across Lincoln Avenue from Maldonado's booth, artist John Paul Granillo was selling his paintings, which included oil paintings, acrylics and mixed media featuring contemporary subjects "interwoven with traditional," he said.
Granillo's works feature traditional images from his culture, such as the stripes of a serape, along with contemporary elements like spray-painted designs and street art.
"The contemporary artists aren't always well-known artists," Granillo said. "They're people from the community, but they're not in these galleries out here. The market is one place where they do get a voice and they get a chance to create revenue." | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/artists-bend-traditions-for-contemporary-hispanic-market/article_451f1634-20cd-11ee-b679-5f1c114cff01.html | 2023-07-30T20:16:09 | 0 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/artists-bend-traditions-for-contemporary-hispanic-market/article_451f1634-20cd-11ee-b679-5f1c114cff01.html |
A comprehensive guide to pop-up campers
A pop-up camper provides a tentlike experience without having to sleep on the ground. When hitting the road in your pop-up camper, consider what and how to eat, what to sleep in, what toiletries to bring and what to do in case of an emergency.
Shop this article: Eagles Nest Outfitters Spark Camp Quilt, Sea to Summit X-Pot Collapsible Camping Cookpot and Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight Watertight .5 Medical First Aid Kit
What is a pop-up camper?
Pop-up campers are lightweight, compact vehicles that can park in more secluded areas due to their size. They are more affordable than the average camper and are quick to pack up and hook up, making the road trip easier. They can also keep you warmer than a tent in colder months but cooler in the heat of summer.
Pop-up camper setup
There are five aspects of pop-up camper setup.
- Location: Locate where you want to set up your camper and consider the slope of the ground, nearby trees and electrical hookups. This is where to check if your camper is level. If it is not level, you can use blocks to prop up one of the sides before unhooking the tow vehicle.
- Power: To power up the camper, run its electrical cord to the campsite’s electrical hookup after turning off the breaker. Once connected, you can turn the breaker on to provide electricity to amenities such as the sink and the refrigerator. At this point, users can crank down the leg support and crank up the roof.
- Beds: Make sure that the canvas is not holding onto anything and pull the first bed handle out to start setting up the beds. From there, pull the support pole free and position this onto the stud on the frame. Repeat this process for the remaining poles. Lastly, lift both beds to latch the supports until the beds sit down firmly.
- Water and propane: To set up water and propane in your pop-up camper, lift and lower the galley handle until it is in position. Then, link the male end of the propane hose to the female end on the lower frame of the camper. Finally, connect a sanitary water hose from your trailer to the water spigot at the campsite.
- Water heater: To set up the water heater, you need to access the hot water tank, turn the gas knob to “pilot” and hold down. Place a flame on the pilot end of the tube using a long lighter. Hold this down until it stays lit. You should be able to turn on the knob, and the hot water tank should start to heat your water.
Pre-make your food
Before hitting the road in your pop-up camper, make your meals ahead of time. These meals can be complete meals stored in a cooler or prepped to be quickly cooked at a campsite. Also, pre-pack any portion meals that you plan to make by the fire for convenience.
Stock your pop-up camper with necessities
Buy a set of camping pots and pans in advance to prepare for every meal and anything that goes on in the kitchen. This ensures that you do not have to go back and forth for camping utilities or go without food for a short time because you were unprepared. Moreover, pack extra sleeping bags and sheets of various insulation to prepare for any situation that may occur.
Air out your pop-up camper after it rains
Mold and other bacteria are more likely to form when it rains. Due to the foldable nature of the pop-up camper, this bacteria can get into crevices and breed. Before packing up your camper after it rains, make sure everything is dry so that it can be clean to use for the next trip.
Tips for hitting the road in a pop-up camper
If you are a first-time camper, keep your trip close to home in case something goes wrong, or it turns out that you are underprepared. This ensures that you are close to safety and have everything that you need. Additionally, make a grocery list and a checklist for all items that you think you need to bring in advance.
Pop-up camper FAQ
Where do I go to the bathroom while camping?
A. If there is no bathroom in your pop-up camper and you do not want to go out in nature, travel with a portable camping toilet. This item is best for rooftop tents, car campers and drive-up camp spots.
What style of chair is best to bring on a camping trip?
A. Classic camp chairs are a good choice. These chairs have four legs and are very stable. They make sitting and standing an act of ease in comparison to low chairs and rocking chairs. They’re also affordable.
Sleep essentials
Eagles Nest Outfitters Spark Camp Quilt
This 3-in-1 blanket, quilt and sleeping bag provides warmth and comfort in 40- to 60-degree weather. The weather-resistant materials help protect the sleeping bag from rain and any other damage caused by the elements.
Sold by Backcountry
Kelty Mistral Sleeping Bag: 40 Fahrenheit Down
This mummy-style sleeping bag keeps heat in while being lightweight and durable. It comes with a stuff sack for storage and features an offset quilt construction to prevent cold spots. CloudLoft insulation locks in heat. The zipper is anti-snag, and the bag fits up to 6 feet in length. Use it inside or outside the pop-up tent.
Sold by Amazon
Kitchen essentials
Sea to Summit X-Pot Collapsible Camping Cookpot
This camping cook pot is heat-resistant and BPA-free to ensure food safety. The entire pot is collapsible for storage in small spaces. Its aluminum base conducts heat evenly for the best cooking experience and it comes with a strainer lid.
Sold by Amazon
MalloMe Camping Cookware Mess Kit Gear
This camping cookware kit is portable and made with food-safe, non-toxic anodized aluminum. The kit includes an aluminum nonstick pot, a pot cover, a nonstick pan, two bowls, a folding stainless steel spork, a soup spoon, a wooden spoon spatula, a cleaning sponge and a nylon travel drawstring pouch. It can be easily attached to a backpack and carried to campsites.
Sold by Amazon
First-aid essentials
Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight Watertight .5 Medical First Aid Kit
This first aid kit provides all the needed materials for any accidents that could happen while camping in your pop-up camper. It includes a wide array of medical supplies to treat pain, inflammation and common allergies. The wraps and bandages assist in immobilizing fractures and provide support. The antiseptic wipes and butterfly bandages help clean small wounds.
Sold by Amazon
Adventure Medical Sportsman Series Medical Kit
This medical kit provides items that treat common camping injuries. It is organized by injury type for quick access in an emergency and provides all the basic tools needed. This kit is also lightweight and portable.
Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.fox16.com/reviews/br/travel-br/travel-essentials-br/pop-up-camper-guide-everything-you-need-in-order-to-hit-the-road/ | 2023-07-30T20:16:09 | 1 | https://www.fox16.com/reviews/br/travel-br/travel-essentials-br/pop-up-camper-guide-everything-you-need-in-order-to-hit-the-road/ |
Ninety-nine-year-old Margarita Rodríguez Rodarte makes salsa with her daughter, Margarita Boule, on Friday at their Santa Fe home. After living in the U.S. for 12 years, Rodarte became a U.S. citizen.
Ninety-nine-year-old Margarita Rodríguez Rodarte makes salsa with her daughter, Margarita Boule, on Friday at their Santa Fe home. After living in the U.S. for 12 years, Rodarte recently became a U.S. citizen.
Ninety-nine-year-old Margarita Rodríguez Rodarte makes salsa with her daughter, Margarita Boule, on Friday at their Santa Fe home. After living in the U.S. for 12 years, Rodarte became a U.S. citizen.
Ninety-nine-year-old Margarita Rodríguez Rodarte makes salsa with her daughter, Margarita Boule, on Friday at their Santa Fe home. After living in the U.S. for 12 years, Rodarte recently became a U.S. citizen.
It took nearly a lifetime, but Margarita Rodríguez Rodarte has lived up to her nickname.
Despite a series of hurdles, the woman known as “Cenicienta” — Spanish for Cinderella — became a U.S. citizen last month at the age of 99.
But it’s not a fairy tale: even eight months shy of 100, she gets up every morning and asks her family how she can help around the house. When she’s not doing that, she’s making salsa and knitting for people she doesn’t even know.
“She’s a very special lady,” said Mike Boule, Rodarte’s son-in-law.
A native of Mexico, Rodarte has lived in Santa Fe for the past 12 years. The ceremony, which took place June 26 in Albuquerque, was an emotional day, she said, because she couldn’t believe she had really made it.
Rodarte lived in Mexico City and moved to Ciudad Juárez when she got married to her husband. When he died 12 years ago, her daughter moved her to Santa Fe to live with her and her husband because they didn’t want her to be alone.
Rodarte said she loves “everything” about Santa Fe, adding she has been treated very well in the United States. She expressed particular gratitude for her daughter and son-in-law. The feeling is mutual.
“She’s beloved,” said Margarita Boule, her daughter.
Rodarte had to jump through several hurdles to obtain citizenship.
Because she doesn’t speak English, she received a waiver for the written portion of the test, but still had to complete the U.S. history and civics portions. She was worried she wouldn’t pass, but squeaked by.
She also had to be fingerprinted, but because of her age her fingerprints have faded. The family received a letter from the FBI that informed them the agency couldn’t read her prints. On her second attempt, she had her prints taken by a specialist. It worked.
For every requirement, she had to get up early and go to an appointment in Albuquerque.
“We are proud that she didn’t quit,” Boule said. “She didn’t give up.”
Late-in-life accomplishment runs in the family. An engineer by trade, Rodarte’s husband, Francisco Ochoa, went back to school and earned a master’s degree in hydrology at age 87.
He died at 91.
“He was an example to all of us,” Boule said.
Boule said government officials were extremely kind and helpful to her mother throughout the process of obtaining citizenship, though it’s not common when someone her age goes through the process.
Rodarte remains active; she likes to help in the kitchen and her specialty is salsa, which she makes the traditional way, by hand with a molcajete.
She’s also still an avid knitter, making batches of scarves, shawls and baby clothes that Margarite Boule takes with her to work as a teacher.
“Every teacher that’s going to have a baby, I’ll take one,” she said, gesturing to a hand-knitted baby sweater from her mother. It’s a skill Rodarte proudly said is self-taught.
“I never had a teacher,” she said in Spanish.
Rodarte keeps in touch with her son, two grandchildren and a large collection of nieces and nephews on both sides of the family through Facetime and in-person visits. Last year, she took a six-week trip to Mexico City to see relatives.
Her 100th birthday will be in March.
The family held a big party for her 90th and 95th celebrations, and plan to hold another next year.
She’s in impressive health. The only medication she takes is ibuprofen, and before the pandemic she was still working out at a gym at the assisted living center near the family’s house. She credits her health with eating well and living a healthy lifestyle — though she still has the occasional indulgence.
“I like tequila from time to time,” she said with a laugh.
The family is proud of Rodarte’s accomplishment, and she’s inspired people in the community as well.
When they took the dress she was going to wear to the naturalization ceremony to get altered because the sleeves were too long, one of the employees made the adjustments the same day when she heard what it was for.
The day of the ceremony, the family went out for a meal to celebrate.
One member of the wait staff heard them talking about Rodarte becoming a citizen and brought Champagne to the table. She said Rodarte had inspired her to try to become a citizen as well, her daughter recalled.
“If you can do it, so can I,” Boule said the woman told her mother.
It’s that message the family hopes to spread by sharing Rodarte’s achievement. | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/at-99-santa-fe-resident-becomes-u-s-citizen/article_18e0c730-2c93-11ee-9af3-8ff567d48235.html | 2023-07-30T20:16:15 | 1 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/at-99-santa-fe-resident-becomes-u-s-citizen/article_18e0c730-2c93-11ee-9af3-8ff567d48235.html |
BALTIMORE (AP) — Aaron Judge is giving the New York Yankees an immediate boost — at a time when their front office has some tough decisions to make.
Judge homered and singled twice in his second game back from the injured list and the Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-3 on Saturday night. Giancarlo Stanton and Kyle Higashioka went deep as well for New York, which is still 3 1/2 games behind Toronto and Houston for the last two wild cards in the American League.
That’s a tricky spot with Tuesday’s trade deadline approaching.
“We’ve had years where we stick with who we got. We’ve had years where we get some bullpen arms, starters, a big bat,” Judge said. “It comes down to us doing our job on the field and then letting them take care of the rest. We’ll see what happens.”
The Yankees knocked out struggling Orioles starter Tyler Wells (7-6) in the third inning. In the sixth, Isiah Kiner-Falefa capped a 10-pitch at-bat with a three-run double to make it 8-3.
Judge has three walks and three hits in nine plate appearances since returning Friday from the toe injury that kept him out since early June.
Ryan Mountcastle homered for the Orioles, but Clarke Schmidt (7-6) made it through five tough innings and the New York bullpen took it from there.
The Orioles remained 1 1/2 games ahead of Tampa Bay atop the AL East.
Judge walked three times Friday night, but the Yankees lost that game 1-0 on a ninth-inning homer by Baltimore’s Anthony Santander. New York’s offense was relentless a night later.
Stanton’s first-inning drive easily cleared the big wall in left field at Camden Yards. Mountcastle tied it in the second, and Baltimore went ahead 2-1 on an RBI infield single by Ramón Urías. That lead was short-lived.
Judge hit a two-run shot — 442 feet to center field — in the third. Then Gleyber Torres added a sacrifice fly an inning later.
Santander made it 4-3 with an RBI groundout in the fifth, but New York broke the game open in the sixth. Cole Irvin allowed a leadoff homer by Higashioka — his third hit of the night — and then one-out singles to Judge, Stanton and Anthony Rizzo.
Bryan Baker came in and struck out DJ LeMahieu, but after fouling off five pitches, Kiner-Falefa cleared the bases with a line drive to left.
“One of the best at-bats of the season right there,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
Wells entered the game with a major league-leading WHIP of 0.99, but he allowed three runs, three hits and three walks in 2 2/3 innings. In three starts since the All-Star break, he’s lasted just nine innings total.
“I think we’re going to be talking about a lot of things here coming up,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “Obviously, we’re in a weird week. He’s had tough times his last few starts. I think there are going to be discussions going on.”
Boone said he’s leaning toward giving Judge a day off in the series finale Sunday night. The Yankees are in a stretch of 13 games in 13 days.
“I kind of look at it as, hopefully he’s in a position to start nine or 10 of them,” Boone said. “Forget the toe. He hasn’t come close to playing games for almost two months. As much as I want him in there, we’ve got to be smart here a little bit, especially in this run.”
DIFFERENT ORDER
The Orioles used catcher Adley Rutschman in the leadoff spot because of his ability to get on base. He was hit by a pitch, walked and scored a run.
UP NEXT
New York’s Luis Severino (2-4) starts Sunday night against Baltimore’s Dean Kremer (10-4). It’s the final game of the season series, which is tied 6-all.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-aaron-judge-has-a-homer-and-3-hits-in-his-2nd-game-back-to-help-the-yankees-top-the-orioles-8-3/ | 2023-07-30T20:16:16 | 0 | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-aaron-judge-has-a-homer-and-3-hits-in-his-2nd-game-back-to-help-the-yankees-top-the-orioles-8-3/ |
WHITE ROCK — Mad as a hatter, Christa Tyler decided to open a cannabis consumption lounge in this bedroom suburb situated in the shadow of Los Alamos.
The colorfully drawn Hatter’s Lounge, as she calls the welcoming space within her 420 Tea Time dispensary, features a wide array of cannabis products and a coffee bar. There’s also some diner-style booths and tables for patrons to sit at, plus board games and a big TV. The décor and motif are based on Alice in Wonderland, which, you could argue, is full of pipe dreams.
In New Mexico, running a cannabis consumption lounge — sort of like a bar for devotees of pot — is no longer a pipe dream for those who want it.
But that doesn’t mean you can smoke a pipe there.
While the Cannabis Regulation Act does allow consumption lounges to offer pre-rolled joints to patrons ready to light up, by state law smoking is permitted only in designated areas or standalone buildings, and smoke cannot infiltrate indoor public or work spaces where smoking is otherwise prohibited.
And cities and municipalities have not only the right to approve the opening of consumption lounges, but also the right to prohibit smoking and/or vaping as well.
Tyler said that is affecting her business. When customers come in wanting a pre-rolled joint and find out they cannot smoke on the premises, they get a “to-go” order instead.
“It kind of defeats the purpose. Like, ‘You can consume, but only consume part of it,’ ” she said.
As a result, the lounge part of her business has been slow, but takeout business has been good, she said.
Tyler opened her lounge in September. She said she gets at least 35 customers a day, and that’s enough to make a profit, pay the bills and employ five other people in her shop. Mostly she loves the idea of running her own business, one where people can play games or watch the Disney Channel while enjoying some edibles.
“The world is so dark lately. I wanted to open a bright, happy place where people come in and consume and maybe have a better day,” she said in an interview at her business.
And at least she’s up and running in a new industry that is having a little trouble taking root in New Mexico. Under the Cannabis Regulation Act, which legalized the production and sale of cannabis as of April 1 of last year, the state’s Regulation and Licensing Department has approved nearly 20 consumption lounges around the state, though not all of them have opened.
Nationwide, the trend is equally slow, with just 10 states approving cannabis consumption lounges, including Nevada, where efforts to open lounges in Las Vegas have slowed because of changing regulations, funding issues and administrative delays, according to a recent MJBizDaily article.
“The reality is, cannabis lounges have not really taken off around the country,” said Linda Trujillo, superintendent of the state Regulation and Licensing Department, which oversees the cannabis industry.
She said the right of local governments to authorize or disallow consumption lounges “maybe adds another bit of a barrier for individuals.”
Other challenges, like state law forbidding alcohol and cannabis being served in the same place and the need to adhere to the state’s clean air regulations when it comes to smoking — be it tobacco or cannabis — may be playing a role in the slow growth of the lounge industry in the state, she said in an interview.
“It’s similar to a tobacco bar, which we don’t have in New Mexico,” Trujillo said.
She said consumption lounges are “just a difficult concept that hasn’t found its place yet.”
Certainly not in Santa Fe. Tyler, who lives in Los Alamos, said she thought about opening her business in Santa Fe before discovering the city had no provision in place to approve them.
While the state allows for supervised consumption areas, “municipalities are not required to adopt provisions for those and to date, the city has taken no action to adopt rules and regulations for this use,” Jason Kluck, director of Santa Fe’s Planning and Land Use Department, wrote in an email.
“I recall there was some general discussion about the merits of consumption areas early on … but we have not had any further internal conversations since around the spring of 2022,” he wrote. “Nor have I seen any requests regarding the possibility of including provision for supervised cannabis consumption areas in the code.”
So Tyler shifted her plan to White Rock, a community of fewer than 6,000 people close to the entrance to the popular Bandelier National Monument.
The White Rock community has been supportive, she said, and she also gets a good share of tourists. But most come in, buy something and leave. Efforts to offer different non-cannabis foodstuffs, from pastries to lasagna, failed to draw the non-cannabis crowd in, while the cannabis crowd wondered why there was no marijuana in those products.
Another unexpected challenge, she discovered, is that some of her patrons don’t want to stick around and be noticed by others.
“They don’t want people to know they are cannabis users,” she said.
Some customers do stay for a while. James Nelson, who owns a toy and gaming store in Los Alamos, is one of them. He said in an interview he comes to 420 Tea Time three to four times a week because of its relaxed atmosphere.
He said it’s an ideal space for both cannabis users and those who do not use to meet.
“If you are having a business meeting with somebody and you want [cannabis-]infused tea, you can have it and they don’t have to have it,” he said during a recent visit to the site.
While he understands Tyler’s desire to have pot smokers hang around, he said, “I don’t know if I want general smoking like we had in restaurants in the past. I am a consumer, but I know a lot of people wouldn’t want to walk into a place where there is smoke.”
Alisha Garbett of White Rock is another regular. Often she comes in to play some of the board games Tyler has for visitors — Monopoly, Scrabble, Catan — and sip infused tea. She said there are few social places for people to play board games.
“I love that they have a décor that they’ve chosen and stuck to. I think that makes it more whimsical,” she said in an interview. She said that while she does not smoke cannabis, she would be OK with other people smoking around her at 420 TeaTime.
Over time, Nelson thinks cannabis consumption lounges will take flight in municipalities that allow them.
“It’s a matter of the right people opening them,” he said. “This kind of business has a dynamic where you have to have friendly people working there — good, knowledgeable people who can talk to you about the product and the effects.”
Maybe so, but Trujillo said it’s unlikely there will be statewide action to change the rules regarding local control over consumption lounges anytime soon. Her agency is now prioritizing ramping up compliance efforts to ensure all cannabis businesses are adhering to state laws regarding the new industry.
“We have to focus on priorities that matter and that is not our focus at this moment,” she said.
In Santa Fe, Kluck said in a phone interview that in order to allow cannabis consumption lounges in the city, someone would have to “approach the city to start a conversation on the possibility and we would review all the parameters and decide if an ordinance change is warranted.”
Another option, he said, is a member of the city’s governing body could sponsor an ordinance amendment.
Tyler is not giving up on making her Hatter’s Lounge a comfortable place for anyone over the age of 21. She’s working on drawing in customers by holding book signings and hosting car shows. She wants to begin offering live performance pieces and visual arts shows — anything to attract people with the hope they hang around and make it a regular gathering place.
In the meantime, she gestures around her mostly empty space and says she feels like she’s wasting at least 80% of it.
“If they allowed smoking, this place would be packed,” she said. | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/cannabis-lounges-face-regulatory-hurdles-for-public-consumption/article_96fc056c-28c4-11ee-8989-17aead92d96d.html | 2023-07-30T20:16:21 | 0 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/cannabis-lounges-face-regulatory-hurdles-for-public-consumption/article_96fc056c-28c4-11ee-8989-17aead92d96d.html |
BALTIMORE (AP) — Aaron Judge homered for the first time since returning from a toe injury, sending a 442-foot drive over the wall in center field in the third inning against Baltimore on Saturday night.
The two-run shot gave the New York Yankees a 3-2 advantage. Giancarlo Stanton hit a solo homer in the first.
Judge was hitless since returning Friday, although he drew three walks in that game. He hit a towering flyout in his first plate appearance Saturday. Then he connected off Tyler Wells two innings later.
It was his 20th home run of the season. Judge started in right field Saturday after he was the designated hitter Friday.
Judge had been out since tearing a ligament in his right big toe June 3.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-aaron-judge-slugs-442-foot-homer-in-2nd-game-back-for-yankees-from-toe-injury/ | 2023-07-30T20:16:23 | 1 | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-aaron-judge-slugs-442-foot-homer-in-2nd-game-back-for-yankees-from-toe-injury/ |
A three-year, $593,400 grant provided by three entities of the S3 Santa Fe Housing Initiative could soon help with tracking populations of people experiencing homelessness in Santa Fe — a figure advocates and officials have yet to get a handle on.
The grant’s recipient, the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness, will use the funds to hire two employees who will work to identify and track homeless populations in the city and county, said Executive Director Monet Silva. She hopes to have the positions filled this fall.
The S3 Santa Fe Housing Initiative is a collaborative effort between the nonprofit community health organization Anchorum St. Vincent, philanthropic partners at the Santa Fe Community Foundation and Thornburg Foundation, plus the city of Santa Fe, Santa Fe County and the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness.
Grant funds were provided by Anchorum St. Vincent, the Santa Fe Community Foundation and the Thornburg Foundation, Silva said.
Allan Oliver, executive director the Thornburg Foundation, which contributed $150,000 to the project, said the goal is to achieve “functional zero homelessness,” or “having enough beds available to individuals and families.”
The data system, he said, will be shared among agencies and providers so suitable housing and services can be more strategically available to those in need.
Agencies and providers track their own clients, but there is no central agency for accessing that information, Oliver said.
Joe Dudziak, who champions Chaplain Joe’s Street Outreach, providing sleeping bags and backpacks filled with necessities to homeless people, has been tracking the city’s homeless populations with a pen and a notebook for three years. He knows more than 100 homeless people by name and mostly where they move from day to day.
“They have their work cut out for them,” Dudziak said of the tracking effort, explaining recent enforcement of city ordinances has caused an upheaval within the city’s homeless, forcing them out of areas in which they had set up camp.
Additionally, he said, commercial developments have pushed homeless people into different areas of the city.
“It’s leaving people with nowhere to go,” Dudziak said. “There’s not many people who are just camped in a tent. I think it’s going to be pretty tough. The people getting by the best are those who have lightened their loads and bed down for the night and move in the morning.”
Advocates are hesitant to pin a number on Santa Fe’s homeless population because efforts to capture information through census data or data reports required by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development are unreliable, Silva said.
Oliver echoed Silva’s statement. Censuses are point-in-time counts, he said.
“They’re inaccurate the day after,” he said. “And there are questions about how accurate they are even on the day of the count. There are a lot of people who don’t even want to be counted. It’s a low-trust population.”
John Bacon, chairman of the Lived Experience Advisory Board in Santa Fe, an advisory group composed of people who have experienced homelessness or who are homeless, said he applauds the effort. But like Dudziak, he said tracking people may be harder than it appears.
“For those who want services, it’ll make the numbers more accurate,” he said. “It’s definitely going to be beneficial for anyone who might be in encampments who might have given up hope. Any effort and money to help the homeless is extremely beneficial ... that being said, it’s very difficult to track people.”
Keith “Richard” Coleman, who serves on the advisory board, said he also thinks those outside of shelters will be hard to pin down.
”There’s a good group of homeless people who won’t go to shelters because they’re afraid,” he said. “They don’t like being around people, and they don’t trust people.”
Silva said the binding list will put all agencies and providers on the same page.
“We find that a lot of times agencies are working in silos, and there’s not a lot of sharing going on,” she said. “We’re not able to get this really clean data. We think, ‘We have this many,’ but we’re not quite sure. People can opt out. We can physically see that they are sleeping in tents on the street, or we know they are hotel-hopping, but we cannot count them unless they give us permission to do that. This data allows us — the government and legislators — to know how much housing we need and what services we need.”
The data further provides statistics such as ages and genders so suitable housing and services can be better matched to the person or family, Silva said.
“Through this we learn that ‘John Smith’ has been homeless for X number of months or years, and this is why he is homeless, and this where he has stayed,” she said.
“We will have a complete understanding of who John Smith is and be able to help him in the way that best makes sense for him. We’ll know everyone by name and by doing that, we’ll be able to get people placed into housing much more quickly and smoothly.”
She said she also hopes the data will cover the vast types of homeless populations in the community. The man on the street corner with a sign may be the stereotypical homeless person, but Silva said the picture is much broader.
“The majority we see are invisible,” Silva said. “Maybe they have a little money for a hotel or are couch surfing or they are sleeping on the riverbank where you can’t find them. And then there are people who are homeless that you could never know are homeless — people who go to work and whose kids go to school. The narrative that it’s that person on the corner who is a drug addict and who has a mental illness without really knowing the person and understanding how they got there is the very widespread narrative.” | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/groups-launch-functional-zero-initiative-to-tackle-homelessness/article_326b0732-2c99-11ee-a811-2b3dc2ef141a.html | 2023-07-30T20:16:27 | 1 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/groups-launch-functional-zero-initiative-to-tackle-homelessness/article_326b0732-2c99-11ee-a811-2b3dc2ef141a.html |
TORONTO (AP) — Los Angeles Angels manager Phil Nevin was suspended for one game and fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball on Saturday for a postgame outburst at an umpire following a loss to the Toronto Blue Jays a night earlier.
Bench coach Ray Montgomery managed the Angels during the second game of the three-game series as Nevin served his suspension.
Nevin was seen holding up a tablet computer and yelling at plate umpire Mike Estabrook as the crew left the field after the 4-1 loss Friday night.
The umpires access their locker room through the tunnel at the end of the visitor’s dugout on the first base side of Rogers Centre.
A Toronto police officer accompanied the umpire crew as it descended the dugout steps. Montgomery had to restrain Nevin as the umpires passed through the end of the dugout.
Nevin was angry about the game-ending called third strike against pinch hitter Michael Stefanic, who entered in the ninth inning with the bases loaded after Shohei Ohtani left because of cramping in both of his calves.
“I just explained to him that I thought the pitch to Stefanic was outside,” Nevin later told reporters.
Ohtani hit his major league-leading 39th home run in the series opener — part of a streak of three homers in three at-bats over two games — before exiting early.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-angels-manager-phil-nevin-suspended-1-game-for-outburst-at-umpire/ | 2023-07-30T20:16:30 | 0 | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-angels-manager-phil-nevin-suspended-1-game-for-outburst-at-umpire/ |
La Familia Health fired one of its longtime physicians after she objected to what she said was the ill treatment of doctors, which included assigning them a high volume of patients with too little time to provide sufficient care to each.
Dr. Wendy Johnson, who had worked at La Familia for more than a decade, including years as the medical director, was fired last month from the Santa Fe health care organization, which serves a high number of low-income minority patients.
Johnson said tensions have grown between medical personnel and new leadership that took over in February with the aim of fixing the financial problems that arose during the coronavirus pandemic.
One approach to boosting revenue is to assign doctors more patients and allow minimal time to diagnose and treat them, even if they are new patients with complicated medical conditions, Johnson said, describing it as an assembly line mentality.
La Familia’s board of directors and CEO challenged Johnson’s characterization, noting the organization’s mission and high volume of uninsured patients require efficiency at a time when health care needs are piling up in the wake of the pandemic.
Johnson said she and other doctors had no issue with taking on more patients to help La Familia’s clinics rebound after the pandemic. But they objected to the rushed and chaotic way patients were scheduled with no input from the doctors, fearing it would compromise care.
When they expressed their concerns, the managers told them to be quiet and deal with it, she said.
“They [managers] believed providers were to be seen and not heard,” Johnson said. “They were completely dismissive of our opinions.”
The “parting of the ways” came when she continued to voice her objections to how the organization was approaching care, Johnson said.
La Familia, which opened its first clinic in 1972, was designated by the federal government as a Federally Qualified Health Center 15 years later, meaning it serves a large enough population of low-income patients, who are either uninsured or underinsured, to qualify for federal grants. Support also comes from the state and local governments, private foundations and contributions, according to the organization’s website.
It now operates two medical clinics, a dental clinic and Healthcare for the Homeless, a clinic that serves members of the homeless community.
About 83% of La Familia’s patients are minorities, 33% are on Medicaid and 16% are uninsured, according to 2021 data from the federal Uniform Data System, the latest information available.
The organization’s internal friction has driven its two dozen medical personnel to pursue unionizing, Johnson said. They are looking to join the Union of American Physicians and Dentists, she added.
The bargaining unit has formed and the union filed for recognition last week with the National Labor Relations Board — and now awaits La Familia managers’ response to the union’s petition to represent the employees, union President Dr. Stuart Bussey wrote in a text message Friday night.
“The major issue is loss of joint decision-making power,” Bussey wrote. “Now hardly any provider input is allowed. This trend mirrors the rest of the country. Health care is now an industry.”
In response to the public criticisms, La Familia’s board of directors and CEO Julie Wright emailed joint statements to The New Mexican.
The new CEO was directed to ramp up service capacity to meet the health care needs that accumulated during the pandemic, the organization’s leaders wrote. At the same time, the clinics must be efficient and responsible in using public funds and donations, they added, noting the clinics’ high volume of uninsured patients makes these tasks challenging.
They called the doctors’ complaint about having to see new patients on a tight schedule “stunning,” saying it’s something every clinician must deal with routinely.
Bringing in new patients for doctors to examine is a key part of La Familia’s mission, they argued. “It’s the reason we exist.”
Doctors are in charge of treating patients, they wrote, and managers determine scheduling.
“Management does not interfere with how our doctors treat their patients, and who they see is determined by their input, licensing, credentialing and privileges,” they wrote. “Scheduling, with provider input, is an administrative obligation to ensure patient access and safe care.”
But Johnson said giving the doctors no say in scheduling is troublesome because some patients require more time than others, especially if the doctor is examining them for the first time.
“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that those two things are intimately connected,” Johnson said. “If you have two very complicated patients scheduled … for 15 minutes each, you don’t have the space and time and environment to practice good medicine. So to say they [administrators] don’t interfere with diagnosis and treatment — it just doesn’t pass the straight-face test.”
Under the current system, a doctor could be assigned a new patient who was just in the hospital with several chronic health conditions, and has 15 minutes to catch everything, even though the patient might not trust the doctor enough to disclose important details, she said.
“Health care is built on relationships,” Johnson said.
The administrators have no medical background, and yet they are dictating to clinicians how to practice medicine, she said. In fact, some of the new leaders have no experience with Santa Fe’s population, she said.
Still, La Familia’s leaders deny they disrespected the medical personnel.
“We have great respect for our doctors, and our focus remains on our mission to serve everyone in our community who needs care, regardless of their ability to pay,” they wrote.
The leaders also said they are aware of the employees’ petition to unionize and respect their right to do so.
One doctor at La Familia, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, said the employees are each on individual contracts, giving them little power to push back against policies with which they disagree.
Being able to collectively bargain is the only way they can stand up not only for themselves but also for the patients, the doctor said.
Johnson’s termination and the demotion of the most recent medical director drove home the need for employee protections, the doctor added.
Johnson said she came on as medical director in 2012 and remained in that job until last year because La Familia provided a wonderful community service and she wanted to be part of it.
Then the pandemic hit, cutting back the clinics’ hours and slowing patient flow to a near trickle. The current leadership is now putting too much emphasis on volume, causing morale to plunge and staffers to burn out, she said, estimating at least half are on the verge of quitting. That’s not something you want in a region where medical providers are so hard to find, she said.
“It doesn’t make financial sense to make conditions so difficult that everybody leaves,” Johnson said. | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/la-familia-fires-longtime-doctor-who-spoke-about-internal-turmoil/article_eb3a5462-2bcb-11ee-8576-c77c84acc6e0.html | 2023-07-30T20:16:34 | 0 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/la-familia-fires-longtime-doctor-who-spoke-about-internal-turmoil/article_eb3a5462-2bcb-11ee-8576-c77c84acc6e0.html |
TORONTO (AP) — Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward was taken to a Toronto hospital for tests after being hit in the head by a pitch from Blue Jays right-hander Alek Manoah in the fifth inning Saturday.
Angels manager Phil Nevin said he planned to visit Ward in the hospital after leaving the stadium following the Angels’ 6-1 loss.
Batting with the bases loaded, Ward was hit by a 2-0 pitch clocked at 91 mph. The ball appeared to strike Ward next to his next left eye, knocking off his batting helmet.
“It got him pretty flush,” Nevin said.
Plate umpire Andy Fletcher motioned to the Angels’ dugout for the trainer as Ward went down with blood running down his face.
“It’s scary,” Angels left-hander Reid Detmers said. “You’re just hoping and praying that he’s all right, that he gets up.”
Angels trainers rushed to the plate and held a towel to Ward’s face. After a couple of minutes, Ward got to his feet and left the field on a cart. His left eye appeared to be swollen shut.
“Obviously it didn’t look very good,” Angels infielder Mike Moustakas said. “Hopefully we get some good news here in a little bit. We’re all praying for him.”
Manoah put his hands on his head as he stood on the mound. It was the second hit batter of the game for Manoah, who hit Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani on the left foot in the first.
Andrew Velazquez ran for Ward, who drove in the first run of the game. Velazquez went to shortstop and Luis Rengifo, who scored on the play, moved to left field in the bottom of the inning.
Asked whether the Angels might visit Ward in hospital, Moustakas said he thought it was better to let his teammate rest.
“I’m sure we’ll all send him some text messages and see how he’s doing, but I don’t know if going over there is a good thing,” Moustakas said. “I don’t think that’s the right thing to do right now. Let him rest and recover, get healthy.”
Before play resumed, Blue Jays manager John Schneider came to the mound and replaced Manoah with left-hander Génesis Cabrera.
After the game, Manoah called it “a terrible moment.”
“That’s probably the worst feeling ever,” Manoah said. “Definitely want to pray for him and his family. That’s the last thing you want to do, no matter the situation, no matter the team, no matter anything. I feel really bad about it. I’ll definitely be looking to see how he’s doing.”
In September 2021, Manoah hit Oakland’s Starling Marte in the helmet with a 92 mph pitch. Marte stayed in the game to run the bases but was later replaced.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-angels-outfielder-taylor-ward-leaves-game-after-being-hit-in-head-by-alek-manoah-pitch/ | 2023-07-30T20:16:38 | 0 | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-angels-outfielder-taylor-ward-leaves-game-after-being-hit-in-head-by-alek-manoah-pitch/ |
A man who was shot on Rufina Street near Richards Avenue early Thursday morning has died, and another man has been charged with killing him.
Santa Fe police responded to a call about a shooting near that intersection at 2:16 a.m. Thursday and found Pedro Cardoso, 28, police said in a news release. He was taken to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in critical condition. According to a police report, he had been shot twice — once in the left buttocks, once in the right hip.
Detectives arrested Joseph Lopez, 34, initially charging him with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and trafficking of a controlled substance, fentanyl.
Cardoso died around 4 a.m. Saturday, and Lopez will now face an open count of murder, police said.
According to the police report, officers found Lopez near the site of the shooting with an injury to his face or head. He told police three men had tried to beat him up and rob him and, in the process, he shot one of his attackers with their own firearm. He said he was in a field visiting his brother when he was jumped and identified his attackers as “Pedro,” “Fat Boy” and “Little Bear,” according to the report.
The report also says police found 97 fentanyl pills inside one of Lopez’s socks, an amount that indicates trafficking rather than personal use.
The homicide is the fifth of 2023 in Santa Fe; there were six in all of 2022.
Three other recent homicides have taken place in the same general area as Cardoso’s shooting. James Towle, 55, was shot to death at Rufina Street and Siler Court in December. Ramon Vigil, 21, was shot and killed in the parking lot of the Lowe’s Home Improvement on Zafarano Drive in April, while Ricardo Chavez-Padilla, 39, was shot in February in the parking lot of the Home Depot on Richards Avenue and later died. The Home Depot is right next to the address where the police report states Cardoso was shot.
Lopez has previously pleaded guilty to felony shoplifting and robbery charges, a few years ago, and at the time of his death, Cardoso had a warrant for his arrest on child abuse and drug possession charges.
Detectives are investigating the incident. More information will be released as it becomes available, police said. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Javier Vigil at 505-955-5412. | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/man-charged-with-homicide-after-victim-of-thursday-shooting-in-santa-fe-dies/article_421caf48-2e59-11ee-baf8-e7c120703382.html | 2023-07-30T20:16:40 | 0 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/man-charged-with-homicide-after-victim-of-thursday-shooting-in-santa-fe-dies/article_421caf48-2e59-11ee-baf8-e7c120703382.html |
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New Mexico health officials and hospital leaders say the worst of COVID-19 is over, with hospitalizations and deaths declining in the state for at least three months.
According to state Department of Health data updated last week, New Mexico reported 283 coronavirus cases in the most recent weeklong period — about 13 cases per 100,000 residents.
The department reported 11 patients were admitted to hospitals for COVID-19 treatment in the same period.
But officials caution New Mexico isn’t entirely in the clear when it comes to a virus that has taken well over 1 million lives across the nation and 9,150 in the state.
“Compared to three years ago and even three months ago, we’re definitely seeing a downward trend in cases, hospitalizations and death. That’s very promising,” said Dr. Laura Parajón, deputy health secretary.
She cautioned, “We’re not completely out of the woods. I think COVID is here to stay — but we are definitely seeing a bright spot.”
The optimism is a far cry from fall 2021, when the state gave hospitals overflowing with patients authorization to enact crisis standards of care, guidelines aimed at helping overwhelmed medical staff prioritize patient needs.
Later that year, some hospitals briefly adopted the guidelines in response to rising numbers of COVID-19 patients.
The state again warned of the potential for crisis care standards in late 2022, when hospitals saw surges of patients with cases of influenza, RSV and mpox virus, as well as COVID-19.
Not even the appearance of another variant of the coronavirus — XBB.1.16 — is cause for worry yet, health officials say.
While we shouldn’t take the variant too lightly, said Dr. David Gonzales, chief medical officer for Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, he isn’t too concerned about it now.
“Wherever it is in the world, we should see how it reacts and count on it doing the same thing when it reaches us,” he said.
Dr. Denise Gonzales, medical director at Presbyterian Medical Group, agreed. She said the new variant “doesn’t seem to have any of the bad features we saw with omicron and delta. There can be all sorts of mutations that happen to COVID-19. Not all mutations are necessarily bad mutations. This one seems relatively mild.”
Health officials noted a number of reasons why COVID-19 is causing fewer health concerns in the state. They say it has weakened over the years as people have fought or avoided it through vaccinations, face masks and social distancing.
Warmer weather leads to people spending more time outside, where they are less likely to contract the virus, officials said.
David Gonzales noted people might be testing for the virus less frequently, leading to an undercount in numbers, and might be attributing COVID-19 symptoms to allergies or the common cold, unaware they have it.
“There is definitely an undercount,” Parajón said.
Those with underlying medical conditions and the elderly, among others, are still susceptible to contracting the virus, she said, adding any New Mexico resident 65 or older is eligible to get a booster shot.
For other vulnerable residents, she advised wearing masks when around other people and washing hands frequently, practices that make a difference.
Parajón said hopefully there will be a new vaccine for COVID-19 that New Mexicans can get when they get their flu shots. | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/new-mexico-health-officials-say-worst-of-covid-19-is-over/article_60e06412-27cc-11ee-8cf7-874199a4b710.html | 2023-07-30T20:16:46 | 0 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/new-mexico-health-officials-say-worst-of-covid-19-is-over/article_60e06412-27cc-11ee-8cf7-874199a4b710.html |
ÉVIAN-LES-BAINS, France (AP) — Céline Boutier carded a 4-under 67 in the third round of the Évian Championship on Saturday to increase her lead to four shots going into the final day.
The 29-year-old Boutier aims to become the first Frenchwoman to win the tournament, which became a major in 2013.
“I didn’t start that good to be honest. I missed the first three greens but got a good break on 2 and was able to chip in. Then I just had really good chances on the two par-fives, seven and nine, and was able to take advantage of that,” said Boutier, who had a bogey on the 12th hole in a round of five birdies.
“I was just trying to focus on making, hitting a good shot, and if I happen to have a birdie opportunity, I hit a solid putt. It was definitely positive and felt pretty good to start very good on the front.”
Boutier’s closest challenger is Japan’s Nasa Hataoka, who posted a 68 on Saturday after rounds of 70 and 67.
“Hopefully I will get more birdies tomorrow. It was good iron shots and distance control,” Hataoka said. “Also I was good too with my putting stroke, so I was really comfortable. Tomorrow is another new day, and I want to enjoy the next 18 holes.”
Minjee Lee of Australia and Brooke Henderson of Canada are joint-third, a shot behind Hataoka.
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-boutier-takes-4-shot-lead-into-final-round-of-evian-championship/ | 2023-07-30T20:16:45 | 0 | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-boutier-takes-4-shot-lead-into-final-round-of-evian-championship/ |
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Presencia de Humo Provoca Evacuación en Centro de Salud
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Parishioners at Santa María de la Paz Catholic Community in south Santa Fe cried while others sat in stunned silence when Archbishop John C. Wester delivered the devastating news at the start of each Sunday Mass a year ago.
The head of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe informed churchgoers the Rev. Daniel Balizan, a charismatic pastor and their shepherd for the past decade, had been removed from his post amid an investigation into alleged misconduct.
“Our mouths dropped. People were crying. We were like, ‘What in the world?’ ” recalled Stephanie Roybal, director of the lector ministry and a parishioner since 2001.
“We were just like in shock,” she said. “It was extremely hard.”
Parishioners’ feelings of sadness and shock resurfaced late last month when federal authorities announced the arrest of the 61-year-old priest, accused of using text messages to coerce and entice a minor to engage in sex — the latest in a long series of sexual abuse and misconduct allegations against clergy in the Catholic Church.
Though unsettling and still difficult for some to believe, parishioners say the charges against their former priest haven’t stopped the church from moving forward or shattered their faith in God.
“Personally, I believe in God and in the Catholic Church, and it doesn’t matter what goes on on the outside — my faith in God is always there,” a parishioner who declined to provide her name said before attending Tuesday’s 12:15 p.m. Mass.
In Balizan’s case, though, he is accused of misconduct not only outside the parish but within its walls.
A lawsuit filed in October by a man now living in Tennessee accuses the priest of sexually assaulting him at the parish about a decade ago, when the man was 15.
The lawsuit says Balizan cultivated a friendship with the plaintiff’s mother and cast himself as a mentor and father figure for the boy, who was estranged from his father. Balizan used the trust he had built with them to groom the boy for sexual abuse, the lawsuit alleges.
The criminal charges against Balizan are tied to the unidentified man’s allegations, according to the man’s attorney, and the text messages Balizan is accused of sending him when he was still a boy paint a picture of a priest struggling with his vocation.
“I want to be faithful to my promise of celibacy, but desire to be more intimate with you,” Balizan is accused of writing in one of thousands of texts between the priest and his accuser.
“Like I told you before, I only feel bad because of your age. … If you were 18 or over, I wouldn’t feel bad at all because I do love you,” the priest is alleged to have written in another text message.
In court documents, which identify the accuser only as John Doe, prosecutors assert the text messages exhibit “textbook sexual grooming behavior” and “represent a gross misuse of [Balizan’s] position of trust to coerce John Doe into sexual acts.”
Parishioner Mary O’Kane, who has been a member of Santa María de la Paz Catholic Community for about eight years, said she continues to grapple with the allegations against Balizan.
“I thought he was a very, very, very good person, and his homilies were just outstanding,” said O’Kane, who sings in the church choir.
“I just found him to be a very fine and a very good priest,” she said.
O’Kane said she was shocked and “just devastated” when the archbishop announced Balizan had been removed from his post over alleged misconduct.
“It was just complete silence through the whole congregation,” she said.
‘A punch to the gut’
Despite the salacious allegations, the parish has been able pick up the pieces and continue its religious devotion, said another parishioner, a man who also declined to provide his name.
“In general, I’d say we’re holding together pretty good,” he said. “We miss Father Daniel, but we have Father Darrell now, and so we’re going forward.”
The new parish priest, the Rev. Darrell J. Segura Jr., did not return messages seeking comment, and parish staff referred all inquiries to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.
In an interview with The New Mexican, Wester said the allegations against Balizan evoke different reactions from different people, from those who have been abused or know someone who has been abused to those who had a close relationship with Balizan and feel betrayed.
“I think it’s a struggle we all have to go through,” Wester said. “We have the same emotions, you know. It’s a shock to us. Feeling very sorry for the [accuser], obviously, first and foremost, and hearing one of our priests has [allegedly] done this. … It’s like a punch to the gut.”
Wester noted the archdiocese has been tackling the issue of clergy sex abuse since the 1990s and that the Roman Catholic Church established a charter for the protection of children and young people in 2002, commonly known as the Dallas Charter, to address allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy.
“We remind the priests and the people constantly of staying alert and being careful,” he said, adding the church conducts background checks and also offers educational programs.
But the archdiocese’s history with clergy abuse remains fresh: In late 2022, it settled a $121.5 million bankruptcy case following waves of lawsuits against its priests. The agreement with nearly 400 people who’d accused priests of sexual abuse concluded years of litigation in those cases.
“It’s just hard to imagine how this can still go on, but the reality is it does go on, as we know in our society,” Wester said. “It’s not just the church. It goes on, sadly, around the country. It’s something we have to be vigilant about constantly — and we are. We’re constantly monitoring and making sure parishes are doing what they’re supposed to do and that we’re doing what we’re supposed to do according to our covenants and our agreements.”
Roybal, who leads the lector ministry at Santa María, said the archdiocese has failed to give parishioners an opportunity to talk about what happened with their former priest, leaving somewhat of a void and an inability for them to express their feelings.
“I was very upset and still am kind of upset at the archbishop because he literally came in that weekend — he was at every Mass — and told us that Father Balizan was on administrative leave and then he left and then there was no support from the archbishop at all,” she said, adding Segura, a relatively young priest, had to deal with the fallout on his own.
Segura “did a wonderful job,” she said. “He tried to bring us together and keep us going, but it was a very, very sad time when we got the announcement.”
Roybal called it a “very sad time” not just for Santa María but also the entire Catholic Church.
“Just talking with my fellow parishioners, everybody is pretty much extremely disappointed, extremely shocked,” she said, referring to the allegations against Balizan. “Some people still refuse to believe it, and some other people are just shocked that we had this evil in our church.”
Roybal said some parishioners have felt like an “alone ship” after Wester announced Balizan had been removed from his post last year.
“We actually had a meeting a few weeks ago — it was just our regular liturgy meeting — and somebody asked, and I’ve had several parishioners also ask, could we not have some sort of healing Mass,” she said. “We need something.”
Wester said the archdiocese plans to host a listening session with parishioners in late August.
“We’re just going to try to be there for the people,” he said. “We’ll probably do it again as this case goes on.
“We’re as sick as our secrets,” Wester added.
“It’s really important for the church not to have any secrets and to listen to people, to squarely face the issues and to do everything we can to bring healing, recognizing that it’s a process, it’s a struggle,” he said. “One listening session is not going to cure all, but it’s a beginning.”
‘A difficult cross to carry’
Asked if he worried parishioners would leave the Catholic Church as a result of continued allegations of sexual abuse against priests, Wester said the faithful are unwavering.
“I think people understand one priest is not the Catholic Church, that the vast majority of the priests are fulfilling their role as shepherds in a very good way,” he said. “They’re very sincere. They work hard. They’re there to reach out to the people.”
Roybal agreed.
“My faith is in God,” she said.
Wester said the church is both divine and human.
“This is the human side of it,” he said, referring to clergy sex abuse.
“It’s terrible; it’s awful what happens in abuse,” he said. “I think the key for us is to own it, to see that it’s there, to face it squarely and to do all we can to prevent it and when it does happen, to make sure that the perpetrators are removed immediately so that people are safe.”
Wester said he prays for parishioners’ well-being and that he relies on their prayers, too.
“We’re all in this together,” he said. “We’re one church, one people of God and beyond the church, we’re one city, one state — we’re all together here as New Mexicans, as Santa Feans, and we need to support one another to keep children and young people safe, also to assist those who have been affected by clergy sexual abuse. It’s a difficult cross to carry, but this is the cross we have to take up for the good of our people and the good of our children.” | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/santa-fe-parish-picking-up-the-pieces-after-arrest-of-popular-ex-priest-balizan-accused/article_dd33866a-2a89-11ee-b74b-0b20e96e7321.html | 2023-07-30T20:16:52 | 0 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/santa-fe-parish-picking-up-the-pieces-after-arrest-of-popular-ex-priest-balizan-accused/article_dd33866a-2a89-11ee-b74b-0b20e96e7321.html |
PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Mercury say All-Star center Brittney Griner will not travel for the team’s next two games so she can focus on her mental health.
The 6-foot-9 center — who became an international story during her 10-month detainment in Russia last year — is averaging 18.2 points and 6.7 rebounds over 20 games this season.
“The Mercury fully support Brittney and we will continue to work together on a timeline for her return,” the team said in a statement on Saturday.
Griner’s impressive individual season hasn’t translated to success for the Mercury, who have a 6-17 record and fired Vanessa Nygaard earlier in the season.
The Mercury’s tough season and coaching change are among the multiple challenges Griner has faced in her return to the WNBA following her ordeal in Russia on drug-related charges that caused her to miss the entire 2022 season.
Griner and her teammates were confronted by what the WNBA called a “provocateur” at the Dallas airport in June and she’s also dealt with a hip injury that caused her to miss a handful of games.
Griner will miss road games against Chicago on Sunday and Indiana on Tuesday.
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Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-brittney-griner-wont-travel-for-next-2-games-to-focus-on-her-mental-health-team-says/ | 2023-07-30T20:16:52 | 0 | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-brittney-griner-wont-travel-for-next-2-games-to-focus-on-her-mental-health-team-says/ |
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GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Kyler Murray’s football career was nearly flawless for the first 25 years of his life: First, he was a Texas high school phenom, then a Heisman Trophy winner, then the No. 1 overall pick for the Arizona Cardinals, then a two-time Pro Bowl selection.
In all those situations, Murray was being compared to other football players.
These days, the competition is with himself.
“This is different,” Murray said. “This is you-on-you. Nobody really knows what you’re going through except for yourself and whoever you’re working out with.”
Murray, who turns 26 on Aug. 7, is working his way back to football relevancy following an underwhelming fourth season that was cut short by a torn ACL in his right knee against the New England Patriots on Dec. 12.
The quarterback acknowledged some tough days after the surgery — nights when it was tough to sleep because of the pain — but said he’s not feeling sorry for himself as he works to get back to the field.
“I get to do what I love every day — play quarterback in the NFL,” Murray said. “Did I get hurt? Yeah. Did I experience something no one wants to experience? Yeah. But it’s nothing for me to get up and work out. I was already doing that before I got hurt.”
Murray’s expected to miss at least a few games of the upcoming season while he continues to recover, and the quarterback watched Saturday’s practice at State Farm Stadium in a gray hooded sweatshirt and long black sleeve over his entire right leg.
His impending return is the hottest topic for the Cardinals during camp, but says he’s not committing to a certain return date.
“I don’t have a timetable,” Murray said.
Murray said he saw Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow at a recent UFC event and the two discussed the perils of an ACL injury. Burrow tore the ACL in his left knee during his rookie season in 2020, but returned to play 16 games in 2021.
“I wouldn’t want to go out there and hurt the team or hurt myself,” Murray said. “The advice that I’ve gotten from a lot of people around me is to go when you’re ready. Don’t listen to outside noise. Don’t feel pressure to come back because of this situation or that situation.
“Whenever you’re ready, you’ll know you’re ready.”
Murray has been very good — at times spectacular — for much of his first four seasons. His uncanny scrambling ability has produced several highlight-reel plays and he’s got plenty of arm to make all the throws he needs to make.
The apex of his pro career came in 2021, when the Cardinals started the season with a 10-2 record and looked like a Super Bowl favorite. But the franchise collapsed, losing four of the next five games before getting blown out against the Los Angeles Rams in an embarrassing playoff performance.
With high hopes in 2022, the Cardinals were one of the league’s most disappointing teams, finishing with a 4-13 record. Murray was far from the only reason for those struggles, but also wasn’t blameless, as his performance regressed in several areas.
“It’s not a bad thing to sit back, watch, and try to make this a positive deal,” Murray said. “I feel good. Getting better each and every day, taking one day at a time. Just trying to be there for my teammates and learn as much as possible before I do stuff on the field.”
Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill made big changes after last season’s debacle, bringing in a defensive-minded coach in Jonathan Gannon and a new general manager in Monti Ossenfort. The new regime seems just as smitten with Murray as the previous one — Gannon said one major reason he took the Cardinals job was Murray’s presence.
Murray says he’s excited about what the changes can bring.
The Cardinals have a large monetary interest in making things work: Murray signed a $230.5 million, five-year deal before last offseason that keeps him in the desert until 2028.
“It’s been great so far,” Murray said. “We’re actually establishing a run game. I believe we’ll be able to run the ball a lot better, which will only be a weapon for us. Get under center, mix it up, not be as predictable.”
Veteran Colt McCoy is the Cardinals’ most likely quarterback while Murray continues to recover. The 36-year-old has been the team’s backup for the past two seasons and has a 3-3 record in the six games he’s started.
The other current options are David Blough, who played decently in two starts last season, and Clayton Tune, a rookie fifth-round pick out of Houston.
“To me, whoever is available, we’re trying to put the best guy out there to win football games,” Gannon said. “Obviously, Kyler’s not available right now, but we’ve got a lot of guys who are very capable who I’m excited to see play and compete if he’s not ready to go.”
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-cardinals-kyler-murray-says-his-knee-rehab-is-going-well-but-has-no-timetable-for-his-return/ | 2023-07-30T20:16:59 | 1 | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-cardinals-kyler-murray-says-his-knee-rehab-is-going-well-but-has-no-timetable-for-his-return/ |
State police have arrested a 14-year-old boy who, they said, shot and killed a girl.
Police went to the residence of William Brown, 39, on Friday in Questa on a report of a homicide. Investigators learned that around 2:30 p.m., four juveniles were hanging out and listening to music when a 14-year-old boy pointed a pistol at a 13-year-old girl, pulled the trigger and killed her, according to a New Mexico State Police news release. Police said the boy dragged the girl’s body outside and then returned to the residence.
Brown, the boy’s father, got home later and went inside the residence. Brown and his son then refused to come out for about half an hour after police arrived, authorities said.
The boy, who police declined to name, is being charged with an open count of first-degree murder, two counts of assault on a police officer and two counts of tampering with evidence. He was booked into the San Juan Juvenile Detention Center in Farmington. His father, who owned the guns inside the home, was booked into Taos County jail on a charge of negligently making a firearm accessible to a minor resulting in death.
The law the elder Brown is being charged under, which makes it a crime to make guns available to minors who later use them for a crime, was passed during this year’s legislative session and dubbed Bennie’s Law in memory of 13-year-old Bennie Hargrove, who was shot and killed at Washington Middle School in Albuquerque in August 2021 as he tried to intercede in a bullying incident.
Family and friends of the victim plan to host a vigil at Eagle Rock Lake at 6 p.m. Sunday, according to Glenda Archuleta-Alnachef, the victim’s aunt. After the vigil, she said, people plan to march to raise awareness of gun safety. | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/state-police-14-year-old-boy-shot-killed-girl-in-questa/article_30c48144-2e3b-11ee-ab8b-479f91579642.html | 2023-07-30T20:17:04 | 0 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/state-police-14-year-old-boy-shot-killed-girl-in-questa/article_30c48144-2e3b-11ee-ab8b-479f91579642.html |
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The fight itself didn’t match the hype, but Terence Crawford’s performance exceeded it.
He knocked down Errol Spence Jr. three times Saturday night before finally ending the fight at 2:32 of the ninth round on a technical knockout to cement himself as one of the greatest welterweights in history.
The fight, the most-anticipated boxing match in several years, made Crawford the first undisputed champion in the 147-pound division in the four-belt era that began in 2004.
Crawford (40-0, 31 knockouts) already owned the WBO belt, and took the WBC, WBA and IBF titles from Spence (28-1). Crawford also ran his KO streak to 11 matches, the second-longest active stretch.
Crawford, 35, has won titles at super lightweight and lightweight in addition to welterweight, capturing the latter after moving up in 2018. The Omaha, Nebraska, fighter became the first male boxer to become the undisputed champion in two divisions in the four-belt era.
“I only dreamed of being a world champion,” Crawford said. “I’m an over-achiever. Nobody believed in me when I was coming up, but I made everybody a believer. I want to thank Spence and his team because without him none of this would have been possible.”
A big fight night on the Strip still brings out the stars, with recording artist Andre 3000 of Outkast, NBA star Damian Lillard and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones at T-Mobile Arena. They were among the celebrities that also included former boxing champions such as Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao.
Eminem introduced Crawford and his song “Lose Yourself” played as he walked into the ring before a sellout crowd of 19,990 at T-Mobile Arena.
Spence was the aggressor early on, but Crawford sent him to the floor with a right hand with 20 seconds left in the second round. Then Crawford went after Spence, but time ran out before he could finish him off.
Crawford, a minus-154 favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, then took control of the fight, landing several major blows, often on counters. But Crawford also picked his spots to go after Spence, his punching power taking a heavy toll.
“He was just better tonight,” Spence said. “I make no excuses. He was throwing a harder jab. He was timing with his jab, and he had his timing down on point.”
In the seventh round, Crawford knocked down Spence twice — with a short right at 1:02 and with another right with just a second left.
The fight was essentially over at that point, though Crawford backed off in the eighth round. He came roaring back in the ninth to end it for sure.
Crawford didn’t waste the chance to gloat afterward, directly responding to his critics.
“They said I wasn’t good enough and I couldn’t beat these welterweights,” Crawford said. “I just kept my head to the sky and kept praying to God that I would get the opportunity to show the world how great Terence Crawford is. Tonight, I believe I showed how great I am.”
Spence, however, said he would be up for a rematch, but wants to move up to the 154-pound division.
“We’ve got to do it again,” Spence said. “I would be a lot better.”
Crawford said he would have no problem moving up a weight class.
“I’m in the hurt business,” Crawford said. “Forty-seven is kind of hard for me, too. I was already talking about moving up in weight and challenging (champion Jermell) Charlo.”
The 33-year-old Spence, who lives in DeSoto, Texas, won the IBF title in 2017, claimed the WBC championship in 2019 and took the WBA championship last year.
In the co-main event, Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz (25-2-1) of Mexico beat Chicago resident Giovanni Cabrera (21-1) by split decision in a WBC and WBA lightweight match. Judges Benoit Roussel (114-113) and Don Trella (115-112) scored the fight in favor of Cruz, and Glenn Feldman gave Cabrera the fight by a 114-113 score. Cruz had a point deducted because of a head butt.
Also, Alexandro Santiago (28-3-5) of Mexico won the vacant WBC bantamweight title with a 115-113, 116-112, 116-12 decision over Nonito Donaire (42-8), who lives in Las Vegas.
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AP boxing: https://apnews.com/hub/boxing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-crawford-unifies-welterweight-division-with-9th-round-tko-in-dominant-performance-over-spence/ | 2023-07-30T20:17:07 | 0 | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-crawford-unifies-welterweight-division-with-9th-round-tko-in-dominant-performance-over-spence/ |
TAOS — A convoluted land history reared its head in Taos amid the town’s recent excavation of its plaza, which — according to the only property record on file at the Taos County Clerk’s Office — it doesn’t own.
The Taos News obtained three pages of documents in early June showing Taos County, not the town of Taos, owns Taos Plaza. The newspaper turned copies of the documents over to town and county officials.
Taos Manager Andrew Gonzales addressed the Taos County Commission about the issue later that month.
“We have discovered that the plaza is actually a county-owned property,” Gonzales said at a joint meeting of the commission and Town Council on June 29. “I’d like to maybe consider the thought that the county transfer that property over to the town of Taos, as we’ve been managing and maintaining it.”
The property record specifies the plaza is within the boundaries of Taos Pueblo, which did not respond to requests for comment.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first administration granted the plaza to Taos County in 1935, proclaiming:
“NOW KNOW YE, That the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in consideration of the premises, and in conformity with the provisions of the Act aforesaid, HAS GIVEN AND GRANTED, and by these presents DOES GIVE AND GRANT, unto the said County of Taos, and to its successors, the Land above described; TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the same unto the said County of Taos, and to its successors and assigns forever; with the proviso in said Act expressed that this patent shall have the effect only of a relinquishment by the United States of America and the Indians of said Pueblo.”
The town, incorporated in in 1934, doesn’t qualify as a successor to the county.
Taos County Manager Brent Jaramillo wrote in an email the town and county are continuing to research the plaza’s ownership.
“I believe it is premature for anyone to make comments at this point until the town and county have completed their research and, at that point, we would jointly meet and discuss the outcome of the research,” he wrote.
For Richard Sanchez, who is overseeing the Historic Taos County Courthouse restoration, there’s no question.
“Oh, no, there’s nothing about the ownership; the plaza park belongs to Taos County,” Sanchez, a construction manager for the county, said last month, referring to the Roosevelt-era land patent document for the plaza. A similar document relinquishes the federal government and Taos Pueblo’s rights over the land beneath the old courthouse property.
Former Taos Mayor Fred Peralta was among several people who said the plaza ownership issue has come up several times in the past quarter-century.
“I thought we’d gotten that straightened out,” Peralta said, “but maybe not.”
“All of that property, when the town was incorporated, it was all county property; so, the incorporation of that should have annexed that into the town,” he added.
Judi Cantu, chair of the Taos Historic Preservation Commission and a former town councilor, said the plaza ownership issue is something she made an effort to bring to the fore during her council tenure. “My dad was the mayor when they had the plaza remodeled in 1976,” Cantu said.
“Everybody’s aware that the deed is to the county,” she added. “It’d be nice if it was on the agenda that the county would deed it to the town, just like they do some of the buildings. I mean, the town is the one that ultimately takes care of it.”
“It’s something that came up,” Town Councilor Nathaniel Evans acknowledged, recalling there were council discussions around the issue about six years ago when the roads around the plaza were paved.
“I think this is just another example of how the town and county should work together,” Evans said. “The more we work together, the better it is for our community. Things need to be taken care of. Hopefully we can have more in-depth discussions about details, rather than just surface conversations when it comes to our joint meetings.”
The town may have an interest in offsetting infrastructure costs associated with the plaza.
“We’re anticipating about
$1.2 million” in renovations, Gonzales told the County Commission. He chuckled before adding, “I’m happy to take $600,000 from you all and we’ll split that cost in half.”
County commissioners did not respond to Gonzales’ proposal.
The county is restoring the old courthouse, deemed a historic structure by the State Historic Preservation Division. According to the state, the courthouse is far more significant, historically, than the plaza, which has undergone countless revisions.
“The Taos County Courthouse was listed on the State Register of Cultural Properties in 1986 as an individual resource,” state Historic Preservation Officer Jeff Pappas said. “The plaza itself is listed as what we call a contributing resource to the Downtown Taos Historic District.”
Pappas said he would be reluctant to judge who owns Taos Plaza, indicating the matter is best left to land law experts. “As far as land disputes and titles” across New Mexico, “it’s just a complicated mess,” Pappas said. | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/town-of-taos-asks-taos-county-to-hand-over-the-historic-plaza/article_55d42e16-2c8e-11ee-8872-27e34808caa8.html | 2023-07-30T20:17:10 | 1 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/town-of-taos-asks-taos-county-to-hand-over-the-historic-plaza/article_55d42e16-2c8e-11ee-8872-27e34808caa8.html |
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (AP) — Two-time reigning Formula One champion Max Verstappen won the rain-hit sprint race at the Belgian Grand Prix on Saturday to extend his huge lead over Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez to 118 points.
It was Verstappen’s ninth straight win including the two sprint races he has won this season. He collected eight points for the victory and will look to extend his overall lead further in Sunday’s main race as he continues his march to a third straight world title.
“That was not bad,” Verstappen said with casual understatement.
He finished a comfortable 6.7 seconds ahead of McLaren driver Oscar Piastri and 10.7 clear of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.
“I’m getting more and more comfortable with the car, which is much better than it was at the start of the year,” said the 22-year-old Piastri. “It’s been amazing for me.”
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton crossed the line in fourth but dropped down to seventh after being given a five-second time penalty for causing a collision when trying to overtake Perez, who scored no points after retiring near the end.
“Lewis crashed into me and took the whole right hand side of my car off,” said Perez, blaming that incident on his failure to finish.
Hamilton’s penalty moved Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. into fourth spot ahead of his teammate Charles Leclerc, with McLaren’s Lando Norris sixth and Mercedes driver George Russell in eighth behind his teammate Hamilton
This was the third of six scheduled sprint races this season, with Perez winning in Azerbaijan and Verstappen winning in Austria and here. The top eight drivers all score points from eight down to one.
The sprint race was delayed by more than one hour due to heavy rain, getting underway with a rolling start procedure after several laps behind a safety car, in order to clear more water off the track for the sprint, which lasted 11 laps.
“I think the rolling start was the smart thing to do,” Verstappen said. “(But) I think we could have a raced a little earlier, maybe two laps earlier.”
Safety was paramount at the Spa track, which has seen two drivers from other racing series killed in the past four years.
F2 driver Anthoine Hubert died in a multi-car crash at the track in 2019, on the eve of the F1 race.
Dutch teenage driver Dilano van ’t Hoff was killed earlier this month on the same circuit while competing in the Formula Regional European Championship.
Two years ago, six drivers from the all-female W Series needed medical checks following a heavy crash during a qualifying session on the same track.
Spa’s layout features a notorious flat-out uphill section known as Eau Rouge, which is followed by a blind corner sequence into Radillon.
The most serious issue during rain is a lack of visibility with so much spray from the cars flying up.
“The water just stayed in the air. I couldn’t see anything so I can only imagine how bad it was at the back,” said Gasly, who was close friends with Hubert. “I was hoping no car (goes) off the track or collides on the straight because we know what happened (in the past).”
Even Verstappen was unsighted when at slow speed.
“I couldn’t even see the safety car sometimes and I was the first car,” Verstappen said. “Unfortunately we had these accidents happen over the years.”
It was a welcome result for Gasly, who crashed out of the Hungarian GP last weekend and whose team is undergoing an overhaul after some disappointing results.
The encouraging performance was also a poignant one for Gasly.
“It feels very special to have done it here in Spa,” he said. “So obviously a thought for Anthoine.”
Earlier, Verstappen edged out Piastri by just .011 seconds to take the sprint pole.
The shortened qualifying format — known as the “sprint shootout” — was delayed by 35 minutes because of wet and rainy conditions, with air blowers used to clear water from the track.
Piastri shot to the top of the leaderboard on his last run, only for Verstappen to typically find extra pace.
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll pushed too hard in the final seconds of Q2, the second part of qualifying, and slid off into the barriers, mangling his right tire and bringing out a red flag. His teammate Fernando Alonso was on his out lap when the crash happened and couldn’t set a time, meaning he also failed to make it into Q3.
Heavy rain had also impacted Friday’s running at the 7-kilometer (4.3-mile) Spa-Francorchamps circuit, which is nestled in a forest amid the Ardennes countryside and is often impacted by gloomy weather.
Verstappen also set the fastest time in qualifying for Sunday’s main race, but Leclerc will start from pole because of Verstappen’s five-place grid penalty for a gearbox change. He begins Sunday’s race from sixth, but that will not bother Verstappen considering he won here last year from 14th.
Verstappen and Perez have won every F1 race and sprint race between them in the ultra-dominant Red Bull car.
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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-f1-leader-verstappen-wins-rain-hit-belgian-gp-sprint-race-piastri-is-second/ | 2023-07-30T20:17:14 | 1 | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-f1-leader-verstappen-wins-rain-hit-belgian-gp-sprint-race-piastri-is-second/ |
Reading may be fundamental, but it isn’t always something children learn quickly or easily.
And not being able to read proficiently — the foundation of learning — means students will not be able to keep up as they continue in school. If you can’t comprehend a paragraph, it’s difficult to understand a history book or write an adequate essay for English class or understand a word problem in mathematics.
Read well, and the rest will follow.
In New Mexico, problems in reading among schoolchildren are longstanding, with only about a third of public school students reading at grade level, according to Public Education Department proficiency data.
Yet there’s reason to believe these dismal statistics could be improving. And soon.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and a team from the state went to Kansas last week for a deep dive into the science of reading. It’s easy to brush off such a trip as something designed to garner publicity. Governors, after all, like to present themselves as problem-solvers, but sometimes have little to show after the photographers and reporters leave.
In this case, the trip to Pittsburg State University’s Center for Research, Evaluation, Awareness and Dyslexia — the Center for READing — is more than a stunt. With the governor were Children’s Cabinet Director Mariana Padilla, Higher Education Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez and Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, an Albuquerque Democrat and a former educator.
The key person in this group, to our way of thinking, is Secretary Padilla, who will keep the entire Children’s Cabinet on board.
But Secretary Rodriguez with higher education reform also will be essential to success — and not because college students need to be taught how to read. But college students studying to be teachers have to be taught how to teach reading. The push for better reading instruction has been going on for several years in New Mexico, with the state working to ensure students are learning through structured literacy, which emphasizes the elements essential to reading in a systematic method, from letter shapes to sounds to the relationships between those shapes and sounds.
Children learn how to break down words through explicit instruction — teachers call it “cracking the code.” Learning to read by cracking the code means children will be able to spell and write. In New Mexico, kindergarten through second grade teachers already have been trained in the process; next up will be third and fourth grade teachers, as well as administrators. A strong school principal has to understand the system to understand whether teachers are executing properly.
And future teachers must learn the science of teaching reading before they set foot in the classroom. That’s something the Center for READing is working on with the Pittsburg State University’s College of Education — like so much in education, it’s a work in progress.
But it’s progress, judging from results in states like Mississippi, where literacy rates have improved markedly since adopting research-backed methods of reading instruction. In 2013, Mississippi was the second-worst state for fourth grade reading but 21st in 2022. It’s progress.
And progress is what New Mexico must demonstrate in educating its children. At present, some 30% of adults read at or below Level 1, which means they can only perform simple tasks after reading a few paragraphs. Part of addressing reading issues in public schools will be helping more adults become literate. Efforts in schools must be accompanied by those based in the community, building on work by such groups as Literacy Volunteers of Santa Fe. Adults who read and who keep books, newspapers or magazines at home will be the parents of children who read — it’s both that simple and complicated.
What makes us hopeful that this education reform can work, unlike the many previous efforts, is the depth of the outreach. The early childhood education effort expanding across New Mexico starts with home visits to families with babies, so parents have assistance and advice in the early years. Home visits can help catch developmental problems and address them early. One key to reading success is eliminating barriers that might slow a child’s reading progress — the “D” in the Center for READing’s name stands for dyslexia.
New Mexico has lagged behind in learning for too long. These latest reform efforts — based in science, focused on teaching and learning, and being implemented broadly — show real promise in finally turning the statistics around. | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/editorials/improved-reading-instruction-will-boost-outcomes/article_c21c4db6-2d6e-11ee-bb95-e72ef7528f20.html | 2023-07-30T20:17:16 | 1 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/editorials/improved-reading-instruction-will-boost-outcomes/article_c21c4db6-2d6e-11ee-bb95-e72ef7528f20.html |
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Justin Gaethje knocked out Dustin Poirier with a head kick one minute into the second round to win the main event lightweight bout at UFC 291 on Saturday night.
The third-ranked Gaethje (26-4) celebrated his victory by climbing to the top of the Octagon fence and doing a backflip off it. His perfectly timed headshot helped him avenge a loss to Poirier in 2018 when he suffered a fourth-round technical knockout via strikes.
“This chance at redemption was amazing,” Gaethje said. “It drove me to work harder to be ready.”
It was Gaethje’s 20th win by knockout or TKO and his seventh victory in his last nine fights. He also scored his first knockout win since UFC 249 in 2020.
“I was surprised by myself and how good I fought,” Gaethje said.
Second-ranked Poirier (29-8) entered the rematch between the two former interim lightweight champions as a minus-152 favorite according to FanDuel. He matched Gaethje blow for blow in the first round – earning a 10-9 advantage on two of three scorecards – before being quickly dispatched in the second.
The decisive high kick from one former champ caught the other by surprise because it wasn’t a move that he expected to see from Gaethje.
“I thought I had four more rounds,” Poirier said. “I didn’t know I had two more minutes.”
With the victory, Gaethje earned a BMF belt – the second UFC fighter to be awarded that belt.
Beating Poirier opens the door for Gaethje to have a potential title bout against the winner of Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira, who are set to square off at UFC 294 in October.
Gaethje’s BMF win over Poirier headlined five main card bouts.
Alex Pereira defeated Jan Blachowicz by split decision in a light heavyweight bout billed as the co-main event for his eighth win in his last nine fights.
Pereira (8-2), ranked second as a middleweight, made his debut in the light heavyweight division at UFC 291 after losing the middleweight title belt via knockout to Israel Adesanya at UFC 287 in April. Blachowicz (29-10-1) did not make the transition in weight class a smooth one for the former champion.
He weathered early takedowns in the first two rounds and rallied in the third round.
Derrick Lewis earned a record 14th knockout win over Marcos Rogerio de Lima just 33 seconds into the first round of the heavyweight bout. The No.10-ranked Lewis (27-11) scored an immediate takedown with a flying knee and pummeled 15th-ranked Rogerio de Lima (21-10-1) with repeated punches to score the early finish. He celebrated snapping a three-fight slide by stripping off his shorts and dancing around the Octagon.
“The win means a lot to me,” Lewis said. “I had a lot of pressure on me coming into this fight and I just wanted to prove to everyone I’m still one of the best fighters in the world.”
Bobby Green beat Tony Ferguson by submission via choke with six seconds left in the third round of the lightweight bout. Green (30-14-1) dominated the final two rounds to earn his second career submission, scoring takedowns in both rounds while raining repeated blows that left his opponent battered. He denied Ferguson (26-9) a shot at earning his first UFC victory since 2019, sending the 39-year-old fighter home with his sixth straight loss.
Kevin Holland made quick work of Michael Chiesa to win the welterweight bout. Holland (25-9) beat the 12th-ranked Chiesa — fighting for the first time following a two-year hiatus — by submission at 2:39 in the first round. He used his length and striking abilities to trap Chiesa (18-7) in a D’arce choke, forcing a quick tap out.
Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith, Jazz coach Will Hardy, and former Jazz stars Deron Williams and Karl Malone were among those in attendance at the second UFC pay-per-view event in 11 months in the Beehive State.
UFC reported a live gate of $6.5 million, breaking the previous venue record set at UFC 278 in August 2022. A sellout crowd of 18,467 was in attendance.
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AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-gaethje-knocks-out-poirier-in-second-round-to-win-ufc-291-lightweight-bout/ | 2023-07-30T20:17:21 | 1 | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-gaethje-knocks-out-poirier-in-second-round-to-win-ufc-291-lightweight-bout/ |
METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Jimmy Graham offered a few reasons why — at age 36 and without having played football last year — he could become a playmaker again for the New Orleans Saints.
“I’m feeling better than ever. I’m still 6-(foot)-7 and I like the red zone,” the veteran tight end said Saturday in his first public comments since rejoining his first NFL team Tuesday. “I definitely came into this with a chip on my shoulder and with something to prove.”
Estimating he weighed as much as 285 pounds in his previous stint with the Saints, when he worked out like “a meathead,” Graham said he has been cycling “hundreds of miles a week” and has changed his workout and eating habits to suit to his age.
“I know I’m definitely in shape,” said Graham, now listed at 265 pounds. “That’s not a problem at all.”
Graham, who has caught at least eight touchdown passes in six of his 12 NFL seasons, was a favorite target of former star quarterback Drew Brees and among the most popular players in New Orleans before the club surprisingly traded him to Seattle in 2015.
Many fans were upset, including general manager Micky Loomis’ own daughter. So, too, was Graham.
“For me, it was pretty shocking,” Graham said. “I thought I would never leave this place. … I woke up to the part of the business that hurt.”
Alluding to a difficult childhood in which he sometimes lived in an orphanage, Graham added, “at first it was very difficult because of my connection with Drew as an ‘older brother’ and all the people in this building.”
“It was family, you know?” Graham continued. “So, for me, a guy who didn’t have a lot of family, it was definitely a difficult time.”
Graham played three seasons with the Seahawks — where he had a major knee injury 2015, but also his last 10-TD season in 2017 — before spending two seasons each at Green Bay and Chicago. He said he spent several of those seasons avoiding interviews because he “didn’t really have a lot to say that was positive.”
In recent years, Graham said, he longed for another chance to play in New Orleans.
“I’ve been trying to come home for a long time,” Graham said, adding that by last season, he didn’t want to play anywhere else. He said several teams reached out to him in 2022, but he told his agent, Jimmy Sexton, “that if I don’t retire as a Saint that I wasn’t going to play again.”
Sitting out last season was “extremely weird, especially after you spend a whole offseason preparing (to play), working out and making sure you’re in shape,” he said. “I think everything happens for a reason and I think it’ll be to my benefit.”
The Saints used a third-round pick to draft Graham in 2010, despite the fact that he’d played just one season of football at Miami after spending four seasons as a basketball power forward for the Hurricanes.
In just his second NFL season, Graham caught 99 passes for 1,310 yards and 11 touchdowns and was selected to his first of five Pro Bowls. He had another banner season in 2013, with 1,215 yards and a career-high 16 TDs receiving.
Around that time, current Saints tight end Foster Moreau was playing for Jesuit High School in New Orleans and had a signed No. 80 Graham Saints jersey in a shadow box in his room.
“Jimmy was a dog, and he still is. Honestly, he runs great,” Moreau said. “So, it’s just such a funny situation. You walk into the locker room and, ‘Oh my God! Jimmy Graham right there.’”
Graham’s production plummeted in his final season with the Bears in 2021, when he caught 14 passes for 167 yards and three TDs in 15 games.
And while the Saints cannot be sure how well he’ll play this season, they expressed confidence he’ll be a leader in the locker room. Graham sounded ready to embrace that role, noting that he, along with 13th-year defensive end Cameron Jordan, are the only players on the roster who’d once been teammates with most of the stars of the Saints’ 2009 championship team.
“I understand what that culture was like and what that looks like, the sacrifice that it takes and the brotherhood – that bond – that needs to be molded,” Graham said.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-jimmy-graham-is-grateful-to-be-back-with-the-saints-and-confident-he-can-still-play/ | 2023-07-30T20:17:24 | 0 | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-jimmy-graham-is-grateful-to-be-back-with-the-saints-and-confident-he-can-still-play/ |
In 2002, I lost my salaried job and ended up unhoused. I worked full time while living in a tent. I know how difficult it is to get back on your feet, so I currently advocate for people experiencing homelessness. I fully support the 3% excise tax proposal for high-end home sales. I have lived in a supportive apartment complex for the past two years. I could easily purchase an affordable home in Santa Fe — if some were available. However, because of skyrocketing housing prices, I continue to occupy an apartment that could provide shelter for someone currently on the street. The proposed tax would provide about $4.5 million annually for affordable housing projects that, among other uses, would help rent-burdened workers find homes in the city. Ultimately, this would free up rental space for unhoused folks and would create a cascade of sales for Realtors in new housing for people like me.
John Bacon
certified peer support worker
chairman, The Lived Experience Advisory Board
Santa Fe
A real investment
I started Meow Wolf in 2008, and we are now one of the largest companies in Santa Fe. While we pride ourselves on paying wages that far exceed those of our competitors, housing costs still are forcing many of our staff to live out of town and commute long distances. Santa Fe is an arts mecca, and yet most artists can’t live here. As more artists leave and choose to live and work elsewhere (alongside teachers, paramedics, firefighters, police officers, health care workers, etc.), the vibrancy and culture of our town are threatened. When I served as a planning commissioner from 2015-18, we approved over 1,000 new rental units, many of which were supported by the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. That fund now lacks sufficient funding to do what is needed as Santa Fe continues to grow. Let’s make a real investment with the excise tax levied on sales of high-end homes.
Vince Kadlubek
co-founder, Meow Wolf
member, Meow Wolf board of directors
Santa Fe
All alone
While many groupies of former President Donald Trump are shrugging their shoulders at the ex-president’s cavalier handling of top-secret documents, our allies are not. If they had questioned the man’s abilities before, their questions have been answered. They would never consider collaborating with any Trump proposal, ever. America First will be America Alone.
Linda Burchfiel
Santa Fe
Oh, for paper tickets
When I asked the phone receptionist when our opera tickets might arrive, she informed me the opera does not do tickets and would send an online receipt a couple of weeks before the performance. Her tone, arch and brusque, seemed to suggest I had committed such a gross error that I almost apologized. Perhaps I had mistaken the Santa Fe Opera for Colorado’s opera, which certainly does do tickets.
But I recalled that over the years, beginning in the 1950s when my parents brought me over from Texas to my first opera, the one that started my lifelong love of the art form, wherever I’ve found it — Dallas, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Denver and even Fort Collins, Colo., — its music and singing have revived my spirits and made me grateful to all its artists. There’s even pleasure in tucking tickets into a program to look at a year or two later. So I do miss the human touch in the ticketing process, and fear the day when performances of singers and musicians might be 3D versions.
David Clark
Bellvue, Colo.
Burning at home
Those who live on this Earth and are paying attention recognize climate change is real and nothing to laugh at. One-hundred-year storms are now occurring every 10 years or so. Smoke from Canadian fires travels to the East Coast of the United States, turning skies orange, hardly their normal color. Texas is sweltering in 110-plus degree heat, perhaps inflicted by the Almighty as punishment for Texans’ addiction to oil and gas. Those folks need to sign up for OilAnon as a means of treating their addiction. There is no comfort to be taken anywhere, and still the oil barons refuse to acknowledge the disaster of climate change.
At least they won’t have to go to hell to burn; they can do it right here in the comfort of home.
Judy Mellow
Santa Fe
An alternative defense
The Washington Post compiled 3,573 lies emanating from the Trump administration in four years. As indictments begin to clutter former President Donald Trump’s calendar, it will be interesting to see how he does under oath. My hope is he feels obliged to resort to Kellyanne Conway’s marvelous concept of “alternative facts.” I don’t believe his lawyers have yet used it as a defense, and it would be a great shame to have it disappear into obscurity.
Paul Lazarus
Santa Fe
Bury him
Hooray for Georgia Jones-Davis (“Please ignore,” Letters to the Editor, July 25). I, too, have been distraught to see the newspaper placed any information about former President Donald Trump on the front page. He is a wannabe dictator and, I believe, a fascist. He has no place in our democracy and no place on the front page of a newspaper. I agree with Jones-Davis that any information about Trump should be on the last page. He is a total danger to our democracy and shouldn’t even be allowed to run for president; after all, he is apparently guilty of treason and sedition. I Also agree with Hans von Briesen (“Bar insurrectionists,” Letters to the Editor, July 25), who states that seditionists should have no place on the New Mexico ballot for 2024. | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/affordable-house-trust-fund-needs-stable-funding/article_95fc5d58-2bf6-11ee-b435-87d2b17c6b78.html | 2023-07-30T20:17:25 | 0 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/affordable-house-trust-fund-needs-stable-funding/article_95fc5d58-2bf6-11ee-b435-87d2b17c6b78.html |
As I begin the second half of my year serving as president of the Santa Fe Association of Realtors, I find our members dedicated to professionalism, highly knowledgeable and keenly committed to supporting the Santa Fe community. Our Realtors adhere to a code of ethics, work diligently on behalf of clients and strive for excellence through ongoing training and education. Our board of directors, in reviewing governing decisions, engages its members using quality-of-life principles to guide actions.
Honoring these principles, members have expressed serious concerns to city leaders about the proposed home excise tax to be collected when a property transfers from seller to buyer.
Not one single governing body in New Mexico has enacted a home excise tax, generally a tax levied on products or services. Sometimes referred to as “sin” taxes, excise taxes are commonly levied on tobacco and alcohol. As part of a legal review, it is uncertain and unclear if a higher-end home (one valued at $1 million or more) can be treated differently than a lower-end home in regards to a home excise tax. As the result of litigation, the city may find that Santa Fe homes must be treated equally with a 3% excise tax levied on all home transfers.
A home excise tax acts like a transfer tax. Transfer taxes are regressive, hitting entry-level homeowners the hardest with negative consequences found at all market levels. With a 3% home excise tax, we believe Santa Fe’s housing market can expect to lose 12%-15% of home sales annually in this market category as a direct result of the home tax. These lost sales will hurt the local economy as Santa Fe homeowners, the real estate industry and businesses that benefit from home sales sit idle.
Indirect market impacts will depress Santa Fe city home prices as sellers adjust prices downward to compete with surrounding area properties not subject to a home tax. Oddly, at a time when all homes are growing in value, the home tax effectively would strip away some of the generational wealth of Santa Fe families.
Without real estate industry input, the city has unfortunately recycled a voter-failed idea based on a potential revenue windfall that likely never will happen.
A better option was a Realtor-led effort to dedicate short-term rental gross receipts taxes, collected via online platforms like VRBO, for housing. Research finds that short-term rentals may increase the cost of housing by 1% to 4%. City leaders balked, stating they could not track the monies. Yet, an outside firm reported short-term rental GRTs totaling $7.2 million in 2018 and $10.7 million in 2019 for the city of Santa Fe during a debate on stricter short-term rental laws.
These taxes continue to be collected along with other substantial real estate, property and construction-related taxes, and made up nearly 10% of the city’s revenue stream in 2020. Regardless of what happens with the home transfer tax, the city should continue to earmark $3 million or more annually to its housing programs. Housing must remain a city budget priority moving forward.
The home tax is divisive, pitting voters against homeowners when there are more effective and equitable ways to grow and help fund housing programs. The association has been a strong advocate for city housing initiatives to address affordability, from supporting overlay districts like the Midtown LINC, finding creative ways to meet inclusionary zoning laws and relaxing casita rules to grow their development.
As we urge our city leaders to reject the transfer tax proposal, Santa Fe Realtors stand ready to continue to work toward a thriving, healthy and equitable community for all.
Drew Lamprich serves as 2023 president of the Santa Fe Association of Realtors. | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_view/find-more-equitable-way-to-fund-affordable-housing/article_1e84d594-2cbd-11ee-b2fa-a76fb7844aa9.html | 2023-07-30T20:17:31 | 1 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_view/find-more-equitable-way-to-fund-affordable-housing/article_1e84d594-2cbd-11ee-b2fa-a76fb7844aa9.html |
(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://cbs4indy.com/news/national-world/airfares-are-back-to-normal-so-why-do-they-feel-so-high/ | 2023-07-30T20:17:32 | 1 | https://cbs4indy.com/news/national-world/airfares-are-back-to-normal-so-why-do-they-feel-so-high/ |
Appeals court clears way to charge Oceanside woman with murder in newborn’s death
A California appeals court has ruled that prosecutors can move forward with a murder case brought against an Oceanside woman whose infant died after she gave birth by herself in her apartment.
But in its unanimous decision Friday, the three-judge panel of the 4th District Court of Appeals in San Diego noted that even though sufficient evidence exists to bring Kelsey Carpenter to trial, it is only by the “thinnest of margins.”
In the opinion, Associate Justice Martin Buchanan wrote that the case required the appeals court to “explore the dividing line” between protected conduct related to a person’s pregnancy and reproductive decisions, and conduct occurring after a baby is born alive.
The case puts a spotlight on a newly strengthened state law that offers protections to pregnant people and reproductive freedom. The question is did the baby die for reasons related to Carpenter’s pregnancy and birth decision or her actions after the birth.
In California, a woman cannot be charged criminally for any effect that prenatal drug use or lack of prenatal care may have on the infant, nor for opting to give birth at home alone. It does not matter whether those actions contributed to the infant’s death.
Carpenter’s attorneys filed the appeal, asking the higher court to dismiss the charges. They argued that prosecuting her was unlawful, because the charges stemmed from actions she took and decisions she made during her pregnancy.
Prosecutors argued that they charged Carpenter because of what she did — or didn’t do — after the baby was born. For example, they said, she failed to call 911 when the baby was in distress and turning blue.
According to court documents and testimony from a preliminary hearing, Carpenter was pregnant in late 2020, but feared authorities would remove the new baby from her care as they had with her two sons, who had tested positive for drugs at birth.
Prosecutors argue that Carpenter’s plan was to avoid a hospital birth so authorities would not take the infant, a daughter she named Kiera.
Carpenter was home alone in November 2020 when she went into labor and gave birth in an apartment complex off Canyon Drive.
She cut the baby’s umbilical cord, but did not clamp it, according to court documents. She tried to stop the bleeding by putting a piece of tape over the stump, but the bleeding persisted.
Carpenter told authorities the baby was turning blue and struggling to breathe, so she attempted to administer CPR. She said was unable to call for help because her phone was dead.
Carpenter — who lost blood during the delivery — said she had passed out and woke up to find the baby had died, according to the opinion. At some point, she had attempted to administer CPR to the newborn, but it is not clear when.
The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the baby died from “methamphetamine and buprenorphine toxicity and unattended delivery.” Buprenorphine is administered to address opioid dependence, and is provided to pregnant women in place of methadone.
The doctor who performed the autopsy testified at Carpenter’s preliminary hearing that the blood loss from the umbilical stump was “very substantial and contributed to the death of the baby.”
Carpenter was arrested four months later and charged under a theory of second-degree murder, which carries a potential sentence of 15 years to life. Last fall, she was ordered to stand trial.
The next day, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation clarifying that people cannot be charged for decisions made during pregnancy, no matter the pregnancy outcome, be it miscarriage, stillbirth, abortion or perinatal death from causes that occurred before the baby was born.
AB 2223 “helps to ensure that pregnancy loss is not criminalized,” his office said in a news release.
With those protections in place, Carpenter’s attorneys filed the appeal.
District attorney’s office spokesperson Tanya Sierra noted that the three-judge panel ruled unanimously that there was enough evidence in the case for it to move forward to trial. She said prosecutors “will continue to pursue justice in this tragic case.”
“While the office “fully recognizes and honors the reproductive rights clarified and strengthened [in the law], this case has always been about a newborn baby who died as a direct result of a parent’s acts and omissions after the baby’s live birth,” she said.
Carpenter’s attorney, Brian White, said he and his client are “disappointed with the opinion but appreciate the court finding that probable cause was only shown by the thinnest of margins.”
White said that aside from reproductive freedom, the case also highlights “the punitive, negative affects” that the child welfare system has on reproductive rights for women with substance-abuse disorders.
“That is really the thrust of the case,” he said. “We view it as a public health issue.”
Civil rights attorney Amber Fayerberg, who joined Carpenter’s case for the appeal, said the appellate court’s opinion “demonstrates the fundamental weakness of the state’s case and the extent to which the prosecution relies on evidence of protected conduct.”
“The opinion recognizes that much of the evidence on which the prosecution bases their case will not be admissible at trial,” Fayerberg wrote in an email, adding that the opinion “significantly narrows the prosecution’s path forward.”
“We will continue to fight both on behalf of Ms. Carpenter and also to ensure that the state does not continue to attempt to criminalize conduct related to her pregnancy or her pregnancy outcome.”
Carpenter is due back in Superior Court next month. No trial date has been set.
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You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. | https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-07-30/appeals-court-clears-way-for-prosecutors-to-charge-woman-with-murder-in-death-of-newborn | 2023-07-30T20:17:32 | 0 | https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-07-30/appeals-court-clears-way-for-prosecutors-to-charge-woman-with-murder-in-death-of-newborn |
WESTFIELD, Ind. (AP) — Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has requested a trade, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Saturday night.
Taylor, the 2021 NFL rushing champ, has been seeking a contract extension before his rookie contract expires at the end of this season and he’s been one of several running backs to publicly air their grievances throughout the offseason.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the request hadn’t been made public. NFL Network first reported Taylor’s request to be traded.
It came shortly after Taylor left team owner Jim Irsay’s motorhome after a meeting that lasted nearly an hour as the Colts conducted a night practice.
“It was just a good conversation and, you know, hopeful going forward,” Irsay told reporters after practice. “We’re looking forward to a great season, hoping that Jonathan’s a big part of that and I think we had a good conversation.”
Taylor has not spoken with reporters since being placed on the physically unable to perform list Tuesday. General manager Chris Ballard said then the Colts wanted to wait for a new deal until they could see how a healthy Taylor fit the new offense installed by first-year coach Shane Steichen.
Taylor topped the 2,000-yard mark twice in college at Wisconsin and rushed for 2,980 yards and 29 TDs in his first two NFL seasons. He was a unanimous All-Pro selection in 2021, when he led the league with 2,171 total yards and tied for the league lead in total touchdowns with 20.
Last year, he rushed for 861 yards despite missing six games with an ankle injury that required offseason surgery. Indy also struggled, finishing the season 4-11-1.
Irsay posted on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday suggesting some player agents were acting in bad faith by complaining about how much running backs earned with a franchise tag designation after the collective bargaining agreement was negotiated in good faith. The $10.1 million price tag is the lowest of any position other than kickers or punters.
On Saturday, in front of a capacity crowd at Grand Park in Westfield a staff member took Taylor to the nearby motorhome. Irsay did not divulge details of the meeting afterward, but did talk about two other former Colts star runners — Marshall Faulk, who was traded after Peyton Manning’s rookie season in 1998, and Edgerrin James, who left as a free agent between the 2005 and 2006 seasons.
“I’m responsible for everyone on the team and to look at the cap money as you go forward,” Irsay said. “It’s a great responsibility and you try to be as fair as you possibly can be with the whole football team. So again, I’m hopeful.”
Now the Colts may be looking to move Taylor before he even gets a chance to team up rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick in April.
“We need to make sure he (Taylor) is healthy, and we expect he should have an outstanding year,” Irsay said. “(Linebacker) E.J. Speed had the same surgery and is doing well, but it’s early in the process and we want to make sure Jonathan is 100%.”
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-jonathan-taylor-requests-trade-after-meeting-with-owner-jim-irsay-at-colts-practice-source-says/ | 2023-07-30T20:17:31 | 0 | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-jonathan-taylor-requests-trade-after-meeting-with-owner-jim-irsay-at-colts-practice-source-says/ |
Editor’s note: This is the latest in an occasional series of articles on food insecurity in Santa Fe.
Santa Feans have interesting origin stories: how they got here, why they moved here. Mine owes its trajectory to a big-hearted man whose newspaper columns we used to read around the kitchen table. My great-grandmother was World War II correspondent Ernie Pyle’s Aunt Mary, about whom he wrote often.
From those columns, I learned about New Mexico landscapes and dirt roads, Code Talkers and Taos artists. But most of all, I learned a way of looking at the world that is eye to eye, as though we are all in this together.
Aug. 3 is Ernie Pyle Day here in New Mexico. If you’ve never heard of the most famous journalist of World War II, now is a good time. Ernie has much to offer us in perspectives on New Mexico and ourselves.
Despite his Pulitzer Prize for war coverage, Ernie hated war. What Ernie really loved were ordinary people. He felt it was his duty to stand with those fighting in the trenches. He was killed in action, and reportedly his last words were directed to a comrade: “Are you all right?” he asked.
Permit me this thought experiment. If Ernie had lived, he would be writing not about wars, but more about something like The Food Depot. It was his humility and compassion that shone in each column, his ever-present moral compass that directed him to ask what we can do, through our own acts and through government, to use whatever we’ve got to “get people to living better.”
He would have found unconscionable that, 78 years after his death, 1 in 5 children in New Mexico goes hungry, and 1 in 8 New Mexicans. He would have wondered what we’ve all been doing, decades after the Great Depression, to ameliorate the stressors that affect our neighbors. “Those paltry catsup sandwiches that I ate growing up in rural Indiana should have been long retired by now,” he would say. And he would have been embarrassed to learn that our government has not stepped up. The answer to, “Are you all right?” would have been a resounding no for many of our New Mexico neighbors.
I suspect he would have found great solidarity with the 900 volunteers at The Food Depot who work against the scourge of hunger, who sent out enough food for nearly 8 million meals over the last 12 months to New Mexicans struggling to make ends meet.
Ernie loved New Mexico. In fact, three of his last five columns were about New Mexicans. His humanity, and his love for New Mexico, are a big part of why I am here. Here, he wrote, “the distance gets into your soul and makes you feel that you too are big inside.”
This year, if you want to remember this humble man who brought home the stories of our neighbors and friends, the GIs of World War II, you can honor his spirit by supporting the Neighbor to Neighbor Fund Drive, where every dollar donated to The Food Depot equates to four meals. Neighbor to Neighbor is a 12-year community tradition and a fun chance to come together and make a difference. It’s easy: Gather your neighborhood, business, pickleball team or book club, and raise funds for Northern New Mexico’s food bank.
Anyone can participate. Teams have until Sept. 23 to rally their friends and neighbors. Donate online at thefooddepot.org/n2n or mail in a check. Act now. I guarantee it will make you feel big inside.
Susan Nall Bales heads Sierra Del Norte’s Neighbor to Neighbor campaign for The Food Depot. | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_view/food-drive-would-make-ernie-pyle-proud/article_bcebfd02-2bf0-11ee-8429-1b030c1b3213.html | 2023-07-30T20:17:37 | 1 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_view/food-drive-would-make-ernie-pyle-proud/article_bcebfd02-2bf0-11ee-8429-1b030c1b3213.html |
(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://cbs4indy.com/news/national-world/do-smartphones-belong-in-classrooms-four-scholars-weigh-in/ | 2023-07-30T20:17:38 | 0 | https://cbs4indy.com/news/national-world/do-smartphones-belong-in-classrooms-four-scholars-weigh-in/ |
FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) — The American swim team has had a so-so meet at the world championships in Japan. Meanwhile, Australia and China have been pouring it on.
The American gold-medal count at the worlds is the lowest in at least two decades, although the overall medal count of gold, silver and bronze, is similar to most years.
After winning only four gold medals during the first seven days, they picked up three on Sunday — the eighth and final day — for a total of seven golds and 38 overall. The gold total is still their lowest in a worlds going back as least 20 years. They won only eight in the 2015 worlds.
Australia finished with 13 gold and 20 overall, and China had five gold and 16 overall.
“Obviously, we’d like to win more gold medals and I think we will,” American coach Bob Bowman said going into Sunday’s final day.
The slight predicament for Bowman is that two of the swimmers he coaches at Arizona State University, Leon Marchand of France and Hungary’s Hubert Kos, have won four gold medals. Marchand has three, and he’s sure to be a star at next year’s Paris Olympics, and Kos has one.
That’s the same gold-medal total for the entire American team through seven of eight days — four gold. The average for the Americans over the last nine championships has been about 15 golds.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, two of the first three questions Bowman fielded were about Marchand and Kos, from French and Hungarian news outlets.
“If you look at swimming, every coach on the U.S. team is coaching a foreign swimmer, an international swimmer. There’s always that dynamic,” said Bowman, who has legendary status for helping Michael Phelps win 23 Olympic gold medals.”
Bowman was cautious about taking credit for Kos, who came to Arizona State late last year. He went from being a good individual medley swimmer to a world champion a few days ago in the 200-meter backstroke.
“I think it’s just the Bob Bowman effect,” said Kos, son of an American father and Hungarian mother. ”That’s as simple as it is.”
He said Bowman had a “magic” touch.
Bowman played down his role.
“He (Kos) had an excellent coach at home for 10 years before me,” Bowman said. “He deserved the credit for this. I just helped a little bit at the end.”
Bowman compared Marchand to Phelps. But can he produce and endure the pressure, particularly with the Olympics in his home country?
“It remains to be seen what he can do next year. It’s going to be a lot of expectations,” Bowman said. “But I feel like he’s done a very good rehearsal this year and last year. They’ve been good preparations for what will happen next year and we’ll try to carry that over to Paris.”
Swimming is an individual sport, separate from team sports like soccer. It would be unthinkable for the coach of Real Madrid to be also coaching Barcelona players on the side. But it’s normal in swimming, and Bowman said he was “ethically” comfortable with it.
“I mean, the bottom line is I get paid to coach these guys at ASU,” he said. “I’m representing my country for the love of my country and happy to do that. I don’t think there’s an ethical question. It’s not a zero-sum. I’m not taking away from the U.S. guys.”
He said he was interested in coaching the Americans at next year’s Olympics, but suggested any decision was still pending.
“I don’t think we know yet,” he said. “I have to go through this week, get home, think about what the scenarios look (like) and then we’ll decide. I always want to do. But we’ll see how it goes.”
___
AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-legendary-coach-bob-bowman-keeps-turning-out-winning-swimmers-and-not-just-americans/ | 2023-07-30T20:17:38 | 1 | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-legendary-coach-bob-bowman-keeps-turning-out-winning-swimmers-and-not-just-americans/ |
We are now told by the U.S. Forest Service that its action caused the Cerro Pelado Fire, with yet another escaped prescribed burn.
How much burning of our local forests and damage to our communities are we going to tolerate? Are we going to just accept the Forest Service’s assurances that workers are learning from their mistakes and can safely proceed with more widespread and aggressive thinning and burning treatments? Agency officials tell us last year’s wildfires, caused by their treatments, are proof that our forests need even more of the same treatments. Also, they tell us climate change primarily caused the wildfires, and the fires would have happened whether they ignited them or not. No, they wouldn’t have.
Those fires occurred because the Forest Service was conducting fuels treatments that are no longer safe to carry out in a warming and drying climate. They include, in addition to large-scale broadcast prescribed burns, massive tree cutting, which requires subsequent burning of the many slash piles left behind. Two of the wildfires caused by the Forest Service in the Santa Fe National Forest last year were due to smoldering slash piles. The third was caused by a broadcast prescribed burn ignited during a high wind pattern.
When are our elected representatives going to truly stand for our forests and our communities? With the exception of the Santa Fe County Commission, which has taken consistent action to protect our forests and communities, our elected representatives express outrage, then accept the agency continuing on essentially the same dangerous and destructive path. It’s time for action.
It’s time we hold the Forest Service accountable for a lack of transparency. The Forest Service, by its own admission, knew weeks before the Calf Canyon Fire broke out that the Calf Canyon pile burns were spreading. Yet it took almost two months for officials to tell us that the smoldering slash piles caused the Calf Canyon Fire. And it’s taken over a year for the Forest Service to make public that the Cerro Pelado Fire also was caused by an escaped pile burn.
The National Prescribed Fire Program Review, created as a result of the devastating Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, provided mostly added procedures and not much more. The review identified, as the root of the problem, a broad-based lack of agency capacity and problems with agency culture. According to the review, the agency has a serious shortage of personnel, especially well-trained specialists, a lack of equipment, a lack of appropriate models for implementing prescribed burns in a warming climate — and a lack of morale. This lack of capacity still exists, yet the Forest Service committed last year to increasing fuels treatments up to four times the current levels. This virtually guarantees another disaster. No wonder morale is low.
An independent investigation must be done of last year’s wildfires in the Santa Fe National Forest, caused by prescribed burn escapes. All thinning and burning treatments must be paused until the investigation is complete. Then, we must develop a conservation strategy for managing our forests in a warming climate, which allows for fire in the ecosystem yet retains moisture in the forest instead of drying it out by cutting and burning vast swathes of trees.
Regarding the Santa Fe Mountains Landscape Resiliency Project, it’s unacceptable that the agency didn’t once mention the potential for escaped prescribed burns in the inadequate project analysis officials did complete. They must rescind the project decision and consider the potential for escaped prescribed burns specific to the landscape and climate of the project area, within a comprehensive environmental impact statement. | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_view/how-many-more-fires-can-we-tolerate/article_aef7d974-2bf4-11ee-82ce-43b7afc4afd5.html | 2023-07-30T20:17:44 | 0 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_view/how-many-more-fires-can-we-tolerate/article_aef7d974-2bf4-11ee-82ce-43b7afc4afd5.html |
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://cbs4indy.com/news/national-world/elderly-couple-bound-held-at-gunpoint-during-north-carolina-home-invasion-fbi-investigating/ | 2023-07-30T20:17:44 | 0 | https://cbs4indy.com/news/national-world/elderly-couple-bound-held-at-gunpoint-during-north-carolina-home-invasion-fbi-investigating/ |
BLAINE, Minn. (AP) — Chasing his first PGA Tour victory Lee Hodges shot a 5-under 66 on Saturday to stretch his lead to five strokes with a round left in the 3M Open.
Hodges had a 20-under 193 total at the TPC Twin Cities to break the tournament 54-hole mark of 195 set last year by Scott Piercy. Hodges led at 8 under after the first round and a record 15 under after the second.
“I have nothing to lose,” Hodges said. “I’m out here playing with house money. I have a job next year on the PGA Tour, this is all great. This is just icing on the cake.”
J.T. Poston was second after a 66. Defending champion Tony Finau was another stroke back at 14 under after a 67.
Hodges’ best finish in 64 prior events was a tie for third at The American Express in 2022, the only other time the 28-year-old Alabama player has led or shared the lead after 54 holes.
And he almost certainly has played himself into the playoffs that begin in two weeks. He began the week 74th in the FedEx Cup standings, with the top 70 players qualifying.
“I honestly don’t think I’ll be that nervous tonight.” Hodges said. “I’ll hang out with my wife. We’ll go do something fun. I mean, yeah, it’s just golf at the end of the day. I’m lucky to be here.”
Hodges opened with an up-and-down even nine holes, then had five birdies on the back nine.
“I didn’t think I played bad on the front nine, I just couldn’t really get it close to the hole and when I did, I couldn’t make the putt,” he said.
Things were much different after the turn.
Hodges dropped birdie putts from 12 feet on No. 10 and nearly 11 feet on No. 11. His tee shot on the par-3 13th stopped 4 1/2 feet from the cup for another birdie. He added a 5-foorter for birdie on 16 and a 7-footer on 18.
He’ll be paired with Poston on Sunday the final group.
“We play some practice rounds together and I know him really well,” Poston said. “He’s a good friend. So, if I can’t get it done tomorrow, I’ll be pulling for him.”
Finau birdied four of his final eight holes. Last year, he trailed by five shots early in the final round and won by three at 17 under.
“It was just nice to make a run on the back nine today just to give myself a chance,” Finau said. “If I’m eight back, that’s a whole different feeling than five or six. I was just happy with the way I finished my round today and to creep up and just be a little closer to the lead.”
Aaron Baddeley was fourth at 13 under after a 65.
Sam Ryder (65), Keith Mitchell (67), Billy Horschel (68) and Kevin Streelman (69) were 12 under. Ryder birdied in his final five holes — and seven of nine — to toe the tournament back-nine record of 29. Mitchell set that mark two years ago.
Kevin Yu shot 29 on his first nine, tying a score recorded by five others, but he was 5 over for his final six holes to finish with a 67. He was tied for 11th.
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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-looking-for-1st-pga-tour-title-lee-hodges-takes-5-shot-lead-onto-3m-open-final-round/ | 2023-07-30T20:17:45 | 0 | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-looking-for-1st-pga-tour-title-lee-hodges-takes-5-shot-lead-onto-3m-open-final-round/ |
If you love them, leave them — at home! I’m talking to dog owners who feel they must bring their dogs with them everywhere they go.
Two different situations have recently caused me great concern. First, we’ve frequented the Friday night concerts at the Santa Fe Railyard, which have been great fun and wonderful community gatherings. We’ve observed numerous people with their dogs at these concerts. The music is loud and the crowd is usually tightly packed in. Please remember that a dog’s hearing is much more sensitive than ours, so if the noise is loud to us, it’s even louder to them. Loud music may be hurting your dog’s ears and even causing permanent damage. I also wonder how it must feel to be dragged through a packed crowd at leg level where people are walking and dancing all around you.
Our beloved companions love us, are loyal to us and want to be with us; they also have no way to get away from the noise and confusion without our help.
The second issue that concerns me is leaving a dog in a hot car. I was at Smith’s the other day during this beastly heat wave and heard a dog barking in a car. The windows were down a little bit, but it was still way too hot for a dog or human to be left in a car. Armed with the make and model of the car along with the license plate, I went back into the store and asked the manager to make an announcement asking the person to go to their car immediately, which she gladly did (thank you!).
I told her I was calling the police if they didn’t show up momentarily. They didn’t, so I called dispatch and they asked, “Is this the red Honda?” It wasn’t. I couldn’t believe it! There were two cars with dogs inside on this sweltering day in the Smith’s parking lot! Animal services was already on its way and arrived promptly. The red Honda was gone, and the owners of the car I was keeping an eye on were still not present. The animal services officer said she would wait for the people to come and if they didn’t arrive shortly, would take the dog. I went back into the store to tell the manager the outcome, as she had requested, and saw the two people who had left their dog in the car walking out of the store (I didn’t realize it until I got back to my car and recognized them).
My questions to you folks are: Why didn’t at least one of you respond to the manager’s first announcement? Why couldn’t one of you have stayed with the dog in the shade and the other have gone into the store? Why couldn’t you have left your dog at home or brought it into the store with you (it was a small dog)? If it’s too hot for you to sit in a car with the windows mostly or completely rolled up, or even rolled down, it’s also too hot for your dog. Dogs suffer and die in hot cars, and this can happen very quickly!
To all of you dog lovers and dog companions: I know you love your dog and you want to spend as much time as possible with them. I do, too. Before you take your dog with you, please, please, please, think about what is best for them and their comfort, safety and well-being. Show them your love by leaving them at home.
Judith Gabriele is a longtime Santa Fe resident who has two sweet dogs and has never met a dog she didn’t like. | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_view/love-your-dog-leave-them-at-home/article_503eb3c6-2bf4-11ee-b874-4fcdc060ae34.html | 2023-07-30T20:17:50 | 0 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_view/love-your-dog-leave-them-at-home/article_503eb3c6-2bf4-11ee-b874-4fcdc060ae34.html |
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://cbs4indy.com/news/national-world/have-an-older-verizon-phone-plan-your-bill-could-increase-soon/ | 2023-07-30T20:17:50 | 0 | https://cbs4indy.com/news/national-world/have-an-older-verizon-phone-plan-your-bill-could-increase-soon/ |
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.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-rangers-get-scherzer-from-mets-in-all-in-blockbuster-from-surprise-al-west-leaders/ | 2023-07-30T20:17:52 | 1 | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-rangers-get-scherzer-from-mets-in-all-in-blockbuster-from-surprise-al-west-leaders/ |
We use this space to respond to the situation at Chaco Canyon, where Interior Secretary Deb Haaland has removed 340,000 acres of federal lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management from oil and gas development in a 10-mile zone surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park.
Recently, former archaeologist David Siegel wrote a piece for the Navajo Times to object to her decision. Reading between the lines, we might infer the author’s interest is keeping as many lands open to oil and gas drilling as possible, despite the overwhelming support in the Greater Chaco region, in New Mexico and across the West to protect the amazing and irreplaceable sites, traditional places and cultural landscapes of Chaco Canyon.
Most egregious, perhaps, is the claim that “the U.S. Department of the Interior has stolen Navajo property rights.” As reported in multiple media sources for nearly two years, and as discussed in multiple public hearings held by BLM on this issue, the mineral withdrawal has absolutely no effect on any other non-federal mineral rights in the 10-mile protection zone. The claim that Navajo allottee property rights will be affected is patently false.
To try to make the case for not protecting cultural resources in the 10-mile protection zone, the author disparages contemporary Pueblo tribes and people, making the ridiculous claim that there is no ancestral connection between Pueblo people and the amazing sites in Chaco Canyon. The absurdity of this claim is appalling. Well-documented Pueblo oral history provides an unbroken link from the present to the Chacoan past, and even extends thousands of years prior. In addition, more than 160 years of anthropological study of Chaco Canyon provides a clear and unambiguous connection from ancient Chacoan society to historic and modern Pueblo communities of New Mexico and Arizona.
The case for protecting the 10-mile zone around Chaco Canyon has been made many times and can be summarized here. A recent review of archaeological and historical data reveals 4,200 known cultural sites in the 10-mile protection zone. These places were created by diverse groups — including Paleoindian, Archaic, Pueblo, Navajo, Jicarilla Apache and others — in time periods from about 10,000 B.C. to the present.
Because less than 20% of the area enclosed by the 10-mile zone has been archaeologically or culturally surveyed, the actual site count is undoubtedly much higher. In addition, the protection zone contains at least 17 communities or site clusters that date to the Archaic, Pueblo and Navajo time periods. One of these communities, known as Pierre’s, has been the focus of archaeological and ethnographic research; most have not. All of these places and landscapes contain significant cultural values that merit strong protection.
As an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, I, Skylar Begay, do not believe Siegel, as a retired archaeologist and as a nonmember of either the Navajo Nation or any Pueblo tribe, should have any say in the relationship between sovereign tribal nations, nor should he be making recommendations to the Navajo Nation and its citizen-members regarding the exercise of tribal sovereignty. The misinformation and erroneous comments he puts forth are reminiscent of historical strategies used by colonizing powers to divide Indigenous peoples against one other. His words should hold no weight either among Navajos or our Pueblo relatives, not least because they are blatantly incorrect and so disrespectfully stated.
Skylar Begay and Paul F. Reed both are archaeologists working in the Southwest. | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_view/preservation-of-chaco-canyon-is-the-right-decision/article_f3fd0292-2bf4-11ee-b1cc-eb70e5c82f33.html | 2023-07-30T20:17:56 | 1 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_view/preservation-of-chaco-canyon-is-the-right-decision/article_f3fd0292-2bf4-11ee-b1cc-eb70e5c82f33.html |
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://cbs4indy.com/news/national-world/man-dies-at-disney-resort-deputies-investigating/ | 2023-07-30T20:17:56 | 0 | https://cbs4indy.com/news/national-world/man-dies-at-disney-resort-deputies-investigating/ |
SYDNEY (AP) — Some of the biggest names in soccer have yet to show up at the Women’s World Cup.
That’s literally been the case of Australian star Sam Kerr, who missed the first two games with a calf injury.
Kerr has recovered in time to play for Australia in a crucial final Group B game against Canada on Monday. The Matildas need to beat the Canadians to ensure they advance to the knockout round, and the Chelsea striker’s return to the lineup brings needed energy to the team.
“Mentally, it’s massive. It brings so much to our team and obviously also a lot to the opposition knowing that we have Sam available for this game,” Australia defender Ellie Carpenter said.
Kerr’s injury on the eve of Australia’s opening game against Ireland set the tone for a tournament that hasn’t been kind to some of its biggest stars. She was the face of co-host Australia’s preparations for the tournament, which is also being staged in New Zealand.
She dominated the covers of magazines across newsstands, while the autobiography she released late last year chronicled her rise to become arguably the best player in the women’s game right now. Kerr’s popularity transcends women’s soccer and she is considered a national icon.
So the disappointment was palpable when news broke about an hour before the opening match that Kerr was going to be sidelined at least two games in this tournament.
Kerr’s absence was felt in the 3-2 loss to Nigeria in Australia’s second game, a loss that put the Matildas in danger of elimination. It is not known what her role will be against Canada, but Australia needs Kerr to deliver in the final game of group play.
“I’m definitely going to be available, but how we decide to use that is not to be given to the opposition,” said Kerr.
The World Cup is supposed to be a showcase for the finest talent and biggest names, but injuries have always robbed the tournament of some its star players.
Norway forward Ada Hegerberg has had her playing time curtailed. Often referred to as “the Lionel Messi of women’s soccer,” Hederberg was part of a Norway’s 1-0 upset loss to New Zealand in the opening game of the World Cup.
It got worse for the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner when she suffered a groin injury in the warm-up ahead of Norway’s game against Switzerland, and she’s been ruled out of the final Group A game against the Philippines.
Keira Walsh of England suffered a knee injury against Denmark that will sidenline her for the Lionesses’ final Group D game against China. Described as irreplaceable, it is not known how much she will be able to play.
Even for some stars who have seen plenty of playing time, it has been difficult to make an impact.
American icon Alex Morgan has underwhelmed so far at her fourth World Cup, where she is hoping to help the United States to an unprecedented third consecutive title.
Morgan, the co-leading scorer at the last World Cup, has yet to score at this year’s event and missed a penalty in the 3-0 win against Vietnam. U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski said Morgan was adapting to playing in a forward line with Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman.
“I think it’s not hard to realize that Alex’s role is slightly different than the Alex that we’re used to maybe in the past,” Andonovski said. “She does set up the other two forwards a lot more. It’s not that she’s not capable of scoring goals or getting behind crosses, but we can also see her playing balls to Trinity and Soph, but also getting crosses for them as well.”
Morgan, at 34, is now one of the older players at the tournament.
Christine Sinclair of Canada is also searching for first goal of the tournament. Sinclair is highest scorer in international soccer — men or women — with 190 goals.
Like Morgan, she also missed a penalty, in a 0-0 draw with Nigeria that could still prove costly. She was benched for Canada’s second game against Ireland before coming in as a substitute at halftime as the gold medalist from the Tokyo Olympics logged a come-from-behind 2-1 win.
At 40 years old, Sinclair is having to accept a more limited role for Canada.
Brazil great Marta, at 37, has also been used sparingly in her sixth World Cup.
Her teammate, Debinha, who is also an iconic figure to Brazil fans, has been one of the standout players for her country so far. But she wasn’t able to stop a 2-1 loss to France on Saturday despite scoring in that match.
The gap appears to be closing in the women’s game, with underdogs proving more of a test for the more established nations. That’s one reason some of the big name stars have yet to impress in tournament.
One of the few standouts who has not disappointed so far has been Alexandra Popp, who scored twice in Germany’s 6-0 rout of Morocco.
Major tournaments are traditionally a mix of rising talents coming to the surface, while established stars have the chance to confirm their status among the greats.
Linda Caicedo of Colombia, Lauren James of England and Melchie Dumornay of Haiti have proven their worth as some of the brightest prospects in the game. But as the second round of games nears its completion, it feels like the tournament is still waiting for many of its big hitters to make an impact.
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James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
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More AP Women’s World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-womens-world-cup | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-some-of-soccers-biggest-stars-are-struggling-to-make-an-impact-at-the-womens-world-cup/ | 2023-07-30T20:17:58 | 0 | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-some-of-soccers-biggest-stars-are-struggling-to-make-an-impact-at-the-womens-world-cup/ |
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish authorizes and promotes the killing of an estimated 10% of the state’s bears and cougars every year without actually knowing how many there are. This policy is highly questionable, but now the game department wants to kill up to a quarter of our bears and cougars every year without any coherent reason.
This is a reckless and destructive proposal lacking scientific rigor and ethical competence.
The game department’s continuing focus on expanding the recreational killing of our wildlife is another painfully clear example of why state wildlife management must be reformed and modernized.
Bears and cougars are both native to New Mexico and the American Southwest and belong on this landscape in ecologically significant numbers. These species manage their own populations quite effectively based on the availability of food and habitat. There is no credible evidence that either species needs to be lethally “managed.” Bears and cougars have as much right to live and thrive as any of us and are not just another crop to be “harvested.”
Autumn in New Mexico is one of the best times to enjoy our natural areas. But anyone who has been in the forest when hunters are chasing bears or cougars with packs of howling dogs knows how chaotic it is. Radio-collared hunting dogs pursue bears and cougars for miles. Nursing mothers and their young are especially vulnerable. Exhausted and badly outnumbered, bears and cougars will climb trees to try to escape. Hunters then shoot the animals at point blank range in what is essentially an execution-style killing. This is unsportsmanlike behavior that violates the most basic hunter ethic of “fair chase,” an ethic the Department of Game and Fish claims to uphold. Hypocrisy makes a poor foundation for any public policy.
The game department does not own the state’s wildlife. It is well established that wildlife is a public trust in which everyone holds a legitimate interest, not just those who destroy it or encourage its destruction. The vast majority of New Mexicans do not hunt or fish but have essentially no say in wildlife policy. The department is supposed to be the keeper of the wildlife public trust, but in this duty, it fails miserably, selling off the state’s wildlife as “products” on its website, charging just $47 to kill a bear and $43 to kill a cougar.
New Mexico should not be managed as a pay-to-shoot game farm. State wildlife policy should reflect our values as a society. Social attitudes toward wildlife have evolved enormously over the past century. We are largely a mutualistic society now, which means live and let live in some manner of respectful coexistence.
It’s difficult to justify the continued recreational killing of wildlife in an age of mass extinctions, mega-fires and persistent drought. We need a state wildlife agency whose mission is genuine conservation, whose methods are humane, and whose agency culture reflects a deep appreciation for the value of a unique, vulnerable and dwindling public asset.
Please speak up on behalf of our state’s bears and cougars. The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is accepting comments on the proposed bear and cougar rule at DGF-Bear-Cougar-Rules@state.nm.us. | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_view/rethink-wildlife-management-away-from-killing/article_08005402-2bf4-11ee-9eee-eb6ec2248884.html | 2023-07-30T20:18:02 | 0 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_view/rethink-wildlife-management-away-from-killing/article_08005402-2bf4-11ee-9eee-eb6ec2248884.html |
(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://cbs4indy.com/news/national-world/you-can-get-into-the-national-parks-for-free-this-week-heres-when/ | 2023-07-30T20:18:02 | 1 | https://cbs4indy.com/news/national-world/you-can-get-into-the-national-parks-for-free-this-week-heres-when/ |
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.kgw.com/article/news/nation-world/box-office-barbie-oppenheimer-haunted-mansion-talk-to-me/507-d4801fe6-1fb5-4869-b859-274995702f22 | 2023-07-30T20:18:03 | 1 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/nation-world/box-office-barbie-oppenheimer-haunted-mansion-talk-to-me/507-d4801fe6-1fb5-4869-b859-274995702f22 |
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.wbrc.com/2023/07/30/bomb-squad-investigates-mysterious-packages-parachuted-into-neighborhood/ | 2023-07-30T20:18:03 | 0 | https://www.wbrc.com/2023/07/30/bomb-squad-investigates-mysterious-packages-parachuted-into-neighborhood/ |
I read in TheNew Mexican about how Billie Marie Hill’s landlord arbitrarily wanted to raise her rent by $183 (“Weeding out seniors?” July 25). I agree with her that elders and tenants with vouchers often are squeezed out or have their housing needs ignored. Luckily, she had an advocate in Civic Housing, and the rent increase was withdrawn — although her housing stability is an issue now due to the month-to-month lease.
Most lower-income Santa Fe renters aren’t so lucky — I’ve known folks stuck on Section 8 and public housing waiting lists for years. Lower-income Santa Feans often pay 50% or more of their monthly income for rent and have no recourse when an unreasonable rent increase lands at their door. They either borrow money, get a second or third job, bring in roommates (without any extra room) and/or start couch surfing, sleeping in the car or a motel every so often. In other words, rent increases can be the beginning of experiencing homelessness.
Santa Fe needs a strong tenant bill of rights to protect renters from arbitrary rent increases, evictions, inappropriate leases and extra charges. We also need more affordable rental housing.
In the meantime, I am excited by the proposal to support our Affordable Housing Trust Fund through the 3% excise tax on the sale of million-dollar-plus homes.
The trust fund is used to help more than 1,000 Santa Feans every year to prevent foreclosure or eviction. It helps with housing deposits and builds low-income and affordable housing — contrary to Paul Gessing’s claims (“Misguided policy,” Letters to the Editor, July 22). This tax would provide a permanent source to fund the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, estimated at $4.5 million annually.
The tax is only paid by the purchaser on the portion of the house’s cost over $1 million. It will not chase away potential homebuyers. Several luxury homebuyers at a recent City Council meeting stated they’d gladly have paid the tax for the goal of helping with more affordable housing.
As one who’s worked with many families in the midst of evictions and other housing instability due to our town’s gross inequity and the lack of a high enough wage to match rising rents, I’m glad the wealthy homebuyers might have a chance to offset their effect on the economy.
Santa Fe Public Schools’ Adelante, where I worked for 17 years, used the trust fund as one resource for hundreds of children whose families otherwise would have fallen off the edge of housing instability into homelessness. When every dollar counts and the car breaks down or your family’s breadwinner gets sick, then rent and utilities are sometimes sacrificed for more immediate needs, like medicine or car repairs.
Working-class people almost always pay more than their fair share of housing costs, and I applaud City Councilors Renee Villarreal and Jamie Cassutt for giving us an opportunity to do something concrete about it. Please tell your city councilor to vote for this proposal on Aug. 9 and then help to ensure the voters of Santa Fe pass it on the ballot in November. It’s a small but significant step to bring a little more equity to our city.
Gaile Herling co-founded and coordinated the Adelante Program for 17 years. She’s lived mostly in Santa Fe since 1976. | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_view/take-a-significant-step-toward-housing-equity/article_8c9b9514-2bf4-11ee-9209-efd21cdd2114.html | 2023-07-30T20:18:05 | 1 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_view/take-a-significant-step-toward-housing-equity/article_8c9b9514-2bf4-11ee-9209-efd21cdd2114.html |
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Denny Hamlin is not offering any apologies for the move he made last weekend at Pocono that caused Kyle Larson to hit the wall and let Hamlin sail on to victory.
Truth be told, it’s what NASCAR was hoping to see more of when it established the system that divides races into three stages, rewards drivers with points for doing well in those stages and allows them to accrue playoff points, Hamlin said.
“That is what it was geared to do — give us the sense of urgency to ramp up and that regular season performance matters to get to the final four with a shot,” he said at Richmond Raceway. “The system is doing what it was designed to do.”
Hamlin also has changed, he said, after getting spun several times while leading.
“If you have one person willing to be aggressive and one person not, aggressive will win every time,” he said.
Larson, who said things are “fine” between he and Hamlin after they exchanged text messages Friday night, agreed that the point system encourages the aggressive approach Hamlin took, but added that it “makes the guys on the receiving end more mad as well just because of what’s at stake and what’s taken.”
Larson said four or five restart battles with Kyle Busch at World Wide Technology Raceway in June showed how cleanly he tries to race other drivers.
“I respect Kyle and that’s why I raced him with respect at Gateway, and I respect Denny every bit as much, if not more, or I did,” he said.
“I tend to blow things over pretty quickly,” Larson said. “This time, I probably have let it linger on my attitude a little bit this week just because it’s happened more often with him than any other driver in my career and also a win was taken.”
Larson won the first Richmond race this season in April.
POINTS RACE
William Byron has dropped 30 points behind Martin Truex Jr. in the points race with five races remaining before the playoffs begin. The regular season champion gets a 15-point bonus, but Byron doesn’t expect to make any changes to the way he’s racing while trying to secure that top spot and bonus.
“It’s really important but we can’t get too focused on the result of the regular season points,” he said. “We obviously want those points, but our process has been like it is to this point, and if we start focusing on that carrot out in front of us too much, it’s going to get us off-track.”
CHASING SPEED
Chase Elliott said Richmond is “such a weird place” where his car never feels good, but he was pleased to make the second round of qualifying. He’ll start fourth.
“Any position you can gain is good ahead of 10th,” Elliott said. “I also know this is a place where you can qualify really good and be really bad.”
Elliott missed six races with an injury and another while serving a suspension. He hasn’t won yet and likely will need to win to make the playoffs. He’s 21st in points.
“There’s a few guys that I feel like have been consistently good at this track and the rest of us are kind of hit or miss,” Elliott said. “Hopefully we can hit it tomorrow and just put together a solid day, try to get some stage points and just get up in the mix.”
HEAT CHECK
The temperature was near 100 degrees when the cars went out for qualifying, and the heat index made it feel even hotter. It’s expected to be about 90 on Sunday.
“There’s less grip and more emphasis on tire management,” Brad Keselowski said. “It will be a different race here than it was in the spring, for sure.”
Truex and Larson are the betting favorites Sunday, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
___
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-unapologetic-hamlin-says-nascars-point-system-encourages-in-race-urgency-and-aggression/ | 2023-07-30T20:18:05 | 0 | https://www.fox16.com/sports/ap-unapologetic-hamlin-says-nascars-point-system-encourages-in-race-urgency-and-aggression/ |
COLUMBIA, S.C. — With less than a month to go until the first Republican presidential debate of the 2024 campaign, seven candidates say they have met qualifications for a spot on stage in Milwaukee.
But that also means that about half the broad GOP field is running short on time to make the cut.
To qualify for the Aug. 23 debate, candidates needed to satisfy polling and donor requirements set by the Republican National Committee: at least 1% in three high-quality national polls or a mix of national and early-state polls, between July 1 and Aug. 21, and a minimum of 40,000 donors, with 200 in 20 or more states.
A look at who's in, who's (maybe) out and who's still working on making it:
WHO'S QUALIFIED
DONALD TRUMP
The current front-runner long ago satisfied the polling and donor thresholds. But he is considering boycotting and holding a competing event.
Campaign advisers have said the former president has not made a final decision about the debate. One noted that “it’s pretty clear,” based on Trump's public and private statements, that he is unlikely to appear with the other candidates.
“If you’re leading by a lot, what’s the purpose of doing it?” Trump asked on Newsmax.
In the meantime, aides have discussed potential alternative programming if Trump opts for a rival event. One option Trump has floated is an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who now has a program on X, the site formerly known as Twitter.
RON DESANTIS
The Florida governor has long been seen as Trump's top rival, finishing a distant second to him in a series of polls in early-voting states, as well as national polls, and raising an impressive amount of money.
But DeSantis' campaign has struggled in recent weeks to live up to the sky-high expectations that awaited him when he entered the race. He let go of more than one-third of his staff as federal filings showed his campaign was burning through cash at an unsustainable rate.
If Trump is absent, DeSantis may be the top target on stage at the debate.
TIM SCOTT
The South Carolina senator has been looking for a breakout moment. The first debate could be his chance.
A prolific fundraiser, Scott enters the summer with $21 million cash on hand.
In one debate-approved poll in Iowa, Scott joined Trump and DeSantis in reaching double digits. The senator has focused much of his campaign resources on the leadoff GOP voting state, which is dominated by white evangelical voters.
NIKKI HALEY
She has blitzed early-voting states with campaign events, walking crowds through her electoral successes ousting a longtime incumbent South Carolina lawmaker, then becoming the state's first woman and first minority governor. Also serving as Trump's U.N. ambassador for about two years, Haley frequently cites her international experience, arguing about the threat China poses to the United States.
The only woman in the GOP race, Haley has said transgender students competing in sports is “the women’s issue of our time” and has drawn praise from a leading anti-abortion group, which called her “uniquely gifted at communicating from a pro-life woman’s perspective.”
Bringing in $15.6 million since the start of her campaign, Haley's campaign says she has “well over 40,000 unique donors" and has satisfied the debate polling requirements.
VIVEK RAMASWAMY
The biotech entrepreneur and author of “Woke, Inc.: Inside Corporate America’s Social Justice Scam” is an audience favorite at multicandidate events and has polled well despite not being nationally known when he entered the race.
Ramaswamy's campaign says he met the donor threshold earlier this year. He recently rolled out “Vivek's Kitchen Cabinet" to boost his donor numbers even more, by letting fundraisers keep 10% of what they bring in for his campaign.
CHRIS CHRISTIE
The former New Jersey governor opened his campaign by portraying himself as the only candidate ready to take on Trump. Christie called on the former president to “show up at the debates and defend his record.”
Christie will be on that stage, even if Trump isn't, telling CNN this month that he surpassed “40,000 unique donors in just 35 days.” He also has met the polling requirements.
DOUG BURGUM
Burgum, a wealthy former software entrepreneur now in his second term as North Dakota’s governor, has been using his fortune to boost his campaign.
He announced a program this month to give away $20 gift cards — “Biden Relief Cards,” as a critique of President Joe Biden’s handling of the economy — to as many as 50,000 people in exchange for $1 donations. Critics have questioned whether the offer violated campaign finance law.
Within about a week of launching that effort, Burgum announced he had surpassed the donor threshold. Ad blitzes in the early-voting states also helped him meet the polling requirements.
WHO HASN'T QUALIFIED:
MIKE PENCE
Trump's vice president has met the polling threshold but has yet to amass a sufficient number of donors, raising the possibility that he might not qualify for the party's first debate.
Pence and his advisers have expressed confidence he will do so, noting that most other Republican hopefuls took a month or two of being active candidates to meet the mark. Pence entered the race on June 7, the same day as Burgum and one day after Christie.
“We’re making incredible progress toward that goal. We’re not there yet,” Pence told CNN in a recent interview. “We will make it. I will see you at that debate stage."
ASA HUTCHINSON
According to his campaign, the former two-term Arkansas governor has met the polling requirements but is working on satisfying the donor threshold. As of Wednesday, Hutchinson marked more than 11,000 unique donors.
Hutchinson is running in the mold of an old-school Republican and has differentiated himself from many of his GOP rivals in his willingness to criticize Trump. He has posted pleas on Twitter for $1 donations to help secure his slot.
FRANCIS SUAREZ
The Miami mayor has been one of the more creative candidates in his efforts to boost his donor numbers. He offered up a chance to see Argentine soccer legend Lionel Messi’s debut as a player for Inter Miami, saying donors who gave $1 would be entered in a chance to get front-row tickets.
Still shy of the donor threshold, he took a page from Burgum’s playbook by offering a $20 “Bidenomics Relief Card” in return for $1 donations. A super political action committee supporting Suarez launched a sweepstakes for a chance at up to $15,000 in tuition, in exchange for a $1 donation to Suarez’s campaign.
Suarez's campaign did not return a message seeking details on his number of donors or qualifying polls.
LARRY ELDER
The conservative radio host wrote in an op-ed that the RNC “has rigged the rules of the game by instituting a set of criteria that is so onerous and poorly designed that only establishment-backed and billionaire candidates are guaranteed to be on stage.”
His campaign last week declined to detail its number of donors, saying only that there had been "a strong increase the last few weeks.” He has not met the polling requirements.
PERRY JOHNSON
Johnson, a wealthy but largely unknown businessman from Michigan, said in a recent social media post that he had notched 23,000 donors and was “confident” he would make the debate stage. He added that all donors were “eligible to attend my free concert in Iowa featuring” country duo Big & Rich next month.
Johnson, who has reached 1% in one qualifying poll, has also offered to give copies of his book “Two Cents to Save America” to anyone who donated to his campaign.
WILL HURD
The former Texas congressman — the last candidate to enter the race, on June 22 — has said repeatedly that he would not pledge to support the eventual GOP nominee, a stance that would keep him off the stage even if he had the qualifying donor and polling numbers. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/nation-world/republican-presidential-candidates-august-gop-debate/507-705744a6-d4a1-4333-af89-210923a3d87b | 2023-07-30T20:18:09 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/nation-world/republican-presidential-candidates-august-gop-debate/507-705744a6-d4a1-4333-af89-210923a3d87b |
One individual shot while driving, crashes car; taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries
Published: Jul. 30, 2023 at 3:08 PM CDT|Updated: moments ago
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - One individual was taken to the hospital Saturday night suffering a gunshot wound while driving.
After being shot, the adult male victim crashed his car in the 3400 block of 30th Avenue N. He was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
At this time, there is no one in custody. The Felony Assault Unit is investigating.
This is a developing story. We will update as more information becomes available.
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Copyright 2023 WBRC. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbrc.com/2023/07/30/one-individual-shot-taken-hospital-after-car-crash/ | 2023-07-30T20:18:09 | 0 | https://www.wbrc.com/2023/07/30/one-individual-shot-taken-hospital-after-car-crash/ |
Last year, over a dozen women wrote a letter to the U.S. Justice Department calling for an investigation into the New York City Police Department’s Sex Crime Unit. Their experiences revealed that the NYPD preferred investigating rapes involving strangers over those involving assailants the women knew: doctors, neighbors and so-called friends. Since most rapes are committed by men women trust, the police were telling the women to keep their mouths shut.
Remarkably, the U.S. Justice Department got the message. “Victims of sex crimes deserve the same rigorous and unbiased investigations of their cases that [the police department] affords to other categories of crime,” stated U.S. Attorney for the Southern District Damian Williams. That statement launched the first federal investigation into the role of sex discrimination among police. Manhattan’s current district attorney, Alvin Bragg, also got the message. Unlike Cy Vance, who lost to Bragg after repeatedly protecting powerful men from sex crime prosecution, Bragg listened to survivors — survivors who were also voters. He formed the first Special Victims Division to handle crimes based on sex and gender, including child and elder abuse, and staffed it with specially trained prosecutors, investigators, analysts and social workers.
That’s a “cop in” rather than a “cop out.” We should try that approach here. Consider the statement of JoHanna Cox, spokeswoman for the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office, in response to reasonable questions about the First Judicial District Attorney’s persistent failure to file sex abuse charges against Vernon Jaramillo, CEO of Española’s Cariños Charter School, the subject of a sex abuse civil settlement totaling $4.25 million.
“Our charging decisions,” said Cox, “are based on the investigation and information submitted by the originating law enforcement agencies.”
Her statement suggests that if police officers can’t find probable cause in a case that cost the state $4.25 million to settle, prosecutors’ lips are sealed. It presumes impartial police procedure in a state where multiple generations of girls and boys were abused by trusted priests without the slightest risk of criminal prosecution. That’s the power of omission. In fact, prosecutors take calls from law enforcement officers 24/7, answering questions and offering guidance on what crimes can or should be charged. They file criminal charges with or without adequate police investigations, dismiss or reduce those charges at their own discretion most often when the case is no longer in the news, and leverage civil suits to score pleas that lower offender sentences, securing convictions that reinforce their “tough on crime” image without disturbing the status quo of generational silence.
To be sure, civil suits help survivors recover for their losses, spotlighting the stunning cost of sexual abuse — a tab picked up by taxpayers, public health care providers and employers that taken together, will cost our state over $500 million this year alone. Aside from the record-high settlements involving the New Mexico State University athletic program and the state Children, Youth and Families Department recently, school districts have been settling sex abuse cases confidentially for decades.
It doesn’t have to be like this. Collectively, survivors can carve out a space to be heard. They can unleash their anger against sexism and abuse of power in courageous and unexpected ways. They can lobby to restructure the law like Manhattan’s survivor-activist Marissa Hoechstetter. They can ask for an investigation of local police practices by the U.S. Justice Department, partnering with reform-minded public officials who are willing to hear what they have to say. They can podcast their story and invite listeners to call in their own. Most importantly, they can resist business-as-usual, duck-and-cover practices and support commonsense legislation that criminalizes wrongful behavior, like the bestiality bill that went into effect for the first time this year, or educates children on the subject of affirmative consent (“Yes Means Yes”).
By sharing their stories and working together, sex abuse survivors can return the “public” to public safety and improve the prosecution of sex crimes in their area.
Pilar Tirado Murray is a trial lawyer and mediator licensed to practice law in New Mexico, New York and Washington. She can be reached at pilar@betweenarockandaheartplace.com. | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_view/victims-of-sex-crimes-can-take-back-their-power/article_970858fe-2bf2-11ee-9432-e3ef31ecc710.html | 2023-07-30T20:18:12 | 0 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_view/victims-of-sex-crimes-can-take-back-their-power/article_970858fe-2bf2-11ee-9432-e3ef31ecc710.html |
A recent letter to The New Mexican complained about timely access to doctors in Santa Fe (“Lack of medical care will chase people away,” Letters to the Editor, July 5). A second letter complained about the scarcity of veterinarians in Santa Fe and the lack of even one emergency veterinarian (“Lack of vets,” Letters to the Editor, July 6).
In the first case, the writer stated that they might have to leave Santa Fe. They might want to rethink that. Access to medical professionals is a problem just about everywhere. Need a new primary care provider? Be prepared for a six-month wait for an appointment. Referral to a specialist? Two to three months. New in town? Be prepared to call multiple veterinary practices only to find they’re not accepting new patients.
The problem is not Santa Fe. The problem is national because of a lack of medical professionals. The population of the United States is aging. That means more people with more medical issues. It also means more medical professionals retiring every day.
It is difficult to get people to commit to a minimum of seven years of study, let alone the 11 to 15 years required for some medical specialties. Add to that the fact many students will graduate with student loans they will continue to pay off for the rest of their lives, and prospects are not good for enticing young people into medical careers.
At a time when we need more educated people, we are stifling young people’s ability to get an education due to the high costs of college and the obscene costs of educational loans. We don’t allow predatory interest rates on payday or title loans, so why do we still allow them on educational loans? There are many well-documented instances where people have paid on educational loans for years and yet still owe not only the initial amount but also many times that in interest. Why do we allow that to continue? Are we so shortsighted not to see how that affects all of us?
Yes, a college education is not for everyone. But we want our doctors, our veterinarians, our engineers, our teachers to have college degrees. One way to ensure that we have the educated people we need is to make sure our young people can attend college without taking on crushing lifelong debt.
Otherwise, you just may never get to see that doctor at all. | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_view/want-doctors-or-veterinarians-make-education-less-expensive/article_57175268-210c-11ee-b9be-c360f97ddfe6.html | 2023-07-30T20:18:18 | 1 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_view/want-doctors-or-veterinarians-make-education-less-expensive/article_57175268-210c-11ee-b9be-c360f97ddfe6.html |
July 30, 1923: Magdalena, July 30 — An innocent prairie dog caused considerable damage to two tourists’ autos as they were en route to this city, from points in Illinois. The driver of the first machine saw a prairie dog sitting up by the roadside, and as it was the first he had ever seen, he suddenly stopped his car to get a good look at it. The driver of the second car was also looking at the dog, and not noticing that his friend had stopped, crashed into the rear of the first machine.
July 30, 1948: It’s good to know that we are not going to have a 30-year war over the utility question. Councilman Raymond Shaya, chairman of the city utilities committee, said yesterday: “The people have spoken. Now I think we should negotiate with the company and see what we can get for the benefit of the city.”
He referred to the special election of July 13 in which the people voted 4,000 to 1,300 against municipal purchase and operations of the electric utility.
July 30, 1973: The state Corporation Commission was opening a hearing today on Mountain Bell Telephone’s request for a statewide rate increase that could raise annual revenues by more than $9 million.
July 30, 1998: The Santa Fe City Council voted Wednesday night to move the burning of Zozobra to the Thursday night before Fiesta weekend in order to better control the massive crowds that attend the burning, then push into the Plaza.
Now all that remains is convince some 30,000 people that they are supposed to disperse — not pack the Plaza — after the flames have eaten Old Man Gloom and the evening’s entertainment has come and gone. | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/past_100_years/the-past-100-years-july-30-2023/article_50b27b40-2cf7-11ee-976d-cb1291da8cb1.html | 2023-07-30T20:18:24 | 1 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/past_100_years/the-past-100-years-july-30-2023/article_50b27b40-2cf7-11ee-976d-cb1291da8cb1.html |
Belgian blues for Kannapolis-based Haas F1 Team
The Max Machine keeps rolling with another dominant win
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (WBTV) - Kannapolis-based MoneyGram Haas F1 Team drivers Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg finished 15th and 18th respectively at Round 13 of the 2023 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, the Belgian Grand Prix, held Sunday at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
Magnussen started from P16 on the Pirelli P Zero Red soft tires and went for an aggressive undercut by pitting on lap five, taking on Yellow medium tires, to emerge in contention for the top 10 positions. Magnussen came in for a second time on lap 26, taking on another set of medium tires, and held 13th place, before relinquishing positions late on to rivals on fresher rubber. Magnussen completed the race in P15.
“I felt there was a little more to fight for this race, I had a bit more competitiveness,” Magnussen said. “We still have way more degradation than everyone else, which I think is the main differentiator today. Pace-wise at the beginning of the stints it felt like we could fight for the top 10 but didn’t have the degradation to keep fighting to the end. I think we’re getting a good understanding of what we need to do and I’m looking forward to the second half of the year, looking forward to some upgrades, and making some changes to the car. Hopefully we can get back in the game, we’re still P8 in the Constructors’ Championship and that’s our aim as a team to gain another position from last year. We’ve got everything to play for.”
Hulkenberg began the race on medium tires from the pit lane after changes were made to the set-up of his VF-23 outside of parc ferme regulations. Hulkenberg also ran a two-stop strategy in the race, changing on lap 13 for softs, before coming in once more on lap 25 for another set of the soft tires. Hulkenberg used the compound to set the fourth-fastest overall lap time during the race and was classified in 18th place, securing a two-car finish for MoneyGram Haas F1 Team.
“I think tire degradation was high and also car pace wasn’t good enough to challenge for points,” Hulkenberg said. “We’ll reset, regroup and we have three weeks to refresh and hopefully come back stronger in Zandvoort. I’m disappointed after a day like today, but I’m first and foremost still very happy to be back, enjoying myself and having a good time in the car. Working and pushing the team and having battles on-track, the positives still outweigh a difficult Sunday, but we need and want some performance in the car.”
“The team got the best out of what was possible from our car, and both fought hard. In the end, we came short on our issue of tire life, so we fell back in the middle of the race,” said Team Principal Guenther Steiner. “We couldn’t fight with the others and if we go into overtime with our tires, we just get slower, and that’s what happened again. We know our deficit, we’re working on it and hopefully we can resolve it fast but all in all, the team did a good job. For Nico to change his car around, it was all executed very well. Now we go on summer break, and hopefully come back stronger.”
Up front, Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen claimed his eighth successive victory, and 10th for the season, ahead of teammate Sergio Perez and Scuderia Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.
MoneyGram Haas F1 Team enters the summer recess holding eighth position in the Constructors’ Championship on 11 points.
Round 14 of the 2023 FIA Formula 1 World Championship is the Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort. Practice – Friday August 25 Qualifying – Saturday August 26. Race – Sunday August 27.
Copyright 2023 WBTV. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbtv.com/2023/07/30/belgian-blues-kannapolis-based-haas-f1-team/ | 2023-07-30T20:18:24 | 1 | https://www.wbtv.com/2023/07/30/belgian-blues-kannapolis-based-haas-f1-team/ |
Belmont woman reported missing
She was last seen by family around 2 a.m. Friday.
Published: Jul. 30, 2023 at 3:55 PM EDT|Updated: 21 minutes ago
BELMONT, N.C. (WBTV) - Gaston County Police are asking the public’s help in finding a missing Belmont woman.
Brianne Maurine Fry, age 26, was reported missing by family members Saturday night. She was last seen around 2 a.m. Friday.
Fry is described as a white female standing around 5′5″ tall and weighing about 150lbs. She has straight, red hair and brown eyes. She has piercings on her ears, nose and tongue and may be wearing glasses.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Gaston County Police Department at 704-866-3320 or 911.
Get the latest updates sent straight to your device by downloading the free WBTV News app today.
Watch continuing news coverage here:
Copyright 2023 WBTV. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbtv.com/2023/07/30/belmont-woman-reported-missing/ | 2023-07-30T20:18:25 | 0 | https://www.wbtv.com/2023/07/30/belmont-woman-reported-missing/ |
Athletes being proactive about staying hydrated through hot summer workouts?
Joey Fernandez said he has become accustomed to seeing it, usually in the form of his St. Michael’s football players carrying water bottles with them wherever they go.
For most of the past 15-20 years, Fernandez said high school athletes have heeded the warnings and encouragements of their coaches to drink plenty of water to avoid cramps, muscle pulls and, worse, heat stroke during the hottest part of the year.
“It’s a year-round thing, actually,” said Fernandez, the Horsemen head coach. “You see kids carrying their water bottles all the time. They drink [water] more than we did in high school.”
While it might be a new custom, this summer’s scorching temperatures in the area made it more important for coaches and athletic trainers to drive home the importance of hydration, proper nutrition, getting out of the sun as much as possible and other preventative measures for oppressive heat. Since June 24, Santa Fe hit at least 90 degrees 29 times and the 100-degree mark once, according to the National Weather Service. At one point, the city went 18 consecutive days in July topping the 90-degree threshold.
With teams preparing for the start of preseason practices Monday, getting the message of hydration across to players is almost as important to coaches as learning the playbook.
“I tell our guys to take as many water breaks as you need,” Capital head coach Joaquin Garcia said. “We can adjust our practices because our goal is not to run them into the ground. Our goal is to get them ready to play.”
Coaches tried to do their part over the summer by holding outdoor workouts in the early morning to avoid the worst of the heat. The city’s three top football programs — St. Michael’s, Santa Fe High and Capital — are on the field no later than 8 a.m. and off it before 10 a.m. Even with that, coaches are acutely aware to keep drills, scrimmages and workouts short and crisp.
And they are watching weather forecasts as much as they are planning the week’s schedule for their teams.
Santa Fe High head coach Andrew Martinez said this summer’s heat has been unlike most others he’s coached in during a 20-plus year career.
“I think it was my first or second year [as an assistant at St. Michael’s in 2001-02] that we had that first round of heat, and that was miserable,” Martinez said. “It’s hard to judge from year to year, but in terms of constant heat without a break, it’s hard to pinpoint a year that’s as hot as this one.”
Martinez said water stations are strategically placed around Ivan Head Stadium so players can get a drink as they move from one drill to the next. When the teams go into the locker room, there are energy drinks and bars, electrolyte powder packets and good, old-fashioned water bottles to help players replenish themselves.
He applauded his players for usually doing a good job of taking care of themselves, but that doesn’t mean he and his coaching staff can ease up on repeating the message to hydrate.
“We talk about that every day, even in the winter,” Martinez said.
What’s more important, Martinez said, is how players prepare for workouts. He focuses on three important elements — sleep, nutrition and hydration — that are most useful for the Demons.
When he sees players going through a drill sluggishly, it’s often a sign they didn’t do enough of one of those three items.
“You know, kids forget,” Martinez said. “Then, you get them out there and they’re, ‘Oh, I’m sick. It’s so hot out here. I’m practicing hard, and I’m sick.’
“Well, when was the last time you ate anything? ‘Not since yesterday afternoon.’
“What time did you get to bed? ‘One [in the morning].’
“I think there are some other reasons you are feeling that way.”
Things will change come Monday, as players put on their helmets for the first time this season to start two-a-day practices. By Wednesday, they will be in shoulder pads before finally getting to put on all of their gear for Aug. 7 practices. All three coaches say it’s a different animal practicing in the afternoon wearing all of that equipment, which will make players feel the heat even more.
All three coaches said they will start morning practices by 8 a.m. Capital and Santa Fe High will be off the field by 1 p.m. Fernandez said his team will take to the field at 2:30 p.m. for a second practice, but the 90-minute session will be filled with plenty of breaks.
“We try to get them [a break] every 10 to 15 minutes,” Fernandez said. “Some kids don’t like to get water, but we make them drink because it’s important to make sure their bodies are working right.”
Garcia said it’s a far cry from how practices were when he was in high school in the 1990s, when drinking water was considered a sign of weakness and taking salt pills was an oft-used method to battle dehydration.
“I was like, ‘Wait a minute. This makes no sense,’ ” Garcia said. “Now, we have to be aware and we have to take care of our kids.”
Another factor the coaching staffs at Santa Fe High and Capital must consider are the turf surfaces on which they practice. Those fields, which have black rubber beads meshed with the synthetic grass, can add 15 to 20 degrees on top of the hot ambient temperatures. Contrast that with St. Michael’s, which works out on the natural grass fields that adorn its football, softball and baseball fields.
Fernandez said it is nowhere near as hot as the synthetic fields. Even so, he usually held a second round of workouts during the summer after 5 p.m. to avoid the worst of the heat.
“It’s so much easier to play on it, and it’s a lot cooler,” Fernandez said. “We play on Saturday afternoons [during the season], and we want them to be out there in the afternoon so they can deal with it during the season. But grass does make a big difference being able to practice on, which I think helps us a lot.”
There were moments Santa Fe High and St. Michael’s had to deal with playing in the heat of the day during the summer, especially when competing in 7-on-7 passing camps. Santa Fe High went to Roswell and Portales for passing camps in the middle of July, when temperatures were soaring well into the 100-degree range.
Martinez said the team lucked out in showing up on days when temperatures dipped into the 90s — a much better situation for the Demons. Fernandez also took his team to Roswell, then to Bloomfield, where conditions were in the mid-90s, but Fernandez said the synthetic turf made it feel much hotter than that.
The teams used tents to keep players in the shade and out of the harsh conditions.
Garcia took a different tack, heading to Bernalillo, Taos and Las Vegas, N.M., for passing camps, and he didn’t hesitate to indicate the weather played a factor in those decisions.
“For us, we got more reps in, and the kids, they didn’t die in that heat,” Garcia said. “That’s one thing about this — and nothing against the other places that had 7-on-7s — but I didn’t want my guys out in that 100-degree heat. Sometimes, I think you set yourself up for injury and fatigue.”
The good news as preseason practices start is long-range forecasts show temperatures are expected to drop below
90 degrees by Monday and stay that way for the rest of the week, with afternoon thunderstorms that can cool even the hottest of days.
But preparation was the word Martinez emphasized to his players as they got a much-deserved week off before practice began.
“We’re telling them if you’re hydrating Sunday, forget about it,” Martinez said. “It’s not going to matter. Start hydrating Friday night. Hydrate Saturday and Sunday so they don’t go into Monday and get overheated.
“They can’t just hang out under a tent on Monday, so there’s no reprieve for them.” | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/sports/perspiration-preparations-santa-fe-coaches-stress-hydration-ahead-of-sweltering-football-camps/article_aa8881ae-2e65-11ee-930f-cb156f5e2a3f.html | 2023-07-30T20:18:26 | 1 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/sports/perspiration-preparations-santa-fe-coaches-stress-hydration-ahead-of-sweltering-football-camps/article_aa8881ae-2e65-11ee-930f-cb156f5e2a3f.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.wbtv.com/2023/07/30/bomb-squad-investigates-mysterious-packages-parachuted-into-neighborhood/ | 2023-07-30T20:18:26 | 0 | https://www.wbtv.com/2023/07/30/bomb-squad-investigates-mysterious-packages-parachuted-into-neighborhood/ |
Denmark studying 'legal' options to stop Quran burnings
The Danish government is looking into "a legal tool" that would enable authorities to prevent protesters outside embassies from burning the Muslims' holy book, the Quran.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told the national broadcaster DR on Sunday that the government was studying the scope for intervention to prevent such acts.
The news comes as many Muslim countries have protested the desecration of the Quran at demonstrations held in Denmark and Sweden in recent weeks.
Saudi Arabia and Iraq have called upon the Jeddah-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to convene on Monday to address Quran desecration in both Nordic countries. Several Muslim nations have also launched campaigns to boycott Swedish products.
What did the Danish foreign minister say?
Denmark and Sweden have both deplored the burning of the holy book of Islam. Yet, they stressed their hands were tied against the Nordic countries' rules protecting free speech.
In a statement on Sunday, Rasmussen said the government was studying the scope for intervention "in special situations where, for instance, other countries, cultures, and religions are being insulted, and where this could have significant negative consequences for Denmark, not least with regard to security."
"The burnings are deeply offensive and reckless acts committed by few individuals. These few individuals do not represent the values the Danish society is built on," he said.
Rasmussen stressed that any measure taken would fall "within the framework of the constitutionally protected freedom of expression and in a manner that does not change the fact that freedom of expression in Denmark has [a] very broad scope."
What did Sweden say?
Meanwhile, Swedish Prime Ulf Kristersson said on Sunday that he held talks with Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen, where both leaders agreed the situation was dangerous.
"We need to take measures to strengthen our resilience," Kristenrsson said in a post on Instagram. "Ultimately it is about defending our free and open societies, our democracy and our citizens' right to freedom and security."
The outrage from the Quran desecration has been particularly problematic for Sweden, whose bid to join NATO had been blocked by Turkey for nearly a year, over accusations of hosting terrorists. Turkey has often been among the loudest protesters against burning Qurans.
On Sunday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan urged Stockholm to take concrete steps to prevent Quran burnings, as per a report by the Reuters news agency citing a foreign ministry source. Fidan spoke during a phone call with Swedish counterpart Tobias Billstrom, during which Sweden's NATO accession was also discussed.
Earlier this month, the Swedish government said it would look into the possibility of amending the Public Order Act in a manner which makes it possible for the police to stop demonstrations which threaten the country's security.
rmt/jcg (AFP, Reuters) | https://www.dw.com/en/denmark-studying-legal-options-to-stop-quran-burnings/a-66391117 | 2023-07-30T20:19:10 | 0 | https://www.dw.com/en/denmark-studying-legal-options-to-stop-quran-burnings/a-66391117 |
Dear Amy: My husband’s brother and his wife announced about a year ago that they had irreconcilable differences; they divorced after a long and loveless marriage.
To be honest we have no idea why they stayed together as long as they did.
About a month later, my brother-in-law introduced us to his new girlfriend.
I was initially very happy that he had found someone new who really seemed to fit into the family dynamic better than his ex.
Then his new girlfriend reached out on Facebook. I accepted her friend request and was trying to get to know her by looking at her past posts. That’s when I realized that she and my brother-in-law had been in a relationship for at least five years.
I haven’t mentioned this to anyone else in the family except for my husband.
I was raised with a strong belief in the sanctity of marriage, and I unfortunately find their infidelity and lack of shame about it to be disturbing.
I try not to let this knowledge get in my way of being friendly with them, but it’s always sitting in the back of my mind, and I’ve found myself avoiding them so I don’t have to think about it.
Do you have any suggestions on what I can do to keep this relationship friendly? I don’t want to damage my husband’s family dynamic.
Don’t Want to be Judgmental
Dear Judgmental: No one knows what goes on in another couple’s marriage, but my observation is that even long and loveless marriages can hang on until another potential partner enters the scene, which often serves as the impetus for the couple to finally separate.
Generally, when a separated or very recently divorced person introduces another partner to the family very quickly after parting with the spouse, it’s a sign that the new person has been on the scene for a while.
Your brother-in-law and his former wife might have had an understanding or were negotiating about how to handle their marriage and outside relationships prior to their divorce.
The girlfriend’s public posts indicate that there is an overall lack of shame regarding the relationship, and whether this is because they are actually shameless or perhaps reacting to a much more complicated personal situation remains to be seen.
It is really none of your business. If you’re curious, you could ask – but I suggest you work hard to keep your harsher judgment in check.
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.
Dear Amy: I thought your response to “Basically a Single Parent” was, basically, awful. This father of two young children is addicted to his phone screen, and instead of telling him to pay attention to his kids, you suggest that he listen to music?!
Disappointed
Dear Disappointed: Other readers agree with you, and, yes, I also agree that the core issue is that this father was so disengaged with his very young children.
However, I raised children with the help of Broadway cast albums and NPR.
As long as your hands are free and you’re not too distracted, I think it’s fine to have some audio going in the background.
You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/ask-amy-disturbed-by-her-facebook-history/ | 2023-07-30T20:19:26 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/ask-amy-disturbed-by-her-facebook-history/ |
MIAMI GARDENS — Fans were happy to see Zach Thomas, the Miami Dolphins’ Hall of Fame linebacker at Sunday’s practice, but they were just as happy to see their 2023 Dolphins take the field for the first training camp practice open to fans.
And they were treated to some evenly-matched offensive and defensive football, highlighted by quarterback Mike White hitting wide receiver Jaylen Waddle on a well-thrown touchdown pass of about 40 yards, past cornerback Bryce Thompson and safety Keidron Smith.
Sunday’s equal offense-defense matchup was significant because the defense pounded the offense Friday, which was the last practice, with 12 sacks.
Cornerback Eli Apple made his Dolphins practice debut, and no, he didn’t match up head-to-head with wide receiver Tyreek Hill, which is noteworthy because of their very public beef over the last year or so.
Apple said Hill’s locker is near his, and said the two got along well Sunday.
“His locker is literally right across from mine, so I saw him earlier in the day in the locker room,” Apple said, “and we were chopping it up a little bit at the breakfast table. It’s all love. We’re on the same team; all love.”
We’ll see if that lasts through Monday’s practice, which will be the first in pads.
Here are some highlights from Sunday:
Observations
Cornerback Kader Kohou, who wore the orange jersey, representative of the player who had the best previous practice, had a nice pass breakup against Cedric Wilson Jr. Kohou figures to be elevated to starter with Jalen Ramsey’s injury. …
The offensive line, which was good in 11-on-11s, also had a good day in 1-on-1s, including center-guard Dan Feeney beating defensive tackle Brandon Pili, right tackle Austin Jackson beating linebacker Mitchell Agude, left guard Robert Jones beating defensive tackle Josiah Bronson, tackle Kion Smith beating defensive tackle Jaylen Twyman. …
Rookie running back DeVon Achane, at 5 foot 9, 188 pounds, continues to have success running between the tackles. Of course, pads come on Monday, so it ight be a different story. We’ll see. …
Starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa hit Hill on a 40-yard completion with safety Elijah Campbell defending. The Tagovailoa-to-Hill connection, which was spotty the first three practices, is starting to heat up. …
Edge rushers Emmanuel Ogbah and Jaelan Phillips had tackles for loss against running backs Raheem Mostert and Achane, respectively, in red zone drills. Phillips, who was slowed the previous two practices by a left leg ailment, was full speed Sunday. …
Linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, who has been relatively low-key at this early part of training camp, had a nice pass breakup in the red zone and later stopped Mostert for no gain. Van Ginkel, a former edge rusher, is moving inside this season. …
The quarterbacks had a better day overall than Friday. Tagovailoa, White and Skylar Thompson were all fairly sharp, which might have been a result of better pass protection. …
Tagovailoa had a sweet pump fake to get edge rusher Bradley Chubb in the air in a red zone drill, and then Tagovailoa hit tight end Durham Smythe for a nice gain. Tagovailoa continues to show areas of growth such as throwing the ball away or using his feet to sidestep a rush instead of hanging in the pocket and trying to make the “hero” play. …
Tagovailoa had two near-interceptions, one on a ball that glanced off Campbell’s hands and another on a ball that glanced off rookie cornerback Cam Smith‘s hands. …
Left guard Liam Eichenberg turned in a solid day, including a strong block on defensive lineman Zach Sieler that allowed Tagovailoa to complete a pass late in practice. Eichenberg has been playing well through four practices.
Injury report
Cornerback Trill Williams (knee) and safety Brandon Jones (knee) wore red jerseys at Sunday’s practice, which means they can’t have contact and no one can touch them. But that’s a sign of progress. Both participated in individual drills although neither did team drills. Still, considering neither had done any drills previously, they’re both getting closer to returning.
Running back Jeff Wilson Jr. (unknown reason), cornerback Keion Crossen (undisclosed injury) and wide receiver Freddie Swain (unknown reason) were among the players not seen at practice.
Among those not participating were left tackle Terron Armstead (knee), safety Nik Needham (Achilles), tight end Tanner Conner (unknown ailment) and guard-tackle Isaiah Wynn (unknown ailment) are on the physically-unable-to-perform list.
Needham, by the way, was running on the side and appeared to be running harder than he had in previous practices.
Stock up
Offensive line/pass protection. After being obliterated Friday, the previous practice, the offensive line and pass protection, which includes tight ends and running backs, came back strong Sunday. Chubb and defensive lineman Christian Wilkins, who did a lot of trash talking Friday, were fairly silent Sunday.
Stock down
Red zone defense. The red zone offense operated effectively on both runs and passes. A good amount of Sunday’s 11-on-11 was in the red zone and the offense saw Mostert, fullback Alec Ingold and running back Salvon Ahmed excel at different times. Ahmed had a nice block against Chubb that allowed Tagovailoa to hit wide receiver Cedric Wilson Jr. for a touchdown. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/dolphins-camp-zach-thomas-appearance-eli-apple-debut-fans-in-attendance-plus-stock-up-stock-down/ | 2023-07-30T20:19:32 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/dolphins-camp-zach-thomas-appearance-eli-apple-debut-fans-in-attendance-plus-stock-up-stock-down/ |
When a public official argues that she is smarter than just about everyone — including the Florida voters who elected her in the first place and the judges on the court she is trying to convince to stymie those voters — you have to conclude she has a pretty high opinion of herself.
Or that she is, well, high. In this case, that seems unlikely.
In fact, it seems obvious that Attorney General Ashley Moody didn’t smoke up before drafting her latest legal salvo against a citizen’s initiative supporting recreational use of marijuana. If she had, she’d have the practical knowledge that legal marijuana just isn’t that hard to get in Florida any more – for anyone. That’s been the reality for nearly eight years, yet the parade of horrible outcomes that briefs filed by Moody, the Florida Chamber of Commerce and other opponents of recreational pot envision haven’t materialized.
Her arguments might have made sense before Floridians became so thoroughly familiar with this issue. But this state’s residents understand the implications of expanding access to marijuana. They deserve the chance to make up their minds and Moody is wrong to try to sideline their opportunity.
Florida’s pot history
Then again, one symptom of marijuana use is absent-mindedness. Moody seems to have forgotten that the Florida Supreme Court pretty much wrote the script for a recreational-marijuana amendment that would pass its scrutiny, in its 2021 opinions striking down a prior attempt.
The supporters of the proposed marijuana-access amendment clearly paid close attention to that ruling, and have included language that makes it clear their amendment doesn’t change federal law (which still holds marijuana to be illegal under criminal statutes, and classifies it as a Schedule 1 drug with high potential for abuse and, officially, no authorized medical use).
David Bellamy: Florida should let the love flow for safe, recreational marijuana | Commentary
Moody and her backers also have forgotten — or are deliberately ignoring — evidence that Floridians are perfectly capable of doing their own thinking on this issue. The first time medical marijuana made it to the ballot in 2014, it fell short of the 60% needed to become law. The objection, as reflected in polling and other gauges of public opinion: The wording of that amendment was so vague that an accommodating physician could authorize pot use for anyone who wanted it.
Supporters of the medical cannabis initiative, led by attorney John Morgan, came back in 2016 with ballot language that was much more narrowly drawn. They ran a smart campaign featuring the very sick, suffering Floridians who would benefit from compassionate access to cannabis, and voters said yes.
Memory may be a little cloudy on that issue, because as soon as access to medical marijuana became legal under Florida law, debate in Tallahassee switched to vicious battles over who would profit. With increasing boldness, the industry started pushing at barricades the 2016 amendment set on medical-marijuana authorization. Questions like “Do you have cancer? Multiple sclerosis? Parkinsons?” gave way to “Do you have depression? Anxiety? How about stress? Uh … writer’s cramp?” And state officials did nothing about that.
Now, the key question seems to be “Do you have about $250, plus $75 for the state? Cool. Here’s your card.”
Voters aren’t dumb
Nobody can blame 2016 voters for that. State agencies and prosecutors could have enforced the narrower provisions. But now Floridians know what it’s like to live with increased access to marijuana. There have definitely been a fair amount of stems among the flower: People with the conditions listed in the 2016 amendment say usage has become so widespread that they sometimes can’t afford — or even find — enough to alleviate their symptoms. And there’s ample reason to be cynical about the way big-money interests managed to quickly freeze smaller players out of the industry, sparking extensive court battles.
(On that issue, Moody’s brief actually scores a fair point. By limiting legal possession to three ounces, the 2024 amendment could make it difficult for pot users to grow their own. It’s easy to see why cannabis dispenser Trulieve, the deep pockets behind the 2024 amendment campaign, wanted that language.)
The other horrendous outcomes Moody predicts seem unlikely, at best. She claims the proposed amendment, by “allowing” recreational use under state law, would blind voters to the possibility that they could be prosecuted under federal criminal law. “Voters need clear guidance before being asked to lift state-law penalties for the possession of a substance that would subject users to devastating criminal liability under federal law,” she argues.
But voters are capable of looking around. They see what’s happening in other states, where federal officials under both Democratic and Republican administrations stopped prosecuting possession, sale or usage of marijuana to the extent that any state law allows it. Floridians also drive past cannabis dispensaries on the regular, and never see them raided.
We assume members of the Florida Supreme Court occasionally do the same.
That leaves Moody with one argument: Courts — not just Florida courts, but courts in the 38 states that have authorized medical cannabis and the 23 states that allow recreational use — have all gotten this one wrong. Every single one of them, wrong.
That’s a mighty slender thread to dangle something as momentous as she’s proposing: That Florida justices toss all their previous decisions, ignore reality and set an impossible standard for future amendment proposals to meet. That justices strip from Florida voters the ability to make a decision that they’ve already proven themselves perfectly capable of handling.
We don’t rank her chances of prevailing very high. (And we’re going to forgo the chance to make one more pot joke here.)
We will add this: It must have been mighty stressful to craft the language that makes such a ridiculous argument sound even remotely reasonable. Fortunately, we are pretty sure the AG can find — within a few blocks of her Tallahassee offices — a friendly doctor and well-stocked dispensaries to get help with that.
Assuming, of course, that she can spare the $250.
The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Krys Fluker, Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson and Viewpoints Editor Jay Reddick. Contact us at insight@orlandosentinel.com | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/editorial-moodys-case-against-recreational-cannabis-doesnt-hold-up/ | 2023-07-30T20:19:38 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/editorial-moodys-case-against-recreational-cannabis-doesnt-hold-up/ |
The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory that will be take effect from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday in Central Florida. Heat indices within the advisory area will reach up to 110 degrees.
Scattered to numerous showers and storms are also forecast for the area this afternoon and early evening, NWS said. Stronger storms will be capable of producing frequent lightening, gusty winds up to 45 mph, and heavy downpours.
The high today will be 95 degrees and the low will be 78 degrees. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/heat-advisory-in-effect-from-noon-to-5-p-m-in-central-florida-on-sunday/ | 2023-07-30T20:19:44 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/heat-advisory-in-effect-from-noon-to-5-p-m-in-central-florida-on-sunday/ |
Just what does the average Florida homeowner pay for property insurance? Good luck figuring that out based on wildly varying estimates quoted across the media.
About the only thing everyone agrees on is that the state’s insurance rates have been rising sharply. Insurers say they need higher premiums to offset mounting losses from hurricane claims, severe weather events, high rates of litigation, and resulting increases in the cost of reinsurance — insurance that insurers must buy to make sure they can pay all claims after a disaster.
Reforms enacted in 2022 to curtail costs from litigation are expected to eventually stabilize premium costs, but that hasn’t happened yet.
Meanwhile, online insurance aggregators publish estimates that are all over the map.
Policygenius says average Florida homeowners pay $2,442 for home insurance.
Bankrate says $1,981 — but that’s just to insure the dwelling and doesn’t include other vital elements like liability coverage, loss of use, or personal property.
Insurify crunched numbers from 10 Florida ZIP codes and estimated average homeowners are paying a whopping $7,788 this year.
For a report comparing insurance costs across the nation, USA Today estimated that Floridians pay an average of $2,389.
And Insurance Information Institute, an industry-funded nonprofit organization, estimated Florida’s average home insurance premium was $4,321 last October and $6,000 currently.
Which number is closest to what Florida homeowners are actually paying? It’s impossible to say because the estimates are calculated based on “proprietary methods,” said Mark Friedlander, corporate communications director for the Insurance Information Institute.
Insurance agents in South Florida say their clients are paying on the high side of the estimated range of average premiums.
Yet, recently released data by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation include figures that some might find surprisingly low in comparison to the higher estimates.
The state’s most recent data comes from insurers themselves — sent to OIR each quarter under a law enacted in May 2022.
The data sent by insurers was used to create county-by-county estimates of premiums paid to insure single-family homes, Those estimates were included in the office’s twice-yearly Property Insurance Stability Report released in early July.
State data shows average rates are lower
The report found that on March 31:
Homeowners in 48 of Florida’s 67 counties paid estimated average premiums between $2,000 and $2,999. Averages were below $2,000 in four counties — Sumter, Marion, Baker and Hernando.
Average premiums were in the $3,000s in seven counties: Lee, Okeechobee, Escambia, Okaloosa, Gulf, Pinellas, and Indian River.
Residents of three counties — Walton, Franklin, and Collier — paid average premiums in the $4,000s.
And homeowners in the five southernmost counties — Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe — paid average premiums of more than $5,000.
In fact, average premiums in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade exceeded $5,500 while homeowners in Monroe, which includes the Florida Keys, paid an average $7,584.
Premium amounts calculated by the Office of Insurance Regulation preceded rate hikes tied to higher reinsurance rates that insurers secured as hurricane season began on June 1. Renewal prices charged after companies secured their reinsurance rates will reflect the higher costs. That means the next six-month report will likely reflect significant rate increases.
Missing from the twice-yearly report is a statewide average premium.
The Sun Sentinel tallied data in a separate release by the office of company-level data that includes numbers of policyholders per coverage category and corresponding direct written premium totals. Direct written premiums are the total dollar amount of all premiums paid to the company by its policyholders. Dividing the number of policyholders into the direct written premium data reveals the average premium charged by the company.
Dividing the total number of policyholders into the total direct written premium total for all Florida-regulated insurance companies reveals Florida’s average homeowner insurance premium on March 31 was $3,134.
How many homeowners in Florida’s five southernmost counties would like to be paying that right now?
Probably all clients of Fort Lauderdale-based insurance agent Phil Portnoy, who works at Donna Carrara Insurance Agency.
“The average I’ve seen from private insurers is anywhere from $6,000 to $10,000 for, say, $350,000 in coverage,” Portnoy said last week. “I’ve seen renewals down in Pinecrest for as much as $17,000 for a million in coverage and as much as $27,000 for a Palm Beach County intracoastal renewal of $1 million in coverage.”
Al Mendez, partner in Mendez & Associates Insurance in Pembroke Pines, says his average policies range from $4,200 to $6,000 to insure homes in the tri-county region with replacement costs of $300,000 to $500,000.
Mendez calls the current state of the insurance market — with rate increases of 25% to 70% over each of the past three years — “the worst I’ve experienced” in 30 years in the industry.
Some of his clients have seen increases of 100% to 200%, he said. “Florida is now the most expensive state to live in,” he said.
South Florida insurance costs are higher
Mark Friedlander of the Insurance Information Institute said he stands by his organization’s estimates that statewide average premiums increased from $4,231 last fall to $6,000 this year as “verified as accurate by numerous third parties, including insurers and insurance agents.”
As Friedlander is a popular source of insurance information, the $6,000-a-year estimate has shown up in stories by numerous national publications about Florida’s insurance crisis.
Two weeks ago, Friedlander said, “a Barron’s reporter verified our premium data with numerous industry analysts and confirmed its accuracy.”
Insurify, Policygenius and USA Today each used insurance data from a single source — Quadrant Information Services — to produce different estimates.
Chase Gardner of Insurify, which calculated an average estimate of $7,788 for Florida, said the company developed its estimates by using average costs in 10 zip codes “representative of each state’s population distribution.” Zip codes with larger populations were weighted more heavily in calculating the average, he said, which may explain why his company’s estimates were so much higher that Insurify’s and Bankrate’s numbers.
“Even though we both collected Florida data from Quadrant Information Services, prices vary a lot depending on where you live in the state,” Gardner said. “For example, we found that average prices were closer to $2,000 to $3,000 per year or less in northern, inland parts of the state, whereas prices could skyrocket to more than $10,000 per year in southern coastal cities like Miami.”
Friedlander said that the Insurance Information Institute’s estimates looked only at private sector policies and excluded policies sold by the insurer of last resort, state-owned Citizens Property Insurance Corp.
Citizens insured 719,347 single-family homes for an average premium of $3,254 in the first quarter of 2023, the state data shows.
That’s high from a statewide perspective but low for South Florida.
In March 2022, Citizens produced a chart that showed its average premium in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade, where 52% of its policyholders are located, was $4,196 — 28% less than the $5,856 combined average of 13 competitors selected for the comparison.
Ultimately, the only home insurance cost estimates that matter are the ones offered to you to cover your home for the upcoming year. And at least for the near future, they’re continuing to increase, agents say.
Ron Hurtibise covers business and consumer issues for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He can be reached by phone at 954-356-4071, on Twitter @ronhurtibise or by email at rhurtibise@sunsentinel.com. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/just-what-does-home-insurance-cost-in-florida-estimates-vary-widely-and-new-state-data-might-surprise-you/ | 2023-07-30T20:19:50 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/just-what-does-home-insurance-cost-in-florida-estimates-vary-widely-and-new-state-data-might-surprise-you/ |
SYDNEY (AP) — Manuela Vanegas scored in the seventh minute of stoppage time as Colombia upset Germany 2-1 at the Women’s World Cup on Sunday.
The defender headed in to settle a thrilling game and put her country on the brink of advancing to the knockout stage.
Alexandra Popp had scored an 89th-minute penalty and seemed to have earned two-time champion Germany a 1-1 draw after 18-year-old Linda Caicedo had struck a stunning opener for Colombia.
But Vanegas came up with a late twist to huge celebrations from Colombia fans who dominated the Sydney Football Stadium crowd.
The Germans thought they’d secured a point after Colombia goalkeeper Catalina Perez was penalized for bringing down Lena Oberdorf in the box.
Popp, who scored twice in her country’s 6-0 rout of Morocco in its opening game of the tournament, fired straight down the middle to level the game.
That had disappointed the crowd, which passionately cheered Colombia on throughout and erupted after Caicedo’s goal in the 52nd.
The Real Madrid teenager had suffered a health scare earlier in the week, but produced a moment of moment of magic to score her second of the tournament.
It was all the more special coming after she’d dropped to the ground holding her chest in training during the week.
Caicedo scored from distance in the 2-0 win against South Korea on Tuesday. But while that goal involved an error from goalkeeper Yoon Young-geul, on this occasion it was all about individual brilliance.
Collecting the ball from just inside the area after a corner, she worked her way into space by bewildering two German defenders in a fast-stepping move before lashing a shot into the top corner.
Caicedo, followed by her teammates, charged toward the corner to get closer to the crowd as it went wild.
Germany has never failed to advance from the group stage of the World Cup. It is still expected to beat South Korea in its last game of Group H, but will likely have to settle for second place.
The runners up at last year’s Euros should have been ahead in the first half when Popp was guilty of missing the target with a with a volley from close range shortly before the break.
Earlier Lina Magull had the chance to test Perez from close range, but mis-kicked and the opportunity was wasted.
In the last games in Group H, Germany faces South Korea and Colombia plays Morocco, with three teams still able to advance to the knockout stage.
Morrocco 1, South Korea 0
ADELAIDE, Australia — Morocco made history in multiple ways during its victory over South Korea.
Defender Nouhaila Benzina became the first player to wear a Hijab in a World Cup game at the senior level, and her teammate Ibtissam Jraïdi scored the Atlas Lionesses’ first World Cup goal. The Moroccans scored in the 6th minute and were able to make it stand up for the remainder of the match.
After a lopsided 6-0 loss against Germany, the victory keeps No. 72-ranked Morocco in contention to advance to the knockout stage of the tournament.
Morocco scored its first ever World Cup goal in the sixth minute when Jraïdi met a cross from Hanane Aït El Haj with a glancing header toward the far post.
South Korea had the majority of the possession but was unable to translate the advantage into many scoring opportunities. Its best chance at equalizing came in the 87th minute when 16-year-old New Jersey resident Casey Phair pushed a shot just wide of the post. Phair, the youngest player to appear at a World Cup, went on as a late substitute.
Morocco becomes the first Arab Nation ever to win a game at a Women’s World Cup and remains in contention to advance to the round of 16.
South Korea is all but eliminated from the tournament after its second loss of the tournament.
Switzerland 0, New Zealand 0
DUNEDIN, New Zealand — New Zealand outshot Switzerland and even moved goalkeeper Victoria Esson into an attack position several times, but failed to break a 0-0 tie and became the first host nation to be eliminated in group play in tournament history.
The Football Ferns are co-hosting the World Cup with Australia, which must win Monday against Canada to avoid its own early elimination.
Switzerland advanced to the round of 16. The Swiss also played to a scoreless draw against Norway, but won the group with the draw against New Zealand, coupled with the Norwegians’ simultaneous 6-0 rout of the Philippines.
New Zealand controlled the pace for long stretches of the match and had its chances to score, outshooting Switzerland 12-3. Jacqui Hand knocked a shot off the right post in the 24th minute.
All 25,947 seats at Forsyth Barr Stadiums were filled — the only one of Dunedin’s six tournament matches to sell out. The raucous crowd stomped and cheered all night, to no avail.
The tournament began July 20 with New Zealand upsetting Norway 1-0, but the Ferns failed to score from the 48th minute of that match through two more games. They lost their previous match 1-0 against the Philippines.
“We expected it to be really tough. New Zealand really tried everything they could, and I think we knew how to respond, especially defensively. We did a lot right,” said Inka Grings, Switzerland’s coach.
Esson moved into an offensive position several times in the last minutes of the match as New Zealand pressed for a winner. She managed a header off a corner kick but was off target.
Switzerland becomes one of two teams from Group A to advance to the round of 16. It’s only the team’s second time in the knockout round — the first was in the Swiss’ only previous Women’s World Cup in 2015. Switzerland will play either Spain or Japan from Group C, pending a match between those teams on Monday to decide the top two places in that group.
The New Zealanders’ failure to score put an end to their Women’s World Cup run.
“Just gutted, I think. Obviously we talked and we were proud of ourselves and what we’ve been able to accomplish, but at the end of the day we wanted to get out of this group stage and we just didn’t. It’s just black and white. So, obviously gutted,” said New Zealand midfielder Malia Steinmetz of the elimination.
Norway 6, Philippines 0
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Sophie Roman Haug’s hat trick kick-started Norway’s dormant offense and sparked a blowout win over the Philippines moved the Norwegians into to the knockout stage of the Women’s World Cup.
The Philippines’ debut run in the tournament came to an end as Norway scored early and often, netting three goals in the first 31 minutes.
Norway’s spot in the round of 16 was secured when Switzerland and New Zealand played to a 0-0 draw. Norway and New Zealand were tied in Group A but Norway advanced on goal differential. New Zealand became the first host country to be eliminated in the group stage in tournament history.
Before the game, Norway had not scored in three consecutive Women’s World Cup matches dating to the quarterfinals of the 2019 tournament.
But Roman Haug one-timed a ball into the net in the sixth minute, and scored again 11 minutes later. Caroline Graham Hansen added a long-distance shot in the 31st minute.
Haug completed the hat trick in injury time.
“We’ve been talking quite a bit about having the first goal, then it will give us energy. We know in our attack, we are strong and have good combination play both on the right side and left side. Today was the day that, when we had the first one, we knew there could be more,” Norway head coach Hege Riise said.
In the second half, an Alicia Barker own goal in the 48th minute and Guro Reiten’s penalty kick in the 53rd minute extended Norway’s lead to 5-0. Filipina defender Sofia Harrison received a red card in the 67th minute for using excessive force, and the Philippines played the rest of the match a player down.
Eden Park was turned into a makeshift home match for the Philippines, as the Filipina fans screamed in unison any time the Philippines touched the ball, even as the deficit grew.
The Philippines were fresh off of a historic 1-0 win over co-host New Zealand that marked the first Women’s World Cup win for the debutantes.
“They showed some of their class today with their skill. They picked us apart and won a couple of battles in the air in the box early. We really released the pressure early and allowed them to, sort of, be a little more creative as the game went on,” Philippines head coach Alen Stajcic said.
Norway will play either Japan or Spain in the round of 16 next Saturday, depending on the results of a game between those Group C teams on Monday. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/late-vanegas-goal-seals-colombias-2-1-upset-win-over-germany-at-the-womens-world-cup/ | 2023-07-30T20:19:56 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/late-vanegas-goal-seals-colombias-2-1-upset-win-over-germany-at-the-womens-world-cup/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Chatter on one of Prabha Rao’s WhatsApp groups exploded last week when India announced that it was severely curtailing some rice exports to the rest of the world, triggering worry among the Indian diaspora in the United States that access to a food staple from home might soon be cut off.
As in any crisis situation — think bottled water and toilet paper— some rushed to supermarkets to stock up, stacking carts with bags and bags of rice. In some places, lines formed outside some stores as panic buying ensued.
But Rao, who lives near Syracuse, New York, was reassured when the proprietor of her Indian market sent out an email to customers to let them know there was no need to worry: There was an ample supply of rice.
At least for now.
An earlier than expected El Niño brought drier, warmer weather in some parts of Asia and is expected to harm rice production. But in some parts of India, where the monsoon season was especially brutal, flooding destroyed some crops, adding to production woes and rising prices.
Hoping to stave off inflationary pressures on a diet staple, the Indian government earlier this month imposed export bans on non-Basmati white rice varieties, prompting hoarding in some parts of the world.
The move was taken “to ensure adequate availability” and “to allay the rise in prices in the domestic market,” India’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution announced July 20. Over the past year, prices have increased by more than 11%, and by 3% over the past month, the government said.
Non-Basmati white rice constitutes about a fourth of the rice exported by India.
“On WhatsApp, I got a lot of messages saying that rice was not going to be available. I think there was a lot of confusion in the beginning because, as you know, rice is very important for us,” Rao said.
“When we first heard the news, there was just mild confusion and people started panic buying because they thought that it may not be available,” she said.
There are scores of different varieties of rice, with people having their preference depending on taste and texture. India’s export ban does not apply to Basmati rice, a long-grain variety that is more aromatic.
The ban applies to short-grain rice that is starchier and has a relatively neutral flavor — which Rao says is preferable in some dishes or favored in specific regions of India, especially in southern areas of the country.
At Little India, a grocery store in New York City’s Curry Hill neighborhood in Manhattan, there was no shortage of Basmati rice and other varieties.
That wasn’t the case at other Indian groceries.
On its Facebook page, India Bazaar, an Indian grocery chain in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, told customers not to panic. “We are working hard to meet all our shoppers’ demands,” the post said.
Customers cleared shelves and waited in long lines to stockpile bags of rice, reported NBC Dallas affiliate KXAS.
“They really wanted to purchase ten, 12, 15 bags,” India Bazaar’s president, Anand Pabari, told the station. “It was a really crazy situation.”
India’s move came days after Russia backed out of a deal to allow Ukrainian wheat safe passage through the Black Sea, prompting warnings that the action could lead to surging prices.
Some economists say the ban might further hurt food supplies around the world, and some governments have urged the Indian government to reconsider the export ban.
At least in the United States, the supply of imported rice from India may not yet be a problem — despite the panic buying — but a long-term ban would certainly deplete that stock.
Roa says she and others will just have to adapt by purchasing rice grown in the United States or imported from other countries.
“I might have to substitute Basmati rice,” she said, “but it doesn’t taste that good, especially with South Indian dishes.”
A U.S. resident for three decades, Rao said she is accustomed to improvising.
“When we first came here, there was not even that much rice from India,” she said. “So I’ve learned to substitute, and I’m fine with the other brands that we get.” | https://who13.com/business/ap-business/ap-india-cuts-rice-exports-triggering-panic-buying-of-food-staple-by-some-indian-expats-in-the-us/ | 2023-07-30T20:20:00 | 0 | https://who13.com/business/ap-business/ap-india-cuts-rice-exports-triggering-panic-buying-of-food-staple-by-some-indian-expats-in-the-us/ |
Development, spending have harmed Altamonte Springs
I’m extremely upset and frustrated over the direction Altamonte Springs leadership (city manager and city commissioners) have taken. Quoting the words of the city manager, Frank Martz, “The city of Altamonte Springs is a leader in environmental innovation, and we have been for decades. Stewardship in water, wastewater, and reclaimed water programs the city has pioneered have won international, national, and state-wide awards and recognition.”
Altamonte Springs has suspended its recycling program due to shortages of drivers and the inability to hire newly trained replacements. The city has allowed beautiful oak trees lining East Central Parkway at Cranes Roost Park to be removed to develop another high-rise apartment and shopping complex. The city continues to support a super high-rise building that has been under construction along the I-4 corridor for the past 20 years. The city has allowed almost every available undeveloped property to become a storage facility, office or shopping complex, and the city has chosen to spend over $1.25 million for an autonomous bus that will travel less than 1.5 miles around the Uptown area, carrying no more than 15 passengers. As a resident of Altamonte Springs for the past 45 years, I believe that there is now an immediate need for change and direction before we sink into the abyss of despair as other cities have done before us.
Harold Plessner Altamonte Springs
Moderate Republicans should see the light
If you have an R after your name and you do not embrace white supremacy, change it.
If you have an R after your name and you believe women should have the right to choose, change it.
If you have an R after your name and you do not embrace the discrimination of Black and brown people, change it.
If you have an R after your name and you believe the LGBTQ+ community should have equal protections under the law, change it.
If you have an R after your name and you do not believe in state control of education and the media, change it.
If you have an R after your name and you believe climate change is an existential threat to our world, change it.
If you have an R after your name and you do not embrace hate, change it.
If you have an R after your name, you now embrace a party that believes in all things hateful and anti-democratic. You cannot fix this party; you cannot insist that you are a moderate Republican. It is too late. Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis and Kevin McCarthy, among others, have killed it.
Now is the time to change to Independent, No Party Affiliation or better yet, Democrat. The longer you keep that R, the more you embolden that party to continue its war on women, minorities, science, education, and democracy. All things that stand in the way of fascism. Sound familiar?
Change; it’s not too late.
Judy Ngying Deltona
Convention center growth isn’t community growth
Practically no one on the ground in Central Florida (apart from the embedded hospitality industry) is begging for more hotels and more convention center space. Let’s be clear: It’s not on anyone’s wish list. We’re over it. When was the last time you elected to spend your Friday night (or any night) on International Drive?
My recommendation to our locally elected leaders before they enlarge the convention center yet again: What type of community do citizens envision in five to 10 years for themselves and their families? It’s not complicated. Ask them! We are currently out of balance. We are tilting the wrong way. To our citizens: Look at your Election Day ballot next time. Vote for the candidate supporting an authentic, well-balanced community. Vote for the community which values quality of life including housing, transit, and a vibrant employee base over sheer impersonal convention volume. Vote for the community that is sustainable and enriching across all spectrums. We’re not “unbelievably real” yet. But we could be with the right decisions.
C.J. Williams Winter Park | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/letters-altamonte-overdevelopment-moderate-republicans-stop-occc-growth/ | 2023-07-30T20:20:02 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/letters-altamonte-overdevelopment-moderate-republicans-stop-occc-growth/ |
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.
___
Associated Press video journalist Leslie Ambriz contributed from Los Angeles. | https://who13.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/ap-consumer-demand-for-speed-and-convenience-drives-labor-unrest-among-workers-in-hollywood-and-at-ups/ | 2023-07-30T20:20:06 | 0 | https://who13.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/ap-consumer-demand-for-speed-and-convenience-drives-labor-unrest-among-workers-in-hollywood-and-at-ups/ |
Ron DeSantis seems to believe that his best chance of becoming the GOP presidential nominee is to be more extreme than the guy he needs to defeat, Donald Trump. And what better issue to flex his MAGA bona fides than immigration?
Florida’s draconian new immigration restrictions, signed into law by DeSantis two months ago, are now taking effect. They will have a devastating impact on at least two of the state’s major industries: agriculture and construction.
The new law imposes tough penalties on both undocumented employees and the employers who hire them. A job applicant who presents a false Social Security number or other documentation during the hiring process will be subject to a third-degree felony and could serve five years in jail. The statute also requires employers with more than 25 workers to use the federal E-Verify system, which has a documented history of both rejecting legitimate workers and clearing those who aren’t authorized. If employers hire unauthorized workers, they could end up losing their business licenses.
Workers are apparently fleeing the state in response — and not just those who are in the country illegally. Many immigrant families have mixed status: an undocumented parent or spouse and legal immigrants or U.S. citizens in the same household. One 2017 study estimated that more than 900,000 Floridians lived in mixed-status households, and when a family member faces the risk of becoming a felon, they may decide that staying in Florida isn’t worth the risk.
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that in Miami’s booming construction industry, between 25% and 50% of local construction workers have already disappeared from job sites. The owner of a large farming and packaging company told the WSJ that he’d lost half of his employees because of the law.
Construction and agriculture depend heavily on unauthorized workers nationally and in Florida. A recent Kaiser Family Foundation analysis estimates that almost 40% of agricultural workers in the state are noncitizen immigrants (most of whom are also undocumented), as are 23% percent of its construction workers. These employees are not easily replaceable — and certainly not with American workers. Florida’s economy will take a dramatic hit because of DeSantis’ efforts to woo the MAGA base with anti-immigrant measures.
Yet DeSantis has been touting Florida’s economy as a reason Republican voters should support him. And it’s true that Florida is first in a recent ranking that measures which states were most successful in attracting talent. The governor noted in a press release about the rankings, “Florida is leading the nation in net migration and talent attraction. As other states continue to struggle at the hands of poor leadership, people and businesses are flocking to Florida.”
The governor’s statement also boasts about the 388,000 new residents added to the state between 2016-2020. What he doesn’t say is how many of those new residents were immigrants, legal and illegal. A whopping 21% of Florida’s population is foreign-born, including about 775,000 who are undocumented. Immigrants are well represented across various occupations in the state, including 32% of service occupations and 23% of management, business and science occupations. But the state’s tough new law may end up making Florida a much less attractive state in which to work or establish a business — certainly in industries that rely on immigrant workers.
What is ironic about DeSantis’ move is that Florida’s illegal immigration problem has improved over the years, despite influxes of newcomers from Venezuela and elsewhere in Latin America. According to the Pew Research Center, which provides one of the best historical analyses of immigration trends available, there were more than 1 million undocumented people living in Florida in 2007.
DeSantis is struggling to gain support, which won’t happen if he keeps being a poor imitation of the other prominent Florida-based candidate running for president. DeSantis should be trying to convince voters that he’s been a job creator in Florida and he will do the same for the country.
Making it more difficult to hire people to do essential jobs tarnishes his credentials. He ought to be telling Republicans that we need to make it easier for people whose skills we need to come to the United States legally, and that he’ll push for necessary reform of our immigration laws when he becomes president. He understands that workforce growth means more for everyone, not just individual workers and their families but the communities in which they live and spend their money. DeSantis says the 2024 election is about the future — and he’s right. But the future is not about building walls or driving workers away but welcoming them. It’s not about protecting jobs but creating them.
Linda Chavez served in the Reagan White House and writes frequently on race, ethnicity and immigration. This article was originally published by RealClearPolitics and made available via RealClearWire. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/linda-chavez-immigration/ | 2023-07-30T20:20:08 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/linda-chavez-immigration/ |
MIAMI — Akil Badoo and Riley Greene homered, and five pitchers combined on a seven-hitter as the Detroit Tigers beat the Miami Marlins 5-0 Saturday.
Tigers star slugger Miguel Cabrera doubled and singled in four at-bats and continued to receive cheers in his final visiting series against the club the native Venezuelan began his 20-year career with. The game, promoted as Venezuelan Heritage Day, attracted a season-high crowd of 32,936 — the largest crowd for a Marlins home game since April 2017.
“I enjoy all these outings, enjoying my last year in the big leagues,” said Cabrera, who will retire at the end of the season. “I’m happy where I am. Let’s keep winning and hopefully we can win the series (Sunday).”
Zack Short doubled twice for the Tigers, who evened the three-game series.
Joey Wentz (2-9) pitched 4 2/3 innings in relief after Beau Brieske started the bullpen game for the Tigers and went two innings. Optioned to Triple-A on June 29, Wentz was recalled before the game and struck out five to get his first win since May 8.
“Any time you get sent down people think it’s these massive changes,” Wentz said. “For me, it was kind of simplifying some of the stuff that I was doing. Take a breath and kind of clear the head and just go play baseball for a little bit.”
Jason Foley, Tyler Holton and Alex Lange got the final seven outs to complete the shutout.
“You need a lot of guys to pitch well when you make a decision to do that,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said of using five pitchers. “We can mix and match and try to find the right pockets for the right guys. Pitchers have to go do the work and put up zeroes. And they did.”
Miami’s Luis Arraez went 2 for 4 and his major league-leading batting average increased a point to .381.
After a 53-39 start, the Marlins are 3-10 since the All-Star break.
“We just couldn’t string anything together,” Miami manager Skip Schumaker said. “We had a couple of times that we had men on base with two outs. I thought we just didn’t win too many 3-2 counts. That could have maybe changed the course of the game, but Wentz, credit to him. He did a really good job against us.”
Detroit struck early on Badoo’s three-run homer in the second. Javier Báez walked and Cabrera doubled before Badoo drove a slider from Marlins starter Johnny Cueto over the wall in left for his fifth homer.
“Put a good swing on it and that’s my bread and butter,” Badoo said of his opposite-field blast. “I always feel good when I go oppo.”
Greene hit his eighth homer, a solo shot to lead off the sixth, to make it 4-0. The Tigers padded their lead on Short’s RBI double against J.T. Chargois in the ninth.
“The tack-on runs are probably just as important as the first pitch,” Hinch said. “Extend the lead and give your pitchers some breathing room.”
Cueto (0-2) was lifted after six innings. In his second start since spending three months on the injured list, Cueto gave up four runs, four hits and struck out five.
BASEBALL ROYALTY
Dave Concepción and Omar Vizquel were among the eight retired Venezuelan players who participated in a tribute to Cabrera before the game. Concepción also threw the ceremonial first pitch to fellow Venezuelan Arraez.
ROSTER MOVES
The Marlins optioned RHP Bryan Hoeing to Triple-A Jacksonville to open a roster spot for reliever David Robertson. Robertson, acquired in a trade with the New York Mets late Thursday, joined the Marlins on Saturday.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Marlins: OF Jazz Chisholm Jr. (left oblique strain) is scheduled to play in a rehab game with Single-A Jupiter Sunday. … LHP Tanner Scott (mild right strain) underwent additional tests. … OF Avisaíl García (left back tightness) said he anticipates being activated Sunday. García has been sidelined since April 28.
UP NEXT
LHP Tarik Skubal (1-1, 3.71) will start the series finale for the Tigers on Sunday against Marlins LHP Jesús Luzardo (8-5, 3.22). | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/marlins-tigers-saturday/ | 2023-07-30T20:20:14 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/marlins-tigers-saturday/ |
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Shawn Steik and his wife were forced from a long-term motel room onto the streets of Anchorage after their rent shot up to $800 a month. Now they live in a tent encampment by a train depot, and as an Alaska winter looms they are growing desperate and fearful of what lies ahead.
A proposal last week by Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson to buy one-way plane tickets out of Alaska’s biggest city for its homeless residents gave Steik a much-needed glimmer of hope. He would move to the relative warmth of Seattle.
“I heard it’s probably warmer than this place,” said Steik, who is Aleut.
But the mayor’s unfunded idea also came under immediate attack as a Band-Aid solution glossing over the tremendous, and still unaddressed, crisis facing Anchorage as a swelling homeless population struggles to survive in a unique and extreme environment. Frigid temperatures stalk the homeless in the winter and bears infiltrate homeless encampments in the summer.
A record eight people died of exposure while living outside last winter and this year promises to be worse after the city closed an arena that housed 500 people during the winter months. Bickering between the city’s liberal assembly and its conservative mayor about how to address the crisis, and a lack of state funding, have further stymied efforts to find a solution.
With winter fast approaching in Alaska, it’s “past time for state and local leaders to address the underlying causes of homelessness — airplane tickets are a distraction, not a solution,” the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska said in a statement to The Associated Press.
About 43% of Anchorage’s more than 3,000 unsheltered residents are Alaska Natives, and Bronson’s proposal also drew harsh criticism from those who called it culturally insensitive.
“The reality is there is no place to send these people because this is their land. Any policy that we make has to pay credence to that simple fact. This is Dena’ina land, this is Native land,” said Christopher Constant, chair of the Anchorage Assembly. “And so we cannot be supporting policies that would take people and displace them from their home, even if their home is not what you or I would call home.”
Bronson’s airfare proposal caps a turbulent few years as Anchorage, like many cities in the U.S. West, struggles to deal with a burgeoning homeless population.
In May, the city shut down the 500-bed homeless shelter in the city’s arena so it could once more be used for concerts and hockey games after neighbors complained about open drug use, trespassing, violence and litter. A plan to build a large shelter and navigation center fell through when Bronson approved a contract without approval from the Anchorage Assembly.
That leaves a gaping hole in the city’s ability to house the thousands of homeless people who have to contend with temperatures well below zero for days at a time and unrelenting winds blasting off Cook Inlet. At the end of June, Anchorage was estimated to have a little more than 3,150 homeless people, according to the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness. Last week, there were only 614 beds at shelters citywide, with no vacancies.
New tent cities have sprung up across Anchorage this summer: on a slope facing the city’s historic railroad depot, on a busy road near the Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson and near soup kitchens and shelters downtown.
Assembly members are slated to consider a winter stop-gap option in August falling far short of the need: a large, warmed, tent-like structure for 150 people.
Summer brings its own challenges: hungry bears last year roamed a city-owned campground where homeless people were resettled after the arena closed. Wildlife officials killed four bears after they broke into tents.
Bronson said he prefers to spend a few hundred dollars per person for a plane ticket rather than spending about $100 daily to shelter and feed them. He said he doesn’t care where they want to go; his job is to “make sure they don’t die on Anchorage streets.”
It’s not clear if his proposal will move forward. There is not yet a plan or a funding source.
Dr. Ted Mala, an Inupiaq who in 1990 became the first Alaska Native to serve as the state’s health commissioner, said Anchorage should be working with social workers and law enforcement to discover people’s individual reasons for homelessness and connect them with resources.
Buying the unsheltered a ticket to another city is a political game that’s been around for years. A number of U.S. cities struggling with homelessness, including San Francisco, Seattle and Portland, Oregon, have also offered bus or plane tickets to homeless residents.
“People are not pawns, they’re human beings,” Mala said.
The mayor’s proposal, while focused on warmer cities, also would fund tickets to other Alaska locations for those who want them.
Clarita Clark became homeless after her medical team wanted her to move from Point Hope to Anchorage for cancer treatment because Anchorage is warmer. The medical facility wouldn’t allow her husband to stay with her, so they pitched a tent in a sprawling camp to stay together.
Having recently found the body of a dead teenager who overdosed in a portable toilet, Clark yearns to return to the Chukchi Sea coastal village of Point Hope, where her three grandchildren live.
“I got a family that loves me,” she said, adding she would use the ticket and seek treatment closer to home.
Danny Parish also is leaving Alaska, but for another reason: He’s fed up.
Parish is selling his home of 29 years because it sits directly across the street from Sullivan Arena. Bad acts by some homeless people — including harassment, throwing vodka bottles in his yard, poisoning his dog and using his driveway as a toilet — made his life “a holy hell,” he said.
Parish is convinced the arena will be used again this winter since there isn’t another plan.
He, too, hopes to move to the contiguous U.S. — Oregon, for starters — but not before asking Anchorage leaders for his own plane ticket out.
“If they’re going to give them to everybody else,” Parish said, “then they need to give me one.” | https://who13.com/health/ap-health/ap-anchorage-homeless-face-cold-and-bears-a-plan-to-offer-one-way-airfare-out-reveals-a-bigger-crisis/ | 2023-07-30T20:20:13 | 0 | https://who13.com/health/ap-health/ap-anchorage-homeless-face-cold-and-bears-a-plan-to-offer-one-way-airfare-out-reveals-a-bigger-crisis/ |
More than a century ago, the railroad played a pivotal role in the emergence of Florida as a tourist destination and center of agriculture. When American industrialist Henry Flagler first arrived in Florida, he recognized the state had great potential but lacked adequate transportation networks and hotels. As a result, he bought a series of short-line railroads along the state’s Atlantic coast, linked the separate lines together as the Florida East Coast Railway and built hotels that could be accessed from rail stops.
After the construction of the Panama Canal began, Flagler extended the railroad from Miami to the Florida Keys to take advantage of Cuban and Latin American trade. Completed in 1912, Florida’s new Over-Sea Railroad made history and became known as the “Eighth Wonder of the World.”
With the completion of Brightline’s connection from Miami to Orlando, Florida is adding to its railroad legacy and setting a new standard for American high-speed rail.
As an urban planner who has spent decades designing Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) that integrates a rail station with adjacent development and the surrounding community, I think it is exciting to see Central Florida positioned to capitalize on Brightline, the extension of SunRail and the anticipated integration of these rail lines in the “Sunshine Corridor.” The Orlando region need only look south to see how Brightline and regional rail are transforming the Palm Beach to Miami-Dade region with TODs sprouting around stations and efforts by surrounding communities to become better connected to rail transit.
So, what does this mean for Central Florida?
Brightline’s new station at the Orlando International Airport is only the first step. The real transformation would follow when the train leaves the airport and connects to additional stations along the proposed Sunshine Corridor. This would help reposition rail transit, made more accessible by shuttle and bus connections to rail stations, as a desirable alternative to driving and help us reimagine how our region develops for decades. The Sunshine Corridor would provide an alternative commute for personnel working at the largest employment centers in Central Florida and create a seamless and stressless experience for tourists to explore destinations throughout the state without fighting traffic.
A SunRail Transfer Station is expected to be Brightline’s first stop after the airport; this would connect transit riders switching between Brightline and SunRail routes. This may be followed by stops at the Orlando Convention Center and South International Drive. Ultimately, Brightline has plans to terminate in Tampa; but it is likely that other stations would fill in along the route, serving more people in the region, similar to the experience at the new Brightline stations that have recently opened in South Florida.
The addition of more stops opens a multitude of possibilities for commuting, business and tourism across the region and state. In South Florida, we are already witnessing how rail transit and TODs are transforming a region — bringing new life to the business districts and neighborhoods surrounding rail stations. TODs are helping create a region where people can live, work, play and travel by train. It’s time for Central Florida to follow suit.
Brightline will not only help Florida catch up to other regions, but it is also establishing a new standard in the American experience of traveling by high-speed intercity rail. The new 37,350-square-foot Brightline station at Orlando International Airport features a contemporary three-story design, retail shopping, a lounge and a bar. In South Florida, Brightline riders have been glowing about the enhanced level of design, food and beverage quality and ridership experience — delivered with a dose of Florida’s world-class hospitality. This contrasts with other regions, where the standards of the station and rail service have been declining particularly post-pandemic.
As Florida sets a new standard for intercity and regional rail, travelers are going to start expecting this kind of enhanced experience from other transit routes around the country. More than a century after the railroad helped put Florida on the map, Florida may once again play an important role in the evolution of the railroad in America.
Jim Constantine is a principal with Looney Ricks Kiss architecture firm, with offices in Orlando. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/orlandos-brightline-station-is-only-the-beginning-commentary/ | 2023-07-30T20:20:20 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/orlandos-brightline-station-is-only-the-beginning-commentary/ |
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — China accused the United States of turning Taiwan into an “ammunition depot” after the White House announced a $345 million military aid package for Taipei, and the self-ruled island said Sunday it tracked six Chinese navy ships in waters off its shores.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office issued a statement late Saturday opposing the military aid to Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory.
“No matter how much of the ordinary people’s taxpayer money the … Taiwanese separatist forces spend, no matter how many U.S. weapons, it will not shake our resolve to solve the Taiwan problem. Or shake our firm will to realize the reunification of our motherland,” said Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office.
“Their actions are turning Taiwan into a powder keg and ammunition depot, aggravating the threat of war in the Taiwan Strait,” the statement said.
China’s People’s Liberation Army has increased its military maneuvers in recent years aimed at Taiwan, sending fighter jets and warships to circle the island.
On Sunday, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said it tracked six Chinese navy ships near the island.
Taiwan’s ruling administration, led by the Democratic Progressive Party, has stepped up its weapons purchases from the U.S. as part of a deterrence strategy against a Chinese invasion.
China and Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949, and Taiwan has never been governed by China’s ruling Communist Party.
Unlike previous military purchases, the latest batch of aid is part of a presidential authority approved by the U.S. Congress last year to draw weapons from current U.S. military stockpiles — so Taiwan will not have to wait for military production and sales.
While Taiwan has purchased $19 billion worth of weaponry, much of it has yet to be delivered to Taiwan. Washington will send man-portable air defense systems, intelligence and surveillance capabilities, firearms and missiles to Taiwan. | https://who13.com/news/international-news/ap-international/ap-china-says-us-military-aid-to-taiwan-will-not-deter-its-will-to-unify-the-island/ | 2023-07-30T20:20:20 | 0 | https://who13.com/news/international-news/ap-international/ap-china-says-us-military-aid-to-taiwan-will-not-deter-its-will-to-unify-the-island/ |
By KRISTIE RIEKEN
Associated Press
HOUSTON — Jeremy Peña had a career-high four RBIs, Yainer Díaz and José Abreu added three apiece and the Houston Astros had their highest-scoring game of the season in a 17-4 rout of the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night.
Díaz put Houston up early with a 2-run shot in the second. Peña, who had 2 hits, made it 5-0 with a bases-loaded double in the fourth.
Chas McCormick hit a 2-run triple in Houston’s 3-run fifth and Abreu made it 11-0 with his 10th homer of the season in the sixth to help the Astros bounce back after a 4-3 loss in the series opener Friday.
“We know that we’re able to have games like this,” Díaz said in Spanish through a translator. “It was definitely fun for a lot of us and we enjoyed it.”
The Astros got 8 hits and 5 RBIs from the bottom three batters in their lineup Saturday.
“That’s why you kind of stagger your lineup to have some balance all the way through versus stacking it with guys that are swinging well,” manager Dusty Baker said. “The bottom of the lineup came through tonight.”
Hunter Brown (7-7) allowed 4 hits and 2 runs in 6-plus innings for his first win since June 13.
Isaac Paredes hit a 2-run homer in the seventh and a solo shot in the ninth and Wander Franco added a home run in the eighth for the Rays, but it wasn’t nearly enough as they fell to 6-16 this month.
With the game out of hand, manager Kevin Cash brought in catcher René Pinto for his first career pitching appearance to start the seventh inning.
With Pinto throwing as slow as 50 mph, the Astros easily padded the lead. Jose Altuve hit a 2-run homer with one out and Alex Bregman added a 2-run shot with two outs before Yordan Alvarez homered on the next at-bat to make it 16-2.
“I wanted René to pitch both innings, but the way that inning unfolded probably we need to stop it right there,” Cash said. “Not how we drew it up, but we were trying to avoid both innings of no pitcher, but we might have been here all night if we sent him back out there.”
Houston’s 17 runs bested the 14 it scored in a win over St. Louis on June 29.
Tampa Bay rookie starter Taj Bradley (5-7) allowed 3 hits and 5 runs in 3 1/3 innings for his fourth straight loss.
“I know he’s wearing it because he’s a competitor and he wants to go out there and help contribute to us winning games,” Cash said. “It’s certainly not on his shoulders, but I would guess any of them would feel that way.”
Franco singled with one out in the first. He stole second base and moved to third on the play on a throwing error by Díaz.
But the Rays came away empty when Bregman caught a fly ball hit by Brandon Lowe in foul territory and threw home in time for Díaz to tag Franco for the double play.
Abreu opened Houston’s second with a single before Díaz homered to center field to give the Astros a 2-0 lead.
Bradley walked Jake Meyers with one out in the fourth to load the bases and end his night. Kevin Kelly took over and struck out Altuve before Peña doubled off the wall in left field to clear the bases and push the lead to 5-0.
Alvarez and Abreu hit consecutive singles with one out in the fifth before the triple by McCormick made it 7-0. A double by Díaz sent McCormick home and left the Astros up 8-0.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rays RHP and Hagerty High alum Zach Eflin (right knee discomfort) threw a bullpen session Saturday and Cash said he was feeling better after being injured Wednesday. But Cash added that they’re still not sure if he’ll be able to make his scheduled start Tuesday.
UP NEXT
Houston RHP Brandon Bielak (5-5, 3.62 ERA) opposes RHP Zack Littell (0-2, 5.11) when the series wraps up Sunday. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/pea-has-career-high-4-rbis-as-astros-score-season-high-in-17-4-rout-of-rays/ | 2023-07-30T20:20:26 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/pea-has-career-high-4-rbis-as-astros-score-season-high-in-17-4-rout-of-rays/ |
SANTA MARIA DE JESUS, Guatemala (AP) — Presidential candidate Bernardo Arévalo stood before a few hundred residents of this small Indigenous community on the slopes of the Agua Volcano and told them they could be the seeds of a brighter, more corruption-free spring in Guatemala.
The metaphor fits neatly with his political party, the Seed Movement, and allows the 64-year-old academic and former diplomat to riff on themes of renewal and growth.
But it also alludes to Guatemala’s “democratic spring,” considered a more inclusive period in the country’s history during the presidency in the 1940s and early 1950s of his late father, Juan José Arévalo.
Bernardo Arévalo won just 11% of the vote in the presidential election’s first round June 25, but it was enough to give him the surprise second slot in the Aug. 20 runoff ballot. He will face Sandra Torres, a conservative and former first lady who was the leading vote-getter in the first round and is making her third bid for the presidency.
Arévalo’s recent speech in Santa Maria de Jesus was similar to those he has given in Guatemala’s capital, but the imagery could be especially important in rural Indigenous communities as he seeks to rapidly expand his largely urban, youthful base before the runoff.
He won in Guatemala City and other important cities, including Sacatepequez and Quetzaltenango. It remains to be seen whether he can convince people in rural communities that he can address their daily problems.
The delayed certification of the first round results shortened the already small window that Arévalo has to reintroduce himself to much of the country as his opponents rush to paint their own negative picture.
“Do you feel what is happening?” Arévalo told the crowd in Santa Maria de Jesus. “The new spring is arriving, that’s what you feel, and you all are the seeds of that new spring.”
“A new spring that is going to bring us well-being, the water we lack, the education they owe us, the health that they have denied us thanks to those corrupt contracts that serve few,” Arévalo said, standing in front of an old, damaged Roman Catholic church, in a wide-brimmed hat and untucked shirt against the tropical heat.
Among those listening was Juana Orón, a 67-year-old homemaker of the Kaqchikel people. She is one of the older voters who remember hearing about Arévalo’s father, one of only two leftist presidents in Guatemala’s democratic era.
The elder Arévalo, who governed from 1945 to 1951, is credited with establishing key social programs that remain in place today, including Guatemala’s labor code and social security. Guatemala’s democratic spring was cut short in 1954 by the CIA-backed overthrow of his successor, President Jacobo Arbenz.
Under Juan José Arévalo, the state advocated for rights for Indigenous peoples and others beyond the country’s small elite.
“I remember I was little and (my parents) said he had done good things,” said Orón whose first language as a child was Kaqchikel. If his father was good, Arévalo could be a good president, too, she said.
Opponents have tried to frame Arévalo’s candidacy as a step toward some of the region’s more notorious leftist regimes, such as Cuba and Nicaragua. They warn that the progressive candidate will bring expropriations, abortion and same-sex marriage to the conservative country.
Arévalo has been the election’s surprise.
In the days before the June 25 vote, he was polling below 3% and trailing at least seven of the other 21 candidates. But his anti-corruption message resonated in the country where gains against corruption have been erased and the justice system reoriented to pursue the prosecutors and judges who formerly led that fight.
In the month since that initial result, the Attorney General’s Office announced an investigation into his party and had a judge suspend its legal status until the Constitutional Court stepped in to block that move.
In Santa Maria de Jesus, people wanted to compare Arévalo in person to what they were hearing about him. Some handed him flowers, posed for photos or reached out to touch him as he made his way through the throng.
Arévalo pushed back against attempts to frame him as a left-wing radical — he has said private property rights are not up for discussion — and pounded the issue of corruption.
“Let us work, let us get ahead on our own effort, let’s get rid of the corrupt once and for all,” he said.
For Francisco Jiménez, a political scientist at Rafael Landivar University, Arévalo will need concrete proposals to make inroads with the base of Torres, who has spent two decades assembling it.
“He will have to make governing proposals with a social agenda, where the people see that he is going to have an impact on their lives and communities,” Jiménez said. “The other part is continuing to present himself as the different model. That has been his success, someone totally different from the other candidates.”
Evangelical churches in Guatemala have painted Arévalo as an existential threat to the family.
Gladys Sunun, a 35-year-old Kaqchikel vendor from an evangelical family, said she came to hear Arévalo for herself. She said she had heard that Arévalo would convert Guatemala into another Cuba or Nicaragua, but left feeling that might not be true, though she wants to investigate more.
“He came to tell us not to worry,” she said. “It sounds real, but we don’t know.”
Her sister July Sunun said she wanted to hear more about Arévalo’s positions on gender ideology. “As a mother I’m afraid, because we’ve grown up with a Christian background. I don’t want to marry my daughter with another woman,” she said.
July Sunun acknowledged that Arévalo said he would respect the identities and decisions of the people, “but what he hasn’t said is that he won’t allow (same-sex marriage) to happen here.” | https://who13.com/news/international-news/ap-international/ap-guatemala-presidential-candidate-rushes-to-expand-base-beyond-urban-youth/ | 2023-07-30T20:20:27 | 1 | https://who13.com/news/international-news/ap-international/ap-guatemala-presidential-candidate-rushes-to-expand-base-beyond-urban-youth/ |
BY BEN WIEDER AND JAY WEAVER
Even by Miami standards, John H. Ruiz has been living large. He doesn’t buy just one waterfront mansion. He buys seven. He doesn’t just buy a 20-seat private plane. He buys a private Boeing passenger jet. And he doesn’t stop at buying fancy speed boats. He buys the companies that make them.
The brash attorney and entrepreneur has also become known as the sugar daddy of the University of Miami athletic program, making headlines for his company’s sponsorship of star players and bold proposals to build the university a new football stadium.
But the high living might soon be coming to an end. Read the full story at MiamiHerald.com. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/red-flags-on-top-of-red-flags-problems-mount-for-um-athletics-booster-john-ruiz/ | 2023-07-30T20:20:32 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/red-flags-on-top-of-red-flags-problems-mount-for-um-athletics-booster-john-ruiz/ |
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia will host a Ukrainian-organized peace summit in early August seeking to find a way to start negotiations over Russia’s war on the country, officials said Sunday.
The summit will be held in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah, said one official, who spoke early Sunday on condition of anonymity as no authorization had been given to publicly discuss the summit. Russia was not invited, the official added.
Hours later, the head of Ukraine’s presidential office, Andriy Yermak, confirmed the talks would be held in Saudi Arabia, without naming Jeddah as the location.
“The Ukrainian Peace Formula contains 10 fundamental points, the implementation of which will not only ensure peace for Ukraine, but also create mechanisms to counter future conflicts in the world,” Yermak said in a statement. “We are deeply convinced that the Ukrainian peace plan should be taken as a basis, because the war is taking place on our land.”
Yermak;s statement described the 10 points as being “discussed individually and in groups with representatives of more than 50 countries on an almost weekly basis.”
Previously, Ukraine has described the 10-point peace formula as including the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, the withdrawal of Russian troops, the release of all prisoners, a tribunal for those responsible for the aggression and security guarantees for Ukraine.
Other peace plans have been floated amid the war. Russian President Vladimir Putin just finished meetings in St. Petersburg with African leaders about their own proposed plan. China and Pope Francis also been working separately on their own. No details of those plans have been released.
Saudi Arabia did not acknowledge the upcoming summit Sunday and did not respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.
Those taking part in the summit will include Ukraine, Brazil, India, South Africa and several other countries, the official who spoke to AP said. A high-level official from U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration also is expected to attend the event, which is being planned by Kyiv, the official said.
Details remain in flux and the official did not offer dates for the talks, nor did Yermak.
The Wall Street Journal, which first reported on the summit citing “diplomats involved in the discussion,” said the talks would take place Aug. 5 and 6, with some 30 countries attending. News of the summit comes after U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan visited the kingdom Thursday.
The official who spoke to AP said the summit would be the next step after talks that took place in Copenhagen in June.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended an Arab League summit in Jeddah in May to press those nations to back Kyiv.
Arab nations largely have remained neutral since Russia launched the war on Ukraine in February 2022, in part over their military and economic ties to Moscow.
Saudi Arabia also has maintained a close relationship with Russia as part of the OPEC+ group. The organization’s oil production cuts, even as Moscow’s war on Ukraine boosted energy prices, have angered Biden and American lawmakers.
But hosting such talks also help raise the profile of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has sought to reach a détente with Iran and push for a peace in the kingdom’s yearslong war in Yemen.
Ties remain strained between Riyadh and the West over the 2018 killing and dismemberment of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, which U.S. intelligence agencies say was ordered by Prince Mohammed.
For Ukraine, the talks coincide with its efforts to beef up its security posture.
Yermak also said Sunday that Ukraine will begin talks with the United States next week on a bilateral agreement on security guarantees. He said the talks stem from a declaration by leaders of the Group of 7 nations earlier this month laying the groundwork for each nation to negotiate agreements to help Ukraine bolster its military.
Yermak said Ukraine is looking for “specific and long-term commitments that will ensure Ukraine’s ability to win now and deter Russian aggression in the future.”
U.S. officials had not confirmed the negotiations.
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Madhani reported from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Associated Press writer Andrew Katell in New York contributed to this report. | https://who13.com/news/international-news/ap-international/ap-official-tells-ap-that-saudi-arabia-will-host-ukrainian-organized-peace-summit-in-august/ | 2023-07-30T20:20:33 | 1 | https://who13.com/news/international-news/ap-international/ap-official-tells-ap-that-saudi-arabia-will-host-ukrainian-organized-peace-summit-in-august/ |
I already dislike most commercials on TV today, but I really hate commercials with whistling in them! Not only is it annoying all on its own, but it makes my dog bark like crazy, which adds insult to injury! News flash, torturing and annoying people is not going to sell your product!
I get so frustrated when I call for customer service and the customer service agent is in a call center overseas or in a foreign country and I cannot understand them, and they struggle to understand me! The breakdown of communication is so stressful and frustrating! Why won’t companies hire Americans who speak clear and fluent English to help customers?
It is frustrating when a commercial comes on TV and the ad has nothing to do with the product! The commercials feel like it is only seconds and it is confusing and I have no idea what they are advertising! Confusing commercials tick me off! Why not have straight forward commercials that are easy to understand no matter what generation you grew up in?
The television stations are making their anchors look ridiculous when they make them sit around and tell us how wonderful they are! Gets muted every time.
I get really frustrated watching my neighbors walk their dogs in the heat of these horrifically hot days. After a minute or two, their furry pets jump up on them, and they think it’s cute. No! They’re telling you their paws are burning, and let’s go home. Just take your shoes off once, and see how it feels!
A large party of 18 came into a popular breakfast restaurant right before closing time. They were treated well and had no complaints about the food. They stayed almost two hours. They ordered $400 of food. They tipped $10. What a bunch of cheap, entitled people. They must have no concept of, or appreciation for, real work and service.
The flip side
Many thanks for turning my wallet into the Sanlando tennis courts office. Your honesty is greatly appreciated. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/ticked-off-cheap-customers/ | 2023-07-30T20:20:38 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/ticked-off-cheap-customers/ |
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://who13.com/news/international-news/ap-international/ap-overnight-drone-attack-on-moscow-injures-1-prompts-temporary-airport-closure/ | 2023-07-30T20:20:40 | 0 | https://who13.com/news/international-news/ap-international/ap-overnight-drone-attack-on-moscow-injures-1-prompts-temporary-airport-closure/ |
A tropical wave less than 1,000 miles west of the far eastern Caribbean is expected to become a tropical depression late Monday or Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center said in the 2 p.m. Sunday update.
After keeping tabs on both a system off the coast of Florida that drenched the state for the last couple of days as well as one that was headed toward Central America, the NHC now has its eyes on a tropical wave in the Atlantic located about 700 miles east-northeast of the Leeward Islands and a tropical disturbance 100 miles south of Wilmington, North Carolina.
“Environmental conditions are forecast to be marginally favorable for gradual development of this system over the next few days, and a tropical depression is likely to form during the early part of this week,” forecasters said about the system headed toward Central America.
Its projected path, though, is expected to swing west-northwest away from the Caribbean remaining in the open Atlantic chugging along at about 15 mph.
Chances have risen for it to spin up into a tropical cyclone, though, with the NHC giving it a 50% chance to form in the next two days and 70% in the next seven.
If it does gain enough strength to be a named storm, it would become Tropical Storm Emily.
An area of low pressure just off the coast of North Florida will keep skies cloudy for much of the area today, which will bring some relief from the heat this afternoon. Rain chances increase as showers move in from the coast over the next few hours. #scwx #gawx #caewx pic.twitter.com/SXDmtuNWsr
— NWS Columbia (@NWSColumbia) July 28, 2023
The NHC said environmental conditions appear to be generally favorable for some development over the next day or two as the system off the Carolina coast accelerates eat-northeastward into the northwestern Atlantic ocean.
The system is likely to merge with a frontal boundary after it moves back into the ocean. Forecasters have given it a 30% chance to form in the next 7 days.
Florida’s wet weather from a tropical wave that moved up the coast and dropped 1-3 inches of rain setting daily records along the Space Coast has moved to the north.
The system prompted flood advisories up Florida’s east coast with the National Weather Service at one point Friday reporting a rain gauge in Fellsmere that measured 5 inches of rain.
For now, though, Florida is out of the tropical weather spotlight.
The hurricane season runs from June 1-Nov. 30. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/tropical-depression-likely-to-form-late-monday-nhc-monitoring-system-off-nc-coast/ | 2023-07-30T20:20:44 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/tropical-depression-likely-to-form-late-monday-nhc-monitoring-system-off-nc-coast/ |
OSHKOSH, Wis. (AP) — Two people were killed and two others injured Saturday in a midair collision at an airport in Wisconsin.
A Rotorway 162F helicopter and an ELA Eclipse 10 gyrocopter collided shortly after noon local time at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, authorities said. The aircraft belonged to individuals attending the Experimental Aircraft Association’s annual fly-in convention in Oshkosh but were not involved in the air show, a statement from the organization said.
The association, citing the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, said two people were killed and two injured. The injured were taken to a local hospital and were in stable condition.
The association said further information would be released as additional details are confirmed. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.
Separately, a plane earlier Saturday crashed into Lake Winnebago near Oshkosh, killing two people, according to the sheriff’s office. The NTSB is also investigating that case, which involved a single-engine North American T-6 aircraft. | https://who13.com/news/national-news/ap-us-news/ap-4-dead-2-injured-in-separate-aircraft-accidents-in-wisconsin-authorities-say/ | 2023-07-30T20:20:46 | 1 | https://who13.com/news/national-news/ap-us-news/ap-4-dead-2-injured-in-separate-aircraft-accidents-in-wisconsin-authorities-say/ |
For the first time in the program’s history, UCF opens a fall football camp as a member of a Power Five conference. The move to the Big 12 has been two years of patiently waiting and more than four decades in the making.
Everybody has been swept up in the Big 12 excitement in Central Florida.
Orlando has been designated as an official Big 12 city, with Mayor Buddy Dyer welcoming UCF athletics director Terry Mohajir and coach Gus Malzahn to a ceremony at city hall Thursday.
That excitement becomes a reality Monday when the Knights take the practice field to kick off preparations for the upcoming season.
“It feels a little different right now,” Malzahn said of the start of fall camp. “You know we’re in a real special time right now and you can feel it. I told our team that it was bigger than us. We’ve got to seize the moment this year, going into the Big 12 and representing Orlando. I’m looking forward to it.”
Here are three storylines to watch as camp opens:
New coordinators
UCF welcomes two new coordinators. The hiring of Darin Hinshaw as offensive coordinator and QB coach, as well as the promotion of Addison Williams to defensive coordinator and secondary coach, were necessary after the departures of Chip Lindsey and Travis Williams.
Hinshaw, 51, returns to his alma mater after one season at UAB, assuming control of the offense and play-calling duties and developing the quarterback position.
“I brought in Darin to really open up our offense, push the ball vertically down the field,” said Malzahn. “We were a top 20 offense overall, but our yards per completion was high, like 88th in the country [bottom half of FBS].
“[He’s here] to develop our quarterback, specifically John Rhys Plumlee, which he’s done an unbelievable job. John Rhys is like night and day to where he was at this time last year.”
Meanwhile, Williams moves into a larger role that Malzahn believes he is ready for, having been with him for the last two years.
“[He’s] one of the young up-and-coming defensive coordinators in the country,” said Malzahn. “He’s got a great relationship with players. He’s very aggressive. He’s very sound. So I’m excited about him leading our defense.”
John Rhys Plumlee
Things haven’t slowed down much for Plumlee, who spent his spring juggling time at football practice and playing baseball. He would take to the gridiron in the mornings before transitioning to the diamond in the afternoons.
Over the summer, the 22-year-old has participated in player-led practices while hosting a football/baseball camp for children. His goals are to improve on last season, where he passed for 2,586 yards with 14 touchdowns while rushing for 861 yards and 11 touchdowns.
“I want to showcase my talents,” said Plumlee. “I’ve shown my ability to extend plays with my legs. I haven’t shown as much as I want as far as being in the pocket and making some really good throws. I’m looking forward to doing that this year.”
Big 12 play
The media picked UCF to finish in the middle of the pack in the Big 12 this year — eighth in the preseason poll — but that isn’t a concern for many players who ignore the outside projections.
“We love to earn our respect,” said receiver Javon Baker. “We’re the new kids on the block, and like any new kid on the block you’re going to be tested for what you’re capable of. We can’t wait.”
Said defensive end Josh Celiscar: “I don’t care about rankings. This team believes what we believe and must be ready to face adversity. We might be eighth in the poll but can still make it to the [Big 12] championship. We’ll have a good year if we come in with the right attitude and mindset.”
Email Matt Murschel at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @osmattmurschel. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/ucf-knights-football-training-camp-big12-conference-gus-malzahn-john-rhys-plumlee/ | 2023-07-30T20:20:51 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/ucf-knights-football-training-camp-big12-conference-gus-malzahn-john-rhys-plumlee/ |
The planned execution of a 45-year-old Missouri man with schizophrenia is back on after an appellate court reversed course Saturday.
Johnny Johnson is scheduled to receive a lethal injection Tuesday at the state prison in Bonne Terre for killing 6-year-old Casey Williamson after trying to sexually assault her in 2002.
With questions swirling about his mental competency, the execution was halted last Tuesday by a divided three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court. But after the Missouri Attorney General’s Office asked that the full court reconsider, that decision was reversed in a 7-3 ruling.
The case will likely end up before the U.S. Supreme Court before the scheduled execution date.
Attorneys for Johnson have claimed his schizophrenia prevents him from understanding the link between his crime and the punishment. They have also said Johnson has delusions about the devil using his death to bring about the end of the world.
The Missouri Supreme Court in June declined to halt the execution based on the mental health claim. The attorney general’s office challenged the credibility of psychiatric evaluations of Johnson and contended that medical records indicate he is able to manage his mental illness through medication.
Johnson lured the girl to an abandoned glass factory, even carrying her on his shoulders on the walk to the dilapidated site. When he tried to sexually assault her, Casey screamed and tried to break free. He killed her with bricks and rocks, then washed off in the Meramec River. Johnson confessed to the crimes.
Casey’s disappearance set off a frantic search involving first responders and volunteers. Her body was found in a pit less than a mile (1.6 kilometers) from her home, buried beneath rocks and debris.
The execution would be the fourth in Missouri this year. | https://who13.com/news/national-news/ap-us-news/ap-appellate-court-rules-that-missouri-man-with-schizophrenia-can-be-executed-after-all/ | 2023-07-30T20:20:52 | 0 | https://who13.com/news/national-news/ap-us-news/ap-appellate-court-rules-that-missouri-man-with-schizophrenia-can-be-executed-after-all/ |
Universal Studios Parks recently updated its disability pass requirements — patrons with disabilities must now obtain an Individual Accessibility Card (IAC) from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) by registering documentation from a doctor or education professional no later than two weeks in advance of a trip for review and approval. To be sure, although the policy is intended to reduce the likelihood of patrons without disabilities taking advantage of the system, the IAC does not guarantee patrons with disabilities access to an inclusive experience at Universal Studios.
In fact, asking patrons with disabilities to do more in advance of their trip without ensuring that they will be allowed to do more during their trip is not helping anyone.
Last month our family visited Universal Studios Orlando and obtained a disability pass for our 11-year-old son. There are 48 rides at Universal Studios, 12 of which are designated safe for him to remain in his wheelchair on the ride. Yet, over the course of our three-day park visit, our son was only allowed on 3 rides.
Each encounter we had at each “accessible” ride on property was the same. We would approach an “accessible” ride and show the attendant our disability pass at the entrance. The attendant would ask if our son could do a full transfer — which means if he could transition from his wheelchair to the ride vehicle — to which we would say no. The attendant would then radio for a manager. We would wait for 10 to 15 minutes for a manager to materialize. The manager would look at our son Miles (as though he was merely a chair, and not a child) and say, “Oh this ride does not accommodate that chair.”
Miles uses a standard pediatric wheelchair. We push it manually, just like the chair visitors push around when they rent one to support a broken leg or an elderly parent. Miles has a removable tray on his chair so that he can lean and play on it, and like every pediatric wheelchair, he has a seatbelt for safety.
We had this experience more than a dozen times during our vacation. By day three, Miles’ younger siblings started speaking out too. Our 8-year-old daughter pointed to the picture of a person in a wheelchair posted at the ride entrances and exclaimed “it is really rude that you won’t allow him on the ride. The sign said he can go on it!” Our 9-year-old son chimed in, “You should at least take the sign down. It’s not fair!”
Although our son’s disease is rare, our encounters with ableism are not. The reality is that most theme parks were not designed with our families in mind and have retrofitted ADA accessibility that, despite their best intentions, result in longer on ramps to less experiences. Making matters more frustrating, at Universal Studios there was a phrase under the wheelchair picture at each “accessible ride” stating people who are pregnant or who have recently had surgery should not ride. I couldn’t help but wonder why all patrons weren’t being asked to confirm their suitability to ride at each attraction? Why were the managers visually profiling my son differently than any other patron entering a ride?
If Universal Studios wants to increase park accessibility, they need to update their training and ride protocols. Asking patrons in wheelchairs if their belts are for safety or comfort is misguided. There is no such thing as a pediatric harness that isn’t “for safety.” Stating that 12 rides are accessible for wheelchairs and then restricting access to children in wheelchairs to ride due to their seatbelts is not only unacceptable, it is false advertising. And now, issuing a new process requiring patrons with disabilities to submit documentation in advance of a visit to obtain a pass does not address the ableism embedded in the current safety protocols.
Imagine if there was more than one ADA approved car on the rides so that when the one “accessible” car is due for maintenance, it doesn’t deem the entire ride ineligible for patrons in wheelchairs. And, if a ride is “down for maintenance,” the park mobile app could notify patrons in wheelchairs, just like it does for every other ride for everyone else. These aren’t expensive changes, but their impact on the quality of the experience for families like ours at parks like these is priceless.
It’s named Universal Studios. There was next to nothing universal about our experience.
Christina Cipriano, Ph.D., is an assistant professor at Yale University, the Director of the Education Collaboratory at Yale, and a Public Voices Fellow of the Op Ed Project. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/universals-new-disability-pass-does-not-support-inclusive-experiences-commentary/ | 2023-07-30T20:20:57 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/30/universals-new-disability-pass-does-not-support-inclusive-experiences-commentary/ |