Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Sports Cars

Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Sports Cars

There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solvetoday's puzzlebefore reading further!Sports Cars Constructor:Aidan Deshong Editor:Amie Walker TEN (33A: Perfect score in an IGN review)IGNis a website featuring articles and reviews on video games and entertainment media. IGN historically used a 100-point scale for their reviews, but switched to aTEN-point scalein January 2020. IAN (42A: Smosh co-founder Hecox) Smosh is a sketch comedy brand founded by IAN Hecox and Anthony Padilla in 2005.Smoshproduces a mix of scripted and unscripted content for its YouTube channels. I had not heard of Smosh before, and I had to be quite disciplined to resist falling down the rabbit hole of watching videos on their channel. LILA (61A: Country artist McCann) LILA McCann released her debut single,"Down Came a Blackbird,"in 1997 when she was just 16 years old. Her most recent album,Paint This Town, was released in 2017. NOISE (16A: "Make some ___!") I associate the phrase "Make some NOISE!" with attempts to AMP UP (9A: Energize, like a crowd) fans at a sporting event. This fits right in with today's sports-related theme. ORCA (36A: Willy in "Free Willy" was one)Free Willyis a 1993 movie about the friendship between Willy, an ORCA in captivity, and Jesse, a 12-year-old boy in foster care (portrayed by Jason James Richter). FARSI (52A: Language of Iran) and GERMAN (22D: Austria's language) In addition to Iran, FARSI (also known as Persian) is an official language in Afghanistan (where it is known as Dari) and Tajikistan (known as Tajik). GERMAN is an official language in five countries in addition to Austria: Belgium, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. ART (56A: M.C. Escher's field)M. C. Escher(1898-1972) was a Dutch artist. His ART included mathematically-inspired drawings that depict impossible objects and tessellations. STIM (57A: Use a fidget cube, for example) STIM, short for stimming, refers to a self-stimulatory behavior characterized by repetitive action, such as tapping a pencil, drumming fingers on a table, playing with afidget cube, or rocking back and forth. Although often associated with people on the autism spectrum, stimming behaviors are practiced to some extent by nearly everyone. SANG (4D: Performed on "The Voice")The Voiceis a reality singing competition that premiered in 2011. Winners of the competition receive $100,000 and a record deal with Universal Music Group. OMAHA (6D: Nebraska's largest city) Although Lincoln is Nebraska's capital, OMAHA is its largest city. TITAN (7D: Saturn's largest moon) Unlike the Earth, which has one moon orbiting it, Saturn has many moons. Scientists know ofat least 247 moons orbiting Saturn, of which TITAN is the largest. TITAN is larger than the planet Mercury, and is the only moon known to have a dense atmosphere. TITAN is the second-largest moon in the Solar System, after Ganymede, a moon of Jupiter. STAR (8D: Invincibility item in "Super Mario Bros.") InSuper Mario Bros., a Super STAR, also known as Starman, is rare but powerful. Obtaining a Super STAR makes a character temporarily invincible to enemies and attacks. ANGELA (9D: "Vampire in Brooklyn" star Bassett)Vampire in Brooklynis a 1995 comedy horror film. Eddie Murphy stars as Max, a vampire in search of a half-vampire woman who is unaware of her vampire heritage. ANGELA Bassett portrays that woman, Detective Rita Veder. MOORE (10D: "The Substance" star Demi)The Substanceis a 2024 movie in which Demi MOORE portrays a 50-year-old movie star whose fame is fading. She purchases a black market serum (the titular substance) in an attempt to counteract the aging process.The Substanceis a horror movie, so as one might imagine in such a film, using the drug does not go well. EMPERORS (21D: Penguins that can dive 1,850 feet deep) I do enjoy a clue that comes with a fun animal fact. EMPERORS are the tallest living penguin species. They live in Antarctica. While hunting, EMPEROR penguins can stay submerged for around 20 minutes and dive to depths of 1,850 feet. CORRELATION (26D: What does not imply causation, it's said) This clue made me smile. Indeed, CORRELATION does not imply causation. Just because two things happen at the same time (CORRELATION), that does not mean the two things have a cause-and-effect relationship. TACO (27D: Choco ___ (rhyming treat)) Made by Good Humor-Breyers, a Choco TACO consists of a waffle cone-like shell filled with vanilla ice cream, fudge, peanuts, and a milk chocolate coating. The Choco TACO was invented in the 1980s, though it wasn't available nationwide until 1996. SKA (28D: Genre related to rocksteady) SKA is a music genre that originated in Jamaica, as did rocksteady. SKA combines elements of mento, calypso, jazz, and rhythm and blues. MTV (30D: "Jershey Shore" network)Jersey Shore(2009-2012) is a reality TV series that originally aired from 2009-2012 on MTV. The show followed the lives of eight housemates at a vacation home. In seasons one, three, five, and six, that vacation home was located on the Jersey Shore for which the show was named. In season two the show was located in South Beach, Florida, and in season four it was in Florence, Italy. OTTO (36D: Anne Frank's father) In the summer of 1942 when Jews were being systematically deported from the Netherlands, OTTO Frank and his family went into hiding in a secret annex of a house in Amsterdam. They lived there for two years before their discovery. OTTO Frank (1889-1980) was the only family member to survive the Holocaust. In 1947, he edited and published the first edition of his daughter, Anne's, diary, which became known asThe Diary of a Young Girl. CIA (37D: "Alias" spy org.)Aliasis a TV series that aired on ABC from 2001-2006. Jennifer Garner starred as Sydney Bristow, a double agent for the CIA. HALFTIME (38D: Kitty ___ show ("Puppy Bowl" break)) The Puppy Bowl airs each year (since its start in 2005) on Super Bowl Sunday. Designed to raise awareness of pets waiting for adoption, the show features shelter dogs "playing football" in a model stadium. The Puppy Bowl that viewers see is a compilation of three days of filming from a number of cameras, some of which are hidden in toys and water bowls, and some which have peanut butter around the lens to encourage the dogs to lick them. Since the second Puppy Bowl, there has been a Kitty Halftime show - 30 minutes of kittens playing with laser pointers, balls of yarn, a variety of toys, and a scratching post. It's all adorable. My cat, Willow, says she highly recommends adopting a pet. This photo of Willow makes me laugh. She has buried her nose in her fur; perhaps it was cold. ARMANI (46D: Italian fashion house) Giorgio ARMANI founded his luxury fashion house in Milan, Italy in 1975. SLOP (57D: Bad AI-generated content, informally) We saw "AI SLOP" as an answera bit over a week ago, clued as [Computer-generated junk]. PAGE (60D: "The Umbrella Academy" actor Elliot)The Umbrella Academy(2019-2024) is a TV series based on the comic book series of the same name. The show is centered on a family of adopted sibling superheroes reunited to solve the mystery of their father's death, while also trying to prevent an impending apocalypse. Elliot PAGE plays the role of Vanya Hargreeves, a violinist who can unleash great force by focusing on sound. DODGE CHARGER (20A: Coupe whose name includes a Los Angeles football player) CHEVROLET ASTRO (37A: Van whose name includes a Houston baseball player) FORD RAPTOR (58A: Truck whose name includes a Toronto basketball player) SPORTS CARS: Each theme answer is a type of CAR whose name includes the name of a SPORTS team. I had to laugh a bit when I realized what today's theme is. I have an extremely limited knowledge of both SPORTS and CARS! However, that wasn't a problem here. With the help of crossing answers, my limited knowledge was enough. I appreciate that the theme answers represent three different vehicle types – coupe, van, and truck – as well as three different sports – football, baseball, and basketball. Thank you, Aidan, for this enjoyable puzzle. USA TODAY's Daily Crossword Puzzles Sudoku & Crossword Puzzle Answers This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Crossword Blog & Answers for July 9, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher

byLiam Oneel

in

July 08, 2025

Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Sports Cars

Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Sports Cars There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solvetoday...

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Kevin Jonas Lost ‘Almost All’ of His Money After the Jonas Brothers' 2013 Breakup

Kevin Jonas Lost 'Almost All' of His Money After the Jonas Brothers' 2013 Breakup

Lewis Howes/YouTube Kevin Jonas opened up about his financial journey following the Jonas Brothers' split in 2013 The singer appeared alongside his brothers on Lewis Howes' "The School of Greatness" podcast where he confessed that he almost lost all of his money Kevin said his financial troubles came as a result of business deals that weren't the "right partnership" Kevin Jonasis opening up about losing "almost all" of his money following the Jonas Brothers' split. Kevin, 37, appeared onLewis Howes' "The School of Greatness" podcastalongside his brothersNick Jonas, 32, andJoe Jonas, 35, on Monday, July 7. They discussed how they found what truly matters in life in the midst of losing everything. Kevin confessed on the podcast that he made a series of business deals in his younger years that ultimately led to him losing almost everything. "I've seen the beginning of the success to financial success — not knowing what money really was and understanding it — to not having [it], to losing almost all of it," Kevin told the podcast host. John Nacion/Penske Media via Getty Howes, 42, reacted with surprise to Kevin's confession, asking if he really almost lost all of his money. "Yeah, most of it, like, down to the one 10 percent left." the oldest of the Jonas brothers responded. The financial troubles came about nine years ago as a result of a bad partnership, Kevin said. "I invested in a bunch of property and doing other things and I was building at the time," the singer said before continuing. "Sadly, it wasn't the right partnership, if you know what I'm saying" Kevin then stopped himself from elaborating, saying that he couldn't share any more details. He did add, though, that he "learned a lot of lessons" from the experience. "Thankfully for life in general, like we had a second shot and bite at the apple with the band coming back together," Kevin said, continuing. "It was kind of fortuitous in a way." Kevin said he was able to reevaluate and apply those difficult financial lessons the second time around, and it changed the way he thinks about the music business. Disney/Chris Willard The Jonas Brothers experienced a whirlwind of success beginning in 2005, when they embarked on their first tour. They released their debut albumIt's About Timein 2006 and starred in Disney'sCamp Rockin 2008. But in 2013, thebrothers called it quits. "When it ended it was not good," the youngest Jonas Brother said in an interview with Z100 in 2019. "It was a couple years of rebuilding our family, and in our mind it seemed impossible for us to do this ever again." The band split for five years and during that time they worked on their own personal projects. Kevin followed hisentrepreneurial pursuits, which included creating a company called The Blu Market, providing social media influencers with strategic support. He also invested in the tech world, helping create the restaurant-finding app Yood and becoming a partner of social media app We Heart It. Then, in 2019, the brothers announced their comeback onJames Corden's Late Late Show.Their album,Happiness Begins,was later released in June of that year, along with a documentary detailing the band's history. According to Kevin, making the Amazon Prime Video film,Chasing Happiness, was part oftheir healing process. "[It] was great because we had to have real conversations and not hold back," Kevin said, comparing the production to therapy. "So for us, it worked out in a good way." Read the original article onPeople

byLiam Oneel

in

July 08, 2025

Kevin Jonas Lost ‘Almost All’ of His Money After the Jonas Brothers' 2013 Breakup

Kevin Jonas Lost 'Almost All' of His Money After the Jonas Brothers' 2013 Breakup Lewis Howes/YouTube Kevin Jonas opened up abou...

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Mary Lou Retton's Arrest Captured on Bodycam — Mugshots of Former Gold Medalist Released

Mary Lou Retton's Arrest Captured on Bodycam — Mugshots of Former Gold Medalist Released

Fairmont PD/ET/YouTube Mary Lou Retton was arrested in May on a DUI charge in West Virginia The Olympian's arrest was captured on body cam footage She made history in 1984 as the first American female gymnast to win an individual all-around gold medal Bodycam footage ofMary Lou Retton'sMay arrest shows her in an apparently distressed state as she tries to perform a sobriety test for West Virginia law enforcement officials. Retton wasarrested on a DUI chargeon May 17 in Marion County, W. Va., according to court records reviewed by PEOPLE at the time. The five-time Olympic medalist was allegedly spotted in her car in a Marion County AutoZone parking lot witha screw-top bottle of wine in her passenger seat, the Associated Press reported, citing a criminal complaint. Retton, 57, is seen in the bodycam footageobtained byEntertainment Tonightas an officer with the Fairmont City Police Department instructs her to carry out the sobriety test. As the officer guides her through the steps, Retton appears compliant, though at times she expresses shock at the situation, gasping and saying, "Oh my God." She appears to struggle to complete the test, which requires her to put her foot up six inches off the ground, and count until instructed by the officer to stop. Retton appears to struggle to count past nine. At one point, she seems to have trouble breathing, and has to get her oxygen, tying the tube to her nose while doing the test. Retton has been relying on daily oxygen since her recovery from aserious bout of pneumoniain 2023 — an illness so severe that doctors briefly believed she might not survive, she told PEOPLE in 2024. In July 2024, theDancing with the Starsalum told PEOPLE that she was so gravely ill at one point during her month-long hospital stay that the doctors had toldher four daughtersshe might not make it. "It's been really hard," she told PEOPLE in 2024. "My lungs are so scarred. It will be a lifetime of recovery. My physicality was the only thing I had and it was taken away from me. It's embarrassing." Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE's free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Retton entered a no contest plea to a non-aggravated DUI charge and was slapped with a $100 fine, standard for first-time, non-aggravated offenses in the area. Following her arrest, she told PEOPLE in a statement thatshe is taking accountabilityfor the incident. "What happened was completely unacceptable. I make no excuses. To my family, friends and my fans: I have let you down, and for that I am deeply sorry," she said through her attorney Edmund J. Rollo. The Fairmont City Police Department, which made the arrest, was not available for comment at publication time. Read the original article onPeople

byLiam Oneel

in

July 08, 2025

Mary Lou Retton's Arrest Captured on Bodycam — Mugshots of Former Gold Medalist Released

Mary Lou Retton's Arrest Captured on Bodycam — Mugshots of Former Gold Medalist Released Fairmont PD/ET/YouTube Mary Lou Retton was arre...

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Nikola Jokić reportedly won't sign extension with Nuggets this summer as more money awaits next offseason

Nikola Jokić reportedly won't sign extension with Nuggets this summer as more money awaits next offseason

Don't panic, Denver Nuggets fans. Nikola Jokić won't sign a contract extension with the Nuggets this offseason,according to the Denver Post. But there's a perfectly good — and obvious — reason for the decision. He'll stand to secure roughly $80 million more if he waits to sign an extension until 2026. Per the Post, Jokić has informed the Nuggets he won't sign an extension this summer, the first offseason he was eligible to do so. Jokić is approaching the third year of a five-year, $276 million supermax contract that runs through the 2027-28 season. The final season of the deal comes with a player option, so his services are secured in Denver through the 2026-27 season. Jokić is eligible this summer to sign a three-year, $212 million extension ($70.6 million AAV) that would keep him under Denver's control into his mid-30s. The precise value of an extension if he waits until 2026 isn't clear. But permultiple reportsincluding the Post's, waiting until next summer would net Jokić an additional year on the extension and an estimated $80 million more in guaranteed money. That's plenty of reason to exercise patience. The decision by Jokić was expected and reported on the first day he was eligible to sign an extension. Nuggets governor Josh Kroenke anticipated the decision in comments to media in June. "We're definitely going to offer it," Kroenke said of an extension for Jokić. "I'm not sure if he's going to accept it or not, because we're also going to explain every financial parameter around him signing now versus signing later. "To be completely transparent, that's the way we always are. And then he makes the best decision for himself and his family, and we'll support him in it." Jokić, 30, is a three-time MVP who led the Nuggets to the franchise's first NBA championship in 2023. He's coming off another MVP-caliber season in which he finished second in voting to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Extension talk arrives amid an offseason of change in Denver in which the Nuggets have hired a new coach and revamped their front office after dismissing head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth late in the season. With new coach David Adelman at the helm, the Nuggets pushed the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games in a second-round playoff series that exposed the flaws in Denver's roster. Denver's front-office tandem of executive vice presidents Ben Tenzer and Jonathan Wallacehas been aggressive this offseason in retooling Denver's rosterin hopes of maximizing the remainder of Jokić's prime — and convincing him to stay. The Nuggets traded Michael Porter Jr. to the Brooklyn Nets in a deal that returned sharp-shooting wing Cam Johnson and opened salary cap flexibility for Denver to address significant depth issues. They've capitalized on that flexibility by reuniting with wing defender Bruce Brown, adding more shooting in veteran guard Tim Hardaway Jr. and providing much-needed post relief for Jokić intrading for center Jonas Valančiūnas— thoughit remains to be seen if Valančiūnas will play for the Nuggetsas he's being courted overseas. The moves signal Denver's intent to return to championship contention. And the Nuggets are certainly hoping they'll nudge Jokić into signing a four-year extension next summer.

byLiam Oneel

in

July 08, 2025

Nikola Jokić reportedly won't sign extension with Nuggets this summer as more money awaits next offseason

Nikola Jokić reportedly won't sign extension with Nuggets this summer as more money awaits next offseason Don't panic, Denver Nugget...

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Essence Fest Takes Responsibility for Lauryn Hill Ending Show at 3:37 A.M.: 'The Delay? Not Hers'

Essence Fest Takes Responsibility for Lauryn Hill Ending Show at 3:37 A.M.: 'The Delay? Not Hers'

Erika Goldring/Getty Essence Fest has released a statement following Lauryn Hill's very-delayed performance at Caesars Superdome The singer was meant to take the stage at 12:30 a.m. but didn't go on until closer to 2:30 a.m. Hill performed songs from her Grammy-winning albumThe Miseducation of Lauryn Hilland chatted with audience members during her set Essence Fest is taking responsibility forLauyn Hill's late set time. The 2025 Essence Festival of Cultureposted a statement on Monday, July 7,addressing Hill's performance at Caesars Superdomein New Orleans to anear-empty stadium in the early morning hours on Saturday, July 5. "Family is family and around here we protect our own no matter what the PEOPLE have to say," began the statement shared onInstagram. "Let's be very clear— WE don't play about Ms. Lauryn Hill. Not for clicks. Not for headlines. She arrived on schedule, stepped on that stage, and delivered the kind of performance only a legend can." The festival addressed the setback on Hill's performance, which began at 2:30 a.m. and concluded at 3:37 a.m. "The delay? Not hers. We will take that. The moment? One for the books. The legacy? Still unmatched." "Put some respect on her name. Keep the takes, but keep her out of them," concluded the statement. "All love and deep profound admiration for Ms. Lauryn Hill. #ESSENCEFest25." Paras Griffin/WireImage The PEOPLE Appis now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Fans were grateful for the festival organizers taking responsibility for the delayed run of the show. "ACCOUNTABILITY!!! Thank you for addressing this for her 🙌🏾 all 50 of us enjoyed her that stayed til 3:30 am!!!!! Thank you Lauryn Hill!!," one fan wrote on Instagram. "👏👏👏👏👏👏,"Erykah Baduchimed in. "Accountability is everything. 🙌🏾 No event is perfect. ❤️ and our good sis has a bad rap for being late - thanks for setting the record straight," another fan wrote, alluding to Hill being known for late performances in the past. PerNola.com, the festival was running late from earlier in the evening, with the lineup also featuringMaxwell,Babyface, theIsley BrothersandGloRilla. Hill was a late addition to the festival's run of show that evening,Stereogumreported. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! The "Everything Is Everything" artist's original time slot was at 12:35 a.m., according to Essence Fest'sInstagram, making her performance two hours behind schedule. Erika Goldring/Getty Despite the late-night performance, Hill, 50, spent her set chatting with the remaining audience members at the Superdome, which can hold over 70,000 people. She took requests to sing "I Gotta Find Peace of Mind" and "Tell Him," perRolling Stone, and also performed songs from her Grammy-winning albumThe Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.Hill also sang withher sons, Zion Marley and Joshua "YG" Marley. The 2025 Essence Festival of Culture took place from Thursday, July 3 to Sunday, July 6. Read the original article onPeople

byLiam Oneel

in

July 08, 2025

Essence Fest Takes Responsibility for Lauryn Hill Ending Show at 3:37 A.M.: 'The Delay? Not Hers'

Essence Fest Takes Responsibility for Lauryn Hill Ending Show at 3:37 A.M.: 'The Delay? Not Hers' Erika Goldring/Getty Essence Fest ...

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Home of WWE Stars Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins Burglarized in the Latest in String of Athlete Robberies

Home of WWE Stars Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins Burglarized in the Latest in String of Athlete Robberies

Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins' Los Angeles home was broken into and burglarized on July 8 Around $10,000 in cash was reportedly stolen from the WWE stars' home The robbery follows a rash of home robberies seemingly targeting professional athletes WWE star coupleBecky LynchandSeth Rollins' California residence was burglarized Tuesday morning, with around $10,000 in cash reported missing. In the early hours of Tuesday, July 8, police responded to a burglary at the wrestlers' home in Playa del Rey, a seaside neighborhood of Los Angeles,NBC4 Los Angelesreported, citing law enforcement sources. A break-in was reported at approximately 2:30 a.m. local time, after which officers arrived to discover that a glass sliding window was smashed at the L.A. residence, NBC4 reported. Around $10,000 in cash was missing from the home, and no arrests have yet been made, per the outlet. At the time of the break-in, nobody was home, according toTMZ Sports. Andrea Kellaway/WWE via Getty On the evening of Monday, July 7 — just before the burglary — Rollins, 39, and Lynch, 38, were in Rhode Island to participate in aWWE Monday Night RAWevent. The Los Angeles Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Rollins and Lynch gotengagedin 2019 shortly afterhard-launching their romance, and latermarriedin 2021. They share one child,4-year-old daughter Roux. The burglary at the WWE stars' L.A. home follows a rash of home robberies seemingly targeting professional athletes. Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty In December 2024,Joe Burrow'sCincinnati area home was broken intowhile he was playing aMonday Night Footballgame in Texas. Four thieves were laterarrested for breaking into the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback's homeand stealing more than $300,000 worth of jewelry, clothes, luggage and more. ModelOlivia Ponton, whohas been linked to the NFL star since last fall, was at the home when the robbers shattered a bedroom window to gain access to the house. Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Two months earlier, the Kansas City-area homes of Chiefs starsTravis KelceandPatrick Mahomeswereburglarized within 48 hours of each other. Randy Shropshire/Getty Images Mahomes' eight-acre Belton, Mo. estate was broken into around midnight on Oct. 5. Less than 48 hours later — as the Chiefs were playing the New Orleans Saints at Arrowhead Stadium — a break-in occurred atKelce's 17,000-square-foot homein Leawood, Kansas, according to a police report obtained by PEOPLE. Seven Chilean Nationals, allegedly part of a "South American Theft Group,"were later charged in connection to burglaries. NBA players in Minnesota and Massachusetts, as well as an NHL star in Pennsylvania, have also been burglarized. Read the original article onPeople

byLiam Oneel

in

July 08, 2025

Home of WWE Stars Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins Burglarized in the Latest in String of Athlete Robberies

Home of WWE Stars Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins Burglarized in the Latest in String of Athlete Robberies Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty B...

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Rangers, Astros join pro sports teams in pledging relief efforts after deadly central Texas floods

Rangers, Astros join pro sports teams in pledging relief efforts after deadly central Texas floods

Texas' two Major League Baseball teams are joining to help recovery efforts after devastating flooding in the central part of the state. TheTexas RangersandHouston Astroseach pledged $1 million toward relief efforts Monday. They are the latest professional teams to make a donation. TheDallas Cowboys,Houston Texansand the NFL Foundation combined to donate $1.5 million, and the state's three NBA teams, along with the NBA Players Association, combined to donate more than $2 million. pic.twitter.com/Y7frVNIb3i — Texas Rangers (@Rangers)July 7, 2025 pic.twitter.com/53LQJwku8r — Houston Astros (@astros)July 7, 2025 A massive storm swept through Kerr County, which sits northwest of San Antonio, and the surrounding areas Friday. As of Tuesday afternoon,according to The New York Times, the death toll had risen to at least 111 people. At least 161 remain missing in the county, and officials said nobody had been found alive since Friday. Fast-moving waters rose more than 20 feet in fewer than two hours along the Guadalupe River on Friday morning, which led to millions of people being placed under flood watches over the weekend. A Christian summer camp for girls was especially impacted. At least 27 campers and staff members were killed in the flooding, and several are still missing. "It is important to the entire Astros organization to send immediate support to our fellow Texans throughout the Hill Country during this devastating time," Astros owner Jim Crane said in a statement. "There is a lot still unknown as recovery efforts are ongoing, but the Astros are committed to supporting Central Texas communities in the long term through the coming days, months and years to rebuild and heal. We also want to acknowledge and personally thank all for the first responders for their continued heroic efforts."

byLiam Oneel

in

July 08, 2025

Rangers, Astros join pro sports teams in pledging relief efforts after deadly central Texas floods

Rangers, Astros join pro sports teams in pledging relief efforts after deadly central Texas floods Texas' two Major League Baseball team...

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Taylor Fritz credits girlfriend Morgan Riddle after Wimbledon win sends him to semifinal

Taylor Fritz credits girlfriend Morgan Riddle after Wimbledon win sends him to semifinal

LONDON (AP) — Morgan knows best, apparently. Taylor Fritz thought the motivational note he wrote to himself after losing atWimbledonfour years ago would stay private. His girlfriend, influencer Morgan Riddle, later shared it on social media. "That note was never supposed to be public," a smiling Fritz said after his 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (4) win over Karen Khachanov set up a semifinal meeting with two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. Fritz had written to himself in the note that "nobody in the whole world is underachieving harder than you" and urged himself to get his act together. Not only does Fritz forgive Riddle, he also credits her for having such a big impact on him rising to No. 5 in the world rankings in pursuit of his first Grand Slam title. "There's been a pretty constant results-and-ranking rise since we've been together," Fritz said. "I think I would have to say she's been a big help to me just kind of keeping me focused, having someone who cares and just pushes you to just do better and do the right things, be healthier. "Almost like kind of just mother me in a way," he added, chuckling to himself, "with like, the diet and going to sleep on time." A smiling Fritz later added: "Yeah, that maybe wasn't the best choice of words." The 27-year-old American, who wasthe runner-up at last year's U.S. Open, didn't face a break point in the first two sets against No. 17 Khachanov, who rebounded in the third set. It was 4-all in the fourth-set tiebreaker before Fritz claimed the final three points on Court No. 1. It's the first time Fritz has reached the last four at Wimbledon. He's won two grass-court titles this season — Stuttgart and Eastbourne — and was happy he wouldn't be facing Alcaraz on clay, which would be "an absolute nightmare." "Grass is very much so an equalizer. It can be an equalizer. So trust in how I'm playing," he said. "I truly know the way that I played the first two sets today, there's not much any opponent on the other side can do." Alcaraz: Golf first, then Fritz The second-seeded Alcaraz is within sight of a Wimbledon three-peat. Heextended his winning streak to 23 matchesthis season by beating Cameron Norrie 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 on Centre Court. Alcaraz, who has beaten Novak Djokovic in the past two finals at the All England Club, faced only five break points and saved all of them. He wants to hit some other greens, though, before he faces Fritz "For sure I'm going to play some golf, just to switch up my mind a little bit," Alcaraz said The 22-year-old Spaniard has been playing golf with Andy Murray during his Wimbledon run. This time, his opponent could be actorTom Holland, whom he had run into earlier. "I would love to play against him in the golf course. For me it would be such an honor. I will try to set it up in these two days that I will have much time to do it. So let's see if he will be available, and we'll tee it up." ___ AP tennis:https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

byLiam Oneel

in

July 08, 2025

Taylor Fritz credits girlfriend Morgan Riddle after Wimbledon win sends him to semifinal

Taylor Fritz credits girlfriend Morgan Riddle after Wimbledon win sends him to semifinal LONDON (AP) — Morgan knows best, apparently. Taylor...

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Ringo Starr Makes Rare Comment on His 37-Year Sobriety: 'Thank the Lord'

Ringo Starr Makes Rare Comment on His 37-Year Sobriety: 'Thank the Lord'

Jason Kempin/Getty Ringo Starr is opening up about having 37 years of sobriety In an interview with reporters at Ringo Starr's Annual "Peace & Love" Birthday Celebration, the Beatles drummer also recalled opening up about ending up in rehab for alcoholism In 1989, Starr told PEOPLE that when he was seeking treatment, he "did whatever they asked me," which "pulled me through" Ringo Starris reflecting on 37 years of sobriety. In an interview with reporters at Ringo Starr's Annual "Peace & Love" Birthday Celebration in Beverly Hills, Calif., the former Beatles drummer opened up about how his life has shifted in the years since he stopped drinking alcohol. "Well, I ended up in a rehab because I was not treating myself or anyone around me with any respect," Starr —who turned 85 on Monday, July 7— says of his decision to get sober. He added: "It was all about me, and I came out, and I haven't had a drink since. Thank the Lord." Tibrina Hobson/CBS via Getty Over the years, Starr has opened up about his alcoholism, revealing to theTimes of Londonin 2015 that the 1970s and 1980s were a blur. "I was drunk," he told the publication. "Some of those years are absolutely gone." Furthermore, Starr recalled how greatly the Beatles' split impacted him. "I was mad," he said. "For 20 years. I had breaks in between of not being." The PEOPLE Appis now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! In 1989, Starr reflected on entering treatment for alcohol addiction with his wife, Barbara Bach for five weeks, years after they wed in 1981. "Eight days in, I decided, 'I'm here to get help because I know I'm sick,'"he told PEOPLEat the time. "I just did whatever they asked me and, thank god, it pulled me through." On Wednesday, July 2, Starr opened up toThe New York Timesabout his milestone birthday. "It blows me away,"he told the outlet, adding: "I look in the mirror and I'm 24. I never got older than 24." Starr also revealed that he maintains his vitality because he loves what he's doing. "I live in the now," the "Gonna Need Someone" artist said. "I didn't plan any of it. Ilovethat life I'm allowed to live." Read the original article onPeople

byLiam Oneel

in

July 08, 2025

Ringo Starr Makes Rare Comment on His 37-Year Sobriety: 'Thank the Lord'

Ringo Starr Makes Rare Comment on His 37-Year Sobriety: 'Thank the Lord' Jason Kempin/Getty Ringo Starr is opening up about having 3...

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Latest ‘Tiger King’ twist finds ‘Doc’ Antle sentenced to 1 year in prison for animal trafficking

Latest 'Tiger King' twist finds 'Doc' Antle sentenced to 1 year in prison for animal trafficking

"Tiger King" star Bhagavan "Doc" Antle was sentenced on Tuesday to one year and a day in federal prison and fined $55,000 for trafficking in exotic animals and money laundering afterpleading guiltyin November 2023. Antle'sfate was resolvedin a federal courtroom in Charleston, South Carolina, five years after the true crime documentary "Tiger King" captivated a country shut down by COVID-19. Three others who pleaded guilty in his investigation received either probation or a four-month prison sentence. Antle's sentence is the final true-life chapter of the Tiger King saga. The Netflix series debuted in March 2020 near the peak of COVID-19 restrictions. The show centered on dealers and conservationists of big cats, focusing on disputes between Joe Exotic, a collector and private zookeeper from Oklahoma, and Carole Baskin, who runs Big Cat Rescue in Florida. Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, is serving a 21-yearfederal prison sentencefor trying to hire two different men to kill Baskin. Antle, who owns a private zoo called Myrtle Beach Safari, appeared in the first season of the documentary and was the star of the third season. Antle's zoo was known for charging hundreds or thousands of dollars to let people pet and hold baby animals like lions, tigers and monkeys that were so young they were still being bottle-fed. Customers could have photos or videos made. Antle would sometimes ride into tours on an elephant. Myrtle Beach Safari remains open by reservation only, according to its website. Antle had remained out on bail since his arrest in June 2022. Antle's federal charges were brought after the "Tiger King" series. Prosecutors said he sold or bought cheetahs, lions, tigers and a chimpanzee without the proper paperwork. And they said in a separate scheme, Antle laundered more than $500,000 that an informant told him was being used to get people into the U.S. illegally to work. Antle was used to having large amounts of money he could move around quickly, investigators said. The FBI was listening to Antle's phone calls with the informant as he explained a baby chimpanzee could easily cost $200,000. Private zookeepers can charge hundreds of dollars for photos with docile young primates or other animals, but the profit window is only open for a few years before the growing animals can no longer be safely handled. "I had to get a monkey, but the people won't take a check. They only take cash. So what do you do?" Antle said according to a transcript of the phone call in court papers. Two of Antle's employees have already been sentenced for their roles in his schemes. Meredith Bybee was given a year of probation for selling a chimpanzee while Andrew "Omar" Sawyer, who prosecutors said helped Antle launder money, was given two years of probation. Jason Clay, a Texas private zoo owner, pleaded guilty to illegally selling a primate and was sentenced to four months in prison, while charges were dropped against California ranch owner Charles Sammut. Antle was alsoconvicted in 2023in a Virginia court of four counts of wildlife trafficking over sales of lions and was sentenced to two years of prison suspended "upon five years of good behavior." Anappeals courtoverturned two of the convictions, ruling that Virginia law bans the sale of endangered species but not their purchase. Antle was found not guilty of five counts of animal cruelty at that same Virginia trial. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byLiam Oneel

in

July 08, 2025

Latest ‘Tiger King’ twist finds ‘Doc’ Antle sentenced to 1 year in prison for animal trafficking

Latest 'Tiger King' twist finds 'Doc' Antle sentenced to 1 year in prison for animal trafficking "Tiger King" star...

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