Sponsored: Five Great Electric Vehicles Not Manufactured by Tesla
If you’re looking to purchase an electric vehicle, you’re probably a thoughtful, compassionate person. Concerned about climate change, you hope to drive a car that aligns with your personal values. You trust the scientific community and believe that we should heed expert advice that serves the interests of the general public, especially when human lives are at stake. You probably support the temporary restrictions that are necessary to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus. Given the public statements of Elon Musk regarding “fascism” and the premature reopening of his Tesla manufacturing facility in Fremont, against the wishes of local officials, it’s quite possible that you are not inclined to purchase a Tesla anymore. Here are five outstanding 2020 electric vehicles for you to consider.
The first three are crossovers from Kia and Hyundai, sister companies based in South Korea. The Hyundai Kona is perhaps the best of the lot. It is very efficient, boasting a combined MPGe of 120. It also has an impressive range, travelling 258 emission free miles on a single charge. The other two are the Kia Soul and the Kia Niro. They are very efficient, and both will take you plenty far before refueling. The range of the Soul is 243 miles and the Niro coasts in at 239. If you like the hipster styling of the Soul, you’ve got yourself a great EV, but you might prefer the more conventional look of the Niro. All three remain eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit, a bonus that you won’t get if you buy a Tesla.
If you would like to support an American automaker, the Chevrolet Bolt is a great EV. The Bolt’s MPGe of 118 is enough to satisfy the most discriminating tree hugger, and its 259 mile range beats the Kona by one mile. This is a great time to buy a Bolt. Chevy has been offering a $4,750 discount, which takes the sting out of the fact that it’s no longer eligible for the federal tax credit.
The last EV in the lineup hails from Japan, the legendary Nissan Leaf. Nissan has perfected its flagship EV over the years, and the new models are much better looking than their ancestors. They also have impressive stats. To get respectable range, you’ll want to spring for a model that has the 62 kWh battery. The S Plus can venture 226 miles. If you pick the Leaf, you’ll pocket the $7,500 from Uncle Sam, and none of your money will wind up in the pocket of Mr. Musk.
It may be that none of the vehicles on this list sound quite right for you, but you’re still reluctant to throw your business to Tesla. That’s perfectly understandable. There are other great EVs out there, or you might just want to hold off for a while. A lot of new EVs will be in showrooms soon that you can be proud to drive.
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TAMPA — The shooting started on Westshore Boulevard.
In the next 40 minutes Thursday evening, authorities say, Antonio Cruz Ortiz would open fire on more than a dozen people, including a Tampa police officer, at locations across Tampa before he was taken into custody.
Five people were injured in the apparently random shootings, including the officer. Authorities said none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening.
One man told detectives that Ortiz stared and laughed at him before pointing a gun in his direction and firing a shot.
By Friday morning, Ortiz, 31, was in the county jail facing 15 charges.
“This had to be a scary moment for (witnesses) to see this person driving around either shooting his weapon or pointing it at people‚” Tampa police spokeswoman Jamel Laneé said at a news conference Thursday night. “We definitely wanted to get this person into custody and that’s what our officer was basically trying to do when the suspect opened fire on him.”
Antonio Cruz Ortiz, 31, went on a shooting spree in Tampa on July 30, 2020, injuring several people including a Tampa police officer, authorities said. [ Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office ]
The string of shootings began about 6:52 p.m., when Tampa police received a 911 call about a man firing from a moving vehicle on Westshore Boulevard near the Interstate 275 overpass, police said. Two people were shot there. Details about their injuries were not available Friday.
A heavily-redacted arrest report released by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office picks up at 7:25 p.m. in the Egypt Lake-Leto area, when witnesses said a man in a red SUV sped into a parking lot near the intersection of Fountain Mist Drive and Tadpole Lane, in the Coopers Pond Apartments.
It was Ortiz, in a 2019 Dodge Durango, the report says.
Witnesses told investigators that Ortiz got out and started yelling, then reached into his SUV, pulled out an assault-style weapon and fired one shot, according to the report. Ortiz then got back into his SUV and drove away. The Sheriff’s Office also reported that juveniles gathered at a park on Fountain Mist Drive were shot at by a passing motorist.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, at least five people were shot at in this area. None was hit.
Moments later, Ortiz pulled up next to a man in a Ford 150 at the intersection of North Dale Mabry and Lambright Street. The man in the Ford told detectives later that Oritz “kept staring at him and laughing,” the report says.
When the light turned green and both men began to make the turn onto Lambright, Ortiz pointed a large gun at the Ford driver and fired a single round, then cocked the gun and fired again, the report says. The Ford driver was not hit but at least one of the truck’s tires was flattened.
Ortiz drove east on Lambright for about a half mile, where a man in a black Cadillac Escalade was stopped at the intersection with Himes Avenue. The Cadillac driver told investigators he heard multiple gunshots, then his back window shattered. The man quickly turned to pull around the car in front of him.
Ortiz kept driving east on Lambright and onto Sligh Avenue. Near Habana Avenue, he pulled next to a Honda Odyssey. The woman driving the Honda told detectives later that Ortiz started yelling at them, then pulled slightly ahead and fired three rounds at them, the arrest report says. The woman’s son told her he was shot, then she felt a pain in her ankle and realized she’d been hit, too. She pulled to a stop on Sligh.
Two children in the back of the Honda, ages 4 and 2, were not hit.
Photos released by the Tampa Police Department show bullet holes in the front windshield of a patrol cruiser and its shattered rear window after an officer attempted a traffic stop on Antonio Cruz Ortiz on Thursday. Police say Ortiz opened fire on the officer, injuring him. [ Tampa Police Department ]
About 7:35 p.m., a Tampa police officer spotted a vehicle matching the callers’ description headed east on E Hillsborough Avenue. The officer attempted what law enforcement calls a “felony traffic stop,” which is when officers take certain precautions because they are pulling over someone who may be armed or dangerous.
Ortiz turned onto N 43rd Street, police said, then jumped out brandishing a weapon. He started shooting at the 24-year-old officer, police said, as the officer ducked and backed his vehicle up.
Several rounds penetrated the front windshield and shattered the back windshield as the vehicle drove in reverse. The officer did not return fire.
Ortiz then ran to the nearby Park Terrace Apartments, police said. Multiple officers descended on the area to search, and a canine tracked him to a third-floor landing, where he was captured.
After Ortiz was caught, police found several firearms, including a rifle that matched the description the witnesses gave investigators, the Sheriff’s Office report says. Rounds in the rifle matched the model and caliber found at several of the shooting scenes, according to the report.
Authorities say Antonio Cruz Ortiz was driving this Dodge Durango as he randomly shot at more than a dozen people in Tampa on Thursday. Ortiz shot at a Tampa police officer on E Hillsborough Avenue at 43rd Street and then fled on foot, police said. [ LUIS SANTANA | Times ]
The injured officer was taken to Tampa General Hospital. Laneé said it was unclear Friday if he was struck by a bullet or just glass fragments. Laneé said the department will likely release his name next week. He was out of the hospital and home resting Friday, she said.
Tampa police Chief Brian Dugan visited the officer, who has been on the force for 11 months, and said he was in “good spirits.”
Ortiz was charged with attempted first degree murder of a law enforcement officer with a firearm; four counts of attempted second degree murder; seven counts of aggravated assault with a firearm; and three counts of shooting at an occupied vehicle. He was being held without bail.
More charges are forthcoming, Laneé said.
Records show Ortiz has one prior criminal charge in Hillsborough County, a petty theft case from 2011 that was later dropped. He has no other prior arrests in Florida.
Police tape marks the building in the Park Terrace Apartments where suspect Antonio Cruz Ortiz was arrested Thursday. [ LUIS SANTANA | Times ]
A Tampa Bay Times reporter visited three Tampa addresses associated with Ortiz on Friday. No one answered at two. A man who answered the door at the third address, an apartment in the complex where Ortiz was arrested, said he didn’t know Ortiz.
Reporters tried more than a dozen phone numbers associated with Ortiz and possible family members but did not reach anyone who knows him.
Times staff writers Kathryn Varn and Caitlin Johnston contributed to this report.
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The State Best Ball Tournament, the largest event of the summer at Eagle Falls Golf Course, will have 56 two-man teams competing this weekend.
Action runs all day Saturday with tee times, and will conclude on Sunday with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. The tournament is run by the Eagle Falls Men’s Golf Association.
Several former champions are in the field, headed by local ace Ross Bartell and ex-pro Frank Jacobson of Colorado. Another Colorado player, Keith Stilwell, is teaming up with scratch golfer Martin Schultz.
Brady Kirkeby and Rich Franco of Helena should be contenders, along with University of Providence star Ben Kaul and partner Jeremy Lukkes.
The course should be open for public play by 3 Sunday afternoon.
Meadow Lark to host club championships
Several current or former champions are competing this weekend in the annual club championship at Meadow Lark Country Club.
There are more than 60 players entered in men’s, women’s and senior divisions.
The men’s field is headed by defending champ Duncan Hollar, who will be challenged by Chad Eskro, Cody Babinecz, Casey Moen, Keaton Sunchild and Tucker Thomas.
The senior men are led by perennial champion Monty Kuka, along with Rick Becker and Steve Ayres.
The women’s favorites include Cathie Tronson, Natalie Moen, Katrina Babinecz and Debbie Porcarelli. Seniors like Debbie Erwin and Lennie Robbins are sure to be in the trophy hunt.
There will be 18 holes played both Saturday and Sunday. There will be a mixed derby starting at 6 Saturday night.
MUNCIE, Ind. — Part of Ball State University's return-to-campus plan will rely heavily on self-certification from both staff and students to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus on and off campus.
Ball State announced more on its coronavirus screening procedures Monday.
Employees who return to work on campus will be required to complete a self-certification form prior to returning.
The form asks certain screening questions about health, including if the employee has had a recent fever or other COVID-19 symptoms or has been notified of exposure to COVID-19 within the last 14 days.
Students residing on campus will be required to either:
Present a self-certification attesting to a 14 day self-quarantine (with daily symptom checking) prior to returning to campus, or
Present a negative COVID-19 test result obtained within seven days before arriving on campus.
Students not living on campus also are encouraged to either self-quarantine before returning to campus or obtain a negative test result.
The document says that employees and students must monitor symptoms every day before reporting to campus for work or school; the use of temperature checks may be considered as an additional screening tool for specific programs.
Temperature checks would be limited as a screening tool in the university's own plan, however, because "initial research indicates that individuals can be infectious prior to developing a fever."
As far as actual testing for the virus, officials with the university said that there is an agreement with IU Health and Ball State's student health center for screening and testing for COVID-19 in currently enrolled students.
MORE ON CORONAVIRUS:
►Study looks at how well Ball State will survive COVID-19
►Muncie Schools moving ahead with reopening plan; school board approves minor changes
►COVID-19: Ball State mandates face masks, joining IU, Purdue
Recommendations from the university still said that employees should seek medical care from their primary care providers.
According to the university plan, large testing of groups within the campus community would be considered only if several employees or students in a particular group or location become ill, and even then, it would be in consultation with state and local public health experts.
Employees, students and visitors who are instructed to quarantine after exposure to someone who might be positive, or to isolate if they have a positive test, must provide clearance from a health care provider in order to return to campus.
Ball State University President Geoffrey Mearns said the university will have rooms available for students to quarantine or isolate in residence halls if they get the virus.
►NATIONAL: Colleges are increasingly going online for fall 2020 semester as COVID-19 cases rise
Will it be enough?
Researchers from the Yale School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital published a study on Friday in the Journal of the American Medical Association Open Network about controlling the virus on college campuses.
The study found that the spread can be controlled at universities if students are tested for the coronavirus every two days.
Computer simulations show how the virus might spread among a hypothetical cohort of 5,000 students.
In the study, 4,990 students were assumed to be coronavirus-free, while 10 were assumed to be infected. Sscreening every two days using a rapid, inexpensive test would “maintain a controllable number of COVID-19 infections,” especially when coupled with other preventative measures, the study found.
The study estimated screening costs would be $470 per student per semester.
Researchers pointed out that monitoring students for symptoms was not sufficient, but also acknowledged the logistical challenges may be beyond the reach of many universities.
Corey Ohlenkamp is the city/county government reporter. Contact him via email at cohlenkamp@muncie.gannett.com or by phone at 765-213-5874. Follow him on Twitter at @Ohlenkamp.
The 2020 football season is officially underway with players reporting for testing this week.
Over the next two weeks, players will participate in strength and conditioning workouts, virtual meetings and on-field work before putting the pads on in mid-August.
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With the offseason in the books, here's a look at five burning questions to be answered during the Falcons AT&T Training Camp:
1. How is the secondary gelling?
In order for Atlanta's defense to be better this season, the play in the secondary must improve. The Falcons struggles against the pass were more than evident through the first eight games when the unit ranked No. 31 in the league in points allowed per game.
Through the first half of the season, the Falcons allowed a league-worst 65.6 passing yards per game when opposing quarterbacks released the ball in two seconds or less, according to the AJC's Jason Butt, formerly of the The Athletic.
While the number dropped to 56.8 over the final eight games of the season, the Falcons ranked 30th in the NFL in this category.
The play of cornerbacks Isaiah Oliver and Kendall Sheffield improved when defensive coordinator Raheem Morris took the reins following the bye week in 2019. Safety Damontae Kazee moved back to free safety and recorded three interceptions.
After starting the season 1-7, the Falcons returned from the bye week as a much better team. Starting with an impressive road win over the New Orleans Saints on Nov.10, the Falcons went 6-2 to finish the season. Some consider Atlanta's win over the Saints and San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 15 as the biggest wins under Quinn's tenure.
In order to help address this area of the defense, the Falcons selected former Clemson star cornerback A.J. Terrell with the No. 16 overall pick in this year's draft. He's expected to play a big role in Morris's defense.
The Falcons are also counting on former first-round pick Keanu Neal to be healthy and ready to make an impact when the season begins. Neal tore his ACL in the first game of Atlanta's 2018 season against the Philadelphia Eagles and missed the entire season.
After an offseason spent rehabbing, Neal was primed for a comeback year. Three games into the 2019 season, Neal suffered an Achilles injury and was sidelined for the remainder of the year.
Neal is heading into the final year of his current deal with the Falcons.
2. What's Todd Gurley's workload expected to look like?
When the Falcons signed Gurley to a one-year contract worth a reported $6 million in March, what his workload will look immediately came into question.
Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter believes when healthy his new running back is one of the best in the NFL. How many touches he'll give Gurley per game remains to be determined.
The questions began to arise after he saw a decrease in carries in his final season with the Los Angeles Rams. Gurley rushed for 857 yards on 223 carries in 2019. In 2018, Gurley rushed for 1,251 yards on 256 carries, down 23 carries from the 2017 season.
Gurley remains optimistic and is ready for a fresh start with the Falcons.
"I'm super excited," Gurley said. "Just a fresh start for me, to go back to Georgia. To be able to come back and do that, I'm just super excited. I'm like [at a] loss of words."
The 2017 NFL Offensive Player of the Year appears to be ready to go saying he's never "worked out this much" in his life.
3. Who will win the starting job at left guard?
One of the few holes the Falcons have in their starting lineup is at left guard. The competition for the job is between the following players (in no specific order): Matt Hennessy, Jamon Brown, James Carpenter and Matt Gono.
Hennessy has a legitimate chance to be the starter despite a lack of experience at the position. The Falcons drafted the former Temple center in the third round of April's draft with the expectation he'll play guard before moving to center.
"To play the style we like, you better have enough work on the line of scrimmage," Quinn said after drafting Hennessy. "To bring Matt in here, especially where we had him regarded, certainly seemed like the best fit for us and we're really pumped to have him here."
4. What does the pass rush duo of Dante Fowler and Takk McKinley look like?
It's go-time for Takk McKinley and Dante Fowler. The Falcons ranked No. 29 in the league in sacks in 2019 with 28 on the year and are counting on those two edge rushers to be better this season.
McKinley, 24, hasn't lived up to the expectations set for him when the Falcons drafted the defensive end in 2017. He's recorded 16.5 sacks in three seasons and the Falcons need more from him, plain and simple.
The Falcons declined to pick up McKinley's fifth-year option in late April and are taking a wait-and-see approach with him in terms of his future in Atlanta.
Given the expectations for McKinley this year, he was selected as one of the top-10 breakout candidates for the upcoming season. This list was compiled by AtlantaFalcons.com writers Matt Tabeek, Will McFadden and Kelsey Conway.
Fowler was signed in free agency in hopes to boost Atlanta's pass rush after he recorded 11.5 sacks in the 2019 season with the Rams.
5. Are the Falcons looking to add more veteran players to the roster?
The Falcons have a history for adding a few veteran players to their roster during training camp. General manager Thomas Dimitroff and coach Dan Quinn are constantly evaluating their roster and based off previous years, it's likely they'll add new players in the next month.
The Falcons reportedly agreed to terms Darqueze Dennard on Thursday in hopes to add another veteran player to the cornerback group.
One position group to keep an eye on when looking for where the Falcons could add is defensive end. Looking at the depth at this position group in particular, it would make sense.
Five more New York City bars temporarily saw their liquor licenses suspended Thursday for various violations of the existing COVID-19-related safety protocols, marking the latest development in the state’s ongoing crackdown on restaurants and bars and in the city.
This latest announcement brings the total number of NYC restaurants and bars with suspended liquor licenses to 43. A handful of other city bars that had also been suspended since the start of the pandemic after paying fines that go as high as $35,000.
Thursday’s suspensions once again focused on Queens with three of the five citations taking place at Republic, in Astoria; Kabu Bar Lounge, in Jackson Heights; and Lalile Steakhouse in East Elmhurst. At all three venues, officers that are part of the new state task force looking into safety violations, observed crowds outside the spots drinking and hanging out without social distancing. At Republic, inspectors observed the establishment open and serving customers at 12:30 a.m., even though the city’s curfew on restaurants and bars begins at 11 p.m.
The two other suspensions took place at the Upper West Side’s High Life Bar and Grill, where inspectors found customers seated and being served inside on July 29; and at Cobble Hill’s Bar Tabac, where inspectors saw at least seven restaurant employees working without any facial coverings. Though the state hasn’t announced fines for any of these establishments, each of them could face $10,000 in fines per violation.
Since Monday, the task force has completed 1,966 checks and found violations at 96 establishments, which according to the state’s data shows that about five percent of restaurants and bars in the state aren’t complying with safety protocols. Liquor licenses are only suspended after “egregious” or repeated violations, though the state hasn’t specifically outlined what that means.
41 of the violations handed out this week were based on inspections last night, and the most citations — 20 — were handed out in Manhattan. More liquor license suspensions could follow as a result of the violations spotted last night.
Since the start of the pandemic, the State Liquor Authority has tracked safety violations at 549 establishments across the state, though a majority of them have been in NYC. Though the city has largely brought the spread of the virus under control, the recent crackdown has been largely prompted by the rapid increase in coronavirus cases in other parts of the country — in many instances due to the reopening of restaurants and bars.
In July, Gov. Andrew Cuomo instituted a three-strike system against restaurants and bars not enforcing social distancing, and has threatened to shut down places that repeatedly violate safety measures. No establishments have been shut down because of this new rule yet.
Bryson DeChambeau had an odd interaction with a PGA Tour official during the first round of the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational in Tennessee on Thursday.
DeChambeau’s tee shot on the seventh hole was sent into the rough. When he went to inspect his ball, he saw that it was sitting near what he called a fire ant hill. He called over the rules official Ken Tackett to inspect the ball and tried to argue for a free drop under the “Dangerous Animal Condition” rule.
“It's a different color,” he told Tackett, according to ESPN. “It's a different color. It looks like an ant hole -- or ant area.”
Tackett explained to DeChambeau that he didn’t see that the ants were the color of fire ants. He told the golfer: “Yeah, I don't see any fire ants in a sense that it would be, you know, a dangerous situation.”
DeChambeau then argued that there were two animal-burrowing holes behind his ball.
“Anything right there?” he asked. “What is this thing? There's two of them.”
Tackett was unconvinced while DeChambeau appeared to notice a “red ant” coming out of the hill. Tackett said it wasn’t interfering with DeChambeau’s stance. The golfer finished the hole with a double bogey.
DeChambeau explained what he was trying to do after his round. He didn’t think Tackett was making the wrong call.
“That was weird,” he said, according to Sky Sports. “So there was discolored dirt and I saw a couple of red ants there and I was thinking, hmm, anthill, I may get something or I might not.
“I asked him and he was like, 'well, it's got to be, you know, kind of endangering you.’ And it was just an anthill, so there was just a discussion there and he didn't think it was necessary for a drop.
Bryson DeChambeau watches his tee shot on the 17th hole during the first round of the World Golf Championship-FedEx St. Jude Invitational Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
“So I'm always going to respect the officials and go, 'OK, no issue, that's fine'. It didn't help that I had a really, really bad lie, too, with two twigs lodged in between my ball. Is what it is.”
DeChambeau finished tied for ninth after the first round with a 3-under par.
Watch Now:Tiki and Tierney: Odell Beckham Jr.'s new attitude (2:12)
The Cleveland Browns were once again widely considered to be an offseason winner. At some point, the rubber will need to meet the road and their efforts will need to produce results. If they intend to be a contender in head coach Kevin Stefanski's first season, then they will need some players to step up in key roles.
CBS Sports examined the five training camp battles most essential to the team's 2020 fate.
1. Linebacker
There will be times that Cleveland uses three linebackers, but the nickel package is more of a staple in a modern day defensive scheme aiming to combat the expansion of spread-style offenses. Depth is a bit of a concern but there are question marks surrounding the starters as well. The Browns signed B.J. Goodson in free agency and drafted Jacob Phillips on Day 2 to compete with Sione Takitaki and Mack Wilson, who were both were drafted last year.
It has been awhile since the AFC North franchise has had so much uncertainty at linebacker, as Christian Kirksey and Joe Schobert were mainstays for years.
2. Right guard
By signing coveted free agent right tackle Jack Conklin and drafting left Jedrick Wills in the first round, the Browns solidified four-fifths of their starting offensive line. The lone chink in the armor is at right guard, which was vacated by veteran Kevin Zeitler in the trade for Odell Beckham Jr. Drew Forbes and Wyatt Teller competed last year but Forbes recently opted out of the upcoming season. Washington's Nick Harris was drafted on Day 3; his primary position is center but he could slide over in a pinch.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield took a dramatic step backwards last season and the team's inconsistency along the offensive line was part of the problem. The hope is that the investment in the unit will allow the young quarterback to re-establish himself as one of the more promising players in the league.
Delpit has the most talent of the bunch, but his game is not flawless. It would be an upset if he did not occupy one of the aforementioned starting roles. Joseph and Redwine would be the next most talented right now. It would be easy for the coaching staff to favor either player, but do not sleep on Sendejo and his familiarity with the scheme. Sendejo's time in Minnesota overlapped with pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach Jeff Howard and defensive coordinator Joe Woods Jr. There is value in having a player capable of communicating the scheme and its verbiage. Joseph is a former first-round pick that has a lot of talent, but injuries have been his downfall.
4. No. 3 wide receiver
The retention of Rashard Higgins would typically signal his stance as the team's No. 3 wide receiver. However, he has had five years to lock it down and he hasn't. Rookie Donovan Peoples-Jones had no business being on the board late on Day 3. It would not be a big surprise if he were the one to claim that role in the offense. There is a bevy of other options such as Taywan Taylor and Damion Ratley.
The Minnesota offense used three wide receivers on just 25% of their snaps last season. Cleveland is going to use more two tight end sets than most teams in the league, so the third wide receiver is not as important as it would be to most teams. Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry will receive their fair share of targets.
5. Tight end
General manager Andrew Berry devoted significant assets this offseason to making Austin Hooper the highest-paid tight end in the league. His presence, along with former first-round selection David Njoku, should be enough. Njoku's trade request has certainly muddied the waters. The team insists that they do not want to trade him, but there has been no indication that the Miami product is willing to back off his demands. In the event that he is ultimately traded, the Browns need someone to rise to the occasion.
Stefanski's offense utilized two tight ends more than any team in the league last year. In the event that Njoku is traded or heaven forbid an injury takes place, depth will be critical. Harrison Bryant, a fourth-round pick out of Florida Atlantic, is on the shortlist to replace him. Pharaoh Brown and Stephen Carlson could also factor into the equation.
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Do alignment lines violate the spirit of golf's original set of rules?
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In 1744, The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers drafted the first Articles and Laws in Playing at Golf. It’s a fun and colorful read rich with talk of horses, adversaries and misfortune. A different time, no doubt. The Honourable Company gave us only 13 rules, but their document serves as a Magna Carta of sorts for how we play today. The general ethos: play the ball as it lies, play the course as you find it. That was then.
The rules have had to be revisited for several reasons in recent years, advancements in technology and course architecture chief among them. The Honourable Company didn’t contemplate free relief from paved cart paths or electrical boxes, for example. Or high-definition super slow-motion that can capture infractions undetectable to the naked eye. As the game has evolved so have the rules. But the rules aren’t perfect and too often we disregard their spirit (see: intent to anchor). We must defend the rule book, not mold it to our liking.
One wrong that should be made right: prohibit players from marking their balls with a line that may be used an alignment aid.
Why? Because it’s not legal. To be fair, it’s not illegal, either. In fact, the act of applying a line to your ball with the intent of it helping with alignment isn’t specifically addressed anywhere in the rules (it was before 2019, but no longer). But it feels unfair — at least it does to this golfer! — and that should mean something.
So, here we are with an opportunity to address the situation.
Words matter. The first word that matters in this discussion is object: an object is a material thing that can be seen and touched. For example, a line is an object. Specific to this matter, the alignment line a player might put on his or her ball is an object, or at least it should be considered one.
Players lining up putts with the help of alignment lines is a common sight on the PGA Tour.
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The Rules of Golf are clear on objects used for alignment. From Rule 10-2b (2): “The player or caddie must not set an object down anywhere on or off the putting green to show the line of play.” When a player sets down an object — like a line on a ball — to show the line of play, that, in effect, violates Rule 10-2b, or at the very least the spirit of Rule 10-2b. (The rules-makers will tell you that they don’t believe a marking is an object, even if that credo is not explicitly spelled out in the rule book. Therefore, they contend, aligning a ball with either a Sharpie line or manufacturer’s logo isn’t a breach of 10.2b (2).)
What complicates the matter is Rule 6-3a, which, as stated in the Rules of Equipment, “encourages the player to put an identification mark on his or her ball to help ensure that he or she plays their own ball throughout the round. There are no regulations to limit what or how many markings can be applied to the ball by the player, provided its original markings can be discerned.”
No regulations to limit: You could draw a star, a heart, initials, a straight line around the equator of the ball that you’ve sonically checked for “true center,” whatever you want. Again, words matter. But make no mistake: That straight line isn’t being used for identification, like initials might be. That line is being employed for alignment — and that’s outside rule 10.2b, or at least it should be.
But wait! There’s more contradiction in 14.2c/1, which reads, “the ball may be aligned in any way when being replaced (such as by lining up the trademark) so long as the ball’s vertical distance to the ground remains the same.” Listen, people have been lining up the trademark for decades but that’s not the same as drawing an object to serve as an alignment aid on your ball.
Ironically, what is much clearer than the tangled and nebulous relationship between 6.3a, 10.2b and 14.2c is the intent of the rules. They don’t exist to make the game easier. The purpose of the rules, at least according to former USGA president Richard Tufts, “is to make sure, as far as possible, that everybody plays the same game.” Among other feats in golf, Tufts wrote The Principles Behind the Rules of Golf, which literally makes him the guy who wrote the book in this regard. In fact, I think it’s safe to say both Tufts and at least one of his successors, Sandy Tatum, would frown on the lines we see on so many balls today. And yet, our game tolerates the act.
I can already hear your counterarguments! Kindly allow me to address them:
Keep the line! Fans want to see more birdies!
The people you see on TV could make putts with grapes. It’s not going to hurt the best players in the world at all. In fact, as Tatum would have wanted, it will help identify them (plus they’ll play faster).
Next you’ll come after the line on my putter or driver!
Club markings are already addressed in the Rules of Equipment. Plus, surely you can see the difference between an object you carefully place on the ground (to aid in the alignment of your body and stroke) and a decorative arrow on a 460cc driver that you blindly swing around your body at 90+ mph.
Jokes on you! My OEM ball manufacturer already has a line!
If the OEMs have shown us anything, it is that they care deeply about the traditions of the game. The USGA, custodians of the rules of the game, also have a non-conforming ball list that is updated monthly. All OEMs would have a year to revisit design to ensure that their logos and pole/seam markings comply with the new standard. For example, you could limit all designs to six characters on the pole/seam and define parameters for the primary logo. This isn’t hard work. It’s printing. Sure, you could ostensibly use the text of the word Pinnacle to align yourself, but that’s a world away from the full circles, multiple tracks and perpendicular lines we see that players use on their balls as alignment aides.
We need the line because it helps build better players to grow the game!
You can and should use a line on the practice green because that’s the place for it. Not a game, not a game, not a game. Practice. We talkin’ about practice.
I know this is an unpopular and polarizing position that will certainly draw criticism and defensiveness from the line-users of the world. Please hear me when I say this: I understand you. I do not blame you. I was one of you! We simply subscribed to the rule book they gave us.
But this game isn’t just about us. It’s about an adherence to the overarching rules that have been around for centuries. The spirit of The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers and the writings of Tufts may be 200 years apart but they don’t differ much. That’s our game. We owe the game more respect than to let loopholes override the rules that, as Tufts asserted, “make sure, as far as possible, that we are all playing the same game.”
Cape Lookout Lighthouse at night. Photo: National Park Service
Five individuals from Down East Carteret County were cited Sunday for breaking into the Cape Lookout Lighthouse.
Cape Lookout National Seashore rangers were notified Sunday night that the group, which included the five who received citations, was attempting to break into Cape Lookout Lighthouse, staff announced Wednesday on Facebook.
On their first attempt around 10 p.m. Sunday, the group, said to be in their late teens or early 20s, was chased away but returned after midnight with tools from their boat to remove hardware from the door to enter the lighthouse.
The rangers investigating found that those involved were all from Carteret County and the five that broke into the lighthouse were from Down East communities, according to the post. Only those who entered the lighthouse were issued citations and fined.
National Seashore Public Information Officer BG Horvat told Coastal Review Online Thursday that “through the keen eye of our park volunteers and visitors who also were around to witness them,” they were able to catch the individuals.
“They broke into the lighthouse for the view at the top. They were actually caught after having taken their view, as they were coming out of the lighthouse,” he said.
There was no significant damage to the lighthouse, Horvat said.
Except for Coast Guard personnel conducting periodic maintenance checks on the light or park staff checking the condition of the lighthouse tower, the lighthouse is closed this season to public entry.
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GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Five Atlantic Coast Conference baseball programs have been honored with the 2019-20 ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award, the organization announced on Wednesday.
Duke, Georgia Tech, Louisville, North Carolina and Notre Dame were among the 65 Division I programs recognized.
Teams from every level of college and high school baseball were honored with this year's award, which highlights programs coached by ABCA members that posted a GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale for the entire 2019-20 academic year.
Coaches were able to nominate their teams for the ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award following the conclusion of their spring semesters prior to the nomination deadline. To be honored, teams had to meet the following criteria:
Must be a high school or college team
Head coach must be a current ABCA member
Team must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.0 scale during the 2019-20 academic year (Due to some schools changing to Pass/Fail grading, spring semester grades were not required to be included in the cumulative calculation).
NCAA Division I Honorees
Abilene Christian University (TX)
Alabama State University
Arkansas State University
Ball State University (IN)
Baylor University (TX)
Boise State University (ID)
Bradley University (IL)
Bryant University (RI)
Butler University (IN)
Campbell University (NC)
Central Michigan University
Coastal Carolina University (SC)
College of the Holy Cross (MA)
College of William & Mary (VA)
Coppin State University (MD)
Davidson College (NC) Duke University (NC)
East Carolina University (NC)
Eastern Kentucky University
Florida Atlantic University
Gardner-Webb University (NC)
Georgia Southern University Georgia Tech
Harvard University (MA)
Hofstra University (NY)
Indiana State University
Lafayette College (PA)
Long Island University (NY)
Longwood University (VA)
McNeese State University (LA)
Mercer University (GA)
Michigan State University
North Carolina Central University
Northern Illinois University
Ohio State University
Oklahoma State University
Old Dominion University (VA)
Oregon State University
Presbyterian College (SC)
Radford University (VA)
Saint Joseph's University (PA)
Samford University (AL)
St. John's University (NY)
The Citadel (SC)
Tulane University (LA)
UNC Wilmington
University of Alabama - Birmingham
University of Cincinnati (OH)
University of Hartford (CT)
University of Illinois
University of Kentucky
University of Louisiana at Lafayette University of Louisville (KY)
University of Memphis (TN)
University of Missouri University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Notre Dame (IN)
University of Portland (OR)
University of South Florida
UNLV
Western Michigan University
Wichita State University (KS)
Winthrop University (NC)
Wright State University (OH)
Youngstown State University (OH)
MinnPost provides updates on coronavirus in Minnesota Sunday through Friday. The information is published following a press phone call with members of the Walz administration or after the release of daily COVID-19 figures by the Minnesota Department of Health.
Here are the latest updates from July 30:
53,692 confirmed cases; 5 deaths
Five more Minnesotans have died of COVID-19, the Minnesota Department of Health said Thursday, for a total of 1,594.
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Of the deaths announced Thursday were three people in their 90s and one person in their 80s. The youngest person was in their 30s. Three people were residents of long-term care facilities.
The current death toll only includes Minnesotans with lab-confirmed positive COVID-19 tests.
MDH also said Thursday there have been 53,692 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Minnesota. The number of positives is up 745 from Wednesday’s count and is based on 14,821 new tests.You can find the seven-day positive case averagehere.
Since the start of the outbreak, 5,112 Minnesotans have been hospitalized and 298 are currently in the hospital, 141 in intensive care. You can find more information about Minnesota’s current ICU usage and capacityhere.
Of the 53,692 confirmed positive cases in Minnesota, 46,965 are believed to have recovered.
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The daily coronavirus update: five more deaths, 745 new cases in Minnesota - MinnPost
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Watch Now:Tiki and Tierney: Antonio Daniels talks Zion Williamson being the face of the NBA (2:15)
Zion Williamson was a game-time decision for the Pelicans' game vs. the Jazz on Thursday, but that certainly wasn't because he wasn't ready to play. Williamson was announced a go about an hour before tip, and he proceeded to put up nine points on 4-of-4 shooting in the early going, and threw down a pair of lob dunks in his first 10 minutes, as Alvin Gentry only used him in short bursts while he ramps back up his conditioning.
But it was a pass that was Zion's biggest highlight.
Early in the third quarter, Williamson ran the lane after a Utah turnover, took a pass from Jrue Holiday on move and proceeded to drop a silky-smooth behind-the-back dime to Lonzo Ball for a layup.
To be able to make that pass on the move, at Zion's size, is just unfair. This guy is so talented. Williamson is unstoppable when he gets the ball down low, he already knows how to leverage his body and strength and subtly set up his left hand, and he's always heading downhill of the catch. He knows his downhill momentum is impossible to deal with, and his chemistry with Lonzo continues to be a sight to behold.
Early in the second quarter, Ball found Zion on this lob:
Ball is one of the best long passers in the league. He's looking to find his athletes from the time he hits from three-quarters court, and Williamson has a great feel to either spin off a defender playing behind him, or seal when a defender is fronting for lob passes. He is a truly scary player.
While co-host Jesse Watters argued that the tweet was "a mischievous" suggestion, but spoke to important concerns surrounding mail-in ballots, co-host Juan Williams rejected Trump's implication.
"I think President Trump won in 2016, but there is no evidence of any fraud related to absentee voting or mail-in voting in this country," Williams said.
In a tweet in which he claimed that the practice on a "universal" scale would lead to “the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history,” Trump suggested: “Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???”
Williams said he believed Trump's tweet was "the action of one man who knows he is losing and is willing to trash democracy and trash our Constitution because he's so upset."
Trump and many Republicans have raised concerns in recent months about the security of mail-in ballots, but this is the first time Trump has mentioned the possibility of moving the election. Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden previously said "[m]ark my words, I think he is going to try to kick back the election somehow, come up with some rationale why it can’t be held. That’s the only way he thinks he can possibly win."
"Joe Biden predicted this in April," Williams recalled. "Joe Biden said ... 'Trump will try to delay the election.' What was the response? 'Biden is spreading conspiracy theories ... '
"Well," Williams added, "Trump has gone there today. This is wild."
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'The Five' reacts to Trump tweet asking if election can be delayed: 'This is wild' - Fox News
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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Each player in the NFL has something to prove each and every season. Some could be motivated by contract negotiations and others by an elusive Pro Bowl nod. Some players could aim to show they still have a few good seasons left to play, while first- and second-year guys may look to prove that they've arrived.
As the Broncos approach on-field practices, they have plenty of players on the roster that will look to prove their value. We, though, have turned our attention toward five Broncos with the most to prove in 2020.
For one reason or another, these five players will undoubtedly be motivated to succeed in the upcoming season.
Bryce Callahan
One of the Broncos' biggest free-agent additions of 2019, Callahan didn't play a single snap last season. He reaggravated a 2018 foot injury during training camp last summer and tried several recovery methods before ultimately heading to injured reserve in November. Callahan underwent another surgery to fix a bent screw in his foot, and John Elway said this week that the sixth-year corner is ready to return to the field. When healthy, Callahan was among the best slot cornerbacks in the league. According to Pro Football Focus, Callahan allowed just 0.69 yards per cover snap in the slot in 2019, which ranked second in the NFL. He also allowed a passer rating of just 78.9, which ranked eighth. Teams avoided throwing at Callahan, and he helped the Bears' defense rise to the top of the league. As he enters training camp, Callahan will aim to prove he can return to that former standard. Head Coach Vic Fangio said last season he believes Callahan can also play on the outside, but it seems likely that Callahan will slide inside to the slot when the team is in its nickel defense. A healthy, productive Callahan could mean the difference between an average cornerback group and an elite one for the Broncos. For the first time in over a year, Callahan will be able to take the field to prove he remains among the NFL's best.
Ja'Wuan James
Much like Callahan, James struggled mightily with injuries in 2019. James injured his MCL in his left knee early in the Broncos' season opener against the Raiders, remained out until a Week 8 game in Indianapolis and then hurt his meniscus in the same knee early in that contest. James returned in Week 14 to play the first half against the Texans, but he did not play in the second half. Across those three games, James played just 63 offensive snaps during his first year in Denver. As he returns to the Broncos for his second season, James will try to prove he's the high-quality right tackle that earned the top right tackle contract in the league just over a year ago. When healthy, James is a strong and consistent presence on the right side of the line. He earned All-Rookie honors in 2014, and he's been tremendous in pass protection at junctures in his career. If he is able to stay on the field and display the athleticism that drew the Broncos to him, he could be one of the most important pieces of the offense. Perhaps it's no coincidence that the Broncos enjoyed their best half of the season when James played the first two quarters in Houston. After missing at least eight games in three of his first six seasons, though, James must prove he can stay available.
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#BroncosCamp preview: The five Broncos with the most to prove in 2020 - DenverBroncos.com
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Ball State University is one of few public institutions in Indiana expected to survive despite the economic repercussions created by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an analysis by Scott Galloway, a New York University marketing professor.
“The pandemic is causing significant financial distress and dislocation for many colleges and universities all across the country, including several institutions in our Midwest region,” said President Mearns. “For several reasons, including our University’s prudent fiscal planning and management, we are in a more stable position. We have the capacity to prioritize spending on our core mission, including our innovative academic programs, and invest in necessary health and safety measures.”
In the analysis, Galloway created the following categories based on the challenges created by the pandemic:
Thrive: Elite schools and those that offer a strong value have an opportunity to emerge stronger as they consolidate the market, double down on exclusivity, and embrace technology to increase value and decrease cost per student.
Survive: These schools will see a decline in demand and lower revenue, but will be fine because of brand equity, credential-to-cost ratio, and/or endowments.
Struggle: These are second-tier schools with one or more comorbidities, such as high admit rates, high tuition, or scant endowments.
Perish: These schools are doomed by a lethal cocktail of high admit rates, high tuition, low endowments, dependence on international students, and weak brand equity.
The five local businesses—12 Chairs Cafe (342 Wythe Ave.), Aurora (70 Grand St.), Ateres Avrohom (75 Ross St.), Carmine’s Pizzeria (358 Graham Ave.) and Cerveceria Havemeyer (149 Havemeyer St.) —join 438 other bars and restaurants across New York that the State Liquor Authority (SLA) has brought charges against.
A majority of these local businesses find the state’s cited violations petty, especially when there are other establishments in North Brooklyn more flagrantly violating the bevy of new regulations to which bars and restaurants have to adhere.
Cerveceria Havemeyer closed before evening service (Image via Ben Weiss).
“It’s really frustrating,” said Felipe Mendez, owner of Cerveceria Havemeyer, in an interview with Greenpointers,
State investigators claimed to see customers eating takeout outside Mendez’s restaurant on June 19, before the city allowed eateries to have outdoor seating. Rather than fight the state’s allegations, Mendez agreed to pay the $1500 fine.
“We have the ax. We rule. We chop your head off,” he said. “That’s the attitude of Cuomo.”
Carmine Gangone, owner of Carmine’s Pizzeria, shares Mendez’s frustration. Investigators said four of his employees were not properly wearing masks on June 26, an allegation Gangone vigorously denies. The state fined him $2000, but he plans to challenge the charges in court.
“They’re tedious, pick-and-choose violations,” he said. “They’re crucifying the businesses.”
Carmine’s Pizzeria right before the lunch rush (Image via Ben Weiss).
While some bars and restaurants might be worried by the Governor’s newfound zeal for enforcing COVID-19 regulations, a representative from Aurora, one of the restaurants on the recently released list, believes the Williamsburg eatery already runs a tight ship.
Aurora was charged for obscuring its liquor license and leaving a table out before Phase 2 (Image via Ben Weiss).
“We follow every single rule there is,” said Markus Dorfmann, director of operations at Aurora Restaurant Group.
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