playPirates' Shelton offers thoughts and prayers to fan who fell (1:01)Pirates manager Derek Shelton talks about the fan who fell from a 21-foot wall in right field during the game on Wednesday PITTSBURGH -- The man who fell from the top of a 21-foot-high wall onto the warning track at PNC Park during a game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night is awake and alert the organizer of a GoFundMe page for Kavan Markwood the 20-year-old who slipped off a railing and onto the field during the seventh inning of Pittsburgh's 4-3 win over the Cubs shared an update Saturday that Markwood is improving Markwood has made significant progress since being admitted to the trauma center at Allegheny General Hospital on Wednesday in critical condition "After everything he's been through since the accident on Wednesday night this progress feels nothing short of miraculous," wrote Phillips but today brought a moment of hope that we've all been holding onto." Phillips added that Markwood can speak and encouraged others to support him during his "next phase of recovery." the GoFundMe effort had raised more than $27,000 The Pirates have conducted an internal investigation into the incident which included interviewing fans and analyzing credit card receipts by others in Markwood's group the club's senior vice president of communications said the investigation concluded that Markwood did not buy any alcohol but did consume two beers over the course of the game Markwood attended the game with three other people Credit card receipts indicated that one party in the group legally bought seven alcoholic beverages during the contest pic.twitter.com/3yK84cmWp6 The team said it received conflicting accounts from fans who sat near Markwood in the section that sits above the Clemente Wall which is named for Hall of Famer and franchise icon Roberto Clemente One fan told the team that Markwood appeared intoxicated. Others said he did not do anything of note until the moment he stood up to celebrate a hit by Pirates star Andrew McCutchen at which point Markwood leapt out of his seat toward the 36-inch railing in front of him before flipping over the top Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker City of Fairfax officials are developing plans to construct a new primary fire station Though the project’s timing and final price tag still need to be pinned down, progress is being made and details will soon emerge, a representative of the architect told the Fairfax City Council at an April 22 meeting “We’ve got a pretty good pace,” Mark Manetti, a partner at BKV Group The city has already spent $5.7 million to acquire property at 4085-4087 University Drive to house the potentially three-story-tall station plus about $139,000 on the feasibility study and other initial plans according to Fairfax City Fire Chief John O’Neal The project was estimated several years ago to cost a total of $41 million several council members questioned city leaders about whether that figure is still viable “That was based probably on data from two years ago,” said O’Neal who noted that the city looked at costs for similar projects in Fairfax Loudoun and Henrico counties to come up with the figure City staff plan to bring a number of concept proposals to the council at an upcoming meeting work toward a final concept design will begin Manetti estimates another eight to 10 weeks of further design development awaits the city should have a better understanding of the expected cost and know “if we need to make any course corrections,” he said Councilmember Thomas Peterson pressed for a feel for what the costs will be both for completion of the project and borrowing funds necessary to make it happen At this stage, City Manager Bryan Foster conceded that he “can’t answer” that question. He pointed to the uncertainty of construction costs — tariffs may play a major role — and the city also has to consider the interest-rate environment when it goes to borrow cash Foster suggested the city “may issue part of the debt to get started and pay for construction The new station would be constructed just south of the existing Fire Station #3 at 4081 University Blvd. That facility currently is staffed by 12 city personnel, plus volunteers and includes offices and meeting facilities for the City of Fairfax Fire Department The land where construction will take place was formerly owned by George Mason University Foster estimated construction will take at least 18 months Also at its April 22 meeting, the Fairfax City Council awarded a $4.12 million contract to Sagres Construction Corporation for long-awaited improvements at the intersection where Fairfax Blvd Farr Avenue and McLean Avenue come together “This is taking a very complicated intersection simplifying it and adding pedestrian accommodations,” said Wendy Block Sanford Creating a more conventional four-way intersection the project will remove the approaches from McLean Ave to the north of Fairfax Blvd and from Warwick Ave to the south of Fairfax Blvd “This improvement will reduce pedestrian crossing distances and reduce the number of intersection conflict points thus making the intersection safer for both motorists and pedestrians,” the city’s project page says The project will also provide a traffic light at the intersection of Farr and nearby Arlington Blvd and support a planned extension of Farr Avenue north of Arlington Blvd “This is a big and complex project,” Peterson said, asking for the contract award to be pulled from the council’s consent agenda so staff could provide a public update Planning for improvements began in mid-2018 and the initial timeline called for construction to begin in August 2023 and be wrapped up by July 2024 but with the construction contract awarded The city’s project page now lists a potential time frame of spring 2025 through summer 2026 for construction The project’s total cost of $8.75 million is 100% federally funded By: 5:30 am on May 4 Plans for 41223 Roberts Avenue are expected to reach four floors high including 21 four-bedroom units and one two-bedroom unit Three dwellings will be designated as affordable to low-income tenants Further information about the architectural styling and programming for the structure has yet to be shared The estimated cost and timeline for construction have yet to be established The 0.9-acre property is located along Roberts Avenue The site is a five-minute walk away from the site where BART has proposed adding Irvington Station positioned between the existing stations at Fremont and Warm Springs Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates Like YIMBY on Facebook Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews ga('send', 'event', ‘Robert ‘Becker, 'Impression', 'https://sfyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/desktop-ad.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); ADVERTISEMENT ga('send', 'event', 'SF YIMBY', 'Impression', 'https://sfyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/sfyimbyadnews.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); ga('send', 'event', 'SF YIMBY', 'Impression', 'https://sfyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/sf-yimby-dot-com-graphic.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); Follow on Instagram © COPYRIGHT New York YIMBY LLC By the end of the first five hours of compensation negotiations representatives bargaining on behalf of teachers and support staff in Durango schools were weary but content with their progress They made quaint jokes as they prepared to close the meeting Thursday – after another five-hour negotiation now five minutes behind schedule – the union’s representatives were feeling “deeply angry,” “pretty upset” and “disrespected.” The Durango Education Association and the Durango Education Support Professionals Association which represent a combined 743 licensed teachers and support staff in Durango School District 9-R will enter day three of compensation negotiations with the district on Monday But progress has been trudging as they venture from vastly disparate positions the union brought their request for a 15% cost-of-living increase to the natural movement pay scale that accounts for experience and merit Suspending natural movement is “a nonstarter,” the union says and they are seeking a cost-of-living increase atop it The administrators had offered several options including the natural movement with no adjustment a $1,000 bonus to all staff and an increase in wages to starting salaries The latter two would include the caveat that natural movement be suspended district administrators appear intent on reexamining the pay scales unofficially led by Executive Director of Human Capital Laura Galido has offered numerous options that include freezing the step plans and forming a focus group to examine them going forward “We cannot sustain natural movement with the revenue that we are receiving,” said Director of Finance Kira Horenn every year our natural movement exceeds revenue.” as the facilitator Dennis Carlson refers to them given the interest-based negotiating model they use in the hopes to keeping bargaining copacetic is composed of 10 teachers and staff members and one representative from the Colorado Education Association forming one side; on the other sit Board of Education Treasurer Rick Petersen the district’s fiscal reality on Wednesday Although revenues will be up modestly next year – somewhere along the lines of $730,000 – the district’s expenses will increase by much more than that rising insurance costs and other inflating costs 9-R will face a deficit ranging from $2.2 million to $3.5 million next year in its operating budget depending on whether the federal government releases education funding to Colorado it has said it will withhold over diversity That would deprive Durango schools of $1.3 million next year which occur in jumps of generally just over 4% (but sometimes as much as 7%) over the course of a few years The main contention during negotiations was the use of the district’s unrestricted budget reserve of about $7.1 million The district also has $11.4 million in reserves per state law and the board of education Teachers and support staff members say they need cost-of-living relief now given that the district’s coffers have swelled over the last five years The proposed 6% adjustment would cost the district about $3.5 million next year Future school financing is always uncertain but “the need is immediate for our constituents,” DEA negotiator Ameryn Maestas said But administrators are deeply uncomfortable with the idea of using a non-replenishing cash reserve to pay for salaries “It would be irresponsible to tap into an unassigned fund balance for recurring costs,” COO Coleman said parties on both sides agreed on one thing: They were looking at the same financial information and drawing different conclusions Statistics presented by the administrators – the district spends 87% of its budget on compensation; the 577 students lost to charter schools short the district $6.6 million in per-pupil funding; insurance premiums are expected to rise 16.5% which will cost the district between $561,000 and $808,000 depending on how much it saddles upon employees – painted a clear picture of the district’s financial stress Union negotiators wove tales of their own financial stress and that of their members One DESPA member received a late paycheck and came home to an eviction notice on her door Durango High School Building Tech Erin Carlson said a high school physics and computer science teacher said he knew teachers in their first four years of work – meaning they get automatic raises each year – who now net less savings today than in their first year because of increased cost of living One teacher told a negotiator that they wait until the last possible moment to buy groceries “Budgets are a list of priorities,” said Jake Richmond a special education paraeducator at Riverview Elementary School “Employees like me are reminded every month on payday that we are close to the bottom of that priority list.” Durango’s starting teacher salary of $51,500 is above state and national median levels But compensation does not remain so buoyant “We are lagging behind in state benchmarks when it comes to career-long pay,” Richmond said As each side left to caucus among themselves the room filled with teachers munching pizza and chattering which crescendoed into cheers of appreciation each time the bargaining team returned to the table The interest-based negotiation style is written into the master contract it involves a series of steps designed to ensure that all parties get to share their thoughts feelings and priorities and can hear out one another It resolves only with consensus of the entire team and is intended to better preserve relationships between parties going forward the parties can at times struggle to avoid getting positional “I have an interest that 9-R staff don’t go two years in a row without a cost-of-living increase,” Cody Dreher who works with the state education association said during a section of the negotiation dedicated to sharing interests “I have an interest in creating a compensation system that results in staff truly understanding the increases they are receiving in compensation each year,” Galido said shortly after “We continue to increase salaries each year “I have an issue with this,” a DEA member observing from the audience interrupted because I’m having a problem with the fact that some people their stories are about food and food sensitivity and we have a speaker who’s controlling our money saying that .. Another DEA member cut the man off and ushered him out of the room Thursday’s negotiations made the administration’s priority clear: suspend the scheduled steps that some were scheduled to take this year and create a focus group to examine the structure going forward they have repeatedly offered stipends that would equally (although not equitably the union says) provide some relief to all staff disproportionately benefiting the lowest paid among them Anything that suspends natural movement is “a nonstarter for our members,” Fogg said on the basis that the step system had been hard-won in previous negotiations nor should we have to,” Maestas said in an interview with The Durango Herald on Friday “I think that has been incredibly frustrating Natural movement is something that’s expected by the district They have data about how and when people will move It’s something that people work for years to amass enough points to make a move.” whose often affectless demeanor was received “I’m tired of being spoken to like I’m stupid,” said Erin Carlson “I’m tired of being spoken to like I don’t understand.” Although the union said that a 6% offer was its final one the parties will bring in a mediator for arbitration If that doesn’t produce a contract acceptable to DEA and DESPA the teachers and staff members could conceivably strike although that threat has not yet been made Board Treasurer Petersen said he still has faith in the process to which everyone is seemingly still committed “We’re open and willing to hear further options from the district,” Maestas said “We are not willing to accept a freeze in natural movement or stipend We are negotiating for a (cost-of-living adjustment) Choose from several print and digital subscription packages Sign up for our daily email newsletter or to receive breaking news delivered to your inbox: The email "' + userEmail + '" could not be added Please try again or email Shane at shane@durangoherald.com for assistance We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. By using our site, you consent to our policies When it comes to the business of espionage, diversity isn’t just a buzz word—it’s crucial to getting the job done. The CIA operates in every corner of the globe which means we need intelligence officers who can blend in physically and linguistically Arguably just as important is the need for diversity of thought and life experience as broad as the targets we’re pursuing In order to recruit individuals with access to foreign intelligence CIA case officers need an ability to connect with their targets on a human level all with a goal of protecting America’s national security What’s more, it risks reverting decades of progress at the spy organization, making the United States more vulnerable to a host of global threats. I’ve interviewed dozens of female CIA officers about the often-turbulent road they traversed at the historically male-dominated agency—a road I know intimately as a former officer myself A common theme that emerged during these conversations was a belief that women possess a unique ability to excel in their roles “There are more options for what women can do (operationally),” explained Sue McCloud a retired CIA officer who was one of six women in her class of about sixty “A woman can get away with murder compared to the guys They were innocuous on the street corner for dead drops or brush passes.” Women also found that targets and recruited assets were sometimes more likely to open up to them than a male counterpart either because they were oblivious to the possibility of women being spies or because they found women to be more nurturing “I think women are better listeners and better readers of character right off the bat,” McCloud said Men are often trying to see who is going to out-impress the other one.” while highly educated and capable women were relegated to secretarial roles Even the most decorated female spy in history whose intelligence contributions during World War II were instrumental was confined to a desk at headquarters for fifteen years after the war answering to managers with far less experience in operations Elizabeth Kimber became the CIA’s first female deputy director for operations (Both women served in their respective roles until 2021.) Women currently make-up nearly half of the organization and minority employees have steadily been on the rise women accounted for 40.6 percent of Senior Intelligence Service officers Some of the positive changes at the CIA can be traced to efforts of the agency’s Diversity Inclusion Office (DIO) which sought to leverage the skills and abilities of CIA officers to ensure an inclusive work environment “The work we were doing helped all officers and made America safer,” a CIA employee who spoke on the condition of anonymity told The Daily Beast The officer and more than a dozen others temporarily assigned to the DIO were placed on administrative leave just days after Trump’s inauguration this past January they have multiple decades of service to the organization representing what some fear is the beginning of a brain drain Christina Hillsberg is a former CIA intelligence officer and the author of the forthcoming Agents of Change: The Women Who Transformed the CIA Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here the offensive weapon talked about where he is in the process to return."The recovery is going really well I'm in a really good spot," Watson said I’ve got a couple more months ahead of me Christian Watson suffered a torn ACL on January 5. Usually, the Packers treat these injuries as a 10-month recovery process, which would put Watson in position to return starting by Week 9 or 10 in 2025 his resiliency is a big part of the turnaround."It comes down to what I've been through in my life in terms of adversity that I've faced I don't really think that there's anything that could hit me that I wouldn't try to fight through and overcome," Watson added I was raised to be a fighter and chase to have the things that I want but there's still a lot of things that I want so I'm going to keep on fighting for it." his current valuation is $5.08 million per year which would certainly go significantly up once he's fully healthy and able to produce—especially because the wide receiver market tends to be expensive for teams with a special interest in roster-building processes and salary cap topics He had previous experiences covering the Packers for Zone Coverage and Cheesehead TV West-central Minnesota farmer makes planting progress Planting is off to an encouraging start for west-central Minnesota farmer Noah Hultgren. “We finished sugarbeets at the end of last week. We had some rain, which was a good thing. And we’re probably two-thirds done with corn and just have a day of soybean planting in.” Barring rain later this week, he tells Brownfield corn and soybean planting should be wrapped up in a few days. “We normally get done planting corn and soybeans somewhere closer to the middle of May, that’s more typical. So we’re ahead of pace.” Hultgren farms in Kandiyohi County and says with the fast start he is slightly concerned about cool weather damaging crops that have emerged later in the month. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Subscribe for our newsletter today and receive relevant news straight to your inbox! Search By State Main Menu A Trail That Connects The Country The Great American Rail-Trail® is the nation’s first cross-country multiuse trail, stretching more than 3,700 miles between Washington, D.C., and Washington State. Learn more about our strategic priorities Midtown Greenway | Photo courtesy Midtown Greenway Coalition This is a critical moment for the trails movement. 2024 was a landmark year for trails people and places are rallying for trails—demanding access to safe places to walk we can say there are rail-trails AND trail networks being developed in every single state And we’ve secured unprecedented investment in trails and active transportation networks across the country and showing off the joy and impact that trails uniquely deliver on Celebrate Trails Day Following the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021, billions of dollars have been invested in trails and in linking these spaces to create robust These investments are what the country needs to realize the full potential of trails to bring transformative benefits to people who live in all types of communities—small towns we also recognize the reality of the time that we are in as federal investments in trails walking and biking—like so many important issues in our communities—face heightened scrutiny We are meeting this moment with pragmatic optimism the economy and the quality of life they build—help the country prosper We know that our elected leaders understand that this infrastructure is essential and our partners and the country’s advocates are relentless in pushing for more is about so much more than getting from point A to point B Ryan Chao Ryan Chao is the president of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, responsible for overseeing the organization’s national leadership in trail development, policy advocacy and movement building. He brings to his role a long history in community and economic development and a passion for connecting people to opportunity and the outdoors. Donate Everyone deserves access to safe ways to walk, bike, and be active outdoors. Rails to Trails Conservancy National Headquarters Learn how to describe the purpose of the image (opens in a new tab) Leave empty if the image is purely decorative 2025 | Every survivor of a traumatic brain injury has a different story but resilience is one thing that they all have in common The 2025 Arkansas Brain Injury Survivors Day celebrated the resilience of survivors and caregivers alike Held at the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service State Office in Little Rock and attended by 85 people, the event is the only one of its kind in the state for brain injury survivors. The free educational event is backed by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ (UAMS) Brain Injury Program the Administration for Community Living’s TBI State Partnership Program and the Arkansas Department of Health Edward “Red” Rinehart has come far since his 2011 brain injury and is now a volunteer firefighter.Benjamin Waldrum The April 11 event helps empower survivors by showing them that they’re not alone with attendees catching up and sharing their struggles and successes Several survivors spoke at the podium about their personal journeys and showcased their talents Some tables held handmade items made by survivors such as wood-burned plaques and acoustic guitars “Our goal is to provide practical information and resources that can enhance the quality of life for survivors and their support networks,” said Brandi Dawson, a health educator with the Brain Injury Program, part of UAMS’ Institute for Digital Health Innovation “It is truly an honor to work with this resilient community Every survivor I’ve met has demonstrated incredible strength and compassion and I’m deeply grateful to be a part of this impactful event.” There are approximately 64 million brain injury survivors in the United States alone averaging out to about $3 per person affected Attendees received bright blue T-shirts featuring an image of a brain flanked by blue ribbons which are the symbol for brain injury awareness the T-shirts read: “Not All Injuries Are Visible.” Although the injuries may be invisible now they often begin with significant physical trauma spoke about his life following a brain injury he blacked out while on a ladder and fell 15 feet The accident caused multiple skull fractures Keith Handcock (left) speaks at the THRIVE panel on his experiences recovering from a brain injury.Benjamin Waldrum Army 82nd Airborne Division and now a volunteer firefighter said he uses the camaraderie and discipline from both occupations as inspiration Today he is also an advocate for brain injury survivors as vice chair of the Arkansas Brain Injury Council “I’ve taken my life back and put it into service,” he said “If I can help somebody in their worst moment of life — that means everything to me.” Rinehart said he’s proud of what he’s accomplished since the injury he helped build the large signs outside the Bass Pro Shop in Little Rock he both drives the fire engine and handles the water pump “Where they said I was too much of a liability for worker’s comp insurance I’m still working hard every day,” he said Everybody else can do their own thing; why can’t you?” Other highlights of the day’s events included updates on legislation, as well as information sessions on mindfulness, medication management and independent living. There was also an overview of the Brain Injury Program’s THRIVE initiative which stands for The Holistic Rehabilitation Intervention Experience A five-person panel of THRIVE participants talked about their struggles to remain independent and took questions from the audience a freelance musician and brain injury survivor stole the show with a solo afternoon concert playing five original songs using equipment he made himself Robin Miller played an emotional five-song set in the afternoon using multiple guitars and homemade equipment.Benjamin Waldrum Miller talked about his brain injury following a car accident in 2018 as well as his struggles with sensory processing due to autism spectrum disorder Desperate for something to do during the COVID-19 pandemic he fulfilled a lifelong dream of hearing one of his original songs being played on the radio His music is a way for him to share his personal story and advocate for brain injury survivors and people with autism and I see head injury after head injury treated as a minor inconvenience Fewer people take those injuries seriously It makes it hard to be on the same page as somebody different and that you should simply get over it and move on.” Miller said the Brain Injury Program has been a huge help for him following his diagnosis I was given this questionnaire on cognitive failures and immediately resonated with it,” he said “I found names and recognition for a lot of the problems I was having and all the wonderful people at the UAMS Brain Injury Program It’s been such a positive thing in my life.” © 2025 University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | Little Rock a school bus carrying students crashed into a home on Clay Street in Hopewell Hopewell City Public Schools [HCPS] posted the following statement on Facebook a HCPS school bus carrying students was involved in an accident and both the students and the driver are currently receiving medical attention Families of those involved have been contacted Four children and the driver were on the bus when it crashed into a home Two of the children received minor injuries and were taken to a hospital 'Our hearts go out to victim's family' Chesterfield Police investigate death of child shot in Winchester Greens residence Your support is vital to local journalism. Please subscribe Stomach cancers are increasingly being diagnosed at less advanced more treatable stages - a shift that marks major progress in detecting one of the deadliest forms of cancer according to a study to be presented today at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) 2025 These trends suggest that advancements in endoscopic imaging along with more widespread use of upper endoscopy may be helping doctors find stomach cancer earlier These shifts are important because catching stomach cancer earlier can lead to less-invasive treatment and better patient outcomes." study's lead author and gastroenterology fellow at Cleveland Clinic Stomach cancer remains one of the deadliest forms of cancer worldwide with the American Cancer Society predicting about 26,500 new cases and more than 10,800 deaths in the U.S Using data from the National Cancer Institute's SEER-22 database researchers found that diagnoses of early-stage stomach cancer rose steadily from 2004 to 2021 while more advanced cases - where the cancer had already spread to nearby lymph nodes or distant organs - dropped significantly the incidence of stomach cancer in the U.S has declined slightly over the past two decades from 8.44 per 100,000 people in 2000 to 7.53 in 2021 likely reflecting a temporary drop in medical procedures during the coronavirus pandemic 2021 marked the first year in which localized early-stage stomach cancer became the most common stage at diagnosis diagnoses involving regional spread decreased by 38% while distant-stage cases dropped by nearly 8% While early-stage stomach cancer is generally more treatable the study did not examine whether these shifts in diagnosis stage have led to changes in mortality rates Siddiqui said the study underscores the potential value of early detection strategies and supports the continued utilization of high-quality endoscopy tools and techniques It also raises the possibility that screening high-risk individuals could further improve survival rates People at highest risk for stomach cancer include those with Helicobacter pylori infection, a family history of the disease, certain inherited genetic conditions, or long-term digestive symptoms such as acid reflux Siddiqui said that newer technologies - such as high-definition endoscopes and endoscopic ultrasound - allow physicians to detect subtle mucosal changes during gastric evaluation combined with heightened clinical attention to gastrointestinal symptoms staff gastroenterologist at the Cleveland Clinic and the senior author on the study said there is a need for further research to better define the evolving demographics of stomach cancer in the U.S He said the findings could help elevate discussions about targeted screening for gastric cancers in high-risk groups - bringing attention to an issue that may warrant greater public health focus in the future "A two-decade evolution in early gastric cancer detection: Patterns and insights from SEER data," abstract Sa1374 at 12:30 p.m Digestive Disease Week Posted in: Medical Research News | Medical Condition News Cancel reply to comment Learn how experts are advancing benzodiazepine analysis and detection using insights from the lab discusses how he is addressing today’s medical challenges using the technology of the future Explore how the Radian ASAP mass spectrometer is being used to streamline and enhance seized drug screening you can trust me to find commercial scientific answers from News-Medical.net please log into your AZoProfile account first Registered members can chat with Azthena, request quotations, download pdf's, brochures and subscribe to our related newsletter content A few things you need to know before we start Read the full Terms & Conditions which erupted off Kakis Trail north of Highway 36 West according to Tehama County Volunteer Fire Station 9 which started on Sunday night at around 6 p.m. initially spread rapidly due to shifting winds Ground crews worked overnight to conduct mop-up efforts The cause of the fire remains under investigation Officials have urged residents to remain vigilant as the weather heats up and vegetation continues to dry out Report a correction or typo. historic floodwaters swallowed parts of Middle Tennessee damaging thousands of homes and businesses and forever changing the landscape of the region more than 13 inches of rain fell over just 36 hours causing the Cumberland River to breach its banks Flooding stretched from Bellevue to Downtown Nashville Eleven people died in Davidson County alone The total cost of the damage exceeded $2 billion making it one of the most devastating natural disasters in Tennessee’s history Army Corp of Engineers has invested heavily in flood mitigation efforts These include home buyouts in high-risk areas and improvements to the region’s drainage systems While these upgrades have significantly reduced the likelihood of widespread flooding experts caution that the threat isn’t gone Army Corps of Engineers says the reservoirs designed to hold back floodwaters did their job we’re going to operate them as best as we can,” Bogema said While infrastructure improvements have helped limit flooding along the Cumberland River Bogema says development and unpredictable weather patterns still present risks the anniversary serves as a somber reminder of how vital it is to remain prepared because another storm of that scale Heart of Stark: New exhibit showcases first ladies' progress and powerCanton RepositoryIn partnership with The Repository Stark Community Foundation highlights positive happenings in our community The National First Ladies Library & Museum will debut its newest exhibit on Tuesday: "The Eras Exhibit: 250 Years of First Ladies’ Progress and Power." This exhibit honors the 250th anniversary of the United States by telling the full story of American history through the eyes of women spotlighting the enduring influence and leadership of America’s first ladies From the nation’s earliest days to the modern era first ladies have shaped American history through advocacy The Eras Exhibit will take visitors on an immersive journey through the evolving role of these women across the many eras of the American historical timeline showcasing how they have redefined leadership championed social causes and influenced national conversations The Eras Exhibit captures the enduring power and influence of first ladies through each of America’s defining periods Martha Washington set the standard for the first lady role during America’s earliest days guiding and supporting a new nation with grace and dedication.Dolley Madison charmed Washington society and became known as a unifying figure during the War of 1812 helping to save precious artifacts in a time of crisis.Mary Todd Lincoln stood beside President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War enduring personal loss while advocating for the nation’s wounded soldiers and promoting causes close to her heart.Edith Wilson was a quiet powerhouse during World War I taking on unprecedented responsibilities after her husband’s stroke and reshaping the role of the first lady in American politics.Eleanor Roosevelt transformed the role in the 1930s championing human rights and social causes and setting an example as an activist and humanitarian.Jacqueline Kennedy brought a sense of style and cultural refinement to the White House during the 1960s restoring its historical beauty and defining a new era of modern American elegance.Hillary Clinton represented the modern first lady pushing for health care reform in the 1990s and setting a precedent for future first ladies in political and policymaking roles.Melania Trump has redefined the role of first lady by maintaining a reserved public presence and emphasizing her independence.This exhibit is a monumental tribute to the lasting impact first ladies have had on our country multimedia experiences and compelling stories The Eras Exhibit highlights the resilience innovation and leadership of first ladies who have shaped the past 250 years The museum hopes that visitors leave the experience with a deeper appreciation for the many ways these women have influenced the nation — both in and beyond the White House This exhibit is free and open the public during regular historic site hours from 9 a.m Sustainable design calls for an acknowledgement of the past and a vision for the future. Rather than reinventing the wheel with every design, replicating models are tried and tested to enable ecological design to scale effectively. Inventions are most effectively demonstrated through functional prototypes - allowing walk-throughs to convince the public beyond slide decks. When concepts can be experienced, belief tends to follow—and with it, demand. Paper Log House / Shigeru Ban. Image © Michael BiondoBillionBricks' powerHYDE prototype in India was designed to address the needs of 200 million rural homeless individuals Rather than immediately constructing thousands of units The prototype allowed them to confirm that their ambitious design could deliver on its promises - producing four times the energy it consumes while remaining affordable and adaptable to various cultural contexts Related Article Adaptive Reuse: Rethinking Carbon, Sustainability and Social Justice Prototypes allow designers to fail fast, learn quickly, and improve continuously. The Mass Plywood Panel (MPP) Prototype Home in Oregon is built to test the viability of prefabricated mass timber for workforce housing. The two-story, 760-square-foot structure was designed for quick assembly, using a flat-pack system akin to a "gingerbread house" that can be erected in just a few days. Modern sustainable housing prototypes stand out for their demonstration of economic practicality in tandem with environmental effectiveness. No longer just tech showpieces, they're becoming small-scale blueprints for financial sustainability. In powerHYDE sustainable features are not treated as costly add-ons. The design, infact, incorporates excess energy production as a revenue stream. A cluster of 75 powerHYDE homes functions as a mini power plant generating 1 MW of energy, creating an income source for residents while solving energy needs. The project proves that sustainable housing can be self-financing—a critical factor for adoption in developing regions. It is commonly believed that environmentally conscious housing demands a trade-off in terms of comfort or convenience. Well-designed prototypes can dispel these myths by showcasing spaces that are not just sustainable but comfortable and desirable. Small-scale prototypes that are locally available indicate to stakeholders the achievability of sustainable design. Prototypes act as references, sparking important discussions about how to tailor them to fit specific contexts and needs. Their presence encourages a hands-on understanding, facilitating the development of context-sensitive strategies. Small-scale experiments accelerate innovation cycles and build public and institutional support The next frontier appears to be connecting these isolated prototype successes to broader systems change Yale CEA explicitly connects their prototype to global objectives noting that "if aggregated at a global scale—low-carbon residential development can dramatically reduce climate change." In the words of architect William McDonough "Design is the first signal of human intention." Sustainable housing prototypes represent our clearest intentions for a regenerative built environment transformed from miniature models into blueprints for a sustainable world You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors If you have done all of this and still can't find the email strategic partnerships have become a key tool for advancing towards truly sustainable development An 81-meter pedestrian bridge reconstructed with recycled materials exemplifies the power of alliances to protect our environment and transform lives in our region 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- What was once considered waste is now a symbol of hope Thanks to the joint efforts of Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior a new pedestrian bridge has been inaugurated in the Watershed of the Panama Canal built from over 3 tons of recycled plastic.  This initiative prevented this plastic waste from ending up in landfills transforming an environmental problem into a concrete solution that enhances the quality of life for communities and protects the natural environment.  significantly improving the mobility and safety of over 300 people this bridge symbolizes the power of collaboration to promote sustainable solutions and generate tangible social impact Jessica Janson Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications and Social Investment at Bladex stated: "With every step taken on this bridge we reaffirm that waste can become a solution and that a true commitment to sustainability has the power to transform lives." This initiative is part of Bladex's ESG (Environmental and Governance) strategy and reflects its commitment to sustainable development in Panama and the region It is the second bridge of this type delivered by the institution; the first was inaugurated in 2023 in the Kosovo community of Puerto Caimito as part of its vision to convert environmental challenges into opportunities for Latin American communities.  "The purpose of Bladex is to build bridges between Latin America and the world to support the development of our clients and the region. Projects like this are an extension of that purpose brought to life within communities and form part of our contribution toward a more sustainable, inclusive, and human future for our region," said Jorge Salas The project was built using plastic profiles manufactured by Fundación Botellas de Amor from recycled materials and benefited from the operational and logistical support of the Panama Canal The collaboration also included collection campaigns and volunteer activities led by Bladex and the Panama Canal "For the Panama Canal, being part of this project is a source of pride. It reflects our commitment to the environment and to the communities within the Panama Canal Watershed," said Ilya Espino de Marotta, Deputy Administrator of the Panama Canal The Watershed of the Panama Canal is crucial at an international level as it is the source of water for the operation of the Canal It is vital for global maritime navigation facilitating the transit of ships between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and connecting 170 countries through 180 maritime routes It is also key for the supply of drinking water for the Panamanian population The watershed also hosts communities that are conscious of protecting their environment and a rich biodiversity This bridge not only connects communities; it connects purposes It confirms that when Latin America works in partnership Therefore, Bladex will continue to promote initiatives with tangible impact that can progressively expand throughout the region.  Bladex is a multinational bank originally established by the central banks of Latin American and Caribbean countries It began operations in 1979 with the mission of promoting foreign trade financing and regional economic integration supporting regional development and serving a client base that includes financial institutions and corporations Bladex has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BLX) since 1992 Its shareholders include central banks and state-owned entities from 23 Latin American countries commercial banks and financial institutions as well as institutional and retail investors through its public listing Comunicaciones Corporativas e Inversión Social Correo:  [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> / Tel.: (+507) 210-8500 Dirección Casa Matriz: Edificio Business Park SOURCE Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior (NYSE: BLX) cordially invites you to participate in its upcoming conference call to discuss its 1Q25 .. ("Bladex" or "the Bank") announced today that the Bank filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the.. Environmental Products & Services Banking & Financial Services Environmental Issues Licensing Do not sell or share my personal information: Trust me: Treading water is better than sinking and it’s no guarantee you won’t sink eventually as we wait for this Orioles team to kick on and start playing like a playoff team a 3-3 homestand with green shoots starting to pop up might just be enough to keep this team afloat That’s unfortunately what’s on the horizon for this team right now The Orioles need to stack wins: winning streaks But as they seek those and build up the total in their win column to help claw back to .500 and beyond it’s inevitable that there will be losses mixed in Some — hopefully few — will be like Tuesday’s bloodbath at the hands of the Yankees Others will be like this weekend’s frustrating but not overall dispiriting losses to the Royals The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one. every loss is going to erase whatever goodwill came before it Absent a winning streak that erases this early deficit they’ve dug themselves in the standings in one big bite any stretch where the Orioles aren’t falling further behind needs to be viewed as one they’d begrudgingly take Now you don’t get to lose as often and as badly as the Orioles did in April and then start benefiting when the bar is lowered There have been and will continue to be recriminations and judgments as to why that happened and those will be made through the lens of a team that should be in its peak window of contention and I think this week at Camden Yards a few jumped out One is the production of the team’s superstars Gunnar Henderson came home with a .634 OPS after the team’s tough road trip and heads back on the road at .733 — nearly 100 points higher — after he went 9-for-22 with three extra-base hits and Adley Rutschman is a lot like the team itself as he appears to be getting better but isn’t seeing a huge spike in the overall numbers the underlying data suggests better is ahead Another thing that needs to be demonstrated at this point is the acknowledgment that things need to improve We’ve seen this with Charlie Morton moving to the bullpen and some lineups that attempt to keep as many of the team’s best hitters in even if the opposing stater doesn’t match up with their ideal usage Not all of their right-handed hitters can possibly go on hitting lefties as poorly as they have for an entire season but to fill half a lineup with those underperformers every chance the Orioles got was a recipe for disaster that they’ve at least started to go off script for Another is the relative stabilization of the rotation Kyle Gibson’s Tuesday disaster notwithstanding every Orioles starter this week — including him on Sunday — gave the team a chance to win Zach Eflin seemed to think he’d need only Sunday in Aberdeen before returning to the rotation and at this point the Orioles aren’t really in a position to say no to him given Tomoyuki Sugano seems like he’s as advertised Gibson was better Sunday and April Dean Kremer is behind us that’s overall a group you can win games with And Eflin’s return speaks to another aspect of this team that can’t be overlooked even in a week when another contributor in Ramón Urías ended up on the injured list: It’s going to get healthy soon Eflin is one of the more significant short-term absentees the Orioles have at this point and his return to the rotation will be a welcome one Andrew Kittredge is going to make a good bullpen better once he’s back If the week-plus off helps Jordan Westburg and Tyler O’Neill get back to their best selves And before long we’ll get to the part where Colton Cowser and maybe Grayson Rodriguez are back If the Orioles are still seven games under .500 on Memorial Day But the first order of business is not to let things get worse that’s when we start talking about jobs being on the line the viability of nearly seven years of work to rebuild this organization comes into question because of how baseball and the discourse around it work the idea that this contending window is closing could become pervasive Gibson was right in saying after his disastrous debut Tuesday that it wasn’t going to happen all at once that the team’s climb back from as bad a start as one could imagine would take a while The first step toward that is not falling any further back That could mean weekends when no one is particularly buzzing about this team I’m just here acknowledging that there’s value to not falling further behind because the alternative at this early stage is much Jon Meoli jon.meoli@thebaltimorebanner.com Jon Meoli is the Baltimore Banner's Orioles columnist Welcome to The Banner's subscriber-only commenting community. 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If the problem persists, please contact customer service at 443-843-0043 or customercare@thebaltimorebanner.com As dust continues to stir on last week’s firing of Hopewell’s city manager and city clerk, the city’s top prosecutor warned in a letter to City Council that the motion to terminate Dr Concetta Manker may have been made improperly and the final vote was a 3-3 tie allowing Manker to keep her job Newman’s opinion is the latest in council’s controversial decisions to oust Manker and City Clerk Brittani Williams without cause The separate 4-3 votes fell along council’s racial lines and prompted loud charges of racism since the votes to terminate were made by white councilors and did not specify reasons Robert's 36th rule of order spells out the following about reconsideration motions: "It can be made only on the day the vote to be reconsidered was taken a legal holiday or a recess not being counted as a day." The governance code also says the motion "must be made by one who voted with the prevailing side." but it still must follow the rule's time and member restrictions anyone on either side can ask for reconsideration "Councilor Ellis was not qualified to make the Motion to Reconsider,” he stated in his message “Councilor Ellis left the meeting before the original motion and vote to terminate was made the matter taken up concerning the city manager was untimely Manker is still the City Manager because your actions are null and void.”  to offer his opinion about Robert’s Rule of Order “What I am most concerned about is that while I understand you may be trying to change the course of this great city I feel that your actions have accomplished nothing more than placing another arrow in Dr Manker’s quiver to sue the city as well as each of you individually,” Newman’s message concluded Richmond man faces murder, gun charges in the shooting death of a Petersburg woman in Hopewell Newman’s letter was the third of a series he has written to council about firing council-appointed employees such as Manker or Williams The first was prior to the February meeting when Newman recommended that Ellis Vice Mayor and Ward 7 Councilor Dominic Holloway recuse themselves from motions to fire Manker because of conflict-of-interest issues because he is a city employee as well as a councilor and any action could be construed that he was acting as the “boss” of Manker who in turn is the supervisor of all city employees Joyner and Holloway were recommended to not take part because at the time Manker had filed official complaints against them the day before the meeting in which Manker and Williams were fired Newman warned against the possibility of Ellis making the motion to reconsider because “I feel certain that Councilor Ellis would have a conflict of interest He asked council to postpone the meeting until he could get a requested opinion from state Attorney General Jason Miyares about Ellis’ issue he was bound to enforce Virginia’s conflict-of-interest laws the violation of which is a Class 1 misdemeanor and could result in Ellis’ removal for malfeasance in office and a $250 fine violating the conflict-of-interest statutes has severe consequences,” he wrote and I don’t want anyone to run afoul of the law.”  all councilors who voted to fire Manker and Williams – Ellis Mayor Johnny Partin Jr and Ward 5 Councilor Susan Daye – have maintained public silence about the decision Partin told The Progress-Index after the May 1 meeting nothing would be said because the terminations are a protected personnel issue At that same meeting – after the Black councilors left the dais – council chose Michael Rogers as interim city manager an employee of the advisory firm Rober Bobb Group is a former interim city manager in Charlottesville and also worked in Petersburg No interim was named to fill Williams’ spot deputy clerk Sade’ Allen will run the office until a replacement is named In the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget council is deliberating now the deputy clerk position will be eliminated Cops: Woman killed Saturday in Hopewell's Thomas Rolfe Court area had 'apparent head trauma' One of the core issues for the public upheaval over Manker’s and Williams’ firings hinges on the point of “termination without cause.” To terminate without cause means that the employee is being let go for reasons unrelated to their work performance as long as there is no wrongdoing or employee misconduct Virginia is one of several “work at-will" states where an employer can let an employee go without specifying a reason, and that can also apply to workers in the public sector, according to the state code any employee who signs a contract with a governing body may have an “out” from the at-will requirement if the contract specifies specific terms of employment The Progress-Index has requested copies of Manker’s and Williams’ contract through the Virginia Freedom of Information Act Both Manker and Williams maintain they were never given any formal annual evaluations of their performances by council Williams said at the May 1 meeting that she has received numerous positive emails from council members complimenting her for the job I got this office in shape so y’all could bring someone else in?”  Williams angrily asked at the meeting Hopewell new restaurant: Authentic Mexican, Central American, Italian cuisines, view video Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI While many folks have put Hopewell City Council on blast for the firing of its city manager and city clerk last week the pastor of a downtown church says not enough people have asked for spiritual guidance for the councilors – even if the citizens do not agree with what they did “We’re complaining enough about them,” Beacon Hill Church Pastor Michael Moore said during a church-hosted “unity” service May 4 The service inside the auditorium of the Beacon Theatre drew 100 or so people a mix of Beacon Hill members and the general public Moore said the church extended a personal invitation to all seven councilors to attend adding that Ward 7 Councilor Dominic Holloway was the only one to accept The service was meant for more than the May 1 firings of City Manager Concetta Manker and City Clerk Brittani Williams that sent citizens and some local lawmakers into public bursts of anger. There were also two homicides and several reports of gunfire around town During the hour-long service, Moore based his message on several scriptures from the Book of Romans and what it says about loving one another as Christ loved He recommended following the concepts of sincere love service to others above self and forgiveness of persecutors – although he admitted the last one might seem harder to follow sometimes not on our own agenda but on the agenda of Christ,” Moore said More: Hopewell commonwealth's attorney finds legal fault with council's firing of city manager Moore said a combination of bad government and racial tensions has landed Hopewell in its current spot noting how the Bible say that the emperor Nero persecuted Christians by burning them alive and using those flames to light the pathways of loyal subjects “Just be thankful Nero wasn’t in charge in Hopewell,” he joked Christian actions should not just be limited to church services but “wherever you go,” Moore said That includes occupations and public service “If you are a city councilperson and you claim to be a Christian you’re a Christian while you’re a police officer,” Moore said He spoke of how one councilor – again not named but it was Joyner – pushed to get his church to stop distributing food to homeless and low-income families from their downtown location because it was not creating a good image of overall Hopewell the distribution is one of Beacon Hill’s core principles to serve the unsheltered and underserved and to do so without the presence of the local government “We are all equal at the foot of the cross,” he said Moore was one of several citizens who attended the May 1 meeting and while he said he was personally angered by how the firings of Manker and Williams were handled he said he tried to remain focused on the mission of the church – to serve God first we don’t serve the government,” Moore said to loud cheers from attendees To watch the entire message of Beacon Hill Church’s unity service, click here Hopewell school bus crashes into home. Two children receive minor injuries. Confusion "about what a college education will cost any given family is creating a disheartening landscape," say Ezekiel J Even "flagship public universities are increasingly — and understandably — seen as financially out of reach." For "many families the actual price of a college education remains unclear buried beneath complex formulas." But "many universities have expanded need-based aid determined by household income and family assets Read more From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox Kids' programming is the "beating heart of PBS," says Marc Brown Given that the "unregulated digital landscape for kids can be toxic dangerous and for profit," public media is "the last safe place for our children." PBS children's shows are "created with child psychologists and education experts to ensure the betterment of all children." It can "provide any child — regardless of means or circumstance — the ability to learn and grow Read more Peter van Buren at The American Conservative The Trump administration is "considering closing 10 embassies," and "any change would be a welcome and important part of the department's reorganization," says Peter van Buren A "closer look suggests something different perhaps an attempt by State to game the system." The "changes proposed for State abroad are too little; they stink of gaming the process." There "should be a hint in all this of the end of an era." Read more Pope Francis "made it his mission to bind up the wounded lift the lowly and proclaim good news to the poor and the marginalized," says Ellie Hidalgo He "opened doors for women worldwide to participate in local continental and global listening sessions." Francis "kindled hope and strength to continue constructing pathways of synodal encounter undeterred by setbacks." There are more "women of courage and commitment who stand ready to proclaim good news" and "create conditions for peace." Read more A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com Justin Klawans, The Week USSocial Links Navigation Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022 He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International The construction site of the new Tallahassee Police Department headquarters is still barren but City Manager Reese Goad said the cleared land will start to see activity soon A 216,000 square-foot facility is slowly underway and Goad said the city is expecting to see "verticality" in August or September The project was launched in 2018 and slated to finish this year but progress on the project has been pushed back roughly a year with "substantial completion" expected to be sometime in late 2026 The new headquarters will be fully equipped with a firearm training facility and work has been done to landscape the property and address stormwater facilities Goad said the cost of the project has remained the same since the last time the price tag was hiked estimated costs for the new facility it rose by about $75 million totaling around $135 million – more than double the projected price from 2020 At the time, Goad attributed the rising cost of the new HQ to inflation and an expensive post-COVID construction market, as previously reported The expensive facility has ruffled feathers in the community and local leadership as several commissioners feel taxpayer dollars are better spent elsewhere During a May 1 town hall with both city and county commissioners present City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow expressed his disapproval of the cost of TPD's new home He said the city's investment priorities are out of sort by spending "nearly in excess of $160 million on a new police facility," instead of redirecting funds to help save the city's art district which was devastated by tornadoes last year and I think we need to scale that back and look at where we're investing in our neighborhoods where we're investing in arts and where we're investing in culture that brings people to our community and keeps people in our community," he said Local government watchdog reporter Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa Investigative stories and local news updates Coverage of the Hawaiʻi State legislature in 2025 Award winning in-depth reports and featured on-going series Get the week’s news delivered straight to your inbox Legislators passed a historic new green fee They also kicked some of Hawaiʻi’s most daunting environmental challenges down the road At Pōkaʻī Bay in Waiʻanae swimmers and paddlers often report coming down with infections and stomach bugs once they leave the water. That includes Carmen Guzman-Simpliciano’s son, who, in 2022, visited the emergency room with an MRSA infection shortly after swimming there the same thing happened after another dip in the Oʻahu bay Perhaps that’s not surprising in a spot where water quality testing routinely reveals bacteria levels far higher than what’s deemed healthy a community advocate who now helps with that testing says the main suspect for what’s causing all the swim illnesses are cesspools near the stream that empties into Pōkaʻī Bay legislators took the same approach this year to Hawaiʻi’s cesspool woes as they did to several of the other daunting environmental problems facing the nation’s lone island state: they mostly just chipped away at them Specifically, they decided not to budget $5 million to extend a popular grant program that helps low- and moderate-income households get rid of cesspools. Instead, they settled on a pilot program with the University of Hawaiʻi to study new wastewater system technologies That three-year study could eventually help scores of Hawaiʻi residents replace their cesspools with lower-cost alternatives, experts say but it doesn’t address the need to do something about them in the short-term Some 11,000 cesspools dot the Waiʻanae landscape more than 80,000 such sewage pits leak millions of gallons of raw sewage daily into Hawaiʻi’s beach waters and onto its reefs State leaders have set a deadline to remove them all by 2050 but some experts and advocates say that’s too far away and more urgent action is needed to protect Hawaiʻi’s fragile marine environment “We didn’t get everything we wanted,” acknowledged Big Island Rep who chairs the House’s Energy and Environmental Protection Committee and supported extending the cesspool program “There’s always a lot more work to do.” in regards to the overall legislative session she said “this has been a better year than the past couple of years.”  Among the Legislature’s most notable swings this year was the historic new visitor-paid “green fee,” which aims to offset some of the impact tourists have on Hawaiʻi’s environment plus address a host of local climate change concerns.  The stakes for the 2025 session also took on extra challenges for conservation-minded legislators with the election of President Donald Trump immediately launched into attacks on the environment Last week, Trump fired all the scientists who work on the National Climate Assessment — a key report that gauges progress addressing climate change — right as the Legislature was winding down The president is also aggressively working to kill state-led climate initiatives such as Hawaiʻi’s ambitious goal to run entirely on clean energy by 2045 And the federal government is suing Hawaiʻi to try to head off state efforts to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for the harms caused by climate change the country’s political climate leaves it unclear just how boldly state lawmakers will decide to act going forward to tackle the cesspool problem fossil fuels and other environmental threats to Hawaiʻi.  “We’re always worried about whether we have adequate funding to manage our public trust resources,” Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi Director Wayne Tanaka said “which are integral to our way of life.” lawmakers also considered this year but opted not to change the 2050 deadline It’s estimated they send more than 50 million gallons of raw sewage each day into nearshore waters “The science is pretty indisputable that the nutrients from cesspools are just killing the reefs,” said Stuart Coleman executive director of the Hawaiʻi-based group WAI: Wastewater Alternatives and Innovation That threatens a marine ecosystem critical to the islands’ food security economic prosperity and protection against hurricanes and other powerful storms The unfolding crisis is what led to the 2050 deadline it’s estimated a single cesspool costs tens of thousands of dollars to remove — a burden many Hawaiʻi homeowners can’t afford without help efforts to bump up some of the top-priority removals to as early as 2030 failed The state needs to remove more than 3,000 cesspools a year to hit its 2050 goal Coleman said it’s only hitting about 200 a year The grant program that lawmakers failed to extend this year was so popular that its total $5 million was exhausted within a week of its launch several years ago He’s now working to secure more federal dollars for Hawaiʻi cesspool removals despite all the other cuts happening on the federal level said she didn’t know of anyone in Waiʻanae who’d heard of the state grant program even when it was available “There’s not a lot of outreach or education around this sort of thing,” she said Another bill lawmakers passed this year could soon spell the end for a key state incentive that for several decades has helped spur more solar installation across Hawaiʻi rooftops.  The bill sunsets in five years the income tax credit local homeowners can claim on those new systems for either 35% of their cost or $5,000 Opponents say the measure introduced by House Finance Chair Kyle Yamashita is short-sighted Not only will it stunt Hawaiʻi’s solar-energy growth but it could also kill solar jobs and cause a drop in tax revenues from that industry “If you want to have these conversations you need to have them in a responsible way,” Lowen said instead of taking “rash action” that could hurt the economy Yamashita, however, said last week legislators could still review that and other credits targeted by the bill and see whether they want to keep them before they expire in five years Conservation groups and many North Shore residents were dismayed to see a bill pass that loosens the scrutiny on new construction near Hawaiʻi’s beaches and coastal zones.  New homes built in those areas typically require what’s called a “Special Management Area” permit Those permits require more extensive reviews by county planners plus the need to file additional documents and information along the way Construction valued at less than $500,000 requires a less-stringent “minor” SMA House Bill 796 raises that threshold to $750,000 and will adjust it for inflation every five years including Honolulu’s Department of Planning and Permitting say it’s a necessary update since the threshold hasn’t been adjusted since 2011 However, conservationists say it’s a step in the wrong direction as the impacts of climate change and sea level rise get worse The state should be increasing its management of coastal areas Environmental advocates did point to some legislative wins they considered significant this year Tanaka hailed the Senate’s unanimous confirmation of North Kona community leader Hannah Springer to serve as the Commission on Water Resource Management’s designated traditional water rights and customary practices expert Local conservation groups had clashed with Gov Josh Green for nearly a year over who should fill that seat representing traditional Hawaiian water rights before Green decided earlier this year to choose Springer “probably the most important state entity when you think about what’s happening with our climate and our planet.” He added that the loea role Springer now fills is “one of the most important seats that we can advocate for.” He further touted the Legislature’s move to block landfill construction over sensitive drinking water sources which is a major setback to the city’s efforts to replace Oʻahu’s existing Waimānalo Gulch landfill near Nānākuli with a new landfill outside Wahiawā on a site above a major island aquifer It also raises concerns about whether Westside residents must continue to bear the island’s landfill burden even though it was supposed to be replaced years ago Tanaka called the decision essential to protect Oʻahu’s limited water resources amid declining rainfall and climate change Lawmakers this year took steps to beef up the state’s biosecurity efforts A new law aims to address the spread of invasive species across Hawaiʻi plus train crews to respond faster to infestations It also increases penalties for illegally transporting plants and animals across the state early steps to better manage the island state’s waste stream It devoted $3 million over two years for the state health department to study how to reduce Hawaiʻi’s waste and trash buildup She was disappointed, however, that her colleagues didn’t pass a bill to ban small plastic bottles of shampoos and other toiletries from hotels which she said is actually supported by much of the hotel industry as they transition to shampoo dispensers  “Seems like an easy win that we didn’t take,” Lowen said. “It’s an own-goal: Just pass the thing.” Civil Beat’s coverage of climate change is supported by The Healy Foundation Marisla Fund of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation and the Frost Family Foundation Unfortunately, being named a finalist for a Pulitzer prize doesn’t make us immune to financial pressures. The fact is, our revenue hasn’t kept pace with our need to grow, and we need your help Civil Beat is a nonprofit, reader-supported newsroom based in Hawaiʻi. We’re looking to build a more resilient, diverse and deeply impactful media landscape, and we hope you’ll help by supporting our essential journalism Marcel Honoré is a reporter for Civil Beat. You can email him at mhonore@civilbeat.org Civil Beat has been named the best overall news site in Hawaii for the 14th year in a row by the Society of Professional Journalists Hawaii Chapter Elanco Animal Health IHT Group LANXESS PigTek Connections April 2025 BinSentry PigCentral™ Management System from PigTek Hog Slat The outlook for passing a new bipartisan farm bill in 2025 is becoming increasingly uncertain as lawmakers consider incorporating key agricultural provisions into a broader Republican-led legislative package instead Republican legislators are debating whether to shift Biden-era conservation programs—originally part of the 2022 climate law—into their sweeping party-line “megabill.” This move would divert unspent conservation dollars away from a standalone farm bill and fold them into legislation aligned with former President Donald Trump’s domestic agenda Republicans are expected to seek the removal of climate-related restrictions tied to those funds The decision underscores growing skepticism among GOP lawmakers about their chances of enacting a new farm bill through bipartisan negotiations this year The potential pivot marks a reversal from earlier Republican resistance to including conservation program funding in the farm bill Republicans are weighing the inclusion of two major farm bill components—increased reference prices and updated crop insurance—within the broader megabill These changes aim to address ongoing economic pressures faced by U.S producers and the need for modernization of the farm safety net While House Agriculture Chair GT Thompson (R-Pa.) and Senate Ag Chair John Boozman (R-Ark.) maintain a publicly optimistic tone who sits on both the House Agriculture and Appropriations Committees voiced concern over stalled forestry grants and staff reductions within the Forest Service—impacts linked to the freezing of Inflation Reduction Act funds Pingree described the Agriculture Committee as capable of bipartisan cooperation praising Thompson’s leadership and outreach but noted that combining the farm bill process with budget reconciliation has disrupted the legislative path Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) echoed similar concerns noting that Republican lawmakers are quietly expressing discontent over suspended grants and rural staff losses but have largely avoided public opposition She cited tariffs as the only area where Senate Republicans have begun to push back more visibly The House Agriculture Committee is scheduled to begin markup next week on its portion of the megabill A major point of contention will be proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) a move that has raised concerns among Republicans wary of reducing food aid in their districts the farm bill’s path forward remains clouded by uncertainty—leaving farmers and stakeholders across the country watching closely for what comes next Department of Justice will no longer monitor the Worcester Public Schools' progress in educating English-language learners the Worcester Public Schools were notified on April 30 that the Justice Department would cease monitoring the district's English as a second language programming because the district has "substantially complied with its obligations” outlined in a 2016 legal agreement which was an update to an agreement originally signed in 2009 The district agreed to monitoring by the federal government after it had failed to meet a number of metric standards for English-language learners the district had to institute new programming while filing rigorous reports to the federal government More: District close to agreement on ELLs "After a thorough review of the District’s most recent annual reports and supplementary documentation we have concluded that the District has substantially complied with its obligations under the Agreement.” The Worcester Public Schools noted that the district has seen a substantial increase in the percentage of students who are proficient enough to graduate from designation as English-language learners 10.9% of the student body was classified as "former English learners," up from 9.4% in 2021-22 middle school students rose from 4.9% former English learners to 8.4% "The Worcester Public Schools has demonstrated that it has strong systems in place to ensure we are effectively providing English as a Second Language instruction for our scholars,” Superintendent Rachel Monárrez stated “Systems have been enhanced over the past three years specifically to not only provide required instructional services but to monitor them in a systematic and timely manner I express my deep thanks to the many educators and administrators who have worked tirelessly to ensure our scholars are getting the education for which they are entitled." reading and writing in more than one language is an asset to be celebrated,” Monárrez stated “When children move on from English learner status they have access to more opportunities and courses while possessing the gift of multilingualism community and future workforce advancement.” About us | Advertise with us | Contact us The biologic delivered sustained remission in adults with the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) over the two-year study New clinical findings show that Johnson & Johnson’s monoclonal antibody Tremfya ® (guselkumab) enabled sustained clinical and endoscopic efficacy for ulcerative colitis patients at two years This is based on the long-term extension study of the Phase III QUASAR trial which evaluated adults with moderately-to-severely active forms of the disease Tremfya is the first approved dual-acting monoclonal antibody that blocks the cytokine IL-23 while simultaneously binding to CD64 Tremfya shows the powerful impact it can have in achieving longer term remission in [ulcerative colitis] patients” Tremfya shows the powerful impact it can have in achieving longer term remission in [ulcerative colitis] patients,” commented Dr Esi Lamousé-Smith Safety data were consistent with the previous reported safety profile for Tremfya in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) The new findings are being shown at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2025 (presentation #4241842) This new data adds to earlier clinical results released in May 2024 from a maintenance study of Tremfya in ulcerative colitis The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) most recently approved Tremfya in March 2025 for adult patients with Crohn’s disease for subcutaneous and intravenous induction administration options In October last year, Johnson & Johnson presented promising Phase III data for the monoclonal antibody in Crohn’s disease at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2024 conference the US FDA granted approval for intravenous administration of the drug in adults with ulcerative colitis This indication consists of follow up subcutaneous maintenance treatment , By No comments yet All subscriptions include online membership giving you access to the journal and exclusive content By , By Comment *document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "a753f60d42e13d4808e5fa65918d7f8f" );document.getElementById("a9d92917df").setAttribute( "id" Write for us | Advertise with us European Pharmaceutical Review is published by: Russell Publishing Ltd.Court LodgeHogtrough HillBrasted © Russell Publishing Limited Website development by e-Motive Media Limited Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website These cookies do not store any personal information CookieDescriptioncookielawinfo-checkbox-advertising-targetingThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Advertising & Targeting".cookielawinfo-checkbox-analyticsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent WordPress Plugin The cookie is used to remember the user consent for the cookies under the category 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four months after wildfires reduced thousands of Los Angeles-area homes to rubble and ash construction workers recently began placing wooden beams to frame a house on a lot where only a charred fireplace remains standing In the seaside city of Malibu and foothills neighborhood of Altadena many land parcels where homes once stood are being cleared of debris Hundreds of homeowners have sought city or county approval for new home designs and other permits to eventually rebuild or repair damaged homes though few have gotten the green light to break ground businesses and other structures burned to the ground in the January 7 fires Many homeowners will not be able to afford it Some are still trying to figure out whether it's safe to return to their properties given limited data on the degree to which toxins from the fires Roughly 400 land parcels are already for sale in the fire-ravaged areas Facing overwhelming loss and the chaos that comes with sudden displacement those looking to rebuild must navigate an often confusing and time-consuming process LA issued its first building permit nearly two months after the fires started It took more than seven months before the first building permit was issued following the Woolsey Fire in 2018 "Putting this in context of other disasters the speed is actually probably faster than expected," said Sara McTarnaghan a researcher at the Urban Institute who studied the aftermath of urban wildfires in recent years in Colorado three-bath house in Altadena for 10 years and raised her two children there she was in shock and questioned whether it made sense to come back and the more we all talked to each other the more we were all like 'hell yes.'" Frazier hired a crew to clear the property of debris and she is nearly through the first phase of permitting which involves getting county review and approval for her new home's design The next phase before receiving approval to begin construction includes reviews of electrical is rebuilding her home without major changes to its size or location in order to qualify for an expedited building permit approval process "We are hoping to be building by June or July "I've been told that maybe by February or March of 2026 we could be back in our home." skylights and other home fixtures in hopes of locking in prices before they go up as more construction projects ramp up or in response to the Trump administration's ongoing trade war "I'm doing things like scouring Home Depot finding slate tiles that look modern and beautiful but they're actually really cheap," she said knows what it's like to build her dream house from the ground up She waited more than two years for construction to be completed on the five-bedroom her husband vowed to never build another house The family lived there for six years before it was destroyed in the Palisades Fire have lived in the neighborhood for more than 30 years They couldn't imagine giving up and not rebuilding we're building the exact same house again," Heline said noting the new home will have some upgrades including fire-resistant materials and sprinklers for the exterior of the house they cleared debris from the land where the house once stood a particularly onerous task because the home featured a large basement into which much of the structure collapsed as it burned Heline isn't sure when construction will begin but figures it could be two or three years what the neighborhood will look like by then Are you there and no one else is on your block or are you going back to a construction zone for many more years?" she said The Eaton wildfire destroyed many of the more than 270 historic Janes Cottages in Altadena including the three-bedroom home Tim Vordtriede shared with his wife and two young children The family had only lived in the roughly 100-year-old house for three years "We just loved the storybook cottage and the vibe and of course the grander vibe of Altadena," he said he is using his experience as a construction project manager to help others who also lost their homes a group providing assistance with home designs and guidance on how to navigate the complex and lengthy approval process for rebuilding permits Of the roughly two dozen clients that the group is serving three are in the early stages of the permitting process Even after projects reach shovel-ready status homeowners will have to wait perhaps more than a year before they can move in "My first statement when anyone walks in the door is: We're not here to help you design your dream home," Vordtriede said and our job is to get you out of the nightmare as soon as possible." But in the last 30 years, child mortality rates have plummeted in low-income countries. In Ethiopia, they’ve dropped from 20% to 5%, as shown in the chart below. The Gambia and Afghanistan are just two more examples of countries with dramatic declines. I’ve also shown the change in rich countries on the chart it might seem that child mortality is no longer an issue in rich countries Their rates are very low and barely visible compared to many other countries It also looks like almost no progress has been made in the last 30 years: mortality was low and is still low But I think both of these conclusions are wrong. Countries in the European Union, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom — the list goes on — have made childhood much safer in my own 30-year lifetime.1 It’s just something we rarely hear about I also don’t think that this is a “solved problem”; it is still too common for parents to see their children die and there’s a lot more that we can do to save their lives We have this perception because we compare countries by their absolute reduction in child mortality Many low- and middle-income countries have reduced these rates by 5 or 20 percentage points over the last 30 years that would be impossible for many richer countries: the child mortality rate in the European Union (EU) was around 1% in 1990 so the maximum reduction it could achieve in absolute terms would be one percentage point It’s only when we look at the relative reduction in child mortality that we see that rich countries have also made impressive progress The chart below shows these same countries — or groups of countries — plotted as the change in mortality rates since 1990 All of them have halved child mortality rates or more In the previous chart, progress in the EU looked a little underwhelming. But, in fact, rates have fallen by 69%. Even in Japan, one of the safest countries to be born in, child mortality rates have dropped by almost two-thirds. Those are not small reductions. Children are much less likely to die than they were in 1990. Before studying this data, I probably wouldn’t have guessed that if I had a baby today they’d have less than half the risk of dying in childhood than I did.2 It’s progress that we almost never see on the news I think it’s important to highlight this point for two reasons the idea that progress on health has stalled (or even regressed) in rich countries is But it’s not true: improved treatments and vaccinations developed by scientists and parents' choices have made things much safer for children even in the world’s richest countries These efforts were not for nothing: they’ve given kids a future and spared many families the pain of losing a child So it would have been wrong of us to accept or be happy with where we were in 1990, with around 1% of children still dying. I also think it would be wrong of us to assume that 0.5% is the level we should accept today; we know that we can save more lives.5 Many thanks to Max Roser and Edouard Mathieu for feedback and suggestions on this article Child mortality: an everyday tragedy of enormous scale that we can make progress againstWe live in a world in which ten children die every minute Mortality in the past: every second child diedThe chances that a newborn survives childhood have increased from 50% to 96% globally How do we know about the mortality of children in the past And what can we learn from it for our future I was born and still live in the United Kingdom where child mortality rates have fallen by over 50% since the early 1990s The annual average of 436 disaster deaths in this decade is similar to previous decades In 2021, there were around 18,800 homicide deaths in the United States 0.4% is the average in the European Union, and 0.6% is the rate in the United States Our articles and data visualizations rely on work from many different people and organizations please also cite the underlying data sources Hannah Ritchie (2025) - “Children in rich countries are much less likely to die than a few decades ago but we rarely hear about this progress” Published online at OurWorldinData.org Retrieved from: 'https://ourworldindata.org/child-mortality-rich-countries-decline' [Online Resource]BibTeX citation All visualizations, data, and code produced by Our World in Data are completely open access under the Creative Commons BY license provided the source and authors are credited The data produced by third parties and made available by Our World in Data is subject to the license terms from the original third-party authors We will always indicate the original source of the data in our documentation so you should always check the license of any such third-party data before use and redistribution All of our charts can be embedded in any site San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch recently joined the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast, where he was asked about the team's ongoing contract negotiations with quarterback Brock Purdy and when a potential extension might be finalized The two sides have kept the details of the talks under wraps and Lynch didn't change that in his latest interview he didn't completely dodge the question either While this phase of the offseason program remains voluntary ready to get to work and help the team rebound from a disappointing 6-11 season His attendance is a positive sign that contract negotiations haven't reached a point where his agent advises him not to show up "I'm looking out here because our players are starting to arrive for their day of work," Lynch added "Brock's out there and doing a tremendous job Purdy is entering his fourth NFL season and is expected to become one of the league's highest-paid players His upcoming extension could exceed $50 million annually making it the most lucrative contract in franchise history The team likely hopes to finalize a deal before organized team activities (OTAs) begin on May 27 avoiding any potential drama once on-field work begins You can listen to Lynch's entire interview below Powered by Follow.it This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page ShareSaveCommentInnovationHealthcareHealthcare’s Innovation Problem: We’re Rebranding The Past And Calling It ProgressBySachin H. Jain Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights I cover transformation and innovation across the health care industry.Follow AuthorMay 05 07:00am EDTShareSaveCommentFrom social determinants of health to value-based care many so-called “new” ideas in healthcare are .. I’ve watched healthcare’s innovation cycle become increasingly dominated by hype many of these “new” solutions are iterations—or direct descendants—of approaches pioneered decades ago Take the much-discussed concept of social determinants of health the healthcare industry has collectively woken up to the idea that housing You’d be hard-pressed to attend a conference or read a whitepaper that doesn’t mention this concept But here’s the truth: we’ve been here before SCAN—then a fledgling health plan—was a lead participant in the Social HMO demonstration project a Medicare-funded initiative that integrated medical care with social supports The idea was simple but powerful: that care doesn’t stop at the clinic door Participants received benefits like homemaker services These interventions weren’t framed as “social determinants”—but they were exactly that It’s heralded as a transformative movement in healthcare—a shift away from volume and toward value and Heritage have been operating under full-risk and global capitation models for decades They didn’t just talk about accountability—they owned it They took financial and clinical responsibility for patient populations investing in care models that emphasized prevention The principles of value-based care aren’t novel And what about ethnic-focused health plans—a “new” trend in culturally competent care the industry is rediscovering what others have quietly mastered for years Plans like the Chinese Community Health Plan and Brand New Day were designed from the ground up to serve specific populations offering linguistically appropriate services and culturally attuned care models The point isn’t to diminish today’s efforts—it’s to root them in reality Because here’s the danger: when we erase history in the name of innovation we lose the lessons that history has to offer We risk repeating mistakes not out of malice or ignorance Healthcare doesn’t suffer from a shortage of ideas It suffers from a shortage of execution and institutional memory The most important breakthroughs don’t come from pretending we’re starting from scratch; they come from building on what already exists—with humility That’s why I believe healthcare’s true innovators are not always the ones with the slickest pitch decks or the most followers on X and executing better than those before them—because they studied those who came before them We must stop fetishizing novelty and start celebrating progress—however incremental it may be So the next time you hear someone claim they’re the first to do something in healthcare those who ignore history aren’t just doomed to repeat it—they’re doomed to think they’re innovating when they’re simply rebranding that’s not just a missed opportunity—it’s a serious liability By Chris Vetter, ProWrestling.net Contributor (@chrisvetter73) and other notable live events or television tapings you are encouraged to send a report or even basic results to dotnetjason@gmail.com and today’s show features the quarterfinals plus a battle royal and a heavyweight title match The lighting looks much worse today; wrestlers are vanishing in the corners Zozaya in a quarterfinals tournament match Zozaya hit a shoulder block into the corner Zozaya hit a Death Valley Driver for a nearfall at 8:30 then his twisting Blue Thunder Bomb off the shoulders for the pin someone actually won a match with a Blue Thunder Bomb?) Good match Leon Slater defeated Zozaya at 9:21 to advance Man Like DeReiss in a quarterfinals tournament match They charged at each other at the bell and traded shoulder blocks DeReiss fired up and hit some clotheslines at 4:00 DeReiss hit a missile dropkick and a shotgun dropkick Masa hit another spear for a nearfall at 6:00 DeReiss hit a superkick and his kip-up stunner for the pin Man Like DeReiss defeated Masa Kitamiya at 6:58 to advance These are the two biggest men to reach the quarterfinals I’ve loosely compared Kroos to a bigger Sami Callihan and Sterling to Bear Bronson and Kroos knocked him down with a shoulder tackle He tried to put the massive Kroos on his back but couldn’t lift him Kroos hit some clotheslines and a flying elbow “Are you kidding me????” a commentator shouted as the crowd chanted “Holy shit!” “It’s the biggest Spanish Fly I’ve ever seen!” a commentator said while Gene Munny struck Kroos with a weapon I was really hoping Kroos had moved on from their shenanigans Charles Sterling defeated Will Kroos at 7:09 to advance Trent Seven in a quarterfinals tournament match Oku came out first and he hit a baseball slide dropkick as Seven approached the ring They traded chops as they vanished into the shadows on the floor They got in the ring and we had a bell to officially begin at 3:43 Oku hit a superkick; Seven hit a spinning back fist and a straight punch to the jaw Trent nailed the Seven Star Lariat for a believable nearfall He hit a twisting powerslam for a believable nearfall at 6:30 and Seven was shocked he didn’t win there and hit a piledriver for a believable nearfall Oku hit a DDT and a springboard moonsault for a nearfall at 8:00 He hit a frogsplash for a believable nearfall Michael Oku defeated Trent Seven at 9:26/official time of 5:43 to advance * I noted yesterday that I fully expected Oku Jacobs came out to Bon Jovi’s “Dead or Alive” and he’s wearing a cowboy hat the commentators are ignoring this clear tribute (character theft?) of Manders Noir applied a Blackout sleeper on the mat just seconds into the match and Jacobs scrambled to the ropes to escape but Jacobs knocked him down with a shoulder block Jacobs hit a spinebuster at 2:30 and was in charge Jacobs hit a leg-capture suplex; Cara hit a clothesline Cara hit a Shining Wizard and a shotgun dropkick into the corner then a Rude Awakening standing neckbreaker for a nearfall at 10:30 Jacobs dropped him with a punch and was admonished by the ref Noir dove through the ropes and applied a Blackout sleeper but Jacobs shoved him back-first into the ring post at 12:30 Noir avoided a forearm to the back of the head then a neckbreaker over his knee for a nearfall at 14:30 Jacobs sat on a chair at ringside and appeared happy to win via countout Noir dove through the ropes onto him to break the count Jacobs hit a clothesline and a Tombstone Piledriver for a believable nearfall He stomped on Noir’s chest while holding his wrists Jacobs hit a clothesline to the back of the head and a package piledriver at 17:30 Luke hit another clothesline but only got a two-count “You can’t beat him!” Noir hit his own package piledriver for a nearfall Noir hit a backbreaker over his knee and a running knee then another package piledriver for a believable nearfall (This crowd was ready to explode for a title change.) Noir locked in a Blackout on the mat again Jacobs leaned backward and put pressure on Noir’s shoulders and pinned him Luke Jacobs defeated Cara Noir to retain the Progress World Title at 20:21 Charles Sterling in a semifinals tournament match but Sterling attacked him on the stage and hit him with a fire extinguisher and Sterling shoved MLD’s head into the ring post Sterling hit a top-rope superplex for a nearfall Sterling swung and missed with a chair; DeReiss hit a superkick and some forearm strikes Sterling again tried to hide behind the ref DeReiss hit a dropkick that sent Sterling into the ref DeReiss hit his kip-up stunner for a visual pin at 5:30 He hit a brainbuster onto the folded chair DeReiss hit a powerbomb onto the folded chair and he locked in a Sharpshooter Man Like DeReiss defeated Charles Sterling at 8:06/official time of 6:56 to advance to the finals Michael Oku (w/Amira Blair) in a semifinals tournament match This crowd was hot and split; the commentators noted that Slater seemed fresher of the two Slater got a rollup for a believable nearfall Oku hit a superkick for a believable nearfall at 2:30 Slater hit a splash to the mat for a believable nearfall then the Fosbury Flop to the floor at 5:00 Oku hit a second Fosbury Flop on the other side of the ring but Slater nailed a leg lariat for a believable nearfall Oku hit a running kick to the side of the head then a top-rope crossbody block for a believable nearfall at 8:00 but Slater VICIOUSLY slammed Oku’s head into the mat several times to escape Slater hit a Rewind Kick and a Twist of Fate He went for a 450 Splash but Oku got his knees up to block it and Oku got a rollup for a nearfall at 11:30 Slater hit a top-rope corkscrew suplex for a nearfall; Oku barely kicked out and Slater was shocked he didn’t get the win Slater went for a leg lariat but Oku collapsed at 13:30 Slater hit a Blue Thunder Bomb for the clean pin Leon Slater defeated Michael Oku at 14:03 to advance to the finals * Nina Samuels came to the ring; she wasn’t scheduled She was livid and demanded that the show be stopped and she blamed special ref Kanji for her loss “Kanji is ruining my life here in Progress,” Nina said and Kanji offered a career-vs.-career match Participants included first-round losers Marcus Mathers I thought maybe some others would be in it The commentators noted Lykos Gym could work together to win This is all comedy as Simon held onto the ropes and everyone tried to toss him We had a fun spot where six guys ‘skinned the cat’ to get back in They all started hitting low blows in more comedy spots hit a piledriver on Munny and tossed him at 5:00 for our first elimination Lykos II eliminated Ethan Allen at 7:30 and we’re down to six Mathers hit his Panama Sunrise-style Canadian Destroyer Mathers slapped Simon on his bald head and it ticked Miller off Simon hit a gorilla press on Mathers to the floor Lykos Gym worked together to beat up their opponents Miller hit a shoulder tackle to knock Kid Lykos to the floor to win Leon Slater in the Super Strong Style tournament finale The bell rang but they just stood in opposite corners and glared at each other They shook hands and hugged before locking up A commentator noted it is the first time “two people of color” have both reached the finals and what a groundbreaking Slater whipped MLD into the corner at 6:00 for a nearfall and DeReiss sold the pain in his lower back DeReiss hit a delayed vertical suplex but sold the pain He hit a German Suplex then a missile dropkick Slater hit a Mafia Kick and a corkscrew neckbreaker for a nearfall DeReiss hit a shotgun dropkick and a gutbuster over his knees for a nearfall at 12:00 Leon slammed DeReiss back-first onto the top turnbuckle at 13:30 DeReiss jumped back in before the countout but Slater immediately hit a frogsplash onto his back for a believable nearfall Leon stood over MLD and kept him grounded; a commentator said he looked sad at what he had to do to win DeReiss hit a clothesline and they were both down at 16:30 Slater hit an axe kick to the back of the neck DeReiss hit a swinging slam and they were both down They hit stereo clotheslines and Leon hit a leg lariat for a nearfall at 19:00 DeReiss hit a standing powerbomb and he locked in a Sharpshooter and Slater hit a second-rope corkscrew suplex for a believable nearfall Slater nailed his dive over the ring post onto DeReiss he hit the Swanton Bomb 450 for a believable nearfall; DeReiss rolled him over for a nearfall DeReiss hit a kip-up stunner for a nearfall at 25:00 and Slater hit a Blue Thunder Bomb for a believable nearfall and DeReiss hit a second-rope Death Valley Driver “We just saw something special,” a commentator said Man Like DeReiss defeated Leon Slater to win the Super Strong Style tournament at 27:24 He got in the ring and did his ‘0121″ phrase and said it was the best night of his career The fans pounded on the ring and chanted “you deserve it!” I try to avoid hyperbole because not every show can be a must-see classic But here we have three incredible standout matches and an incredibly good Jacobs-Noir takes third he logged just over 50 minutes of bell-to-bell time on this show while DeReiss’s bell-to-bell was about 41 minutes If you have Triller+ and you’re reading my review I will note that it clocked in at about 4 hours 10 minutes PRIVACY POLICY INFO HERE Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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