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https://www.kark.com/crime/pulaski-co-deputy-arrest-made-in-february-west-line-street-deadly-shooting/
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Home 7 Day Cruises Vikas-2D0190763-1 Vikaspedia Dibi Gopaleshwarsar Temple , West Bengaltripuraonline7 Day Crui...,750Waterfall PULASKI COUNTY, Ark – The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office say they have made an arrest in the February killing of a College Station man.
According to investigators, 24-year-old Deshaun Morton of Little Rock was arrested for the shooting death of 64-year-old Jimmy Hadley that happened just after midnight on February 8 on West Line Street.
When officers arrived, they discovered Hadley on the floor of the home with a gunshot wound, but later died from his injuries.
Anyone who has information connected to the case is asked to contact the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office at 501-340-6963.
Deputies say the investigation is ongoing.
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https://www.kark.com/news/local-news/hot-springs-baker-adapts-to-changing-restaurant-industry-following-covid-19-opens-food-truck/
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HOT SPRINGS, Ark – A business in Hot Springs is downsizing after COVID-19 puts added stress on the restaurant industry.
William Byrd opened doors at Will’s Cinnamon Shop on Central Ave. in 2017.
“We were never expecting anything big,” said William Byrd.
At the beginning of 2020, Byrd says business was booming but then the pandemic hit, an unexpected ingredient in a longtime recipe.
“Everything was just unreal,” said Byrd.
Lockdowns and reopening heated up the kitchen and Byrd says it became difficult to keep his business afloat.
“You were always missing somebody because they didn’t feel well or you were closed because someone caught it,” said Byrd.
Byrd says in the first year following the first case, he had to shut down three different times, each one lasting two weeks.
“It’s so hard to figure out what to do when you’re so busy stomping out fires,” said Byrd.
Doors never reopened under his name, but Byrd says he wasn’t going to let his business completely go.
After selling the bakery, Byrd turned his focus to fixing up an old food truck, his shop’s new home.
“When you take 4,000 square feet and cram it into 150 square feet, you’re forced to simplify and you’re forced to do things more efficiently,” said Byrd.
Byrd went from walls to wheels and from 8 employees to 3.
“It definitely feels like the right direction,” said Will’s Cinnamon Shop employee AJ Breitenberg.
Byrd says his focus now shifts to the food truck and wholesale of his product.
“To kind of be able to focus on what we are delivering as a product and not so much a service in the forefront I think that is going to make the biggest difference,” said Breitenberg.
At first, adapting seemed like the only way but Byrd says it is a blessing in disguise. His open sign is finally up again.
Byrd will be selling his Cinnamon Rolls wholesale out of a window next to his original location. He hopes to have that open by the first week in April.
Byrd’s team has already been to one event in their new food truck but says they are open to doing more in the future.
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https://www.kark.com/news/local-news/storms-prompt-sherwood-neighbors-to-point-out-city-drainage-issues/
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SHERWOOD, Ark. – The day after heavy rain, it’s normal to still see some puddles around. But for a few homeowners in Sherwood, it’s much more than that; drainage issues have plagued some neighborhoods for years and many are sick of dealing with the water.
After storms passed through Central Arkansas Wednesday, homeowners in Sherwood took to social media to discuss drainage issues in the city. Some neighbors claimed there weren’t enough drains in low-lying areas where water would sit, while others said current drains back up and overflow.
For the Stapletons, it’s the latter. The couple moved into a home on Koehler Ave in 2019 and saw their first flood just a few months later.
“We woke up the next morning to find our house flooded,” explained Dean Stapleton. “We didn’t buy any flood insurance because we didn’t think we needed it. [We] found out the hard way.”
The water came in from both their front and back yards. Stapleton says during a second weather event months later, had he not opened the side gate, he believes the house would have flooded again.
Their home sits near a series of storm drains, all of which flow to a city drainage ditch that passes along the side of the house. Stapleton says during a storm, those drains can sometimes do more harm than good.
“It fills up and backs up,” he explained.
Even when there isn’t enough rain to flood the yard, Stapleton says water will still collect and sit in patches, killing the grass and staying muddy long after the sun comes out.
The issues the Stapletons face is a similar occurrence across the city. Two recent Facebook posts in a community group show just how common it is with hundreds of likes and dozens of homeowners saying they have the same issue.
A representative for the city of Sherwood explained leaders know of the issues and have a series of projects either underway or planned that will deal with drainage issues on certain streets. A current construction project on Country Club Road is one such example, with large pipes being installed to steer away rain and water.
Those looking to be updated on city projects can sign up for notifications on the city’s website.
Another neighbor pointed out that many of the issues have to do with the geography of the city itself and where low-lying areas sit. He adds re-doing an entire city’s drainage system isn’t something that can happen overnight.
But Stapleton says he feels something should have been done long ago, or residents should at least be warned where they look to buy a home.
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https://www.kark.com/news/local-news/white-county-woman-arrested-in-medicaid-fraud-case/
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Tags and tags to find, but still having doubdt - HelpMeIfYouWill.. - GITA (Google Information Technology Alternate Career-1(www).com)..HelpMeIf...Helpful!\nHope it may help others and this site users have not the \"Prem Peshani' or\"Glomedia\" experience from \"Rick Ross\". Please comment back if have same information' s!\nRap Genius' 'Astro': LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced on Thursday the arrest of a woman she says fraudulently billed Medicaid for more than $18,600 from 2018 to 2021.
The allegations led to the arrest of Pamela Townsend-Bell, of Judsonia, who is a licensed clinical social worker who owns “I’m a 10 Wellness Center, LLC”, a mental health agency, located in Searcy.
Townsend-Bell is said to have billed Medicaid for one-on-one individual counseling services provided by unlicensed staff, listing herself as the performing provider.
Rutledge says that the unlicensed staff included non-paid interns and office staff. Medicaid requires these types of outpatient mental health services to be provided by licensed therapists.
Rutledge said that between 2018 and 2021, Townsend-Bell submitted over 300 fraudulent Medicaid claims totaling more than $18,600. Townsend-Bell also is said to have made false statements for payments that violated the rules and provider agreements issued by the Arkansas Medicaid Program. In addition, Rutledge said that Townsend-Bell made false entries in medical records indicating she provided services to Medicaid recipients.
Townsend-Bell was charged with two counts of Medicaid Fraud, Class “B” felonies. She appeared before the Pulaski County District Court on March 18, 2022, and was released pending further proceedings.
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https://www.kark.com/pig-trail-nation/kj-jefferson-td-pass-to-malik-hornsby-highlight-thursday/
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FAYETTEVILLE — Wet and cool temperatures pushed Arkansas’ fifth spring practice inside the Walker Pavilion on Thursday, but that didn’t stop a lot of work getting done.
The highlight of the day was probably when KJ Jefferson found Malik Hornsby in stride streaking down the right sideline for a long touchdown pass. Hornsby once again spent the majority of the practice at quarterback, but did work at wide receiver some as well. Sam Pittman said Jefferson looks like the veteran quarterback he is after a successful 9-4 redshirt sophomore season.
“A lot of confidence. Throwing the ball with velocity,” Pittman said. “Throwing the deep ball well. Threw a good one – or two – to Malik today, actually. That was a nice catch he made on the very first play of team run. But what he’s done is, even though the kids believed that he was a captain last year, which I did too, but I was a little bit surprise because he hadn’t played before, but voted team captain. I shouldn’t have been because I understand how the team feels about him. He’ll be a captain again. He leads the football team, along with those guys in the secondary. I think they’re very valuable, too… All of them are, actually, but those are the older guys that are leading us.”
On Thursday following practice Pittman talked about how the Hornsby to wide receiver some came about.
“Well, to be perfectly honest, when he went in the portal over Christmas,” Pittman said. “I want to explain that too, you know. Sometimes you say things that aren’t true. I want you to know I’m not saying things that I believe is not going to be true. I don’t know if that makes sense. But Malik didn’t miss any practice. Didn’t miss anything. He got in the portal over (… a break) The thing that bothers me is if we’ve got guys working for three weeks and a guy goes into the portal, he doesn’t like who comes back on the portal, and he says ‘Can I come back to the team? No. You missed three weeks of ball, work. Malik didn’t do that.
“In that conversation, I said we’re going to give you every bit of opportunity to win the starting quarterback job, but also, if you come back, I need you to be open to playing wide receiver. So we’re doing it at a slow pace. We certainly want to give him every opportunity to win the starting quarterback job. But I think you’ve seen it and we certainly have seen that he can help us tremendously as a wide receiver. So that’s how it came about. To his credit, he’s doing a really good job with it and he’s having to play extra reps and those things. But I think with (Cade) Fortin coming on a little bit, more and more and more, that will help us be able to do that a little bit.”
Hornsby, like all the quarterbacks, wears a black protective jersey. Pittman talked about if that will change in future when he’s playing wide receiver.
“Yeah, we’re going to keep it that way,” Pittman said. “I also think the guys that we have in green, they’re just going to — we’re going to scrimmage but they’re still in green and the quarterbacks are still in black, so if Malik happens to be out there, we’re not going to tackle him at wide receiver and certainly at quarterback. Same thing with (Jalen) Cat[alon]. Cat is still in the green but we have to scrimmage him. We’ll just have to … that’s the worst part of scrimmage is when you have that happen, you know you have to decide, ‘Would he have tackled him? Would he not have?’ Things of that nature. It’s more important about how we’ll play, and if we’re crisp and solid and those things.
“But him and probably Haselwood would be the two greens that come right off the top of my head. We’re going to keep them in green Saturday but we’re going to play them. Cat and Haselwood, neither one of them would probably play in that combination time anyway.”
Another highlight was when two freshmen hooked up for an interception. Linebacker Jordan Crook tipped a pass and defensive back Jaylen Lewis picked it off.
The Hogs will hold their first scrimmage of the spring on Saturday. Pittman talked about the process he will use.
“We’re going to have a rack of ones, twos, threes,” Pittman said. “We go good on good every day. So we go one-one, two-two, three-threes. Not necessarily in that order but one, three, two. Saturday we’re going to go one-two, two-one, three-three. Then a combo period and then three-three again. So the combination probably would be for example take KJ out and put Malik with the ones. Put Ty’Kieast Crawford at right tackle. Probably in that combo you’ll see three or four guys on both sides of the ball out, like we did in fall practice.
“But basically we want Malik Hornsby to play with the best offensive line he can. And then on defense there will be some guys like Bumper (Pool) that we will probably take him out during that part of the scrimmage. And we’re going to come back and scrimmage the Red area high and low. Then we’re going to come back and thud third down and thuds 2-minute. It won’t be like it was before in the scrimmages where we are going to immediately do the situation. In other words if we’re three and out we’re not going to punt the ball. We’re going to scrimmage, scrimmage, scrimmage O vs. D. And then we’re going to break it off a little bit like practice is where we have a punt period and a punt return period at the same time and then we’ll have a kickoff. The first will be kickoff and kickoff return and then punt and punt return. The only thing we’ll do as far as what you would call situational would be any time we get into a field goal situation or extra point. We’re going to kick it immediately at that point. We’re going to put a little bit more pressure on our kickers that way.”
The scrimmage on Saturday will be closed to the public and media. A couple of key recruits were present on Thursday including Greenwood Class of 2026 quarterback Kane Archer and Mansfield (Texas) Class of 2023 defensive lineman Kaleb James, who is committed to Arkansas. Archer has offers to Arkansas, Missouri and Michigan.
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https://www.kark.com/washington/washington-dc/bill-seeks-to-put-cap-on-overdraft-fees/
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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – For some people, overdraft fees are a frustrating inconvenience. For others, they pose crippling costs. Some lawmakers now want to change how they’re charged altogether.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney introduced legislation called the “Overdraft Protection Act.” The bill includes provisions to cap the amount and number of fees a bank can charge.
“My bill tries to cut down on these unfair and deceptive practices,” the New York Democrat said.
Advocates like Elyse Crawford-Hicks with Americans for Financial Reform say overdraft fees hit low-income families and people of color the hardest.
“Overdraft fees are paid the most by people who can least afford them,” Crawford-Hicks said.
Others say over-drafting is a useful service because it can function like a short-term loan. Paul Kundert is the CEO of UW Credit Union, which recently reduced their overdraft fees and put more limits on how they charge them.
“When prices are fair, we believe consumers do benefit from access to the credit provided by overdraft fees,” Kundert said.
Recently, major banks like Wells Fargo, Citigroup and Bank of America have made changes themselves, by reducing their overdraft fees or eliminating them altogether.
Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, says that demonstrates the legislation is unnecessary.
“The market is naturally, naturally taking care of the issue without government intervention. And we do not need more rules from Washington,” Williams said.
Because banks make billions of dollars in revenue from overdraft fees, George Mason University Foundation Professor of Law Todd Zywicki argues the proposed changes would cost consumers.
“We’ll see higher bank fees, we’ll see higher minimum monthly deposits as basically insurance against over-drafting and we will see a loss of access to free checking,” Zywicki said.
Lawmakers like Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., are promising to continue pushing for the reforms.
“How can we perform such an abusive and predatory practice that punishes people simply for being poor?” Pressley said.
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https://www.kark.com/news/local-news/pizza-daction-holds-fundraiser-for-murder-victim/
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Washita 74\nTaking crop yield measurements across field by manual sensoring is a labor intensive field level task (Averil), time demanding fieldwork at low cure efficiency levels (Diakosavakiris). Thus to get over that problem , Wide Dynamic Data Acquising (WRAP, the project I work from May to End 1 st month at, AIRI) a novel intelligent cassette is under trial LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Friends and fellow employees at Pizza D’Action held a memorial benefit Thursday night after one of their co-workers was shot and killed over the weekend.
Organizers say that 100 percent of the proceeds from the event will go to the family of Charlie Willis.
Several photos of Willis were placed around the restaurant, along with a table covered in flowers to honor him.
Willis is remembered for his loving spirit inside and outside of the restaurant’s doors.
“He was a fixture here,” Bartender James Snyder remembers. “Before he came to work for us, he was a regular here all the time. These people here are his friend and his family.”
No arrests yet have been made in the case.
Anyone who has information concerning the investigation is asked to contact LRPD.
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https://www.kark.com/news/local-news/ukrainian-living-in-arkansas-searching-for-her-mother/
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NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Not long after Russia invaded Ukraine, we introduced you to a Ukrainian woman living in North Little Rock desperately searching for her mother, who was caught in the war-torn country.
Marina Amdream’s desperate search has lasted nearly a month, and so far, she’s been unable to get in touch with her mom.
Amdream last spoke with her mother, Olena, on March 7.
Olena lives in Izyum which is a small city in Ukraine about 185 miles from Mariupol. The city is occupied by Russia, suffering major damage with repeated bombings.
“In my head she’s alive and I’m not entertaining any other option,” said Amdream, remaining optimistic about her mother.
City Councilman for the city of Izyum, Max Strelnyk spoke with us on Skype. As Amdream translates, he says the city is dealing with a humanitarian catastrophe.
It’s been 3 weeks since any food, water and medicine has been delivered, forcing the city to rely on reserves and increasing the number of deaths.
Amdream says her mother had a heart attack recently and is worried because there is no pharmacy for her to get the medicine she must take daily.
“That makes me worry about how she is physically. She may be alive, but I don’t want her to be in pain. I don’t want her to be hungry.”
Russia has damaged hospitals in the city of Izyum and bridges that connect to the city.
Strelnyk says, two weeks ago there were over 100 deaths, and he knows there are a lot more.
On a phone call, the deputy mayor of Izyum, Vologymyr Matsokin tells us there is no way to tell how many people have died in Izyum.
In response to Amdream’s question about her mother, he says he doesn’t have an answer as to when families can be notified if their loved ones are safe or not. This is because “the city organization that would work on this issue and works with relatives are not open” because of damage by Russia.
The City Councilman says he’s speaking out about the small city of Izyum because it seems to be overlooked by the bigger cities like Kyiv and Mariupol. He encourages Amdream and other Ukrainians to remain hopeful and stay strong together.
Amdream often smiled. She says at night when she is alone things are harder, but she remains hopeful because she “walk by faith not by sight.”
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https://www.kark.com/news/special-reports/yell-county-sheriff-turns-in-his-badge-after-24-years-of-service/
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YELL COUNTY, Ark. – Longevity in law enforcement is a rare occurrence given the stress and strain of the job. Marshall Matt Dillon served 20 years in Dodge City–of course, he was on TV.
The real-life Wyatt Earp served in law enforcement for 12 years. Half of the 24 years of real-life Yell County Sheriff Bill Gilkey just finished up.
The longest-serving Sheriff in Yell County history. The longest current serving sheriff in Arkansas. On Thursday after a total of 31 years in law enforcement, he called it a career.
I first met Bill Gilkey just over 24 years ago, I was in Yell county covering a Danville city council meeting. It was heated. A difference of opinion resulted in then Danville Police Chief Bill Gilkey getting fired. He didn’t run and hide, the former, fired chief set his sights on a new job, Yell County Sheriff.
“Back then to get in the race the filing fee was 1500.00 dollars. I didn’t have a job. We were not wealthy. Me and my wife had fifteen-hundred-seven dollars to our name the day I filed for sheriff.”
No social media, no tv ads…no money. He hit the ground running, or knocking.
“The only thing I had to run on was knocking on people’s doors. You know we really didn’t have any signs you know? You drive out there today and there’s a million signs out there “
He found more support among Yell county’s 24-thousand people than he did the Danville City Council and became Sheriff.
“I look back now and wonder sometimes, what were the people of Yell County thinking electing a 30-year-old you know? I thought maybe we’ll do a couple of terms and move on to something else “
After that first term, he did move on, from one successful re-election to another. Whatever the people of Yell county were thinking about Bill Gilkey, they were right. But he’ll tell you-his success had nothing to do with Bill Gilkey
“My longevity here hasn’t been about what Bill Gilkey has done. It’s what these men and women have done that come to work here every day, every night, and every holiday. It’s the job that they do. I’m just fortunate enough to be the guy that has his name on the door “
For the better part of his 24 years, there were more good days than bad–except one very, very, bad day.
“Losing Lt. Kevin Mainhart, toughest day on the job,” Gilkey said.
Lieutenant Mainhart was killed during a traffic stop by a man he did not know had just committed a double murder.
“Great friend, great officer. A great foundation not only during the time he was with us but, also as we continue on today” Gilkey remembers.
Not even a tragedy like that could change what kept him on the job so long.
“Every day that you get up and get to represent the people of Yell county is a great day,” Gilkey explains.
So, what is it that pulled him away from a historic run as sheriff?
“My wife Lisa has been very supportive and Arron and Evan our two boys, missed out on a lot growing up because I felt like I had to be here,” Gilkey said. “You know I want to slow down and try to catch up on things in life I missed out on the last 24 years.”
Sheriff Gilkey says the job was never about him, but the people of Yell County.
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https://www.kark.com/news/state-news/damphousse-resigns-thursday-as-chancellor-of-asu/
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I remember the excitement around the introduction many years ago...we waited for almost an instant gratficiation...yield, ppphf and so- on for weeks when nothing arrived? That can not be all for today either? How else do u tell all what just went wrong and no what not too much has the time been a lot now. If for example today i' am going after it for no fault reason i am going after u the reason it took up my time as JONESBORO, Ark. – Arkansas State University Chancellor Kelly Damphousse announced his resignation after 5 years of service on Thursday, effective June 30.
Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas recently announced that Damphousse as the sole finalist to replace outgoing president, Dr. Denise Trauth on July 1.
Damphousse released a statement saying:
“When I came to A-State five years ago, I pledged to do everything that I could to help the members of our faculty and staff reach their full potential, to ensure barriers to success were removed for our current and future students and make our former students and friends proud of their university. That was the essence of the idea behind Every Red Wolf Counts,” Damphousse said. “As Beth and I take this opportunity to be closer to her mother, our family, and friends, we pray that our A-State family understands our decision to return home and knows that we gave our university and adopted hometown everything we had during our time here.”
“We have been blessed by a welcoming A-State and Jonesboro community, and we will never forget our time here,” Damphousse continued. “We will also forever be grateful for the leadership of the A-State Cabinet, our wonderful trustees, and especially President Chuck Welch, whose guidance, compassion, mentorship, faith and good humor has sustained us both during our time at A-State.”
Damphousse became the third permanently appointed chancellor of Arkansas State on July 1, 2017, and the sixth to hold the title since it was instituted in 2006.
“Kelly leaves the university in a very strong position and well-poised for the future,” said Dr. Chuck Welch, president of the ASU System. “His leadership during the past two years of the pandemic was exemplary. Financial positioning, fund-raising efforts, exciting new facilities, and academic program growth have made A-State a better place because of Kelly’s leadership.”
Welch said he will soon be meeting with university constituency groups to determine the next steps.
No decisions have been made regarding a possible interim appointment or a search process.
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https://www.kark.com/news/national-news/navy-to-name-ship-after-ruth-bader-ginsburg/
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(The Hill) – The U.S. Navy will name a future ship after the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro announced Thursday.
The T-AO 212 replenishment oiler will be referred to as the USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
“As we close out women’s history month, it is my absolute honor to name the next T-AO after the Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She is a historic figure who vigorously advocated for women’s rights and gender equality,” Del Toro announced.
“As Secretary of the Navy, it is my aim to ensure equality and eliminate gender discrimination across the Department of the Navy,” he continued, adding that Ginsburg was “instrumental to why we now have women of all backgrounds, experiences and talents serving within our ranks, side by side with their male Sailor and Marine counterparts.”
Ginsburg was the second woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court and was well known for her advocacy for women’s rights in cases such as United States v. Virginia, which ruled that it was unconstitutional for the Virginia Military Institute to bar women from admissions.
Her daughter, Jane Ginsburg, will be the sponsor of the new ship, according to Del Toro.
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Naval ships are regularly named after significant public figures. The lead ship of the eight T-AOs is named after former Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), who died in 2020.
T-AO fleet oilers, which primarily serve to transport fuel, have the capacity to carry up to 162,000 barrels of oil each.
The ships, designed by General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, stretch to 742 feet and possess double hulls to protect against oil spills. They can reach a speed of 20 knots.
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https://www.kark.com/news/national-news/police-offered-to-arrest-will-smith-over-slap-oscars-producer-says/
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oscars producer Will Packer said Los Angeles police were ready to arrest Will Smith after Smith slapped Chris Rock on the Academy Awards stage.
“They were saying, you know, this is battery, was a word they used in that moment,” Packer said in a clip released by ABC News Thursday night of an interview he gave to “Good Morning America.” “They said we will go get him. We are prepared. We’re prepared to get him right now. You can press charges, we can arrest him. They were laying out the options.”
But Packer said Rock was “very dismissive” of the idea.
“He was like, ‘No, no, no, I’m fine,” Packer said. “And even to the point where I said, ‘Rock, let them finish.’ The LAPD officers finished laying out what his options were and they said, ‘Would you like us to take any action?’ And he said no.”
The LAPD said in a statement after Sunday night’s ceremony that they were aware of the incident, and that Rock had declined to file a police report. The department declined comment Thursday on Packer’s interview.
In the longer version on “Good Morning America,” Parker said he initially believed the slap was an orchestrated bit. “I thought it was part of something that Chris and Will were doing on their own. I thought it was a bit. I wasn’t concerned at all.”
Packer said he went up to Rock after the incident. “I said, ‘Did he really hit you?’” the producer asked Rock. “And he looked at me and he goes, ‘Yeah, I just took a punch from Muhammad Ali,’ as only Chris can. He was immediately in joke mode, but you could tell that he was very much still in shock.”
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences met Wednesday to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Smith for violations against the group’s standards of conduct. Smith could be suspended, expelled or otherwise sanctioned.
The academy said in a statement that “Mr. Smith’s actions at the 94th Oscars were a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television.”
Without giving specifics, the academy said Smith was asked to leave the ceremony at the Dolby Theatre, but he refused to do so.
Smith strode from his front-row seat onto the stage and slapped Rock after a joke Rock made about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, when he was on stage to present the Oscar for best documentary.
On Monday, Smith issued an apology to Rock, the academy and to viewers, saying “I was out of line and I was wrong.”
The academy said Smith has the opportunity to defend himself in a written response before the board meets again on April 18.
Rock publicly addressed the incident for the first time, but only briefly, at the beginning of a standup show Wednesday night in Boston, where he was greeted by a thunderous standing ovation. He said, “I’m still kind of processing what happened.”
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https://www.kark.com/news/politics/house-set-to-pass-marijuana-legalization-friday/
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(The Hill) — The House is set to pass legislation on Friday to legalize marijuana nationwide, an effort that has unprecedented levels of support in both chambers of Congress.
The bill is likely to pass the lower chamber largely along party lines, with most Republicans expected to oppose it.
Proponents argue that legalizing marijuana at the federal level will simply reflect most states’ existing policies that allow it in some form.
They also frame the effort as a way to end the disproportionate punishment of racial minorities and people in low-income communities for possessing and using weed.
And with an overwhelming majority of Americans — as much as 91 percent in a Pew Research Poll last year — backing marijuana legalization for at least medical purposes, Democrats believe it’s a winning issue for them ahead of November’s midterms.
“This landmark legislation is one of the most important criminal justice reform bills in recent history: delivering justice for those harmed by the brutal, unfair consequences of criminalization; opening the doors of opportunity for all to participate in this rapidly growing industry; and decriminalizing cannabis at the federal level so we do not repeat the grave mistakes of our past,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said on the House floor on Thursday.
The bill, titled the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, would eliminate criminal penalties associated with the drug and establish a process to expunge previous convictions from people’s criminal records.
It would further impose a federal tax on marijuana sales to fund programs meant to help communities negatively impacted by so-called “war on drugs” policies beginning in the 1970s.
Friday’s vote will mark the second time that House Democrats have advanced legislation to decriminalize marijuana, after previously passing the measure in December 2020.
But the last effort didn’t gain any traction in the Senate, which was controlled by Republicans at the time.
But now, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) has said that marijuana legalization is a top priority, and he has been working with fellow Democrats to unveil a bill this spring.
It’s not yet clear, however, if enough Senate Republicans, or even all Democrats, would get on board for the bill to clear a filibuster.
Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) and Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), whose states have been ravaged by the opioid epidemic, have both expressed skepticism about broadly legalizing marijuana.
Republicans opposed to the legislation say legalization would do more harm than good.
Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn.), a former police officer, recalled having to make “devastating” visits to inform people that their family members had died in accidents resulting from drivers who were under the influence of drugs. He warned that legalizing weed could lead to an increase in people driving while high.
“We can all sit here and pretend that marijuana is a harmless drug, but it is not. It clouds your judgment and inhibits your reaction time,” Stauber said.
A smaller number of Republicans support legalizing marijuana.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) has introduced her own bill to legalize cannabis products. But it currently only has three GOP cosponsors: Reps. Brian Mast (Fla.), Tom McClintock (Calif.) and Peter Meijer (Mich.).
Mace’s proposal would set an age limit of 21 for cannabis use. It would also impose a smaller tax on marijuana sales — 3 percent — than the bill Democrats are bringing to the House floor and establish a 10-year moratorium on any tax increases.
The Democratic bill would first establish a 5 percent tax that would gradually increase to 8 percent over five years.
At least 18 states, two territories and the District of Columbia allow cannabis for adult, nonmedical use, according to the National Conference on State Legislatures. More than twice as many states – 37 – allow pot for medical use.
“Americans have made their support for cannabis legalization abundantly clear, and states across the country have taken the lead on cannabis legalization. Now it is time for Congress to take action and finally put an end to the failed policy of prohibition,” said Toi Hutchinson, president and CEO of the Marijuana Policy Project, an advocacy group.
Before final passage on Friday, the House will consider amendments from two centrist Democrats, Reps. Conor Lamb (Pa.) and Josh Gottheimer (N.J.), to study the impact of marijuana legalization on workplaces and schools, as well as the methods that law enforcement can use to determine whether a driver is impaired by weed.
Another amendment up for debate from Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) would clarify that people could not be denied security clearances because of cannabis use.
While Schumer may face an uphill path to securing 60 votes for broad marijuana legalization in the Senate, proponents may have success with more narrow measures.
The Senate passed a bill by unanimous consent last week that would expand scientific and medical research on marijuana and its compounds.
The House has also passed legislation twice in the last year to allow legally operating cannabis businesses to use banking services and credit cards so that they no longer have to be cash-only.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), a co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, predicted that the banking legislation had a shot of securing enough bipartisan support in the Senate to pass.
Unlike the MORE Act, which only won the support of five Republicans in 2020, the measure to allow cannabis businesses to access banking services passed in the House passed handily by a vote of 321-101 just under a year ago.
“We have, I think, probably in the low 60s in the Senate,” Blumenauer said.
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https://www.kark.com/news/the-teach-arkansas-initiative/
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Posted: Apr 1, 2022 / 07:28 AM CDT Updated: Apr 1, 2022 / 07:28 AM CDT SHARE There’s an effort to increase to the number of qualified certified teachers across the natural state. Here is your chance to learn more about the Teach Arkansas initiative.
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https://www.kark.com/amazing/put-breakfast-back-on-the-menu/
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(Baptist Health) – A healthy breakfast can give you the energy you need to be at your best.
You don’t have to start every morning with the breakfast of champions. But it’s a good idea to kick off your day with a healthy first meal.
Starting your day with a balanced meal can make a major difference in your overall health and well-being, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Why breakfast?
Breakfast is literally a break in fasting.
The fast is the 8 to 12 hours since you last ate before bedtime. When you wake to a new day, you need food to reload your body’s supply of glucose—or blood sugar—that provides energy.
Some of the benefits of eating breakfast include:
- More strength.
- Better endurance.
- Improved concentration.
- Increased problem-solving ability.
On the other hand, if you skip breakfast, you’re more likely to be tired, irritable or restless in the morning.
The morning meal is especially important for kids and teens. Kids who eat breakfast are better able to learn, have better grades, and develop better eating habits for the long term, according to the Academy.
Making the right choices
There’s no set menu for a good breakfast. But there are some guidelines you should follow to make sure your morning meal is healthy and balanced:
Go easy on sugar. Sugar adds calories but offers few, if any, nutrients. So skip the doughnuts, bear claws and other pastries.
Power up with protein. Protein can help you stay strong and focused throughout the morning, according to the Academy. Good sources of protein include eggs, low-fat yogurt and peanut butter.
Include whole grains. Whole grains are packed with fiber and nutrients. They also tend to be digested slowly, so they provide long-lasting energy.
Add fruits and veggies. Try fresh, seasonal fruit. Or put canned fruit in a parfait. Or try including chopped veggies in an omelet.
Here are some ideas for a healthy breakfast:
- A bowl of whole-grain cereal with low-fat milk and an orange.
- Egg whites with whole-grain toast and fruit.
- Scrambled eggs, low-fat milk and pancakes topped with fruit.
- Toasted waffles topped with peanut butter and banana slices.
- A whole-wheat pita stuffed with sliced, hard-cooked eggs with a glass of vegetable juice.
- A chopped-vegetable omelet with a slice of whole-grain toast.
And there’s no rule that you have to eat typical breakfast foods for your first meal of the day. Veggie pizza, pasta, rice, sandwiches and other healthy leftovers can be fine breakfast substitutes.
Make time for breakfast
If mornings are hectic in your house, it can be easy to overlook breakfast. But there are ways you can make time to eat and still get everyone off to school and work on schedule.
The Academy offers these tips:
- Get ready the night before. Set the table and have breakfast ingredients ready to go. Slice up fruit or low-fat cheese ahead of time.
- Keep it simple. If you’re rushed, stick to whole-grain cereals and toast, juice and fruits. Save big, fancy breakfasts for weekends, when you have more time.
- Pack a brown bag breakfast. If you don’t have time at home, take breakfast with you. Low-fat yogurt, bananas, oranges and juice containers are all portable, healthy breakfasts.
By making time and smart breakfast choices, you can start your morning on the right foot and look forward to a productive day of work, school or play.
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https://www.kark.com/crime/little-rock-officer-arrested-by-saline-county-deputies-facing-domestic-violence-charges/
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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A Little Rock police officer is facing domestic violence charges after being arrested by Saline County deputies Thursday.
According to the Little Rock Police Department, the department was informed of the arrest and started an internal investigation.
The LRPD said that the officer has been placed on paid administrative leave.
The officer is facing charges of domestic battery and endangering the welfare of a minor, according to a release from the department.
Officers noted that any questions regarding this incident should be directed toward the Saline County Sheriff’s Office.
This is an ongoing investigation.
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https://www.kark.com/news/business/biden-administration-boosts-mileage-standards-slashed-by-trump/
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(The Hill) — The Transportation Department on Friday announced that it boosted car efficiency standards that had been cut by the Trump administration.
The department finalized standards that would require automakers to produce fleets of cars and light trucks averaging 49 miles per gallon in model year 2026.
The new standards are more stringent than the Trump-era standards, which would have required 40 miles per gallon for the 2026 fleet.
However, the real-world totals may look slightly different under each standard, as the department has noted that real-world fuel economy levels are typically lower than the test conditions under which the standards are applied.
Nevertheless, the standards are expected to have both climate and consumer benefits, and officials made the case on Friday that they will also improve the country’s energy independence by decreasing our reliance on oil.
“We cannot let families’ futures or our national economy be decided in oil company board rooms,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told reporters. “Today’s rule is going to save 234 billion gallons of fuel by 2050 and move us into a less dependent future.”
On climate change, the rule is also expected to have significant impacts. Buttigieg said that it would prevent 5.5 trillion pounds of planet-warming carbon dioxide from going into the atmosphere by 2050.
The transportation sector is the largest contributor to climate change in the U.S., and light-duty vehicles are responsible for more than half of those emissions.
The move comes after the Environmental Protection Agency late last year also reversed the Trump administration’s cuts to regulations on how much planet-warming carbon dioxide cars can emit through their tailpipes.
The set of clean car standards is expected to push automakers towards producing more electric vehicles.
Friday’s standards are expected to result in 8 percent annual increases for model years 2024 and 2025 and a 10 percent increase for 2026.
The requirements come as some industry players have announced in recent months that they plan to incorporate a greater share of electric vehicles into their fleets, and President Joe Biden has called for 50 percent of vehicle sales to be electric in 2030.
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https://www.kark.com/news/health-news/allergies-vs-covid-how-to-tell-symptoms-apart/
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(NEXSTAR) – For many, springtime can mean a return of seasonal allergies. But how can you tell if it’s pollen or the latest COVID-19 variants that’s making you sneeze?
The most common symptoms associated with the omicron variant (which makes up nearly all COVID-19 cases in the U.S. right now) are runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing and sore throat, according to the ZOE Covid Study, which has been tracking COVID-19 symptoms in the United Kingdom.
Some of those symptoms overlap with allergies, which can make it confusing (and stressful) when you start to feel bad.
The best way to answer the question of whether you have the coronavirus or just allergies is to take a COVID test – either a rapid at-home test or a PCR test at a testing location.
While you wait for your results, you can also compare the most common symptoms of allergies and COVID-19, as explained by the Mayo Clinic:
You could also have a common cold or the flu. For more on those possibilities, check out the Mayo Clinic’s breakdown of symptoms.
The symptoms of omicron made it harder to distinguish from other ailments than previous variants of the virus, like delta. The loss of smell or taste, for example, used to be a sure sign you had the coronavirus, but was found to be much less common with omicron.
People vaccinated against COVID-19 are also more likely to experience cold-like symptoms with an omicron infection, whereas unvaccinated people are more likely to report flu-like symptoms and shortness of breath.
In the U.S., the BA.2 subvariant of omicron has started to overtake the BA.1 type of omicron that caused the recent winter surge, but both types of omicron cause the same symptoms.
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https://www.kark.com/news/national-news/bruce-willis-health-issues-affected-work-for-years-report-says/
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(NewsNation) — Bruce Willis’ aphasia diagnosis was made public by his family Wednesday, but new reporting suggests the 67-year-old actor’s health decline, which caused him to step away from acting, was affecting his work on set for years.
Actress Lala Kent, who played Willis’ daughter in the 2020 film “Hard Kill,” told the Los Angeles Times in one scene they had together, Willis’ character had to protect her from villains.
Her back was to Willis in the scene, and the actor was supposed to deliver a line serving as Kent’s cue to duck before he fired the weapon at a movie “bad guy.”
But Willis ended up shooting the gun, which was filled with a blank, before delivering his line, and Kent didn’t duck.
The same thing happened on the second take. A crew member on set confirmed Kent’s claims, telling the Los Angeles Times that Willis “did fire the gun on the wrong line.”
The film’s armorer denied this happened, but other filmmakers who worked with Willis on his latest projects also said they were alarmed by his condition.
Aphasia can cause varying degrees of impairment in speech or understanding language. It currently affects more than 2 million Americans, the National Aphasia Association estimates.
Concerns about Willis’ health didn’t translate to him making fewer movies, though — he just had less work on set.
“Out of Death” director Mike Burns wrote an email to his screenwriter, asking him to cut down the movie stars’ part, and they filmed all of Willis’ scenes in one day.
Burns made another movie with Willis the next year, after being assured the actor was in better health.
But Burns told the Times that he didn’t end up thinking Willis did bitter.
“I thought he was worse,” he told the newspaper.
Another filmmaker said in the Los Angeles Times that he was so concerned about Willis’ mental state he approached the actor’s team. They told him it would be best to finish filming early.
Two crewmembers said Willis, while on set, asked them, “Why am I here?”
Many are wondering if Willis was using a body double, being fed lines through an earpiece or had scenes shortened. They also want to know why no one from his team stepped in earlier.
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https://www.kark.com/news/national-news/ny-mobster-guilty-of-killing-3-escapes-federal-custody-in-florida/
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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — A New York mobster who killed three people and attempted to kill two others has escaped from federal custody.
The Bureau of Prisons website says Dominic Taddeo escaped on March 28.
The 64-year-old pleaded guilty in 1992 to racketeering charges that included the killings of three men during mob wars in the 1980s.
A federal judge in western New York denied Taddeo’s request for compassionate release last year.
Taddeo had been imprisoned at a medium-security lockup in Florida before being transferred to a residential halfway house in February.
A Bureau of Prisons spokesperson did not immediately return a call seeking information about Taddeo’s escape.
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https://www.kark.com/news/national-news/student-loan-forgiveness-heres-where-the-us-stands/
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(NEXSTAR) – For over two years, most federal student loan borrowers haven’t had to make a monthly payment after both Trump and Biden enacted pauses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, with payments (possibly) beginning again in May, many are hoping their loans will instead be forgiven.
A recent analysis found close to $200 billion was saved by student loan borrowers under the repayment freeze, The Hill reports, but those borrowers could struggle when the pause lifts.
Although borrowers “will likely face a healthier economy going forward, Direct loan holders have higher debt balances, lower credit scores, and were making less progress on repayment than … prior to the pandemic,” the researchers wrote. The average student loan debt balance now exceeds $37,000, with Americans owing roughly $1.6 trillion to the government.
On Thursday, 96 lawmakers – 21 Senators and 75 members of the House – sent a letter to President Biden, calling on him to not only extend the payment moratorium but to “cancel student debt now.”
“Canceling a meaningful amount of student debt will provide long-term benefits to individuals and the economy, helping families buy their first homes, open a small business, or invest in their retirement. More broadly, canceling student debt would add tens of billions of dollars in GDP growth,” the letter reads.
Does Biden have the power to forgive student loans?
While he and Trump had the power to freeze student loan payments, it’s hard to say whether Biden has the power to forgive loans.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said Biden lacks the legal authority. Instead, she said, “That would be an act of Congress.” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, on the other hand, has argued that Biden could under the same legal provision Trump used to delay payments and interest accrual at the start of the pandemic, The Hill reports.
Earlier this year, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said, “We’re still looking at administrative options, but Congress can also send the president a bill that would provide $10,000 in debt relief, and he’d be happy to sign that bill.”
In addition to calling on Biden to cancel upward of $50,000 in student debt per borrower, lawmakers are mulling multiple legislative proposals to forgive student loans, make it easier to refinance, or continue the pause on payments.
Who is already eligible for student loan forgiveness?
Whether or not another pause (more on that later) or loan forgiveness is on the horizon, some borrowers can already have some debt relief.
The Department of Education recently announced nearly 100,000 people are eligible for student loan cancelation due to changes made to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program in October. The move amounted to roughly $6.2 billion in relief, according to The Hill.
Under the PSLF program, eligible borrowers were promised that their debt would be canceled if they made payments over the course of 10 years. To be eligible for the program, you must work full-time for the government or a not-for-profit organization, have Direct Loans, repay them under an income-driven repayment plan, and make 120 qualifying payments.
Teachers, certain volunteers, and individuals working in specific industries may qualify for student loan cancellation. There are a number of other cases in which your student loans could be forgiven, canceled, or discharged.
Could another payment pause happen?
The Department of Education has reportedly directed companies that service federal student loans not to send notices about payments resuming in May, CNBC reports. According to NPR, the department does have a legal obligation to reach out to borrowers at least six times before payments begin – by telling companies to hold off on reaching out, some believe the administration was signaling another payment moratorium.
This came shortly after White House chief of staff Ron Klain said Biden wanted to decide on debt cancellation before payments restarted, “or he’ll extend the pause.”
Pushing out another payment pause may also be beneficial for Democrats heading into the midterm elections.
There are, of course, critics of another student loan payment pause. Many point to the costs the deferment has put on the federal government, and taxpayers, which amounts to nearly $50 billion a year.
As it stands now, the student loan payment pause is set to end on May 1.
The Associated Press and NewsNation’s Leland Vittert contributed to this report.
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https://www.kark.com/news/national-news/the-nations-oldest-active-park-ranger-retires-at-100/
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(KTLA) – Betty Reid Soskin, the country’s oldest active ranger in the National Park Service, retired Thursday at 100 years old.
Over the past decade and a half, Soskin has shared with parkgoers her personal experiences and the efforts of women from diverse backgrounds who worked on the World War II Home Front. She has led tours and public programs, sharing her experiences and observations at the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond.
Soskin, who celebrated her 100th birthday in September, spent her last day providing an interpretive program to the public and visiting with coworkers, according to a statement from the Park Service.
“To be a part of helping to mark the place where that dramatic trajectory of my own life, combined with others of my generation, will influence the future by the footprints we’ve left behind has been incredible,” the ranger said.
Soskin’s interpretive programs at the Richmond park have illuminated the histories of African Americans and other people of color, and her efforts demonstrate how her work has impacted the way the Park Service conveys such history to audiences across the U.S., the agency said.
“Betty has made a profound impact on the National Park Service and the way we carry out our mission,” Park Service Director Chuck Sams said in a written statement. “Her efforts remind us that we must seek out and give space for all perspectives so that we can tell a more full and inclusive history of our nation.”
In the early 2000s, Soskin participated in scoping meetings with the City of Richmond and the National Park Service to develop the general management plan for Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park. She worked with the park service on a grant funded by Pacific Gas & Electric to uncover untold stories of African Americans on the home front during WWII, which led to a temporary position working with the service at the age of 84.
“Being a primary source in the sharing of that history – my history – and giving shape to a new national park has been exciting and fulfilling,” Soskin said. “It has proven to bring meaning to my final years.”
In 2011, Soskin became a permanent National Park Service employee and has since been leading public programs and sharing her personal remembrances and observations at the park visitor center.
Later, in 2015, she was selected by the park service to participate in a national tree-lighting ceremony in at the White House and to introduce President Barack Obama in the nationwide telecast.
Soskin suffered a stroke in 2019 and spent months in physical therapy. She returned to work in 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
The century-old ranger grew up in a Cajun-Creole, African American family that settled in Oakland after a 1927 flood devastated New Orleans, according to her biography. Her family “followed the pattern set by the black railroad workers who discovered the West Coast while serving as sleeping car porters, waiters, and chefs for the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe railroads: they settled at the western end of their run where life might be less impacted by southern hostility.”
In a 2015 interview with the U.S. Department of the Interior, Soskin said her great-grandmother was born into slavery in 1846 and lived to be 102.
During World War II, Soskin worked in a segregated union hall as a file clerk. In 1945, she and her husband, Mel Reid, founded one of the first Black-owned music stores, Reid’s Records, which closed in 2019.
Soskin has also held positions as staff to a Berkeley city council member and as a field representative serving West Contra Costa County for two members of the California State Assembly.
Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park will celebrate Betty’s retirement on April 16. Details can be found on the park’s website.
Learn more about Soskin’s story and watch her recorded programs.
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https://www.kark.com/news/world-news/russians-leave-chernobyl-as-fighting-rages-elsewhere/
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KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian troops left the heavily contaminated Chernobyl nuclear site early Friday after returning control to the Ukrainians, authorities said, as residents in parts of eastern Ukraine braced for renewed attacks and awaited blocked supplies of food and other humanitarian relief.
Ukraine’s state power company, Energoatom, said the pullout at Chernobyl came after soldiers received “significant doses” of radiation from digging trenches in the forest in the exclusion zone around the closed plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency said it could not independently confirm the exposure claim.
In what would be the first attack of its kind, if confirmed, the governor of Russia’s Belgorod region accused Ukraine of flying helicopter gunships across the border on Friday morning and striking an oil depot.
The depot run by Russian energy giant Rosneft is located about 35 kilometers (21 miles) north of the Ukraine-Russia border. The helicopter attack set the facility ablaze, and two people were injured, according to a Telegram post by Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
“The fire at the oil depot occurred as a result of an airstrike from two helicopters of the armed forces of Ukraine, which entered the territory of Russia at a low altitude,” the governor wrote on the messaging app.
It was not immediately possible to verify the claim or images that were circulating on social media of the alleged attack. Russia has reported shelling from Ukraine before, including an incident last week that killed a military chaplain, but not an incursion of its airspace.
Elsewhere, Ukrainian forces have retaken the villages of Sloboda and Lukashivka, which are south of the besieged northern city of Chernihiv and located along one of the main supply routes between the city and Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, according to Britain’s Defense Ministry.
Ukraine has also continued to make successful but limited counterattacks to the east and northeast of Kyiv, the ministry said.
Russian forces have subjected both Chernihiv and Kyiv to continued air and ground-launched missile strikes despite Moscow officials saying Tuesday they planned to reduce military activity in those areas.
Western officials said there were growing indications Russia was using its talk of de-escalation in Ukraine as cover to regroup, resupply its forces and redeploy them for a stepped-up offensive in the eastern part of the country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russian withdrawals from the north and center of the country were just a military tactic to build up strength for new attacks in the southeast.
“We know their intentions,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address to the nation. “We know that they are moving away from those areas where we hit them in order to focus on other, very important ones where it may be difficult for us.”
“There will be battles ahead,” he added.
Ukrainian and Russian negotiators planned to resume talks via video on Friday, five weeks into a conflict that has left thousands dead and driven more than 4 million refugees from Ukraine. There seemed little faith that the two sides would find agreement on their respective demands any time soon.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said conditions weren’t yet “ripe” for a cease-fire and he wasn’t ready for a meeting with Zelenskyy until the negotiators do more work, Italian Premier Mario Draghi said after a Thursday telephone conversation with the Russian leader.
Following a plea from Zelenskyy when he addressed Australian Parliament on Thursday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that his country would send mine-resistant armored personnel carriers to Ukraine.
He said Friday the four-wheel drive Bushmaster vehicles, specifically requested by Zelenskyy, would be flown to Europe but did not say how many would be delivered or when.
“We’re not just sending our prayers, we are sending our guns, we’re sending our munitions, we’re sending our humanitarian aid, we’re sending all of this, our body armor, all of these things, and we’re going to be sending our armored vehicles, our Bushmasters, as well,” Morrison said.
In the encircled strategic port city of Mariupol, Russian forces on Thursday blocked a convoy of 45 buses attempting to evacuate people after the Russian military agreed to a limited cease-fire in the area. Only 631 people were able to get out of the city in private cars, according to the Ukrainian government.
Russian forces also seized 14 tons of food and medical supplies in a dozen buses that were trying to make it to Mariupol, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said.
The city has been the scene of some of the worst suffering of the war. Tens of thousands of residents managed to get out in the past few weeks by way of humanitarian corridors, reducing the population from a prewar 430,000 to an estimated 100,000 by last week. But continued Russian attacks have repeatedly thwarted aid and evacuation convoys.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said it had been informed by Ukraine that the Russians forces at Chernobyl had transferred control of the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster to the Ukrainians in writing. The last Russian troops left Chernobyl early Friday, the Ukrainian government agency responsible for the exclusion zone said.
Energoatom gave no details on the condition of the soldiers it said were exposed to radiation and did not say how many were affected. There was no immediate comment from the Kremlin, and the IAEA said it was seeking more information.
Russian forces seized the Chernobyl site in the opening stages of the Feb. 24 invasion, raising fears that they would cause damage or disruption that could spread radiation. The workforce at the site oversees the safe storage of spent fuel rods and the concrete-entombed ruins of the reactor that exploded in 1986.
Edwin Lyman, a nuclear expert with the U.S.-based Union of Concerned Scientists, said it “seems unlikely” a large number of troops would develop severe radiation illness, but it was impossible to know for sure without more details.
IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi was in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad on Friday for talks with senior officials there about nuclear issues in Ukraine.
In addition to concerns about Chernobyl, nine of Ukraine’s 15 operational reactors are currently in use, including two at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhya facility, the IAEA said.
Early this week, the Russians said they would significantly scale back military operations in areas around Kyiv and the northern city of Chernihiv to increase trust between the two sides and help negotiations along.
But in the Kyiv suburbs, regional governor Oleksandr Palviuk said on social media Thursday that Russian forces shelled Irpin and Makariv and that there were battles around Hostomel. Pavliuk said there were Ukrainian counterattacks and some Russian withdrawals around the suburb of Brovary to the east.
At a Ukrainian military checkpoint outside Kyiv, soldiers and officers said they don’t believe Russian forces have given up on the capital.
“What does it mean, significantly scaling down combat actions in the Kyiv and Chernihiv areas?” asked Brig. Gen. Valeriy Embakov. “Does it mean there will be 100 missiles instead of 200 missiles launched on Kyiv or something else?”
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said intelligence indicates Russia is not scaling back its military operations in Ukraine but is instead trying to regroup, resupply its forces and reinforce its offensive in the Donbas.
“Russia has repeatedly lied about its intentions,” Stoltenberg said. At the same time, he said, pressure is being kept up on Kyiv and other cities, and “we can expect additional offensive actions bringing even more suffering.”
The Donbas is the predominantly Russian-speaking industrial region where Moscow-backed separatists have been battling Ukrainian forces since 2014. In the past few days, the Kremlin, in a seeming shift in its war aims, said that its “main goal” now is gaining control of the Donbas, which consists of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including Mariupol.
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https://www.kark.com/pig-trail-nation/hogs-host-defending-national-champions-for-3-games/
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FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas will host Mississippi State, the defending national champions, this weekend for a three-game series beginning tonight at 6 p.m.
No. 2 Arkansas (19-4, 5-1) and Mississippi State (16-10, 3-3) will be televised on the SEC Network tonight. Last season the Bulldogs overcame being swept early in the season by the Hogs in Starkville to go on and win the national championship in Omaha. Dave Van Horn isn’t buying the talk this Mississippi State team isn’t capable like the one last year to do some damage in the SEC and on the national scene.
“Well I haven’t watched them but a couple of times, a few innings here and there,” Van Horn said. “I know they’re very talented. They’ve lost some games but I wouldn’t say they’re not as good. You never know how the season is going to play out. Obviously they were really good last year and they finished unbelievably well. They had some rough days last year as you remember. But it didn’t seem to bother them a bit. So we’re definitely not looking past them. They’re a great team and we’re looking forward to having a really good crowd this weekend. Probably for the first time now that basketball is over that we feel like it will be really loud here. Looking for a great atmosphere. I know the players are excited.”
The Razorbacks not only swept the Bulldogs last season in Starkville, but has won the past six games against them. The Hogs have also won 12 consecutive SEC series in a row. One reason for Arkansas’ recent surge that has saw them start with only one loss in the SEC is the emergence of Braydon Webb at the plate. Webb couldn’t buy a hit to start the season, but now is hitting .241 with a team-leading five home runs and knocked in 14 runs. Webb was always recognized as Arkansas’ best center fielder, but wasn’t hitting earlier and now has started 15 of the 19 games he has played.
“You guys have heard me say it a lot, we’ve always seen his talent,” Van Horn said. “His fall was incredible. He was probably one of our best hitters and probably led us in home runs. He’s always been a really good defender and really good arm. So I just think it’s once he got over the hump a little bit, the confidence goes up. He got two big hits against Missouri that probably helped us win those two games. I know for sure one, and then he got the big double after a couple of guys left the bases loaded with no outs. Also had base loaded two outs and he got a big hit. And you know, might not have won that game either. So I just think it’s confidence. The skill’s there. Hopefully, he’ll continue just to do what he does and play solid defense, be a tough out at the plate. Make a mistake and he can hit the ball out of the park.”
Van Horn will stick with Connor Noland, Hagen Smith and Jaxon Wiggins in the starting rotation. However, at times this season, the bullpen has struggled. In Saturday’s lone loss to Missouri the bullpen struggled to get outs.
“Well, I feel good about two or three of our guys,” Van Horn said. “That’s something that we’re definitely concerned about. And the thing is, we’ve got guys out there with really good arms that haven’t pitched very much yet. If they can make a move – a guy like Nick Griffin or maybe Nick Moten – they both threw yesterday live to hitters, mid-90s stuff with sliders. It was good to see Gabe Starks come in and pitch the other day, the other night against Arkansas-Little Rock. His stuff is really good. Got himself into a jam and pitched his way out of it. Those are three really good arms that can help us. Evan Gray hasn’t had a lot of opportunity. He threw really well yesterday. So I obviously like what I’m seeing from Brady Tygart and Zeb Vermillion. We need a couple more guys. Evan Taylor’s been outstanding. Really if you’ve got about eight guys, counting the three starters, that’s pretty much… You’ve got to have eight, seven or eight, nine. I think we went with six or seven last year and we always say we need one more guy.”
Oklahoma transfer, outfielder Jace Bohrofen, has been limited to seven games due to injuries. Van Horn had an update on him.
“He’ll be on the roster this weekend,” Van Horn said. “He hit live yesterday, took batting practice on the field on Tuesday, looked pretty good. So swinging he’s fine. Obviously throwing he’s fine because it’s his non-throwing shoulder. He hasn’t slide or dove or had any collisions. So I think he’s on his way back. I’m not sure if I’ll start him or play him or what, but I don’t know yet. We’ll see how the workout goes today.”
Bohrofen’s return gives Van Horn more options in the outfield with Webb, Zack Gregory and Chris Lanzilli both hitting well. Brady Slavens has been in a slump for much of the season after an outstanding year in 2021.
“Well, you know, you just kind of go with the guy who’s swinging it the best really,” Van Horn said. “That and if you need to make a defensive replacement. But I really feel like Jace is a pretty good outfielder. Gregory, he’s been an on-base type guy who can lay down a big bunt or gets on base with a walk or a hit by pitch and he’s a pretty good outfielder. He made a really nice play at Mizzou the other day close to the fence. Obviously I feel like Webb is our best center fielder and if he hits or not I’m probably playing him because it’s a defensive thing there. It’s like a catcher: You hope he hits but if he doesn’t he needs to catch well.
“But Lanzilli, he’s played every game I think. He’s probably been the — one of the most solid, consistent hitters that we’ve had. So Slavens has got to try to get back in the lineup, whether it’s DHing. It’s not a problem for me at all. I don’t see it as a problem. I see it as a good thing and it’s nice to have some options out there.”
Schedule
6 p.m. Friday, April 1
vs. Mississippi State – SEC Network – Listen – Live Stats
6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 2
vs. Mississippi State – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats
2 p.m. Sunday, April 3
vs. Mississippi State – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats
Tune In
Friday’s series opener against Mississippi State will broadcast on SEC Network with Mike Morgan (play-by-play) and Mike Rooney (analyst) on the call. Saturday and Sunday’s games will stream on SEC Network+ with Josh Haley and Troy Eklund handling play-by-play and analyst duties, respectively.
Fans can catch all the action through the ESPN app on smartphones, computers and tablets or via Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.
The series can also be heard on the Razorback Sports Network from Learfield/IMG, including locally in Fayetteville on 92.1 FM, with Phil Elson (play-by-play) and Razorback great Bubba Carpenter (analyst) on the call. A full list of radio affiliates is available here.
Matchups
Game 1
Mississippi State RHP Preston Johnson (2-1, 3.41 ERA) vs. Arkansas RHP Connor Noland (3-1, 3.41 ERA)
Game 2
Mississippi State RHP Parker Stinnett (3-0, 4.67 ERA) vs. Arkansas LHP Hagen Smith (4-1, 3.45 ERA)
Game 3
Mississippi State RHP Cade Smith (4-1, 2.91 ERA) vs. Arkansas RHP Jaxon Wiggins (4-0, 3.71 ERA)
Series History
Since 1960, Arkansas is 52-56 all-time against Mississippi State. The Razorbacks have had much of their success at home, however, holding a 25-18 advantage over the Bulldogs in games played in Fayetteville.
Arkansas is on a six-game winning streak against Mississippi State, thanks in part to a three-game series sweep of the Bulldogs last season in Starkville. The Hogs have won their last six home series against the Bulldogs, including sweeps in the 2017 and 2019 seasons.
Leading Off
- Arkansas won its 12th consecutive SEC series last weekend at Mizzou. Vanderbilt (2012-14) and Florida (2017-18) hold the record for most consecutive SEC series wins (15).
- Dave Van Horn earned his 300th SEC win last Sunday on the road at Mizzou to become one of only five head coaches in history to reach the milestone. Mississippi State/Georgia’s Ron Polk, Ole Miss’ Mike Bianco, LSU’s Skip Bertman and Vanderbilt’s Tim Corbin also have 300 or more career SEC wins to their name.
- The series opener between Arkansas and Mississippi State falls on April 1, also known as April Fools’ Day. Arkansas is 21-16 all-time on the day, including 11-4 at home.
- Arkansas is ranked 12th nationally in hits allowed per nine innings (7.3), 13th in strikeouts per nine innings (11.2) and 16th in earned run average (3.46).
- Defensively, Arkansas has been superb with a .986 fielding percentage, ranking first in the SEC and fifth nationally.
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https://www.kark.com/pig-trail-nation/kane-archer-talks-razorbacks-following-visit/
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Our Cause: In 2015 over two centuries old land is needed just three kilomete from the most significant cultural institution from Timuera Region “Monaco. (Fundamental building” is 4 m under grade.) It will create space to house contemporary Timuerer artifacts (dronamuseum.pl site & d.w.) at their true source/ place.\nFor all people that believe in this project there are several possibilities connected with project. They FAYETTEVILLE — Greenwood Class of 2026 quarterback Kane Archer and his father Adam spent Thursday afternoon at Arkansas’ fifth spring football practice.
Archer, 6-1, 187, isn’t your normal Class of 2026 football prospect. He already has offers from Arkansas, Missouri and Michigan and is very worthy of each of those and more. Following the visit Archer talked about how it went.
“It was awesome,” Archer said. “All the coaches were talking to me. Everybody was nice, everybody was talking. I got a picture with James Jointer, KJ Jefferson, Kendal Briles and (Sam) Pittman. All of them.”
Archer has visited Arkansas previously and attended the Razorbacks victory over Texas last season. He was offered by Arkansas on Sept. 14. He enjoyed watching Briles and the coaching staff work with Jefferson and the other quarterbacks.
“It’s awesome,” Archer said. “They do a bunch of drills where that are not just going through it they all four of them try to make it competitive for each other. They’re trying to get better every single rep and I love that Coach Briles is so into the practice. He’s not being lazy. He’s trying to get his quarterbacks better every rep.”
Archer is impressed with Jefferson and how he helped lead to the Razorbacks to a 9-4 season in 2021 that included him getting MVP at the Outback Bowl.
“He’s awesome,” Archer said. “He’s a big fellow. He runs a lot. He can throw deep. He’s a good guy.”
Archer has seen some players from Greenwood come to Arkansas and excel with outstanding careers. That and being from inside the state has him loving the Razorbacks offered him early on.
“All the people around it are so into it,” Archer said. “The culture is amazing. The school and everybody has bought into everything they are doing. They’re trying to build the program back up. Its awesome. It’s my home state. I love it.”
The 9-4 season showed Archer that Pittman, Briles and the Hogs are heading in the right direction after some seasons prior to this staff that were lackluster.
“Them turning around the program,” Archer said. “If I can go to Arkansas I want to go to Arkansas. It’s my home state. The program is going uphill right now. Coming off some losing seasons then going 9-4 Coach Pittman is doing an amazing (job) with the program. Kendal Briles, Barry Odom and they are doing awesome. If I can stay in my home town and the program doing good that would be awesome.”
A couple of former Razorbacks stand out to Archer including former Greenwood great wide receiver Drew Morgan who had a great career in Fayetteville.
“Drew Morgan was a Greenwood-raised kid,” Archer said. “I was a little young, but he’s one who has came back around and helped. Alex Collins, one game I came to Arkansas he went off. Now he’s switching the teams in the league. I’m keeping up with him and that’s pretty cool.”
Click here for Archer’s first drive at the Under Armour Game.
Click here for photo with KJ Jefferson.
Click here for story on Arkansas offering Archer.
Click here for Archer leading Greenwood past Shiloh Christian.
Click here for Archer joining Pig Trail Nation on Sunday recruiting segment.
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HONOLULU (AP) — A Hawaii judge has granted a couple’s request for a temporary restraining order against Ezra Miller, an actor known for playing “The Flash” in “Justice League” films.
The couple filed a petition for a temporary restraining order Tuesday, alleging that Miller burst into their bedroom and threatened them in Hilo, a small town on the Big Island. The petition also accused Miller of stealing some of their belongings, including a passport and wallet.
The judge’s order, filed in court Wednesday, said it was necessary to grant the couple’s petition to prevent harassment.
Days earlier, Miller allegedly harassed patrons at a karaoke bar. Late Sunday, police were called to Margarita Village in Hilo, where they said Miller yelled obscenities, grabbed a mic from a singing woman and lunged at a man playing darts.
“The bar owner asked Miller to calm down several times to no avail,” police said in a news release.
Miller was arrested at the bar shortly after midnight Monday and charged with disorderly conduct and harassment. Miller was released on $500 bail.
Neither Miller nor the actor’s representatives could immediately be reached for comment Thursday.
Miller is ordered to appear at a court hearing for the temporary restraining order against harassment in Hilo on April 13.
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Grammysmight be missing stars like Drake, The Weeknd and Kanye West as a performer, but the biggest night in music could still shine bright on the Las Vegas Strip.
The ceremony relocated to Las Vegas for the first-time ever with several artists who could have epic nights including Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo and Jon Batiste. The awards shifted from Los Angeles because of the rising COVID-19 cases and omicron variant in January. Sunday’s show will air live beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern on CBS and the Paramount+ streaming service.
Host Trevor Noah calls Las Vegas a “perfect place to have a celebration” with fans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Last year, the Grammys had a music festival vibe with parts of the show held outdoors in an intimate in-person setting with music artists mixed with pre-taped performances.
Noah expects an entertaining show with several performers set to hit the stage including Rodrigo, Eilish, Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow, Brandi Carlile, Batiste, Silk Sonic, H.E.R., Chris Stapleton, Leslie Odom Jr. and Brothers Osborne. He said the awards will be a celebration of the music industry coming back to life.
“There’s an element of this (show) that’s like a music camp,” Noah said. “I think it’s going to bring a different energy, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
It’s still unclear whether the Foo Fighters will take the stage following the recent death of its drummer Taylor Hawkins. The rock band – nominated for three Grammys – is scheduled to perform during the ceremony, but they recently canceled all upcoming concert dates.
The Grammys will continue to move forward without West, known as Ye, after news surfaced earlier this month that he wouldn’t perform at the show because of his “concerning online behavior.” The Weeknd is still boycotting the awards and Drake said he wanted no part in competing for a Grammy, withdrawing his two nominations.
The three popular performers will be missed, but the show will certainly go on.
The multitalented Jon Batiste enters the Grammys as the leading nominee with 11in a variety of genres including R&B, jazz, American roots music, classical and music video. Justin Bieber, Doja Cat and H.E.R. are tied for the second-most nominations with eight apiece.
The awards will introduce its expanded 10 nominees in three major genres — record, album and song of the year. The growing categories will make the competition stronger but could make choosing a winner a lot tougher.
For album of the year, the Recording Academy expanded the category’s eligibility for any featured artists, producers, songwriters and engineers — even if the music creator co-wrote one song on the project. That means there could be a large amount of winners on stage, depending on who wins.
For example, if Bieber’s “Justice” wins at the show, more than 50 creators could pack the stage. The same could be said for Ye, Doja Cat and H.E.R., who have a plethora of contributors.
But Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever” features songs written by the young star and her brother Finneas, who produced all of her tracks. Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga and Rodrigo are sitting in the same boat.
Harvey Mason jr., the academy’s CEO, said the number of creators in a category won’t dictate the winner.
Either way, Noah said he doesn’t mind.
“It’ll be great to see that moment,” he said. “You get to be on stage and celebrated for your work. I’m excited for that. I want to see 25 people on stage celebrating and sharing the love and joy for something they’ve done.”
Before the awards, the academy will hold a couple events including a tribute to Joni Mitchell at the MusiCares Person of the Yearon Friday night. Chaka Khan, Cyndi Lauper, Billy Porter and Beck are among those expected to perform.
On Saturday, Grammy winner John Legend will be honored during the academy’s Black Music Collective. The singer will receive his first-ever Recording Academy Global Impact Award for his personal and professional achievements in the music industry.
Legend will be celebrated with a performance by Summer Walker, D-Nice and MC Lyte as the voice for the evening. Jimmy Jam will be making remarks.
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NEW YORK (AP) — Korean pop star Luna is ready to make her Broadway debut this fall in the musical “KPOP” and she’s already dreaming of who might be there on opening night — like BTS.
“I would be thankful if they showed up on opening night,” Luna told The Associated Press through her translator.
She also wants fans and other stars to show up, too.
“This is New York City, it’s got its own celebrities and also audiences who would enjoy this. So, I would love to see New York celebrities, as well as Hollywood celebrities,” Luna said.
Luna was introduced at a press event for the musical Wednesday at the Korean Cultural Center in New York.
Luna began her musical career as a member of the popular K-pop group f(x) before becoming a solo artist. Her latest single, “Madonna,” was released in September.
Her stage resume includes Korean productions of “In the Heights” and “Mamma Mia,” and she’s excited to take her talents to Broadway.
“I have always loved doing all those ever since I was a young child, and I even liked creating some routines,” Luna said.
She added: “For this musical, I get to dance while I sing while I act, that is so exciting, and I cannot wait to do this.”
“KPOP” tells the story of global superstars preparing for a special one-night only concert, when one singer’s inner struggle threatens to dismantle one of the biggest labels in the industry.
The multimedia experience explores the relentless discipline, raw talent, and commercial ambition behind the international phenomenon.
The musical has a story by Jason Kim and music by Helen Park, who has worked on the show for the past eight years. She said she is excited that audiences will finally get to experience her favorite music genre.
“I know recently a K-pop has been really blowing up and a lot of people love the genre. But when we started writing this musical in back in 2014, I was so eager for the world to see what I see. And I wanted to share it with the world in a language that everyone can understand,” she said.
“I think musical theater is that vessel for people to hear and witness other people’s stories and feel the emotions. I really wanted the show to be doing that with the genre that I love so much,” Park said.
“KPOP” begins previews Oct. 13 at the Circle in the Square Theatre, with an opening night scheduled for Nov. 20.
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oscars producer Will Packer said Los Angeles police were ready to arrest Will Smith after Smith slapped Chris Rock on the Academy Awards stage.
“They were saying, you know, this is battery, was a word they used in that moment,” Packer said in a clip released by ABC News Thursday night of an interview he gave to “Good Morning America.” “They said we will go get him. We are prepared. We’re prepared to get him right now. You can press charges, we can arrest him. They were laying out the options.”
But Packer said Rock was “very dismissive” of the idea.
“He was like, ‘No, no, no, I’m fine,” Packer said. “And even to the point where I said, ‘Rock, let them finish.’ The LAPD officers finished laying out what his options were and they said, ‘Would you like us to take any action?’ And he said no.”
The LAPD said in a statement after Sunday night’s ceremony that they were aware of the incident, and that Rock had declined to file a police report. The department declined comment Thursday on Packer’s interview.
In the longer version on “Good Morning America,” Parker said he initially believed the slap was an orchestrated bit. “I thought it was part of something that Chris and Will were doing on their own. I thought it was a bit. I wasn’t concerned at all.”
Packer said he went up to Rock after the incident. “I said, ‘Did he really hit you?’” the producer asked Rock. “And he looked at me and he goes, ‘Yeah, I just took a punch from Muhammad Ali,’ as only Chris can. He was immediately in joke mode, but you could tell that he was very much still in shock.”
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences met Wednesday to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Smith for violations against the group’s standards of conduct. Smith could be suspended, expelled or otherwise sanctioned.
The academy said in a statement that “Mr. Smith’s actions at the 94th Oscars were a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television.”
Without giving specifics, the academy said Smith was asked to leave the ceremony at the Dolby Theatre, but refused to do so.
Smith strode from his front row seat on to the stage and slapped Rock after a joke Rock made about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, when he was on stage to present the Oscar for best documentary.
On Monday, Smith issued an apology to Rock, the academy and to viewers, saying “I was out of line and I was wrong.”
The academy said Smith has the opportunity to defend himself in a written response before the board meets again on April 18.
Rock publicly addressed the incident for the first time, but only briefly, at the beginning of a standup show Wednesday night in Boston, where he was greeted by a thunderous standing ovation. He said “I’m still kind of processing what happened.”
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Follow AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andyjamesdalton
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When Will Smith slapped Chris Rock over an Oscars ceremony punchline, other comedians felt the sting.
“I know Chris and I know what it’s like to be on a stage in front of an audience that doesn’t like your material,” said stand-up comedian Judy Gold. “But to be physically assaulted, that’s a whole other thing. It felt like every comedian was smacked across the face. It really felt like that.”
Smith’s act comes during a stressful time for comedy. While boundaries for humor constantly shift — think George Carlin’s 1972 monologue on seven so-called “dirty words” banned by TV — comics say they have felt increased pushback from audiences and society. Comedy great Dave Chappelle drew sharpcriticism last year for what some deemed anti-transgender humor in his Netflix special “The Closer.” Kathy Griffin’s careerwas derailed in 2017 when she was photographed holding a mock-up of former President Donald Trump’s head.
Some comedians expressed concern that Smith’s behavior might embolden other displeased audience members.
“No one went up to Chris Rock and said, ‘Are you OK?’” Sheryl Underwood, co-host of “The Talk,” said on the show Tuesday. “I’m going to say this as a comic, I am afraid now to get on a stage, because in my third show, when everyone’s been drinking, if you don’t like my joke, do you now believe that you can get up and slap me? There’s got to be accountability quicker.”
Griffin tweeted that “now we all have to worry about who wants to be the next Will Smith in comedy clubs and theaters.”
“Which is the worst crime here?” veteran comedian Gilbert Gottfried said in an interview with The Associated Press. “Chris Rock being physically assaulted? Or Chris Rock making a joke? That’s it, pure and simple. He made a joke.”
Dean Obeidallah, a lawyer and stand-up comic who hosts a show on the SiriusXM Progress channel, said there is never “a place for a violent response to a joke” but doubted there would be copycat behavior. In his time in comedy clubs, he’s seen yelling, screaming and, once, a glass thrown at somebody. But he’s never seen a punch thrown, nor a comedian slapped.
“If someone were to strike a comedian, they’re going to be prosecuted criminally. They don’t have the privilege that Will Smith has,” Obeidallah said.
The Los Angeles Police Department said Sunday that it was aware of the incident, but Rock had declined to file a police report. Smith stayed through the rest of the ceremony Sunday and received the best-actor Oscar.
Gold said she’s been confronted but never struck, and she knows other female comedians have faced difficult circumstances. “People have been getting on stage, people have thrown things,” she said.
Comedian-actor Yamaneika Saunders calls Smith’s behavior upsetting and Sunday a sad day for ”two beloved Black men in entertainment.” She also views what happened through the lens of a “Black woman in comedy.”
“I’m constantly being threatened….by some man who doesn’t like some (expletive) I said about being a woman, some white guy who doesn’t like some (expletive) I said about being Black,” she said.
Insult humor isn’t new to high-profile ceremonies, which call on comics to liven up what can be tedious events. Ricky Gervais made a meal of celebrities at successive Golden Globe ceremonies, and they grin — or grimace — and bear it. The most famous bad sport: Trump at the 2011 White House correspondents’ dinner, where he sat stone-faced during then-President Barack Obama’s extended ribbing of him.
Rock wasn’t the first to tweak Smith or wife Jada Pinkett Smith at Sunday’s Oscars. Ceremony co-host Regina Hall made what appeared to be a veiled joke about their marriage in trying, unsuccessfully, to draw Smith into a comedy bit.
Rock’s wisecrack was targeted at Pinkett Smith. “Jada, I love you. ‘G.I. Jane 2,’ can’t wait to see it,” the comedian said to Pinkett Smith, whose close-shaven head looked similar to Demi Moore’s in the 1997 movie. Whether Rock was aware that she has a hair-loss condition, alopecia, is unknown, but Smith reacted with the smack and an angry warning to “keep my wife’s name out your (expletive) mouth!”
A tearful Smith later accepted the top acting award for “King Richard,” his somewhat remorseful speech eliciting a standing ovation from the Dolby Theatre crowd. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has since condemned Smith’s attack and said it’s reviewing the matter.
Whatever the result, his actions indelibly marred the ceremony and ignited discussions about violence, toxic masculinity and the advantages of fame. Smith, who’d conspicuously left Rock out of his remarks Sunday, apologized to the comic and decried “violence in all of its forms” in a statement the next day issued by his publicist and posted on Instagram.
Pinkett Smith’s first public comment came in an Instagram post in which she said, “This is a season for healing and I’m here for it.”Rock referred briefly to the slap at a comedy show Wednesday in Boston, saying he was “still kind of processing what happened.” He appeared to become emotional as the audience gave him several standing ovations.
Whatever pushback comedians may encounter on stage, verbal or physical, they have to guard against censoring themselves to avoid it — and they will, said Obeidallah: “They shouldn’t change, and there’s nothing about this that tells me that they will change.”
They can’t because their role goes beyond providing laughs, as comedians see it.
“We are the truth tellers. We speak truth to power,” said Gold, author of the 2020 book, “Yes, I Can Say That: When They Come for the Comedians, We Are All in Trouble.”
Gottfried cites a favorite Carlin quote — “It’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately” — and can’t resist serving up a punchline.
“If Will Smith is reading this, dear God, please don’t come to my shows,” he said.
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AP Television Writer Lynn Elber reported from Los Angeles, AP Media Writer David Bauder from New York.
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MILWAUKEE (AP)Former Miami Marlins and Detroit Tigers pitcher Jose Urena has signed a $1.25 million, one-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers
The NL Central champion Brewers announced the signing Tuesday as a minor league contract and immediately selected him to the major league roster.
He can earn $1.55 million based on starts: $50,000 for five, $100,000 for 10, $200,000 for 15, $300,000 for 20, $400,000 for 25 and $500,000 for 30. Urena can earn $1.05 million for relief appearances: $50,000 for 20, $100,000 for 30, $150,000 for 40, $200,000 for 50, $250,000 for 60 and $300,000 for 70.
He would have a $250,000 salary if assigned to the minir leagues.
Urena, 30, went 4-8 with a 5.81 ERA for the Tigers last season in 26 appearances, including 18 starts. The right-hander had 67 strikeouts and 42 walks in 100 2/3 innings.
He owns a 36-54 career record with a 4.77 ERA, and 473 strikeouts and 250 walks in 697 2/3 innings. Urena pitched for the Marlins from 2015-20.
Urena’s best seasons came in 2017 and 2018. He went 14-7 with a 3.82 ERA in 2017 and was 9-12 with a 3.98 ERA in 2018.
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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports
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VENICE, Fla. (AP)Ten-year veteran Brock Holt ended his bid to win a bench spot with the Atlanta Braves on Thursday when he requested and was granted his release.
Holt, 33, signed with Atlanta on a minor league deal and was invited to the major league camp. He was competing with versatile veteran Phil Gosselin and Pat Valaika for a utility position.
The Braves also optioned left-hander Dylan Lee, who made a surprise start as an opener in last season’s World Series Game 4 against Houston, a 3-2 comeback win, and outfielder Travis Demeritte to Triple-A Gwinnett. Lee, 27, made history as the first pitcher to make his first major league start in the World Series.
Holt hit .209 with two homers and 23 RBIs in 76 games with Texas in 2021. He made his major league debut with Pittsburgh in 2012 before playing seven seasons with the Boston Red Sox.
Holt played every infield and outfield position with the Red Sox but was primarily a third baseman with the Rangers. He has a .262 career batting average in 10 seasons.
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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports
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GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP)The pain was sharp and familiar. It reminded David Price of where he has been. It also told him he still might be able to be the pitcher the Los Angeles Dodgers thought they had nearly 26 months ago.
Price’s quiet spring began the way others have in the five-time All-Star’s 13-year career: His left elbow hurt after his first live batting practice a couple of weeks ago, and he knew the resumption of an old routine was underway.
”Always the elbow,” Price said. ”It happens every year, all the way back to 2010. Now, everything feels good – arm, elbow and shoulder.”
It was good enough to impress Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and anybody else who watched Price make his first spring appearance against Cleveland on Wednesday night. The left-hander worked only an inning, but he had two strikeouts and was clocked at 93 mph.
In an abbreviated camp, it wasn’t enough to determine his role. It did remind the Dodgers that Price is still in the mix.
From starter to bullpen, Price’s role with the Dodgers has been uncertain since they acquired the 2012 American League Cy Young Award winner from the Boston Red Sox in a three-team deal that included right-fielder Mookie Betts in February 2020.
Price didn’t pitch at all that year, opting out because of concerns about COVID-19. In 2021, he bounced between the starting rotation and the bullpen with 11 starts and 28 appearances as a reliever. His overall ERA was 4.03.
He arrived at camp in mid-March ready to do anything. Then Roberts mentioned him as a possible starter.
”I’m preparing that way, yeah,” said Price, who is in the final year of a seven-year, $217 million contract. ”I think it’d be silly of me to prepare to be a reliever if I’m asked to start. So, I’m preparing to be a starter until otherwise.”
Otherwise looks to be the case. Roberts projects his starting rotation will be Walker Buehler, Julio Urias, Clayton Kershaw, Andrew Heaney and Tony Gonsolin. He cautioned that nothing is set in stone, mostly because pitchers were limited in a camp cut short by major league baseball’s lockout.
The Dodgers signed career starter Tyler Anderson in mid-March, just in case. As for Price, Roberts said: ”I just think that David, right now, is not an option in the sense of, he’s not built up. It just doesn’t seem feasible right now.”
The 36-year-old left-hander could still have an immediate role, like one inning in relief early in the season, Roberts said, and moving up to multiple innings as he gets stronger.
”I’m confident in David in any role,” Roberts said. ”I like his versatility. The role doesn’t matter. It’s just knowing that he’s going to pitch valuable innings in whatever role.”
NOTES
Cody Bellinger took batting practice Thursday on the minor-league side of the Dodgers’ camp. The 2019 National League MVP is 4 for 27 with 17 strikeouts this spring.
”I wouldn’t say I’m alarmed,” Roberts said. ”I think `progressing’ is the word. We’ve got to continue to log at-bats to make him feel as comfortable as possible when the season starts.”
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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports
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PHOENIX (AP)Hunter Renfroe grabbed a chair near his locker in Milwaukee’s clubhouse. Stopping periodically to finish his breakfast, he chatted with Christian Yelich, Corbin Burnes and a few more of his teammates as they joined the crowd at his table.
Yup, Renfroe looks quite comfortable in his first spring training with the Brewers after he was acquired in a Dec. 1 trade with the Boston Red Sox. It helps that Renfroe was already very familiar with several of his new teammates long before the deal was completed.
”I was expecting to go back to Boston. I really was,” Renfroe said Thursday. ”I enjoyed my time there. Obviously Alex Cora was incredible to play for, and learned a lot from him that I can move forward in my career and take with me.
”But yeah, I was little bit surprised when it happened, but once I heard that hey, you were traded to the Brewers, I was like `Great, that’s where I wanted to be.”’
Milwaukee is happy to have Renfroe, too. The reigning NL Central champions are counting on the 30-year-old Mississippi native to help replace the production that departed when Avisail Garcia left for the Marlins and Eduardo Escobar went to the Mets in free agency.
Renfroe, who broke into the majors with San Diego in 2016, hit .259 with 31 homers and a career-high 96 RBIs in his lone season with Boston, helping the Red Sox get to the AL Championship Series. He also had a career-high 16 outfield assists, tied for the major league lead.
Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said Renfroe has fit right in, and he marveled at the slugger’s power.
”He could win a home run derby. I mean, it’s easy for him to do it,” Counsell said. ”He doesn’t have to put a lot of effort into it and it can go a long way.”
The Brewers acquired Renfroe from the Red Sox for outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. and minor league infielders David Hamilton and Alex Binelas.
The move reunited Renfroe with right-hander Brandon Woodruff, a former teammate at Mississippi State. Renfroe also played with Luis Urias, Eric Lauer, Luis Perdomo, Jace Peterson while he was in San Diego’s organization, and he also was teammates with Willy Adames and Mike Brosseau when he played for Tampa Bay during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
Woodruff also is a Mississippi native who likes the outdoors – another reason why Renfroe is a natural match for Milwaukee.
”I hope we can find a place for sure to try to do some, getting outdoors, fishing, stuff like that,” Renfroe said.
Renfroe has spent much of his career in right field, but he has been working some at first base during spring training. He played five innings at the position during Wednesday’s 4-2 exhibition loss to San Diego.
Milwaukee has Rowdy Tellez at first after he was acquired in a July trade with Toronto.
”They asked me because I played a little bit of first base with the Rays,” Renfroe said. ”Just kind of giving some options. Just kind of a last resort type of deal, if Rowdy’s hurt or something and we may need a righty bat in there.”
While Renfroe could provide another option for Counsell at first, third base could be an issue for the Brewers at the start of the season.
Urias’ recovery from a quad injury is ”going slower than expected,” Counsell said, and he will have to play some minor league rehab games before returning to the team.
The 24-year-old Urias set career highs with a .249 batting average, 23 homers and 75 RBIs in 150 games last year.
”Opening day, that’s out. I think that frankly the first homestand is probably very questionable,” Counsell said. ”I think we’re hopeful it’ll be somewhere on the second road trip. That’s probably where we’re trending to.”
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Jay Cohen can be reached at https://twitter.com/jcohenap
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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports
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PEORIA, Ariz. (AP)Shortstop CJ Abrams has used extended playing time this spring to display the tools that made him San Diego’s first-round choice in the 2019 draft.
It might just pay off with a spot on the opening day roster.
The Padres have already said they plan to use Kim Ha-seong to fill in for superstar shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., who is expected to be out until at least mid-June due to a broken left wrist.
That doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t have a spot for Abrams.
The 21-year-old Abrams hit home runs on consecutive days on the first weekend of spring training games and was hitting .304 with an .899 OPS in his first 23 at-bats.
He has often hit in the leadoff spot, and he has played both his primary position at shortstop and at second base. The Padres also are considering giving Abrams some reps in the outfield as spring winds down because of their glaring lack of depth there.
”He does a little bit of everything is what he does,” manager Bob Melvin said. ”The more we see of CJ, the more we like him. Very athletic. Probably isn’t anything he couldn’t do. It’s nice to be able to get him some reps here and see what he can do.”
Kim has been tapped as Tatis’ presumptive replacement after playing three infield positions last season. He also started spring well, with six hits in his first 15 at-bats, including a double and a stolen base.
Abrams’ limited experience – 348 plate appearances – could persuade the Padres that development rather than immediate immersion is the better long-term route.
An injury set Abrams back in 2021. He missed the second half of the season at Double-A San Antonio after suffering a fractured tibia when he collided with a teammate as they attempted to field a ground ball up the middle.
At the same time, San Diego has not been hesitant to promote top young talent. Tatis was 20 when he made his major league debut in 2019, making the team out of spring training.
Melvin acknowledged the fine line the Padres walk.
”There may be a need,” Melvin said of keeping Abrams on the opening day roster. ”There may be a need for development. That’s what we are trying to get a handle on during spring.”
Whatever happens, Padres veterans have seen a lot to like in Abrams, who spent time with the major league players during the 2020 summer camp.
”He’s going about his business the right way, he really is. Getting here early. Putting his work in,” first baseman Eric Hosmer said. ”A lot of young players when they come up here they are kind of shy, kind of timid, But he is soaking in all the information. He’s really listening. He’s performing. He’s a strong guy. He definitely does have pop.”
Abrams made his presence felt early. He had two hits, including a two-run homer, during his second start of the spring on March 19.
As a pinch-hitter on a blustery afternoon the following day, the left-handed hitter lined a home run to left field.
”I feel I’m ready,” Abrams said after his first homer. ”This camp is an opportunity to get better, show what I have. Wherever I’m needed, I can play. All back healthy. Ready to go.”
Abrams appears just as long on confidence, a trait Melvin has noticed and appreciates.
”There is a lot of ability, but there is a lot of desire in him,” Melvin said. ”He is very, very confident at a young age. That might be his best attribute, how confident he is as a player.”
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GOODYEAR, Arizona (AP)Shane Bieber will throw the first pitch for the Cleveland Guardians.
As expected, Bieber will start the season opener on April 7 at the Kansas City Royals. Manager Terry Francona made the formal announcement Thursday after speaking to the right-hander, who missed three months last season with a shoulder strain.
Bieber will be the 12th pitcher in franchise history to make three consecutive opening-day starts.
The 26-year-old went 7-4 with a 3.17 ERA last season, but made only 16 starts because of the shoulder injury. He’s back to 100% now, but Francona wanted to double check Bieber was set given the accelerated, abbreviated spring training due to the lockout.
”We just wanted to make sure that he was ready and if we needed to alter it, because the way we’re coming into the season isn’t the way guys pitched,” Francona said. ”It’s just because it’s a short spring and we need to give them the best chance to be as ready as they can be.”
Bieber has split his two previous opening-day starts. He struck out 14 in a win over the Royals in 2020 on his way to winning the Cy Young. Last year, he struck out 12 in a loss to the Detroit Tigers.
Francona hasn’t set his rotation for the season’s first week.
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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports
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NEW YORK (AP) — Marjorie Miller, vice president and global enterprise editor at The Associated Press, has been named as the new administrator of the Pulitzer Prizes.
Miller spent 27 years at the Los Angeles Times as a correspondent in Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. She was the newspaper’s foreign editor when it won a Pulitzer Prize for Russia coverage and was a finalist for Iraq War coverage.
She joined AP in 2010 as the regional editor for Latin America, where her team produced award-winning coverage of cartel violence. In 2015, she moved to New York to help lead daily news coverage and enterprise. Two years later she became the founding leader of AP’s Global Enterprise Team, overseeing reporting projects in all formats, including work from Yemen that won the 2019 Pulitzer for International Reporting.
Her appointment was announced Thursday by the Pulitzer Prize Board and by Lee C. Bollinger, president of Columbia University, which hosts the prestigious journalism awards.
“I cannot think of a better steward for the Pulitzer Prizes, which celebrate excellence in journalism, arts, and letters and recognize the powerful, public service role they play in promoting tolerance, advancing the search for truth, and protecting the free exchange of information and ideas,” Bollinger said.
Miller succeeds acting administrator Edward Kliment, who will stay on as Miller’s deputy. She begins her new role on April 11.
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers have moved to the brink of shaking hands on a scaled-back bipartisan compromise providing a fresh $10 billion to combat COVID-19, a deal that could set up final congressional approval next week.
The price tag was down from an earlier $15.6 billion agreement between the two parties that collapsed weeks ago after House Democrats rejected cutting unused pandemic aid to states to help pay for it. President Joe Biden requested $22.5 billion in early March. With leaders hoping to move the package through Congress quickly, the lowered cost seemed to reflect both parties’ calculations that agreeing soon to additional savings would be too hard.
The effort, which would finance steps like vaccines, treatments and tests, comes as Bidenand other Democrats have warned the government is running out of moneyto counter the pandemic. At the same time, the more transmissible omicron variant BA.2 has been spreading quickly in the U.S. and abroad.
“We’ve reached an agreement in principle on all the spending and all of the offsets,” Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, the lead Republican bargainer, told reporters Thursday, using Washington-speak for savings. “It’s entirely balanced by offsets.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and others were more circumspect.
“We are getting close to a final agreement that would garner bipartisan support,” Schumer said on the Senate floor. He said lawmakers were still finalizing the bill’s components and language, and awaiting a cost estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., chair of the Senate health committee and another bargainer, said, “I’m hoping,” when asked about Romney’s assessment.
Once clinched, an agreement would represent a semblance of bipartisan cooperation in battling the pandemic that dissolved a year ago, when a far larger, $1.9 trillion measure proposed by the new president cleared Congress with only Democratic votes. That bill was laden with spending to help struggling families, businesses and communities, while this one would be aimed exclusively at public health.
Many Republicans have been willing to go along with the new expenditures but have insisted on paying for them with unspent funds from previous bills Congress has enacted to address the pandemic.
Half the new measure’s $10 billion would be used for treatments, said Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., who has helped negotiate the agreement. He said top federal health officials would be given wide discretion on spending the rest of it but it would include research and other steps for battling the disease, which has killed around 975,000 Americans and millions across the world.
Romney and others said savings the two parties had agreed to for the new bill would not include the cuts in state assistance that House Democrats opposed. He said some unused funds would be culled from another pandemic program that gives state and local governments funds for grants to local businesses.
Blunt said both sides had also agreed to savings that include pulling back an unspent $2.2 billion for aiding entertainment venues closed during the pandemic and more than $2 billion still available for assisting aviation manufacturing.
Romney said the $10 billion might include $1 billion for vaccines, treatments and other support for countries overseas. Blunt said that figure seemed unresolved. One third of the earlier, $15.6 billion measure had been slated to go abroad.
The lowered figure for assisting other countries encountered opposition in the House, where some Democrats wanted to boost the figure. Epidemiologists have cited the need to vaccinate more people around the world and reduce the virus’ opportunities for spinning off new variants.
“It’s a problem,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters. “It’s a shame.”
Kate Bedingfield, White House communications director, said officials were “very hopeful” an agreement would be reached and prodded lawmakers to include funds to help other countries cope with the disease.
“We’re not going to be able to put this pandemic behind us until we stop the spread and proliferation of new variants globally,” Bedingfield said.
Leaders hope Congress can approve the legislation before lawmakers leave for a spring recess after next week.
Republicans have leverage in the Democratic-controlled, 50-50 Senate because 60 votes are needed to pass most major bills. Romney and Blunt both said they believed a finalized package they described would attract significantly more than the 10 GOP votes needed.
Since the pandemic began, Congress has approved more than $5 trillion to address the economic and health crises it produced. Only a small fraction of that has been for public health programs like vaccines.
In an interview earlier Thursday with Punchbowl News, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the measure’s price tag seemed to have fallen to $10 billion because Democrats weren’t agreeing to additional savings.
Minutes later, Schumer took to the Senate floor and mentioned no figures but suggested its size could fall.
“I’m pleading with my Republican colleagues, join us,” Schumer said. “We want more than you do, but we have to get something done. We have to get something done.”
Asked if he thought an agreement could be reached before lawmakers’ recess, McConnell said, “We’ll see. Hope so.”
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Associated Press writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report.
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DALLAS (AP) — President Joe Biden is again dipping into the nation’s petroleum stockpile to try to corral rising energy prices.
The White House announced Thursday that Biden ordered the daily release of 1 million barrels of oil from the strategic petroleum reserve for the next six months. Biden will also ask Congress to penalize oil and gas companies that lease public land but aren’t producing energy.
The administration hopes that tapping the petroleum reserve will buy time and tamp down gasoline prices long enough until domestic producers can boost output.
Global oil prices were rising even before Russia invaded Ukraine in February. When Biden announced a ban on Russian oil imports in early March, he acknowledged it would come at a cost to American consumers.
This is the third time Biden has turned to the strategic petroleum reserve in a little over four months. Back in November, he ordered the release of 50 million barrels of oil. Then, in his state of the union speech in March, Biden announced another 30 million barrels as part of a multi-nation effort to boost the oil supply.
Tapping the reserve among the few things a president can do alone to try to control inflation, which makes Americans poorer and often creates a political liability for the party in control of the White House.
Here is a look at what’s involved:
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WHAT IS THE PETROLEUM RESERVE?
America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve is a collection of underground salt caverns in Texas and Louisiana that can hold more than 700 million barrels of oil, although it is not currently full. The reserve held about 568 million barrels last week, down from more than 650 million barrels in mid-2021, according to the U.S. Energy Department.
The reserve was created after the 1970s Arab oil embargo to give the United States a supply that could be used in an emergency.
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WHY IS IT USED?
The U.S. now exports more oil than it imports, but the reserve remains and has been tapped for various reasons, from offsetting the impact of hurricanes and ship-channel closings to raising money for deficit reduction.
In 1991, President George H.W. Bush authorized withdrawing nearly 34 million barrels during the Gulf War, although only 17 million barrels were used. In 2011, President Barack Obama approved the release of 30 million barrels to offset the disruption of supply from Libya.
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HOW DO THEY GET THE OIL OUT?
Oil is lighter than water — that’s why disasters like those caused by the Exxon Valdez tanker and the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig create slicks on the surface. To remove oil from the reserves, water is pumped into the salt caverns, making the crude float to the surface, where it is captured and sent through pipelines to refineries.
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WHY IS BIDEN TAPPING THE RESERVE?
Supply and demand. Biden is hoping that by releasing more oil on the market, prices will fall. Prices did dip for nearly two weeks after Biden’s initial announcement about tapping the reserve back in November but then resumed their steep climb. U.S. crude is up almost 40% this year and has grown even more volatile in the past month.
Whether Biden’s latest move works will depend on several factors. One factor to keep in mind: Even though 1 million barrels a day is a huge amount of oil, the U.S. consumed nearly 20 million barrels a day last year, and worldwide consumption topped 97 million barrels a day.
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WILL GASOLINE GET CHEAPER?
What most people want to know is what’s going to happen to prices at the pump. Many factors go into the price of gasoline. Refineries buy crude oil in advance, so they could still be working with more expensive oil. States have differing tax rates that affect the price that motorists pay.
On Thursday, the national average price for a gallon of regular was more than $4.22, down about a dime from the peak earlier in March, according to auto club AAA.
The average is still under $4 a gallon in many states in the middle of the country, but it’s higher in the Northeast and highest in the West. In California, it’s an eye-popping $5.90 a gallon.
Even if those prices don’t drop, Biden can argue that by tapping the reserve he tried to help.
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WHO GETS HURT MOST?
Gasoline prices are regressive — lower-income people are more likely to spend a higher percentage of their money on gasoline than are affluent Americans — so increases hurt the most price-sensitive consumers. Kevin Book, managing director at Clearview Energy Partners, says those consumers might not show up in measures of the nation’s economy, “but they show up in vote counts … if we get down to it, that’s really what this is about.”
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WHY DOES OIL MATTER?
The future of oil and gas in the U.S. is a political flashpoint and source of tension, especially as companies and government agencies grapple with climate change and the transition to cleaner sources of energy.
On one hand, the U.S. oil and gas industry has been praised by some political leaders for creating energy independence. Where the U.S. once relied heavily on imports, other nations now rely on the U.S. for oil. It’s also a job supplier: The oil and gas industry employs more than 10 million people in the U.S. and contributes about 8% of the nation’s gross domestic product, according to the American Petroleum Institute.
Companies that supply oil benefit from higher prices. But consumers don’t like it when those higher prices trickle down to the pump.
The institute has previously said that any release of oil from the strategic reserve should be paired with policy measures that encourage more U.S. energy production. That collides with Biden’s promise to reduce dependence on fossil fuels that contribute to climate change.
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Got a dime you can spare? Coins are in short supply — again.
Retailers, laundromats and other businesses that rely on coins want Americans to empty their piggy banks and look under couch cushions for extra change and “get coin moving.”
A group of trade associations that represent individual businesses including banks, retail outlets, truck stops, grocery stores and more is asking the Treasury Department for more help convincing Americans to get coins back in circulation.
The consequences of the circulation slowdown hit people who don’t have an ability to pay for items electronically, they say.
“If retailers are not able to offer change for cash purchases consumers who rely on cash will be vulnerable,” the associations said in a letter to Treasury.
For example, people who do their laundry at coin laundry mats could have a harder time finding change to wash their clothes. And on a larger scale, people who don’t have cash access aren’t able to patronize certain card-only businesses.
It’s not a coin shortage America faces, but a lack of circulation.
“We can’t print our way out of this problem,” said Austen Jensen, a senior vice president for government affairs at the Retail Industry Leaders Association.
Jensen’s group, along with the American Bankers Association, National Association of Convenience Stores, and National Grocers Association, is trying to meet consumer demand and wants a new public campaign to increase coin circulation.
Jensen said his group is also encouraging member retailers to find creative ways to deal with the shortage of coins, including rounding-up purchases for charity promotions. And he says businesses with multiple locations could send coins from one store to another.
This is not the first time during the pandemic that the issue of low coin circulation has arisen.
The coronavirus disrupted consumers’ buying habits and shifted purchases largely to plastic cards to such an extent that in July 2020, the Federal Reserve restricted coin orders by financial institutions.
The Fed also convened a U.S. Coin Task Force, made up of representatives from various federal agencies, which led to a campaign encouraging the public to get coins into circulation.
This February, the task force issued a State of Coin report, which said pandemic lockdowns slowed small transactions that generated change and there was a temporary aversion to cash for perceived hygienic reasons. The report also said the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Mint contracted with a third party consultant to review the coin supply chain.
Coin deposit volumes began to increase gradually starting in the summer of 2020, but businesses say the problem has come up again as people have stopped using coins and have stuck to plastic cards.
The issue has had the biggest impact on people who don’t have bank accounts. An estimated 22 percent of U.S. Americans were “unbanked” or “underbanked” in 2019, according to the Federal Reserve.
The Treasury Department has yet to respond to the letter. The government encourages people to help get coin moving by spending it with retailers, taking it to their banks and credit unions, or using a coin recycling kiosk like the ones found at grocery stores.
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WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has passed a bill capping the monthly cost of insulin at $35 for insured patients, part of an election-year push by Democrats for price curbs on prescription drugs at a time of rising inflation.
Experts say the legislation, which passed 232-193 Thursday, would provide significant relief for privately insured patients with skimpier plans and for Medicare enrollees facing rising out-of-pocket costs for their insulin. Some could save hundreds of dollars annually, and all insured patients would get the benefit of predictable monthly costs for insulin. The bill would not help the uninsured.
But the Affordable Insulin Now Act will serve as a political vehicle to rally Democrats and force Republicans who oppose it into uncomfortable votes ahead of the midterms. For the legislation to pass Congress, 10 Republican senators would have to vote in favor. Democrats acknowledge they don’t have an answer for how that’s going to happen.
“If 10 Republicans stand between the American people being able to get access to affordable insulin, that’s a good question for 10 Republicans to answer,” said Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich., a cosponsor of the House bill. “Republicans get diabetes, too. Republicans die from diabetes.”
Public opinion polls have consistently shown support across party lines for congressional action to limit drug costs.
But Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., complained the legislation is only “a small piece of a larger package around government price controls for prescription drugs.” Critics say the bill would raise premiums and fails to target pharmaceutical middlemen seen as contributing to high list prices for insulin.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said Democrats could have a deal on prescription drugs if they drop their bid to authorize Medicare to negotiate prices. “Do Democrats really want to help seniors, or would they rather have the campaign issue?” Grassley said.
The insulin bill, which would take effect in 2023, represents just one provision of a much broader prescription drug package in President Joe Biden’s social and climate legislation.
In addition to a similar $35 cap on insulin, the Biden bill would authorize Medicare to negotiate prices for a range of drugs, including insulin. It would penalize drugmakers who raise prices faster than inflation and overhaul the Medicare prescription drug benefit to limit out-of-pocket costs for enrollees.
Biden’s agenda passed the House only to stall in the Senate because Democrats could not reach consensus. Party leaders haven’t abandoned hope of getting the legislation moving again, and preserving its drug pricing curbs largely intact.
The idea of a $35 monthly cost cap for insulin actually has a bipartisan pedigree. The Trump administration had created a voluntary option for Medicare enrollees to get insulin for $35, and the Biden administration continued it.
In the Senate, Republican Susan Collins of Maine and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire are working on a bipartisan insulin bill. Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock has introduced legislation similar to the House bill, with the support of Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York.
Stung by criticism that Biden’s economic policies spur inflation, Democrats are redoubling efforts to show how they’d help people cope with costs. On Thursday,the Commerce Department reported a key inflation gauge jumped 6.4% in February compared with a year ago, the largest year-over-year rise since January 1982.
But experts say the House bill would not help uninsured people, who face the highest out-of-pocket costs for insulin. Also, people with diabetes often take other medications as well as insulin. That’s done to treat the diabetes itself, along with other serious health conditions often associated with the disease. The House legislation would not help with those costs, either. Collins says she’s looking for a way to help uninsured people through her bill.
About 37 million Americans have diabetes, and an estimated 6 million to 7 million use insulin to keep their blood sugars under control.It’s an old drug, refined and improved over the years, that has seen relentless price increases.
Steep list prices don’t reflect the rates insurance plans negotiate with manufacturers. But those list prices are used to calculate cost-sharing amounts that patients owe. Patients who can’t afford their insulin reduce or skip doses, a strategy born of desperation, which can lead to serious complications and even death.
Economist Sherry Glied of New York University said the market for insulin is a “total disaster” for many patients, particularly those with skimpy insurance plans or no insurance.
“This will make private insurance for people with diabetes a much more attractive proposition,” said Glied.
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https://www.kark.com/news/business/house-passes-35-a-month-insulin-cap-as-dems-seek-wider-bill/
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WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Thursday passed a bill capping the monthly cost of insulin at $35 for insured patients, part of an election-year push by Democrats for price curbs on prescription drugs at a time of rising inflation.
Experts say the legislation, which passed 232-193, would provide significant relief for privately insured patients with skimpier plans and for Medicare enrollees facing rising out-of-pocket costs for their insulin. Some could save hundreds of dollars annually, and all insured patients would get the benefit of predictable monthly costs for insulin. The bill would not help the uninsured.
But the Affordable Insulin Now Act will serve as a political vehicle to rally Democrats and force Republicans who oppose it into uncomfortable votes ahead of the midterms. For the legislation to pass Congress, 10 Republican senators would have to vote in favor. Democrats acknowledge they don’t have an answer for how that’s going to happen.
“If 10 Republicans stand between the American people being able to get access to affordable insulin, that’s a good question for 10 Republicans to answer,” said Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich., a cosponsor of the House bill. “Republicans get diabetes, too. Republicans die from diabetes.”
Public opinion polls have consistently shown support across party lines for congressional action to limit drug costs.
But Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., complained the legislation is only “a small piece of a larger package around government price controls for prescription drugs.” Critics say the bill would raise premiums and fails to target pharmaceutical middlemen seen as contributing to high list prices for insulin.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said Democrats could have a deal on prescription drugs if they drop their bid to authorize Medicare to negotiate prices. “Do Democrats really want to help seniors, or would they rather have the campaign issue?” Grassley said.
The insulin bill, which would take effect in 2023, represents just one provision of a much broader prescription drug package in President Joe Biden’s social and climate legislation.
In addition to a similar $35 cap on insulin, the Biden bill would authorize Medicare to negotiate prices for a range of drugs, including insulin. It would penalize drugmakers who raise prices faster than inflation and overhaul the Medicare prescription drug benefit to limit out-of-pocket costs for enrollees.
Biden’s agenda passed the House only to stall in the Senate because Democrats could not reach consensus. Party leaders haven’t abandoned hope of getting the legislation moving again, and preserving its drug pricing curbs largely intact.
The idea of a $35 monthly cost cap for insulin actually has a bipartisan pedigree. The Trump administration had created a voluntary option for Medicare enrollees to get insulin for $35, and the Biden administration continued it.
In the Senate, Republican Susan Collins of Maine and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire are working on a bipartisan insulin bill. Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock has introduced legislation similar to the House bill, with the support of Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York.
Stung by criticism that Biden’s economic policies spur inflation, Democrats are redoubling efforts to show how they’d help people cope with costs. On Thursday,the Commerce Department reported a key inflation gauge jumped 6.4% in February compared with a year ago, the largest year-over-year rise since January 1982.
But experts say the House bill would not help uninsured people, who face the highest out-of-pocket costs for insulin. Also, people with diabetes often take other medications as well as insulin. That’s done to treat the diabetes itself, along with other serious health conditions often associated with the disease. The House legislation would not help with those costs, either. Collins says she’s looking for a way to help uninsured people through her bill.
About 37 million Americans have diabetes, and an estimated 6 million to 7 million use insulin to keep their blood sugars under control.It’s an old drug, refined and improved over the years, that has seen relentless price increases.
Steep list prices don’t reflect the rates insurance plans negotiate with manufacturers. But those list prices are used to calculate cost-sharing amounts that patients owe. Patients who can’t afford their insulin reduce or skip doses, a strategy born of desperation, which can lead to serious complications and even death.
Economist Sherry Glied of New York University said the market for insulin is a “total disaster” for many patients, particularly those with skimpy insurance plans or no insurance.
“This will make private insurance for people with diabetes a much more attractive proposition,” said Glied.
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https://www.kark.com/news/business/labor-groups-close-in-on-amazon-in-two-tight-union-elections/
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NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon workers in Staten Island, New York, voted to unionize on Friday, marking the first successful U.S. organizing effort in the retail giant’s history and handing an unexpected win to a nascent group that fueled the union drive.
Warehouse workers cast 2,654 votes in favor of a union, giving the fledgling Amazon Labor Union enough support to pull off a victory. According to the National Labor Relations Board, which is overseeing the process, 2,131 workers rejected the union bid.
The 67 ballots that were challenged by either Amazon or the ALU were not enough to sway the outcome. About 57% of the more than 8,300 workers on the voter list cast their ballots. Amazon provides the list of eligible workers to the NLRB. Organizers say a high attrition rate may have shrunk that pool since the election was scheduled.
The victory was an uphill battle for the independent group, made up of former and current workers who lacked official backing from an established union and were out-gunned by the deep-pocketed retail giant. Despite obstacles, organizers believed their grassroots approach was more relatable to workers and could help them overcome where established unions have failed in the past.
Tristan Dutchin, who began working for the online retailer about a year ago, is hopeful that the new union will improve working conditions at his workplace.
“I’m excited that we’re making history,” Dutchin said. “We’re about to unionize a multibillion, trillion-dollar company. This will be a fantastic time for workers to be surrounded in a better, safer working environment.”
Meanwhile, Amazon workers in Bessemer, Alabama, appear to have rejected a union bid but outstanding challenged ballots could change the outcome. The votes were 993-to-875 against the union. A hearing to review 416 challenged ballots is expected to begin in the next few days.
The union campaigns come at a time of widespread labor unrest at many corporations. Workers at more than 140 Starbucks locations around the country, for instance, have requested union elections and several of them have already been successful.
John Logan, director of labor and employment studies at San Francisco State University, said the early vote counts in New York have been “shocking.” The nascent Amazon Labor Union, which is leading the charge on Staten Island, has no backing from an established union and is powered by former and current warehouse workers.
“I don’t think that many people thought that the Amazon Labor Union had much of a chance of winning at all,” Logan said. “And I think we’re likely to see more of those (approaches) going forward.”
After a crushing defeat last year in Bessemer, when a majority of workers voted against forming a union, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union got a second chance to organize another campaign when the NLRB ordered a do-over after determining that Amazon tainted the first election.
Though RWDSU is currently lagging in the latest election, Logan said the early results were still remarkable because the union has made a good effort narrowing its margin from last year.
Chris Smalls, a fired Amazon employee who has been leading the ALU in its fight on Staten Island, bounded out the NLRB building in Brooklyn with other union organizers, pumping their fists and jumping, chanting “ALU.” They uncorked a bottle if Champagne.
Amazon has pushed back hard in the lead-up to both elections. The retail giant held mandatory meetings, where workers were told unions are a bad idea. The company also launched an anti-union website targeting workers and placed English and Spanish posters across the Staten Island facility urging them to reject the union. In Bessemer, Amazon has made some changes to but still kept a controversial U.S. Postal Service mailboxthat was key in the NLRB’s decision to invalidate last year’s vote.
In a filing released on Thursday, Amazon disclosed it spent about $4.2 million last year on labor consultants, which organizers say the retailer routinely solicits to persuade workers not to unionize. It’s unclear how much it spent on such services in 2022.
Both labor fights faced unique challenges. Alabama, for instance, is a right-to-work state that prohibits a company and a union from signing a contract that requires workers to pay dues to the union that represents them.
The union landscape in Alabama is also starkly different from New York. Last year, union members accounted for 22.2% of wage and salary workers in New York, ranked only behind Hawaii, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s more than double the national average of 10.3%. In Alabama, it’s 5.9%.
The mostly Black workforce at the Amazon facility, which opened in 2020, mirrors the Bessemer population of more than 70% Black residents, according to the latest U.S. Census data.
Pro-union workers say they want better working conditions, longer breaks and higher wages. Regular full-time employees at the Bessemer facility earn at least $15.80 an hour, higher than the estimated $14.55 per hour on average in the city. That figure is based on an analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau’s annual median household income for Bessemer of $30,284, which could include more than one worker.
The ALU said they don’t have a demographic breakdown of the warehouse workers on Staten Island and Amazon declined to provide the information to The Associated Press, citing the union vote. Internal records leaked to The New York Times from 2019 showed more than 60% of the hourly associates at the facility were Black or Latino, while most of managers were white or Asian.
Amazon workers there are seeking longer breaks, paid time off for injured employees and an hourly wage of $30, up from a minimum of just over $18 per hour offered by the company. The estimated average wage for the borough is $41 per hour, according to a similar U.S. Census Bureau analysis of Staten Island’s $85,381 median household income.
A spokesperson for Amazon said the company invests in wages and benefits, such as health care, 401(k) plans and a prepaid college tuition program to help grow workers’ careers.
“As a company, we don’t think unions are the best answer for our employees,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “Our focus remains on working directly with our team to continue making Amazon a great place to work.”
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Associated Press staff writers Tali Arbel and Bobby Caina Calvan in New York contributed to this report.
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BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — U.S. officials on Thursday adopted a rule aimed at reducing deaths and environmental damage from oil and gas pipeline ruptures — a long-delayed response to fatal explosionsand massive spillsthat have occurred over decades in California, Michigan, New Jersey and other states.
But safety advocates said the move by the U.S. Transportation Department would not have averted the accidents that prompted the new rule. That’s because it applies only to newly constructed or replaced pipelines — and not to hundreds of thousands of miles of lines that already crisscross the country, many of them decades old and corroding.
The rule requires companies to install emergency valves that can quickly shut off the flow of oil, natural gas or other hazardous fuels when pipelines rupture. It came in response to a massive gas explosion in San Bruno, California, that killed eight people in 2010, and to large oil spills into Michigan’s Kalamazoo River and Montana’s Yellowstone River and other spills.
The National Transportation Safety Board since the 1990s has recommended the use of automatic or remote controlled valves on large pipelines — whether they are existing or new — to reduce the severity of accidents. Following a 1994 gas pipeline explosion and fire that destroyed eight buildings in Edison, Jersey, the safety board urged the Transportation Department to expedite requirements for shut-off valves in cities and natural areas.
But pipeline companies for years resisted new valve requirements because of the expense of installing them and concerns they could close accidentally and shut off fuel supplies.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the more stringent regulations for the industry were needed because too many people have been harmed by pipeline failures.
He said installation of the valves would also protect against large releases of methane, a highly potent greenhouse gas blamed for helping drive climate change.
“Today we are taking an important step to protect communities against hazardous pipeline leaks — helping to save the lives, property, and jobs of people in every part of the country while preventing super-polluting methane leaks.” Buttigieg said.
The Pipeline Safety Trust, a Bellingham, Washington-based advocacy group, said the rule marked progress since Congress mandated more stringent pipeline regulations over a decade ago.
But the group said exempting pipelines that are already in the ground means it would not prevent a repeat of the accident at San Bruno, which involved a pipeline that was more than 50 years old.
“This rule falls far short of the NTSB recommendation and will offer no additional safety to communities living near existing pipelines,” said Bill Caram, executive director of the safety trust.
The government estimated it would cost a combined $5.9 million annually for companies to comply with Thursday’s rule. By comparison, industry representatives said a single valve on an existing line could cost up to $1.5 million and it would take billions of dollars to retrofit lines nationwide.
Industry representatives were closely involved in crafting the rule. Their request to allow valves to be more widely spaced along pipelines and remove the requirement for some low-risk pipes was rejected. However, transportation officials adopted some of industry recommendations that will give operators latitude to make adjustments to where valves are placed.
Association of Oil Pipe Lines Vice President John Stoody said the final rule still contains “arbitrary requirements” for pipeline operators that don’t reflect real-world operating conditions or the low risk of spills in some scenarios.
Amy Andryszak, president of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, said her organization and companies it represents were still reviewing the rule but were “generally supportive” of rules that encourage safety.
Experts say automatic valves can help eliminate some human-caused errors that contribute to accidents, such as a delay of more than 17 hours to confirm the 2010 Kalamazoo, Michigan, pipeline rupture because workers ignored alarms indicating a possible spill. The break released more than 800,000 gallons (3,600,000 liters) of crude oil and caused roughly $1 billion in property and environmental damage.
In San Bruno, a 30-inch (76-centimeter) gas pipeline exploded and burned like a massive blowtorch in a suburban California neighborhood for 89 minutes before a manual valve was used to shut it down. An AP investigation found that pipeline operator Pacific Gas & Electric Co. agreed as far back as 1997 that remotely operated valves did a better job of protecting public safety, but opted against using them widely because they weren’t necessary or required.
Officials with the Transportation Department’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration did not immediately respond to questions about the new rule.
Also missing from the new rule are standards for equipment that can detect when and where leaks hit, a recurring problem in pipeline accidents, Caram said.
Instead, the rule says pipeline companies must quickly take steps to confirm a spill if they get an alarm or other notification, but the confirmation process itself remains up to the company.
Faulty leak detection systems played a role in recent accidents including a 350,000 gallon diesel oil spill in December into a wetlandsoutside New Orleans and an underwater rupture off California’s coastlast October that fouled the ocean with tens of thousands of gallons crude oil.
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Follow Matthew Brown: @matthewbrownAP
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A nonprofit arm of West Virginia University took ownership of a shuttered pharmaceutical plant Thursday with the goal of improving area job and education opportunities.
WVU Medicine will work with the university through the WVU Innovation Corp. to oversee the 1.1-million-square-foot (102,190-square-meter) facility in Morgantown. Discussions with potential private industry tenants are ongoing, said WVU Health System President and CEO Albert Wright.
“There is significant interest from many parties in that building,” Wright said on a conference call. “We’re going to be working up a lot of different possibilities as to how we use that building over time.”
Wright said he envisions a few anchor tenants and other, smaller businesses in the building, as opposed to one big tenant. He said it’s possible that portions, but not all, of the building could be available for use as a pharmaceutical business.
“We’re looking to be an economic engine here,” Wright said. “We’re looking for some big-anchor tenants, but we’re also going to have a component to what we’re doing to be an incubator for startup businesses, to provide some of the infrastructure to get them going from the start.”
Prospective tenants don’t necessarily have to be health-care related, “but we’d like to tie it into the health science capability of the university,” Wright said. “So we have had a number of small startups that are interested.”
Viatris Inc. transferred the facility for $1 under a memorandum of understanding with the university. Viatris announced in December 2020 that it was laying off 1,500 workers at the plant, which was formerly operated by the generic drug company Mylan.
Mylan merged with Upjohn in 2020 to form the new company. Viatris, which announced it would slash 20% of its workforce worldwide, is now one of the world’s leading makers of generic drugs and maintains research and development operations in Morgantown.
“Our goal has always been to identify a responsible new steward for this unique site that would secure the best possible future for the facility, our impacted employees and the Morgantown community, a community that continues to play an important and vital role for Viatris,” company executive chairman Robert J. Coury said in a statement.
The plant closing left workers scrambling to find new jobs in a state that is often trying to lure new companies to uplift a stagnant economy once dominated by the coal industry.
Rob Alsop, WVU’s vice president for strategic initiatives, said former Mylan employees will be offered a tuition-free education at the university. Coupled with the state’s existing offer of free tuition at its community colleges, it will “make sure that those employees are ready for the new job opportunities that we hope come from this,” he said.
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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — In one of his tried-and-true motivational speeches, Mike Krzyzewski outlined his four pillars of team building: making everyone feel important, taking ownership in the team, adapting to setbacks and playing with feeling.
Duke perfected the first three to help Coach K reach his 13th and most amazing Final Four. Next comes the “feeling” part.
Now that the record-setting, 75-year-old coach is in New Orleans, he knows he must walk a fine line between enjoying the moment and letting it overwhelm both him and his team.
“I’ve always thought that shared emotion is the best,” Krzyzewski said Thursday, as his team settled in for its run at the coach’s sixth national title.
The Blue Devils (32-6) meet archrival North Carolina on Saturday in a national semifinal matchup plucked straight from a screenwriters’ script.
When Duke lost two games over the span of a week in early March, starting with the 94-81 setback to the Tar Heels in Krzyzewski’s final home game, the thought he might be coaching at the Final Four this weekend felt like a dream only a Blue Devils fan could believe.
But once the NCAA Tournament began, Duke started playing better. Wins over Cal-State Fullerton and Michigan State propelled the Blue Devils into the Sweet 16. There, they knocked off Texas Tech, then Arkansas. Krzyzewski passed John Wooden by qualifying for his record 13th Final Four. On Saturday he looks to improve on a record he already holds, by notching a 1,203rd career victory.
One of Krzyzewski’s keys to the turnaround was convincing his players that the rest of this season was about them, not him.
“This is our season, too,” Duke’s Wendell Moore Jr., said before the team’s win over Michigan State.
In many ways, Coach K’s final team is fulfilling the vision he shared back in 2015 when, fresh off a championship after his 12th run to the Final Four, he gave the keynote address to a gathering of U.S. Olympic athletes and administrators in Colorado Springs.
“You are not paying rent. You’re here, it’s yours,” Krzyzewski told the rapt audience as he moved through his four pillars of team building.
He talked about his first Olympic experience, back in 1992, when he was an assistant to Chuck Daly on the Dream Team. Krzyzewski was coming off back-to-back titles with Duke and thought he was a “hot ticket.”
His eyes were opened when none other than Michael Jordan approached him after a practice one day. Krzyzewski braced for the inevitable smack talk from the best player in the game, one who happened to have played at North Carolina. Instead, Jordan asked if the coach could work with him on some of his offensive moves.
In his speech, Krzyzewski said he realized something after that workout.
“It’s like a totem pole,” the coach said. “Michael Jordan was at the top of the totem pole. And I was near the bottom.”
But, Coach K said, ”Michael Jordan had a horizontal totem pole, where everybody was important.”
Though there certainly is a pecking order on this year’s version of the Blue Devils — freshmen Paolo Banchero and AJ Griffin look like NBA lottery picks — at least four players have scored double figures in each of Duke’s four NCAA victories. Five players average in double figures for the Blue Devils this season.
In his news conference Thursday, the coach spoke about the players taking ownership in their fate as the season wore on.
“When you go into competition, if you haven’t worked, you have a hard time trusting yourself,” he said. “But if you’ve worked, you can trust, but you also own it. You own it more.”
In his keynote address, Krzyzewski said his first two building blocks lead to the third, which is adaptability. In 2022, it played out after the losses to North Carolina, then one week later to Virginia Tech in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament, forced Krzyzewski to take a long look in the mirror.
“I just had a good meeting with myself. I said that I’ve got to do something. I’ve got to help in some way, and part of it was my approach with them,” Krzyzewski said before Duke’s win over Arkansas in the Elite Eight.
Coach K described using the first five minutes of halftime during the Michigan State game to do something different by “just pull(ing) out a chair, and I sit with them for about five minutes and just, ‘OK, here’s where we’re at, and just talk to them.’”
Duke overcame a late, five-point deficit in that one, and now, Krzyzewski has led his team across his proverbial bridge that only a few lucky teams cross. They made it to college basketball’s biggest stage.
In his motivational speech, Krzyzewski said one method of getting a room full of superstars to “feel” the mission they were on at the Barcelona Olympics each night was to play the soulful version of the national anthem sung by Marvin Gaye at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles.
The promise, the U.S. coaches told the Dream Team, was that they would hear that song twice on the day of the title game — once beforehand, then again while they were standing on the podium receiving their gold medals.
The song that closes out March Madness is “One Shining Moment.” Whether Duke will bask in confetti when that song plays at the end of the title game is a big part of the drama that will unfold between now and Monday night.
Whether or not it happens, everyone at Duke is feeling it at this point — even if the coach insists he’s been focusing on basketball.
“I didn’t do this season to have a storybook,” Krzyzewski said. “I did it because I wanted to coach one more year and I wanted to have a good succession plan for our program. And we’ve won 32 games, and my guys have been terrific.”
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More AP college basketball: http://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
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'Having Fun Now': Revelett Restaurateurs Set For Newest Add - KRIV Fox 26 Houston 26% Coup De Ville, Dallas/Housti | Rental Tents . Couch potate no morer, with no time . \"Whenever this situation changes - we plan at present for the same size for our dining patio (and garden area for kiddies who want shake their behind,\" and \"more parch CHICAGO (AP) — DeMar DeRozan did everything he could to carry the Chicago Bulls to a much-needed victory.
The only glitch came in the closing seconds of regulation. That’s when he missed the potential go-ahead free throw after making his first two to tie it.
In the end, it didn’t matter much.
DeRozan scored a season-high 50 points and Chicago rallied to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 135-130 in overtime Thursday night.
DeRozan finished two points shy of his career high. The five-time All-Star scored 17 in the fourth quarter and made up for his missed foul shot by scoring 10 more in overtime.
“It felt like a bomb went off inside my head,” he said. “Just frustrated with myself.”
DeRozan shrugged off the missed free throw and helped the Bulls come away with a win after falling behind by 16 in the third period.
Chicago, which led the Eastern Conference for a large portion of the season, moved a half-game ahead of sixth-place Toronto with five remaining. The Bulls are trying to stay in the top six in order to avoid the play-in round in the postseason.
Nikola Vucevic added 22 points and 14 rebounds. Zach LaVine scored 21 as the Bulls won for the third time in four games.
Reggie Jackson led Los Angeles with 34 points.
Paul George scored 22 in his second game back after missing three months because of a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He played 32 minutes and sat out overtime.
Marcus Morris Sr. added 20 points and Nicolas Batum scored 17. But the Clippers — eighth in the West — lost for the sixth time in seven games.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue noticed a difference in the Bulls’ defense as Chicago rallied.
“They picked their defensive intensity up,” he said. “I thought they did a good job with that. We took some bad shots, I thought, during that stretch instead of just continuing to keep playing the way we were playing.”
IN OT
Chicago led by four in overtime when Luke Kennard hit a 3 for Los Angeles with 1:12 left. Patrick Williams answered with one of his own to make it 129-125 with just under a minute remaining.
Jackson then hit two foul shots for the Clippers before DeRozan converted two to make it 131-127.
Williams rebounded a missed drive by Jackson, leading to two more free throws by DeRozan that made it a six-point game. Jackson nailed a 3 to cut it to 133-130 with five seconds left.
DeRozan caught the inbounds pass following a timeout by the Bulls and drove for a dunk, sealing a wild win for Chicago.
BULLS RALLY
The Clippers saw their lead shrink to four early in the fourth and got it back up to 11 with about five minutes remaining before the Bulls made another push.
Los Angeles was leading 118-115 with seven seconds left in regulation when Terance Mann got called for a foul away from the ball on an inbounds play following a timeout. That led to a free throw for DeRozan that cut it to two and possession for Chicago.
DeRozan then got fouled by George on a 3-point attempt with 3.5 seconds remaining. He hit the first two foul shots to tie it at 118 and missed the third, sending the game to overtime.
TIP-INS
Clippers: Batum (sore left ankle) and Morris (sore left knee) played well after being listed as questionable.
Bulls: DeRozan has 2,019 points, the second time he’s scored 2,000 in a season. He is the first Bulls player to do it since Derrick Rose had 2,026 points in his 2010-11 MVP season. … G Lonzo Ball (left knee) will start building up to sprinting at full speed and resume cutting after a 10-day pause because of discomfort, coach Billy Donovan said. How Ball responds will determine when — or if — he returns this season. Ball had surgery in January to repair a torn meniscus. “I have not gotten anything from the doctors that said to me like, ‘Listen, there’s just not enough time. We can’t get him back.’ They’re gonna do everything they can to try to get him back,” Donovan said. Chicago closes the regular season at Minnesota on April 10. … Williams said he was late for the morning shootaround and got fined by the team. He then played by far a season-high 36:49 in his seventh game back after being sidelined since late October because of torn ligaments in his left wrist.
UP NEXT
Clippers: Visit Milwaukee on Friday.
Bulls: Host Miami on Saturday.
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More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A bunch of one-and-done phenoms brought together by Kentucky coach John Calipari stepped onto the floor into the spotlight of the cavernous Superdome 10 years ago, oozing with the kind of NBA potential that made it clear their college basketball careers were about to end at the Final Four.
Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and the rest of them went out on top, too, beating Kansas in the Big Easy to deliver the Wildcats their eighth national championship and Calipari the first of his career.
Fast-forward to the present, and the return of the Final Four to New Orleans, and there is a much more old-school feel to the national semifinals as each of the the participants — Duke, North Carolina, Kansas and Villanova — benefited in one way or another from COVID-19 waivers, medical redshirts and the explosion of the transfer portal.
“It’s the oldest that college basketball has ever been,” acknowledged Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, “so as a result of that, it’s going to be tougher to win. I mean, I think (Shane) Battier played the most games here, 130-something. We’re playing against guys that have played 160 games, sometimes three of them are on the other team. That’s a lot.”
Indeed, all four teams in the Big Easy have the kind of savvy veterans once seemed endangered in the world of big-time college hoops, and together they are proving on the game’s biggest stage that experience still matters.
“That’s why we shouldn’t be shocked at anything that’s happened in the tournament,” the retiring Krzyzewski said, “because the age differential is so dramatic. For us, it’s been dramatic.”
Yes, the Blue Devils are the youngest team in New Orleans, but everything is relative. They still feature senior Joey Baker and fifth-year senior Theo John, who began his career at Marquette and is about to play in his 162nd game.
The experience has paid off. Young, talented teams such as Memphis were bounced early out of the NCAA Tournament, while hardened teams such as Providence, Saint Peter’s and Miami made runs into the second weekend.
“It takes a significant amount of time to get everyone to buy into your program,” explained Jayhawks coach Bill Self, who has had more success with veteran teams than with one-and-dones such as Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid.
“But,” Self cautioned, “I would say that talent plus experience is what wins.”
Good luck finding a team more experienced than Kansas.
— Backup guard Jalen-Coleman Lands will play in his 171st game spanning stints at Illinois, DePaul and Iowa State when the Jayhawks face Villanova, trailing Iowa’s Jordan Bohannon and USC’s Chevez Goodwin for the most in Division I history.
— Mitch Lightfoot will play in his 167th game and second Final Four after making it with the Jayhawks in 2018.
— Arizona State transfer Remy Martin and big man David McCormack will have surpassed 130 games by the time their season ends, while All-American guard Ochai Agbajiis about to play his 121st game for Kansas.
In fact, the Jayhawks’ top eight scorers have appeared in 965 games — almost certainly a record for a Final Four team.
Maybe for any team.
The Jayhawks aren’t alone. Brady Manek spent four seasons at Oklahoma, transferred to North Carolina for one more, and will play in his 160th game against Duke in the second semifinal Saturday night. Villanova has two players, Collin Gillespie and Jermaine Samuels, who have played more than 150 games apiece, and two more who have topped 100.
Over the years, the Wildcats have become the poster program for winning with experience.
When they captured the national championship in 2016, they had four starters that had played at least 100 games, led by seniors Ryan Arcidiacono and Daniel Ochefu. The top six scorers on coach Jay Wright’s 2018 title team, which romped past Lightfoot and the Jayhawks in the Final Four, included four juniors along with senior Phil Booth.
“Everyone should applaud what they’ve built there, and of course Jay is the ringmaster of that,” Self said, “and how they develop their guys and fundamental they are. You have to beat them; they don’t beat themselves. And when you have older players, I do think a culture can exist, and they would be the top of our profession.
“When you look at our situation,” Self said, “we had Josh (Jackson) who was one-and-done, and I guess Wiggs and Jo were one-and-dones. That’s going back to 2014. But we’ve done it with older kids, too. We’ve done it with the Frank Masons and the Devonte Grahams and Landon Lucas. We’ve had comparable success with, you know, older guys.”
Everyone in this year’s Final Four has older guys, though.
The combined experience of Duke, again the youngest of the bunch, still far outpaces that 2012 Kentucky team or another collection of one-and-done national champs: the Blue Devils of Jahlil Okafor, Tyus Jones and Justise Winslow.
Their title in 2015 might have been the high-water mark of the one-and-done championship era, though. The rise of the G League, Overtime Elite and more overseas opportunities are providing alternative pathways to some of the best prep prospects. As a result the talent level of programs relying primarily on freshmen and sophomores is not quite the same, and in many cases, they can no longer rely on pure ability to beat teams that have been together for years.
Meanwhile, the recent passage of NIL legislation is allowing college athletes to earn endorsement money in college, giving them another reason to stick around when they might otherwise chase a professional career.
“Some of these teams, they’ve got kids, some of them are in their sixth year of school, because maybe they redshirted and now they’ve got the COVID year,” Florida Gulf Coast athletic director Ken Kavanagh said. “You’ve got older teams and they are maybe not good enough (players) to go to the NBA, but they’re really good, talented players who can make a difference.
“Older teams that have been playing together are usually more experienced than kids who are 17, 18 years old.”
Four of those older teams are the last ones standing in New Orleans this week.
“I don’t think it’s a coincidence,” Kavanagh said.
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AP Basketball Writers Aaron Beard and John Marshall contributed to this report.
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More AP coverage of March Madness: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
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NEW YORK (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo loved the fact that he became Milwaukee’s career scoring leader on a 3-pointer, so nobody can say he’s just a dunker anymore.
Otherwise, there was no reason for celebrating after passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
“When I’m done we can talk about it, but now there’s no time,” Antetokoumpo said, looking ahead to Friday’s game against the Clippers. “There’s things that have to be done.”
Antetokounmpo’s record-setting 3-pointer forced overtime, and he made two free throws in the final seconds to give the Bucks a 120-119 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night.
The defending NBA champions clinched a return to the postseason with the win, in which Antetokounmpo had 44 points, 14 rebounds and six assists. Jrue Holiday added 19 points and Khris Middleton had 16 before being ejected for a flagrant foul midway through the third quarter.
Kevin Durant had 26 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds for the Nets, but missed a 3-pointer that would have won it. Kyrie Irving scored 25 points and Bruce Brown had 23.
Just as in the memorable end to their second-round series last summer, when the Bucks overcame 48 points from Durant — most ever in a Game 7 — overtime was needed to determine a winner. Milwaukee took that one 115-111 and pulled it out Thursday behind a second straight 40-point game from Antetokounmpo.
The Greek Freak has been dismissed, famously by James Harden, as a great athlete but not necessarily a skilled basketball player. But the NBA Finals MVP has become a confident shooter and his teammates are confident in him.
“We just fight, compete, compete and know that obviously it helps to have that big fellow on your team that can literally break a game open for you and make plays,” Bucks swingman Wesley Matthews said.
Antetokounmpo came into the game 39 points behind Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA’s career scoring leader who had 14,211 points after beginning his career in Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo passed him with 18 seconds left to knot the game at 110.
The Bucks and Nets could be headed for a first-round matchup this year. The Bucks are a half-game behind Miami for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, while the Nets are tied for eighth and can likely hope for nothing better than the No. 7 or 8 seed by coming out of the play-in tournament.
The Bucks led by four in overtime but the Nets rallied to take a 119-118 lead when Durant was fouled on a 3-point attempt and made all three shots with 8.7 seconds left. Antetokounmpo quickly rushed into the lane and was fouled by Nic Claxton. He made both free throws and finished 15 of 19 from the line.
The Nets led 99-96 with 5 1/2 minutes left in regulation when Antetokounmpo re-entered the game but threw a bad pass that Brown grabbed and appeared to be on his way to an uncontested layup. But Middleton raced back and grabbed Brown’s upper arm as he was in the air, sending him to a hard landing. Referees reviewed the replay and informed a stunned Middleton that he received the harsher Flagrant 2 and was ejected.
Crew chief John Goble said the play was ruled a Flagrant 2 because a “high potential for injury.”
Brown made the free throws, Irving scored and the Nets built a 108-99 lead when Durant threw down Irving’s lob pass with 3:52 left. But they managed only two more points in regulation.
“It was just one of those games that got funky at the end, but we’ve just got to finish it out in regulation,” Irving said.
TIP-INS
Bucks: Coach Mike Budenholzer coached in Brooklyn for the first time this season, having missed the Bucks’ 121-109 victory on Jan. 7 while in the NBA’s health and safety protocols.
Nets: Coach Steve Nash said he isn’t closely watching the results of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have tumbled all the way to seventh in the East. If they remain behind Toronto, the removes the possibility of having to play a play-in game in Canada, where the unvaccinated Irving is unable to travel.
“I’m not averse to seeing how they’re doing and where they’re at, but it’s not something that I’m, like I said the other day, refreshing my feed daily,” Nash said.
THE GREEK’S KNEE
Though Antetokounmpo appeared on the injury report with right knee soreness, Budenholzer said it’s nothing beyond what the two-time NBA MVP has been dealing with for years.
“I think it’s in a good place,” Budenholzer said. “I don’t think it’s anything that we’re concerned about, but there’s a daily attention and effort that it takes from the sports performance team and him and what he does to be his best. It’s impressive.”
UP NEXT
Bucks: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.
Nets: Visit Atlanta on Saturday.
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More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Naomi Osaka’s eyes welled with tears when her match ended, an all-too-familiar scene for her in recent years.
These were of the happy variety.
For the former world No. 1, that’s major progress.
The unseeded Osaka defeated No. 22 Belinda Bencic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Thursday in the Miami Open semifinals. She’s in a championship match for the first time since the 2021 Australian Open, and will meet No. 2 Iga Swiatek for the title on Saturday.
“Damn, I’m almost crying,” Osaka said after her match.
Maybe not even almost. She hid her face in an orange towel a few times following the final point, at least one tear clearly making its way down her right cheek. Osaka entered this tournament ranked No. 77 in the world, will leave Miami no worse than 36th and would be back in the top 30 if she wins the title.
It has been a long, trying and often emotional ride for Osaka since her win in the 2018 U.S. Open final over Serena Williams. She was rattled during a loss at Indian Wells on March 12 following a derogatory shout from a spectator, withdrew from last year’s French Open to address her mental state and left last year’s U.S. Open in tears.
But in South Florida, one of the places she considers home, it’s been all support from the fans.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you,” Osaka told them in her on-court interview.
Swiatek — who will replace the now-retired Ashleigh Barty as the No. 1-ranked women’s player in the world next week — beat Jessica Pegula 6-2, 7-5 in the other women’s semifinal on Thursday night.
Meanwhile, Daniil Medvedev came into the tournament as the No. 2-ranked men’s player in the world. Hubert Hurkacz ensured he will stay there.
Hurkacz — the No. 8 seed and defending Miami champion — wore down the top-seeded and cramp-riddled Medvedev 7-6 (7), 6-3 on Thursday in a men’s quarterfinal.
“Every muscle just went ‘cramp, cramp, cramp, cramp,'” Medvedev said.
Had Medvedev prevailed, he would have overtaken Novak Djokovic on Monday and returned to No. 1 in the world rankings. Instead, the Russian will stay No. 2 in the world and find out who wins the Miami title on Sunday like everyone else.
“For me, it was more important in a way just to win the match itself than to become No. 1,” Medvedev said. “Winning the match, I saw it more as a bonus.”
Hurkacz, who is from Poland, will next meet No. 14 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in the semifinals. Alcaraz defeated unseeded Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-6 (5) on Thursday night in the last men’s quarterfinal.
“I was returning pretty well, I was putting some pressure on his serves and that was helping my game,” Hurkacz said. “I was able to get some free points on my serve and that was pretty big.”
The other semifinal pits sixth-seeded Casper Ruud of Norway against unseeded Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina.
Hurkacz has played Medvedev four times, and Medvedev has been ranked No. 2 in the world in each of those meetings — which they’ve now split. Hurkacz improved to 14-5 this year, and his record in Miami is 12-1 all-time.
“Coming here is so much fun,” Hurkacz said.
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More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (AP) — Jennifer Kupcho shared the lead Thursday in The Chevron Championship in her second — and last — start at Mission Hills, the tree-lined layout she has quickly fallen in love with.
“Honestly, I think it’s just being comfortable on this golf course,” Kupcho said. “I get here and I just, I feel comfortable. I love this place.”
Kupcho shot a 6-under 66 in sunny and calm morning conditions to join fellow early starter Minjee Lee atop the leaderboard after the first round of the final edition of the major championship at Mission Hills.
“I really like the layout of this golf course, the beautiful shape that it’s in every year,” Kupcho said. “It always is so fun to be here, so just taking advantage of how much I like the course and the atmosphere.”
Unable to find a sponsor willing to remain at Mission Hills, the tournament that started in 1972 as the Colgate-Dinah Shore Winner’s Circle and became a major in 1983 is shifting to Houston next year under a deal with Chevron.
“Definitely sad,” Carolina Masson said after a 68. “I understand why we’re doing it, but I’m just trying to soak in every second being out here. The golf course is playing as good as ever.”
Defending champion Patty Tavatanakit was a stroke back, finishing late in the afternoon in gusting wind.
“Really proud,” Tavatanakit said. “I feel like I really got my momentum going, was really present today.”
Kupcho birdied Nos. 11-14 to get to 8 under, then bogeyed the next two holes. She birdied four of the first five and finished with nine birdies and three bogeys.
“You really need to hit fairways on a major golf course, so that was like my biggest thing today, to hit a bunch of fairways,” Kupcho said. “That really set me up for all my birdies.”
Winless on the LPGA Tour, Kupcho won the 2018 NCAA individual title for Wake Forest and took the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur the following year after passing up a spot that week at Mission Hills.
The 24-year-old from Colorado arrived early in the desert after missing the cut Friday in Carlsbad. “I just used the two days that I did have on the weekend to come here and practice,” she said.
Lee birdied all four par 5s in a bogey-free round on the mountain-framed course.
“It was perfect,” Lee said. “Not like a breath of wind when we played. Maybe just a tiny bit. But conditions are great. Putting greens are rolling real nice. I don’t think you can get better than that.”
The 25-year-old Australian, ranked fourth in the world, won the Evian Championship last summer for her first major title and sixth LPGA Tour victory.
“I know I have one under my belt, but I do want a little bit more,” Lee said. “I just think I have a little bit more belief in myself and my game, so I can be a little bit more comfortable just hitting the shots.”
Third-ranked Lydia Ko, the 2015 champion, was at 68 with Masson, Anna Nordqvist, Georgia Hall, Gabriela Ruffels and Pajaree Anannarukarn. Lexi Thompson, the 2014 winner, was another stroke back with Sarah Schmelzel, Annie Park, Lauren Stephenson, Pauline Roussin-Bouchard and Hinako Shibuno.
Thompson marveled at course she first played as a 14-year-old amateur.
“I’ve never seen it this good,” Thompson said. “It always surprises me every year. It’s always better. The greens are amazing. I’m one to putt and usually aim at things along the way, and there is just not an imperfection on greens to aim at. It’s a good problem.”
Schmelzel is making her fourth appearance.
“This place is really special,” Schmelzel said. “I feel like growing up watching the LPGA Tour, these are holes that I remember. These are holes that I wanted to be on one day.”
Park played as a single in the first group in the afternoon off the first tee.
“It was kind of weird the first couple holes just playing by myself,” Park said. “It was really peaceful.”
Top-ranked Jin Young Ko, the 2019 winner, shot a 74 to end her under-par streak at 34 rounds. Her run of at least one birdie ended at 53 rounds.
“I was hitting lots of great shots, but my putting wasn’t good,” she said. “I couldn’t see the break as much or speed. Everything was wrong.”
Ally Ewing and Moriya Jutanugarn had an eventful finish on the par-5 18th when the sprinklers on the green turned on at about 6 p.m. as Ewing was preparing for a 4-foot birdie putt. After a short delay, she holed out for a 70.
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More AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Francisco Lindor wasn’t the franchise-altering shortstop the Mets were hoping for last season.
His performance in this year’s shortened spring training has New York confident better days are coming.
The switch-hitting Lindor has been among the best hitters in the Grapefruit League through two weeks of games, hitting .476 with four homers and 10 RBIs through his first 21 at-bats. It’s the kind of run that was common when the former Cleveland star made four All-Star teams in a row from 2016-19.
The 28-year-old struggled for big chunks of his first season with the Mets after signing a 10-year, $341 million contract, batting just .230 with 20 homers.
“Life was a little faster for me last year,” Lindor said earlier in spring training. “I tried to give it my best, gave it my best and I just wasn’t as productive as I wanted to be.”
The Mets have sky-high expectations once again in 2022, believing Lindor can be a cornerstone for a lineup that includes slugger Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil and newly acquired players like Starling Marte and Mark Canha.
Here are a few other players off to a good start as MLB’s regular season rapidly approaches on April 7:
David Peralta, OF, Diamondbacks: The veteran has been a steady influence in Arizona’s lineup since 2014 but his power has dipped considerably over the past two seasons with 13 homers in a stretch spanning about 700 at-bats. He has four homers in his first 19 spring at-bats in Cactus League play.
Kyle Higashioka, C, Yankees: The sixth-year catcher has slowly worked his way into a bigger role with the Yankees. His ability to hit will probably determine if he ultimately becomes a part-time or full-time option. He showed some pop last year with 10 homers, but hit just .181 in 193 at-bats. He’s off to a good start in the Grapefruit League with a .412 average and four homers.
Mickey Moniak, OF, Phillies: It’s been a tough road to the big leagues for Moniak, who was the No. 1 overall pick in 2016 but has spent most of the past seven years in the minors. The 23-year-old has a legit chance to earn a spot on Philadelphia’s opening day roster, especially after three homers in his first 20 spring at-bats.
Max Scherzer, RHP, Mets: He’s now 37 years old but the hard-throwing right hander doesn’t show many signs of slowing. New York added the three-time Cy Young winner during the offseason on a three-year, $130 million deal. He’s already in midseason form in Grapefruit League play, striking out 12 batters in his first 11 innings while giving up just three earned runs.
Sandy Alcantara, RHP, Marlins: The 26-year-old has quietly been among the better pitchers in the National League for three years. He was one of just four MLB pitchers to throw at least 200 innings last season, finishing with 205 2/3 over 33 starts. He looks ready for another big year after giving up just one hit over his first seven innings in the Grapefruit League.
MacKenzie Gore, LHP, Padres: He just turned 23 and has been among the sport’s highest-rated prospects for several years. Now he appears on the verge of breaking into the big leagues, whether it is straight out of spring camp or later this season. He struck out 11 batters through his first nine innings in the Cactus League this spring and has given up just two runs.
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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kim Mulkey knew she had a rebuilding project when she took over as coach of LSU this season.
The longtime Baylor coach quickly was able to orchestrate an incredible turnaround for the Tigers, who won 26 games — 17 more than last season.
Mulkey was honored Thursday as The Associated Press women’s basketball Coach of the Year, the third time she has won the award. Geno Auriemma and Muffet McGraw are the only other coaches to have accomplished the feat.
“I’m certainly honored to be in that group,” Mulkey said. “This doesn’t happen without players who allow you to coach them and buy into a system. We had a really, really good year.”
Mulkey received 10 votes from the 30-member national media panel that votes on the AP Top 25 each week. South Carolina Dawn Staley was second with eight votes. Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer received three while Nicki Collen, who replaced Mulkey at Baylor, got two along with Wes Moore of N.C. State. Five coaches got one vote apiece.
The veteran coach shared the stage with AP Player of the Year Aliyah Boston, who she coached against this year.
Mulkey, who was surprised by her team last week who told her she won, thanked her coaches and individually named each of her players in the ceremony. She choked up when talking about her family, who were still in Texas.
LSU rose to No. 6 in the AP poll and hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers lost to Ohio State in the second round and finished with more than 25 wins for the first time since the 2007-08 season. Mulkey compared this season to her first at Baylor when she inherited a team that won just seven games the year before she took over.
“You make goals that are realistic such as having a winning season,” she said. “Beat your first ranked team, we’re going to celebrate that. In conference if we finish in the top half of SEC we can then potentially get to the NCAA Tournament. It sounds so simple. but you have to crawl before you can walk, and have to walk before you can run. We were just realistic.”
The Tigers went 13-3 in the tough Southeastern Conference and had wins over Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky. Mulkey’s squad also played South Carolina tough, only falling by six points.
After the ceremony, Mulkey bumped into Nikki Fargas, the coach she replaced at LSU. The two hugged and had a 15-minute conversation. It was the first time they had talked since Mulkey got the job.
Mulkey grew up in Louisiana and won national titles with Louisiana Tech as both a player and assistant coach before a 21-year run at Baylor in which she won three national titles and became the fastest coach in women’s college basketball history to 600 victories, doing so in just 700 games. In 2020, she was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Mulkey also won AP Coach of the Year in 2012 and 2019 while at Baylor.
“I can’t name all the things that the team did this year but it was unbelievable,” she said. “We were not supposed to do what we did in a year. That’s hard to do.”
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More AP coverage of March Madness: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
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