newyorkpost--2020-11-12--Microsoft pleads with gamers not to vape into their new Xboxes

Microsoft has a simple suggestion for gamers worried about smoke billowing out of their Xboxes : Don ’ t blow smoke into them in the first place .
The tech titan offered a tongue-in-cheek response to videos purporting to show brand-new Xbox Series X consoles spouting clouds of smoke — some of which may have been faked by vaping internet hucksters .
“ We can ’ t believe we have to say this , but please do not blow vape smoke into your Xbox Series X , ” Microsoft ’ s Xbox team said on Twitter Wednesday evening .
Microsoft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show the $ 500 consoles — which officially launched on Tuesday — spewing gray smoke from their cooling vents , suggesting the system had overheated and caught fire .
But another viral video demonstrated how the earlier footage could have been staged by simply exhaling vapor from a vape pen into the bottom of the Xbox and letting the “ smoke ” circulate through the machine .
It ’ s not clear whether Microsoft has found any authentic cases of smoking Xboxes , but the Series X ’ s early days haven ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One Twitter user who complained about smoke also posted a video of the console making a loud popping sound and abruptly shutting down .
Other people have reported problems with the machine ’ s disc drive , according to Polygon .
Microsoft didn ’ t immediately respond to a request for comment early Wednesday , but the company is reportedly looking into the problems .
“ We take all product safety reports seriously and our products meet or exceed industry standards , ” Microsoft told a reporter for The Verge .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

Microsoft has a simple suggestion for gamers worried about smoke billowing out of their Xboxes: Don’t blow smoke into them in the first place.
The tech titan offered a tongue-in-cheek response to videos purporting to show brand-new Xbox Series X consoles spouting clouds of smoke — some of which may have been faked by vaping internet hucksters.
“We can’t believe we have to say this, but please do not blow vape smoke into your Xbox Series X,” Microsoft’s Xbox team said on Twitter Wednesday evening.
Microsoft chimed in after clips circulated appearing to show the $500 consoles — which officially launched on Tuesday — spewing gray smoke from their cooling vents, suggesting the system had overheated and caught fire.
But another viral video demonstrated how the earlier footage could have been staged by simply exhaling vapor from a vape pen into the bottom of the Xbox and letting the “smoke” circulate through the machine.
The Series X’s early days haven’t been entirely free of glitches, though. One Twitter user who complained about smoke also posted a video of the console making a loud popping sound and abruptly shutting down. Other people have reported problems with the machine’s disc drive, according to Polygon.
Microsoft said it’s looking into the reported smoking issues even though it cast doubt on some of the gamers’ complaints.
“We take all product safety reports seriously and our products meet or exceed industry standards,” a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement. “Findings from our initial investigations do not align with some of the claims being broadly reported, however we are in the process of investigating further.”


newyorkpost--2020-11-12--Biden’s suggested sign language name reportedly resembles that of gang

The deaf community is voicing opposition to a possible American Sign Language shorthand gesture for President-elect Joe Biden — because it looks like a Crips gang sign , according to a report .
The C-shaped sign , one of several being considered to replace B-I-D-E-N , is meant to evoke his signature Ray-Ban aviator sunglasses , the Los Angeles Times reported .
“ We BIPOC completely disagree with that [ sign ] , ” ASL influencer and TikTok user Nakia Smith signed in a video on Monday , referring to the acronym for black , Indigenous and people of color @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so unsafe for us , ” she added .
The “ sign name for Biden don ’ t look good for him , ” Smith said in response to comments posted on Instagram .
“ He said he got our back [ as Black Americans ] so we ain ’ t [ trying to ] make him look stupid.
” LA-based deaf activist Michael Agyin , founder of the Compton ASL Club , said : “ The deaf community tends to come together to create new signs when our society experiences changes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ came about , the same applies to the new president.
” Signs for US presidents generally take initials , physical appearance and reputation into consideration , according to the newspaper .
President Trump ’ s name in sign language is a representation of his pompadour coif .
In President Barack Obama ’ s case , the “ O ” and “ B ” signs flow together in the shape of a flag , while President Abraham Lincoln ’ s “ L ” pops up from the forehead like his top hat .

The deaf community is voicing opposition to a possible American Sign Language shorthand gesture for President-elect Joe Biden — because it looks like a Crips gang sign, according to a report.
The C-shaped sign, one of several being considered to replace B-I-D-E-N, is meant to evoke his signature Ray-Ban aviator sunglasses, the Los Angeles Times reported.
“We BIPOC completely disagree with that [sign],” ASL influencer and TikTok user Nakia Smith signed in a video on Monday, referring to the acronym for black, Indigenous and people of color.
“[The sign] feels so unsafe for us,” she added.
The “sign name for Biden don’t look good for him,” Smith said in response to comments posted on Instagram. “He said he got our back [as Black Americans] so we ain’t [trying to] make him look stupid.”
LA-based deaf activist Michael Agyin, founder of the Compton ASL Club, said: “The deaf community tends to come together to create new signs when our society experiences changes. Just as a sign for the coronavirus came about, the same applies to the new president.”
Signs for US presidents generally take initials, physical appearance and reputation into consideration, according to the newspaper.
President Trump’s name in sign language is a representation of his pompadour coif.
In President Barack Obama’s case, the “O” and “B” signs flow together in the shape of a flag, while President Abraham Lincoln’s “L” pops up from the forehead like his top hat.


newyorkpost--2020-11-12--Nurse charged in murder of eight babies, attempted murder of 10 at UK hospital

A British nurse was charged in the murder of eight babies and attempted murder of 10 others after being arrested for the third time in connection with the horrific crimes at a hospital ’ s neonatal unit since 2016 , according to reports .
Lucy Letby , 30 , who worked at the Countess of Chester Hospital , was arrested after a three-year probe that was launched after the facility raised an alarm about the large number of deaths there between March 2015 and July 2016 , The Sun reported .
The hospital in Cheshire , southeast of Liverpool , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found that premature babies had suffered heart and lung failures , according to the outlet .
“ The Crown Prosecution Service has authorized Cheshire Police to charge a healthcare professional with murder in connection with an ongoing investigation into a number of baby deaths at the Countess of Chester Hospital , ” according to a statement .
“ Lucy Letby , of Arran Avenue , Hereford , is facing eight charges of murder and 10 charges of attempted murder , ” it added .
After her arrest this week , police said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kept apprised of the developments in the grisly case and were receiving emotional support by specially trained officers .
“ A dedicated team of detectives have been working extremely hard on this highly complex and very sensitive case doing everything they can as quickly as they can to identify what has led to these baby deaths and collapses , ” said Detective Chief Inspector Paul Hughes , who is in charge of the probe , The Sun reported .
“ This is an extremely difficult time for all the families and it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heart of this , there are a number of bereaved families seeking answers as to what happened to their children , ” he added .
Letby is expected to appear in Warrington Magistrates ’ s Court later Thursday .
The nurse was first arrested in July 2018 on suspicion of murder as investigators tied her to the deaths of eight babies and attempted murder of another six infants at the hospital .
Authorities had been investigating the deaths of 17 babies between 2015 and 2016 , and another 16 “ nonfatal collapses , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s health severely declined but the child survived , according to local reports .
Letby had been on bail since July 2018 .
After her prior arrests , police searched her home in the Blacon area of Chester , The Sun reported .
She worked at the neonatal unit as a student nurse during three years of training before qualifying as a children ’ s nurse and continued working at the unit after graduating , the Guardian reported .
One friend at the time , Jordan Sands , said “ she was quite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kindhearted person.
” Another called Letby “ an amazing person.
” Letby also had been active in a $ 4 million fundraising campaign to build a new neonatal unit at the hospital , which experienced an unexplained mortality-rate spike .
“ I hope the new unit will provide a greater degree of privacy and space , ” she told the Chester & District Standard in supporting the campaign .

A British nurse was charged in the murder of eight babies and attempted murder of 10 others after being arrested for the third time in connection with the horrific crimes at a hospital’s neonatal unit since 2016, according to reports.
Lucy Letby, 30, who worked at the Countess of Chester Hospital, was arrested after a three-year probe that was launched after the facility raised an alarm about the large number of deaths there between March 2015 and July 2016, the Sun reported.
The nurse appeared via video link Thursday in Warrington Magistrates’ Court, where she was formally charged with eight counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder for the offenses, which took place between June 2015 and June 2016, according to the outlet.
Letby spoke only to confirm her name, date of birth and address during her appearance, during which the names of the eight dead babies were revealed — Cemlyn Bennett, Joseph Johnson, Elsie McNall, Barney Gee, Daisy Parkin, Maddie Freed, Joseph Gelder and Eli Gelde The Sun reported,
The hospital in Cheshire, southeast of Liverpool, conducted an internal inquiry when health care workers found that premature babies had suffered heart and lung failures, according to the outlet.
“The Crown Prosecution Service has authorized Cheshire Police to charge a healthcare professional with murder in connection with an ongoing investigation into a number of baby deaths at the Countess of Chester Hospital,” according to a statement.
“Lucy Letby, of Arran Avenue, Hereford, is facing eight charges of murder and 10 charges of attempted murder,” it added.
After her arrest this week, police said the parents of all the victims have been kept apprised of the developments in the grisly case and were receiving emotional support from specially trained officers.
“A dedicated team of detectives have been working extremely hard on this highly complex and very sensitive case doing everything they can as quickly as they can to identify what has led to these baby deaths and collapses,” said Detective Chief Inspector Paul Hughes, who is in charge of the probe, the Sun reported.
“This is an extremely difficult time for all the families and it is important to remember that, at the heart of this, there are a number of bereaved families seeking answers as to what happened to their children,” he added.
Hospital CEO Dr. Susan Gilby said in a statement: “We acknowledge the new and significant development in this case, which is of serious concern to the Trust.
“We are fully supportive and respectful of the judicial processes and as such will not be making any further comments at this stage. Our thoughts continue to be with all the families involved,” she added, according to CNN.
The nurse was first arrested in July 2018 on suspicion of murder as investigators tied her to the deaths of eight babies and attempted murder of another six infants at the hospital.
Authorities had been investigating the deaths of 17 babies between 2015 and 2016, and another 16 “nonfatal collapses,” described as when an infant’s health severely declined but the child survived, according to local reports.
Letby had been out on bail since July 2018. After her prior arrests, police searched her home in the Blacon area of Chester, the Sun reported.
She worked at the neonatal unit as a student nurse during three years of training before qualifying as a children’s nurse and continued working at the unit after graduating, the Guardian reported.
One friend at the time, Jordan Sands, said “she was quite awkward and geeky but seemed like a kindhearted person.” Another called Letby “an amazing person.”
Letby also had been active in a $4 million fundraising campaign to build a new neonatal unit at the hospital, which experienced an unexplained mortality rate spike.
“I hope the new unit will provide a greater degree of privacy and space,” she told the Chester & District Standard in supporting the campaign.
Letby was remanded ahead of a hearing at Chester Crown Court on Friday.


newyorkpost--2020-11-12--Monkey thief nearly steals man’s birth certificate

This thief wasn ’ t monkeying around .
Watch as a fearless macaque ambushes a British family on a pre-wedding @ @ @ @ @ Gibraltar .
Wild video shows the monkey rummaging through the groom ’ s backpack and @ @ @ @ @ .
Thankfully , the animal stole an apple and a candy bar instead .

This thief wasn’t monkeying around. Watch as a fearless macaque ambushes a British family on a pre-wedding hike atop the Rock of Gibraltar. Wild video shows the monkey rummaging through the groom’s backpack and even grabbing his birth certificate. Thankfully, the animal stole an apple and a candy bar instead.
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newyorkpost--2020-11-12--CMA Awards recap: The best moments of the night

The big winner at the CMAs on Wednesday night was … the CMAs .
Despite rising coronavirus cases across the country — including the increasing threat of a second wave in New York — the 54th annual Country Music Association Awards felt more like the good old days than any other major awards show since the pandemic hit .
During the ceremony — held at the Music City Center in Nashville — there were no signs of masks , there was an audience and real clapping , and there was a star-studded parade of performances including everyone from Maren Morris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Luke Combs .
Sure , the whole thing felt a lot more intimate this year with a smaller crowd — consisting of nominated artists and their guests — sitting at socially distanced tables ( except when some would stand in place ) .
But the sound of real-life music , real-life applause and real-life laughter — even to the awkward stage banter between hosts Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker — was enough to make you cry happy tears in your beer , wine or whiskey .
For once in 2020 , this was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the show went on , strict COVID-19 testing protocols had already sidelined some of the artists scheduled to attend .
Lee Brice , Florida Georgia Line ’ s Tyler Hubbard and one of the members of Rascal Flatts tested positive for the virus , as did Musician of the Year winner Jenee Fleenor .
Meanwhile , Lady A didn ’ t appear because one of the trio ’ s immediate family members tested positive , although Charles Kelley did sing with Carly Pearce in a pre-taped performance .
It all made who actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Entertainer of the Year winner Church made clear when he accepted the biggest award of the night at the end .
Morris — the night ’ s biggest winner with three awards , including Single and Song of the Year for “ The Bones , ” and Female Vocalist of the Year — seemed increasingly embarrassed to pick up her trophies after each victory .
And the losers , for once , appeared truly happy just to be there .
As with any music awards show , it was mostly about the performances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Little Big Town ) , Mac Davis ( by McEntire and Rucker ) and a show-opening salute to Charlie Daniels ( by Jason Aldean , Brothers Osborne , Dierks Bentley and Ashley McBryde ) .
And this time around , the remote performances — with Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber singing “ 10,000 Hours ” from the Hollywood Bowl , and Keith Urban crooning “ God Whispered Your Name ” from his native Australia — were thankfully the exception to the rule .

The big winner at the CMAs on Wednesday night was … the CMAs.
Despite rising coronavirus cases across the country — including the increasing threat of a second wave in New York — the 54th annual Country Music Association Awards felt more like the good old days than any other major awards show since the pandemic hit.
During the ceremony — held at the Music City Center in Nashville — there were no signs of masks, there was an audience and real clapping, and there was a star-studded parade of performances including everyone from Maren Morris and Miranda Lambert to Eric Church and Luke Combs.
Sure, the whole thing felt a lot more intimate this year with a smaller crowd — consisting of nominated artists and their guests — sitting at socially distanced tables (except when some would stand in place). But the sound of real-life music, real-life applause and real-life laughter — even to the awkward stage banter between hosts Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker — was enough to make you cry happy tears in your beer, wine or whiskey.
For once in 2020, this was a good reason to drink.
Before the show went on, strict COVID-19 testing protocols had already sidelined some of the artists scheduled to attend. Lee Brice, Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard and one of the members of Rascal Flatts tested positive for the virus, as did Musician of the Year winner Jenee Fleenor. Meanwhile, Lady A didn’t appear because one of the trio’s immediate family members tested positive, although Charles Kelley did sing with Carly Pearce in a pre-taped performance.
It all made who actually won almost an afterthought, as first-time Entertainer of the Year winner Church made clear when he accepted the biggest award of the night at the end. Morris — the night’s biggest winner with three awards, including Single and Song of the Year for “The Bones,” and Female Vocalist of the Year — seemed increasingly embarrassed to pick up her trophies after each victory. And the losers, for once, appeared truly happy just to be there.
As with any music awards show, it was mostly about the performances, including tributes to Kenny Rogers (by Little Big Town), Mac Davis (by McEntire and Rucker) and a show-opening salute to Charlie Daniels (by Jason Aldean, Brothers Osborne, Dierks Bentley and Ashley McBryde).
And this time around, the remote performances — with Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber singing “10,000 Hours” from the Hollywood Bowl, and Keith Urban crooning “God Whispered Your Name” from his native Australia — were thankfully the exception to the rule.


newyorkpost--2020-11-12--MTA bridge cops intercept teen who posted suicide plans on Snapchat

A bomb attached to the vehicle of a radio journalist ...

MTA cops staged a heroic rescue Tuesday night after a coworker’s teenage son posted on Snapchat about his imminent plans to jump off the RFK Bridge.
Lt. John Trabulsky, 41, said the desperate dad, who works on the Throgs Neck Bridge, called into the bridge’s command center at 5:23 p.m. to alert cops that his 17-year-old son had posted on social media that he was headed for the RFK Bridge to commit suicide.
RFK patrolmen and NYPD cops rushed to canvass the massive three-borough bridge, which has three spans and 18 exits and entrances. When officers spotted their target on the bridge’s pedestrian path just above Astoria Park, the young man fled toward the river.
“At that height above the water, it was on everybody’s mind that we were down to the final seconds if he did make that decision to go over the wall,” said Lt. Dennis Palazzola, 31, one of three cops who found the teen.
“Based on some of the messages that he had posted or conversations that he had, it was indicated that he had made it over the bridge, and he was on the walkway, possibly even down to Randall’s Island,” Palazzola said.
“But he was hanging up the phone when he spoke to his father. It was very difficult to gain the intel that we needed.”
Accompanied by the boy’s father, the officers finally apprehended him at 6:05 p.m. — 42 minutes after the initial frantic call.
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“The desk officer repeated everything the caller said loud enough for me to hear it, so before he had a chance to start making the calls, I was already on the phone giving everyone a heads up,” said Trabulsky, who also works out of Throgs Neck.
“Within seconds of him hanging up the phone with the person’s father — within seconds — we had command notified and we had the RFK Bridge notified.”
The teen’s father warned his son might be on a scooter, and he was wearing a mask that obscured his face.
“I saw him on the walkway on a scooter, was able to positively identify him by that photo, initiated conversation with him,” Lt. Thomas Shaw said.
“He was emotional, he was distraught, he was upset, but we were able to identify him from that picture.”
The young man was handcuffed and taken to Elmhurst Hospital for evaluation, the MTA said.
“It would have been really easy to say, you know, he’s just posting on Facebook to be dramatic,” said MTA Bridges and Tunnels Director of Special Operations Richard Hildebrand.
“It just seemed imminent. We knew that we had to figure out who he was, where he was and what he was going to do.”


newyorkpost--2020-11-12--Radio journalist killed in bomb blast in Afghanistan

A bomb attached to the vehicle of a radio journalist in southern Afghanistan exploded early Thursday , killing him , a provincial official said .
Omer Zwak , spokesman for the provincial governor in southern Helmand province , said a sticky bomb attached to Elyas Dayee ’ s vehicle killed Dayee and wounded three others , including Dayee ’ s brother , a child and another man .
Sami Mahdi , Radio Azadi bureau chief , tweeted : “ My colleague and dear friend , Elyas Dayee , lost his life in a terrorist attack this morning.
” The attack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provincial capital .
“ He was a gentleman .
Always had signature smile .
This is terrible news .
Elyas , you will be remembered dearly , ” Mahdi said in his tweet .
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack .
The attack comes days after another sticky bomb blast killed a former presenter on Afghanistan ’ s TOLO TV and two other civilians in the capital Kabul .
Violence and chaos have increased in Afghanistan in recent months even as government negotiators and the Taliban are meeting in Qatar to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war in Afghanistan .
The two sides have made little progress .
Washington ’ s peace envoy for Afghanistan , Zalmay Khalilzad , has been pressing for an agreement on a reduction in violence or a cease-fire , which the Taliban have refused , saying a permanent truce would be part of the negotiations .
The talks were part of a negotiated agreement between the United States and the Taliban to allow U.S. and NATO troops withdraw from Afghanistan , ending 19 years of military engagement .

A bomb attached to the vehicle of a radio journalist in southern Afghanistan exploded early Thursday, killing him, a provincial official said.
Omer Zwak, spokesman for the provincial governor in southern Helmand province, said a sticky bomb attached to Elyas Dayee’s vehicle killed Dayee and wounded three others, including Dayee’s brother, a child and another man.
Sami Mahdi, Radio Azadi bureau chief, tweeted: “My colleague and dear friend, Elyas Dayee, lost his life in a terrorist attack this morning.” The attack took place in Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital.
“He was a gentleman. Always had signature smile. This is terrible news. Elyas, you will be remembered dearly,” Mahdi said in his tweet.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
The attack comes days after another sticky bomb blast killed a former presenter on Afghanistan’s TOLO TV and two other civilians in the capital Kabul.
Violence and chaos have increased in Afghanistan in recent months even as government negotiators and the Taliban are meeting in Qatar to find an end to decades of relentless war in Afghanistan. The two sides have made little progress.
Washington’s peace envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, has been pressing for an agreement on a reduction in violence or a cease-fire, which the Taliban have refused, saying a permanent truce would be part of the negotiations.
The talks were part of a negotiated agreement between the United States and the Taliban to allow U.S. and NATO troops withdraw from Afghanistan, ending 19 years of military engagement.


newyorkpost--2020-11-12--Romantic dispute to blame as Florida teens run over mother of rival: Cops

A group of Florida teens allegedly ran over the mother of one of their rivals with a van on Tuesday due to an ongoing romantic dispute , police said .
The initial argument started on social media when the woman ’ s son , whose name has not been released , began arguing with 15-year-old Kimberly Stone .
Stone threatened to “ hit ” the rival teen and have her boyfriend “ handle ” the situation , according to the Polk County Sheriff ’ s office .
Video obtained by ClickOrlando.com shows 18-year-old Elijah Stansell , 16-year-old Raven Sutton , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arriving at the teen ’ s house around 3:00 p.m in a dark van .
There , Stansell and Sutton appear to attack the teen while Eubank records on her phone .
The teen ’ s mother and brother arrived home during the fracas and attempted to stop the beating .
While chasing the teens , the mother was allegedly hit by the vehicle driven by Stansell .
One witness , a Polk County utilities employee , managed to follow the teens and provide a 911 operator with details that led to their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a van — you probably just got a phone call — I ’ m following a van that just ran this lady over , ” said the employee .
The employee mentioned that the teens seemed in no rush to get away , he speculated that they had no idea that they were being followed .
“ This was a coordinated , planned attack , carried out by a group of teens who beat up a teen then ran over his mother , leaving her for dead .
I can ’ t even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our prayers are with this family , ” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said .
Stansell and his cohorts have all been charged with attempted felony murder and burglary with assault .
Stansell was also charged with lewd and lascivious battery on a minor .
The woman remains in critical condition in the ICU with severe head injuries , a broken leg and lung damage .

A group of Florida teens allegedly ran over the mother of one of their rivals with a van on Tuesday due to an ongoing romantic dispute, police said.
The initial argument started on social media when the woman’s son, whose name has not been released, began arguing with 15-year-old Kimberly Stone.
Stone threatened to “hit” the rival teen and have her boyfriend “handle” the situation, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s office.
Video obtained by ClickOrlando.com shows 18-year-old Elijah Stansell, 16-year-old Raven Sutton, 15-year-old Kimberly Stone and 14-year-old Hannah Eubank arriving at the teen’s house around 3:00 p.m in a dark van.
There, Stansell and Sutton appear to attack the teen while Eubank records on her phone.
The teen’s mother and brother arrived home during the fracas and attempted to stop the beating. While chasing the teens, the mother was allegedly hit by the vehicle driven by Stansell.
One witness, a Polk County utilities employee, managed to follow the teens and provide a 911 operator with details that led to their arrest.
“I’m following a van — you probably just got a phone call — I’m following a van that just ran this lady over,” said the employee.
The employee mentioned that the teens seemed in no rush to get away, he speculated that they had no idea that they were being followed.
“This was a coordinated, planned attack, carried out by a group of teens who beat up a teen then ran over his mother, leaving her for dead. I can’t even fathom teenagers doing something so heinous. Our prayers are with this family,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.
Stansell and his cohorts have all been charged with attempted felony murder and burglary with assault. Stansell was also charged with lewd and lascivious battery on a minor.
The woman remains in critical condition in the ICU with severe head injuries, a broken leg and lung damage.


newyorkpost--2020-11-12--Bridge collapses live on news in North Carolina amid heavy rain

Shocking local television footage shows the moment part of a bridge collapsed as a reporter stood just a few feet away amid heavy rains in North Carolina on Thursday .
During the newscast , reporter Amber Roberts , of a local Fox affiliate in Charlotte , was showing viewers a flood of running water underneath a bridge and damage to the roadway in Alexander County , the footage shows .
Roberts knelt down and pointed to a section of the two-lane car bridge to show the roadway bowing amid the torrential storm , the footage shows .
“ This bridge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the ground , you can see it caving in , ” she said .
Seconds later , the section of roadway collapses and falls into the water as Roberts screams in shock .
The region has been battered by heavy rains Thursday , but the weather is expected to improve and the downpours are forecasted to move out by Thursday evening , according to the station .
In a tweet after the ordeal , Roberts said she was thankful both her and her cameraman escaped the dangerous scene uninjured .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FOX46News # photojournalist , @ JonMonteFOX46 are okay .
I ’ m sending # prayers up to the people of # Alexander # County impacted by today ’ s # flooding , ” she wrote .

Shocking local television footage shows the moment part of a bridge collapsed as a reporter stood just a few feet away amid heavy rains in North Carolina on Thursday.
During the newscast, reporter Amber Roberts, of a local Fox affiliate in Charlotte, was showing viewers a flood of running water underneath a bridge and damage to the roadway in Alexander County, the footage shows.
Roberts knelt down and pointed to a section of the two-lane car bridge to show the roadway bowing amid the torrential storm, the footage shows.
“This bridge is literally sinking. Take a look at the ground, you can see it caving in,” she said.
Seconds later, the section of roadway collapses and falls into the water as Roberts screams in shock.
The region has been battered by heavy rains Thursday, but the weather is expected to improve and the downpours are forecast to move out by Thursday evening, according to the station.
In a tweet after the ordeal, Roberts said she was thankful both she and her cameraman escaped the dangerous scene uninjured.
“I am SO #thankful me and my @FOX46News #photojournalist, @JonMonteFOX46 are okay. I’m sending #prayers up to the people of #Alexander #County impacted by today’s #flooding,” she wrote.


newyorkpost--2020-11-12--NHL’s preferred 2020-21 season scenario doesn’t include hub cities

The NHL remains firm in its desire to start the ...

All of the options being considered by the NHL remain on the table following Thursday afternoon’s Board of Governors virtual meeting, in which teams were updated on differing potential scenarios for the 2020-21 season.
As outlined on Thursday, the possibility of at least opening the season in four hub cities is an option, but indications are that the league would prefer having teams play in home arenas, even if forbidden to accommodate spectators.
Realignment into four geographically designed divisions that would include a seven-team, all-Canadian sector and a 2020 baseball-type regionally based schedule that would feature two- or three-game series between opponents in order to minimize travel, were concepts that also were presented to the Board.
The Jan. 1 start date remains a target (though it obviously could be a moving one). As reported by The Post on Oct. 24, the league envisions a 14-day training camp as the run-up to the season. In that case, COVID-19-related travel restrictions would mean that few players would be able to spend Christmas with their families. Under normal circumstances, the NHL is dark on Dec. 24, 25 and 26. It is not likely that would be a deal-breaker, but it certainly would become a topic of conversation.
The Post has been told that NHLPA executive Don Fehr is steadfast that the union would not accept prorating of contracts for a season of fewer than 82 games. The NHL and NHLPA agreed to a six-year collective bargaining agreement extension in July that essentially ruled out the practice. Indeed, the agreement was reached in the midst of the pandemic and contemplated 2020-21 worst-case scenarios.
As a result, NHL players agreed to defer 10 percent of their 2020-21 salaries with escrow capped at 20 percent. That equates to a guarantee of 72 percent of face value.
Sources report that between three-to-five owners have claimed they would be unable to survive under these circumstances and would be better off not playing the season. We’re told that the league on Thursday brought up the possibility of proposing an additional deferral of pay to the players association rather than pressing prorating.
There is much to do over the next couple of weeks if the league in fact does envision training camp beginning in a little over a month. Players are scattered across the globe. There has yet to be a Return to Play meeting between the league and the players association.


newyorkpost--2020-11-12--‘Southern Charm’ Recap: Kathryn Finds Out Thomas Got Another Woman Pregnant — And It’s More Shocking

‘Southern Charm’ Recap: Kathryn Finds Out Thomas Got Another Woman Pregnant — And It’s More Shocking Than You Think

Oh , Kathryn .
Viewers of Southern Charm have spent seven seasons hoping she would learn her lesson with Thomas Ravenel , but it hasn ’ t quite happened yet .
On the latest episode of the Bravo series , we see Kathryn Dennis daydreaming out loud about the chances of her potentially getting back together with the father of her children someday , now that they are all living under the same roof , even though they are currently “ not back together , ” she clarifies for Madison LeCroy .
But then ?
She follows that up with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” No , girl !
Take Kensie and Saint and run far away !
“ I mean , the thought of it I think is what makes me a little giddy , because it ’ s what daily life would look like if we were together , ” she explains .
“ I guess it could work out , I wonder if it will ?
” she asks aloud .
“ I have run through my head more than a few times , ” she admits .
“ He ’ s the father @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never know ’ thing is always gon na be in the back of my head .
Do you ever feel like that with your ex ?
” she asks Madison who responds with a very certain no .
However , it turns out the whole conversation was pointless anyway .
While the dudes on the show were slamming back tequila shots and riding a mechanical bull , the girls gathered at Leva Bonaparte ‘ s home for a gorgeous Persian dinner .
They dressed to the nines , the food looked incredible , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serve tea and dessert…Kathryn gets a text .
It ’ s appears that she ’ s looking at a picture of Heather Mascoe , and we hear her say , “ Gross , Thomas is such a…f**king liar.
” She gets up and immediately pulls Danni Baird to the side to tell her , “ Thomas got a girl pregnant and she ’ s having the baby .
I just found out.
” Oh , and the worst part ?
He didn ’ t even tell Kathryn himself .
Again , the woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and who he shares two children with !
“ My lawyer found out and he confirmed it , ” Kathryn relays , along with the fact that this woman is six or seven months along .
Danni is rightfully shocked , and since it ’ s clear something is going on , Kathryn shares the news with the group as each woman ’ s jaw drops .
So , who is Thomas Ravenel ’ s ex , Heather Mascoe ?
News of the birth of Thomas ’ third child broke in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Heather welcomed baby boy Jonathan Jackson Ravenel .
Heather is a 38-year-old ( 19 years his junior ) registered nurse in Charleston who began dating Thomas in the summer of 2019 .
She has two children with her ex Leo Chiagkouris , a restauranteur who doesn ’ t care so much for Thomas .
In 2019 , he hung a banner from his restaurant that listed Ravenel ’ s legal issues from over the years .
Must ’ ve been a big banner .
But back at the dinner party , Kathryn tells @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asking him , ‘ Why wouldn ’ t you tell me ?
’ and he ’ s like , ‘ Why would I ? '
” of her discussion with Thomas .
“ Why wouldn ’ t you tell me ?
Because they ’ ll have a sibling , hello , ” she said .
His response ?
“ Well , half.
” Kathryn goes on to say that “ I knew of her when they dated .
A while back I found a positive pregnancy test in his house .
He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t me , must ’ ve been someone else . '
” That was the line he fed her .
Seriously , dude ?
It ’ s always you .
She also said she “ Heard that he had been spotted at an ob-gyn with a girl who was showing , ” but it wasn ’ t until this moment that all the pieces came together .
“ I can not believe I ’ ve been living in the house with this man who has been hiding a secret that he has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I ’ m fantasizing , ‘ Oh maybe if we got back together this is what it would be like , ' ” she says in her interview .
“ Dude , that was a bomb that you just threw down , ” Leva tells her , and it all hits Kathryn when she says , “ My family , a piece of it was taken away .
It ’ s no longer the Ravenels , you know ?
” Ultimately , all the ladies band together and have her back , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home and helping her through it .
But wow does this guy just continue to impress with his messiness !

Oh, Kathryn. Viewers of Southern Charm have spent seven seasons hoping she would learn her lesson with Thomas Ravenel, but it hasn’t quite happened yet.
On the latest episode of the Bravo series, we see Kathryn Dennis daydreaming out loud about the chances of her potentially getting back together with the father of her children someday, now that they are all living under the same roof, even though they are currently “not back together,” she clarifies for Madison LeCroy. But then? She follows that up with an, “I mean, maybe…” No, girl! Take Kensie and Saint and run far away!
“I mean, the thought of it I think is what makes me a little giddy, because it’s what daily life would look like if we were together,” she explains. “I guess it could work out, I wonder if it will?” she asks aloud. “I have run through my head more than a few times,” she admits. “He’s the father of my kids so that ‘you never know’ thing is always gonna be in the back of my head. Do you ever feel like that with your ex?” she asks Madison who responds with a very certain no.
However, it turns out the whole conversation was pointless anyway. While the dudes on the show were slamming back tequila shots and riding a mechanical bull, the girls gathered at Leva Bonaparte‘s home for a gorgeous Persian dinner. They dressed to the nines, the food looked incredible, and just as Leva was about to serve tea and dessert…Kathryn gets a text.
It’s appears that she’s looking at a picture of Heather Mascoe, and we hear her say, “Gross, Thomas is such a…f**king liar.” She gets up and immediately pulls Danni Baird to the side to tell her, “Thomas got a girl pregnant and she’s having the baby. I just found out.” Oh, and the worst part? He didn’t even tell Kathryn himself. Again, the woman who is currently living in his home, and who he shares two children with! “My lawyer found out and he confirmed it,” Kathryn relays, along with the fact that this woman is six or seven months along.
Danni is rightfully shocked, and since it’s clear something is going on, Kathryn shares the news with the group as each woman’s jaw drops.
So, who is Thomas Ravenel’s ex, Heather Mascoe?
News of the birth of Thomas’ third child broke in the summer when we learned that he and Heather welcomed baby boy Jonathan Jackson Ravenel. Heather is a 38-year-old (19 years his junior) registered nurse in Charleston who began dating Thomas in the summer of 2019. She has two children with her ex Leo Chiagkouris, a restauranteur who doesn’t care so much for Thomas. In 2019, he hung a banner from his restaurant that listed Ravenel’s legal issues from over the years. Must’ve been a big banner.
But back at the dinner party, Kathryn tells the group, “I’m asking him, ‘Why wouldn’t you tell me?’ and he’s like, ‘Why would I?'” of her discussion with Thomas. “Why wouldn’t you tell me? Because they’ll have a sibling, hello,” she said. His response? “Well, half.”
Kathryn goes on to say that “I knew of her when they dated. A while back I found a positive pregnancy test in his house. He was like, ‘Oh no, wasn’t me, must’ve been someone else.'” That was the line he fed her. Seriously, dude? It’s always you.
She also said she “Heard that he had been spotted at an ob-gyn with a girl who was showing,” but it wasn’t until this moment that all the pieces came together. “I cannot believe I’ve been living in the house with this man who has been hiding a secret that he has a child on the way. Meanwhile, I’m fantasizing, ‘Oh maybe if we got back together this is what it would be like,'” she says in her interview.
“Dude, that was a bomb that you just threw down,” Leva tells her, and it all hits Kathryn when she says, “My family, a piece of it was taken away. It’s no longer the Ravenels, you know?”
Ultimately, all the ladies band together and have her back, vowing to get her out of his home and helping her through it. But wow does this guy just continue to impress with his messiness!
Southern Charm airs Thursday at 9pm ET/PT on Bravo.
Where to stream Southern Charm


newyorkpost--2020-11-12--Ex-Minnesota middle school teacher sentenced for sexually assaulting teen

A former Minnesota middle school teacher was reportedly sentenced on Monday for sexually assaulting a one-time student that she mentored at home .
Madeleine Schmaltz , 30 , who taught at Hermantown Middle School , was given three years of supervised probation for the sexual relationship with the teen in the spring of 2019 , the Duluth News Tribune reported .
At her sentencing , Schmaltz apologized to the victim and his family and blamed the sex acts on her “ clouded judgement.
” “ During the spring of 2019 , I was going through personal traumatic experiences that did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the report .
“ Since then , I ’ ve been working through those experiences , along with just trying to better myself , and I will continue to do so , ” the former teacher said .
The victim ’ s mother discovered the relationship in June 2019 after finding messages between Schmaltz and the teen on his phone , according to a criminal complaint obtained by the paper .
Schmaltz and teen both admitted to the relationship to police , the complaint said .
In addition to probation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a predatory offender , the report said .

A former Minnesota middle school teacher was reportedly sentenced on Monday for sexually assaulting a one-time student that she mentored at home.
Madeleine Schmaltz, 30, who taught at Hermantown Middle School, was given three years of supervised probation for the sexual relationship with the teen in the spring of 2019, the Duluth News Tribune reported.
At her sentencing, Schmaltz apologized to the victim and his family and blamed the sex acts on her “clouded judgement.”
“During the spring of 2019, I was going through personal traumatic experiences that did cloud my judgment,” Schmaltz said, according to the report.
“Since then, I’ve been working through those experiences, along with just trying to better myself, and I will continue to do so,” the former teacher said.
In September, Schmaltz pleaded guilty to fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct.
The victim’s mother discovered the relationship in June 2019 after finding messages between Schmaltz and the teen on his phone, according to a criminal complaint obtained by the paper.
Schmaltz and teen both admitted to the relationship to police, the complaint said.
In addition to probation, Schmaltz was ordered to register as a predatory offender, the report said.


newyorkpost--2020-11-12--‘Matrix’ cast reportedly skirts Berlin ban on parties by staging one for film

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Parties are strictly banned under Germany ’ s current lockdown , but Keanu Reeves and the rest of the cast and crew of “ The Matrix 4 ” threw themselves a rager near Berlin by allegedly staging a party scene for the movie .
Perhaps living in their own matrix , nearly 200 workers on the movie enjoyed their wrap party at Studio Babelsberg in Potsdam .
They were treated to a pyrotechnics and dance performance , a DJ playing on a packed dance floor , tattoo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wine and sake , a sushi and dessert station ( sans red or blue pills ) and cushioned Bedouin tents , German newspaper Bild reported .
Reeves and girlfriend Alexandra Grant were seen at the bash with a bottle of wine on their table .
“ Matrix ” franchise creators Lana and Lilly Wachowski were also reportedly there .
One guest told the paper , “ The mood was exuberant .
There was a rapid [ COVID-19 ] test for everyone in advance .
Everyone had to come with a mask , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Germany ’ s four-week partial lockdown went into effect Nov. 2 , shuttering bars , restaurants and theaters and forbidding large gatherings .
“ The Matrix 4 ” wrapped days later , so the party was given a code name : “ Ice cream team event.
” Studio Babelsberg spokeswoman Bianca Makarewicz told Bild : “ According to the production , it was the last day of shooting .
It was a celebration scene … Hygiene requirements were adhered to.
” She added , “ The production deliberately put this shoot with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shoot.
” But there was no filming during the party , guests said .
The movie ’ s distributor , Warner Bros. , did not comment .
According to the local health department , “ indoor events are only allowed after registration , with an approved hygiene concept and a maximum of 50 people with masks and distance.
” A spokesman for Potsdam added that no event was registered , and its health department is examining photos of the packed party published by Bild .

Parties are strictly banned under Germany’s current lockdown, but Keanu Reeves and the rest of the cast and crew of “The Matrix 4” threw themselves a rager near Berlin by allegedly staging a party scene for the movie.
Perhaps living in their own matrix, nearly 200 workers on the movie enjoyed their wrap party at Studio Babelsberg in Potsdam.
They were treated to a pyrotechnics and dance performance, a DJ playing on a packed dance floor, tattoo stations inside caravans, several bars serving wine and sake, a sushi and dessert station (sans red or blue pills) and cushioned Bedouin tents, German newspaper Bild reported.
Reeves and girlfriend Alexandra Grant were seen at the bash with a bottle of wine on their table. “Matrix” franchise creators Lana and Lilly Wachowski were also reportedly there.
One guest told the paper, “The mood was exuberant. There was a rapid [COVID-19] test for everyone in advance. Everyone had to come with a mask, but many didn’t wear them later.”
Germany’s four-week partial lockdown went into effect Nov. 2, shuttering bars, restaurants and theaters and forbidding large gatherings. “The Matrix 4” wrapped days later, so the party was given a code name: “Ice cream team event.”
Studio Babelsberg spokeswoman Bianca Makarewicz told Bild: “According to the production, it was the last day of shooting. It was a celebration scene … Hygiene requirements were adhered to.” She added, “The production deliberately put this shoot with many people involved at the end of the shoot.” But there was no filming during the party, guests said. The movie’s distributor, Warner Bros., did not comment.
According to the local health department, “indoor events are only allowed after registration, with an approved hygiene concept and a maximum of 50 people with masks and distance.” A spokesman for Potsdam added that no event was registered, and its health department is examining photos of the packed party published by Bild.


newyorkpost--2020-11-12--Two NYC officials to volunteer for Joe Biden’s White House transition team

The Joe Biden White House transition team has tapped two New York city officials to advise the upcoming administration , @ @ @ @ @ s website .
Polly Trottenberg , the commissioner of the city Department of Transportation , @ @ @ @ @ than a dozen volunteers on Biden ’ s Department of Transportation review team , according @ @ @ @ @ appointed advisers .
In the role , Trottenberg , who served in the Obama White @ @ @ @ @ other members on the team to review the National Transportation Safety Board , the National @ @ @ @ @ Federal Maritime Commission .
Marisa Lago , the chair of the city Planning Commission , @ @ @ @ @ White House transition team as a volunteer for the Department of the Treasury .
Lago @ @ @ @ @ Commission since being appointed by de Blasio in 2017 , according to the city ’ @ @ @ @ @ worked in the Obama administration , as well as for previous New York City mayors @ @ @ @ @ .

The Joe Biden White House transition team has tapped two New York city officials to advise the upcoming administration, according to the president-elect’s website.
Polly Trottenberg, the commissioner of the city Department of Transportation, will be one of more than a dozen volunteers on Biden’s Department of Transportation review team, according to the list of newly appointed advisers.
In the role, Trottenberg, who served in the Obama White House, will work with other members on the team to review the National Transportation Safety Board, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation and the Federal Maritime Commission.
Marisa Lago, the chair of the city Planning Commission, will also work on the White House transition team as a volunteer for the Department of the Treasury.
Lago has served on the Planning Commission since being appointed by de Blasio in 2017, according to the city’s website.
She previously worked in the Obama administration, as well as for previous New York City mayors David Dinkins and Ed Koch.


newyorkpost--2020-11-12--Yankees’ DJ LeMahieu falls short in AL MVP bid

If Gary Sanchez gets dumped by the Yankees and rediscovers ...

After another stellar season in The Bronx, DJ LeMahieu finished third in the AL MVP voting.
LeMahieu led the majors with a .364 average, but Jose Abreu of the White Sox won the award, getting 21 of 30 first-place votes.
Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez came in second, while LeMahieu got one first-place vote.
The 32-year-old LeMahieu is a free agent after rejecting the Yankees’ qualifying offer of $18.9 million this week.
The Yankees remain very interested in bringing back LeMahieu, but there’s no guarantee they won’t be outbid on a three- or four-year deal.
LeMahieu said Thursday he likes playing in the New York spotlight.
“I enjoy it,’’ LeMahieu said on MLB Network before the award was announced. “Every game feels like it’s a big game. … I feel like it’s a city that loves baseball. Baseball is my passion, so I feel it’s a really good fit.” — Dan Martin
Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman easily won the NL MVP award, topping off a trying year that saw him become so ill with COVID-19 he prayed “please don’t take me.”
Freeman got 28 of the 30 first-place ballots. Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts got the other two firsts to finish second and Padres third baseman Manny Machado was third.
— with AP


newyorkpost--2020-11-12--Michael Jordan’s gifts to security guard in ‘The Last Dance’ going to auction

A number of gifts that Michael Jordan gave to his personal security guard — the perm-sporting ex-cop who makes scene-stealing cameos in the MJ documentary “ The Last Dance ” — are going up for auction , Page Six has learned .
The items include a Rolex that Jordan gave to John Michael Wozniak for Christmas in 1993 .
Wozniak memorably beats Jordan in a coin-toss bet in a scene in the ESPN docuseries , which shows how Wozniak and other security-team members at the Bulls ’ Chicago Stadium hung with Jordan when his fame became so great that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in public .
The watch — which has a starting bid of $ 1,500 at auction house Lelands — is inscribed “ To John M , From MJ , 12-25-93.
” Also in the auction are a diamond-studded ring that Jordan gave to Wozniak and others in his inner circle in 1998 to celebrate his sixth NBA championship , and a Wizards jersey that Jordan wore in 2002 during his two-season stint with the team .
The bidding on the jersey is already up to $ 6,000 , with a month still to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in January , three months before “ The Last Dance ” aired .
His family is auctioning the goods .

A number of gifts that Michael Jordan gave to his personal security guard — the perm-sporting ex-cop who makes scene-stealing cameos in the MJ documentary “The Last Dance” — are going up for auction, Page Six has learned.
The items include a Rolex that Jordan gave to John Michael Wozniak for Christmas in 1993. Wozniak memorably beats Jordan in a coin-toss bet in a scene in the ESPN docuseries, which shows how Wozniak and other security-team members at the Bulls’ Chicago Stadium hung with Jordan when his fame became so great that it was hard for him to spend time in public.
The watch — which has a starting bid of $1,500 at auction house Lelands — is inscribed “To John M, From MJ, 12-25-93.” Also in the auction are a diamond-studded ring that Jordan gave to Wozniak and others in his inner circle in 1998 to celebrate his sixth NBA championship, and a Wizards jersey that Jordan wore in 2002 during his two-season stint with the team. The bidding on the jersey is already up to $6,000, with a month still to go on the block.
Wozniak died in January, three months before “The Last Dance” aired. His family is auctioning the goods.


newyorkpost--2020-11-12--Alleged rapist missing after judge frees him for $500 due to COVID-19 in Chicago

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic .
A Chicago man accused of sexual assault and robbery was released on $ 500 bail after a judge ruled that he was at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 due to his precondition of asthma , but after hearing more evidence in the cases , he was ordered back into custody .
He has not been seen since then .
Rene Chandler , 31 , was on an electronic monitor awaiting trial on charges that he sexually assaulted two women he met on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a third woman in an Uber in April 2019 .
Chandler was arrested and a judge ordered he be held without bail for violating the terms of his sexual assault cases .
However , due to the COVID-19 pandemic , his attorney petitioned to have him released , and Cook County Judge Thomas Hennelly reversed course on Chandler ’ s no-bail status on April 9 .
“ He is absolutely not a flight risk , ” Chandler ’ s defense attorney wrote in the bail reduction request .
Chandler posted a $ 500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , court records show , according to reports by CWB Chicago .
It wasn ’ t until after the bond reduction hearing that prosecutors accused Chandler of discussing paying off an alleged victim to prevent her from testifying against him and presented additional evidence in the sexual assault case in an attempt to have his no-bail status reinstated .
During a call from jail in March , Chandler allegedly “ details one of his cases and also discusses a previous attempt to tamper with a victim and pay her a sum of money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the state said .
Judge Michael McHale ordered Chandler to return to jail and to be held without bail after hearing the evidence during a Zoom proceeding due to the pandemic .
A warrant has been issued for Chandler ’ s arrest but he remains at large .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
A Chicago man accused of sexual assault and robbery was released on $500 bail after a judge ruled that he was at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 due to his precondition of asthma, but after hearing more evidence in the cases, he was ordered back into custody. He has not been seen since then.
Rene Chandler, 31, was on an electronic monitor awaiting trial on charges that he sexually assaulted two women he met on dating apps when he assaulted and robbed a third woman in an Uber in April 2019. Chandler was arrested and a judge ordered he be held without bail for violating the terms of his sexual assault cases.
However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, his attorney petitioned to have him released, and Cook County Judge Thomas Hennelly reversed course on Chandler’s no-bail status on April 9.
“He is absolutely not a flight risk,” Chandler’s defense attorney wrote in the bail reduction request.
Chandler posted a $500 deposit bond and was released from jail, court records show, according to reports by CWB Chicago.
It wasn’t until after the bond reduction hearing that prosecutors accused Chandler of discussing paying off an alleged victim to prevent her from testifying against him and presented additional evidence in the sexual assault case in an attempt to have his no-bail status reinstated.
During a call from jail in March, Chandler allegedly “details one of his cases and also discusses a previous attempt to tamper with a victim and pay her a sum of money to alter her story,” attorneys for the state said.
Judge Michael McHale ordered Chandler to return to jail and to be held without bail after hearing the evidence during a Zoom proceeding due to the pandemic.
A warrant has been issued for Chandler’s arrest but he remains at large.


newyorkpost--2020-11-12--Mets’ president candidate Michael Hill led Marlins back to prominence

Even in the absence of the MLB general managers ’ meetings ...

Michael Hill’s reward for helping build a Marlins team that surpassed expectations and reached the postseason this year was to get squeezed out in a South Florida power struggle.
Now the 49-year-old Hill is firmly on the Mets’ radar to become the president of baseball operations — replacing Brodie Van Wagenen, who carried the general manager title.
Hill interviewed with Mets president Sandy Alderson last weekend. He is the only known interview at this point — with it still possible names such as Chris Antonetti, Mike Chernoff, David Stearns and Derek Falvey will emerge as candidates. It’s expected Alderson will make a selection within the next week to 10 days, giving the new hire time to build a staff as the Mets prepare to dive into free agency and the trade market.
During Hill’s tenure with the Marlins, the team developed stars such as Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, J.T. Realmuto and Marcell Ozuna. Hill traded all four, as the Marlins endured a teardown and rebuild.
Hill spent the past seven seasons as head of baseball operations after serving in various other front-office capacities within the organization beginning in 2002. Hill, a Harvard graduate, played in the Rangers and Reds minor league systems before joining the Rays as a scouting assistant in the 1990s.
“I think that’s the difference with Mike is he played, so he is ahead of a lot of the other guys that came from Ivy League schools,” said a former colleague of Hill’s. “He played professionally, he’s been through player development and scouting and stuff like that when he started. He kind of had to learn his way up, which I think is a lot different than some of the other guys that come in just with the numbers and that’s what they know. Mike has been in the dugout. He’s been in the locker room.
“He’s done stuff that other guys haven’t and he’s equally educated and welcomed the analytics, and as we know it’s a necessary part of baseball today.”
Hill, who was born to a Cuban mother, was the only Cuban-American head of baseball operations in MLB until his departure from the Marlins. He reportedly interviewed for the Angels vacancy that on Thursday went to former Braves assistant GM Perry Minasian.
Mets owner Steve Cohen this week indicated the team isn’t interested in hiring a novice to lead the front office. Alderson has hinted he’s searching for somebody who will bring both an analytical and baseball background to the position. The new hire will have a say in adding a general manager beneath him, and other key positions will need to be filled, starting with a director of player development and analytics staff.
The departures other than Van Wagenen last week included assistant GMs Allard Baird and Adam Guttridge, director of player development Jared Banner and special assistant Omar Minaya. The holdovers include John Ricco and Ian Levin, both of whom have strong ties to Alderson from his previous tenure as Mets GM.
“[Hill] has a really nice, easy way about him, which is kind of a little different in the game today,” the former colleague said. “He’s Ivy League material like a lot of the other guys, but he’s got a lot of personality that goes along with it, he’s pretty low key and smart and he’s done a lot of different things.”
The Marlins this year finished second in the NL East, which carried an automatic postseason berth in MLB’s expanded format. Only adding to the accomplishment, Hill had to overhaul much of the roster during the season because of a team COVID-19 outbreak that forced the Marlins to postpone seven games. The Marlins beat the Cubs in a first-round playoff series before losing to the Braves in the NLDS.
“This year may have been Hill’s best,” a former MLB team executive said. “He needed to be aggressive and build out his roster, without many options, and found good values.”


newyorkpost--2020-11-12--Seahawks’ Chris Carson gave his address to an unhappy fantasy owner

Chris Carson may be injured , but he ’ ll still put up a fight .
The Seattle Seahawks running @ @ @ @ @ missing a third straight week with a foot injury , did not take too kindly @ @ @ @ @ sliding into his DMs and demanding he play .
Carson challenged the interloper to “ @ @ @ @ @ ” and even sent him an address with a Seattle-area zip code to make it @ @ @ @ @ not the only instance of Carson telling off displeased and disrespectful fans , either , @ @ @ @ @ internet show .
At 5-foot-11 and 223 pounds , Carson likely holds an edge on @ @ @ @ @ opposing defenses can attest .
The 26-year-old bruiser has racked up 323 yards and three @ @ @ @ @ six games this season , averaging a career-best 4.9 yards per attempt .

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Chris Carson may be injured, but he’ll still put up a fight.
The Seattle Seahawks running back, in danger of missing a third straight week with a foot injury, did not take too kindly to one fantasy football owner sliding into his DMs and demanding he play.
In a screenshot snagged by Total Frat Move’s TFMbirdlaw, Carson challenged the interloper to “Come make me play,” and even sent him an address with a Seattle-area zip code to make it happen.
It’s not the only instance of Carson telling off displeased and disrespectful fans, either, as screenshots floating around the internet show.
At 5-foot-11 and 223 pounds, Carson likely holds an edge on his would-be adversaries, as opposing defenses can attest. The 26-year-old bruiser has racked up 323 yards and three touchdowns on the ground in six games this season, averaging a career-best 4.9 yards per attempt.


newyorkpost--2020-11-12--Iowa teacher found dead three days after testing positive for COVID-19

An Iowa teacher was found dead at his home on Sunday — three days after testing positive for coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ Englert , 38 , who taught in the talented and gifted program at Belmond-Klemme Community @ @ @ @ @ at home during a police wellness check , school officials and family told the Des @ @ @ @ @ had tested positive for COVID-19 on Nov. 5 .
Days earlier , a coronavirus outbreak @ @ @ @ @ to switch to full time remote learning , the report said .
Englert also coached @ @ @ @ @ basketball .
A career math teacher , Englert earlier this year switched gears , taking @ @ @ @ @ Talented and Gifted program .
“ It was a perfect position for him , ” @ @ @ @ @ Teresa Johnson , told the newspaper .
Englert ’ s cause of death has not @ @ @ @ @ report said .

An Iowa teacher was found dead at his home on Sunday — three days after testing positive for coronavirus, a report said.
Jason Englert, 38, who taught in the talented and gifted program at Belmond-Klemme Community School District, was discovered at home during a police wellness check, school officials and family told the Des Moines Register.
The teacher had tested positive for COVID-19 on Nov. 5. Days earlier, a coronavirus outbreak at his district forced schools to switch to full-time remote learning, the report said.
Englert also coached junior high volleyball and girls basketball. A career math teacher, Englert earlier this year switched gears, taking the job in the Belmond-Klemme talented and gifted program.
“It was a perfect position for him,” Englert’s aunt, Teresa Johnson, told the newspaper.
Englert’s cause of death has not yet been determined, the report said.


newyorkpost--2020-11-12--‘No way’ Megyn Kelly will ever return to mainstream media

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Megyn Kelly is done with mainstream media , according to a source close to her .
She was famously fired from her struggling hour of the “ Today ” show in 2018 after appearing to defend the use of blackface .
She ’ s since been dabbling with digital media .
“ There ’ s no way she ’ d ever go back to a big corporate … legacy media [ outlet ] , ” the insider told Page Six .
“ She loves the authenticity and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Other TV insiders pointed out that after Kelly ’ s dramatic departure from Fox News and her troubled tenure at NBC , mainstream media isn ’ t exactly banging down her door .
She launched her Devil May Care Media company in September , and debuted a podcast the same month .
The former TV host has blasted NBC for “ canceling ” her over the blackface remarks .
Meanwhile , she ’ s been staying in the spotlight via social media .
CNN ’ s Chris Cuomo chided her as trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
She shot back : “ Poor Cuomo .
The chief nurse assisting CNN ’ s suicide during the Trump era now lecturing on how to cover the news .
”

Megyn Kelly is done with mainstream media, according to a source close to her.
She was famously fired from her struggling hour of the “Today” show in 2018 after appearing to defend the use of blackface. She’s since been dabbling with digital media.
“There’s no way she’d ever go back to a big corporate … legacy media [outlet],” the insider told Page Six. “She loves the authenticity and freedom of having her own direct channel.”
Other TV insiders pointed out that after Kelly’s dramatic departure from Fox News and her troubled tenure at NBC, mainstream media isn’t exactly banging on her door. She launched her Devil May Care Media company in September, and debuted a podcast the same month.
The former TV host has blasted NBC for “canceling” her over the blackface remarks.
Meanwhile, she’s been staying in the spotlight via social media. CNN’s Chris Cuomo chided her as trying to be “relevant” earlier this week. She shot back: “Poor Cuomo. The chief nurse assisting CNN’s suicide during the Trump era now lecturing on how to cover the news.”


newyorkpost--2020-11-12--Tracy Morgan surprises community center opening in old Brooklyn ‘hood

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens @ @ @ @ @ to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Tracy Morgan , who grew @ @ @ @ @ Brooklyn , showed some love to his old neighborhood last week .
The comic surprised @ @ @ @ @ a new community center at the nearby Marcy Houses .
“ When Tracy showed up @ @ @ @ @ , ” a source said .
We ’ re told City Councilman Robert Cornegy is @ @ @ @ @ him to the ceremony , where the actor presented him with a giant chain from @ @ @ @ @ ” his TBS show that filmed in the area .
“ It felt like I @ @ @ @ @ of the Oscars , ” Cornegy , who is running for borough president , told @ @

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Tracy Morgan, who grew up in Tompkins Houses in Brooklyn, showed some love to his old neighborhood last week.
The comic surprised attendees at a ribbon-cutting for a new community center at the nearby Marcy Houses. “When Tracy showed up, the crowd went nuts,” a source said.
We’re told City Councilman Robert Cornegy is pals with Morgan and invited him to the ceremony, where the actor presented him with a giant chain from “The Last O.G.,” his TBS show that filmed in the area.
“It felt like I won the old-school Brooklyn version of the Oscars,” Cornegy, who is running for borough president, told us.


newyorkpost--2020-11-12--Nets can’t hide draft interest in Maryland’s Jalen Smith

The Nets were one of the first teams to interview ...

Maryland sophomore Jalen Smith won’t say what teams have worked him out in person, but he doesn’t have to. The Nets’ interest is genuine and obvious.
Brooklyn was one of the first teams to interview the 20-year-old power forward, who admits he grew up emulating Kevin Garnett and dreams of playing alongside Kevin Durant. And with the Nets holding the 19th pick in Wednesday’s draft, it’s clear why they’re doing their due diligence on Smith.
“I spoke with the whole front office. They’re great guys,” Smith said Thursday via Zoom. “They were just telling me how much film they’ve been watching on me, things that they see I need to improve on.
“They just said the main idea of coming into the league and getting ready to work, and no matter what obstacles are ahead of me, [is] that you’ve got to be able to hit it hard and don’t back down. That was the main emphasis of what they told me.”
Despite being asked to play out of position last season, Smith was All-Big Ten as a center averaging 15.5 points, 10.5 boards, 2.4 blocks, shooting 36.8 percent from 3.
When asked about the possibility of getting drafted by the Nets, Smith said “Just being able to play with KD, that’s a dream come true.” But he cited another Kevin — Garnett, who starred in Boston and Minnesota — as a model for his game.
“Growing up, I’ve always been a huge Kevin Garnett fan,” said Smith. “I just love the way he plays. I watched him because I feel as though we have the same body frame, same height, weight.
“He just always had that energy and intensity on the court that couldn’t be matched by anybody else. He was pretty much insane on the court, and that’s just how I carry myself on the court, just being that insane person who’s going to work hard. He was one of the people I look toward for my work ethic.”
As far as that similar body type, Smith’s lithe 215-pound frame as a freshman got him the nickname “Stix.” After adding 10 pounds, he got upgraded to “Logs.”
“They gave me those nicknames because of the bulk I was putting on, the muscle. That’s why they started saying I was logs rather than sticks, because logs are a lot thicker than sticks,” said Smith, still working on his lower body.
“My lateral quickness, that’s been a main focus this offseason, making sure everything is more fluid, working on my footwork. Being able to guard a lot of guards that came through the gym during the summer has been helping me a lot.”


newyorkpost--2020-11-12--Fans will be sorely missed for this key Giants-Eagles clash

The standard bearer for defensive coordinators around here — or ...

There haven’t been a lot of chances to miss the crowds — to really, really miss the crowds — since the crowds vanished from our sporting events eight months and one day ago. Yes, it might’ve been nice to get a full house at Yankee Stadium — but as it happened, there were no playoff games in The Bronx, and September was a stress-free baseball zone.
The Mets and Jets, they both missed having angry fans in the stands about as much as you miss a rotting tooth once it’s been pulled.
This week, though …
For one thing, there is the eerie site of Augusta National in full fall foliage instead of the blossoming of spring, absent galleries and the kind of unique participatory thunder only the Masters can conjure. Golf as a rule isn’t a terrible TV watch without the masses, but this event cries out for them.
And then there is this Sunday.
Look, on the surface there’s little that’s separates the Giants from the misery that muddled the Mets and the joyless jumble of the Jets. In normal times they would’ve been booed out of MetLife Stadium after that horrible no-show against the 49ers in Week 3. The Monday-night collapse against Tampa, that would’ve been audibly ugly. Even the one home game they’ve won, against Washington, would’ve been littered with muttering at the exits.
They are 2-7, after all.
But, as we know, they have also been blessed with membership in the NFC East. Now, we don’t often refer to the “win column” in sports — it’s always the “all-important loss column” (AILC for short) that gets the most attention, after all — but if you just take into account the win column this is what the NFC East standings look like at the moment:
Philadelphia: 3
New York: 2
Washington: 2
Dallas: 2
Now, yes: that is misleading. The Eagles have played one fewer game than the Giants (and the WFT, for that matter). They have a tie to their credit. They are not the kind of first-place team around which books are written and parades planned at 3-4-1. But first place is first place. And three wins is good enough for first.
Which means the Giants can tie them in the not-quite-as-important win column with a win Sunday, at home, at MetLife. And sure: we can make fun of that all we want. We can mock the NFC East as the NFC Least, and Giants fans can steal a page from the Jets-fan world and offer up screeds that if things are ever going to get better then Dave Gettleman will have to be replaced, and the more games they win the safer Gettleman likely is.
But the fact is: big-game Sunday is still a big deal in New York.
And Sunday, despite all the lousy football that’s littered the division this year, qualifies as a big game. And so, in normal times, that would mean that all 82,500 seats would be occupied Sunday afternoon. It means that most of those folks, more than two-thirds at least, would report for parking-lot duty early, fire up grills, toss beers into oversized coolers, set up cornhole games, sling footballs, and just verbally crush any brave soul who shows up in a Wentz jersey.
(If the fuzzy, fading memory of tailgating just made you pause and shed a tear … well, you are not alone.)
Also, it’s the Eagles. And you might have heard: Giants fans loathe them. Detest them. They hate the Cowboys and the WFT pretty strongly, too, but the Eagles are Philly, they are Bednarik bludgeoning Gifford, they are DeSean Jackson taking it to the house at the gun … and they are 12 wins in their last 13 games against the Giants, including that dastardly 22-21 gut-shot Oct. 22.
And since we brought it up?
Think about what it would be like Sunday not only with well-lubricated fans filling the joint, but if the Giants had held on to the 11-point fourth-quarter lead they had that night (or, sure, if Evan Engram’s fingertips had merely held onto the game-clinching pass that slithered through them).
Yeah. That would be something.
And yet: this is something. This is still a meaningful game in a season that, by rights, should be bereft of anything meaningful. Also: at some point, the Giants are going to beat the Eagles again. If that’s this week? The Giants would still be in second place. But they’d be even in the win column. They’d head into their bye with their season not only intact, but bearing hope and trending north.
It may not sound the way it ought to sound. But it’ll look fine, just fine, especially if 4 o’clock comes with a gaggle of gleeful Giants pouring off the field, their shouts audible to each empty seat in the upper deck. That would sure be something.


newyorkpost--2020-11-12--Ivy League winter sports canceled due to coronavirus pandemic

The Ivy League has canceled all fall sports , including football , ...

The Ivy League has canceled its winter sports for the 2020-21 season because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the league announced Thursday.
There also is no guarantee spring sports will be held as the conference is postponing those sports until at least the end of February. The league also said it will not conduct the fall sports during the spring.
The Ivy League Council of presidents unanimously made these decisions.
“The Council will continue to closely monitor and evaluate the public health climate and consider changes to policies when warranted in order to return to more normal campus operations, including potential spring intercollegiate athletics competition,” the Ivy League said in a release.
Winter and fall sport student-athletes will not lose a season of Ivy League or NCAA eligibility.
“Throughout the last nine months, we have asked our campus communities to make extraordinary adjustments in order to do our part in combating the global pandemic and to safeguard the health and well being of our students, faculty members, staff and the communities in which they live and work,” the Ivy League Council of Presidents said in a joint statement. “Regrettably, the current trends regarding transmission of the COVID-19 virus and subsequent protocols that must be put in place are impeding our strong desire to return to intercollegiate athletics competition in a safe manner.”
Though other major conferences are playing college football, the Ivy League has not held fall sports because of the pandemic, and it was the first Division I conference to make that announcement.


newyorkpost--2020-11-12--YES dumping informative Jim Spanarkel shows sad state of TV sports

Tiger Woods ’ hot start at the 2020 Masters nearly included ...

Simply put, no sports TV exec can claim to know borscht about basketball and dump Jim Spanarkel as his or her primary basketball analyst, not short of his conviction for murder.
But Spanarkel, for years the best thing about watching Nets games on YES, last week was dumped despite a clean record — he doesn’t litter, pays his taxes and hasn’t committed a felony since breakfast.
Even during the Nets’ most meager times, Spanarkel could sustain interest by seeing and speaking sensible, applicable basketball. He left us with at least one good lesson a game.
For example, not all long rebounds are the result of not boxing out near the basket — the easy, common take — but by everyone blocking out, thus by good basketball.
He didn’t shout, he didn’t make up nicknames or try to draw attention to himself with neo-hip expressions. His substance was his style. He was the guy who surpassed the lucky ticket test — the one you were grateful to be seated beside at a game.
But in these days of sports and TV teaming to destroy our sports for no good reasons, the Spanarkels of the world are no longer welcomed, appreciated, no longer even sought.
Consider that Fox, this week, selected retired CB Aqib Talib, talented but expendable — five NFL teams — as an NFL analyst.
Talib’s bio reads like a dark-alley mugging, from punching out a teammate, to an arrest for assaulting a cab driver, to a four-game illegal drugs suspension, to an arrest for aggravated assault with a gun, to filing a false report for having been shot when in fact he had shot himself.
Talib even ignited an on-field brawl over an in-game chain-snatching!
Once unfathomable, he is the kind of bad dude TV now rewards. The biggest sports cheat and liar in recent history, Alex Rodriguez, was quickly hired by two networks, Fox and ESPN. On and on. They can’t do better? Or is it that they don’t want to?
Why? Why are they doing this to sports, to us, to kids? What’s the upside?
And so Spanarkel joins the list of those lost to us due to executive neglect, ignorance or imagined populism.
I’m still trying to figure why CBS this season dumped measured, informative, no-hype Dan Fouts. And if Jon Gruden fell asleep on Sean McDonough during “Monday Night Football” before Gruden returned to the NFL, why did they demote McDonough, among TV’s best play-by-players, replacing him with terribly miscast Joe Tessitore?
Just as I wonder if YES’s shot-callers ever had the ability to recognize Spanarkel’s valued, intelligent approach, I wonder if a Vin Scully, today, would get past his first audition, rejected for not being gimmicky or loud enough. Would Alex Trebek today be rejected as too clean, too square?
Networks are Masters of misleading viewers
The Masters: All those chirping birds that fly in from here, there, and everywhere, normally heard during CBS’s telecast? Must have been self-quarantining.
As ESPN showed and told, Thursday morning, it was raining on Tiger Woods. No one else, just Tiger Woods. The telecast theme was psychological: Woods’ relaxed, pleasant demeanor.
Never saw Augusta National play as “easy” as I saw it, yesterday. That early rain removed the risk from those normally crazy-fast greens. Putts that normally ran forever braked short.
That computerized shot-tracker TV uses continues to confuse. Yesterday, Woods hit a tee-shot that appeared to be sliced into a tree line. The CBS commentators gasped in horror. It landed and stopped in the fairway.
Don’t know how we’re going to get through today’s Masters without Mike Francesa watching it for us — but mostly for himself.
What does Rutgers have that Ohio State doesn’t? Answer: CB Tre Avery.
During Saturday’s RU-OSU, BTN play-by-play man Brandon Gaudin explained: “Originally, he signed with Ohio State, back in 2016, but he never got here due to academic issues. Then he wound up at Rutgers.” Hmmm.
Not that CBS will ever listen to me, but in James Lofton it has the kind of understated analyst we want and need. Reader John Busacca was in Phoenix, Sunday, where he watched Lofton call Dolphins-Cards on the CBS affiliate.
“You are not going to believe this, but after a [self-evident] two-yard dive play, he allowed the play-by-play man [Andrew Catalon] to give the gain while he remained quiet.” With nothing to say, he said nothing. Radical!
Shucks, Moose Johnston would have made a three-credit lecture series of such a play.
Why did his ascension to “Monday Night Football” provoke Brian Griese to speak — and mostly nonsense — until we scream for mercy?
He’s the latest master of modern trite. “New England is a north and south football team.” Forwards and backwards? As Lou Costello asked, “How can a mudder eat its fodder?”
When Cam Newton, 6 feet 5, 245, scored on a keeper from the 1 against the Jets, Griese praised offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels for “a good discipline call.” Huh?
Bombers’ budget concern feels fake
The Yanks bolted on their Trenton and Staten Island minor league teams, their ballparks and their communities. They were not cost-effective — not for a franchise that this season committed to carry a player payroll of roughly $250 million.
After the Ravens returned a Colts fumble for a TD, CBS aired a reel of Ravens defensive TDs, this season. Doesn’t matter, those points will be thrown into the add-and-divide bin to reflect the Ravens’ average points scored on offense.
Fox’s Brock Huard is another football analyst who talks a lot before he thinks even a little. “When the defense bring pressure it affects the pocket.” Who knew?
Graphic of the Week: Fox, during Arizona St.-Southern Cal, posted that this was the first time USC, after being down 13 or more in the fourth quarter, took the lead since the 2017 Rose Bowl. How many times during those two seasons was USC down 13 or more in the fourth? None!
Many, including, I suspect, many of his players, liked the way Joe Judge handled the Golden Tate episode. Old-fashioned, team-first standards. Now get all the families, wives, friends and girlfriends to stay off Twitter!
I know he talks too much and is too often indiscernible, but Tony Romo, at least once per telecast, makes me laugh. It’s his stream of semi-consciousness. Sunday during Steelers-Cowboys, Jim Nantz read a Masters promo that three times included “on CBS.” Out of nowhere and to no one, Romo, stressing the “S,” said, “CBS.”
Unreliable sources tell us that Old Crow bourbon, in concert with a cut paid to MLB, will include a Tony La Russa replica World Series ring in every bottle.


newyorkpost--2020-11-12--Tiger Woods stunningly finding magic formula at Masters again

AUGUSTA , Ga. — The last time Paul Casey played in ...

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Guilty as charged.
I gave Tiger Woods little chance to defend his Masters title this week at Augusta National.
It never crossed my mind that Woods had a prayer of taking the green jacket back home with him until the next Masters in April.
His lack of tournament play this year (only six events since the PGA Tour restart in June), poor results (not a single finish inside the top-30), age (44) and history of back problems pointed to Woods being not much more than host of the Champions Dinner and a ceremonial participant this week.
I was wrong.
Woods looked in complete, rhythmic, relaxed control of his game in Thursday’s opening round while posting a stress-free 4-under 68 to stand three shots out of the lead held by Paul Casey.
It was Woods’ first bogey-free 18 holes in a major championship in 106 rounds, dating back to the 2008 Masters. It, too, was his first-ever bogey-free Masters opening round.
And he did this despite having to wait out a weather delay of nearly three hours, the horn blowing just minutes before he was scheduled to tee off. Those kinds of interruptions for a 44-year-old with back problems whose warm-up routine takes hours don’t generally lead to a great performance.
Before the tournament, Woods lamented his inability to “put everything together’’ this year.
“I put a lot of it together today,’’ Woods said Thursday, sounding borderline giddy about it. “There was nothing I felt like I did poorly. I did everything well. I drove it well, hit my irons well, putted well. The only real bad shot I hit was I think 8. I had a perfect number with a 60-degree sand wedge and I hit it on the wrong shelf. Other than that, I just did everything well.’’
If you’ve been around Woods a lot, you’d understand that it’s rare to ever hear him that utterly satisfied after a round.
This was, indeed, a rare day, and one I didn’t see coming from Woods.
One sign that this was a good day for Woods was the birdie he carded on the first hole, his 10th of the day. Woods entered the day 17-over par on the first hole in his Masters career.
It was a sign of a different kind of opening round for him after a series of poor ones at Augusta. Woods has been a notorious slow starter at the Masters, which is curious considering he’s won the green jacket five times, trailing just Jack Nicklaus (six) for the most in tournament history.
Thursday’s 68 marked only the second time in Woods’ 22 Masters played that he opened with a score below 70. He shot 68 to start the 2010 Masters, which was his first appearance after news of his marital scandal exploded. He finished tied for fourth that year.
Before the tournament began, Woods was asked about his slow starts and he said he had no answers.
“I wish I could pinpoint it and tell you what it is, but I have not historically started off well here,’’ he said Tuesday. “I think the times I have shot 70 in that first round, I’ve gone on to win a few of them.’’
Indeed, Woods shot 70 in his opening rounds in 1997 2001, 2002 and 2019 — four of the five years he won the Masters.
“It’s just one of those weird things I haven’t put it together,’’ Woods said. “The second and third rounds were usually where I made my hay and got myself back into the event or taken the lead in the event. Hopefully, this year will be a little different and I can shoot a little better score and get off to a better start.’’
He did just that on Thursday.
Sure, it was merely one round. But Woods did not look like a one-round wonder Thursday. He looked like a player who’s poised to remain in contention for the rest of the week, determined to win a 16th career major championship and steal five more months with the green jacket at home.
I didn’t see that coming. Shame on me.
Guilty as charged.


newyorkpost--2020-11-12--71-year-old man struck, killed by hit-and-run driver in the Bronx: cops

A 71-year-old man was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver in the Bronx Thursday afternoon , police said .
@ @ @ @ @ victim near the intersection of East 138th Street and Exterior Street in Mott Haven at @ @ @ @ @ NYPD said .
The driver sped away from the scene and has not been located @ @ @ @ @ to the scene and found the man , whose identity has not been released , @ @ @ @ @ trauma to his head .
He was rushed to Lincoln Medical Center , where he @ @ @ @

A 71-year-old man was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver in the Bronx Thursday afternoon, police said.
The unidentified driver struck the victim near the intersection of East 138th Street and Exterior Street in Mott Haven at about 3 p.m., the NYPD said.
The driver sped away from the scene and has not been located.
Police and medics responded to the scene and found the man, whose identity has not been released, laying in the roadway with trauma to his head.
He was rushed to Lincoln Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.


newyorkpost--2020-11-13--Twitter labeled 300,000 ‘potentially misleading’ election tweets

Twitter is making it harder for tweets to go viral ...

Twitter says it slapped warning labels on about 300,000 “potentially misleading” tweets about the presidential election in just two weeks.
Those posts accounted for 0.2 percent of all the election-related tweets sent from Oct. 27 to Nov. 11, a period covering the weeks leading up to and immediately following Election Day, the social network said in a blog post.
Twitter said it plans to keep applying the labels under its “Civic Integrity Policy” as part of its efforts to clamp down on misinformation following the election.
“These enforcement actions remain part of our continued strategy to add context and limit the spread of misleading information about election processes around the world on Twitter,” company officials Vijaya Gadde and Kayvon Beykpour wrote in the Thursday blog.
Twitter said it hid 456 of the problematic tweets behind warning messages and blocked users from liking them, replying to them or retweeting them without adding their own comments.
Several such posts have come from Trump himself, who had a string of four tweets masked on Saturday shortly before the presidential race was called for Biden. Twitter first hid one of the president’s posts in May, when he appeared to threaten violence against protesters after the police killing of George Floyd.
Twitter says its efforts to slow the spread of those misleading posts have been effective. About 74 percent of the people who saw the disputed tweets viewed them after the company applied a warning label or masked them, and the number of so-called quote tweets sharing the posts fell by an estimated 29 percent thanks partly to a prompt requiring users to click an extra time before spreading them, according to the blog post.
The efforts come as President Trump continues to make claims of fraud in the wake of last week’s election.
Twitter also said it will keep prompting users to add their own commentary when they retweet any post, a measure implemented to slow the spread of misinformation ahead of Election Day.
The tweak led to a 20 percent decrease in the overall number of retweets and quote tweets on the platform, Gadde and Beykpour wrote, adding that Twitter is “taking more time to study and fully understand the impact of this change.”
Twitter shares were up 0.4 percent in premarket trading Friday at $42.99 as of 8 a.m.


newyorkpost--2020-11-13--Paulina Gretzky watches on with Dustin Johnson in Masters contention

Dustin Johnson ’ s stunning fiancee was in attendance to watch the former world No .
1 ’ s quest for his first green jacket .
The 36-year-old only managed nine holes before darkness set due to the delayed tee off times following the morning storm in Augusta , Georgia .
But Johnson was off early on Friday morning to finish his first round and sitting at 4-under through 12 holes , three shots off the lead .
Cheering him on in a low-cut top in the background on Thursday was model Paulina Gretzky .
Brit ’ s Paul Casey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a hugely impressive 7-under round .
Gretzky , 31 , is often a regular on the course when DJ is teeing off and has heads turning when fans are in attendance , which is not the case this week .
Johnson met Gretzky in 2009 , but they didn ’ t start dating until 2013 .
Seven months later the pair got engaged and have two sons together — 5-year-old Tatum and 3-year-old River .
She comes from sporting royalty and is the daughter of legendary Canadian hockey player Wayne Gretzky .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2016 , revealed in September how his other half plays a huge part in his success .
“ She ’ s a huge part of me , our family and my success , ” Johnson said .
“ She ’ s home with the kids , and has been great with that , and just has been a huge supporter for me , with everything I need to do .
She understands everything it takes to get to where you want to be and the sacrifices you have to make .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ player , she understands .
You couldn ’ t ask for a better partner .
”

Dustin Johnson’s stunning fiancee was in attendance to watch the world No. 1’s quest for his first green jacket.
The 36-year-old only managed nine holes before darkness set in due to the delayed tee times following the morning storm in Augusta, Georgia. But Johnson was off early Friday to finish his first round and finished it at 7-under and tied for first with Paul Casey and Dylan Frittelli.
Cheering him on in a low-cut top in the background on Thursday was model Paulina Gretzky.
Gretzky, 31, is often a regular on the course when DJ is teeing off and has heads turning when fans are in attendance, which is not the case this week.
Johnson met Gretzky in 2009, but they didn’t start dating until 2013. Seven months later, the pair got engaged. They have two sons — 5-year-old Tatum and 3-year-old River.
She comes from sporting royalty and is the daughter of legendary Canadian hockey player Wayne Gretzky.
Johnson, who won the US Open in 2016, revealed in September how his other half plays a big part in his game.
“She’s a huge part of me, our family and my success,” Johnson said. “She’s home with the kids, and has been great with that, and just has been a huge supporter for me, with everything I need to do. She understands everything it takes to get to where you want to be and the sacrifices you have to make.
“Having her dad as the greatest hockey player, she understands. You couldn’t ask for a better partner.”