Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More  — Pointing to guidance from the Florida surgeon general and public feedback the Lake Mary City Commission voted Thursday night to remove fluoride from the city's water supply Lake Mary now joins a growing list of local municipalities that have moved to do the same It was a move that Mayor David Mealor said was a long time coming “We started to really question fluoride," he said "It has been a questionable topic for some time and it just so happens that the infrastructure was at the point that if we continued the fluoride treatment then those systems would have to be replaced." Mealor said the city will save about $100,000 in eventual repairs He also pointed to recommendations from State Surgeon General Dr “When the surgeon general comes out and gives us a guidance as well as at the county level it makes our decision easier," Mealor said "And it’s just one of those things right now where I think it will be reevaluated across the board.” The American Dental Association, though, has blasted Ladapo's recommendation, caling it "misinformed and dangerous." evidence-based science when making public policy decisions," said ADA President Brett Kessler Ladapo to call community water fluoridation ‘medical malpractice’ and call on all municipalities to end its practice is a dangerous statement that stands to harm the oral and overall health of all Floridians." speakers at Thursday night's meeting felt otherwise and voiced support for removing fluoride from the water said she beileved it was safer to get fluoride from other sources — like toothpaste Lake Mary's city engineer said there are 0.1 to 0.2 parts of fluoride per million (PPM) naturally occurring in their water and with fluoride treatment that number increases to about 0.7 PPM With the guidance from Ladapo and feedback in the community city officials said it was easy for them to come to their conclusion.  and was glad to see the City Commission make a unanimous decision to take fluoride out of the water Lake Mary officials say it will take about 30-60 days to flush the fluoride out of Lake Mary's water systems and stopping fluoride treatment will save the city about $20,000 per year If you or someone you know are experiencing a life-threatening emergency go directly to the ER or call 911 Immediately The Orlando Health Medical Pavilion – Lake Mary offers a convenient one-stop location for comprehensive healthcare Located adjacent to the hospital on the Lake Mary campus the 60,000-square-foot Orlando Health Medical Pavilion offers several outpatient specialties including Coordinated care from Orlando Health’s network of high-performing physicians all in one location enables patients and their families to make the most efficient use of their time by consolidating a variety of services and specialties within one building The Orlando Health Medical Pavilion — Lake Mary offers the following available services and medical practices: Orlando Health accepts a large number of health insurance plans and managed care programs we recommend that you verify your coverage with your insurance provider when making healthcare decisions Click below to see more information about the insurance plans accepted by Orlando Health Orlando Health is pleased to also welcome two nearby hospitals in your area so you can be assured access to quality care you can trust at a location that is convenient for you Orlando Health’s team of board-certified physicians includes specialists in nearly every field of medicine You’ll find all of the healthcare services you need through our comprehensive online tool that gives you easy access to all of your Orlando Health information from any of your devices Request an appointment or a prescription renewal Try our virtual visit (telehealth) option to connect with a physician from your phone Ernie Roe shows a flathead catfish he caught in the Atchafalaya River LA 70538Phone: 337-828-3706Fax: 337-828-2874 LA 70380Phone: 985-384-8370Fax: 985-384-4255 SEMINOLE COUNTY – More than 14,000 babies are born every year at Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Center For Women And Babies this new center for women and babies is already having a major impact on communities in and around Seminole and Volusia counties The new Orlando Health Lake Mary campus replaces the old South Seminole Hospital in Longwood Right next to the existing emergency room facilities in Lake Mary off Rinehart Road two six-story towers with more than 450,000 square feet give the hospital room to grow The new choice puts patients in Seminole and Volusia counties closer to more options for care [EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]  It’s a new and exciting choice for Seminole County residents like the Bibbins family “So I found out from my OBGYN that I would be able to deliver here I was at Winnie Palmer and this was such a great experience for it to be closer The staff was amazing and it was just very convenient as well,” she explained Baby Amir is one of more than 220 babies born here since it opened Jan with our medical staff as well,” said Rose Palmer Palmer says the response to the new hospital and its center has been tremendous “Anybody can deliver their baby here at Lake Mary Hospital The majority of moms follow their docs and where they deliver But we have had probably a good percentage of moms who have come to Lake Mary without their primary physician actually delivering here We have a great OB hospitalist model,” Palmer explained The facility is filled with new technology such as wireless monitors for patients allowing more mobility a digital footprint and fingerprint system for new baby and mom called Certascan and digital white boards provide clearer connections between the medical team and patients “This digital whiteboard completely uploads from our electronic medical record so the patient is up to date on their care plan When we talk about ease of use for both the patient and the nursing team and the clinical team [RELATED: Baby’s first footprints go digital at new Orlando Health hospital] From the hallways to waiting areas and birthing suites the design and décor has been carefully curated to provide calming Bibbins says that’s been the experience for the whole family as they prepare to take their new addition home Lake Mary partners with Winnie Palmer to provide any higher level of care if and when it’s needed for both mom and baby Palmer says the large campus in Lake Mary plans to add a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in the near future Palmer says the hospital is on track to deliver as many as 1,500 babies in its first year Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved Catch the Emmy and Murrow Award-winning news anchor journalist and storyteller weekdays on News 6 at Noon and across News 6+ 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 My wife serves on a committee for the Catholic Diocese of Little Rock and was given an assignment by the.. Rex Nelson has been senior editor and columnist at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette since 2017 and he has a biweekly podcast called "Southern Fried." After graduating from Ouachita Baptist University in 1981 he was a sportswriter for the Arkansas Democrat for a year before becoming editor of Arkadelphia's Daily Siftings Herald He was the youngest editor of a daily in Arkansas at age 23 Rex was then news and sports director at KVRC-KDEL from 1983-1985 He returned to the Democrat as assistant sports editor in 1985 Rex became the Democrat-Gazette's first political editor in 1992 He also served from 2005-09 in the administration of President George W he worked stints at the Communications Group Arkansas’ Independent Colleges and Universities This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC Material from the Associated Press is Copyright © 2025 audio and/or video material shall not be published rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use The AP will not be held liable for any delays errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing Just a day after opening its doors for the first time to patients and visitors Orlando Health Lake Mary Hospital for Women and Babies welcomed the first baby delivered in the facility’s labor and delivery department on Sunday Riley Mac Larson was born at 5:16pm EST to mom Nicole “Colie” Larson BSN Nicole is a team member with Orlando Health serving as the hospital’s regulatory consultant Riley weighed in at 10 pounds and 9 ounces As a gift to Orlando Health Lake Mary Hospital Seminole State College is giving a $5000 scholarship to the first baby born at the facility Colie is also a graduate of Seminole State College’s nursing program senior vice president of Orlando Health Northeast Region and president of Orlando Health Lake Mary Hospital also serves as a trustee to Seminole State College “Shawn and the Orlando Health team have been exceptional partners and steadfast supporters of Seminole State College demonstrating a strong commitment to preparing our students for career success,” said John A Resource and Economic Development and Foundation executive director “To celebrate the momentous occasion of the grand opening of the newest comprehensive acute care facility and our ongoing partnership the Foundation for Seminole State College will award a $5,000 scholarship to the first baby born at Orlando Health Lake Mary Hospital This scholarship will be available when the newest member of our Raider community is ready to begin their college journey at Seminole State.” Seminole State College is a preferred education partner of Orlando Health which allows Orlando Health team members to pursue a degree or certificate at Seminole State with no out-of-pocket costs Orlando Health Lake Mary Hospital officially opened its doors Saturday Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress The new Orlando Health Lake Mary Hospital represents Orlando Health’s continued commitment to the Seminole County community the hospital offers a full scope of medical and surgical services and women’s services with labor and delivery the 455,000 square foot hospital will be able to expand to up to 240 beds State-of-the-art facilities include operating rooms an ICU and a full-service emergency department the hospital features six private suites thoughtfully designed to make you feel at home while providing exceptional medical care Each suite includes a hydrotherapy tub for laboring wireless and waterproof heart rate monitors for mom and baby a smart board that integrates patient and nurse information from Epic These modern amenities ensure a comfortable and supportive environment for every patient To keep up with the growth of Seminole County and best serve the needs of the community Orlando Health Lake Mary Hospital provides a full range of services these services bring high quality healthcare to residents throughout the area We know that coming to a hospital can be overwhelming you and your family can feel reassured and more at ease We encourage all our patients and guests to park in the parking lot east of the building The main entrance is located on the east side of the building You can also take advantage of the valet service Our main entrance is open daily from 5:00 am to 9:30 pm Visiting hours typically end at 9:00 pm to allow our patients to rest; however we understand that certain situations may require flexibility Our cafeteria is open daily from 5:30 am to 10:00 pm offering a variety of meal and snack options to accommodate our patients When you arrive you will be greeted by security and proceed through their check point After entering the main lobby you will check-in at our front desk Our guest services team will be able to direct you to the right place and provide more information at that time If you are a patient coming for a procedure The Lake Mary campus offers a comprehensive range of specialties to meet every healthcare need in one convenient location We are committed to providing our community with exceptional services By bringing together healthcare services and medical practices we ensure you receive quality care you can trust—all in one place ORLANDO, Fla. – A EF-2 tornado touched down Monday in Seminole County collapsing a home in Longwood and overturning a tractor-trailer in Lake Mary The National Weather Service reported that a confirmed tornado touched down around 9:40 a.m and “was located over Lake Mary,” heading northeast at 30 mph a confirmed tornado was located over Lake Mary The NWS said emergency management confirmed the tornado and warned that “flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter.” The semitrailer overturned near Lake Emma Road and Commerce Street in Lake Mary “We did have a driver and his dog in the semi when it did get flipped by the wind event and we’re really grateful for that,” a Lake Mary first responder said the driver said he was lying down and resting in the back of the truck when the severe storm struck the driver said he was very scared because the big rig was lifted into the air and then hit the ground the Seminole County Fire Department reported that severe weather collapsed a home in the 2100 block of Blue Iris in Longwood Two people were home at the time of collapse The NWS later confirmed that an EF-2 tornado destroyed the house and damaged many others Numerous trees were downed across the area with many roads littered with limbs and leaves Tornado warnings were issued throughout the morning across the region, from Sumter to Volusia counties, with the last one expiring at 10:45 a.m. Chief Meteorologist Candace Campos tracked the storms live during continuous coverage on News 6 If you safely captured severe weather, you can share your photos and videos on the ClickOrlando PinIt! page. Here’s how. News 6 anchor Ginger Gadsden captured heavy rain falling in Orlando. Check out her video below. Mar 10, 20250Winter ParkBe sure to download our FREE weather app to stay up to date when severe weather nears you Get info from the weather team right in your inbox Daniel started with WKMG-TV in 2000 and became the digital content manager in 2009 When he's not working on ClickOrlando.com Daniel likes to head to the beach or find a sporting event nearby Terms of Use | Privacy Policy the Coconino County Sheriff's Office announced at approximately 4 p.m The closure was prompted by severe weather conditions Access to the roadway will be restricted to local traffic only until further notice Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content Email notifications are only sent once a day Snow play was popular this weekend after a storm dropped powder on the city Thursday and Friday. Two serious storms in the span of nine days have accounted for most of Flagstaff's 35.6 inches … Read moreGallery: Snow play after the storms Lake Mary Road is temporarily closed, the Coconino County Sheriff's Office announced at approximately 4 p.m. on Friday, March 14.  Read moreLake Mary Road closed due to poor weather, accidents Public libraries and recreational facilities in Flagstaff will close early on March 13 ahead of an imminent snowstorm. Read moreCity of Flagstaff facilities to close early March 13 Flagstaff began getting much-needed snow Thursday as the first of two storms hit the city to start the weekend before spring break.  Read moreGallery: Snow day fun in Flagstaff Flagstaff received its first notable snowstorm of 2025 Thursday into Friday. Read moreGallery: Storm leaves Flagstaff blanketed in wet, heavy snow Just about any way it’s measured, Flagstaff is in the midst of one of its driest winter stretches in history. Read moreFlagstaff's winter starts as one of the driest on record, as fire concerns rise Several weeks of clear skies and freezing temperatures have led to the lake freezing over. Read moreGallery: Lake Mary becomes frozen fun playground Flagstaff experienced gusty winds and snow flurries Thursday as temperatures began to drop in the area. Cold temperatures are in the forecast for the foreseeable future. Read moreGallery: High winds whip through Flagstaff Over the past several decades, climate change has begun reshaping Flagstaff. Droughts, storms and warming temperatures have plagued all of Arizona increasingly over the past few years, with un… Read moreClimate change continues to have impact on Flagstaff Here are the top environmental stories from 2024: Read moreFlagstaff’s Environment Year in View: Completed flood mitigation efforts and hotter temperatures A few storms brought cold, snowy and icy conditions to Flagstaff this week. This weekend, however, highs are forecast to be in the low 60s and high 50s. Read moreGallery: A wintry week of weather in Flagstaff The fall foliage from the trees has hit its peak, as colors collide in Flagstaff. Read moreGallery: Fall foliage creates colorful scenes around Flagstaff Flagstaff received a mix of rain, hail and snow over the weekend. Read moreGallery: Wacky weather hits Flagstaff over the weekend The Arizona Daily Sun is owned by Wick Communications Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Lake Mary won its fourth girls soccer state championship in program history Friday, shutting out Weston Cypress Bay, 2-0, Friday in the FHSAA Class 7A state title game Our defending was incredible,” Lake Mary coach Christian Eissele said Lake Mary won three state titles under Christian’s father Bill resigned following the 2019-20 season as the third winningest girls coach in U.S Lake Mary pumped in two first-half goals and then utilized its stingy defense to hold Cypress Bay (18-2-1) scoreless Senior Lindsay Sheets scored the first goal off a corner kick for Lake Mary and then junior Ava McKay added the second with just seconds remaining in the first half Cypress Bay was looking for its first girls soccer state championship in program history The Lightning have reached the state championship game seven times but have settled for the state runners-up trophy on all occasions “We definitely had a harder route (to reach the state finals) this time,” said Cypress Bay head coach Kate Dwyer “We had the top three in our region from the top 10 teams in the state © 2025 ABG-SI LLC - SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER LAKE MARY, Fla. – Several businesses near Skyline Drive are now dealing with damage after a rare tornado touched down in Lake Mary on Monday morning close to I-4 and Lake Emma Road and saw several trees had snapped and fallen onto fences and in parking lots There was also a trailer that flipped on its side from the strong winds said the company uses the trailer for their traveling crews [PHOTOS: Damage across Central Florida as severe weather hits the area] “We install fiber across the United States Some of our guys like to stay in the trailer instead of an Air BNB or hotel,” said Helmberger “We just actually fixed the A/C in this and now it’s pretty much broken.” Helmberger said she was working Monday morning when all of the sudden the front doors started to swing open so we just all ran inside an office with now windows,” said Helmberger but we didn’t hear a train sound or anything like that.” Helmberger said a truck that was parked out front was just inches away from being crushed by a tree but another car parked at the business next door did have a tree fall on top of it said another tree that fell over nearly hit her car “I was in the office and a light started blinking but when I heard the rumbling from the windows that’s what scared me more than anything,” said Powell Powell said the damage was done in a short amount of time said it all happened in less than a minute He showed our News 6 crew the exhaust fan from an A/C unit that blew off the roof “[I] knew that the sound was not good when it came down.” Katz said there is now a hole in the roof that will need to be fixed Our News 6 crew saw workers assessing the damage Monday morning and starting to patch what they could so rain wouldn’t get into the building Katz said he has experienced hurricanes while working here before “Probably between the three hurricanes that I’ve seen during this time working in this building combined the damage doesn’t equate to what we’ve seen today,” said Katz According to reports from local fishing groups and anglers who were at Lake Mary Ronan the ice conditions are holding strong with about 8–10 inches of solid ice ATVs and snowmobiles were seen all over the lake throughout the day showing that the ice is still supporting activity It’s a good idea to check conditions for yourself it looks like Lake Mary Ronan is still in good shape for winter fishing with nymphs and streamers doing the heavy lifting while spring flows and sunshine keep things interesting… The Montana Outdoor Radio Show is live Saturday Mornings from 6:06am to 8:00am Skip the flowers—take Mom fishing for free this Mother’s Day and reel in some memories instead The 100-fish limit was no match for Mack Days anglers on Flathead Lake as records tumbled and lines stayed tight in a crazy weekend of nonstop lake trout action… it can sometimes be less of a friendly forest reunion and more a heavyweight smackdown… From shoreline strikes to deep-water trolls rainbows and walleyes are keeping Canyon Ferry and Holter anglers reeling in the action—no matter your bait lack of food likely caused the mortality event… Think you’re fly fishing like a pro with that bobber it might be time to ditch the training wheels and rediscover the real art of nymphing—no plastic balls required Think state records are only for monster fish slowly)—from midge hatches to streamer pulls and dry fly eats They say that if you built a bridge in a desert Fly tying can be an enjoyable yet potentially costly way to enhance your fly fishing experience by allowing you to create your own flies instead of buying them No worries — both hours of last week’s Montana Outdoor Radio Show are ready for […] Our team of Montana correspondents has been out on the water this week Captain and Don Jamison of Park Grove hooked a couple of trophy walleyes in the dredge cuts Friday The 2025 Walleye Egg Collection is in the Books Rigger and the Captain Take a Deep Dive Into What it all Means For Montana’s Walleye Fishermen & Women… Montana FWP wants your voice in shaping the future of mule deer—join a local workshop to weigh in on the new statewide management plan and help steer the herd in the right direction We have a sneak peek into the latest amazing Montana Outdoor Podcast episode… America’s public lands are opening wider than ever for hunters and anglers with new spots and big opportunities… Bass season just kicked off—and let’s just say the opening weekend didn’t disappoint at the Echo Lake Big Sky Bass Bash… Hell Creek Marina is your year-round launchpad for all things Fort Peck and brand-new pizzas—Rock Creek Marina is back and ready to make you feel like family… A once-golden creek is being reshaped—not for fortune this time From deep water surprises to shoreline hotspots this week brought a little bit of everything at Fort Peck Snagging a river dinosaur might sound crazy to some it’s just another paddlefish season… Your chance to shape the future of hunting on the Flathead Reservation—share your thoughts on the 2025-2026 draft regulations… A Canada goose was confirmed infected in Gallatin County on February 26 It’s time to get your goose jerky on Donald Trump Jr.’s hunting trip in Italy just went from a wild adventure to a legal quagmire after he allegedly poached a rare duck—now Oklahoma’s public lands just got a little less public for outsiders with a heart full of grit and a camo golf cart for cover Fox Haas reminded us all why legends never hang up their calls… The Sierra County Sheriff’s Office in California reports residents are under siege from wolves posting graphic photos of a bloodied stoop where an elk was brought down just yards from a residence There have been 18 wolf attacks confirmed in 28 days released in Colorado in January after being translocated from British Columbia has made significant movements across the state covering more than 1,230 miles since translocation — an extraordinary display of the species’ natural roaming behavior IMPORTANT: The season dates for hound hunting season in the printed version of the 2025 Black Bear Regulations were incorrectly listed in the printed regulations A peaceful day of ice fishing shattered in an instant… When you need Dramamine to go ice fishing…… Some anglers are stuck dreaming of frozen lakes while others are packing their gear and chasing the last ice—where do you stand one last thrilling ice fishing adventure delivers big trout and bigger lessons—before the season slips away As Montana’s late-season ice thins and conditions become unpredictable anglers are urged to stay cautious—no fish is worth the risk the fishing has been excellent across Helena area waters Time for Your Refresher Course on How to Catch HUGE Kokanee Salmon in Holter & Hauser Reservoirs From Kit & Trevor Johnson of Kit’s Tackle Outfitters… Think again—Kit and Trevor are back to spill the secrets before the season heats up this week’s Montana Outdoor Podcast dives deep into the surprising fish behind Fort Peck’s trophy giants—don’t miss “Double Bacon Cheeseburger with Fins.” What do deep-water monsters and a double bacon cheeseburger have in common Tune in to the Montana Outdoor Podcast to find out… That “special” new scent your dog is rocking here’s one way to get rid of that… Tired of playing keep-away with your dog while you’re at hunting camp Learn the secret to achieving total recall—no chasing required When it comes to filleting a northern pike Armored in 30,000 quills and smelling like exotic cheese the porcupine is nature’s most misunderstood Yellowstone National Park recorded its first officially documented fatal grizzly bear attack has filed a lawsuit against the Triangle C Ranch near Dubois This smart and friendly elk has serious footwork when it comes to soccer © 2025 Montana Outdoor Radio Show All Rights Reserved RSS Feed Facebook Page YouTube Channel SoundCloud NewsBreak Profile Privacy Policy with reports from the Montana Ice Fishing group indicating at least 8 inches of ice across the lake One angler mentioned finding 12 inches of clear while another reported 10 inches of ice beneath 8 inches of snow Those who visited on Saturday confirmed similar conditions the lake appears to have safe and stable ice for fishing Mary’s College of Maryland has found its new president the current president of Chatham University in Pittsburgh a public liberal arts college in Southern Maryland distinguished service building honors programs and hands-on approach to leadership are but a few of the qualities that made her the clear choice for this moment,” said John Bell which has an endowment of about $90 million The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one. Her experience navigating tight budgets could be helpful at St which has an endowment of just under $40 million though it ended the year in a net positive because of a 2020 revenue bond Phillips was the inaugural dean of the honors college at Purdue University and associate dean of the honors college at Arizona State University She also made history as the first woman to earn a doctoral degree in city and regional planning from Georgia Tech University Phillips will succeed Tuajuanda Jordan, who will retire at the end of June after 11 years at St. Mary’s. Jordan’s tenure is marked by the construction of four major campus facilities, a tuition reduction and the creation of the Commemorative to Enslaved Peoples of Southern Maryland. This reporting is part of The Banner’s Education Hub, community-funded journalism that provides parents with resources they need to make decisions about how their children learn. Read more Ellie Wolfe ellie.wolfe@thebaltimorebanner.com Ellie Wolfe reports on higher education at the Baltimore Banner Raised in western Massachusetts and a proud graduate of Bates College Ellie spent a year reporting on higher education at the Arizona Daily Star in Tucson before moving to Baltimore Welcome to The Banner's subscriber-only commenting community. Please review our community guidelines Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policies The Baltimore Banner is a trademark registered in the U.S for The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism Statement from Executive Vice President and General Manager Eric DeCosta pic.twitter.com/TNQrqw3me2 Welcome to The Banner's subscriber-only commenting community. Please review our community guidelines Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policies Click here to view our Terms of Sale.\n \n Click here to learn more about supporting local journalism.\n Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes. If the problem persists, please contact customer service at 443-843-0043 or customercare@thebaltimorebanner.com Hands’ attorney arranged for a welfare check at Hands’ residence on Feb at which point an officer of the Phoenix Police Department found Hands deceased The driver who struck and killed a motorcyclist on Lake Mary Road last fall was discovered dead at his Phoenix residence after failing to attend his most recent scheduled hearing in Coconino County Superior Court Samuel Lionel Lee and Menalek Anthony Dressler arrested in October in unrelated incidents both face charges of first-degree murder now Meet Shallot, a stunning one-eyed sweetheart with a story to tell! Originally adopted from us as a kitten in 2019, Shallot was recently found by a kind-hearted person who brought her to Canyon… Read moreHCH Pet of the Week: Shallot The four additional days will include Saturday, May 10, Sunday, May 11, Saturday, May 17, and Sunday, May 18. Read moreArizona Snowbowl season extended to May 18 Vitalant has announced its May blood drive locations for northern Arizona, including events in Flagstaff, Munds Park, Winslow and Tusayan. Read moreVitalant announces May blood drive locations in northern Arizona The closure will span from the entrance of the police station public parking lot to the intersection of Sawmill and Kensington Drive. Read moreSawmill Road to close at night from May 6-8 This week's High Country Running is from Sara Hall. Read moreHigh Country Running: Redefining success after my fourth Boston Marathon This week's column from Tom Carpenter. Read moreCarpenter's Column: We interrupt our regular programming This week's Flagstaff History column. Read moreFlagstaff History: Movies and little theatres dominated the news Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy announced recently that it will be changing its school schedule for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year. Read moreFALA announces changes to bell schedule for 2025-2026 school year May 3 Read moreFlagstaff Event Almanac for May 3 BEACON UU SUNDAY SERVICE: “The Search for Truth: Academic Freedom and Diversity Education” May 4 — Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 510 N. Leroux St., Flagstaff. (928) 779-4492. 10-… Read moreFlagstaff Religion News for May 3, 2025 View FUSD bus article HERE | View Mexican gray wolf article HERE | View CCEM article HERE Read moreThe Arizona Daily Sun 3@3 report for Friday, May 2 The government intended to kill an uncollared wolf but instead killed a collared female wolf, who may have been pregnant. Read moreFeds 'mistakenly' kill female Mexican gray wolf in Arizona FUSD hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for two new electric buses as part of Bus Driver Appreciation Day Tuesday. Read moreFUSD adds 2 electric buses to its fleet as driver staffing shortage continues Creative Flagstaff is pleased to announce the appointment of Julie Comnick as executive director following her successful tenure as interim executive director. Read moreCreative Flagstaff names Julie Comnick as executive director LAKE MARY, Fla. – Coming off an unforgettable 2024, the Lake Mary Little League celebrated the start of its 2025 season Friday night “We put this place on the map,” said Coach Jonathan Anderson News 6 spoke to Anderson before a parade ushering in the new season Friday When asked about his team’s status as defending Little League World Series champions the coach gave all the credit to his players “We hope to produce a team quality enough to possibly do it again,” he said Last year’s championship team from Lake Mary was the first in the state of Florida to ever with a Little League World Series [EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos] “I think we’re going to go back and win it again,” said DJ Mieses the only player from last year’s team eligible to return to Williamsport this coming year The league is seeing its highest participation ever according to data from the Lake Mary Little League Enrollment in baseball is up nearly five percent while softball has increased by more than 12 percent “We are bigger than we’ve ever been,” said Jessica Davis “We really see some great things here in the future for our program.” the girls’ 12 and under and 11 and under teams were crowned state champions “I really want the girls’ softball team to go as far as they can to experience what the boys did,” said Anderson “It’s a cool experience and they deserve it Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: Lake Mary girls soccer advanced to the FHSAA Class 7A girls soccer state championship game after a second-half rally berthed a 3-2 semifinal win over Palm Harbor University on Monday at Lake Myrtle Sports Complex “We just had to keep believing in ourselves knowing how hard we worked,” Lake Mary coach Christian Eissele said “We trusted the game plan and trusted the process.” Lake Mary seeks its fourth state championship and  will square off Friday against Weston Cypress Bay semi Friday at 1 p.m There is a goal to take (so don’t think about overtime) They freaking took it and I couldn’t be more proud of them.” Lake Mary senior Lindsay Sheets produced the game winning goal with 4:23 left in the game I picture these things every night,” Sheets said “It’s really amazing to be a part of this and I appreciate this opportunity You just have to keep pushing and trust in your teammates.” Trailing 2-1 midway through the second half Lake Mary knotted the game 2-2 on a nifty goal by senior forward Anna Voigt who slipped her foot past a defender and pointed the ball into the corner of the net just past the out-stretched hands of goalkeeper Keely Cash “It’s an amazing feeling and I really can’t describe it.” She opened the game’s scoring with a goal at the 29:55 mark of the first half to put Lake Mary up 1-0 “Anna’s goals were unbelievable,” Eissele said Palm Harbor tied the game 1-1 on a goal by senior forward Erin Walker at the 7:27 mark and then headed to halftime with a 2-1 lead after a score by Ava Tutas with 2:56 left in the first half AUBURNDALE – Cypress Bay is on the threshold of a state championship again Cypress Bay held off a pesky Jupiter squad 1-0 on Monday in a Class 7A girls soccer state semifinal at Lake Myrtle Soccer Complex to gain a berth in the state championship game “I knew at this point everything was going to be close so it didn’t shock me that it was 1-0,” said Cypress Bay head coach Kate Dwyer Cypress Bay freshman Sabrina Bermudez takes off with the ball on a break against Jupiter during a Class 7A girls soccer semi final on Monday at Lake Myrtle Sports Complex in Auburndale (Jupiter) took it to us in the second half Which is kind of natural when you’re up and they are down.” The Lightning will face Lake Mary Friday at 1 p.m advanced after rallying to beat Palm Harbor University 3-2 in the first semi This game marked the seventh time Cypress Bay has reached the state semifinals and now the sixth time the LIghtning will venture into the state title game still looking for its first state championship “Did I think the 1-0 lead was going to hold We had people playing where they shouldn’t have been Cypress Bay leaped out to a 1-0 lead at the 20-minute mark of the first half on a nifty goal by senior Valentina Zorilla But from there it was a defensive struggle even though Zorilla put nine more shots on goal and one shot ricocheted off the crossbar shaking the whole frame and net it was struck so hard “Great game and we played great as a team,” Valentina said We kept shooting on goal and never gave up I kept trying for more goals but that was the only one and the only one that matters.” MIAMI Lake Mary High School becomes the Class 7A football state runner-up after losing 52-19 to Venice in the state championship “It wasn’t Lake Mary football,” Lake Mary head coach Scott Perry said after the game But I’m proud of my guys; we had a great season and overcame a lot to get here Lake Mary is a force to be reckon with now.” It was only a 7-6 game in favor of Venice early in the first half But the Lake Mary Rams gave up 24 points in the second quarter Rams star quarterback and Notre Dame commit Noah Grubbs had three touchdowns and two interceptions He said after the game the moment wasn’t too big; it just wasn’t Lake Mary’s day “I believe it just wasn’t us,” Grubbs said [Venice] has been here the last four years I believe it just wasn’t Lake Mary football today.” The Lake Mary Rams finish the season 12-2 after appearing in the football state championship for the first time in school history Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved LAKE MARY – The Lake Mary-Heathrow Festival of the Arts will showcase dozens of artists this weekend raising funds for students in Seminole County The two-day festival kicks off Saturday with a full day of events The arts festival helps raise scholarship money for graduating Seminole County High School students "In its more than 38 years of sponsoring the free Lake Mary‑Heathrow Festival of the Arts the organization has donated in excess of a quarter of a million dollars to assist Seminole County students in pursuing their education‚" the event’s website reads Here’s the entertainment line-up for the weekend: encourage involvement within Seminole County and celebrate the arts!" the website reads To view the event map and check out the vendors, click here. festivals and more by signing up for our Central Florida Happenings newsletter Brenda Argueta is a digital journalist who joined ClickOrlando.com in March 2021 She is the author of the Central Florida Happenings newsletter that goes out every Thursday 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 MIAMI - The Venice High football team made sure Pitbull Stadium was the pits for the Lake Mary Rams After losing the last two state title games the green and white made up for it in resounding fashion humbling the Rams 52-19 to claim the Class 7A championship on Saturday at a wet and windy South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium on the campus of Florida International University It was Venice’s fourth title — the first came in 2000 with Nick Coleman as head coach — and the third under John Peacock Venice lost the last two championship contests before Saturday’s triumph over the Rams (12-3) who were making their first championship game appearance Running back Jamarice Wilder rushed for 178 yards and scored three TDs as Venice ran for a total of 316 yards As opposed to Venice’s 2021 title win over Apopka when Peacock received a Gatorade bath drenching Saturday’s victory wasn’t as wet for the Venice head coach Aside from kicker Brunno Reus sprinkling a few drops from a Gatorade bottle The kids did an awesome job of being focused and coming here to play this game We played one of the toughest schedules in the country The game was essentially over in the first half its defensive backfield showed Ram quarterback Noah Grubbs respect by playing off of Lake Mary’s receivers The positioning drew the ire of Venice’s coaches who didn’t want green and white defenders giving up too much room underneath to Ram receivers But with Venice’s defense smothering Lake Mary’s running attack and with the team’s secondary tightening up its coverage managed just a first-half scoring pass to Chase Hinshaw after Wilder’s first-quarter TD had given Venice a 7-0 lead A 37-yard TD pass from quarterback Jayce Nixon to wide receiver Malakai Corbett put Venice up Then Watkins returned a punt 60 yards for a score it kind of snowballed on them,” Peacock said We just kept going and were able to capitalize on their mistakes.” But with its running game stopped cold (66 total yards) Lake Mary had no choice but to rely on Grubbs’ right arm in the second half The Rams’ defense intercepted a Nixon third-quarter pass and it led to Grubbs’ second TD pass of the game But the green and white responded with a drive which ended with Wilder’s third TD of the game His 7-yard score put Venice comfortably up And when Watkins took the direct handoff and scored with 1:11 left in the third to stop the run,” Venice defensive coordinator Larry Shannon said We wanted to play very disciplined coverage we were doing pretty good up until four minutes to go,” said Lake Mary coach Scott Perry But we certainly didn't play our best game.” Venice achieved it on the second play of the fourth quarter Watkins scored from the wildcat formation from 21 yards out the clock couldn’t move fast enough for the overmatched Rams My approach to (the game) was a little different FLORIDA- Venice wanted no part of pulling off a 3-peat of state championship losses and they silenced any naysayer Saturday afternoon at Pitbull Stadium After falling to Lakeland back-to-back years in the Class 4S title games John Peacock's bunch made sure they brought home the gold to the 941 Behind one of the state's most potent offenses all season long Venice rushed out to a 31-6 first half lead and never looked back defeating Lake Mary 52-19 for the Class 7A state championship High School On SI gives you three takeaways from the 7A state championship game between the Indians and Rams: Robson LopesWhat was a 7-6 game in favor of Venice quickly turned into a 31-6 lead heading into halftime for the Indians A series of big plays turned the game on its proverbial head as the final five minutes before intermission is what changed a close contest to a full on blowout After a 37-yard touchdown pass from Jayce Nixon (18-of-30 Ole Miss signee Winston Watkins (106 all-purpose yards) followed it up after a Lake Mary punt to a 60-yard return for a score Venice was ahead 21-6 and that was with 2:31 remaning until hal Field goal kicker Brunno Reus added a 39-yard kick and running back Jamarice Wilder (19 carries Robson LopesIt's no secret that the Rams like to throw the ball with Notre Dame commitment Noah Grubbs That's what Scott Perry and his staff had to try and figure out and not having starting running back Isaiah Thomas in the backfield throughout the afternoon three touchdowns) started off the game 0-of-5 passing with an interception and just never looked comfortable under duress against Venice's pass rush Lake Mary playing against the conditions certainly didn't help things combined with the absence of Thomas equaled a bad day for the Rams' offense Robson LopesIt's not hard to see why Venice ended up running away with the contest if you took a deeper look at who the Indians have played this season Clearwater Central Catholic (Class 1A runnerup) and IMG Academy national the notable clubsdotted along the scheduled Venice had one of the toughest roads to a state championship The Indians also faced Naples (Class 3A state semifinalist) and Gadsden County (Class 2A runnerup) between the spring and preseason we'd say Peacock loaded this schedule up aiming for it to help take them to the state championship promise land Follow High School On SI throughout the 2024 high school football season for Live Updates the most up to date Schedules & Scores and complete coverage from the preseason through the state championships Be sure to Bookmark High School on SI for all of the latest high school football news To get live updates on your phone - as well as follow your favorite teams and top games - you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App| Download Android App -- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @highschoolonsi ANDY VILLAMARZOAndy Villamarzo has been a sports writer in the Tampa Bay (FL) Area since 2007 writing for publications such as Tampa Bay Times FL area and started as a writer with SB Live Sports in the summer of 2022 covering the Tampa Bay Area He has quickly become one of Florida's foremost authorities on high school sports radio programs and digital broadcasts as an expert on team rankings The Southeast Region Champions from Lake Mary participate in the opening ceremony of the 2024 Little League World Series baseball tournament in South Williamsport The Lake Mary Little League all-stars did not come together until June Most competed against each other during the league’s regular season before the league’s Board of Directors selected this year’s team a bond started forming and it has become all but unbreakable that bond likely will link these players and coaches wherever they go and whatever they do Lake Mary is competing at the Little League World Series for the time time capturing state and Southeast Region championships in emphatic fashion before starting well in South Williamsport and winning its first two games all 12 players have made an impact but they also have grown closer and that has made this historic run even more memorable That’s what defines us differently as a league That’s what makes this team different The level of friendship that they have is amazing,” Lake Mary vice president Desiree Fouse said “The older kids built such a confidence and relationship that they look up to each other and they refine their skills together The level of encouragement they show each other has been the secret sauce to the progression.” immense talent and super coaching and one has the Southeast’s best Little League Baseball team so many teams in Florida and throughout the Southeast share those similar qualities Lake Mary has done that at each practice and every game the coaches do just about everything the players do They joined them in one-mile runs following practices and participated in all the boot camp activities Lake Mary resident and form Army Sergeant Leroy Minion held during the break between states and regionals Find one Lake Mary player and you likely will find all of them socializing and/or playing other games together helping the players when the games end and preparing them for life as much as for baseball “The best part for me is getting in the trenches with these guys and working with them We try to make it that we’re not just your coach but we’re here with you,” Lake Mary manager and league president Jonathan Anderson said If we end practice with a run and I’m with you That closeness pays huge dividends when the competition is so stiff and every pitch means so much There is a trust and belief shared throughout the team which keeps the team optimistic no matter the opponent; no matter the situation That really shined through in one of Lake Mary’s most challenging games this summer against Boca Raton Both were undefeated in pool play and only the winner would advance to the state final Against a team which also had the potential to be playing in South Williamsport supported each other and rallied for a thrilling 6-2 in eight innings “Having that chemistry is important,” Anderson said “That’s something we’ve felt like we had at the beginning These kids play against each other during the regular season but we feel like we’re deep enough as a league to get better there and then come together when the board selects the team and that chemistry has been there from the start.” That Boca Raton game served as a springboard and a team which reached last year’s Southeast final would not be denied this time Champion and 2016 runner-up Goodlettsville Combining its regional run with an 8-1 state championship victory Lake Mary outscored its next five opponents 43-9 following that grueling battle against Boca Raton “They had to learn in the moment that you have to calm yourselves in the eye of the storm The world had to quiet down for them and when it got tough that’s when they learned they have to focus and refocus if something goes wrong,” Fouse said We watched them reset when something went off or someone made an error They believe in each other and they have grown up so much.” This already was a league which long has been community and family friendly The only difference now is that more people are learning about it these Little League all-stars becoming one of the world’s best 20 teams is a reflection on its entire league and town teams throughout the league received ample support Now it is coming from all over Florida and a bright light is being shined upon a family which has stayed close whether a team was in the hunt for a Little League World Series berth or not while Lake Mary has won all these games and championships players and coaches also have become perfect league ambassadors it’s my privilege to recognize the players and coaches of the Lake Mary Little League for their dedication and hard work resulting in this tremendous accomplishment,” Lake Mary mayor David Mealor said an enormous thank you to all our parents and family members for their tireless support and encouragement.” “There’s a great level of community here The league creates a camaraderie where the kids develop lifelong relationships,” Fouse said but there are friendships and family and that’s why everyone is so ecstatic about what they’re doing.” Lake Mary’s impact will continue being felt when the team returns home Whether it comes back with another title batter does no matter in their fans’ eyes This family has put Lake Mary on the map and this band of brothers always will feature quite a connection “When you have a strong support system the outcome will always be positive It’s important for them to know that,” Fouse said “When you work hard at something with the support and a family approach it’s still an amazing outcome because of what they put into it.” Opening Saturday's action is the Class 7A championship game featuring the Venice Indians (13-1) squaring off with the Lake Mary Rams (12-2) at 12:30 p.m High School On SI will be providing live updates all afternoon (Keep refreshing page for live updates from the game) MIAMI -- Venice used a 24-point explosion in the second quarter to run away from the Lake Mary Rams in the Class 7A state championship game on Saturday in Miami It is the fourth overall state championship for Venice (14-1) The Indians finished as state runner-up the last two seasons After Lake Mary scored on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Noah Grubbs to Chase Hinshaw with 5 minutes 26 seconds left in the second quarter to cut Venice's lead to 7-6 the Indians countered with 24 straight points to take a commanding 31-6 halftime lead and never looked back returned a punt 60 yards for a TD; Brunno Reus kicked a 39-yard field goal; and Gata Wilder scored the first of his three TD runs during the 24-point outburst Wilder finished with more than 170 yards rushing a Notre Dame commit who threw three TD passes Tyree Weatherspoon also caught a TD pass for the Rams It was Lake Mary's first state title game appearance Three-time state champ Venice is in its fourth consecutive state championship game The Indians finished as state runner-up to Lakeland the last two seasons is making its first state title appearance Venice calls timeout on opening possession Venice RB Gata Wilder makes first down on 12-yard run but fumble by Wilder later leads to punt as Lake Mary forces punt INTERCEPTION: Venice senior DB Kyni Brantley picks off tipped pass from Lake Mary QB Noah Grubbs TOUCHDOWN: Gata Wilder crashes 11 yards up the middle LAKE MARY K Emilio Bacardi misses 43-yard FG with 8:53 left Lake Mary QB Noah Grubbs fires nice 4-yard TD pass to Chase Hinshaw but Rams miss PAT Venice QB Jayce Payne hits Malakai Corbett for 37-yard catch-and-run with 4:33 left LAKE MARY punts and Ole Miss signee Winston Watkins Jr returns it 60 yards for a TD for Venice Venice K Brunno Reus makes 39-yard fied goal to give Indians a 24-6 lead with 1:22 left in the first half Venice's Ben Zarkiewicz picks off pass from Noah Grubbs TOUCHDOWN: Gata Wilder scores on run up the middle VENICE QB Jayce Nixon intercepted by Nolan McClanahan LAKE MARY QB Noah Grubbs throws perfect 14-yard pass to Chase Hinshaw The duo combines for the second time today Venice leads 31-13 with 8:48 left in the 3Q Venice RB Gata Wilder scores on 7-yard run scores on 8-yard TD run to give Venice a 45-13 lead over Lake Mary with 1:11 left in the 3Q LAKE MARY's Parker Perales takes shot in ribs on passing play leaves game with 28 seconds left in the third quarter Venice takes 52-13 lead over Lake Mary with 11 minutes left Lake Mary QB Noah Grubbs throws TD pass to Tyree Weatherspoon Home » News » St Mary’s University celebrates accomplishments of University and Law graduates at Fall Commencement Mary’s University will honor the accomplishments of its 215 new graduates with an in-person Commencement ceremony on Saturday The Fall 2024 Commencement will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the Alumni Athletics & Convocation Center, Bill Greehey Arena a business development director for manufacturer relations at McKesson Due to limited seating, tickets are required for all guests. The ceremony will also be livestreamed at www.stmarytx.edu/live and the ceremony recording will be available for download at that URL following the ceremony.  The ceremony will celebrate the achievements of 215 new graduates including 120 receiving bachelor’s degrees 30 receiving degrees from the School of Law and four receiving doctoral degrees a passionate leader in the health care space has more than 10 years of experience working in a variety of fields across the pharmaceutical industry in Houston She is a business development director for manufacturer relations at McKesson a Fortune 10 company headquartered in Dallas.  Van Dyke developed her passion for health care while at St She also holds a Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of Houston – Clear Lake and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin.  She has held various advisory roles with St passionately championing diverse career fields across health care She is a member of the Advisory Council for the School of Science where she lives with her husband and goldendoodle.  by NDWorks and last for several weeks as crews work to further improve the trail around the lake which will prompt incremental closures of the lake path Trail section closures will be marked with barricades Members of the campus community are welcome to continue using the trail for recreation but are asked to be mindful of posted closures “Clearing overgrown and invasive plants around the lake banks is part of our routine work as good stewards of our outdoor campus spaces,” Beau Barnett Accessibility Information Recently, the Lake Mary Rams announced the following slate of games for 2025 including two contests against Lakeland and Miami Norland Among other teams on the schedule are Bishop Moore Kissimmee Osceola and at home against Sanford Seminole Below is the Rams' 2025 regular season schedule 9 Playoff Teams, 6 Regional Finalists, 3 State Semifinalists and 2 State Finalists. pic.twitter.com/MGUwQsSEFy -- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @highschoolonsi How to watch Florida high school playoff football: Venice vs Venice High School will host Lake Mary High School at 12:30 p.m How to watch Lake Mary vs. Venice playoff high school footballLake Mary and Venice will hit the field on Saturday, December 14 at 12:30 p.m. ET. Don't miss out on any of the action with NFHS Network The NFHS Network gives you access to live high school sports around the country Follow your favorite team and never miss a game Watch Venice vs. Lake Mary on NFHS! All NFHS Network events are available to watch online at www.NFHSnetwork.com and through the NFHS Network Mobile Apps for iOS and Android and our TV Apps for ROKU SEMINIOLE COUNTY – Jewish parents and students in Seminole County are grappling with a challenging decision this year Lyman High School and Lake Mary High School have scheduled their prom nights on April 12 coinciding with the first night of Passover Passover is a significant holiday for Jewish families marking the start of Jewish nationhood and reflecting on the meaning of being Jewish the most observed day is Passover,” said Noelle Rivers “It is the big day for American Jews or the big night because why is tonight not like all other nights was excited to attend prom as an upperclassman “People keep asking us what’s the big deal it’s not even her senior prom,” Rivers said she might be studying abroad next year like this really could be her only chance to go to prom.” Rivers said Jaynie was devastated when she found out about the prom date debacle but she was crying—very hard for her—so disappointing,” Rivers said As far as celebrating Passover at a different time “It is at the exact same time,” Rivers said and prom later in the night because we will be going past 11 unlike prom Seminole County Schools responded to the scheduling conflict with a statement: “Every effort is made to be mindful of any religious or significant days when scheduling events it is not always possible to avoid an event falling on one of these days.” Rivers hopes the schools will consider rescheduling the prom “They shouldn’t have to pick between this one night at school with all of their friends and their one night a year with their family no matter what their faith is,” Rivers said You can listen to every episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate in the media player below: there is a group of people that come together weekly and let their creativity flourish The library system hosts what has become known as the “Lake Mary Crochet Club,” led by Lynn Martinez which I might turn it into a baby carrier blanket,” Martinez said The beauty of the Crochet Club is that they allow any and every kind of creation made by any kind of needlework very tough sister-in-law here that does crochet work beautifully and the end result gives her quite a good feeling “Because it’s something that when it comes out right The club has gained so much traction over the years that kids have become part of it The club meets every Tuesday at the library in Lake Mary from 5 p.m Is the Target boycott working? Artist Robert B. Stull has died at 58 City reaches out to entrepreneurs of color to apply for liquor licenses the rotund catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates when they defeated the New York Yankees in the 1960 World Series who bats ninth and plays for the 2024 Williamsport Little League Championship team from Lake Mary He stole home plate with the decisive run in his team’s 10-7 win over Texas in the American Championship game on Saturday Teraj cites the bonding of his teammates as their key to victory He says his three favorite baseball players are His team manager Johnathan Anderson (no relation) assured the Lake Mary Little Leaguers of a win speaking in their dugout during the late stages of their 2-1 extra-inning win against Chinese-Taipei on Sunday evening Jonathan Anderson said to his Little Leaguers in his dugout speech that a man had prayed over him earlier in the week and then told Anderson’s father that God had already put the Florida team’s victory in His book “It has already been written.” Now all they had to do was go out and play the rest of the game and experience it He elaborated in his post-game interview that they simply believed and did what they were created to do This 2024 Williamsport Series proved once again why it is probably the best American sports event of the year Thirty-eight games stretching over 12 days from August 14th to the 25th Twenty teams of boys 11 to 13 years old traveling to Central Pennsylvania for the renewal of the summer classic from as far away as Australia and the Czech Republic The Australians featured the first set of triplets to play for the same team in Williamsport as well as the only girl to appear there this year the 23rd young lady over the 40 years during which they have been allowed to participate The Czech team brought a 12-year-old Ukrainian refugee with them for his second straight year Other International Region represented countries meeting each other were Aruba Puerto Rico was this year’s designated automatic international regional representative who rotates annually with the Dominican Republic and Panama The ten international teams played simultaneous to the ten United States regional representatives the international and American survivors finally meeting for the Championship game The tournament format is double elimination which means you are out if you lose a second game the second bite of the apple proved very dramatic when Venezuela eliminated Aruba and Mexico sent Cuba home playing in Williamsport for only the second time Because of the low level of current diplomatic relations between the US and Cuba family and friends of the Cuban players were not eligible this year to obtain travel visas to come and cheer on their team The Biden-Harris State Department under the leadership of Deputy Secretary Richard Verma a 1981 Williamsport Little Leaguer himself worked hard to get the Cuban team here while trying to reestablish the baseball cooperation with Cuba led by President Obama Obama traveled to Cuba late during his presidency to attend the special game between the Cuban All-Star team and the Tampa Bay Rays in the stadium where Jackie Robinson and the Dodgers had part of their 1947 spring training ahead of that first year of baseball integration Cubans had begun to be allowed to play in the Major Leagues in the States without having to defect The Trump administration all but ended that along with other restrictions placed on Cuba who happens to reside in the United States One of the high points of Williamsport each year is the enthusiastic support and chants from the stands of family and friends for their favorite team In addition to the normal English coverage from the stands there are interpreted interviews and features with the thoughts and reactions of Spanish-speaking fans sisters and extended family members rooting them on often seems to be the catalyst to a team’s victory The Mexican Little League team by contrast had dozens of fans in the stands when they rallied in their last at bat to walk-it-off and eliminate Cuba The Little League games can be as heart-pounding as those in the Major Leagues as in one of the final international elimination contents Venezuela defeated Japan going down to the final out of the last inning in a one run affair Some of the Major League players themselves were present in Williamsport For the eighth year in what has become tradition the big guys came to play a game on the first Sunday night of the tournament was mobbed by the kids from the moment he got off the team bus from the airport The media apex of the two weeks was 14-year-old female African American journalist Pepper Persley’s interview with Judge on the bus as part of the ESPN2 Kid’s Telecast Judge’s adoptive parents were honored before the Major League broadcast as the George and Barbara Bush Little League Parents of the Year for their support of their son throughout his youth as a baseball player The Championship game proved to be one of the most exciting ever It went beyond the regulation six innings into the bottom of the eighth Little League rules call for an automatic runner at second to begin the eighth A 1-1 game that had seen spectacular pitching and defense with both teams leaving the bases loaded several times came down to the only lapse in Chinese-Taipei’s patience and persistence during all the games they played With the automatic runner on second base in the bottom of the eighth The first baseman came into field it but it was gloved by the pitcher who threw to the uncovered The ball sailed into right field and the winning run scored from second The natural celebration of the Lake Mary players and coaches was preceded by a remarkable display of sportsmanship and compassion as they hugged held and consoled the distraught and tearful Chinese team That was the image that will endure from this year’s Williamsport Little League World Series.