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WASHINGTON (AP) — A COVID-19 patient was in respiratory distress. The Army nurse knew she had to act quickly.
It was the peak of this year’s omicron surge and an Army medical team was helping in a Michigan hospital. Regular patient beds were full. So was the intensive care. But the nurse heard of an open spot in an overflow treatment area, so she and another team member raced the gurney across the hospital to claim the space first, denting a wall in their rush.
When she saw the dent, Lt. Col. Suzanne Cobleigh, the leader of the Army team, knew the nurse had done her job. “She’s going to damage the wall on the way there because he’s going to get that bed,” Cobleigh said. “He’s going to get the treatment he needs. That was the mission.”
That nurse’s mission was to get urgent care for her patient. Now, the U.S. military mission is to use the experiences of Cobleigh’s team and other units pressed into service against the coronavirus pandemic to prepare for the next crisis threatening a large population, whatever its nature.
Their experiences, said Gen. Glen VanHerck, will help shape the size and staffing of the military’s medical response so the Pentagon can provide the right types and numbers of forces needed for another pandemic, global crisis or conflict.
One of the key lessons learned was the value of small military teams over mass movements of personnel and facilities in a crisis like the one wrought by COVID-19.
In the early days of the pandemic, the Pentagon steamed hospital ships to New York City and Los Angeles, and set up massive hospital facilities in convention centers and parking lots, in response to pleas from state government leaders. The idea was to use them to treat non-COVID-19 patients, allowing hospitals to focus on the more acute pandemic cases. But while images of the military ships were powerful, too often many beds went unused. Fewer patients needed non-coronavirus care than expected, and hospitals were still overwhelmed by the pandemic.
A more agile approach emerged: having military medical personnel step in for exhausted hospital staff members or work alongside them or in additional treatment areas in unused spaces.
“It morphed over time,” VanHerck, who heads U.S. Northern Command and is responsible for homeland defense, said of the response.
Overall, about 24,000 U.S. troops were deployed for the pandemic, including nearly 6,000 medical personnel to hospitals and 5,000 to help administer vaccines. Many did multiple tours. That mission is over, at least for now.
Cobleigh and her team members were deployed to two hospitals in Grand Rapids from December to February, as part of the U.S. military’s effort to relieve civilian medical workers. And just last week the last military medical team that had been deployed for the pandemic finished its stint at the University of Utah Hospital and headed home.
VanHerck told The Associated Press his command is rewriting pandemic and infectious disease plans, and planning wargames and other exercises to determine if the U.S. has the right balance of military medical staff in the active duty and reserves.
During the pandemic, he said, the teams’ make-up and equipment needs evolved. Now, he’s put about 10 teams of physicians, nurses and other staff — or about 200 troops — on prepare-to-deploy orders through the end of May in case infections shoot up again. The size of the teams ranges from small to medium.
Dr. Kencee Graves, inpatient chief medical officer at the University of Utah Hospital, said the facility finally decided to seek help this year because it was postponing surgeries to care for all the COVID-19 patients and closing off beds because of staff shortages.
Some patients had surgery postponed more than once, Graves said, because of critically ill patients or critical needs by others. “So before the military came, we were looking at a surgical backlog of hundreds of cases and we were low on staff. We had fatigued staff.”
Her mantra became, “All I can do is show up and hope it’s helpful.” She added, “And I just did that day after day after day for two years.”
Then in came a 25-member Navy medical team.
“A number of staff were overwhelmed,” said Cdr. Arriel Atienza, chief medical officer for the Navy team. “They were burnt out. They couldn’t call in sick. We’re able to fill some gaps and needed shifts that would otherwise have remained unmanned, and the patient load would have been very demanding for the existing staff to match.”
Atienza, a family physician who’s been in the military for 21 years, spent the Christmas holiday deployed to a hospital in New Mexico, then went to Salt Lake City in March. Over time, he said, the military “has evolved from things like pop-up hospitals” and now knows how to integrate seamlessly into local health facilities in just a couple of days.
That integration helped the hospital staff recover and catch up.
“We have gotten through about a quarter of our surgical backlog,” Graves said. ”We did not call a backup physician this month for the hospital team … that’s the first time that’s happened in several months. And then we haven’t called a patient and asked them to reschedule their surgery for the majority of the last few weeks.”
VanHerck said the pandemic also underscored the need to review the nation’s supply chain to ensure that the right equipment and medications were being stockpiled or to see if they were coming from foreign distributors.
“If we’re relying on getting those from a foreign manufacturer and supplier, then that may be something that is a national security vulnerability that we have to address,” he said.
VanHerck said the U.S. is also working to better analyze trends in order to predict the needs for personnel, equipment and protective gear. Military and other government experts watched the progress of COVID-19 infections moving across the country and used that data to predict where the next outbreak might be so that staff could be prepared to go there.
The need for mental health care for the military personnel also became apparent. Team members coming off difficult shifts often needed someone to talk to.
Cobleigh said military medical personnel were not accustomed to caring for so many people with multiple health problems, as are more apt to be found in a civilian population than in military ranks. “The level of sickness and death in the civilian sector was scores more than what anyone had experienced back in the Army,” said Cobleigh, who is stationed now at Fort Riley, Kansas, but will soon move to Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.
She said she found that her staff needed her and wanted to “talk through their stresses and strains before they’d go back on shift.”
For the civilian hospitals, the lesson was knowing when to call for help.
“It was the bridge to help us get out of omicron and in a position where we can take good care of our patients,” Graves said. “I am not sure how we would have done that without them.” | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/pentagon-plans-for-next-pandemic-as-covid-mission-ends/ | 2022-04-11T12:14:52 | 0 | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/pentagon-plans-for-next-pandemic-as-covid-mission-ends/ |
OXFORD, N.C. (WTVD) -- A Franklin County K-9 officer died in a shootout over the weekend.
It happened near Oxford after investigators tracked down a man suspected of armed robbery. The man was tracked to a crawl space at a house.
When officers tried to search the crawl space, the man opened fire. Bullets hit the K-9 officer, killing the dog.
William Eichelberger, 21, was eventually arrested and charged with seven felonies. He was booked into jail under a $250,000 bond. More charges are expected in the coming days.
K-9 officer killed in shootout while tracking armed robbery suspect
Copyright © 2022 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved. | https://abc11.com/franklin-county-k9-k-9-officer-shootout-oxford/11736539/ | 2022-04-11T12:19:20 | 1 | https://abc11.com/franklin-county-k9-k-9-officer-shootout-oxford/11736539/ |
Average US gas price drops 10 cents to $4.27 per gallon
CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — The average U.S. price of a gallon of regular-grade gasoline dropped 10 cents over the past two weeks to $4.27 per gallon as oil prices continue to “yo-yo,” industry analyst Trilby Lundberg said Sunday.
The price at the pump was $1.32 above what it was one year ago, according to the Lundberg Survey taken Friday.
Nationwide, the highest average price for regular-grade gas was in Los Angeles, at $5.85 per gallon. The lowest average was in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at $3.52 per gallon.
According to the survey, the average price of diesel was $5.13 per gallon, down 2 cents over two weeks.
Lundberg said prices dropped dramatically in the past two weeks, in part because higher prices reduced demand during the second half of March.
However, the drop isn’t predictive of further declines because among other things, the global oil supply is tight due to a dip in output last month by OPEC, Lundberg said.
The war in Ukraine also has sparked global uncertainty. The U.S. has banned all Russian energy supplies but Lundberg said sanctioned Russian oil is still finding “big buyers like India and China happy to pay discount prices.”
In a bid to reduce spiking energy prices, President Joe Biden last month ordered the release of 1 million barrels of oil per day from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve for six months.
On Thursday, the International Energy Agency said that its member countries are releasing 60 million barrels of oil from their emergency reserves on top of previous United States pledges.
The Paris-based organization says the new commitments made by its 31 member nations, which include the U.S. and much of Europe, amount to a total of 120 million barrels over six months, the largest release in the group’s history.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/11/average-us-gas-price-drops-10-cents-427-per-gallon/ | 2022-04-11T12:25:52 | 0 | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/11/average-us-gas-price-drops-10-cents-427-per-gallon/ |
Biden to nominate new ATF chief, release ghost gun rule
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is nominating an Obama-era U.S. attorney to run the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as his administration unveils its formal rule to rein in ghost guns, privately made firearms without serial numbers that are increasingly cropping up at crime scenes.
The White House confirmed that Biden is announcing the nomination of Steve Dettlebach, who served as a U.S. attorney in Ohio from 2009 to 2016, in a Monday afternoon event. The administration is also releasing the finalized version of its ghost gun rule, which comes as the White House and the Justice Department have been under growing pressure to crack down on gun deaths and violent crime in the U.S.
Dettlebach’s confirmation is likely to be an uphill battle for the Biden administration. Biden had to withdraw the nomination of his first ATF nominee, gun-control advocate David Chipman, after the nomination stalled for months because of opposition from Republicans and some Democrats in the Senate.
Both Republican and Democratic administrations have failed to get nominees for the ATF position through the politically fraught process since the director’s position was made confirmable in 2006. Since then, only one nominee, former U.S. Attorney B. Todd Jones, has been confirmed. Jones made it through the Senate in 2013 but only after a six-month struggle. Jones was acting director when President Barack Obama nominated him in January 2013.
The Biden administration’s plan was first reported by Politico.
For nearly a year, the ghost gun rule has been making its way through the federal regulation process. Gun safety groups and Democrats in Congress have been pushing for the Justice Department to finish the rule for months. It will probably be met with heavy resistance from gun groups and draw litigation in the coming weeks.
Gun Owners of America vowed that it would immediately fight the rule.
“Just as we opposed the Trump Administration’s arbitrary ban on bump stocks, GOA will also sue Biden’s ATF to halt the implementation of this rule,” Aidan Johnston, the group’s director of federal affairs said in a statement. The group believes the rule violates the U.S. Constitution and several federal laws.
But gun safety advocacy groups, like Everytown for Gun Safety, which pushed the federal government for years to take action on ghost guns, applauded Biden’s moves and insisted that both Dettlebach’s appointment and the finalized rule will help combat gun violence.
“Ghost guns look like a gun, they shoot like a gun, and they kill like a gun, but up until now they haven’t been regulated like a gun,” said John Feinblatt, Everytown’s president.
Christian Heyne, the vice president of policy at Brady, another gun control group, said Dettlebach was “an unimpeachable public servant who has spent a career using the levers of government to hold negligent or nefarious actors accountable.”
Justice Department statistics show that nearly 24,000 ghost guns were recovered by law enforcement at crime scenes and reported to the government from 2016 to 2020. It is hard to say how many are circulating on the streets, in part because in many cases police departments don’t contact the government about the guns because they can’t be traced.
The new rule changes the current definition of a firearm under federal law to include unfinished parts, like the frame of a handgun or the receiver of a long gun. It says those parts must be licensed and include serial numbers. Manufacturers must also run background checks before a sale — as they do with other commercially made firearms. The requirement applies regardless of how the firearm was made, meaning it includes ghost guns made from individual parts, kits or by 3D printers.
Federally licensed firearms dealers must retain key records until they shut down their business or licensed activity and then transfer the records to ATF as they are currently required to do at the end of licensed activity. Previously, these dealers were permitted to destroy most records after 20 years, making it harder for law enforcement to trace firearms found at crime scenes.
For years, federal officials have been sounding the alarm about an increasing black market for homemade, military-style semi-automatic rifles and handguns. As well as turning up more frequently at crime scenes, ghost guns have been increasingly encountered when federal agents buy guns in undercover operations from gang members and other criminals.
Some states, like California, have enacted laws in recent years to require serial numbers to be stamped on ghost guns.
The critical component in building an untraceable gun is what is known as the lower receiver, a part typically made of metal or polymer. An unfinished receiver — sometimes referred to as an “80-percent receiver” — can be legally bought online with no serial numbers or other markings on it, no license required.
Police across the country have been reporting spikes in ghost guns being recovered by officers. The New York Police Department, for example, said officers found 131 firearms without serial numbers since January.
A gunman who killed his wife and four others in Northern California in 2017 had been prohibited from owning firearms, but he built his own to skirt the court order before his rampage. And in 2019, a teenager used a homemade handgun to fatally shoot two classmates and wound three others at a school in suburban Los Angeles.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/11/biden-nominate-new-atf-chief-release-ghost-gun-rule/ | 2022-04-11T12:25:59 | 0 | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/11/biden-nominate-new-atf-chief-release-ghost-gun-rule/ |
Once a retail giant, Kmart will be down to 3 stores after NJ closing
AVENEL, N.J. (AP) — The familiar sights and sounds are still there: the scuffed and faded floor tiles, the relentless beige-on-beige color scheme, the toddlers’ clothes and refrigerators and pretty much everything in between.
There’s even a canned recording that begins, “Attention, Kmart shoppers” — except it’s to remind folks about COVID-19 precautions, not to alert them to a flash sale over in ladies’ lingerie like days of old.
Many of the shelves are bare, though, at the Kmart in Avenel, New Jersey, picked over by bargain hunters as the store prepares to close its doors for good April 16.
Once it shutters, the number of Kmarts in the U.S. – once well over 2,000 – will be down to three last holdouts, according to multiple reports, in a retail world now dominated by Walmart, Target and Amazon.
The demise of the the store in the middle-class suburb, 15 miles south of New York City, is the tale of the death of the discount department store writ small.
“You’re always thinking about it because stores are closing all over, but it’s still sad,” said cashier Michelle Yavorsky, who said she has worked at the Avenel store for 2 ½ years. “I’ll miss the place. A lot of people shopped here.”
In its heyday, Kmart sold product lines endorsed by celebrities Martha Stewart and Jaclyn Smith, sponsored NASCAR auto races and was mentioned in movies including “Rain Man” and “Beetlejuice.” It was name-dropped in songs by artists from Eminem to the Beastie Boys to Hall and Oates; in 2003, Eminem bought a 29-room, suburban Detroit mansion once owned by former Kmart chairman Chuck Conaway.
The chain cemented a place in American culture with its Blue Light Specials, a flashing blue orb affixed to a pole that would beckon shoppers to a flash sale in progress. Part of its success was due to its early adoption of layaway programs, which allowed customers who lacked credit to reserve items and pay for them in installments.
For a time, Kmart had a little bit of everything: You could shop for your kids’ back-to-school supplies, get your car tuned up and grab a meal without leaving the premises.
“Kmart was part of America,” said Michael Lisicky, a Baltimore-based author who has written several books on U.S. retail history. “Everybody went to Kmart, whether you liked it or not. They had everything. You had toys. You had sporting goods. You had candy. You had stationery. It was something for everybody. This was almost as much of a social visit as it was a shopping visit. You could spend hours here. And these just dotted the American landscape over the years.”
Kmart’s decline has been slow but steady, brought about by years of falling sales, changes in shopping habits and the looming shadow of Walmart, which coincidentally began its life within months of Kmart’s founding in 1962.
Struggling to compete with Walmart’s low prices and Target’s trendier offerings, Kmart filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early 2002 — becoming the largest U.S. retailer to take that step — and announced it would close more than 250 stores.
A few years later, hedge fund executive Edward Lampert combined Sears and Kmart and pledged to return them to their former greatness, but the recession and the rising dominance of Amazon contributed in derailing those goals. Sears filed for Chapter 11 in 2018 and currently has a handful of stores left in the U.S. where it once had thousands.
Kmarts continue to operate in Westwood, New Jersey; Bridgehampton, on New York’s Long Island, and Miami.
It didn’t have to end this way, according to Mark Cohen, director of retail studies at Columbia University in New York and former CEO of Sears Canada. Trying to compete with Walmart on price was a foolish strategy, he said, and Lampert was criticized for not having a retail background and appearing more interested in stripping off the assets of the two chains for their cash value.
“It’s a study in greed, avarice and incompetence,” Cohen said. “Sears should have never gone away; Kmart was in worse shape, but not fatally so. And now they’re both gone.
“Retailers fall by the wayside sometimes because they’re selling things people don’t want to buy,” he continued. “In the case of Kmart, everything they used to sell, people are buying but they’re buying it from Walmart and Target.”
Transformco, which owns Kmart and Sears, did not respond to an email seeking comment and a phone number listed for the company was not taking messages.
Nationwide, some former Kmarts remain vacant while others have been replaced by other big-box stores, fitness centers, self-storage facilities, even churches. One former site in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is now a popular dine-in movie theater.
Employees at the Kmart in Avenel found out last month that the store would close.
Unlike 20 years ago, when news of impending Kmart closures around the country prompted an outpouring of support from loyal shoppers and a Detroit radio station even mounted a campaign to try and save a local store, the closing of the Avenel location was met mostly with an air of resignation.
“It’s maybe a little nostalgic because I’ve lived my whole life in this area, but it’s just another retail store closing,” said Jim Schaber, a resident of nearby Iselin who said his brother worked in the shoe department at Kmart for years. “It’s just another sign of people doing online shopping and not going out to the retail stores.”
The closing packed a little more of an emotional punch for Mike Jerdonek, a truck driver who recalled shopping at Kmart in Brooklyn and Queens in his younger days.
“It’s like history passing right in front of our eyes,” he said as he sat in his car outside the Avenel store. “When I was younger I didn’t have any money, so it was a good place to shop because the prices were cheap. And to see it gone right now, it’s kind of sad.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/11/once-retail-giant-kmart-will-be-down-3-stores-after-nj-closing/ | 2022-04-11T12:26:06 | 1 | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/11/once-retail-giant-kmart-will-be-down-3-stores-after-nj-closing/ |
Toddler dies after going down waterfall in North Carolina
JACKSON COUNTY, N.C. (WHNS/Gray News) - A 3-year-old child has died after falling down a waterfall Sunday evening, according to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said they received reports at 5:50 p.m. that the child, who was visiting Whitewater Falls with her family, had been swept away in the water at the top of the falls and had been carried by the current.
Emergency responders from Jackson, Transylvania, Haywood, Henderson,and Oconee counties were dispatched to the falls to rescue the child, WHNS reported.
Just before nightfall, the 3-year-old little girl was found dead and entrapped in an area of the waterfall. Her body was recovered around 1 a.m. Monday.
The child has been identified as Nevaeh Jade Newswanger, 3, of Pennsylvania. Her family had been living in Oconee County while working in the area.
“First and foremost our prayers are with the Newswanger family as they grieve the loss of this precious young child,” said Jackson County Sheriff Chip Hall. “With the onset of spring weather, we need to be reminded of the dangers associated with many scenic areas of the region such as waterfalls.”
Hall reminded people to view the falls from a safe distance from a designated viewing area, following safety precautions.
Copyright 2022 WHNS via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/11/toddler-dies-after-going-down-waterfall-north-carolina/ | 2022-04-11T12:26:13 | 0 | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/11/toddler-dies-after-going-down-waterfall-north-carolina/ |
President Biden to nominate new ATF director, release ghost gun rule
President Joe Biden is nominating an Obama-era U.S. attorney to run the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as his administration unveils its formal rule to rein in ghost guns, privately made firearms without serial numbers that are increasingly cropping up at crime scenes, six people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.
Biden is expected to make the announcement nominating Steve Dettlebach, who served as a U.S. attorney in Ohio from 2009 to 2016, at the White House on Monday, the people said. They were not authorized to discuss the nomination publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
The administration will also release the finalized version of its ghost gun rule, which comes as the White House and the Justice Department have been under growing pressure to crack down on gun deaths and violent crime in the U.S.
Dettlebach’s confirmation is likely to be an uphill battle for the Biden administration. Biden had to withdraw the nomination of his first ATF nominee, gun-control advocate David Chipman, after the nomination stalled for months because of opposition from Republicans and some Democrats in the Senate.
Both Republican and Democratic administrations have failed to get nominees for the ATF position through the politically fraught process since the director’s position was made confirmable in 2006. Since then, only one nominee, former U.S. Attorney B. Todd Jones, has been confirmed. Jones made it through the Senate in 2013 but only after a six-month struggle. Jones was acting director when President Barack Obama nominated him in January 2013.
The Biden administration’s plan was first reported by Politico.
For nearly a year, the ghost gun rule has been making its way through the federal regulation process. Gun safety groups and Democrats in Congress have been pushing for the Justice Department to finish the rule for months. It will probably be met with heavy resistance from gun groups and draw litigation in the coming weeks.
On Sunday, the Senate's top Democrat, Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, implored the administration to move faster.
“It’s high time for a ghost gun exorcism before the proliferation peaks, and before more people get hurt — or worse,” Schumer said in a statement. “My message is a simple one: No more waiting on these proposed federal rules." Ghost guns are "too easy to build, too hard to trace and too dangerous to ignore.”
Justice Department statistics show that nearly 24,000 ghost guns were recovered by law enforcement at crime scenes and reported to the government from 2016 to 2020. It is hard to say how many are circulating on the streets, in part because in many cases police departments don’t contact the government about the guns because they can’t be traced.
The rule is expected to change the current definition of a firearm under federal law to include unfinished parts, like the frame of a handgun or the receiver of a long gun.
In its proposed rule released last May, the ATF said it was also seeking to require manufacturers and dealers who sell ghost gun parts to be licensed by the federal government and require federally licensed firearms dealers to add a serial number to any unserialized guns they plan to sell.
The rule would also require firearms dealers to run background checks before they sell ghost gun kits that contain parts needed to assemble a firearm.
For years, federal officials have been sounding the alarm about an increasing black market for homemade, military-style semi-automatic rifles and handguns. As well as turning up more frequently at crime scenes, ghost guns have been increasingly encountered when federal agents buy guns in undercover operations from gang members and other criminals.
Some states, like California, have enacted laws in recent years to require serial numbers to be stamped on ghost guns.
The critical component in building an untraceable gun is what is known as the lower receiver, a part typically made of metal or polymer. An unfinished receiver — sometimes referred to as an “80-percent receiver” — can be legally bought online with no serial numbers or other markings on it, no license required.
Police across the country have been reporting spikes in ghost guns being recovered by officers. The New York Police Department, for example, said officers found 131 unserialized firearms since January.
A gunman who killed his wife and four others in Northern California in 2017 had been prohibited from owning firearms, but he built his own to skirt the court order before his rampage. And in 2019, a teenager used a homemade handgun to fatally shoot two classmates and wound three others at a school in suburban Los Angeles. | https://www.koat.com/article/president-biden-ghost-gun-rule-atf-director/39687153 | 2022-04-11T12:32:23 | 1 | https://www.koat.com/article/president-biden-ghost-gun-rule-atf-director/39687153 |
Traveler told TSA he had 'no idea' a sword was concealed in his cane
Someone isn't getting through security.
Transportation Security Administration officers at Boston's Logan International Airport discovered a long blade inside a traveler's cane on Tuesday.
The man said he "had no idea the blade was in there," TSA spokesperson Dan Velez said in a tweet. After being questioned by Massachusetts State Police, the man surrendered the cane and was cleared to continue his travels.
It's not uncommon for blades to be concealed in seemingly ordinary objects.
On Thursday, a passenger attempted to make it through airport security with a dagger concealed in a hairbrush handle at the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport, according to a tweet from TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein.
"Some carry-on items may be prohibited even if they appear not to be, like a cane with a hidden sword," the TSA says on its website. | https://www.koat.com/article/traveler-told-tsa-he-had-no-idea-sword-concealed-in-his-cane/39683713 | 2022-04-11T12:32:33 | 0 | https://www.koat.com/article/traveler-told-tsa-he-had-no-idea-sword-concealed-in-his-cane/39683713 |
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is nominating an Obama-era U.S. attorney to run the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as his administration unveils its formal rule to rein in ghost guns, privately made firearms without serial numbers that are increasingly cropping up at crime scenes, six people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.
Biden is expected to make the announcement nominating Steve Dettlebach, who served as a U.S. attorney in Ohio from 2009 to 2016, at the White House on Monday, the people said. They were not authorized to discuss the nomination publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
The administration will also release the finalized version of its ghost gun rule, which comes as the White House and the Justice Department have been under growing pressure to crack down on gun deaths and violent crime in the U.S.
Dettlebach’s confirmation is likely to be an uphill battle for the Biden administration. Biden had to withdraw the nomination of his first ATF nominee, gun-control advocate David Chipman, after the nomination stalled for months because of opposition from Republicans and some Democrats in the Senate.
Both Republican and Democratic administrations have failed to get nominees for the ATF position through the politically fraught process since the director’s position was made confirmable in 2006. Since then, only one nominee, former U.S. Attorney B. Todd Jones, has been confirmed. Jones made it through the Senate in 2013 but only after a six-month struggle. Jones was acting director when President Barack Obama nominated him in January 2013.
The Biden administration’s plan was first reported by Politico.
For nearly a year, the ghost gun rule has been making its way through the federal regulation process. Gun safety groups and Democrats in Congress have been pushing for the Justice Department to finish the rule for months. It will probably be met with heavy resistance from gun groups and draw litigation in the coming weeks.
On Sunday, the Senate’s top Democrat, Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, implored the administration to move faster.
“It’s high time for a ghost gun exorcism before the proliferation peaks, and before more people get hurt — or worse,” Schumer said in a statement. “My message is a simple one: No more waiting on these proposed federal rules.” Ghost guns are “too easy to build, too hard to trace and too dangerous to ignore.”
Justice Department statistics show that nearly 24,000 ghost guns were recovered by law enforcement at crime scenes and reported to the government from 2016 to 2020. It is hard to say how many are circulating on the streets, in part because in many cases police departments don’t contact the government about the guns because they can’t be traced.
The rule is expected to change the current definition of a firearm under federal law to include unfinished parts, like the frame of a handgun or the receiver of a long gun.
In its proposed rule released last May, the ATF said it was also seeking to require manufacturers and dealers who sell ghost gun parts to be licensed by the federal government and require federally licensed firearms dealers to add a serial number to any unserialized guns they plan to sell.
The rule would also require firearms dealers to run background checks before they sell ghost gun kits that contain parts needed to assemble a firearm.
For years, federal officials have been sounding the alarm about an increasing black market for homemade, military-style semi-automatic rifles and handguns. As well as turning up more frequently at crime scenes, ghost guns have been increasingly encountered when federal agents buy guns in undercover operations from gang members and other criminals.
Some states, like California, have enacted laws in recent years to require serial numbers to be stamped on ghost guns.
The critical component in building an untraceable gun is what is known as the lower receiver, a part typically made of metal or polymer. An unfinished receiver — sometimes referred to as an “80-percent receiver” — can be legally bought online with no serial numbers or other markings on it, no license required.
Police across the country have been reporting spikes in ghost guns being recovered by officers. The New York Police Department, for example, said officers found 131 unserialized firearms since January.
A gunman who killed his wife and four others in Northern California in 2017 had been prohibited from owning firearms, but he built his own to skirt the court order before his rampage. And in 2019, a teenager used a homemade handgun to fatally shoot two classmates and wound three others at a school in suburban Los Angeles. | https://www.wane.com/news/national-world/biden-to-nominate-new-atf-director-release-ghost-gun-rule/ | 2022-04-11T12:43:05 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/national-world/biden-to-nominate-new-atf-director-release-ghost-gun-rule/ |
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Tesla CEO Elon Musk won’t be joining Twitter’s board of directors as previously announced. The tempestuous billionaire remains Twitter’s largest shareholder.
Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal tweeted the news, which followed a weekend of Musk tweets suggesting possible changes to Twitter, including making the site ad-free. Nearly 90% of Twitter’s 2021 revenue came from ads.
“Elon’s appointment to the board was to become officially effective on 4/9, but Elon shared that same morning that he would not be joining the board,” Agrawal wrote in a reposted note originally sent to Tesla employees. “I believe this is for the best.”
Agrawal didn’t offer an explanation for Musk’s apparent decision. He said the board understood the risks of having Musk as a member. But it, “believed having Elon as a fiduciary of the company, where he, like all board members, has to act in the best interests of the company and all our shareholders, was the best path forward,” he wrote.
Musk posted a few cryptic tweets late Sunday, including one showing a meme saying, “In all fairness, your honor, my client was in goblin mode,” followed by one saying “Explains everything.” Another, later tweet was of an emoji with a hand over its mouth.
He now has a 9% stake in Twitter, raising questions about how he might try to reshape the social media platform as Twitter’s biggest shareholder.
Musk’s 80.5 million Twitter followers make him one of the most popular figures on the platform, rivaling pop stars like Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga. But his prolific tweeting has sometimes gotten him into trouble, such as when he has used it to promote his business ventures, rally Tesla loyalists, question pandemic measures and pick fights.
In one famous example, Musk apologized to a British cave explorer who alleged the Tesla CEO had branded him a pedophile by referring to him as “pedo guy” in an angry — and subsequently deleted — tweet. The explorer filed a defamation suit, although a Los Angeles jury later cleared Musk.
He’s also been locked in a long-running dispute with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over his Twitter activity. Musk and Tesla in 2018 agreed to pay $40 million in civil fines and for Musk to have his tweets approved by a corporate lawyer after he tweeted about having the money to take Tesla private at $420 per share. That didn’t happen but the tweet caused Tesla’s stock price to jump. His lawyer has contended that the SEC is infringing on Musk’s free speech rights.
Musk has described himself as a “free speech absolutist” and has said he doesn’t think Twitter is living up to free speech principles — an opinion shared by followers of Donald Trump and several right-wing political figures who’ve had their accounts suspended for violating Twitter content rules.
But what’s really has been driving Musk’s Twitter involvement isn’t clear. Other preoccupations with the service include arguing to make Twitter’s algorithm viewable by the public, widening the availability of “verified” Twitter accounts, and blasting a profile photo initiative involving non-fungible tokens, or NFTs.
Musk has also called “crypto spam bots,” which search tweets for cryptocurrency related keywords then pose as customer support to empty user crypto wallets, the “most annoying problem on Twitter.”
Twitter’s CEO and other board members have praised Musk, suggesting they might take his ideas seriously.
Agrawal’s initial actions since taking over from co-founder Jack Dorsey in November have involved reorganizing divisions without making major changes. The company has long lagged behind its social media rivals and boasts far fewer users. | https://www.wane.com/news/national-world/elon-musk-no-longer-joining-twitters-board-of-directors/ | 2022-04-11T12:43:11 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/national-world/elon-musk-no-longer-joining-twitters-board-of-directors/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — A COVID-19 patient was in respiratory distress. The Army nurse knew she had to act quickly.
It was the peak of this year’s omicron surge and an Army medical team was helping in a Michigan hospital. Regular patient beds were full. So was the intensive care. But the nurse heard of an open spot in an overflow treatment area, so she and another team member raced the gurney across the hospital to claim the space first, denting a wall in their rush.
When she saw the dent, Lt. Col. Suzanne Cobleigh, the leader of the Army team, knew the nurse had done her job. “She’s going to damage the wall on the way there because he’s going to get that bed,” Cobleigh said. “He’s going to get the treatment he needs. That was the mission.”
That nurse’s mission was to get urgent care for her patient. Now, the U.S. military mission is to use the experiences of Cobleigh’s team and other units pressed into service against the coronavirus pandemic to prepare for the next crisis threatening a large population, whatever its nature.
Their experiences, said Gen. Glen VanHerck, will help shape the size and staffing of the military’s medical response so the Pentagon can provide the right types and numbers of forces needed for another pandemic, global crisis or conflict.
One of the key lessons learned was the value of small military teams over mass movements of personnel and facilities in a crisis like the one wrought by COVID-19.
In the early days of the pandemic, the Pentagon steamed hospital ships to New York City and Los Angeles, and set up massive hospital facilities in convention centers and parking lots, in response to pleas from state government leaders. The idea was to use them to treat non-COVID-19 patients, allowing hospitals to focus on the more acute pandemic cases. But while images of the military ships were powerful, too often many beds went unused. Fewer patients needed non-coronavirus care than expected, and hospitals were still overwhelmed by the pandemic.
A more agile approach emerged: having military medical personnel step in for exhausted hospital staff members or work alongside them or in additional treatment areas in unused spaces.
“It morphed over time,” VanHerck, who heads U.S. Northern Command and is responsible for homeland defense, said of the response.
Overall, about 24,000 U.S. troops were deployed for the pandemic, including nearly 6,000 medical personnel to hospitals and 5,000 to help administer vaccines. Many did multiple tours. That mission is over, at least for now.
Cobleigh and her team members were deployed to two hospitals in Grand Rapids from December to February, as part of the U.S. military’s effort to relieve civilian medical workers. And just last week the last military medical team that had been deployed for the pandemic finished its stint at the University of Utah Hospital and headed home.
VanHerck told The Associated Press his command is rewriting pandemic and infectious disease plans, and planning wargames and other exercises to determine if the U.S. has the right balance of military medical staff in the active duty and reserves.
During the pandemic, he said, the teams’ make-up and equipment needs evolved. Now, he’s put about 10 teams of physicians, nurses and other staff — or about 200 troops — on prepare-to-deploy orders through the end of May in case infections shoot up again. The size of the teams ranges from small to medium.
Dr. Kencee Graves, inpatient chief medical officer at the University of Utah Hospital, said the facility finally decided to seek help this year because it was postponing surgeries to care for all the COVID-19 patients and closing off beds because of staff shortages.
Some patients had surgery postponed more than once, Graves said, because of critically ill patients or critical needs by others. “So before the military came, we were looking at a surgical backlog of hundreds of cases and we were low on staff. We had fatigued staff.”
Her mantra became, “All I can do is show up and hope it’s helpful.” She added, “And I just did that day after day after day for two years.”
Then in came a 25-member Navy medical team.
“A number of staff were overwhelmed,” said Cdr. Arriel Atienza, chief medical officer for the Navy team. “They were burnt out. They couldn’t call in sick. We’re able to fill some gaps and needed shifts that would otherwise have remained unmanned, and the patient load would have been very demanding for the existing staff to match.”
Atienza, a family physician who’s been in the military for 21 years, spent the Christmas holiday deployed to a hospital in New Mexico, then went to Salt Lake City in March. Over time, he said, the military “has evolved from things like pop-up hospitals” and now knows how to integrate seamlessly into local health facilities in just a couple of days.
That integration helped the hospital staff recover and catch up.
“We have gotten through about a quarter of our surgical backlog,” Graves said. ”We did not call a backup physician this month for the hospital team … that’s the first time that’s happened in several months. And then we haven’t called a patient and asked them to reschedule their surgery for the majority of the last few weeks.”
VanHerck said the pandemic also underscored the need to review the nation’s supply chain to ensure that the right equipment and medications were being stockpiled or to see if they were coming from foreign distributors.
“If we’re relying on getting those from a foreign manufacturer and supplier, then that may be something that is a national security vulnerability that we have to address,” he said.
VanHerck said the U.S. is also working to better analyze trends in order to predict the needs for personnel, equipment and protective gear. Military and other government experts watched the progress of COVID-19 infections moving across the country and used that data to predict where the next outbreak might be so that staff could be prepared to go there.
The need for mental health care for the military personnel also became apparent. Team members coming off difficult shifts often needed someone to talk to.
Cobleigh said military medical personnel were not accustomed to caring for so many people with multiple health problems, as are more apt to be found in a civilian population than in military ranks. “The level of sickness and death in the civilian sector was scores more than what anyone had experienced back in the Army,” said Cobleigh, who is stationed now at Fort Riley, Kansas, but will soon move to Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.
She said she found that her staff needed her and wanted to “talk through their stresses and strains before they’d go back on shift.”
For the civilian hospitals, the lesson was knowing when to call for help.
“It was the bridge to help us get out of omicron and in a position where we can take good care of our patients,” Graves said. “I am not sure how we would have done that without them.” | https://www.wane.com/news/pentagon-plans-for-next-pandemic-as-covid-mission-ends/ | 2022-04-11T12:43:17 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/pentagon-plans-for-next-pandemic-as-covid-mission-ends/ |
(The Hill) — Veteran actor Harry J. Lennix said that Will Smith must return his Oscar in the wake of Smith’s onstage altercation with comedian Chris Rock late last month.
In a Variety column published on Saturday, Lennix, a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, wrote that Smith needs to realize that actions have consequences, adding that the best option for him is to return his award.
“Smith needs to express-mail his golden trophy back to the Academy and publicly state something to the effect of: ‘Out of respect for the 94 years of honor conferred upon this award, I do not in good conscience feel worthy of being its custodian,’ ” Lennix wrote in his column.
“Of the many unsettling things said in the aftermath of the slap, the most galling to me was his reference to the influence of a higher power during his surreal acceptance speech after he won for his work in ‘King Richard’ less than an hour after his act of violence — and the Academy’s equally shocking decision not to eject Smith from the ceremony,” Lennix added.
Smith slapped Rock after the comedian joked about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Smith then won the best male actor Oscar later in the evening for his portrayal of Venus and Serena Williams’s father, Richard Williams, in the biopic “King Richard.”
Lennix also wrote that the incident stripped the “prestige” from the award ceremony, noting that other attendees gave Smith a standing ovation after he won the Oscar.
“The stain on the Motion Picture Academy cannot be easily remediated. The only hope for a justifiable grace must involve Smith voluntarily returning his award for best actor,” Lennix concluded in his column.
The academy’s Board of Governors announced on Friday they have placed Smith on a 10-year ban from attending any academy event as a result of his altercation with Rock.
In a statement to The Hill, Smith, who resigned as a member of the academy earlier this month, accepted the punishment handed to him by the Board of Governors, saying, “I accept and respect the Academy’s decision.” | https://www.wane.com/news/veteran-actor-says-will-smith-must-return-oscar/ | 2022-04-11T12:43:23 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/veteran-actor-says-will-smith-must-return-oscar/ |
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) — On April 11, 1965, one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in history struck the Midwest. A total of 47 tornadoes tore through Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio.
The 5 tornadoes that hit our area were all F4 tornadoes with winds up to 260 mph. Tornadoes moved through Lagrange and Steuben counties. Another hit Grant County after starting in Howard County, while another started in Blackford County before moving into Wells, Adams, and eventually into Van Wert.
One of the more notable reports came from Grant County south of Marion, where a hospital had its roof torn off and a shopping center was destroyed. Over 800 people were injured along the 48-mile path of that twister.
Meanwhile, damage in Keystone and Berne was significant, demolishing a bowling alley, lumber yard, and grocery store along a nearly 53-mile stretch.
Over 250 people were killed and more than 1,500 were injured throughout the Midwest as a result of the outbreak. It’s largely considered to be the deadliest of all outbreaks in Indiana.
On our WANE 15 Facebook Page, we asked the community to share their memories and stories of the day. Many reflected on just how much of the area was devastated as they drove around to observe the damage. Others told stories of how their family was without power for several days. | https://www.wane.com/weather/reflecting-on-the-1965-palm-sunday-tornado-outbreak/ | 2022-04-11T12:43:29 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/weather/reflecting-on-the-1965-palm-sunday-tornado-outbreak/ |
Have you ever wondered if your baby is cute enough to be the face of Gerber's baby food? This month you can find out.
The 2022 Photo Search, in which eager parents submit photos of their smiling infants for a chance to be Gerber's "Spokesbaby," launched on Monday, according to a press release from the company.
The lucky winner, who will earn the title of "Spokesbaby" and "Chief Growing Officer," will be featured on the baby food company's social media channels and in its ad campaigns throughout the year. And they will also receive a $25,000 prize.
"This year, Gerber is searching for a candidate that can help share smiles and inspire joy in parents and his/her peers," Gerber said on their website. "An irresistible giggle is strongly preferred, as well as an undeniable lovable personality."
Children ages 0-4 are eligible to enter the competition. Parents and guardians can submit their child's "smiliest" photos and videos to Gerber's portal before Thursday, April 14.
For the first time, this year Gerber will match the winner's cash prize with a $25,000 donation to the nonprofit March of Dimes' maternal and infant health programs.
"Babies have the power to unite us through their happiness, and we at Gerber support furthering the joy and wellbeing of all babies," said Tarun Malkani, Gerber president and CEO, according to the company's press release.
The 2022 winner will follow in the tiny footsteps of Zane Kahin, the 2021 Gerber baby. In the past few years, the Gerber Photo Search has seen several milestones. The 2020 winner, Magnolia, was the first adopted Gerber baby, while 2019's Kairi was the first Gerber baby of Hmong descent.
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The search for the 2022 Gerber Baby is on
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baby | https://abc11.com/gerber-baby-contest-2022-food/11736719/ | 2022-04-11T12:54:06 | 0 | https://abc11.com/gerber-baby-contest-2022-food/11736719/ |
TAMPA (WFLA) The City of Tampa will launch the first phase of Foundation for Tampa’s neighborhoods, a project that will improve infrastructure across four areas.
Water, wasterwater, stormwater and transportation upgrades can be expected at MacFarlane Park, East Tampa, Forest Hills and Virginia Park neighborhoods. Construction could start this summer, if City Council approves funding.
Project highlights include:
- Replacement of more than 18 miles of aging water distribution piping
- Rehabilitation of more than 27 miles of aging wastewater piping
- Miscellaneous stormwater improvements to correct nuisance ponding
- General roadway improvements throughout the four neighborhoods and one intersection signal upgrade
The first phase will happen in the East Tampa and MacFarlane Park neighborhoods this summer. Residents can expect wastewater pipeline lining and manhole rehabilitation and replacement.
Phase two will be wa3ter pipe bursting construction in all four neighborhoods, with stormwater work as the following step.
Mayor Jane Castor and the city’s infrastructure department will release more details at a press conference Monday morning. | https://www.wfla.com/news/city-of-tampa-new-infrastructure-project-will-improve-four-area-neighborhoods/ | 2022-04-11T12:55:59 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/news/city-of-tampa-new-infrastructure-project-will-improve-four-area-neighborhoods/ |
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Highlands County Emergency Management will open its call center Monday for residents who need help following last week’s severe weather.
Last Monday’s storms brought hail as big as golf balls to parts of the county. The most damage was in the northern part of the county, according to Emergency Management Manager LaTosha Reis.
Although the county did not meet the threshold for state or federal assistance, it has established a call center to help determine local needs.
Those who do not have the adequate insurance to fully cover the cost of repairs are encouraged to contact the call center to report damage and unmet needs, such as high deductibles that are unaffordable.
To report damage and unmet needs, call 863-402-6800. Reporting does not guarantee any type of assistance, monetary or otherwise, the county said.
“We urge citizens with damages to take appropriate safety measures when clearing debris and making repairs to their property,” Reiss said. “Also, remember to use reputable companies for any hired repairs.”
To sign up for the community’s emergency alerts, visit bit.ly/hcbccalert. | https://www.wfla.com/news/highlands-county/highlands-county-to-open-hailstorm-damage-call-center/ | 2022-04-11T12:56:05 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/news/highlands-county/highlands-county-to-open-hailstorm-damage-call-center/ |
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a press conference at the Buccaneers indoor practice facility on Monday morning.
A press release for the event does not mention specifics, but said the governor will be at the the AdventHealth Training Center at 10 a.m.
The event comes as the Buccaneers offseason training program begins. The team will begin Phase 1 of the program on Monday with strength, conditioning and rehab.
You can watch the governor’s press conference on WFLA.com and the WFLA Facebook page. | https://www.wfla.com/news/local-news/desantis-to-hold-news-conference-at-buccaneers-training-center/ | 2022-04-11T12:56:12 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/news/local-news/desantis-to-hold-news-conference-at-buccaneers-training-center/ |
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A man has died after an early-morning crash in Spring Hill, authorities said.
The crash happened in the area of Mariner Boulevard and Elgin Boulevard shortly before 1:40 a.m.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the driver was traveling at a high rate of speed when they lost control of their sedan and crossed into the southbound lanes and hit a light pole, control box and pedestrian signal.
The driver, a 57-year-old Spring Hill man, died at the scene.
The crash scene closed multiple intersections, but the roadways have since reopened. | https://www.wfla.com/news/local-news/hernando-county/fatal-crash-closes-multiple-intersections-in-spring-hill/ | 2022-04-11T12:56:18 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/news/local-news/hernando-county/fatal-crash-closes-multiple-intersections-in-spring-hill/ |
JACKSON COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA) – A child died after falling into the water at Whitewater Falls in Jackson County, North Carolina on Sunday.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said Nevaeh Jade Newswanger, 3, was visiting with her family when she was swept away in the water and went over the falls.
Emergency crews from Jackson, Transylvania, Haywood, Henderson, and Oconee counties went to the scene to help.
The child was found trapped in an area of the falls. Her body was recovered around 1 a.m. Monday.
The Sheriff’s Office says Newswanger is from Denver, Pennsylvania. Her family was living in Oconee County while working in the area.
Jackson County Sheriff Chip Hall offered condolences to the family and cautions others about the dangers associated with visits to scene areas such as Whitewater Falls.
Sheriff Hall says, “First and foremost our prayers are with the Newswanger Family as they grieve the loss of this precious young child. With the onset of spring weather we need to be reminded of the dangers associated with many scenic areas of the region such as waterfalls. While beautiful to view from a safe distance, venturing out closer to the falls for any reason brings tremendous danger. Always remain at a distance, follow safety precautions and warnings which are in place, and view waterfalls from designated viewing areas.” | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/3-year-old-dies-after-being-swept-over-waterfall-in-north-carolina/ | 2022-04-11T12:56:24 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/3-year-old-dies-after-being-swept-over-waterfall-in-north-carolina/ |
Glendale, Calif. (KTLA) – A vehicle narrowly avoided falling several feet from atop a retaining wall in the parking lot of a Los Angeles-area department store Sunday afternoon.
The vehicle, a black Toyota sedan, got stuck on the retaining wall several feet above a sidewalk below the parking lot of a Marshalls in Glendale, California.
The driver appeared to have overshot the parking space while backing into a spot, sending the vehicle nearly over the side of the concrete barrier and onto the sidewalk below on Verdugo Boulevard.
Just encountered a bit of a situation on my cycling in Montrose on Verdugo at Park. No obvious injuries. KTLA #ktla #tourdefrank pic.twitter.com/MbAfKqBWrj
— Frank Buckley (@FrankBuckleyTV) April 10, 2022
The driver told Nexstar’s KTLA he was OK. | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/car-gets-stuck-on-wall-after-parking-mishap/ | 2022-04-11T12:56:30 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/car-gets-stuck-on-wall-after-parking-mishap/ |
AVENEL, N.J. (AP) — The familiar sights and sounds are still there: the scuffed and faded floor tiles, the relentless beige-on-beige color scheme, the toddlers’ clothes and refrigerators and pretty much everything in between.
There’s even a canned recording that begins, “Attention, Kmart shoppers” — except it’s to remind folks about COVID-19 precautions, not to alert them to a flash sale over in ladies’ lingerie-like days of old.
Many of the shelves are bare, though, at the Kmart in Avenel, New Jersey, picked over by bargain hunters as the store prepares to close its doors for good on April 16.
Once it shutters, the number of Kmarts in the U.S. – once well over 2,000 – will be down to three last holdouts, according to multiple reports, in a retail world now dominated by Walmart, Target and Amazon.
The demise of the store in the middle-class suburb, 15 miles (24 kilometers) south of New York City, is the tale of the death of the discount department store writ small.
“You’re always thinking about it because stores are closing all over, but it’s still sad,” said cashier Michelle Yavorsky, who said she has worked at the Avenel store for 2 ½ years. “I’ll miss the place. A lot of people shopped here.”
In its heyday, Kmart sold product lines endorsed by celebrities Martha Stewart and Jaclyn Smith, sponsored NASCAR auto races and was mentioned in movies including “Rain Man” and “Beetlejuice.” It was name-dropped in songs by artists from Eminem to the Beastie Boys to Hall and Oates; in 2003, Eminem bought a 29-room, suburban Detroit mansion once owned by former Kmart chairman Chuck Conaway.
The chain cemented a place in American culture with its Blue Light Specials, a flashing blue orb affixed to a pole that would beckon shoppers to a flash sale in progress. Part of its success was due to its early adoption of layaway programs, which allowed customers who lacked credit to reserve items and pay for them in installments.
For a time, Kmart had a little bit of everything: You could shop for your kids’ back-to-school supplies, get your car tuned up and grab a meal without leaving the premises.
“Kmart was part of America,” said Michael Lisicky, a Baltimore-based author who has written several books on U.S. retail history. “Everybody went to Kmart, whether you liked it or not. They had everything. You had toys. You had sporting goods. You had candy. You had stationery. It was something for everybody. This was almost as much of a social visit as it was a shopping visit. You could spend hours here. And these just dotted the American landscape over the years.”
Kmart’s decline has been slow but steady, brought about by years of falling sales, changes in shopping habits and the looming shadow of Walmart, which coincidentally began its life within months of Kmart’s founding in 1962.
Struggling to compete with Walmart’s low prices and Target’s trendier offerings, Kmart filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early 2002 — becoming the largest U.S. retailer to take that step — and announced it would close more than 250 stores.
A few years later, hedge fund executive Edward Lampert combined Sears and Kmart and pledged to return them to their former greatness, but the recession and the rising dominance of Amazon contributed in derailing those goals. Sears filed for Chapter 11 in 2018 and currently has a handful of stores left in the U.S. where it once had thousands.
Kmarts continue to operate in Westwood, New Jersey; Bridgehampton, on New York’s Long Island, and Miami.
It didn’t have to end this way, according to Mark Cohen, director of retail studies at Columbia University in New York and former CEO of Sears Canada. Trying to compete with Walmart on price was a foolish strategy, he said, and Lampert was criticized for not having a retail background and appearing more interested in stripping off the assets of the two chains for their cash value.
“It’s a study in greed, avarice and incompetence,” Cohen said. “Sears should have never gone away; Kmart was in worse shape, but not fatally so. And now they’re both gone.
“Retailers fall by the wayside sometimes because they’re selling things people don’t want to buy,” he continued. “In the case of Kmart, everything they used to sell, people are buying but they’re buying it from Walmart and Target.”
Transformco, which owns Kmart and Sears, did not respond to an email seeking comment and a phone number listed for the company was not taking messages.
Nationwide, some former Kmarts remain vacant while others have been replaced by other big-box stores, fitness centers, self-storage facilities, even churches. One former site in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is now a popular dine-in movie theater.
Employees at the Kmart in Avenel found out last month that the store would close.
Unlike 20 years ago, when news of impending Kmart closures around the country prompted an outpouring of support from loyal shoppers and a Detroit radio station even mounted a campaign to try and save a local store, the closing of the Avenel location was met mostly with an air of resignation.
“It’s maybe a little nostalgic because I’ve lived my whole life in this area, but it’s just another retail store closing,” said Jim Schaber, a resident of nearby Iselin who said his brother worked in the shoe department at Kmart for years. “It’s just another sign of people doing online shopping and not going out to the retail stores.”
The closing packed a little more of an emotional punch for Mike Jerdonek, a truck driver who recalled shopping at Kmart in Brooklyn and Queens in his younger days.
“It’s like history passing right in front of our eyes,” he said as he sat in his car outside the Avenel store. “When I was younger I didn’t have any money, so it was a good place to shop because the prices were cheap. And to see it gone right now, it’s kind of sad.” | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/kmart-down-to-3-stores-in-us-after-nj-closing/ | 2022-04-11T12:56:36 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/kmart-down-to-3-stores-in-us-after-nj-closing/ |
(NBC News) — The House panel investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol has enough evidence to refer President Donald Trump for criminal charges, Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., said Sunday.
“It’s absolutely clear that what President Trump was doing — what a number of people around him were doing — that they knew it was unlawful. They did it anyway,” Cheney, the vice chair and one of two Republicans on the committee, said on CNN’s “State of the Union” when host Jake Tapper asked her whether the panel had enough evidence to make a criminal referral for Trump. Cheney said the panel has not made a decision about moving forward with the referral.
The New York Times reported that the committee has concluded that it has enough evidence to make a criminal referral but that its leaders were divided over whether to do so.
“I think what we have seen is a massive and well-organized and well-planned effort that used multiple tools to try to overturn an election,” Cheney said. The committee has “got a tremendous amount of testimony and documents that I think very, very clearly demonstrate the extent of the planning and the organization and the objective.”
She added: “The objective was absolutely to try to stop the kind of electoral votes, to try to interfere with that official proceeding. And it’s absolutely clear that they knew what they were doing was wrong.”
Read the full story on NBCNews.com. | https://www.wfla.com/news/politics/jan-6-panel-has-enough-evidence-to-refer-trump-for-criminal-charges-cheney-says/ | 2022-04-11T12:56:42 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/news/politics/jan-6-panel-has-enough-evidence-to-refer-trump-for-criminal-charges-cheney-says/ |
(Stacker) — With the advent of Big Data, it’s now easier than ever to quantify what people like around the globe. And when it comes to food, Americans seem to have specific opinions. Dining brands in the U.S. have a long and storied history—and whether they’re fast food, fast-casual, high-end, or super cheap, U.S. restaurants offer something for almost everyone.
What’s clear about U.S. dining habits is that people love options. Restaurants across America are chock-full of variety, mixing ethnicities, food regions, and cultures into steaming melting pots of (often) fried deliciousness.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest rated restaurants in Tampa that are listed as “fine dining” on Tripadvisor. Locals are sure to see some favorite eateries and classic go-to restaurants. Keep reading to see if your favorite restaurant made the list—and to see which spots you haven’t been to yet.
You may also like: Highest-rated cheap eats in Tampa, according to Tripadvisor
#28. Flor Fina
– Rating: 4.0 / 5 (10 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, Caribbean
– Price: $$ – $$$
– Address: Hotel Haya 1412 E 7th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#27. Meat Market Tampa
– Rating: 3.5 / 5 (68 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (3.5/5), Value (3.0/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, Steakhouse
– Price: $$$$
– Address: 1606 W Snow Ave, Tampa, FL 33606-2837
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#26. Mise en Place
– Rating: 4.0 / 5 (17 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (3.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: Contemporary
– Price: $$$$
– Address: 442 West Grand Central Avenue, Tampa, FL 33606
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#25. Maestro’s Restaurant
– Rating: 4.0 / 5 (92 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: American
– Price: $$$$
– Address: 1010 N W C Macinnes Pl, Tampa, FL 33602-3720
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#24. Tampa Club
– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (37 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (4.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, Bar
– Price: $$$$
– Address: 101 E Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33602-5179
– Read more on Tripadvisor
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#23. Cipresso
– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (23 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: Italian
– Price: $$$$
– Address: 5223 North Orient Road Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa, Tampa, FL 33610-4114
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#22. Firestick Grill
– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (58 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)
– Type of cuisine: American
– Price: $$$$
– Address: 401 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602-5400
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#21. The Melting Pot
– Rating: 4.0 / 5 (119 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (3.5/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: American
– Price: $$$$
– Address: 13164 N Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33618-2406
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#20. Crystal Dining Room
– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (70 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.5/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, Contemporary
– Price: $$$$
– Address: 905 N Florida Ave Floridan Palace Hotel, Tampa, FL 33602-3805
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#19. CW’s Gin Joint
– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (58 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, Bar
– Price: $$$$
– Address: 633 N Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602-4424
– Read more on Tripadvisor
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#18. Ciro’s
– Rating: 4.0 / 5 (244 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (3.5/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, Bar
– Price: $$$$
– Address: 2109 Bayshore Blvd, Tampa, FL 33606-3155
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#17. Restaurant BT
– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (131 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)
– Type of cuisine: French, Vietnamese
– Price: $$$$
– Address: 2507 S Macdill Ave Tampa Florida 33629, Tampa, FL 33629-7255
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#16. Cena
– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (125 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.5/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: Italian
– Price: $$$$
– Address: 1120 E Kennedy Blvd Suite 112W, Tampa, FL 33602-3580
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#15. Timpano Italian Chophouse
– Rating: 4.0 / 5 (307 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (3.5/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)
– Type of cuisine: Italian
– Price: $$$$
– Address: 1610 W Swann Ave, Tampa, FL 33606-2555
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#14. Malio’s
– Rating: 4.0 / 5 (329 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (3.5/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, Steakhouse
– Price: $$$$
– Address: 400 N Ashley Dr Ste 310, Tampa, FL 33602-4300
– Read more on Tripadvisor
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#13. Elevage SoHo Kitchen & Bar
– Rating: 4.0 / 5 (307 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (3.5/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)
– Type of cuisine: American
– Price: $$$$
– Address: 1207 S Howard Ave, Tampa, FL 33606-3101
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#12. Donatello Italian Restaurant
– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (362 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (3.5/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: Steakhouse, Italian
– Price: $$$$
– Address: 232 N Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33609-1237
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#11. Rusty Pelican – Tampa
– Rating: 4.0 / 5 (854 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, Seafood
– Price: $$$$
– Address: 2425 Rocky Point Dr, Tampa, FL 33607
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#10. Texas de Brazil
– Rating: 4.0 / 5 (584 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: Steakhouse, Brazilian
– Price: $$$$
– Address: 4112 W Boy Scout Blvd, Tampa, FL 33607-5740
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#9. Council Oak Steaks & Seafood
– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (414 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (3.5/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, Steakhouse
– Price: $$$$
– Address: 5223 Orient Rd, Tampa, FL 33610-4114
– Read more on Tripadvisor
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#8. Mise En Place Restaurant
– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (423 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, International
– Price: $$$$
– Address: 442 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33606-1494
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#7. Ruth’s Chris Steak House
– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (464 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, Steakhouse
– Price: $$$$
– Address: 1700 N. Westshore Blvd., Tampa, FL 33607
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#6. Oystercatchers
– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (1,091 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (3.5/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, Seafood
– Price: $$$$
– Address: 2900 Bayport Dr, Tampa, FL 33607-1479
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#5. Edison: Food+Drink Lab
– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (430 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, International
– Price: $$$$
– Address: 912 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33606-1934
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#4. Bern’s Steak House
– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (4,639 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: French, American
– Price: $$$$
– Address: 1208 S Howard Ave, Tampa, FL 33606-3197
– Read more on Tripadvisor
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#3. Charley’s Steak House & Market Fresh Fish
– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (1,511 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)
– Type of cuisine: Steakhouse, Seafood
– Price: $$$$
– Address: 4444 W Cypress St, Tampa, FL 33607-4007
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#2. Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (518 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)
– Type of cuisine: American, Steakhouse
– Price: $$$$
– Address: 4322 W Boy Scout Blvd, Tampa, FL 33607-5717
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#1. Eddie V’s Prime Seafood
– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (843 reviews)
– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)
– Type of cuisine: Seafood
– Price: $$$$
– Address: 4400 W Boy Scout Blvd, Tampa, FL 33607
– Read more on Tripadvisor | https://www.wfla.com/reviews/br/kitchen-br/food-br/highest-rated-fine-dining-restaurants-in-tampa-according-to-tripadvisor/ | 2022-04-11T12:56:48 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/reviews/br/kitchen-br/food-br/highest-rated-fine-dining-restaurants-in-tampa-according-to-tripadvisor/ |
SAN FRANCISCO - Elon Musk is not joining Twitter's board after all, a reversal following last week's revelation that he had become Twitter's largest shareholder - and had received a subsequent appointment to the panel.
Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal tweeted the news Sunday night, including a memo sent to his staff.
"Elon's appointment to the board was to become officially effective 4/9, but Elon shared that same morning he will no longer be joining the board," Agrawal wrote. "I believe this is for the best."
The surprise move came less than a week after Twitter had said the outspoken Tesla CEO would become a board member, following his quietly amassing a 9.2 percent stake in the social media company. But Twitter employees and others agitated over the move, worrying Musk might wield outsize power to undo some moderation decisions that were made - including banning former president Donald Trump.
Agrawal said the company will "remain open to [Musk's] input." But he added, the "decisions we make and how we execute is in our hands, no one else's," and he urged staff to tune out "distractions."
Twitter said it would not comment Sunday night beyond Agrawal's statement. Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
He tweeted an emoji of a face with its hand over its mouth shortly after the news broke.
Sunday's announcement capped off an extraordinary and rapid series of events that began weeks ago when Agrawal said he first engaged with Musk in talks to join Twitter's board. Agrawal last week welcomed Musk, who he called a "passionate believer and intense critic" to Twitter - rather than fight off an infiltration from an outside activist. Musk had only months earlier tweeted a meme superimposing the Twitter CEO's face over that of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.
Musk is a prolific and controversial Twitter user who has amassed more than 80 million followers on the social media site. He uses his account as a bully pulpit to rally supporters of electric car company Tesla and aerospace outfit SpaceX. He tweets memes, conducts polls, and even engages in trolling of political figures and those he views as adversaries.
His penchant for tweeting has also landed him in hot water, including a a costly settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Musk had to give up his board chairmanship of Tesla - subjecting himself and the company to $20 million fines apiece - after he tweeted that he had secured funding to take the company private at $420 a share in 2018.
Musk initially filed to become a so-called "passive" investor in Twitter, documents revealed, but the next day fpaperwork was filed that would alter his status to become a board member.
"We were excited to collaborate and clear about the risks," Agrawal wrote on Sunday. "We also believed that having Elon as a fiduciary of the company where he, like all board members, has to act in the best interests of the company and all our shareholders, was the best path forward." Agrawal said Musk's appointment was continent on "a background check and formal acceptance."
On Thursday, The Washington Post reported that Agrawal was scheduling a town hall with Musk where employees could ask him questions about his intentions and role.
Musk launched a poll the day his investment became public asking whether Twitter should add an edit button, something that would allow users to edit tweets after posting them. Twitter later weighed in and said such a feature had been in development for months and was not influenced by a poll.
Late last week he tweeted a meme of himself smoking a joint with the words "Twitter's next board meeting is gonna be lit."
Over the weekend, Musk took aim at numerous aspects of the company, including its reliance on advertising - even for its subscription service - and the prevalence of spam accounts. He posted data showing Twitter's top accounts and asked "Is Twitter dying?"
Also on Saturday, the day his board appointment was supposed to become official, he even took an apparent dig at the company's indefinite remote work policy. He launched a poll asking whether the San Francisco office should be made into a homeless shelter "since no one shows up anyway."
It wasn't Musk's first poll about Twitter. Before his investments in the company became public, Musk conducted a series of polls seemingly aimed at influencing Twitter's future.
He asked whether Twitter's algorithm should be made public, or open-source; and a day later he asked whether Twitter "rigorously adheres" to free speech principles.
"Is a new platform needed?" he later asked.
Musk has emerged as one of the platform's most high-profile critics, questioning its role in restricting who and who cannot join.
After Trump was banned in the days following the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, Musk wrote that "a lot of people are going to be super unhappy with West Coast high tech as the de facto arbiter of free speech."
Musk's board appointment limited his stake in the company at 14.9 percent. Now that he will not have a board seat, he is free to continue to invest beyond that figure. | https://www.unionleader.com/news/business/in-major-reversal-elon-musk-wont-join-twitter-board-after-all/article_3177fc80-f2d9-577f-96e4-538b9b595877.html | 2022-04-11T13:00:20 | 0 | https://www.unionleader.com/news/business/in-major-reversal-elon-musk-wont-join-twitter-board-after-all/article_3177fc80-f2d9-577f-96e4-538b9b595877.html |
Average US gas price drops 10 cents to $4.27 per gallon
CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — The average U.S. price of a gallon of regular-grade gasoline dropped 10 cents over the past two weeks to $4.27 per gallon as oil prices continue to “yo-yo,” industry analyst Trilby Lundberg said Sunday.
The price at the pump was $1.32 above what it was one year ago, according to the Lundberg Survey taken Friday.
Nationwide, the highest average price for regular-grade gas was in Los Angeles, at $5.85 per gallon. The lowest average was in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at $3.52 per gallon.
According to the survey, the average price of diesel was $5.13 per gallon, down 2 cents over two weeks.
Lundberg said prices dropped dramatically in the past two weeks, in part because higher prices reduced demand during the second half of March.
However, the drop isn’t predictive of further declines because among other things, the global oil supply is tight due to a dip in output last month by OPEC, Lundberg said.
The war in Ukraine also has sparked global uncertainty. The U.S. has banned all Russian energy supplies but Lundberg said sanctioned Russian oil is still finding “big buyers like India and China happy to pay discount prices.”
In a bid to reduce spiking energy prices, President Joe Biden last month ordered the release of 1 million barrels of oil per day from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve for six months.
On Thursday, the International Energy Agency said that its member countries are releasing 60 million barrels of oil from their emergency reserves on top of previous United States pledges.
The Paris-based organization says the new commitments made by its 31 member nations, which include the U.S. and much of Europe, amount to a total of 120 million barrels over six months, the largest release in the group’s history.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/11/average-us-gas-price-drops-10-cents-427-per-gallon/ | 2022-04-11T13:02:18 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/11/average-us-gas-price-drops-10-cents-427-per-gallon/ |
Boca Helps Ukraine takes up collections for war-torn country
Volunteers with the organization Boca Helps Ukraine have taken over the space of the former Bardot Salon in the Park Place shopping center and turned it into a collection site full of supplies that are desperately needed in Ukraine.
Vlad Britsky, who lives in Ukraine, described how the Russian impact continues to be felt some 45 days since Russian forces first invaded the country.
"When we see these pictures of murdered children, murdered mothers, fathers, it is emotionally harder than it was hard physically," Britsky said.
Britsky said he's getting ready to enlist and fight for his country on the front lines.
"We're not only a strong country, but we're a country of a free man and we're a country of determined people," he said. "Nobody but us can stand up and stop an enemy."
Britsky said he is the director of medical clinics, and many of his staff have been using their skills to volunteer at hospitals.
More than 5,600 miles away in Boca Raton, his cousin, Mariya Kemper-Reiss, is doing her part and helping collect supplies with the organization Boca Helps Ukraine.
"When the war started, you just try to think of anything you can do, and so many people I know were doing the same thing," she said. "You just can't sit and, you know, not get involved."
The group has sent about $4,000 worth of medical supplies for people in Ukraine and now is calling on the community for diapers, canned goods and other nonperishable items.
"The country is going to need our support for a long time, so for as long as I can do this, I will stay open," Kemper-Reiss said.
Boca Helps Ukraine's goal is to fill a 40-foot shipping container.
The collection site is located at 5560 N. Military Trail No. 322.
Volunteers will be on site seven days a week from noon to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Scripps Only Content 2022 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/11/boca-helps-ukraine-takes-up-collections-war-torn-country/ | 2022-04-11T13:02:24 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/11/boca-helps-ukraine-takes-up-collections-war-torn-country/ |
Martin County schools hoping taxpayers will extend millage rate
School district leaders in Martin County are hoping to secure funds for essential operating expenses like school safety, teacher recruiting and retention and academic initiatives.
The district's millage rate is set to expire this year after taxpayers approved a four-year millage increase in 2018.
County commissioners will vote Tuesday to place the millage back on the ballot for Aug. 23.
Superintendent Dr. John Millay said over the last four years, the millage accounted for $47 million dollars in revenue.
If commissioners vote to add the item to the ballot, the measure will not cost taxpayers any extra, compared to what they're already paying.
In both Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties, voters have approved additional millage that helps pay for teacher stipends.
District leaders in Martin County said without the extended millage, it would put the district at a competitive disadvantage.
The millage also helps fund student mental health programs.
The request for renewal comes at a time when inflation has hit record high numbers.
Without an extension for the millage, district leaders said schools will experience a revenue shortfall that will results in the inability to implement high quality academic initiatives.
Scripps Only Content 2022 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/11/martin-county-schools-hoping-taxpayers-will-extend-millage-rate/ | 2022-04-11T13:02:30 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/11/martin-county-schools-hoping-taxpayers-will-extend-millage-rate/ |
Mimi Reinhard, who typed up Schindler’s list, dies at 107
JERUSALEM (AP) — Mimi Reinhard, a secretary in Oskar Schindler’s office who typed up the list of Jews he saved from extermination by Nazi Germany, has died in Israel at the age of 107.
Reinhard died on Thursday and was laid to rest Sunday in Herzliya, near Tel Aviv.
She was one of 1,200 Jews saved by German businessman Schindler after he bribed Nazi authorities to let him keep them as workers in his factories. The account was made into the acclaimed 1993 film “Schindler’s List” by director Steven Spielberg.
Reinhard was born Carmen Koppel in Vienna, Austria, in 1915, and moved to Krakow, Poland, before the outbreak of World War II. After Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939, she was confined to the Krakow ghetto before being sent to the Plaszow concentration camp in 1942.
Reinhard’s knowledge of shorthand got her work in the camp’s administrative office, where, two years later, she was ordered to type up the handwritten list of Jews that were to be transferred to Schindler’s ammunition factory.
“I didn’t know it was such an important thing, that list,” she told an interviewer with Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, in 2008. “First of all, I got the list of those who were with Schindler already in Krakow, in his factory. I had to put them on the list.” Later she put her own name, and the names of two friends.
At the Brünnlitz labor camp, where Schindler’s ammunition factory was housed, she was put to work in Schindler’s office.
She said that although she worked in Schindler’s office toward the end of the war, she had little personal contact with him.
“He was a very charming man, very outgoing,” she recalled, decades after the war. “He didn’t treat us like scum.”
After the war, she made her way to the United States, where she lived until immigrating to Israel in 2007.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/11/mimi-reinhard-who-typed-up-schindlers-list-dies-107/ | 2022-04-11T13:02:38 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/11/mimi-reinhard-who-typed-up-schindlers-list-dies-107/ |
Once a retail giant, Kmart will be down to 3 stores after NJ closing
AVENEL, N.J. (AP) — The familiar sights and sounds are still there: the scuffed and faded floor tiles, the relentless beige-on-beige color scheme, the toddlers’ clothes and refrigerators and pretty much everything in between.
There’s even a canned recording that begins, “Attention, Kmart shoppers” — except it’s to remind folks about COVID-19 precautions, not to alert them to a flash sale over in ladies’ lingerie like days of old.
Many of the shelves are bare, though, at the Kmart in Avenel, New Jersey, picked over by bargain hunters as the store prepares to close its doors for good April 16.
Once it shutters, the number of Kmarts in the U.S. – once well over 2,000 – will be down to three last holdouts, according to multiple reports, in a retail world now dominated by Walmart, Target and Amazon.
The demise of the the store in the middle-class suburb, 15 miles south of New York City, is the tale of the death of the discount department store writ small.
“You’re always thinking about it because stores are closing all over, but it’s still sad,” said cashier Michelle Yavorsky, who said she has worked at the Avenel store for 2 ½ years. “I’ll miss the place. A lot of people shopped here.”
In its heyday, Kmart sold product lines endorsed by celebrities Martha Stewart and Jaclyn Smith, sponsored NASCAR auto races and was mentioned in movies including “Rain Man” and “Beetlejuice.” It was name-dropped in songs by artists from Eminem to the Beastie Boys to Hall and Oates; in 2003, Eminem bought a 29-room, suburban Detroit mansion once owned by former Kmart chairman Chuck Conaway.
The chain cemented a place in American culture with its Blue Light Specials, a flashing blue orb affixed to a pole that would beckon shoppers to a flash sale in progress. Part of its success was due to its early adoption of layaway programs, which allowed customers who lacked credit to reserve items and pay for them in installments.
For a time, Kmart had a little bit of everything: You could shop for your kids’ back-to-school supplies, get your car tuned up and grab a meal without leaving the premises.
“Kmart was part of America,” said Michael Lisicky, a Baltimore-based author who has written several books on U.S. retail history. “Everybody went to Kmart, whether you liked it or not. They had everything. You had toys. You had sporting goods. You had candy. You had stationery. It was something for everybody. This was almost as much of a social visit as it was a shopping visit. You could spend hours here. And these just dotted the American landscape over the years.”
Kmart’s decline has been slow but steady, brought about by years of falling sales, changes in shopping habits and the looming shadow of Walmart, which coincidentally began its life within months of Kmart’s founding in 1962.
Struggling to compete with Walmart’s low prices and Target’s trendier offerings, Kmart filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early 2002 — becoming the largest U.S. retailer to take that step — and announced it would close more than 250 stores.
A few years later, hedge fund executive Edward Lampert combined Sears and Kmart and pledged to return them to their former greatness, but the recession and the rising dominance of Amazon contributed in derailing those goals. Sears filed for Chapter 11 in 2018 and currently has a handful of stores left in the U.S. where it once had thousands.
Kmarts continue to operate in Westwood, New Jersey; Bridgehampton, on New York’s Long Island, and Miami.
It didn’t have to end this way, according to Mark Cohen, director of retail studies at Columbia University in New York and former CEO of Sears Canada. Trying to compete with Walmart on price was a foolish strategy, he said, and Lampert was criticized for not having a retail background and appearing more interested in stripping off the assets of the two chains for their cash value.
“It’s a study in greed, avarice and incompetence,” Cohen said. “Sears should have never gone away; Kmart was in worse shape, but not fatally so. And now they’re both gone.
“Retailers fall by the wayside sometimes because they’re selling things people don’t want to buy,” he continued. “In the case of Kmart, everything they used to sell, people are buying but they’re buying it from Walmart and Target.”
Transformco, which owns Kmart and Sears, did not respond to an email seeking comment and a phone number listed for the company was not taking messages.
Nationwide, some former Kmarts remain vacant while others have been replaced by other big-box stores, fitness centers, self-storage facilities, even churches. One former site in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is now a popular dine-in movie theater.
Employees at the Kmart in Avenel found out last month that the store would close.
Unlike 20 years ago, when news of impending Kmart closures around the country prompted an outpouring of support from loyal shoppers and a Detroit radio station even mounted a campaign to try and save a local store, the closing of the Avenel location was met mostly with an air of resignation.
“It’s maybe a little nostalgic because I’ve lived my whole life in this area, but it’s just another retail store closing,” said Jim Schaber, a resident of nearby Iselin who said his brother worked in the shoe department at Kmart for years. “It’s just another sign of people doing online shopping and not going out to the retail stores.”
The closing packed a little more of an emotional punch for Mike Jerdonek, a truck driver who recalled shopping at Kmart in Brooklyn and Queens in his younger days.
“It’s like history passing right in front of our eyes,” he said as he sat in his car outside the Avenel store. “When I was younger I didn’t have any money, so it was a good place to shop because the prices were cheap. And to see it gone right now, it’s kind of sad.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/11/once-retail-giant-kmart-will-be-down-3-stores-after-nj-closing/ | 2022-04-11T13:02:45 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/11/once-retail-giant-kmart-will-be-down-3-stores-after-nj-closing/ |
Toddler dies after going down waterfall in North Carolina
JACKSON COUNTY, N.C. (WHNS/Gray News) - A 3-year-old child has died after falling down a waterfall Sunday evening, according to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said they received reports at 5:50 p.m. that the child, who was visiting Whitewater Falls with her family, had been swept away in the water at the top of the falls and had been carried by the current.
Emergency responders from Jackson, Transylvania, Haywood, Henderson,and Oconee counties were dispatched to the falls to rescue the child, WHNS reported.
Just before nightfall, the 3-year-old little girl was found dead and entrapped in an area of the waterfall. Her body was recovered around 1 a.m. Monday.
The child has been identified as Nevaeh Jade Newswanger, 3, of Pennsylvania. Her family had been living in Oconee County while working in the area.
“First and foremost our prayers are with the Newswanger family as they grieve the loss of this precious young child,” said Jackson County Sheriff Chip Hall. “With the onset of spring weather, we need to be reminded of the dangers associated with many scenic areas of the region such as waterfalls.”
Hall reminded people to view the falls from a safe distance from a designated viewing area, following safety precautions.
Copyright 2022 WHNS via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/11/toddler-dies-after-going-down-waterfall-north-carolina/ | 2022-04-11T13:02:53 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/11/toddler-dies-after-going-down-waterfall-north-carolina/ |
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins, 24, was struck and killed by a dump truck while attempting to cross the westbound lanes of I-595 on foot for unknown reasons on Saturday morning.
NBC 6 South Florida spoke to a man who says he believes he saw Haskins on I-595 westbound just minutes before the crash.
“I was dropping off my daughter to an airline at the Fort Lauderdale Airport in the morning,” said Chris Stanley.
Stanley says he was on the way home after leaving the airport, and heading towards the off-ramp to I-95 North when he noticed vehicles veering into his lane.
“And what I noticed was a Mack truck, or a big tractor-trailer, with also another vehicle that started moving a little bit to the left,” said Stanley. “I was in the left lane and then there was the right lane. And then I noticed an individual there starting to make their way onto the road."
Stanley says he saw the man's arms raised up a little bit as he appeared to be drifting into the major highway.
“He was about halfway, to a quarter way in the right lane already onto the highway and I was already concerned that somebody was going to strike him right there at that moment," he said.
Stanley says he was so concerned that he dialed 911 and shared a screenshot of his call log with NBC 6 with a call to 911 at 6:31 a.m. — six minutes before FHP says the crash was reported at 6:37 a.m.
Stanley says he did not notice a vehicle along I-595 westbound that may have belonged to Haskins.
“I did not see any vehicle nearby,” said Stanley. “I was more concerned with him because he was already making his way onto the road system."
NBC 6 reporter Ryan Nelson asked Stanley if there were any conclusions he could draw about what the person he believes to be Haskins was attempting to do along I-595.
"I could not,” said Stanley. “That's why it's just very disturbing. I just didn't understand the situation.”
FHP says the investigation into the crash is ongoing. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/very-disturbing-man-believes-he-saw-dwayne-haskins-on-i-595-minutes-before-death/3639990/ | 2022-04-11T13:15:57 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/very-disturbing-man-believes-he-saw-dwayne-haskins-on-i-595-minutes-before-death/3639990/ |
Russia said Monday that it destroyed air defense systems in Ukraine over the weekend, in what appeared to be a renewed push to gain air superiority and take out weapons Kyiv has described as crucial ahead of a broad new offensivein the east.
Moscow's initial invasion stalled on several fronts as it met with stiff resistance from Ukrainian forces, who prevented the Russians from taking the capital and other cities. The failure to win full control of Ukraine’s skies has hampered Moscow’s ability to provide air cover for troops on the ground, limiting their advances and likely exposing them to greater losses.
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said the military used cruise missiles to destroy four S-300 air defense missile launchers on the southern outskirts of the central city of Dnipro. He said about 25 Ukrainian troops were also hit by Sunday’s strike.
Konashenkov said Ukraine had received the air defense systems from a European country that he didn’t name. Last week, Slovakia said it handed over Soviet-designed S-300s to Ukraine — but Slovakia said it had no evidence that its system was hit.
With their advance in many parts of the country thwarted, Russian forces have relied increasingly on bombarding cities. The war has flattened many urban areas, killed thousands of people and left Russia politically and economically isolated. Ukrainian authorities accuse Russian forces of committing war crimes against civilians, including a massacre outside Kyiv, airstrikes on hospitals and a missile attack that killed at least 57 people at a train station.
Now, Russia is regrouping for a renewed push in the eastern Donbas region, where Moscow-backed separatists have been battling Ukrainian forces since 2014 and have declared independent states. Both sides are digging in for what could be a devastating war of attrition.
U.S. & World
Russia has appointed a seasoned general to lead the effort, according to U.S. officials, though they do not see one man making a difference.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is meanwhile pleading for more Western aid, saying his forces need heavier firepower to resist the coming onslaught and push Russian forces back. Echoing his remarks in an AP interview, Zelenskyy said Sunday that the coming week could be crucial, with Western support to his country — or the lack thereof — proving decisive.
“To be honest, whether we will be able to (survive) depends on this,” Zelenskyy said in a “60 Minutes” interview. “Unfortunately, I don’t have the confidence that we will be receiving everything we need."
Zelenskyy said he was grateful to U.S. President Joe Biden and other Western leaders for military aid to date but said he had “long ago” forwarded a list of specific items Ukraine desperately needs. In a video address to South Korean lawmakers on Monday, he specifically requested equipment that can shoot down Russian missiles.
Those armaments could increasingly come under attack as Russia looks to shift the balance in the 6-week-old war.
The Russian report of the attack on the S-300s outside Dnipro was the third such strike since the weekend. Konashenkov said the military also hit such systems in the Mykolaiv and Kharkiv regions. The Russian military claims couldn’t be independently verified.
Asked about the Russian claim that it had taken out systems supplied by a European country, Slovakian Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok said Monday he had “no evidence” that the Russians had destroyed the weaponry his country provided. Earlier, his government called reports that the Slovak-supplied system had been hit “disinformation.”
Ukraine already had a number of Soviet-built S-300s and other long-range air defense systems, and it also has received batches of portable, shoulder-fired Western anti-aircraft weapons like Stingers, which are efficient against low-flying aircraft.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer was due to meet Monday in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin, after meeting with Zelenskyy in Kyiv. Austria, a member of the European Union, is militarily neutral and not a member of NATO.
Questions remain about the ability of depleted and demoralized Russian forces to conquer much ground after their advance on Kyiv was repelled by determined Ukrainian defenders.
The Breakdown: U.S. Security Aid for Ukraine
The U.S. has commited over $2 billion to Ukraine in security assistance since the start of the Biden Administration – $1 bilion of it in March alone. Security assistance takes the form of equipment from the Department of Defense and is meant to help Ukrainians defend their country against Russia.
Note: Not all pledged government funding has been allocated yet
Source: The White House
Credit: Andrew Williams/NBC
Britain’s Defense Ministry said Monday that Ukraine has already beaten back several assaults by Russian forces in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions — which make up the Donbas — resulting in the destruction of Russian tanks, vehicles and artillery.
In Washington, a senior U.S. official said Russia has appointed Gen. Alexander Dvornikov, one of its most experienced military chiefs, to oversee the invasion. The official was not authorized to be identified and spoke on condition of anonymity. Russia does not generally announce such appointments, and there was no comment from Moscow.
Dvornikov, 60, gained a reputation for brutality as head of Russian forces deployed to Syria in 2015 to back President Bashar Assad’s government during the country’s devastating civil war.
Until now, Russia has had no central war commander on the ground. But U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan, speaking Sunday on CNN's “State of the Union," played down the appointment's significance.
“What we have learned in the first several weeks of this war is that Ukraine will never be subjected to Russia,” Sullivan said. “It doesn’t matter which general President Putin tries to appoint.”
Western military analysts say Russia's assault increasingly is focusing on eastern Ukraine — an arc stretching from Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, in the north, to Kherson in the south.
On Sunday, Russian forces shelled government-controlled Kharkiv and sent reinforcements toward Izyum to the southeast to try to break Ukraine's defenses, the Ukrainian military said. The Russians also kept up their siege of Mariupol, a key southern port in the Donbas that has been besieged since nearly the start of the war.
Oleh Synyehubov, the regional governor of Kharkiv, said Monday that Russians shelling had killed 11 people over the last 24 hours, including a 7-year-old child.
The Institute for the Study of War, an American think tank, predicted that Russian forces will “renew offensive operations in the coming days” from Izyum in the campaign to conquer the Donbas, which comprises Ukraine’s industrial heartland.
But it said the outcome "remains very much in question.”
In Mariupol, Russia deployed Chechen fighters, reputed to be particularly fierce. Capturing the city on the Sea of Azov would give Russia a land bridge to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine and annexed eight years ago.
In a video posted on his Telegram channel, Chechen Leader Ramzan Kadyrov said Russian forces would launch a renewed offensive on Mariupol as well as Kyiv and other cities. “Our offensive work will be not only in Mariupol, but in all the other settlements, cities and villages," he said.
Mariupol's residents have lacked food, water and electricity since Russian forces surrounded the city. Hundreds of thousands have fled, though Russian attacks have also frustrated evacuation missions.
Vladislav Usovich, an 18-year-old conscript serving in Russia-backed separatist forces, advanced slowly with other fighters through residential areas around a factory in Mariupol on Sunday.
“I thought it would go better, I thought it would be faster. Everything is going slowly," he said. "The Ukrainians are prepared fighters. NATO trained them well.”
Anna reported from Bucha, Ukraine. Yesica Fisch in Borodyanko, Ukraine, Robert Burns and Calvin Woodward in Washington, and Associated Press journalists around the world contributed to this report. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/russia-hits-ukraines-air-defenses-ahead-of-eastern-push/3639883/ | 2022-04-11T13:16:03 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/russia-hits-ukraines-air-defenses-ahead-of-eastern-push/3639883/ |
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What’s fashionable in home décor will always change, but succulents always seem to be on trend. These low-maintenance houseplants come in many unusual sizes, shapes and colors, so they’re a good fit for just about anyone — especially those who sometimes forget to water their houseplants.
Those of us plant nerds (*raises hand!) who treat houseplants like collectibles are always on the lookout for unusual additions, though, and the curly “frizzle sizzle” succulent (Albuca spiralis) definitely fits the bill.
The gorgeous curlicue leaves on this succulent are what make it such a standout.
Like the ubiquitous jade plant, Albuca spiralis is a native of South Africa, and it’s easy to grow, even for budding plant parents and those aforementioned folks who easily forget to water their plants, according to Succulents Box. The “corkscrew albuca” can grow to around 8 inches in height, and if you’re lucky and the plant is happy, it might flower over the winter or spring. Succulents Box reports the blooms smell like vanilla!
If you already have succulents around your home, the frizzle sizzle is an easy addition: You probably already have a good quick-draining soil mix for succulents on hand, and the signs of over- and under-watering (soft and drooping or dry and browning, respectively) are the same as with other succulents. Like so many other succulents, the frizzle sizzle’s light requirements are bright, filtered light, but preferably not too much direct light.
Since this curly houseplant goes by several names — frizzle sizzle, corkscrew albuca, Albuca spiralis — you’ll want to keep an eye out for all of them if you shop for it at your local garden store. You can also buy online and have it shipped, at Logee’s and Mountain Crest Gardens, for example.
Etsy also has many sellers offering the frizzle sizzle plant, and some sellers offer the seeds if you’d like to try growing them yourself. Highly rated Etsy shop VinCactus has 10 frizzle sizzle seeds for $5 right now.
Are you ready to bring another houseplant home, plant parents?
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for additional stories. | https://www.wmar2news.com/frizzle-sizzle-succulent-plant-curly-leaves | 2022-04-11T13:26:32 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/frizzle-sizzle-succulent-plant-curly-leaves |
Average US gas price drops 10 cents to $4.27 per gallon
CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — The average U.S. price of a gallon of regular-grade gasoline dropped 10 cents over the past two weeks to $4.27 per gallon as oil prices continue to “yo-yo,” industry analyst Trilby Lundberg said Sunday.
The price at the pump was $1.32 above what it was one year ago, according to the Lundberg Survey taken Friday.
Nationwide, the highest average price for regular-grade gas was in Los Angeles, at $5.85 per gallon. The lowest average was in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at $3.52 per gallon.
According to the survey, the average price of diesel was $5.13 per gallon, down 2 cents over two weeks.
Lundberg said prices dropped dramatically in the past two weeks, in part because higher prices reduced demand during the second half of March.
However, the drop isn’t predictive of further declines because among other things, the global oil supply is tight due to a dip in output last month by OPEC, Lundberg said.
The war in Ukraine also has sparked global uncertainty. The U.S. has banned all Russian energy supplies but Lundberg said sanctioned Russian oil is still finding “big buyers like India and China happy to pay discount prices.”
In a bid to reduce spiking energy prices, President Joe Biden last month ordered the release of 1 million barrels of oil per day from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve for six months.
On Thursday, the International Energy Agency said that its member countries are releasing 60 million barrels of oil from their emergency reserves on top of previous United States pledges.
The Paris-based organization says the new commitments made by its 31 member nations, which include the U.S. and much of Europe, amount to a total of 120 million barrels over six months, the largest release in the group’s history.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/11/average-us-gas-price-drops-10-cents-427-per-gallon/ | 2022-04-11T13:26:32 | 0 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/11/average-us-gas-price-drops-10-cents-427-per-gallon/ |
BALTIMORE — The Friday evening death of a young child in Southwest Baltimore has been ruled a homicide.
Crews discovered the dead child inside a home in the 4700 block of Vancouver Road, after extinguishing a mattress fire.
RELATED: Child found dead after fire at Southwest Baltimore rowhome
The unnamed child is believed to have been between three and four years of age.
Police haven't revealed any potential motive or suspects in the case. | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/baltimore-medical-examiner-rules-homicide-for-child-found-dead-in-friday-evening-house-fire | 2022-04-11T13:26:39 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/baltimore-medical-examiner-rules-homicide-for-child-found-dead-in-friday-evening-house-fire |
Manhole cover explosion caused some to panic in New York’s Times Square
NEW YORK (WCBS) - An Earthcam video shows the moment people began scrambling out of the area just before 7 p.m. Sunday.
Con Ed said a power cable failure led to an explosion and fire in a manhole.
As firefighters worked to put out the fire, dark gray smoke came from a manhole and two others, filling the air.
“Once I’m seeing the fire, the cops are telling me to back up and start backing up. But still I started like proceeding to the fire‚ and then it’s actually exploded right in front of me. And that’s when I was just like I started running,” Lavier Pounds said.
Marivic Jaks said she is visiting from California and was running late to catch her tour bus when she heard the boom.
“We just missed it. We missed the bus. Five minutes of walking and then a loud, loud … I’m still nervous and shaking,” she said.
Firefighters evacuated people in the area as a precaution.
Officials said there were elevated carbon monoxide levels in an office building, and firefighters assisted Con Ed crews in ventilating the cellar and subcellar of that building.
On Sunday, Con Ed says there have been no power outages because of the fire.
Copyright 2022 WCBS via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/11/manhole-cover-explosion-caused-some-panic-new-yorks-times-square/ | 2022-04-11T13:26:40 | 1 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/11/manhole-cover-explosion-caused-some-panic-new-yorks-times-square/ |
Billionaire Elon Musk will no longer join Twitter’s board of directors.
The news comes one week after the Tesla CEO took a 9% stake in the social media platform.
Last Monday, Twitter Inc. said in a regulatory filing that it entered into an agreement with Musk that would've given the Tesla CEO a seat on its board, with the term expiring at its 2024 annual shareholders meeting.
But Musk apparently changed his mind and informed Twitter Saturday morning that he would not take the board seat, the same day his appointment would have become effective.
There are no details as to why Musk changed his decision.
Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal said the company will still remain open to Musk’s input.
“We have and will always value input from our shareholders whether they are on our Board or not,” Agrawal tweeted Sunday.
Musk remains Twitter’s biggest shareholder.
Twitter shares dropped by as much as 4% in pre-market trading Monday, according to Yahoo Finance. | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/elon-musk-changes-his-mind-will-not-join-twitter-board | 2022-04-11T13:26:45 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/elon-musk-changes-his-mind-will-not-join-twitter-board |
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida health officials are warning residents to keep an eye out for colorful, fuzzy caterpillars seen outdoors this time of year, WESH reports.
Kids playing outside may encounter the white-marked tussock moth caterpillar, which can cause an allergic reaction when touched.
The caterpillar’s long, spiky hairs can stick to human skin and cause redness, irritation, and welts.
“We have in the past seen outbreaks where people get concerned naturally, because all these children have a rash thinking it’s something contagious when it’s actually just related to those caterpillars,” Seminole County Health Department spokesman Kevin Baker said.
“Once they get into the skin they can cause an irritation and even an allergic reaction, that can cause a rash,” Baker added. “Just don’t touch it, let it be.”
If you touch one of the caterpillars and want to stop the stinging and prevent a rash, cover the affected area with tape and rip it off. Then wash the area with soap and water and use ice and baking soda to stop the irritation. | https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/warning-for-floridians-dont-touch-this-fuzzy-caterpillar/ | 2022-04-11T13:26:46 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/warning-for-floridians-dont-touch-this-fuzzy-caterpillar/ |
Mimi Reinhard, who typed up Schindler’s list, dies at 107
JERUSALEM (AP) — Mimi Reinhard, a secretary in Oskar Schindler’s office who typed up the list of Jews he saved from extermination by Nazi Germany, has died in Israel at the age of 107.
Reinhard died early Friday and was laid to rest Sunday in Herzliya, near Tel Aviv, her son Sasha Weitman confirmed.
She was one of 1,200 Jews saved by German businessman Schindler after he bribed Nazi authorities to let him keep them as workers in his factories. The account was made into the acclaimed 1993 film “Schindler’s List” by director Steven Spielberg.
Reinhard was born Carmen Koppel in Vienna, Austria, in 1915, and moved to Krakow, Poland, before the outbreak of World War II. After Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939, she was confined to the Krakow ghetto before being sent to the nearby Plaszow concentration camp in 1942.
Reinhard’s knowledge of shorthand got her work in the camp’s administrative office, where, two years later, she was ordered to type up the handwritten list of Jews that were to be transferred to Schindler’s ammunition factory.
“I didn’t know it was such an important thing, that list,” she told an interviewer with Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, in 2008. “First of all, I got the list of those who were with Schindler already in Krakow, in his factory. I had to put them on the list.” Later she put her own name, and the names of two friends.
At the Brünnlitz labor camp, where Schindler’s ammunition factory was housed, she was put to work in Schindler’s office.
She said that although she worked in Schindler’s office toward the end of the war, she had little personal contact with him.
“He was a very charming man, very outgoing,” she recalled, decades after the war. “He didn’t treat us like scum.”
After the war, she made her way to the United States, where she lived until immigrating to Israel in 2007 at the age of 92.
Weitman, Reinhard’s son, said that after coming to Israel she “became a kind of a celebrity” because of the Schindler’s List film’s popularity, something he said “pumped another 15 years into her life.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/11/mimi-reinhard-who-typed-up-schindlers-list-dies-107/ | 2022-04-11T13:26:49 | 1 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/11/mimi-reinhard-who-typed-up-schindlers-list-dies-107/ |
The chancellor of Austria, Karl Nehammer, will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Nehammer is the first leader of a European Union nation to meet with Russia since the invasion of Ukraine began in late February.
This would also be the first face-to-face meeting between a European leader and Putin.
Austria has usually maintained closer ties to Russia than other European countries.
However, Austria has joined the EU’s sanctions against Russia.
Nehammer has also criticized Russia’s takeover of Ukraine and has called for the war to stop.
The Austrian leader’s meeting with Putin comes after he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday.
Nehammer said he wants to act as a “bridgebuilder” between Russian and Ukraine.
However, there was not much optimism in his statement.
He admitted that chances of achieving progress were slim, according to Austrian news agency APA.
French President Emmanuel Macron has spoken with Putin since the war began. However, those have all been phone conversations. | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/russia-ukraine-conflict/austrian-chancellor-meeting-face-to-face-with-vladimir-putin-on-monday | 2022-04-11T13:26:51 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/russia-ukraine-conflict/austrian-chancellor-meeting-face-to-face-with-vladimir-putin-on-monday |
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The City of Tampa will launch the first phase of Foundation for Tampa’s Neighborhoods, a project that will improve infrastructure across four areas.
Water, wasterwater, stormwater and transportation upgrades can be expected at MacFarlane Park, East Tampa, Forest Hills and Virginia Park neighborhoods.
Construction could start this summer, if City Council approves funding.
Project highlights include:
- Replacement of more than 18 miles of aging water distribution piping
- Rehabilitation of more than 27 miles of aging wastewater piping
- Miscellaneous stormwater improvements to correct nuisance ponding
- General roadway improvements throughout the four neighborhoods and one intersection signal upgrade
The first phase will happen in the East Tampa and MacFarlane Park neighborhoods this summer. Residents can expect wastewater pipeline lining and manhole rehabilitation and replacement.
Phase two will be water pipe bursting construction in all four neighborhoods, with stormwater work as the following step.
Mayor Jane Castor and the city’s infrastructure department will release more details at a press conference Monday morning. | https://www.wfla.com/news/hillsborough-county/city-of-tampa-new-infrastructure-project-will-improve-four-area-neighborhoods/ | 2022-04-11T13:26:52 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/news/hillsborough-county/city-of-tampa-new-infrastructure-project-will-improve-four-area-neighborhoods/ |
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — A Polish government special commission has reinforced its earlier allegations that the 2010 plane crash that killed President Lech Kaczynski and 95 others in Russia was the result of Moscow’s assassination plan.
The latest of the commission’s reports, released Monday, alleges that an intentional detonation of planted explosives caused the April 10, 2010 crash of Soviet-made Tu-154M plane that killed Kaczynski, the first lady and 94 other government and armed forces figures as well as many prominent Poles.
Their deaths were the result of an “act of unlawful interference by the Russian side,” the commission’s head Antoni Macierewicz told a news conference.
“The main and indisputable proof of the interference was an explosion in the left wing … followed by an explosion in the plane’s center,” said Macierewicz, who in 2015-2018 served as defense minister in Poland’s right-wing government.
He denied that any mistakes were made by the Polish pilots or crew members, despite bad weather at the time of the crash.
The report repeats many previous allegations made by the commission, appointed by the government whose key figure is the main ruling Law and Justice party leader, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the twin of the late president.
It comes at a time when Russia has unleashed a war on Poland’s neighbor Ukraine, and among the current tense relations between Warsaw and Moscow. Poland supports Ukraine in its struggle against Russia and is calling for very tough sanctions on Moscow for its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine.
The latest report once again drums up hostility toward Russia among some Poles, chiefly supporters of the nationalist government, it what seems to be an effort to consolidate the voter base of the Law and Justice party, which was founded by the Kaczynski twins in 2001.
Suspicions are additionally fuelled by Russia’s refusal to return the wreckage, which has complicated Poland’s investigation.
Earlier, two separate reports by Polish and Russian experts on aviation incidents said the crash on approach in dense fog to the Smolensk airport, which did not have sophisticated aviation equipment, was the result of human errors made in adverse weather conditions.
They found no proof of foul play. | https://www.wfla.com/news/international/polish-panel-russia-behind-polish-leaders-plane-crash/ | 2022-04-11T13:26:58 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/news/international/polish-panel-russia-behind-polish-leaders-plane-crash/ |
Toddler dies after going down waterfall in North Carolina
JACKSON COUNTY, N.C. (WHNS/Gray News) - A 3-year-old child has died after falling down a waterfall Sunday evening, according to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said they received reports at 5:50 p.m. that the child, who was visiting Whitewater Falls with her family, had been swept away in the water at the top of the falls and had been carried by the current.
Emergency responders from Jackson, Transylvania, Haywood, Henderson,and Oconee counties were dispatched to the falls to rescue the child, WHNS reported.
Just before nightfall, the 3-year-old little girl was found dead and entrapped in an area of the waterfall. Her body was recovered around 1 a.m. Monday.
The child has been identified as Nevaeh Jade Newswanger, 3, of Pennsylvania. Her family had been living in Oconee County while working in the area.
“First and foremost our prayers are with the Newswanger family as they grieve the loss of this precious young child,” said Jackson County Sheriff Chip Hall. “With the onset of spring weather, we need to be reminded of the dangers associated with many scenic areas of the region such as waterfalls.”
Hall reminded people to view the falls from a safe distance from a designated viewing area, following safety precautions.
Copyright 2022 WHNS via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/11/toddler-dies-after-going-down-waterfall-north-carolina/ | 2022-04-11T13:26:56 | 0 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/11/toddler-dies-after-going-down-waterfall-north-carolina/ |
PASCO COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Opening statements are scheduled to begin Monday in a trial blaming Walgreens for the opioid epidemic in Florida.
The trial is set to begin at 9 a.m. at the Pasco County Court House. The state of Florida, led by Attorney General Ashley Moody, said “it’s time for Walgreens to face accountability.”
The state will try to prove that Walgreens played a role in fueling the opioid crisis in Florida. At the center of the state’s argument is data from the Attorney General’s office that shows Walgreens’ distributors sold over 2.2 million opioid tablets to a single store in Hudson, a town with about 12,000 people.
The state also claims Walgreens supplied over a quarter million doses of Oxycodone to a pharmacy in a town of 3,000 people.
Walgreens is the only pharmacy taking the case to trial. Other pharmacies have settled. CVS agreed on a settlement of $870 million, with $484 million of that going to the state to fund drug treatment and prevention programs.
Watch the trial live on WFLA.com. | https://www.wfla.com/news/pasco-county/walgreens-on-trial-for-florida-opioid-crisis/ | 2022-04-11T13:27:04 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/news/pasco-county/walgreens-on-trial-for-florida-opioid-crisis/ |
GARY, Ind. — Police in Gary say a potential break in a missing person investigation turned out to be a false alarm.
On Sunday, police were sent to check out what was believed to be a body in a grassy area near 15th Avenue and Lake Street, according to Paul Goddard with Region News Source. A utility worker found a body covered with a green sheet.
The area is a few miles from where the wrecked vehicle of missing Gary woman Ariana Taylor was found on April 3.
RNS confirmed the discovery was made around the same time volunteers and loved ones were nearby searching for Taylor.
Lt. Dawn Westerfield said the body was taken to the Lake County Coroner’s Office, where it was determined to be a “life-sized silicone/rubber type female doll.”
In a statement to RNS, Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. said investigators were overly cautious to “preserve any potential forensic evidence such as hair or fibers or DNA on the sheet. Which is why it was never touched or removed until detective[s], CSI, as well as the coroner’s office could proceed and photograph the scene before moving any body — which is standard procedure.”
Ariana Taylor was last heard from on April 2. She is described as a 23-year-old Black woman. She is approximately 5’6″ tall and 200 pounds. She was last seen wearing a red sweater, ripped blue jeans and gym shoes.
Anyone with information on where she might be is urged to contact Detective Sergeant Mark Salazar with Gary police at 219-881-1209, the Crime Tip Line at 866-CRIME-GP or 911. | https://fox59.com/indiana-news/body-found-in-gary-actually-a-silicone-doll-search-continues-for-missing-woman/ | 2022-04-11T13:37:42 | 1 | https://fox59.com/indiana-news/body-found-in-gary-actually-a-silicone-doll-search-continues-for-missing-woman/ |
Manhole cover explosion caused some to panic in New York’s Times Square
NEW YORK (WCBS) - An Earthcam video shows the moment people began scrambling out of the area just before 7 p.m. Sunday.
Con Ed said a power cable failure led to an explosion and fire in a manhole.
As firefighters worked to put out the fire, dark gray smoke came from a manhole and two others, filling the air.
“Once I’m seeing the fire, the cops are telling me to back up and start backing up. But still I started like proceeding to the fire‚ and then it’s actually exploded right in front of me. And that’s when I was just like I started running,” Lavier Pounds said.
Marivic Jaks said she is visiting from California and was running late to catch her tour bus when she heard the boom.
“We just missed it. We missed the bus. Five minutes of walking and then a loud, loud … I’m still nervous and shaking,” she said.
Firefighters evacuated people in the area as a precaution.
Officials said there were elevated carbon monoxide levels in an office building, and firefighters assisted Con Ed crews in ventilating the cellar and subcellar of that building.
On Sunday, Con Ed says there have been no power outages because of the fire.
Copyright 2022 WCBS via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/11/manhole-cover-explosion-caused-some-panic-new-yorks-times-square/ | 2022-04-11T13:37:47 | 0 | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/11/manhole-cover-explosion-caused-some-panic-new-yorks-times-square/ |
Mimi Reinhard, who typed up Schindler’s list, dies at 107
JERUSALEM (AP) — Mimi Reinhard, a secretary in Oskar Schindler’s office who typed up the list of Jews he saved from extermination by Nazi Germany, has died in Israel at the age of 107.
Reinhard died early Friday and was laid to rest Sunday in Herzliya, near Tel Aviv, her son Sasha Weitman confirmed.
She was one of 1,200 Jews saved by German businessman Schindler after he bribed Nazi authorities to let him keep them as workers in his factories. The account was made into the acclaimed 1993 film “Schindler’s List” by director Steven Spielberg.
Reinhard was born Carmen Koppel in Vienna, Austria, in 1915, and moved to Krakow, Poland, before the outbreak of World War II. After Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939, she was confined to the Krakow ghetto before being sent to the nearby Plaszow concentration camp in 1942.
Reinhard’s knowledge of shorthand got her work in the camp’s administrative office, where, two years later, she was ordered to type up the handwritten list of Jews that were to be transferred to Schindler’s ammunition factory.
“I didn’t know it was such an important thing, that list,” she told an interviewer with Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, in 2008. “First of all, I got the list of those who were with Schindler already in Krakow, in his factory. I had to put them on the list.” Later she put her own name, and the names of two friends.
At the Brünnlitz labor camp, where Schindler’s ammunition factory was housed, she was put to work in Schindler’s office.
She said that although she worked in Schindler’s office toward the end of the war, she had little personal contact with him.
“He was a very charming man, very outgoing,” she recalled, decades after the war. “He didn’t treat us like scum.”
After the war, she made her way to the United States, where she lived until immigrating to Israel in 2007 at the age of 92.
Weitman, Reinhard’s son, said that after coming to Israel she “became a kind of a celebrity” because of the Schindler’s List film’s popularity, something he said “pumped another 15 years into her life.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/11/mimi-reinhard-who-typed-up-schindlers-list-dies-107/ | 2022-04-11T13:37:49 | 0 | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/11/mimi-reinhard-who-typed-up-schindlers-list-dies-107/ |
Toddler dies after going down waterfall in North Carolina
JACKSON COUNTY, N.C. (WHNS/Gray News) - A 3-year-old child has died after falling down a waterfall Sunday evening, according to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said they received reports at 5:50 p.m. that the child, who was visiting Whitewater Falls with her family, had been swept away in the water at the top of the falls and had been carried by the current.
Emergency responders from Jackson, Transylvania, Haywood, Henderson,and Oconee counties were dispatched to the falls to rescue the child, WHNS reported.
Just before nightfall, the 3-year-old little girl was found dead and entrapped in an area of the waterfall. Her body was recovered around 1 a.m. Monday.
The child has been identified as Nevaeh Jade Newswanger, 3, of Pennsylvania. Her family had been living in Oconee County while working in the area.
“First and foremost our prayers are with the Newswanger family as they grieve the loss of this precious young child,” said Jackson County Sheriff Chip Hall. “With the onset of spring weather, we need to be reminded of the dangers associated with many scenic areas of the region such as waterfalls.”
Hall reminded people to view the falls from a safe distance from a designated viewing area, following safety precautions.
Copyright 2022 WHNS via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/11/toddler-dies-after-going-down-waterfall-north-carolina/ | 2022-04-11T13:37:51 | 0 | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/11/toddler-dies-after-going-down-waterfall-north-carolina/ |
The Chicago Cubs couldn’t complete a sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers in the opening series of the delayed 2022 season.
But it was an interesting start featuring a stirring opening-day win, a benches-clearing incident Saturday, the debuts of free agents Marcus Stroman and Seiya Suzuki and a combined attendance of 98,337, which included several thousand no-shows every day.
Here are three takeaways from the weekend at Wrigley Field.
1. The Cubs denied the Brewers’ ‘lollygagging’ accusation.
Cubs manager David Ross wasn’t buying Andrew McCutchen’s argument that pitcher Keegan Thompson should’ve hit him with the first pitch in the eighth inning Saturday instead of “lollygagging” and taking four pitches to hit him in alleged retaliation for the Brewers hitting Willson Contreras and Ian Happ.
McCutchen said it was the way players handled things back in the day.
“No, that wasn’t a thing,” Ross said. “No other team ever pulled anybody that I played with about how they wanted to get hit. I don’t know anything about that. But you know, maybe I’m a little bit old-school.
“Times change too. Listen, nobody likes get hit, right? So whether you did it on the first pitch or the last pitch, I don’t know that it ever feels good or everybody’s happy with it. I’m sure he has a take on it maybe, or maybe sometimes quotes that you read can be misleading, for me at least. So I don’t know what’s inside his brain. But, yeah, I’m sure he was upset about it.”
Ross reiterated that Thompson wasn’t trying to hit McCutchen on purpose, adding that Thompson was “working on stuff.” Ross also pointed out Thompson hit McCutchen in the hip area.
“If you’re going to get hit, it’s better than square in the back like Willson (was) or in the kneecap like Happ or up and in like (Nick) Madrigal,” he said.
There were no hit batters in the series finale.
2. Spring training fundamentals carried over.
The season has barely begun, but the Cubs are encouraged that things they worked on in spring training have translated. They committed no errors in their first three games and won two of three against the National League Central favorites.
“It’s definitely about how you finish,” outfielder Jason Heyward said. “But to do a lot of little things the right way, to have communication, for us to get out there and practice what we’ve been preaching (about) wind balls, weather, the outfielders and infielders being on the same page, pitchers and catchers being receptive to the rhythm and flow of things against hitters that are not our guys in a real setting — it’s awesome to see that hard work pay off.
“Everyone here, I’m really proud to say, we all understand it’s one day at a time. But it’s awesome to see results. Either way, whatever we’ve been working on, it’s nice to put that stuff in the book.”
3. Coffee is for closers.
David Robertson got the first save opportunity on opening day, but Ross isn’t in a hurry to anoint a closer just yet.
“All our guys are pretty flexible in that way,” he said. “I don’t know that we have anybody that has that resume of like a Craig Kimbrel that we’ve had in the past, so he knows he’ll be used in the back end but he’s willing to do whatever I ask.
“That seems to be the theme with all of our guys. They’re very flexible and ready to just go out there and try to get outs.”
The Cubs haven’t mixed and matched in the ninth inning at the start of a season in years. Hector Rondon closed in 2016 until Aroldis Chapman arrived at the trade deadline. Wade Davis replaced Chapman in 2017.
Brandon Morrow was signed as a closer in 2018 but was injured midway through the season after posting 22 saves and turned it over to Pedro Strop. Kimbrel was signed during the 2019 season to replace Strop and kept the job until last summer’s trade to the White Sox.
“I don’t really have a preference,” Ross said. “I tell all the relievers I just like outs. I’ll try to set people up for the right pockets, and if you have somebody you can establish in the ninth and it kind of works its way backwards to get to that spot, it is easier to work that way from my seat. But it’s not a necessity.”
Robertson was called upon in the eighth inning Sunday with the Cubs trailing by one run, so we’ll have to wait a little longer to see who gets the call the next time they have a ninth-inning lead.
() | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/3-takeaways-from-the-chicago-cubs-opening-series-including-david-ross-being-in-no-hurry-to-name-a-closer/ | 2022-04-11T13:38:57 | 1 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/3-takeaways-from-the-chicago-cubs-opening-series-including-david-ross-being-in-no-hurry-to-name-a-closer/ |
The Chicago White Sox won two of three against the Detroit Tigers in the season-opening series at Comerica Park. Here are four takeaways from the series.
1. Tim Anderson contributed quickly after returning from his suspension.
Manager Tony La Russa inserted Anderson at the top of the lineup for the first time this season Sunday.
“Happiness,” La Russa said before the game. “With all letters in caps. … He’s our igniter.”
Anderson was out the first two games, serving a suspension that was handed down in the final week of the 2021 season. The All-Star shortstop didn’t waste any time contributing, doubling on the game’s first pitch.
“I waited two days to swing at the first pitch,” Anderson said. “(Tigers starter Tarik Skubal) gave me something good to handle and I didn’t miss it.”
Anderson scored on a grounder by José Abreu to give the Sox a 1-0 lead.
He singled in the third and doubled in the seventh, finishing 3-for-5 with two runs in the 10-1 victory. The seventh-inning double was the 150th of his career.
Anderson enjoyed being back on the field with his teammates.
“I was at the hotel watching the game with nobody around,” he said. “I was definitely bored. But for the most part, I learned a little bit watching from the outside looking in and definitely watched from a different view.
“But I was just excited to get back out there for sure.”
2. Dylan Cease continued his impressive stretch against the Tigers.
Cease said he felt like a “one-trick pony” Saturday, relying on his slider.
“But we won, so it was solid,” he said.
Cease gave the Sox a lift, allowing one run on two hits with eight strikeouts and three walks in five-plus innings in the 5-2 victory. According to MLB Statcast, 36 of his 79 pitches were sliders. He got nine misses on 15 swings with the pitch.
“Sometimes you have those games where you’ve got to compete with what you’ve got,” Cease said.
Cease’s outing included four consecutive strikeouts, with three coming in the fourth and one to begin the fifth.
Pitching coach Ethan Katz called it “a great first start.”
“There were things we already talked about that we want to improve a little bit,” Katz said Sunday, “but for start No. 1, it was what we needed and a good way to get started.”
Cease continued an impressive stretch against the Tigers, improving to 9-0 with a 2.08 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 10 career starts against them.
3. Relievers Bennett Sousa and Tanner Banks had weekends to remember.
Sousa was the first pitcher out of the bullpen Friday after starter Lucas Giolito exited because of abdominal tightness on his left side.
The left-hander came through in his big-league debut, retiring the side in order in the fifth.
“It was a dream come true,” Sousa said before Saturday’s game. “I’ve been wanting to do that my whole life, and for it to happen (Friday) was awesome.
“I was super locked in, just trying to do my job for the team.”
The Sox called on Sousa again Saturday, and he pitched 1⅓ scoreless innings while recording his first major-league strikeout.
“Since being here, I’m more focused than ever. It’s pretty easy (to focus) when you’re pitching in the major leagues,” Sousa said after Saturday’s game. “But I’m just trying to not get too amped up and stay within myself and do the things that made me successful thus far.”
Sousa is one of three left-handed relievers on the roster with Aaron Bummer and Banks. Lefty Garrett Crochet is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Banks made his major-league debut Sunday, striking out four and walking two in the final two innings.
“I told myself, ‘You are only going to debut once,’” Banks said. “When I came out of the bullpen gate, I just told myself, ‘Deep breath. Breathe it in. Enjoy this moment.’ And I started to get a little emotional. I was like, ‘Keep it together. You’ve got to go perform.’
“I wasn’t nervous per se, but I needed to collect myself a little bit. The first strikeout, (Spencer) Torkelson, gave me that confidence boost that I needed. Kind of that reassurance. After that I was able to pitch my game and attack the way I wanted to. It was a matter of settling those little bit of nerves.”
4. The Sox racked up runs in the first inning.
Eloy Jiménez had an RBI single in the first Friday and a two-run single in the first Saturday. Both hits came with two outs.
In Sunday’s first inning, Anderson scored on Abreu’s grounder and Jiménez brought home Luis Robert on a sacrifice fly.
“You see the lineup and if we get good pitches to hit, we can jump out on people real quick,” Anderson said.
It’s the fourth time in franchise history the Sox scored in the first inning in each of their first three games. They last did it in 2007.
“That’s one of the most impressive things we did (in the series),” La Russa said. “Being ready to hit offensively. Give the hitters a lot of credit — I do whenever I can. (And) I think the preparation of our (hitting) coaches, Frank (Menechino) and Howie (Clark), was impactful and the players know that they’ve got real good support there.”
() | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/4-takeaways-from-the-chicago-white-soxs-opening-series-including-tim-andersons-instant-impact-in-his-return/ | 2022-04-11T13:39:03 | 1 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/4-takeaways-from-the-chicago-white-soxs-opening-series-including-tim-andersons-instant-impact-in-his-return/ |
While questions remain surrounding the death of NFL star Dwayne Haskins, who was struck and killed by a dump truck Saturday on I-595 near Fort Lauderdale airport, one thing is clear: a young life cut short is a loss that runs deep.
Haskins, the 24-year-old quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, was remembered by teammates and coaches as a “selfless” man who “always had a smile on his face.”
He would have turned 25 on May 3.
A man who said he was driving on I-595 that morning after dropping off his daughter at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport told NBC6 Miami that “he made an immediate call to 911″ to report a man who was walking on the westbound lanes of the highway alone. Chris Stanley said he believes the man he saw may have been Haskins.
Stanley told NBC6 that he made a call to 911 at 6:31 a.m., just six minutes before the crash that killed Haskins.
“I did not see any vehicle nearby [that may have belonged to the man],” said Stanley. “I was more concerned with him because he was already making his way onto the road system. He was about halfway, to a quarter way in the right lane already onto the highway and I was already concerned that somebody was going to strike him right there at that moment.”
Stanley told NBC6 that he “saw the man’s arms raised up a little bit” as the man began to cross into the travel lanes. Stanley said he told 911 “this man is going to have a major accident if no one gets to him,” according to NBC6.
According a statement from the Florida Highway Patrol issued Saturday, Haskins was walking on the highway “for unknown reasons” and was “attempting to cross the westbound lanes of Interstate 595 when there was oncoming traffic. Unfortunately, he collided with an oncoming dump truck.”
Haskins died at the scene.
The agency declined to answer further questions Sunday citing the ongoing investigation.
Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool, who was training with Haskins in South Florida, shared an emotional tweet following Haskins’ death.
“I spent your final moments with you and I can’t help but think about how selfless you were in those moments,” Claypool said. “All you cared about was making sure that everyone around you was okay and I can’t thank you enough for that. You are what I strive to be.”
Claypool, overcome by emotion, later tweeted out a video of himself in tears.
Haskins had been in South Florida working out with with fellow Steelers teammates ahead of the upcoming NFL season.
Haskin’s agent couldn’t be reached for comment Sunday, but the company representing him, Goal Line Football, of Miami, put out a statement mourning the loss Saturday:
“We mourn the tragic loss of our GL family member Dwayne Haskins. There are no words to define this grief. Our prayers and condolences go out to his family and the Steelers family. Rest in power Dwayne.”
His agent, Cedric Saunders, told ESPN that Haskins was training with other teammates.
Haskins appeared to be in South Florida this week with fellow quarterback Mitch Trubisky, running back Najee Harris and tight end Pat Freiermuth, the Associated Press reported.
“I am devastated and at a loss for words with the unfortunate passing of Dwayne Haskins,” Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin said in a statement. “He quickly became part of our Steelers family upon his arrival in Pittsburgh and was one of our hardest workers, both on the field and in our community. Dwayne was a great teammate, but even more so a tremendous friend to so many. I am truly heartbroken.
He spent the past season as a backup for the Steelers and had signed a one-year restricted contract with the team in March.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who retired in January after 18 years with the team, spent his last season sharing a locker room with Haskins and said Haskins made an immediate impact despite their short time together.
“I only had the privilege to know him for a short time, but in that time I got to meet a young man that didn’t seem to ever have a bad day,” Roethlisberger said in a statement. He came to work everyday with a smile on his face and energy and love in his heart.”
“I really enjoyed his passion and his love for the game and wanting to learn and be the best. His smile and zeal for life will be missed!”
Prior to the NFL, Haskins starred at Ohio State, highlighted by a stellar season in which he threw 50 touchdowns and led the Buckeyes to a 13-1 season. Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said on Twitter he was “heartbroken” to hear of Haskins’ death.
“One of the greatest QB’s in Ohio State history, but an even better son, teammate, and friend. God Bless!!”
The Florida Highway Patrol described the case as an “open traffic homicide investigation” and said no further information would be released until it was completed. Traffic homicide investigations can take several months.
() | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/dwayne-haskins-nfl-qb-who-died-in-south-florida-described-as-selfless-by-coaches-teammates/ | 2022-04-11T13:39:09 | 0 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/dwayne-haskins-nfl-qb-who-died-in-south-florida-described-as-selfless-by-coaches-teammates/ |
Welcome back to another Chicago White Sox season at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Groundskeeper Roger Bossard — aka “The Sodfather” — will have the playing field ready, consisting of bluegrass sod with eight blends of grass. And manager Tony La Russa has most of his starting lineup back. Center fielder Luis Robert could be in the American League MVP discussion, an award first baseman José Abreu won in 2020.
Here’s what to know if you’re going to a White Sox home game this season.
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Planning your trip to the ballpark
What’s the White Sox’s 2022 schedule?
If you had the schedule marked down on a calendar when it was announced last August, you’re going to need a big eraser (thanks, MLB lockout!).
Under the revised schedule, the Sox opened the regular season Friday against the Tigers in Detroit, with their home opener scheduled for Tuesday against the Seattle Mariners. Here’s the full schedule — and here’s our guide to watch or stream all the games.
What’s the ticket policy?
White Sox tickets are exclusively mobile tickets — via email. Fans must present their smartphones at the gates for entry, and those with technology issues can go to any ticket window for help. For rainouts and game rescheduling, specific information will be provided on a game-by-game basis.
What promotions will be given away this season?
There’s a long list of items, from a White Sox Hawaiian shirt to a Paul Konerko/Captain America bobblehead to a Los White Sox soccer jersey.
But the combo Eloy Jiménez and Luis Robert bobblehead is our early favorite — so see you at the ballpark June 25, when the first 20,000 fans will receive this (Eloy glare included).
What time does the ballpark open before games?
Gates open 90 minutes before games, and any adjustments to that will be announced on social media. Here’s a map of the various gates in relation to parking lots and seats.
When can I hear the fireworks?
That all depends on the White Sox lineup. After a Sox home run, 20 fireworks will ignite from the scoreboard in center field. So swing away, batters.
There are also full-length fireworks shows after some games.
What’s the bag policy?
Except for small clutch purses that are less than 9-by-5-by-2 inches in size, no bags are allowed into Guaranteed Rate Field. Some exceptions are made for medical and diaper bags (when an infant is present), but those will be inspected before entry.
Here’s what to leave at home:
- Weapons of any kind, including pepper spray
- Selfie sticks
- Aerosol spray cans (hair spray, sunscreen, etc.)
- Bottles, cans, hard-sided coolers and any type of alcohol
- Tobacco products of any kind
- Drones
Can I bring an umbrella into Guaranteed Rate Field?
Yes, but it must be small and compact — no golf-size umbrellas allowed — according to ballpark guidelines. When opened, the umbrella cannot obstruct the view of anyone around you.
You can also bring these items into the ballpark:
- Food in a small, clear plastic bag
- One sealed plastic bottle of water, one liter or smaller in size. But no other beverages of any kind are allowed to be carried inside.
What’s the best way to get to the ballpark?
Guaranteed Rate Field is located at 333 W. 35th St. in Chicago’s Armour Square neighborhood.
Public transportation is easy and cheap to get to White Sox home games, and on-site parking is also available.
Chicago Transit Authority
Check out transitchicago.com for fare information, route schedules and maps. Cost is $2.25 by bus or $2.50 by train. Extra service is planned before and after home games. Masks are required.
Plan to buy tickets in advance using the Ventra app.
By CTA bus
Use Nos. 1/ Bronzeville/Union Station (during rush periods only Monday through Friday), 4 Cottage Grove, 24 Wentworth, 29 State, 31 31st (which runs until 7 p.m. Monday through Friday), 35 35th (connects with Orange and Green lines), 39 Pershing (which connects with Orange and Green lines) or 44 Wallace/Racine.
By CTA “L” train
- Red Line: Exit at the Sox-35th station, which is one block west of Guaranteed Rate Field.
- Green Line: Exit at the 35th-Bronzeville-IIT station, which is three blocks east of the ballpark.
Metra
Check metra.com for route schedules and maps. Plan to buy tickets in advance using the Ventra app.
Day passes — available only in the Ventra app — cost $6 or $10, depending on distance traveled.
- From Rock Island Line: Exit at 35th Street/”Lou” Jones station, then walk west on 35th Street to Guaranteed Rate Field.
- From Union Station: Walk east on Jackson Boulevard. Turn right (south) on Wells Street. Then turn left (east) onto Ida B. Wells Drive. Enter LaSalle Street Station and take the Rock Island Line. Exit at 35th Street/“Lou” Jones station, then walk west on 35th Street to Guaranteed Rate Field.
- From Ogilvie Transportation Center: Walk east on Madison Street. Turn right (south) onto Wacker Drive. Then, turn left (east) onto Van Buren Street. Enter LaSalle Street Station and take the Rock Island Line. Exit at 35th Street/“Lou” Jones station, then walk west on 35th Street to Guaranteed Rate Field.
Pace
The Guaranteed Rate Field Express bus will not operate during the 2022 regular season because of a driver shortage. Fans can sign up for email updates to be notified if service returns.
By bike
Racks are located outside Gates 2 and 3 and along 35th Street near Gate 5.
Riding a Divvy? There’s a docking station near Gate 6 on 35th Street.
By rideshare
Fans can be dropped off and picked up in Lot A.
How much is parking and where is the best spot?
There are a variety of parking lots to choose from that surround the ballpark. Lots open three hours before first pitch. Some spots can be purchased in advance through Spothero and StubHub.
Accessible parking for cars displaying state-issued disability placards or license plates is available on the north side of the ballpark in Lot B (adjacent to Gate 5).
- Lots A, B, C and G: Located on the north side of the ballpark, these areas offer parking paid for in advance. Cost is $25.
- Lot D: VIP parking
- Lot E: Tailgate area with reserved parking
- Lots F and L: Credit or debit cards accepted for parking on day of game in these areas located on the south side of the ballpark. Cost is $27.
What about street parking?
Check ParkChicago to find the nearest metered parking areas and restrictions.
Can I tailgate?
Oh, yeah — and don’t forget the brats and the bags.
“It is my favorite tradition at the Sox game,” said Erin Gorecki, of Tinley Park. “Everybody is so nice. You meet so many cool people.”
Fans can tailgate in all of the parking lots except C and D. Fans who tailgate must set up in their respective parking space and avoid blocking pathways and traffic.
Once you’re at the ballpark
Where should I sit?
That’s up to you — and your wallet. But if you’re concerned about foul balls (or flying bats), the netting extends to the outfield edge of each dugout. Here’s a map of Guaranteed Rate Field so you can scope out your vantage point ahead of time.
Can I mobile order food?
Yes, you can. Make sure to download the MLB Ballpark app (we recommend doing so before leaving for the game) to see the full list of food and drinks at your disposal.
What should I eat?
Oh, man, where do we even begin? Lucky for us (and you), we sent Tribune food critic Nick Kindelsperger to Guaranteed Rate Field for a full report. Here’s what he recommends:
- Smoked wings, which will be available near sections 101 and 529. The enormous dry-rubbed wings are smoked over hickory hardwood for two hours and served with a tangy barbecue sauce. Juicy, smoky, spicy and a touch sweet — they are ideal ballgame grub.
- Look out for pretzel-wrapped bratwurst at all classic stands. Each order features a quarter-pound bratwurst encased in pretzel dough and sprinkled with sea salt.
- Rainbow Cone — a Chicago ice cream legend — has been serving the Beverly community since 1926, and now you can get its distinctive five-flavored ice cream cones near sections 158 and 526.
- The Heater, a jalapeno-cheddar sausage topped with sriracha mayonnaise (available at Brat Portables). Also look out for plump Froman’s cheddar pierogi (section 126).
- If you’re in a suite, you can score beer cheese burger sliders — a tiny burger drenched in IPA beer cheese and topped with sauteed onions and pickles. And look out for Blue Moon brats, simmered in Blue Moon beer and served with a burnt orange mustard and caramelized onions, in the Vizzy View Bar.
- And in the Stadium Club Bar, get the cinnamon churro milkshake.
And what can I drink?
Anheuser-Busch products are out, Molson Coors is in.
But it won’t be Miller Lite all the time, reports our Josh Noel. You’ll be able to find 75 craft beers from 46 breweries. That includes some beloved local favorites such as Sketchbook Brewing, Spiteful Brewing, Hopewell Brewing and Pipeworks Brewing.
The deal also includes naming rights of multiple spaces across Guaranteed Rate Field, including the Miller Lite Landing in right field (previously The Goose Island), Leinenkugel’s Craft Lodge (formerly the Goose Island Craft Kave) and the Vizzy View Bar (formerly the Revolution Sox Social Tap Room).
We’ll miss you the most, 10-foot goose head in the right-field bleachers.
Who is that voice I hear?
“Sox fans, ON YOUR FEET.”
That would be Gene Honda, the public-address announcer for the White Sox. And also the Blackhawks, Illinois football, DePaul basketball, the Final Four, the Big Ten men’s basketball tournament, the Maui Invitational and the Chicago Marathon.
What else should I check out while at Guaranteed Rate Field?
If you want to meet some White Sox legends in statue form, there’s Charles Comiskey, Minnie Minoso, Carlton Fisk, Billy Pierce, Harold Baines, Luis Aparicio, Nellie Fox, Frank Thomas and Paul Konerko on either side of the Fan Deck in center field. There’s also a big 2005 display to honor that World Series championship team outside Game 4.
And for those hot Chicago days, cool down with a stop in the shower from Old Comiskey Park, located near section 161.
() | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/going-to-a-chicago-white-sox-game-heres-what-to-know-if-youre-headed-to-guaranteed-rate-field-this-season/ | 2022-04-11T13:39:15 | 0 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/going-to-a-chicago-white-sox-game-heres-what-to-know-if-youre-headed-to-guaranteed-rate-field-this-season/ |
It’s the Chicago White Sox’s turn to host their first home game of the season — and it looks like fans at Guaranteed Rate Field will be able to leave the cold-weather gear at home Tuesday when the team hosts the Seattle Mariners.
The forecast
“We’re looking at a pretty large change in the prevailing weather pattern across the U.S. that will likely bring warmer temperatures as well as multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms to the Chicago area,” said Rafal Ogorek, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Chicago office.
He said a warm front is expected to stall over the Chicago area Tuesday, bringing partly sunny conditions with a high in the 60s. There’s also a 50% chance of showers — with thunderstorms possible — during the game. So bring a poncho!
What’s normal for April in Chicago?
The normal high on April 12 is 58 degrees with a low of 39. A trace of rain is usually observed too.
Does cold weather matter for a White Sox home opener?
Spoiler: It probably makes a bigger difference for fans.
Since 1989 — when box scores for Major League Baseball games began to include weather conditions at the ballpark at the time of first pitch — the White Sox are 18-15 in their home openers.
Last year, it rained.
A rain delay on opening day at Guaranteed Rate Field meant White Sox fans had to wait a little more than two hours before observing their home-opener traditions: booing Illinois politicians — Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot in this case — and cheering for longtime head groundskeeper Roger “Sodfather” Bossard.
The temperature at first pitch (5:22 p.m.) was 58 degrees with 2 mph winds from the south and southeast, per Tribune columnist and baseball writer Paul Sullivan.
Ricky Castro, meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Chicago office, said that was pretty mild for that time of year. The normal temperature for April 8 in Chicago is 56 degrees with about 0.11 of an inch of rain.
The weather didn’t seem to deter the home team. Lance Lynn threw a five-hit shutout and the Sox defeated the Kansas City Royals 6-0 in front of 8,207 fans.
The extremes
The White Sox experienced extreme weather at home games seven years apart, almost to the day.
COLDEST: 37 degrees (April 4, 2003)
The first White Sox game to be played inside the freshly renamed U.S. Cellular Field had the ingredients for a memorable home opener. More than 40,000 fans were expected to watch the Sox face the Detroit Tigers. A massive video screen in center field, nearly twice the size of the previous one, was among offseason improvements made to the stadium in anticipation of hosting the MLB All-Star Game on July 15, 2003 — 70 years after the first one took place at Comiskey Park, the idea of Chicago Tribune sports editor Arch Ward. And the governor was scheduled to throw out the first pitch.
Instead of arriving to cheers from the home crowd, however, the winless team took the field to boos.
“If you don’t execute or perform, then I don’t necessarily take it that personally because it’s about the performance. If my performance is not good, then they should boo,” Sox manager Jerry Manuel said.
And the first pitch? It was thrown by then-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich — also booed by fans — who “bounced” it.
When 22 mph winds and a two-hour rain delay arrived shortly thereafter, both the players and the fans were left with, well, wet socks. It was only when the grounds crew peeled back the tarp at 4:29 p.m. that fans cheered.
“The man most worthy of applause was groundskeeper Roger Bossard, whose field survived the Great Opening Day Flood of ‘03,” Tribune reporter Teddy Greenstein wrote.
Right fielder Magglio Ordonez singled home infielder Jose Valentin in the first inning. And third baseman Joe Crede ripped a two-run homer an inning later. The Sox were up 4-0.
“With the wind here, you never know how it will carry. I want to say the wind had a little help with that,” Crede said.
Sox right-hander Esteban Loaiza took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, later telling reporters the cold, wet weather was a shock compared with the warmth at spring training: “It was really hard to adjust after coming from the heat in Tucson.” He was pulled in the seventh inning after walking Carlos Pena with two outs.
Closer Billy Koch — who was also booed by fans for bombing his first save opportunity in a Sox uniform the day before — struck out the side in the ninth to give the Sox their first win of the season.
Final score: White Sox 5-2
WARMEST: 75 degrees (April 5, 2010)
The next day’s Tribune summed up the White Sox’s 6-0 shutout of the Cleveland Indians, well, perfectly — “For openers, it was just about perfect.”
The weather was gorgeous, Mark Buehrle pitched three-hit ball over seven innings and first baseman Paul Konerko hit a two-run homer before a sellout crowd of 38,935 at U.S. Cellular Field. Right fielder Alex Rios added a solo homer and ended the game with a diving catch.
Buehrle — fresh off his first career Gold Glove Award — was starting his 10th full season and his club-record eighth home opener. In addition to his impressive 95-pitch outing, the left-hander also turned in a spectacular play in the field.
“The kick-save, collision-avoiding, between-the-legs flip to Paul Konerko that dumbfounded (Lou) Marson — the best fielding play I’ve ever seen — proved how much he loves his work,” Tribune reporter Phil Rogers wrote.
Final score: White Sox 6-0
() | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/whats-the-weather-for-the-chicago-white-soxs-home-opener-and-how-has-it-affected-debuts-since-1989/ | 2022-04-11T13:39:21 | 0 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/whats-the-weather-for-the-chicago-white-soxs-home-opener-and-how-has-it-affected-debuts-since-1989/ |
FORT SMITH, Ark — On Sunday, April 11, two Miss Arkansas winners were crowned at the Fort Smith Convention Center.
A weekend of pageantry concluded Sunday night as Northwest Arkansas was represented by both winners.
Allie Shanks, a Springdale High School student was named the 2022 Miss Teen Arkansas USA. University of Arkansas student, Rylie Wagner, was crowned this year's Miss Arkansas USA.
Sunday's coronation program began with an introduction of the 25 women who competed. 12 were in competition for Miss Teen Arkansas USA, and 13 for the title of Miss Arkansas USA.
As the competition began, the women competed in different phases. The teens competed in activewear, evening gown and onstage interviews. The "Miss Arkansas" competition had the same phases but had a swimsuit competition instead of activewear.
For both Teen and Miss, there was a top-seven, which was narrowed down to a top-three before the interviews were held on stage and final looks were presented.
The night was complete as two winners were crowned as this year's Miss Teen Arkansas USA and Miss Arkansas USA.
Both Shanks and Wagner will go on to compete in the Miss USA competition later this year. If the new Miss Arkansas USA, Rylie Wagner, wins Miss USA she will go on to compete for the Miss Universe Pageant crown.
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To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com. | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/entertainment/events/miss-arkansas-usa-winners-crowned-during-pageant-in-fort-smith/527-5342d0ed-fc6e-4e9a-84fc-3470e0d8206e | 2022-04-11T13:43:57 | 1 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/entertainment/events/miss-arkansas-usa-winners-crowned-during-pageant-in-fort-smith/527-5342d0ed-fc6e-4e9a-84fc-3470e0d8206e |
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A shooting at the heart of Beale Street in downtown Memphis left one dead and two injured around 2:30 a.m. Sunday, the Memphis Police Department (MPD) said.
According to MPD, officers working in the downtown area witnessed two groups of men start shooting at each other in front of The Green Room at 315 Beale Street.
Officers, caught in the crossfire, returned fire at one of the shooters, who was running from the scene. He was caught after being hit by gunfire and taken to Regional One Hospital in critical condition.
MPD said they do not know if the suspect's injuries were caused by the officers who returned fire or by someone who was firing shots from within the group.
The first victim who was shot by someone within the group was pronounced dead on the scene. Another victim in the group was hit by gunfire and taken to Regional One Hospital in critical condition. It is believed that this person was injured by someone firing shots within the two groups.
In total, three men were shot. The two who were sent to the hospital in critical condition have since been upgraded to serious condition.
Additionally, an officer sitting in a patrol vehicle parked outside of the club was caught in the crossfire. The officer was uninjured, but his patrol vehicle and body-worn camera were hit by one of the suspect's gunfire.
Three of the officers who were present when the shots were fired between the two groups returned fire. MPD said these three officers have been routinely relieved of duty pending the outcome of the investigation.
"The Memphis Police Department is outraged at the senseless and brazen acts of violence that took place this morning in the presence of officers," said MPD Chief C.J. Davis. "The proliferation of gun violence continues at epic levels throughout our nation; however, we are committed to bringing every resource to bear to end these critical incidents in our city. We will continue working and strategizing with our downtown stakeholders and city officials to create a safe and welcoming environment for our residents, businesses, and visitors."
MPD met with leaders of the Downtown Memphis Commission Sunday morning to discuss the incident.
"Currently, we are one of the only entertainment districts who wand and ID during high traffic times," said Downtown Memphis Commission CEO Paul Young. "We will continue to be vigilant. We are working with MPD to identify solutions to support the safest Beale Street experience."
This investigation is ongoing.
Those with information on this incident are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 901-528-CASH. | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/crime/shooting-on-beale-street-one-dead-two-injured/522-7fedc2ca-af63-426e-be0b-9ee7c0500b70 | 2022-04-11T13:44:03 | 1 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/crime/shooting-on-beale-street-one-dead-two-injured/522-7fedc2ca-af63-426e-be0b-9ee7c0500b70 |
LITTLE ROCK, Ark — The bell tower is manually rung every Sunday for service at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, but this Sunday held a special performance.
While religious leaders celebrated Palm Sunday in preparation for Holy Week leading up to Easter Sunday, those same members of the Trinity Episcopal Bell Ringing Society executed a 20 minute performance in solidarity with Ukraine.
"I think everybody realizes what a terrible thing is happening there and we all want to do something, but as everyday people we don't know what to do," said Julie Keller, a member of the Bell Ringing Society.
Keller said there's only 45 bell ringing towers in the entire country, and that their cathedral holds 8 bells in total, which are controlled by ringers in the organization.
Even though the bells can't be heard overseas, they're hoping that their solidarity can be felt here from home.
They're making sure their impact is felt in more ways than one too.
Along with the bell ringing ceremony, the Bell Ringing Society also decided to fundraise and donate their earnings to efforts in Ukraine.
"All proceeds from today's event are going to go to the Episcopal Relief Services to help bring aid and comfort to the people of Ukraine," said Tower Secretary, William Hronas.
The sounds of the large bells echoed across the Quapaw Quarter in Downtown Little Rock Sunday morning.
The performance began following their 10:30 a.m. service. All were invited to watch and donate to the Episcopal Relief & Development’s Ukraine Crisis Response Fund.
Officials said that those funds will help those in the country that are fleeing the violence. The donations will be used to provide critical needs such as food, cash, blankets, and hygiene supplies.
"We know that our money can be used for humanitarian aid and that's what we're interested in doing," said Keller.
If you would like to donate, you can do so online by visiting their website here.
You're also able to send in physical donations as well, as checks can be mailed to Trinity Episcopal Cathedral at 310 West 17th Street, Little Rock, AR 72206. You can make your checks payable to Trinity Episcopal Cathedral and include “Ukraine” in the memo line. | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/arkansas-church-raising-money-ukraine/91-818ca210-2000-4b32-b428-32ed488bc945 | 2022-04-11T13:44:09 | 0 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/arkansas-church-raising-money-ukraine/91-818ca210-2000-4b32-b428-32ed488bc945 |
SHERIDAN, Ark. — Authorities in Sheridan are working to fight a wildfire in the city near Highway 35 and Grant County Road 51, according to reports.
Reports say that there aren't any injuries at the moment and that mandatory evacuations are taking place for homes that are in the path of the wildfire.
According to authorities, at least 13-15 homes in the area have already been evacuated as 500 acres of land has been impacted by the fire so far.
Authorities are asking for the public to avoid the area of Grant 51 and Grant 57.
There is no other information at this time.
We will update this article as more information becomes available. | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/authorities-work-sheridan-wildfire/91-3d62439c-6b4d-484a-9c03-4f2842bd4319 | 2022-04-11T13:44:15 | 1 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/authorities-work-sheridan-wildfire/91-3d62439c-6b4d-484a-9c03-4f2842bd4319 |
RICHMOND, Va. — U.S. service members who are HIV-positive cannot be discharged or barred from becoming an officer solely because they're infected with the virus, a federal judge in Virginia ruled. Advocates say it's one of the strongest rulings in years for people living with HIV.
The cases involved two service members that the Air Force attempted to discharge, as well as Sgt. Nick Harrison of the D.C. Army National Guard, who was denied a position in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps.
U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema said in a written order dated April 6 that her ruling bars the military from taking those actions against the plaintiffs and any other asymptomatic HIV-positive service member with an undetectable viral load ”because they are classified as ineligible for worldwide deployment ... due to their HIV-positive status.”
Peter Perkowski, an attorney for the plaintiffs, called it “a landmark victory — probably the biggest ruling in favor of people living with HIV in the last 20 years."
“The military was the last employer in the country that had a policy against people living with HIV. Every other employer — including first responders — is subject to rules that prohibit discrimination based on HIV status,” he said.
The Department of Defense did not immediately respond to an emailed request seeking comment on the ruling or whether it intends to appeal.
The airmen, identified by pseudonyms in the 2018 lawsuit, argued that major advancements in treatment mean they can easily be given appropriate medical care and present no real risk of transmission to others.
In 2020, the Richmond-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a preliminary injunction barring the discharge of the airmen. In its ruling, the three-judge panel said the military’s rationale for prohibiting deployment of HIV-positive service members was “outmoded and at odds with current science.” The appeals court ruling left the injunction in place while their lawsuit was being heard.
The Department of Justice argued before the 4th Circuit that the Air Force determined the two airmen could no longer perform their duties because their career fields required them to deploy frequently and because their condition prevented them from deploying to the U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility, where most airmen are expected to go. Central Command, which governs military operations in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia, prohibits personnel with HIV from deploying without a waiver.
The DOJ acknowledged that treatment lowers the risk of transmitting HIV, but said the risk is amplified on the battlefield where soldiers can often come into contact with blood.
An attorney for the airmen argued during a 2019 hearing that the odds of transmitting HIV in combat are infinitesimal and should not limit their deployment or lead to their discharge.
In its written ruling, the 4th Circuit panel said a ban on deployment may have been justified at a time when HIV treatment was less effective at managing the virus and reducing the risk of transmission.
“But any understanding of HIV that could justify this ban is outmoded and at odds with current science. Such obsolete understandings cannot justify a ban, even under a deferential standard of review and even according appropriate deference to the military’s professional judgments,” Judge James Wynn Jr. wrote in the unanimous 2020 ruling.
Brinkema said in this month's written order that she had temporarily sealed her ruling in the case to give both sides a chance to seek redactions within 14 days. The judge ordered the secretary of the Air Force to rescind the decision to discharge the two airmen and ordered the Army to rescind its decision denying Harrison's application to commission into JAG, and to reevaluate those decisions in light of her ruling.
Kara Ingelhart, senior attorney at Lambda Legal, one of the groups that brought the lawsuits, said in a news release that the ruling knocks down a barrier to preventing people living with AIDS from becoming officers, and "brings an end to the military's ongoing discrimination against the approximately 2,000 service members currently serving while living with HIV.” | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/nation-world/military-cant-discharge-for-hiv/507-5be7db7c-93b4-4fe4-a47d-97832ffc6419 | 2022-04-11T13:44:22 | 1 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/nation-world/military-cant-discharge-for-hiv/507-5be7db7c-93b4-4fe4-a47d-97832ffc6419 |
KYIV, Ukraine — A showdown looms in Ukraine after Russia appointed a new military commander and looked to concentrate its attacks in the east, while Ukraine’s president said his troops will hold their ground, urging Western leaders, in particular President Joe Biden, to do more.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Sunday in a nightly address that this week will be as crucial as any during the war, saying “Russian troops will move to even larger operations in the east of our state.”
Ukraine’s fate as the war shifts south and east depends on whether the United States will help match a surge in Russian weaponry, he said, echoing comments he made in an interview with The Associated Press on Saturday.
“To be honest, whether we will be able to (survive) depends on this,” Zelenskyy said in a “60 Minutes” interview. “Unfortunately, I don’t have the confidence that we will be receiving everything we need."
Zelenskyy said he was grateful to Biden for U.S. military aid to date but added that he “long ago” forwarded a list of specific items Ukraine desperately needed.
“He has the list,” Zelenskyy said. “President Biden can enter history as the person who stood shoulder to shoulder with the Ukrainian people who won and chose the right to have their own country. (This) also depends on him.”
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer was due to meet Monday in Moscow with Putin, after meeting with Zelenskyy in Kyiv. Austria, a member of the European Union, is militarily neutral and not a member of NATO.
Also Monday, New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it was sending a military transport plane and a support team of 50 to Europe to carry much-needed equipment and supplies to key distribution centers.
More than six weeks of war in Ukraine has flattened cities, killed untold thousands and isolated Moscow economically and politically, and experts say the next phase of the battle may begin with a full-scale offensive that could determine the course of the conflict.
Questions remain about the ability of depleted and demoralized Russian forces to conquer much ground after their advance on the capital, Kyiv, was repelled by determined Ukrainian defenders. Britain’s Defense Ministry says Russia is trying to compensate for mounting casualties by recalling veterans discharged in the past decade.
In his Sunday night address, Zelenskyy also accused Russia of trying to evade responsibility for war crimes in Ukraine.
“When people lack the courage to admit their mistakes, apologize, adapt to reality and learn, they turn into monsters. And when the world ignores it, the monsters decide that it is the world that has to adapt to them,” Zelenskyy said.
“The day will come when they will have to admit everything. Accept the truth,” he added.
Ukrainian authorities accuse Russian forces of committing war crimes against civilians, including airstrikes on hospitals, a missile attack that killed at least 57 people at a train station and other violence.
In another report of atrocities, the village of Buzova outside the capital, Kyiv, charred vehicles and buildings marked an area where local official Taras Didych told Ukrainian media Sunday that bodies showing “evidence of execution” were found after Russian forces withdrew from the region. It was unclear how many bodies were discovered.
Buzova is near Bucha, another of the towns near Kyiv, where hundreds of bodies, many with their hands bound and signs of torture, were found after the Russian retreat. Russia has falsely claimed the scenes in Bucha were staged.
In Washington, a senior U.S. official said Russia has appointed Gen. Alexander Dvornikov, one of its most seasoned military chiefs, to oversee the invasion. The official was not authorized to be identified and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Until now, Russia has had no central war commander on the ground.
Dvornikov, 60, takes over as Russian military prepares to focus on expanding control in Ukraine's east, where Russia-backed separatists have fought Ukrainian forces in the Donbas region since 2014, declaring some areas independent.
He gained a record for brutality as head of Russian forces deployed to Syria in 2015 to back President Bashar Assad’s government during the country's devastating civil war.
Russian authorities do not generally confirm such appointments and have said nothing about a new role for Dvornikov, who received the esteemed Hero of Russia medal from President Vladimir Putin in 2016.
U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan, speaking Sunday on CNN's “State of the Union," played down the appointment's significance.
“What we have learned in the first several weeks of this war is that Ukraine will never be subjected to Russia,” Sullivan said. “It doesn’t matter which general President Putin tries to appoint.”
Western military analysts say Russia's assault increasingly is focusing on a sickle-shaped arc of eastern Ukraine — from Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, in the north to Kherson in the south.
That could counter Russia's earlier problem of spreading its offensive too widely over too broad a geographic area.
Newly released Maxar Technologies satellite imagery showed an 8-mile (13-kilometer) convoy of military vehicles headed south through Ukraine to Donbas, recalling images of the convoy that stalled outside Kyiv before Russia gave up trying to take the capital.
On Sunday, Russian forces shelled government-controlled Kharkiv and sent reinforcements toward Izyum to the southeast to try to break Ukraine's defenses, the Ukrainian military command said. The Russians also kept up their siege of Mariupol, a key southern port that has been under attack and surrounded for nearly 1 ½ months.
A Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, said Russia's military used air-launched missiles to hit Ukraine’s S-300 air-defense missile systems in the southern Mykolaiv region and at an air base in Chuhuiv, a city not far from Kharkiv.
Sea-launched Russian cruise missiles destroyed the headquarters of a Ukrainian military unit stationed farther west in the Dnipro region, Konashenkov said. Neither the Ukrainian nor the Russian military claims could be independently verified.
Missiles twice struck the airport in Dnipro, Ukraine’s fourth-largest city, on Sunday, the regional governor said.
In Mariupol, Russia deployed Chechen fighters, reputed to be particularly fierce. Capturing the city on the Sea of Azov would give Russia a land bridge to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine eight years ago.
The city's residents have lacked food, water and electricity since Russian forces surrounded the city and frustrated evacuation missions. Ukrainian authorities think an airstrike on a theater that was being used as a bomb shelter killed hundreds of civilians, and Zelenskyy has said he expects more evidence of atrocities to be found once Mariupol no longer is blockaded.
On Sunday night, Zelenskyy again appealed for more assistance. Speaking with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, he said he discussed “how to strengthen sanctions against Russia and . . . force Russia to seek peace.”
“I am glad to note that the German position has recently changed in favor of Ukraine. I consider it absolutely logical,” Zelenskyy said.
The Institute for the Study of War, an American think tank, predicted that Russian forces will “renew offensive operations in the coming days” from Izyum, a town southeast of Kharkiv, in the campaign to conquer the Donbas, which comprises Ukraine's industrial heartland.
But in the view of the think tank's analysts, “The outcome of forthcoming Russian operations in eastern Ukraine remains very much in question.”
Anna reported from Bucha, Ukraine. Yesica Fisch in Borodyanko, Ukraine, Robert Burns and Calvin Woodward in Washington, and Associated Press journalists around the world contributed to this report. | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/nation-world/ukraine/ukraine-eastern-showdown/507-2baffea1-6b5e-4573-a982-e5c5244a9be0 | 2022-04-11T13:44:28 | 0 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/nation-world/ukraine/ukraine-eastern-showdown/507-2baffea1-6b5e-4573-a982-e5c5244a9be0 |
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The Chesterfield County Police Department is attempting to solve an armed robbery that happened in March.
On March 24, around 8 p.m., an unknown male entered the Refresh Convenience Store at 11648 Jefferson Davis Highway. The suspect left the store, changed clothing and returned with a black semi-automatic handgun, according to police
Police said the suspect then began to demand money.
He is described as a man around 20-30 years old and 5-feet-8-inches tall with a thin build.
The suspect was driving a dark gray 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu sedan.
If you can help solve this crime, you are asked to contact Chesterfield Crime Solvers at 804-748-0660 or use the P3-Tips mobile app. | https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/chesterfield-county/police-searching-for-man-connected-to-armed-robbery-at-chesterfield-convenience-store/ | 2022-04-11T13:58:05 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/chesterfield-county/police-searching-for-man-connected-to-armed-robbery-at-chesterfield-convenience-store/ |
Bright and mild today; severe storms are possible in the midweek
Large hail, damaging wind gusts, and tornadoes will be possible Tuesday
ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – The bright, mild weather we enjoyed over the weekend will carry over to start our work week today, even though a cold front has moved through the region. Clouds have moved into the area while brisk west winds have developed in the wake of that frontal passage, but it looks like both elements will be here for a short time only. Expect increasing sunshine this morning with a diminishing breeze for most of the day as the front pulls away to the east. High temperatures will be in the upper 50s with a slight westerly breeze.
Warm air will build into the region for Tuesday on gusty southeast winds ahead of a potent storm system that will be approaching from the west. We’ll have occasional sunshine and clouds throughout the day with winds reaching 40 miles per hour at times. High temperatures will be in the mid and upper 50s. A few isolated showers and thunderstorms will be possible in the afternoon with a larger threat of more widespread, potentially severe storms in the evening hours. The Storm Prediction Center has determined that the entire area is at an elevated risk for severe weather, mainly after 6:00 PM. Large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes will be possible with some downpours of heavy rainfall. The greatest risk locally will be in north Iowa where the risk is level three if five in the latest outlook.
A few isolated thunderstorms will be possible Wednesday, some early and a few isolated storms may redevelop in the afternoon just behind the storm system and there is a lower level of severe weather risk. We’ll have brisk southwest winds with partly sunny skies and high temperatures will be in the mid and upper 50s.
Colder air will blow into the region Thursday in the wake of the departing storm system. A few snow showers and sprinkles will be possible in the afternoon, but no accumulation is expected. High temperatures will only be in the upper 30s to low 40s and it will feel even colder than that because of strong northwest winds that will reach 50 miles per hour at times. Wind chill indices will only be in the teens and 20s.
After a bright and chilly stretch of weather Friday and Saturday, we’ll have a few more snow showers and perhaps a little light rain on Easter Sunday. High temperatures will be in the low 40s with brisk northeast winds.
Copyright 2022 KTTC. All rights reserved. | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/11/bright-mild-today-severe-storms-are-possible-midweek/ | 2022-04-11T14:05:57 | 1 | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/11/bright-mild-today-severe-storms-are-possible-midweek/ |
Judge rules Finkenauer did not qualify for primary ballot
Published: Apr. 11, 2022 at 7:56 AM CDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - U.S. Senate candidate Abby Finkenauer will not appear on Iowa’s June 7 Democratic primary ballot after a ruling from a judge late Sunday night, according to the Des Moines Register.
Two Republicans challenged Finkenauer’s nomination papers, claiming she didn’t get enough signatures to qualify for the primary ballot. The State Objections Panel rejected their challenge.
Last night’s ruling reversed that rejection, moving Finkenauer off the primary ballot. That decision is likely to be appealed to the Iowa Supreme Court.
Finkenauer, a former congresswoman from Dubuque, is competing for the democratic nomination to challenge Republican U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley.
Copyright 2022 KCRG. All rights reserved. | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/11/judge-rules-finkenauer-did-not-qualify-primary-ballot/ | 2022-04-11T14:06:11 | 1 | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/11/judge-rules-finkenauer-did-not-qualify-primary-ballot/ |
Manhole cover explosion caused some to panic in New York’s Times Square
NEW YORK (WCBS) - An Earthcam video shows the moment people began scrambling out of the area just before 7 p.m. Sunday.
Con Ed said a power cable failure led to an explosion and fire in a manhole.
As firefighters worked to put out the fire, dark gray smoke came from a manhole and two others, filling the air.
“Once I’m seeing the fire, the cops are telling me to back up and start backing up. But still I started like proceeding to the fire‚ and then it’s actually exploded right in front of me. And that’s when I was just like I started running,” Lavier Pounds said.
Marivic Jaks said she is visiting from California and was running late to catch her tour bus when she heard the boom.
“We just missed it. We missed the bus. Five minutes of walking and then a loud, loud … I’m still nervous and shaking,” she said.
Firefighters evacuated people in the area as a precaution.
Officials said there were elevated carbon monoxide levels in an office building, and firefighters assisted Con Ed crews in ventilating the cellar and subcellar of that building.
On Sunday, Con Ed says there have been no power outages because of the fire.
Copyright 2022 WCBS via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/11/manhole-cover-explosion-caused-some-panic-new-yorks-times-square/ | 2022-04-11T14:06:17 | 0 | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/11/manhole-cover-explosion-caused-some-panic-new-yorks-times-square/ |
Mimi Reinhard, who typed up Schindler’s list, dies at 107
JERUSALEM (AP) — Mimi Reinhard, a secretary in Oskar Schindler’s office who typed up the list of Jews he saved from extermination by Nazi Germany, has died in Israel at the age of 107.
Reinhard died early Friday and was laid to rest Sunday in Herzliya, near Tel Aviv, her son Sasha Weitman confirmed.
She was one of 1,200 Jews saved by German businessman Schindler after he bribed Nazi authorities to let him keep them as workers in his factories. The account was made into the acclaimed 1993 film “Schindler’s List” by director Steven Spielberg.
Reinhard was born Carmen Koppel in Vienna, Austria, in 1915, and moved to Krakow, Poland, before the outbreak of World War II. After Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939, she was confined to the Krakow ghetto before being sent to the nearby Plaszow concentration camp in 1942.
Reinhard’s knowledge of shorthand got her work in the camp’s administrative office, where, two years later, she was ordered to type up the handwritten list of Jews that were to be transferred to Schindler’s ammunition factory.
“I didn’t know it was such an important thing, that list,” she told an interviewer with Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, in 2008. “First of all, I got the list of those who were with Schindler already in Krakow, in his factory. I had to put them on the list.” Later she put her own name, and the names of two friends.
At the Brünnlitz labor camp, where Schindler’s ammunition factory was housed, she was put to work in Schindler’s office.
She said that although she worked in Schindler’s office toward the end of the war, she had little personal contact with him.
“He was a very charming man, very outgoing,” she recalled, decades after the war. “He didn’t treat us like scum.”
After the war, she made her way to the United States, where she lived until immigrating to Israel in 2007 at the age of 92.
Weitman, Reinhard’s son, said that after coming to Israel she “became a kind of a celebrity” because of the Schindler’s List film’s popularity, something he said “pumped another 15 years into her life.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/11/mimi-reinhard-who-typed-up-schindlers-list-dies-107/ | 2022-04-11T14:06:24 | 1 | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/11/mimi-reinhard-who-typed-up-schindlers-list-dies-107/ |
Public shaken by early morning mass shooting in Cedar Rapids
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - People who woke up to news of a mass shooting in downtown Cedar Rapids were shocked that something like this could happen in their community. Those we spoke with say they’re concerned about safety in the city.
”I want to leave, I’ve been wanting to leave for the last year,” Ann Marie Mahnke said.
Mahnke said she is a homeless mother who no longer feels safe on the streets in Cedar Rapids.
”My concern is we have children out here, we have homeless children what if one of the kids were down there when it happened? The kids are asking us what happened and why,” Mahnke said.
Mahnke said her boyfriend was sleeping in a nearby alley when the shooting took place and he found himself caught in the chaos.
”He said the fence was kicked over on top of him. He got out okay,” Mahnke said.
Meanwhile others, like Marcus Pryor, woke up to hear about the shooting on Sunday morning.
”It just sucks because it never used to be like this,” Pryor said.
Pryor said that he has lived in Cedar Rapids his entire life. As a parent, he said that he’s concerned when it comes to safety in the city.
”It makes you not even want to do any activities out here like that. I’ve got kids out here so it just sucks,” Pryor said.
Mahnke told us those who don’t have a place to call home are especially fearful.
”We’ve got a lot of people crying because they don’t know where they’re going to sleep tonight because they’re scared, scared to sleep in the alley, scared to sleep outside,” Mahnke said.
Copyright 2022 KCRG. All rights reserved. | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/11/public-shaken-by-early-morning-mass-shooting-cedar-rapids/ | 2022-04-11T14:06:31 | 0 | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/11/public-shaken-by-early-morning-mass-shooting-cedar-rapids/ |
A baby formula shortage in many parts of the U.S. is forcing retailers to ration their supplies.
The video featured is from a previous report.
Walgreens is limiting shoppers to three infant and toddler formula products per transaction, according to CNN.
RELATED: FDA warns about recalled baby formula amid investigation of 4 illnesses
A recent review of supplies at 11,000 stores indicates that nearly 30% of popular baby formula brands may be sold out.
Cities, like San Antonio and Minneapolis, are reporting out of stock rates for certain formulas even higher than that -- well above 50%.
RELATED: More Similac baby formula recalled as CDC investigation expands
Part of the problem stems from an Abbott Nutrition recall in mid-February for select lots of Similac and other formulas made in Sturgis, Michigan.
Manufacturers are ramping up production to make up the difference, but admit it may take weeks for them to catch up. | https://abc11.com/why-is-there-a-baby-formula-shortage-2022-recall-near-me/11734426/ | 2022-04-11T14:08:00 | 1 | https://abc11.com/why-is-there-a-baby-formula-shortage-2022-recall-near-me/11734426/ |
DECATUR, Ind. (WANE) A police K-9 is credited with finding a Geneva man wanted on an arrest warrant who was hiding in a field after he jumped from a moving car to avoid capture Sunday according to the Adams County Sheriff’s Department.
At around 6 p.m., a deputy spotted a vehicle owned by the fugitive’s mom heading north on U.S. 27 in Geneva. The deputy saw the fugitive, Leith C. Booher, 44, in the passenger seat.
The deputy tried to catch up to the vehicle which had turned on to some side streets. By the time the deputy caught up with the vehicle, it had stopped and Booher was no longer inside. Neighbors told police they had seen Booher running from the area.
Adams County Sheriff’s deputies and officers with the Geneva Police Department searched the area and eventually Booher was found hiding near some abandoned equipment in a field by Adams County K-9 Cezar.
Booher was arrested for his warrant for violation of term of bond. Other charges may be filed with the Adams County Prosecutors office. | https://www.wane.com/news/crime/adams-county-fugitive-jumps-from-moving-vehicle-k-9-finds-him-police-say/ | 2022-04-11T14:10:02 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/crime/adams-county-fugitive-jumps-from-moving-vehicle-k-9-finds-him-police-say/ |
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) — A substitute teacher at a Marion elementary school was arrested after police said he was drunk at school.
Last Thursday, an off-duty Marion Police officer who was working security at Kendall Elementary School was asked by the school’s principal to check on a substitute teacher working at the school after other teachers notified staff about an issue.
The officer met with the teacher – identified as Shawn Spitler – and detected a “strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath,” according to a Marion Police report. Spitler also “exhibited other signs of impairment,” the report said.
A portable breath test showed Spitler had a blood-alcohol content “higher than .10%,” the report said.
Spitler was taken into custody and taken to Marion Health for medical clearance then booked into Grant County Jail on a charge of Public Intoxication. | https://www.wane.com/news/crime/police-substitute-teacher-came-to-school-drunk/ | 2022-04-11T14:10:05 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/crime/police-substitute-teacher-came-to-school-drunk/ |
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — You know what they say about history repeating itself. For one man, that rang true after a DNA test he took a couple of years ago led him to his biological father.
And then, a couple years later, led to his own daughter finding him!
It’s the story for Rod Hobbs Sr. and his quest to find more about his roots.
Little did he know, those roots had grown into a tree that bore more fruit.
“I logged into my 23andMe, and up pops a new connection: 'Your daughter, Elizabeth',” said Rod Hobbs Sr. “And there was no question about it.”
“It was definitely the best scenario that could ever happen,” said his daughter, Elizabeth Bestow.
As they say, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree - and these two ended up having more in common than just their DNA.
“What are the odds he's gone through the same exact scenario?" said Bestow. “You know?”
You see, just 2.5 years ago, Hobbs didn’t know who his biological father was, either.
“Over 30 years, I was searching for my father because I never had a name or had a clue who he was,” he said.
When he was 15 years old, Hobbs found out the man he thought was his father wasn’t actually wasn't his father.
So, he hired private detectives and even took a DNA test that was uploaded to all the major online companies.
He got a hit, connecting him with a cousin, who then connected him to his dad.
“That changed my life 2.5 years ago,” said Hobbs.
And like history repeating itself, his life now changing again, welcoming a daughter he didn’t know he had.
“To find out like, 'Oh, my God - this is real,' it's... it was a lot. It was a lot, but incredibly exciting,” said Hobbs. “And... and then, too, after meeting and then seeing how beautiful and bright and ambitious and she's amazing.”
Like father, like daughter, Bestow wanted to know where she came from and took a DNA test.
That test matched her with Hobbs, and like any other teenager, she took to social media to hunt him down, finding a brother along the way.
“It's pretty cool. I've always wanted a sibling my age. My other siblings are around like eight years, six years older than me,” said Rod Hobbs Jr. “And you didn't even have siblings, so it's really cool for me.”
Exchanging numbers, they set up a meeting in Virginia.
The exciting reunion coming after a lifetime of waiting.
“I wanted this my whole life,” said Bestow. “I never pictured meeting him or getting to know him, let alone actually like seeing him being with him and knowing that he wants a relationship with me.”
From riding one-wheelers, to spa days, to looking at old picture albums, they have had a crash course in getting to know each other.
“The families just exploded,” said Hobbs Jr. “It truly did.”
We wanted to know what happens next, so we asked.
The family tells us Hobbs Sr. has a birthday coming up in June, so Bestow will be flying back for it - and she'll also get to meet all of her other new family members she still hasn’t met yet.
This story was first reported by Pari Cruz at WTKR in Virginia Beach, Va. | https://www.wrtv.com/news/national/once-in-a-lifetime-discovery-happens-twice-as-dna-test-results-connect-3-different-generations | 2022-04-11T14:22:18 | 0 | https://www.wrtv.com/news/national/once-in-a-lifetime-discovery-happens-twice-as-dna-test-results-connect-3-different-generations |
The chancellor of Austria, Karl Nehammer, will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Nehammer is the first leader of a European Union nation to meet with Russia since the invasion of Ukraine began in late February.
This would also be the first face-to-face meeting between a European leader and Putin.
Austria has usually maintained closer ties to Russia than other European countries.
However, Austria has joined the EU’s sanctions against Russia.
Nehammer has also criticized Russia’s takeover of Ukraine and has called for the war to stop.
The Austrian leader’s meeting with Putin comes after he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday.
Nehammer said he wants to act as a “bridgebuilder” between Russian and Ukraine.
However, there was not much optimism in his statement.
He admitted that chances of achieving progress were slim, according to Austrian news agency APA.
French President Emmanuel Macron has spoken with Putin since the war began. However, those have all been phone conversations. | https://www.wrtv.com/news/national/russia-ukraine-conflict/austrian-chancellor-meeting-face-to-face-with-vladimir-putin-on-monday | 2022-04-11T14:22:24 | 1 | https://www.wrtv.com/news/national/russia-ukraine-conflict/austrian-chancellor-meeting-face-to-face-with-vladimir-putin-on-monday |
Prevention: The benefits of exercise are more expansive than you think
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.
It might surprise you that getting physically stronger can improve one’s mental health, too, but that’s the experience of people who begin to walk or work out. The initial goal might be to increase arm strength or to lose weight, but the mental health benefits become obvious over time.
Because of COVID-19, many of us didn’t go to gyms or exercise classes. Forty percent of people age 65 and older reported less physical movement during the pandemic. Now, however, we have an opportunity to be more active — whether indoors or, because of better weather, outdoors with activities like walking, running, swimming at city pools, tennis, roller blading, hiking, gardening, bicycling and more.
Research is finding that group activities can increase our commitment to exercise. I’ve seen that phenomenon first-hand because my husband and I attend a group interval fitness class. It feels like a community as we show up every morning at 5 a.m. with our exercise buddies. Naturally, there have been times I wasn’t motivated or felt too tired to go. However, my husband’s commitment made it more likely that I would attend, too, and we have become regulars in the class.
A wonderful benefit of group exercise is that people who work out together feel less stressed than those who work out alone. According to a study, more physical, emotional and mental health benefits were experienced by participants who worked out in a social atmosphere. Researchers speculate that this may be due to the meaningful connections that can be nurtured in a community atmosphere. You witness others working hard; it isn’t just you. Plus, it always helps to laugh together, which releases endorphins.
Even if you don’t work out with another person, exercising regularly makes you part of a bigger team. The others in the gym or on the same morning walk up Mount Pisgah may not plan to get coffee afterward with you, but everyone begins to recognize those who show up at the same time. You develop camaraderie, which may lead you to become a gym rat in spite of yourself! Maybe you’ll get a dog, which will make you part of a very large community with easy interactions, whether on a neighborhood walk or at the dog park.
If you already have aches and pains, you may not think you’ll feel better exercising. However, research is finding that moderate exercise eases people’s pain. People with arthritis, for example, benefit greatly by staying active. In addition, exercise lowers your risk for falls, heart attacks, diabetes, high blood pressure and some cancers. A big bonus: You may sleep better. Finally, a study by Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research has found that regular exercise can lower your risk of experiencing severe COVID-19 symptoms.
When you start to increase your physical activity, please be moderate. It isn’t realistic to expect to run a marathon in a month if you aren’t already a distance runner. Start by building your muscles and stamina and, if you want to run a marathon eventually, map out a plan that will get you there gradually. To get started at a gym, use the facility’s trainer so you establish good exercise habits, find exercises tailored to your needs and receive lots of encouragement. Whether exercising in a class with others or on your own, check with your health care provider if you have any concerns about your heart, lungs, knees or balance.
When exercising, the release of tension feels great, and our minds are occupied with the effort rather than remaining stuck in the same old self-talk. Focusing on getting through the game or workout or swim means our stress, depression and anxiety may ease. Also, it’s been found that we can heal more readily from grief when we are physically active.
Because our world is full of traumatic events like the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, it is smart to think about preventive maintenance to keep our bodies, minds and spirits healthy. I hope you find an activity that you enjoy and can keep doing because you’ll be healthier for making the effort.
Sheila Jhansale, M.D. FACP, is the physician lead at Kaiser Permanente’s Chase Gardens Medical Office in Eugene. More information on healthy living is available atkp.org/lane. | https://www.registerguard.com/story/lifestyle/health-fitness/2022/04/11/benefits-of-exercise-mental-emotional-physical-health/65347874007/ | 2022-04-11T14:29:55 | 1 | https://www.registerguard.com/story/lifestyle/health-fitness/2022/04/11/benefits-of-exercise-mental-emotional-physical-health/65347874007/ |
Oregon Ducks defensive line sees life without Thibodeaux as a new opportunity
The Oregon Ducks' defensive line has been a strength of their team the last few seasons.
While that could still be the case, Oregon's unit comes into the spring with a few questions.
The biggest is how will the Ducks replace standout Kayvon Thibodeaux's production? Thibodeaux declared for the 2022 NFL Draft in December after recording 49 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks in 10 games.
With a new coach and defensive line coach, Oregon players see this as an opportunity to show coaches what they can do on the field.
"Thibodeaux, he's going to be a great player in the NFL, but we are thinking about the guys that are here right now," Jackson Powers-Johnson said. "We are trying to be great with the guys that we have and we are working hard.
"Coach (Tony) Tuioti has been a great coach and has been teaching us new moves and everything. Especially for me, because I played offensive line all year. I need to learn the movement of it.
"We've been progressively getting better and we have a long way to go, but we are just progressing every day."
After finishing 62nd in total defense in 2020, Oregon's defense took even more of a step back last season. The Ducks allowed an average of 384.6 yards per game, which was 71st in the country. Also, the Ducks only averaged 1.64 sacks per game, which was 90th in 2021.
To help improve both the team's run defense and pass rush, Oregon added defensive linemen Jordon Riley and Sam "Taki" Taimani through the transfer portal. The Ducks have also been playing Powers-Johnson mostly on the defensive side of the ball after his Alamo Bowl performance against Oklahoma.
Tuioti says he is looking for one particular attribute when grading defensive lineman.
"I'm looking for guys that play with heart and effort," Tuioti said. "Guys who are relentless, guys that are tough. We are not even close to where we want to be yet and that's what spring ball is all about.
"I want the younger guys to continue to improve because they have to close the gap between the older guys that are not taking reps right now and I think those guys are coming along.
"In terms of what I'm looking for specifically, I'm looking for guys that play hard, play tough, guys that show up time and time again."
Manning exits scrimmage with injury
Oregon defensive back Dontae Manning left Saturday's scrimmage with a significant injury. While Saturday's scrimmage was closed to the media, Manning was seen leaving Autzen Stadium in a wheelchair.
After the scrimmage, Oregon coach Dan Lanning provided little information on Manning's status.
"I have to wait and see what happened," Manning said. "He got dinged up. I really can't speak on it yet because I'm just leaving the practice field."
Last season, Manning played in 10 games and recorded 18 tackles and one tackle for loss. After Mykael Wright declared for the 2022 NFL Draft, Manning was expected to start at cornerback opposite Colorado transfer Christian Gonzalez.
If Manning is out for a significant period of time, that would undoubtedly be a massive loss to an Oregon secondary that has a lot of questions this spring.
Quarterbacks continue to show growth during scrimmage
During Saturday's scrimmage, Oregon players did some individual work along with 7-on-7 and situational drills. Throughout the day, the quarterback rotated throughout each group
But it wasn't just Bo Nix and Ty Thompson receiving work under center. Jay Butterfield also saw some work as Lanning says the redshirt freshman is processing in the Ducks' offense.
"I think Jay would tell you just like Bo and Ty would say there are a lot of things that he can improve on and get better at," Lanning said. "I thought today was a great example of those guys understanding what Coach (Kenny) Dillingham's goal is on offense and where he wanted the ball distributed and how we're going to take care of it.
"But there's something about a scrimmage that creates a little bit of sense of urgency between all three of those guys. And I thought, well, I thought we saw some of that today."
Contact Register-Guard sportswriter Antwan Staley at astaley@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @antwanstaley. | https://www.registerguard.com/story/sports/college/football/2022/04/11/oregon-ducks-defensive-line-kayvon-thibodeaux-nfl-draft/65349118007/ | 2022-04-11T14:30:07 | 1 | https://www.registerguard.com/story/sports/college/football/2022/04/11/oregon-ducks-defensive-line-kayvon-thibodeaux-nfl-draft/65349118007/ |
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Activate your digital account | https://www.registerguard.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.registerguard.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2F2022%2F04%2F11%2Feugene-renter-protections-tenants-landlords-fees-deposit-evictions-public-hearing-timeline%2F65348461007%2F | 2022-04-11T14:34:15 | 0 | https://www.registerguard.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.registerguard.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2F2022%2F04%2F11%2Feugene-renter-protections-tenants-landlords-fees-deposit-evictions-public-hearing-timeline%2F65348461007%2F |
Manhole cover explosion caused some to panic in New York’s Times Square
NEW YORK (WCBS) - An Earthcam video shows the moment people began scrambling out of the area just before 7 p.m. Sunday.
Con Ed said a power cable failure led to an explosion and fire in a manhole.
As firefighters worked to put out the fire, dark gray smoke came from a manhole and two others, filling the air.
“Once I’m seeing the fire, the cops are telling me to back up and start backing up. But still I started like proceeding to the fire‚ and then it’s actually exploded right in front of me. And that’s when I was just like I started running,” Lavier Pounds said.
Marivic Jaks said she is visiting from California and was running late to catch her tour bus when she heard the boom.
“We just missed it. We missed the bus. Five minutes of walking and then a loud, loud … I’m still nervous and shaking,” she said.
Firefighters evacuated people in the area as a precaution.
Officials said there were elevated carbon monoxide levels in an office building, and firefighters assisted Con Ed crews in ventilating the cellar and subcellar of that building.
On Sunday, Con Ed says there have been no power outages because of the fire.
Copyright 2022 WCBS via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/11/manhole-cover-explosion-caused-some-panic-new-yorks-times-square/ | 2022-04-11T14:35:14 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/11/manhole-cover-explosion-caused-some-panic-new-yorks-times-square/ |
Port St. Lucie police searching for missing 15-year-old girl
Port St. Lucie police are searching for a missing 15-year-old girl who never showed up to school Monday morning.
Police said Saige Stiles was last seen walking to school in the area of Southwest Darwin Boulevard and Southwest Belmont Circle, but never arrived at Treasure Coast High School.
According to police, Stiles is considered "missing and endangered."
Exclusive video from WPTV Chopper 5 showed multiple police cruisers and yellow caution tape blocking off a large wooded area on Southwest Tulip Boulevard. There are also several evidence markers on the ground, along with K9s searching and a crime scene van at the scene.
The area where Stiles vanished is heavily residential with patches of woods.
WATCH CHOPPER 5 VIDEO:
The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office is involved in the search, using a helicopter to survey the area.
Police said Stiles is 5'5", weighs 120 pounds, and has brown hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing jeans and a gray, long-sleeve hooded sweatshirt.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911.
REPORT FROM SCENE:
Scripps Only Content 2022 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/11/port-st-lucie-police-searching-missing-15-year-old-girl/ | 2022-04-11T14:35:22 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/11/port-st-lucie-police-searching-missing-15-year-old-girl/ |
BORODYANKA, Ukraine (AP) — It’s almost Easter in Ukraine, where a trio of churches on the far edges of the capital considered faith, hope and charity on Sunday.
In Bucha, shocked into silence by atrocities that left bodies in the streets, about two dozen of the faithful gathered for the service while the exhumation of bodies continued from a mass grave in the churchyard.
In Makarov, a handful of members visited a badly damaged riverside church, at times moved to tears. Small golden crosses for rosaries lay scattered on the floor with the shattered glass.
And in Borodyanka, where Russian attacks ripped a blackened hole in a high-rise apartment building, volunteers and donations filled an almost untouched church a short walk away, while residents lined up at the door for food and other assistance. Many were elderly people who stayed behind while others fled.
On the day when Pope Francis called for an Easter truce in Ukraine to make way for a negotiated peace, church visitors invoked God in recalling their survival.
“Each person who was leaving, from any place, Makarov, Bucha, Hostomel or from Andriivka, the neighboring village which was destroyed to the ground; each one, even those who did not know the Lord’s Prayer, he was speaking to God with his own words,” said Alona Parkhomenko in Makarov, where the church exterior was speckled with bullet holes and the priest warned of falling glass.
The Russian retreat from the region surrounding Kyiv has enabled some of the millions of Ukrainians who fled over the border or to other parts of the country to return home. Some are finding their places of worship damaged or destroyed. Ukrainian authorities in late March said at least 59 spiritual sites including churches, mosques and synagogues had been hit.
In Makarov, the priest, Bogdan Lisechenko, said the church beside the river is in critical condition with spring rains looming. “Now we are taking out the icons, saving them because the water is coming,” he said. “For now, we will close the windows to prevent looting.”
For Easter, which in the Orthodox world is two weeks away, the priest said the blessing will be given in a church in another village that so far has escaped damage in the war.
___
Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | https://www.wane.com/news/3-churches-in-ukraine-contemplate-faith-hope-and-charity/ | 2022-04-11T14:36:54 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/3-churches-in-ukraine-contemplate-faith-hope-and-charity/ |
PHOENIX (AP) — Karla Finocchio’s slide into homelessness began when she split with her partner of 18 years and temporarily moved in with a cousin.
The 55-year-old planned to use her $800-a-month disability check to get an apartment after back surgery. But she soon was sleeping in her old pickup protected by her German Shepherd mix Scrappy, unable to afford housing in Phoenix, where median monthly rents soared 33% during the coronavirus pandemic to over $1,220 for a one-bedroom, according to ApartmentList.com.
Finocchio is one face of America’s graying homeless population, a rapidly expanding group of destitute and desperate people 50 and older suddenly without a permanent home after a job loss, divorce, family death or health crisis during a pandemic.
“We’re seeing a huge boom in senior homelessness,” said Kendra Hendry, a caseworker at Arizona’s largest shelter, where older people make up about 30% of those staying there. “These are not necessarily people who have mental illness or substance abuse problems. They are people being pushed into the streets by rising rents.”
Academics project their numbers will nearly triple over the next decade, challenging policy makers from Los Angeles to New York to imagine new ideas for sheltering the last of the baby boomers as they get older, sicker and less able to pay spiraling rents. Advocates say much more housing is needed, especially for extremely low-income people.
Navigating sidewalks in wheelchairs and walkers, the aging homeless have medical ages greater than their years, with mobility, cognitive and chronic problems like diabetes. Many contracted COVID-19 or couldn’t work because of pandemic restrictions.
“It’s so scary,” said Finocchio, her green eyes clouding with tears while sitting on the cushioned seat of her rolling walker. “I don’t want to be on the street in a wheelchair and living in a tent.”
It was Finocchio’s first time being homeless. She’s now at Ozanam Manor, a transitional shelter the Society of St. Vincent de Paul runs in Phoenix for people 50 and up seeking permanent housing.
At the 60-bed shelter, Finocchio sleeps in a college-style women’s dorm, with a single bed and small desk where she displays Scrappy’s photo. The dog with perky black ears is staying with Finocchio’s brother.
A stroke started 67-year-old Army veteran Lovia Primous on his downward spiral, costing him his job and forcing him to sleep in his Honda Accord. He was referred to the transitional shelter after recovering from COVID-19.
“Life has been hard,” said Primous, who grew up on in a once- segregated African American neighborhood of south Phoenix. “I’m just trying to stay positive.”
Cardelia Corley ended up on the streets of Los Angeles County after the hours at her telemarketing job were cut.
Now 65, Corley said she was surprised to meet so many others who were also working, including a teacher and a nurse who lost her home following an illness.
“I’d always worked, been successful, put my kid through college,” the single mother said. “And then all of a sudden things went downhill.”
Corley traveled all night aboard buses and rode commuter trains to catch a cat nap.
“And then I would go to Union Station downtown and wash up in the bathroom,” said Corley. She recently moved into a small East Hollywood apartment with help from The People Concern, a Los Angeles nonprofit.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said in its 2017 Annual Homeless Assessment Reportthe share of homeless people 50 and over in emergency shelters or transitional housing jumped from 22.9% in 2007 to 33.8% in 2017. More precise and recent nationwide figures aren’t available because HUD has since changed the methodology in the reports and lumps older people in with all adults over 25..
A 2019 study of aging homelesspeople led by the University of Pennsylvania drew on 30 years of census data to project the U.S. population of people 65 and older experiencing homelessness will nearly triple from 40,000 to 106,000 by 2030, resulting in a public health crisis as their age-related medical problems multiply.
Dr. Margot Kushel, a physician who directs the Center for Vulnerable Populationsat the University of California, San Francisco, said herresearch in Oakland on how homelessness affects health has shown nearly half of the tens of thousands of older homeless people in the U.S. are on the streets for the first time.
“We are seeing that retirement is no longer the golden dream,” said Kushel. “A lot of the working poor are destined to retire onto the streets.”
That’s especially true of younger baby boomers, now in their late 50s to late 60s, who don’t have pensions or 401(k) accounts. About half of both women and men ages 55 to 66 have no retirement savings, according to the census.
Born between 1946 and 1964, baby boomers now number over 70 million, the census shows. With the oldest boomers in their mid 70s, all will hit age 65 by 2030.
The aged homeless also tend to have smaller Social Security checks after years working off the books. A third of some 900 older homeless people in Phoenix said in a recent survey they have no income at all.
Teresa Smith, CEO of the San Diego nonprofit Dreams for Change, said she’s also noticed the homeless population is trending older. The group operates two safe parking lots for people living in cars.
Susan, who stayed at one lot, spoke only if her last name wasn’t used because of the stigma surrounding homelessness.
The 63-year-old had kidney cancer while caring for her mother, then lost their two-bedroom apartment after her mom died. The cancer is now in remission.
Susan slept in her car with her dog at one of the gated parking lots that provide a bathroom, showers and a shared refrigerator and microwave.
She was stunned to see a man in his 80s living in a car there, calling it “just wrong.”
But residents enjoyed the community, grilling meals together and even surprising one in their group with a birthday cake.
Dreams for Change recently helped Susan get a one-bedroom apartment with a housing voucher after months of waiting.
With a washer and dryer, patio, dishwasher and bathtub, “I feel like I’m at the Ritz,” she said.
Donald Whitehead Jr., executive director of the Washington-based advocacy group National Coalition for the Homeless, said that seeing older people sleep in cars and abandoned buildings should worry everyone.
“We now accept these things that we would have been outraged about just 20 years ago,” said Whitehead.
Whitehead said Black, Latino and Indigenous people who came of age in the 1980s amid recession and high unemployment rates are disproportionately represented among the homeless.
Many nearing retirement never got well-paying jobs and didn’t buy homes because of discriminatory real estate practices.
“So many of us didn’t put money into retirement programs, thinking that Social Security was going to take care of us,” said Rudy Soliz, 63, operations director for Justa Center, which offers meals, showers, a mail drop and other services to the aged homeless in Phoenix.
The average monthly Social Security retirement payment as of December was $1,658. Many older homeless people have much smaller checks because they worked fewer years or earned less than others.
People 65 and over with limited resources and who didn’t work enough to earn retirement benefits may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income of $841 a month.
Finocchio said limited contributions were made for her into Social Security and Medicare because most of her jobs were off the books in telephone sales or watering office plants.
“The programs approved by Congress to prevent destitution among the elderly and the disabled are not working,” said Dennis Culhane, a University of Pennsylvania professor who led the 2019 study of the aging homeless in New York, Boston and Los Angeles County. “And the problem is only going to get worse.”
Jennifer Molinsky, project director for the Aging Society Program at Harvard University’sJoint Center for Housing Studies, agreed the federal government must do more to ensure older Americans are better housed.
“The younger boomers were hit especially hard in the Great Recession, many losing their homes close to retirement,” Molinsky said.
Longer term shelters specifically for older people are helping get some off the streets at least temporarily.
The Arizona Department of Housing last year provided a $7.5 million block grant for the state’s largest shelter to buy an old hotel to temporarily house up to 170 older people without a place to stay. The city of Phoenix kicked in $4 million for renovations.
CEO Lisa Glow of Central Arizona Shelter Services, which runs the state’s biggest shelter in downtown Phoenix, said the hotel is expected to open by year’s end. Residents will stay around 90 days while caseworkers help find permanent housing
“We need more dignified, safer and comfortable places for our seniors,” said Glow, noting that physical limitations make it difficult for older people at the 500-bed shelter downtown.
Nestor Castro, 67, was luckier than many who lose permanent homes.
Castro was in his late 50s living in New York when his mother died and he was hospitalized with bleeding ulcers, losing their apartment. He initially stayed with his sister in Boston, then for more than three years at a YMCA in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Just before last Christmas, Castro got a permanent subsidized apartment through Hearth Inc., a Boston nonprofit dedicated to ending homelessness among older adults. Residents pay 30% of their income to stay in one if Hearth’s 228 units.
Castro pays with part of his Social Security check and a part-time job. He also volunteers at a food pantry and a nonprofit that assists people with housing.
“Housing is a big problem around here because they are building luxury apartments that no one can afford,” he said. “A place down the street is $3,068 a month for a studio.”
Hearth Inc. CEO Mark Hinderlie said far more housing needs to be built and made affordable for the aged, especially now as the numbers of graying homeless people surge.
“It’s cheaper to house people than leave them homeless,” Hinderlie said. “You have to rethink what housing can be.”
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Janie Har in Marin County, California, and Christopher Weber in Los Angeles contributed to this report. | https://www.wane.com/news/americas-homeless-ranks-graying-as-more-retire-on-streets/ | 2022-04-11T14:37:01 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/americas-homeless-ranks-graying-as-more-retire-on-streets/ |
PARIS (AP) — Beer flowed at incumbent Emmanuel Macron’s celebration of his first-round victory in the French presidential election, while Champagne corks popped across town to mark far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s second-place showing.
It was a night of effervescence for both contenders and their supporters ahead of a showdown in two weeks to see who will become France’s chief of state for the next five years. The two will be revisiting their 2017 match when centrist Macron, then an upstart never before elected to office, won by a landslide.
Flags, the national anthem and cheers — fueled with drinks as different as the programs of the two contenders — marked the end of a campaign that left 10 other candidates on the sidelines.
Macron was expected to capture a healthy first-round lead of around 28% support, ahead of Le Pen’s 23%-24%, according to projections. Final official results were not yet available.
“One, two, five more years,” Marcon’s supporters cried out. “Marine president” and “We will win,” the hundreds of guests at Le Pen’s electoral party chanted.
“Now, everything is possible,” said Aurélien Lopez Liguori, a municipal councilor for Le Pen’s National Rally party, in the southern town of Sete. Macron “will finally answer to the French people” for his “bad record.”
He credited Le Pen’s mostly quiet, close-to-the-people campaign, far from TV cameras, for her showing. “The French thanked us tonight.”
It was anything but quiet at Le Pen’s electoral venue in a park in eastern Paris. Cheers drowned out parts of her speech when poll projections were announced.
Le Pen, 53, a solid nationalist, has revamped her program and her style, campaigning on buying power and going decidedly people-friendly, to further distance herself from the far-right image that has haunted her anti-immigration party, work she began when she took over a decade ago. She has campaigned since September, longer than any other candidate, and as the campaign wound down took off in opinion polls.
In contrast, Macron, 44, came late to the campaign trail, occupied with affairs of state, including his active role in trying to stop the war in Ukraine. He has dominated polls from the start, but some in his entourage worried aloud about Le Pen’s steady advance.
Supporter Julien Bon said he was joyful with Sunday night’s results.
“It’s better than what we had expected,” he said, referring to recent opinion polls. “We are well on track. Now we must fight.”
Le Pen’s supporters at her electoral party came from around France and beyond.
“I couldn’t support Marine Le Pen with my vote, but I would if I were French,” said Hungarian guest Agnes Zsofia Magyar, who met Le Pen during the French politician’s visit to Budapest to support leader Victor Orban and his nationalist Fidesz party. She works in Brussels with the party-linked Foundation for a Civil Hungary.
“I am sure that the French have decided to change systems,” Magyar said, anticipating a Le Pen victory in the April 24 runoff and alluding to the drastic differences that populist Le Pen and pro-European Union Macron represent.
Macron asked his supporters to applaud all 10 candidates eliminated from Sunday’s race, naming each, including far-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who came in third.
Melenchon gave his own orders at his electoral gathering: “We must not give a single vote to Le Pen.”
“I think Marine Le Pen has a big chance of winning,” said Gilles Lebreton, a European Parliament lawmaker for the far-right party. Her party counts on winning over supporters of Eric Zemmour, a far-right pundit whose decision to enter the race divided Le Pen’s support base.
For Le Pen’s National Rally, the second round begins Monday when Lebreton said party officials would meet to plan strategy for the second round.
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Associated Press writer Sylvie Corbet contributed to this report. | https://www.wane.com/news/beer-flows-champagne-bubbles-as-macron-le-pen-reach-final/ | 2022-04-11T14:37:15 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/beer-flows-champagne-bubbles-as-macron-le-pen-reach-final/ |
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo on Sunday denied that his administration was attempting to delay the 2024 presidential elections after senior politicians including his close ally supported the idea of extending his stay in office beyond the two-term legal mandate.
His statement came a day before students planned to stage a massive protest in the capital, Jakarta, and several other cities to oppose the alleged plan they say could threaten democracy. Student protests in Indonesia often turn violent.
During a Cabinet meeting to discuss the preparations for the 2024 elections, Widodo ordered his ministers to publicly explain that all stages and schedules for the polls had been determined.
“This needs to be explained so that there are no rumors circulating among people that the government is trying to postpone the election or speculation about the extension of the president’s tenure or a related third term,” Widodo said in comments released by his office on its official YouTube channel. “Because clearly we have agreed that the election will be held on February 14, 2024.”
Powerful figures including Cabinet ministers Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and Airlangga Hartarto, who is also the chair of the Golkar party in the ruling coalition, have suggested that the elections should be deferred.
Pandjaitan, who is Widodo’s close ally, recently claimed that data shows 110 million Indonesians support a delay of elections. It wasn’t clear what data he was citing.
Recent reports by Kompas, Indonesia’s reputable pollster, indicate Widodo is hugely popular in the archipelago nation of more than 270 million people with over 70% public trust rating. However, a poll by the Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting showed that more than 70% reject any plan to extend his stay in office.
The two-term presidential limit was a centerpiece of the first amendment to the Indonesian Constitution in 1999, a year after dictator Suharto was toppled by massive pro-democracy protests.
Suharto ruled Indonesia for more than three decades through an authoritarian, often violent regime. Under his rule, corruption and rights abuses became rampant as the elite plundered the economy. His downfall ushered in a democracy in Indonesia and term limits are meant to prevent a repeat of its authoritarian past.
Last Wednesday, Widodo also told his ministers to address the nation’s rising inflation instead of stirring controversy around the 2024 election.
“Nobody bring up a (presidential) term extension or election delay anymore. No more!” Widodo said.
In June last year, he said in a news conference that he plans to adhere to the constitution when his supporters began to roll out the idea suggesting his term could be legally extended through a constitutional amendment or election delay.
Supporters argued it was necessary to give Widodo more time to deal with the recovery of the economy that slumped during the two-year pandemic, and allow him to complete his agenda, including the $35 billion capital relocation project to the island of Borneo.
Despite denials, doubts about his intentions have persisted.
“People are still skeptical about Jokowi’s indecision regarding the third term,” said Ujang Komarudin, a political analyst from Al-Azhar Indonesia University, using Widodo’s popular nickname. “The alleged plans have deviated far from the constitution and would be a major blow for Indonesia’s democratic reform,” he said, adding that it may not stop students from taking to the streets.
Widodo was sworn in for his second and final five-year term in October 2019 with pledges to champion democracy and take bolder action against poverty and entrenched corruption in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation.
Known for his down-to-earth style, Widodo is also the first president from outside the country’s super rich and often corrupt, political, business and military elite. He grew up in a rented bamboo shack on the banks of a flood-prone river in Solo city on Java island, and often presents himself as a man of the people.
His popular appeal helped him win previous elections for mayor of Solo and governor of Jakarta. | https://www.wane.com/news/indonesian-leader-denies-delay-of-2024-polls-to-extend-term/ | 2022-04-11T14:37:22 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/indonesian-leader-denies-delay-of-2024-polls-to-extend-term/ |
LONDON (AP) — Queen Elizabeth II, after her own recent bout with COVID-19, empathized with patients, doctors and nurses at a London hospital last week as she listened to their stories about life on the front lines of the pandemic.
The monarch spoke to patients and staff at the Royal London Hospital during a virtual visit that marked the official dedication of the Queen Elizabeth Unit, a 155-bed critical care facility built in just five weeks at the height of the pandemic. Elizabeth tested positive for COVID-19 in February and suffered what Buckingham Palace described as “mild cold-like symptoms.’’
“It does leave one very tired and exhausted, doesn’t it?’’ she told recovering COVID-19 patient Asef Hussain and his wife, Shamina. “This horrible pandemic.”
The unit has treated about 800 coronavirus patients from across northeast London, with staff recruited from throughout the region, including retired doctors and nurses and even soldiers drafted in to help.
With friends and family members barred from the hospital by strict virus-control measures, nurses did their best to comfort seriously ill patients, senior nurse Mireia López Rey Ferrer told Elizabeth.
“As nurses, we made sure that they were not alone,’’ López Rey said. “We held their hands, we wiped their tears and we provided comfort. It felt at times that we were running a marathon with no finish line.”
Hussain was the third member of his family hospitalized with COVID-19 at the end of December 2020. His brother died first, then his father passed away while Hussain was on a ventilator.
“I remember waking up one morning and just finding it really, really difficult to breathe,’’ he said. “I remember waking my wife saying that I feel like there’s no oxygen in the room. I remember me sticking my head out the window, just trying to breathe, trying to get that extra oxygen.”
He was on a ventilator for seven weeks and only recently was able to stop using a wheelchair.
Nurses helped lift Hussain’s spirits by arranging video calls on a tablet computer. Shamina Hussain told the queen that 500 friends and family around the world dialed in to one conference call to pray for her husband.
“So you have a large family, or a large influence on people,” the queen quipped.
The couple smiled.
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Follow all AP stories on the pandemic at h ttps://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic. | https://www.wane.com/news/queen-chats-with-covid-19-patients-nurses-at-uk-hospital/ | 2022-04-11T14:37:35 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/queen-chats-with-covid-19-patients-nurses-at-uk-hospital/ |
LONDON (AP) — Sultry musical “Cabaret” and fantastical literary adaptation “Life of Pi” were among the winners Sunday at British theater’s Olivier Awards, which returned with a live ceremony and a black-tie crowd after a three-year gap imposed by COVID-19.
The celebration of London theater, opera and dance came back to London’s Royal Albert Hall for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic shuttered Britain’s performance venues more than two years ago, weeks before the scheduled 2020 Oliviers show.
Kit Harington, Tom Felton, Emma Corrin and Jonathan Pryce were among the stars who walked the sustainable green carpet, made from reusable grass, before the glitzy, music-filled ceremony.
An intimate production of “Cabaret” that transformed London’s Playhouse Theatre into the Kit Kat Club in 1930s Berlin had 11 nominations for the Oliviers, Britain’s equivalent of Broadway’s Tony Awards. Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley are nominated in musical leading actor categories for their roles as the Emcee and Sally Bowles .
“Cabaret” director Rebecca Frecknall took the directing trophy, and said the war in Ukraine gave John Kander and Fred Ebb’s musical about the collapse of democracy and rise of fascism added poignancy.
“In a way it’s quite sad that every time it’s on it feels like it’s been written for today,” she said.
“Life of Pi,” adapted from Yann Martel’s Booker Prize-winning novel about a boy adrift at sea with a tiger, was named best new play. Hiran Abeysekera was named best actor in a play as title character Pi, while — in a first — the supporting actor prize went to seven performers who collectively play the show’s puppet tiger.
Fred Davis, one of the seven, said it was “a landmark moment for puppetry.”
Redmayne is up for best actor in a musical alongside Olly Dobson for “Back to the Future – The Musical;” Arinzé Kene for “Get Up Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical;” and Robert Lindsay for “Anything Goes.”
Buckley is competing for best actress in a musical against Sutton Foster for “Anything Goes;” Beverley Knight for “The Drifters Girl;” and Stephanie McKeon for “Frozen.”
Knight said the theater community was ready to celebrate after a difficult couple of years.
“We have been bereft of theater for so long, just had nothing. And people only realize the importance of the place that theater and live entertainment played in any society when it was taken away,” she said.
“We bring in multimillions and that’s week in, week out. So we are part of giving the economy buoyancy, but more than that, we feed the nation’s soul,” she added.
The contenders for best new musical are “Back to the Future – The Musical;” “The Drifters Girl;” “Frozen;” “Get Up Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical;” and “Moulin Rouge!”
The show also paid musical tribute to a theater titan — composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, who died last year at 91.
The last Oliviers ceremony, held largely remotely in October 2020, awarded work done before the British government ordered U.K. theaters to shut down in March 2020. Venues began reopening in mid-2021, and shows are largely up and running again, though the number of international visitors, vital to sustaining West End shows, remains well below pre-pandemic levels.
The awards were founded in 1976 and named for the late actor-director Laurence Olivier. Winners in most categories are chosen by a panel of stage professionals and theater-goers. | https://www.wane.com/news/uk-theaters-olivier-awards-back-after-covid-enforced-hiatus/ | 2022-04-11T14:37:49 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/uk-theaters-olivier-awards-back-after-covid-enforced-hiatus/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia has tapped a new Ukraine war commander to take centralized control of the next phase of battleafter its costly failures in the opening campaign and carnage for Ukrainian civilians. U.S. officials don’t see one man making a difference in Moscow’s prospects.
Russia turned to Gen. Alexander Dvornikov, 60, one of Russia’s most experienced military officers and — according to U.S. officials — a general with a record of brutality against civilians in Syria and other war theaters. Up to now, Russia had no central war commander on the ground.
The general’s appointment was confirmed by a senior U.S. official who was not authorized to be identified and spoke on condition of anonymity.
But the White House national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said “no appointment of any general can erase the fact that Russia has already faced a strategic failure in Ukraine.”
“This general will just be another author of crimes and brutality against Ukrainian civilians,” Sullivan said. “And the United States, as I said before, is determined to do all that we can to support Ukrainians as they resist him and they resist the forces that he commands.”
White House press secretary Jen Psaki echoed that thought. “The reports we’re seeing of a change in military leadership and putting a general in charge who was responsible for the brutality and the atrocities we saw in Syria shows that there’s going to be a continuation of what we’ve already seen on the ground in Ukraine and that’s what we are expecting,” she said.
The decision to establish new battlefield leadership comes as Russia gears up for what is expected to be a large and more focused push to expand Russian control in Ukraine’s east and south, including the Donbas, and follows a failed opening bid in the north to conquer Kyiv, the capital.
Dvornikov gained prominence while leading the Russian group of forces in Syria, where Moscow has waged a military campaign to shore up President Bashar Assad’s regime during a devastating civil war.
Dvornikov is a career military officer and has steadily risen through the ranks after starting as a platoon commander in 1982. He fought during the second war in Chechnya and took several top positions before being placed in charge of the Russian troops in Syria in 2015.
Under Dvornikov’s command, Russian forces in Syria were known for crushing dissent in part by destroying cities, lobbing artillery and dropping what were often crudely made barrel bombs in sustained attacks that have displaced millions of Syrian civilians. The United Nations says the more than decade-long war has killed more than 350,000 people.
In 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded Dvornikov the Hero of Russia medal, one of the country’s highest awards. Dvornikov has served as the commander of the Southern Military District since 2016.
Lt. Col. Fares al-Bayoush, a Syrian army defector, said Sunday that while the situation in Syria is different than in Ukraine because the Russian military was fighting insurgent groups and not Ukraine’s professional army, he expects a similar “scorched-earth” strategy.
Al-Bayoush said he believes the aim of naming Dvornikov as Ukraine war commander is to turn the war into “rapid battles” in several places at the same time.
“I expected him to use the scorched earth policy that was used in Syria,” al-Bayoush said, referring to Russian-backed attacks in Syria in which cities and towns were put under long sieges while being subjected to intense bombardment that left many people dead and caused wide destruction to infrastructure and residential areas. “He has very good experience in this policy.”
“This commander is a war criminal,” al-Bayoush said by telephone from Turkey.
Since Russia joined the war in Syria in September 2015, Assad’s forces have taken control of most of the country after being on the verge of collapse. The Russian air force carried out thousands of airstrikes since, helping Russian-backed Syrian troops take areas after fighters were forced to choose between an amnesty in return for dropping their arms or being taken by buses into rebel-held areas.
The last major Russian-backed offensive in Syria lasted several months, until March 2020, when a truce was reached between Russia and Turkey, which supported rival sides.
Sullivan on Sunday said the Russian general has a record of brutality against civilians in Syria and “we can expect more of the same” in Ukraine. But he stressed that the U.S. strategy remains the same in supporting Ukraine and its president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“Our policy is unequivocal — that we will do whatever we can to help Ukraine succeed,” Sullivan said. “Which means that we need to keep giving them weapons so that they can make progress on the battlefield. And we need to keep giving them military support and strong economic sanctions to improve their position, their posture at the negotiating table.”
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, meanwhile, spoke by video conference Sunday to a small number of Ukrainian troops in the U.S. who are now returning to their country. The group has been in the U.S. since last fall for military schooling and were given training on new drones the U.S. sent to Ukraine last week for the war with Russia.
Austin thanked the Ukrainian troop members for their courage and service and pledged continued U.S. support and security aid, according to Pentagon spokesman John Kirby. Kirby said the small group was given some advanced tactical training, including on the Switchblade armed kamakazi drones, as well as instruction on patrol craft operations, communications and maintenance.
In an interview Saturday with The Associated Press, Zelenskyy acknowledged that despite his hopes for peace, he must be “realistic” about the prospects for a swift resolution given that negotiations have so far been limited to low-level talks that do not include Putin.
Zelenskyy renewed his plea for more weapons before an expected surge in fighting in the country’s east. He said, with frustration in regards to supplies of weapons from the U.S. and other Western nations, “of course it’s not enough.”
Sullivan spoke on CNN’s “State of the Union” and NBC’s “Meet the Press. Psaki spoke on ”Fox News Sunday.”
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Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue in Beirut and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington contributed to this report. | https://www.wane.com/news/us-doubts-new-russian-war-chief-can-end-moscows-floundering/ | 2022-04-11T14:37:56 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/us-doubts-new-russian-war-chief-can-end-moscows-floundering/ |
Which AKG headphone is best?
Headphones are a hot commodity these days, leading to a wide variety of AKG headphones. With AKG’s trusted brand name in audio and its wide range of excellent-sounding headphone products, most users won’t have trouble finding what they’re looking for in the company’s lineup.
Depending on what you are looking for, the AKG Pro Audio K240 Studio Headphones are a top pick for many users, offering a semi-open back design and crystal clear audio suitable for even the most experienced audiophiles.
What to know before you buy AKG headphones
Over-ear headphones vs. earbuds
One of the first questions many AKG headphone buyers will ask themselves is whether they should get over-ear headphones or earbuds. While most of the best AKG headphones come in the form of over-ear headphones, simply due to the size of the speaker allowed in a larger headphone cup, you can also find a handful of wired and wireless earbuds from AKG that still offer a decent audio quality — ideal for users who plan to work out with headphones in or just prefer the in-ear fit.
Wired vs. Bluetooth headphones
While most AKG’s headphones are wired, using a built-in or plugin ⅛-inch cable like most studio headphones, the company also makes wireless Bluetooth headphones that don’t require an auxiliary input to connect to an audio source.
Open-back vs. closed-back headphones
For studio headphones, buyers will be faced with a decision between open-back and closed-back headphones as well as those that fall into a semi-open back category. While open-back headphones offer an audio experience with less pressure on the ears, they also tend to let more sound from a person’s surroundings into the ear cup — making them most suitable for studios or other quiet, non-public spaces. Alternatively, closed-back headphones offer a better surrounding-muting experience, sometimes at the expense of unwanted echoing sounds, extra discomfort on the wearer, or simply a less-clear audio quality.
What to look for in quality AKG headphones
Strong audio with a wide frequency range
Most of all, we want our headphones to feature a crystal clear audio signal. While this feature can be represented in many ways, AKG’s studio headphones are often advertised with a frequency range, which refers to what frequency bands can be heard effectively within an entire audio signal. Good reference monitors or studio headphones usually offer a fairly flat, wide frequency range, allowing users to hear each frequency individually at roughly the same volume as the next.
Comfortable fit
One factor to consider when buying AKG headphones that isn’t audio-related is the overall fit of the headphones. Headphones with a comfortable ear cup, headband, and general fit are preferable and allow the user to wear the headphones for longer periods of time. While some users prefer open-back headphones for the utmost comfort, others will look for those with a lightweight headband, smaller ear cups or an overall comfortable closed-back fit.
Preferred input type
Another important thing to consider is the type of input you’ll need to use with your headphones. While many top-tier studio headphones include a built-in ⅛-inch cable for plugging into a regular headphone port, others may prefer wireless Bluetooth headphones which can connect to phones and other devices. In addition, many Bluetooth headphones will offer a bypass ⅛-inch cable, so users have the option to either go wired or wireless.
To learn more about some of the best AKG headphones, check out the buying guide at BestReviews.
How much you can expect to spend on AKG headphones
AKG headphones run a wide range of prices, with the cheapest wired earbuds from AKG costing as low as $9, while better-sounding AKG studio headphones can cost as much as $350.
AKG headphones FAQ
Is AKG owned by Samsung?
A. While AKG audio was originally owned by Harman, Samsung purchased Harman and AKG in 2016, though the company still outfits its AKG headphones with the same high-fidelity audio drivers that gave the name brand such widespread approval, to begin with.
Do AKG headphones have a microphone?
A. While many of AKG’s higher-tier studio headphones do not include a microphone and are instead focused on providing super high-quality audio, some of the company’s Bluetooth headphone and earbud models do include a built-in microphone. No matter what, it’s a good idea to check before buying if the headphones you’re looking at have a microphone, especially if not having one is a deal-breaker.
What are the best AKG headphones to buy?
Top AKG headphones
AKG Pro Audio K240 Over-Ear Semi-Open Back Studio Reference Headphones
What you need to know: With a semi-open back design that gets the best of both worlds, these high-quality studio headphones from AKG are a great pick from a sound standpoint at an impressively low price point.
What you’ll love: The semi-open back design on these headphones offers audio with reduced ear cup noises and less pressure on the user’s ears. They also offer a wide frequency range of 15 hertz to 25,000 hertz, and the original AKG monitor audio quality, designed to let the user hear the whole frequency band evenly.
What you should consider: These headphones use a wired connection to connect to the audio source, and they don’t include any kind of built-in microphone.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top AKG headphones for the money
AKG Pro Audio K92 Over-Ear Closed-Back Studio Reference Headphones
What you need to know: At a slightly more affordable price point than AKG’s classic K240s, these closed-back studio headphones still offer a fairly wide frequency response and increased audio isolation due to their closed-back ear cups.
What you’ll love: These AKG headphones offer one of the best audio qualities out there at such a low price, and users can even switch from the K92 model to the simplified K72 if they’re on a tight budget. With a frequency response of 16 hertz to 20,000 hertz, these headphones are great for mixing, mastering, or listening closely.
What you should consider: These headphones must be plugged into a headphone outlet to be used and do not have a mic. Some users also prefer the open-back or semi-open design to this closed-back fit.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
AKG Y45BT Black Mini On-Ear Wireless Bluetooth Headphones With Bypass Cable
What you need to know: For those who prefer Bluetooth or wireless headphones, these headphones from AKG feature smaller ear cups without sacrificing audio quality and with the addition of a built-in microphone for phone calls and voice commands.
What you’ll love: These Bluetooth headphones feature controls mounted on the ear cups and a miniature ear cup design that many users find preferable to full, over-ear-fitting headphones. They also come with a built-in microphone with crystal-clear audio and a convenient swivel design for easy storing and taking. It also has a frequency range of 17 hertz to 20,000 hertz.
What you should consider: These headphones are more expensive than most other Bluetooth headphone models.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Zachary Visconti writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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Which drones for beginners are best?
Drones are interesting machines that can be used for recreational and commercial purposes alike. Whether flying just for fun or to capture stunning aerial photography, there are several things beginners need to consider when purchasing their first drone.
Along with flight capabilities, several other features should factor into your decision-making process, including camera quality and battery life. You’ll also need to take size and weight into account. Compact, folding models under 250 grams, such as the DJI Mini 2, have fewer regulations and are easier to transport than larger, heavier models.
What to know before you buy a drone for beginners
Registration
If you are buying your first drone, there are some regulations you need to be aware of. In the United States, you need to register any drone that weighs over 250 grams with the Federal Aviation Administration. Not doing so can result in hefty fines. Thankfully, the process is relatively simple on the FAA’s website and takes just a few minutes. It costs $5, and you must be at least 13 years of age to do so. You’ll receive a registration number that is valid for 3 years, which you need to affix to your drone.
Suppose you are flying a larger drone or one for non-recreational purposes, such as taking photos of your home to list it for sale or taking pictures of something for a website. In that case, you’ll need to pass the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft General – Small aeronautical knowledge exam.
Flight conditions
It is vital to understand the flight limitations of any drone you buy. Along with the control range, these include maximum take-off altitude and wind levels. Drones are limited in altitude because above a certain threshold the air is too thin for the propellers to be able to create enough lift. For high-quality drones, this threshold is usually 4,000 meters above sea level or 13,123 feet. Note that this is different from the altitude you can fly it from your position, which is 400 feet above where you are standing.
Putting the above into practice means that if you were standing on a mountain with an altitude of 4,100 meters, your drone wouldn’t be able to fly at all. This also means that if you were standing in a location that was 1,000 feet above sea level, the max altitude you are allowed to fly your drone is 1,400 feet.
Drone speeds
Drone capabilities vary greatly from one model to the next. Some can reach speeds upwards of 50 miles per hour and have a control range of several miles. Others may top out at just 10 or 15 miles per hour and have a relatively short 1,000-foot control range.
Wind speed
You also need to take wind speed into account when flying a drone. Most drone manufacturers list what kind of wind speeds you can safely fly your drone. For high-quality models, this is often between 20 and 24 miles per hour. However, for some hobby drones, this may be as low as 10 miles per hour. For more information on this, check out the buying guide at BestReviews.
What to look for in quality drones for beginners
Range
All drones have a control range that they cannot fly past. On cheap toy models, this may be as short as 150 feet. On mid-level models, it tends to be between 1,000 feet and 1 mile. Premium drones will have a flight range between 2 and 6 miles.
Flight time
Along with the range, the flight time affects how far you can fly your drone. Low-cost drones often have a flight time between 7 and 12 minutes before you run out of battery life. On the other end of the spectrum, you can find models with flight times between 30 and 40 minutes.
Camera quality
If you are buying a drone for aerial photography and videography, the camera quality needs to be a top priority. Some beginner models are capable of 15 MP stills and 4K UHD video. Others may only be capable of 5MP stills and 720p video. The camera specs will be listed in the drone’s product details.
Gimbal
Along with the camera quality, another feature that affects how well your pictures and video turn out is a gimbal. Gimbals are used to stabilize the camera, so your footage comes out clear and crisp rather than shaky and blurry. Depending on the model, a drone may have no gimbals, a single-axis gimbal, a dual-axis gimbal or a three-axis gimbal. Three-axis gimbals are the best and will provide the most stable videos.
Quick shots
Many drones feature quick shot modes to make aerial video easier. Once initiated, the drone will autonomously capture cinematic shots that rival those in Hollywood movies. The most common of these are rocket, dronie, helix, boomerang and circle.
Active tracking
If you are looking for a drone for capturing action shots of yourself, choose a model with active tracking. These are capable of autonomously following and recording a moving subject.
Satellite connectivity
Many drones are capable of autonomously returning to their take-off location. This is important if you ever lose sight of your drone while it is in the sky. In order to do this, they need to be equipped with satellite connectivity to track their positions. This can be GLONASS, GPS or a combination of the two.
Obstacle sensors
Obstacle sensing is a very important feature in beginner drones. Depending on the model, it may only sense obstacles in a single direction, such as in front of it when flying forward or in all directions, including above and below. The more obstacle sensors a drone has, the better it will be at avoiding crashes, even when under the control of an inexperienced pilot.
Pilot-assist features
Drones may be equipped with a number of pilot-assisting features that make flying these easier. Some examples are auto-hover, one-touch return home, automatic take-off and landing.
How much you can expect to spend on drones for beginners
Drones vary greatly in price, with tiny toy models costing as little as $20 and premium options costing several thousand. If looking for a high-quality drone as your entry-level model, expect to spend between $100-$500.
Drones for beginners FAQ
Are drones hard to learn to fly?
A. How hard a drone is to learn to fly depends on its piloting software. More expensive models tend to be easier to learn to fly than cheap toy models because they feature stabilizing software that allows them to retain their altitude and obstacle sensors that help avoid crashes. Most people can learn to fly a drone with this kind of software in just a few minutes and will become comfortable with it after a few hours.
Are drones suitable for kids?
A. The majority of manufacturers recommend pilots be at least 14 years of age. The exception to this are drones specifically designed for children. These are often small and feature fully enclosed rotors and extremely durable builds. If you are unsure whether or not a particular drone is suitable for a child, check the manufacturer’s minimum age recommendation in the product details.
What are the best drones to buy for beginners?
Top drone for beginners
What you need to know: This lightweight, foldable drone features a high-quality camera and is ideal for travelers.
What you’ll love: It offers an impressive 10-kilometer range with a 31-minute battery life. Also, it has a three-axis gimbal and remains stable in high winds, so your videos never come out shaky.
What you should consider: It lacks the popular active tracking feature and only has downward obstacle sensing.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top drone for beginners for the money
What you need to know: Packed with many of the same features as high-end drones but for a fraction of the price, the HS510 offers a lot of value for your money.
What you’ll love: It is capable of shooting in 4K and features both GLONASS and GPS to minimize the chances of losing positioning connectivity. Also, it weighs less than 250 grams, so there is no need to register it with the FAA.
What you should consider: It only has a single-axis gimbal.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
What you need to know: If you’re looking for something affordable to learn to pilot on and having the best quality camera isn’t a top priority, the Tello fits the bill.
What you’ll love: It can be programmed via a mobile app to autonomously perform a variety of movements, and it includes rotor guards to protect the propellers and whatever objects you hit in the event of a crash.
What you should consider: Its flight time is just 13 minutes.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Brett Dvoretz writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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Which Baby Einstein jumper is best?
If your baby isn’t sleeping as soundly as you’d like, they might need a little more exercise to tire them. Baby jumpers can drain your little one’s energy, and Baby Einstein jumpers are some of the most stimulating you can find.
A baby jumper allows your baby to safely bounce and often keeps them entertained. Baby Einstein is a brand dedicated to stimulating your child’s curiosity, so the line’s jumpers are outfitted with toys and other accessories that engage your child’s senses. If you’re looking for a top-quality jumper with plenty of activities and features to stimulate your baby, the Baby Einstein Neptune’s Ocean Discovery Jumper is a top choice.
What to know before you buy a Baby Einstein jumper
Jumper type
A simple stationary jumper has a frame, so it’s a freestanding item. It has a seat attached to the frame with an elastic cord that allows your baby to jump. However, it doesn’t have any toys or activity options to engage your child’s senses, so all your baby can do in it is bounce safely. Baby Einstein doesn’t offer any simple stationary jumpers — all of their models are equipped with toys and other accessories to entertain your child in addition to jumping.
An activity center jumper is similar to a simple jumper because it features a frame with a seat attached by an elastic cord to allow for bouncing. However, it also has a tray with toys and other accessories that help stimulate your child’s senses. The activities usually have visual, auditory and tactile components to keep your baby entertained while jumping. Most Baby Einstein jumpers fall into this category.
A doorway jumper doesn’t have a freestanding frame. Instead, it clamps to a door frame and has a seat that hangs from a bungee cord to allow for jumping. Setting up and taking down this type of jumper can be somewhat tedious, but a doorway model usually costs less than other styles. Baby Einstein offers some doorway jumpers, which feature toys to keep your little one entertained.
Size
Compact jumpers are usually small enough to fit against a wall, while large models generally require several inches of clearance on all sides for safe usage. Most Baby Einstein jumpers are relatively large, so check the product descriptions for the dimensions of any jumper you’re considering to ensure you have room for it in your home.
Weight limit
All baby jumpers have a specific weight limit designated by the manufacturer, so you can be certain that it’s safe for your child to use. This weight limit includes both minimum and maximum weights for the jumper.
Most jumpers usually have a maximum weight of 20-30 pounds, but Baby Einstein jumpers typically have a max weight of 25-26 pounds. Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines regarding weight limits to avoid injuring your child.
What to look for in a quality Baby Einstein jumper
Height adjustability
Baby jumpers usually allow you to adjust for your baby’s height so they can continue to use it as they grow. Manufacturers typically advertise the maximum number of height adjustments that can be made for the jumper. The more height adjustments a jumper allows, the longer your baby can use it comfortably. Baby Einstein jumpers usually allow for four or five height adjustments.
Seat
Seat design can vary among jumpers. Many seats include padding to ensure your child is comfortable. If you’re shopping for a jumper for an infant, it’s best to look for a high seat with plenty of back support since infants have trouble supporting their heads.
Most Baby Einstein jumpers have removable, machine-washable seat covers, so it’s easy to clean up any messes or accidents that occur. The majority of Baby Einstein jumpers also feature seats that can rotate 360 degrees, which makes it easy for your baby to reach all of the attached toys and activity areas.
Toys
All Baby Einstein jumpers are outfitted with toys and other activities that engage your child’s senses to keep them entertained. The toys differ from model to model, but many jumpers have flashing lights and music. Many activities are also designed to teach your child basic facts like numbers and colors.
Some Baby Einstein jumpers also include additional loops, so you can attach toys your child already has and swap in new ones if your baby gets bored with the current setup.
Battery requirements
Most Baby Einstein jumpers require batteries to power some of the attached toys and accessories. The jumpers don’t come with the necessary batteries, so you’ll need to purchase them to allow your child to use all the features.
How much you can expect to spend on a Baby Einstein jumper
Baby Einstein jumpers range from $30 to $120. Doorway jumpers are the most affordable, usually costing $30-$50. Baby Einstein activity center jumpers vary in price based on the toys and accessories they include, but most cost between $80 and $120.
Baby Einstein jumper FAQ
What age is a Baby Einstein jumper appropriate for?
A. Your baby must be able to hold their head upright and support some of their weight on their legs before they can use a jumper. At the same time, babies who are walking won’t have much use for a jumper. Children who fall between these two milestones will get the most use and enjoyment out of a baby jumper — generally children 4-14 months of age.
How long should your baby spend in a jumper per day?
A. Experts suggest your baby shouldn’t spend more than 20 minutes daily in a jumper or it may affect their motor development. Your baby can use the jumper up to twice a day.
What’s the best Baby Einstein jumper to buy?
Top Baby Einstein jumper
Baby Einstein Neptune’s Ocean Discovery Jumper
What you need to know: This well-designed ocean-themed jumper is sure to entertain and stimulate little ones while teaching them numbers, colors, vocabulary words and more.
What you’ll love: The seat can swivel 360 degrees to provide access to all the toys. It offers four easy-to-adjust height positions to grow with your child. It introduces numbers and colors to your child in English, French and Spanish. It’s easy to wipe clean.
What you should consider: Some of the toys don’t move, which can be frustrating for children.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Buy Buy Baby
Top Baby Einstein jumper for the money
Baby Einstein Neighborhood Friends Activity Jumper
What you need to know: One of Baby Einstein’s more affordable jumpers, this activity center is ideal for engaging your baby’s senses and helping boost hand-eye coordination.
What you’ll love: It offers three play stations and more than 12 activities with lights and sounds. The light-up piano helps introduce your baby to music. Its seat swivels 360 degrees and offers five different height positions.
What you should consider: Some of the assembly can be challenging, particularly attaching the seat to the frame.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Buy Buy Baby
Worth checking out
Baby Einstein Neighborhood Symphony Activity Jumper
What you need to know: This feature-packed jumper can inspire your baby’s musical creativity with plenty of music-themed activities to entertain and engage.
What you’ll love: The seat rotates 360 degrees, so your child can reach all the toys. It offers four height adjustments to grow with your child. The toy station is removable, so babies can play with it on the floor too. It has loops that allow you to attach more toys.
What you should consider: Some buyers report that the height options make it easy for a child to outgrow the jumper.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Buy Buy Baby
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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.wane.com/reviews/br/baby-kids-br/activity-br/best-baby-einstein-jumper/ | 2022-04-11T14:38:24 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/baby-kids-br/activity-br/best-baby-einstein-jumper/ |
Which expensive colognes are best?
You’ve likely heard people say “look good, feel good” or “dress to impress” before, but never anything about the benefits of smelling good. And let’s be honest, reeking of an unpleasant smell probably leaves a stronger negative impression than looking good does a positive one.
Thankfully, a premium scent can keep you smelling fresh throughout the day, while adding a layer of sophistication to your outfit. If you’re just getting your fragrance wardrobe started and are in the market for an excellent cologne for all occasions, we recommend Soleil Brulant from Tom Ford.
What to know before you buy expensive cologne
Personal style
Any good cologne, and especially an expensive one, can add dimension to your visual look. For example, if you often sport pastels and spring colors, you may want to choose something light and citrusy. On the other hand, if you often wear earth tones or darker hues, consider a heavier scent that evokes mystery and intrigue.
Bottle size
The last thing you want is to have your expensive cologne confiscated at an airport because it’s too large. Make sure you choose the right size for your needs. If you’re a frequent traveler and want something you can bring on a plane, opt for bottles below 3.3 fluid ounces. But if you want something to bring with you in case of a smelly emergency, look for an atomizer cylinder that fits into your bag or pants pocket. If it’s going to stay in the bathroom, size shouldn’t matter.
What to look for in quality expensive cologne
Ingredients
Expensive cologne should include premium, natural ingredients. Brands like Chanel continue to grow their own flowers in the valleys of Cannes, France. This ensures they retain the floral quality their scents were originally prized for almost 100 years ago. It’s important to know that many fragrance brands grow the same flowers in India because it’s cheaper. However, the climate in India creates lower-quality, vague -smelling blossoms.
Development process
Superior development and production processes ensure the longevity and quality of expensive colognes. While the House of Creed uses a proprietary process created by founder James Creed in the 1760s, Chanel still maintains and harvests all of its natural ingredients by hand to preserve their blossom integrity. Behind-the-scenes details like this are what separates premium fragrances from their budget counterparts.
Brand pedigree
There are countless expensive colognes on the market, but not all are reputable brands. When looking for a premium cologne, keep an eye out for brands like Chanel, Creed, Tom Ford and Bond No. 9, because they are renowned specifically for their fragrances. If you choose a brand with pedigree, you can purchase with confidence knowing all the ingredients are pure and luxurious.
How much you can expect to spend on expensive cologne
Expensive cologne is just that, expensive. While entry-level designer scents cost $75 for small bottles, expect to spend at least $150 for new collections and classic scents that never go on sale.
Expensive cologne FAQ
Can I make the scent last longer?
A. The ingredients and mixing process determine the duration of any given cologne. However, fragrance intensifies with your body heat, so apply it in the creases of your elbows, knees and neck for a longer-lasting scent. Also, avoid rubbing the scent onto your skin, as this degrades the fragrance.
Does cologne go bad?
A. Unfortunately, yes. Since expensive cologne is composed of natural ingredients, in many cases, it may begin to lose its scent after a year. Unless you know you’re going to wear it all the time, it’s best to stick with smaller bottles to begin with.
What’s the best expensive cologne to buy?
Top expensive cologne
What you need to know: Formulated to evoke the warmth of sunshine on a breezy beach day, Soleil Brulant is a meticulously balanced scent suitable for any occasion in any setting.
What you’ll love: Straight from Tom Ford’s “private collection” scent laboratory, Soleil Brulant features notes of fresh mandarin and bergamot with undertones of spicy peppercorn and seductive black honey. Strong top notes give way to an exquisite combination of burnt amber and summer flowers that leave an inviting scent trail. To top it all off, this cologne comes in Tom Ford’s striking chess piece bottle, reserved only for private collection scents.
What you should consider: Because this fragrance is light and wispy, it doesn’t last a full day.
Where to buy: Sold by Sephora
Top expensive cologne for the money
What you need to know: ALLURE HOMME manages to pack intense, traditionally masculine and often overpowering scents into a refreshingly light fragrance.
What you’ll love: Backed by Chanel’s renowned fragrance laboratory, a few quick sprays in the morning keep you smelling great well into the night. It features a unique blend of spicy coriander and mandarin at the top, robust notes of cedar in the heart and subtle notes of tonka and cistus labdanum at the base. While the profile is heavy and masculine, this cologne is light enough for a beach day.
What you should consider: Some wearers wished the scent was a bit stronger.
Where to buy: Sold by Sephora
Worth checking out
What you need to know: Crafted by Olivier Creed, the sixth-generation master perfumer from Creed family, Aventus was introduced for the company’s 250th anniversary in 2010, and it’s been the brand’s bestselling cologne since.
What you’ll love: As the exclusive provider of custom fragrances and scented gloves to monarchies across Europe for centuries, Creed has an unparalleled perfume pedigree. Inspired by the strength and history of the French monarchy, Aventus features top notes of pineapple and bergamot with heart notes of birch and patchouli and base notes of ambergris, sandalwood and oakmoss. Plus, each batch of Aventus is weighed, mixed, macerated and filtered by hand.
What you should consider: Perhaps this shouldn’t be a surprise considering the House of Creed made its first fragrance in 1781 for King George III, but the smallest bottle costs a whopping $335.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Will Briskin writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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Which Casper mattress is best?
Nothing beats a good night’s sleep, but achieving that ideal state depends on the quality of your mattress. The best mattress provides proper support and a good level of comfort for your body’s specific needs.
Casper has been using state-of-the-art technology and unique design features to produce some of the top mattresses available today. If you’re someone who enjoys a soft feel but also likes plenty of support, the Casper Wave Hybrid Mattress may be the perfect solution.
What to know before you buy a Casper mattress
Size
Casper mattresses are available in all standard sizes, from twin to California king. Decide what size mattress works best in your current space and what size you need for optimal comfort, especially if you’ll be sharing the bed with a partner or pets. Keep in mind that the larger the mattress is, the higher the price.
Type
Currently, Casper produces four mattress styles designed for different types of sleepers. The 10-inch-thick Casper Element Mattress is the least expensive option and is made with double layers of comfortable but not overly soft polyurethane foam. Some users may require slightly more support depending on their preferences, but side sleepers in particular will enjoy this style.
The Casper Original Mattress is an 11-inch-thick, three-layer foam option and is the best-selling Casper model. You can purchase this original model in a hybrid version.
The 12-inch Casper Nova Hybrid and 13-inch Casper Wave Hybrid combine both multilayer foam and traditional springs to add maximum support without sacrificing comfort. Hybrid models are recommended for anyone suffering from chronic back pain.
What to look for in a quality Casper mattress
Sleep trial period
You won’t know how a specific mattress will work with your sleep style until you give it a try. Every Casper mattress purchase allows you to sleep on the mattress of your choosing for up to 100 nights. This extended trial lets your body adjust to the new mattress so you can decide if it is right for you. You can opt to return the mattress at no cost if it doesn’t suit your needs.
Casper Snow technology
Snow technology is an additional feature that can be added to the Nova and the Wave hybrid mattress models. The purpose of Snow technology is to keep you cool while you sleep by utilizing its strategically placed HeatDelete bands and a QuickCool cover to prevent overheating and sweating during the night.
Zoned support
Most Casper mattresses include a built-in feature called “zoned support.” If you’re someone who enjoys firm support, look for a model that utilizes these ergonomic areas that assist with proper spine alignment.
AirScape technology
Another way Casper mattresses help you keep cool all night is with AirScape technology. Casper’s AirScape is a network of small perforations throughout the foam, which ultimately allows the mattress to be more breathable.
Bundle package
You can usually get a great deal on additional Casper accessories such as sheets, pillows, a mattress protector and more if you go with a bundle. Casper-brand accessories are designed to work seamlessly with its mattresses, providing the best overall experience when it comes to comfort and cooling capabilities.
How much you can expect to spend on a Casper mattress
The least-expensive Casper mattress option comes in just under $400 for a twin-size model. Expect to pay $1,000-$1,300 for an Original queen-size mattress and more than $2,000 for larger hybrid options.
Casper mattress FAQ
How long do Casper mattresses last?
A. Expect your Casper mattress to last about eight to 10 years on average. However, the lifespan can vary depending on sleep position along with how well you take care of your mattress, which is why it is important to clean up any spills or liquid damage and invest in a quality mattress cover. Rotating your mattress can help prevent one area from being worn down too quickly.
Do you need a box spring with a Casper mattress?
A. No. It is not recommended to use a standard box spring with a Casper mattress. In fact, the way most box springs are designed could end up damaging the foam. Instead, opt for a bed frame with wooden slats or use a Casper foundation.
What’s the best Casper mattress to buy?
Top Casper mattress
Casper The Wave Hybrid Mattress
What you need to know: This high-quality mattress is designed for those wanting maximum support and comfort every night.
What you’ll love: Utilizing four foam layers and an interior spring layer, this hybrid mattress provides the comfort and support you need to get a solid night’s sleep. The cooling technology and integrated zoned gel pods keep you comfortable throughout the night.
What you should consider: This is the most expensive Casper mattress model.
Where to buy: Sold by Casper and Amazon
Top Casper mattress for the money
What you need to know: A reasonably-priced option, the Element provides lasting comfort and plenty of desirable features.
What you’ll love: With a top layer of foam built to relieve any pressure, this mattress won’t create a sinking or sagging feeling. It utilizes AirScape technology to keep you cool.
What you should consider: At 10-inches thick, it is thinner than other Casper models.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
What you need to know: As the original and most popular option, this mattress provides the ideal balance between support and comfort for a variety of users.
What you’ll love: The four foam layers and Zoned Support add firmness to specific areas, while the cooling aspect will be appreciated on warm nights. You can try the mattress in a hybrid option for 100 nights before making your decision.
What you should consider: Some have noticed slight sagging in the middle of the mattress after some time.
Where to buy: Sold by Casper and Amazon
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Matthew Young 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.wane.com/reviews/br/bed-bath-br/mattresses-pillows-br/the-best-casper-mattress/ | 2022-04-11T14:38:38 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/bed-bath-br/mattresses-pillows-br/the-best-casper-mattress/ |
Which radar gun is best?
There are more uses for a radar gun than to be tagged by a cop for speeding down the highway at 11 p.m. because you just want to get to your destination quickly. The next most common usage is in training for various sports, most commonly used in baseball to measure pitching speeds or in American football to measure running speeds.
The best radar gun for any possible use is the Pocket Radar Smart Coach. While it’s true this radar gun chews straight through batteries, you can alleviate this by securing a power pack, and the rest of the features, especially the accuracy, are impossible to ignore.
What to know before you buy a radar gun
How speed is measured
Radar guns measure the speed of an object using either the Doppler effect or lasers to measure.
- Doppler method: A radar gun that uses the Doppler effect sends radio signals toward the object to be measured. When the radio signals bounce off the target and return to the radar gun, the change in the frequency of the sent wave and the returned wave is measured and then computed into the final given speed. The entire process takes less than a second.
- Laser method: Laser radar guns, most often used by the police, use a light shined onto the object and measure how long it takes for that light to reflect off the object and return to the radar gun.
Typical radar gun uses
There are all kinds of different speeds to measure when it comes to almost every sport.
What to look for in a quality radar gun
Design
The typical design of a radar gun, the shape you most often visualize, is similar to a handheld drill. The front of the radar gun sends and receives the signals with the back housing the display and controls.
More recently designed radar guns look almost like smartphones. You use it as you would taking a picture. Point at your object and press the center button to trigger the measuring mechanism. A benefit of this type of design is the ability to mount it to a tripod far easier than mounting a drill-shaped radar gun.
Controls
All radar guns are activated by a button or trigger to take a reading but some have additional control options for different uses. The most common alternate mode is a continuous reading mode that automatically takes measurements without holding the gun.
Other popular modes include displaying only the fastest speed of the measuring period or storing the range of speeds an object has during its full testing period, both especially useful for measuring baseball pitches.
How much you can expect to spend on a radar gun
Even the most basic radar guns are going to require many pretty pennies from your wallet. The most basic radar guns that simply measure speed within a few miles per hour can cost a few hundred dollars, and once you start looking at quality options, you’ll find prices up to $500. Radar guns used by law enforcement can cost a few thousand dollars.
Radar gun FAQ
Are the radar guns used by police more accurate than commonly available consumer-grade options?
Very much so, yes. At a minimum, they are accurate within a single mile per hour but are frequently even more accurate than that. However, this comes at a cost, as you must test and recalibrate them regularly. Otherwise, their accuracy can begin to deviate. The next time you’re pulled over for speeding though you followed the speed limit, have them check when it was last calibrated as it may affect whether or not you receive a speeding ticket.
Does it matter where I place my radar gun when I’m trying to measure speed?
A. If you’re using a Doppler effect radar gun, then yes, your radar gun must be pointing in the same direction as the object you wish to measure, as it measures the speed at which the object comes toward or moves away from the gun. In other words, place it in front of or behind the object for accurate results.
Will radar guns remain accurate in precipitous weather conditions?
A. Yes, they will. Precipitation does not affect a radar gun unless the radar gun isn’t proofed against the type of weather to which it is being subjected. For example, it would need waterproofing against rain or snow.
What are the best radar guns to buy?
Top radar gun
What you need to know: Don’t let the simplistic design fool you, this radar gun is packed with features.
What you’ll love: Bluetooth connectivity and a companion app assist an already impressive device.
What you should consider: The AAA batteries are drained very quickly, almost necessitating a power pack.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top radar gun for the money
What you need to know: This is an affordable and solid option if you just want to get some quick reads while saving some money.
What you’ll love: This streamlined and straightforward design can still register speeds up to 200mph.
What you should consider: You lose some good features seen in better models by selecting this low-cost option.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Stalker Sport 2 Series Radar Gun
What you need to know: This is the perfect radar gun option for any baseball player in training.
What you’ll love: A recall mode shows the last five readings taken, perfect for averaging speeds.
What you should consider: Rechargeable batteries with AC adapters are available but unfortunately sold separately.
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.wane.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/best-radar-gun/ | 2022-04-11T14:38:45 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/best-radar-gun/ |
Which camera suction mounts are best?
A good camera suction mount can be leagues better than most other types of camera mounts, simply to the fact that no tools or gunky adhesives are required. You can install most suction mounts anywhere as well, from car dashboards to helmets or perhaps a boat. Not all camera suction mounts work with all cameras, so make sure you’re double-checking for compatibility.
A strong option that works with many different cameras is the Panavise ActionGrip 13130 Double-Knuckle Mount. This is an industrial-quality camera suction mount and, as such, is built to withstand the rigors of the roughest road conditions while staying firmly in place.
What to know before you buy a camera suction mount
Mount material
Camera suction mounts are light enough for maximum versatility but strong enough to hold both the weight of the camera and the weight of the mount itself. Commonly used materials for this purpose are aluminum, anodized zinc, ABS and PC or a composite.
Aluminum: A durable and rust-resistant material, though it is one of the heavier options.
Anodized zinc: Frequently combined with aluminum for extra sturdiness, anodized zinc is incredibly sturdy.
ABS and PC: Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and polycarbonate are perfect for high-speed activities like boating and biking thanks to their extreme ruggedness.
Composite: A combination of materials designed to find a balance between weight, durability and price.
Mounting
Not all cameras use the same method of attaching to mounts. Many will use a .25-20-inch mounting screw, but popular cameras like GoPros use their systems for attaching. Some camera suction mounts will include various adapters, while others might include a list of compatible cameras. At the very least, most camera suction mounts will have adapters you can buy separately later on.
What to look for in a quality camera suction mount
Weather resistance
For most camera suction mounts, once a seal has been made, you shouldn’t have to worry about any weather conditions except changing temperatures. Rain and wind, for example, won’t dislodge a good seal, but if the temperature drops, then the material of the seal will be affected, leading to a disconnection. Camera suction cups should include temperature ranges that at which they will remain effective.
Suction cups
The piece of your camera suction mount that does most of the work. Some camera suction mounts use more than one suction cup for greater strength, but that means you’ll need a larger surface area on which to stick them.
Rotation
Different camera suction mounts have different maximum rotation angles, with the very best offering full 360-degree rotating movement. You might not need full 360-degree rotation, but if you can’t point your camera, the direction you want to point it after it has adhered to your chosen surface, then you’ll wish you had gone with a 360-degree option.
How much you can expect to spend on a camera suction mount
Camera suction mounts are fairly affordable compared to the possible prices of the camera they’re mounting. You can find a low-end camera suction mount for as little as $10, but generally, you’ll want to spend $15-$30 for a solid quality option, while high-end camera suction mounts can get up to around $60.
Camera suction mount FAQ
Can I use my camera suction mount with my helmet?
Generally, camera suction mounts adhere to flat surfaces. However, some camera suction mounts with small-diameter suction cups with strong suction quality can and will stick and remain stuck to helmets. If you’re shopping specifically for sticking to a helmet, keep your focus on the smallest possible suction cups.
How heavy of a camera can the average camera suction mount hold?
Most camera suction mounts can hold cameras weighing between 4 and 10 pounds. However, depending on the specific camera suction mount in question, maximum weight bearing can hit maximums of 30 or more pounds with ease.
Will moistening the suction cup with water help to create a tighter seal?
Water will not help create a tighter seal. It can also lead to weakening the seal if the temperature around the seal and water changes. What does help if you want to strengthen the seal is to use a tiny amount of oil, just enough to dampen the surface.
What’s the best camera suction mount to buy?
Top camera suction mount
Panavise ActionGrip 13130 Double-Knuckle Mount
What you need to know: This industrial, double-knuckle suction camera mount works with almost any camera.
What you’ll love: this camera suction mount also includes a GoPro mount and .25-20-inch tripod mount.
What you should consider: This camera suction mount won’t adhere to a car dashboard due to its textured surfaces, but you can purchase a separate adapter to bypass that fact.
Where to buy: Amazon
Top camera suction mount for the money
What you need to know: This camera suction mount is both incredibly versatile and incredibly affordable.
What you’ll love: Includes five different mounting adapters, which nearly ensures your dashboard camera will attach successfully.
What you should consider: This camera suction mount is meant to work with dashboard cameras instead of action cameras.
Where to buy: Amazon
Worth checking out
What you need to know: This is a perfect camera suction mount for those who need to adjust the angle and height of their mounted camera quickly.
What you’ll love: A full 360-degree tilt and a rotating arm make angling your up to 4-pound camera an easy task.
What you should consider: You must use this camera suction mount on a perfectly flat surface. Otherwise, it will not stay stuck.
Where to buy: 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.wane.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/camera-photo-br/best-camera-suction-mount/ | 2022-04-11T14:38:52 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/camera-photo-br/best-camera-suction-mount/ |
Which document camera is best?
If you need to present paper documents during a meeting or presentation, a high-quality document camera is a must. Similar to the overhead projectors once found in many offices and classrooms, document cameras are webcam-like devices that are used to project detailed images in real time.
The Epson DC-21 Document Camera is the top choice because it delivers 1080p resolution and comes with a microscope adapter.
What to know before you buy a document camera
Uses for a document camera
Document cameras aren’t just for paper documents. Many science teachers will use the devices with a microscope attachment to examine samples with their class, while an instructor of American Sign Language may use a document camera to present new signs to their students in real time. A document camera can also capture detailed images of photos, maps and illustrations. This versatility is what makes document cameras so valuable to presenters and sets them apart from overhead projectors.
Components of a document camera
- Arm: The arm is the part that connects the lens of the camera to the base. These components typically feature some degree of adjustability so you can point the camera to a particular area of your documents.
- Image sensor: Similar to the sensor found in a digital camera, the image sensor is the high-tech component that converts the visual signal into an image that you can see.
- Lens: This crucial component typically lets you adjust the focus on the document camera.
- Storage: Many document cameras let you save image and video files so you can view and share them later on. This feature is particularly helpful for presentations, since it allows your audience to revisit images afterward if they missed anything. Some cameras require a connection to a computer to save files, while other devices may include a port for a USB flash drive.
Connection
Document cameras need to be connected to a projector or TV before they can display images. Most cameras connect via USB, HDMI or VGA. When shopping for a document camera, think about how you’re going to display the images, and make sure that the device you choose has all of the necessary ports.
What to look for in a quality document camera
Resolution and zoom
With document cameras, resolution is usually measured in megapixels. A higher megapixel count will produce sharper, clearer images, while a low megapixel count may deliver grainy or blurry image quality. Most document cameras are 2 to 10 megapixels. Depending on the images you intend to display, a powerful zoom is equally important. Look for a camera that provides 3x digital zoom or higher.
Lighting
Many document cameras come with an LED light that’s positioned near the lens. This additional illumination is helpful if you want to display clear, detailed images.
Software
If you want to record your lessons or presentations, look for a document camera that comes with some kind of video-capture software that enables you to edit and share your recordings.
Accessories
There are many common accessories that you can search for when picking out a document camera, including microscope adapters, close-up lens attachments and even built-in microphones for times when your audience is particularly large.
How much you can expect to spend on a document camera
The cost of a document camera can vary widely depending on the features included. Cameras with limited adjustability and low resolution can be purchased for under $100, while high-end units with professional image quality and storage capabilities commonly exceed $200.
Document camera FAQ
Why are the images from my document camera blurry?
A. Try adjusting the focus ring on your camera’s lens. If that doesn’t work, make sure that the lens isn’t smudged or dusty.
Can document cameras be used during Zoom meetings?
A. Most document cameras can be used during virtual meetings as long as they are connected to a computer. Once connected, simply go into the program settings and select the document camera as your video source.
What’s the best document camera to buy?
Top document camera
What you need to know: This high-quality document camera offers stellar image quality and is loaded with helpful features for teachers and business professionals alike.
What you’ll love: Versatile and easy to use, this camera uses 12x optical zoom, 10x digital zoom and 1080p image resolution to produce crystal-clear images. It also comes with a microscope adapter, built-in microphone and a free software download.
What you should consider: This model is expensive.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top document camera for the money
What you need to know: Budget-friendly and reliable, this simple document camera connects via USB and is perfect for smaller classrooms and conference rooms.
What you’ll love: This document camera is lightweight and capable of capturing 30 frames per second. It also comes with built-in macro mode, intelligent autofocus and custom software so you can save and share images.
What you should consider: With its 2-megapixel sensor, this document camera is unsuitable in cases where high resolution is needed.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Document camera worth checking out
Lumens DC120 Ladibug Document Camera
What you need to know: This stylish document camera is extremely adjustable and features wireless connectivity.
What you’ll love: This model stands out because of its wireless capabilities. The camera also comes with a free software download, attached LED light and a 5.5x mechanical zoom feature. The company offers a five-year replacement warranty.
What you should consider: This device is potentially less versatile than similar document cameras.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Patrick Farmer 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.wane.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/camera-photo-br/the-best-document-camera/ | 2022-04-11T14:38:59 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/camera-photo-br/the-best-document-camera/ |
Which smartphone microphone is best?
Smartphones seem to advance by leaps and bounds every year while their built-in microphones largely remain the same. Whether you’re interested in capturing live music, podcasts or lectures, a solid microphone is a must if you want professional-sounding recordings.
While there are many types of smartphone microphones to consider, the PowerDeWise Lavalier Lapel Microphone is an excellent choice because it’s a versatile lapel mic that’s ready to capture high-quality audio straight out of the box.
What to know before you buy a smartphone microphone
Types of smartphone microphones
There are quite a few distinct styles of smartphone microphones from which to choose. Before settling on a microphone type, consider how you plan to use the device and whether the style will be well-suited for your project.
- Lapel/lavalier microphones: These tiny microphones clip onto a shirt or jacket and are ideally suited for interviews and lectures. They capture sounds coming from all directions, and their stationary positioning means you don’t have to worry about maintaining the proper distance from the mic once it’s attached.
- Condenser microphones: Typically positioned on a desktop or mounted on a microphone stand, these smartphone microphones capture crystal clear vocals and are perfect for podcasts and simple music recordings.
- Shotgun microphones: These slender mics capture directional sound, ideal for situations when you need to reduce background noise, such as during an outdoor interview or public speaking engagement.
- Handheld microphones: Another great option for interviews, vlogging and public speaking engagements, handheld dynamic microphones are easy to hold and carry while recording audio.
Connection
Most smartphone microphones connect with a 3.5-millimeter cable, the same audio jack used with traditional headphones and wired earbuds. As modern smartphones move away from the standard headphone jack, you may find microphones that connect wirelessly or via the smartphone’s USB port. Consider your phone’s connectors before settling on a microphone, or plan on purchasing an adaptor.
What to look for in a quality smartphone microphone
Portability
Many smartphone microphones, such as lapel mics, are compact and extremely portable. Others, like certain condenser mics, are meant to be positioned on a desktop and can be relatively bulky. When choosing a microphone, consider where you intend to use it and how frequently you plan to travel with it.
Software/DAWs
Most smartphone microphones are plug-and-play, meaning they require no additional software or audio drivers. That said, you may want to download an app or DAW software, also known as a digital audio workstation, that will let you adjust the audio or add effects like reverb and EQ. Some microphones come with free audio editing software for added convenience.
Accessories
You can purchase some smartphone microphones as part of bundles that include accessories like pop filters, stands and even video lights to make your projects look and sound more professional.
How much you can expect to spend on a smartphone microphone
The cost of a smartphone microphone can vary widely depending on the style of the microphone and any included accessories. Most users can expect to pay $10-$120 for a solid device.
Smartphone microphone FAQ
Why isn’t the smartphone microphone working after being plugged in?
A. Make sure the microphone is specifically designed for smartphones. To do this, look at the tip of the 3.5-millimeter cable attached to the microphone. If it has two black rings, it means the microphone uses a TRS cable, which isn’t suited for smartphones, tablets or computers. Those devices use a TRRS cable, so you’ll need to purchase a TRS-TRRS adaptor.
What kind of smartphone mic is best for recording singing?
A. If you want to capture professional-sounding, crystal-clear vocals, you can’t do much better than a condenser mic. Look for one you can mount on an adjustable stand and consider purchasing a pop filter.
What’s the best smartphone microphone to buy?
Top smartphone microphone
PowerDeWise Lavalier Lapel Mic
What you need to know: This popular lapel mic is versatile and easy to use.
What you’ll love: This lapel mic is omnidirectional and suited for podcasts, news reports and presentations. It comes with a 6.5-foot mic cord and a bonus extension cord of the same length. The purchase even includes a TRRS-TRS adapter, so it will work with nearly any device with a 3.5-millimeter audio jack.
What you should consider: Some users reported that this mic didn’t work with an Apple lightning connection, while others said it wasn’t well-suited for recording music.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top smartphone microphone for the money
Miracle Sound Ultimate Lavalier Microphone
What you need to know: This clip-on microphone is an excellent value and a solid performer.
What you’ll love: This omnidirectional, 3.5-millimeter microphone works with most Apple, Android and Windows smartphones and comes with a travel case, windscreen pop filter and a 59-inch cable. It also works with an Apple lightning to the 3.5-millimeter adapter.
What you should consider: Reviewers say the recordings made with this smartphone microphone aren’t the greatest quality.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Looyuan Condenser Recording Microphone
What you need to know: This desktop microphone comes with a pop filter and is perfect for recording music and professional-sounding podcasts right out of the box.
What you’ll love: This reliable condenser microphone is easy to set up and use. A vast improvement over built-in smartphone microphones, this compact mic comes with a pop filter, shock mount and adjustable desktop tripod.
What you should consider: The microphone’s cardioid design is very directional, making it less suitable for certain types of audio.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Patrick Farmer 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.wane.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/cell-phones-accessories-br/best-smartphone-microphone/ | 2022-04-11T14:39:06 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/cell-phones-accessories-br/best-smartphone-microphone/ |
Which Razer gaming keyboards are best?
A keyboard is one of the most critical components of your computer, but it is equally one of the most exciting. There is a large variety of styles, models and designs from which to choose. Some have extra keys, while others are brightly lit with millions of colors.
Whatever your preference, if you are a gamer, you need a keyboard that can keep up with your playing style. That is why you should have the best Razer gaming keyboard by looking no further than the Razer Huntsman V2.
What to know before you buy a Razer gaming keyboard
Keyboard layout
A keyboard is the most central point to control all the action on the screen. It needs to have all the keys that your game utilizes and additional keys for more functions. Consider what keyboard layout you prefer and whether you want the ability to create your own macros. A full Razer keyboard will also have a numerical keypad and multimedia buttons.
Response time for faster reactions
Every millisecond in a game can mean the difference between winning and losing, you need to have the fastest keyboard response time. This is often referred to as the polling time, and it is the frequency at which the keyboard will check for new key presses. If you play fast-paced games, consider a keyboard with a high polling rate.
Mechanical vs. membrane keyboard
Gaming keyboards generally come in two different types: mechanical keys or membrane keys. This is the key type that determines the travel time of the key press and how quickly the keyboard registers it. Mechanical keys are the loudest and also come in different variations. Consider whether you want a mechanical keyboard or a keyboard that uses the standard membrane mechanism.
What to look for in a quality Razer gaming keyboard
Full color or RGB lighting
Red, green and blue lighting has been incorporated in almost every computer component available. A standard feature in Razer keyboards, the lighting allows you to change the effects on the keys. Many keyboards also allow you to change the color of the individual keys and the color around the keyboard’s edges.
Resting your wrists
Gaming sessions can last for several hours at a time, and your wrists and hands are bound to become tired. A good Razer gaming keyboard will have a wrist rest where you can take some of the strain off. It typically uses sturdy foam and is just high enough so that you don’t put too much effort into keeping your hands in a comfortable position when playing or typing.
Onboard memory
Depending on the Razer gaming keyboard that you get, you will have the ability to program macros switches, additional functions and save the RGB lighting profile. All of that information needs to be stored somewhere, which is usually on the keyboard itself. For this, the onboard memory of a keyboard will determine how much information can be stored. A good Razer gaming keyboard will allow you to create and store dozens of separate profiles to suit the game you are playing.
How much you can expect to spend on a Razer gaming keyboard
The price of a Razer gaming keyboard will generally depend on the model and the keyboard’s capabilities. An entry-level gaming keyboard can retail for $40-$80, while the top gaming keyboards can retail for as much as $200-$400.
Razer gaming keyboard FAQ
Does a Razer gaming keyboard work with Windows and Mac computers?
A. Generally, Razer keyboards are designed to work with Windows-based computers. However, some keyboards do have partial support for Mac computers. The keys are laid out differently than the Mac keyboard, so that is something that you need to keep in mind.
Can you change the keys on a Razer gaming keyboard?
A. Yes, you can. Whether you have Cherry MX or Razer keycaps, you can change them to a different style or mechanical method. Just keep in mind that you can’t put mechanical keycaps on a membrane keyboard.
What’s the best Razer gaming keyboard to buy?
Top Razer gaming keyboard
Razer Huntsman V2 Analog Gaming Keyboard
What you need to know: This is a great keyboard to enhance your gaming experience.
What you’ll love: The Huntsman V2 uses optical switches, which means you can set the desired actuation point to suit your playstyle. The keys are Doubleshot PBT keycaps, and the Razer Chroma RGB lighting allows for a combination of up to 18.6 million colors. A multi-function digital dial at the top of the keyboard for multimedia and a USB 3.0 pass-through.
What you should consider: There is no Spanish version of this keyboard available.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top Razer gaming keyboard for the money
What you need to know: This is an affordable Razer keyboard that looks good and works hard.
What you’ll love: The BlackWidow TE Chroma v2 comes with Razer Green key switches and is powered by a removable USB cable. The RGB lighting of the keys is fully compatible with popular games and Philips Hue accessories. It comes with a magnetic wrist rest that you can easily remove.
What you should consider: The keyboard doesn’t have a USB pass-through like other models.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Razer Battlefield 4 BlackWidow Ultimate
What you need to know: This is a full keyboard for the die-hard “Battlefield” warrior.
What you’ll love: If you are a big fan of the “Battlefield” franchise, then you have to get your hands on this licensed keyboard. Adorned with “Battlefield” images and the Razer logo, the BlackWidow Ultimate keyboard features mechanical keys, enough onboard memory to store up to 10 profiles, and backlit keys. It also comes with the exclusive Razer Snake Dog Tag from the Razer Battlefield 4 Collector’s Edition.
What you should consider: The keycaps can’t be changed to a different kind and the keyboard glow is only one color.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Charlie F. 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.wane.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/computer-accessories-peripherals-br/best-razer-gaming-keyboard/ | 2022-04-11T14:39:13 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/computer-accessories-peripherals-br/best-razer-gaming-keyboard/ |
Which one-handed gaming keyboard is best?
One-handed gaming keyboards are growing in popularity in the PC community. These compact keyboards provide gamers with access to all of the keys necessary for play but take up very little desk space and are often more ergonomic than traditional keyboards.
The Razer Tartarus Pro Gaming Keypad is the best one-handed gaming keyboard for most users. It includes a wealth of additional input controls, LED lighting, a comfortable design and a padded wrist rest. Razer is a respected manufacturer of PC accessories, known for building reliable devices.
What to know before you buy a one-handed gaming keyboard
Why use a one-handed gaming keyboard?
One-handed gaming keyboards are specifically designed to enhance your speed while playing games that require the use of a keyboard and mouse control scheme. Their small design allows you to rest your hand in one position and still access all required buttons without moving your arm or having to look down at the keys for accuracy. These compact devices are also great for those who game on laptop PCs, as they are more comfortable than the small, cramped keyboards often built into these computers.
Desk space
Typical use of your PC will still require a full-size keyboard, so don’t expect your one-handed gaming model to completely replace it. While one-handed gaming keyboards are compact and take up little space, you will still need enough room on your desk to comfortably use one. If your main keyboard is wired, you may have to consider placement options that will allow proper room to use your gaming device.
Your preferred games
One-handed gaming keyboards are not appropriate for all games or game genres. While they excel at games that require quick resources and use only a few keys to perform actions, games that require typing or make full use of a traditional keyboard cannot be played enjoyably with the limited keys available on a one-handed model.
Photo and video editing
If you edit audio, video or photos professionally, a one-handed gaming keyboard can speed up your workflow in the same way it can enhance someone’s speed while gaming. If you are looking to maximize your efficiency while working, consider trying a one-handed gaming keyboard.
What to look for in a quality one-handed gaming keyboard
Comfort
Your comfort is key when it comes to using a one-handed gaming keyboard. Many models are ergonomically designed for your wrist to rest on a pad while allowing your fingers to reach the keys. The small size of a one-handed gaming keyboard also allows for greater flexibility when it comes to placing the device on your desk or table, as it is less cumbersome than a traditional model.
Aesthetics
Many one-handed gaming keyboards include RGB LED backlighting and other effects. Some feature programmable lighting schemes while others remain static. From edgy designs meant to attract gamers to more understated appearances that work better in a professional setting, these keyboards come in many styles. Select a one-handed gaming keyboard that appeals to your taste.
Key layout
Some one-handed keyboards are basically just a traditional keyboard cut in half. They provide you with keys that retain the familiar letters and layout found on full-size models, making it easy to transition from one device to another. Different models provide keys that are either numbered or custom labeled. These can be challenging to use, but are often preferred once the learning curve is mastered.
Additional controls
Some one-handed gaming keyboards include joysticks, trackballs and other additional input controls. Depending on the kind of gaming or work you do, these extras may prove to be either indispensable or not worth the additional expense. Consider your intended use carefully before investing in a keyboard with too many unneeded extra features.
Switch style
Mechanical keyboards are in high demand among gamers and coders because their keys provide a snappy, satisfying response. Membrane keyboards have a softer, rubbery feel to them but are usually less expensive. If you’re looking for the best gaming experience, most users recommend a one-handed keyboard with mechanical switches.
Keyboard switch types explained
You may be surprised to learn that some users are very passionate about the feel and even the sound of their keyboard switches. There are two common switch types available for most keyboards:
- Mechanical switches are preferred by gamers and professionals alike. Mechanical keyboards are more expensive, but they provide more customization options and tactile feedback for those who prefer a more responsive device. They can also be quite loud to use, which some users actually prefer.
- Membrane switches are more common. They provide a softer, quieter typing experience and are cheaper to produce. They are more familiar to most users but provide less accuracy than mechanical options. Unless specifically labeled otherwise, assume that almost any keyboard you pick up will include membrane switches.
How much you can expect to spend on a one-handed gaming keyboard
A one-handed gaming keyboard will cost $20-$150 depending on features, build quality and included accessories.
One-handed gaming keyboard FAQ
Can you type with a one-handed gaming keyboard?
A. No. These keyboard models are not made for typing, and even those that retain keybed lettering only contain half of a traditional keyboard, at most.
Can you use a one-handed gaming keyboard on your video game console?
A. In some cases, yes. Some game consoles allow you to plug in USB accessories easily, while others require adapters and clever key assignments to be used. Check with the manufacturer of your console for compatibility.
Is it hard to set up a one-handed gaming keyboard?
A. It depends on the model you select. If you choose a keyboard that requires you to determine which keys perform what function, setup can take some time. Models that retain traditional keyboard letters are simpler to set up for most users.
What’s the best one-handed gaming keyboard to buy?
Top one-handed gaming keyboard
Razer Tartarus Pro Gaming Keypad
What you need to know: This one-handed gaming keyboard features additional controls and a fully customizable keybed.
What you’ll love: Razer is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of PC gaming accessories, with a reputation for quality. This keyboard includes a padded, adjustable wrist rest, a scroll wheel, a D-pad and analog keys.
What you should consider: This keyboard is a bit on the large side and may not be comfortable for those with smaller hands.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Dell
Top one-handed gaming keyboard for the money
One-Handed RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
What you need to know: This budget-friendly model is a great entry point for gamers and professionals who would like to try out a one-handed keyboard.
What you’ll love: This gaming keyboard retains traditional lettering for easy transition from a traditional device. Its backlit keys are soft, quiet and easy to see in the dark.
What you should consider: Users report the letters on the keys can rub off after minimal use.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
What you need to know: With its simple, understated design, this model appeals to professional users and gamers alike.
What you’ll love: This model includes a removable wrist pad and adjustable analog keys that allow you to make subtle movements while playing. High-quality, tactile switches make this keyboard fun and satisfying to use.
What you should consider: Users report that while they are pleased with this keyboard’s hardware, the included software can be frustrating and confusing.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Derek Walborn writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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Which Razer laptops are best?
If you are an avid gamer, you might have considered a gaming laptop in the past. There are plenty of models from different manufacturers to choose from, and it can be rather difficult. Each one has different specifications and designs.
But have you ever considered a Razer laptop? Over the years, the company has made a name for itself as one of the best PC and gaming accessory makers. So if you are looking for a premium gaming laptop that will be perfect for office work as well, then check out the Razer Blade 14 Gaming Laptop.
What to know before you buy a Razer laptop
Power of the Central Processing Unit
Arguably one of the most critical components in a computer or laptop, the CPU is responsible for how fast it can perform actions. Since you can’t upgrade most CPUs in laptops, you must consider which CPU speed will be right for your purposes. Generally, a CPU speed of 4.2GHz will be sufficient for most things.
Harddrive space is important for gaming
If you are planning on doing some serious gaming on your Razer laptop, you must ensure that you have enough space for the games. Most games today are digital downloads that can reach over 100GB. You can upgrade the M.2 SSD, but look for storage capacity that will store all your games and files.
AMD or NVIDIA graphics card
In an office environment, the graphics card in a laptop won’t make that much of a difference. But when it comes to gaming, most gamers will prefer either AMD cards or NVIDIA graphics cards. There isn’t that much difference between the two brands, and it will mainly come down to personal preference.
What to look for in a quality Razer laptop
RGB lighting and key customizability
When you get a laptop from a company deeply embedded into gaming culture, you can expect it to have a wide variety of customizability options. One of those is the RGB lighting effects that have been incorporated into almost every gaming component. A good Razer laptop will have plenty of lighting options and the ability for you to change it however you want.
Resolution
Specifically for gaming, the resolution of the laptop’s screen will play a huge role in the quality of the graphics. This is important so that you can clearly see what is going on. A good quality Razer laptop will have a 4K resolution with a refresh rate of 120MHz. The fast refresh rate makes sure that fast-paced action doesn’t have a motion blurring effect.
Multi-monitor and accessory support
Having a single screen on the monitor might be perfect for playing games, but if you use the laptop for office work, you might need some extra viewing real estate. That is why a good Razer laptop will have additional HDMI ports for you to connect extra monitors.
How much you can expect to spend on a Razer laptop
The general retail price of a Razer laptop will depend on the model, the capabilities, and the components inside. An entry-level Razer laptop can retail for $1,000-$1,600. A top-tier Razer laptop can retail for $2,500-$3,000.
Razer laptop FAQ
Can you upgrade the components in a Razer laptop?
A. Laptops are notoriously difficult to upgrade. But with that said, some Razer laptops use the M.2 slot to upgrade the solid-state drive easily. Due to the thin design of some laptops, you can’t upgrade the RAM or other components.
Can all Razer laptops be used for gaming?
A. Razer is mainly associated with PC gaming and accessories, so it would be an easy assumption to make. But not all Razer laptops are good for gaming. The company makes a few that are specifically designed for working and office productivity. With those, you might struggle to run even the most basic of video games.
What’s the best Razer laptop to buy?
Top Razer laptop
What you need to know: This option is perfect for any type of gaming, wherever you might be.
What you’ll love: For crisp graphics, this Razer laptop is powered by an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card, has an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX 8-Core processor and 16GB of RAM. In terms of storage space, it comes with a 1TB solid-state drive. The display measures 14-inches with a QHD resolution of 2560 by 1440 with a response time of 165Hz.
What you should consider: The RAM can’t be upgraded, as only the SSD uses M.2 technology.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top Razer laptop for the money
Razer Blade Stealth 13 Ultrabook
What you need to know: Thin and powerful, it makes gaming a breeze.
What you’ll love: The ultra-thin laptop is powered by a quad-core 11th gen intel core i7-1165g7 processor, has 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD internal storage. The 1080p display has a refresh rate of 120MHz, measures 13.3-inches, and is powered by an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q graphics card.
What you should consider: As with many laptops, the fixed 16GB of RAM will be difficult to upgrade.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
What you need to know: This is an office workhorse that can handle the pressure.
What you’ll love: While the 13-inch Razer Book might not be suited for gaming, the Intel Core i7-1165G7 4 Core and 16GB of RAM will make small work of any office tasks. The display is full HD and has a touchscreen, with a Vapor Chamber Cooling System to ensure it doesn’t overheat. It comes with Razer Chroma RGB to change the lighting and uses Thunderbolt 4 to charge.
What you should consider: The laptop has somewhat limited storage and the 256GB M.2 SSD might not be enough.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Charlie F. writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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Which cartilage earrings are best?
Cartilage is the tough connective tissue that creates the upper portion of your ear and is a common spot for piercings. Cartilage earrings, however, differ from regular earrings. Generally, cartilage earrings are thinner because of the gauge bar. The cartilage earring’s barbell length is also shorter than regular earrings because the area around the upper portion of an ear is smaller.
If you’re looking for a subtle piercing, the best place to get a cartilage piercing is the helix, located on the upper cartilage that curls in. These piercings are higher and closer to the edge of the ear than an outer conch piercing. The rook is the highest ridge of your inner ear. It connects the bottom of your inner ear to the conch. The tragus is typically the most painful to pierce but is a great option if you’re looking for an edgier feel.
Cartilage earrings come in different styles: hoop, labret stud or post, captive bead, shields and dangling are to name a few. Hoop earrings are small in diameter compared to other styles and have a tight fit. They are usually composed of stones, diamonds, patterned or plain. Labret studs or posts typically have a flat back and have short bars, similar to regular earrings. They are extremely versatile and suited for any cartilage piercing.
Additionally, they’re perfect if you’re looking for a casual everyday earring. Dangling cartilage piercings or shields make more of a fashion statement. One of the best features about cartilage earrings overall is that there is a style for any occasion and outfit. Cartilage earrings are also pretty cost-effective, depending on where you purchase them. However, certain features like diamonds can add value.
If you’re looking for a cheap yet high-quality cartilage earring, these Tiny Hoop Mini-Gold Earrings are the top choice.
What to know before you buy a cartilage earring
Before purchasing a cartilage earring, there are a few considerations to keep in mind. Ear piercing placement can determine the size of a cartilage earring. Too small of size leads to discomfort, and too big of a size can lead to them falling out. Cartilage earrings are made in a variety of styles as well. Studs and hoops are great for everyday wear, while colored earrings can be the perfect accessory to any outfit. Dangle cartilage earrings are perfect if you’re looking for an edgier look. While you can purchase cartilage earrings at an ideal price, higher-end options will be more durable.
Ear piercing placement
First and foremost, if you’re thinking of getting a cartilage earring, ear-piercing placement is key. Some cartilage earrings are for specific positionings. When getting a cartilage piercing, remember that cartilage is stronger than earlobes, making it more sensitive to pain. Once the earring is in, it should stay in until healed, taking up to three months. Common cartilage areas to get pierced are the anti-tragus, inner and outer conch, auricle, helix and rook.
Style
Cartilage earrings come in various styles. Studs are always an excellent option for a casual everyday look and are versatile to suit any cartilage placement. For a night on the town, try a cartilage earring with diamonds or a pop of color. Hoops are another versatile choice for everyday wear. Whatever style you choose, keeping in mind that certain makes may be more fitted for specific piercings.
Cost
You can purchase cartilage earrings at a rational price. However, quality may not be great. If you’re on a budget but looking to purchase a few cartilage earrings, try looking for a bundle pack. It’s a great way to save money and have a broad selection. Material is a large determinant of the cost of cartilage earrings as well. Gold is typically more expensive than silver, and other qualities, like nickel-free and hypoallergenic materials, may also add to the cost.
What to look for in a quality cartilage earring
There are a few elements to consider when looking for a quality cartilage earring, like material, diamonds, embellishments and earring thickness. Each element nevertheless can determine the cost of a cartilage earring.
Diamonds/embellishments
Diamonds are always a great choice to dress up any outfit. When purchasing a cartilage earring that has diamonds, be sure to check the grade. While this may mean it will come at a higher cost, durability will be long-lasting and the overall look won’t appear tacky. These are also tips to keep in mind when purchasing cartilage earrings that have other embellishments like dangle pieces.
Material
Material is essential when it comes to stuff we wear, especially when it’s on our skin. If you have sensitive skin, make sure to purchase a cartilage earring that is hypoallergenic and nickel-free, like high karat gold, surgical stainless steel or titanium. The material also plays a role in cost. For example, gold and rose gold may be more expensive than silver. However, it can depend on the material’s grade.
Earring thickness
Earrings come in different thicknesses. Because cartilage is sensitive, knowing what size earring is appropriate for each cartilage piercing area is important. Additionally, earring thickness may be different depending on the style. For example, flatback and barbell cartilage earrings for the helix and tragus require an earring diameter of 5/16 inches. Hoop and horseshoe styles for the conch require an earring thickness of 3/18 to ½ inches. If you’re unsure what earring diameter is right for your cartilage piercing, ask a professional.
How much you can expect to spend on a cartilage earring
While the average cost of cartilage earrings is between $35-$85, prices tend to vary depending on the earring location type. For example, tragus, rook, snug and forward helix earrings cost between $30-$60. Industrial and orbital earrings are on the more luxurious side, priced between $45-$85.
Cartilage earring FAQ
How long should you keep a cartilage piercing before changing it?
A. Once pierced, cartilage earrings should not be changed for at least four to six months, giving them enough time to heal. However, they should be cleaned once or twice a day with ear cleaner or saline solution.
Do cartilage piercings get infected easily?
A. Cartilage piercings heal from the outside first and can be prone to infection if not cleaned properly and often. A few days after getting a cartilage piercing, remember that it’s normal to experience mild pain, redness, bruising and swelling.
What metal should cartilage be pierced with?
A. Titanium and gold are hypoallergenic, making them perfect for piercing. Additionally, gold is antibacterial and a good choice for those with sensitive skin.
What’s the best cartilage earring to buy?
Top cartilage earring
LuckyJewUS Tiny Hoop Mini Gold Hoop Earrings
What you need to know: These cartilage earrings are perfect if you’re looking for a variety of simplistic styles.
What you’ll love: Available in yellow gold, sterling silver and 14-karat rose gold, they can be mixed and matched to express your style. Gold-filled and sterling silver options are also hypoallergenic.
What you should consider: Due to their small width, they can be difficult to find if they fall out.
Where to buy: Sold by Etsy
Top cartilage earring for the money
COCHARM Solid Gold Cartilage Earring Hoop
What you need to know: On the higher end, this cartilage hoop earring creates an edgy look.
What you’ll love: Made of 14-karat solid gold, it’s nickel-free, lead-free and cadmium-free. There are no sharp edges, making it comfy to wear for any occasion.
What you should consider: Some reviews state the back won’t stay closed.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
AVORA 14K Yellow Gold 4 stone Simulated Diamond CZ Curved Bar Cartilage Piercing
What you need to know: This cartilage earring is extremely versatile and adds a stylish touch.
What you’ll love: Safe for those with sensitive skin, this glistening cartilage earring adds just the right amount of sparkle to any outfit. Featuring a curved bar design and flat back, it’s lined with pink ombre Simulated Diamond Cubic Zirconia accents.
What you should consider: Price is on the luxurious end.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
AnotherEast Butterfly Hoop Earrings
What you need to know: Available in gold and silver, the material is lightweight and a great option to add some flair to an outfit.
What you’ll love: Materials are nickel-free and hypoallergenic, making them perfect for those with sensitive skin. The lever back closure guarantees it will stay snug on the tragus.
What you should consider: If not taken care of properly, the dangly piece may fall off.
Where to buy: Sold by Etsy
FUNLMO Opal Cartilage Conch Earring Hoop
What you need to know: In over 20 different colors, this cartilage conch hoop earring is the perfect accessory for any outfit.
What you’ll love: At a great price and made of 316L Surgical Steel and Shiny Cube Zircon, the high-polished smooth surface makes it extremely comfortable for everyday wear. Additionally, the hinge makes it easy to open and close, but it will stay snug once closed.
What you should consider: Some reviews state the earring was defective.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Tessa Schaal writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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Which anti-fatigue mats are best?
With all the talk these days about how bad sitting is for your health, many people are choosing to opt for standing desks. While this can be a smart idea, it is important to consider leg and foot health.
Standing in place for long periods of time is both tiring and uncomfortable. Anti-fatigue mats help with that. They provide a cushioned, shock-absorbing surface to stand on that can ease the pressure on your legs and spine.
Anti-fatigue mats come in a wide variety of colors and shapes to fit every need. A perfect example of this is the Kangaroo Anti Fatigue Cushioned Floor Mat, which comes in dark and vibrant hues ranging from 17 to 70 inches long.
What to know before you buy an anti-fatigue mat
How anti-fatigue mats work
When standing in a static position on a hard surface for long periods of time, the pressure in the veins in your legs increases. This makes it more difficult for the blood to flow into and out of your lower extremities, resulting in your heart having to work harder to keep the blood circulating properly. Anti-fatigue mats combat this by forcing your muscles to slightly expand and contract in micromovements as your body adjusts to the flexibility of the mat. This improves your circulation to the lower extremities, bringing more oxygen-rich blood to the muscles and reducing fatigue.
Types of anti-fatigue mats
Anti-fatigue mats can be classified into one of three categories: flat mats, non-flat active mats, and fully flat active mats.
Flat anti-fatigue mats are the most common and tend to be the best entry-level option. This is because they don’t take much getting used to and are often the most affordable. Most are rectangular in shape, range from half an inch to 1 inch thick, and provide a moderate level of cushioning.
Non-flat active anti-fatigue mats also provide cushioning but have a textured surface designed to promote greater micromovements of the muscles and better circulation. These are also most often rectangular in shape.
Full active anti-fatigue mats have large balls, ridges, accu-pressure peaks, and other textures or shapes spread across their surface that are designed to massage your feet and stretch your calves. These tend to have squarish shapes that make them ideal for those working at standing desks, but they are often the most expensive options.
Durability
Anti-fatigue mats are exposed to a lot of wear and tear, so they need to be durable if you want them to last for a long time. This is especially true when using them in commercial settings. Most are made from either foam, a rubber-covered foam or hard rubber. There are also some rubber mats with a gel core. Foam is the least durable but most affordable. Rubber-covered foam is slightly tougher because the rubber coating protects the foam from deteriorating. Finally, full rubber and gel-core mats are the most durable and the least likely to compress over time.
For more information on this, check the best anti-fatigue mat buying guide at BestReviews.
What to look for in a quality anti-fatigue mat
Size
Anti-fatigue mats come in a range of sizes, with the shortest being about 1.5 feet and the longest 20 feet or more. It is important to match the mat to your needs and available space. For example, if you use a standing desk and stay in one place all day long, you most likely only need a small, square or rectangular mat. However, if you are looking for something for your kitchen to make cooking all day less tiresome on your feet, you’ll be best served by a long, rectangular mat that allows you to move from one end of your counter to the other.
Thickness
The thickness of the anti-fatigue mats plays a large role in how effective it is. The majority range from half an inch to 1-inch thick in the main standing area. Fully active mats are notably thicker than those on their raised ridges and balls.
Non-slip bottom
For safety purposes, any mat you purchase must have a non-slip bottom to keep it securely in place.
Beveled edge
A beveled edge is helpful for two reasons: It reduces the chances of tripping over the edge when stepping onto the mat, and it ensures the edges sit flush with the floor, so they don’t curl up over time.
Color
For commercial settings, many people opt for a plain black anti-fatigue mat. However, they come in a wide range of solid colors ranging from neutral tones like grey and earth to vibrant options like red and aqua. You can also find them in faux wood and eye-catching patterns.
How much can you expect to spend on an anti-fatigue mat
Depending on the size and materials, anti-fatigue mats can cost as little as $15 or as much as $300. There are even some extra-large options for commercial spaces that can cost more than $1,000.
Anti-fatigue mat FAQ
How do you clean an anti-fatigue mat?
A. To clean an anti-fatigue mat, start by sweeping or vacuuming the debris off it. Then fill a bucket with a bit of warm water and dish soap. Take the mat and bucket outside and lightly scrub the mat with the solution using a soft-bristle brush or a cleaning rag. Finally, rinse the mat off with clean water and hang it to dry before placing it back in your home.
Should I wear shoes on an anti-fatigue mat?
A. The choice of whether or not to wear shoes on your anti-fatigue mat comes down to the situation more so than the mat itself. For example, if it is in a commercial setting, you’ll most likely need to wear shoes, but if using an anti-fatigue mat at home, you may not want to. If you’re wearing shoes, it is important to avoid high heels and other footwear with sharp or pointed bottoms because they can damage the mat.
What are the best anti-fatigue mats to buy?
Top anti-fatigue mat
Kangaroo Anti Fatigue Cushioned Floor Mat
What you need to know: A durable option that comes in a range of sizes and colors, the Kangaroo anti-fatigue is ideal for home and commercial applications alike.
What you’ll love: It has a ¾-inch thick rubber construction that provides a lot of cushioning and won’t compress from constant use.
What you should consider: It has a tendency to slide around and periodically needs to be moved back into place.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top anti-fatigue mat for the money
What you need to know: A top choice for those who work at a standing desk, the Genius Mat has a variety of ridges and acupressure points to help you stretch out your calves.
What you’ll love: There is a rolling massager ball in the center of the mat that can be used to loosen plantar fascia and make standing for long periods of time more comfortable.
What you should consider: Its high sides can be a tripping hazard.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Butterfly Long Kitchen Anti Fatigue Mat
What you need to know: The Butterfly mat is both attractive and comfortable, making it the perfect addition to a home kitchen.
What you’ll love: It comes in four eye-catching patterns, all of which come in dark and warm tones that blend in well with most decor.
What you should consider: The textured surface can make it difficult to clean.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Brett Dvoretz writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money
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Which physical therapy equipment to use at home is best?
Depending on your physical therapy program, your doctor or physical therapist may encourage at-home exercises. If you’d like to practice similar exercises to the ones you perform in a clinical setting, consider buying physical therapy equipment to use at home.
Physical therapy equipment doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive to be effective. There are several affordable options, including yoga mats, weighted exercise balls and resistance bands. Trideer Extra-thick Yoga Exercise Ball is a top choice that’s a versatile device that lends itself to dozens of upper- and lower-body exercises.
What to know before you buy physical therapy equipment to use at home
Why do people buy physical therapy equipment to use at home?
Physical therapy plays a pivotal role in rehabilitation because it may help individuals regain strength, mobility, coordination and balance. According to MedlinePlus, many people begin their physical therapy journeys in clinical settings, such as doctors’ offices or rehabilitation centers, and eventually, they transition to at-home therapy.
At-home therapy is often done on “off” days from in-office sessions or is continued after individuals complete their physical therapy programs in rehabilitation centers. Some individuals may need to perform physical therapy exercises for a few weeks after discharge, whereas others may need to incorporate it into their daily lives long-term so they don’t regress in recovery.
Popular types of physical therapy equipment for home use
Because few people have the room to accommodate large machines or devices, it’s common to invest in smaller, pared-down versions of physical therapy equipment.
- Yoga mats are essential investments because they’re often for basic, floor-based stretching and mobility exercises.
- Free weight sets are ideal for developing upper body strength through repetition exercises, such as bicep curls.
- Resistance bands, often used in rehabilitation centers, are used for strength-building exercises.
- Exercise balls assist in modifications of certain exercises, like planks or lifting.
- Hand grip strengtheners, such as silicone stress eggs or spring-loaded grip trainers, are often used to build dexterity.
Talk to your doctor
Before you begin using physical therapy equipment at home, speak to your doctor or physical therapist to make sure you are approved to perform exercises outside of a clinical setting. Additionally, they may provide you with new exercises that are conducive to home practice with specific equipment.
What to look for in quality physical therapy equipment to use at home
Material
Most physical therapy equipment is made with silicone, rubber, latex, PVC and high-density plastic. These materials are durable and generally have high tensile strength, which means they can withstand a high level of tension without breaking. More complex physical therapy equipment, including spring-operated devices like hand grips strengthened, usually have steel components.
Progressive difficulty
As you progress in your physical therapy journey, your care team may introduce exercises with higher levels of difficulty. When you transition to an at-home program, you may wish to adjust difficulty levels as needed.
With some equipment, individuals can modify exercises to make them more challenging, such as doing more repetitions with free weights. Other equipment have built-in difficulty levels, such as step platforms whose heights can be adjusted by adding or removing risers.
Portability
Portability is an important consideration for many individuals who do physical therapy at home. Many types of equipment are compact and easy to store when it’s not in use, such as yoga mats or foam rollers. Other types of equipment are travel-friendly. Resistance bands, for example, can be rolled up and tucked inside most handbags and carry-ons.
How much you can expect to spend on physical therapy equipment to use at home
Smaller or simpler pieces of at-home physical therapy equipment, like resistance bands and yoga mats, cost $15 and below. More involved equipment, like free weight sets, may run between $20-$50. If you’d like to invest in facility-grade equipment, like pedal machines, be prepared to spend $75-$300.
Physical therapy equipment to use at home FAQ
Will my insurance cover physical therapy equipment to use at home?
A. It depends. You’ll need to contact your insurance plan regarding coverage, benefits and eligibility for a definitive answer. Some insurance plans may consider certain equipment is eligible for coverage under FSA or HSA benefits, whereas others won’t cover it at all.
How do I clean physical therapy equipment?
A. Most types of physical therapy equipment can be wiped down with everyday surface cleaners or disinfectant wipes. Some people prefer using nontoxic cleaners that are non-irritating to skin.
What’s the best physical therapy equipment to use at home?
Top physical therapy equipment to use at home
Trideer Extra-thick Yoga Exercise Ball
What you need to know: An all-around versatile fitness accessory, this ball can be manipulated in countless ways for upper- and lower-body exercises.
What you’ll love: The ball is available in five sizes to accommodate users with different needs. It’s made with durable anti-burst material that withstands pressure to 2,200 pounds. The ball comes with a foot pump for easy inflation out of the box.
What you should consider: A few users felt the foot pump wasn’t easy to use, and it took a while to inflate the ball.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top physical therapy equipment to use at home for the money
THERABAND Latex Beginner Bands
What you need to know: These resistance bands, often used by physical therapists in rehabilitation centers, are ideal for home and travel use.
What you’ll love: The beginner set offers three levels of low resistance between 3-4.6 pounds. They’re made with high-quality latex rubber that can withstand heavy use. At over 5 feet in length, they’re suitable for upper- and lower-body conditioning.
What you should consider: Because the bands are made with latex, they’re not suitable for those with latex allergies.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Logest Hand Grip Strengthener Set
What you need to know: This 14-piece set includes popular devices used in hand therapy, which may help build strength and dexterity.
What you’ll love: The set includes flexible silicone accessories that are soft and easy to manipulate. It includes a couple of intermediate and advanced devices for those further along in their rehabilitation journeys. All pieces can be stored in the drawstring carry case.
What you should consider: Individuals with larger hands may experience difficulty using smaller accessories.
Where to buy: 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.wane.com/reviews/br/health-wellness-br/medical-supplies-equipment-br/the-best-physical-therapy-equipment-to-use-at-home/ | 2022-04-11T14:39:49 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/health-wellness-br/medical-supplies-equipment-br/the-best-physical-therapy-equipment-to-use-at-home/ |
Which carpet dryer is best?
A carpet dryer is a powerful type of fan that pushes away wet air and pulls in dry air. Dry air sucks up water and accelerates the evaporation process. If you own a business or a home with carpet that requires regular cleaning, you should own a carpet dryer.
The perfect carpet dryer is the appropriate size and has the right features for your space and your needs. Our top pick, the Stanley Air Blower, features three speeds and is easy to move and adjust.
What to know before you buy a carpet dryer
Fan type
Carpet dryers use axial or centrifugal fans. An axial fan looks a lot like a ceiling fan. It resembles a flower with petals spinning around and around. A centrifugal fan looks a lot like a paddlewheel boat. It’s enclosed in a cylinder and turns in a circle.
Centrifugal fans create a higher-pressure airflow that’s perfect for targeting concentrated spills, but they’re slower at drying out an entire room. For larger spaces, an axial fan’s even distribution is your best bet.
Cubic feet per minute
Cubic feet per minute, or CFM, is the amount of air a carpet dryer can move in 60 seconds. The higher the CFM, the quicker your carpet will dry. Remember that this is cubic feet, not square feet. While it’s understandable to think your carpet is the only thing that needs to dry out, that’s not the case. The air around your carpet needs to dry out, too.
The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification recommends using a 2,800 CFM carpet dryer for every 300 square feet of wet carpet. For a large space, you may need more than one carpet dryer.
Horsepower
Horsepower or HP is the least important of the three major considerations when buying a carpet dryer, but it’s worth talking about to prevent a common point of confusion. More horsepower does not necessarily mean a higher CFM or faster drying. The main reason to pay attention to horsepower is if you’ll be using your carpet dryer in an old building with a temperamental electrical system.
Most carpet dryers come with 1-HP, ½-HP or ¼-HP. The higher the HP, the louder your machine will be.
What to look for in a quality carpet dryer
Adjustable features
Some carpet dryers feature a timer. A timer prevents you from running your unit for too long and wasting energy. It’s also a good way to remind yourself when it’s time to move your machine to another part of the room.
Another important feature is fan speed. Basic carpet dryers only have one speed, but midrange models should at least have options for low, medium and high. Some high-end models have additional speeds beyond that. The more choices you have, the more useful your carpet dryer is.
Ease of use
If you’re planning to use more than one carpet dryer at the same time, look for a model with a built-in outlet on each unit. That way, you can plug them into each other, like multiple sets of Christmas lights. This makes placing them exactly where you need a lot easier since you won’t be dependent on outlet location.
Noise is a major consideration. If you’re buying in-store, see if there are any floor models you can turn on and off. If you’re buying online, see if there are any videos from previous buyers in the customer reviews. Some carpet dryers can be very loud, which might wear on your nerves if you have to share the space for hours at a time.
Ease of storage
If you’re buying more than one carpet dryer, consider a model that’s stackable when storing. Carpet dryers take up a good amount of space and some are awkwardly shaped. You might be able to find room for one unit in a garage or storage shed, but three units that don’t stack could require some major rearranging.
Also look at how much each unit weighs and what the handle is like. Most carpet dryers weigh 8-12 pounds. If the handle is poorly designed, it’ll be annoying at best and a future back problem at worst if you’re using it often.
How much you can expect to spend on a carpet dryer
Small home carpet dryers with basic features can be found for $50-$75. Midrange carpet dryers with more options and higher CFMs range from $100 to $250. High-end commercial models with all the bells and whistles typically run $250-$400.
Carpet dryer FAQ
When should you replace your carpet outright?
A. If your carpet falls victim to a sewage leak or becomes saturated with some other type of contaminated water, replace it. If water of any kind has been allowed to soak your carpet for days on end, perhaps while you were on vacation, it’s best to toss it. The number one telltale sign is a mildew smell. If your carpet smells, a dryer isn’t going to save it.
How long does carpet take to dry?
A. It depends on how it got wet and how big your room is. If you just cleaned your carpet, it should dry in a few hours. For flooding, pipe leaks and other severe events, it may take two or three days. If your carpet is still wet after three days and there hasn’t been any new water damage, you should call a professional.
What’s the best carpet dryer to buy?
Top carpet dryer
What you need to know: This is a compact dryer with impressive power.
What you’ll love:It has a built-in outlet, blower head pivots and three speed settings.
What you should consider: Some users report that the blowing power weakens over time and extended use.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Wayfair
Top carpet dryer for the money
Lasko High Velocity X-Blower Fan
What you need to know: A versatile dryer from a trusted name, it sells at the right price.
What you’ll love: It features two USB charging ports, a built-in outlet and a circuit breaker with a reset button. It is easy to transport.
What you should consider: It is very loud.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
What you need to know: This small dryer is perfect for spills and other modest jobs.
What you’ll love: It is compact enough to fit in spaces other dryers can’t, such as closets or under sinks. It blows air in all directions for faster drying.
What you should consider: It is noisy despite its size and not ideal for large spaces.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Frank Paiva 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.wane.com/reviews/br/home-br/floor-care-br/best-carpet-dryer/ | 2022-04-11T14:39:56 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/home-br/floor-care-br/best-carpet-dryer/ |
Which cold brew makers are best?
If you’re a dedicated coffee lover who enjoys sipping on a satisfying cold brew during warmer weather, you’ll definitely want to invest in an at-home cold brew coffee maker. Not only will it save you money, but it will also allow you to cater your coffee to your specific taste and strength preferences.
Before choosing the best cold brew maker for your lifestyle, you’ll first want to look at a few essential features, such as size, design, materials and brewing time. As one of the top choices, the KitchenAid Cold Brew XL Coffee Maker is large enough for multiple servings and has an easy-dispensing spout.
What to know before you buy a cold brew maker
Iced coffee vs. cold brew
Though sometimes used interchangeably, iced coffee and cold brew have significant differences.
In most cases, iced coffee is simply brewed coffee cooled and poured over ice. This style of brewing is best when consumed within a day or two. It can occasionally produce a slightly bitter or acidic tasting drink.
The biggest difference with cold brew is the fact that it is never heated. The cold brewing process soaks coffee grounds in cold water over longer periods to create a smooth flavor and strong taste. You can then drain the resulting to remove any grounds or sediment. While cold brew can be more expensive when purchased at a cafe, it has a longer shelf life.
Size
Cold brew coffee makers come in various sizes, from portable single-serve brewers to larger countertop models. Depending on how often you plan on making cold brews, you’ll want to choose the most practical model.
Brewing time
Compared to hot coffee, which you can brew in minutes, cold brew takes several hours to achieve the best tasting result. The best cold brew takes 12 to 24 hours, depending on desired strength and flavor profile. Since cold brew coffee is stronger than regular coffee, you likely won’t need to use as much as you can be dilute it with water, milk or milk alternative.
What to look for in a quality cold brew maker
Durable material
The two most common materials for cold brew makers include glass and plastic.
Glass may look and feel more elegant, but there is a greater risk of cracking or shattering. Glass cold brew makers are less likely to form stains and discolorations or hold onto any lasting odors.
Plastic cold brew makers are more durable in the long run, as they are resistant to shattering if dropped. BPA-free plastics also ensure that you won’t have to deal with any chemicals seeping into your daily cup of joe.
Design
There isn’t any universal design for cold brew makers, with some resembling a french press, pitcher, carafe or classic coffee maker. No design is necessarily better than the other, so the best cold brew maker is the one that is easy to clean and most convenient for your lifestyle.
Spout
Once you have your cold brew ready to serve, it is essential to have an efficient way to pour it. The spout should not affect the airtight seal needed during the brewing process but should allow for a smooth flow when serving the coffee. Some cold brew makers may even sport a tap dispenser for convenient access throughout the week or serving guests.
Filter
If your coffee maker features a metal filter or steeper, it is best if the holes are fine enough to prevent any coffee grounds from escaping into the final product. Metal filters are reusable and highly durable.
Paper filters make for quick cleanup but can occasionally rip and need replacing before each brew.
How much you can expect to spend on a cold brew maker
The least expensive cold brew makers can be purchased for less than $20, though most are within the $20-$50 price range. Larger and more advanced options can cost over $100.
Cold brew maker FAQ
How long will cold brew last in the fridge?
A. Unlike hot coffee, which is best when served fresh, cold brew coffee can typically last for 7-10 days in the fridge. If your cold brew accumulates a strange scent or loses its flavor, it is best to brew a new batch.
Does cold brew contain more caffeine than a regular cup of coffee?
A. Cold brew contains more caffeine than a comparable cup of standard drip coffee. Because it is highly concentrated, most people choose to dilute their cold brew.
What’s the best cold brew maker to buy?
Top cold brew maker
KitchenAid Cold Brew XL Coffee Maker
What you need to know: This KitchenAid cold brew maker is designed for true coffee connoisseurs and features a convenient tap dispenser.
What you’ll love: The 38-ounce capacity is enough to make up to 19 servings of cold brew when diluted with water, milk or ice. The stainless steel and glass design is easy to clean, and the streamlined appearance will complement any kitchen.
What you should consider: It is significantly more expensive than many other cold brew makers.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Home Depot and KitchenAid
Top cold brew maker for the money
BODUM Bean Cold Brew Coffee Maker
What you need to know: This budget-friendly cold brew maker can hold up to 51 ounces of coffee.
What you’ll love: The dishwasher-safe design makes cleanup and maintenance a breeze, while the double-lid feature prevents spills and keeps the coffee fresh for longer. All components of this cold brew maker use BPA-free plastic.
What you should consider: The lid isn’t the easiest to remove for some users.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
OXO Brew Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker
What you need to know: As a small option, this model is great for those with limited space.
What you’ll love: The unique design of this cold brew maker produces flavorful and high-quality coffee. When the top brewer is attached to the carafe, it will automatically drain the cold brew for easy serving.
What you should consider: If you’re looking for a large capacity brewer, this may not be the ideal choice.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Bed Bath & Beyond
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Matthew Young 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.wane.com/reviews/br/kitchen-br/coffee-accessories-br/best-cold-brew-maker/ | 2022-04-11T14:40:03 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/kitchen-br/coffee-accessories-br/best-cold-brew-maker/ |
Which OXO can openers are best?
You’ll appreciate a high-quality can opener the next time you want to heat up your favorite soup or open up a can of beans or vegetables. While low-end models can sometimes create sharp edges and uneven cuts, OXO can openers are known for their durability, functionality and ergonomically designed handles.
The best can opener will cut through a can seamlessly, removing the lid without any mess or struggle. When searching for the best OXO model, the OXO Good Grips Smooth Edge Can Opener is a top choice because it can eliminate dangerous and sharp edges.
What to know before you buy an OXO can opener
Manual vs. electric can openers
The two main types of can opener options you’ll encounter are manual and electric.
- Manual can openers are most likely what comes to mind when picturing this common kitchen tool. This style of can opener uses a blade to puncture the lid and a hand-operated crank or knob to cut and remove the top of the can. Manual can openers are small and portable but do require some physical effort to use. All OXO can openers will be manually operated.
- Electric can openers automatically remove the lid of the can so you don’t have to do the work. These are often significantly larger, more expensive and require access to an electrical outlet.
Blade position
When buying an OXO can opener, you can either choose a side- or top-cut model depending on your preference.
- As the name suggests, side-cut can openers will remove the lid by creating a cut around the side of the can, just under the top lip. This can ultimately keep the blades cleaner and reduce food contact, but it doesn’t allow the best drainage.
- The blade on top-cut models removes the very top section of the lid, which allows you to drain any excess liquid easily, but is likely to dirty the can opener blades.
What to look for in a quality OXO can opener
Handle
Having a firm and comfortable handle will allow for a more efficient opening process when compared to flimsy models. OXO can openers often include cushioned or rubberized handles, and some will even feature a locking mechanism to form a sturdy grip.
Easy-to-use
The best OXO can opener should have a blade that easily attaches to the can and only requires a single rotation to remove the lid properly. Those that take multiple turns to create a clean-cut are likely to lead to frustration and accidents.
Cleanup
Cleanup is essential, especially for top-cut models. Though some can openers can be placed in the dishwasher for easy cleaning, you should clean all models regularly to prevent rust and food residue buildup.
Lid catch feature
OXO can openers that feature lid catch designs will make it easy to remove the lid once it has been separated from the can. This also reduces the risk of any accidental cuts or slices when removing the lid with your fingers. The most common lid catch methods consist of built-in magnets or pliers.
Bottle opener
If you want a multi-purpose can opener, look for an OXO model that also sports a convenient bottle opener.
How much you can expect to spend on an OXO can opener
Depending on the size and features, most OXO can openers can be purchased for $10-$25.
OXO can opener FAQ
How long will a can opener last?
A. A quality can opener can last several years, as long as you keep it properly cleaned and free from rust and other damage. Over time, the blade can dull, though you can sharpen some models.
Can I store leftover food directly in the can?
A. While storing and refrigerating leftover canned food in the can likely won’t pose any risk, transferring the contents to a plastic or glass container is preferred as it will better preserve flavor and freshness.
What’s the best OXO can opener to buy?
Top OXO can opener
OXO Good Grips Smooth Edge Can Opener
What you need to know: This smooth edge can opener is designed for those who want precise cuts and easy lid removal without a sharp edge.
What you’ll love: The knob used to operate this OXO can opener is oversized, making it simple to grip and turn. The non-slip handles will help you keep the can steady, while the stainless steel blade cuts without making contact with the interior contents.
What you should consider: The innovative style can take some getting used to compared to standard can openers.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond and Home Depot
Top OXO can opener for the money
OXO Good Grips Soft-Handled Can Opener
What you need to know: This is a reliable stainless steel can opener with easy-to-grip handles.
What you’ll love: The low price and durable materials make this can opener a true value option. The non-slip handles provide excellent grip even when used with wet hands, and the built-in bottle opener gives this opener added functionality.
What you should consider: This can opener should only be washed by hand.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Bed Bath & Beyond
Worth checking out
OXO Good Grips Locking Can Opener with Lid Catch
What you need to know: The locking can opener feature is ideal for those wanting hassle-free lid removal.
What you’ll love: Users will appreciate the unique design and non-slip handle that can lock in place for increased control. Equipped with a magnetic arm, this OXO can opener allows for a convenient lid removal process at a reasonable price.
What you should consider: A few users have reported uneven cuts.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond and Home Depot
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Matthew Young 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.wane.com/reviews/br/kitchen-br/utensils-tools-br/best-oxo-can-opener/ | 2022-04-11T14:40:09 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/kitchen-br/utensils-tools-br/best-oxo-can-opener/ |