Shalina Chatlani | (TNS) Stateline.org

Nearly 1 of every 5 uninsured working-age adults across the 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act are, according to a new analysis, stuck in a health care limbo known as a “coverage gap.” That means they earn too much money to receive Medicaid but not enough to qualify for financial help to purchase their own plan on the marketplace.

In Alabama and Mississippi, more than a quarter of uninsured working-age adults are left with no affordable pathways to health coverage, according to the analysis from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a progressive think tank that researches federal and state budget policies. Overall, 1.6 million adults between the ages of 19 and 64 face the situation in the non-expansion states.

“They are all people with incomes below the federal poverty level, and yet they have no financial assistance or coverage,” said Gideon Lukens, senior fellow and director of research and data analysis with the organization’s health policy team.

The analysis also found that more than 60% of those who fall into this gap are people of color: Latino people account for 35%, Black residents account for 24%, and Asian people account for 2%.

Mississippi state Rep. Robert Johnson, a Democrat, said the lack of insurance coverage contributes to other problems — such as the closures of hospitals that have to cover the cost of treating uninsured patients — in all types of communities.

“This is not a conservative or liberal issue. This is about the people that we represent in the state of Mississippi, whether they be Black or white,” Johnson said in an interview. “This is a life-or-death issue for not just individuals, but the whole communities.”

What’s the coverage gap?

The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, was enacted in 2010, but 10 states have not expanded Medicaid, the federal-state program that provides health care for low-income people. They are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

The Affordable Care Act allowed states to expand Medicaid to cover people up to 138% of the federal poverty line. The costs of insuring more people would be paid for primarily with federal funds and a smaller state match. People who earned more than that could receive tax credits to subsidize health insurance costs.

But in the states that didn’t expand, many people with low incomes were left without affordable options.

Jennifer Tolbert, deputy director of the Program on Medicaid and the Uninsured at the nonprofit health research organization KFF, told Stateline most people in the coverage gap have jobs but may work in industries and for employers that are much less likely to provide health insurance coverage, such as in the service industry or construction.

“They simply don’t have access to affordable health insurance coverage, and therefore fall into what we call the coverage gap,” Tolbert said.

In Alabama, for example, people are only eligible for Medicaid if they earn at or below 18% of the federal poverty line, about $4,678 a year for a three-person household. But health insurance cost subsidies would only kick in for people earning at 100% of the federal poverty line, which means those in the coverage gap may be stuck with premiums at upward of hundreds of dollars a month if they got a marketplace plan.

Considering expansion

Some analysts say that, despite misgivings about the Affordable Care Act, holdout states will need to reconsider expansion to bring in federal matching funds and help their residents.

“There is no real solution to ensuring some level of health insurance coverage for this population, absent a Medicaid expansion,” said James C. Capretta, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a center-right public policy think tank.

“If you’re going to have a safety net insurance system in this country, which we should have, it absolutely has to be reliably there for people in this kind of income with these kinds of income levels,” Capretta said. “There needs to be some push and movement to see if there is a way forward to get the coverage gap fully closed.”

In Mississippi, where Republican Gov. Tate Reeves has said he would veto any bill on Medicaid expansion, there has still been some movement. Both chambers of the Mississippi legislature earlier this year approved versions of bipartisan legislation that would have expanded Medicaid with work requirements. But the measure failed after legislators were unable to settle on a final version.

“My argument to my Republicans has been, ‘The ACA is with us. With 40 states now enacting it, it’s going to be with us,’” White told Stateline. “‘And if you can’t get there for the compassion and the health care coverage for these low-income working Mississippians, get yourself there because of the savings and the cost benefits it is for our health care industry and for our state economy as a whole.’”

White said the Republican caucus has been seeing a change in temperature, with more support for expansion. He added that for the first time, the Mississippi business community supports a pathway to Medicaid coverage, which could help get a veto-proof bill through the legislature.

“We have finally seen the thawing of the ice here,” White said. “Now, where that leads to the next session in the coming years, I don’t know. But I’m encouraged.”

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a national nonprofit news organization focused on state policy.

©2024 States Newsroom. Visit at stateline.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Steven McDonald was still an adolescent when he and his older brother Jeff formed Redd Kross in Hawthorne, Calif. — famously also the home of the Beach Boys. It’s safe to say they didn’t expect the band to still be going — strong, no less — 45 years later.

And the quartet is certainly celebrating on this anniversary.

It has a documentary, “Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story,” that’s been on the festival circuit and a band biography, “Now You’re One of Us: The Incredible Story of Redd Kross,” due out in October. The group also released a self-titled new album, it’s first in five years, at the end of June.

The McDonalds and their current bandmates — guitarist Jason Shapiro and drummer Dale Crover (also of the Melvins) — are on the road now, too, and the younger McDonald is confident Redd Kross will be around to celebrate more anniversaries in the future…

• McDonald, 57, says things in Redd Kross 45 years on “are not as (different) as you might think. I suppose there’s some sort of, like, wisdom of experience, not sweating the little things, stuff like that. But at the same time it’s still, like, a thrill, like it was when I was a little kid. It still feels very fresh…I guess because I still care a lot, so I’m not so jaded and you can go do a show and it’s still really exhilarating…which makes me happy.”

• For the “Red Kross” album, McDonald says the group wrote a robust 18 songs for “Red Kross,” including a title song for the documentary. But they were surprised that all the tracks passed their quality control litmus. “We figured, ‘We’ll go in and do 14 with the idea two of them will be bonus tracks for foreign territories or something. But when we chose which songs to drop, it was hard to let go. So it just kind of turned into this thing, ‘Let’s record those other songs,’ and eventually it was like, ‘…these are all good. Let’s just do ’em all and put ’em out there.'”

• McDonald says he and his brother were further inspired after watching Peter Jackson’s acclaimed “Get Back” documentary series about the Beatles’ January 1970 recording sessions in London. “It was…relatable, that’s the best word I can think of. You saw they were just people, and…it was very demystifying and it was great to hear them working up a song from scratch and sounding scratchy and ramshackle and realizing that as much as they’re perhaps the greatest rock band of all time they were also human and had to work hard to get to that place. That was a great reminder for us once we started rehearsing for our new record. There’s always an uphill climb.”

• The Redd Kross album was produced by former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, who Steven McDonald had worked with in Sparks. “That was really special. We’re siblings and we can get into power struggles. But with Josh there we were really on our best behavior, and it was great to give that strong of a voice to a third party. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to be with someone I really respected, musically, and to let some of that (responsibility) go. So maybe it was challenging, but ultimately I’m lucky enough to realize how lucky we were to have that situation.”

• McDonald considers this the “third act” of Redd Kross’ career, and he has high aspirations for what he hopes the band will achieve from here. “I want it to be filled with the best things we’ve ever done — to make the best music we’ve ever made and do the best shows we’ve ever done and become as consistent as I’ve always dreamed of. What we may be lacking in the free pass of youth we now have wisdom to lean on, and things that may have seemed mystifying to me I just don’t ask about anymore. It won’t always go the way we want, but I think that now I’m more equipped to roll with the punches than I’ve ever been, which allows me to be better at enjoying the good things that do happen. That’s the antidote to aging, I think.”

Redd Kross performs Tuesday, July 30 at El Club, 4114 Vernor Highway, Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. (313)757-7942 or elclubdetroit.com.

By HOWARD FENDRICH, AP Tennis Writer

PARIS (AP) — Coco Gauff plans to avoid pestering LeBron James when they share flag-bearing duties for the United States during Friday’s Olympic opening ceremony along the Seine River.

Yes, the reigning U.S. Open champion said Thursday, she will heed her tennis teammates’ request that she ask the NBA’s career leading scorer for some commemorative pins from the 2024 Olympics. No problem there. But what Gauff doesn’t want to do — excited as she is to meet James — is be a bother.

“I don’t want to ask him too much about advice or anything like that,” the 20-year-old tennis star said about the 39-year-old basketball star in an interview with The Associated Press, “because I feel like he’s trying to probably enjoy the experience as much as possible, too.”

Accomplished as she already is, Gauff sounds like any wide-eyed fan when describing some of her interactions in the athletes village. She met swimmer Katie Ledecky and gymnast Simone Biles. Looks forward to running into Sha’Carri Richardson and Gabby Thomas of track fame.

“I am thriving in the village,” Gauff said at a news conference. “I feel like a little kid, like trick or treating on Halloween.”

She is the youngest flag bearer for her country at a Summer Games and the first tennis player to receive the honor. As someone who grew up watching and admiring the Williams sisters — and whose first Olympic memory is following along on TV at age 8 while Serena won gold at London in 2012 — Gauff found it a bit hard to believe she is the first American athlete from her sport to get this prominent role.

“I almost feel like I’m having a little bit of imposter syndrome,” she said at the news conference, “but I am going to try to just take it in and be happy for myself.”

Gauff, who is based in Florida, missed the Tokyo Games three years ago after testing positive for COVID-19 right before she was supposed to board a plane to fly to Japan. Once tennis begins Saturday on the clay of Roland Garros, site of the French Open, she’ll be participating in three events at these Olympics: singles, in which she is seeded No. 2 behind Iga Swiatek; women’s doubles with Jessica Pegula; and mixed doubles with Taylor Fritz.

First things first, though.

Gauff said she cried when she first heard about the flag job from teammate Chris Eubanks — but went off to a corner when the tears came, so as not to have everyone else on the U.S. roster see — and cried again when delivering the news to her mom over the phone (both of her parents arrived in Paris on Thursday and will be watching the opening ceremony in-person).

“I know this will be a memory I will remember for the rest of my life,” Gauff said.

Eubanks, a Wimbledon quarterfinalist last year, has been a friend of Gauff’s for years — “basically a brother,” she said — and nominated her to carry the flag.

“The way that she’s kind of handled all of the variety — the success, the ups and downs of the tour, that she’s kind of experienced — she’s handled it all with class, and I think people are starting to see her as more than just a tennis player,” Eubanks said. “That’s one of the major things that being a flag bearer represents. Not just your accomplishments on the court; what you kind of bring to the world.”

Like a champion athlete scouting a future opponent, Gauff did some research online to try to figure out what she needs to know about flag bearing, but didn’t come up with much, other than realizing that instead of two flags — one for her, one for James — they will share the duties Friday.

She was eager to hear more about what it will all entail.

Her biggest concerns?

“Well, I just hope I don’t drop it,” Gauff said. “And I hope it’s not too hot. Those are the two things I think I’ve been thinking about the most.”

By STEPHEN HAWKINS

The Associated Press

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer tied for 10th on the career strikeout list when the Texas Rangers right-hander recorded his 3,393rd on Thursday against the Chicago White Sox.

Scherzer matched former teammate and fellow three-time Cy Young winner Justin Verlander for the most among active pitchers after striking out two in the first inning. The second was Andrew Vaughn’s swing-and-miss for the final out.

“Pretty incredible. I mean, you look at his career, being in the top 10, that’s pretty special,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said before the game. “This game has been going on for a long time … and he’s one of the best pitchers in the game. And the numbers show that.”

Two days before his 40th birthday, Scherzer was pitching in his 464th career game over 17 big league seasons. Scherzer has also played for Arizona, Detroit, Washington, the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets. He was part of World Series titles with the Nationals in 2019 and the Rangers last season.

Scherzer and the 41-year-old Verlander, now with Houston, were teammates with the Tigers from 2010-14, during a span when both won baseball’s top pitching award. Scherzer was the Cy Young winner in 2013, and then again in 2016 and 2017 with the Washington Nationals. Verlander won that award in 2011, and in 2019 and 2022 with the Astros.

Verlander hasn’t pitched for the Astros since June 9 because of neck stiffness that caused him to go on the injured list. His 519 starts are the most among active pitchers, while Scherzer is second at 455 in two fewer seasons.

It was only Scherzer’s seventh start since offseason back surgery. He exited Saturday against Baltimore after two innings and 53 pitches because of arm fatigue.

PARIS (AP) — On the heels of low ratings for the coronavirus pandemic-marred Tokyo and Beijing Olympics, Paris may not do much better among U.S. viewers, a new poll from Gallup released Thursday found.

Simone Biles and women’s gymnastics are poised to be a bright spot, with those surveyed selecting it as their most anticipated sport.

But according to the poll, 30% of respondents said they will not watch any of the Games, 34% said they will not watch much, and 35% saying they would watch at least a fair amount. That last figure is down from the 48% measured before the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Gallup did not measure viewing intentions for the Tokyo Olympics, which were delayed a year.

NBC’s prime-time coverage of the Tokyo Olympics mostly drew about half the audience of its Summer Games predecessor. The Beijing Olympics had the lowest-ever U.S. audience for a Winter Games. Both Games were held under severe restrictions, limiting spectators and dampening the typical fanfare. NBC, which holds the U.S. broadcasting rights through 2032, is trying to turn around that trend by enlisting a slew of entertainers and non-Olympian athletes in its coverage.

The last three Olympics, including the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, were held in time zones that limited how much live action NBC could air in prime time.

The network did not immediately respond to The Associated Press’ request for comment on the poll. Biles and the rest of the U.S. gymnastics squad could bring in high ratings, though, with Gallup finding in general that women’s sports were as anticipated as men’s. Forty-two percent chose women’s gymnastics as their most anticipated sport, while more than two-thirds of respondents ranked it in their top three. That competition begins with qualifying on Sunday.

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The landscape of college football is on the verge of a significant shift. With the NCAA poised to eliminate the current scholarship cap of 85 players, a new era of roster management is dawning. In place of the scholarship limit, a lower overall roster limit is expected, potentially forcing programs to operate with significantly fewer players. This change, while seemingly administrative, has the potential to ripple through the sport, impacting everything from player development to competitive balance.

The End of the Walk-On Era?

Traditionally, college football rosters have bulged well beyond the 85 scholarship limit. Programs rely heavily on walk-ons, student-athletes who contribute to the team without a full scholarship. These players provide valuable depth, foster team culture, and sometimes even develop into stars. Names like Jerry Rice, Tony Romo, and Trevor Lawrence all began their careers as walk-ons. However, with a tighter roster cap, walk-on opportunities could become scarce.

Schools will be forced to prioritize their resources, potentially leaving fewer spots for walk-ons. This could be a significant blow to programs that have built their identity on walk-on contributions. Nebraska’s Coach Matt Rhule, known for his reliance on walk-ons, has voiced his concerns, highlighting the potential loss of a valuable resource and a unique aspect of college football.

The impact could extend beyond individual programs. Walk-ons often come from smaller high schools or under-recruited areas. Reduced walk-on opportunities could limit exposure for these players, potentially hindering their ability to showcase their talent and pursue their athletic dreams.

Impact on Player Development

With fewer players, coaches will likely have more time to dedicate to individual development. This could be a boon for top recruits, who will receive more focused coaching attention. Quarterbacks, for instance, could benefit from increased reps and personalized instruction on game preparation.

However, concerns exist about the impact on less heralded players. Reduced competition for playing time could hinder their growth, potentially creating a two-tiered system where top recruits receive the bulk of the coaching resources. This raises questions about the future of player development for most college football players who are not projected NFL draft picks.

The Transfer Portal Conundrum

The rise of the transfer portal has already transformed college football. With stricter roster limits, the portal could become even more crucial. Teams with injuries or unexpected departures will need to find immediate replacements, potentially leading to a more transient player landscape. This constant churn could disrupt team chemistry and make it harder for programs to build sustained success. Coaches may be forced to prioritize “plug-and-play” transfers with immediate starting potential over younger players who require more development time.

The Competitive Landscape

One of the biggest questions surrounding new roster limits is their impact on competitive balance. Proponents argue that a smaller pool of players will force schools to be more selective in their recruiting, potentially leading to a more even playing field. Smaller programs might be able to compete for a wider range of talented players who wouldn’t necessarily receive offers from powerhouse schools with a focus on stockpiling blue-chip recruits.

Take the Iowa State Cyclones, for example. In recent years, they’ve emerged as a force in the Big 12 despite not having the same recruiting resources as traditional powerhouses. With a smaller overall talent pool, could the Cyclones find themselves on more even footing with these top programs, thus improving the Iowa State Cyclones Odds of success?

However, critics fear that the opposite could occur. Wealthier programs may be better equipped to navigate the new landscape. They could use their financial resources to offer more lucrative NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals, potentially attracting top talent and further widening the gap between the haves and have-nots.

Financial Considerations

The financial impact of roster limits is another point of contention. While some argue that smaller rosters will lead to cost savings on travel, equipment, and training supplies, others point out that programs may simply redirect their resources towards recruiting and player compensation, potentially negating any financial benefits. Additionally, with the rise of NIL deals, the overall cost of running a college football program will likely increase. How athletic departments will manage these competing financial pressures remains to be seen.

The Future of College Football

The impact of new roster limits on college football remains uncertain. The changes could lead to a more streamlined, professionalized version of the sport, focusing more on elite athletes and immediate results. However, there’s also a risk of losing some unique aspects of college football, such as the walk-on tradition and the development of less-heralded players.

The new system’s success will depend on how it’s implemented and how coaches adapt. Striking a balance between player development, competitive balance, and preserving the essence of college football will be crucial.

Additionally, the potential impact on academic pursuits and student-athlete experience needs careful consideration. Due to a smaller roster, will players have enough time to devote to their studies with a potentially more demanding practice schedule? How can programs ensure players’ mental and physical well-being in a more competitive environment?

The Rise of Specialization

Specialization could become a more prominent trend with fewer players competing for roster spots. This might involve increased use of position-specific coaches and tailored training programs to maximize individual skill sets.

For example, a program might utilize a dedicated slot receiver coach to refine the nuances of route running and blocking schemes specific to that position. While specialization can maximize player performance, it’s important to find a balance to ensure players maintain a well-rounded skill set and avoid injury due to overuse.

The Voice of the Players

The players’ voices should be central to the conversation surrounding roster limits. Their perspectives on the potential impact of these changes on playing time, development opportunities, and overall well-being are essential. Open communication between players, coaches, athletic departments, and the NCAA will be critical in ensuring a smooth transition to the new system and a future that prioritizes the best interests of student-athletes.

Final Words

The NCAA’s decision to move away from scholarship limits and towards roster limits represents a significant shift in college football. While the impact remains uncertain, one thing is clear: the future of the sport will be shaped by how effectively the various stakeholders adapt and navigate this new landscape.

The coming years will be a period of change and adjustment, with potential benefits and challenges. By prioritizing player development, competitive balance, and the overall well-being of student-athletes, college football can emerge from this transition as a stronger and more sustainable sport.

Rong-Gong Lin II | (TNS) Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES — The risk of developing long COVID — enduring, sometimes punishing symptoms that linger well after a coronavirus infection — has decreased since the start of the pandemic, a new study found, with the drop particularly evident among those who are vaccinated.

But the dip does not mean the risk of developing long COVID has vanished. And given the rise in new infections, particularly during periods like now, when data indicate transmission is elevated, even a lower rate of prevalence means many Americans risk developing symptoms that can last months or years after their initial infection clears.

“We have people in the clinic here with long COVID, and they’re significantly affected, and some of them are profoundly disabled,” said Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, chief of research and development at the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System in Missouri.

The study, published Wednesday, July 17 in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that 10.4% of people who were infected early in the pandemic suffered from long COVID symptoms a year after their acute infection.

But during the Omicron era, which began in mid-December 2021 when that variant became the dominant version of the coronavirus circulating worldwide, 3.5% of vaccinated people suffered from long COVID a year after their infection, as did 7.8% of unvaccinated people.

“It’s good news,” said Al-Aly, a coauthor of the study. “Long COVID is on the descent. It’s declining and has gone down over the course of the pandemic.”

But it’s still a concern that long COVID rates remain as high as they are, Al-Aly said, especially as COVID “is still affecting millions of people.”

“Three-point-five-percent is not zero,” Al-Aly said. “That’s still three to four individuals out of 100 of a disease that could be, in some instances, devastating.”

The study was based on health records held by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which had data on more than 441,000 veterans who were infected with the coronavirus between March 1, 2020, and Jan. 31, 2022, and monitored for a year after their infection to track whether they experienced long COVID. The other coauthors are Yan Xie and Taeyoung Choi, who are also affiliated with the VA St. Louis Health Care System.

Whenever someone is infected with the coronavirus, there is a chance they will develop long COVID — a catchall term used to describe a wide array of serious symptoms that can result in chronic disability, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some individuals have suffered from long COVID continuously since they were infected in the pandemic’s earlier days, while others have seen their symptoms resolve within months.

Long COVID symptoms include fatigue that interferes with daily life, brain fog and post-exertional malaise, in which symptoms worsen with physical or mental effort. Long COVID can also cause a fast-beating or pounding heart, dizziness when you stand up, depression and anxiety.

Millions of American adults and children have suffered or are still suffering from long COVID.

There are a few potential reasons why long COVID is rarer than it once was.

First, the coronavirus — officially known as SARS-CoV-2 — has changed significantly since it was first identified in December 2019.

“We still call it COVID, but in truth, COVID has really shifted shapes on us, like, multiple times,” Al-Aly said.

That would explain why “the risk has actually declined even among unvaccinated individuals,” Al-Aly said. “So even without being touched by vaccines, just the virus itself has mellowed over time.”

But as the study found, getting vaccinated did further reduce the risk of developing long COVID.

“Vaccines do two things: They first reduce the severity of infection,” Al-Aly said.

Second, “they actually help your immune system get rid of the virus faster,” Al-Aly said. “They enhance the ability of the immune system to clear the virus … and so there is less virus to wreak havoc” on organs and bodily systems.

One leading theory of the root cause of long COVID is that the coronavirus persists in the body long after an acute infection is over, Al-Aly said. So, if getting a vaccine helps the immune system get rid of the virus faster, that could lessen the chance of developing the syndrome.

“We know vaccine immunity wanes with time,” Al-Aly said. “Definitely keep up to date on your vaccination.”

The severity of long COVID varies from person to person. Some might experience mild cognitive dysfunction or fatigue, but can still accomplish daily tasks like taking their children to school or walking the dog. Others can suffer such “debilitating fatigue that they’re really, really, really profoundly disabled by it — they cannot get out of bed … they cannot literally perform their activities of daily living,” Al-Aly said.

Long COVID can emerge, persist, resolve and reemerge over a period of weeks or months, according to the CDC.

There are other data suggesting that long COVID’s incidence has declined since earlier in the pandemic. Based on survey data, the prevalence of long COVID among U.S. adults was 7.5% in early June 2022, but had decreased to roughly 6% in early January 2023, according to a report published last summer by the CDC. Since then, the “prevalence remained unchanged” to mid-June 2023, shortly before that report was published.

About 1 in 4 adults who reported having long COVID when surveyed said they had significant limitations on their typical activities — highlighting “the importance of COVID prevention, including staying up to date with recommended COVID-19 vaccination,” the report said.

COVID and long COVID remain a more significant public health threat than the flu. People sometimes get long-term complications after battling the flu, Al-Aly said, “but there are definitely a whole lot more COVID cases than the flu. So you’re much more likely, probabilistically, to get COVID than the flu.”

Even at this point, more people are dying from and being hospitalized with COVID than the flu, Al-Aly said. The CDC estimates that there have been at least 25,000 flu deaths nationally since the start of October, compared with at least 46,000 COVID-19 deaths reported over the same period. Updated death estimates for the past flu season will be available this autumn.

Besides getting vaccinated, other ways to help avoid long COVID include testing when you’re sick to see if you have COVID. A confirmed diagnosis can help higher-risk people get a prescription for Paxlovid, antiviral pills that can help lessen the severity of infections and potentially reducing the risk of long COVID, Al-Aly said.

Other steps include wearing a mask in higher-risk situations. Al-Aly said he wears an N95 mask on planes, and masks strategically in higher-risk settings. He’s also more on guard about masking when there’s an uptick in COVID, as there is now nationally. And dining at restaurants outdoors remains less risky than dining indoors.

___

©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The MJR Theatres chain has been delivering state-of-the-art cinematic experiences to Michigan audiences for over 40 years and is now boasting new technology that extends the width of the movie screen for a more immersive viewing experience.

Through a partnership with Korean production company CJ 4DPLEX, MJR is now offering ScreenX at its Waterford theater. It’s the only ScreenX offering in Michigan.

ScreenX is the world’s first multi-projection cinema technology that enhances the traditional movie-going experience by extending the screen onto the surrounding walls of the auditorium. Images on the main screen expand to the left and to the right, into one’s peripheral view, in a panoramic 270 degree arc. ScreenX immerses the audience in a way that you become part of the on-screen action.

“We started talking to the guys at ScreenX around this time last year,” said Joel Kincaid, MJR’s vice president of operations. “We were really just seeking different experiences that are unique that we could provide to our guests in the community. And we were excited to be the first to bring this to Michigan and the entire state. It seemed like the demand was there so we wanted to capitalize on it. …

“What ScreenX does is brings a 270 degree field of view, with three projectors, instead of one, that project on the walls. So, you’re still focusing on the big screen like normal movie going. But what it does is brings the action-packed scenes out and surrounds you.”

Featuring a Barco Laser projector, the ScreenX auditorium delivers superior images, exceptional brightness levels and unparalleled vivid colors, officials said. The extended portions of the screen typically aren’t activated for the entire film, but for about an hour.

“We’re the only multi-projection theater system in the world,” explained Duncan MacDonald, senior vice president and head of worldwide marketing and theater development for CJ 4DPLEX. “No one else surrounds the audience with select exclusive imagery for 55-60 minutes of a film. Some have compared the ScreenX experience to 3D, without the glasses, or VR (virtual reality), without the headset. But it’s really about your peripheral vision and filling that out.”

“Twisters” was the first ScreenX movie to show in Waterford. Others in the works are “Deadpool & Wolverine” and “Alien: Romulus.”

The dedicated ScreenX theater at MJR Waterford has about 100 seats. While there’s just one ScreenX theater in one MJR facility at the moment, Kincaid said, more could be added in the future.

For more information on tickets and ScreenX showings, visit mjrtheatres.com/screenx.

This week marked the 15th anniversary of the last increase to the federal minimum wage, as it has remained $7.25 for all covered nonexempt workers since July 24, 2009.

The 15-year period is the longest stretch the federal minimum wage has gone without an increase since one was implemented in 1938. The federal minimum wage remained unchanged from 1997 through 2007 when it increased from $5.15 an hour to $5.85.

In 2008, the minimum wage went up again to $6.55. Then it was raised to $7.25 in 2009 where it has remained ever since. That means someone working full-time at the current minimum wage would earn $15,080 a year.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 33 states have minimum wage laws that exceed federal requirements. But the federal minimum wage still applies in the following states:

Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.

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If the 2009 minimum wage had kept up with inflation, the minimum wage would now equal $10.58. If the minimum wage in 1997 kept up with inflation, it would now be $10.08. But dating back to 1975 when the minimum wage was $2.10 an hour, it would now have the spending power of $12.66.

Meanwhile, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that fewer Americans are making minimum wage. According to federal data, 1.3% of workers made at or below minimum wage in 2023, compared to 6% in 2010 and 13.4% in 1979. Those aged 16-19 were most likely to be in minimum wage jobs.

Although not many Americans are making minimum wage, there is a sizable chunk of the country making below $15 an hour.

According to an Oxfam report, using 2022 data, 31.9% of the workforce had an hourly rate of under $15 an hour. Its data showed that a majority of working single parents made less than $15 an hour.

Meanwhile, those earning less than $15 an hour are making far less than the national average. As of June 2024, the average worker was making $35 an hour, the Labor Department said.

The world is about to get a surf show for the history books.

Surfing is just one of dozens of sports to be showcased in the 2024 Paris Olympics, but it will be unlike the rest, held nearly 10,000 miles away on a small island in French Polynesia.

The 48 surfers coming from 21 countries will battle at the surf spot, Teahupo’o, which translates to “wall of skulls” or “broken skull.” Other translations say it is called “The End of the Road.” They’ll ride inside the deep barrel that could mean the thrill of their life – but one slip and they could meet with the razor-sharp reef below and a mountain of a wave crashing down on them.

Who to watch

Team USA has five athletes competing, two men and three women – all who have the potential to take gold.

San Clemente’s Griffin Colapinto and Hawaii’s John John Florence on the men’s team are experienced World Tour surfers who have put in plenty of time at the surf spot. Florence is a master barrel rider who grew up at the famed Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu.

On the women’s team, Florida surfer Caroline Marks, who has called San Clemente home in recent years, will be one to watch. She’s currently the women’s world champion and last year won the Tahiti Pro at Teahupo’o.

Caitlin Simmers, of Oceanside, came in second spot in that same contest and, in recent years, has proven herself in big, barreling waves. Hawaii’s Carissa Moore rounds out the team, a five-time world champion who won the first-ever surfing Olympic gold medal in Japan.

Local surf fans will also be cheering on Kanoa Igarashi, of Huntington Beach, who will be competing for Team Japan. Igarashi is matched up in the first heat with Brazil’s Filipe Toledo, who also more recently has called San Clemente home. Toledo will be joined by three-time world champion Gabriel Medina, who has had much success at the surf break through the years.

Local French Polynesian surfers Kauli Vaast and Vahine Fierro, who has earned the name “the Queen of Teahupo’o,” call this surf spot their home break.

“Here, you will see the best of the best,” said International Surfing Association President Fernando Aguerre. “And the reality is, some surfers who are really good have made their way there by beating (world tour) surfers. It’s the most democratic way, the United Nations of Surfing. The level you see here is the top of the top.”

Is it too dangerous?

All of the surfers have had training time at Teahupo’o. The ISA did two surfing camps, Aguerre said.

Some surfers have been taking trips on their own to get more time on the wave, with plenty of practice clips from recent months circulating on social media.

All of the surfers have also been advised to wear helmets.

“In our training camps, everyone came with their own helmets,” Aguerre said. “It’s probably one of the first times we see a surfing competition where most people wear helmets.”

While Teahupo’o can get too big to even run, there are the days leading up to a mega swell or as it is dying down that could be ideal for competition, he noted.

“For me, in every competition, the health of the athletes is the most important,” he said. “I will be focusing on that.”

When will it run?

The surf contest window starts on July 27 and is open through Aug. 5. The contest needs three-and-a-half to four days to run; officials will decide when they think conditions are best.

Surf forecasters are calling for good surf to kick off the event window, with overhead sets and ideal wind on July 27, according to Huntington Beach-based Surfline.com. It might not be the building-size waves this surf break can see, but that could be better for those competitors less familiar with the surf spot.

Wind conditions look good, forecasts say, with glassy conditions in the morning, shifting to offshore winds by the afternoon.

July 28 will have an ease in size and more uncertainty with wind, said forecaster Kevin Wallis.

There’s even more uncertainty mid-week as a low pressure system moves in, but it’s likely there will be an increase in surf during that window, forecasters said.

Opening ceremonies

Watch for the opening “Sands of the Nations” ceremony on July 26 in coverage of the competition. It’s where the surfers from various countries will get together to put sands from their hometowns in a glass jar, a tradition that started at the ISA World Games in Huntington Beach in 1996.

How it’s judged

A judging panel will be scoring the waves on a scale of one to 10. For each wave, the highest and lowest scores are discarded, and the surfer’s final score is the average of the three remaining.

A surfer’s two highest-scoring waves are combined for an overall total.

There are five criteria the judges are looking at: Commitment and degree of difficulty; innovative and progressive maneuvers; the variety of maneuvers; the combination of major maneuvers; and speed, power and flow.

The format for Olympic surfing will give every surfer a chance to surf twice. The winners of Round 1 advance to Round 3 with the second and third place surfers going to an elimination Round 2.

From Round 3 onward, heats are one-on-one with winners advancing and second place eliminated. The surfing will progress through the quarterfinals, semifinals and into the bronze and gold medal matches.

How to watch

Tahiti is three hours behind California, making it much easier for West Coast spectators to tune in to watch than the Tokyo Games. So if the surf contest starts at 7 a.m., viewers can watch at 10 a.m. here.

The time difference between Europe and Tahiti also works well. As people are sitting down for dinner and getting the recaps for the day’s events, the morning surf contest will just be starting.

Aguerre expects the surf portion of the Olympics to be the most widely-watched surfing competition in history.

NBC will be the television provider for the Olympics. Viewers without cable can log in through the streaming service Peacock.

More info: olympics.com/en/paris-2024/sports/surfing

By GRAHAM DUNBAR, AP Sports Writer

PARIS (AP) — The U.S. figure skating team was formally confirmed as gold medalists from the 2022 Beijing Olympics by a sports court ruling Thursday, opening the way for the team to get its medals at the Paris Summer Games.

“We are thrilled to finally honor these incredible athletes,” Sarah Hirshland, chief executive of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, said in a statement. “We are especially excited that the beautiful city of Paris will join us in this celebration.”

It is now nearly 2 1/2 years and multiple layers of Court of Arbitration for Sport appeals since the American skaters left the Beijing Winter Games without a medal of any color.

They had placed second in the team event to the Russians including teenage star Kamila Valieva, who within hours was implicated in a doping case that took almost two years to judge.

Now, Evan Bates, Karen Chen, Nathan Chen, Madison Chock, Zachary Donohue, Brandon Frazier, Madison Hubbell, Alexa Knierim and Vincent Zhou should be coming to Paris as official Olympic champions.

On Thursday, CAS said three judges dismissed Russian appeals to be reinstated as the team gold medalist. The Olympic title was lost in January when Valieva was disqualified and banned for four years.

It took the latest CAS ruling in the Valieva saga to guarantee the U.S. team its overdue gold medals, and for Japan to be in line for upgraded silvers.

Special medal ceremonies are planned by the IOC in the second week of the Paris Olympics to honor athletes whose results have been upgraded because of doping cases that were prosecuted and resolved in recent years.

Those celebrations will be in the Champions Park plaza looking across to the Eiffel Tower on the opposite bank of the Seine River.

“This (CAS) decision comes just in time to still be able to make the medal allocation for gold and silver possible” in Paris, the International Olympic Committee said in a statement.

“We are glad that this opportunity can be offered to the athletes and teams who, unfortunately, had to wait for a very long time for their medals due to the ongoing legal case,” the Olympic body said.

Valieva, who was 15 years old in Beijing, starred as the Russians easily won the team event. No medals were presented because a positive doping test for a banned heart medication, from a sample Valieva gave in Russia six weeks earlier, was revealed on the day the team event ended.

She was eventually cleared by a Russian anti-doping tribunal that ruled she was not at fault for being contaminated by her grandfather’s prescription for trimetazidine. The proof was lacking, and the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed to CAS.

The explanation at CAS that Valieva ingested the drug in a strawberry dessert her grandfather prepared was not believed by that judging panel.

Without Valieva’s scores when she was disqualified, the Russians dropped to third in the revised result signed off by the International Skating Union.

The Canadian team is awaiting the verdict in a separate appeal to CAS about the revised scores, asking to be upgraded from fourth to third and knocking the Russians off the podium.

CAS said Thursday it was “not possible to indicate at this time” when it will give the Canadian appeal verdict.

The world skating body said it “extends its gratitude to the athletes for their patience and resilience throughout this process.”

AP National Writer Eddie Pells contributed to this report.

David Ermold remembers meeting the love of his life.

"It's a crazy story, it's a crazy story...Because I met David online back in the 90's before there was any dating or anything, he said.

Ermold eventually moved to Kentucky to be with his love, David Moore. Then in 2015, the couple wanted to dedicate their lives to each other and decided to get married.

However, when they went to the county courthouse to get their marriage certificate, the clerk denied them. That clerk was Kim Davis, and she said their marriage was against her religious beliefs.

The case started almost 10 years ago, but now it is hitting the court system again. The Liberty Counsel that represents Davis says they are appealing a court ruling ordering Davis to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees to the attorneys of David and his partner.

RELATED STORY | Ex-clerk who denied same-sex marriage licenses told to pay $360,000

The Liberty Counsel said they want to see the case go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

"I'm hoping that we'll obviously get justice in this case for Kim Davis but that the religious accommodation that she obtained for all clerks in Kentucky is extended to everyone across the country, whether they're a clerk or not," said Matt Staver, founder and chairman of the Liberty Counsel.

Chris Hartman with the Fairness Campaign expressed worry about the possibility of the case reaching the Supreme Court.

"I mean we've got a Supreme Court right now that has upended 50 years of abortion rights," Hartman said. "This is an arch conservative Supreme Court where unfortunately anything is game."

A 2015 Supreme Court ruling struck down bans on same-sex marriage across the country. But Davis' representation wants to see the that ruling overturned.

"We're asking that ultimately this case goes to the Supreme Court of the United States, grants religious freedom for Kim Davis, and also overturns a decision that had no basis in the federal constitution," Staver said.

Ermold, meanwhile, just wants people to know that he didn't have a choice when he fell in love.

"That's what this is about," he said. "You do not, as a public official, get to humiliate the citizens of this country. You do not get to do that. Period."

Scripps News Lexington.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged in a scathing speech to Congress on Wednesday to achieve “total victory” against Hamas and denounced American opponents of the war in Gaza as “idiots,” taking a combative stance in a visit the Biden administration has hoped will yield progress in negotiations to end the fighting.

Netanyahu used the high-profile address to a joint meeting of Congress to emphasize longstanding and close ties between the United States and Israel. Speaking for nearly an hour to frequent applause from U.S. lawmakers, as well as stony silence from many leading Democrats, Netanyahu said the U.S. has a shared interest in his country’s fight against Hamas and other Iran-backed armed groups.

“America and Israel must stand together. When we stand together something really simple happens: We win, they lose,” said Netanyahu, who wore a yellow pin expressing solidarity with the Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

But the Israeli leader soon pivoted to a darker tone as he derided those protesting the war on college campuses and elsewhere in the U.S., gesturing to demonstrations happening on the streets outside the Capitol. He called protesters “useful idiots” for Israel’s adversaries.

The speech put in sharp relief the divisions in American society stirred by the war, with dozens of Democratic lawmakers boycotting the address and thousands of protesters outside the Capitol condemning the war and the humanitarian crisis created by it.

In the run-up to the state’s late-February Presidential primary, the ‘Listen to Michigan’ Campaign stood in opposition to Biden’s support for Israel’s military action in Gaza.

Over 100,000 people in Michigan voted ‘uncommitted’ on their primary ballot. That effort spread to other states as the ‘Uncommitted National Movement’.

Now months after that primary, Biden has dropped out while the death toll in Gaza from Israel’s attacks in estimated at 39,000 Palestinians.

Activist and organizer Layla Elabed, who helped found both movements, called Biden’s decision to step out of the race “a small victory.”

“Joe Biden became a political liability for the Democratic Party because of his unwavering support for Israel’s assault on Gaza. He was losing key swing states like Michigan and Wisconsin, while alienating his key voter base that includes young people, Arab American and Muslim American voters,” Elabed said.

With Vice President Kamala Harris the new presumptive nominee for Democrats, Elabed says that doesn’t change what the movement wants.

“Vice President Harris must unite the party by turning the page on Biden’s immoral and unpopular Gaza policy, and by supporting an end to weapons aid to Netanyahu, she can rebuild trust and cohesion within the party,” she said.

Listen: Anti-Biden ‘Uncommitted’ movement sees ‘small victory’ in president dropping out of race

Elabed’s sister, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan), was among the Democrats who attended Netanyahu’s speech on Wednesday. Tlaib — who was censured for her comments last year against the Israel-Hamas war — held up a small sign that said ‘war criminal’ on one side and ‘guilty of genocide’ on the other.

Elabed says Democrats need to do more than not show up to a speech.

“We need action. Supplying weapons to the Netanyahu regime undermines our Democratic Party’s claim to fight against MAGA authoritarianism,” Elabed said. “By funding the Israeli government under investigation for war crimes and violating international law, we undermine our party’s stance against far-right extremism.”

As for the movement’s plans for next month’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Elabed says to expect days of action.

“Part of our strategy is not asking any delegates on the inside to change their vote when it concerns the nominee,” Elabed said. “What we are asking the DNC and the Democratic Party to do is to adopt our demand for an arms embargo and permanent ceasefire.”

Netanyahu — making his first trip abroad since the war started — made no direct mention of months of U.S.-led mediation for a ceasefire and hostage-release. His remarks did not appear to close the door on a deal but showed no sign he was eager for one.

“Israel will fight until we destroy Hamas’s military capabilities and its rule in Gaza and bring all our hostages home,” he said. “That’s what total victory means. And we will settle for nothing less.”

Associated Press writers Ellen Knickmeyer, Farnoush Amiri and Ashraf Khalil contributed to this report.

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An imposing column of gray cloud shoots into the sky from the Durkee fire a wildfire that is around 244,000 acres burning in eastern Oregon.

That cloud is called a pyrocumulus cloud or fire cloud. It's a weather phenomenon that forms similarly to a storm cloud, but is fueled by flames.

"We have convection that's developing so that we have these very intense sources of heat, and then you have the winds coming from it that are mixing up the air and mixing the atmosphere and bringing that heat up through the column of the atmosphere," said David Bishop, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Portland, Oregon.

Bishop describes it as a convection oven. Heat and smoke from the wildfire create an updraft, which then hits cooler air in the atmosphere, creating a cloud.

This is similar to how a thunderstorm cloud is made, but the intensity of the heat and the fact that it is stationary make it different.

"That fire is just there. It's churning, it's keeping going," Bishop said. "So you're throwing more fuel up into the system so it can kind of develop on its own and propagate a lot further than a typical cumulonimbus cloud."

If the cloud is big enough, it can become its own weather system, creating wind, rain, and lightning.

The dry atmosphere that eastern Oregon is experiencing creates conditions conducive to wildfires.

"You have lightning that can easily pop out miles and miles downrange of the fire itself, to then again propagate that," said Bishop.

The Durkee fire near the Oregon-Idaho border has gotten so big that it's closed a section of Interstate 84. Crews from 22 states are battling the fire, and homeowners have been urged to evacuate.

RELATED STORY | As climate warms, wildfires could make air more deadly, study says

According to the U.S. Forest Service, there are 14 large wildfires burning in the Pacific Northwest. Parts of the region haven't seen significant rain in weeks, prompting the Forest Service to operate at the highest level of wildfire response possible.

The Forest Service Northwest posted a statement by regional assistant fire director Ed Hiatt saying, "This is shaping up to be another monster fire year in the Pacific Northwest and it's just mid-July."

"It's still going to be another couple of tricky days," said Bishop about the forecast.

With temperatures above average in the eastern part of Oregon, firefighters in the Northwest continue to have their work cut out for them.

Maryland will soon join a growing list of states that have cleared a backlog of untested rape kits as legislation requires the state to have all kits tested by the end of 2025. The state may end up having them all tested even sooner, ProPublica reported. It said the state is on track to complete testing by the end of 2024.

The kits take DNA from victims of sexual assault and attempt to match it with potential suspects, which can aid in prosecution.

Advocates say some victims of sexual assault had to wait decades to have their rape kits tested.

While there have been several states that have passed reforms to end the backlog of untested rape kits, Congress has provided funds to support testing efforts through the Debbie Smith Act. In 2019, the act was reauthorized through the end of the 2024 fiscal year.

RELATED STORY | Addressing the rape kit backlog, lack of offender DNA in databases

Last month, Maryland officials launched a statewide tracking system for victims to monitor the progression of their case. The website scans when kits have been tested and can provide real-time information for victims.

When survivors can count on accountability in our justice system, we have a better chance of gathering evidence and closing cases, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said in a statement. By launching this new online system, we continue our commitment to making Maryland safer by building a culture of teamwork, transparency, and trust. I thank Attorney General Brown for his leadership, and I am grateful for all of the lawmakers, advocates, activists, and members of law enforcement who helped us get this over the finish line.

According to the advocacy group Joyful Heart Foundation's End the Backlog campaign, Maryland had 5,468 untested kits as of 2022.

According to the group, North Carolina joined 19 states earlier this year that have cleared their backlogs of rape kits. Several states, including California, Texas, Indiana, Oklahoma, and Iowa, still have thousands of untested kits, the group says.

By MIKE LUPICA | New York Daily News

The Olympic Games of Paris start now, and if they won’t bring the world together over the next two-and-half weeks — not this world — they might at least help us think about all the trouble in it a little less. Once again, this time from Paris, we will watch athletes like Simone Biles, who might end up the headliner of them all, do something great in sports. And that is always worth watching, every single time.

Of course Biles is not the only American story. There are so many other athletes and stories, just from our country, about which to care, far too many to list here. We will watch Sha’Carri Richardson try to run faster in the 100 meters than any woman in the world, outrun once and for all the ridiculous ban because of marijuana that kept her from competing against the world in Tokyo. We have always been so much a country of runners and jumpers. Three years later, but not too late, we will finally get the chance, on a stage like this, to see Richardson of Dallas chase gold.

We will watch the great Katie Ledecky try to dominate the rest of the world in women’s swimming, perhaps win an almost ridiculous fourth straight gold medal in the 800-meter freestyle. All she has done so far in her career is win seven gold medals and three silver, to go with 26 world championship medals. When she jumps in the water again in Paris, swimming will feel like the same kind of main event it once did when Michael Phelps was back in the water at the Olympics.

So it is Sha’Carri and Katie. It is finally getting the chance to see LeBron James and Steph Curry on the same court, trying to win a championship, this time of the whole world, together after all the winning they have done in the NBA.

But with all that, Simone Biles will be the one from the United States to watch in Paris, looking to go all the way back to the top of her sport, literally reaching for the sky, three years after she was so afraid of crashing to the earth in Tokyo. That was where, as we all learned, this young woman’s mid-career crisis really was occurring in mid-air.

In the run-up to those Games in Tokyo, you felt as if there was Biles on the U.S. team and everybody else; as if all of the coverage on all of NBC’s platforms would be built around the most gifted gymnast our country had ever produced and the world had ever seen. But then, and even though she would come away with medals in the team competition and on the balance beam, what we didn’t know, but would sure find out, was that once she was in the air, doing things that really only she had ever done, how afraid she was.

It was because of something known to gymnasts as the “twisties.” She would be doing a vault and spin through the air and not have any idea if she was going to be able to land safely. The twisties had afflicted her in the past. Now they were back, and about to steal one more Olympic moment from her, what could have been her last, at least at the time. Then her bravest moment became admitting her fears to us all. In so many ways, it really was as brave as flying through the air.

Here is something she told Alex Cooper in an April podcast about how the twisties can literally knock you out of the air when you are once again doing things in the air that no one has ever been able to do:

“I have no idea where I am.”

But now she is back, at 27, and knows exactly where she is, in the middle of the spotlight once again. An Olympian as small as anyone in Paris has a chance to become the biggest story of them all if she comes all the way back to win gold again. She has been winning gold and everything else since winning her first national title as a teenager 11 years ago. In all, she has won a ridiculous 37 medals between the Olympics and world championships. And might be better, right now, with these Games about to begin, than she has ever been. In addition to everything else she has done as the GOAT, now she is trying to write a comeback story like this.

Simone Biles: Not the only story. Just the best one going at the Summer Games of Paris for the American athletes we’re talking about today. If you love basketball, come on, you know you’re going to love seeing LeBron and Steph together at last. You know you will be watching greatness again when Ledecky is again trying to touch the wall first, and watching American women try to win another gold medal in basketball, even though it would have been a lot more fun watching them try to do that if Caitlin Clark, the biggest women’s basketball star on the planet, had been added to the team as she should have been.

And guess what? It will even be big fun watching a talented 35-year-old gunner named Jimmer Fredette trying to win a basketball gold medal of his own in the 3-on-3 competition.

Again: This is just the short list of American athletes, some of whom will get this kind of stage for the only time in their lives. That is always the most enduring beauty of any Olympic games if you’re not Biles, or Ledecky, or LeBron.

The Olympics aren’t what they were, or were intended to be. You know how political they can be, especially in places like Russia and China. But in the end, they ARE still about athletes trying to do something great, against the world and in front of the world. You still come to them for that. And, maybe for the last time at the Olympics, you get to watch Simone Biles fly.

Our Grant Me Hope child this week is 12-year-old Zayden, who is in sixth grade and who loves to give hugs.

According to the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange, Zayden is great at building relationships and making new friends, and loves all kidns of toys and being outside.

"I like to swim. I play video games. I like to play soccer. I'm a good kicker," Zayden said.

He also likes to go to the park and work on science experiments.

Zayden shows initiative by often taking on projects around the house. He loves animals and enjoys taking care of them," a close adult said.

"I want a family. I want to have brothers and sisters. I want younger sisters and brothers and parents. I'll go swim with my family," Zayden said.

MARE said Zayden needs parents who are patient and understanding. He should be with a family that's active and that spends a lot of time together.

For more information, visit the MARE site or you can visit our Grant Me Hope page.

By JOSH BOAK, Associated Press

HOUSTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris told Republicans to “bring it on” in what she described as a “fight for our most fundamental freedoms” as she spoke to the American Federation of Teachers on Thursday.

It was her latest stop in her whirlwind debut as the Democrats’ likely presidential nominee after President Joe Biden abruptly dropped his bid for a second term at the beginning of the week.

Harris praised unions as the foundation of the middle class, and she criticized Republicans for their views on gun control and public education.

“They have the nerve to tell teachers to strap on a gun in the classroom while they refuse to pass commonsense gun safety laws,” she said.

Harris added that “we want to ban assault weapons, and they want to ban books.”

The American Federation of Teachers was the first labor union to formally endorse Harris, and its president Randi Weingarten said she “has electrified this race.”

Harris intends to travel aggressively to spread her message and rally voters. The outreach occurs as the retooled Biden campaign, now under Harris’ control, figures out its strategy for generating turnout and maximizing her time in a 100-plus day sprint to the November election against Republican Donald Trump.

In Trump, Harris is up against the survivor of a recent assassination attempt with tens of millions of loyalists committed to returning him to the Oval Office. Just as Harris is trying to draw a contrast with Trump, he is working to do the same with her.

Trump went on the offensive at a rally Wednesday in North Carolina, calling Harris a “real liberal” who is “much worse” than Biden. The former president claimed without evidence that Harris had misled voters about the health of the 81-year-old Biden and his ability to run for the presidency.

Harris’ appearance at the teachers union’s biennial convention in Houston follows a rally Tuesday in the Milwaukee area and a speech Wednesday to a gathering of the historically Black sorority Zeta Phi Beta in Indianapolis.

“We know when we organize, mountains move,” she told sorority members. “When we mobilize, nations change. And when we vote, we make history.”

Her campaign is seizing on the growing pop culture interest surrounding her candidacy, releasing a video Thursday that is set to Beyonce’s “Freedom.” The video, designed for social media consumption, underscores a core message of Harris campaign — freedom on abortion rights, freedom from gun violence and freedom “not just to get by, but to get ahead.”

The 1.8 million-member AFT has backed Harris and her pro-union agenda on the premise that a second Trump term could result in restrictions on organized labor and a potential loss of funding for education.

The AFL-CIO, which represents 60 labor unions including the AFT, has backed Harris. But the vice president has yet to get the endorsement of the United Auto Workers, whose president, Shawn Fain, told CNBC this week that the union’s executive board will make that decision.

Fain spoke at the AFT conference on Wednesday and was blistering in his criticism of Trump. The former president has relied on blue-collar voters to compete politically nationwide, but he failed to win a majority of union households in 2020 when he lost to Biden, according to AP VoteCast.

Later Thursday, Harris will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington.

John T. Bennett | (TNS) CQ-Roll Call

WASHINGTON — It’s too soon to brand Sen. JD Vance as the surefire heir to Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” throne.

At least that was the consensus of some Republican delegates and lawmakers interviewed as they milled about the Fiserv Forum or the vast space outside last week in Milwaukee, sipping local brews and congregating between sessions of their national political convention.

Many of those wearing Trump or MAGA gear enthusiastically said his movement would survive beyond the 78-year-old Republican nominee’s political career — and life. In fact, many said there essentially is no difference between Trump and the party.

What there was disagreement on was any notion Vance, a 39-year-old self-described “hillbilly” with populist conservative views tapped to be Trump’s running mate, would inevitably be the one to carry the MAGA torch into the future.

Dan Musholt, a delegate from Canton, Missouri, described Vance as “just one of many because, look, we’ve got a really deep bench.”

“I think Donald Trump picked Vance to complement himself and his strengths on the ticket,” Musholt said on July 17, the day after several potential future presidential candidates addressed the Republican convention. “But there are others that I really, really like. You’ve got Byron Donalds, Tim Scott also is someone I like. Marco Rubio, I think, let everyone know last night he’s interested in the future.” (He was referring to the Florida House member, South Carolina senator and Florida senator.)

Like others interviewed on the topic, Musholt mused that Trump could opt to hand the torch to a family member. “I could easily see Lara Trump being the future,” he said of the Republican National Committee co-chair and former president’s daughter-in-law, less than 24 hours after she received solid applause from delegates with the keynote prime-time address on July 16. “She’s dynamic, she’s got his (Trump’s) ear, and she can reach the people.”

Rochelle Brooks, a Texas delegate wearing a bright-red shirt and white cowboy hat, was enjoying a Lake Michigan breeze outside the Fiserv Forum as she offered her assessment of the party’s future.

“I think it depends on how Vance performs as vice president,” she said. “I think it’s up to Vance if he’s the future of the party. But he’s got to be loyal to Donald Trump. And I hope Trump learned from the first time when he picked Mike Pence, who became a traitor on Jan. 6 — I’m so tired of people stabbing him (Trump) in the back.”

The then-vice president refused to go along with Trump’s wishes that he prevent Congress from counting states’ Electoral College votes on Jan. 6, 2021. As a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol that day, some chanted “hang Mike Pence” and a gallows was outside. Pence launched a bid last year to challenge Trump for the nomination, but dropped out in October.

Ian Bergstrom, a delegate from Nassau County, New York, said he expects Vance “will have a lot of competition going forward.”

“There are a lot of lawmakers and younger people making moves already,” he said from behind a pair of reflective aviator sunglasses. Asked if any of those up-and-coming Republicans stood out to him, Bergstrom replied after a moment of contemplation: “Byron Donalds is a very impressive person. Hopefully he is appointed to Trump’s Cabinet. That could really give him momentum for the future.”

On the evening of July 18, Donalds also was sporting aviators as he held court with reporters and delegates outside the arena a few hours before Trump accepted the party’s nomination. He smiled and slowly shook his head when asked by CQ-Roll Call about delegates naming him as a potential heir to Trump’s movement.

“I mean, listen, JD is the … vice presidential nominee. So our No. 1 job is electing Donald Trump,” Donalds said. “I mean, you’re asking about a question four years from now, really more like four years and four months from now. I have no idea. What I do know about politics is that things are changing and moving all the time.”

Notably, however, he did not rule out a White House bid of his own in 2028: “What’s gonna happen in politics in the future? We’ll see.” Donalds is also seen as a potential candidate for governor in Florida to succeed Ron DeSantis, another Trump rival in the primaries who, unlike Pence, got a speaking role at the convention.

Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., also was among those who did not automatically assume Vance would be the person to carry the MAGA mantle post-Trump.

“I think the future of the party, whether it’s Donald Trump Jr. or Eric Trump or Lara Trump or JD Vance, or people in the House or people in the Senate, is this: Make America great. America first. Make America secure. Make America safe. Make America strong,” Mast said, reciting the themes of the four nights of the Republican convention.

“That is the future of the party. And for individuals that will not represent those things in their respective states, I don’t think they’ll make it through GOP primaries, even beyond Trump,” Mast added. “He’s the America-first president. And his principles should guide us.”

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., did not even mention Vance’s name when asked on July 18 if the Ohio senator is the party’s future.

“I think what you’re seeing, not just tonight, but every night, is the future of the party. The party is changing before our eyes. It’s the party of the people. And you’ve seen people from all walks of life … on that stage this week,” she said. “We’re more accepting of everybody, more so than ever — and that’s because of Donald Trump’s leadership.”

Those assessments came a few days before a NPR/PBS/Marist College poll was conducted on July 22 that found 41% of registered voters nationally had never heard of Vance.

That survey suggested the Trump campaign has work to do selling him to voters, with 28% reporting a favorable view of the “Hillbilly Elegy” author and 31% saying they had a negative view. Among Republicans, 57% said they had a favorable view of the senator, while 32% were unsure or had never heard of him. Eleven percent of GOP voters said they had an unfavorable view of Vance.

Vance was welcomed warmly during his July 17 vice presidential nomination acceptance speech. But he did not bring down the house at any point and got mostly tepid applause. An audience Monday in his hometown of Middletown, Ohio, offered the same as he walked through his dramatic life story. He also contradicted himself in what was his solo campaign trail debut as the party’s vice presidential nominee.

At one point Monday afternoon, he claimed his family found 18 “loaded” firearms in the home of his late grandmother — who he calls “Mamaw” — after she died. A few minutes later, he proudly declared, “Mamaw didn’t worry about safety in Middletown,” and allowed him to ride his bicycle wherever he wished.

What’s more, an audience at an RNC event booed when his wife, Usha, claimed her husband had become a vegetarian when they met. But on Monday, a reporter traveling with him tweeted a picture of Vance’s lunch aboard his private plane, dubbed “Trump Force Two,” which included deep-fried chicken tenders. At a rally that evening in Radford, Virginia, he again received friendly but light applause — and when he stumbled during his remarks, some in the audience booed.

There was no booing on July 16 while former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy addressed the convention. “Vivek has a lot of charisma, and his ideas, I think, are probably the most like Trump’s,” said Musholt, the Missouri delegate. “I think Vivek’s going to have something to say about the future for sure.”

Ramaswamy told the convention that “we deserve a better class of politician, one who actually tells us the truth — even if it comes with some mean tweets from time to time,” he said. “And our message to Gen Z is this: You’re going to be the generation that actually saves this country. You want to be a rebel? You want to be a hippie? You want to stick it to the man?

“Show up on your college campus and try calling yourself a conservative. Say you want to get married, have kids, teach them to believe in God and pledge allegiance to their country,” he added. “Because you know what? Fear has been infectious in this country, but courage can be contagious, too. That, too, is what it means to be an American.”

The lines were met with boisterous applause as delegates stood as one, roaring their collective approval.

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