Michigan outlasts Stanford in back-and-forth Bahamas matchup – Reuters

Posted on by

[1/31]Nov 23, 2023; Paradise Island, BAHAMAS; Michigan Wolverines guard Dug McDaniel (0) controls the ball during the first half against the Stanford Cardinal at Imperial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports Acquire Licensing Rights

November 24 - Dug McDaniel delivered 20 points and eight assists to propel Michigan to an 83-78 victory over Stanford in the consolation round of the Battle 4 Atlantis on Thursday night in Paradise Island, Bahamas.

Terrance Williams II provided 17 points and Oliver Nkamhoua added 16 points as Michigan (4-2) advanced to a matchup with Texas Tech in the fifth-place game on Friday night.

In a freewheeling, seesaw game, Michigan rallied from a 14-point deficit in the first half and a seven-point deficit early in the second half.

The Wolverines also blew a 13-point lead late in the second half before regaining control behind McDaniel, who scored 10 of his points in the final 6:38.

Tarris Reed Jr. contributed 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting and five rebounds. Nimari Burnett added 10 points and six rebounds as all five Wolverines starters hit double figures.

Jared Bynum scored 22 points and dealt six assists to lead Stanford (3-3), which faces Northern Iowa in the seventh-place game on Friday.

Michael Jones had 16 points and Maxime Raynaud added 14 points and eight rebounds for the Cardinal, who shot 50 percent from the floor and made 12 of 27 shots (44.4 percent) from beyond the arc.

Michigan was even sharper, however, as it made 59.3 percent from the floor and 8 of 18 (44.4 percent) from deep.

After falling behind 52-45 early in the second half, Michigan went on a decisive 22-2 spree, which included eight points from Nkamhoua.

Defense also played a role during the sprint as McDaniel and Reed had breakaway buckets off steals. Reed also had blocked shots on consecutive Stanford possessions.

Stanford recovered from the run to tie it 72-all with less than five minutes left on a 3-pointer from Bynum. But Michigan dominated the rest of the way.

In the first half, Stanford blitzed Michigan, hitting 10 of its first 12 shots, including consecutive 3-pointers by Jones that gave the Cardinal a 23-9 lead.

But Michigan responded immediately. Will Tschetter drained a 3-pointer early in a 21-5 run, which included a 3-pointers by Burnett and Williams.

When Reed made a steal and a breakaway slam to complete the stretch, Michigan had a 30-28 lead with 6:31 left in the half.

Stanford was down 45-44 at the break before Jones opened the second half with a personal 8-0 run. After burying back-to-back 3-pointers, Jones scored on a breakaway after Bynum made a steal and a feed.

--Field Level Media

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Link:

Michigan outlasts Stanford in back-and-forth Bahamas matchup - Reuters

MSC Cruises to Significantly Improve Its Private Island In the Bahamas – Cruise Hive

Posted on by

MSC Cruises has announced a comprehensive development plan for Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve Private Island in The Bahamas to enhance the guest experience and contribute to marine conservation.

The investment, valued at $100 million, marks a new chapter for the private island destination, which has been an example of sustainable and environmental stewardship. MSC Cruises transformed the former sand excavation site into a marine reserve and now aims to take that development even further.

MSC Cruises and the Bahamian government have signed a new agreement where the cruise line will invest a further $100 million into its private island resort, Ocean Cay Marine Reserve.

The development plan, unveiled during a ceremony in Bimini attended by Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis and other key officials, is poised to generate substantial economic benefits for The Bahamas.

This initiative will create numerous construction jobs and long-term employment opportunities on the island, a significant contribution to the local economy.

Prime Minister Philip Davis said to Eyewitness News: My government has fully embraced the development of our Family Islands. Whether through capital infrastructure projects, partnerships, or in support of private sector investments like this one, we are committed to developing and growing the economy of every island in our archipelago.

This project represents the kind of corporate responsibility effort and environmental stewardship we want to see from all major developmental projects moving forward.

Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, a former industrial sand excavation site transformed into a flourishing marine reserve and private island destination, will see a series of enhancements designed to elevate the guest experience.

New amenities for MSC Cruises guests include the introduction of pavilions where guests can undertake watersport activities and island tours. There will also be a diving and snorkel center and additional dining options.

The development also includes new accommodation facilities for the island staff, which is set to increase from 150 to 280 employees. Additionally, MSC Cruises has pledged to support the LJM Maritime Academy and the University of The Bahamas, fostering the training and development of Bahamian seafarers.

A central component of the expansion is the establishment of the MSC Foundations Marine Conservation Centre. This facility will serve as a hub for coral reef research and education under the Super Coral Program, featuring interactive pavilions, a lecture hall, and coral exhibition tanks.

The Super Coral Program on the island represents a critical effort in understanding and fostering coral reef resilience across the tropical Western Atlantic.

The expansion will also include the installation of a third solar farm and an advanced wastewater treatment plant, which will help MSC Cruises achieve its goals for zero greenhouse gas emissions for Ocean Cay.

A comprehensive landscaping plan will further enhance the islands ecosystem, featuring native and adaptive plant species for erosion control and vegetation improvement.

With the new additions and enhancements, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve will become an even more important example of how tourism can be done sustainably in the Caribbean, offering a unique blend of natural beauty, ecological awareness, and amenities.

Those looking forward to visiting Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve during the winter 2023-24 season will have ample choice. MSC Cruises will deploy five ships in the North American market MSC Divina, MSC Magnifica, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Seascape, and MSC Seashore, all making stops at Ocean Cay.

Go here to see the original:

MSC Cruises to Significantly Improve Its Private Island In the Bahamas - Cruise Hive

The 5 Best Photos of Jessica Aidi in the Bahamas – Yahoo Life

Posted on by

French model Jessica Aidi was a finalist in the 2019 Swim Search, the brands open casting call. The position earned her a feature in that year's magazine, taking her to Paradise Island, Bahamas alongside photographer Yu Tsai for a photoshoot in the Caribbean waters.

But the experience was meaningful for more than just the fabulous photos it produced. For Aidi, participating in the Swim Search provided her with more motivation and drive than she had previously experienced in her modeling career.

Since the #SISwimSearch I have developed more ambition inside of me that makes my dedication to succeed in my modeling career stronger than ever, she told the team. The motivation and inspiration that the entire #SISwimSearch experience has planted inside of me is one that is truly life changing and will stay with me forever.

The feature had been a dream of the models ever since the start of her career in the industry. The fashion industry is a tough and challenging world, and I am proud to say I kept standing up because I have a dream and a passion and no one will take it away from me, Aidi said. Through hard work and perseverance, she achieved what she had always dreamed of in 2019.

And, unsurprisingly, she made the most of the experience, making a statement during her Caribbean photoshoot. Here are a few of the fabulous snaps from the models trip to the Bahamas.

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube!

Continue reading here:

The 5 Best Photos of Jessica Aidi in the Bahamas - Yahoo Life

BAHAMAS MINISTRY OF TOURISM, INVESTMENTS & AVIATION … – PR Newswire

Posted on by

The Bahamas celebrates a successful show at World Travel Market 2023

LONDON, Nov. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (BMOTIA) showcased The Islands of The Bahamas in grand style at the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2023, held 6 8 November.

With a rich history spanning over 40 years, WTM stands as the foremost global event in the travel and tourism sector, with participation from more than 5,000 exhibitors representing 182 countries and regions. BMOTIA's presence at this event signified a milestone in the ongoing commitment to promote The Bahamas as a premier travel destination.

In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of independence on July 10, 2023, The Bahamas extended its festivities at the event, featuring traditional Junkanoo and a commemorative cake to mark this historical milestone.

The delegation, led by Latia Duncombe, Director General at The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation, included members of the Bahamas Tourist Office in the United Kingdom and international team members specializing in sales, marketing and communications. The team engaged with global contacts within the travel industry, and notable partners at the Bahamas booth included representatives from Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board, Atlantis Paradise Island, Margaritaville Beach Resort, Majestic Tours and the Bahama Out Islands Promotion Board.

Director General Duncombe said, "World Travel Market 2023 has once again proven to be a significant event in the industry calendar, providing an excellent opportunity to showcase the world-class offerings in The Islands of The Bahamas, establish new relationships and nurture existing partnerships."

Duncombe highlighted the extensive engagement with over 100 contacts, including key partners in the airline, hotel and trade industries. She further emphasized the excitement of attendees in sampling the culture, heritage and vibrancy during the exhibition.

Reflecting on The Bahamas' 50 years of independence, Duncombe noted the country's achievements of economic growth and thriving social communities. This year has witnessed the attainment of record tourism numbers, surpassing the 2019 visitor numbers (7.2 million).

Duncombe concluded: "The stage is now set for an even more significant and prosperous 2024. The Bahamas is open for business, and we look forward to continuing the constructive discussions and exploring business opportunities discussed at WTM to further strengthen our position on the world stage."

ABOUT THE BAHAMASWith over 700 islands and cays and 16 unique island destinations, The Bahamas lies just 50 miles off the coast of Florida, offering an easy flyaway escape that transports travellers away from their everyday. The Islands of The Bahamas has world-class fishing, diving, boating, birding and nature-based activities, thousands of miles of the earth's most spectacular water, and pristine beaches waiting for families, couples and adventurers. Explore all the islands have to offer atwww.bahamas.com, download the Islands of the Bahamas app, or visit Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram to see why It's Better in The Bahamas.

PRESS ENQUIRIES Anita Johnson-Patty Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation [emailprotected]

Samantha Day, LuciaCappiello, Stefaniia Konovalova FINN Partners [emailprotected]

SOURCE The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation

More:

BAHAMAS MINISTRY OF TOURISM, INVESTMENTS & AVIATION ... - PR Newswire

Memphis, No. 20 Arkansas renew rivalry in Bahamas – Reuters

Posted on by

November 23 - Memphis and No. 20 Arkansas aren't located far from each other on the map, but these teams had to go all the way to the Bahamas to create their first matchup since Jan. 2, 2003.

The Tigers (4-0) and the Razorbacks (4-1) will duel in the second semifinal of the Battle 4 Atlantis on Thursday in Paradise Island, Bahamas. Memphis advanced to the semis with a 71-67 win over Michigan on Wednesday afternoon, while Arkansas needed a late rally and two overtimes in a 77-74 victory over Stanford.

Both teams will feature absurdly long and athletic players -- many of whom transferred prior to this season or last.

"Coach (Penny) Hardaway does a great job," Arkansas coach Eric Musselman said. "They play really, really hard. They've got size up front and then they've got really good length at the wings. For our guys, getting rest and getting ready is going to be really important."

There are endless angles to the resumption of this rivalry -- perhaps starting with Arkansas forward Chandler Lawson, who spent the past two seasons at Memphis before taking the graduate transfer route to Fayetteville. Lawson posted career highs in rebounds (13) and blocks (five) in Wednesday's win against Stanford.

Then there's Hardaway, who faced Arkansas three times during his two seasons (1991-93) as a player for the Tigers -- back when these squads played on an annual basis. Wednesday's win marked Hardaway's first contest on the sideline this season since being suspended for the first three games due to recruiting violations.

"It felt great to be on the sideline again -- and being with my guys and just going to battle," Hardaway said. "So proud of my team for pulling this win out."

Memphis got past Michigan despite receiving a total of 20 points from its usual top scorers: St. John's transfer David Jones, Wichita State transfer Jaykwon Walton and Louisiana grad transfer Jordan Brown. Ashton Hardaway, the younger of Penny's two sons on Memphis' roster, came off the bench to score a team-high 17 points on 5-of-7 shooting from 3-point range.

"I just feel like any time my teammates trust me with the ball to score, I'm pretty confident in my shot," Ashton Hardaway said. "Today was my opportunity, really, to show what I could do."

Arkansas doesn't have many, if any, unproven players in its rotation. Tramon Mark, the Houston transfer who's already appeared in a Final Four and spent time at No. 1 in the polls, took over Wednesday against Stanford. He had just nine points with four minutes left in regulation, but he finished with a team-high 25 -- one shy of his career-high.

Long-armed forward Trevon Brazile added 14 points and 17 rebounds against Stanford, but he missed two dunks that were included in Arkansas' total of 17 missed layups.

"We're still discombobulated and trying to figure out who we are offensively," Musselman said. "That's what happens with a changing roster like we have. But in the huddles, you can tell certain guys really want the ball. I felt T-Mark was one of them."

--Field Level Media

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Read the original here:

Memphis, No. 20 Arkansas renew rivalry in Bahamas - Reuters

U-M Finishes on Top in Back-And-Forth Bahamas Affair with … – MGoBlue

Posted on by

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas -- The University of Michigan men's basketball team squared off with Stanford on Thursday night (Nov. 23), going toe-to-toe with the Cardinal before a 22-2 second-half run helped push the Wolverines to an 83-78 victory in a back-and-forth consolation game in the Battle 4 Atlantis at Imperial Arena.

Leaders and Best

U-M (4-2) was led by Dug McDaniel, who scored 20 points, shot 7-for-12 from the field, and added eight assists. Terrance Williams II dropped 17 points. He shot 4-for-5 from beyond the arc and grabbed four rebounds. Olivier Nkamhoua added 16 points and shot 7-for-12 from the field.

The Turning Point

Michigan went on a 7-0 run to break a 72-72 tie and held the Cardinal scoreless for nearly five minutes before closing out the game.

Second Half

After being down seven early in the half, the Wolverines went on a 22-2 run to take the lead over Stanford, 67-54, heading into the 11:49 media timeout.Nkamhoua scored eight points during the run and Michigan made seven of its last nine field goals (77.7 percent) up to that point.

After U-M took a double-digit lead, the Wolverines went on a three-minute scoring drought and did not make a field goal for eight minutes. However, the Cardinal went on a scoring spurt of their own -- making six of eight field goals to tie the game, 72-72.

Nkamhoua broke the tie with a jumper as U-M held Stanford scoreless until the final seconds. Michigan went on an 11-6 run to close out the game.

First Half

Stanford went on a 12-2 run in the first six minutes of the half. Thanks to shots from McDaniel and a three from Will Tschetter, the Wolverines went on a 9-0 run, trimming the deficit to three points, 28-25, with 7:33 left in the first half.

Michigan took its first lead of the game, 30-28, off a steal and breakaway dunk from Tarris Reed Jr. with six minutes left in the half.

Williams and Tschetter each hit a three-pointer as Michigan made six of its last seven field goals to close out the half leading, 45-44.

What's Next

Michigan will take on Texas Tech in the fifth-place Battle 4 Atlantis game on Friday (Nov. 24) at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU

Notes

McDaniel has scored in double figures in every game this season.

Nkamhoua has had 15-plus points in all but one game this season.

Williams has made at least two, three-point shots in five out of the six games.

U-M scored 22 points off opponent turnovers.

Michigan's overall Battle 4 Atlantis record moves to 6-2.

Read this article:

U-M Finishes on Top in Back-And-Forth Bahamas Affair with ... - MGoBlue

Wolverines Set to Tangle with Tigers in Bahamas – University of … – MGoBlue

Posted on by

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's basketball team (3-1) is set to begin its third trip to the Battle 4 Atlantis, taking on Memphis (3-0) in the lower-bracket opening round on Wednesday (Nov. 22) in the Imperial Arena at the Atlantis Resort. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN2.

Notes

Michigan and Memphis are tied 2-2 in the all-time series. All four games have been part of a preseason tournament, including the 1986 Preseason NIT (L, 82-76), 1988 Maui Classic (W, 79-74), 1996 Rainbow Classic (L, 73-72) and 2011 Maui Invitational (W, 73-61).

Michigan has opened the season winning its first three games by 23.7 points before suffering its first loss against Long Beach State, 94-86, at Crisler Center. With 30-plus field goals in every game, U-M is shooting 52.1 percent. Leading the Wolverines, Will Tschetter has started shooting 76.2 percent (16-for-21), while Olivier Nkamhoua is second at 67.4 percent (29-for-43) with 12 dunks.

Terrance Williams II has begun his senior season posting four straight double-figure scoring games. Throughout his 88-game career, he never had back-to-back double-digit games. Williams now has 14 total double-figure games, with a career-best five last season.

Dug McDaniel has opened the 2023-24 season in grand fashion as he averages 21 points with four straight games of 15-plus points, including three games of 20-plus point with a new career-best 26 vs. St. John's at Madison Square Garden. In addition to his scoring, he leads U-M with 6.3 assists per game. He had a season-best eight assists against UNC Asheville, and he is shooting 52.6 percent and 41.1 percent from long range -- including a team-best 12 triples.

When Michigan and Memphis square off in the opening round, it will pit two former college and NBA legends against each other -- Juwan Howard vs. Penny Hardaway -- whose careers mirror each other. Howard is in his fifth season coaching his alma mater (79-48) and played 19 years in the NBA. Hardaway is in his sixth season coaching at alma mater (113-52). He played 15 seasons in the NBA.

U-M will be in the lower bracket to start the Battle 4 Atlantis with Arkansas and Stanford. With an opening win, the Wolverines would advance to the champion's bracket on Thursday (Nov. 23) and face the winner of the Razorbacks versus Cardinal at 5 p.m. With a loss, the Wolverines move to the consolation bracket and would face the loser of the Arkanas-Stanford game at 7:30 p.m.

After an opening loss at the 2015 event (No. 18 UConn, 74-60), Michigan has won its last five games, including the 2019 championship in its two previous visits. In 2015, Michigan had an 88-68 decision over Elon (Nov. 16) in a pre-travel campus matchup. After heading to Paradise Island, U-M dropped its opening game 74-60 to No. 18 UConn (Nov. 25) before rallying with wins over Charlotte (102-47, Nov. 26) and Texas (78-72, Nov. 27). In 2019, Michigan dazzled in Howard's first season at U-M, winning Battle 4 Atlantis. Following an opening 83-76 win over Iowa State, the Maize and Blue posted back-to-back wins against No. 6 North Carolina (73-64) and No. 8 Gonzaga (82-64).

In addition to U-M winning the 2019 Battle 4 Atlantis, Nkamhoua was part of Tennessee's 2022 championship run. The Vols opened with a 71-45 win vs. Butler (Nov. 23) before a thrilling 73-66 overtime win over USC, giving them a shot at No. 3 Kansas for the title. With a 64-50 victory, Tennessee claimed the Thanksgiving title.

After Michigan's 2019 Battle 4 Atlantis run, the Wolverines helped Howard win his first seven games of his U-M coaching career and lifted the Maize and Blue from unranked to No. 4 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.

Odds and ends: Michigan has scored 45-plus first half points in all four games; the Wolverines have scored 85-plus points in all four games; U-M has had at least one 20-plus point scorer in all four games; and the Maize and Blue has had 38-plus rebounds in all four games

Here is the original post:

Wolverines Set to Tangle with Tigers in Bahamas - University of ... - MGoBlue

Police Blotter: Woman From Bahamas Steals Bathroom Decorations … – The Chattanoogan

Posted on by

A woman at Walmart at 2020 Gunbarrel Road was seen concealing items. The items she concealed were bathroom decorations such as toothbrush holder, soap dispenser, trash can and other similar items. After concealing the items in the women's apparel section of the store, she proceeded towards self-checkout on the grocery side. She failed to remove the concealed items she placed into the Dollar Tree store bags that she brought into the store with her. She paid for the other items in her cart which were not concealed and left the self-checkout. She decided to go into Subway, inside of Walmart just past self-checkout, and order a sub to go. Once she got her order, she left the store where she was approached by a loss prevention employee and an officer. She was cooperative and followed them into the loss prevention office where the discovered total of the stolen merchandise was $50.60. The woman was identified and said she was from the Bahamas. She was issued a warning from Walmart and was not trespassed for the offense.

* * *

Police responded to a crash on I-24 where a man said he had been driving in the left lane when he suddenly heard a thud from the rear driver side of the vehicle. He slowed and tried to move to the shoulder to investigate. The vehicle suddenly lost control, spun across all lanes of travel and went off the roadway. The vehicle didnt strike anything. TDOT attempted to pull the car back up on the roadway, but it needed to be towed.

* * *

A loss prevention employee with Walmart at 2020 Gunbarrel Road showed police video footage of a black male wearing a black long sleeve shirt, gray camouflage vest, black sweatpants with white stripes on both sides, orange ball cap, and black and white shoes, conceal several items inside of his vest. When the man was confronted by loss prevention he fled on foot. The officer checked the area for the man but didnt find him.

* * *

A woman on E. 3rd Street called police and said she received a call from a blocked number at 11:48 p.m. She said the blocked number called three times. The first time she didnt answer, however, the second time she answered the call and the voice on the other end said her name. She received a call a third time and her boyfriend answered the phone. Again, they said her name and he replied, "No this is not her." The woman requested a report to document the calls in the event that they continue. She had received calls from a blocked number weeks ago, however, they didnt call her by name.

* * *

Police responded to 3901 Hixson Pike for a suspicious person loitering. An officer arrived and spoke with a manager who knows there have been multiple calls regarding the homeless person camping in front of the store. This response was the third interaction police have had with her. The manager decided to proceed with formally trespassing her from the location. The officer spoke with the woman and told her she was formally trespassed and needed to leave the property. She understood if she returns, she will be subject to arrest.

* * *

A man at Hickory Valley Community Church at 2201 Hickory Valley Road told police over the phone the Salvation Army had an event at the church the previous evening and a school bus damaged the structure of the building when leaving. He said the school bus had students from Brainerd High School aboard. The man said he had been in contact with someone from the Salvation Army who will be contacting Brainerd High School for further information.

* * *

A woman on N. Hawthorne Street told police she let her ex-boyfriend use a cell phone during their relationship. When the two broke up, she requested the phone back from him because her name was the only name on the phone plan. The man refused to give the phone back. She found out he traded in the iPhone 12 for an iPhone 14 without being on the phone plan. Police tried to speak with the man, however, he appeared to not be home. The woman was told to obtain the paperwork behind the phone being traded in and to contact police once she had the information. Police also told her to attempt to track the phone to obtain an accurate location.

* * *

A woman told police she left her phone at Exxon at 702 Central Ave. When she went back to the store to retrieve her phone it was gone. She said her phone was still pinging at Exxon.

* * *

A woman on Sequoia Drive told police over the phone she was a college student and was sent an email about a job offer for watching dogs. She responded to the email and was told they would provide payment upfront. She was provided with a check for $600 and then the suspects provided a check for approximately $4,550 to cover expenses for the dogs also. She attempted to transfer the check to her account at Regions Bank and then was notified her account had been emptied. She said the suspects were able to transfer the money from her account to an unknown account. She had approximately $700 in her account. She had already reported the fraudulent activity to the bank and was told to make a police report. She gave police the phone number she had for the suspects.

* * *

A man on Commons Boulevard told police that while he was not home, his ex-girlfriend was supposed to come to the complex and get the rest of her belongings out of their garage. He said none of the womans things were inside the apartment any longer, so there was no need for her to come to the apartment. When the man came home, he put his key in to unlock the deadbolt on the door, and the deadbolt mechanism fell into his hand while pulling his key out. He believes the woman attempted to get into his apartment, but was unable to. The man had cameras but they were offline so there was no evidence that his ex-girlfriend attempted to get into his apartment. The man replaced the deadbolt himself before police arrived, so the officer was not able to see the damaged deadbolt.

* * *

A woman on Charleston Square told police she found a vehicle title as well as three $1 bills in the bushes on her property. She was unclear where the items came from, but wanted to turn them over to police. Police recovered the items and turned them into CPD Property for safekeeping.

Read this article:

Police Blotter: Woman From Bahamas Steals Bathroom Decorations ... - The Chattanoogan

USD women finish fourth in Bahamas with loss to Arizona – Yahoo Sports

Posted on by

Nov. 20NASSAU, Bahamas South Dakota women's basketball wrapped its Battle 4 Atlantis slate with a 61-52 loss to Arizona in the tournament's third-place game on Monday afternoon.

The Coyotes, which defeated DePaul in Saturday's quarterfinals, and fell to Michigan in Sunday's semifinals, will leave the tournament with a fourth-place finish.

USD was competitive against the Wildcats inside Atlantis Imperial Arena, tied at 39 entering the fourth quarter. However, Arizona outscored the Coyotes 22-13 in the final 10 minutes of play to clinch the win.

Walker Demers led South Dakota with 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds. Grace Larkins notched 13 points on 5-of-15 shooting, and Kendall Holmes added 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting.

Both sides shot 38% from the field, with the difference being 24 USD turnovers, which translated into 24 points for Arizona. After the Coyotes trailed 15-14 in the second quarter, the Wildcats went on an 8-0 run to lead 23-14, and took a 29-22 lead into the break.

Arizona led 39-30 in the third quarter, until USD went on a 9-0 run, fueled by 3-pointers from Holmes and Walker. However, the Wildcats opened the fourth quarter on a 14-4 run to seal the win.

Esmer Martinez scored a team-high 14 points for Arizona, while Jada Williams had 13 points.

South Dakota (3-3) returns home to face South Carolina State at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls.

Link:

USD women finish fourth in Bahamas with loss to Arizona - Yahoo Sports

Hogs aiming to get back to business in Bahamas – Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Posted on by

FAYETTEVILLE -- The University of Arkansas men's basketball team got an early wake-up call before traveling to the Bahamas to play in the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament.

Not the wake-up call for the team's charter flight on Monday, but one at Walton Arena last Friday night when North Carolina-Greensboro beat the No. 14 Razorbacks 78-72.

It was the first time Razorbacks Coach Eric Musselman suffered a loss in 59 nonconference home games at Nevada and Arkansas, which dropped to No. 20 in The Associated Press poll released Monday.

The Razorbacks (3-1) will try to erase the disappointment of the UNCG loss when they play Stanford (3-1) at 6:30 p.m. Central today at Imperial Arena in Nassau, Bahamas.

It's the first of three games in the tournament for each of the eight participating teams. Arkansas will play either Memphis or Michigan on Thursday and either No. 14 North Carolina, Villanova, Texas Tech or Northern Iowa on Friday.

"We've got to win some games," Razorbacks senior guard Davonte Davis said. "We're coming here to win.

"We know [UNCG] was a bad loss, but we've got to put it behind us and focus on the next game."

Junior guard Tramon Mark led Arkansas against UNCG with 21 points.

"We went over it. We watched film. We took a deep breath," Mark said. "Just examined all the things we did wrong, some of the things we did good.

"But we came out with the 'L' so we have to take that ... and just move on from it.

"We're still getting better and we're going to continue to get better as a team, and that's what we're doing right now."

Stanford Coach Jerod Haase, whose team came to the Bahamas off a 95-70 victory over Eastern Washington, said he understands the Razorbacks' mindset after they were upset a home.

"The expectation is that we're going to be playing against a team that's highly motivated," Haase said. "They're going to want to get back out there as soon as possible and play a great game. But hopefully our motivation level is also very high."

Beating Arkansas would be a statement victory for the Cardinal.

"I think right now the expectation is for our guys to really embrace the opportunity and compete," Haase said. "And from what I've seen in practice, I think that's what we'll get."

Stanford 7-1 junior center Maxime Raynaud is averaging 19.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Senior point guard Jared Bynum, a transfer from Providence, is averaging 9.5 points and 8.5 assists.

The Cardinal's most-heralded player is 6-7 freshman guard Andrej Stojakovic, a McDonald's All-American who is averaging 13.3 points. He's the son of Peja Stojakovic, who played 14 seasons in the NBA.

Musselman went against Peja Stojakovic as an NBA head coach and assistant numerous times.

"Peja was incredible, and his son is an incredible offensive player when you look at how he can basket cut. He can dribble-drive. He can shoot the three," Musselman said. "Playing with a lot of confidence in a really short sample size."

Andrej Stojakovic has hit 21 of 46 shots, including 9 of 21 three-pointers.

"It's one thing for a freshman to have great numbers in games 13 through 18, but he's come out the first four games and been a proven scorer," Musselman said. "He's seized the opportunity when other guys have been out."

Stanford senior forward Brandon Angel and Spencer Jones are questionable for tonight's game because of injuries. They're averaging 18.8 points and 7.7, respectively.

"It's a mending process and we're trying to help them along as much as we can," Haase said. "But we're also not totally in control of that."

Musselman has a 98-43 record in his fifth season at Arkansas and led the Razorbacks to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight in 2021 and 2022 and the Sweet 16 last year.

"He's done a tremendous job building the program, putting rosters together and getting his teams to really compete at a high level," Haase said. "That's obvious with the success he's had.

"When you have a lot of talent and a well-coached team, that's a tough matchup."

After returning home from the Bahamas, the Razorbacks play No. 9 Duke on Nov. 29 at Walton Arena.

"I would say this four-game segment -- regardless of who we play in Game 2 and Game 3 here -- is probably the toughest four-game segment of anybody in the country," Musselman said. "I haven't looked at everybody's schedule, but I can pretty much guarantee that nobody has a more difficult four-game schedule that we're staring at right now."

Musselman said the Razorbacks want to put together a winning streak at the Battle 4 Atlantis.

"But I'm never going to lose the philosophy of every single day trying to figure out A, how to just put ourselves in a position to make an NCAA Tournament?" Musselman said. "And then B, how are we in the right mindset physically, mentally going into March?

"But first you've got to get there, and the only way to get into the NCAA Tournament is to win games. So high priority to play well these three games, because we do know that there is a national television audience that's going to watch these games as well and evaluate teams' performances."

Read the original post:

Hogs aiming to get back to business in Bahamas - Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Ron DeSantis still threatening to ‘flatten’ the Bahamas in case of a 9 … – Florida Politics

Posted on by

Ron DeSantis redoubled his strong opposition to what are very hypothetical attacks from a friendly nation to a South Florida city.

Remarkably, the second time around comes after the U.S. Embassy in Nassau issued a statement of regret for the previous time DeSantis made the threat.

Yet again, DeSantis compared Israels onslaught on Hamas to what would happen if he, as Governor of the state of Florida, had to respond to missiles from the Bahamas to Fort Lauderdale in a 9/11 parallel metaphor.

Can you imagine just after our 9/11, if three weeks later, people were demanding that we had a cease-fire against al-Qaida and the Taliban? We would never have done that. And I think to myself as Governor of Florida, if we had, if someone in the Bahamas was launching missiles into Fort Lauderdale, we would not accept that for a minute, DeSantis vowed. We would go in and we would flatten them in no time certain.

And yet Israel is supposed to just live there with this with this existential threat, he said Sunday during a campaign swing through Charles City before moving onto the more imminent threat Israel faces from Hamas.

During an event Saturday in Muscadine last weekend, DeSantis floated the bizarre metaphor likening terror attacks on Israelis to the distant hypothetical threat of rockets originating from the Bahamian Islands.

What are you supposed to do? I mean, I used to say even when they would just fire the normal rockets because theyve been firing these rockets for years and years. And I thought to myself, like, if the Bahamas were firing rockets into Fort Lauderdale, like, we would not accept that for, like, one minute. I mean, we would just level it. We would never be willing to live like that as Americans, DeSantis said.

A day after Florida Politics first publicized the statement, the U.S. government responded via the Bahamian press.

The Bahamas and the United States enjoy an enduring and unique partnership. (Charge dAffairs Usha Pitts) regrets if DeSantis comments suggested anything other than a close alliance between our two democratic nations, the U.S. Embassy said in a statement to The Nassau Guardian.

Post Views: 0

The rest is here:

Ron DeSantis still threatening to 'flatten' the Bahamas in case of a 9 ... - Florida Politics

4 Incredible Photos of Model Raine Michaels in the Bahamas – Yahoo Life

Posted on by

Raine Michaels, daughter of American musician Bret Michaels, made her SI Swimsuit debut in 2019 as part of the years Swim Search, the annual open casting call. She traveled to Paradise Island, Bahamas for her feature in the magazine.

In a beautiful series of photos taken by photographer Yu Tsai, she proved that she is a talented model. But shes much more than that, too. At the time, Michaels was a full-time college student at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., where she studied musica fitting pursuit for the daughter of a rockstar.

While on set, we had the chance to catch up with her about the Swim Search experience among other things, and she gave good insight into what the process had meant to her. I have had so many amazing and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities arise from this incredible experience, she remarked. I also have a forever family in everyone at Sports Illustrated and all my Swim Search girls that I have met along the way.

The now 23-year-old received a lot of love from family and friends following the announcement, which made the experience just that much sweeter. My close friends at school know I have been working so hard since they met me and have watched this journey unfold and they are so happy and excited for me which makes me so grateful, she explained of their support.

Today, were throwing it back to that momentous photoshoot and the snaps that we just havent quite gotten over. Here are a few of our favorites.

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube!

Go here to read the rest:

4 Incredible Photos of Model Raine Michaels in the Bahamas - Yahoo Life

Michigan bids to bounce back vs. Stanford in Bahamas – The Albany Herald

Posted on by

State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada

Zip Code

Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe

More:

Michigan bids to bounce back vs. Stanford in Bahamas - The Albany Herald

Letters to the editor: ‘Canada is drifting apart.’ Fractured federalism … – The Globe and Mail

Posted on by

Open this photo in gallery:

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: THE GLOBE AND MAIL. SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES

Re The country is falling apart. Why is the federal government so hesitant to act? (Opinion, Nov. 4): Columnist Andrew Coyne cries out for a reformed Parliament. But what about the need for a reformed Senate, the most obvious tool for addressing regional grievances?

The original purpose of the Senate was to be a force for national unity. As George Brown said, On no other condition agreement on the Senate could we have advanced a step.

It is interesting to note that one of the first actions the British Labour Party promises to take, if elected, is to reform the House of Lords. At a time when Britain is beset by the forces of separatism and economic problems, Labour seems to recognize that reforming its bicameral system is not a distraction from other social problems, but a way of solving them.

Gary William OBrien Former clerk of the Senate Ottawa

Canadas founding fathers watched the U.S. federation almost destroy itself in the Civil War, then designed a structure with a stronger central government and lesser provincial rights for a more stable democracy.

If Andrew Coyne is right, we have forgotten this. We had best remember it soon, or we risk squandering the product of their wisdom: the peace, order and good government we have hitherto enjoyed.

Chris Stoate Oakville, Ont.

Andrew Coynes column, combined with the book review of John Ibbitsons latest book, The Duel, fills me with immense sadness (The Duel is a great guide to understanding both Canadas past and present Nov. 4). So much of it rings true: Canada is drifting apart.

I am an old new Canadian having survived the Second World War and have explored vast tracts of this immense land. But the Canada of 1956, when I, as a callow teenager, joined the Canadian Forces Naval Reserve is vastly different from that of today. Then it was a country, now it is a loose assemblage of provinces, each and every one pursuing a beggar my neighbour policy driven by the next election and oblivious to what happens beyond Canadas borders.

Alberta, having succeeded in browbeating the federal government to push through, coute que coute, the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion is now pursuing its sovereignty policy, blithely assuming that British Columbia will blindly shoulder the negative effects of increased crude oil and the conflicts this creates with its Indigenous population.

There are global changes under way that are truly alarming from climate change to vast distressed global population movements, and the disruption of an enormous, ruthless and powerful new player in the Far East, China, coping with its own internal contradictions. And I have not mentioned the powder keg to the south.

These all swamp the petty considerations of provincial premiers and provincial electorates. Change in Canada is inevitable, but the only question is whether it will be imposed by external events or embraced in a timely way by Canadians. The latter demands vision.

Boudewyn van Oort Victoria

Well, to be fair to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and aide Katie Telford, managing a country this size is a challenge for two people.

Craig Sims Kingston

Re Diefenbaker and Pearson gave us the Canada that polarization could tear down (Opinion, Oct. 7). John Ibbitson provides a convincing contrast between todays polarizing politics and the quieter approach of Canadas postwar politicians, despite the bitterness of their disagreements.

However, the claim that Canada owes its modern framework to Lester Pearson and John Diefenbaker ignores the extraordinary role played by William Lyon Mackenzie King. I recommend a recently published book by my colleague Neville Thompson (The Third Man: Churchill, Roosevelt, Mackenzie King, and the Untold Friendships that Won WWII), which uses Kings voluminous diaries to give a new perspective on the relationship between Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt.

King defended Canadas independence against Churchills imperialism and he broadened Roosevelts somewhat narrow view of world leadership. King promoted establishment of the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. He led Canada to extraordinary prosperity after the Depression so that it was the largest per-capita financial donor to the war effort and to postwar reconstruction. An early believer in state sponsored social safety, he influenced developments in Britain and later in Canada, as outlined by Mr. Ibbitson. Canadas standing in world affairs reached its pinnacle during his tenure and it should remain an aspirational model for future leaders.

Vivian McAlister Professor, University of Western Ontario London, Ont.

Re Is a $100,000 salary enough for a comfortable life anymore? (Report on Business, Nov. 4): A $100,000 annual salary covers the costs of a one-bedroom apartment, without a lot left over for savings, vacations or car payments. Buying a one-bedroom apartment is not an option. This is the reality of living in Vancouver or Toronto.

Annual pay of $100,000 places a person in the top 11 per cent of earnings in the country. This figure is roughly 50 per cent higher than the average salary in Canada. What is left after income taxes and mandatory deductions is in the range of $75,000. For a Vancouver or Toronto resident, roughly half of after-tax income would be spent on rent.

What does it take to earn $100,000 a year? The average professional accountant or lawyer, several years after completing their designations, can expect to earn somewhat more. This entails completing an undergraduate degree, years of professional education, successful completion of professional exams, and fulfilling work experience requirements. A top of scale full-time postsecondary instructor, a police officer or firefighter, after years of seniority, likely earns in that range. College and university sessional lecturers earn considerably less.

The real issue is the cost of accomodations in large Canadian cities relative to what people can realistically expect to earn.

John Shepherd Richmond, B.C.

In my first job after university, I was paid $11,400 a year. My wife and I were able to live modestly, but comfortably in Ontario on this salary, renting a house, owning a car, taking annual holidays in Canada, and so on. Using a Consumer Price Index-based inflation calculator, $11,400 translates to about $85,000 in 2023 dollars. If people cannot get by on $100,000, then perhaps an adjustment in lifestyle expectations regarding whats comfortable is needed.

Alan Ball New Westminster B.C.

Letters to the Editor should be exclusive to The Globe and Mail. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. Keep letters to 150 words or fewer. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. To submit a letter by e-mail, click here: letters@globeandmail.com

View post:

Letters to the editor: 'Canada is drifting apart.' Fractured federalism ... - The Globe and Mail

Moms for Liberty removes two Northern Kentucky chapter leaders who posed with far-right Proud Boys – WCPO 9 Cincinnati

Posted on by

NEW YORK Moms for Liberty says it has removed two Kentucky chapter chairs from leadership positions after the women posed in photos with members of the far-right group the Proud Boys, one of several controversies that the conservative parental rights nonprofit has fended off in its rise to national prominence in public education.

The two women, who had led chapters in Boone and Campbell counties, appeared in photos with several men dressed in yellow and black Proud Boys clothing at a Nov. 4 rally in Frankfort, the Kentucky capital. The photos, posted on Facebook by another attendee, show the women smiling in Moms for Liberty clothing, as one helps to hold up a flag that reads, Appalachian Proud Boys Kentucky.

The former chapter chairs were removed because they demonstrated a lack of judgment and misalignment with our core values, the national Moms for Liberty organization posted Tuesday on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Moms for Liberty is in no way affiliated with the Proud Boys and does not condone involvement with the organization. We repudiate hate and violence, the group continued, adding that it wouldn't allow the actions of a few to define the rest of its members.

Since its founding in 2021, Moms for Liberty has gained popularity and generated forceful backlash for its efforts to elect right-wing school board candidates and to target references to race and LGBTQ+ identity in classrooms around the United States.

The group is no stranger to controversy. Earlier this year, an Indiana chapter of the group apologized and condemned Adolf Hitler after it was criticized for using a quote attributed to the Nazi leader in its inaugural newsletter.

In June, the Southern Poverty Law Center designated Moms for Liberty as an anti-government extremist group, arguing it uses parents rights as a vehicle to attack public education and make schools less welcoming for minority and LGBTQ+ students. Moms for Liberty has disputed the label, saying the groups efforts to fund and endorse school board races show it is not anti-government.

Voters opted for liberal and moderate candidates over conservative contenders in many high-profile school board races on Election Day last week. Moms for Liberty said about 40% of its endorsed candidates won.

The SPLC describes the Proud Boys as a hate group for its promotion of white nationalist ideas, involvement in violence and the role that some of its members played in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

About 60 Proud Boys members have been charged with federal crimes related to the assault, which was intended to halt the certification of Democrat Joe Biden's victory over Republican President Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election.

More than half of them have pleaded guilty or been convicted after trials in Washington In May, a jury convicted former Proud Boys national leader Enrique Tarrio and three lieutenants of seditious conspiracy charges for what prosecutors said was a plot to keep Trump in the White House after his defeat. Tarrio was sentenced to 22 years behind bars, the longest prison term for a Jan. 6 case.

In the photos posted on Facebook, the former Boone County Moms for Liberty chair joins several others flashing the OK sign with their hands. The Anti-Defamation League says that sign is sometimes used to symbolize white supremacist beliefs or the Three Percenter movement, a wing of the anti-government extremist militia movement.

Moms for Liberty said it would follow our current policies and procedures in selecting new chapter leaders. It did not respond to an inquiry about whether the two former leaders would be removed from the organization or allowed to stay on as rank-and-file members. Their names and contact information were removed from chapter webpages.

The former Campbell County chair declined comment in a phone call with The Associated Press, and the former Boone County chair didn't respond to an emailed query. ___

Associated Press writer Michael Kunzelman in Silver Spring, Maryland, contributed to this report.

See the original post here:

Moms for Liberty removes two Northern Kentucky chapter leaders who posed with far-right Proud Boys - WCPO 9 Cincinnati

More Bad News for the Proud Boys: The Hotel Harrington Is Closing – Washingtonian

Posted on by

Hotel Harrington, DCs oldest continuously operating hotel, is closing. The downtown budget hotelwhich gained notoriety in recent years for its far-right clientelewill end its 109-year run on Dec. 12, as writer Steve Kiviat first reported.

Hotelier Harrington Mills and his business partner Charles McCutchen opened Washingtons Tourist Hotel in 1914 and expanded the original six-story property over the years to include two 12-story annexes. It became DCs first air-conditioned hotel in 1938, according to the Washington Post, and was home to a popular nightlife destination called the Pink Elephant Cocktail Lounge in the years following Prohibition. The hotel also hosted citys first TV station and transmission tower. (The Milt Grant Show, a teen rock-and-roll dance party program, aired live from the hotel in the 1950s.)

The property remained in the hands of the same family for its entire history. Longtime managing director Ann Terry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But in 2020, she told Washingtonian that owner Charles McCutchena nuclear physicist and grandson of the co-founderhad recently died, and a succession plan was being sorted out.

The hotel was an unassuming destination for foreign travelers and school groups in recent yearsuntil Donald Trump became president. The hotels dive-y drinking outpost, Harrys Bar, soon became a go-to gathering place for the MAGA crowd. The watering hole was popular for its proximity to the Trump hotel (now a Waldorf Astoria), but with more affordable drinks. For us, its more of an after-hours place. After the Trump closes, well typically end up there if were going to have a late night. Youll see familiar faces: other people who do Fox, some congressmen, but its not as common as at the Trump, Republican political consultant and commentator Harlan Hill toldWashingtonian in 2020.

Trump supporters packed Harrys Bar during the Million MAGA March in November 2020, singing God Bless the USA and waving a big blue lives matter flag in the street out front. Almost none of them were wearing masks despite the citys mask mandate at bars and restaurants at the time. A month prior, Trump himself had retweeted a video showing maskless supporters in the bar cheering and fist-bumping police. They city ultimately fined the bar $2,000 for its repeated Covid safety violations.

When the Proud Boys came to town in December 2020 to protest the election results, several hundred booked rooms at Hotel Harrington, making it their unofficial headquarters, the Washington Postreported. Clashes between the far-right group and anti-Trump protestors erupted near the hotel, resulting in four stabbings with serious injuries.

Harrys Bar will close alongside Hotel Harrington, Fox 5 DC reports. The fate of the hotels other restaurant, Ollies Trolley, was not immediately known.

Managing director Ann Terry tried to distance the hotel from the political controversy swirling around it at the time. Asked about the impact of the Trump crowd on the hotels reputation in 2020, she said, its not something we can control, really.

Join the conversation!

Food Editor

Jessica Sidman covers the people and trends behind D.C.s food and drink scene. Before joining Washingtonian in July 2016, she was Food Editor and Young & Hungry columnist at Washington City Paper. She is a Colorado native and University of Pennsylvania grad.

Continue reading here:

More Bad News for the Proud Boys: The Hotel Harrington Is Closing - Washingtonian

Armin van Buuren is The World’s No. 1 Trance DJ in DJ Mag’s Top … – DJ Mag

Posted on by

Armin van Buuren has been voted The Worlds No. 1 Trance DJ in DJ Mags Top 100 DJs 2023.

The Dutch trance legend also continues his incredible run inside the top five of the Top 100 DJs poll now running at a whopping 22 years. Ive been spending a lot of time in the studio to cook up new tracks, and also had the pleasure of performing at premier festivals throughout the summer season, he enthused when asked about the last 12 months.

In terms of releases, Armin dropped the final part of his 'Feel Again' album trilogy in March. Split into three, the record which takes in 33 tracks in total is said to have been born out of van Buuren's disconnect from his family, friends and fans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Having reformed his life routines and taken up yoga, he found a renewed love for music, which fed into his work on the album. Armin also found time to release the 20th instalment of his long-running 'A State Of Trance' mix album series in May. Featuring 41 tracks in total, it is split across three mixes, rather than the usual two.

The additional third mix pays homage to another of van Buuren's own labels, Who's Afraid Of 138?!, and among its 14 tracks are two new remixes by Bogdan Vix & UUFO and Maddix of van Buuren's recent tracks, 'Vulnerable' and 'Computers Take Over The World', respectively. Alongside his busy release schedule, Armin also took over the weekly radio show Dance Department, on Dutch broadcasting station Radio 538, which goes out alongside his long-running weekly A State Of Trance broadcast.

The awards were announced during a broadcast event, hosted by BBC Radio Ones Arielle Free from The Standard, Ibiza. The show featured an iconic David Guetta performance from an Ibiza cliff top, alongside sets from four leading DJs from unique locations that spanned five continents.

The awards show and full sets are available to watch now on DJ Mags YouTube channel. Chinese viewers can also enjoy the show on NetEase Cloud Music, the exclusive Top 100 DJs results partner for the China market.

1.3 million votes were counted from 237 countries in this years Top 100 DJs poll. You can see the full Top 100 DJs listhere.

More:

Armin van Buuren is The World's No. 1 Trance DJ in DJ Mag's Top ... - DJ Mag

Report: Blockchain.com Funding Round Cuts Valuation in Half – PYMNTS.com

Posted on by

Blockchain.comslatest funding round has reportedly cut its valuation by more than half.

The cryptocurrency exchangeannouncedTuesday (Nov. 14) that it had raised $110 million in a Series E round led by Kingsway Capital. Areportby Bloomberg News citing a source familiar with the matter says the new financing values Blockchain.com at under half of the$14 billionit reached last year.

That was before a downturn in the crypto market left the company and others like it on shaky ground. Blockchain.com announced in July of last year that it was letting go of 150 people a number that amounted to aquarter of its staff.

Those layoffs followed the companys $270 million loss to Three Arrows Capital, a crypto hedge fund that had an estimated $10 billion in assets and made a number of extremely risky bets on decentralized finance projects such as the Terra/LUNA algorithmic stablecoin.

The company cut another28% of its workforceearlier this year, joining a number of other crypto firms in shrinking their staffing levels.

The crypto ecosystem is facing significant headwinds as its course corrects from the challenges of the last year, Blockchain.com said in an email to Coindesk in January. To better balance product offerings with demand, weve made the difficult decision to reduce operating costs and headcount to rightsize the company.

The Bloomberg report notes that the companys new funding round is a sign that investors have gained more confidence in the crypto sector, asbitcoins price has risenin anticipation that exchange-traded funds investing in the currency will be approved.

However, a recent research report by JPMorgan Chasequestions the excitementabout the possible approval of spot bitcoin ETFs.

The enthusiasm is based on the idea that the approval would both draw new investors to the crypto markets, and would soften the attitude of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) attitude toward digital currencies.

But JPMorgan analysts wrote that they are skeptical about both arguments, predicting that its more likely that existing money will move from current bitcoin products into ETFs rather than new investors jumping on the crypto bandwagon.

And while the SEC has suffered somerecent courtroom losses, it is far from clear that the regulatory tightening of the crypto industry will lessen significantly going forward given how unregulated this industry is, the report said.

Link:

Report: Blockchain.com Funding Round Cuts Valuation in Half - PYMNTS.com

Singapore’s MAS to explore "global layer 1" blockchain tokenization with BNY, DBS, JPM, MUFG – Ledger Insights – Ledger Insights

Posted on by

Today the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced a significant expansion of itsProject Guardian, which explorestokenizationusing public blockchain. The most significant aspect is a new initiative called Global Layer One (GL1). Its designed as an open, digital infrastructure enabling cross border transactions and global liquidity pools. BNY Mellon, JP Morgan, DBS and MUFG are involved.

Before exploring GL1, MAS announced five more use cases. They include aJP Morgan and Apolloinitiative on tokenized funds. AndCiti, Fidelity and T Rowe Priceusing FX and oracles for trades on Avalanche. We covered both of those today.

Putting the Global Layer One in context, there are three other major initiatives along similar lines. They are theRegulated Liability Network(RLN), the BIS concept of aUnified Ledgerand theIMFs XC conceptfor cross border payments. And by the way, the IMF is joining Project Guardian to provide policy input.

While the announcement is thin on details, we believe a key feature of GL1 is the open part. Wed speculate that this might be a quasi public blockchain, probably using proof of authority. Any end user can access the network provided they do KYC. Thats quite different from the RLN, which is more about creating interoperability between disparatewholesalenetworks and ledgers. We believe the Unified Ledger is alsowholesalefocused.

To fully realise the potential of tokenised markets, and achieve network effects, a scalable digital infrastructure is needed, said Mr Leong Sing Chiong, Deputy Managing Director (Markets and Development), MAS. GL1 will provide a foundational digital backbone and bring markets together with similar principles of openness and accessibility as the public internet. MAS welcomes additional policymakers and financial institutions to participate in the design phase of the GL1 initiative and contribute towards its development.

If thats not enough to convince you, heres the rationale behind the public blockchain thesis. Firstly Layer 1 is typically a phrase used in public blockchain circles. A key differentiator of MASsProject Guardianhas been allowing institutions to test the use of public blockchains. Its all done in a regulated way with KYC and layers of permissioning. One enterprise recently said to Ledger Insights that MAS is anti public blockchain. Based on Project Guardian, we disagree. However, its statements position it as not-so-keen on cryptocurrency.

Its possible to have a public blockchain without cryptocurrency. But that requires strong and trusted governance. Regulated institutions might operate all the nodes. Credit Agricole and SEB are doing something similar withSo|bond.

In related news, today MAS published a paper on blockchain interoperability. Most of the document explores aninterlinked network model(INM) which requires bridges. The concern is that bridges are notoriously vulnerable and are currently the source of most hacks on public blockchains.

Before diving into INM, MAS explores the other options. One is a common infrastructure, which MAS previously trialed inProject Dunbarfor cross border CBDC. Another is a layered model along the lines of Ethereum and its sidechains. The paper notes that this ensures that costs remain viable.

Apart from the JP Morgan and Citi projects, another new tokenization initiative is a treasury management solution from Ant Group.HSBC recently partnered Antto trial something similar in Hong Kong. BNY Mellon and OCBC are trialing a cross border FX solution across networks using different technologies. Bear in mind that BNY Mellon custodies reserves for the USDC stablecoin.

U.S. asset managerFranklin Templetonis the fifth use case addition. It already manages the largest tokenized traditional asset fund(more than $300m)on a public blockchain. Now its trialling Singapores new Variable Capital Company (VCC) combined with fund tokenization.

In fact, MAS has started a new VCC track for Project Guardian because eight institutions are engaged in VCC fund tokenization projects. We previously reported onUBS trialing tokenized fundsusing a VCC structure in addition toSchroders.

See the rest here:

Singapore's MAS to explore "global layer 1" blockchain tokenization with BNY, DBS, JPM, MUFG - Ledger Insights - Ledger Insights

AI, blockchain and phone scans: UIC researchers bring new … – UIC Today

Posted on by

Dentistry is experiencing a quiet but dramatic technological evolution. Many of the advances in artificial intelligence and big data that are changing the way we work, shop and find entertainment may soon make it easier for dentists to personalize care, monitor patients and develop new treatment options.

UIC College of Dentistry researchers are among the first in the country exploring the value of 3D image analysis, data sharing on the blockchain, home monitoring and other clinical technologies. Their perspective is not just to chase the latest hyped tech, but determine how these methods can improve patient outcomes and access to dental and orthodontic care.

UIC dentists and orthodontists often treat patients with rare or complex conditions, including cleft palates, ectodermal dysplasia, craniosynostosis and other complex dentofacial deformities, and provide dental care to traditionally underserved populations. Those activities give an opportunity to develop AI concepts and rigorously test whether they offer meaningful benefits compared with current methods and avoid perpetuating bias.

Its a huge advantage to be in an urban area and serve a population that is traditionally disenfranchised and underrepresented, said Dr. Veerasathpurush Allareddy, the Brodie Craniofacial Chair and professor of orthodontics at UIC. That means when we train these AI models, we can better adjust for some of the unique factors or challenges these groups of people face and ensure more algorithmic fairness.

AI for diagnosis, treatment and remote monitoring

Clinicians use of radiographs and other scans is essential in determining treatment plans and monitoring patient progress, but repeatedly collecting and analyzing these images is time-intensive for both doctor and patient.

Artificial intelligence offers new approaches for utilizing this important visual data. UIC dentists collaborate with colleagues in the College of Engineering to develop new algorithms for the analysis of these images; for example, determining the amount of growth left in a patient to guide orthodontic treatment. Clinicians currently use a broad four-category scale to measure this development and select between surgery and other interventions, but a new model provides a finer-grained, continuous measurement.

We applied image analysis, image processing and deep learning methods to estimate the maturity of a patient from spinal X-rays, said Ahmet Enis Cetin, professor of electrical and computer engineering. This will be the first step towards a personalized approach to surgery, where AI is used as a new tool to help dentists make decisions.

A team of dentists and engineers led by Dr. Mohammed Elnagar, assistant professor of orthodontics, also created an AI algorithm that helps select the most effective treatment plan. For instance, the model trained on 18 years of patient records collected at the College of Dentistry can judge whether a patients treatment objectives would be best met through the use of braces exclusively, or if supplementary surgical procedures are required. Members of the team received Thomas M. Graber Awards of Special Merit from the American Association of Orthodontists for the work.

After treatment has started, AI can also help clinicians monitor patient progress, even from afar. For example, patients can use attachments to their smartphone to take their own oral scans at home. An AI algorithm then creates a 3D model that shows how treatment is progressing and identifies potential issues that might require an office visit.

In recent papers, UIC researchers found the quality of these home scans matched what was obtained with regular clinical scans. That equal performance is encouraging for using the technology for early detection of complications. An ongoing clinical trial is testing whether treatment decisions guided by remote monitoring technology are as effective as in-person care.

You can optimize the patients office visits, based on the individual response, Elnagar said. If they are responding, they can keep going without a visit. If it moves off track or there is a surprise, we can have them come in earlier.

The ability to collect high-quality scans at home will also make a meaningful difference for patients living far from clinics or with complicated conditions currently requiring frequent visits.

Its really exciting for patients who are limited in their choice of providers, said Dr. Min Kyeong Lee, a clinical assistant professor of orthodontics who is also studying the ethical considerations of AI applications. It can save a lot of time traveling, and during the start of some treatments it can sometimes require a visit every month, so its a big burden on the family that we can reduce.

Genomics and the blockchain

While imaging combined with AI can provide powerful data on a patients current state, dentists would also like to be able to make accurate predictions about their future. To do so will require additional data, including a rich category that has already made a massive impact in medicine: genomics.

In orthodontics, interventions may last years, and clinicians must anticipate how a patients teeth and associated structures will change in order to find the most appropriate treatment option. Genomic information could help dispel that uncertainty and inform decisions, Allareddy said, by identifying associations between certain genes and factors like root resorption and tooth movement.

Well be able to render truly personalized orthodontic care based on the genomic profile of each patient, Allareddy said. We can change the treatment or maybe even not do treatment, when the data suggests we would probably be doing more harm than good.

But dentistry does not have the same access to universal platforms or the culture of data sharing between institutions that exist in medicine. While the UIC College of Dentistry has the advantage of being one of the largest programs in the United States, the types of studies that will unlock the predictive abilities of genetics will require data from much larger patient pools, combined with other modes of information including images and clinical outcomes.

A potential facilitator of these necessary data exchanges could be the blockchain. Though often discussed in the context of cryptocurrency, the blockchain also offers promise as a secure record of information distributed across computers worldwide instead of a single, centralized database.

In a recent paper, Allareddy, Elnagar, Lee and Dr. Maysaa Oubaidin, associate professor of orthodontics, proposed using blockchain technologies to help dental researchers around the world share and learn from clinical data. The system could enable federated machine learning a form of AI where models are trained on distributed data without moving it from its secure home and large-scale analyses that unlock the potential of genomic data or test interventions across a broader range of individuals, including those from underserved patient populations.

If we can really have this huge collaboration between universities, hospitals and clinics and we can focus on organizing the data so everybody can work on one big project together instead of competing, then it may be possible to have no bias or exclusion of minorities, said Dr. Flavio Jos Castelli Sanchez, an assistant professor of orthodontics. Were trying to eliminate that, and theres a big chance to do it using artificial intelligence as long as we do it properly.

See the rest here:

AI, blockchain and phone scans: UIC researchers bring new ... - UIC Today