Thunderstorms will sweep across parts of the U.S 9 missing after capsized boat washes ashore near San Diego Northeast: Days of showers and storms for some Halley's Comet to set off meteor shower Monday night Soggy South Central states: Intense downpours to renew flooding risk Two people killed when small plane crashes into California homes Staffing shortage causes 7 days of major delays at Newark Airport Coyote drinks from Los Angeles salon's skylight The REAL ID deadline is less than a week away Fungi could be used to build homes one day Get AccuWeather alerts as they happen with our browser notifications The $160m makeover to the park’s north side is part of a long-term project to address years of neglect Illustration: Susan T Rodriguez/Central Park Conservancy Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker By Cody LeePublished: May 2025 at 5:56 AM PDT|Updated: 2 hours agoEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInLAS VEGAS (FOX5) - The search for the suspect in a fatal hit-and-run crash early Monday morning is still ongoing Las Vegas Metro Police said a 34-year-old woman was running across Flamingo Road east of Palos Verdes Street outside a marked crosswalk the driver of a black 2013 Dodge Challenger drove eastbound on Flamingo behind another vehicle Police said a collision occurred when the Dodge switched lanes and struck the pedestrian The driver would swerve with the pedestrian still hanging onto the front of the vehicle The pedestrian would then get caught underneath the Dodge as the driver continued eastbound until she was let go “This collision remains under investigation by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s Collision Investigation Section,” police said Anyone with information is urged to call the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s Collision Investigation Section at (702)828-3595 or or visit www.CrimeStoppersOfNV.com or use the mobile app ‘P3’ or an indictment processed through Crime Stoppers housing specifically for older adults is coming to New Albany A 150-home subdivision called The Courtyards at Haines Creek by Epcon Communities is coming to a nearly 64-acre site in New Albany the site is located just inside the Franklin County line at the northwest corner of Central College Road and Jug Street Road NW Crews have started engineering work on the site, New Albany spokesperson Josh Poland wrote in an email to The Dispatch. The subdivision is set to open in the fall, the Epcon Communities' website shows The neighbor is specifically for adults aged 55 and older and offers ranch homes with first-floor owner suites The development's website also states residents will have a "low-maintenance lifestyle," as they'll handle all the lawn maintenance The subdivision will also feature numerous amenities for residents pickleball and bocce courts and community garden Prices for the Haines Creek homes are not listed on the development's website Eastern suburbs reporter Maria DeVito can be reached at mdevito@dispatch.com and @mariadevito13.dispatch.com on Bluesky and @MariaDeVito13 on X 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! 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All rights reserved Show Breaking News BarCloseWeather David Nazario ORLANDO – The stubborn high pressure responsible for bringing us deep into the 90 degree temperatures and drying out Central Florida has subsided A trough and cold front down at the surface has managed to bully it out into the Atlantic welcoming a pattern far more conducive for rain Some in Central Florida woke up Sunday morning to the sound of heavy rain in your area we’re pinpointing the chance for more showers and storms warranting a severe thunderstorm warning if they do further organize over your neighborhood If you manage to stay clear of Monday’s rain event we have news for your weekend ahead coming up An area of low pressure is forecast to try and organize in the Gulf off our western shores we’re not thinking tropical low pressure quite yet (it’s still a little early This is primarily driven by the changes in our jet stream winds highest up in the atmosphere As we continue to break down the “atmospheric traffic jam,” stopping all of our large storm systems the jet should establish itself over the upper Gulf Coast line and the southeast U.S it will sling more moisture up into the Florida peninsula guiding rain chances consistently from Friday and through the weekend higher and higher while it may spoil some outdoor plans you have this upcoming weekend it should hopefully put a noticeable dent in our drought conditions You may even notice your lawn starting to green back over and if you have plants outside they might try to spring back to life Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved David joined WKMG-TV and ClickOrlando.com in September 2024 TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us / Follow on Social Media Careers at WKMG Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications EEO Report Disability Assistance Copyright © 2025 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group and stretches from 59th Street to 110th Street between Fifth Avenue and Central Park West Help the Central Park Conservancy keep the Park beautiful and vibrant by making a gift today The Mall is one of Central Park’s most significant landscapes and horticultural wonders and stewardship of the Park keep it a vital public treasure straight path lined by two rows of American elm trees was designed by Park designers Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux as a formal promenade and gathering space visitors can experience this landscape in largely the same way they would have in the 19th century: strolling The southern section of the Mall is known as Literary Walk because of the numerous statues of writers added there in the 19th century. In 2020, this stretch of the Mall became the site of the first new monument added to the Park in over 50 years, the Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument which hosts the performing arts festival SummerStage The Mall and all its different elements provide an important illustration of how the Park was designed as a social space It was intended as a place for all New Yorkers and the Mall was where they could all come together to enjoy nature The Mall is a great example of the Central Park Conservancy’s breadth of responsibilities in the Park—arborists tend to its trees Journey through the center of Central Park Is there anything more delightful than a leisurely promenade through the verdant expanses of Central Park Visit the iconic landmarks and landscapes that make Central Park the world’s most famous park Central Park provides New Yorkers a welcome escape from the intensity of NYC summers but Park-goers should still take necessary precautions to stay cool and how to get the best snapshots in New York City’s backyard A full day of free special events and programs unfolded across Central Park on March 20 to celebrate the first day of spring Central Park has a storied history as a concert venue welcoming musicians of all genres to its iconic lawns music-making has been an essential part of the Park from the beginning The Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument is the first monument in Central Park to depict actual women The Mall & Literary Walk are among Central Park’s most iconic features and home to one of the largest and last remaining collections of American elm trees in the world Learn all about American elms in Central Park and how our team of arborists works diligently to protect them against Dutch elm disease The colorful spectacle of fall foliage in Central Park never loses its appeal We turned to our archives to see how the Park has evolved from one fall to the next Research into the original drawings and plans created to build Central Park offer hidden secrets from both the built and unbuilt aspects of the Park Whether you’re a native New Yorker or visiting the Big Apple for the first time discover the Central Park spots you can’t miss Experience the magic of movies in Central Park Explore our favorite Park locations made famous on film Then go even further behind the scenes on our Central Park Summer Movies Tour led by expert Conservancy guides The Central Park Conservancy is here to uncover obscure facts and forgotten stories that even seasoned New Yorkers might not know about Central Park Central Park is integral to many people’s lives and we're talking to some of them to get to know the people behind the people’s Park whose relationship is deeply entwined with this vibrant greenspace As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Central Park’s Bethesda Fountain delve into the story of the Angel of the Waters statue and its significance as a symbol of connection and healing for New York City Snowy scenes from the 1980s and 1990s are some of the Central Park Conservancy's recently digitized images the monument honors women’s rights pioneers Sojourner Truth And the award for Best Supporting Actor goes to...Central Park One of the most filmed locations in the world the Park's landscapes have been featured in countless movies From Breakfast at Tiffany's to Home Alone 2 we've got the scoop on what scenes were filmed where With fewer crowds and a tranquility not found in other seasons winter is an ideal time to photograph Central Park Brave the cold and visit the Park this season—no filter needed Go back in time with us to the 1980s and '90s But New Yorkers’ love of ice skating in Central Park and the serene beauty of its snow-covered landscapes remain timeless Whether you’re a seasoned pro or an amateur wielding a phone here are some of our favorite shutter-worthy spots in the winter Get your free Spring Guide with hidden gems and must-do activities "Pope Francis' life and preaching continue to inspire us to go where there is darkness and be light to go to the forgotten and bring them the love of God..." This is how Bishop José Luís Mumbiela Sierra the leader of Central Asia's Bishops and the Bishop of Santissima Trinità in Almaty in Kazakhstan On 2 May 2022 the newly created Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Central Asia elected Bishop Mumbiela as its first president The Bishops Conference includes Bishops and Church delegates from Kazakhstan Pope Francis would make an Apostolic Journey to the nation especially in the context of Central Asia," he said "what comes to mind first is his deep sensitivity to those far from the centers of the world not only in a geographical sense of course but also in terms of public attention." Pope Francis was the first Pope in history to visit three countries of their region in such a short time He did not go only where there are millions of Catholics but also where the local Church consists of just a few thousand believers as he recalled the late Pope's 2016 Visit to Azerbaijan "Each of these visits," Bishop Mumbiela said “Each of these Visits became a kind of living gospel small Catholic communities in Kazakhstan and other Central Asia countries," he observed this was "not merely a diplomatic gesture," but "a gesture of love and of hope." "During Pope Francis' meeting with clergy in Kazakhstan," the leader of Central Asia's Bishops continued leads us to understand that we cannot build the Church's mission solely on our own abilities.'" structures or any human importance," and therefore "it is better to be led by the Lord and to humbly devote ourselves to serving others." "Pope Francis helped us see that smallness is not a weakness but an invitation to trust more deeply in God's strength but a call to live the Gospel more authentically has become especially meaningful for Central Asia's Catholic communities “Pope Francis helped us see that smallness is not a weakness but an invitation to trust more deeply in God's strength.” "We came to understand that our mission is not to compete with other religions or cultural traditions to live the Gospel amongst the people with whom we share one land one set of joys and challenges." "often emphasized that the Church should not be a closed system guarding its borders," but "a space of openness," as well as "of dialogue and of hope." The special calling of the Church in our countries is "is not to be a group that clings to what it has and unlocks itself in a shell because it feels small burning with the fire of the Holy Spirit." In this way open to newness and the signs of the times" and is "inspired by the Gospel logic of the seed that bears fruit in humble and fruitful love." became "a compass for us," especially in places where Catholics are often the first people others meet in the path to Christ the Bishop suggested that Pope Francis' visit to Kazakhstan "reached far below Church circles," but "was heard by the entire nation." "His respectful attitudes toward Catholic culture and traditions and his calls for peace and dialogue," he said "were received with sincere gratitude." "heard about the Catholic Church for the first time through Pope Francis' visit." "Those unfamiliar with Catholicism," he noted "heard not only a friend in his voice people of different faiths and backgrounds came to our churches in silence simply to share the sorrow of loss with Catholics “Those unfamiliar with Catholicism heard not only a friend in his voice "speaks to his deep humanity and to the way Pope Francis touched hearts." The Bishop noted that as the President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Central Asia "I can personally testify the words and actions of Pope Francis have left a profound mark." "I thank God for his gift to the Church and the world He inspired us not to fear our smallness but to recognize it as gospel strength not for our own glory but for the glory of God and in service to our neighbor." "The legacy of Pope Francis," Bishop Mumbiela concluded "is a call to bring hope where it is least expected." "His life and preaching," the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Central Asia said "continue to inspire us to go where there is darkness and be light to go to the forgotten and bring them the love of God." “His life and preaching continue to inspire us to go where there is darkness and be light to go to the forgotten and bring them the love of God” Thank you for reading our article. You can keep up-to-date by subscribing to our daily newsletter. Just click here Everyone loves a homemade meal cooked with love by their mom But how many of us get to see our moms in their culinary elements — and make a career doing it That's the reality at these Central Jersey restaurants These moms may have taught their daughters everything from how to tie their shoes to how to roast a chicken but now they've teamed up to run dining powerhouses It's a celebration of Mother's Day — every day Olaide’s Kitchen in the Parlin section of Sayreville has finely plated homestyle Nigerian eats for an authentic taste of West Africa with an upscale and colorful edge it was a thriving catering business run by Olaide’s Kitchen chef and owner Olaide Tella But none of it would have been possible without her mother Atere was a chef at her own restaurant in Nigeria She saw a similar passion for cooking in Tella but worked as a nurse instead due to the job’s stability Ethnic eats: Where to dine at Black-owned restaurants in Central Jersey You need to cook for people like you always wanted,’ “ Tella recalled “She told me to follow my dreams and I listened to her.” History repeated itself when Tella’s daughter joined the Olaide’s Kitchen team during COVID-19 Lemo was working in the pharmaceutical industry when the pandemic struck and she took a furlough she helped her mother at the restaurant every day ‘Wait a minute — I’m not dreading to wake up and jump on a Zoom call,’ “ said Lemo who is now Olaide's Kitchen's director of operations “I came back from my furlough and I’m like ‘I’m putting in my two weeks.’ I love what I do now.” Lemo was helping with the business long before that When she was growing up and her mother was working both as a nurse and a caterer Lemo and her siblings would often help prep food or shop for ingredients Lemo was inspired by her mother’s dedication to work two full-time jobs because she loved cooking so much and wanted to grow her business “When she has an early morning catering job she’ll sleep like two hours and then she’s out — and she loves it,” said Lemo “That’s what helped make my decision to leave my 9 to 5 If I have a passion like she has in cooking and I’m able to branch into my own gift through Olaide’s Kitchen and it’s been amazing.” Working beside her daughter is a dream fulfilled for Tella “I’m happy to work with my daughter every second and every moment,” she said Some of the dishes that Olaide’s Kitchen serves include efo elegusi which is kale and melon seed stew cooked in palm oil; dried catfish sauteed in tomato-based stew; and its signature jollof rice which is rice cooked in tomato sauce with spices Lemo remembers smelling jollof rice as its aroma wafted through her childhood home and knowing that it meant her mother had a catering job Lemo’s young daughter Bethel only eats three things: white rice The homestyle nature of the jollof rice and other Olaide’s Kitchen dishes is the key to the restaurant’s success “The underbelly is comfort food that your mom or grandma made and I think that’s why my mom has been so successful in what she does," said Lemo "She keeps it to the core of what she learned from her mom.” Go: 499 Ernston Road, Parlin section of Sayreville; 732-952-8880, olaideskitchen.com you might not guess that Susan and Sara Peterson the mother-daughter pair behind the beloved Flemington tearoom Teaberry’s A friendly extrovert who remembers every detail about the tearoom’s long list of regulars Sara ran the front-of-house before Teaberry’s closed temporarily to ready for a move just down the block to 171 Main St kept a careful eye on the Teaberry’s kitchen and she saw every plate before it went to its table in spaces such as the Garden Room Susan was also the creative visionary behind each room 'Hardest year of our lives': Why Teaberry's in Flemington is struggling to reopen Both women will take their roles back on when Teaberry’s opens its doors again Their complementing personalities are part of the reason that the tearoom has been a Garden State destination since it opened in 2005 Susan founded the tearoom in honor of her English grandmother “She always made everyone feel welcome and cozy and I just adored her as a child,” said Susan When Sara began working in her mother’s tearoom when she was a teenager Sara fell in love with the tearoom — just as her mom already was — and it became like the family member the women refer to it as today It’s the happy place for its countless customers Visiting Teaberry’s sometimes on a weekly basis they love the tearoom’s 120 handpicked teas long list of delectable desserts and everchanging and seasonal comfort fare The food reminds Sara of when she was a little girl "My mom was always cooking up a storm and hosting extravagant dinner parties," she said “I think I took for granted how good I had it growing up." so I would have to understand if she doesn’t want to be involved,” said Sara Go: 171 Main St., Flemington; opening in late June; teaberrys.com Vanetta Cherilien remembers watching her mom snap the peas and peel the potatoes for her famous string bean and potato dish Cherilien gets to see her own customers at Top Knotch Soultry Delights in Union enjoy that same dish Cherilien and Anderson are the co-owners and chefs at the soul food restaurant and catering company that serves dishes like shrimp and grits Mother's Day: These Central Jersey restaurant owners are inspired by moms “Even before we joined forces to do the business together people said I’m her twin and I just love being with her,” Cherilien added “And the fact that I get to see her on a daily basis when we’re working together is just awesome.” Cooking is a love shared by the entire family Some of Cherilien’s fondest memories are standing by her grandmother’s side and watching her move seamlessly around the kitchen as she created colorful Southern staples from scratch “You could see it was something that gave her joy preparing food for the family and now I get to experience that on a different level bringing that joy to other families,” Cherilien said Cherilien’s son and nieces – Anderson’s grandchildren – watch their matriarchs do the same thing “She loves what she does and she has a passion for it But Cherilien wouldn’t be that way without Anderson Cherilien would bring cookbooks home from the library and ask her mother to show her how to make different dishes “I had to make time to show her like my mother showed me — and she took it from there and never stopped,” Anderson said Makai and Anderson’s other grandchildren often work at the restaurant when school is out during the summer It adds an even deeper homey vibe to the comfort food eatery we’re serving our guests and they can feel that family atmosphere,” said Cherilien And from its vibrant purple accents — the women’s favorite color — to the overflowing 20-seat restaurant feels a lot like grandma’s kitchen you know this is authentic soul food and fresh from the farmers market,” said Cherilien I’m back at Big Mama’s house for Sunday dinner.’ ” Go: 2565 Route 22, Union; 732-424-6404, topknotchsoultrydelights.com Contact: JIntersimone@MyCentralJersey.com Saying it has the least impact on agricultural lands, displaces the fewest homes and avoids the headwaters of Spring Creek, PennDOT is recommending the Central alternative for the U.S Route 322 State College Area Connector Project (Click here for a large version of the map on the PennDOT website.) PennDOT has been considering three options for the project — North Central and South — which will overhaul a section of U.S will create a limited-access highway that improves road safety even with the increase in traffic that's expected PennDOT will hold a public meeting with the Federal Highway Administration that includes updated information on the project from 4-8 p.m The SCAC website lists the pros and cons of each of the options PennDOT has been studying which is listed as the "recommended preferred alternative." The website also provides updated maps and information ahead of the May 8 meeting Have a tip for the WPSU newsroom? Email radionews@psu.edu There were plenty of great performances last week on the local diamonds and high school sports reporter Rich Garven takes a look at 24 of the best of them for readers to vote on for the Hometeam baseball player of the week These picks were selected from performances reported by area coaches to the Hometeam Scoreboard Congratulations to Worcester Tech's Robert Kniskern for taking the top spot in last week's poll registering 5,373 votes (36.3 percent) out of a poll of nearly 15,000 votes to hold off Bromfield's Bode Lee-Feinberg (5,121 votes) and Oakmont's Jake O'Day (1,093 votes) for the honor More: Check out the Hometeam Central Mass. high school baseball and softball batting and pitching leaders for spring 2025 More: Check out the updated Hometeam Central Mass. high school spring sports standings for the 2025 season issued one walk and struck out 10 while facing the minimum 18 batters over six shutout innings as the Panthers topped Tyngsborough TantasquaThe senior allowed one run and four baserunners while striking out 14 to earn his 25th career victory as the Warriors edged Northbridge in a Southern Worcester County League showdown More: 'He's an old soul': With an eclectic spirit and electric arm, Miles Blake leads Tantasqua baseball revival The junior came on in relief twice and pitched a combined 5⅔ scoreless innings as the Wildcats defeated Murdock ‒ whom he went 2 for 2 with RBIs against ‒ and Narragansett AlgonquinThe senior struck out nine and issued three walks over seven no-hit shutout innings as the Titans defeated Wachusett in Mid-Wach A action to sweep the season series The senior went 3 for 4 with two doubles and a triple while plating six runs versus North Middlesex and had two RBIs against Hudson in a pair of Mid-Wach B wins for the Rams didn’t allow an earned run and struck out seven in a route-going performance as the Woolies topped Westborough to wrap up a 3-0 week The junior piled up 17 strikeouts and yielded two hits and one earned run in a complete-game effort as the Red Raiders topped St GraftonThe senior homered while going 3 for 3 and driving in three runs and crossing the plate twice as the Gators defeated Uxbridge for their sixth win in the past seven games The senior scattered five hits and didn’t issue a walk while striking out nine over seven shutout innings as the Colonials swept the season series against Mid-Wach A rival Wachusett The junior struck out seven over 5⅓ innings to earn the win versus previously undefeated Auburn and was 3 for 3 with six RBIs in a five-inning victory against Quaboag The eighth grader allowed four baserunners and two hits while striking out 10 in a complete-game effort as the Patriots downed North in Inter-High action NashobaThe senior surrendered two hits and allowed one earned run while striking out seven in a route-going performance as the Wolves edged Mid-Wach B rival Hudson The junior reached base four times and scored three runs against David Prouty and collected a hit an RBI and a run versus Leicester in a pair of wins for the Pioneers The sophomore plated the game’s only run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth inning to lift the Rams to a big Southern Worcester County League win over Grafton The senior didn’t allow a hit and recorded six strikeouts over five innings in a complete-game effort as the Warriors defeated Dual Valley Conference foe Sutton LeominsterThe junior belted a three-run triple in the eighth versus Westborough and allowed one hit over seven shutout innings and had an RBI against Algonquin in a pair of wins for the Blue Devils The senior allowed four hits and recorded seven strikeouts over seven shutout innings versus Tantasqua and collected five hits and two RBIs during the Minutemen’s 3-0 week The senior delivered a run-scoring single in the ninth to lift the Colonels to a walk-off win over Doherty and had two hits and three RBIs against Worcester Tech during a 3-0 week The senior tripled in the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth and finished with two hits and two RBIs as the Indians upset Tantasqua David ProutyThe sophomore collected four hits while on his way to driving in six runs over five innings to propel the Panthers to victory over North The junior went 3 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs versus BC High and came around to score after leading off the eighth with a double against Chelmsford in a pair of wins for the Pioneers The senior from Shrewsbury collected a pair of doubles while driving in two runs and scoring twice over five innings as the Hilltoppers shut out Rivers The senior went 3 for 4 while driving in a pair of runs as the Eagles defeated Doherty to put the finishing touch on a 3-0 week SuttonThe senior came on in relief and racked up 10 strikeouts while allowing three baserunners in 4⅔ shutout innings as the Sammies rallied to defeat Burncoat ExpandKayla Doerre and top-ranked Lincoln-Way Central have beaten Class 3A power Lemont the past two seasons (Dean Reid for Shaw Local News Ne/Dean Reid) Over the past few seasons, the two teams that have dominated the area softball landscape the most have been Lemont and Lincoln-Way Central Lemont won back-to-back Class 3A state championships in 2022 and 2023 after taking second in 2021 to make for an amazing three-year stretch was Class 4A state runner-up in 2021 before falling to Lincoln-Way East in a sectional championship in 2022 and losing to Lockport in a sectional championship in 2023 the Knights advanced to a Class 4A supersectional where they lost to eventual state runner-up Marist the two teams had each other on the schedule only to see Mother Nature take the game away in 2022 and 2023 they were able to play the game once again don’t expect Lemont to take the Knights off their schedule “This is why we schedule games like this,” Lemont coach Chris Traina said “We want to play against the best competition we can We probably won’t see anyone as good as Lincoln-Way Central in the playoffs but now our kids have seen what a top team looks like and what we have to do in order to compete with that.” Softball: Lockport vs Marengo APR 27 Kelcie McGraw and Lockport will host a Class 4A sectional that features six teams currently ranked in the Illinois Coaches Association top 25 (Dean Reid for Shaw Local News Ne/Dean Reid) With the Herald-News area as strong in softball as it is The winner of that sectional will play the winner of the Normal West Sectional in the Illinois Wesleyan Supersectional for the right to play in the state finals. No. 21 Minooka is in Subsectional B of that sectional 23 Bradley-Bourbonnais and East Moline United The winner will play the winner of the Marist Sectional in the Illinois Benedictine Supersectional In Class 3A, No. 19 Lemont hosts a regional in Subsectional A of the Ottawa Sectional. In Subsectional B of the same sectional, Providence Catholic and Morris are regional hosts The winner of the sectional will play the winner of the East Peoria Sectional in the Illinois Wesleyan Supersectional with regional hosts being Bismarck-Henning and Prairie Central The winner of that sectional will face the winner of the Illinois Valley Central Sectional in the East Peoria Supersectional In Class 1A, Dwight and Gardner-South Wilmington will compete in Subsectional A of the Serena Sectional with Grant Park and Serena as regional hosts The sectional winner will play the winner of the Argenta-Oreana Sectional in the Illinois Wesleyan Supersectional Softball game between Joliet West at Joliet Central Joliet Central's Haydn Voss is ranked 18th in the state with her .647 batting average According to www.maxpreps.com, several area players are among the state leaders in several statistical categories. Haydn Voss of Joliet Central is hitting .647, which ranks 18th, while Morris’ Halie Olson is 68th, hitting .567, and Wilmington’s Taylor Stefancic (.547) is 90th. Wilmington’s Molly Southall is 49th in slugging percentage at 1.128, just ahead of Minooka’s Addisonn Crumly, who is 50th at 1.125. Southall also is 26th in RBIs with 36. For pitchers, Lincoln-Way Central’s Lisabella Dimitrijevic, the reigning Gatorade Illinois Player of the Year, is fourth in the state with a 0.49 ERA. Peotone’s Sophie Klawitter is second with 251 strikeouts, while Dimitrijevic also is tied for fourth with 207. Kelcie McGraw of Lockport ranks 20th with 164, and Morris’ Mylie Hughes is 31st with 147. Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More CENTRAL FLORIDA — A 150-acre wildfire in Marion County that prompted evacuations Friday night is still burning but 90% contained according to the Florida Forest Service. Residents were allowed to return home over the weekend but were urged not to travel in the area near Highway 314 as smoke impacts continued. The Florida Forest Service is also warning Osceola County residents of smoke from a 150-acre wildfire. FFS spokesperson Clifford Frazier said crews have installed a fireline around most of the perimeter he said they anticipate a lot more interior burning Which means the public will see a lot of smoke in the area Officials said fire crews will continue to monitor the “North Side Wildfire” as burning persists. fire crews are investigating reports of a brushfire off Rinker Way in Rockledge a wildfire has not been officially confirmed. Show Breaking News BarCloseWeather Candace Campos ORLANDO, Fla. – After an active weekend, Central Florida will remain under an unsettled weather pattern this week keeping a decent shot for rain and storms each afternoon Things are expected to get active Monday afternoon when sea breezes collide Expect scattered to numerous showers and storms from I-4 toward the coastline A severe thunderstorm watch was issued for Brevard Some of the storms could turn strong to severe The highest storm chances are from 2-8 p.m. the Storm Prediction Center upgraded the risk area for Orange meaning there’s a higher chance at receiving severe weather with damaging gusty winds within the thunderstorms We also cannot rule out the chance of a spin-up tornado at a moment’s notice especially if you are in the areas highlighted in yellow Below is a breakdown of timing and potential threats that could appear in your area if a stronger A ridge of high pressure will start to build in delivering some drier air and less storm activity but isolated storms will be possible inland each afternoon highs will rebound into the low 90s inland to the mid-80s along the coast Things turn active again as a slow-moving upper level low moves over the northern Gulf fueling another round of rain and storm chances Storm coverage is expected to remain elevated at 40-60% on Thursday and Friday Skies will be cloudier Saturday and Sunday keeping highs slightly cooler in the upper 70s to mid-80s Candace Campos joined the News 6 weather team in 2015 BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- NatureConnect Central Oregon, formerly known as Central Oregon's Children's Forest, announced Monday that it will assume operational and fiscal responsibility for the historic Skyliners Lodge The High Desert Education Service District which had announced earlier it would return the permit to the U.S while NatureConnect will oversee operations including renting out the facility for educational and private events Revenue generated from these rentals will support school field trips and outdoor learning initiatives located along Tumalo Creek in the Deschutes National Forest has been a cherished community venue since its completion in 1937 Recognized on the National Register of Historic Places the lodge has served as a hub for youth programs and a variety of events that connect individuals to nature "We see Skyliners Lodge as an essential part of getting kids outside,” said Katie Chipko executive director of NatureConnect Central Oregon “It's a hugely popular field trip destination that is so close to Bend and while it feels remote and tucked away The lodge provides access to nature for thousands of students each year HDESD announced plans to cease operations at Skyliners Lodge due to financial constraints and anticipated maintenance costs Recognizing the lodge's value to the community NatureConnect Central Oregon stepped forward to ensure its continued use for educational and recreational purposes "We are so grateful to HDESD for taking responsibility for Skyliners Lodge 14 years ago It was innovative and ambitious for an ESD to take something like this on and they have shepherded that space without much credit or recognition taking over operations for the lodge aligns so well with our mission and we’re excited to be stepping into this role," said Chipko shared her excitement about the transition: "We are thrilled to place this incredible outdoor learning resource into the capable hands of NatureConnect Their expertise and dedication to outdoor education will ensure that Skyliners Lodge continues to serve as a vital hub for school field trips and community connections to nature." NatureConnect was recently awarded a $128,368 grant from the Bend Sustainability Fund with Visit Bend to replace the aging roof with a fireproof alternative that maintains the building's historic character ensuring the longevity of this treasured facility NatureConnect is now accepting reservations for events occurring after July ,1 including weddings “If you are looking for a special venue for an upcoming celebration or gathering There are a number of open weekends this summer and we are booking events 18 months in advance,” said Chipko For more information, visit natureconnectco.org/skyliner NatureConnect Central Oregon is a network of over 30 partners dedicated to inspiring lifelong connections to nature for every child NatureConnect provides impactful outdoor experiences ensuring all children have access to the benefits of nature About High Desert Education Service District The High Desert Education Service District (HDESD) is a public K-12 school district serving students in Bend HDESD supports education and equity in Central Oregon through various programs and services Barney is the Digital Content Director for KTVZ News. Learn more about Barney here KTVZ NewsChannel 21 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here A grand march was held for Sussex Central High School students, and their guests, prior to their senior prom on May 3, 2025 at The Circle in Georgetown See more Delaware Prom photos A grand march was held for Sussex Central High School students, and their guests, prior to their senior prom on May 3, 2025 at The Circle in Georgetown See more Delaware prom photos Tariffs and the impact of those in the United States have been talked about quite a bit in recent months. St Cloud State Economist King Banaian joined me on WJON to explain what has happened so far and what it means. He says the Trump administration has enacted 10% tariffs for some countries and 20% for others. The exception is China where 145% tariffs have been enacted Banaian indicates it has been reported that the U.S and China are talking with the hope that those will be reduced Banaian says because of the talks many ships are leaving China half or 2/3 full because they are waiting to see if tariffs will change. He says there are also fewer ships going over to China from the U.S. Banaian suspects we will see spot shortages of products on shelves in June or July. He indicates the effects are delayed by a month or two there are exceptions. Those exceptions include items for phone semi-conductors and products for automobiles. He says the White House is sensitive as to what the impact will be on the auto industry. Banaian says tariffs are a regressive tax which means they hit the poorer population the hardest there will be fewer used cars on the market and the ones that are will be higher in price. Banaian did say vehicle trade values should be higher If you'd like to listen to my conversation with King Banaian it is available below. Banaian also discussed the possibility of a recession and gas prices Tariffs and the impact of those in the United States have been talked about quite a bit in recent months. St. Cloud State Economist King Banaian joined me on WJON to explain what has happened so far and what it means.\nRead More Details: cache-fra-eddf8230112-FRA 1746483309 4066031209 Microsoft officially shuts down Skype but recommends Teams as a plausible alternative for video calls and messaging Earlier this year, Microsoft confirmed that it was preparing to retire Skype The messaging and calling app has existed since 2003 but Microsoft acquired the platform 14 years ago Today, on May 5, Microsoft is pulling the plug on Skype as it officially retires the app. While speaking to TechCrunch president of Microsoft 365 collaborative Apps and platforms “We know this is a big deal for our Skype users and we’re very grateful for their support of Skype and all the learnings that have factored into Teams over the last seven years putting all our focus behind Teams will let us give a simpler message and drive faster innovation.” As expected, Microsoft has been doubling its efforts on Teams and urging users to transition the company allowed users to export their Skype chats to Teams to make the transition more seamless This move could be a bid by the tech giant to drive more users to Microsoft Teams and increase its user base. As you may know, Microsoft launched a new app for Teams which is twice as fast and consumes 50% less disk space than the previous build it's unclear whether users will be eager to transition to Teams especially in the new era of communication and the vast availability of messaging and video calling platforms like Zoom Kenya with lots of experience covering the latest trends and developments in the industry at Windows Central With a passion for innovation and a keen eye for detail he has written for leading publications such as OnMSFT providing insightful analysis and breaking news on everything revolving around the Microsoft ecosystem While AFK and not busy following the ever-emerging trends in tech you can find him exploring the world or listening to music you will then be prompted to enter your display name Details: cache-fra-eddf8230112-FRA 1746483317 4066108040 Get Pollstar News and more delivered right to your inbox with Pollstar Daily Pulse By signing up, you agree to Pollstar’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use The Trump administration has begun canceling National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grants, according to NPR The publication reported that mass emails were sent out late on Friday informing hundreds of arts groups notifying them of the withdrawal and termination of their grants with Central Park SummerStage among those affected The Berkeley Repertory Theater and the Chicago-area arts education nonprofit Open Studio Project were also informed their grants have been withdrawn and terminated “The NEA is updating its grantmaking policy priorities to focus funding on projects that reflect the nation’s rich artistic heritage and creativity as prioritized by the President,” the email stated we are terminating awards that fall outside these new priorities.” Recipients of the email can appeal the decision within seven days Central Park’s SummerStage has a full schedule of concerts lined up for the summer including performances by Kehlani (June 26) Charlotte Day Wilson/The Weather Station (July 2) Soccer Mommy/Hurray for the Riff Raff (Sept The organization puts on free concerts throughout New York City through the duration of the summer with select dates serving as benefit concerts requiring a donation Whether he repulses you or you hop in line at every pizzeria that he relishes, it's certain: Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy loves (and sometimes hates) pizza, and he isn't afraid to share his thoughts with his 1.44 million YouTube followers through his One Bite Pizza Reviews he banters with passersby and takes a few bites of a slice — after always saying "one bite everybody knows the rules" — before bestowing a rating out of 10 often based on his personal taste for thin Pizzerias are also ranked from No. 1 to 1041 on his website (many pizzerias with the same rating share a ranking) Portnoy has visited a dozen pizzerias in the region that MyCentralJersey covers in Somerset While two of the pizzerias he has visited — Pizza Time Restaurant in the Avenel section of Woodbridge and Stan's Chitch's Cafe in Bound Brook — have closed since he reviewed them cheesy pies for everyone from celebrities like Portnoy to those just jonesing for a slice and what they garnered from the unlikely pizza influencer Portnoy changed the more-than century-old DeLucia's Brick Oven Pizza in Raritan forever when he reviewed it in 2022 only behind a pizzeria in Portnoy's hometown It’s 100% in the conversation,” Portnoy said of DeLucia's signature thin “You drive three to four hours for this pizza you'll likely see a line out the door — that is if they haven't already sold out Go: 3 1st Ave., Raritan; 908-725-1322, deluciasbrickovenpizza.com 'I'm with pizza legends now': DeLucia's in Raritan has 2-hour wait after celebrity review Rahway: 8.8"I've never had higher hopes for a pizza than this," Portnoy said before digging into Nancy’s Towne House in Rahway's bar pie Those hopes held up when Portnoy gave the old-school This is spectacular bar pizza," Portnoy continued Go: 1453 Main St., Rahway; 732-388-8100, nancystownhouse.com Mancini Pizza employees didn't mess around when Portnoy came to visit them in East Brunswick left the lid off the box to keep the pie from overheating No flop," Portnoy said before giving the pizza a 7.9 Portnoy's preference for thin bar pies played into Mancini Pizza's score "It's almost as high as you can go for this style of pizza if you're not given the coal-fired which everyone knows are my favorite," he said Go: 293 Route 18, East Brunswick; 732-387-8805, mancinipizza.com Watch: bit.ly/4jXt2wH pop music and a "We love you bro" from the owners Portnoy gave Amano Pizza in South Amboy a 7.9 he didn't share that ranking with the owners of Amano But a 7.9 is by no means a bad review for the pizzeria that ranked No meaning it is in the top 15% of all pizzerias Portnoy has reviewed "Good traditional solid football pizza," he said as cheese dripped down his face Go: 346 Bordentown Ave., South Amboy; 732-952-5220, amanopizzanj.com Unfortunately for the Chimney Rock Inn in Bridgewater Portnoy reviewed it right after visiting DeLucia's Brick Oven Pizza in Raritan He spent most of his time at "The Rock" talking about DeLucia's "It's tough to be the guy that follows the guy," Portnoy said He couldn't believe how thin the bar pie was — his favorite style — or how old the restaurant is Go: 800 North Thompson Ave., Bridgewater; 732-469-4600, chimneyrockinn.com Via Sposito in Old Bridge's coal-fired pizza is Portnoy's style of choice but that could be because it was in the box." Co-owner Anthony Esposito tried to convince Portnoy to stay a bit longer to also try his staple margherita pie with homemade mozzarella but Portnoy had to hit the road to try other pizzerias Go: 3857 Route 516, Old Bridge; 732-607-2625, viasposito.com Lookig back: Dave Portnoy reviewed an Old Bridge pizza joint. Here's what he said Portnoy had a real issue with the name of Strawberry’s Pub & Pizza when he visited the hangout in Woodbridge "I hate the name," he said over and over again "Strawberry's makes me think I should be picking strawberries maybe drinking a little glass of Sancerre." He didn't have any major issues with the pizza minus its "weird-looking sauce sprinkled across," Portnoy said Go: 110 Amboy Ave., Woodbridge; 732-634-3131, strawberryspub.com Go: 311 South Ave. W, Westfield; 908-233-9300, outtahandpizza.com Pizzerias often rush to make a fresh pie when they see Portnoy walking in the door "There was no funny ball or remaking of the pie to make it perfect," said Portnoy appreciatively as a "super traditional-looking pie," it wasn't Portnoy's thin-crust Go: 1020 Route 18 C, East Brunswick; 732-254-7171, facebook.com/BrothersPizzaEB/ Portnoy found a unicorn in Brooklyn Boys Pizza and Deli in Edison when he decided to visit last-minute on his way back to New York City from New Jersey and try the pizzeria's crispy tomato pie I eat pizza every day but I couldn't eat this every day." Go: 9 Lincoln Highway, Edison; 732-902-6600, bkboyspizza.com After driving over an hour to get to Sciortino's Pizza in Perth Amboy Portnoy was not feeling good about it from the second he opened the pizza box Those three elements sealed the deal for Portnoy "We drove an hour for pizza that I would not drive more than two minutes for just because of the Parm," he said Go: 473 New Brunswick Ave., Perth Amboy; 732-826-9712, sciortinosperthamboy.com Fresh Air opens the window on contemporary arts and issues with guests from worlds as diverse as literature and economics Terry Gross hosts this multi-award-winning daily interview and features program including District Superintendent Steven Yanni have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by an external law firm Students who are gender-nonconforming or trans could access health classes by attending the classroom corresponding to the student’s sex assigned at birth The free WHYY News Daily newsletter delivers the most important local stories to your inbox WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today. Education stories from across the Keystone State Community members testified about staff shortages and advocated for support for unhoused and immigrant students the city school district and Esperanza College aims to address the shortage of health care workers The Thursday meeting saw calls for more library funding addressing the district's staffing shortages and deteriorating buildings Emily Neil is a WHYY News reporter covering Bucks and Montgomery counties Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal local news and information and world-class entertainment to everyone in our community WHYY offers a voice to those not heard, a platform to share everyone’s stories, a foundation to empower early and lifelong learners and a trusted space for unbiased news. Learn more about Social Responsibility at WHYY Bucks County public schools have some of the highest-paid teachers in the state, according to recently published Pennsylvania Department of Education salary reports At least one teacher in the Central Bucks School District was paid $191,047 in the 2024-2025 school year — the highest salary recorded in the state data for a full-time classroom teacher The highest-paid teachers in most of Bucks County’s 13 school districts rank in the top 50 salaries across the commonwealth Every district in Bucks County falls within the top 100 The salary reports include information on 202,864 administrators and educators in public and charter schools across Pennsylvania School leaders provide the department with the data in October each year which is then typically published in the following spring This review of the data is specifically focused on classroom teachers who are marked as a “professional employee” working at the district full-time on an assignment designated as their “primary assignment” in each district There are approximately 3,351 teachers who meet those requirements in Bucks County’s public schools with 2,780 of those teachers making more than the state average teacher pay of $84,003 On a list of the highest-paid teachers in the state southeastern Pennsylvania takes up most of the top 10 spots ranks sixth in the state with a salary of $140,909 this school year Montgomery County has four teachers that crack the list: one in Abington ($157,424) Cheltenham ($138,000) and Wissahickon ($128,235) school districts More Central Bucks staff on leave: HR head, staffer on leave amid Central Bucks allegations at Jamison Elementary Lancaster School District in Lancaster County has the seventh-highest-paid teacher in the state ($142,532) and the Upper St Clair School District in Allegheny County employs an educator whose salary ranks at ninth ($128,557) two other school districts in Bucks County fill out the remainder of the top 10 list Here’s a breakdown of the highest teacher salaries in each Bucks County school district and where they rank in the state: Average elementary teacher salary by school districtExcluding special education teachers the average elementary school teacher in Pennsylvania makes approximately $82,603 which is about $1,400 less than their peers teaching high school full-time The average elementary teacher in Bucks County is paid anywhere between almost $7,000 more to almost 1.5 times more than the average Here’s the breakdown of average elementary teacher pay by district Secondary school teachers in Pennsylvania generally make approximately $1,300 more than the state average for all teachers last year While most school districts in Bucks County have higher-than-average salaries in middle and high schools Bristol Borough School District is the only area in the county that pays below average for those teachers Here’s the average secondary school teacher pay by district: Chris Ullery can be reached at cullery@couriertimes.com Home / News / Government & Politics / Local Government water features and public art to City Square Park space The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread MARION — Uptown Marion is set to take the next step of its ongoing transformation with the opening of the city’s new Central Plaza City leaders and community members this week will celebrate substantial completion of the roughly $8.35 million project in the heart of Uptown Marion The plaza includes a refrigerated ice loop “This project is the crowning jewel of what we have been doing in terms of reinventing Uptown Marion into a vibrant destination,” said Mayor Nick AbouAssaly “I’m sure there’ll be additional projects in the future but this to me feels like a milestone moment where we see that vision come to life.” The project itself was supported through a mix of fundraising city funds and grant allocations — including a $3 million Destination Iowa grant awarded to the city using American Rescue Plan Act funds The centerpiece of the Central Plaza is the ice-skating loop constructed in the center of the square where visitors will be able to rent skates to glide around the oblong sheet of refrigerated ice during the winter months The unique amenity will double as a seating area and gathering space in the off season and one portion of the loop will transform into an interactive water feature each summer The ice loop itself is expected to make its debut this December “A lot of people have told me that Marion is set up like a Hallmark card and I really feel like that ice loop is going to be the icing on the cake,” said Marion Chamber of Commerce President Jill Ackerman “It’s going to be really fun — almost magical — to see it transform during the different seasons.” the nearby Depot Pavilion has been enclosed to offer an event space bathrooms and a warming area for the ice loop The iconic orange caboose that previously stood in City Square has been rehabbed and relocated to Draper Park Parks and Recreation Director Seth Staashelm said the decision to move the caboose was made to best highlight Marion’s historic ties to the railroad through the creation of a new park specifically dedicated to honoring that history The caboose was removed from the park in June of 2023, at which point it was repaired and revamped prior to its eventual relocation to Draper Park last fall The park is named for former City Council member Paul Draper AbouAssaly and Ackerman both expressed their belief that the Central Plaza project will contribute to the ongoing and future growth of Uptown Marion City Square Park sat mostly unused unless there was a preplanned event taking place With the additional development and increased amenities he said the goal is to see a more steady stream of visitors “No one was going (to City Square Park) for a picnic or just to hang out It was mostly being used for festivals or other large events,” he said “We wanted to take the opportunity to reinvent the space … and make it a destination for not only Marion Those visitors in turn would be able to easily access and patronize the myriad surrounding Uptown businesses The plaza itself is situated in the heart of the district and is flanked on three sides by commercial development The land to the south is the open plot previously filled by the Nancy A. Miller Public Library that was razed after sustaining damage in the 2020 derecho, and the city already has expressed its intent to develop the land in a way that complements the plaza project In collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce the city will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday to mark the substantial completion of the Central Plaza project some work remains to truly complete all the promised improvements A new sculpture will be installed this June, for example, and the installation of commemorative brick pavement on the plaza’s southeast side is delayed until construction is complete on the nearby Broad and Main building on Sixth Street. you get to a point where the majority of it is completed but there’s still a few parts left to go,” Staashelm said we’re just really excited about the vibrancy this will bring to the Uptown area.” The city of Marion and the Marion Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4 p.m Wednesday to celebrate the city’s new Central Plaza The event is free and open to the public and will celebrate the substantial completion of the roughly $8.35 million project Linn County Government Reporter for The Gazette The Gazette has been informing Iowans with in-depth local news coverage and insightful analysis for over 140 years independent journalism with a subscription today © 2025 The Gazette | All Rights Reserved A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States A lock ( ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website Share sensitive information only on official Learn more about which activities may put you at increased risk of exposure when you travel to a country where clade I MPXV is spreading CDC has updated prevention and vaccination recommendations for people traveling to countries with clade I outbreaks CDC has been supporting DRC mpox research and response for more than 20 years government agencies are on the ground in DRC helping partners in the country with disease surveillance laboratory capacity including testing materials and risk communication and community engagement Government agencies worked with DRC to approve and form a strategy for the use of vaccines in-country Vaccinations for people at higher risk for clade I mpox or those who had been exposed to mpox began in October 2024 CDC is working with Ministries of Health and in-country partners across the region on disease surveillance Learn more about outbreaks of clade I and clade II mpox on the Mpox Current Situation page Several countries in other parts of Africa as well as Asia and South America have confirmed clade I mpox cases mostly in travelers who'd recently been in areas with clade I outbreaks Mpox has spread to household or close contacts in only a few cases A single person or household with mpox is not cause for widespread concern since public health authorities can quickly identify and the risk of spread to other people and households can be minimized can effectively stop disease spread in these situations Source: 2022-24 Mpox Outbreak: Global Trends. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2024. Available online: https://worldhealthorg.shinyapps.io/mpx_global/ (last cited: August 27 No onward spread has been reported except to close contacts in Belgium *Multiple cases of mpox among travelers who had been in the UAE have also been reported although it's currently unclear if the virus is being spread locally Mpox is a viral disease that can be spread between people or between people and certain animals A new eatery in Hopewell prepares authentic Mexican It is family-owned and operated by two couples: Salvadoran Francisco Ruano Castro and his wife Honduran Ana Yoselin Rivera and Mexican Jorge Ramirez and his wife Salvadoran Ana Cecilia Ruano His culinary skills escalated when he served as a chef at an Italian restaurant in Long Island he left and became the chef and co-owner of Taco Bout It in Riverhead Ramirez proudly displays some of them at Tacos Chiki’s Fiesta Whatever you want me to cook,” Ramirez said Last Christmas Ramirez visited Castro and Rivera who have been Hopewell residents for over three years the idea of opening a restaurant together popped up View concert lineup Chesterfield: Local wine featured at Spring Run Vineyard's monthly Wine Down Wednesday The menu at Tacos Chiki’s Fiesta is provided in English and Spanish Kids Menu items cost $4.99 and include French fries Youngsters may choose either chicken fingers Artisans, live music, kids' activities Richmond open-air market scores spot on USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards list The menu section titled Centro Americano includes soups such as seafood appetizers such as shrimp cocktail and chicken wings and seven different Chiki’s Fiesta Plate meals Hoochie Mama awaits you New Chester bakery sells macarons, sourdough bread, sweet rolls, pastries, coffee, more Order items such as New England clam chowder salads and entrees such as Chicken Florentine New restaurants, hotels Petersburg Biz Buzz: New eatery in former Mad Italian, another in the works, more news “Our ABC license should be issued any day now,” Rivera said “Diners will be able to order wine and beer.” The restaurateurs post daily specials inside and outside they plan to offer buffet dining in the future with all three cuisines The dining area at Tacos Chiki's Fiesta is more spacious than I thought it would be I finished the contents but carried most of the bowl home to eat with salsa but it was the best-tasting tortilla bowl I had ever eaten Tacos Chiki’s Fiesta is located at 2320-B Oaklawn Boulevard next to Dominos Pizza which is accessible from both sides of the strip mall Hopewell proud Patriots draft star RB TreVeyon Henderson: Here's his Hopewell connection Breakfast is served all day on Saturday and Sunday Tacos Chiki’s Fiesta is open seven days a week: Monday – Friday 10 a.m private parties and catering are available For more information, visit Tacos Chikis Fiesta on Facebook or call 804-452-6027. Customers may order via DoorDash also Visit progress-index.com to view a gallery and video Is it possible for a country to have too many entrepreneurs But according to a World Bank study of developing countries in Europe and Central Asia (ECA) having too many small businesses is not necessarily a good thing The bank’s survey, titled Accelerating Growth through Entrepreneurship, Technology Adoption, and Innovation identifies Caucasus and Central Asian states as having problematic business environments in terms of a country’s ability to move upward from middle-income to high-income status and resource reallocation has shown signs of weakness … because of slower progress on structural reforms and a more challenging global environment,” the report states “If the middle-income countries in the [ECA] region are to achieve high-income status their economies must become more dynamic.” The report notes that Caucasus and Central Asian states which are all in the ECA middle-income category tend to have lots of businesses per capita but they “generate fewer jobs than they do in countries elsewhere at the same income level.” has about the same number of businesses per capita as does Finland but the number of employees at firms in Georgia is about two-thirds as those in Finland Both Georgia and Kyrgyzstan are cited as countries in the ECA area where “firms produce far fewer jobs per capita than expected.” “Employment density [for middle-income ECA states] falls below what might be expected for economies with many enterprises,” the report states “The shortfall stems from insufficient expansion among firms … which prevents them from achieving the scale observed in higher-income countries.” Medium and large enterprises (classified as those firms with 50-plus employees) are the main drivers of growth and more are needed to provide mass employment for growing populations “Medium and large firms provide 40–50 percent of total employment [the middle-income ECA states] —far less than in Denmark and the United States—economies in which about three out of four jobs are with medium or large enterprises,” the report notes Productivity is a major issue for firms in the Caucasus and Central Asia The World Bank estimates that employees at small firms in the ECA area (classified as those with 10–49 workers) add only 30–80 percent of the value to finished goods as that generated by workers in Germany “generates only about 10–40 percent of the value added by a worker at the average large firm in Germany.” The bank identifies numerous obstacles hindering efforts by enterprises in the Caucasus and Central Asia to implement structural reforms needed to foster innovation and greater productivity including a lack of access to credit markets and venture capital stricter product regulation and inefficient management. “Middle-income countries in ECA invest less than middle-income countries elsewhere in the world,” the report states “Gross fixed capital formation as a share of GDP is consistently lower than in countries of similar income.” The bank report recommends that the comparatively more dynamic economies in the Caucasus and Central Asia – Armenia Georgia and Kazakhstan – place greater “emphasis on integrating global technology and capital … while establishing the basis for promoting innovation by increasing private investments in R&D and more closely connecting public research investments with the needs of private firms.” the report calls for far-reaching reforms by middle-income ECA governments including promoting competition and innovation via regulatory changes lowering trade barriers to “deepen ties with the global economy,” expand access to financing improve human capital and management capacity and facilitate the adopting of new technologies by businesses “Beyond confirming concerns about the excessive number of small businesses in the region this report highlights two important findings,” the report concludes superstar firms—exceptionally large and innovative companies operating at the global productivity frontier even the leading businesses in the region generate relatively few jobs and lag their counterparts in richer countries in terms of productivity and innovation.” Sign up for Eurasianet's free weekly newsletter. Support Eurasianet: Help keep our journalism open to all There were plenty of great softball performances last week and Jennifer Toland takes a look at 30 of the best of them for readers to vote on for the Hometeam softball player of the week Congratulations to Auburn's Reece Dickie for taking the top spot in last week's poll recording 7,156 votes (54 percent) to get past Millbury's Brielle Brothers (5,264 votes) for the honor HopedaleThe eighth grader went 3-3 in a win over Valley Tech and struck out 16 batters in a one-run loss to Millbury NashobaThe junior went 3-3 with four RBIs to help lead the Wolves in a win over Groton-Dunstable Regional The senior allowed 1 run on 3 hits and struck out 6 to lead the Rockets past BMR The senior went 9-13 with a home run and struck out 11 batters in a win over Ayer-Shirley MarlboroughThe senior went 3-4 with three RBIs in a victory over South and scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh against Groton-Dunstable Regional The junior allowed 2 hits and struck out 16 in a win over Leicester DouglasThe junior collected four hits and five RBIs to help the Tigers to a pair of wins to help lead the Mountaineers to a 3-0 week The junior rang up 35 strikeouts in three wins The freshman hurled a five-inning no-hitter with 13 strikeouts and went 2 for 4 to lead the Tigers past Bromfield the junior went 5-7 with a 2-run homer and 5 RBIs The senior had two doubles and a homer and drove in three runs to help lead the Blue Devils to a win over Westborough Bay PathThe junior went 3-4 with two home runs The sophomore ace went 3-0 with a pair of shutouts and struck out 30 batters The senior ace went 2-0 and recorded her 500th career strikeout Mara threw a two-hit shutout with 14 strikeouts against Nipmuc Regional and struck out 13 batters while going 4-4 with two doubles and a triple in a victory over Malden Catholic The freshman ace struck out a combined 30 batters in a perfect game against Northbridge and a one-hit shutout of Bartlett Notre Dame AcademyThe junior went 6-9 with a home run and six RBIs to help lead the Rebels to a 3-0 week The junior ace struck out 17 of 23 batters in a no-hitter against Auburn and recorded 13 Ks in a shutout of Grafton The senior went 4-5 with three RBIs in a win over North The junior’s ninth-inning RBI single lifted the Lions to a walk-off win over Tahanto Regional The freshman struck out seven in six-inning no-hitter against Grafton and drove in a pair of runs Roseberry homered twice and drove in four runs to lead the Panthers past Leicester home run and four RBIs in a win over Northbridge Stuart went 3-3 and drove in four runs to lead the Bulldogs past St The freshman homered and drove in three runs to help lead the Warriors past Sutton The junior struck out 17 batters in wins over Marlborough and Narragansett Regional and helped the Wildcats to a 3-0 week Florida State has several non-conference games already scheduled Florida State has added an opponent to its 2026 football schedule — the alma mater of head coach Mike Norvell FSU will face off against Central Arkansas on Saturday a game that will net a $450,000 payday for the Bears The matchup was revealed by FBSchedules.com who learned of it via an open records request Norvell played wide receiver at the University of Central Arkansas from 2001 to 2005 and is the school’s all-time receptions leader having snagged 213 pass receptions for 2,611 yards and 15 touchdowns (also rushing for one and throwing for two) via the Xs and Noles podcast (begins around 50:40: Florida State has several non-conference games already scheduled — September 19th vs. the Alabama Crimson Tide, part of a home-and-home series that kicks off this season in Tallahassee, a yet-to-be-scheduled matchup with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the annual rivalry matchup against the Florida Gators Shop FSU Seminoles Merch SummerStage returns in 2025 for its 39th annual season featuring another incredible lineup of performances by artists across a wide range of musical styles The programming highlights both emerging talents and established figures with several performances curated by leading artistic visionaries This season honors the city’s rich cultural mosaic by featuring diverse voices See this year's amazing lineup and get some helpful know-before-you-go tips while others are benefits which require a ticket to help fund the SummerStage programming Doors open one hour prior to start time for most shows 2025 – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM | PATRICE ROBERTS: I AM WOMAN | Benefit Concert 2025 – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM | ALAN WALKER | Benefit Concert 2025 – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM | ASTROPICAL (BOMBA ESTÉREO + RAWAYANA) | Benefit Concert 2025 – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM | OPENING NIGHT: MARCUS MILLER / TANK AND THE BANGAS / THE SOUL REBELS | Free Performance 2025 – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM | YANDEL SINFÓNICO TOUR | Benefit Concert 2025 – 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM | THE DRIVER ERA: OBSESSION TOUR | Benefit Concert 2025 – 2:30 PM to 10:00 PM | THE AUSSIE BBQ: Flewnt & Inkabee / Gordi / Grace Cummings / PINES / The Grogans / The Wiggles | Free Performance 2025 – 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM | NORDIC NEXT: Jakob / Sarah Klang / Astrid Sonne / Joalin | Free Performance 2025 – 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM | THE METROPOLITAN OPERA SUMMERSTAGE: Janai Brugger / Jack Swanson / Benjamin Taylor / with pianist Howard Watkins | Free Performance 2025 – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM | JAMES BLUNT: BACK TO BEDLAM 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR | Benefit Concert 2025 – 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM | JUNETEENTH: Noname / Ravyn Lenae / Fana Hues | Benefit Concert 2025 – 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM | RHIANNON GIDDENS & LIDO PIMIENTA | Free Performance 2025 – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM | PRIDE WITH KEHLANI | Benefit Concert 2025 – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM | DREAMLAND PRIDE: Headliner DJ TBA / Anne Louise / Hayla | Benefit Concert 2025 – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM | NEW YORK SINGS YIDDISH: Zalmen Mlotek / Frank London’s Klezmer All Stars & Celebrated Yiddish Vocalists | Free Performance 2025 – 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM | CHARLOTTE DAY WILSON / THE WEATHER STATION | Free Performance 2025 – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM | (SOLD OUT) KES: Night 1 | Benefit Concert 2025 – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM | (SOLD OUT) KES: Night 2 | Benefit Concert 2025 – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM | MORAT / PLANTA INDUSTRIAL / YAMI SAFDIE | Free Performance 2025 – 7:30 PM to 10:30 PM | CHRIS TOMLIN: WORSHIP UNDER THE STARS | Benefit Concert 2025 – 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM | CAMILO / ELA TAUBERT / GUITARRICADELAFUENTE | Free Performance 2025 – 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM | BASTILLE DAY: Bob Sinclar / Big Flo & Oli / Patrick Bruel / ESTL | Free Performance 2025 – 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM | CYMANDE / ASHA PUTHLI / ZACCHAE'US PAUL / K.TEA | Free Performance 2025 – 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM | JESSICA PRATT / CAMERON WINTER / DARYL JOHNS | Free Performance 2025 – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM | THE SAW DOCTORS | Benefit Concert 2025 – 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM | FEMI KUTI & THE POSITIVE FORCE with dead prez / Rich Medina / Maryam Bukar Hassan | Free Performance 2025 – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM | THE HEAD AND THE HEART APERTURE TOUR / WILD RIVERS / MARFA | Benefit Concert 2025 – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM | JACOB COLLIER | Benefit Concert 2025 – 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM | TAIWANESE WAVES: Enno Cheng / ABAO + Nanguaq Girls / Bulareyaung Dance Company | Free Performance 2025 – 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM | Ballet Hispánico | Free Performance 2025 – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM | CELIA CRUZ CELEBRATION: Isaac Delgado / Aymee Nuviola/ Brenda Navarrete & Guests | Free Performance 2025 – 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM | THE ORIGINALS w/ RICH MEDINA / STRETCH ARMSTRONG / TONY TOUCH | Free Performance 2025 – 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM | BLACKTRONIKA FESTIVAL: Phuture / Waajeed / Rimarkable / Joe Claussell / Charlie Dark / King Britt | Free Performance 2025 – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM | FUNK FLEX R&B BIRTHDAY PICNIC | Free Performance 2025 – 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM | MORGAN FREEMAN’S SYMPHONIC BLUES EXPERIENCE | Free Performance 2025 – 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM | IZA / ILÊ AIYÊ / EVANDRO FIÓTI - In association with 29th Inffinito Brazilian Film Festival | Free Performance 2025 – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM | RILO KILEY (SOLD OUT) | Benefit Concert 2025 – 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM | AWICH & FRIENDS | Free Performance 2025 – 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM | SOCCER MOMMY / HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF / DUMMY | Free Performance 2025 – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM | WET LEG / MARY IN THE JUNKYARD | Benefit Concert 2025 – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM | SEVEN LIONS | Benefit Concert The following is not permitted at SummerStage in Central Park: Still have a question? Click here for more SummerStage FAQs Rent a bike or take a tour of Central Park (available all day) Have a picnic in Central Park (pickup and delivery available) the SummerStage Festival features performances spanning World and American music By purchasing tickets to SummerStage Benefit Concerts you are continuing to support over 100 free performances in parks throughout the five boroughs Most of the concerts throughout the summer are privately funded and may be enjoyed by the general public at no cost with the exception of some of the bigger shows on the Mainstage in the park City Parks Foundation (CPF) will welcome guests to their Annual Gala presented at SummerStage The evening will help raise significant funds to support CPF's year-round free arts