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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Two cases of bird flu have been confirmed in U.S. zoos, but officials said they won’t order widespread euthanasia of zoo birds the way they have on farms.
U.S. Department of Agriculture spokesman Mike Stepien declined to release any details about the zoo cases Thursday, including which two zoos were involved.
Many zoos across the country have closed down their aviaries and moved birds inside whenever possible to help protect them from avian influenza that officials believe is primarily being spread by the droppings of wild birds.
At many zoos, penguins might be the only birds visitors can see because they are generally kept inside behind glass where they are shielded from the virus.
Nearly 27 million chickens and turkeys have been slaughtered in 26 states to limit the spread of bird flu during this year’s outbreak. Officials order entire flocks to be killed when the virus is found on farms.
Stepien said zoos work with state veterinary officials when the virus is found, but unlike farms, zoos are generally allowed to isolate and treat an infected bird as long as they take precautions to protect the other birds in their collections.
Health officials emphasize that bird flu doesn’t jeopardize food safety because infected birds aren’t allowed into the food supply and properly cooking meat and eggs to 165 degrees Fahrenheit will kill any viruses. The disease also doesn’t represent any immediate public health threat, and no human cases have been found in America.
This year’s outbreak is the worst one since 2015 when roughly 50 million chickens and turkeys were slaughtered because of the virus. Stepien said that there were very few bird flu cases in captive wild birds in 2015 and none in large zoos, and no wild birds at zoos were euthanized that year. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/2-bird-flu-cases-confirmed-in-us-zoos-as-virus-spreads/ | 2022-04-15T00:51:07 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/2-bird-flu-cases-confirmed-in-us-zoos-as-virus-spreads/ |
The Justice Department is improving language access to its programs to help people with limited English proficiency better report crimes. The Interior Department is providing technical assistance to Native American tribes to help them apply for grants. The Energy Department is helping low-income households access programs to weatherize their homes and save energy.
Those efforts are among hundreds of strategies and commitments the Biden administration released Thursday. They are the product of an executive order that President Joe Biden signed hours after taking office with the goal of advancing racial equity and support for underserved communities across the federal government.
The order was the first of its kind by a president, said Chiraag Bains, deputy assistant to the president for racial justice and equity.
“We set the mission and the mandate for every agency, the entire federal government, to center equity in all that we do,” Bains told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
After more than a year of review, more than 90 federal agencies, including all major Cabinet departments, released their “equity action plans” on Thursday.
The plans outline more than 300 strategies and commitments that aim to make federal policies fairer for everyone, including poorer communities and communities of color; tribal, rural and LGBTQ communities; and people with disabilities and women and girls.
They were to be discussed at a White House event hosted Thursday by domestic policy adviser Susan Rice, budget director Shalanda Young and members of the Cabinet. Biden, a Democrat, has one of the most diverse Cabinets, with Black and Hispanic people and women leading major departments, including Defense, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Some of the equity plans have been announced, such as work by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to close the racial gap in homeownership, address disproportionate rates of homelessness among underserved communities and reduce bias in home appraisals.
Others strategies are being made public for the first time, such as Defense Department efforts to promote the use of artificial intelligence technology to reduce algorithmic bias by investing in the development of a more diverse AI workforce. That work includes partnerships with historically Black colleges and universities.
Equity action teams at every agency led the reviews. Bains said that, taken together, the strategies “will advance equity and justice so that everybody can thrive in America.” | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/administration-unveils-steps-to-boost-racial-equity-in-govt/ | 2022-04-15T00:51:15 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/administration-unveils-steps-to-boost-racial-equity-in-govt/ |
GOLDEN VALLEY, Ariz. (AP) — An Arizona man faces animal cruelty charges after 183 dead dogs, rabbits, birds and other animals were found in a freezer, including some that were apparently frozen while alive, officials said.
Mohave County deputies and animal control officers found the animals in a garage freezer April 3 after a woman reported that Michael Patrick Turland, 43, hadn’t returned snakes she’d lent him for breeding, the Sheriff’s Office said Thursday in a statement. The deep freezer was at a home that Turland previously rented in Golden Valley, a rural community in far western Arizona.
The frozen animals included dogs, turtles, lizards, birds, snakes, mice, rats and rabbits, the statement said. “Several of the animals appeared to have been frozen alive due to their body positioning.”
The home’s owner reportedly discovered the frozen animals while cleaning after Turland and his wife vacated the property. The owner then contacted the woman who notified the Sheriff’s Office, the statement said.
Turland was arrested at the home Wednesday when deputies were told he had returned to the property, the office said.
“When interviewed, Turland eventually admitted to placing some of the animals in the freezer when they were still alive,” the statement said.
Court records didn’t list an attorney who could comment on behalf of Turland, who was arrested on 94 counts of animal cruelty. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/arizona-man-arrested-after-183-dead-animals-found-in-freezer/ | 2022-04-15T00:51:22 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/arizona-man-arrested-after-183-dead-animals-found-in-freezer/ |
RISON, Ark. (AP) — A 20-year-old Arkansas woman was killed when a tree fell on her home as severe storms swept through the state and a possible tornado ripped roofs off homes in Alabama, officials said.
The woman’s death occurred Wednesday as part of a multiday severe weather outbreak that caused tornadoes, powerful winds and huge hail in parts of the central and southern United States.
A weak tornado confirmed by the National Weather Service tore roofs from homes in a public housing community and peppered cars with debris Wednesday night in rural Greene County, Alabama, located about 90 miles (145 kilometers) southwest of Birmingham. Billy Hicks, who lives in the area, told WBMA-TV he was lying down when he heard a rush of wind that lasted only a few seconds.
“I jumped up and put my clothes on, put my shoes on when everything was over with. I come to the side door and looked across the street. I knew that something had hit all these houses,” said Hicks, who got in his car to go check on neighbors.
Authorities swarmed the area but didn’t find anyone who was hurt, said Zac Bolding of Greene County Emergency Medical Services.
“Most of the people we talked to as we were doing a house-to-house search explained that they were in their bathroom or an interior hallway, so they were listening to those warnings and without that I think we would have been looking at a much different situation,” he said.
In Arkansas, the woman was died when a tree toppled on her home in Rison shortly after 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, pinning her to the couch, said Stephen McClellan, Cleveland County’s emergency management coordinator. Rison is about 55 miles (90 kilometers) south of Little Rock.
A day earlier, 23 people were injured in the central Texas town of Salado. The National Weather Service in Fort Worth said Wednesday that the twister was rated an EF3 with peak wind speeds of 165 mph (265 kph). On Thursday, Gov. Greg Abbott declared Bell County, where Salado is situated, and nearby Williamson County to hasten state assistance to storm-ravaged areas.
Tornadoes were also reported Tuesday in parts of Iowa and Minnesota. Residents in the small southeastern Minnesota farming community of Taopi were cleaning up after a devastating tornado destroyed half of the town’s homes, toppled tall trees and left piles of debris.
A tornado that was rated EF2 with peak wind speeds of 130 mph (209 kph) struck Taopi near the Iowa border late Tuesday night, tearing the roofs off houses, overturning vehicles and bringing down power lines. There were no reports of serious injuries.
Volunteers arrived Wednesday to help residents clean up the debris in the community of about 80 people. Family members sifted through rubble looking for keepsakes.
“Half the town is gone,” City Clerk Jim Kiefer said. Of Taopi’s 22 homes, at least 10 are beyond repair, with roofs and walls missing, he said. Kiefer said his house is OK, but his mother’s home is a total loss.
“She won’t be going home,” he said.
Also, a blizzard struck North Dakota this week, closing the state Capitol, schools, government offices and some businesses for a third day Thursday.
The National Weather Service’s blizzard warning for much of the state and smaller sections of South Dakota and Montana remained in effect Thursday. More than a foot of snow (30 centimeters) has fallen in Bismarck with about 2 feet (61 centimeters) in Dickinson and Glenburn.
“For the month of April it’s not uncommon to get the snow. Now, snow of this magnitude — this is something that’s a little bit more unique,” said Rick Krolak, at the weather service’s Bismarck office. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/arkansas-woman-killed-when-tree-falls-on-home-during-storms/ | 2022-04-15T00:51:29 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/arkansas-woman-killed-when-tree-falls-on-home-during-storms/ |
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — A jury convicted a British national Thursday for his role in an Islamic State group hostage-taking scheme that took roughly two dozen Westerners captive a decade ago, resulting in the deaths of four Americans, three of whom were beheaded.
In convicting El Shafee Elsheikh, the jury concluded that he was one of the notorious “Beatles,” Islamic State captors nicknamed for their accents and known for their cruelty — torturing and beating prisoners, forcing them to fight each other until they collapsed and even making them sing cruel song parodies. Surviving hostages testified that the Beatles delighted themselves rewriting “Hotel California” as “Hotel Osama” and making them sing the refrain “You will never leave.”
The guilty finding came even though none of the surviving hostages could identify Elsheikh as one of their captors. Although the Beatles had distinctive accents, they always took great care to hide their faces behind masks and ordered hostages to avoid eye contact or risk a beating.
Prosecutors suggested in opening statements that Elsheikh was the Beatle nicknamed “Ringo” but only had to prove that Elshiekh was one of the Beatles because testimony showed that all three were major players in the scheme.
Elsheikh, who was captured by the Kurdish-led Syrian defense Forces in 2018, eventually confessed his role in the scheme to interrogators as well as media interviewers, acknowledging that he helped collect email addresses and provided proof of life to the hostages’ families as part of ransom negotiations.
But testimony showed that he and the other Beatles were far more than paper pushers. The surviving hostages, all of whom were European — the American and British hostages were all killed — testified that they dreaded the Beatles’ appearance at the various prisons to which they constantly shuttled and relocated.
Surviving witness Federico Motka recounted a time in the summer of 2013 when he and cellmate David Haines were put in a room with American hostage James Foley and British hostage John Cantlie for what they called a “Royal Rumble.” The losers were told they’d be waterboarded. Weak from hunger, two of the four passed out during the hourlong battle.
The jury deliberated for four hours before finding Elsheikh guilty on all counts. Elsheikh stood motionless and gave no visible reaction as the verdict was read. He now faces up to a life sentence in prison.
Several victims’ family members, who were present throughout throughout the three-week trial, fought back tears as the guilty counts were read.
“Praise God! I’m so thankful,” said Diane Foley, the mother of James Foley, after the verdicts came in. “I’m so proud of the American justice system. El Shafee Elsheikh was treated with a great deal of mercy. He had four attorneys. … Hopefully we were able to turn this into justice, not revenge.”
She contrasted what she said was the stellar work of the prosecution with what she said was the inaction of government to bring Foley and the other Americans home when they were hostages.
“When we really needed to bring the full force of the government to bear to bring them home, that failed,” she said. “They were abandoned.”
She said she hopes the case brings attentionto the more than 60 Americans who are being held hostage or wrongly detained around the world.
The convictions on all eight counts in U.S. District Court in Alexandria revolved around the deaths of four American hostages: Foley, Steven Sotloff, Peter Kassig and Kayla Mueller. All but Mueller were executed in videotaped beheadings circulated online. Mueller was forced into slavery and raped multiple times by Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi before she was killed.
They were among 26 hostages taken captive between 2012 and 2015, when the Islamic State group controlled large swaths of Iraq and Syria.
Defense lawyers acknowledged that Elsheikh joined the Islamic State group but said prosecutors failed to prove he was a Beatle. They cited a lack of clarity about which Beatle was which, and back in the trial’s opening statement cited the confusion about whether there were three or four Beatles.
Prosecutors said there were three — Elsheikh and his friends Alexanda Kotey and Mohammed Emwazi, who all knew each other in England before joining the Islamic State.
Emwazi, who as known as “Jihadi John” and carried out the executions, was later killed in a drone strike. Kotey and Elsheikh were captured together in 2018 and brought to Virginia in 2020 to face trial after the U.S. promised not to seek the death penalty. Kotey pleaded guilty last year in a plea bargain that calls for a life sentence but leaves open the possibility that he could serve out his sentence in the United Kingdom after 15 years in the U.S.
Kotey will be formally sentenced April 29. Elsheikh will be sentenced Aug. 12. But on Thursday the judge in the two cases, T.S. Ellis III, ordered that Elsheikh appear at Kotey’s hearing as well so that he will hear victim impact testimony that will presented ahead of Kotey’s sentencing.
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An earlier version of this story misspelled Alexanda Kotey’s first name. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/brit-convicted-as-beatle-in-islamic-state-beheadings-trial/ | 2022-04-15T00:51:37 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/brit-convicted-as-beatle-in-islamic-state-beheadings-trial/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — The man charged with opening fire in a Brooklyn subway car full of peoplewas jailed without bail Thursday as prosecutors told a judge he terrified all of New York City.
Brought into a Brooklyn federal court without handcuffs, a subdued Frank James, 62, softly answered standard questions about whether he understood the charges and the purpose of the brief hearing. His lawyer later asked the public not to prejudge him.
James was arrestedin Manhattan after calling a police tip line to say where he was Wednesday, a day after the nightmarish rush-hour attack left 10 people with gunshot wounds and countless others fearing for their safetyon the nation’s busiest subway system.
Authorities say he unleashed smoke bombs and dozens of bullets in a train full of morning commuters. He’s charged with a federal terrorism offense that applies to attacks on mass transit systems — authorities say there’s currently no evidence linking him to terror organizations and are still trying to derive a motive.
“The defendant terrifyingly opened fire on passengers on a crowded subway train, interrupting their morning commute in a way the city hasn’t seen in more than 20 years,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara K. Winik said, apparently referring to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
“The defendant’s attack was premeditated, was carefully planned and it caused terror among the victims and our entire city,” she said.
While James was in court, Hourari Benkada was in a hospital bed with a bullet wound in his leg.
Benkada said he was just feet away from the gunman on the train and has struggled to sleep since. Tuesday’s horrific scene keeps replaying in his mind.
“I’m still shocked about it,” Benkada said in a video interview Thursday, grimacing in pain as he recalled the attack.
He had headphones on, music blaring, as smoke began filling the subway car. He initially thought it was a small fire. But the smoke “kept escalating to black, black smoke like 9/11,” he said, “and the whole train was pitch-black.”
Then there were gunshots, screams and a scramble for safety. Benkada said he tried to shield a pregnant woman from getting hit during the mayhem, and as people pushed forward, a gunshot tore into his knee.
The shooting victims, who range in age from 16 to 60, are all expected to survive.
Prosecutors described James in court papers as a calculating shooter who wore a disguise — a construction worker-style hard hat and jacket that were shed right after the attack — and fired “in cold blood at terrified passengers who had nowhere to run and nowhere to hide.”
But defense attorney Mia Eisner-Grynberg cautioned against “a rush to judgment.”
“Initial reports in a case like this are often inaccurate,” she said outside court. She noted that James alerted police to his whereabouts, 30 hours into a manhunt that included cellphone alerts to the general public.
Once he knew he was wanted, “he called Crime Stoppers to help,” Eisner-Grynberg said.
The manhunt began focusing on downtown Manhattan after police got a tip from a sharp-eyed high school junior on a photography class excursion.
Jack Griffin, 17, said he was looking for subjects for pictures when his eye was drawn to a man sitting on a bench with a duffel bag, resting amid the bustle of a street near Chinatown.
“As soon as I saw him, my first instinct was: ‘That’s him,’” Griffin said. He snapped some photos of the man, who mumbled something and quickly moved on. Then Griffin sent his photos to police, who dispatched officers to the area.
Eventually, police got 911 reports of other possible sightings — and they got a call from James, saying he was at a McDonald’s in the East Village neighborhood. He was gone when police got there, but bystanders spotted him and flagged down officers as they searched the neighborhood. James was apprehended a few blocks from the McDonald’s.
Two cousins, Zack Dahhan and Mohammad Cheikh, said they glimpsed the man and hastily looked up James’ wanted poster on their phones.
“And we say, ‘Oh, my God, this is the guy!’” as a number of people began to follow him, Dahhan said. The cousins said they pointed officers toward him.
James’ lawyers agreed Thursday to his being jailed, but said they could seek bail later.
At the request of James’ lawyers, Magistrate Roanne Mann said she would ask for James to get “psychiatric attention,” as well as magnesium tablets for leg cramps, at the federal lockup in Brooklyn where he’s being held.
Authorities say a trove of evidence connects James to the attack. His bank card, his cellphone and a key to a van he had rented were found at the shooting scene. Officers also found the handgun they said was used in the shooting; tracing records show James purchased the gun from a licensed gun dealer in Ohio in 2011.
In court papers, prosecutors suggested James had the means to carry out more more attacks, noting that he had ammunition and other gun-related items in a Philadelphia storage unit.
The New York City native had been living in Milwaukee and Philadelphia recently.
Investigators were examining many hours of videos that James posted on social media, as recently as Monday, in which he delivered profanity-laced diatribes about racism, society’s treatment of Black people, homelessness and violence. He also discussed his history of psychiatric treatment and complained about how New York’s mayor is dealing with homeless people on subways and with gun violence.
He also talked about shooting people, prosecutors noted in court papers.
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Associated Press journalists Jim Mustian, Michael R. Sisak, Deepti Hajela and Seth Wenig contributed. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/brooklyn-subway-attack-suspect-due-in-court-on-terror-charge/ | 2022-04-15T00:51:44 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/brooklyn-subway-attack-suspect-due-in-court-on-terror-charge/ |
The remains of a New Mexico couple were found near their burned home as a wind-driven wildfire charred more than 200 residences on the edge of a mountain community in the southern part of the state.
Fire crews on Thursday used a break in what had been a steady stream of relentless gusts to make headway against the deadly wildfire, which is believed to have killed the two people.
Police investigators and firefighters found the older couple’s remains Wednesday afternoon after family members notified Ruidoso police that the two had tried to evacuate but were unaccounted for.
The remains were found near the home but not in it, and no additional information was immediately available, Ruidoso spokesperson Kerry Gladden said Thursday. Authorities were working to confirm the identities of the two people.
The fire moved into a more densely populated area on Ruidoso’s northeastern side Wednesday afternoon, prompting more evacuations. Laura Rabon, a spokesperson for the Lincoln National Forest, interrupted a fire briefing and told people to get in their cars and leave after the flames jumped a road where crews were trying to hold the line.
Authorities have told as many as 4,500 people to evacuate.
“We’ve had students who’ve lost their homes. We have to support them on Tuesday” when school resumes, said high school English teacher Sara Ames Brown, who was with students when they were evacuated by bus, with flames visible in the forest outside as they drove away.
Overnight, crews kept the flames from pushing further into the village, and Rabon said that progress continued Thursday as helicopters dropped water and ground crews secured lines on the east and south sides. They also put out hot spots in the neighborhoods where the flames raced through earlier this week.
The fire has torched an estimated 9 square miles (23 square kilometers) of forest and grass, and the strong winds that battered the area have left behind toppled trees and down power lines. Crews continued work Thursday to restore power to parts of the village that have been without it since Monday.
Email is no longer working in the school district, Ruidoso Municipal Schools said in a statement on Facebook Thursday, and the school’s website was down. The school’s servers have not been able to come back online because of the electricity outages, Gladden said.
While the cause of the blaze was under investigation, fire officials and forecasters warned that persistent dry and windy conditions had prompted another day of red flag warnings for the eastern third of New Mexico and other parts of the Midwest.
Incident Commander Dave Bales said the strategy was “attack while we can,” noting that winds were expected to pick up again Friday.
“We’re trying to keep this fire as small as possible, especially because it’s right in the community,” he said. “We’ve had a loss of a lot of structures so our crews are right there on the fire front going as direct as possible.”
Six new large fires were reported Wednesday: three in Texas, two in Colorado and one in Oklahoma. In all, wildland firefighters and support personnel were trying to contain 11 large fires that have charred more than 40 square miles (103 square kilometers) in five states.
The National Interagency Fire Center reported Thursday that since the start of the year, 18,550 wildfires have burned about 1,250 square miles (3,237 square kilometers). That’s well above the 10-year average of 12,290 wildfires and 835 square miles (2162.64 square kilometers) burned.
Hotter and drier weather coupled with decades of fire suppression have contributed to an increase in the number of acres burned by wildfires, fire scientists say. The problem is exacerbated by a more than 20-year Western megadrought that studies link to human-caused climate change.
Elsewhere in New Mexico, wildfires were burning northwest of Ruidoso, along the Rio Grande south of Albuquerque, in mountains northwest of the community of Las Vegas and in grasslands along the Pecos River near the town of Roswell.
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Montoya Bryan reported from Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Davenport from Phoenix.
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Cedar Attanasio contributed reporting from Santa Fe. Attanasio is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/destructive-wildfires-rage-in-new-mexico-colorado/ | 2022-04-15T00:51:52 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/destructive-wildfires-rage-in-new-mexico-colorado/ |
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Tumbleweeds drift along the Rio Grande as sand bars within its banks widen. Smoke from distant wildfires and dust kicked up by intense spring winds fill the valley, exacerbating the feeling of distress that is beginning to weigh on residents.
One of North America’s longest rivers, the Rio Grande is another example of a waterway in the western U.S. that’s tapped out.
From the Pacific Northwest to the Colorado River Basin, irrigation districts already are warning farmers to expect less this year despite growing demands fueled by ever-drying conditions. Climate experts say March marked the third straight month of below-average precipitation across the U.S. and areas of record dryness are expanding in the West.
On Thursday, federal water managers shared their annual operating plan for the Rio Grande, a major water source for millions of people and thousands of square miles of farmland in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Mexico. They believe they can keep the river flowing, but it will depend on the weather.
Ed Kandl, a hydrologist with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, said warmer temperatures will affect supplies, but relief could come if summer monsoons develop. “We’ll just have to see what happens,” he said.
Mark Garcia, who farms about 400 acres (160 hectares) with his family in Valencia County, just south of Albuquerque, ran the numbers. He has a degree in mathematics and taught calculus for years before retiring and turning to the farm full time.
He found his family would be compensated for not irrigating about half of its acreage this year, and more water would be left in the river to help New Mexico work off a debt that has been growing as the state falls short of its obligations to deliver water to neighboring Texas.
“Logically, it was almost like a no-brainer,” Garcia said of opting into the fallowing program. “The risk analysis was, I had to take it, I had to do it. I didn’t want to, though.”
Sitting in his backhoe in one of his fields, Garcia began to get emotional. He said he grew up watching his dad farm the land.
“I was born into this,” he said. “The hard thing for me is I feel like I don’t want the government to pay for me not to work. I have an issue with that.”
The state of New Mexico and the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District are hoping more farmers can make that tough choice — at least long enough to help managers address the pending water debt. The district oversees irrigation for more than 140 square miles (260 square kilometers) of farmland along a 175-mile (280-kilometer) stretch of the Rio Grande Valley to the north and south of Albuquerque.
Even it acknowledges the program is a temporary solution.
Casey Ish, a water resources specialist with the district, said over 200 irrigators have enrolled, and officials are targeting fields that are less productive or need to be rested.
“For us, this is just one tool and one way the district is trying to help the state manage the state’s compact debt, but we certainly don’t anticipate pulling a third or half the district into a fallowing program year over year,” Ish said. “That’s not sustainable from a price point or an ag point.”
Thursday’s virtual meeting included estimates of how much the Bureau of Reclamation will have to work with this season based on spring runoff predictions and current reservoir levels. Officials said it’s possible the Rio Grande, as it passes through the heart of Albuquerque, could start drying in late August or early September.
With below-average snow cover and reservoirs in some places reaching critically low levels, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration noted in its most recent monthly climate report that concerns are mounting that the western drought will intensify.
On the Colorado River, the U.S. Interior Department recently proposed holding back water in Lake Powell to maintain Glen Canyon Dam’s ability to generate electricity amid what it said were the driest conditions in the region in more than 1,200 years.
The potential impacts to lower basin states that could see their water supplies reduced — California, Nevada and Arizona — aren’t yet known. But the conundrum speaks to the wide-ranging functions of Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam, and the need to quickly pivot to confront climate change.
In the Pacific Northwest, experts are predicting one of the driest summers on record, noting that nearly 71% of the region made up of Oregon, Washington and Idaho is in drought and nearly one-quarter is already experiencing extreme drought.
An irrigation district that supplies more than 1,000 farmers and ranchers on the California-Oregon border announced earlier this week that they would get a fraction of their normal water allocation this year due to drought. It’s the third consecutive year that severe drought has impacted farmers, fish and tribes in a region where there’s not enough water to satisfy competing demands.
Irrigation districts that supply water to farmers along the Rio Grande in southern New Mexico and along the Pecos in the east also are promising short seasons.
Just north of the New Mexico-Colorado border, farmers in the San Luis Valley turned on their spigots April 1, drawing on their share of the Rio Grande. Water managers in New Mexico immediately saw the gauges drop, meaning less water ultimately will make its way to central New Mexico. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/expanding-drought-leaves-western-us-scrambling-for-water/ | 2022-04-15T00:51:59 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/expanding-drought-leaves-western-us-scrambling-for-water/ |
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a 15-week abortion ban into law Thursday as the state joined a growing conservative push to restrict access to the procedure ahead of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that could roll back abortion rights in America.
“This will represent the most significant protections for life that have been enacted in this state in a generation,” DeSantis said as he signed the bill at an evangelical church in the city of Kissimmee.
Republicans nationwide have moved to place new restrictions on abortion after the U.S. Supreme Court signaled it would uphold a Mississippi law banning abortions after 15 weeks. The high court’s decision, expected this summer, could potentially weaken or overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that established a nationwide right to abortion.
The law DeSantis signed Thursday also deals a blow to overall abortion access in the South, where Florida has provided wider access to the procedure than its regional neighbors.
The new law, which takes effect July 1, contains exceptions if the abortion is necessary to save a mother’s life, prevent serious injury or if the fetus has a fatal abnormality. It does not allow for exemptions in cases where pregnancies were caused by rape, incest or human trafficking, despite several Democratic attempts to amend the bill. Under current law, Florida allows abortions up to 24 weeks.
Debate over the proposal grew deeply personal and revealing inside the legislature, as lawmakers recalled their own abortions and experiences with sexual assault in often tearful speeches on the House and Senate floors. Republicans have repeatedly called the 15-week ban reasonable.
A federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report said about 2% of the nearly 72,000 abortions reported in Florida in 2019 were performed after 15 weeks. That same year, 2,256 out-of-state residents got abortions in Florida, with the majority, or about 1,200 coming, from Georgia and more than 300 from Alabama, according to the CDC. The origin of the remaining patients was not clear.
Democrats were quick to criticize the new law after the signing.
“Politicians have no business getting between a patient and her doctor,” House Democratic Leader Evan Jenne said. “This 15-week abortion ban takes away every woman’s right to make personal decisions that should only be made by themselves, with their family, their doctor, and their faith.”
The legislation came a few months after the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority indicated it would uphold Mississippi’s 15-week ban. There also has been substantial support among the conservative justices for getting rid of Roe altogether.
If Roe is overturned, 26 states are certain or likely to quickly ban or severely restrict abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a think tank that supports abortion rights. During the debate over the Florida legislation, as well as at the bill’s signing ceremony, Republicans said they want the state to be well placed to limit access to abortions if the Supreme Court upholds Mississippi’s law.
“The reality of the Roe decision is that men on the Supreme Court proclaimed that women, in order to achieve equality with men, must be able to kill their own children,” said Republican Rep. Erin Grall, the bill’s sponsor. “As a woman, I refuse to accept such a perverse version of equality.”
Elsewhere in the U.S., Republican lawmakers have introduced new abortion restrictions, some similar to a Texaslaw that bans abortion after roughly six weeks and leaves enforcement up to private citizens.
OklahomaRepublican Gov. Kevin Stitt recently signed a bill to make it a felony to perform an abortion, punishable by up to a decade in prison. ArizonaRepublican Gov. Doug Ducey in March signed legislation to outlaw abortion after 15 weeks if the U.S. Supreme Court leaves Mississippi’s law in place.
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AP writer Adriana Gomez Licon contributed from Miami. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/florida-governor-expected-to-sign-abortion-restriction-bill/ | 2022-04-15T00:52:07 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/florida-governor-expected-to-sign-abortion-restriction-bill/ |
Easter’s message of renewal will be especially poignant this year for four U.S. congregations rebounding from disasters.
Their churches were destroyed by a tornado in Kentucky, gutted by a blaze in New York City, shattered when Hurricane Ida hit the Louisiana coast, and filled with smoke and ash by the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history. For the pastors, Easter’s promise of hope couldn’t be more timely as their resilient congregations come to terms with what happened and prepare for what’s next.
KENTUCKY
Members of Mayfield First United Methodist Church will not be celebrating Easter in their 100-year-old sanctuary. They can’t.
A Dec. 10 tornado ripped apart their stately building as it carved a deadly path through the western Kentucky community of about 10,000 people. A demolition crew tore down the rest.
Instead, on Easter Sunday, members will walk into their temporary home, Christ United Methodist Church, to mark the holy day.
“That’s going to be tough,” said the Rev. Joey Reed. He rode out the storm at Mayfield First, wondering if he would live to officiate his daughter’s wedding.
Reed started ministering soon after, encouraging his roughly 100 church members to pivot from suffering to servanthood. Congregants walked through the disaster zone assessing needs, passing out thousands of dollars in gift cards and helping residents rescue belongings.
“The example of Jesus Christ is the suffering servant,” he said. “When we turn away from our own difficulties … we are able to let go of our own pain for a minute and focus on our neighbor, which is the core strength of Christianity.”
As the congregation weighs how best to rebuild, they continue to process the tornado’s destruction through waves of grieving and helping. Only in recent weeks – after Reed performed his daughter’s wedding, escaped to a cabin with his wife and mourned the death of their cat, George – did Reed realize he was still carrying around trauma from the storm.
“As much as we place our faith in resurrection and the life that is to come, there’s still that whole idea of what’s it like to leave this one, and I think we’re still parsing that question,” he said.
But there has been hope amid the despair, like the pieces of the church’s baptismal font rescued from the landfill. “We are all about finding those bright spots,” Reed said.
NEW YORK CITY
The Middle Collegiate Church gospel choir swayed to the beat of a live band during a joyful rehearsal at a synagogue that has become their new home.
“It’s Passover and our Jewish friends are exercising the most radical hospitality,” said the Rev. Jacqui Lewis, the church’s senior minister.
Her church was gutted by a fire on Dec. 5, 2020, in what seemed a tragic coda to an already-challenging pandemic year. When Middle Collegiate decided recently to resume in-person worship, East End Temple led by Rabbi Joshua Stanton invited the congregation to share its sacred space while they rebuild.
“It was very clear when the tragedy fell on Middle Collegiate Church that we needed to live out our values, open our doors,” said Stanton, who will offer prayer during the church’s Easter celebration.
On Palm Sunday, the choir belted out hymns in preparation for Easter, and even the carols they weren’t able to sing together after COVID-19 concerns canceled their in-person Christmas Eve service.
“It feels like a miracle, going through the fire and the pandemic worldwide, all that we’ve gone through… to now have a place to call home,” said Joy Lau, a member of the church’s Jerriese Johnson gospel choir.
The multicultural congregation lives what it calls “on-your-feet worship and take-it-to-the-streets activism.” Members have provided meals to people with AIDS, worked on storm recovery, fought for environmental protection and demonstrated for the Black Lives Matter movement, LGBTQ equality and women’s rights.
The belfry of the historic church housed New York’s Liberty Bell, which tolled to mark the birth of the country in 1776 and was later rung for inaugurations, deaths of presidents and in remembrance of the 9/11 terror attacks. The fire spared the bell and left behind a skeletal façade and two vinyl banners reading “Black Lives Matter” and “Just Love,” the church’s motto.
Amid the grief of losing their beloved church, Lewis has asked parishioners to “worship God with joy” and find the promise of hope that is a part of every Easter.
“For Middle, this is a time of resurrection. We keep rising to new challenges and we’re the living body of Christ. More than ever, we understand that and what our mission is, our calling is,” she later said at the site of her charred church.
“The hospitality and the love of the strangers of Judaism that we inherit as Christians is on full display on these weeks that are holy for both communities.”
LOUISIANA
The windows at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic church were blown out, and its ceiling, sacristy and vestibule crumbled after Hurricane Ida blasted ashore in August, hitting the small fishing community of Point-aux-Chenes, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) southwest of New Orleans.
Since then, its pastor, the Rev. Rajasekar Karumelnathan, has celebrated Mass in the rectory and under a tent set up in the church’s parking lot. Attendance dwindled after the storm: from about 80 people who used to attend Sunday services to about 15 worshippers now.
Celebrating Christmas under the ruins was especially emotional for the congregation, the pastor said. But he expects a different, lighter mood for their first post-Ida Easter service, which promises believers eternal life.
“We have lots of hope. We hope that we can reclaim all that we’ve lost,” he said. “Easter strengthens us.”
Parishioner Teddy Neal, who lives a half mile from the church, is still rebuilding his storm-damaged home. He would love to see his church and home rebuilt — restored to what they once were or better.
“I see Easter as a new beginning,” said Neal, a truck driver. “I’m pretty much humbled, where it doesn’t matter what the conditions are in or around with the destruction — as long as I’m present with Jesus during the Eucharist.”
COLORADO
At the charred remains of Bill and Jackie Stephens’ home in Superior, where they raised four kids and made countless memories over 22 years, the daffodils are blooming again.
When he looks at the green shoots and bright yellow blossoms, Bill Stephens sees rebirth. He also feels grief anew: for the house; the incinerated family photos and videos; the yard they loved on spring days, with its newly laid patio and magnolia tree named after their third child — “Maggie-nolia.”
“As a pastor I see this and go, this is an Easter illustration. It’s life out of the death,” Stephens said. “In some ways it’s beautiful, and in other ways it’s the reminder of, dang, we lost a lot.”
The lead pastor at Ascent Community Church in neighboring Louisville and his loved ones are one of 26 families in the congregation who lost their homes Dec. 30 in a wind-whipped wildfire that destroyed 1,084 residences in Denver-area suburbs. Hundreds more church members were displaced.
The church itself, a cavernous space inside a former Sam’s Club with auditorium seating for 750, was largely spared. The flames wrapped around the building, scorching trees and shrubs in the parking lot. But ash and smoke seeped in through skylights and ventilation shafts, coating everything in sooty charcoal.
Volunteers hauled out everything that wasn’t nailed down to be washed before a building-wide deep clean. Carpets, curtains, walls and lighting were replaced. Ascent returned in February after two months of worshipping in a hotel ballroom.
In the early days, police used Ascent’s parking lot as a staging area for displaced residents to collect passes to enter their neighborhoods. Thousands showed up and were met by church members, therapy dogs and meals. A relief fund raised a couple hundred thousand dollars, and the church reached out to schools on caring for affected students.
As for the congregation, Stephens said suffering his own loss positioned him to minister to others. An adopt-a-family program pairs up households to support people through companionship and tasks like grocery shopping. Volunteer therapists provided counseling and offered group sessions.
Three months after the most destructive blaze in Colorado history, Stephens reminds his flock that people still need help as they navigate trauma and challenges like insurance, housing and debris removal. To his delight, he sees congregants stepping up.
One thing he’s sure of: Christ’s resurrection carries special significance this year.
“That Jesus conquered the grave, conquered the sin … and breathed life on Easter Sunday,” Stephens said, “there’s something really powerful about thinking about ours as just a minor version of that.”
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Henao reported from New York City, Meyer reported from Nashville, Tennessee, and Orsi reported from Superior, Colorado.
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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/for-churches-hit-by-disaster-easter-brings-promise-of-hope/ | 2022-04-15T00:52:13 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/for-churches-hit-by-disaster-easter-brings-promise-of-hope/ |
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The coronavirus pandemic ushered in what may be the most rapid rise in homeschooling the U.S. has ever seen. Two years later, even after schools reopened and vaccines became widely available, many parents have chosen to continue directing their children’s educations themselves.
Homeschooling numbers this year dipped from last year’s all-time high, but are still significantly above pre-pandemic levels, according to data obtained and analyzed by The Associated Press.
Families that may have turned to homeschooling as an alternative to hastily assembled remote learning plans have stuck with it — reasons include health concerns, disagreement with school policies and a desire to keep what has worked for their children.
In 18 states that shared data through the current school year, the number of homeschooling students increased by 63% in the 2020-2021 school year, then fell by only 17% in the 2021-2022 school year.
Around 3% of U.S. students were homeschooled before the pandemic-induced surge, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The rising numbers have cut into public school enrollment in ways that affect future funding and renewed debates over how closely homeschooling should be regulated. What remains unknown is whether this year’s small decrease signals a step toward pre-pandemic levels — or a sign that homeschooling is becoming more mainstream.
Linda McCarthy, a suburban Buffalo mother of two, says her children are never going back to traditional school.
Unimpressed with the lessons offered remotely when schools abruptly closed their doors in spring 2020, she began homeschooling her then fifth- and seventh-grade children that fall. McCarthy, who had been working as a teacher’s aide, said she knew she could do better herself. She said her children have thrived with lessons tailored to their interests, learning styles and schedules.
“There’s no more homework ’til the wee hours of the morning, no more tears because we couldn’t get things done,” McCarthy said.
Once a relatively rare practice chosen most often for reasons related to instruction on religion, homeschooling grew rapidly in popularity following the turn of the century before leveled off at around 3.3%, or about 2 million students, in the years before the pandemic, according to the Census. Surveys have indicated factors including dissatisfaction with neighborhood schools, concerns about school environment and the appeal of customizing an education.
In the absence of federal guidelines, there is little uniformity in reporting requirements. Some states, including Connecticut and Nevada, require little or no information from parents, while New York, Massachusetts and some others require parents to submit instruction plans and comply with assessment rules.
The new surge in homeschooling numbers has led state legislatures around the country to consider measures either to ease regulations on homeschool families or impose new ones — debates have gone on for years. Proponents of more oversight point to the potential for undetected cases of child abuse and neglect while others argue for less in the name of parental rights.
All of the 28 state education departments that provided homeschooling data to the AP reported that homeschooling spiked in 2020-21, when fears of infection kept many school buildings closed. Of the 18 states whose enrollment data included the current school year, all but one state said homeschooling declined from the previous year but remained well above pre-pandemic levels. (The exception, South Dakota, recently changed the way it collects data).
Minnesota, for example, reported that 27,801 students are being homeschooled now, compared to 30,955 during the last school year. Before the pandemic, homeschool figures were around 20,000 or less.
Black families make up many of the homeschool converts. The proportion of Black families homeschooling their children increased by five times, from 3.3% to 16.1%, from spring 2020 to the fall, while the proportion about doubled across other groups, according to U.S. Census surveys.
Raleigh, North Carolina, mother Laine Bradley said the school system’s shortcomings became more evident to families like hers when remote learning began.
“I think a lot of Black families realized that when we had to go to remote learning, they realized exactly what was being taught. And a lot of that doesn’t involve us,” said Bradley, who decided to homeschool her 7-, 10- and 11-year-old children. “My kids have a lot of questions about different things. I’m like, ‘Didn’t you learn that in school?’ They’re like, ‘No.’”
Bradley, who works in financial services, converted her dining room into a classroom and rearranged her work schedule to take over her children’s education, adding lessons on financial literacy, Black history and Caribbean history important to her heritage.
“I can incorporate things that I feel like they should know,” she said. Her husband, Vince, who retired from the Air Force last year, steps in at times. The couple also have a 14-month-old. They plan to continue homeschooling for as long as their children want it. Her social media posts about her experience have drawn so much interest that Bradley recently created an online community called Black Moms Do Homeschool to share resources and experiences.
Boston University researcher Andrew Bacher-Hicks said data showed that while homeschool rates rose across the board during the last school year, the increase was greater in school districts that reverted to in-person learning, perhaps before some parents were ready to send their children back.
He said the same health concerns that drove those increases are likely behind the continued elevated rates, despite additional upheaval in schools as parents and policy-makers debate issues surrounding race and gender and which books should be in libraries.
“It’s really hard to disentangle those two things because all of this is kind of happening at the same time,” he said. “But my my guess would be that a large part of the decisions to exit from the system do have to do with COVID-related issues as opposed to political issues, because those things come up frequently and we’ve never seen an increase in homeschooling rates like this before.”
He said parents also may be concerned about the quality of education delivered by schools that have had to rely heavily on substitute teachers amid pandemic-caused staffing shortages.
McCarthy, the mom from suburban Buffalo, said it was a combination of everything, with the pandemic compounding the misgivings she had already held about the public school system, including her philosophical differences over the need for vaccine and mask mandates and academic priorities.
The pandemic, she said, “was kind of — they say the straw that broke the camel’s back — but the camel’s back was probably already broken.”
“There are kids that don’t know basic English structure but they want to push other things on children, and it can be blatant but it can be, and mostly is, very subtle, very, very subtle,” McCarthy said. “So we were ready to pull them and will never send them back to traditional school. It’s just not a fit for us.”
“It’s just a whole new world that is a much better world for us,” she said. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/homeschooling-surge-continues-despite-schools-reopening/ | 2022-04-15T00:52:20 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/homeschooling-surge-continues-despite-schools-reopening/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Frank James posted dozens of videos ranting about race, violence and his struggles with mental illness. One stands out for its relative calm: A silent shot of a packed New York City subway car in which he raises his finger to point out passengers, one by one.
Even as police arrested James on Wednesday in the Brooklyn subway shooting that wounded 10 people, they were still searching for a motive from a flood of details about the 62-year-old Black man’s life.
An erratic work history. Arrests for a string of mostly low-level crimes. A storage locker with more ammo. And hours of rambling, bigoted, profanity-laced videos on his YouTube channel that point to a deep, simmering anger.
“This nation was born in violence, it’s kept alive by violence or the threat thereof, and it’s going to die a violent death,” says James in a video where he takes on the moniker “Prophet of Doom.”
After a 30-hour manhunt, James was arrested without incident after a tipster — thought by police to be James himself — said he could be found near a McDonald’s on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Mayor Eric Adams triumphantly proclaimed “We got him!” Police said their top priority was getting the suspect, now charged with a federal terrorism offense, off the streets as they investigate their biggest unanswered question: Why?
A prime trove of evidence, they said, is his YouTube videos. He seems to have opinions about nearly everything — racism in America, New York City’s new mayor, the state of mental health services, 9/11, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and Black women.
A federal criminal complaint cited one in which James ranted about too many homeless people on the subway and put the blame on New York City’s mayor.
“What are you doing, brother?” he said in the video posted March 27. “Every car I went to was loaded with homeless people. It was so bad, I couldn’t even stand.”
James then railed about the treatment of Black people in an April 6 video cited in the complaint, saying, “And so the message to me is: I should have gotten a gun, and just started shooting.”
In a video posted a day before the attack, James criticizes crime against Black people and says things would only change if certain people were “stomped, kicked and tortured” out of their “comfort zone.”
Surveillance cameras spotted James entering the subway system turnstiles Tuesday morning, dressed as a maintenance or construction worker in a yellow hard hat and orange working jacket with reflective tape.
Police say fellow riders heard him say only “oops” as he set off one smoke grenade in a crowded subway car as it rolled into a station. He then set off a second smoke grenade and started firing, police said. In the smoke and chaos that ensued, police say James made his getaway by slipping into a train that pulled in across the platform and exited after the first stop.
Left behind at the scene was the gun, extended magazines, a hatchet, detonated and undetonated smoke grenades, a black garbage can, a rolling cart, gasoline and the key to a U-Haul van, police said.
That key led investigators to James, and clues to a life of setbacks and anger as he bounced among factory and maintenance jobs, got fired at least twice, moved among Milwaukee, Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York.
Investigators said James had 12 prior arrests in New York and New Jersey from 1990 to 2007, including for possession of burglary tools, criminal sex act, trespassing, larceny and disorderly conduct.
James had no felony convictions and was not prohibited from purchasing or owning a firearm. Police said the gun used in the attack was legally purchased at an Ohio pawn shop in 2011. A search of James’ Philadelphia storage unit and apartment turned up at least two types of ammunition, including the kind used with an AR-15 assault-style rifle, a taser and a blue smoke cannister.
Police said James was born and raised in New York City. In his videos, he said he finished a machine shop course in 1983 then worked as a gear machinist at Curtiss-Wright, an aerospace manufacturer in New Jersey, until 1991 when he was he was hit by a one-two punch of bad news: He was fired from his job and, soon after, his father — with whom he had lived in New Jersey — died.
Records show James filed a complaint against the aerospace company in federal court, soon after he lost his job, alleging racial discrimination, but it was dismissed a year later by a judge. He says in one video, without offering specifics, that he “couldn’t get any justice for what I went through.”
A spokesperson for Curtiss-Wright didn’t immediately respond to a call seeking comment.
James describes going in and out of several mental health facilities, including two in the Bronx borough of New York City in the 1970s.
“Mr. Mayor, let me say to you I’m a victim of your mental health program in New York City,” James says in a video earlier this year, adding he is “full of hate, full anger and bitterness.”
James says he later was a patient at Bridgeway House, a mental health facility in New Jersey, although that could not be immediately confirmed. Messages left with the facility were not returned.
“My goal at Bridgeway in 1997 was to get off Social Security and go back to f—— work,” he says in a video, adding that he enrolled in a college and took a course in computer-aided design and manufacturing.
James says he eventually got a job at telecommunications giant Lucent Technologies in Parsippany, New Jersey, but says he ended up getting fired and returned to Bridgeway House, this time not as a patient but as an employee on the maintenance staff. A message seeking comment was sent to Lucent Technologies.
“I just want to work. I want to be a person that’s productive,” he said.
Touches of that earnest, struggling man showed up after James’ parked car was hit in Milwaukee. Eugene Yarbrough, pastor of Mt. Zion Wings of Glory Church of God in Christ next door to James’ apartment, said James was impressed that the pastor owned up to hitting the car. Neither James nor anyone else was there to see the accident. And James called him up to say so.
“I just couldn’t believe it would be him,” Yarbrough said. “But who knows what people will do?”
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AP reporters Michael Balsamo in Washington, Deepti Hajela in New York, Claudia Lauer in Philadelphia, Todd Richmond in Madison, Wisconsin, and Carrie Antlfinger in Milwaukee contributed to this report.
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On Twitter, follow Bernard Condon at twitter.com/bernardfcondon, Michael Sisak at twitter.com/mikesisak and Michael Kunzelman at twitter.com/Kunzelman75 and send confidential news tips by visiting https://www.ap.org/tips/. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/police-search-for-motive-in-brooklyn-subway-suspects-videos/ | 2022-04-15T00:52:26 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/police-search-for-motive-in-brooklyn-subway-suspects-videos/ |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ed Buck told his neighbors that the steady stream of young Black men leaving his West Hollywood apartment were social work clients. What really happened behind closed doors, which he referred to as the “gates of hell,” was far more sinister.
The men did not need Buck’s help — they needed to be saved from him, said federal prosecutors in Los Angeles said. Some barely escaped with their lives. Two men didn’t.
Buck, 67, a wealthy gay white donor to Democratic, LGBTQ and animal rights causes, was sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court to 30 years in federal prison for injecting two men with lethal doses of methamphetamine as part of a fetish that turned fatal.
Prosecutors, who sought a life term, said Buck had such disregard for life that even after the two deaths in his apartment, he did not stop paying men to come to his home and injecting them with walloping doses of methamphetamine. One man overdosed twice in the course of a week.
“This defendant preyed upon vulnerable victims — men who were drug-dependent and often without homes — to feed an obsession that led to death and misery,” United States Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison said. “Mr. Buck continues to pose a clear danger to society.”
Buck was convicted in July of distribution of methamphetamine resulting in the deaths of Gemmel Moore in 2017 and Timothy Dean in 2019. He was also convicted of four counts of meth distribution, two counts of enticing men to travel across state lines for prostitution and a count of maintaining a drug den.
Buck managed to avoid arrest for more than two years after Moore’s death and family and community members led by political strategist Jasmyne Cannick complained that he escaped prosecution because of wealth, political ties and race. He donated more than $500,000 since 2000 to mainly Democratic causes.
Moore’s mother, LaTisha Nixon, joined Cannick and several other friends and family members of the deceased to ask the judge for the maximum sentence. Nixon, a certified nursing assistant who said she had prayed with and comforted countless dying people, broke down as she thought of the way her oldest child died.
“All I can think about is how my son died naked on a mattress with no love around him,” Nixon said. “No one to hold his hand or tell him good things.”
Defense lawyer Mark Werksman sought a 10-year term — half of the mandatory minimum of 20 years Buck faced and well below the 25 years recommended by the probation department. He said Buck’s sexual abuse as a child and health problems that led to his drug addiction were mitigating factors.
He said prosecutors had cast Buck as a “sociopathic syringe-wielding sexual predator and sexual deviant who preys on homeless drug-addicted male prostitutes and kills them by recklessly overdosing them on methamphetamine.”
“But there’s a second Ed Buck, a redeemable, a worthy, a valuable Ed Buck who deserves this court’s compassion and mercy,” Werksman said.
Buck made his first public remarks since his arrest in September 2019, apologizing for “my part in the tragic deaths” of Moore and Dean, whom he said were friends he loved. In a husky voice, he said he had not caused their deaths but expressed condolences to their families — something they said he never did after their deaths.
Buck, who worked as a model and then made a small fortune selling an Arizona company he rescued from bankruptcy, said he tried to live a good life devoted to political causes that would make his world a better place.
His political activism began with efforts in 1987 to recall Republican Arizona Gov. Evan Mecham, who was ultimately convicted in an impeachment trial and kicked out of office. Buck said he started an AIDS information organization in the 1980s, marched for gay and human rights and championed a ban on fur sales in West Hollywood.
“Look at the good I have done and the good I may still do and not the horrible caricature that the government painted me as a meth-fueled ax killer,” Buck said. “That’s not who I am.”
Judge Christina Snyder said the case was one of the most difficult and tragic ones she had presided over. She said Buck’s “horrific crimes” were reprehensible and more than just an accident.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea Norell objected to the 30-year sentence, arguing that the mandatory minimum sentences for each death add up to 40 years.
“He is effectively getting one kill and one kill 50% off,” Norell said.
Family members of Dean and Moore said they were disappointed he didn’t get a life sentence but were happy Buck was going away for a long time. They said his apology had come too late to seem sincere.
“That’s not love when you kill someone,” said Dean’s sister, Joann Campbell. “That was just something he was saying … to get some sympathy from the judge. But I don’t believe and buy any of it.”
Even after Dean’s death, Buck remained undeterred, Norell said. Holed up in a hotel to avoid the police, he injected Dane Brown with back-to-back “slams” of methamphetamine.
Brown, who was homeless, later moved into Buck’s apartment, where he was injected with meth most days and often several times a day.
On Sept. 4, 2019, after Buck shot him up three times with back-to-back doses, Brown was hospitalized for overdosing. He had five times the meth in his system that Moore and Dean had when they died, prosecutors said.
Brown returned less than a week later and Buck injected him three times with meth. Brown said he was overdosing again. He was exhausted and weak but Buck wouldn’t call an ambulance.
“I can’t run, I can’t move and it’s like all my energy was being sapped out,” Brown recalled Thursday outside court.
That’s when he heard the voice of his late mother tell him to get up.
“At that last moment, right when I was giving up and closed my eyes, I heard the voice,” Brown said. “It’s like she lit a fire and told me to get out and get out now.”
Brown managed to get himself to a nearby gas station and was taken to the hospital. It was that incident that finally led to Buck’s arrest.
If he hadn’t made it out of Buck’s apartment, Brown said he would have died there like Moore and Dean. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/prosecutors-seek-life-for-political-donors-fatal-fetish/ | 2022-04-15T00:52:34 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/prosecutors-seek-life-for-political-donors-fatal-fetish/ |
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A Southern California shoe store owner accused of shooting and wounding a 9-year-old girl when he opened fire at shoplifters agreed Thursday to be returned from Nevada to face charges in the case.
Police have said that Marqel Cockrell, 20, fled from the California desert city of Victorville in his car just after the girl, identified by family members as Ava Chruniak, was mistakenly hit by bullets on Tuesday as she waited to have her picture taken with a mall Easter bunny.
Cockrell, 20, stood in court and told a Las Vegas judge that he understood that California authorities had 30 days to extradite him. He was not represented by an attorney because Nevada does not provide lawyers for extradition cases.
Cockrell co-owns the shoe store Sole Addicts at the Mall of Victor Valley and was chasing two shoplifters at about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday when he fired shots that “instead hit the 9-year-old female victim,” Victorville police said in a statement.
The girl suffered three gunshot wounds, including two in an arm, said her grandmother, Moraga-Saldarelli said. One of the bullets fractured an arm bone.
Police have said that Cockrell drove from the mall before responding officers arrived after receiving reports of gunfire and that he was arrested in Nevada’s Clark County, about a three-hour drive from Victorville.
Cockrell is being held at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas and authorities have said he faces at least one attempted murder charge. Records do not indicate if he has a lawyer who could speak on his behalf.
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This version corrects taht the hearing was held on Thursday, not Friday. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/store-owner-to-be-returned-to-california-in-girls-shooting/ | 2022-04-15T00:52:41 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/store-owner-to-be-returned-to-california-in-girls-shooting/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Mayor Eric Adams, a former New York City police captain, took office this year with a central focus on making the city feel safe and trying to return it to some sense of normalcy post-pandemic.
But the first 3 1/2 months of his administration have been beset by a string of high-profile violent incidents, with Tuesday’s shooting on a subway train the most terrifying and public of all.
The morning rush-hour attack, in which 10 people were shot on a system that serves as the arteries of New York, complicates Adams’ push to address crime and persuade people that the city of nearly 9 million is safe. It also occurred amid a broader, multi-year debate about policing and crime, and how the city should respond.
In New York City, like many places around the country, violent crime rates have climbed since the pandemic, though they remain far below rates seen three decades ago during the city’s notoriously grittier era, or even just a decade ago.
The mayor has been among Democrats who’ve pushed back on calls from liberals to cut police budgets and instead route resources to social services, and he has sought to bring back some controversial policing tactics, saying they can be employed as useful tools without a return to past abuses.
Adams has a unique perspective. He’s not only a former New York City police captain and transit officer, but is a Black man who in the past has criticized his own department’s unjust practices, and he is someone who was brutally beaten by police as a teenager.
Since he took office Jan. 1, he’s been speaking about policing and crime frequently, as the list of frightening incidents piled up quickly.
The city saw a rash of random shootings, the killing of two police officers and attacks that included a woman shoved to her death in front of a train by a stranger.
“This has been particularly brutal. And I feel for him. I think he’s done a fine job, especially as he’s just getting used to it,” said Adams’ predecessor and fellow Democrat, Bill de Blasio.
Most of the violence the city has experienced has not been in the subways but in neighborhoods, particularly in communities of color. But attacks on the subway, a vital sprawling network millions of New Yorkers rely upon, loom large in public perceptions of safety.
Adams rode the subway to City Hall on his first day as mayor, calling 911 to report a fight near the train platform before he even boarded the train. He admitted later that he didn’t feel safe on the train after encountering a yelling passenger and several homeless people, and said the city needs to tackle “actual crime” and “the perception of crime.”
Adams had already announced plans earlier this year to boost the number of police officers on subway platforms and trains and to address crime generally. He has brought back a controversial police anti-gun unit, called for help from the federal government cracking down on ghost guns and pushed for changes to New York’s bail laws.
Critics contend that focusing just on beefing up police isn’t a solution to making the city safe, but more investment is needed in mental health programs and other social services.
Frank James, the 62-year-old suspect in the Brooklyn subway shooting, spoke of his own mental health struggles in a series of YouTube videos in which he described going in and out of mental health facilities, including some in New York City.
Before Tuesday’s attack, Adams had started sending out social work teams to try to connect people on the streets with mental health help and other services. The mayor also announced plans to significantly expand a summer youth job program designed to put young people in paid jobs when school is on break, with the aim of diverting them from activities that could lead to arrest or violence.
After this week’s subway shooting, Adams, in a series of interviews, discussed plans to increase the number of police officers patrolling the subways and suggested metal detectors could be installed in stations — a decision that ultimately would rest with the transit authority, which falls under state control.
Danny Pearlstein, a spokesman for the nonprofit Riders Alliance representing New York City bus and subway passengers, said that despite a high-profile incident like the shooting, the subway is still the safest way to get around the city, with traffic accidents and pedestrians being struck by cars a far more likely hazard.
Rather than explore metal detectors and other ways to scrutinize passengers, he said New York needs a better transit system overall that gets more people on board and provides safety with strength in numbers.
“By having transit that is faster and more reliable and gets to more places that people want to go is a way to boost ridership,” he said.
De Blasio praised Adams’ attempts to address both crime and perceptions of crime, and said public safety experts recommend the best way to make the city feel safe is “more normalcy, more recovery from COVID.”
Getting people back on trains and back in the city is not just a reminder of New York’s resiliency, but also an added layer of eyes and ears to compliment the police, the former mayor said.
“The overall reality is NYPD has actually done a very good job over the years of making the subway safer and safer,” he said. “Police can do so much, but they can’t do it alone. They need eyes and ears — and cooperation of the public.”
Former City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said it’s difficult to have a discussion about how to prevent Tuesday’s shooting without knowing more about the alleged perpetrator and his motivation and mental health, and that makes it difficult to link it to a broader examination of other violent crime in New York.
“One of the challenges with crime is you can get three people shot in one night and they’re all shot for different reasons that have different solutions and different responses,” Quinn said.
She said Adams, with his law enforcement background, understands that crime and criminals are not one-size-fits-all. And while guns may be involved in a lot of crimes and more illegal guns need to be taken off the street, other incidents can stem from gang issues, mental health issues or other factors.
Confronting crime generally requires a multi-faceted response, she said, and help from many layers of government.
“There are very few things that one elected official can fix alone,” she said. “Even in a big city like New York, a lot of what exists here is also controlled by the state and the feds.”
“But there is no bigger bully pulpit and convening power—short of the president of the United States—than that of the mayor of the city of New York. And we know Eric Adams is not afraid to use that,” she said. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/subway-shooting-heightens-nyc-mayors-focus-on-rising-crime/ | 2022-04-15T00:52:49 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/subway-shooting-heightens-nyc-mayors-focus-on-rising-crime/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans are deeply divided over how much children in K-12 schools should be taught about racism and sexuality, according to a new poll released as Republicans across the country aim to make parental involvement in education a central campaign theme this election year.
Overall, Americans lean slightly toward expanding — not cutting back — discussions of racism and sexuality, but roughly 4 in 10 say the current approach is about right, including similar percentages across party lines. Still, the poll from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows stark differences between Republicans and Democrats who want to see schools make adjustments.
About 4 in 10 Republicans say teachers in local public schools discuss issues related to sexuality too much, while only about 1 in 10 say too little. Among Democrats, those numbers are reversed.
The findings reflect a sharply politicized national debate that has consumed local school boards and, increasingly, state capitols. Republicans see the fight over school curriculum as a winning culture war issue that will motivate their voters in the midterm elections.
In the meantime, a flurry of new state laws has been introduced, meant to curtail teaching about racism and sexuality and to establish a “parents’ bill of rights” that would champion curriculum transparency and allow parents to file complaints against teachers.
The push for legislation grew out of an elevated focus on K-12 schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, when angry parents crowded school board meetings to voice opposition to school closures, mask mandates and other restrictive measures intended to prevent the spread of illness.
“All that that’s happening these days kind of goes against the longer history of school boards being relatively low salience government institutions and, in a lot of cases, they are nonpartisan offices,” said Adam Zelizer, a professor at the University of Chicago Harris School researching school board legislation.
What distinguishes this moment, Zelizer said, is the “grassroots anger” in response to school policies and the national, coordinated effort to recruit partisan candidates for school boards and local offices.
What started as parents’ concern about virtual learning and mask wearing has morphed into something larger, said Republican pollster Robert Blizzard, describing parents as thinking: “OK, now that we have the schools open, what are these kids learning in school?”
The poll shows 50% of Americans say parents have too little influence on curriculum, while 20% say they have too much and 27% say it’s about right. About half also say teachers have too little influence.
Kendra Schultz said she and her husband have decided their 1-year-old daughter will be homeschooled, at least initially, because of what friends have told them about their experiences with schools in Columbia, Missouri.
Most recently, she said, one 4-year-old’s pre-K class talked about gender pronouns. Schultz offered that and mask requirements as examples of how the public school system “doesn’t align with what we believe or how we would like to see our children educated.”
“I’m just like, you’re a little kid, you should be learning your ABCs and your numbers and things like that,” said Schultz, a 30-year-old conservative. “That’s just not something that me and my husband would be interested in having teachers share with our children.”
In Florida, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in March signed into law a bill barring instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. Opponents, including the White House, have dubbed it the “Don’t Say Gay” law.
The poll shows Americans are slightly more likely to say the focus on sex and sexuality in local schools is too little rather than too much, 31% to 23%, but 40% say it’s about right. The poll didn’t ask about specific grade levels.
Blizzard, who has been working with a group called N2 America to help GOP candidates in suburbs, said the schools issue resonates with the Republican base and can motivate voters.
In the Virginia governor’s race last year, Republican Glenn Youngkin won after campaigning on boosting parental involvement in schools and banning critical race theory, an academic framework about systemic racism that has become a catch-all phrase for teaching about race in U.S. history. His Democratic opponent, Terry McAuliffe, had said in a debate that parents shouldn’t tell schools what to teach.
The poll also shows Americans have mixed views about schools’ focus on racism in the U.S.
Charkia Lang-James, a mother of three who lives near Mobile, Alabama, said that she believes schools should be teaching the truest, fullest version of history, especially on issues that touch on race and racism.
“The truth should be taught, whether it looks good or bad,” she said. “All of the truth.”
Lang-James, who is Black and identifies as a political independent, said as an adult, she learned that many things she had been taught in school were lacking in depth and accuracy.
“We learned about Christopher Columbus, and how he discovered America,” she said. “But how can he discover something that was already there? … I feel like it’s just not the whole history.”
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, said parents and teachers alike are frustrated after pandemic disruptions and should partner to help kids recover. The efforts to predetermine curriculum and restrict teaching are getting in the way, she said.
“The people who are proposing them, they’ve been pretty clear … they just want to sow doubt and distrust because they want to end public education as we know it,” Weingarten said.
Parents of school-age children aren’t more likely than other adults to say parents have too little influence in schools. But there is a wide partisan gap, with 65% of Republicans saying that, compared with 38% of Democrats.
Michael Henry, a father of three in Dacula, Georgia, says he’s wrestled over what the right level of involvement is. It didn’t sit right with him, for example, that his 6-year-old was taught about Columbus in an entirely positive light. He says he’s reflected on “some of the lies” and “glorifications of history” in his own public school education and thinks race needs to be talked about more.
But ultimately, school curriculum is “outside my area of expertise,” said Henry, 31, an actuary who is also the acting president of the Gwinnett County Young Democrats.
“I have to do a lot of studying and work to be able to make informed decisions, and I don’t feel like parents generally have that kind of skill set” for curriculum, he said. “I think professionals should mostly be determining what the curriculum should be.”
Henry worries that new restrictions are “adding extra hassle for teachers, who already have a lot on their plate, to solve a problem that doesn’t exist.”
___
AP Education Writer Collin Binkley in Boston contributed to this report.
___
Ma, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, writes about education and equity for AP’s Race and Ethnicity team. Follow her on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/anniema15
___
The AP-NORC poll of 1,082 adults was conducted March 17-21 using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4 percentage points. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/talk-of-race-sex-in-schools-divides-americans-ap-norc-poll/ | 2022-04-15T00:52:56 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/talk-of-race-sex-in-schools-divides-americans-ap-norc-poll/ |
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — Peter Lyoya took his six children from Congo in 2014 to escape violence. Now he fears he brought them to the U.S. to die.
A Michigan police officer fatally shot his eldest son, 26-year-old Patrick, in the head this month following a traffic stop in Grand Rapids. Videoreleased Wednesday shows a brief foot chase and struggle over the white officer’s Taser before he shoots Patrick Lyoya in the head as the Black man is face down on the ground.
Peter Lyoya said Thursday that he came to the U.S. to get away from prolonged civil unrest in which several rebel groups have vied for control of territories in mineral-rich eastern Congo. Patrick, who had two young children of his own, lived in Grand Rapids and visited Lansing on weekends and would spend money on his siblings, his father said.
“Patrick never had a problem with anybody,” his dad told The Associated Press through an interpreter during an interview at his Lansing apartment. He and his wife later spoke at an emotional news conference in Grand Rapids, a city of about 200,000 people that’s about 150 miles (240 kilometers) northwest of Detroit.
In the April 4 encounter, the officer repeatedly ordered Patrick Lyoya to let go of the Taser.
Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom cited a need for transparency when releasing video collected from a passenger in the car Lyoya was driving, the officer’s body camera, the officer’s patrol car and a doorbell camera. Winstrom did not identify the officer, a seven-year veteran who is on paid leave while state police investigate the shooting.
Lawyers for the Lyoya family said the officer should be prosecuted and fired.
“The video shows us that this is as his mother and father have said — an execution. And there is no way to try to spin it or justify,”prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crumpsaid as Patrick’s parents cried. “It is an unjustifiable use of deadly force because the police escalated a traffic stop into an execution.”
The Lyoyas also asked for police to release the officer’s name. Patrick’s brothers and sisters want to know who killed him and would like to see his picture so they can know “this is the person that took our beloved one,” Peter Lyoya said.
Prosecutor Chris Becker, who will decide whether any charges are warranted, said the public should not expect a quick decision.
Video shows Patrick Lyoya running from the officer who stopped him for driving with a license plate that did not belong to the vehicle. They struggled in front of several homes.
Winstrom said the fight over the Taser lasted about 90 seconds. In the final moments, the officer was on top of Lyoya, kneeling on his back at times.
“From my view of the video, Taser was deployed twice. Taser did not make contact,” Winstrom, a former high-ranking Chicago police commander who became Grand Rapids chief in March, told reporters. “And Mr. Lyoya was shot in the head. However, that’s the only information that I have.”
The traffic stop was tense from the start. Video shows Lyoya getting out of the car before the officer approached. He ordered Lyoya to get back in the vehicle, but the man declined.
The officer demanded his driver’s license and asked him if he spoke English. Lyoya responded “yes” and said the license was in the vehicle. The foot chase began after Lyoya closed the car door and started walking. The officer told Lyoya to “stop” and tried to pull his hands behind his back.
Lyoya’s mother, Dorcas, told reporters that she thought the family was in a safe place after leaving Congo and was “astonished to see that my son has been killed with (a) bullet.”
“That was my beloved son. You know how you love your firstborn son,” she said through an interpreter.
Crump said the officer could have waited for backup once Lyoya ran but instead got “violent.” He accused him of not following proper training by using the Taser while close to Lyoya, saying it was Lyoya’s “natural instinct” to try to stop from being stunned.
Because the Taser was fired twice, it was ineffective without being reloaded, Crump said.
“There was no reason for him to have any intimate fear of the Taser being used against him,” he said of the officer.
However, a Taser can still deliver a shock after the two cartridges are spent if a person holds it against someone and fires. What is known as a “drive stun” does not incapacitate the person but does hurt, according to Andrew J. Scott III, an expert in police practices and procedures and a former police chief in Boca Raton, Florida.
A Taser can also be used that when the cartridges are still in the weapon. Officers sometimes do that in the hope that they will not have to deploy the Taser’s probes.
As in many U.S. cities, Grand Rapids police have been occasionally criticized over the use of force, particularly against Black people, who make up 18% of the population. Several hundred protesters gathered outside the Grand Rapids Police Department following Wednesday’s release of the videos. The demonstration remained nonviolent.
A downtown street has been designated Breonna Taylor Way, named for the Black woman and Grand Rapids native who was killed by police in Louisville, Kentucky, during a botched drug raid in 2020.
Her mother, Tamika Palmer, attended the news conference with the Lyoya family, their legal team and community leaders.
“We can’t keep letting these people kill our children,” she said.
___
Nichols and Eggert report from Lansing, Michigan. AP writer Don Babwin in Chicago contributed. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/video-shows-patrick-lyoya-shot-in-head-by-michigan-officer/ | 2022-04-15T00:53:03 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/video-shows-patrick-lyoya-shot-in-head-by-michigan-officer/ |
BOSTON (AP) — A California-based finance company has agreed to pay more than $900,000 to settle allegations that it was illegally leasing dogs in Massachusetts, the state attorney general’s office said.
As part of the agreement entered in Suffolk Superior Court on Wednesday, Monterey Financial Services LLC will stop collecting on active leases, cancel about $700,000 in outstanding consumer debt on 211 dog leases — about $3,300 owed per lease — and transfer full ownership of the dogs to Massachusetts residents, authorities said.
The company will also provide $175,000 in restitution to consumers and pay $50,000 to the state.
Leasing dogs is illegal in Massachusetts, and can often be an expensive way to own a pet because of high finance charges, according to the attorney general.
Authorities had alleged that the Oceanside, California, firm violated Massachusetts consumer protection laws by purchasing and collecting on leases for dogs, and engaged in illegal practices to collect outstanding balances on those leases.
Monterey in a statement Thursday said it stood by its record of “high levels of performance for our clients, low consumer complaint ratios, and a deep-rooted dedication to customer service.”
“While we disagree with the state’s findings, we have elected to come to an agreement to move away from this issue to best serve our clients,” the statement said. “Monterey has and continues to strive to employ business practices in full accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.”
Leasing a dog is much like leasing a car, the attorney general’s office said. The consumer must make monthly payments for the duration of the lease, plus an additional payment at the end of the lease to ultimately own the dog. Missed payments can result in the dog being repossessed, the office said.
“Families in Massachusetts looking to get a dog should not be trapped in leasing agreements that are harmful, expensive, and illegal,” Attorney General Maura Healey said in a statement.
The attorney general’s office learned of Monterey’s dog leasing practices while it was investigating another financial company, Nevada-based Credova Financial, which agreed to waive more than $126,000 in consumer debt. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/weird/company-settles-dog-leasing-allegations-for-more-than-900k/ | 2022-04-15T00:53:11 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/weird/company-settles-dog-leasing-allegations-for-more-than-900k/ |
8 top-rated body sunscreens at Sephora
Summer is just around the corner, so it’ll soon be time to put on your favorite bathing suit for a beach or pool day. Going to the beach or a pool on a hot summer day is fun, but it can turn into a dreadful experience if you don’t wear sunscreen to protect yourself.
To avoid getting a nasty sunburn, using an effective sunscreen is a must, and Sephora has got you covered with plenty of terrific products.
What to look for in quality sunscreen at Sephora
Sephora offers high-quality beauty and personal care products, so you can rest assured that almost any sunscreen in their catalog is safe and effective. Nevertheless, it’s best to consider a few things before you run out and buy sunscreen.
Broad-spectrum
The sun’s rays are classified as either Ultraviolet A or Ultraviolet B. UVB rays cause sunburns, but UVA rays penetrate the skin and affect deeper tissue, which can cause long-term health issues. Look for a sunscreen that provides broad-spectrum protection to get complete protection.
Sun protection factor
SPF relates directly to UVB ray protection and indicates how long you can stay in direct sunlight before getting sunburned. For example, if you can sit under the sun for 15 minutes before getting sunburned, wearing a layer of sunscreen with an SPF rating of 30 would provide 450 minutes of protection.
It’s the consensus that a 30 SPF sunscreen is adequate for most skin types. However, it’s important to note that although it can protect you for several hours, sunscreen tends to wear off quickly due to skin cells constantly shedding and other external factors. For that reason, experts recommend applying sunscreen every two to three hours.
Water-resistance
You’ll most likely wear sunscreen when on vacation or for a pool day, so there’s a good chance you’ll get wet at some point. Even if you wear it on a typical summer day, the heat from the sun will cause you to sweat, which will wash away the layer of sunscreen you’ve applied.
That’s why it’s crucial to get a water-resistant body sunscreen, so you don’t have to reapply it every time you get wet. When you’re on vacation or at the beach, you don’t want the hassle of having to have it close by because it washed off.
Application method
Body sunscreens are usually available in squeeze tubes or pumps, but some come in spray bottles. Spray-on sunscreens are convenient and easy to apply, but tubes and pumps let you use the right amount.
Ingredients
Many body sunscreens use natural ingredients to make them suitable for those with sensitive skin. You don’t have to worry about harmful toxins with products offered at Sephora, but it’s still a good idea to check the label before buying. Also, many body sunscreens are fortified with minerals and botanicals that can be beneficial, so look around and see what catches your eye.
Price
Most sunscreens are inexpensive and, on average, cost anywhere between $8-$15, but it depends on the size of the bottle. So, be mindful of how much sunscreen you’re getting at a specific price point.
Sephora offers some high-end lotions, usually formulated with quality ingredients, that can cost up to $60 for a standard-size bottle. However, if you’re working with a budget, you can find an effective and suitable sunscreen for under $20.
8 most popular sunscreens at Sephora
Top sunscreens with 50 SPF or higher
Supergoop! Play Everyday Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 PA
This hydrating sunscreen is made with a vegan formula and is both fast-absorbing and non-greasy. It can be used on the body and face and is suitable for various skin types, including normal, dry and oily.
Sold by Sephora
Supergoop! Mini Glow Oil Body Sunscreen SPF 50 PA
This oil-based body sunscreen has a radiant finish, but it isn’t greasy and gives the skin a vibrant glow. It’s made with ingredients that leave the skin nourished, such as meadowfoam seed oil, marigold extract and grape seed oil.
Sold by Sephora
Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion SPF 50 Sunscreen
If you want to stay well-protected under intense heat and sunlight, this sunscreen is what you want. It is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, and it uses HeatForce and WetForce technology to get stronger when exposed to heat and moisture.
Sold by Sephora
Tatcha The Silk Sunscreen Mineral Broad Spectrum SPF 50 PA
This newer product is already a customer favorite, thanks to its high SPF rating and quality ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. It is hydrating with a smooth, silky texture and is also reef-friendly.
Sold by Sephora
Dr. Jart+ Every Sun Day Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
This sunscreen boasts a matte finish and a hypoallergenic zinc-oxide formula, and it is best suited for normal, combo and dry skin types. It is a thorough cream but still lightweight and also fragrance-free, which is a plus for those with sensitive skin.
Sold by Sephora
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Sunscreen SPF 50
This sunscreen incorporates several minerals — including vitamins A, C and E — into its formula to create a hydrating and gentle product. It uses quality ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, aloe and niacinamide, to soothe and nourish the skin over time.
Sold by Sephora
Top sunscreens under 50 SPF
Biossance Squalane and Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA
This sunscreen is ideal for sensitive skin types and incorporates an effective anti-aging formula that’s great for treating fine lines, wrinkles and dark circles around the eyes. It’s lightweight, and the water lily creates a soothing effect on the skin.
Sold by Sephora
Innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 36
It’s not as expensive as other products, but this sunscreen offers adequate broad-spectrum protection with its 36 SPF rating. It’s a lightweight cream suitable for normal, dry and combo skin types.
Sold by Sephora
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Kevin Luna writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/8-most-popular-body-sunscreens-at-sephora/ | 2022-04-15T00:53:18 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/8-most-popular-body-sunscreens-at-sephora/ |
Which Clinique perfume is best?
One of the most influential senses when meeting new people is the sense of smell. Smell is also intimately linked to memory, so it’s no surprise that you want to smell your best. However, department-store perfume can be frustratingly expensive. Clinique brand perfumes break that trend, offering wonderful fragrances at affordable prices.
The best Clinique perfume is Clinique Happy. It has a crisp, fresh and lightly fruity and floral scent that’s delicately feminine without being too strong. It also has a wear time of several hours.
What to know before you buy a Clinique perfume
Types of Clinique perfume
Technically, perfume is a catchall term for one of four types of formula. Any given Clinique perfume may use one of these formulas.
- Eau de cologne is the lightest and most affordable scent. No more than 5% of its formula is centered around its fragrances, meaning it lasts no longer than four hours at best.
- Eau de toilette is the most common formula. It’s stronger, with up to 15% fragrance-focused ingredients, and it can last for up to six hours.
- Eau de parfum is a little bit stronger to last a little bit longer. Specifically, it’s up to 20% fragrance-focused ingredients and lasts up to eight hours.
- Parfum is what you wear if you have a long day ahead. It can last for up to 12 hours and can be up to 40% fragrance-focused ingredients.
Notes
Clinique perfumes have three layers of scents, called notes.
- Top notes are what you smell immediately after application and they can fade just as fast.
- Middle notes are the main scent of a perfume, lasting all throughout the day.
- Bottom notes are the last thing you smell before the scent wears off. “Scent wearing off” here refers to what you and others smell moments after you’ve left the room.
Size
Clinique perfumes typically come in one of three sizes. The smallest is usually 1 fluid ounce. These bottles are good for trying out a new fragrance. Next is 1.7 fluid ounces. These bottles are perfect for those who only wear perfume on occasion and know they like the scent. Finally, there are 3.4 fluid ounce bottles that are meant for those who wear perfume daily.
What to look for in a quality Clinique perfume
Applicator
Most Clinique perfumes use spray applicators as they are the easiest to use. Smaller bottles may use rollerball applicators that work exactly like a ballpoint pen. In rare cases, such as single dose samples or slightly larger, there may be no applicator at all — the perfume drips out of a small hole. This can be quite messy.
Chemistry
This aspect has more to do with you than the perfume. Everyone’s body has its own unique chemistry. This chemistry interacts just as uniquely with any given perfume, Clinique or otherwise. So, Clinique Happy may smell divine when applied to you but sour when applied to another. For this reason, it’s important to always trial run a new Clinique perfume before purchasing a full bottle to ensure that it’s a quality perfume for you.
How much you can expect to spend on a Clinique perfume
The average 1-fluid-ounce bottle of Clinique perfume costs roughly $30-$50, a 1.7-fluid-ounce bottle costs roughly $50-$70 and a 3.4-fluid-ounce bottle costs no more than $100.
Clinique perfume FAQ
Where should I apply Clinique perfume?
A. The traditional zones to apply perfume to are the neck and chest area, behind the ears and at the wrists. Other places people commonly apply touches of perfume include the inner elbow and behind the knee. Any stretch of skin with a concentration of veins will do. The only exception is if you’ll be in humid environments, as your sweat will cause the concentration of perfume to deteriorate rapidly. In this case, apply a light spritz directly to your clothing.
How long does a Clinique perfume last in the bottle?
A. That depends on the perfume, how often you use it and where you store it. Clinique perfume can last for several years on average, in some cases as long as five years or a touch more. Thus, there’s no need to worry about it expiring if you’re using it semi-often. In order to make it last as long as possible, you’ll need to keep it in a cool, dry place.
What’s the best Clinique perfume to buy?
Top Clinique perfume
What you need to know: This is one of Clinique’s bestsellers.
What you’ll love: It’s long-lasting with a fresh and lightly floral scent. It has top notes of grapefruit, middle layers of Hawaiian wedding flower and bottom notes of honeysuckle. Other ingredients are boysenberry, moss, freesia, lemon and bushflower. It comes in 1-, 1.7- and 3.4-fluid-ounce bottles.
What you should consider: Some consumers were concerned that the online bottles weren’t the same as the department store bottles. Once the bottle is open it can’t be returned.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Macy’s, Sephora and Ulta Beauty
Top Clinique perfume for the money
What you need to know: This is less floral than the base Happy fragrance.
What you’ll love: The only floral notes are middle layers of primrose and water hyacinth. It has top notes of mandarin orange and cucumber with bottom notes of blondewood and sandalwood for a slightly citrusy and woody scent. Other ingredients include cassia and carrot.
What you should consider: A few consumers were unhappy with the lightness of the scent and the wear time. Others described the scent as soap-like.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Macy’s, Sephora and Ulta Beauty
Worth checking out
What you need to know: This is more floral than the base Happy fragrance.
What you’ll love: It has top notes of yellow plum and touches of watery green with middle layers of freesia and lily of the valley and bottom notes of amber and white wood — all of which conjure up memories of springtime.
What you should consider: It’s only available in 1- or 1.7-fluid-ounce bottles, making it a little pricey. A few consumers were concerned about receiving fakes.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Macy’s and Ulta Beauty
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Jordan C. Woika writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/best-clinique-perfume/ | 2022-04-15T00:53:26 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/best-clinique-perfume/ |
Which surge protector is best?
Most people have numerous electronic devices plugged in every room in their house. TVs, gaming consoles, computers and appliances are expensive and must be protected. A quality surge protector acts as a line of defense from electrical surges that can fry your electronics.
If you’re looking for a quality surge protector, the APC Surge Protector Power Strip is an excellent choice offering both AC and USB outlets.
What to know before you buy a surge protector
How surge protectors work
Many people buy surge protectors because they let you plug multiple devices into a single outlet. Still, the most critical surge protector function is protecting your electronics from spikes in voltage. Most devices aren’t built to withstand electrical surges on their own. Surge protectors divert the extra electricity to the outlet’s grounding wire when the voltage spikes above an acceptable level.
How surges happen
The most common causes of electrical surges are high-power devices such as air conditioners, refrigerators and dehumidifiers. These require large amounts of energy to turn on, which can upset the voltage flow. Faulty wiring is another common source of electrical surges.
Although less common, lightning can cause surges. When lightning strikes near power lines, the electrical energy can boost voltage significantly.
Power strip vs. surge protector
Power strips look identical to surge protectors, but they don’t offer protection against voltage surges. It’s essential to read the product’s description, as most surge protectors list their joule rating in the description.
Surge protector safety
Surge protectors can be dangerous if misused. Plug your surge protector directly into an outlet and never into an extension cord or another surge protector. In most cases, manufacturers won’t honor your warranty if they determine you’ve misused your surge protector.
What to look for in a quality surge protector
Joule rating
Joule ratings indicate how much energy the surge protector can absorb before failing. Higher joule ratings mean the device will protect your electronics against larger surges. For expensive electronics, choose a surge protector with at least 2,200 joules of protection.
Clamping voltage
Clamping voltage is the amount of “over-voltage” before the device begins to work. The three most common levels of protection are 330 volts, 400 volts and 500 volts. Lower clamping voltages are better, and in most cases, anything with a clamping voltage over 400 won’t protect your electronics.
Outlet variety
Some surge protectors feature USB outlets that eliminate the need for power blocks. Older and cheaper ones typically only feature AC outlets. Choosing a model with various outlets ensures you get more functionality out of your purchase.
Size
Many of the most effective surge protectors are large. Size may not be an issue if you have space, thinner models are worth considering if you’re low on space.
How much you can expect to spend on a surge protector
You can buy cheap surge protectors with low joule ratings for less than $15. If you want a unit that will adequately protect your electronics, you’ll likely spend between $20-$40.
Surge protector FAQ
Do I really need a surge protector?
A. Surge protectors are excellent safety devices when used correctly. Simple devices such as lamps and fans don’t need a surge protector. On the other hand, expensive devices with numerous electrical components such as computers, TVs and gaming consoles should be plugged into a surge protector. For the best outcome, you should expect to change your surge protector every three to five years.
Do surge protectors use a lot of electricity?
A. Surge protectors don’t drain any additional energy. They simply monitor the energy passing through them and divert that energy when needed.
Do phone chargers have surge protection?
A. Phone chargers don’t feature built-in surge protection. You’ll need to buy a surge protector separately to protect your phone from surges. If you plan on plugging your phone into a surge protector, consider buying one with USB outlets.
Should I turn off my surge protector at night?
A. Regularly turning off your surge protector will extend its life. They don’t protect against lightning strikes, so it’s best to turn them off at night if you expect a storm.
What’s the best surge protector to buy?
Top surge protector
APC Surge Protector Power Strip
What you need to know: This features a massive joule rating of 4,320 joules.
What you’ll love: It has 10 AC outlets and two USB outlets. The 6-foot power cord makes it easier to place this where you want it. Although the product description isn’t clear on the clamping voltage, most buyers suggest it’s between 330-400 volts.
What you should consider: Though it offers a lot of outlets, this model is bulky.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top surge protector for the money
Tripp Lite 7-Outlet Surge Protector
What you need to know: This surge protector is available in numerous configurations with an adequate joule rating.
What you’ll love: It has 2,160 joules of protection and seven AC outlets. LEDs tell you when it is properly grounded and protected. The narrow design is ideal for those without a ton of space.
What you should consider: This model doesn’t come with USB outlets.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Dell
Worth checking out
What you need to know: This model offers a slim design and eight AC outlets.
What you’ll love: It has 3,420 joules of surge protection. Three of the outlets have extra space between them for larger plugs. The clamping voltage is 330-400. It features a durable design.
What you should consider: There are several reports of people receiving defective units.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Cody Stewart writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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Which men’s thermal underwear bottoms are best?
Spending time outside is good for the body and soul, no matter the weather, but this only holds true if you aren’t wet, cold and miserable. Men’s thermal underwear bottoms provide a base layer of warmth to build on, keeping you toasty and dry in the chilliest conditions.
Fruit of the Loom Men’s Classic Midweight Waffle Thermal Underwear Bottoms make a perfect bottom layer under heavier pants but also do double duty as cozy pajamas back at the lodge.
What to know before you buy men’s thermal underwear bottoms
Union suit vs. bottoms only
Men’s thermal underwear bottoms can be purchased in two different styles: a union suit or bottoms only, often as part of a matched set of thermal underwear.
A union suit is like a grown-up onesie, a one-piece garment with buttons up the front. Old-fashioned union suits may have a flap in the back to make using the bathroom easier, but more modern styles don’t feature that flap. This means you’ll need to strip down to the skin when nature calls.
Separate men’s thermal underwear bottoms are easier to layer. You can also keep the top half of your clothing on if you need to use the bathroom.
Materials
Thermal underwear can be found in four basic materials.
- Wool: Merino wool long johns are traditional, and for good reason. They keep you warm even when they get wet, and the fabric is breathable and lightweight. Some people are sensitive to wool and may find these too itchy.
- Cotton: Cotton underwear seems like a good idea until you start sweating or it gets wet. The fabric holds moisture against the skin and can leave you feeling even more chilled. Cotton is best reserved for lounging and relaxing, not for working up a sweat in winter weather.
- Silk: This soft, luxurious fabric feels great and is an excellent lightweight layer. Silk does not remove moisture from the skin as effectively as other fabrics, so reserved these for light activities only. This fabric also traps odors, so you’ll need to wash it after each use.
- Synthetics: Synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, spandex and Lycra are incredibly durable and easy to care for, and they perform well under tough conditions. If you are active in extremely cold weather, their heat-retaining and moisture-wicking properties will serve you well.
Intended use
Select different thermal underwear bottoms depending on what you’re doing. Lounging and working or playing outside require varying weights and types of fabric. The price of long johns varies wildly, so if you’re just relaxing on the couch there’s no need to shell out $100 for a pair of stretchy lounge pants.
What to look for in quality men’s thermal underwear bottoms
Moisture-wicking
Those who are active in winter are just as prone to sweating as those who only take it outside in the summer. Moisture-wicking thermals remove sweat from your skin to keep you dry and warm.
Flat seams and gussets
Flat inseams help prevent chafing and rubbing as you move. Look for men’s thermal underwear that has a gusseted crotch as well, designed for both support and comfort.
Ribbed, tapered cuffs
Ribbed, tapered cuffs keep the heat where it belongs — next to your body. Additionally, ribbed cuffs can be easily tucked into your socks to prevent snow from coming in contact with your lower leg.
How much you can expect to spend on men’s thermal underwear bottoms
From plain cotton, lightweight thermals to upscale silk long johns, expect to spend $10-$100.
Men’s thermal underwear bottoms FAQ
How do you select the best weight?
A. The weight of the fabric you select depends on the activities and the weather.
- Ultra lightweight: Ultra lightweight fabric is best suited for activity in the early fall and late spring. They are best used for moisture wicking and not as much for heat retention.
- Lightweight: Lightweight thermals provide heat and keep you dry during exercise in moderately cold temperatures.
- Midweight: When the wind picks up and the mercury drops, reach for your midweight long johns. These are highly versatile and appropriate for all kinds of outdoor activity.
- Heavyweight: Experiencing sub-Arctic temperatures or considering vigorous activity in snow? Heavyweight thermals are the best bet.
How do you know if they fit?
A. Men’s thermal underwear bottoms walk the line between just tight enough and a little too snug. You want them to feel comfortable but be form-fitting to trap heat against your skin.
What are the best men’s thermal underwear bottoms to buy?
Top men’s thermal underwear bottoms
Fruit Of The Loom Men’s Classic Midweight Waffle Thermal Underwear Bottoms
What you need to know: These machine-washable thermals are warm and durable.
What you’ll love: There are no tags in these. The poly-cotton blend wicks away moisture and holds warmth on the coldest days. The cuffs are tapered to prevent riding up. They are available in three colors and packs of one or two pairs.
What you should consider: Order carefully. These run small.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top men’s thermal underwear bottoms for the money
Indera Men’s Traditional Long Johns Thermal Underwear
What you need to know: These are available in sizes up to 6X.
What you’ll love: The ribbed cuffs and elastic waistband are comfortable. The cotton-poly waffle knit traps heat and wicks moisture. These are best for low activity in mild weather. Choose from four colors.
What you should consider: The elastic in the waist stretches out over time.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Duofold Men’s Midweight Wicking Thermal Pant
What you need to know: These perform well even with vigorous activity.
What you’ll love: Flat seams reduce rubbing these comfortable cotton polyester thermals. They are machine-washable and come in four colors. Two extra layers of knitted fabric increase warmth.
What you should consider: These are sized for a tall, slim build, so if that’s not you, you may not find these pants as comfortable.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Suzannah Kolbeck writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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Are low-impact or medium-impact sports bras better?
When it comes to choosing between a low-impact or medium-impact sports bra, there are a few factors to consider, such as support, size, fit, material and design. A bra with medium-impact support is best for those who engage in moderately strenuous activities such as cross-training. But a low-impact sports bra is better for casual exercise such as walking, Pilates or lifting weights.
Low-impact sports bras
Low-impact sports bras are primarily designed to support the wearer during light exercises that don’t result in a lot of bounce or unwanted movement in the chest area. These undergarments provide gentle compression and are semisupportive.
They’re usually lightweight and have minimal to no padding. Most come with narrow shoulder straps that are comfortable enough for lounging around or participating in light activities such as strength training, weightlifting, walking, yoga or Pilates. Some people with a smaller cup size can wear a low-impact sports bra during more intense exercises such as jogging or cycling since they require less support.
Most basic pullover style bras are low-impact. They’re commonly found online or at most major clothing retailers for $10-$35.
Low-impact sports bra pros
- They provide minor compression and support, so they don’t restrict the wearer very much.
- The straps are usually more relaxed than higher-impact options, so they don’t dig into the shoulders or cause chafing.
- Some come with no padding, which is best for low- to medium-impact activities.
- Many feature built-in cups, which give the wearer targeted support, a contoured form, additional support and more protection.
- Some have removable cups, making them more versatile since the wearer can choose to use them or not depending on their activity level.
- These undergarments come in nearly any design and often have adjustable straps.
Low-impact sports bra cons
- They’re not as supportive to those with a medium or larger bust size.
- Ones with removable inserts can be tricky to wash and may lose their shape more easily than those with built-in or no padding.
- These bras are not recommended for more intense exercises such as hiking, running or snowboarding.
Best low-impact sports bras
Klvee Crisscross Low-Impact Sports Bra
Available in either a two-pack or three-pack, these sports bras have an elastic closure and cross-back design that prevents sagging and reduces unwanted movement during activities such as yoga or weightlifting. They have removable pad inserts for extra support.
Sold by Amazon
Kindred Bravely Sublime Support Low-Impact Sports Bra
Made for both nursing and light exercise, this racerback sports bra doesn’t have snaps or hooks, making it easy to pull on and take off. It’s stretchy and comfortable enough for all-day wear. It also has clips and cups that fold down for easy breastfeeding.
Sold by Amazon
Evercute Cross-Back Sports Bras
Offered in packs of three and five, these undergarments are elastic and seamless, making them ideal for light exercises. The fabric is moisture-wicking and they have four-way stretch for maximum comfort. These bras also come with removable pads and are designed to contour the chest while providing support with a wide band underneath.
Sold by Amazon
DKNY Sport Strappy Low-Impact Sports Bra
With a strappy back design and scoop neckline, this sports bra is perfect for lounging, Pilates or yoga. It features moisture-wicking technology to keep the wearer dry. And it provides moderate coverage. It comes in black and light green.
Sold by Macy’s
Medium-impact sports bras
Similar to any other sports bra, medium-impact sports bras come in nearly every fit, size and style imaginable. They provide more coverage, control and support than low-impact bras, though. At the same time, they’re great for individuals with a small to medium bust size. This makes them ideal for activities such as running, cycling, skiing, hiking or cross-training.
These bras generally have a wider band and built-in or removable cups for extra support, shaping and modesty. They offer less compression than high-impact options. Most standard sports bras are medium-impact.
Expect to spend $20-$50 on a medium-impact sports bra.
Medium-impact sports bra pros
- Many have a pullover design, making them easy to put on and take off.
- They bind the chest in place without feeling too restrictive.
- Some provide extra coverage (encapsulation) while letting the chest keep its natural shape.
- Most provide optimal support, coverage and contouring.
Medium-impact sports bra cons
- Medium compression styles aren’t that comfortable for those with a larger bust, though some are designed to support the chest without causing discomfort or chafing.
- The rigid cups and bands restrict movement but can be uncomfortable for those with a larger chest.
- This style of bra is less common than low-impact and high-impact options.
Best medium-impact sports bras
Yianna Cross Back Padded Sports Bra Medium Support
This medium-support sports bra features crisscross back straps and moisture-wicking material that keeps the wearer dry while exercising. It’s stretchy enough to be comfortable while still supporting the chest.
Sold by Amazon
Powerreact Training Medium-Support Bra
Available in black, gray, white and blue, this undergarment consists of moisture-absorbing materials. It has breathable mesh and is comfortable for activities such as running and cross-training.
Sold by Adidas
Champion Freedom Seamless Racerback Sport Bra
With a thick bottom band, seamless design and four-way stretch, this sports bra provides optimal support during moderately intense activities such as running, skiing and cycling. It also features mesh for extra breathability.
Sold by Amazon
Adidas Women’s Believe This Bra
This pullover-style, compression-fit sports bra wicks moisture to keep the wearer dry and comfortable. It has removable pads for extra support and an inner mesh lining for added breathability.
Sold by Amazon
Should you get a low-impact or medium-impact sports bra?
You need the right sports bra for optimal performance, support, coverage and comfort. This means choosing one that fits well and suits your needs. If you don’t need a lot of extra padding or protection and want to participate in light exercises such as weightlifting or yoga, a low-impact sports bra is best. But if you’re interested in moderate exercises such as running or cross-training, choose a medium-impact sports bra with extra compression and support.
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Angela Watson writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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Which cardigan is best?
Looking just as good over a shirt and tie as a vintage band tee and ripped jeans, cardigans are versatile garments that deserve a place in most people’s closets. They’re great for mild days when it’s too warm for a jacket or a thick sweater but not quite T-shirt weather.
If you’re looking for one that’s open-fronted with a relaxed style for everyday wear, the Daily Ritual Long-Sleeve Cardigan is an excellent choice.
What to know before you buy a cardigan
Cut
Consider the fit and neckline that you want from your garment. Those cut with high, round necklines are perfect for a preppy look but can be more casual when left unbuttoned. V-neck versions work well with shirts and ties but can equally be worn over T-shirts for a relaxed look.
A classic fit is cut close to the body but not overly tight or figure-hugging, which is a good place to start if you aren’t sure what cut you prefer. However, you can also find more tightly fitted options as well as looser, baggy cuts.
Closure type
Typically, cardigans have buttons, which can start at the neck or partway down the front, depending on the cut. However, you can also find some with zipper closures or snaps. The latter is uncommon outside of kids’ clothes as snaps don’t stay closed as well as buttons or zippers. Then you have open cardigans that don’t have buttons, zippers or any other type of closure. These offer a more relaxed look compared to those that do up.
Size
Cardigans are usually sold in named sizes (small, medium, large, etc.) rather than in numerical sizes or dress sizes. You probably know which size you usually wear, but clothing brands are notorious for having no continuity of sizing between them. You could find a medium from one brand fits you perfectly, while a large from another brand is too small.
If you aren’t sure which size to buy, check the sizing chart and take your measurements. Also consider whether you want to layer a couple of other garments underneath on cold days, in which case you should size up.
What to look for in a quality cardigan
Colors and prints
You can find all kinds of solid colors, so whether you’re looking for basic black or a bold scarlet hue, you’ll be able to discover what you’re looking for. You’ll occasionally also find prints, such as florals or leopard print.
Length
A standard length sits around the top of the hips, but you can also find longer versions that are midthigh or knee-length as well as cropped versions. It’s all down to personal preference and what types of outfit you want to put together.
Sleeve length
While most have full-length sleeves, you’ll also find versions with shorter sleeves. Three-quarter length sleeves sit around the mid-forearm, while half-length sleeves sit around the elbow.
How much you can expect to spend on a cardigan
Expect to pay from $15-$100 for something from a department store brand or average fashion label. Designer options could cost well into the hundreds, if not thousands, but most buyers aren’t looking for anything that high-end.
Cardigan FAQ
What is a cardigan?
A. It’s a knit sweater that’s open at the front and may have a zip, buttons or snaps. If it has a zipper down the front but it’s made from sweatshirt material rather than knitted fabric, it’s technically a zippered sweatshirt.
Where do cardigans get their name?
A. They’re named after the 7th Earl of Cardigan, James Brudenell, who popularized the item of clothing. Brudenell was a British Army general during the Crimean war who is said to have spent vast sums outfitting officers in wool waistcoats. He gained fame after the war due to his military pursuits, and this led to the garment becoming trendy with the country’s civilian population.
What do you wear under a cardigan?
A. For a casual look, wear it over a crew neck or V-neck T-shirt or over a thin turtleneck sweater if it’s cold or you simply like turtlenecks. For a smarter look, wear a blouse or button-down shirt underneath. However, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. They work with almost any outfit because you can make them look as preppy or as grungy as you like (think of Kurt Cobain’s iconic green cardigan).
What’s the best cardigan to buy?
Top cardigan
Daily Ritual Long-Sleeve Cardigan
What you need to know: This fine-knit open cardigan is perfect for casual to smart-casual wear.
What you’ll love: You can choose from 13 colors, including burgundy, black, olive and navy. It’s machine-washable and fast drying. It is ribbed at the hem and cuffs and has side pockets.
What you should consider: It’s fairly thin, so it’s better for mild weather days rather than the depths of winter.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top cardigan for the money
Grace Karin Long Sleeve Button-down Cardigan
What you need to know: With its shallow V-neck and button-down front, it’s a versatile choice.
What you’ll love: It’s relatively light but still feels warm with pleasantly soft fabric. It comes in a whopping 41 color combinations, including heather gray, cerulean, lemon yellow and lake blue with a caramel trim.
What you should consider: It runs small, so consider sizing up if you’re between sizes or prefer a loose fit.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
What you need to know: It’s perfect for wearers who want a classic fit with a relatively deep V-neck.
What you’ll love: It’s made from temperature-controlled fabric that’s great for layering without overheating. There are four colors to choose from: coastal camel heather, gray heather, true black and navy.
What you should consider: It isn’t a great choice for cold weather because the material is quite thin.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Lauren Corona writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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Which men’s heated jacket is best?
One of the best recent technological advances is the introduction of heating elements to a standard jacket. They’re battery-operated and can provide warmth for hours, making it easy to keep working or participating in outdoor fun. Many are even machine-washable, despite all the tech.
The best men’s heated jacket is the DeWalt Heated Lightweight Soft Shell Jacket. It has five heating zones for more complete warmth and is water- and wind-resistant.
What to know before you buy a men’s heated jacket
Heating zones
Men’s heated jackets place heating elements in different ways, but most place an element or two along the upper chest and mid-back. Other popular places include the waist, arms, shoulders and the hood, if it includes one. Some jackets even place thin elements inside the collar.
Fit
Heated jackets follow the usual size guidelines (i.e., small, large, etc.) — though most have their own sizing charts for these names. Unlike other jackets, heated jackets need to fit as perfectly as possible, as a more secure fit means less empty space for the heating elements to warm instead of heating you.
Charging
Heated jackets typically charge through either a standard outlet or a USB connection. Either method, outside of the rare exception, takes roughly up to two hours to fully charge.
What to look for in a quality men’s heated jacket
Battery type
Most men’s heated jackets use rechargeable batteries, typically lithium or nickel.
- Lithium batteries are more common as they’re lighter, but this also makes them less durable. A jacket with a strong battery housing can mostly mitigate this weakness.
- Nickel batteries are more durable, but heavier. Their lifespan also slowly decreases with time and repeated charging.
Battery life
Most men’s heated jackets have battery lives between five to 10 hours, with the best having up to 12 hours. Don’t worry too much about maximum battery life as long as your jacket has enough power to last for the time you need it.
Battery backup
On the other hand, if your jacket has to last as long as a few days with inconsistent access to charging, you’ll need one with battery backups. This typically takes the form of one AA battery. Remember, this is only supplemental — for the best, longest-lasting heating, you still need to charge the main battery.
Lining and insulation
Some men’s jackets have linings, insulation or both.
- Linings are typically a layer of fleece. They’re good to have for freezing weather.
- Insulation takes it a step further, letting the jacket trap heat from both your body and the heating elements. This means you stay warmer, and it also means you can run the jacket at low heat and be just as warm as if you were wearing an uninsulated jacket on high heat. It’s a must for subzero climates.
How much you can expect to spend on a men’s heated jacket
Men’s heated jackets typically cost $100-$300. Jackets for $100-$150 are more than capable but spending up to $200 will get you a little more battery and heat. The best jackets cost up to $300.
Men’s heated jacket FAQ
How safe are men’s heated jackets?
A. Completely safe. First, the batteries use low-enough voltage to eliminate the risk of electrocution. Secondly, the wiring and heating components are completely insulated. Thirdly, most jackets have automatic-shutdown features that trigger if the heating elements cross a safety threshold.
How should I wash a men’s heated jacket?
A. Most jackets need to be carefully hand-washed and allowed to air-dry, but a few are machine washable.
- For the hand-wash-only models, you should give your jacket a soft wipe-down after each wear — otherwise you’ll have a harder, longer cleaning due before you know it.
- For machine-washable models, most have crucial instructions that must be followed, such as removing the batteries or that it should only be machine-washed a certain number of times. These can be found on the jacket’s tag and on the manufacturer’s website.
Can I take a men’s heated jacket on a plane?
A. Yes, the Transportation Security Administration allows them on flights. You may need to comply with some extra security, so arrive early.
What’s the best men’s heated jacket to buy?
Top men’s heated jacket
DeWalt Heated Lightweight Soft Shell Jacket
What you need to know: This option is a great intersection of effectiveness and cost.
What you’ll love: It heats five zones — the upper-left and upper-right chest, the mid-back, and both arms. The exterior is polyester that’s water- and wind-resistant, plus it has fleece polyester lining — including in the hood — for extra warmth. It can even charge your devices through a USB port.
What you should consider: Some consumers reported that cold air can sneak into your chest through a loose waist. It’s on the expensive side.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top men’s heated jacket for the money
Ororo Men’s Soft Shell Heated Jacket
What you need to know: This is perfect for colder-than-usual weather.
What you’ll love: It has three heating zones — the upper-left and upper-right chest and the mid-back. It can heat in seconds and can last for up to 10 hours on a full charge, plus it can charge your devices through a USB port.
What you should consider: It isn’t machine washable, and several consumers warned that it runs on the small side. A few also had issues with the power cable disconnecting from the battery.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
Worth checking out
What you need to know: It comes in two coverage options to best fit your needs.
What you’ll love: It comes in either three- or eight-heating-zone models — both heat the left and right chest and mid-back, with the eight-zone model also heating the left and right waist, shoulders and hood. It’s water- and wind-proof and lasts for up to eight hours.
What you should consider: A few consumers had issues with the battery starting to fail after roughly a year of use. Others found it to run on the large side.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Jordan C. Woika writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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What do you need for spring showers?
Spring brings sunshine, blooms and plenty of rain. If you live in one of many areas experiencing drizzles — or downpours — right now, it’s a good idea to invest in rain gear to deal with spring showers.
It’s no surprise that umbrellas, raincoats and other protective accessories come in handy in springtime, especially when they’re kept nearby in the event of unexpected showers. They’re not the only items worth buying during the rainy season, though. A few convenient products can make the difference between staying dry and getting soaked this season.
Levels of water-resistance
Before you shop around for rain gear, it’s important to understand the difference between waterproof and water-resistant materials.
Waterproof materials, which offer the most protection, prevent moisture from penetrating and soaking the inner layers. Water-resistant materials repel water and make it bead off the surface, but with enough exposure, inner layers will get wet. Most rain gear indicates its water resistance on tags so you know exactly how much protection they offer.
How to stay dry during the rainy season
Invest in basic rain gear
One of the easiest ways to stay dry during spring showers is by investing in quintessential rain gear, including rain jackets and rain boots.
Rain jackets are available in various lengths, but longer styles — ideally those cut at the midthigh — protect your lower back and waist from moisture and drafts. It’s wise to choose rain jackets with hoods in order to prevent hair from getting soaked, especially after you’ve blow-dried or styled it.
Rain boots are usually made with rubber or plastic, both of which are waterproof. Quality styles also have sealed seams that prevent rain and cold air from entering. However, comfort is hit or miss with rain boots. Generally, these lightweight styles lack cushioning, support and warmth, and they’re not suitable for extended walking periods.
Opt for travel rain accessories
Even if you pay close attention to weather reports, it’s still hard to predict spring showers. For that reason, it’s a good idea to invest in travel rain accessories that you can keep nearby in the event of unexpected storms.
- Travel umbrellas: Travel or mini umbrellas are often preferred to full-size umbrellas because they’re small enough to fit inside handbags, office desk drawers and lockers. They’re popular for kids because they are lightweight and fit inside backpacks.
- Ponchos: Ponchos might not take the place of rain jackets, but they do a decent job of keeping you somewhat dry in a pinch. Some ponchos are disposable, whereas others are reusable and even machine-washable.
- Stroller covers: Stroller covers, also called weather shields, keep kids dry when you’re walking in inclement weather. There are some universal covers, but they may be ill-fitting or leave gaps. Most stroller manufacturers sell covers that fit specific models.
- Hats and bonnets: Many water-resistant hats are packable, including bucket hats and traditional rain hats. Folded hats may even fit inside rain jacket pockets. Other people opt to wear rain bonnets, which offer more protection than most hats.
Protect your vehicle
Besides keeping yourself dry, you probably want to prevent your car or truck interior from getting soaked or covered in mud.
- Seat covers: Water-resistant seat covers can be placed on cloth seats so they don’t absorb moisture.
- Cargo covers: If you have pets, waterproof cargo covers are easy to wipe down with a damp cloth when they’re covered with muddy paw prints.
- Rain guards: For those who like leaving windows cracked while they drive, rain guards allow fresh air to enter while keeping out droplets.
Top products to help you deal with spring showers
Lands’ End Women’s Hooded Packable Raincoat
In addition to being travel-friendly, waterproof and windproof, this raincoat also folds inside its own pocket for quick, convenient storage.
Sold by Kohl’s
Columbia Kids’ Glennaker Rain Jacket
This best-selling Columbia jacket has a waterproof nylon shell and full-coverage hood. The lightweight style packs easily inside kids’ backpacks and luggage.
Sold by Amazon, Kohl’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods
Vera Bradley Mini Travel Umbrella
If you’re looking for a stylish mini umbrella, this Vera Bradley option is available in five chic designs, including springtime florals.
Sold by Amazon
London Fog Piccadilly Women’s Waterproof Rain Boots
Available in several colors and designs, these London Fog rain boots are a contemporary spin on the classic style with elastic sides and a streamlined silhouette.
Sold by Kohl’s
Bulldogology Premium SUV Cargo Liner
Even if your dogs are wet and have muddy paws, this cargo liner has you covered — literally. It’s made with waterproof materials that can be wiped down for easy cleaning.
Sold by Amazon
Angela & William Waterproof Bucket Hat
This classic bucket hat offers maximum protection with waterproof materials and a 2-inch brim. The lightweight style can be rolled up and placed inside coat pockets.
Sold by Amazon
Not only is this rain poncho waterproof and breathable, it’s one of few styles that comes in attractive designs.
Sold by Amazon
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Sian Babish writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/apparel-br/outerwear-br/everything-you-need-to-deal-with-spring-showers/ | 2022-04-15T00:54:10 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/apparel-br/outerwear-br/everything-you-need-to-deal-with-spring-showers/ |
Tips for contouring your face
Good contouring can enhance your face’s natural lines, make your favorite features stand out, define your cheekbones and eyes, and refine your proportions. It can be daunting to start, and it may seem difficult to contour without looking overly made up. But with the right products and some practice, you will soon be contouring like an Instagram influencer.
Prep your face
Cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize
Good contouring begins with good preparation. You’ll get a smoother palette for your contouring when your face is clean and free of flakes, oily patches or dead skin. A good cleanser for your skin type will reveal a brighter, smoother surface. Exfoliation will make sure you’ve turned over any sluggish, dead cells.
Lastly, following a regular regimen of adding skin-friendly hydration such as hyaluronic acid or emollients will ensure skin looks healthy and glowy. Ideally, let moisturizers soak into the skin about a half-hour before makeup application.
Apply your base
The first step in contouring is to give yourself a base of primer, concealer and foundation to even out your tone and hide any blemishes or dark circles. Match your skin tone and color as closely as possible to give your contouring products the smoothest natural base. Oil-based foundation is a good choice for dry skin, while water-based products offer less coverage but are also less likely to cause breakouts in skin prone to them.
Choose the right products
Pay attention to skin tone
Choosing the right contour products depends heavily on skin tone, even more than your choice of foundation does. If you’ve ever seen contouring that looked harsh or unnatural, chances are that the tone of the product used was wrong for the skin it was being applied to.
Choose a shade two shades darker than your natural skin color at the jawline. Warm contour is right for warm skin tones that tan instead of burn. If your skin tends to look pink or burns easily, you’ll do better sticking to cooler contour shades.
Decide between liquid and powder
The choice is partially based on your comfort. If you have more experience applying powdered blushes, powder may be a good choice for your contour as well. If you’ve applied heavier, oil-based foundation, you may want a creamy, smooth contour color for easier application. Note that powder applied over oil-based foundation can look chalky or patchy, so apply with care.
Contour with confidence
Apply shadows
Contour is, at its essence, a heightening of the natural shadows that fall on your face due to your bone structure. Look at yourself in natural overhead light. Where are the shadows? For most people, they’re under the cheekbones and the jaw. You may also want to apply a base of your contour product in the crease of the eye before eyeshadow application to create color cohesion on your face.
Suck in your cheeks. With an upward-sweeping, gentle touch, apply your contour product in the hollow created naturally, plus slightly above it to emphasize your cheekbones. Apply a touch at your hairline about two inches above your temples to draw attention to your eyes, and slim down your jawline by applying contour along it and in long strokes along the sides, down toward your Adam’s apple.
Apply highlighters
Now look at yourself in overhead lighting again. Where does the light sit brightest? For most of us, this is at the top of the cheekbones, above the eyebrows and along the jawline. If you’ve got mature skin, go lightly around the eyes with powdered highlighter, as it can settle into fine lines and draw attention to them.
Consider color
Once you’ve achieved the right level of shadow and light, which may take several passes, you may want to add a wash of color where the highlight meets the contour to add a rosy, healthy glow. Go lightly and continue to consider skin tone. Pink-toned blushes look good on lighter, cooler skin, while peach-infused ones work best for warmer skin tones.
Set the look
If you need your look to make it through a long day or a night full of dancing, you may want to apply setting spray to extend its life. A spritz of setting spray will lock in your look, making it transfer-free, smudge-proof and fresh.
What you need to buy to contour your face
Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit
This is a perfect all-in-one kit that contains both warm and cool contour colors, as well as an assortment of highlighting colors in both matte and shimmery varieties.
Where to buy: Sold by Sephora
Kevyn Aucoin The Sculpting Powder
Created by the renowned makeup artist credited with introducing the idea of contouring into the mainstream in the 1990s, this versatile sculpting powder looks great on many skin tones, although it’s best for cooler ones. Blendable and flattering, it gives you perfect sculpting without being harsh or obvious.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour
This creamy contouring stick gives you the glide-on versatility of a cream with the pigmentation you expect from a powder. If you have skin that tends to the drier side, consider a creamy sculpting contour like this product that’s free of parabens and phthalates, which may disrupt your hormones.
Where to buy: Sold by Ulta Beauty
E.L.F. Cosmetics Contouring Brush
Inexpensive and effective, this is the perfect brush for applying contour precisely where you want it. The flat edge and short bristles give you precision, while turning it on its wide part helps you blend your products for a seamless, natural look.
Where to buy: Sold by Ulta Beauty
Urban Decay Cosmetics All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray
This long-lasting spray is a favorite when you want your contouring and general makeup application to last through a long night out or a full day. It makes your look fade-proof and helps it last for up to 16 hours while keeping it seeming fresh.
Where to buy: Sold by Ulta Beauty
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Maria Andreu writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/beauty-personal-care-br/face-makeup-br/how-to-contour-your-face/ | 2022-04-15T00:54:17 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/beauty-personal-care-br/face-makeup-br/how-to-contour-your-face/ |
What are the 16 most popular liquid lipsticks at Sephora?
Between drinking your morning coffee, eating a sandwich at lunch and sipping from your water bottle all day, it’s nearly impossible to keep your lip color in place — unless you find a high-quality liquid lipstick.
Despite their thin formula, liquid lipsticks dry down to a nearly budge-proof finish that stays on your lips even when eating and drinking. Once dry, they won’t transfer to your clothing or anyone you might kiss. Not all liquid lipsticks are created equal, though, so you want to keep an eye out for formulas that last longer and feel more comfortable than others.
Are you looking for a top-notch liquid lipstick that looks and feels good? Here are the most popular formulas you can find at Sephora for smooth, beautiful lip color that lasts through the longest days.
16 most popular liquid lipsticks at Sephora
Most popular liquid lipsticks at Sephora for $20 and under
Huda Beauty Liquid Matte Ultra-Comfort Transfer-proof Lipstick
This liquid lipstick delivers rich pigmentation in a single swipe. It contains olive oil, vitamin A, vitamin E and essential fatty acids to help keep your lips hydrated, so it also feels extremely comfortable. The formula is vegan and cruelty-free too.
Sold by Sephora
Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick
A cult-favorite formula, this liquid lipstick provides full coverage and intense color that lasts for hours. Its rounded sponge applicator also makes application quick and easy. You can choose from 18 shades, ranging from soft nudes to bold reds — the shades can even be mixed together to create a custom color.
Sold by Sephora
Kaja LOVE SWIPE Lightweight Cushiony Lip Mousse
With its velvety texture, this air-whipped liquid lipstick is a highly comfortable option that still lasts all day. It features cottonseed oil, raspberry seed oil and vitamin E to hydrate and nourish, but the formula feels weightless on the lips. It also comes in adorable heart-shaped packaging that you’ll love pulling out for touch-ups.
Sold by Sephora
Rare Beauty Lip Souffle Matte Cream Lipstick
This hydrating liquid lipstick glides over the lips for smooth, easy application. It has a lightweight feel and isn’t prone to caking. The formula is paraben- and phthalate-free too.
Sold by Sephora
Sephora Collection Clean Liquid Lip Mousse
Boasting a clean formula, this affordable liquid lip offers highly pigmented color that doesn’t feather or bleed. It has a comfortable, lightweight feel and helps blur the look of lines. Best of all, it’s fragrance-free, making it an ideal option for sensitive skin.
Sold by Sephora
Most popular liquid lipsticks at Sephora for $20-$30
Nars Air Matte Liquid Lipstick
With its classic matte finish, this lipstick offers the wear time you’d expect, but the unique formula has a soft, weightless feel that’s more comfortable than traditional liquid lipsticks. Its color has a diffused look too, providing an extremely flattering soft-focus effect.
Sold by Sephora
Bobbi Brown Crushed Liquid Lipstick
Despite its liquid formula, this lipstick feels more like a balm and has a slight sheen that works especially well for dry lips. The formula contains superfruits — including cranberry, blueberry and raspberry extracts — that give it an emollient, easy-to-apply texture. You can choose from 12 rich shades that work for most skin tones.
Sold by Sephora
KVD Everlasting Longwear Liquid Lipstick
Thanks to high pigment formula, this vegan liquid lipstick has been a fan favorite for years. Its creamy formula glides on easily but sets quickly. It also contains moisturizers, such as vitamin E and sunflower seed wax, to prevent drying the lips. It’s available in 19 shades, including a bold purple and an intense black.
Sold by Sephora
Patrick Ta Monochrome Moment Silky Lip Creme
This liquid lipstick offers a satin-matte finish, making it an excellent option if you aren’t a fan of dry matte formulas. It provides full coverage in a single coat and can last for hours. The formula also contains a cross-polymer blend that lets the lipstick move easily with the lips.
Sold by Sephora
Smashbox Always On Longwear Matte Liquid Lipstick
With a waterproof formula, this liquid lipstick lasts all day, even through drinking and eating. It contains a primer oil complex that keeps it from drying out your lips and reduces feathering, bleeding or caking. It’s available in more than 22 shades too.
Sold by Sephora
Too Faced Melted Matte Liquid Lipstick
This lipstick features vitamin E, avocado oil and hyaluronic filling spheres, so it never looks or feels dry on the lips. It still has a long-wearing matte finish, though, and can last for up to eight hours. It’s transfer-resistant too.
Sold by Sephora
Most popular liquid lipsticks at Sephora for more than $30
Armani beauty Lip Maestro Liquid Matte Lipstick
One of the best-selling liquid lipsticks in the U.S., this formula offers bold color and a velvety finish. It also provides hydration that lasts for hours, so it doesn’t feel dry or sticky on the lips. You can choose from over 36 flattering shades.
Sold by Sephora
Dior Rouge Dior Forever Liquid Transfer-Proof Lipstick
If you’re tired of smudges on your clothing, this transfer-proof lipstick is a perfect option. It doesn’t settle in lip lines or bleed around the mouth and has an extremely comfortable, lightweight formula. It also lasts for up to 12 hours.
Sold by Sephora
Yves Saint Laurent Vinyl Cream Lip Stain
Unlike other liquid lipsticks with a matte finish, this formula offers a glossy look that’s comfortable and hydrating. It still provides full-coverage color, though, and lasts for up to 10 hours. Its diamond-shaped applicator allows for precise application too.
Sold by Sephora
Hourglass Velvet Story Lip Cream
This lipstick has a whipped texture that feels weightless and soft on the lips. It helps blur the look of lines and contains vitamin E to condition and protect your lips. You can also get full color in a single swipe.
Sold by Sephora
Available in both matte and high-shine finishes, this liquid lipstick delivers rich, intense color. It contains daikon radish oil to help hydrate and cushion the lips for comfortable wear. The formula is also gluten-free.
Sold by Sephora
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Jennifer Blair writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/beauty-personal-care-br/lip-makeup-br/16-most-popular-liquid-lipsticks-at-sephora/ | 2022-04-15T00:54:24 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/beauty-personal-care-br/lip-makeup-br/16-most-popular-liquid-lipsticks-at-sephora/ |
Which cooling comforter is best?
Sweating in your sleep is uncomfortable and leads to more dirty laundry. A cooling comforter is an excellent way to get a good night’s rest for those who get hot. Many cooling comforters keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter, meaning you can use them year-round. If you’re shopping for a new comforter, the Hombys Lightweight Cooling Bamboo Comforter is excellent.
What to know before you buy a cooling comforter
Cooling comforter weight
- Lightweight: Lightweight comforters are typically among the coolest, but many prefer thicker comforters. These generally are best for the summertime and may feel too cold in the winter.
- Midweight: These are usually ideal for summer or wintertime use.
- Heavyweight: Believe it or not, there are numerous heavy cooling comforters. These are typically made from breathable materials, allowing your body heat to escape while you sleep.
Cooling comforter material
- Bamboo: This is a smooth fabric that’s cool to the touch. It has a slippery feel that some people don’t like, but it’s one of the best options for regulating your body temperature.
- Cotton: Cotton is natural, smooth and soft. It’s a breathable material that wicks sweat from your body, making it an excellent choice for hot sleepers.
- Microfiber: Microfiber is a breathable, affordable material. Many of the highest-rated cooling comforters are made from this material.
- Silk: Silk is a natural, breathable and hypoallergenic fiber that feels soft.
- Linen: This is a breathable fabric with top-notch moisture-wicking capabilities.
- Wool: This natural material is best suited for people who get cold while they sleep, although some wool comforters are surprisingly breathable.
- Polyester: Although many polyester comforters claim to keep you cool, they’re generally the least breathable.
Cleaning your cooling comforter
Most comforters are machine-washable and easy to clean, although they may be too large for your washing machine. Some comforters are dry clean only, which can be challenging and expensive. The product description and the comforter’s tag should have easy-to-understand care instructions.
How can I keep my bed cool at night?
Aside from buying a cooling comforter, you can do numerous other things to keep cool at night.
- Take a lukewarm shower close to bedtime: Warm showers help lower your body temperature, helping you sleep comfortably. Ensure the water isn’t too hot or cold, as that can be too stimulating, keeping you up at night.
- Avoid heavy meals at night: Consider a light, healthy meal like a salad if you get hungry close to bedtime. Heavy meals cause your body to exert energy by breaking down carbs. Additionally, avoid spicy food at night.
- Limit nighttime caffeine: If you tend to drink coffee or soda before bed, consider a glass of ice water instead. Caffeine has a stimulating effect that may cause you to sweat at night.
What to look for in a quality cooling comforter
Year-round use
Although cooling comforters are meant to keep you from getting warm, the best options also keep you from getting cold in the winter. Buying a comforter that can be used all year keeps you from having to switch out your bedding as the seasons change.
Stitching
A comforter’s stitching keeps the fill from sliding around, ensuring certain areas aren’t thicker than others. Quality stitching makes a comforter soft and cozy without making it less breathable.
Moisture-wicking
Although you’ll sweat less with a cooling blanket, you may still sweat from time to time. Moisture-wicking materials keep you dry while you sleep and help you stay cool.
Durable material
Cheap comforters often fade or pill after washing. Pilling happens when fibers break and tangle, resulting in fuzz balls on the exterior of your comforter. Buying a comforter that doesn’t pill, fade or damage in your washing machine gives you the most bang for your buck.
How much you can expect to spend on a cooling comforter
Depending on the comforter’s size and material, you’ll spend around $50-$150.
Cooling comforter FAQ
Do cooling blankets help with menopause?
A. Cooling blankets won’t directly influence menopause symptoms, although they help those with nighttime hot flashes sleep more comfortably.
Are duvets cooler than comforters?
A. This depends on the duvet’s material. Both are thick, although duvets often have duvet covers that can make them warmer and less breathable.
Do bed cooling pads work?
A. Bed cooling pads go under your sheets and absorb your body’s heat to keep you cool. Using a cooling pad and a cooling comforter is an excellent way to stay cool at night.
What’s the best cooling comforter to buy?
Top cooling comforter
Hombys Lightweight Cooling Bamboo Comforter
What you need to know: This features a breathable bamboo material that’s ideal for hot sleepers.
What you’ll love: It’s available in four colors — white, all-seasons white, sage and gray. Many people praised this comforter as a great solution for nighttime hot flashes. It’s heavy but not hot. The exterior is soft and silky. This is ideal for year-round use.
What you should consider: It doesn’t dry quickly.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top cooling comforter for the money
Latitude Run Microfiber Down Alternative Comforter
What you need to know: This is breathable enough for hot sleepers, but not too cold in the wintertime.
What you’ll love: The baffle-box stitch keeps the fill from moving around. It has tabs for easy inserts and removal if you want to place it in a duvet. It’s easy to clean. It’s incredibly soft.
What you should consider: Some people felt it was too thin.
Where to buy: Sold by Wayfair
Worth checking out
Sleep Zone Reversible Queen Comforter
What you need to know: This is durable, comfortable and breathable.
What you’ll love: It’s available in seven color combinations. People praised this for the lack of damage, pilling and fading after multiple washes. It’s ideal for year-round use.
What you should consider: Some people felt this wasn’t breathable enough.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Cody Stewart writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/bed-bath-br/bedding-br/best-cooling-comforter/ | 2022-04-15T00:54:32 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/bed-bath-br/bedding-br/best-cooling-comforter/ |
Which electric blanket is best?
When the wind is howling outside, you might feel a chill in your bones that no amount of blankets can chase away. If you live in a cold climate, have a hard time sleeping in cold weather or just want more warmth at night, an electric blanket can help. Electric blankets provide warmth without causing your home heating bill to jump, and they are an easy solution to a chilly problem.
The Westinghouse Electric Blanket is beautiful, comfortable and provides ample heat for the coldest winter nights.
What to know before you buy an electric blanket
Size
As with their nonelectric counterparts, electric blankets come in sizes to fit standard beds (e.g., twin, full, queen and king). If you have an oversized mattress, make sure the blanket you choose is large enough for it.
Materials
Electric blankets in the past were made of a thin, poorly insulated material that was not naturally warm. These days, electric blankets made of thick, comfy fabrics like fleece, flannel and wool are warm even when not plugged in.
Once you determine what you want your blanket fabric to feel like, check the grams per square meter. That number tells you how much insulation your blanket has, and a higher GSM means more warmth even when the blanket’s not turned on.
Number of settings
Some electric blankets come with three heat settings — low, medium and high — while others come with 10 or more. Although it’s nice to precisely dial in your perfect temperature, consider whether you really need all 10 settings (and want to pay for them). Five are enough for most people.
What to look for in a quality electric blanket
Dual controls
When two people share a bed, chances are good they will need different levels of warmth throughout the night. If this sounds like you, look for a blanket with dual controls to customize the heating level on either side of the bed.
Easy care
While it may seem crazy to throw an electric blanket into a washing machine, these days that’s not outside the realm of possibility. Look for machine-washable and dryer-safe blankets for easy care.
If your electric blanket is not machine-washable, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to keep it clean.
Automatic shut-off
An automatic shut-off protects your blanket from overheating and saves energy. Because our core body temperature drops at night, most blankets with this feature turn off automatically after three hours, improving your chance of a perfect night of sleep.
Reversible
The last thing you want is an electric blanket that looks like an electric blanket. With reversible ones, not only can you change the look of your bed instantly, but you also have a piece of bed linen that looks elegant, not wired.
How much you can expect to spend on an electric blanket
The price depends on its size and the material from which it’s made. Expect to spend $40-$80 on a queen-size blanket.
Electric blanket FAQ
Are electric blankets safe?
A. They’re remarkably safe, but there are a few precautions you should take.
- Do not use a blanket that has wires that are cut or damaged.
- Do not sit or lie on top of the blanket, and don’t let pets lie on it either. This extra weight can damage the blanket’s wires.
- Don’t use your blanket on its maximum setting at all times. Use just enough heat to get the warmth you need.
- Avoid buying used or vintage electric blankets. It can be difficult to tell whether they have been damaged, and older blankets are not manufactured to the same level of safety.
Can you use an electric blanket on a memory foam mattress?
A. Because there is a slight chance that the blanket’s hidden wires can melt memory foam, stick to regular blankets if you sleep on foam. This also includes memory-foam mattress toppers.
Are electric blankets cheaper than space heaters?
A. Yes. Depending on size, space heaters take 500-1,000 watts of electricity to run, while an electric blanket takes no more than 200 watts, even on the highest setting.
Electric blankets also heat just the space you need — the bed you’re lying in — instead of heating the entire room.
What’s the best electric blanket to buy?
Top electric blanket
What you need to know: It’s easy to operate and customize.
What you’ll love: With a 220 GSM and a thick Sherpa lining, this blanket is warm and cozy. It is reversible and uses a digital control to personalize heating. It has 10 heat settings, features protection against overheating and is fully machine-washable and dryer-safe.
What you should consider: If you plan on using this with a generator or power bank, look for another blanket. It is not compatible with this type of off-grid power supply.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Macy’s
Top electric blanket for the money
What you need to know: It is a lightweight blanket that is not bulky and works well under regular bedding for extreme cold.
What you’ll love: It has three heat settings and an automatic shut-off after three hours of use. ThermoFine technology distributes heat evenly, and this blanket is machine-washable and dryer-safe.
What you should consider: Some reviewers found it too thin for use as their primary blanket.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
What you need to know: It looks elegant and heats well.
What you’ll love: It reaches the temperature you want in less than 20 minutes. It has five heat settings and is made from sherpa fabric. The heating wires are thin and barely perceptible.
What you should consider: The power cord is short, and it does not always heat up evenly.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Suzannah Kolbeck writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/bed-bath-br/bedding-br/best-electric-blanket/ | 2022-04-15T00:54:39 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/bed-bath-br/bedding-br/best-electric-blanket/ |
Which sage green comforter is best?
Sage green is a staple of contemporary interior design. This subtle hue is surprisingly dynamic, soothing to look at and a breeze to use when decorating. Ever the hospitable backdrop, sage green is a team player that elevates its surroundings.
Your comforter is one of the largest visual features in your home. This makes it the perfect candidate for a colorful update. If you’re looking to adjust the tone and vibe of your bedroom, start here. Which you choose will depend on whether you’re a hot or cold sleeper, but the all-season Luxlovery Sage Green Comforter Set should suit most users.
What to know before you buy a sage green comforter
Advantages of sage green
A good sage-green comforter is like a fertile forest floor. Rich with design potential, this modest hue helps various decor options thrive, from natural-wood finishes to aged metal hardware.
But the beautiful pale tone also has plenty of psychological benefits. Associated with the qualities of wisdom, experience and good judgment, this sage green can make your bedroom feel like a safe and calm space, filling you with confidence. Like most greens, sage has the life-affirming and peaceful properties associated with nature.
Colors that go with sage green
When envisioning your bedroom’s palette, look to nature. Sage green is warm and blends nicely with cedar, walnut and teak. That’s not to mention its harmonious relationship with houseplants.
Sage green is also soft, meaning vibrant primary colors and neons can clash. Instead, pair sage green with ochres, siennas, rust oranges and reds, and muted purples such as mauve or neutral grays like taupe.
Comforter vs. duvet
Despite frequent confusion, comforters and duvets are separate types of bedding. Both are stuffed with filling to trap heat, but that’s about where their similarities end.
A comforter is a single piece of bedding, quilted to distribute its filling evenly. They’re generally more affordable than duvets, and the variety of stitches allows for greater temperature control.
On the other hand, a duvet is a two-piece form of bedding. It consists of a stuffed insert and a cover like a giant pillowcase. These are typically more expensive out the outset. The insert also isn’t always quilted. Duvets make cleaning your bedding easier. You only have to wash the cover. And you can swap it out for another color if your design sense changes.
What to look for in a quality sage green comforter
Fill material
- Down: Taken from the soft underbellies of ducks and geese, down is the warmest and fluffiest filling you can get. This makes it great for cold winters, and its lofting properties also make for breathable all-season comforters. Down is luxurious, though, so you’ll pay a premium.
- Synthetic down-alternatives: Made to simulate the properties of down, synthetic alternatives such as polyester, rayon and lyocell are a great hypoallergenic substitute if you’re on a budget. These fillings don’t fluff as well as down but are breathable and lightweight for year-round use.
- Natural down-alternatives: Primarily wool and cotton, natural-alternative comforters are a kinder approach to animal-based filling. Wool is typically warmer and denser, with excellent moisture-wicking properties for hot, sweaty sleepers. Cotton is cheaper and lighter and is a good choice for warmer climates.
Fill measurements
There are two important measurements to determine how warm and fluffy your comforter will be: fill power and fill weight.
- Fill power: This number, denoted in the hundreds, indicates how fluffy your comforter will be. It represents the volume a single ounce of filling takes up. The higher the fill power, the fluffier your comforter will be, and thus the better it will be at capturing and transferring heat.
- Fill weight: This measures the total weight of all the filling in your comforter. But a high number doesn’t necessarily mean warmer. With fill weight, you want a balanced relationship to fill power. A low fill weight with a high fill power will be much better at insulating because there’s more space between the fibers to trap and distribute heat. A super-heavy comforter, on the other hand, can be stifling. And one that is too light with a low fill power will feel flat and cold.
Comforter stitch
Comforters are quilted in one of two ways, which affects fill distribution and temperature:
- Sewn-through: This stitch sutures your comforter’s top and bottom layers in a grid. The result is a series of pockets that taper at the edges so the filling bunches in the center. This can lead to flat and cool spots along the seams. But that doesn’t mean a sewn-through comforter is inferior, as the variability in filling allows for greater breathability and comfort in warm climates and for hot sleepers.
- Baffle-box: This quilting style inserts a vertical piece of fabric between each pocket to form a three-dimensional box. This way, the stuffing is evenly distributed throughout each pocket. Baffle-box comforters are some of the warmest and fluffiest you can get and pair great with down. They will get hot, so you need the right filling for year-round use.
How much you can expect to spend on a sage green comforter
You can purchase lightweight synthetic comforters on a budget for around $30-$70. Premium options with high thread count, down filling or baffle-box stitches cost $120-$250.
Sage green comforter FAQ
How do I clean my comforter?
A. Comforters — even down — are machine washable. The secret is more than one rinse cycle. Put your machine on a delicate setting and use warm or cold water with a small amount of detergent. After the first load, put it through for one or more rinse cycles. The water flushes the filling of excess suds while the machine’s rotation helps dry out the interior.
Can I use a duvet cover with my comforter?
A. Yes, a duvet cover is a great way to increase the longevity of your bedding. This additional barrier limits how much sweat penetrates the filling and reduces the number of times you have to wash the full comforter.
What’s the best sage green comforter to buy?
Top sage green comforter
Luxlovery Sage Green Comforter Set
What you need to know: Cast in a gorgeous, light-sage hue, this comforter is soft, plush and cozy.
What you’ll love: Filled with microfiber, this comforter is designed for all-season use. Its stuffing is lofty yet lightweight and it won’t clump in the wash. You also get two matching shams.
What you should consider: The filling layer is thin and won’t be as warm in cold climates.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top sage green comforter for the money
Hig Three-Piece Green Down Alternative Comforter Set
What you need to know: Made with a baffle-box stitch, this reversible comforter is great for year-round use, even in colder climates.
What you’ll love: With this down-alternative comforter, you get to flip between a sage and rich forest green. The thick and soft shell helps to insulate the heat pockets that build up in the microfiber fill. And the bedding has tabs at the corners to prevent your comforter from sliding off in your sleep.
What you should consider: This runs small, so size up.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Royal Luxe Lightweight Microfiber Color Down Alternative
What you need to know: A modern take on sage, this vibrant comforter will look great with contemporary decor.
What you’ll love: The sewn-through construction of this comforter suits hot sleepers and cold climates. You won’t toss and turn looking for cooling relief thanks to its lightweight, hypoallergenic polyester. If you’re in a warmer region, this is an ideal comforter for summer use or guest beds and kids’ rooms.
What you should consider: The stuffing clumps in the wash, so be sure to use multiple rinse cycles to shake it loose.
Where to buy: Sold by Macy’s
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Karl Daum writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/bed-bath-br/bedding-br/best-sage-green-comforter/ | 2022-04-15T00:54:47 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/bed-bath-br/bedding-br/best-sage-green-comforter/ |
Which vessel sink faucet is best?
If you are looking to add an elegant touch in one of the most underrated rooms in the house, consider adding a vessel sink. Vessel sinks sit on top of the counter and come in an extensive range of styles and finishes to add sophistication and class. Once you select your sink, you’ll need to find the best vessel sink faucet to match.
The top choice is the attractive BWE Waterfall Vessel Sink Faucet. It offers a neutral yet timeless design paired with high functionality and easy installation.
What to know before you buy a vessel sink faucet
How it’s mounted
When selecting the best vessel sink faucet, you’ll first need to consider how it will be mounted. While most faucets can be mounted directly onto the countertop behind the sink, it’s also an option to mount faucets on the wall. Some vessel sinks can even take a faucet attached directly to them.
Wall-mounted faucets are the most complicated and require plumbing lines to run up inside the wall. Because of the height of the vessel sink and the requirement of the faucet to be above it, you may need to relocate lighting or mirrors above the sink, too.
If you don’t want to mess with opening a wall or moving a large mirror, consider a countertop-mounted faucet. These require some drilling in the countertop, but for most people that is preferable over putting in a hole in their bathroom wall.
Finally, it is possible to mount the faucet directly on some vessel sinks, but only if the sink is designed to take a faucet (e.g., it has holes already present).
Finish
The finish of your faucet should match the other finishes in your bathroom. This will help your bathroom aesthetic to look more cohesive.
Some common finishes include:
- Copper
- Chrome
- Brushed nickel
- Black metal (a cast iron look)
- White powder-coated brass
Height
When it comes to choosing the height, measure twice, and then measure another time. Your faucet will need to easily clear the lip of your vessel sink, with at least two inches between the lip of the sink and the end of the faucet.
Don’t buy one that is too tall, though. This will make your sink look inadequate and small. Look for the Goldilocks height: not too short, not too tall but just right.
What to look for in a quality vessel sink faucet
Touchless
A touchless faucet is operated with a wave of a hand. This is convenient in a high-traffic powder room where small children wash their hands. If you choose a touchless option and do have children in your home, make sure that your water is set to a maximum safe temperature. This will help to prevent any accidental burns.
Mounted on a swivel
A faucet that swivels can be easily moved out of the way when you need more room in the sink. This is an extra feature that just adds to the utility of the faucet and sink.
Easy installation
If you are looking for easy installation, stick with a counter-mounted vessel sink faucet. Look for packages that include all installation hardware, including hot and cold supply lines, to make installation a breeze.
If you are feeling adventurous, a wall-mounted or sink-mounted faucet is the way to go. Wall-mounted faucets are best left to experienced DIYers or for new construction, but sink-mounted faucets are easier (if more involved).
How much you can expect to spend on a vessel sink faucet
A vessel sink faucet is not a cheap upgrade. Expect to spend $80-$300 or more.
Vessel sink faucet FAQ
How should you choose a faucet spout length?
A. The faucet spout should be long enough to extend well into the sink, but not so long that it interferes with hand- and face-washing. For counter mounting, measure from where you plan to mount the faucet on the counter to where you would like the spout to end in the sink.
Wall-mounted faucets should extend easily into the sink from the wall. Measure that distance, and you are all set.
Do vessel sink faucets come with a separate hot and cold knob?
A. Some wall-mounted vessel sink faucets come with a separate hot and cold knob, but the majority of counter-mounted faucets use one lever.
What’s the best vessel sink faucet to buy?
Top vessel sink faucet
BWE Waterfall Vessel Sink Faucet
What you need to know: It has a simple, classic design that works in a variety of bathroom styles.
What you’ll love: It is available in four finishes (brushed nickel, chrome, copper and oil-rubbed bronze). Water flows beautifully out of the faucet. The package includes all hardware needed for installation, including hot and cold water hoses.
What you should consider: It is noisy, and water pressure is difficult to regulate.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top vessel sink faucet for the money
VC Cucine Modern Vessel Sink Faucet
What you need to know: If you prefer a more modern style, this square faucet is a great choice.
What you’ll love: A brushed-nickel finish surrounds solid brass interior construction for a sturdy, affordable faucet. It is easy to install and feels substantial. It’s a great value and a unique design.
What you should consider: Some users found it loud. Some also reported low water pressure.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Kohler Fairfax Collection Vessel Sink Faucet
What you need to know: It’s a high-quality faucet from a trusted brand.
What you’ll love: The supply lines are pre-installed, which means you could be up and running in 30 minutes. It comes in two other finishes. A high-temperature regulator means this faucet works well for houses with small children.
What you should consider: This may not be tall enough for high-sided vessel sinks. Measure carefully.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
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Suzannah Kolbeck writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/bed-bath-br/sinks-vanities-br/best-vessel-sink-faucet/ | 2022-04-15T00:54:54 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/bed-bath-br/sinks-vanities-br/best-vessel-sink-faucet/ |
Amazon Alexa Speaker review
Many of the most visible and accessible smart home tools today are the home speakers that house advanced voice assistants. For example, if you’re getting ready to go out, a few quick commands can pull up the weather forecast, so you know what to wear.
Amazon and its voice assistant Alexa are the industry leaders for smart home speakers. They claim that their latest high-end smart speaker, the Amazon Echo Studio, is the most powerful and easiest to use option on the market. We used it along extensively for about a week to determine just how helpful they truly are, and it turns out it’s as helpful and convenient as Amazon claims.
Testing the Amazon Echo Studio
The entire Echo lineup has exploded in popularity recently, so we were familiar with the device going into testing. The space where we conducted the review wasn’t outfitted with any other smart home devices, so we could judge the Echo Studio on its own merits alone.
We were mostly excited to see how well it streamlined daily activities like playing music, checking the weather and listening to the news. For the most part, our testing took place in the kitchen because that’s where we found ourselves most active and in need of hands-free control.
During testing, we made sure to focus on not just the overall functionality, but also the little things you might overlook initially. How accurately it picks up voice commands, how loud you have to speak and how prominent the LED is all contribute to the user experience, especially for consumers who aren’t particularly well-versed in electronics.
What is the Amazon Echo Studio?
Much like the speakers from Sonos, the Amazon Echo Studio is a high-fidelity smart speaker that promises studio-quality sound and claims to adapt to any room. Our initial impressions were that it’s an unassuming device that, while not as compact as other smart speakers like the Sonos One, isn’t overly large. It came in good-quality packaging, complete with a fabric carrying case.
Unlike other Echo smart speakers, Amazon makes a big deal about the Studio’s premium sound quality. This was one of the claims we were most excited to investigate. Most smart home speakers are middling to subpar when it comes to music playback, so an Alexa-enabled speaker that could also stream our favorite tunes was a welcome addition to the kitchen.
We’re also aware that Amazon has gone to great lengths to refine the microphone array within the Echo Studio. To that end, we were impressed with how well it was able to adapt to the wide range of sounds that happen in a busy home daily.
Amazon Echo Studio price and where to buy
The Echo Studio is available from Amazon for $200. You can also get it bundled with the Echo Sub for $330.
How to use Amazon Echo Studio
We expected a straightforward setup process, but we were still surprised at how easy it was to get started. Immediately after plugging it in, Alexa spoke up and instructed us to install the Alexa app on a smartphone. We did so and were then walked clearly through setting up the Echo Dot that we were testing alongside the Studio. The whole process was incredibly intuitive, taking less than 5 minutes.
Using the device wasn’t any more difficult. We simply called out to Alexa, and she heard us clearly and accurately the first time. In most cases, the speaker even heard us clearly when we were in the next room.
Amazon Echo Studio benefits
After a week with the Echo Studio, it’s safe to say that Amazon isn’t exaggerating when they boast about the device’s pristine sound quality. At low volumes, it sounded OK, but once we turned it up, we were pleasantly surprised at how rich the audio was.
No matter what genre of music we threw at it, the Studio handled it well, with no distortion or static and clear instrumentation throughout all but the lowest end of the sound spectrum. We suspect that part of this premium sound experience comes from the Studio’s automatic acoustic analysis, which tailors the speaker’s output to sound as good as possible, no matter what room it’s in.
Our success with voice command accuracy was just as pronounced. We tested it in nearly silent environments and while vacuuming. It performed at the same level no matter what. The only times we had to repeat voice commands, we were so far away that it was surprising the microphone picked up our voices at all.
Aside from the basic music and voice command functionality, there were other features we loved about the Studio. There was a dedicated button to turn the microphone off, which provided privacy and peace of mind. The integrated LED lit up when it actively listened to us, so we didn’t have to worry about unintended recordings. We also appreciated how easy it was to pull up the Alexa app and manage the recordings we’d made throughout the day.
Amazon Echo Studio drawbacks
While we didn’t have any glaring issues with it, we did notice a little room for improvement. For example, sound quality dropped noticeably when we placed it on a shelf with some small trinkets and books around it. A 360-degree speaker shouldn’t normally see a huge change in output in that case, and we have a hunch the difference was again due to the Studio’s automatic spatial analysis. Other objects nearby could conceivably mess up the algorithm and make the speaker think it’s in a much smaller room.
Also, while the LED light was convenient and reassuring, it was pretty recessed and not visible from all angles, especially when the Studio was placed near eye level. Finally, it would be nice if Amazon designed a portable, battery-powered version that we could take to events or gatherings outdoors or at a friend’s house.
Should you get the Amazon Echo Studio?
The Amazon Echo Studio is the best-sounding smart speaker available today. Its microphones are the most sensitive and its voice recognition and spatial analysis algorithms are as good as they get. If you enjoy using voice assistants to listen to music, make calls or shop, there’s no better smart speaker.
Consider other products
If you’re looking for a little more versatility and don’t mind sacrificing some sound quality, this smart speaker is an impressive piece of equipment. Its 10-inch touchscreen can display a wide variety of useful information and it even follows you around the room automatically, so you never lose sight of what you’re doing.
Sold by Amazon
As great as the Echo Studio sounds, it’s still missing something in terms of bass. This subwoofer can fix that, and it works great with most Echo devices.
Sold by Amazon
In terms of sound quality during music playback, the Sonos One is the only significant competitor to the Echo Studio. It is a bit more expensive, but some owners argue it offers even better quality. You can even pair multiple Sonos One smart speakers for stereo playback in one room or simultaneous playback in different rooms.
Sold by Amazon
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Chris Thomas writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/audio-video-accessories-br/amazon-echo-studio-review-can-this-sonos-competitor-deliver-on-sound-quality-ease-of-use/ | 2022-04-15T00:55:02 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/audio-video-accessories-br/amazon-echo-studio-review-can-this-sonos-competitor-deliver-on-sound-quality-ease-of-use/ |
Which Thunderbolt 3 dock is best?
Thunderbolt 3 is an exciting technology that streamlines connectivity by delivering impressive bandwidth and charging capabilities over a single cable. It uses the USB-C physical connector, and a wide selection of docking stations support it. In some cases, the docks are backward-compatible with 5-gigabit or 10-gigabit USB connections, but they’re generally engineered to take advantage of the high-speed standard.
The Cable Matters Hybrid 107044 is the best Thunderbolt 3 docking station for most people because it has plenty of ports and is one of the most reliable models.
What to know before you buy a Thunderbolt 3 dock
If your laptop offers Thunderbolt 3
If you’ve recently bought a midrange or high-end laptop, you’re probably in the clear. One of the popular Intel Evo certification requirements for ultraportables is that the laptop must support the Thunderbolt 4 bus. If your laptop has a USB-C port, check if it uses Thunderbolt 3 or 4 or if it’s limited to slower USB 3.1 speeds.
How much charging power do you need
The majority of laptops require 100 watts of Power Delivery or less, with many able to charge at full speed with only around 60-80 watts. Although they’re somewhat rare, a select few laptops demand over 100 watts. Nonetheless, high-powered business laptops sometimes require as much as 130 watts to charge at full speed. If you get a docking station that can’t quite put out enough power for your laptop, you’ll have slower charging speeds or even a discharging battery when your laptop has a high workload.
What to look for in a quality Thunderbolt 3 dock
USB expansion ports
All docking stations have USB ports. It’s up to you to get one that has the number you need. They usually have a Thunderbolt 3 or 4 data pass through in addition to two to six USB-A ports.
Integrated charging
Generally speaking, docking stations plug into the wall via a wall wart with a DC barrel plug. You’ll sometimes need to supply your own power via an external charging brick. If that describes your situation, look for a USB-IF certified USB-C charger.
External monitor support
Support for additional monitors usually comes in a DisplayPort or HDMI connectors on full-size docking stations. Note that some laptops don’t have the processing power to drive more than one external display. In contrast, others (in particular, M1 MacBooks) are limited to a single secondary monitor due to technical reasons. In those cases, consider a docking station or USB-C hub with a DisplayLink chipset inside. This novel chipset takes the load off the graphics processor and allows for multiple monitors with greater compatibility.
How much you can expect to spend on a Thunderbolt 3 dock
You can spend as little as $40 on a capable USB-C hub, but docking stations that take full advantage of the Thunderbolt protocol will run you $150-$350.
Thunderbolt 3 dock FAQ
Do Thunderbolt 3 docks work with standard USB-C?
A. In some cases, they are backward-compatible. However, this varies from dock to dock and results in significantly lower bandwidth and reduced features. If your laptop only supports USB 3.1 over the Type-C port, but you want to future-proof your setup, make certain that the Thunderbolt dock you choose will work with standard USB 3.1 bandwidth.
What is USB-C Power Delivery?
A. The Power Delivery protocol supplements the USB-C standard that allows for high-wattage charging and data transfer over a single port. Thunderbolt 3 maxes out at 100 watts. Thunderbolt 4 theoretically maxes out at 240 watts, although there aren’t any chargers or laptops that approach that power.
What’s the best Thunderbolt 3 dock to buy?
Top Thunderbolt 3 dock
Cable Matters Hybrid 107044 Thunderbolt 3 Dock
What you need to know: It sports a wide variety of ports and works with the biggest range of laptops in real-world tests.
What you’ll love: Its long list of expansion ports includes pairs of HDMI and DisplayPort connections that allow for dual 4K displays. It delivers up to 96 watts using the Power Delivery protocol, enough for most modern laptops. Most importantly, it’s particularly reliable and supports most notebook PCs.
What you should consider: It can’t charge the most power-hungry laptops at full speed and only supports a single external monitor on the newest M1 MacBooks.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top Thunderbolt 3 dock for the money
UtechSmart 15 in 1 Docking Station
What you need to know: This is an especially full-featured docking station with interesting inclusions such as an SSD enclosure.
What you’ll love: It has the USB ports, SD card readers and Ethernet jack you’d expect from a competent Thunderbolt docking station, but it doesn’t stop there. You can outfit it with an M.2 solid-state drive for high-speed storage above and beyond what an SD card offers. There’s even a special graphics controller chip inside that offloads the graphics workload to the CPU and enables up to four external displays. The DisplayLink graphics controller even makes this feature work on computers like M1 MacBooks, which don’t normally support more than one external monitor.
What you should consider: You’ll need a 100-watt USB-C charger to make it work, and it doesn’t include one.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Dell WD19TB Thunderbolt Docking Station
What you need to know: Consider this high-powered Dell docking station if your laptop requires more than 100 watts to charge at full speed.
What you’ll love: While it’s for Dell’s most power-hungry laptops, it works with most models that require up to 130 watts of Power Delivery. It has a pair of DisplayPort outputs and Thunderbolt 3 and 10-gigabit USB-C data passthrough. It even has both a combination headset jack and a separate audio line out, which are managed by an internal audio processor that helps to get the job done without the interference and CPU hogging that sometimes comes with integrated laptop audio.
What you should consider: It costs quite a bit, especially in light of its relatively low port selection.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Chris Thomas writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/computer-components-br/best-thunderbolt-3-dock/ | 2022-04-15T00:55:10 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/computer-components-br/best-thunderbolt-3-dock/ |
Which nasal decongestant is best?
Whether you’re stuffed up from allergies or are dealing with the common cold, the best nasal decongestants help reduce the symptoms of a stuffy nose. These medicines can help lessen swelling and inflammation, making breathing easier. Nasal decongestants can minimize sniffling and sneezing, and they help you get a good night’s rest.
The best option is the Vicks Sinex Severe Nasal Spray because it works quickly to clear up the nasal passageway for near-immediate relief.
What to know before you buy a nasal decongestant
What are nasal decongestants?
Nasal decongestants are a form of medicine that provides temporary relief for a stuffy or runny nose. It also alleviates sinus pressure and general breathing issues caused by general illness or allergies. They are available at your local pharmacy, and you can purchase them without a prescription. They come in nasal sprays, liquids, pills and drops.
If you are experiencing a runny, stuffy nose due to allergies or a cold, a decongestant could help. But if your symptoms include sneezing, itching or watery eyes, an antihistamine might be more beneficial.
One exception is if you get a medication such as Allegra-D or Zyrtec-D, which is an antihistamine and decongestant combined in one.
How decongestants works
Decongestants shrink swollen tissues and blood vessels through a process called vasoconstriction. This process lessens the inflammation, letting air pass through the nasal passages unhindered. While these medicines provide relief, they cannot cure the root problem. If you want a more long-term solution, connect with your primary care physician for more guidance.
Form
Nasal decongestants come in two main forms:
- Liquid: Nasal sprays, nose drops and liquids come in small portable containers. They sometimes have a bitter taste but are easy to use. For sprays, simply tip the container back into the nasal passage, press the top down and inhale.
- Pills: These take longer to kick in and should be taken with a spray or nose drops for maximum benefit. You can take these with water.
Concerns and side effects
Decongestants are generally safe to take, but you should consult a doctor before if any of the following conditions apply:
- High blood pressure
- Heart conditions
- Thyroid or prostate problems
- Glaucoma
- Diabetes
- You take SSRIs
Some medications cause jitters, rapid heartbeat or difficulty sleeping. Other side effects include nausea, vomiting, dizziness and headaches. If you experience any of these or have an allergic reaction, stop taking the decongestant immediately. If you take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), some oral nasal decongestants can increase your serotonin levels and may put you at risk for serotonin syndrome. Consult your doctor or psychiatrist if you’re unsure if you should take an oral nasal decongestant.
What to look for in a quality nasal decongestant
Active ingredients
Most decongestants have pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine or oxymetazoline as their main active ingredient. These ingredients are typically non-drowsy and target nasal congestion. Some of the most common medicines are Vicks, Sudafed and Silafedrine.
Some medicines, such as Benadryl Allergy and Claritin-D, act as a decongestant and antihistamine. These both contain pseudoephedrine, which can alleviate nasal congestion, watery eyes and other symptoms caused by hay fever or seasonal allergies.
Proper usage
When using any form of medicine, follow the directions listed on the packaging or as provided by your doctor. Generally, it’s safe to take a pill form once every 4-6 hours, with a maximum of four doses each day. With nasal sprays and drops, try to limit them to one to three times a day. You should stop using a nasal spray after three days. Otherwise, you could build up an immunity to it, making the medicine less effective.
Duration of effect
How long it takes for the decongestant to take effect depends on the medicine and person. For example, Afrin’s nasal spray could start working immediately and last between three and 12 hours. Some oral decongestants may take a bit longer to start working.
How much you can expect to spend on a nasal decongestant
Most over-the-counter nasal decongestants, including tablets and sprays, cost around $5-$25. The price range depends on the brand, formula and quantity.
Nasal decongestant FAQ
Should children use nasal decongestants?
A. You should not give cold or cough medicine that contains decongestants or antihistamines to children under 2 years old. These medicines could cause severe or even life-threatening conditions or side effects. For older children, use decongestants sparingly and make sure they’re formulated specifically for them. For example, Children’s Mucinex is safe for kids ages 6 and up.
What are some ways to alleviate congestion naturally?
A. Other options include getting a humidifier, neti pot or taking a steam bath. You should also stay hydrated and try to keep your nasal passages moist, so they remain clear.
What’s the best nasal decongestant to buy?
Top nasal decongestant
Vicks Sinex Severe Nasal Spray
What you need to know: This two-pack of nasal sprays uses a fine mist to provide up to 12 hours of relief.
What you’ll love: These sprays come in 15-milliliter containers and last for approximately 530 sprays each. They’re great for the common cold, seasonal allergies and upper respiratory allergies. They’re also suitable for individuals over the age of 6.
What you should consider: Those trying to manage high blood pressure should consult a doctor before using these sprays, as they can result in higher blood pressure.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top nasal decongestant for the money
Sudafed PE Sinus Congestion Maximum Strength Non-Drowsy Decongestant Tablets
What you need to know: This non-drowsy decongestant comes in pill form and is easy to take with water.
What you’ll love: Available in 18-count, 24-count and 36-count bottles, this medicine provides maximum strength to clear sinus congestion and pressure. It’s recommended for individuals 12 years old and up.
What you should consider: Many feel the newer formula isn’t as effective as the original formula.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Afrin Original Maximum-Strength 12-Hour Nasal Congestion Relief
What you need to know: Offering up to 12 hours of relief, this nasal spray is a great option for tackling congestion related to allergies or the common cold.
What you’ll love: The pump mist design delivers the maximum strength formula easily, and it works quickly. It contains 15 milliliters and can alleviate pressure in the nose, ears and head.
What you should consider: The nozzle for the spray is not very long, so it can be tricky to spray it effectively.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Angela Watson writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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Which coastal throw pillow is best?
Throw pillows add a customizable element to any space, letting you transform the room’s decor with just a few decorative touches.
Coastal throw pillows bring the beach to your couch with ocean-blue colors, nautical stripes and creatures of the sea. They come in various shapes, sizes, designs and materials that determine how to clean and care for them.
If you’re looking for the most versatile and high-quality coastal throw pillow at a reasonable price, go with the set of two Highland Dunes Britton Indoor/Outdoor Throw Pillows.
What to know before you buy a coastal throw pillow
As you shop for these beachy decor elements, consider the shapes and sizes you like and where you plan to use them to help find the perfect pillows for your space.
Shape
These special throw pillows come in square, rectangular and novelty shapes. Examples of novelty pillows include shapes like a starfish, an ocean buoy and a seahorse.
The most common shapes are squares and rectangles, which are easy to layer on a couch, chair or chaise. Because these shapes are more common, there is a wider variety of designs available in those shapes, and they are often less expensive than novelty shapes.
Size
Measurements for coastal throw pillows follow the typical sizes for regular throw pillows. A regular-sized coastal throw pillow measures 18-20 inches tall and wide. You can also find them larger, up to 24 inches tall and wide, or as small as 16 inches tall and wide.
Typically, you want to layer throw pillows with the tallest in the back and the shortest in the front. If you’re looking for a coastal throw pillow to complement your existing throw pillows, consider where you want to place it, then find one that fits the size you need.
Filling
Polyester is the most common and cheapest type of pillow filling. You may also find pillows stuffed with down feathers or hypoallergenic alternatives.
Polyester filling holds its shape longer than down pillows and is safe to use outdoors on a patio, deck or porch.
Indoor vs. outdoor
Both the outer and inner materials determine whether a pillow is safe to use outdoors or not. Consider where you plan to decorate with your coastal throw pillows. If you’re looking for a versatile option, find pillows that can withstand rain and other outdoor elements.
Polyester is the top choice for outdoor decor, as it is inorganic and resists mold and mildew better than organic materials like cotton and hemp.
What to look for in a quality coastal throw pillow
The best pillow features include removable covers, intricate design elements and easy maintenance options.
Removable covers
Some pillows are encased in a cover with a zipper or button closure so you can remove them. Others are manufactured as one unit and cannot be separated from their cover material.
If you want easily washable pillows, find ones with removable covers. Separate covers also let you reuse the inner pillow with varying covers if you prefer to change your decor through the seasons.
The most common material for pillow covers is polyester, followed closely by cotton blends. You can also find covers made of linen or hemp.
Polyester is the most durable material and you can often use it outside. Cotton blends, linen and hemp covers are softer to the touch but generally too delicate to use outdoors. However, if the cover is removable, they are often machine washable.
Embellishments
Coastal throw pillows are an excellent way to add detail and character to your decor. They often feature unique embellishments that stand out from other throw pillows. These can include embroidery, beading, tassels, buttons or other accessories.
These types of embellished pillows tend to cost more. Though they may limit how you can wash the pillow, these embellishments can last a long time.
Maintenance
You don’t need to wash throw pillows as often as the other linens in your home. However, sometimes it can be helpful to choose pillows that are easy to clean.
The easiest option is to look for machine-washable pillows. This includes finding pillows with removable covers that you can toss in the washing machine.
If it’s not machine-washable, look for pillows you can spot clean. If you’re using a detergent or stain remover, check an inconspicuous place on the pillow to confirm it won’t bleed or bleach the cover before using it on the area you need to clean.
When in doubt, you can also hand wash your pillow covers, which will help them keep their same size and shape rather than shrinking in the laundry.
How much you can expect to spend on a coastal throw pillow
Depending on its size and features, you can expect to spend between $15-$60 on a coastal throw pillow.
Coastal throw pillow FAQ
Are coastal throw pillows machine-washable?
A. Possibly. It depends on the material of the cover and pillow filling. Generally, cotton blend materials are safe for washing with the laundry, while polyester pillows should be hand washed. However, be cautious about throwing any covers in the washing machine that have chunky accessories or embellishments on the outside. You may need to turn the cover inside out to wash it. Furthermore, if the cover is removable, you may be able to wash the cover separately from the inner pillow. Check with the manufacturer to confirm whether your specific pillow is suitable for the washing machine.
Can I replace the pillow insert or cover?
A. Yes, if the cover is removable. When buying a throw pillow, consider whether you plan to replace the design. If you’re looking for something versatile, try to find a pillow with a removable cover so you can swap out pillow covers when it’s time to spruce up your space. Similarly, some pillow inserts are more or less supportive than others. If you’d like to replace the insert to make your pillow more comfortable, you’ll need a removable cover. Then, you can shop for a throw pillow insert in the same size and use the same cover on the new insert.
What’s the best coastal throw pillow to buy?
Top coastal throw pillow
Highland Dunes Britton Indoor/Outdoor Throw Pillow, Set of 2
What you need to know: This pair of indoor/outdoor throw pillows features a simple and elegant design on a removable cover.
What you’ll love: These pillow covers feature embroidered waves in varying shades of blue and white. Zipper closures make the covers easy to remove and wash, and the pillow inserts are included. The polyester blend of fabrics makes these pillows perfect for either indoor or outdoor lounging. The pillows measure 20 inches wide by 20 inches tall.
What you should consider: You may need to spot clean the covers as they aren’t machine washable.
Where to buy: Sold by Wayfair
Top coastal throw pillow for the money
Klear Vu Liza Coastal Linen Decorative Throw Pillow, Set of 2
What you need to know: These two throw pillows are a steal and a great way to add a coastal touch to any space.
What you’ll love: The pair of thick striped pillows come in two colorways: blue and taupe. They measure 18 inches wide by 18 inches tall. While the covers are not removable, the polyester and linen blend is safe to use indoors and outdoors. The price is far lower than other coastal throw pillows on the market.
What you should consider: These pillows are not machine-washable.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Nautical Buoy Novelty Throw Pillow
What you need to know: These handmade throw pillows mimic the shape of an ocean buoy, adding unmistakable beach vibes to your home.
What you’ll love: These buoy-shaped pillows measure 15 inches tall by 7 inches wide. They come in three different pattern options of varying coastal stripes. The top of the pillow features a metal grommet and cotton rope. They’re stuffed with polyester filling.
What you should consider: These pillows are spot clean only.
Where to buy: Sold by Etsy
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Which metal wall art is best?
If you want to vary your decorating, a good piece of metal wall art can enliven your space and add some texture. This dynamic alternative helps create some dimension and interest in your interior design.
Finding the right kind of metal wall art depends on your budget, available wall space and taste. But when it comes to decorating a home or office, you can’t go wrong with the sturdy, intricate Dekadron Metal World Map Art.
What to know before you buy metal wall art
Types of metal wall art
Metal wall art comes in all shapes and sizes. It varies from abstract to literal to sentimental. Abstract pieces tend to feature the metal in interesting shapes and designs, whereas literal works use the metal to depict recognizable images or even text.
Modern metal wall art
Metal wall art looks great in all kinds of design schemes. For modern, minimalist and mid-century modern decor, consider simple pieces that highlight the material in the sculpture. These activate the space by creating a focal point for guests in otherwise subdued interiors.
Vintage metal wall art
Vintage and classically inspired styles have a little more room for play. You might want to opt for a symbolic or textual piece in this style, like a metal depiction of flowers or grass. This kind of metal wall art looks great with rustic or boho decor, and iron sculptures of iconic pop culture items shine in an urban or farmhouse design. Text can be a fun way to add a little visual contemporary cheer, and it defines a space around a concept.
What to look for in quality metal wall art
Material
You can find metal wall art in various materials, but the most common are steel and iron. Lightweight, rustproof alternatives to iron and steel include aluminum, copper and brass. These have a glossy finish that reflects natural light, making them great for abstract sculptures. However, light metals do require consistent care as the surfaces can oxidize and tarnish.
Size
Since most metal wall art is three-dimensional, you should make sure you have enough space on and around the wall. You won’t want your wall art to jut out and obstruct your movement or view. It’s best to reserve the larger pieces for big walls, so it has ample room on either side. Smaller pieces are more flexible and can act as textural accents to your decor.
Weight
Metals can get pretty heavy, especially if you’re hanging steel or iron. The larger you go, the more weight you’ll need to support. If you want a statement piece, make sure your walls can take it. Take time to find studs and use heavy-duty anchors. It’s best not to hang them where falling presents a hazard. And if you have kids, hang your metal wall art out of reach, so they aren’t tempted to pull on it.
How much you can expect to spend on metal wall art
Metal wall art varies in cost depending on the material, size and quality. A mass-produced, budget-friendly option usually costs between $15-$70, depending on size. Larger customized pieces cost as much as $80-$400.
Metal wall art FAQ
How do you hang metal wall art?
A. Hanging metal wall art requires a little more finesse than a picture frame. The biggest concern is the weight, and you want to be sure you use the studs on your wall to hang it. When you’re getting ready to hang your metal wall art, make sure you have a drill, stud finder, level and pencil.
How do you care for metal wall art?
A. Powder-coated and finished steel or iron only need to be dusted and occasionally wiped down with a damp cloth. Lighter metals such as aluminum, copper and brass are prone to oxidization, which tarnishes their exteriors. Use a polish specifically formulated to restore their luster without damaging the surface.
What’s the best metal wall art to buy?
Top metal wall art
What you need to know: This silhouetted world map with compass points adds a sense of sophistication to your home or office.
What you’ll love: It’s made from lightweight steel, so you don’t have to worry about it being too heavy for your walls. It’s great for hanging above a desk or mantle, and it has a powder coating to protect it from rust. The world map comes in two sizes: 39 inches by 29 inches and 47 inches by 36 inches.
What you should consider: Some customers received maps with bent arrows due to shipping issues.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top metal wall art for the money
FirsTime and Co. Metallic Leaves Decor Wall Plaque Set
What you need to know: These mirrored slatted leaves can bring energy to contemporary interior design on a budget.
What you’ll love: It offers a boho and rustic aesthetic, creating a modern take on natural imagery. The sturdy coated iron comes in gold, silver and black finishes to create color variation. The frames are shallow, so you don’t have to worry about hanging them over furniture.
What you should consider: These pieces don’t come with hanging hardware.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Statements2000 Aqua Wave 3D Abstract Metal Wall Art
What you need to know: This set of wavy sculptures fills the room with light by reproducing the mesmerizing shimmers of surface water.
What you’ll love: It’s made by artist John Allen and has a contemporary, pop-art vibe that’s sure to be a hit in modern decors. You have your choice of seven colors to match your interior. And it’s made from aluminum, so you don’t have to worry about rust if you hang it outdoors.
What you should consider: Some felt this sculpture was smaller than they expected.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Karl Daum writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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Tips to protect your home
Your home is your greatest investment and a safe place for your most beloved people and possessions. But how can you ensure it’s truly safe?
While securing it can seem daunting, a few key upgrades can make a big difference in making your home safe from intruders. While pricey security systems can be effective, even small investments in your home’s defenses can make a big difference. Low-ticket items like window guards, door stoppers and an extra smart lock can stymie would-be intruders and make it more likely your home will be passed by.
Make your home an inhospitable target
Lighting
Potential burglars rarely make a choice about which home to rob without first assessing the potential difficulty of a break-in. It’s no secret that break-ins generally happen at night. They are aimed at homes that look both like they might have enticing goods to steal and don’t have much security. Doing anything to minimize either of these perceptions can go a long way to deterring would-be robbers.
Lighting is a great first step in making your home look like a hard target. Begin by walking your home’s perimeter at night. Are there dark spots, especially near first-floor windows, where a burglar might work undetected? Are there chairs or other outdoor furniture that might easily be dragged over to a window for easy access?
Even a series of inexpensive, simple solar-powered outdoor lights can remedy this issue. Placed strategically around the home, they will make it look well-tended and too lit up as a potential target.
Security cameras
Security cameras are not a strict security measure in that they only record what’s going on and don’t actively work to stop it. Even so, they can be an important addition to your security plan. Burglars are well aware of the effect of cameras on apprehending criminals and actively avoid them. While first-generation outdoor security cameras were expensive and required professional wiring, today’s options cost much less and can be installed wirelessly. They’re usually powered by either solar energy or batteries.
Vegetation
When you do your nighttime walk-through, be sure to look for how your vegetation causes blind spots near entrances and windows. If you find that any foundation planting is potentially giving cover to a burglar, cut it back or relocate it.
Security system signs
A well-known trick for making a house look like a tougher target is to post security monitoring signs outside the home, even if you’re not actually subscribing to the service. More a psychological trick than an actual security measure, it’s been known to deter crimes of opportunity.
Focus on access points
Windows
Perhaps your home’s weakest points are its windows and the glass in its doors. While glass is necessary and desirable for letting much-needed light into a home, it’s inherently weaker than the wood, metal and stone of other surfaces. It’s usually the way robbers gain access to homes.
There are several things you can do to make your windows harder to break and get through. First, be sure your home’s windows close and lock properly. If they don’t, replacement windows are in order. Beyond that, you can secure first-floor windows with inconspicuous security bars that sit on the inside of your windows. These can prevent your windows from being slid open from the outside in the event you forget to lock them.
To prevent smashed-in windows, coat the inside of the glass with clear security film. It won’t prevent the glass from breaking entirely but will make it hard to smash. At the very least, it will slow a burglar down to the point of making detection far more likely. While it may cut back slightly on the crispness of the view from a window, it’s an inexpensive and highly effective way of preventing people from breaking into your home.
Security alarms on first-floor windows can also be a great investment, as they’ll alert you to any potential intrusion attempts. Some will even alert you on your phone when you’re away from home.
Doors
Hardening doors is another key part of securing your home. Strengthening doors can be expensive, particularly if you choose to replace existing doors with solid core ones that are more difficult to breach. There are lower-cost alternatives that can make a real difference in your door’s strength.
Installing a smart lock can help prevent the most obvious weakness of a door: forgetting to lock it. You can get a smart lock to lock automatically at a certain time of day or gain access to it from an app to lock it remotely. Ensuring your deadbolt is grade 3, the highest available, will also make your door a harder target.
You can also get an indoor security bar, for use while you’re home, which installs on the inside of your door and makes it virtually impossible to kick in. A door barricade will do a similar job.
What you need to buy for securing your home
Defiant 180-Degree White Solar-Powered Motion-Activated Outdoor Integrated LED Flood Light
Installing solar-powered motion-activated lights ensures every part of your home is well-lit. This deters would-be burglars, who prefer to work in darkness.
Where to buy: Sold by Home Depot
Blink Outdoor Wireless HD Security Camera
This camera allows you to get motion detection alerts on your phone and store video of your home when you’re not around. It’s easy to install with no wiring or professional help.
Where to buy: Sold by Home Depot and Amazon
Ring Alarm 8-Piece Home Security System
A good starter, this easy-to-install security system offers window sensors and a motion detector. It’s compatible with Alexa and can be set up with 24/7 monitoring.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
A low-cost way to deter would-be burglars. Most effective when used in conjunction with other “site hardening” techniques like motion-activated lighting and window guards.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Lock-it Block-it High-Impact Plastic White Security Burglar Bar
This easy-to-install, low-cost window burglar bar makes a window impossible to open from the outside, keeping you safe.
Where to buy: Sold by Home Depot
VViViD 8MIL Security Window Film
Installing this window film on the inside of glass accessible from the ground outside your home makes it much harder to smash to gain entry. It goes on easily with a minimum of work and is remarkably effective.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Lock or unlock this from anywhere in the world you’ve got internet access, for the peace of mind that comes from being able to check if your door is locked at any time of the day or night. Pair this with a door motion sensor for added peace of mind.
Where to buy: Sold by Home Depot
Master Lock 265D Door Security Bar
Instantly increase your door’s security with this bar that prevents forced entry by jamming the door from the inside. The simple but effective construction makes it easy to use. Stock up on extras to use in hotels while traveling.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Which healthy cookware is best?
Now more than ever, it’s crucial to pay attention to everything that goes into your body — and not just the food you eat. With some nonstick surfaces getting negative attention for their use of potentially dangerous chemicals, it may be time to re-evaluate what’s in your kitchen cabinets, too.
When you’re ready to replace your old pots and pans with healthy cookware, you’ll need a set that’s safe and functional. The GreenPan Hard Anodized Healthy Ceramic Nonstick Set uses a material derived from sand to create a smooth, nonstick interior surface.
What to know before you buy healthy cookware
Full set vs. individual pots and pans
Whether you are swapping over to healthy cookware or stocking a kitchen from scratch, you’ll need to consider if you’d like to purchase pans individually or start with a set. If your budget is tight, you might lean toward purchasing one or two pans at a time. This also allows you to focus only on the cookware that you use most.
However, a full set of pans is often cheaper than buying each pan individually. This also allows you to instantly build your cookware collection. On the other hand, some cooks purchase a set and then realize that they only use one or two pans. Consider your cooking style and your needs before deciding between a full set or individual pots and pans.
Cook surface
While people with gas and electric stoves take it for granted that every pot or pan that they encounter will work on their cooktop, those with an induction stove know better. Induction stoves use magnets to heat magnetic metals in the pots and pans. For this reason, not every type of cookware will work on an induction cooktop.
Aluminum, glass and copper cookware will not work on an induction stove. If your heart is set on these materials, make sure that they are combined with some sort of magnetic material or they will not heat.
What to look for in quality healthy cookware
Nontoxic
All surfaces should be free of PFAS, PFOA, lead and cadmium. These poisonous coatings can leach into food as it’s cooking. Healthy cookware manufactured without these chemicals is safe even if pans are heated above their oven-safe threshold.
Oven safe
If you typically move from stovetop to oven, you want to make sure your pans are safe to the temperatures you need. Look for oven-safe temperatures to at least 500 degrees.
Lids
While not all pans will come with lids, they are very helpful when cooking food that splatters and splutters on your stove. Some lids are glass for easy viewing, while others are made of stainless steel.
Regardless of the material you choose, check to be sure that they are oven-safe. Many are, but they may not be safe to the same temperature as the pan they cover.
Accessories
Some healthy cookware sets include accessories, too. These might include:
- Slotted spoons
- Serving pieces
- Steamer baskets
- Strainers
Look for accessories that are stainless steel (or labeled as BPA-free if plastic).
How much you can expect to spend on healthy cookware
The price tag depends on the number of pieces you purchase. For a set of 10 or more pots and pans (and accessories), expect to spend $150-$200.
Healthy cookware FAQ
Can’t you just use cast iron?
A. When it comes to healthy cookware, cast iron is one of the best. The main issue with this durable material is that it can be difficult to care for. Pots and pans require occasional seasoning to restore a fading nonstick surface.
Additionally, even the smallest cast-iron pans are very heavy. For cooks with hand pain or difficulty lifting, just getting the pan out of the cabinet can be challenging.
Modern healthy cookware is lightweight and just as safe as cast iron.
How do you care for healthy cookware?
A. Care and maintenance will vary depending on the material of your cookware. Check with the manufacturer’s directions.
In general, most cookware should be hand-washed in hot, soapy water with mild detergent. A gentle plastic scrubbing sponge can be used to remove stubborn dried food, or allow the pan to soak in hot water before cleaning.
Unless the pan is specifically marked, do not clean it in the dishwasher. Hand-washing prolongs the life of your pots and pans and protects the nonstick surface.
What’s the best healthy cookware to buy?
Top healthy cookware
GreenPan Hard Anodized Healthy Ceramic Nonstick Set
What you need to know: This is a great starter set for the beginning home cook.
What you’ll love: It has 11 pieces, including 1- and 2-quart saucepans with covers, a 5-quart covered casserole, two frying pans, a 3-quart covered skillet and a steamer basket. The cookware is safe to 600 degrees (lids to 425) and it’s free of PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium.
What you should consider: These do not work on induction stoves.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top healthy cookware for the money
Farberware Go Healthy Nonstick Cookware
What you need to know: This is a durable set for everyday use.
What you’ll love: QuiltSmart nonstick coating means less fat is needed for food to release easily. It’s free from all toxic coatings and chemicals. This 14-piece set includes not only pots and pans but also cooking utensils like slotted spoons, ladles and grill pans. The lids are glass with riveted handles.
What you should consider: The pots and pans are only oven safe to 350 degrees.
Where to buy: Sold by Macy’s
Worth checking out
Homichef Nickel-Free Stainless Steel Cookware Set
What you need to know: This set is beautiful, functional and affordable.
What you’ll love: This set of 10 pans includes some of the most commonly used pieces, including two covered saucepans, one 7-quart covered stockpot, two covered frying pans and a covered saute pan. It heats evenly and is safe for every type of stove top — including induction burners.
What you should consider: Because they have no nonstick coating, pots and pans need to be seasoned.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Suzannah Kolbeck writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/kitchen-br/cookware-br/best-healthy-cookware/ | 2022-04-15T00:55:47 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/kitchen-br/cookware-br/best-healthy-cookware/ |
Which DeWalt drill is best?
The DeWalt company started in the mid-1920s and has been making drills and more ever since. It has specialty drills for almost any possible need, including right-angle drills for hard-to-reach areas and hammer drills for getting through tough materials. For first-time do-it-yourselfers, it’s hard to go wrong with its standard drill.
The best DeWalt drill is the DeWalt 20-Volt Max Cordless Drill Combo Kit. It includes two types of drill, each with its own battery; a battery charging plate; and a bag to keep it all together.
What to know before you buy a DeWalt drill
Types of DeWalt drill
DeWalt makes many types of drills, but the most commonly purchased are the standard, right-angle, impact and hammer drills.
- Standard drills are the do-it-all drill for the do-it-yourselfer. They’re compatible with a multitude of accessories that let you accomplish the widest range of tasks.
- Right-angle drills are similar to standard drills, except their body curves to 90 degrees. This lets you tackle jobs that would otherwise be impossible.
- Impact drills are also similar to standard drills, except they have much higher torque for handling tough-to-turn nuts and bolts.
- Hammer drills pound forward while rotating to help push your screws and bolts into hard materials such as concrete.
Corded vs. cordless
Corded and cordless drills are the same overall product, but there are a few differences.
- Corded drills don’t have to worry about running out of power, and they’re also able to capitalize on an outlet’s electricity to provide the strongest drilling. The cord does limit your locations, however, and can get in the way.
- Cordless drills use either DeWalt’s “Max” or “FlexVolt” batteries. Max batteries come in either 12- or 18-volt powers while a FlexVolt battery can be switched between 20 and 60 volts of power at will. They can also be combined to reach 108-volt strength, almost as powerful as a corded drill.
What to look for in a quality DeWalt drill
LED light
Some DeWalt drills have LED lights around the tip so you can better see your target. They are surprisingly bright and eliminate the need to balance a light source.
Revolutions per minute
Rpm measures how fast your drill can spin, and most DeWalt drills have variable rpms of 300-1,500. Slow speeds are better for precision, fast speeds for power.
Beats per minute
Hammer drills have a second measurement that relates how many times it will impact your target bpm. The higher the bpm, the better it’s able to drill.
Torque
Torque is a measurement of how powerfully your drill can twist. The harder the material you need to drill into, the more torque you need.
Tool Connect
Some DeWalt drills have Bluetooth compatibility, called “Tool Connect.” This system lets you find misplaced drills around your shop, receive diagnostic information, customize the drill and even render it unusable if it “walks away.”
How much you can expect to spend on a DeWalt drill
Depending on its type and power, DeWalt drills can cost $50-$500. Standard drills are the most affordable, topping out around $150. Right-angle, impact and hammer drills top out around $300, $400 and $500, respectively.
DeWalt drill FAQ
How do I know what parts will work with my DeWalt drill?
A. DeWalt’s website maintains a list of its products, with many including diagrams that precisely show which parts are compatible with which drills.
How do I find authorized repair centers for my DeWalt drill?
A. Again, the DeWalt website has your answers. There, you can find a section where you can input your zip code or city and state to pull up a list of repair centers.
What does it mean when DeWalt drills are designated ‘XR’?
A. DeWalt’s XR tools typically have more advanced systems, such as LED lights with several modes rather than just on/off. They often use less energy, too, so your batteries last at least a little bit longer.
What’s the best DeWalt drill to buy?
Top DeWalt drill
DeWalt 20-Volt Max Cordless Drill Combo Kit
What you need to know: This combo kit is a fresh do-it-yourselfer’s dream.
What you’ll love: The DCD771 drill has a three-speed transmission that can reach up to 450 or 1,500 rpm with 300 unit watts out. The DCF885 drill is ultra-small and lightweight for tackling tasks in hard-to-reach spots and uses a three-LED-light ring to illuminate its target.
What you should consider: It’s a big investment but consumers agree it’s worth the money. A few had issues with low battery life.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
Top DeWalt drill for the money
DeWalt 20-Volt Max Cordless Drill Kit
What you need to know: It’s a simpler kit for simpler tasks.
What you’ll love: The drill is the same DCD771 included in the combo kit, plus it includes two batteries, a battery charging cradle and a carrying case. The drill grips bits tightly using a half-inch single sleeve ratcheting chuck and it has an ergonomic handle.
What you should consider: A few reviewers had issues with batteries failing to charge or failing to hold a charge as long as they should.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
DeWalt 20-Volt Max XR Brushless Drill – Bare Tool
What you need to know: This is an excellent addition for those who already have DeWalt products.
What you’ll love: It uses a brushless motor and a 20-volt two-speed transmission that can reach rpms of up to 550 or 2,000. It’s small at only 6.9 inches long and ultra-lightweight at only 3.4 pounds. The handle is ergonomic, and it has LED lights with several lighting modes.
What you should consider: A few people had issues with the chuck failing to grip bits as it should. Others had problems with high speeds causing uncomfortable vibration in the handle.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
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Jordan C. Woika writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/lawn-garden-br/tools-br-lawn-garden-br/drills-br/best-dewalt-drill/ | 2022-04-15T00:55:55 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/lawn-garden-br/tools-br-lawn-garden-br/drills-br/best-dewalt-drill/ |
Which electric chainsaw is best?
Whether you’re working deep in the woods clearing land or simply cleaning up brush around your home, an electric chainsaw can make a daunting task easier. These environmentally friendly yard tools clear brush and downed trees, and they make short work of other large landscaping tasks.
The Makita-UC3551A Chainsaw has all the power without any gas-guzzling. It’s easy to operate and a good choice for felling trees up to 14 inches in diameter.
What to know before you buy an electric chainsaw
Corded or cordless
Electric chainsaws come in either corded or cordless options.
- Corded: Corded chainsaws are lightweight, rarely weighing more than 5-6 pounds. They are quiet, easy to start and produce zero emissions. On the other hand, they are not as durable as cordless electric chainsaws, and your cutting range is limited.
- Cordless: Cordless, battery-powered chainsaws are also easy to use and don’t give off the emissions you find with gas-powered models. They can also be used out in the bush, away from a power source. But they are heavier than corded models, cost more and need to be charged. Cordless chainsaws are often less powerful than corded.
Bar size
The bar size refers to the length of the metal plate that holds the chain, and it influences the type of cutting you can do with your saw. Most chainsaws designed for residential use have a bar between 12-16 inches. The 12-inch bars are best for cutting brush, bushes and small trees. If you need to cut a slightly larger tree for firewood, a 14-inch bar is your best bet. If you want an all-around tool for all types of wood, a 16-inch chainsaw will do the trick.
Power
Manufacturers measure power in amps. They range from 8-15 amps, and the higher the number, the more power you’ll get. While it’s nice to have extra power occasionally, there’s no sense in spending money for more power unless you’re cutting down trees on a regular basis.
What to look for in a quality electric chainsaw
Auto-oiling
Automatic oiling is a feature that allows you to keep working without the risk of your chainsaw overheating or getting stuck. The only thing you need to do is make sure there is oil in the chainsaw’s reservoir.
Automatic tensioner
You may want an electric chainsaw with an automatic tensioner, which senses when the chain is getting loose and tightens it appropriately. This keeps the chain on the bar and prevents a potentially serious accident.
Ergonomic grip
Cutting wood can be hard on your hands. Look for padded, ergonomic grips to keep you comfortable throughout your work.
Safety features
Operating any kind of chainsaw can be quite dangerous. Safety features like handguards and auto shut-off provide an extra layer of protection.
How much you can expect to spend on an electric chainsaw
The price depends on the brand, size and how much power it has. Expect to spend between $50-$250 on a quality electric chainsaw.
Electric chainsaw FAQ
How do you safely operate a chainsaw?
A. Chainsaws can cut through thick bark and wood incredibly easily. This same power makes them extraordinarily dangerous to work with, but a few safety precautions can help.
- Wear chainsaw chaps or pants: These have a special fabric in the thigh that protects against cuts if a chainsaw slips from a log.
- Wear other safety gear: Other safety gear includes a helmet, eye and ear protection, long sleeves, gloves and steel-toe boots.
- Stay sober: Do not operate a chainsaw under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This includes prescription medication that dulls your reflexes.
- Operate the chainsaw correctly: Do not start the chainsaw when it is resting on your body. Don’t carry it while it’s running or leave it unattended.
- Work with a buddy: Never operate a chainsaw alone.
- Move slowly: Don’t rush. Many preventable accidents occur when chainsaw operators are working too quickly.
What is the largest diameter wood an electric chainsaw can cut?
A. This depends on the size of the bar and the power of the chainsaw. Most chainsaws with a 14-inch bar and 15 amps can easily cut a tree that is 14 inches in diameter.
What’s the best electric chainsaw to buy?
Top electric chainsaw
What you need to know: The power of this saw rivals gas-powered chainsaws of the same size.
What you’ll love: This high-performing chainsaw gets the job done. The rubber grip is comfortable and easy to hold, and the overall operation is straightforward. You can easily check the oil levels through a glass window.
What you should consider: The only downside of this chainsaw is it’s a bit expensive.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
Top electric chainsaw for the money
Worx WG303.1 Electric Chainsaw
What you need to know: This electric chainsaw has some of the same features you’ll find on more expensive models.
What you’ll love: It is an affordable, entry-level chainsaw. It is self-lubricating for smooth operation and features a molded grip for more comfortable use.
What you should consider: Spare and replacement parts are hard to find, and some users report problems with reliability.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
Worth checking out
Black and Decker 40V Max Cordless Chainsaw
What you need to know: This is a good choice for homeowners who want to clear trees and brush in all kinds of conditions.
What you’ll love: The low-kickback bar and chain make cutting smooth and effortless. Chain tension adjusts easily without tools. A front handguard and lock-off button increase safety.
What you should consider: The 12-inch bar might be a little short for big jobs. Users noticed they had to charge the battery often.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
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Suzannah Kolbeck writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/lawn-garden-br/tools-br-lawn-garden-br/saws-br/best-electric-chainsaw/ | 2022-04-15T00:56:02 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/lawn-garden-br/tools-br-lawn-garden-br/saws-br/best-electric-chainsaw/ |
Which scroll saw is best?
Whether you’re trying to develop a new skill or are seeking to invest in more tools to improve your creative business, scroll saws are an excellent addition to your home workshop. Their easy slicing of wood and other materials lets you create fascinating works of art. There are low-powered models for beginners and high-cost and efficient models for professionals.
The best scroll saw is the Jet JWSS-18B Scroll Saw. It has integrated blade storage and a dust port for easy dust management.
What to know before you buy a scroll saw
How it works
Scroll saws hold a short blade between a top and bottom arm that moves up and down at high speeds. The user then slowly pushes their material against the blade to cut out their chosen shape.
Arm types
Scroll saws use one of three arm types: parallel, parallel link and C.
- Parallel arms are the most common. They hold blades nearly vertical and stop moving if the blade breaks.
- Parallel link arms are better but more expensive. They produce little vibration by converting horizontal motion into vertical motion.
- C arms are used in commercial scroll saws. They cut in a slight arc but are dangerous due to their tendency to continue running even if the blade breaks.
Capacity
There are two elements of capacity: throat depth and cut thickness.
- Throat depth is the length between the blade and the back of the saw’s frame. Most have depths of 14-18 inches, but top-of-the-line saws can have depths as deep as 30 inches.
- Cut thickness is rarely different from roughly 2 inches.
What to look for in a quality scroll saw
Speed
Speed is measured in strokes per minute. Today’s scroll saws have variable speeds that let you cut at your own pace or make slicing through any given materials easier. The average range of speeds available is between 400 to 1,600 SPM, with the best saws letting you take advantage of the full range.
Lights
Being able to see what you’re sawing clearly is less about accuracy and more about safety. Better saws include working lights pointed directly at the saw. Others may include separate lights you can position freely.
Hands-free control
If you spend long hours at the scroll saw, you can increase your efficiency by using a foot pedal. These allow you to turn the saw off and on and adjust the speed. Some saws include them, but most need to be purchased separately.
How much you can expect to spend on a scroll saw
Scroll saws can cost anywhere between $100 and thousands of dollars. Entry-level options typically cost $250 or less, while professional models start around $500-$1,000. You can find many excellent models for $250-$500.
Scroll saw FAQ
What is blade tension and why is it important?
A. Blade tension needs to be set just right to cut through wood effectively without damaging the blade, wood and anything else in the blade’s path. It’s set by adjusting the blade tension knob. A blade that’s too loose will bend as you try to cut, leading to a high risk of breaking. A blade that’s too tight can mostly cut as intended, but the high stress will also lead to a high risk of breaking. Blade tension needs to be adjusted the more you use a blade, as it will stretch out from use. With practice, you’ll be able to set blade tension properly, quickly and easily.
Can I cut more than wood with a scroll saw?
A. if you have the appropriate blade, you can cut many other materials. Softer metals such as bronze, aluminum and brass can be cut, but not harder metals like steel and iron. You can also cut plastic and rubber, and even bone.
Where can I find designs to cut out with my scroll saw?
A. In all manner of places, from books to the internet. Scroll saw-focused websites are a great option for finding patterns and connecting to and learning from experienced scroll saw users.
What’s the best scroll saw to buy?
Top scroll saw
What you need to know: This has enough power for a professional without being too much for a beginner to handle.
What you’ll love: The arm can tilt 45 degrees to the left and right, and it has a throat depth of 18 inches. It has a removable dust port and includes an onboard dust blower for simple dust management. It also has adjustable leveling feet and can be hooked up to an optional foot switch.
What you should consider: It’s among the pricier saws. A few consumers were unhappy with the amount of vibration the motor causes.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
Top scroll saw for the money
What you need to know: This is a perfect starter saw. It has variable speed control that can be set between 400 and 1,600 strokes per minute and has a 16-inch throat depth.
What you’ll love: Thanks to the saw’s thumbscrew blade adapter, you can change the blades tool-free. It has a cast iron base, dust port, onboard storage and work light.
What you should consider: Professionals need more power and precision than this saw provides. A few consumers had issues with the work lights starting to strobe.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
Worth checking out
What you need to know: This is a good midrange saw for a more affordable price.
What you’ll love: The blade tension is easily adjustable, and the blades are simple to swap out. It operates smoothly and with little noise, plus consumers found the controls simple to understand. You can purchase it in packages with a stand, a light or both.
What you should consider: A few consumers had issues with the blade alignment becoming off-center. Others had issues with too much vibration at faster speeds.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
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Jordan C. Woika writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/lawn-garden-br/tools-br-lawn-garden-br/saws-br/best-scroll-saw/ | 2022-04-15T00:56:10 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/lawn-garden-br/tools-br-lawn-garden-br/saws-br/best-scroll-saw/ |
‘It’s just a tragedy’: Police identify unhoused people killed in Springfield fire
Springfield police identified the man and woman who were found dead following an April 8 fire that caused a vacant building on Main Street to collapse.
The two deceased victims are Nathan A. McNeill, 54, and Delena R. Chambers, 59, who were both unhoused at the time, according to a Thursday news release by Springfield police Lt. George Crolly.
Police and the Lane County Medical Examiner's Office are still investigating the case. So far the building fire seems to have been set accidentally, Crolly said in the release. He did not specify the cause of death.
Reed Lucas, who owns Time-Travelers Antique Mall and a storage building next door to the burnt building, said he had gotten to know McNeill since he and others started camping behind the row of buildings. Lucas said he was "extremely upset and saddened by the loss." McNeill would sometimes help him with breaking down boxes, Lucas said, and that McNeill was starting to improve his life not long before the fire.
"Just a few days before the fire, he came in, excited about a new job he got, his girlfriend's birthday was coming up, and he actually bought a TV I would've just given him because he was doing so well," Lucas told The Register-Guard while positioning a bucket to catch water dripping into his storage space Sunday. "It's just a tragedy."
Fire closes Main Street:Eugene Springfield Fire responds to burning building in Springfield
Eugene Springfield Fire crews responded around 5 a.m. April 8 to the fire on Main Street between 20th and 21st streets. Crews arrived to find fire venting from the roof, Battalion Chief Dustin Powell said. The structure was once occupied by a business, but was vacant at the time of the fire, officials said.
Several hours after the fire started, investigators learned several unhoused people were camping near the building, Eugene Springfield Fire Deputy Chief Mike Caven said, and two people apparently staying in the encampment hadn't been found.
When firefighters responded, they established the roof was at risk of collapse and extinguished the fire from the outside, Powell said. Firefighters did not enter the burning structure because of the risk, he said.
"In order to keep our people safe from the roof collapsing in on them, we stayed on the outside and set up a defensive fire operation with our two aerial trucks and others with handlines supporting them," Powell said.
The roof on part of the building collapsed during their efforts, Powell said. Investigators found the bodies of Chambers and McNeill in the rubble of one of the buildings that collapsed.
Over the last month, Lucas said it was his understanding the campers had moved from the alley into one of the buildings and started camping there to stay warm. Lucas added that he thinks the three buildings should have been condemned by the city and torn down before the fire happened due to their dilapidated state or fixed up by the owners to prevent the tragedy.
"You could see at the foundation, the wood from the front façade was just bowing out from water damage," Lucas said. "What we thought was going to happen, happened."
One of the buildings that burned down appeared to be a church. The building that was damaged but stayed intact was a barbershop, and another used to be Nortech Computers.
The Springfield Police Department asked that anyone with information regarding this incident call the department at 541-726-3714. Crolly did not return a call seeking comment Thursday.
Louis Krauss covers breaking news for The Register-Guard. Contact him at lkrauss@registerguard.com, and follow him on Twitter @LouisKraussNews. Reporter Adam Duvernay contributed to this article. | https://www.registerguard.com/story/news/2022/04/14/homeless-people-killed-in-springfield-ore-fire-police-identify-nathan-a-mcneill-delena-r-chambers/65350218007/ | 2022-04-15T00:56:13 | 1 | https://www.registerguard.com/story/news/2022/04/14/homeless-people-killed-in-springfield-ore-fire-police-identify-nathan-a-mcneill-delena-r-chambers/65350218007/ |
Which roof snow rake is best?
If your climate is snowy in the wintertime (and sometimes in spring), you know how dangerous snow can be if it accumulates on your roof. All the extra weight can damage your roof, or it may suddenly slide off and hit you, your children or your pets. Roof snow rakes are an effective, simple tool for eliminating these dangers.
The best roof snow rake is the Garelick Aluminum Snow Roof Rake. It’s quite long and wide, plus the wheels protect your roof from scrapes and scratches.
What to know before you buy a roof snow rake
The pole
Roof snow rakes have long poles that extend above your roofline. There are three aspects to consider in a pole: material, length and extension type.
- Material: Most poles are made of aluminum because its lightweight, affordable and resistant to corrosion. Some companies also use fiberglass for roof snow rake poles.
- Length: Most poles can extend as far as 21 feet, while others only go up to 15 feet. Extra-long poles can extend to 24 feet or further.
- Extension: Most poles have segmented or telescoping features. Segmented poles are easier to store since you can break them down completely. Telescoping poles typically have more length control.
The blade
Roof snow rakes also consist of a blade. There are two aspects to consider: the width and material.
- Width: Most blades are roughly 24-inches wide. Some are shorter, around 16 inches. Smaller blades are slightly easier to use, but it takes longer to clear the snow since they cover less ground.
- Material: Most manufacturers make blades out of plastic or aluminum. These are low impact on your roof, lightweight and easy to lift. Some blades use steel, but these are heavy, and there’s a higher risk of harming your roof.
Assembly
All roof snow rakes require some assembly, which is usually limited to securing the blade to the pole and connecting the pole segments. Everything you need for assembly will be in the box, so you shouldn’t need any tools to put it together.
What to look for in a quality roof snow rake
Wheels
Some of the best roof snow rakes have wheels on either edge of the blade. These wheels provide several benefits, the largest being they prevent the blade from coming in direct contact with your roof. The wheels protect your roof from scratches and unintentional damage. It also makes it easier to move the rake up and down the roofline.
Slides
While slides are less common than wheels, some roof snow rakes have slides that wrap around the blade. These slides provide a slick surface for the snow to slide down. They also prevent snow from accumulating in your eaves and gutters.
How much you can expect to spend on a roof snow rake
Roof snow rakes typically cost $40-$100. Budget choices are rarely more than $50, and most midrange rakes cost $50-$80. The best rakes usually cost $100 or more.
Roof snow rake FAQ
Can roof snow rakes damage my roof?
A. Yes. If you don’t use your snow rake properly, you can scratch and damage your roof. Be gentle with the rake and try not to slam it down onto the rooftop. If you’re concerned about this, opt for a roof snow rake with wheels and plastic blades.
Are heated cables a good alternative to roof snow rakes?
A. Unfortunately, heated cables don’t offer the same results as roof snow rakes. Snow rakes scrape and shake off accumulated snow from the entire roof, while heated cables only wrap around your roof’s gutters or eaves. They are also quite expensive. Snow rakes may require more physical effort, but they are more effective in every way.
What is an ice dam?
A. An ice dam forms when the snow melts and drips onto the edge of your roof. It refreezes and continues to accumulate as the snow melts and then freezes again, forming a dam. Eventually, this can start to leak through your roof and into your home. They are a hassle to get rid of once they form, so make sure to scrape off your roof after each snowfall.
What’s the best roof snow rake to buy?
Top roof snow rake
Garelick Aluminum Snow Roof Rake
What you need to know: Perfect for any roof, this snow rake only weighs 6 pounds. The metal is both rust- and corrosion-proof.
What you’ll love: The three-piece segmented pole is 21 inches long. It has a 24-inch-wide blade that never touches your roof, thanks to the set of small plastic wheels.
What you should consider: A few consumers had issues with the wheels rolling incorrectly or breaking. It can also be a struggle to use in heavy snow.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top roof snow rake for the money
What you need to know: The lightweight aluminum telescoping pole on this quality snow rake can extend up to 21 feet.
What you’ll love: The blade head is 16 inches wide and uses a 15-foot-long oxford cloth tarp to guide snow off the roof, so it won’t gather in your eaves.
What you should consider: The tarp makes the rake a bit top-heavy and more difficult to handle.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
What you need to know: This snow roof rake reaches a few inches longer than other rakes. The 24-inch blade can sweep out large swaths of snow, too.
What you’ll love: It’s made of polyethylene to prevent any damage to your roof. The aluminum poles segments are each 5 feet long, and when put together, it only weighs 4.2 pounds.
What you should consider: It isn’t as effective against thick and heavy snowfall. And when you extend to its longest length, it can be a little wobbly and hard to control.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Jordan C. Woika writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/lawn-garden-br/tools-br-lawn-garden-br/snow-tools-br/best-roof-snow-rake/ | 2022-04-15T00:56:17 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/lawn-garden-br/tools-br-lawn-garden-br/snow-tools-br/best-roof-snow-rake/ |
Bottling resistance: King Estate creates Onip wine to help Ukrainian people
When Russia invaded Ukraine, Ed King's first reaction was anger.
Then he started thinking of ways he and his Lane County winery could help the Ukrainian people.
On March 4 King Estate announced it was donating $50,000 to three relief organizations: CARE, Save the Children and Voices for Children, but quickly began asking themselves 'How else can we help?'.
The answer to that question rolled off the bottling line this week as King Estate put the finishing touches on a limited-edition wine called Опір, pronounced oh-peer, which is the Ukrainian word for resistance.
"An artist paints paintings, a photographer takes a picture, and we make wine," King said Thursday morning as a dozen workers bottled and boxed hundreds of bottles of wine in a warehouse at the winery.
The wine is a pinot gris produced from grapes grown on the grounds of the estate along Territorial Highway southwest of Eugene. All of the proceeds from sales will be donated to Ukrainian relief organizations. The project is expected to raise more than $20,000.
The label was designed by Taylor King, King Estate's graphic design manager. TricorBraun, a global packaging company, has donated the glass, pallets and freight, and Tri-S Bottle Printing discounted the cost of printing the labels.
Опір will retail for $22 a bottle, $264 per case, and is sold exclusively through King Estate’s website at www.kingestate.com and in the Tasting Room at 80854 Territorial Highway near Lorane.
The wine will be available beginning April 22.
Accredited relief agencies
Here are nonprofits providing relief to Ukraine and its citizens:
- Direct Relief, directrelief.org/emergency/ukraine-crisis
- Mercy Corps, mercycorps.org/donate/crisis-ukraine-give-now
- International Medical Corps, give.internationalmedicalcorps.org
- Save the Children, savethechildren.org
- UN Refugee Agency, unrefugees.org
- International Rescue Committee, help.rescue.org/donate/ukraine-acq
- World Central Kitchen, wck.org
- Ukrainian Red Cross, redcross.org.ua/en
- Voices for Children, voices.org.ua/en
- CARE, care.org
- The Kyiv Independent, https://kyivindependent.com, a top source of independent, English-language news by reporters who live in Ukraine, relies on philanthropic support to continue its mission.
Contact photographer Chris Pietsch at chris.pietsch@registerguard.com, or follow him on Twitter @ChrisPietsch and Instagram @chrispietsch.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that "estate" in King Estate is singular. | https://www.registerguard.com/story/news/2022/04/14/king-estates-creates-wine-aid-ukraine-lane-county/65350181007/ | 2022-04-15T00:56:19 | 1 | https://www.registerguard.com/story/news/2022/04/14/king-estates-creates-wine-aid-ukraine-lane-county/65350181007/ |
Lane County coronavirus update, April 14: 6 new deaths; average case count rising
The Register-Guard is making this daily update related to the coronavirus free to read. To support important local journalism like this, please consider becoming a digital subscriber.
Lane County Public Health reported 39 confirmed or presumptive new cases of COVID-19 and six new deaths Thursday, raising the countywide case count to 57,569 and the total local death count to 528.
Coronavirus cases had been in a steep decline following the omicron surge, but now cases have begun to slowly rise again. The past week's average new case count is 28. The week before, the average was 25; the week before that, 23
Last week, Lane County Public Health spokesperson Jason Davis warned that many at-home positive tests are going unreported. At-home positive tests can be reported through the county's website.
The county stopped reporting infectious numbers in March and many cases are likely going unreported, so to get a clear idea of how the virus is impacting the community, residents can look toward hospitalization rates.
The number of county residents reported hospitalized for the virus Thursday was 12, up one from Wednesday, with two people in intensive care, up one from Wednesday, and zero on a ventilator, down one from Thursday. Of the 12 people hospitalized, 75%, or nine, are not fully vaccinated.
As of Wednesday, 276,584 people in Lane County — 72.52% of the total population — received first or second vaccine doses with 673,540 doses administered in Lane County, according to the Oregon Health Authority.
As more precautions ease, the county is seeing more cases of influenza. Public health officials are encouraging residents to get their regular immunizations and flu shots, especially ahead of the 2022 World Athletics Championships.
— The Register-Guard | https://www.registerguard.com/story/news/coronavirus/2022/04/14/lane-county-coronavirus-update-april-14-6-new-covid-deaths-us-map-average-case-count-rising-ore/65350217007/ | 2022-04-15T00:56:25 | 1 | https://www.registerguard.com/story/news/coronavirus/2022/04/14/lane-county-coronavirus-update-april-14-6-new-covid-deaths-us-map-average-case-count-rising-ore/65350217007/ |
Best barbecue grills that don’t use gas
Now that gas prices are reaching record levels, there’s never been a better time to invest in a non-gas grill. A large majority of options use charcoal as a heating source, which results in better flavor than gas, especially if you’re cooking meat. You’re not limited to charcoal, though. If you’re willing to spend a little longer cooking, pellet grills are also a viable option, although they work differently than charcoal grills.
Why is charcoal good for grilling?
All grills use both radiant heat and convection for cooking food, but charcoal grills rely on radiant heat more than gas grills do. When you’re grilling meat, the juices absorb the flavor of the meat itself as well as any seasonings on it. As those juices escape the steak, chicken or burger, they drip down onto the layer of red-hot charcoal. Those coals are considerably hotter than the burners and deflectors in gas grills, leading to instant vaporization of the flavorful and aromatic compounds in the juices. Those aromatic vapors then circulate around the meat, imparting their complex flavors.
How to make sure you get the most flavor possible
First, use self-lighting coals or lighter fluid and make sure every coal is fully lit and the flames are completely out.
For best results, give the flavorful vapors plenty of time to get to know the food on the grill. To do this, place the meat on the grill, let it sear lightly and keep the lid closed for a decent amount of the cooking time. The exception to this rule is if you’re cooking for a large group and plan to pack the entire grill with meat. In that case, the full spread of meat helps to trap the smoke all on its own.
Are non-gas grills good for smoking meat?
Charcoal grills and pellet grills are perfect for smoking meat, fish and other foods. To impart wonderfully smoky flavors using a standard charcoal grill, all you need is a smoker box and some wood chips. Just put some high-quality wood in the smoker box, and place it on top of the coals.
Because wood burns so quickly, it’s better to put the smoker box on a slightly cooler section of coals. Don’t put it directly on the bottom of the grill, or it won’t smoke. Contrary to one popular belief, soaking wood chips in water does nothing whatsoever to increase smoke volume or flavor. All the water does is slow down the wood’s combustion. Since the combustion is where the flavor comes from, all soaking wood chips does is slow down the process.
If you’re new to smoking and not familiar with specific wood flavors, consider a variety pack of wood chips to get used to the different flavor profiles.
How do pellet grills work?
A pellet grill consists of a cooking space complete with one or two grilles and a separate smoker box that uses an electric heating element to burn compacted wood pellets. Unlike charcoal grills, pellet grills work almost exclusively with convection instead of radiant heat.
Pellet grills take much of the guesswork out of smoking because their temperature is easy to regulate. However, they don’t get nearly as hot as charcoal grills, so you’ll likely need to sear your meats before or after smoking. Pellet grills also take considerably longer. However, that added time means the end result is usually far more flavorful and tender.
Best non-gas grills
It’s one of the most recognizable, straightforward and affordable options. With proper care, it should last for years.
Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
This is the premium version of the Weber classic. It has a slightly sturdier build plus better ash management and significantly improved ventilation.
Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
Char-Griller E1416 King-Griller
If you don’t need a ton of volume, this compact model lets you make the most out of your coals and wood chips by concentrating the aromatic smoke in a small barrel.
Sold by Amazon
Kamado grills like this one sport thick walls that retain a significant amount of heat and a tightly sealing lid that ensures you don’t lose any valuable flavor.
Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
This kamado grill offers great performance at a reasonable price. It also has a decent amount of workspace for prepping and plating meats.
Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
With 450 square inches of cooking space and surprisingly good build quality, this pellet grill is as good as the ones from more well-known brand names but doesn’t cost as much.
Sold by Amazon
From the original pellet grill manufacturer, this massive smoker is perfect for big parties and boasts the most advanced features available.
Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
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Chris Thomas writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/patio-br/grilling-outdoor-cooking-br/non-gas-grills-to-fuel-your-backyard-barbecue-as-pump-prices-soar/ | 2022-04-15T00:56:25 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/patio-br/grilling-outdoor-cooking-br/non-gas-grills-to-fuel-your-backyard-barbecue-as-pump-prices-soar/ |
A former personal assistant to Amber Heard said she never saw the actress suffer any physical abuse at the hands of then-husband Johnny Depp — but she said Heard once spit in her face when she asked for a higher salary.
Heard descended into screaming fits of blind rage, sent incoherent text messages at 4 a.m. and was often drunk and high on illegal drugs, Kate James testified in a video deposition that was played in court Thursday during the trial for Depp's libel suit against Heard.
Depp, on the other hand, was very calm, almost shy, "like a total Southern gentleman,” James said.
The “Pirates of the Caribbean” actor has accused Heard of indirectly defaming him in a 2018 opinion piece that she wrote for The Washington Post. Heard refers to herself in the article as a “public figure representing domestic abuse.” The piece doesn’t name Depp. But his attorneys argue that it clearly references a restraining order that Heard sought in May 2016, right after Depp told her he wanted a divorce.
Depp denies abusing Heard, but Heard's lawyers say evidence will prove that he did. The actor's denials, they argue, lack credibility because he frequently drank and used drugs to the point of blacking out and failing to remember anything he did.
The video testimony from James offered an inverse view: Depp was the peaceful one, she said, while Heard was frequently intoxicated and verbally abusive, including to her own mother and sister.
“Her poor sister was treated like a dog that you kicked, basically,” James said.
Entertainment News
James, who worked for Heard from 2012 to 2015, said she was paid “very poorly.” She said she was hired with an initial salary of $25 an hour and that her duties ranged from picking up Heard's dry cleaning to talking with the actress's Hollywood agents.
James said she also was tasked with picking up two copies of any magazine that featured Heard and storing them in the garage to prevent Depp from seeing them. Heard went into a “blind rage” when James failed to place the magazines in the garage, James said.
Regarding Heard and Depp's time together, James said Heard was a “very dramatic person” who was deeply insecure in the relationship. Heard often called James to cry and complain about Depp, she said.
“I remember one time she called me when she was alone in New York City, and she was crying and walking around the streets," James said. She said she told Heard to go inside: "I was worried that the paparazzi might take a photo of her.”
Some of the deposition focused on a text message that Depp had sent to James after he and Heard split up. Depp's text read: “Come over for a spot of purple and we'll fix her flabby ass nice and good.”
A lawyer asked if “spot of purple” meant wine and whether “her” meant Heard. James said she didn't want to speculate.
“This is the way he writes,” James said of Depp. “It's very random and you don't sort of question it. ... He writes in a very abstract way.”
Lawyers also presented a video deposition of Laurel Anderson, a couple’s therapist who worked with Heard and Depp in 2015, when they were ages 29 and 52, respectively.
Anderson said both suffered childhood abuse. As a couple, they were engaged in “mutual abuse," she testified.
Heard’s father beat her, Anderson said, adding, “It was a point of pride to her if she felt disrespected to initiate a fight.”
Heard would also rather be in a fight with Depp than see him leave, and “would strike him to keep him there,” Anderson said.
The therapist recalled a time when Heard told her that Depp “was ‘stepping up,’ as she would say, on a lot of drugs."
“And she slapped him because he was being incoherent and talking about being with another woman,” Anderson said. She noted that Depp’s mother was in the hospital at the time.
Anderson said Depp told her that Heard “gave as good as she got.” She also said that in at least one session in which she saw Heard alone, the actress told her that Depp hit her. She said Heard showed her bruises, both in photos and in person.
Anderson said Heard also told her that Depp at one point allegedly said, "No one likes you. You’re getting fame from me. I’m falling out of love with you. You’re a whore.”
Anderson also said that Heard’s “jackhammer style of talking” and habit of cutting off Depp overwhelmed him.
Heard “wanted to want to divorce” but also didn't, and was still figuring out what to do, Anderson said. “She loved him. He loved her. She wasn’t stupid. She knew that what they were doing wasn’t healthy.”
Both Depp and Heard are expected to testify at the trial in Fairfax County Circuit Court, scheduled for six weeks, along with actors Paul Bettany and James Franco and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk.
__
This story has been edited to correct a word in Anderson's quote to “jackhammer," not “chat-hammer." | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/therapist-depp-and-heard-had-relationship-of-mutual-abuse/3647348/ | 2022-04-15T00:56:27 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/therapist-depp-and-heard-had-relationship-of-mutual-abuse/3647348/ |
Former Ducks football player's injuries result of 'idiotic culture of toughness,' attorney argues
The NCAA has refused for decades to protect athletes from coaches who "are willing to squeeze the last ounce of competitive juice out of student athletes," an attorney for former Oregon Ducks football offensive lineman Doug Brenner argued during opening arguments in a civil trial that began Tuesday.
"The tragic irony in all of this is that it doesn't work," Greg Kafoury said of workouts that push athletes and cause overexertion. "Beating these guys down doesn't make them strong, doesn't make them good players. (It) hurts them and weakens them. But it's all part of this idiotic culture of toughness."
Kafoury and others from his firm are representing Brenner in his lawsuit against the NCAA for $100 million. That lawsuit, currently going through a civil trial before a jury in Lane County Circuit Court, also makes a $25.5 million claim for pain and suffering and past and future medical expenses against the University of Oregon, former football coach Willie Taggart and former strength coach Irele Oderinde stemming from a series of controversial workouts in 2017.
The lawsuit and Brenner's attorneys say players were required to perform hundreds of pushups and up-downs without rest and were denied water during the first day of conditioning as coaches told them to keep at it and said if they stopped, they were quitting on their teammates and the team.
Shortly after he arrived in Eugene in late 2016, Oderinde was suspended for one month without pay following the hospitalization of Brenner, fellow offensive lineman Samuelu Poutasi and tight end Cam McCormick after workouts he led.
All three players were diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a potentially life-threatening condition in which muscle tissue breaks down and is secreted through urine. Poutasi filed a similar lawsuit as Brenner but settled just before the trial was set to begin, and McCormick chose not to file a lawsuit.
Attorneys for Brenner and for UO, the former coaches and the NCAA agree the workouts were strenuous and led all three players to be hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis.
But they don't agree who is responsible for the hospitalizations, how much burden falls on Brenner himself, the extent of his injuries and whether it had any impact on his professional football prospects.
Previous coverage:
-Lawsuits bring renewed scrutiny to UO workout response
-Former Ducks football players suing University of Oregon, NCAA for $125 million in damages
Will Stute, one of the NCAA’s lawyers, acknowledged "mistakes were made."
But he and Stephen English — an attorney representing Taggart, Oderinde and UO — argued Brenner shares responsibility for his “serious but temporary” injuries.
An associate athletic trainer requested that Brenner “modify his workouts” after the first day, English said, but declined to do so.
Witnesses, though, will testify that Brenner "ain't quitting for nothing, no matter what," Kafoury said.
He stressed the lawsuit is not about judging people, but rather about policy that fails to protect players from a culture that creates "relentless" pressure to "win at all costs."
"This isn't a good guy-bad guy contest, but there is evidence about conduct, which needs to be understood," Kafoury said.
Yet Stute argued organizations "can't prevent everything with words on the page."
He laid out aspects of the NCAA’s legislative process, which he said ultimately is at the behest of its member schools. The schools, he said, are directly responsible for the health and safety of their athletes.
Even if the NCAA’s guidelines related to rhabdomyolysis were made into bylaws, Stute said, it would make “no difference” in the organization’s ability to prevent college athletes from overexerting themselves.
Over the next few weeks, attorneys on both sides will try to convince jurors their arguments are legitimate as they question medical experts, university and NCAA officials and other witnesses.
Contact city government watchdog Megan Banta at mbanta@registerguard.com. Follow her on Twitter @MeganBanta_1. | https://www.registerguard.com/story/sports/2022/04/15/lawsuit-oregon-ducks-football-doug-brenner-rhambdo/65350184007/ | 2022-04-15T00:56:31 | 0 | https://www.registerguard.com/story/sports/2022/04/15/lawsuit-oregon-ducks-football-doug-brenner-rhambdo/65350184007/ |
Choosing the best doghouse for summer
Doghouses come in many shapes and sizes, so what works for one breed of dog won’t work for another. Some also come with features, such as windows for ventilation or an overhang for extra shade, that make them better for hot days. Whatever style of doghouse you choose, make sure it has what your pet needs and can protect it from the elements.
What to know before you buy a doghouse for summer
Coverage
According to PetMD.com, heavy exposure to ultraviolet light can cause your dog to get a sunburn. This is generally characterized by red, dry or cracked skin. In severe cases, it could lead to hair loss, skin ulcers or skin infections.
Choose a doghouse that offers enough coverage to protect your dog from the sun. Make sure it doesn’t have large gaps in the roof or along the sides so the sun doesn’t get in.
Material
The main structure of most doghouses is either wood or plastic. Some also use insulating materials such as foam to keep the internal temperature consistent on hot days.
- Wood is best if you live in a humid environment, as it breathes well and prevents moisture from building up. If it’s coated with epoxy, it should also be resistant to wear and tear from the wind, rain or falling debris.
- Plastic is ideal in places with low to moderate levels of humidity. It’s also usually more durable than wood. Plus, it is easier to clean, making it convenient for people with dogs that track mud in.
If it rains a lot in the summer where you live, consider getting a specialty doghouse. Those that use asphalt or stainless steel in the roof and exterior are effective at keeping water from coming in.
Design
Most doghouses have a slanted or A-frame roof, though some have a dome shape or flat roof. In terms of design and color, there are many options. For example, one doghouse might have a dark green roof and trim with beige sides. Another could look similar to a wood cabin or have a lot of open space for natural lighting and airflow.
Size
A doghouse should be large enough for your pet to comfortably stand up, lay down and turn around in. The dog should also be able to stretch without hitting the sides of the structure. If the doghouse is too small, it could cause your pet undue discomfort or stress.
If you’re not sure what size to choose, start by measuring your dog from the base of its tail all the way to the tip of its nose. Multiply this measurement by two to find the length of the house. Then, multiply it by three for the width.
Next, when the dog is standing upright, measure it from its paw to the top of its head. Multiply this number by 1.75 to get a good baseline of how high the ceiling should be inside the house.
For the door size, use a tape measure to determine the distance from the ground to the top of your dog’s shoulder. Also, calculate the width across its chest. Add a few inches if your pet is still growing or has trouble with small spaces.
If you plan to add a dog bed or let your pet bring dog toys into the house, account for that when determining which size doghouse to get.
Airflow
Traditionally, doghouses let air in through the front door. However, many modern models also feature air vents on the sides, back and above the door for extra ventilation.
Having proper airflow and ventilation is important considering the doghouse is meant for summertime use. Not only does it keep odors down, but it can also keep your pet cool on hot days.
Best doghouses for summer
Petsfit Weatherproof Wooden Outdoor Doghouse
Available in light gray, red and yellow, this wooden outdoor doghouse is a great choice for almost any breed. It comes in three sizes, making it ideal for puppies or adult dogs. It has spruce panels and asphalt shingles for significant weather protection. Plus, if you use the adjustable feet, it has nice airflow through the base. The weight limit is 80 pounds.
Sold by Amazon
Destar Durable Waterproof Plastic Pet Doghouse
This doghouse comes in two height options, 28 inches and 33 inches. It features two vents, one at the front and one at the back, that dissipate hot air and let the wind in. It’s constructed from tough polypropylene plastic and has a raised floor to keep it off the dirt. It’s best for medium or small breeds.
Sold by Amazon
Made from plastic, this doghouse comes in three sizes and has an elevated floor. It also boasts a built-in ventilation and drainage system. Plus, it’s easy to assemble without tools.
This option constructed of resin material is highly durable, making it great for outdoor use. It comes with several vents that help circulate the air, and the roof is thick enough to keep out the sun’s rays. The crowned floor has a channel around the edges to capture any water that makes its way inside.
Sold by Home Depot and Amazon
MidWest Homes For Pets Eillo Folding Outdoor Wood Doghouse
This wooden doghouse comes in three sizes, as well as three insulation kit sizes, and is a solid option for anyone who wants something well ventilated. It has an elevated base that increases the overall airflow and prevents water from getting trapped beneath it. It also has strategic gaps in the floor for additional cooling.
Trixie Small Natura Classic Outdoor Doghouse
This smaller doghouse comes in four sizes and is made of wood, metal and plastic. It has asphalt shingles for additional protection from the rain and wind. Plus, it comes with elevated plastic feet that provide extra ventilation from below.
Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
New Age Pet Ecoflex Bunk Style Doghouse
Constructed from nontoxic recycled plastic-wood polymer composite, this durable doghouse is ideal for dogs that weigh under 150 pounds. It is weatherproof, easy to clean and has an elevated floor.
Sold by Home Depot
Petmate Precision Extreme Outback Log Cabin Doghouse
Available in three sizes, this doghouse features a raised floor and a slanted asphalt roof that provides a great deal of protection from ultraviolet light. It’s a combination of wood and stainless steel, so it’s durable enough for most environments. It’s also lightweight enough to move around.
Sold by Amazon
A 4 Pet Outdoor Wooden Doghouse With Hinges
This option features a roof that can be opened for easy access to the inside. It’s made from stained wood and stainless steel. Plus, it has durable asphalt shingles. It’s also elevated for extra airflow on hot days.
Sold by Amazon
This elevated doghouse consists of breathable, water-resistant materials and has a tent-like design. It offers great air ventilation at the top and is lightweight.
Sold by Amazon
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Angela Watson writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/pets-br/housing-furniture-br/which-doghouse-is-best-for-summer/ | 2022-04-15T00:56:32 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/pets-br/housing-furniture-br/which-doghouse-is-best-for-summer/ |
The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday authorized the first Covid-19 test that uses breath samples.
The InspectIR COVID-19 Breathalyzer test has to be done by a trained operator, but the FDA said it can provide a result in around three minutes.
The test detects chemicals associated with the virus that causes the disease in a breath sample, and if it’s positive it should be followed up by a molecular test, the agency said in a statement.
“Today’s authorization is yet another example of the rapid innovation occurring with diagnostic tests for Covid-19,” Dr. Jeff Shuren, director of FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said in a statement.
The test uses equipment about the size of a piece of carry-on luggage. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/coronavirus/fda-authorizes-first-covid-19-breath-test/3647305/ | 2022-04-15T00:56:33 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/coronavirus/fda-authorizes-first-covid-19-breath-test/3647305/ |
Oregon Ducks men's basketball signs standout junior college guard Brennan Rigsby
Oregon men’s basketball recruit Brennan Rigsby has made his verbal commitment to the Ducks official.
Coach Dana Altman announced Thursday the signing of the standout junior college guard, who last month led Northwest Florida State College to the NJCAA national title.
Rigsby (6-foot-3, 180 pounds) averaged 11.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 33 games as a freshman last season. He scored 24 in the championship game, making 9-of-14 from the field and 4-of-7 from the 3-point line.
He has three years of eligibility remaining.
“Brennan has really grown as a player and we can’t wait to get him on campus,” Altman said. “We believe Brennan will work hard to continue to develop as a student-athlete and has a very bright future.”
Northwest Florida State College has been a fertile recruiting base for Altman, as former Oregon standouts Chris Duarte and Elgin Cook also played for the Raiders before becoming Ducks.
Rigsby joins an incoming class that includes a pair of five-star freshmen in point guard Dior Johnson and center Kel’el Ware, as well as guard Tyrone Williams, who was the top scorer in junior college last season at 27.7 points per game.
The Ducks, who finished the 2021-22 season with a 20-15 record, have already experienced some roster turnover this offseason with reserve centers Franck Kepnang and Isaac Johnson entering the transfer portal.
The starting backcourt lost senior Jacob Young but will return De’Vion Harmon. Point guard Will Richardson, who still has a season of eligibility, hasn’t formally announced his plans for next year.
Follow Chris Hansen on Twitter@chansen_RG or email atchansen@registerguard.com. | https://www.registerguard.com/story/sports/college/basketball/2022/04/14/brennan-rigsby-oregon-ducks-uo-mens-basketball-guard-northwest-florida-state-college-njcaa-title/65350223007/ | 2022-04-15T00:56:37 | 0 | https://www.registerguard.com/story/sports/college/basketball/2022/04/14/brennan-rigsby-oregon-ducks-uo-mens-basketball-guard-northwest-florida-state-college-njcaa-title/65350223007/ |
Why and how players tape their lacrosse stick
Whether it is refusing to wash a particular piece of your uniform or eating the same food before every game, athletes have more than their fair share of superstitions. However, taping your lacrosse stick before playing is not one of them. While some players do it ritualistically to help center their focus before a game, if you want to play your best, it’s a necessity.
For it to be effective, however, it must be done the right way.
Why tape a lacrosse stick?
In sports such as baseball, basketball, football and rugby, ballhandling is a major factor in determining a player’s quality. In lacrosse, however, except for the goalkeepers, athletes never touch the ball with their hands. Instead, these players are rated according to their stickhandling capabilities. If a player cannot get a firm grip on their stick, they won’t be in full control of the lacrosse ball.
A lacrosse stick is a thin, hollow piece of lightweight metal or carbon fiber. They are often very smooth. Even textured lacrosse sticks can be difficult to hold and control when you’re wearing gloves or there is some precipitation.
To combat this inherent slickness, players carefully wrap the bottom portion of their stick in lacrosse tape — though athletic tape will work just as well. The wrapping gives the player the confident grip they need to perform best.
Benefits of taping a lacrosse stick
The main benefit of taping your lacrosse stick is to provide extra grip. However, there are a few other benefits of taping your lacrosse stick.
- Ritual: Taping your lacrosse stick before a game can be a ritualistic activity that helps a player mentally prepare. It puts them in the moment, gets them focused on the upcoming competition and can help them relax.
- Power: If you have a firmer, more confident grip, you can apply more power to your shots.
- Moisture: If the weather turns bad, any player who has tape on their stick has an immediate advantage.
- Positioning: If you tape your lacrosse stick, you know where to put your hands without even looking. Beginners can use tape so they know where to place their hands when holding, catching and shooting.
The standard way to tape a lacrosse stick
The most popular way to tape a lacrosse stick is to start at the butt end of the stick with one straight wrap. On the second wrap, start spiraling the tape up the shaft.
On each turn, overlap the tape slightly — by a quarter- to a half-width — making sure there are no gaps in coverage. As you wrap, keep the tape tight and even. Continue doing this until you get a quarter way up the stick.
Finish with a couple of straight turns. This is called a standard quarter wrap. If you prefer a longer grip area, you can wrap to your preference, although most players do not go beyond half the shaft. This is called a half box wrap.
Two other lacrosse stick taping styles
While these methods are not nearly as popular, you can use a candy-cane wrap or a crisscross wrap.
- Candy-cane wrap: Start and finish the same way you would for a standard wrap. However, leave a gap between tape passes so your stick looks like a candy cane.
- Crisscross wrap: Perform a candy-cane wrap, then repeat in the opposite direction to create a crisscross pattern on your stick.
Tips for taping your lacrosse stick
- To get the best adhesion, clean your lacrosse stick before applying tape.
- Always start at the butt of the stick.
- Be patient when wrapping to make sure the tape lies flat on the stick.
- If you do not like a tacky feeling, don’t wrap your stick just before a game. If you want to remove some of the tackiness, wear gloves and hold the stick tightly while twisting in the direction of the spiral wrapping. This should remove some of the adhesive.
- To get the smoothest application, after wrapping your stick, briefly run a hair dryer over the tape and press down on the edges. This should eliminate any fraying.
What you need to buy to tape a lacrosse stick
Lizard Skins DSP Camo Lacrosse Wrap
This lacrosse tape is patterned to create an enhanced grip. It features a camo design so you can add a personal flair.
Where to buy: Sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods
This two-pack is a good value for people who use a lot of tape. It is precut for players who prefer using thinner strips of tape.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Dick’s Sporting Goods
This roll of lacrosse tape is precut in 1-inch and half-inch bands. It’s an affordable way to get the job done.
Where to buy: Sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods
If you prefer wrapping your stick in something other than white tape, this black tape is an appealing alternative. It’s precut for the player’s convenience.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Allen Foster writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/sports-fitness-br/lacrosse-br/how-to-tape-a-lacrosse-stick/ | 2022-04-15T00:56:40 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/sports-fitness-br/lacrosse-br/how-to-tape-a-lacrosse-stick/ |
New York approved 52 licenses Thursday that will allow hemp farmers to get a head start on growing marijuana for the state's upcoming adult market.
The state Cannabis Control Board approved the licenses under a recent law that allows hemp cultivators to grow marijuana for the legal recreational market for two years. Hemp is a type of cannabis plant with lower levels of THC, marijuana’s active ingredient.
The granting of the licenses now means farmers will be able to take advantage of this year's growing season and harvest in October, said Allan Gandelman, a Cortland-based hemp grower and the president of the New York Cannabis Growers and Processors Association.
“We have a narrow window here. Most people are planting cannabis in our area around May and June. So we’re pretty much there,” said Gandelman, who received a license.
The farmers will be limited to one acre of flowering canopy outdoors or a little more than half that space in a greenhouse. They also can split between outdoor and greenhouse grows.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has said the so-called conditional cultivation licenses will help “jump-start” what’s expected to become one of the nation's largest legal marijuana markets. While New York legalized recreational use of marijuana for adults a year ago, statewide retail sales appear months off.
State officials have said initial sales could begin by the end of the year under a program providing the first licenses to people affected by marijuana-related convictions. Regulations for the entire adult-use market are expected this summer.
The law requires licensees to provide training for people of color, women, disabled veterans and others the state terms social equity applicants.
“New York’s farms have been the backbone of our state’s economy since before the American Revolution, and now, New York’s farms will be at the center of the most equitable cannabis industry in the nation,” Hochul said in a prepared release. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nys-first-marijuana-growing-licenses-go-to-52-farmers/3647327/ | 2022-04-15T00:56:41 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nys-first-marijuana-growing-licenses-go-to-52-farmers/3647327/ |
Which garden gloves with claws are best?
Digging in the dirt is one of life’s great pleasures. Whether you farm for a living or harvest microgreens from a container garden on a tiny urban balcony, growing your own plants is deeply satisfying. What is not so satisfying is digging the dirt out from under your nails or patching up tiny cuts caused by stray debris in the soil.
Protecting your hands with garden gloves goes well beyond preserving your perfect manicure, and if you want to dig in packed soil you’ll need some garden gloves with claws. Nnbb Garden Gloves With Claws are comfortable and really turn the soil over.
What to know before you buy garden gloves with claws
Material
Gardening gloves come in a wide variety of materials, including:
- Leather
- Plastic
- Fake leather
- Cotton
While it is possible to find them in other materials, garden gloves with claws come most often in a flexible combination of latex and plastic. The gloves are thick, waterproof latex, and the claws are made from plastic.
Comfort
Even though the primary use of garden gloves with claws is to protect your hands as you dig deeply into the soil, you’ll want to also consider your comfort. Since most of these gloves are made with plastics, things can get sweaty fast.
What to look for in quality garden gloves with claws
Before purchasing gloves, consider how often you garden and for how long. This will determine what features are most important for you.
Breathable
Since most people garden in warmer weather, look for breathable gloves to keep things cool. Some garden gloves with claws feature breathable, stretchy fabric on the back of the hand.
Multiple sizes
It should go without saying that your gloves should be comfortable, but some gardeners suffer through their chores in poorly fitted gloves. Some gloves labeled one-size-fits-all may prove too large or small. If you have had trouble with poorly fitting gloves in the past, stick to kinds with more size options.
Adequate length
Don’t waste your money on garden gloves that stop at the base of your hand. These will not offer protection from sharp sticks or brambles as you dig in dirt. The best garden gloves with claws have cuffs that extend at least 3 inches past the base of your hand. This also lets you tuck them neatly into a long-sleeved shirt — a good thing when you’re working in an area with poison ivy.
Removable claws
With removable claws, you can turn any pair of gardening gloves into a digging machine. And because the claws are so sturdy, chances are good you’ll wear out your gloves before the claws are done. If they are removable, simply transfer them to another pair.
How much you can expect to spend on garden gloves with claws
This is one of the most affordable pieces of safety gear you’ll ever buy. A pack of two or more pairs costs $10-$40.
Garden gloves with claws FAQ
Do you have to wear gloves when you garden?
A. It’s entirely optional. However, even the cleanest soil can harbor dangerous bacteria. The most common is toxoplasmosis, which is a bacteria found in animal feces. Most gardeners will not contract a serious infection when coming into contact with toxoplasmosis. However, if you are pregnant or immunocompromised, it can be quite serious.
Wearing gloves in the garden also protects your hands from scrapes, scratches and cuts. If you are working in a reclaimed garden area, you won’t have to worry about coming into contact with sharp debris.
Can garden gloves with claws go in the washing machine?
A. It depends on the material. Leather garden gloves should not, but other materials may be washer-safe. Leather gloves can be wiped clean with a damp paper towel, then conditioned using a leather soap or conditioning cream. Check the label on your gloves for care instructions.
If the claws are removable, they can likely be rinsed with hot water.
What are the best garden gloves with claws to buy?
Top garden gloves with claws
What you need to know: These are no-frills gloves that get the job done.
What you’ll love: These one-size-fits-all gloves are unisex, waterproof and flexible. The latex is resistant to cuts and rinses off easily. They come with a carrying case and their bright green color is easy to spot if you drop them.
What you should consider: Latex isn’t breathable, so if you’re working in hot weather, hands can get sweaty.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top garden gloves with claws for the money
What you need to know: With this pack you can buy a pair of work gloves for every gardener in your family.
What you’ll love: They’re unisex and come in small, medium and large. There are five pairs of gloves and two sets of claws (eight claws total). Palms and fingers are made of eco-friendly latex foam. A longer cuff protects wrists.
What you should consider: These run large, and even the small sizes may not fit very petite gardeners.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
What you need to know: Use a pair and keep a spare — each set has its own claws.
What you’ll love: The gloves are puncture-resistant on the palms and fingers, and the claws are durable plastic. Stretchy fabric on the back of the hand keeps things cooler. They come in three colors and rinse clean. The claws can be removed and used on other gloves too.
What you should consider: Some users report that these gloves run large. Measure your hands carefully and check the glove measurements before purchasing.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Suzannah Kolbeck writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/tools-br/best-garden-gloves-with-claws/ | 2022-04-15T00:56:47 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/tools-br/best-garden-gloves-with-claws/ |
Former Democratic political donor Ed Buck who supplied drugs to two men who overdosed in his West Hollywood apartment was sentenced Thursday to 30 years in federal prison.
Ed Buck, 67, was convicted last year of nine felony counts stemming from the deaths of Gemmel Moore and Timothy Dean.
In a sentencing memorandum, federal prosecutors said he lured young Black men who were often experiencing homelessness, addiction, and/or poverty to his apartment for sexually charged sessions in which he would inject them with methamphetamine and drug them with sedatives, with and without their consent.
Before he was sentenced, Buck spoke briefly to U.S. District Judge Christina A. Snyder, and he apologized "for my part in the tragic deaths of Gemmel and Timothy.''
"These are men I cared for and loved,'' Buck said. "I did not cause their deaths.''
He asked Snyder to "look at the good in my life,'' saying he is not the "meth-fueled ax killer'' the government portrayed him to be.
Snyder called the case "one of the most difficult and tragic'' she has ever presided over.
"These lives mattered,'' she said. "What happened here was reprehensible conduct.''
Moore and Dean died of methamphetamine overdoses 18 months apart -- Moore in July 2017 and Dean in January 2019.
After less than a day of deliberations on July 27, 2021 -- the four-year anniversary of Moore's death -- a federal jury in downtown Los Angeles found Buck guilty of all charged counts.
Buck solicited his victims in various ways, including using social media platforms, dating and escort websites, or via referrals from prior victims, including individuals he hired to do other work for him, offering a finder's fee for referrals, evidence showed.
Buck -- who has donated more than $500,000 to mostly Democratic causes and served in 2016 as one of California's Electoral College members -- was convicted of two counts of distribution of controlled substances resulting in death.
He was also found guilty of enticing Moore and another man to travel to Los Angeles to engage in prostitution; knowingly and intentionally distributing methamphetamine; and using his West Hollywood apartment for the purpose of distributing narcotics such as methamphetamine, and the sedatives gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and clonazepam.
Prosecutors said Buck caused the deaths as a result of his ``fetish'' for injecting men with increasing doses of methamphetamine until they became comatose. The defense countered that the victims suffered from serious medical conditions that ended their lives.
Buck declined to testify in his own defense.
Over the course of the two-week trial, federal prosecutors called more than 20 witnesses, including four men who told of smoking methamphetamine that Buck provided and then being pressured to allow the defendant to inject them with the drug.
An acquittal motion argued that the only evidence that Buck distributed methamphetamine and other drugs at his apartment was bolstered by "the testimony of a parade of financially motivated houseless individuals'' and drug addicts and should not have been believed, defense attorneys said.
Snyder denied the motion last week. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/ed-buck-sentenced-political-donor-gemmel-moore-timothy-dean/3647353/ | 2022-04-15T00:56:49 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/ed-buck-sentenced-political-donor-gemmel-moore-timothy-dean/3647353/ |
Choosing the best air mattress for guests
When guests come to stay, finding a good spot for them to sleep can be a challenge. A quality air mattress offers more comfort and support than they’d get sleeping on a couch, plus there’s more flexibility over where you set it up.
You want your guests to have a comfortable stay, which is why it’s all the more important to choose a decent air bed. Ample support is vital for stays of more than a night or two, and picking one that doesn’t leak air significantly will keep your guests from waking up on the floor.
Do you need an air mattress for guests?
It’s a great option for anyone who wants to host guests but doesn’t have a spare room. Even if you do have a spare room, there may be times when you have more guests than beds, for instance, if your whole family descends on you at Thanksgiving. While adults can certainly sleep on air beds, they’re also ideal for kids’ sleepovers.
If you don’t feel comfortable asking guests to sleep on an inflatable mattress, you can always be the one to sleep on it, relinquishing your bed to your guest. That said, quality mattresses of this kind are comfortable.
Air mattress features
- Single-height vs. double-height: Single-height mattresses measure around 9 inches tall, while double-height ones measure roughly 16 to 24 inches tall. Single-height versions are affordable and quick to inflate. Double-height versions are more comfortable, especially for anyone who finds it hard to get down to and up from the floor, and you aren’t left touching the floor if they deflate a little during the night.
- Built-in pump: Many air beds meant for home use have built-in pumps. These pumps have power cords that you simply plug into an outlet for quick and easy inflation. Some even monitor air levels and top the mattress up during the night if necessary when you leave them plugged in.
- Size: You can choose sizes from twin to king. Twin and full sizes are great for people sleeping alone, while queen and king sizes are best for two adults sleeping in the same bed. Full mattresses can just about accommodate two adults if they don’t mind getting cozy, but it’s a better choice for a single adult or a couple of kids.
- Air coils: Air coils or air beams are reinforced areas inside the mattress that help provide even support. They’re especially important in double-height versions, as they’re prone to sagging in the center without air coils.
Best air mattresses for guests
Top single-height air mattresses
Intex Dura Beam Pillow Rest Classic Air Mattress
A great choice for tight spots or people without much storage space, this compact twin air bed packs down small and is quick to inflate with its built-in pump. The flocked top and raised pillow rest end create a comfortable sleeping surface.
Sold by Amazon
Active Era Luxury Air Mattress
While this one doesn’t have a built-in pump, an electric pump is included for quick and easy inflation. It’s available in either twin or queen sizes.
Sold by Amazon
Aria Queen Inflatable Air Mattress
Thanks to the built-in battery pump, this inflatable mattress is just as well-suited to camping as it is to providing a bed for guests. It also has inflatable pillows. The flocked top is not only comfortable if your guest sleeps directly on it, but it also keeps sheets from slipping if you choose to use them.
Sold by Amazon
Coleman EasyStay 4-N-1 Air Bed
This air bed straddles the line between single-height and double-height. You can use it in single-height mode as two twin mattresses or one king mattress. You can also configure it as a single twin double-height mattress.
Sold by Amazon
Intex Dura-Beam Standard Single-High Air Bed Series
With its internal contoured support system, this mattress will keep guests comfortable for short to medium-length stays. It comes in twin, full and queen sizes. You can buy it without a pump, with a battery pump or with a built-in foot pump.
Sold by Amazon
EnerPlex Never-Leak Inflatable Mattress
Using the included air pump, this mattress takes roughly two minutes to inflate, so tired guests won’t need to wait long to hit the hay. It comes in twin and queen sizes with internal air coils for added support.
Sold by Amazon
Top double-height air mattresses
Intex Dura-Beam Series Pillow Rest Raised Air Bed
From a big name in inflatable mattresses, you can trust that this one is durable and supportive. You can choose between twin and queen sizes in both standard and deluxe versions.
Sold by Amazon
SoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress
Measuring 19 inches tall, this mattress is comfortable and easy to get on and off of. It comes in five sizes, and all of them have internal air coils for additional support, helping your guests get a good night’s sleep.
Sold by Amazon
SleepLux Durable Inflatable Air Mattress
This durable queen mattress has internal air coils for support and a pillow rest at one end. At a generous 22 inches tall, you’ll be pleased to know it comes with a built-in electric pump that inflates it in around five minutes, so you won’t have to spend hours with a foot pump blowing it up.
Sold by Amazon
King Koil Luxury California King Air Mattress
Thanks to its advanced air coil technology, this mattress is highly supportive. You can choose from three sizes: twin, queen and California king. There are also three height options: 13, 16 and 20 inches.
Sold by Amazon
Intex Dura Beam Elevated Fiber Tech Air Mattress
The inflatable headboard makes this mattress stand out from similar models. It is easy to inflate and deflate with the built-in pump and has Fiber Tech technology for added durability.
Sold by Amazon
Englander Luxury Double High Inflatable Bed
Made with a microfiber material, it’s thermoregulated so guests won’t get too hot at night. It inflates in less than three minutes and comes in twin, queen and California king sizes.
Sold by Amazon
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Lauren Corona writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/which-air-mattress-is-best-for-guests/ | 2022-04-15T00:56:54 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/which-air-mattress-is-best-for-guests/ |
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MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo acknowledges there is pressure in the NBA playoffs and after the winning the first title, “your mind wants to win a second time or a third time.”
A leading MVP candidate again this season, Antetokounmpo likes to compare playing basketball to creating a work of art and he’ll try to produce another postseason masterpiece this weekend.
His last time on the playoff stage, Antetokounmpo scored 50 points in a Game 6 victory over the Phoenix Suns that gave the Bucks their first championship in a half-century.
Antetokounmpo and the third-seeded Bucks face the sixth-seeded Chicago Bulls in an Eastern Conference first-round series starting Sunday in Milwaukee.
“At the end of the day, the mindset doesn’t change,” Antetokounmpo said this week. “Enjoy the game as much as possible because we worked hard for this moment. We can’t take this moment for granted.”
On the surface, it appears that winning a title last year took a weight off the 27-year-old’s shoulders.
Having been there, done that, Antetokounmpo appears more relaxed.
The father of two has begun several postgame news conferences by making “dad jokes,” a practice he continued this week while getting ready for the playoffs.
“What do you call a cow on a rollercoaster?” Antetokounmpo asked reporters who gathered around him. “A milkshake.”
But the postseason is no laughing matter for Antetokounmpo. The Bucks leader insists he feels just as much pressure now as he did before he’d won a title.
“Obviously a lot of people think once you win a championship and you succeed in life, there’s no pressure,” Antetokounmpo said. “I don’t really agree. Obviously I do not try to focus on the pressure as much. I try to focus and enjoy the game. But at the end of the day, your mind always is going to find something to replace that.
“Almost like, ‘OK, you won one time.’ Now your mind wants to win a second time or a third time.”
That attitude reflects Antetokounmpo’s artistic approach to the game
He believes a player enters each contest with a new opportunity to create, as if he’s an artist staring at a blank canvas.
“If you play well and you hold on to the past, it prevents you from playing well again,” Antetokounmpo said. “If you had 40 the previous game, you’re like, ‘OK, I had 40 the previous game. Today I can just be sloppy with the ball.’ That was that art that was created.
“Today I reset. I get a new canvas and try to create new art.”
The approach helped Antetokounmpo follow up the Bucks’ championship with one of his finest NBA seasons.
He enters the playoffs as the Eastern Conference player of the month for March and April. Antetokounmpo averaged a career-high 29.9 points – behind only Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid – along with 11.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists.
He became the first player in NBA history to average at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in four separate seasons. Oscar Robertson did it three times.
“He doesn’t settle,” Bucks guard George Hill said. “One thing I do know about him: Him winning a championship doesn’t define who he is. He’s still in there every day, every morning, every night working his butt off to get better. He still feels like he has a lot to prove.”
Teammate Jrue Holiday argued late in the season that Antetokounmpo merits consideration for the NBA’s most improved player award because of the way the 6-foot-11 forward diversified his game.
Antetokounmpo said he liked the idea of “changing the narrative” about his game by showing he could shoot effectively and wasn’t merely a guy who capitalized on his size and athleticism by scoring on dunks and drives to the basket.
Although he made fewer than 30% of his 3-point attempts this season, Antetokounmpo passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the Bucks’ scoring record by sinking a game-tying 3-pointer in the final minute of regulation in an overtime victory at Brooklyn.He made 72.2% of his free-throw attempts, his highest percentage since the 2019-20 season.
“He’s dominated and perfected one part of his game, and now he’s going to grow and extend that range to the 3-point line,” said Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, who coached Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee from 2014-18. “That’s what he says he’s going to do, and that means he’s going to do it.”
And that means realizing what he accomplished last year won’t necessarily play any part in whether the Bucks are able to repeat.
“Last year’s last year,” Antetokounmpo said. “Last year we were able to go through ups and downs in the playoffs and end up with the championship. But that doesn’t mean nothing.”
For now, it’s just another blank canvas.
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.cbs42.com/sports/antetokounmpo-eager-to-win-title-a-second-time-third-time/ | 2022-04-15T00:57:01 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/sports/antetokounmpo-eager-to-win-title-a-second-time-third-time/ |
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NEW YORK (AP) — The average salary in the major leagues rebounded to $4.4 million on opening day, boosted by a frenzy of free agent signings before and after the 99-day lockout, according to a study of baseball contracts by The Associated Press.
New York Mets pitcher Max Scherzer set a season record at $43.3 million, topping the previous mark established last year by Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer at $38 million. Scherzer earns more than all the current players on the Baltimore Orioles combined.
The average of $4,414,184 was up 5.9% from the $4,167,164 at the start of last season and just below the record of $4,451,508 set in 2017, before the salary slide that angered players during the labor contract that expired last December.
Major League Baseball projects opening-day payrolls at about $4.5 billion, up almost 10% from the previous high of approximately $4.1 billion.
This year’s average would have been higher had active rosters not been expanded from 26 to 28 through May 1 following the shortened spring training. Factoring out the added players who are at the $700,000 minimum or close to it, the average would have been a record $4.62 million.
In addition, this year’s final average will be boosted by the new labor contract’s $50 million bonus pool for lower-salaried players not yet eligible for arbitration. Adding that figure and dropping the added 60 players, the average would be $4.68 million.
The average salary declines over the course of a season as higher-paid veterans are released and replaced by lower-salaried players.
The Los Angeles Dodgers top the major leagues at nearly $285 million, up from $241 million at the start of last season.
The Mets are second at $266 million in their second season under owner Steven Cohen, up from $186 million last year and $154 million in 2019, the last full season under the Wilpon and Katz families.
The New York Yankees are third at just under $237 million, followed by Philadelphia ($224 million) and San Diego and Boston ($212 million each).
World Series champion Atlanta is eighth at $184 million, and AL champion Houston is 10th at $174 million.
Oakland, which traded several stars after the lockout, is last at $48 million, down from $83 million last opening day and the Athletics’ lowest for a full season since 2008.
Other low payrolls are Baltimore ($58 million), Cleveland ($60 million), Pittsburgh ($62 million), and Miami (just under $80 million).
The Orioles totaled $38 million for their current players, with just over $20 million going toward the final season of the seven-year contract of first baseman Chris Davis, who retired after years of injuries and three straight sub-.200 batting averages.
Scherzer was followed at the top of the salary list by Angels outfielder Mike Trout at $37.1 million, Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon at $36.6 million, Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole at $36 million. Minnesota shortstop Carlos Correa at $35.1 million and San Diego third baseman Manny Machado at $34 million.
Thirteen players earn $30 million or more, 48 earn at least $20 million and 133 at least $10 million. More than half the players, 514, earn at least $1 million.
After several years of widening, payroll disparity among players decreased slightly.
The 50 highest-paid players are getting 30.3% of salaries, down from 33.4% at the start of last season but still above the 28.6% in 2017. The 100 highest-paid are receiving 48.9%, down from 52.4% last year but above the 42.5% in 2017.
Of 975 players on opening day active rosters, injured lists, the restricted list and the bereavement list, 461 (47%) had salaries under $1 million, up from 46% last year. The minimum was raised from $570,500 to $700,000; 57 earned the minimum and 375 were below $730,000.
The median salary — the point at which an equal number of players are above and below — rose by $50,000 to $1.2 million, down from $1.4 million in 2019 and well below the $1.65 million record high at the start of 2015.
The AP’s figures include salaries and prorated shares of signing bonuses and other guaranteed income. For some players, parts of deferred money are discounted to reflect current values. For the 23 players remaining eligible for salary arbitration, the midpoints of the player requests and team offers were used.
Luxury tax payrolls computed by Major League Baseball are different, using average annual values of contracts on 40-man rosters plus about $18 million per team for benefits and extended benefits and a 1/30 share of the pre-arbitration bonus pool.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.cbs42.com/sports/ap-exclusive-mlb-average-salary-up-5-9-after-lockout/ | 2022-04-15T00:57:07 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/sports/ap-exclusive-mlb-average-salary-up-5-9-after-lockout/ |
NFL announces 21 prospects who will attend 2022 NFL Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
The 2022 NFL Draft is officially set to begin in two weeks, with the first round held on Thursday, April 28.
Now, we know the prospects who will attend the event in Las Vegas.
The NFL officially unveiled a list of 21 prospects who will attend the 2022 NFL Draft. While there's no guarantee that they will be the first 21 players off the board, prospects who attend the draft are generally first-round picks. A drop to the second round means waiting around for another day, in what would be a demoralizing 24 hours.
Here's the full list of prospects who will attend the 2022 NFL Draft, organized by position:
- Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
- Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss
- Drake London, WR, USC
- Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
- Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
- Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
- Evan Neal, OL, Alabama
- Ickey Ekwonu, OL, NC State
- Charles Cross, OL, Mississippi State
- Zion Johnson, OL, Boston College
- Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
- Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia
- Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
- Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon
- Jermaine Johnson II, DE, Florida State
- George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue
- Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
- Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
- Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
- Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
- Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
The 2022 NFL Draft will take place in Las Vegas, with the first round on Thursday, April 28, at 8 p.m. ET, rounds two and three on Friday, April 29, at 7 p.m. ET and rounds four through seven on Saturday, April 30, at noon ET. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/sports/aidan-hutchinson-malik-willis-among-21-prospects-who-will-attend-2022-nfl-draft/3647310/ | 2022-04-15T00:57:08 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/sports/aidan-hutchinson-malik-willis-among-21-prospects-who-will-attend-2022-nfl-draft/3647310/ |
PITTSBURGH (AP) — No salary arbitration hearing for Bryan Reynolds this year, and that is more than fine with him.
The All-Star center fielder has agreed to a two-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates worth $13.5 million. The contract, announced Thursday, will pay Reynolds $6.75 million per season.
Reynolds and the Pirates were scheduled to go to arbitration after failing to come to an agreement on a one-year deal for 2022. Reynolds asked for $4.9 million, with Pittsburgh countering with $4.25 million.
“I always hoped this would be the outcome and it was the outcome, so I’d say this was a win-win,” Reynolds said. “I don’t think anybody ever wants to go to a hearing. For me, personally, I love Pittsburgh. I love my teammates and everything like that. To knock it out quickly like we did and to land where we’re at, I think it worked out really well.”
The 27-year-old Reynolds has blossomed with the Pirates after coming over in the January 2018 trade that sent 2013 NL MVP Andrew McCutchen to San Francisco. Reynolds reached the majors in 2019 and moved to center field in 2021, hitting .302 with 24 homers and 90 RBIs and becoming a finalist for a Gold Glove.
Reynolds is batting .227 with one home run in five games so far this season for Pittsburgh. The Pirates are off to a 2-3 start heading into Thursday night’s game against Washington.
The agreement comes two days after Pittsburgh signed third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes to an eight-year, $70 million contract.
Hayes was happy to see Reynolds’ contract situation get resolved.
“It’s awesome,” Hayes said. “That’s part of the reason I signed. I feel like we’re moving in the right direction. It’s amazing to have a guy like that, middle of the order-type of guy. He’s expressed that he wants to stay here. It’s awesome to get a guy like that, keep him here for two years.”
___
AP Sports Writer Will Graves contributed to this report
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.cbs42.com/sports/ap-source-pirates-agree-to-2-year-deal-with-cf-reynolds/ | 2022-04-15T00:57:14 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/sports/ap-source-pirates-agree-to-2-year-deal-with-cf-reynolds/ |
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Cameron Young showed it doesn’t always take years of practice to go low at Harbour Town Golf Links, shooting an 8-under 63 on Thursday to take the first-round lead in his RBC Heritage debut.
The 24-year-old PGA Tour rookie had eight birdies in a bogey-free round, his first in the 60s in 11 rounds going back to a closing 65 at the Honda Classic more than six weeks ago.
Young was two shots in front of Chile’s Joaquin Niemann and three ahead of seven others, including reigning FedEx Cup champion Patrick Cantlay, Ireland’s Shane Lowry — who tied for third at the Masters last week — and Canada’s Corey Conners — who was sixth at Augusta National.
Mito Pereira, also of Chile, past RBC Heritage winner Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland, Adam Svensson of Canada and Sepp Straka of Austria also shot 66. There were 10 players at 67, including 48-year-old defending champion Stewart Cink.
Young had only heard of Harbour Town’s treacherous gauntlet of tight, tree-lined fairways and small greens that demand accuracy. Yet, the former Wake Forest player from New York quickly took to the layout with five birdies on the front nine.
Young closed his first Harbour tour with a birdie on the iconic 18th hole — the one with the red-and-white striped lighthouse as backdrop — with an 8-foot putt to finish a shot off his lowest career round in his young PGA Tour career.
“You have to really pick your spots where you think you can be a little aggressive and places where you just can’t” Young said.
A bit of advice: Stay aggressive, particularly with a loaded RBC Heritage field in pursuit. The tournament features five of the world’s top 10 players, including Masters’ third-place finisher Cameron Smith and Collin Morikawa, who was fifth at Augusta National.
Masters champion Scottie Scheffler is not playing the RBC Heritage.
Niemann started slowly with back-to-back bogeys on the third and fourth holes. Then he birdied seven of the last 14 holes to break out of the third-place logjam.
Lowry, the 2019 British Open champion, said he couldn’t believe how quickly the round arrived after the pressure cooker at Augusta National. Still, he got his round going with three straight birdies at the 16th, 17th and 18th holes along Calibogue Sound. He added two more birdies in his bogey-free round .
“It feels almost like a semi-holiday and you just go and play a bit of golf as well,” said Lowry, who’s had two top 10 finishes here in four previous appearances.
Conners aced the the par-3 seventh hole. He hit a 7-iron to the front of the green where it hopped twice and rolled into the cup. Conners couldn’t see it fall from the tee, but knew from the reaction at the green.
“A bunch of people put their hands up around the green, so I figured it went in,” he said.
Morikawa, second in the world, opened with a 70. Smith, whose triple bogey on the 12th hole at Augusta ended his Masters’ chase, shot a 73.
Webb Simpson, the 2020 winner, was 3 over late in his round when he reeled off five straight birdies (Nos. 14-18) on the difficult back nine for a 69.
Morgan Hoffmann played his first PGA Tour round since October 2019 after stepping away due to muscular dystrophy. Hoffman shot an enjoyable, easy going, even-par 71. “The game didn’t feel anywhere near as bad as I thought it was, so it was pretty exciting,” he said.
All are chasing Young, who has proven he’s far more than a wide-eyed rookie, but one with a steady game and steely nerves.
He’s had two seconds this season and qualified for the Masters, where he missed the cut after consecutive 77s. Young spent the weekend off with family, decompressing from the Masters and planning for what’s next.
“Honestly, I wanted to play last weekend,” Young said. “But in terms of this week, (missing the cut) is not the end of the world.”
Especially if he can put up a couple more 63s. Don’t bet on it, Young said.
“I know it would be really nice,” he said. “But you have good days and bad days and rarely do you have four good ones in a row. I’m glad it came early and I’m happy I kept myself around for the whole tournament.”
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CLEVELAND (AP) — Many of them NBA big-game beginners, the young Cavaliers took their lumps in Brooklyn the other night and missed their first chance of making the playoffs.
Fortunately, they’ve got another shot.
Trouble is, Trae Young does, too.
Atlanta’s high-scoring All-Star guard will be THE defensive focal point for Cleveland on Friday night as the Cavs host the Hawks in a win-or-start-vacation game. The winner advances to play No. 1 seed Miami in the Eastern Conference’s first round.
Young averaged 32.5 points in four games — his high was 41 — against the Cavs this season, and Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff didn’t waste a breath in bringing him up when asked about the challenges the Hawks present offensively.
“Obviously, it starts with Trae Young,” he said. “What he does impacts everybody else and his ability to one, make all the shots from all over the floor, two, to make all the plays with the ball in his hand, the passes and then that pick-and-roll game that they run.”
Young started slowly but scored 24 points in Atlanta’s 132-103 rout of Charlotte on Wednesday night, a game the Cavs watched live and scouted together.
“They played well and they moved the ball well as a team,” Cavs guard Rajon Rondo said. “Trae accepted the double teams that Charlotte threw at him at the start of the game. He got off the ball extremely well, he shared the ball with his teammates and they made plays for each other.”
The Cavs didn’t handle Brooklyn’s two-headed, Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving monster early in Tuesday night’s 115-108 loss, the first taste of playoff-like intensity and physicality for most of Cleveland’s players.
The Nets led by 20 points after the first quarter, and although the Cavs fought back and were within six late, the initial onslaught was too much to overcome.
There is no teacher like experience, and Bickerstaff believes his team will grow from the play-in opener.
“We’ve been tested and I feel like our guys have done a really good job of responding,” he said. And when they’ve been in a certain situation, they don’t make the same mistake twice. They come out and they learn from it and they improve on in the next time out.”
Atlanta won three of the four matchups this season with Cleveland, blowing the Cavs out 131-107 in the most recent matchup on March 31. But the Cavs were short-handed in every game and could get back All-Star center Jarrett Allen, who has been sidelined since March 6 with a broken finger.
The team officially listed Allen as questionable on the injury report, a positive step after he missed the past 19 games.
Allen in the middle of Cleveland’s defense would be another obstacle for Young, who is not only dangerous as a shooter but in finding Clint Capela and Atlanta’s other big mans on lobs at the rim.
PLAYOFF RONDO
With 134 games of postseason experience, Rondo gives the Cavs someone who has seen it all this time of year.
He’s been a sounding board for teammates and coaches. Bickerstaff called him a basketball “savant” before Rondo got nine assists in 26 productive minutes against the Nets.
A two-time champion, the 36-year-old Rondo struggled to describe his postseason metamorphosis.
“I can’t really put it into words,” he said. “I get a little more time to rest my body. I usually play a lot more minutes. The coaches usually allow me to do what I do best — manipulate the game and try to do what’s best for the team and stay on the same page with my teammates, along with getting W’s.”
HURTING HAWKS
Atlanta forward John Collins, who hasn’t played since March 11 with a sprained finger and foot, won’t play along with guard Lou Williams (back).
Also, guard Bogdan Bogdanovic is questionable with a left ankle sprain.
DRE STEPS UP
Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter scored 22 points in the play-in victory over the Hornets, with 16 coming during a third-quarter barrage that turned the game into a blowout.
The No. 4 overall pick in the 2019 draft, Hunter has battled health issues and struggled to develop into a consistent performer over his three-year NBA career. The Hawks hope his performance was a sign that he’s ready to step up in the postseason.
“He was playing aggressive,” Young said. “That’s what we need from Dre. He was making plays, getting to the basket, and the way he was guarding got Miles (Bridges) frustrated. It was a great all-around game for Dre.”
THE BIG MAN
Cleveland’s advantage in the post — especially if Allen goes — puts a big responsibility on Capela.
Outside of him, the Hawks don’t really have anyone who can match up with Cleveland’s front line, which can include three 7-footers at once.
“They pose a challenge because of their size,” McMillan said. “They do a good job of taking advantage of their size with their ability to pound you in the paint. They’ve got a of lot of length.”
Capela had a big game against Charlotte with 15 points and 17 rebounds, but the Hornets went went with a small lineup most of the game. That won’t be the case against the Cavaliers, but the Hawks are confident in their man in the middle.
“He was everywhere,” Danilo Gallinari said. “We know he can do that every single night. He’s got our back and can dominate the paint.”
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AP Sports Writer Paul Newberry in Atlanta contributed to this report.
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PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Suns have several reasons to be confident they can make another deep playoff run. They have the No. 1 overall seed, they’re talented, they’re healthy and their roster has loads of continuity and postseason experience after advancing to the Finals last season.
Confident, but not cocky as they’ve pegged one trait they believe could knock them off track in pursuit of their first NBA title — hubris.
“I am not like some old, wise playoff sage that I can sit up here and wax eloquently the step-by-step process,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “I have a level of humility for the process.”
The Suns are trying to follow a brilliant regular season by finally bringing a championship to the desert. The franchise has been to the Finals three times — in 1976, 1993 and last season — but never won it all.
It’s easy to see why the Suns are optimistic this team could end the streak. They just finished a 64-win season that was eight wins better than any other team in the league thanks to the All-Star backcourt of Chris Paul and Devin Booker, along with a rapidly improving supporting cast that includes Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson.
The dominant regular season was an important statement for many on the team — particularly Booker — who still feel the Suns don’t get the proper amount of respect following last year’s Finals appearance. They took a 2-0 lead in the championship series before losing the next four to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Now the goal is to finish the job. They’ll open the playoffs Sunday against the winner of the Pelicans-Clippers play-in game Friday night in Los Angeles.
“I think there’s a whole other level we can tap into,” Booker said.
The Suns didn’t change their roster much following the loss to the Bucks, opting instead to make another run with the same nucleus. General manager James Jones did make a few shrewd moves to bolster the bench, adding center JaVale McGee in free agency and guard Landry Shamet in a trade. Both have been key parts of the second unit.
The 7-foot-1 McGee has been particularly valuable, providing rim protection and hustle when starter Deandre Ayton’s out of the game. He’s also turned into a fan favorite and likes to call the Suns “the best basketball team in the world.”
But most of the team’s improvement came from within. The Paul-Booker pairing has been impressive, adding a stellar new chapter to the 36-year-old Paul’s career and helping Booker to become one of the league’s bona fide stars.
Bridges has grown into a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year and is averaging a career-best 14.2 points per game. He’s also been a rock in the starting lineup when others were out with injuries or COVID-19, playing in 309 consecutive games over four seasons, which is the longest streak in the NBA.
Ayton changed the trajectory of his career in last year’s playoffs — growing from and inconsistent young player to a legitimate force in the paint — and continues to impress.
The Suns were roundly criticized for taking the big man with the No. 1 overall pick in 2018 ahead of stars Luka Doncic and Trae Young, but Ayton has turned into a productive player in his own right, shooting a career-high 63% from the field while averaging more than 17 points and 10 rebounds per game.
The Suns also have a productive bench.
The 6-foot-8 Johnson has become one of the league’s most productive reserves. The 26-year-old was known as a shooter when he came into the league three years ago and his 42.5% mark from 3-point range certainly fits the description. But he’s also a sneaky athlete who can get to the rim for powerful dunks and often finishes the game with the starters in the fourth quarter.
Phoenix’s 64-win regular season is another accomplishment for Paul, who has few rivals in NBA history when it comes to making teams better. His presence and production have helped the Clippers, Rockets, Hornets and now Suns establish new franchise records for wins in a season.
There’s only one thing that remains.
“It would be nice to put a championship with all that,” Paul said. “That’s the goal, that’s what we’re working towards.”
But after playing 1,155 career NBA games, Paul knows a good regular season when he sees one.
And the Suns were the league’s best.
“I don’t take that lightly though because it’s a lot of work, it’s a lot of hard work that goes into year-in and year-out playing and competing,” Paul added. “At the end of the day, you want to have a chance. You at least want to have a chance, and I’m grateful to be here with this group.”
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AP freelance writer Bob Huhn contributed to this story.
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KETTERING, Ohio (AP) — Bryson DeChambeau says he had surgery on his left wrist Thursday for a fracture hamate that has been bothering him for the last two months and likely will keep him out of the PGA Championship.
DeChambeau said on Instagram the surgery at The Kettering Medical Center was for the fractured hook of the hamate.
The former U.S. Open champion says he slipped on a marble floor in Saudi Arabia while playing table tennis and landed on his hip and hand. He withdrew after the first round of the Saudi International and did not return for seven weeks until the Match Play. He played three rounds at Match Play, missed the cut at the Texas Open and said at the Masters he was at 80%. He shot 80 the second round at Augusta National and missed the cut.
“I made attempts to play through this injury at three recent events, including the Masters, but this is typically an injury that requires surgical treatment,” DeChambeau said. “Through continued discomfort from the fracture, it has caused me to alter my grip and swing, resulting in my inability to compete at golf’s highest level. This has not been easy physically and mentally for me.”
DeChambeau said he would take appropriate time off to rest and recover and he looked forward “to competing at the highest level within the next two months.”
The PGA Championship starts in five weeks, May 19-22, at Southern Hills in Tulsa. The U.S. Open is a month later at The Country Club outside Boston. | https://www.cbs42.com/sports/dechambeau-has-surgery-on-left-wrist-like-to-miss-pga/ | 2022-04-15T00:57:39 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/sports/dechambeau-has-surgery-on-left-wrist-like-to-miss-pga/ |
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla, (AP) — Cole Irvin pitched into the seventh inning,and the Oakland Athletics beat Tampa Bay 6-3 Thursday to take three of four from the Rays.
Irvin (1-1) allowed three runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings as the rebuilding A’s under new manager Mark Kotsay improved to 4-3. Two of the runs off Irvin were in his final inning.
“I was throwing strikes, getting outs the way I know how,” said Irvin, who struck out two and walked none. “It was fastballs in and out. Change ups were the equalizer. That’s what I like to call that pitch because it allows me to throw more fastballs. Ultimately it was a good fastball day.”
Brandon Lowe homered for the Rays.
Cristian Pache had a two-out RBI single with two on in the second and scored on the play to make it 3-0 after the Rays misplayed his hit to center. Left fielder Randy Arozarena was charged with an error after the ball deflected off him while he was sliding, and the ball eluded center fielder Kevin Kiermaier and ended up on the warning track.
“The excitement he brings,” Kotsay said. “The energy. If he wasn’t running hard out of the box, that play may not happen.”
Rays manager Kevin Cash called it “a fairly unique play.”
“We got two defenders are elite at covering ground, and they just got tangled up,” Cash said. “Randy, the ball hit off his foot or leg or something and kind of ricocheted. So it was kind of a messed play from the beginning.”
Oakland scored 31 runs during the series.
“Again the fight, the character, it’s continuing to grow, the right direction,” Kotsay said,
Tampa Bay opened the second with three straight hits but scored only once on Manuel Margot’s single. Margot was thrown out trying to advance to second by right fielder Billy McKinney on Mike Zunino’s fly ball.
Irvin retired 14 batters in a row starting with Zunino’s double play. Harold Ramirez stopped the streak with a leadoff double in the seventh before Lowe ended the left-hander’s day on his two-run homer that cut the deficit to 6-3.
Dany Jiménez, the third Oakland reliever, worked the ninth for his first big league save.
Sean Murphy’s third-inning run-scoring double off Josh Fleming (1-1) gave Oakland a 4-1 lead.
Fleming gave up five runs — three earned — and seven hits in 3 ⅓ innings.
CLIMATE CHANGE
After opening the season with seven games at domed Tropicana Field, the Rays will spent six days in Chicago playing both the White Sox and Cubs.
Posted on a clubhouse message along the with projected highs in the 40′s for five of the games was: “Attention. Please try on your cold gear!”
MOVING DAY
The Rays selected the contract of right-hander Phoenix Sanders from Triple-A Durham, and designated righty Dusten Knight for assignment.
Sanders, a teammate of Tampa Bay opening-day starter Shane McClanahan at the University of South Florida, gave up one run over three innings in his big league debut
Knight allowed one run over 2 1/3 innings in his lone appearance Wednesday night. He is known for doing back flips after saves in the minors..
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: RHP James Kaprielian (inflamed right AC joint) is scheduled to pitch for Low-A Stockton Friday night.
UP NEXT
Athletics: RHP Daulton Jefferies (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will start against Blue Jays RHP Ross Stripling (0-0, 9.00 ERA) Friday night in Toronto.
Rays: Drew Rasmussen (0-0, 4.50 ERA) and the White Sox’s Dylan Cease (1-0, 1.80 ERA) are the starting pitchers in a match up of right-handers Friday night,
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A look at what’s happening around the majors today:
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GASHED GUERRERO
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays wrap up their four-game series at Yankee Stadium, a day after the slugger hit three home runs and a double despite a nasty gash in his right hand.
Accidentally spiked while playing first base, Guerrero got two stitches after a 6-4 win and said his hand felt fine. He anticipated some soreness might set in.
“It’s not that bad,” he said through a translator.
The AL MVP runner-up homered off Yankees ace Gerrit Cole in the first inning, then seemed like he’d have to leave an inning later when his bare throwing hand was stepped on by baserunner Aaron Hicks.
Guerrero had to reach across his body for infielder Bo Bichette’s throw and placed his right hand down behind the first base bag to balance. Hicks stomped on it running out an infield single.
The 23-year-old Guerrero immediately began waving the hand around, then walked toward Toronto’s dugout as blood dripped onto his uniform and the turf. A trainer taped up the digit in the dugout, and after a couple of minutes, Guerrero jogged back to first base and the game continued.
With a bloody stain on the right thigh of his pants, Guerrero hit a two-run homer in his next at-bat. He then lined a double and hit another homer.
TRAVELING CHAMPS
The World Series champion Atlanta Braves begin their first road series of the season when Charlie Morton (1-0, 3.38 ERA) starts at San Diego. Morton is 6-1 with a 2.09 ERA in nine career starts against the Padres.
Atlanta will be without reliever Luke Jackson this season after he had Tommy John surgery on Wednesday in Arlington, Texas. The Braves said shortly before opening day that Jackson had damage to the ligament in his right elbow.
Jackson was 2-2 with a career-best 1.98 ERA in 71 games last year. He had a 0.00 ERA in three World Series games against Houston.
NEEDS RELIEF
The Mariners will be minus reliever Sergio Romo after putting him on the 10-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation.
The move was made retroactive to Tuesday, a day after he pitched a scoreless inning at Minnesota in his 800th major league appearance. The 39-year-old righty also tossed a scoreless inning against the Twins in his Mariners debut on Saturday.
Romo finalized a $2 million, one-year contract with Seattle last month.
NICE WHILE IT LASTED
Closer Corey Knebel’s return from the COVID-related injured list meant the end of 28-year-old journeyman reliever Jeff Singer’s brief time with his hometown Phillies.
The South Jersey native, who was working with his father at a Northeast Philadelphia car dealership in 2016 when the team signed him, got to sit in the bullpen at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday night for the game against the Mets. He and had dozens of friends and family in attendance for his first game in a major league uniform.
“He got to fulfill a lifetime dream, and I think that was a special day for him,” Phillies manager Joe Girardi said. “It could be just the start of things to come.”
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NEW YORK (AP) — Quarterbacks Malik Willis and Matt Corral are among 21 prospects who will attend the NFL draft in Las Vegas this month.
Ohio State wide receivers Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson will be there along with two more wideouts. Alabama is also sending two players: wide receiver Jameson Williams and offensive lineman Evan Neal. Georgia leads the way with three players: defensive linemen Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt and linebacker Nakobe Dean.
Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, who is projected as the potential No. 1 pick, is one of six defensive linemen headed to Vegas.
The draft begins with the first round on April 28. It’s being held in Nevada for the first time.
Willis had a dazzling NFL combine after starring at Liberty. He showed off an exceptionally strong arm on deep throws. Corral threw at the Ole Miss pro day after he didn’t participate in throwing or workouts at the combine while recovering from a right ankle injury sustained early in the Sugar Bowl against Baylor.
Other prospects confirmed to appear at the draft are: Mississippi State offensive lineman Charles Cross, North Carolina State offensive lineman Ikem Ekwonu, Cincinnati cornerback Sauce Gardner, Washington cornerback Kyler Gordon, Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton, Boston College offensive lineman Zion Johnson, Florida State defensive end Jermaine Johnson, Purdue defensive end George Karlaftis, Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd, Southern California wide receiver Drake London, and Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux.
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CLEVELAND (AP) — For decades, Cleveland’s home opener has been celebrated like a national holiday. Kids skip school, office workers clear out early and people flock downtown to welcome baseball back after another long winter.
It’s long been a day in Cleveland for renewal, hope. A fresh start.
Never more so than this year.
On Friday, the renamed Guardians will play for the first time at Progressive Field, officially launching a new era for a team known as the Indians since 1915 before a long-debated and fan-dividing name change finally happened last year.
There will be plenty of cheers, and perhaps some grumbling from those still coming to grips with the idea that their favorite baseball team isn’t quite the same,
“We know this is going to take time. Change is always hard,” said Alex King, the Guardians’ senior vice president of marketing and strategy who spearheaded the name transition. “Change of a team name that has been around for 100-plus years and everyone has grown up with, shared memories with — that’s incredibly hard.
“We not only understand that. We empathize with that and we want to try and build new memories, but do it in a way that’s meeting our fans where they’re at.”
Some of those memories begin taking form on Friday when Oscar winner Tom Hanks, who cut his acting teeth in this city while becoming a fan of the team in the 1970s, tosses a ceremonial first pitch to Larry Doby Jr., whose father broke the American League’s color barrier with Cleveland 75 years ago.
There will be a jet flyover and players for the Guardians and San Francisco Giants will all wear No. 42 as Major League Baseball celebrates Jackie Robinson Day.
And if that wasn’t enough to kick start a holiday weekend, the NBA’s Cavaliers, who live a relay throw across the plaza at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, will host a play-in game against Atlanta with the winner getting a postseason spot.
If not for baseball’s 99-day labor lockout pushing the opener back two weeks, the day would belong exclusively to the Guardians, who have won four straight games and have one of baseball’s best early season stories in rookie outfielder Steven Kwan, off to an historic start to his career.
Kwan is certain to receive a rousing ovation from the 29th consecutive opening-day sellout crowd, one that was slower to buy tickets in previous years for a variety of reasons, including the name change.
It’s been a challenging journey for Cleveland’s franchise, which has received its share of criticism — especially on social media — for the switch from those who felt the team caved to a vocal minority. The ballclub had already ditched the divisive Chief Wahoo logo and was working toward making a name change when the national reckoning on race in 2020 accelerated the process.
The team considered numerous names before landing on Guardians, which is meant to symbolize community strength and is a nod to massive, Art Deco statues that flank the Hope Memorial Bridge near the ballpark.
There were other obstacles, including the team being sued by a local roller derby team of the same name.
And while Guardians remains difficult for some to accept, and isn’t exactly rolling off everyone’s tongues just yet, it seems to be catching on.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t lingering backlash.
Whenever the team posts anything on its Twitter account, it’s usually met with a barrage of complaints and worse. The negativity prompted Christy Harst to post a YouTube video reminding fans why they became fans and encouraging them to accept the change.
“It made me sad,” said the mother of two and voice-over actress. “I felt like I wanted to remind my fellow fans why we’re fans. Do I understand people’s frustration? Absolutely. There’s no name that could make everyone happy. None.
“No matter what they named the team, people would be upset.”
The team has sought to find the right balance between embracing the club’s past, and not erasing it.
“The name Indians is always going to be a part of our history,” King said, “All of those great teams in the 1990s, the ’07 (World Series) run, the ’16 World Series, the Rajai Davis home run, those are going to be Indians memories.
“Those won’t diminish. They’re not going to change. The most important part of our name, as we’ve talked, about is Cleveland. We’ve tried to remind people that we’ve got these really strong roots. We’re not inventing something different. We’re evolving and this is the next chapter.”
Harst trusts that Cleveland fans, even the ones wrestling with the change, will eventually come around. After all, they’ve endured plenty of heartbreak; this isn’t nearly as painful as when the Browns left.
“Everyone was bitter, spitting nails back then,” she said. “Do we feel that way now with the name change? C’mon. That was a lot worse as a Cleveland sports fan. Let’s put things into perspective.”
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts’ decision to pull Clayton Kershaw while pitching seven perfect inningsagainst Minnesota drew strong reaction and debate around the majors.
Roberts wasn’t second-guessing himself a day later.
“I can’t manage a ballclub and players with my fan cap on,” he said Thursday before the team’s home opener against Cincinnati. “There’s a cost to everything and I wasn’t, and Clayton wasn’t, willing to take on that cost.”
Roberts said Kershaw “kind of initiated” the move, which came after 80 pitches in a 7-0 victory Wednesday. The three-time Cy Young Award winner struck out 13 of the 21 batters he faced.
There were plenty of reasons for Roberts to take a cautious approach with the longtime staff ace.
Kershaw has been injured in each of the three previous seasons. The 34-year-old left-hander missed over two months last year with inflammation in his forearm and wasn’t able to pitch in the postseason. He re-signed with the team for $17 million this year.
He went through an abbreviated spring training because of the lockout and was making his first start of the season Wednesday. The Dodgers are favored to win the World Series and want Kershaw around for the long haul.
“It felt like that was the right call for my personal health, the best interests of the team, and me being ready in October,” Kershaw said Thursday. “It all seemed like the right call at the time.”
Roberts has been criticized in the past for his pitching decisions, including three times pulling starters with no-hitters in progress.
Walker Buehler came out after six innings in May 2018, Rich Hill left with a blister after seven perfect innings in September 2016, and Ross Stripling was removed after 7 1/3 innings in April 2016.
According to ESPN research, Kershaw and Hill are the only pitchers in major league history to be pulled after seven-plus innings with a perfect game still intact.
“I don’t do social media, so I can only imagine what was out there,” Roberts said. “When you do my job, you have to answer to consequences.”
Kershaw understood why Dodgers fans would be upset at missing a potential perfect game. The only one in franchise history was by Sandy Koufax against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium on Sept. 9, 1965.
“The only thing I feel bad for is, if I was a fan, I would want to see somebody finish the game,” Kershaw said. “So, from a fan’s perspective, I do feel bad for that. I wish I could have done it. But yesterday wasn’t the day.”
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BOSTON (AP) — A California couple was sentenced to eight weeks in prison on Thursday after pleading guilty to paying $25,000 to cheat on their son’s college admissions test.
Dr. Gregory Colburn, 63, and Amy Colburn, 52, of Palo Alto, were the 16th and 17th parents to be sentenced in the sprawling bribery scandal. The couple abruptly pleaded guilty in January — six weeks before they were to go on trial — to money laundering and mail fraud conspiracy charges.
A federal judge in Boston accepted their plea deal, which also includes a year of supervised release, 100 hours of community service and $12,500 fines.
Judge Nathaniel Gorton said he was “flabbergasted” that the Colburns and other successful parents so easily abandoned their principles to get their kids into college, but he acknowledged they have already faced consequences, including damage to their reputations and financial instability.
“You and many of your codefendants have already been punished for your selfish, brazen and frankly stupid conduct,” Gorton told the couple. “You both have time to make it up to the ones you love, and to society in general.”
In brief statements, both parents said they were sorry and accepted responsibility for their actions.
Federal prosecutors said the Colburns agreed to plead guilty to their roles in a scheme to defraud The College Board by paying William “Rick” Singer $25,000 to bribe Igor Dvorskiy, a corrupt test administrator.
Dvorskiy, in turn, arranged for bogus test proctor Mark Riddell to fraudulently inflate the score on the SAT exam taken by the Colburns’ son, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Boston said.
Singer, Dvorskiy and Riddell all have pleaded guilty to federal charges related to their respective roles in the scheme. Riddell was sentenced last week to four months’ imprisonment; Dvorskiy is scheduled to be sentenced in June.
The couple are among nearly 60 wealthy parents, athletic coaches and others charged since March 2019 in the case dubbed “Operation Varsity Blues.” The scheme led by Singer involved rigging test scores and paying off sports coaches to help students get into top universities across the country, prosecutors said. | https://www.cbs42.com/sports/parents-get-8-weeks-in-prison-for-college-bribery-scandal/ | 2022-04-15T00:58:18 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/sports/parents-get-8-weeks-in-prison-for-college-bribery-scandal/ |
CLEVELAND (AP) — José Ramírez’s new contract is official. His value to the Guardians hasn’t been in dispute for a long time.
The All-Star third baseman — and one of baseball’s best all-around players — signed his seven-year $141 million contract on Thursday, a day before Cleveland plays its first home opener since changing its name last year.
Securing Ramirez to a long-term deal has been a priority for Cleveland’s front office, which hasn’t been able to lock up top-tier talent in the past. Ramirez wanted to finish his career with the team that signed him as a teenager, and the sides agreed to the deal last week.
“José has been such an integral member of our organization and will continue to be a cornerstone of our club moving forward,” team president Chris Antonetti said. “José has established himself as one of the best players in the game, and beyond that, he’s an incredible competitor and teammate.
“He exemplifies the attributes and qualities we seek to develop in our players, and he sets an admirable standard for others to strive toward. We deeply appreciate the commitment that José has made to our team, franchise and city, and we look forward to building our future clubs around him.”
The Guardians scheduled a news conference before Friday’s home opener with Ramirez, who is off to a great start.
He’s batting .480 with three homers and leads the AL with 12 hits, 14 RBIs and 26 total bases through six games.
Ramirez agreed in March 2017 to a $26 million, five-year contract, a deal that included an $11 million team option for 2022 with a $2 million buyout and a $13 million option for 2023.
The superseding contract calls for salaries of $22 million this season, $14 million in 2023, $17 million in 2024, $19 million in 2025, $21 million in 2026, $23 million in 2027 and $25 million in 2028.
Ramirez turns 30 in September and would have been eligible for free agency after the 2023 season.
A three-time All-Star, Ramirez finished third in AL MVP voting in 2017 and ’18, second in 2020 and sixth last season.
Cleveland also recently agreed to a $20 million, five-year contract with closer Emmanuel Clase, a deal that could be worth $38 million over seven seasons, and a $25 million, five-year contract with outfielder Myles Straw that could be worth $39.5 million over seven seasons.
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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.cbs42.com/sports/ramirez-guaranteed-141m-in-7-year-deal-with-guardians/ | 2022-04-15T00:58:24 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/sports/ramirez-guaranteed-141m-in-7-year-deal-with-guardians/ |
DENVER (AP) — When former members of the U.S. snowboarding team wanted to report sex-abuse allegations against a longtime coach, they received conflicting information that left them unsure of where to turn — or whether they wanted to pursue the cases at all.
An Instagram post during the Olympics by a former U.S. team member led to allegations that coach Peter Foley had molested them, coerced them into taking naked pictures, crawled into bed with them and nurtured an atmosphere in which women were treated as sex objects.
The episode has raised questions as to whether the reporting system for sex-abuse cases in Olympic sports, redesigned in the wake of former gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar’s abuse of hundreds of athletes, is working the way it should some five years since the overhaul.
Foley has denied wrongdoing. His attorney, Howard Jacobs, said that as of March 30 — 10 days after Foley was fired by the U.S. Ski & Snowboard federation and more than seven weeks after the allegations began surfacing — the 56-year-old coach had not been contacted by the U.S. Center for SafeSport, the organization formed to investigate claims such as those involving Foley.
“We only received the allegations from the U.S. Center for SafeSport after I emailed them to request that they provide them,” Jacobs said.
The Associated Press reviewed a series of emails between the athletes, an attorney at the U.S. Ski & Snowboard federation and employees at the U.S. Center for SafeSport that ensued after the initial social-media post by snowboarder Callan Chythlook-Sifsof. The correspondence painted a picture of athletes who didn’t trust their own sports federation to handle the cases appropriately and a SafeSport center that had received information on the case but would not pursue it unless it heard from the accusers themselves.
One email to USSS attorney Alison Pitt sent by a SafeSport intake coordinator said athletes “need to be educated that if they are not willing to come forward, be named and participate in the process, they are in effect choosing to participate in a self-fulfilling prophecy, in that nothing can or will be done to the accused.”
The email continued by saying accusers “seem to believe they can throw out allegations and Foley will be removed.”
That correspondence conflicts with the center’s own bylaws, which state “nothing in this Code shall be construed to require a victim of child abuse or other misconduct to self-report.” The bylaws also warn that anonymous reports can limit the center’s ability to respond.
Asked for details about this and other emails, spokeswoman Annie Skinner said the center does not comment about particular cases “to protect the integrity of the process and the confidentiality of affected individuals.”
“Correspondence with an NGB about a particular matter should not be considered a comprehensive representation of the center’s information or investigative intentions,” Skinner said.
While the SafeSport Center asked, and waited, for victims to come forward, Pitt, the USSS lawyer, might have had a potentially chilling effect on one athlete’s decision about whether to contact the center. An ESPN report that detailed the allegations quoted an unnamed Olympic medalist as saying the attorney described an “extensive and challenging” reporting process.
“It did make me question whether I wanted to go through with that process,” the athlete said.
USSS CEO Sophie Goldschmidt told AP that Pitt was “transparent that the process may take time” in her discussion with the athlete, but assured her that reporting to the SafeSport Center was the only way for the case to be resolved.
It took more than five weeks for either oversight organization to take decisive action against Foley: U.S. Ski & Snowboard fired him as a result of its own workplace investigation on March 20, two days after the SafeSport Center put him on temporary suspension pending its abuse investigation.
The SafeSport Center was formed after dozens of athletes across several sports detailed decades of abuse allegations that were not handled properly by U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the sports organizations it oversaw. One reason it was formed was to prevent conflicts of interest that arose when executives or employees of a sports organization tried to resolve sex-abuse disputes involving athletes in their sport.
What happened between Chythlook-Sifsof’s initial accusations and the now-current investigation into Foley drew the attention of Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, who sent USSS a letter suggesting it was skirting rules that call for the center to have exclusive jurisdiction in investigating sex-abuse complaints.
In his letter, Grassley said USSS interfered by conducting its own investigation instead of filtering the entire process through the SafeSport Center, and “has failed to make notifications regarding sexual misconduct to the center.”
USSS responded to Grassley with its own letter that says there is a “grave misunderstanding” about the actions the federation took when it first heard of the allegations.
AP reviewed several emails and documents that show USSS contacted the SafeSport center immediately upon learning of Chythlook-Sifsof’s Instagram post.
But the initial contact between USSS and the SafeSport Center did not result in any sanction for Foley by the center. Though the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee had imposed “temporary measures” to restrict Foley’s contact with athletes through the end of the Olympics, USSS grew more concerned as the snowboard team approached a trip to Austria for a post-Olympics competition in early March. The USOPC’s measures expired after the Olympics.
In a Feb. 16 email to Pitt, SafeSport Center vice president Bobby Click says “based on the information the center has, we have chosen not to implement any types of measure.”
The next day, an intake coordinator at the center emailed Pitt and said she had interviewed five “claimants,” all of whom denied misconduct.
“If I do not get a participating claimant soon, we will be closing” the case, the coordinator wrote.
The emails further pressing the athletes to come forward were sent March 14.
Over the same span, a USSS board member, Lisa Kosglow, contacted the former Olympic medalist interviewed in the ESPN story and told her “Peter is so devastated” about the allegations. ESPN reported Kosglow told the medalist Foley had asked Kosglow to reach out to her. The medalist told Kosglow she was one of the women hurt by Foley.
USSS acknowledged that Kosglow did not report any of this to the SafeSport Center and had subsequently resigned her seat.
“This was a mistake, which we regret,” USSS said in a statement.
But USSS stood firm on its decision to temporarily suspend and eventually fire Foley while it opened and then resolved its own investigation on workplace bullying and a toxic environment — a probe that stemmed from the initial sex-abuse allegations.
“Inevitably there was some overlap between the center’s sexual misconduct investigation and the U.S. Ski & Snowboard investigation into other workplace misconduct,” the federation said.
Meanwhile, as emails between USSS and the center went back and forth, a handful of athletes, including Chythlook-Sifsof, took their cases to the center, which opened an investigation that led to Foley’s temporary suspension. It came two days before his firing and more than five weeks after the original Instagram post.
“If not for USSS’s determination that Coach Foley’s conduct (even outside of the Center’s investigation into sexual misconduct) did not comport with the values of USSS, Coach Foley would have continued to have contact with athletes until the Center decided to act nearly four weeks later,” Goldschmidt wrote in the USSS’s response to Grassley.
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More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.cbs42.com/sports/snowboard-abuse-case-exposes-flaws-in-new-reporting-system/ | 2022-04-15T00:58:30 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/sports/snowboard-abuse-case-exposes-flaws-in-new-reporting-system/ |
When Stars on Ice, uh, hits the ice Friday night in Estero, Florida, it will be for the first time in two years. Spicing up the tour: an Olympic gold medalist and two world champions.
The 24-city tour was idled by the COVID-19 pandemic, but it returns with Beijing winner Nathan Chen and pairs world champs Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier in the cast. The skaters are as eager to entertain as figure skating fans are eager to watch.
“The whole cast is excited to be here,” says Chen, whose dominant Olympic performance climaxed a career including six U.S. titles and three at worlds. “It’s been a while since we’ve been able to do a show, and to be able to be together after two years of not — and to celebrate the work we all put in before and after the Olympics — it’s very exciting.”
A U.S. audience has yet to hear Chen introduced as an Olympic champion, and the same is true for Knierim and Frazier. Sure, they won a somewhat watered-down worlds with the Russians barred and the Chinese absent, but skaters still have to perform to their utmost regardless of the field. Knierim and Frazier, who teamed in 2021 after Alexa’s husband, Chris, retired after the 2020 season, were superb in Montpellier, France.
“I think for both of us there is a sense of giddiness,” Knierim says. “It’s phenomenal and remarkable to have that label. Even though after a few weeks it still does not feel real yet, especially because we have not had the opportunity to let it soak in. That moment when we are (introduced) is going to feel very exciting to both of us.”
Adds Frazier: “I don’t think it will be something I will be used to even by the last show we do in the states. I’m very humbled to receive that kind of introduction.”
Also in the cast are Beijing bronze medalists Madison Hubbell and Zach Donohue, who are retiring from competition; their long-time ice dance teammates and rivals, current world bronze winners Madison Chock and Evan Bates; U.S. women’s champions Mariah Bell, Karen Chen, Alysa Liu (now retired), and Mirai Nagasu; and men’s world bronze winner Vincent Zhou.
With no pressure to earn marks, the skaters let loose. So when Chen performs a reimagined version of his “Rocketman” short program, there’s an extra measure of fun added to the athleticism and artistry.
Chen, who also will skate to “Space Song” by Beach House in another solo routine, chuckles when asked if Elton John reached out after the Olympic triumph.
“He sent out a tweet after the competition, which was real sweet,” Chen says. “I personally did not even imagine he knows who I am.
“It is definitely one of the more meaningful programs I have skated. Earlier this season I was not planning to skate to it. After picking it up again, it definitely felt like the right fit. I’m glad I had the opportunity to bring it back and it was the vehicle that helped me.”
Perhaps the most entertaining and memorable show programs are the group numbers. Chen, for example, will skate in all four of them, to music by AC/DC, The Weeknd, Jon Batiste and, naturally, Elton John.
Knierim and Frazier, who will perform to “Fix You” by Coldplay, which they used at the Olympics and worlds, then “Tore My Heart” by OONA. They are particularly eager to do the group routines, too.
“The group numbers, we were working endlessly on them with the cast, and they are high energy and have great song choices, and the costumes are phenomenal,” says Knierim, not giving away what those outfits might be. “We have a pretty wide range of costumes for the finale — all of the skaters wear something very unique and custom made for themselves. It is very much a costume, like a piece of art.”
To Frazier, just being a part of a touring ice show with fans in the stands after two years of idleness is very special.
“Even without the pandemic, it is just an honor to be invited to these shows,” he says. “Being able to tour in shows and skating in front of a live audience, and with COVID seeming to be getting better, that’s an incredible experience. This has been very humbling. We are having the time of our lives.”
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More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.cbs42.com/sports/stars-on-ice-back-after-pandemic-with-olympic-world-champs/ | 2022-04-15T00:58:37 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/sports/stars-on-ice-back-after-pandemic-with-olympic-world-champs/ |
What Mark Sheridan was asking for used to be commonplace.
He says he just wanted a little more time.
Sheridan, a longtime Republican campaign attorney, represented the GOP candidate for governor in New Jersey, Jack Ciattarelli, during his campaign last year.
New Jersey's 2021 election followed a story similar to 2020's: On election night, the Republican, Ciattarelli, was ahead, but as more votes were counted across the state, the race tightened and then flipped in favor of Democrat Phil Murphy.
Six days after Election Day, tens of thousands of votes remained uncounted, and it was still possible those votes could move Ciattarelli into a position where his campaign would want a recount.
For that reason, Ciattarelli held out from conceding the race, which — before 2020 and former President Donald Trump's sustained campaign against the U.S. voting system — may have gone mostly unnoticed. (Trump still has not conceded that election and continues to insist without evidence that he won.)
But post-2020, candidate concessions, as well as the role they play in a functioning democracy, have taken on a new and prominent spotlight.
Murphy, Ciattarelli's opponent, called the decision to wait "incredibly dangerous."
Sheridan, Ciattarelli's campaign attorney, was in the awkward spot of explaining to reporters that the campaign was waiting for more votes to be counted before conceding, without seeming like the campaign was calling the election's integrity into question.
Sheridan didn't believe Trump's lies about election fraud, but he could sense that the Ciattarelli campaign was being lumped in the same category.
"The pressure started to mount," Sheridan said. "I made it clear to [reporters] that we're simply waiting to see where the vote total takes us. And I had no interest in becoming Rudy Giuliani standing in front of a mulch pile, making crazy statements about election fraud," he said, referencing Giuliani's infamous appearance at a landscaping business in Philadelphia.
Ciattarelli conceded the race a few days later — 10 days after Election Day.
But experts say the pressure that surrounded that decision and the intense scrutiny that came with it are a preview of 2022, when concessions will be monitored like never before, as more candidates may feel emboldened by Trump not to admit defeat.
No requirement to concede
The concessions process — when a losing candidate admits defeat in an election, often in a speech and with a phone call to the winning candidate — may be the most important part of democracy that isn't enshrined anywhere in law.
"Concessions are a norm," says Amel Ahmed, a political science professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. "There is a legal requirement to vacate office, but that's the only legal requirement. Concession is just a ritual."
The reason the U.S. celebrates Inauguration Day with a parade and with pomp and circumstance, Ahmed says, is because each transfer of power in a democracy is almost like a leap of faith for the entire institution.
In more fragile democracies, the time after election day is a delicate, dangerous time, so a concession goes a long way toward calming a losing candidate's supporters.
"For any of us who study democracy, it is that moment where you just hold your breath," Ahmed says.
And over the past few years, since Trump began his misinformation campaign against U.S. voting, experts in the U.S. have been holding their breath a lot.
Republican candidates like California's Larry Elder have used tactics similar to Trump's in the time leading up to Election Day, leading to fears that they would similarly question the results afterward if they lost.
"So there are all sorts of reasons why the 2020 election, in my opinion, was full of shenanigans," Elder said before the gubernatorial recall election last year in California. "And my fear is they're going to try that in this election right here in recall."
Elder did concede after he lost, as did Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the governor's race in Virginia, in the other high-profile contest of 2021.
But Matt Masterson, who oversaw election security efforts within the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency leading up to Election Day 2020, says he expects more candidates to push the boundaries on concessions in 2022, since Trump faced so few consequences for not conceding in 2020.
"I think we have to assume that in some cases, hopefully not many cases, but the incentive structure suggests that perhaps in more and more cases, the loser will not accept [defeat]," Masterson says.
The time period after voting has stopped but before election results are certified is also considered among the most fertile times for conspiracy theories to flourish, because people are so hungry for information.
Sheridan, the Republican attorney in New Jersey, traced the current shift in concessions further back than Trump, although he did say the former president has worsened the problem.
"It goes back to Stacey Abrams. She still has never conceded that Georgia gubernatorial race," Sheridan said. "So we've got ... years of people calling into question elections any time they're close."
More than a week after voting ended in Georgia in 2018, Abrams gave a carefully worded speech in which she accused her opponent, then-Secretary of State Brian Kemp, of voter suppression, while also acknowledging he would be certified the victor of the election.
"You see, I'm supposed to say nice things and accept my fate. They will complain that I should not use this moment to recap what was done wrong or to demand a remedy," she said. "And I will not concede because the erosion of our democracy is not right."
Abrams is running for governor in Georgia again this year, potentially setting up a rematch of that election, should Kemp win the Republican nomination.
What election officials can do
For local election officials, waiting to see how candidates behave during the time when votes are being tallied is among the most unpredictable parts of the job.
Masterson says election officials essentially need to plan as if candidates won't concede and be prepared to clearly communicate with voters about how the process actually works in case candidates lob accusations.
"We have to continue to push out information to voters to resist that mis- or disinformation," he says.
David Maeda, the state elections director in Minnesota, says he was recently at a training conference for city clerks where one of the main themes was developing simple one-page explanations for voting processes.
Maeda says he hasn't heard of local candidates in Minnesota avoiding concessions. "But that will be something to watch this fall," he says.
Ahmed, of UMass Amherst, says if indeed more candidates decide not to concede in elections, that will be a sign of other dangerous things to come, like more political violence.
People need to believe they have a fair shot to compete in the democratic system, she says; otherwise they'll be motivated to disrupt that system any way they can.
"Candidates don't realize they're really playing with fire," Ahmed says.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/2022-04-14/after-2020-a-candidate-conceding-an-election-is-no-longer-a-sure-thing | 2022-04-15T00:59:53 | 1 | https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/2022-04-14/after-2020-a-candidate-conceding-an-election-is-no-longer-a-sure-thing |
As the avian flu rips through the United States, birds across the country are contracting the fatal disease, including bald eagles.
At least three bald eagles who contracted bird flu are dead, Georgia's Department of Natural Resources said Thursday. The highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in more than 25 states, according to the U.S. Agriculture Department.
In Georgia, 11 wild birds have tested position for bird flu, including the bald eagles.
Meanwhile, bald eagles in other states have also contracted the flu.
Last week, avian flu was detected in bald eagles in Maine and Vermont. Bald eagles in Ohio and South Dakota — among other states — have also contracted the flu. More than 20 million birds have been wiped out in the worst outbreak since 2015, which has left more than 50 million birds dead.
Some of the birds have died from the disease, but the vast majority are being culled to stop the spread of the deadly disease. More than 13 million birds have been culled in Iowa alone.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/2022-04-14/bald-eagles-around-the-u-s-are-contracting-the-bird-flu | 2022-04-15T00:59:59 | 1 | https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/2022-04-14/bald-eagles-around-the-u-s-are-contracting-the-bird-flu |
I never really understood why viewers showed up to watch the Kardashians until I saw Hulu's The Kardashians.
Picking up with the celebrity clan less than a year after their signature series Keeping Up with The Kardashians left the air — after 20 seasons on the E! channel – Hulu's show often feels like a better filmed version the show they just stopped doing. Which means it also still showcases the elements of reality TV that irritate me most as a critic.
Hate the way they make mundane events look like momentous occasions? See the production treat a family barbecue like a summit at Yalta. Irritated by the way supposedly off-the-cuff moments feel like scenes painfully choreographed for TV cameras? Watch Kim, Khloe and Kourtney gather in a public restaurant – whose front sign is prominently featured in a bit of product placement as the scene ends – to gossip loudly about the size of certain women's, um, personal equipment.
"I hate talking about myself," says Kim, a woman who has amassed a media empire by talking about herself and her family on camera for more than a decade. In other moments, various family members talk about how refreshing it was to have a break from living life in public, with no words devoted to why they jumped back in front of the cameras again, less than a year after the last series ended.
There's a lot that gets on my nerves about The Kardashians, without a doubt.
But it's also true that this family helped pioneer the modern shape of so-called reality TV, building a franchise that both perpetuates and feeds off their collective celebrity in a way that is compelling to behold. Even now.
Kim humanizes and energizes 'The Kardashians'
At the center of all this is Kim Kardashian, the most famous family member and the person who most embodies this bizarre dynamic.
In the two episodes released early to critics — the first of which dropped on Hulu Thursday — it's Kim whose life elevates The Kardashians into something more compelling than the latest unscripted soap opera wrapped around a C-list celebrity family.
That happens minutes into the first episode, when the Kardashian family get-together is disrupted after Kim's son Saint playfully shows his mother the online game Roblox on his tablet computer, featuring an image of her crying – seemingly unaware that the image also promotes the release of previously unseen footage from the sex tape which made her famous in 2007.
The moment shatters the "stars are just like us" vibe of their meal, calling back to the original scandal which Kim and "momager" Kris Jenner eventually leveraged into the first season of Keeping Up with the Kardashians. It also highlights the devil's bargain of these shows – trading public embarrassment and shame for an exploitable notoriety – while also leaving you to wonder how a preschool-age kid got hold of a tablet which can access that kind of material in the first place.
And just when you're ready to hate on a woman who admits she can't sing, dance or act yet gets a murderer's row of comics to help her prep for SNL, The Kardashians humanizes Kim.
Filmed sometime last year, Hulu's episodes might feel like old news to fans – Kylie Jenner refuses to tell her family the sex of her child, for instance, but anyone following press reports knows she had a baby boy in February. Still, Kim's seemingly effortless glamour appears to offer a backstage peek at stuff we've already seen play out publicly.
It's Kim who drops news during the family get together that she has agreed to host Saturday Night Live (which she actually did in October), later casually referencing that "Dave" (Chappelle) and future beau Pete Davidson gave her advice and joke suggestions. And it's Kim who actually sits down on camera with Oscars co-host Amy Schumer to read over monologue jokes written for her by Michelle Wolf.
And just when you're ready to hate on a woman who admits she can't sing, dance or act — yet gets a murderer's row of comics to help her prep for SNL — The Kardashians humanizes Kim. We see her freak out over the legal wrangling regarding this possible new sex tape, while fretting about what she'll do on SNL, and negotiating new boundaries with the husband she is divorcing, Kanye West.
Stars. Sometimes, they are nothing like us, it turns out.
Anyone with access to news headlines over the past six months knows how badly an unstable Ye will eventually handle their breakup. But in Hulu's first two episodes, Kim is telling others how an unseen, unheard Kanye is vowing to attend her SNL performance in support, connecting her with Chappelle and offering to quit his own career and serve as her fulltime stylist.
Stars. Sometimes, they are nothing like us, it turns out.
How real is the reality on 'The Kardashians?'
Through it all, because of the duplicitous nature of so-called reality TV, it is difficult to know how to process any of this. The family once admitted that the exterior shots of homes used in Keeping Up with the Kardashians were not of their own houses – Kim explained the tactic kept fans from figuring out where they lived.
But the upshot was that every outside establishing shot with those fake exteriors was a lie to viewers. Are they continuing the lie on Hulu, where the first episode features a stylized drone-style shot that seemingly moves through family members' homes?
Social media is filled with theories from fans about which moments from the E! series were completely contrived but presented to viewers as genuine. (For me, the moment when Rob Kardashian drank a cup of coffee supposedly dosed with Viagra by his mother and intended for her then-spouse didn't quite pass the smell test.) Are there similar scenes in The Kardashians?
It remains to be seen how deeply the show will delve into Kim's increasingly contentious divorce from Kanye. Or the troubles of Kylie's partner, rapper Travis Scott, who performed during a mass casualty crowd crush event last year at the Astroworld Festival he founded. Or the story of superstar drummer and reality TV veteran Travis Barker, who held a marriage ceremony with Kourtney Kardashian without a license after the Grammy awards last week.
And the number of troubling social trends this family embodies, from accusations of cultural appropriation, to Kendall Jenner's disastrous 2017 Pepsi commercial (she offered a cop a drink during a protest), and, of course, the decadence of earning wealth and fame largely by shrewdly exploiting their notoriety.
Honestly, if you hated this family before now, Hulu's The Kardashians won't change your mind. And some fans will likely find this show something of a rehash, centered on incidents that have already been picked apart by TMZ and People magazine months ago. I'm also still trying to figure out why a show distributed on adult-oriented streamer Hulu bleeps out the curse words.
But it is also true there is still something quite compelling – and disturbingly of the moment – about watching a family whose business is being famous go about their business on camera.
And what is obvious after two episodes of Hulu's The Kardashians, is that no family on TV does that business quite so well as this clan.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/2022-04-14/hulus-the-kardashians-continues-a-modern-saga-a-family-famous-for-being-famous | 2022-04-15T01:00:05 | 1 | https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/2022-04-14/hulus-the-kardashians-continues-a-modern-saga-a-family-famous-for-being-famous |
Anti-war activists engaged in a light beam battle against Russian diplomats in Washington, D.C., Wednesday evening in a display of disapproval over the country's ongoing war in Ukraine.
The activists spent hours projecting the Ukrainian flag on the Russian Embassy's exterior walls with ultra-bright light.
Benjamin Wittes, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute and one of the lead demonstrators, said the group was protesting Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the killing of Ukrainian people.
"We wanted to be respectful of the rules and how we expect these properties to be treated," he told NPR. "[We] also wanted to invade it and make it feel like they couldn't get away from the world's glare of judgment."
Wittes said the Russian Embassy, which sits about 3 miles northwest of the White House, had been an enticing target for some time. It's a large white building with windows running from top to bottom in slim columns. He recalled looking at the embassy and thinking to himself, "It looks like a big projection screen."
A spotlight operator at Russia's embassy spent nearly four hours unsuccessfully attempting to outshine two enormous blue and yellow flags projected against the wall outside the embassy.
Secret Service officers watched as the protestors across the street carefully maneuvered the flags up and down and side to side in an effort to be as "intrusive and invasive" to the embassy's occupants as legally possible, Wittes said.
Little did he know, Phil Ateto, another activist in D.C., had the same idea.
Ateto is an organizer with the Backbone Campaign, a free-speech advocacy group that drives change through demonstrations, with experience in light-projection protests. But the equipment needed for this type of protest isn't cheap.
It took just under a dozen protestors, including Ateto and Wittes, to set up 14 lights, four gas generators, stands and more Wednesday afternoon. In total, there was $10,000 worth of equipment used.
However, Ateto got the lighting for free through Keith Gifford, the equipment rental manager at Atmosphere Lighting, who said he had no qualms about lending the protestors the tools they needed.
"I think that making things a little uncomfortable for Russian government officials in town here is maybe not a bad thing," Gifford told NPR. "It's advertisement and bringing awareness to the issue. It annoys Putin in a way that doesn't harm anyone."
Putting the plan in motion
The demonstrators spent several hours setting up the lights Wednesday afternoon.
By the time the sun had set, they had one projector ready to roll on the roof of an apartment building across from the embassy and another set up on the lawn out front. But shortly after they began blasting the building with blue and yellow, the property manager asked Wittes and Ateto to kill the lights and get off the roof.
The pair doubled down on their efforts and used two lights from ground level. Wittes documented the protests through a series of posts and a livestream video on Twitter, which had over 2 million views as of Thursday evening.
The great Phil playing cat and mouse with a Russian spotlight this evening. pic.twitter.com/FvrDtvbm4B
— Benjamin Wittes (@benjaminwittes) April 14, 2022
In the video, Wittes can be heard narrating a game of cat and mouse between Ateto operating one of the lights and presumably a Russian Embassy staff member using a white floodlight. The protestors ran the lights for approximately four hours, only stopping when the generators ran out of gas.
All in all, it was "an interesting little adventure," Wittes said.
Wittes is not done just yet, he said. Following a recommendation by another protestor, Wittes plans to pant sunflowers, which have become a representation of Ukraine's resistance, in a vacant lot across from the embassy Saturday afternoon.
"The idea is to make the embassy staff look at symbols of Ukrainian nationhood even as they try and erase it," Wittes said.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/2022-04-14/meet-the-activists-who-projected-a-giant-ukrainian-flag-on-russias-embassy-in-d-c | 2022-04-15T01:00:11 | 1 | https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/2022-04-14/meet-the-activists-who-projected-a-giant-ukrainian-flag-on-russias-embassy-in-d-c |
In 1987, the Commission on Presidential Debates was established jointly by the Democratic and Republican parties to ensure that debates between the leading candidates for the President of the United States were a permanent part of the electoral process.
Now, the Republican National Committee has voted unanimously to leave the CPD, ending more than three decades of bipartisan civic cooperation.
"The Commission on Presidential Debates is biased and has refused to enact simple and commonsense reforms to help ensure fair debates including hosting debates before voting begins and selecting moderators who have never worked for candidates on the debate stage," Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement.
"Today, the RNC voted to withdraw from the biased CPD, and we are going to find newer, better debate platforms to ensure that future nominees are not forced to go through the biased CPD in order to make their case to the American people," McDaniel continued.
The CPD did not immediately comment on the RNC's decision.
In January, when the RNC previewed its criticisms and announced it was considering withdrawal, the commission emphasized its non-partisanship and said in a statement that its "plans for 2024 will be based on fairness, neutrality and a firm commitment to help the American public learn about the candidates and the issues."
For at least the last decade, debate moderators — prominent journalists selected by the commission — have drawn intense scrutiny from pundits and candidates alike for their performances in a difficult job.
Democrats were irritated with the commission in 2012 during President Barack Obama's reelection. They saw moderator Jim Lehrer of PBS NewsHour, who had long moderated presidential debates, as letting Republican nominee Mitt Romney run roughshod over the ground rules, the moderator and the sitting president.
There were complaints from Republicans later in those debates about moderator Candy Crowley, then of CNN, correcting something Romney said.
Donald Trump, whose bombastic presence on the debate stage was a fixture of both the 2016 and 2020 campaign cycles, often lambasted moderators on Twitter after the debates.
His perceived unfair treatment in the debates drew criticism from the Republican National Committee which culminated in Thursday's withdrawal.
NPR's Domenico Montanaro contributed reporting.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/2022-04-14/republicans-say-theyre-quitting-the-biased-commission-on-presidential-debates | 2022-04-15T01:00:18 | 1 | https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/2022-04-14/republicans-say-theyre-quitting-the-biased-commission-on-presidential-debates |
As Thursday draws to a close in Kyiv and in Moscow, here are the key developments of the day:
The Russian missile cruiser Moskva, operating in the Black Sea, has sunk, according to Russia's Defense Ministry. It said the ship was being towed in stormy weather after the vessel was damaged and its crew evacuated. Russian officials had said a fire broke out on board and caused munitions to explode. The Ukrainian military claimed they attacked the vessel. Neither account has been independently confirmed. Ukrainian officials say the Moskva was the Russian warship in the famous Snake Island incident, in which Ukrainian border guards profanely refused to surrender. Those men initially were believed to have been killed, but were later released in a prisoner swap.
Russia accused Ukrainian forces of striking Russian residential buildings near the Ukrainian border, saying Ukrainian helicopters fired on a town in the Bryansk region. Separately, the governor of the border region of Belgorod said Ukraine had fired on a local village — the second attack on the area that Russia has blamed on Ukraine this month. Previously, Russia's Defense Ministry said that continued cross-border attacks could prompt retaliatory Russian strikes on key command centers in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Ukrainian officials accused Russia of plots to "whip up anti-Ukrainian hysteria."
A senior U.S. official may travel to Kyiv soon to show solidarity with Ukraine. President Biden told reporters his administration was "making that decision now," but did not confirm any further specifics. This potential trip would follow recent visits to Ukraine by the British prime minister and the presidents of Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
Russian authorities continue crackdowns on anti-war protesters, extending arrests to silent and stealthy demonstrations. An artist in St. Petersburg allegedly replaced price tags at a local supermarket with anti-war notes and now faces up to 10 years in prison on charges of spreading "knowingly false information" about the Russian armed forces. Her lawyer said a shopper reported the woman to the police.
In-depth
They've spent a lifetime in Kyiv. Not everyone can flee Russia's war in Ukraine.
Young ballerinas from Kharkiv are now among millions displaced by Ukraine's war.
Where do sanctions on Russia go from here? A foreign policy expert weighs in.
There's no diplomatic path to end Russia's assault on Ukraine, a Polish diplomat says. Listen to the conversation with Poland's ambassador to the U.S.
Attacks have destroyed numerous hospitals in the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv. NPR's Short Wave podcast features the voices of three people who were there.
Photos
The death toll rises as Ukrainian forces continue to search suburbs of Kyiv.
Earlier developments
You can read more news from Thursday here, and daily recaps here. For context and more in-depth stories, you can find NPR's full coverage here. Also, listen and subscribe to NPR's State of Ukraine podcast for updates throughout the day.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/2022-04-14/russia-ukraine-war-what-happened-today-april-14 | 2022-04-15T01:00:24 | 0 | https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/2022-04-14/russia-ukraine-war-what-happened-today-april-14 |
On Wednesday, health officials in New York said that two new omicron variants are spreading rapidly in the state. The variants appear to be causing a small surge in cases in central New York state, the department of health said.
Known as BA.2.12 and BA.2.12.1, the variants are closely related to the BA.2 variant – a version of omicron that has caused surges across Europe and is now dominant across the U.S.
Together the two new variants now comprise 90% of cases in central New York.
But one of them, BA.2.12.1, contains a mutation that appears to give the variant an advantage, computational biologist Cornelius Roemer wrote on Twitter. The mutation resides on the part of the virus that binds to human cells. And in previous variants, this mutation has helped the virus infect cells, studies have found. The BA.2.12. variant appears to have a growth advantage of about 30% to 90% per week over BA.2, Roemer estimates.
"It looks like [the variant] has an advantage ... It has certainly rapidly grown in some places," epidemiologist William Hanage, at Harvard University, wrote in an email to NPR. Some of the variants' mutations could help the virus evade the immune system, he notes.
But it's early days for this virus. Scientists have detected this variant in six countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Israel and Luxembourg, but the vast majority of cases are in the U.S. Those are localized primarily to central New York. "It is worth noting that the incidence [of this variant] is not very high at the moment," Hanage adds. "So the total numbers of cases are not huge at present."
And what does this new variant portend? After a few months of COVID cases declining across the country, several regions are starting to see cases rise again, including New England and Washington, D.C. But this rise seems independent of these new variants, says virologist Jeremy Luban at UMass Chan Medical School.
"In the Boston area where I am, the numbers came down, maybe as low as five new cases per day per 100,000. But now cases are creeping up again," he says. "We may be starting to see some of these new variants here now. But cases have been steadily going up before they were there."
Fortunately, he says, this rise is much slower and more gradual than the rise observed with the original omicron variant, BA.1, back in December, when the cases spiked incredibly quickly. "BA.1 just exploded. It appeared and dominated so dramatically. Then it came down quickly," Luban says.
Most scientists expect the surge by BA.2 – including all its different versions – will be much smaller than that observed with BA.1, Luban says. That's because many Americans have some immunity to these variants, given the massive number of people exposed to the virus during the first omicron surge. Nearly 50% of Americans could have been infected over the winter, Trevor Bedford at the University of Washington estimated last week.
Although BA.2.12.1 may be better at evading the immune system than other omicron variants, scientists still expect the vaccine to work well against it, at least in terms of protecting people from severe COVID and hospitalization.
"I'm relatively optimistic that, despite all of these changes in the virus, the vaccines will hold up," Luban says. "So people who have been vaccinated and boosted are not going to be hospitalized, by and large, unless there's some extenuating circumstances."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/2022-04-14/two-new-omicron-variants-are-spreading-in-n-y-and-elsewhere-heres-what-we-know | 2022-04-15T01:00:30 | 0 | https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/2022-04-14/two-new-omicron-variants-are-spreading-in-n-y-and-elsewhere-heres-what-we-know |
(NEXSTAR) – Have you ever noticed that Easter never seems to fall on the same day? Christmas is always Dec. 25, Independence Day is always July 4, Mother’s Day is the second Sunday of May. But you’ll always have to check the calendar for Easter. Why?
If you aren’t familiar, Easter is a Christian festivity that marks the resurrection of Jesus. It always falls on a Sunday during March or April. To understand why, you have to look skyward.
“The date of Easter is determined by the moon. Easter always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox,” says Kim Mandelkow, director of the Office for Worship with the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
This year, the first full moon after the vernal equinox (also known as the first day of spring, which is March 20) is on Saturday, April 16, putting this Easter Sunday on April 17.
April’s full moon is sometimes referred to as the Paschal Moon because of its significance to Easter – ‘paschal’ is defined as relating to Easter or the Jewish Passover.
“The moon is not regular,” Father Martin Schlag, a professor and chair of Catholic social thought at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, explains. “It doesn’t follow the solar calendar, but it has its own lunar calendar that varies every year.”
If the first full moon fell on a Sunday, Easter Sunday would be pushed back a week, Mandelkow explains.
Because Easter is dependent on the vernal equinox, it can fall anywhere from March 22 to April 25. Having Easter on either of those days, though, is relatively rare, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. You’re more likely to see a year of Easter falling on March 31 or April 16, which have the greatest frequencies of claiming the holiday.
Next year, we’ll have an earlier Easter on April 9. | https://www.wivb.com/news/why-is-easter-never-on-the-same-sunday/ | 2022-04-15T01:01:54 | 1 | https://www.wivb.com/news/why-is-easter-never-on-the-same-sunday/ |
GREENCASTLE — A call for possible shots fired Thursday at Putnam County Superior Court turned out to be a false alarm, police say.
The situation was reported as shots fired through a window of the building but was determined to be a rock thrown into the building, according to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff's deputies and Greencastle police determined no shots were fired shortly after arriving.
Police later located a suspect in the 1000 block of Shadowlawn Avenue and detained that person before they were transported to a hospital for an evaluation.
The suspect is being held at Putnam County Jail on suspicion of resisting law enforcement and disorderly conduct.
The Sheriff's Office did not disclose additional details Thursday.
TOP STORIES: IUPUI commencement ceremony subject of uproar as some students won't be able to walk | Gainbridge concertgoers say they were denied access to rescheduled Elton John show; told tickets invalid | Meteor likely cause of mysterious explosion-like noise that rattled parts of Indiana, AMS says | Carvana building demolished to clear way for construction of new I-465 interchange | Apple to pay $14.8M to iCloud subscribers over breached contract | https://www.wrtv.com/news/local-news/crime/police-respond-for-shots-fired-call-at-putnam-county-courthouse-later-discover-it-was-false-alarm | 2022-04-15T01:03:18 | 1 | https://www.wrtv.com/news/local-news/crime/police-respond-for-shots-fired-call-at-putnam-county-courthouse-later-discover-it-was-false-alarm |
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — A growing number of professional athletes are turning to cannabis for pain relief. An alternative to addictive opioids which athletes say helps to reduce pain from post-game injuries and to help speed recovery.
While athletes have shared their stories publicly, little scientific research has been conducted to support the anecdotal reports.
“The NFL, it's hard for them to throw support to something that has absolutely no evidence. So they’ve taken the leap to provide the funding to look for some evidence," said Mark Wallace, MD, chief of the division of Pain Medicine at UC San Diego.
The university received a $500,000 grant from the National Football League (NFL) to investigate the effects of cannabis on pain management.
“Probably close to 70 percent of the NFL players are exposed to opioids through the course of their career. And many of them remain on opioids after they're finished with their career," said Wallace. “I've taken hundreds and hundreds of patients off of opioids with cannabis.”
Wallace has been studying cannabis and its use for chronic pain for over two decades. In 2000, UC San Diego established its Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research (CMCR). With support from the California State Legislature, researchers initiated the first therapeutic studies using smoked cannabis in over 20 years.
"We've learned how to dose it, we've come a long way," said Wallace. "Because if you don't dose it right, you can actually make the patients worse, you can worsen their pain. But if you dose it right, you could improve sleep, improve mood, reduce pain."
Relaxing its rules on cannabis use, the NFL no longer suspends players who test positive for marijuana. However, players will not be permitted to participate in the study. Instead, researchers will be working with professional rugby teams.
“A lot of the rugby players are more than willing to participate," said Wallace. "They’re looking for an answer too."
Injured athletes in the randomized, double-blind trial will dose up to four times a day for 48 hours, using a handheld vaporizer.
“The NFL, they know that the players are using it, and they have eased up on their restrictions. But at the same time, they understand it is a Schedule 2 drug that has varying state laws," said Wallace. “We’re hoping this will lead to larger studies within the NFL.” | https://www.wrtv.com/news/national/nfl-invests-in-research-to-study-cannabis-for-pain-management | 2022-04-15T01:03:24 | 0 | https://www.wrtv.com/news/national/nfl-invests-in-research-to-study-cannabis-for-pain-management |
(NEW YORK) — A Russian legislator and two aides were charged with conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions as they pushed a covert Russian propaganda campaign in the U.S. to win support for moves against Ukraine and other countries, an indictment unsealed Thursday said.
Three conspiracy charges were brought in an indictment in Manhattan federal court against the legislator, Aleksandr Babakov, 59, and two of his staff members — Aleksandr Nikolayevich Vorobev, 52, and Mikhail Alekseyevich Plisyuk, 58.
All three men named are based in Russia and remain at large, authorities said. Babakov currently serves as deputy chairman of the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian legislature, federal authorities said in a release.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said Babakov’s actions show Russia’s “illegitimate actions against Ukraine extend beyond the battlefield, as political influencers under Russia’s control allegedly plotted to steer geopolitical change in Russia’s favor through surreptitious and illegal means in the U.S. and elsewhere in the West.” | https://www.wrtv.com/news/national/russia-ukraine-conflict/us-charges-top-russian-lawmaker-and-multiple-staffers-citing-alleged-influence-scheme | 2022-04-15T01:03:30 | 1 | https://www.wrtv.com/news/national/russia-ukraine-conflict/us-charges-top-russian-lawmaker-and-multiple-staffers-citing-alleged-influence-scheme |
INDIANAPOLIS — The second-winningest coach in Indiana boys' basketball history is stepping away from the sidelines.
After 46 seasons as the head coach at Lawrence North, and 50 seasons total, Jack Keefer has announced his retirement.
Keefer holds an 865-338 all-time record, with 804 wins coming as head coach of the Lawrence North Wildcats. He is a 2007 inductee into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame and winner of four state championships, and one national championship with the Wildcats.
Coach Keefer has had 17 players named to the Indiana All-Star team, including three McDonald’s All-American players. He coached Greg Oden, named Indiana Mr. Basketball in 2006 and Gatorade National Player of the Year in 2005 and 2006.
Keefer boasts three, top ten first-round NBA draft picks (Eric Montross, Oden and Mike Conley).
“Mr. Jack Keefer represents Lawrence Excellence and he values the students and families that we serve," Lawrence North Principal, Mr. Brett Crousore said. "His longstanding dedication to helping you people better themselves through his guidance will be a major part of his legacy.”
“Coach Keefer has had a long-lasting positive impact on our school and community since the doors opened in 1976," Lawrence North High School Athletic Director, Mr. Mike Penrose said. "He understands the importance of education-based athletics for young people. He and his teams have volunteered at many community service events over the years. Moreover, for someone who has had his kind of success, he has been extremely humble. He showed me what it meant to be part of the “Wildcat Family” when I started my career at Lawrence North 28 years ago, and I will be forever grateful to have worked with such a wonderful coach, teacher and mentor." | https://www.wrtv.com/sports/jack-keefer-retiring-as-head-coach-at-lawrence-north-after-46-seasons | 2022-04-15T01:03:36 | 0 | https://www.wrtv.com/sports/jack-keefer-retiring-as-head-coach-at-lawrence-north-after-46-seasons |
Three Floyd defendants reject plea deal
MINNEAPOLIS — Prosecutors revealed Monday evening that they offered plea deals to three former Minneapolis police officers charged with aiding and abetting the murder of George Floyd, but said at a hearing that the defendants rejected them.
Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill held the hearing mostly to consider whether he has the authority to allow live video coverage of the upcoming trial set to begin in June for former Officers Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng. They're charged with aiding and abetting both manslaughter and murder when former officer Derek Chauvin used his knee to pin Floyd, a Black man, to the pavement for 9½ minutes on May 25, 2020. Kueng knelt on Floyd's back, Lane held his legs and Thao kept bystanders back.
Lead prosecutor Matthew Frank did not disclose details of the plea offers in open court but said they were identical and were made March 22 after a jury convicted the three in a separate trial in February on federal civil rights charges stemming from Floyd's death, according to pool reports from inside the courtroom.
Lane's attorney, Earl Gray, said it was hard for the defense to negotiate when the three still don't know what their federal sentences will be. The judge in that case has not set a sentencing date, and all three remain free on bail.
Cahill told Frank to file the offers for the record after the jury is seated for the upcoming trial, which is expected to take around eight weeks, including three for jury selection.
The Associated Press
Tuskegee wins national home builders contest
Tuskegee University’s National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Student Chapter made history as the first HBCU to win first place in the Four-Year College Production Home Builder category.
Forty-five teams representing universities, community colleges, high schools and career technical schools across the U.S. participated in the annual student competition in Orlando, Florida.
Students on the Tuskegee team spent an entire semester preparing by working through real-world construction management problems, under the guidance of coach Dr. Charner Rodgers and assistant Mariah Stewart.
“This win is so emotional for me. Being the first HBCU to win is very special,” said Charner Rodgers, associate professor at Tuskegee University. “Tuskegee has let the world of residential construction know that African Americans are not only capable of being great project managers, schedulers, estimators, but are willing and ready to be in this industry as knowledgeable key players.”
The 10-member team was tasked with creating a development plan for a 120-acre parcel in North Texas, and then presenting it to a panel of judges made up of industry experts. In addition to sharing their work, students had an opportunity to network and learn from industry pros during the event.
“This win will prepare our students for future careers within the building industry, " said President Charlotte P. Morris. "For the last three years, our students have shown their resilience, and this national win is a testament to the caliber of professors here at Tuskegee.”
The Birmingham Times
EPA to probe Louisiana’s ‘Cancer Alley’
The Environmental Protection Agency announced it has opened multiple investigations into several Louisiana state agencies to determine whether the civil rights of Black residents were violated. The industrial corridor where the residents live is known as “Cancer Alley.”
According to the New Orleans Advocate, the series of federal probes comes after EPA Director Michael Regan visited the area last year and marks additional action on environmental racism taken at the federal level.
The investigations are specifically looking into permits granted by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) in St. John Parish, St. James Parish, and beyond plagued by chronic air pollution.
The Louisiana Department of Health is also being investigated, over its alleged failure “to provide parish residents with necessary information about health threats” in St. John Parish where an elementary school and homes located near a neoprene facility have been exposed to elevated levels of a known carcinogen, chloroprene, for years.
That facility is owned by a Japanese chemical firm, Denka, and is the only one in the country that emits chloroprene, The Guardian reported.
Black residents and local activists have raised awareness to the issue for years, filing complaints stating that the permits to build these types of facilities is racially-biased and failed to take community input into consideration.
The Black Information Network | https://www.phillytrib.com/across-america/article_805fb7bf-997f-5e41-a809-c972efa7e66c.html | 2022-04-15T01:04:56 | 1 | https://www.phillytrib.com/across-america/article_805fb7bf-997f-5e41-a809-c972efa7e66c.html |
Chilton County, Ala. (WIAT) — A senior prank involving Chilton County and Jemison High Schools is garnering significant attention, but what prank would gain that much attention? The answer: swapping places. Around 12 seniors from Chilton County went to Jemison High, and four from Jemison went to Chilton County.
“It was…it was a really good prank,” County Commissioner Allen Williams said.
According to several of the seniors involved with the prank, suspension was just one of the forms of punishment they face. Jemison Senior Haileigh Greer claims she was kicked off the softball team for her involvement with the prank and other Jemison students faced harsher punishments as well. She, along with most involved, felt the schools reactions were extreme.
“It was a harmless prank. We didn’t mean for it to go this far and we had no idea they would react like this,” Chilton County High senior Mallory Adams said.
Students also claim it took the schools a few hours to figure out what was going on.
“We got to the school around 7:50-55 a.m. and we stayed til 9:20 a.m. without getting caught or anything. The teachers and stuff, they didn’t notice,” Greer said.
“I walked right by the police officer and the principal in a spider-man costume and they, like, didn’t see me,” Adams said.
The news of the prank continues to gain attention online. A petition to change the students punishment has circulated and had thousands of signatures when CBS 42 last checked. Commissioner Williams also felt the punishment was harsh and says this prank opened up several issues for the schools, such as security. He also feels all punishments should be equal and that the students shouldn’t be the only ones in trouble.
“How did these students get into two of our schools? And the other thing I hope comes out of it is that they look at their punishment policies. Whether it’s the school, school board, and make it consistent for everybody involved,” Williams said.
Neither high school administration wanted to comment about the prank. Chilton County Superintendent Jason Griffin sent this statement: “Chilton County Schools follows law, policy and procedure in all aspects of day-to-day operations.”
But at the end of the day, these seniors say they have no regret about the prank.
“Heck I didn’t like Clanton people, but I actually like them now,” Greer said.
“We can’t stand Jemison, but we all came together,” Chilton County Senior Kolby Hughes said. | https://www.wane.com/news/chilton-county-and-jemison-high-seniors-swap-schools-for-senior-prank-draws-massive-attention/ | 2022-04-15T01:11:04 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/chilton-county-and-jemison-high-seniors-swap-schools-for-senior-prank-draws-massive-attention/ |
WASHINGTON, D.C. – More than 80 federal lawmakers, including some members of Indiana’s congressional delegation, are calling on the U.S. International Trade Commission to help reduce costs for farmers by cutting some tariffs on fertilizer.
Farmers across America have been dealing with rising expenses during the pandemic.
“Our nitrogen products have gone up almost 300% from a year ago,” said Philip Ramsey, director of the American Soybean Alliance Board and a corn and soybean farmer in Shelby County.
Economists say several factors have driven up the cost of fertilizer, including cargo costs, a suspension of Russian fertilizer exports and higher energy prices.
“The rise in gas prices has ballooned the fertilizer prices already long before the war really started,” said Andreas Hauskrecht, who teaches business economics and public policy at the IU Kelley School of Business.
Congressman Greg Pence (R-Indiana) is among those calling for tariff reductions.
“The farmers are just getting out into the field right now,” Pence said. “And they need these chemicals. They need fuel prices to come down.”
Economists say reducing tariffs would have some impact, though it would likely be minimal. They say it will probably be a while before farmers start to see some significant relief from higher prices.
“It’s gonna have a very small impact,” said Matthew Will, associate professor of finance at the University of Indianapolis. “The tariffs on ammonium and phosphates, they primarily come from Morocco, Trinidad and Tobago, those countries. We’re not going to see a big impact on the global market.”
“I think economists should be and will be in favor of using reduced tariffs to at least a little bit to a certain extent mitigate the consequences of rising prices for farmers,” Hauskrecht said.
The U.S. International Trade Commission responded to the lawmakers’ request, saying changes to tariffs would have to be decided by the U.S. Department of Commerce. | https://www.wane.com/news/federal-lawmakers-call-for-tariff-cuts-on-fertilizer/ | 2022-04-15T01:11:10 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/federal-lawmakers-call-for-tariff-cuts-on-fertilizer/ |
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE)–Fort Wayne police are investigating a death reported around 7:23 p.m. on Thursday near a wooded field by McCormick Avenue and Birchwood Avenue.
A WANE-15 crew saw police investigating in the woods just off the street.
There are no further updates at this time. | https://www.wane.com/news/fwpd-investigating-death-at-mccormick-and-birchwood/ | 2022-04-15T01:11:16 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/fwpd-investigating-death-at-mccormick-and-birchwood/ |
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE)–The Meijer Express gas station opened to the public on Thursday, nearly a month before the Meijer store is set to open.
The gas station is adjacent to the Meijer store, which is set to open on May 12.
There are still full-time and part-time employee openings available at the new location.
Interested candidates can begin the hiring process by applying online. Enter “Dupont” in the location search field and click search. Details for hourly and full-time positions are outlined within the job postings. | https://www.wane.com/news/local-news/meijer-express-on-dupont-open-for-business/ | 2022-04-15T01:11:22 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/local-news/meijer-express-on-dupont-open-for-business/ |
WASHINGTON (Nexstar) — Fruit and vegetables bound for grocery shelves and restaurants are rotting on semi-trucks at the Texas-Mexico border.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state officials to inspect every commercial truck that crosses the border, after it passes through U.S. Customers and Border Protection. The governor said he’s striking back against the Biden administration’s decision to stop enforcing COVID-19 emergency health restrictions at the border next month.
Trucks are lined up for miles with some drivers waiting up to 72 hours just to cross the border.
“This is a real gut punch to the American consumer right now,” said President of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas Lance Jungmeyer.
Jungmeyer said on a normal day, 2,000 trucks each deliver up to 40,000 pounds of fresh produce to the U.S.
“Right now that is zero or practically zero,” he said.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the added inspections are paralyzing cross-border businesses.
“These actions are impacting jobs and livelihood of hardworking families,” Psaki said.
But Abbott said the inspections will continue until the federal government agrees to extend the COVID-19 emergency restrictions at the border.
“The ultimate way to end the clogged border is for President Biden, to do his job and to secure the border,” Abbott said.
Abbott ordered an end to the state inspections at one of Texas’ 13 commercial crossings Wednesday. The governor of neighboring Nuevo Leon, Mexico, said he reached an agreement with Abbott to keep the trucks moving.
The produce association sent a letter to Abbott, asking him to let the trucks roll.
“Because we can’t see the cost of our tomatoes, the cost of our avocados, the cost of our asparagus, the cost of our strawberries continue to go up,” said Jungmeyer. | https://www.wane.com/news/washington-dc/a-real-gut-punch-produce-association-asks-abbott-to-reconsider-truck-inspections-at-border/ | 2022-04-15T01:11:28 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/washington-dc/a-real-gut-punch-produce-association-asks-abbott-to-reconsider-truck-inspections-at-border/ |
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STARKVILLE • Fans who attended Mississippi State’s scrimmage last Saturday will have a good look at what this weekend’s “spring game” will look like.
Rather than the traditional intrasquad competition in which rosters are divided into two, Mike Leach’s squad will put their typical scrimmage on display during Super Bulldog Weekend.
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Depth chart groupings will take turns on drives usually starting at the offense’s 40-yard line. It’ll start with the first string players facing off before MSU’s staff starts to mix roles up. There will be no score kept.
Leach said the date of the spring game is earlier than usual as State aimed for it to overlap with baseball hosting games. It’s rare, but MSU will have three spring practices in the week following the spring game.
“I’m not a believer in this spring game, just go through the motions, run a couple of drills and wave at everybody,” Leach said. “I hate that. I can’t even fathom that on any level.”
For Leach, very little changes in what he hopes to see besides a step forward from the first spring scrimmage.
There likely won’t be much confusion about who the top quarterback is as Will Rogers continues to impress this spring above Sawyer Robertson. But those protecting the quarterback will be shuffling around.
Leach and offensive line coach Mason Miller are experimenting with various players replacing last season’s tackles. Left tackle Charles Cross is on his way to becoming a top draft pick in this year’s NFL Draft while right tackle Scott Lashley is out of eligibility and working as a student coach with the Bulldogs.
Junior college addition Percy Lewis is the favorite to fill Cross’ spot while Albert Reese appears to be taking Lashley’s. However, don’t expect them to be the only ones in those slots during first team reps.
Interior guys such as Kwatrivous Johnson took snaps on the exterior. And the offensive line is just a taste of the rest of the arrangements.
Saturday provides a good opportunity for fans to see a plethora of players find roles in the same way the coaching staff does at practice. Based on the intensity of MSU’s last few practices, the possibility of some skirmishes exists.
But as for determining who will be shining on Saturday’s in the regular season, fans shouldn’t put too much weight on the baseball game’s appetizer.
STEFAN KRAJISNIK is the Mississippi State athletics reporter for the Daily Journal. Contact him at stefan.krajisnik@djournal.com. | https://www.djournal.com/sports/college/mississippi-state/mississippi-states-spring-game-to-stray-from-traditional-format/article_d96c7af7-8c02-5937-9eec-4644689ba77a.html | 2022-04-15T01:15:03 | 1 | https://www.djournal.com/sports/college/mississippi-state/mississippi-states-spring-game-to-stray-from-traditional-format/article_d96c7af7-8c02-5937-9eec-4644689ba77a.html |
FISHERS, Ind. — JV baseball players were all ready to play ball Monday, until their game got cancelled hours before first pitch.
Fishers High School Head Baseball Coach Mathew Cherry tweeted out he was “saddened and heartbroken.”
“We’ve never had anything canceled when it was sunny and dry and warm enough to play due to lack of umpires,” Cherry said.
Cherry said he was told around the end of the school day there were not enough umpires to get one to his JV game.
“Short on available bodies that are certified and licensed and able to work high school games,” he said.
The umpire shortage isn’t just hitting high school baseball though. USSSA Softball in Indiana is reporting they are short about 100 umpires.
“Right now we are at 185 registered umpires,” said Time Foster, Indiana’s director of USSSA Softball.
Foster said 10,000 girls play softball in the USSSA program in Indiana each year and he needs about 225 umpires each weekend. He considers full staff to be somewhere between 275 and 300 umps.
Foster said part of the issue is the older generation leaving during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Some of the older guys that umpired for us, they figured there was life away from softball on the weekends and started taking grandkids fishing and stuff like that,” Foster said.
Foster said it is a two sided issue, though. As they lose umpires they have had for years, they’re having trouble bringing in replacements and keeping them around.
“We see very few each year and they don’t stay long because I think the newer guys and kids don’t have the thicker skin and they cant deal with the parents and coaches sometimes,” Foster said.
Robert Faulkens, the Indiana High School Athletic Association Assistant Commissioner, said this connects to the biggest reason they can’t keep umpires around.
“We can get people in but the problem is after two or three years because of their treatment from fans or players and coaches and whatnot they leave the industry,” Faulkens said.
Across the country this past weekend, two incidents of violence against umpires have gone viral. In Texas, a coach was caught on camera shoving an umpire after being thrown out of little league game. In Mississippi, a mother was arrested for punching a softball umpire and giving the official a black eye.
“There’s not a place for that in youth sports and I definitely think that’s a part of the problem across the country,” Cherry said.
Both he and Foster said they have noticed the growing problem and know it has to stop.
“Coaches coach the game, parent cheer for your kids and let officials do their job,” said Foster.
Treating umpires with more respect could help solve the shortage, Foster said, as could getting more teens into refereeing. ISHAA is now offering a class in almost two dozen high schools across Indiana that takes students through the certification.
“Everything that an adult would go through to become an official is compressed in the high school classroom setting,” said Faulkens.
He said his pitch to high schoolers is easy.
“We always say you can go flip burger for six or eight hours or you can referee a soccer match for two-and-half hours and make the same amount of money,” Faulkens said.
If you would like to become an umpire for USSSA Indiana Softball Foster said you can email him at tim.foster@usssa.com or go to the USSSA website.
To become an umpire or referee for IHSAA, Faulkens said all you have to do to get started is check out the website. | https://fox59.com/indiana-news/lack-of-umpires-cancels-high-school-baseball-game-problem-across-the-country/ | 2022-04-15T01:15:37 | 0 | https://fox59.com/indiana-news/lack-of-umpires-cancels-high-school-baseball-game-problem-across-the-country/ |
(The Hill) — Elon Musk’s bid to buy Twitter could change the social media landscape if the billionaire follows through on his stated intention to transform the platform.
If Twitter accepts Musk’s offer, his plan to “unlock” Twitter’s “extraordinary potential,” may lead to a form of Twitter with fewer content moderation policies — in a way that impacts the internet beyond Twitter itself.
“[Musk] taking on an existing social media platform directly, possibly using his fortune to acquire it outright, would have tremendous ripple effects on the other major social media platforms,” said Emerson Brooking, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab.
“Because other conservative or politically active billionaires would begin to think seriously about how they could use their fortunes to influence these platforms and the rules that govern these platforms,” Brooking added.
Twitter has often led social media rivals with its stricter content moderation practices. The company was among the first to boot former President Trump from its platform, and went a step further than Facebook by issuing a permanent ban on Trump.
Musk’s main sticking point with the platform he’s seeking to own is centered on “free speech.”
“I think it’s very important for there to be an inclusive arena for free speech,” Musk said Thursday at a TED 2022 conference.
“Twitter has become sort of the de facto town square so it’s really important that people have both the reality and the perception that they are able to speak freely within the bounds of the law,” he said.
It’s not clear if Musk would retroactively change any of Twitter’s decisions, such as the one to ban Trump or other politicians, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), but he said he would be “very cautious” on permanent bans and thinks “timeouts” are a better option.
Musk, in the same TED 2022 interview, said Twitter’s speech policies should “match the laws of the country.” In a “gray area,” he said he would lean toward letting a tweet exist, but perhaps not promoting it.
“A good sign as to whether there is free speech is, ‘is someone you don’t like allowed to say something you don’t like.’ And if that is the case, then we have free speech, and it’s damn annoying when someone you don’t like says something you don’t like. That is a sign of a healthy functioning free speech situation,” Musk said.
Musk’s approach, to allow nearly all federally legal content online, is more similar to the approach alternative, conservative leaning platforms such as Parler, Getter, and Trump’s own Truth Social have taken than that opted for by Twitter and other major platforms.
“It’s clear Twitter disrespected the world’s richest man, and he realizes that while Twitter’s technology is good, the people running it cannot be fixed. Musk has made clear that in order to be saved, Twitter needs a wholesale tear-down to the foundation, its leadership must be removed, and the politically discriminating ideologues running day to day operations must be replaced,” Getter CEO Jason Miller, a former Trump aide, said in a statement.
But the alternative platforms have failed to gain the same kind of traction as mainstream sites such as Twitter.
Truth Social has particularly struggled to break into the market — plagued by a lack of access on the site as users face more than month-long wait times after signing up.
Other conservatives have rejoiced at Musk’s offer to buy Twitter.
For example, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said on Fox Business that social media platforms are “the public square today.”
“This is where we have debate in our culture and in our country today. So, let’s have someone in charge who actually respects the First Amendment and free speech,” he said.
Republicans in Congress have long criticized Twitter and other mainstream platforms over accusations of censoring content with an anti-conservative bias. The more hands off approach advocated by Musk is similar to the methods they’ve been pushing for platforms to embrace.
But Musk’s view on how to moderate content “would open the door to the same sort of racism, targeted harassment, calls to violence and intimidation, which Twitter and other social media platforms have worked so hard to banish from their services,” Brooking said.
“So there are a lot of ifs, but if Musk took over Twitter, and then implemented his vision for the service, it would mean less safe and accessible internet,” Brooking said.
Musk wrote a letter to Twitter’s board chairman Bret Taylor offering to buy all the company’s shares he didn’t already own, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday.
Musk is known for his online trolling, often on Twitter itself, but Dan Ives, an analyst at WedBush, said Musk’s offer to buy Twitter is as serious as any bid the billionaire has made in his career.
“This is not a sideshow, fooling around antics — it’s a real $43 million bid,” Ives said.
The offer is the latest episode in a saga that kicked off last week when Musk acquired a 9.2 percent stake in Twitter.
After the initial news, Twitter said Musk would join its board of directors — sparking a debate over the influence Musk may have on how the platform moderates content, including from politicians.
But on Sunday, Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal said Musk decided not to join the board in a surprising twist.
“I invested in Twitter as I believe in its potential to be the platform for free speech around the globe, and I believe free speech is a societal imperative for a functioning democracy,” Musk wrote to the board chairman. “However, since making my investment I now realize the company will neither thrive nor serve this societal imperative in its current form. Twitter needs to be transformed as a private company.”
Musk has suggested other changes to the platform, aside from a focus on “free speech.”
He suggested that Twitter Blue, the platform’s subscription service, offer an “authentication checkmark” that is distinct from the checkmarks for public figures for members of the service.
He’s also pushed for an “edit” button, which Twitter said it will begin testing, with the caveat that they did not get the idea from Musk’s Twitter poll on the subject.
Ives said within the next 30 to 45 days the “soap opera” on Musk’s Twitter offer is going to have more “episodes.”
“This is a get out the popcorn time. This soap opera’s going to have many twists and turns,” he said.
In his letter to Twitter board chair Taylor, Musk said his offer is his “best and final.”
The billionaire told the TED 2022 audience if his offer is rejected he does have a Plan B, but he isn’t sharing it just yet. | https://fox59.com/news/how-an-elon-musk-led-twitter-could-change-social-media/ | 2022-04-15T01:15:43 | 0 | https://fox59.com/news/how-an-elon-musk-led-twitter-could-change-social-media/ |
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — When it comes to health and infections, the United States has a growing problem that has nothing to do with the coronavirus – sexually transmitted diseases, particularly gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia.
A new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranked all 50 states by how common different venereal, or sexually transmitted diseases, are among state populations. The data also gave public health experts new insight into what happened during the pandemic, showing that some STD rates fell during the first months of 2020 but wound up surpassing pre-COVID levels by the end of the year.
While the data in the main CDC report is based on infections in 2020, preliminary data from 2021 shows the problem is not going away, instead, the health agency said some diseases, such as syphilis, were spreading.
In one alarming trend, cases of congenital syphilis, in which an infection passes from mother to baby during pregnancy, jumped 235% from 2016, the CDC noted. Health experts say the spike in cases was tied to mothers not receiving timely prenatal care or syphilis testing during the pandemic. While only 24 states reported at least one case of congenital syphilis during 2011, that number jumped to 47 in 2020.
These were the top 10 states for congenital syphilis in 2020:
Gonorrhea cases also rose 45% from 2016 through 2020, while syphilis cases rose 52%.
“Rates of reported gonorrhea have increased 111% since the historic low in 2009,” The CDC reported. “During 2019–2020, the overall rate of reported gonorrhea increased 5.7%.” They said the amount of reported cases had increased mainly among men from 2009 to 2013. The number of cases increased in 36 states, according to the CDC.
See the top 10 states when it came to gonorrhea rates in 2020:
Chlamydia infections went down 1.2%, to 1.6 million cases across the U.S. since 2016, but that might not reflect an actual reduction in infections, according to the CDC.
“As chlamydial infections are usually asymptomatic, case rates are heavily influenced by screening coverage,” the report said. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, many health care clinics limited in-person visits to patients with symptoms or closed entirely, and it is likely that preventive health care visits where STD screening usually happens, such as annual reproductive health visits for young women, decreased.”
The CDC said the report “serves as a reminder that STDs remain a significant public health concern, even in the face of a pandemic.
The increase of syphilis cases, despite a proven and effective method of both treatment and prevention, has caused the CDC concern. In 1999, the CDC reported it would be possible to “eliminate syphilis” within the whole of the country’s borders. The report noted the majority of infections at the time were in the South.
The trends reported more than 20 years ago still hold true, as shown by the number of Southern states in the top 10 for syphilis and congenital syphilis.
Following the CDC’s release of the data on April 12, some reactions to it were mixed, especially from advocates who were reviewing President Joe Biden’s budget plan.
The National Coalition of STD Directors, a national public health membership organization representing health department STD directors and their staff, urged the U.S. government to increase the CDC’s budget to assist in fighting the spread of the diseases in the report, among others.
“This affirms once again that America isn’t taking the STD crisis seriously,” David C. Harvey, executive director of NCSD, said. “We can only fight this out-of-control epidemic with new funding and the kind of urgency that reflects the enormity of this crisis.”
NCSD has tracked how COVID-19 affected the ability to track disease spread during in the U.S. during the pandemic. It’s a problem the CDC also acknowledged when publishing the STD surveillance data.
“In 2020, COVID-19 significantly affected STD surveillance and prevention efforts,” the CDC said. “This report reflects the realities of a strained public health infrastructure, while simultaneously providing the most current data on reported cases of STDs in the United States.”
NCSD said the challenges of the pandemic led to interruptions in testing and access to healthcare in communities fighting off STDs. They said the diseases impacted the young “deeply” and added to a “dramatic climb in congenital syphilis.” When the president released the budget plan for the coming fiscal year, the organization said keeping the CDC’s STD budget flat, or unchanged, would not help to address the upward trend of infections in the U.S. | https://fox59.com/news/new-state-std-data-show-cases-of-syphilis-gonorrhea-continued-to-climb-during-pandemic/ | 2022-04-15T01:15:49 | 0 | https://fox59.com/news/new-state-std-data-show-cases-of-syphilis-gonorrhea-continued-to-climb-during-pandemic/ |
INDIANAPOLIS – After 865 wins as a high school boys basketball coach in the state of Indiana, Jack Keefer is calling it a career.
A four-time state champion with Lawrence North, Keefer coached the Wildcats for 46 seasons. Tack on four more years before his time at LN when he lead Oak Hill, and that brings him to an even 50 as a varsity head coach.
“Coach Keefer has had a long lasting positive impact on our school and community since the doors opened in 1976,” said Lawrence North High School Athletic Director, Mr. Mike Penrose. “He understands the importance of education-based athletics for young people. He and his teams have volunteered at many community service events over the years. Moreover, for someone who has had his kind of success, he has been extremely humble. He showed me what it meant to be part of the “Wildcat Family” when I started my career at Lawrence North 28 years ago, and I will be forever grateful to have worked with such a wonderful coach, teacher, and mentor.”
Keefer is a member of the Class of 2007 in the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. | https://fox59.com/sports/high-school-basketball/lawrence-north-coach-jack-keefer-announces-retirement/ | 2022-04-15T01:15:55 | 0 | https://fox59.com/sports/high-school-basketball/lawrence-north-coach-jack-keefer-announces-retirement/ |