Valpo falls to Miami (OH) to move to .500

On December 8, Valpo traveled to Oxford, Ohio to face the Miami University Redhawks. Valpo would lose the game 67-49. 

A run spanning the first and second quarters of the game proved too much for the Crusaders to overcome. 

The two teams traded baskets at first with Valpo holding an early 8-6 lead. Then things unraveled in a hurry. Miami went on a 12-3 run starting at 8:33 in the first quarter to give the Redhawks an 18-11 lead. The scoring run continued in the second quarter with Miami outscoring Valpo 12-2 over the first seven minutes. This increased the Miami lead to 17 points. 

Valpo would counter with a fast-break layup from junior Shay Frederick and a three-pointer by senior Caitlin Morrison on consecutive possessions. This would cut the lead to 12, but the Redhawks would score the final five points to push the lead up to 35-18 going into halftime. 

The Crusaders went on a 10-2 run after Miami scored the first two baskets of the third quarter. Junior Carie Weinman had five points and an assist that cut the lead to 41-28 with 6:52 to play in the quarter. However, Valpo was unable to get any closer after that. 

What killed Valpo was shooting only 31.6 percent from the field and 5-27 from the three-point line. Miami shot 41.7 percent and hit 7-19 from the three-point line. 

After four straight road games to open the season, Valpo returns to the ARC on December 12 for the home opener against the Western Michigan Broncos. Tip is slated for 1 pm. 

Two B1G wins for Valpo Women

In what may seem like deja vu, it was not. The Valparaiso Women's Basketball team beat the Purdue Boilermakers on December 6 in West Lafayette, Indiana. Playing for the second time in five days, the women showed no signs of fatigue. The final score was 52-47 in favor of Valpo.

Entering the fourth quarter, the Crusaders had a five point lead. But a bunch of back and forth baskets over the first four minutes allowed the Crusaders to outscore the Boilermakers 10-8. A three-pointer from junior Carrie Weinman with 4:03 to play in the game pushed the Crusader advantage to double digits for the second time after leading 47-37. 

What killed the Boilermakers were four missed baskets over the final 44 seconds of the game. The only point came from a free throw. 

Senior Grace White came up with key back to back possessions in the final 75 seconds of the game after the Boilermakers had cut the lead to one. That would ultimately secure the win. 

It was only the second time the Crusaders have knocked off Purdue, and the first time since dropping the nationally ranked Boilermakers in Valparaiso on December 10, 2008. With the win over Illinois, Valpo has defeated at least two Big Ten teams in the same season for the first time. 

The team joins only the 2001-2002 and 2008-2009 squads to knock off multiple power conference teams in the same season. The 2001-2002 squad knocked off Wake Forest of the Atlantic Coast Conference and Big Ten opponent Michigan. The 2008-2009 squad beat Florida State of the Atlantic Coast Conference as well as Purdue from the Big Ten. 

Things did not go well for Purdue at all. The Boilermakers shot just 27.3 percent and could not make a single three-point shot.

In the first three games, opponents have made 8 of 59 from the three point line. 

Can Valpo keep the momentum going as the season continues? Time will tell. 

A B1G Win for Valpo over Illinois

Facing the University of Illinois Illini in Champaign, IL Wednesday, the Valparaiso Crusaders looked to rebound after dropping the season opener Sunday afternoon. 

It was a HUGE win for the Crusaders after dropping the previous four meetings by at least 19 points each. The Crusaders earned their first win over the Illini and the first over a power five conference opponent since 2012. 

Valpo held Illinois scoreless over the last 2:54 seconds to walk away with a 62-59 victory at State Farm Center in Champaign. 

Senior Caitlin Morrison put Valpo up for good with a layup and 0:42.8 to play in the game. 

Trailing by five going into the fourth quarter, it seemed the Illini would walk away victorious once again. The Crusaders surrendered the first basket to Illinois, but bounced right back on a three-pointer by junior Carrie Weinman. That cut the lead down to one. Another three-pointer by sophomore Cara VanKempen tied the game at 56 with 6:41 to play.

The next few minutes would become a defensive showdown as both sides stepped up the intensity. For a stretch of five minutes, only three points, all by Illinois, were scored. This put the Illini up 59-56 with under two minutes to play. 

The biggest basket perhaps came when senior Grace White as on Valpo's first possession under two minutes, drove down the left side and finished up and over two Illinois defenders from the block to make it a one point lead for Illinois. 

Illinois missed two shots on the next possession and that led to Valpo calling a timeout after rebounding the second missed shot to advance the ball into the frontcourt with only 0:49.3 to play. The inbounds went to White, whose attempted drive on the right side got cut off. Morrison would flash down the middle of the paint and caught a perfect pass from White. The easy bucket put Valpo up 60-59 with 0:42.8 left in the game. 

 Wienman came up with a block on an inside effort by Illinois on the defensive end. The forced foul put Valpo in the bonus. White would split the pair of free throws with 0:26.5 to push the lead to 61-59 in favor of Valpo. 

Illinois would come down and miss two crucial free throws that could have tied the game and possibly sent it to overtime. Freshman Lauren Gunn corralled the second free throw after being put back in the game on the previous defensive possession. Gunn would draw the foul and split the pair of free throws to put Valpo up 62-59 with 0:10.7 to play. 

The final desperation three-point attempt by Illinois to tie the game and send it to overtime was off the mark and the rebound bounced around until the final buzzer. This would secure the win by Valpo over Illinois and send the team into a locker room frenzy. 

Head Coach Mary Perry Evans stated that the older players on the team have made so much progress over the years. They work hard and put in the effort to be in the position to win big games. "I am so proud of how they responded this week after a tough loss on Sunday. They came out with their only goal being to try and get a win."

Evans thinks the Missouri Valley Conference is one of the best in the country. "My staff and I have to schedule non-conference games that will prepare us for conference play." 

Next up for the Crusaders is a trip to West Lafayette, Indiana and a matchup with the Purdue Boilermakers. That game tips off Sunday afternoon at 1pm. Fans can watch the game on Big Ten Network Plus or listen on WVUR (95.1 FM, Valparaiso). This is the second of back to back Big Ten opponents for the women. Their third and final Big Ten opponent is the Wisconsin Badgers. That game is at the Athletics-Recreation Center and tips off on December 20 at 2pm. 

The other two home games are December 12 against Western Michigan at 1pm. That game will be on ESPN3. The second home game is December 16 against Xavier. That game is on ESPN+ and tips off at 1pm. No fans are allowed in the Athletics-Recreation Center due to the COVID pandemic. Only family members of players and media personnel are permitted. 

New York Subway to celebrate 115 years of service

If you're like me and love to travel back in time, the 115th birthday celebration of the New York Subway is for you. 

New York Transit Museum director Concetta Bencivenga told ABC7 that families, friends, and visitors come in droves this time of year. We love to host them here at the museum. It's a really special time."

One of the most popular events is a trip back in time aboard the vintage subway cars. 

"Starting the Sunday after Thanksgiving and continuing until New Year's Day, the cars will start at the F line subway station on Second Avenue on Manhattan's Lower East Side and will end at the Harlem station," Bencivenga said while sitting in a 1960s Blue Bird subway car. These cars carried riders to the world's fair during the 1960s. 

One of the biggest displays though is the fleet of vintage cars that are on both sides of a decommissioned subway station set for a giant swing party.

"Four swing bands spaced throughout the museum will provide the music. We have partnered with New York Distillery and will have a cocktail called the 'Bee's Knees,' which is a rip on a prohibition era cocktail. We're really excited about that." 

This is the sixth year of hosting the December 12 party. 

"Things like the incandescent light bulbs, rattan seats, ceiling fans, and ads reflecting the period bring back the nostalgia. What better way to have a swing party?" 

The events are very popular and draw interest from people who come to New York City for the holidays.

The best part? You just tap or swipe your fare card and you're ready to go. 

Valpo Women drop season opener to Bowling Green

In their first game since March, the Valpo Women's Basketball Team hoped to start off on a high note against Bowling Green. That was not the case as the Crusaders fell to the Falcons 70-60 Sunday afternoon in Ohio. 

After a slow start by both sides, Bowling Green took a 13-8 lead after the first quarter. The second quarter saw the Falcons make eight of the first 11 points to increase the lead to double digits. Valpo responded with seven points of their own, including a three from junior Shay Frederick to pull within three at the halfway mark. 

The Crusaders cut the deficit to one point three different times, but could never take the lead. Bowling Green went into halftime leading 38-34. 

Senior Grace White got Valpo on the board 30 seconds into the second half with a basket and cut the lead to 38-36. A five minute scoring drought though proved disastrous as Bowling Green increased their lead to seven at the midway point of the third quarter. 

Bowling Green pushed the lead to 46-36 with under 3:00 to play in the third quarter before the Crusaders would score seven points in 48 seconds. 

Senior Marlee Profitt answered a Falcon three-pointer with one of her own. Then freshman Leah Earnest converted a fast break layup off a steal by junior Carrie Weinmann. Proffitt would then steal a rebound away from Bowling Green and put it in. 

An inside basket from Grace White in the final 40 seconds of the third quarter capped an 11-2 Crusader run and made the Falcon lead 48-47 to start the fourth quarter. 

The Crusaders were unable to continue the momentum as Bowling Green scored 13 points over the first five minutes to ultimately put the game out of reach for Valpo. 

Head Coach Mary Perry Evans said that getting the chance to play someone other than ourselves was exciting. She also said the team got careless in the fourth quarter and that cost them the game. 

Valpo continues its four game road trip with a stop in Champaign, Illinois to take on the Illini. Tipoff is slated for 5 pm on Wednesday. Fans can watch the game on Big Ten Netowork Plus or hear the game on WVUR (95.1 FM, Valparaiso). 

Questions remain in Breonna Taylor’s death

 Ever since the death of Breonna Taylor on March 13, no definitive answer as to who should be  charged has been made clear.  

Taylor’s ex-boyfriend was the target of the botched, no-knock, fatal raid that killed Taylor in her  Louisville apartment. According to Louisville Police, the ex-boyfriend was using Taylor’s  current apartment as a drug stash house. This turned out to not be the case. No drugs or money  were found. The ex-boyfriend was also in custody.  

The only officer that was charged was Brett Hankinson. The only charge he got was wonton  endangerment for firing his weapon into a neighboring apartment during the raid.  

The officers not only knew they had the wrong apartment, but that the suspect was also in  custody. There was no reason to execute the raid.  

Kentucky Attorney General, Daniel Cameron has refused to charge the officers involved with  murder. His reason is that the raid was justified, even though all the evidence says the opposite. 

If Cameron wants to keep his job, he needs to charge all three officers with murder.  

Taylor’s current boyfriend, Kenneth Walker recounted to CBS This Morning the painstaking  details of the night of March 13. 

“We had just gone out to eat on a date. After getting home, we decided to play UNO and watch a  movie. I heard a loud knock at the door and asked who it was.” After not getting an answer after  several repeated attempts, Walker grabbed his gun. 

“I'm a million percent sure that nobody identified themselves. If they had knocked on the door  and say who it was, we could hear them. It was dead silent. If it was the police at the door and  they just said, 'We're the police," me or Breonna didn't have a reason at all not to open the door  to see what they wanted.” 

The door flies off the hinges and Walker fired one shot thinking he was defending the apartment  from burglars. The police then return fire 32 times from all directions. They end up striking  Taylor, who would later succumb to her injuries.  

After the gunfire stopped, Walker said that Taylor was alive and breathing. “I call my mother as  I’m holding my girlfriend. I told my mother that the door had been breached and that someone  had shot Breonna. My mother is freaking out and tells me to call 911, so I do.” 

The call has since been made public. Walker’s voice can be heard telling the operator that  “someone has kicked in the door” and shot Breonna.  

“If I knew it was the police, I would not have called the police for help,” Walker told CBS This  Morning. “I hung up on 911 and call Taylor’s mother.” 

“I don’t think I realized it was the police until I was on the phone with Breonna’s mom. I thought  the police were coming for help because I called 911.”

Thinking the people outside were medics, Walker went to them, only to face guns drawn and  threats of “dogs and whatever else.” 

After telling one of the officers he was not hit, the officer responded by saying it was  unfortunate.  

No officers have been charged with Taylor’s death.  

Since the trial, several of those on the grand jury have spoken out, even taking issue with  Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s public characterizations of the panel.  

In a September 23 news conference, Cameron said that his investigation found that the two  officers who opened fire from Taylor’s doorway were justified because the officers were  returning a shot fired by the boyfriend. Because of that, the six possible homicide charges were  not applicable.  

The grand jury did not agree that certain actions were justified, nor did it decide the indictment  should be the only charges in the case.  

One grand juror said the panel was never given the option to weigh homicide charges. “The  grand jury did not have homicide offenses explained to them. They never heard anything about  those laws. Self-defense or justification was never explained either,” according to another grand  juror.  

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents Taylor’s family, said that Cameron  whitewashed what he presented to the jury.  

“We know what we suspected: Attorney General Daniel Cameron took the decision out of the  grand jury’s hands. He did not allow the grand jury to do what the law says they have the right to  do. This failure rests squarely on Daniel Cameron,” Crump said.  

Cameron has repeatedly said that he remains confident in the grand jury’s presentation. While he  disagrees with the judge’s ruling that jurors should be allowed to speak, he will not appeal it.  Cameron has said he did not present murder charges because investigators the wanton  endangerment charges against Hankison would hold up in court. 

“As the special prosecutor, it was my decision to ask for an indictment that could be proven  under state law. Indictments obtained in the absence of sufficient proof under the law do not  stand up and are not fundamentally fair to anyone,” Cameron said in a statement.  

While there are still many questions, Cameron needs to come out and admit that police botched  the raid and are responsible for her death.

Dash win third game; clinch second place

Critics beware: The Dash are not who you think they are. They are a team to be reckoned with now. Three wins in a row, a championship, and $15,000 in prize money is not the same team from previous seasons.

A sweep of the Orlando Pride and a split with defending NWSL champions North Carolina Courage show the team is loaded with talent.

In the final game of 2020, Houston took on Orlando in Kisimmee, Florida. What followed was a thriller to the end.

The scoring started when midfielder Shea Groom put a header on a Kristie Mewis assist in the 13^th minute. A second goal by Veronica Latsko in the 29^th minute would put Houston up 2-0 going into halftime. 

Dash player Haley Hanson would get a yellow card in the first minute of stoppage time for a bad foul.

Orlando’s only goal would come in the 47^th minute when Sydney Leroux put one in on an Abby Elinsky assist. Leroux would also get a yellow card in the 54^th minute of play.

Houston would go on to win 2-1 and after Portland won against OL Reign, the Dash would finish in second place and secure a $15,000 prize for the Houston NAACP.

What will happen with the 2021 season? Can the team keep the momentum going and bring home an NWSL Cup trophy? The answers remain to be seen.

Dash dominate Courage; Undefeated at home

Coming off a win over Orlando Pride SC, the Dash hoped to keep the momentum alive on October 4 against defending league champions North Carolina Courage. From the start, the Dash came out firing.

The scoring started with a goal by Canadian Sophie Schmidt in the 30^th minute on an assist by Kristie Mewis. This put the Dash up 1-0 and the scoring was only getting started. Coming off a 2019 season-ending ACL injury, Veronica Latsko put the Dash up 2-0 in the 37^th minute. Mewis again got the assist.

The Dash were up 2-0 at the half and would not look back. Kristie Mewis, who already had two assists, put Houston up 3-0 on a Latsko assist in the 60^th minute.

A yellow card issued to Dash player Shea Groom in the 70^th minute did not seem to send the team into a slump.

Houston would allow North Carolina to get on the board in the 74^th minute. Lynn Williams was assisted by Ryan Williams, but it was not enough.

In the 83^rd minute, Shea Groom would put the game away for good with a goal and assist by Kristie Mewis.

The Dash wrap up the Fall Series in Florida on October 9 at 4:00pm. Fans can catch the action on CBS Sports Network. With a win, Houston could pass up second place Washington Spirit or first place Portland Thorns. If Portland loses and the Dash win, the first-place prize of $25,000 could be ours.

Dash get first victory of Fall Series

 On September 26, the Houston Dash hosted the Orlando Pride in the second game of their fall series. The game gave Houston their first points and a win. 

The Dash dominated from the start. Nichelle Prince got the scoring started in the 27th minute to put the Dash up 1-0. The Pride would answer in the 45+3 minute with a goal by Marissa Viggiano to tie the game going into halftime. 

The second half again favored the Houston Dash. In the 48th minute, Deneisha Blackwood of Orlando is given a yellow for a bad foul. A penalty in the 54th minute on Orlando's Viggiano resulted in a penalty kick. Sophie Schmidt of the Dash scored to put Houston up 2-1 in the 55th minute. Another yellow card would seal doom for Orlando as Jordyn Listro is called for a bad foul in the 68th minute. 

Houston would seal the victory in the 72nd minute on a goal by Shea Groom. 

Next up for Houston is a home match against the North Carolina Courage. That game is Sunday at 6. Fans can catch the game on Twitch. 

Can Houston get a win over Carolina? If we play like we did the last time, a win is very possible. The final game for Houston is a trip to Orlando as Houston closes out the Fall Series. 

Wildfires scorch West

 It’s been more than a week since the West saw an outbreak of wildfires. They continue to burn with no end in sight. Trump was briefed by state officials on Monday.

Historic drought, fueled by low humidity and Santa Anna winds have turned fire season into a year-long fight. The air is so toxic, it’s like smoking 20 packs of cigarettes every day. Portland, Seattle, and San Francisco now have some of the worst air quality in the world. The fires could burn well into November.

The town of Talent, Oregon has been wiped off the map due to the fires. Most people had little time to get out before the flames reached town.

In Oregon, officials are preparing for a mass casualty event as the flames continue out of control. Those who made it out have harrowing stories to tell.

Mandy McDonald is now homeless. “I went at the exact moment to come around the corner, only to see my house engulfed in flames and fall to the ground.”

Lake Oroville, California resident Denis Hendrickson was forced to flee her home. “I’ve survived four different fires and don’t even know if my house is still standing. Eight of us had to go to the end of our road … go into the sand and get down to the water to avoid the flames.”

Another California resident saw their home completely wiped out, two years after a fire claimed their home in a nearby community. “It hurts more this time I think than it did the last time. Getting things back together and having to rebuild is devastating.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom described this fire season as a perfect storm. “You have the Santa Anna winds and dry vegetation. This is the perfect fuel for a fire.” He also said the current situation is a climate emergency during a tour of an area north of Sacramento. More than 250,000 acres have burned so far. “The reality is the megafires we’re experiencing are a result of megadroughts caused by climate change.”

Scientists point to the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, that decimate forests and make them prone to fire outbreaks.

At least 35 fatalities are blamed on the wildfires out West. Destruction is beyond imaginable as whole communities and towns are wiped out.

Red flag warnings, signaling imminent fire danger, stretched from Southern Oregon to Northern California right now.

Authorities in Ashland, Oregon reported as many as 50 people could be missing after a fire broke out there. At least 10 fatalities are known so far in Oregon alone. This does not include California or Washington State.

Numerous studies in recent years have linked climate change caused by burning fossil fuels to bigger and more destructive wildfires.

The Democratic governors of all three states tell CBS News the fires are a consequence of climate change. They took aim at Donald Trump for downplaying the extent of climate change and its effects on wildfire season.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee told ABC’s This Week that it’s maddening when we have this cosmic challenge to communities and then have the president deny they’re wildfires.

At a Nevada rally, Trump blamed inadequate forest management as the direct cause of the fires. White House adviser Peter Navarro echoed that to CNN’s State of the Union. “For many years in California, particularly because of budget cuts, there was no inclination to manage the forests.”

Climate change is real and fire season is becoming year-round out West. While proper forest management can prevent some destruction, it will not prevent fires from happening.

Dash fall short in first game back

 Things did not go well for the defending Challenge Cup champions in the first game back since July. Facing the defending league champions, the North Carolina Courage, the Dash gave it their all.

The Houston Dash, North Carolina Courage, and Orlando Pride all make up the South pod for the Fall Series. Each team plays the other two teams in a home and home scenario. This allows for minimal travel amid the current pandemic.

Things did not start well for Houston. Canadian National Team member Allysha Chapman was issued a yellow card for a bad foul. The Courage would get on the board first in the 18th minute on an unassisted goal by Abby Dahlkemper. This would not last long as Houston tied it at 1 with a goal by Veronica Latsko.

After missing most of the 2019 season with a torn ACL, Latsko was more than eager to rejoin the team.

A goal in the 37th minute by Kristie Mewis put Houston up 2-1 going into halftime.

The second half saw back and forth lead changes. A goal by North Carolina’s Debinha would tie the score at 2 in the 52nd minute. Another yellow card by Chapman resulted in an automatic red card ejection. The Dash were now down to 10 players for the rest of the game.

Sophie Schmidt would put Houston up 3-2 in the 70th minute. A goal in the 83rd minute by North Carolina’s Lynn Williams tied it at 3 and then the go-ahead goal in the 86th minute put the Courage up 4-3. That would be the final score.

Next up for Houston is the Orlando Pride in Orlando on September 26. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm on Twitch.

Houston hosts North Carolina on October 4 at 6:00 pm at BBVA stadium. That game is also on Twitch. Orlando visits on October 9 for a 4:00 pm kickoff. That game is on CBS Sports Network. Information on how to purchase tickets and safety protocols can be found at http://www.bbvastadium.com/news/detail/bbva-stadium-to-host-limited-number-of-fans-at-upcoming-home-matches

Networks could lose billions due to no college football

 While college football on Saturdays doesn't draw the same ratings as the NFL does, the sheer volume of games on national television brings in untold revenue to both the schools athletic department and the network televising the game. The cancellation of games by the Mid-American Conference and the Mountain West Conference, as well as the postponement of fall sports by the Big Ten and Pac-12, has forced networks to figure out how to fill up Saturdays without college football. 

The Big 12 Conference and Southeast Conference have said they plan to play this fall. 

What will happen if the rest of the Power Five Conferences cancel their football season as well? The resulting revenue loss will be massive. Not only will national networks like ESPN, ABC, Fox Sports, and CBS lose out, regional networks will also lose out. 

The Power Five is made up of the Big XII, Big Ten, Pac-12, SEC, and ACC conferences. 

According to the Hollywood Reporter, college football brings in an estimated $1.7 billion in annual advertising revenue sales at the national level. This does not include the local sports talk shows and local programming that fuels college football during the week. 

Consider the size of the NCAA, and you will begin to grasp why college football is so important. There are 130 Division I college football programs, compared to only 30 franchises in the NFL. The addition of a college football playoff has also fueled the championship atmosphere. The national title game between Louisiana State University and Clemson University drew more than 25 million viewers according to Nielsen. 

The possibility of no college football is more than just a money issue for networks. It's also about how they will fill the time normally reserved for football. 

College football dominates Saturdays, much like the NFL dominates Sundays. 

Patrick Crakes, a former Fox Sports executive turned media consultant told CNN Business that college football not only chews up entire Saturdays from September to December, but also fills up vital prime time hours on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. "The networks lay out hundreds of millions of dollars every year for these college football conferences, in aggregate to the billions, and you get all of it back because college football fans view games as must-see content."

He also said the investment is enormous, but the return is supposed to be the same. Right now, two-fifths of that is gone."

Networks like ESPN and Fox Sports weathered the loss of live sports by airing classic games, studio shows, and pre-produced events. This bought the networks some time until the NBA, NHL, and MLB resumed games last month. What many don't realize is that the National Women's Soccer League was actually the first to resume play. From June 26 to July 25, the NWSL Challenge Cup was played in suburban Salt Lake City, Utah. The Houston Dash were crowned champions. 

Jay Rosenstein, a former VP of programming at CBS Sports, told CNN Business that if the NBA and MLB playoffs happen, it will fill some of the holes for a while. But college football is the backbone of networks like ESPN. It's not just Saturday, but every day of the week. 

Rosenstein pointed out that ESPN invested billions into the College Football Playoff, which includes the national championship game. Without college football, ESPN loses the only championship they have the exclusive right to televise. 

Will there even be a college football season? The Big XII and SEC have said they will play this fall, but nothing is set in stone. 

MLS players jeered over National Anthem protests

 In one of the first Major League Soccer games back from the lockdown, players from both FC Dallas and Nashville FC were jeered when they knelt for the National Anthem. Dallas player Reggie Cannon said he was personally disgusted by the actions of the fans in attendance. 

FC Dallas teammate Ryan Hollingshead turned to Cannon afterward and told him that it was baffling that players are not respected in their home stadium. "As a team, we try and give the best possible product on the field. The last six months have been absolute hell." 

The teams had not played a match since the season was initially suspended on March 12 due to the coronavirus outbreak. While MLS teams played in the MLS is Back tournament in Orlando, Florida, Dallas and Nashville were forced to withdraw before the tournament started due to high numbers of players and staff having the virus. 

Will fans continue to jeer players who kneel for the National Anthem or will they begin to accept that kneeling is a way to call out police brutality and racism against minorities? 

Houston Dash Crowned Champions

After not making the playoffs for the last six years, the Houston Dash claimed their first ever title after defeating the Chicago Red Stars 2-0 in the NWSL Challenge Cup Final. The team proved they weren’t the same as before. 

The game remained scoreless through the first four minutes until a yellow card penalty was given to Chicago’s Kayla Sharples after she tripped Houston’s Kristie Mewis. The penalty kick was taken by Sophie Schmidt in the fifth minute and went in for the goal. Mewis would remain in the game until being pulled in the 29th minute for CeCe Kizer. Mewis apparently injured the hamstring in the penalty. 

After taking a 1-0 lead at the half, Houston would get another goal by Shea Groom with the assist going to Rachel Daly in the first minute of stoppage time. That goal would prove to be the game winner too. 

Can the Dash carry the momentum into the future? Time will tell. 

Houston Dash advance to Challenge Cup Championship

For the first time in team history, the Houston Dash are playing for a championship. The path was not easy though. 

Facing the Utah Royals FC for the second time, both teams battled to a scoreless draw to end regulation. The officiating was questionable since the Dash had yellow card cautions issued to Kristie Mewis and Allysha Chapman. The Royals had yellow cards issued to Kate Bowen, Tziarra King, and Rachel Corsie. The refs also missed a hold on the jersey of Rachel Daly, which should have resulted in a red card ejection. They also missed a trip by Utah on the Dash as well. 

Head coach James Clarkson expresses his frustration by saying that he’s more concerned about the quality of the officiating and that is part of the problem. He said that’s why the match got physical at times and that he’s sick of too many missed calls. “It was clearly a red card in the first half and that would have changed things. Too many fouls were not called and too many things were missed.” 

The two teams then participated in 5 rounds of penalty kicks to decide the winner. Royals FC goalie Abby Smith let in goals by Sophie Schmidt, Christine Nairn, and Rachel Daly before saving an attempt by Brianna Visalli. 

Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell, who already had saved 9 of 15 shots faced going into the match, saved the kick by Amy Rodriguez. Lo’Eau Labonta then scored to make it 2-1 Dash. Rachel Corsie needed to score to tie the match and keep Utah’s hopes alive. Campbell saved the attempt and Utah would need to score both remaining shots to send it to sudden death. Tziarra King scored and Verónica Boquete came up short. Houston advanced by a score of 3-2 and fans went wild. 

Next up for the Dash was Portland Thorns FC and a trip to the championship match. Rachel Daly’s goal in the 69th minute proved to be the game winner. Houston plays the winner of Sky Blue FC and Chicago Red Stars Sunday at 11:30 am. The game will be carried on CBS as well as CBS All Access and Twitch. 

Can the Dash bring home the trophy, or will they disappoint? We find out Sunday. 

Houston Dash come up short in NWSL Challenge Cup

What was supposed to be a chance for the Dash to prove they were contenders did not turn out that way. In the first game, the Dash tied Utah Royals FC 3-3 on June 30. That game was a thriller. 

The scoring started in the 35th minute on a goal by Utah's Diana Matheson. Then in the 45th +1 minute, Houston's Rachel Daly tied the game going into the half. The second half proved to be just as intense. Daly netted her second goal of the game in the 47th minute. Newcomer Shea Groom put Houston up 3-1 in the 67th minute. Not to walk away with a loss, Utah's Veronica Boquete scored in the 82nd minute to make it 3-2 Houston. Tziarra King tied the game in the 89th minute. That would be the final score. 

The next game was the night of July 4 against OL Reign. That game showed that maybe the Dash aren't the same team from years past. Kristie Mewis started the scoring in the 12th minute with a sick back heel shot. Then in the 54th minute, newcomer Shea Groom flew up and headed the ball into the net to secure the 2-0 win. 

After earning 4 points after two games and sitting in second place out of eight teams, many fans thought this was finally going to be the season Houston proved the critics wrong. The exact opposite happened as the Dash lost their next two games by a combined three goals. 

In the third game against Sky Blue FC, the defense seemed to be non-existent. In the 17th minute, Sky Blue got their first goal from Paige Monaghan. After clearing a shot, goalkeeper Jane Campbell was out near the Dash midfield and unable to get back to the goal in time. In the 34th minute, a rocket from Sky Blue's Nahomi Kawasumi went into the net. 

The same tale played out against the Washington Spirit on Sunday afternoon. The defense seemed nowhere to be found and the offense was unable to produce. In the 16th minute, Washington's Bayley Feist scored what would be the game winner. 

With the Dash finished in the first round, it looks like we will again play Washington in the quarterfinal game. The day and time have yet to be determined. 

If the Dash want to advance out of the quarterfinals, the offense needs to fire on all cylinders and the defense needs to lock down the goal area. If both of these happen, Houston very well could end up playing in the semifinals or even the championship match. 

Houston Dash Head Coach hosts Q&A session

On Monday, May 11, Houston Dash head coach James Clarkson and several current season ticket holders participated in a virtual question and answer session. The goal was to allow fans the opportunity to ask questions and get a perspective on the potential season.

The session started off with the question of how the team dealt with the loss of Veronica Latsko and Nichelle Prince to season-ending knee injuries. Clarkson responded by saying that both were huge losses and having them back healthy is a huge upbeat. 

Another question that was asked is how the style of play will change now that Clarkson has been allowed to start building his own team. His response was that he was going to recruit players who fit his style of play which is to play more downfield and attack the net. He also talked about grabbing strategic targets, such as players who have already been playing professional soccer. 

I asked Coach Clarkson how he sees the team being a contender for the National Women's Soccer League Cup in the future. Since their inception, the Dash have never even made the playoffs. "The team wants to contend. With the offseason moves, the team is stronger. The players want to succeed and we will help them do that," Coach Clarkson told me. "We have a long-term plan to add players from the U.S. Women's National Team as well. We want the best defenders possible." 

I also asked how he will improve the defense, which struggled during the 2019 season. "We needed a center back, a right back, and a left back. We feel we got some experienced center backs right now," Clarkson said. "We upgraded our defense by adding some depth," he told me. "We need to have a positive goal difference by scoring more goals than we concede. Last season we had a lot of shutouts, but still gave up a lot of goals." 

My final question was how will he improve on last year's record of 7-5-12? "We need to score goals and not give up so many. We scored two goals in four of our games, but also missed opportunities to score more goals," he told me. "We need to win at home and keep the lead no matter what. Our record was not good enough. We could have won more games than we did." 

Another fan asked about the home-grown rule, which allows a team to add players from that team's respective market to the roster. "It has to happen. We want those players. Having a platform for those prospects is key." 

When asked about how he feels going into his second season, Clarkson responded that it's difficult to judge a coach on their first year since they're working with the previous coach's roster. "What do we want to focus on? How do we achieve it? The answer to these questions will be key to determining how the second season goes." He also said that the players must believe and that the team needs to learn from their mistakes. 

When asked about the main aspects of the team culture, Coach Clarkson responded by saying that the team currently has no U.S. Women's National Team players on the roster. "Having players from the National Team on the roster is huge since they bring a lot of experience and depth to the roster." He also said that without any National Team players, the current roster is not as strong as it could be. 

One of the new players to the team, Shea Groom, came about in an interesting way. "There was no player who went to Texas A&M on the roster, so we were excited to bring her in. She's a game changer." 

One thing Coach Clarkson emphasized is that the team needs to defend home turf and be a dangerous force. 

As for the officials, Clarkson said that they were doing a good job. "It's very difficult since there is no Video Assisted Review and many officials do not have a lot of professional experience." 

Will the Dash be a contender in the 2021 season? Only time will tell. 

PG&E to plead guilty in deadly fires

California utility company Pacific Gas and Electric has agreed to plead guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of unlawfully starting the deadly Camp Fire.

PG&E is sentenced to a fine of no more than $3,486,950, must reimburse the Butte County District attorney $500,000 for the costs of investigating the fire, and establish a $13.5 million trust to pay victims of recent wildfires.

It also has to pay hundreds to the town of Paradise, which was wiped out in the fire, pay Butte County, and cooperate with prosecutor’s investigation as part of the plea deal. The company is forbidden to appeal the case.

According to investigators with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or CAL Fire, PG&E was responsible for starting the deadly 2018 Camp Fire, which killed 85 and destroyed countless structures. Electrical lines owned by the company started the blaze which was fueled by bone dry brush, low humidity, and high winds.

PG&E had originally said their equipment probably caused the fire, but was unable to conclude the lines started a second fire, which Cal Fire alleges.

The power company filed for bankruptcy in January 2019 after being heavily pressured by multiple claims tied to deadly wildfires.

The main cause of the deadly fires is inadequate maintenance of PG&E lines. This helped lead to the deadliest fire in California history, according to state investigators.

An investigation by the California Public Utilities Commission’s Safety and Enforcement Division, or SED, pinpoints specific things PG&E failed to notice during maintenance inspections.

CAL Fire investigators reported in May 2019 that PG&E electrical lines caused the deadly fire and the company conceded that a part separated from a transmission line tower, likely starting the fire near Pulga, California.

The report from November 8, specifically pinpoints a tower where a metal “C-hook” holding an insulator assembly in place failed. This allowed the assembly to fall. “The C-hooks from the incident tower show significant wear that was not detected as part of PG&E’s transmission infrastructure patrol and inspection program,” the report reads.

The failed C-hook's timely replacement "could have prevented the ignition of the Camp Fire," the report reads.

The report also accuses the company of 12 violations of state rules, some of which relate to the utility's alleged failure to maintain the C-hook, replace or reinforce it, and thoroughly inspect the tower.

The company failed to document factors and reasons, which led to delayed repair work on the tower.

Some of the other violations relate to inspection failures with other PG&E towers on the Caribou-Palermo transmission line, which investigators examined as well.

"SED's investigation of the Camp Fire identified shortcomings in PG&E's inspection and maintenance of the incident tower were not isolated, but indicative of a pattern of inadequate inspection and maintenance of PG&E facilities.

The report was an appendix to the SED's November 26 request for a judge to roll this investigation into an existing probe examining the role PG&E facilities had in igniting fires in 2017.

In response to the report, PG&E said it accepts SED's conclusion that PG&E transmission lines near Pulga were a cause of the deadly Camp Fire, reaffirming Cal Fire's earlier determination.

In a statement, PG&E said the loss of life, homes, and businesses is heartbreaking. The tragedy in Butte County on November 8, 2018, will never be forgotten.

"We remain deeply sorry about the role our equipment had in this tragedy, and we apologize to all those impacted by the devastating Camp Fire. Our most important responsibility must always be public and employee safety, and we remain focused on helping affected communities recover and rebuild, resolving victims' claims fairly and expeditiously, and further reducing wildfire risk."

The company has been criticized recently for the role its equipment was found to have played in series of catastrophic fires across the state, including the Camp Fire.

Hoping to avoid blame for more fires, the company has intentionally cut electricity service during high winds and dry conditions.

The report from SED says PG&E procedures require annual patrol inspections of transmission towers by walking or driving by them or flying over them. It also requires detailed inspections at least once every five years.

For the tower that triggered the Camp Fire, inspections should have identified visible wear on the original runner arms. This should have triggered a climbing inspection and a closer look. But company records do not show any climbing inspection since at least 2001.

"SED notes that a climbing inspection of the incident tower from 2001-November 8, 2018, could have identified the worn C-hook before it failed and a timely replacement could have prevented the deadly fire," the report reads.

Hopefully, PG&E will learn from this and be better about routine inspections on their equipment.

Gun Reform in Limbo as 2018 Midterm Elections near

Parkland, Florida
Las Vegas, Nevada
Orlando, Florida
Newtown, Connecticut
Virginia Tech
Columbine

These are only a few of the mass shootings to happen in the last twenty years. For many of us, we have become numb to these events. What all of them have in common is that guns were legally purchased by people who should not have had access to them.

Activists have tried to get gun reform legislation passed, only to have the National Rifle Association give money to politicians who support loose gun laws. This has to change. How many more deadly mass shootings will there be before the gun laws are changed nationwide? It is now up to this generation to make that happen.

After the Parkland, Florida shooting, some of the survivors launched the #NeverAgain movement. Led by Emma Gonzalez and David Hogg, the movement spread across the country. Two walkouts and a nationwide march happened and there could be more events to come. This is all in an effort to get eligible voters to the polls and cast their ballots for politicians who refuse to take donations from the powerful NRA.

Florida and Vermont are the only states so far to make it harder for people to obtain guns.

For someone like myself, who has autism and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, I can go to a gun show and legally obtain an assault-style weapon without having to pass a background check. Even if I was to submit to a background check, I would still be able to obtain a deadly, high-powered weapon.

This should not be the case. The fact I have an underlying mental illness should immediately raise a red flag and prevent me from being able to purchase a gun. While I will never obtain a gun, I am only demonstrating how easy it is for a person to do this.

We need to reform our gun laws so assault-style weapons do not end up in the hands of civilians or someone who is deemed mentally unstable.

On April 20, 2017, exactly 19 years after Columbine, students walked out of class in order to call attention to gun violence. On March 14, 2018, one month after the Parkland shooting, students boldly walked out of class to demonstrate against mass shootings. On March 24, 2018, March For Our Lives rallied people across the country to tell politicians that enough is enough.

While I was not able to participate in the school walkouts, I did have the privilege of attending the Houston March For Our Lives event. In speaking with participants, I learned that even in my hometown, there are schools that have a problem with gun violence. Students told me they were marching in order to call attention to the increasing problem of mentally unstable people being able to obtain assault weapons. Teachers told me they were marching in order to call attention to the growing epidemic of gun violence. Even ordinary citizens marched because they were too fed up with a federal government ignoring a growing epidemic.

Students from many Houston area schools attended the rally. Even Mayor Sylvester Turner told the group that the city is the employee and the citizens are the employer. "When students lead demonstrations, things can change. We need to make America safe again." During his speech, Mayor Turner also announced his decision to form a commission to end gun violence in the city. "We need to fulfill our potential and protect our citizens. NOW IS THE TIME."

Weekend Gun Violence Leaves Windy City on edge

In what would ultimately amount to at least 11 deaths and 70 people wounded over the weekend of August 2, 2018, former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel and city police are still trying to figure out what sparked a deadly weekend of gun violence.

Speaking at a press conference, Emanuel said that while gangs are responsible, the motive or motives are unclear. “We have a heavy heart and we will get justice,” the mayor said Monday, August 6.
It's no surprise that gun violence is up during the summer months. Warmer weather, outdoor events, and an increase in gun flow all account for the increase. After being arrested, most offenders get light sentences or a slap on the wrist, even if they have previous gun convictions. “This has no place in the city,” former Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said. “We need to hold people accountable and slow the flow of illegal guns into the city.”

Much of the weekend violence was attributed to the city's many gangs. The shootings mostly occurred on the city's south and west sides, which is home to many blue collar and underprivileged neighborhoods. With little formal opportunity to break the cycle of poverty, many of the city's young residents see gang membership as the only way out.

Trump's current attorney, Rudy Giuliani, said on Twitter on August 6, that “Chicago murders are a direct result of one party Democratic rule for decades.” He also praised former Chicago Police Superintendent Gary McCarthy for being a “policing genius,” saying he could do for Chicago “what I did for New York City.” Giuliani also credited McCarthy for being an “architect” of NYPD's CompStat program. The program helps to track crime, allowing police to better allocate resources to high-crime areas.

McCarthy was fired by Emanuel in 2015 after a backlash over his handling of the shooting death of black teenager Laquan McDonald at the hands of white police officers. The teen was shot more than 12 times after pulling a weapon from his pants.
Giuliani continued his endorsement of McCarthy by saying “It's only because of Democratic brain washing that Emanuel even has a chance of remaining. Support police professional Gary McCarthy.”

Former Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson has also called on former Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner, a Republican, to sign legislation that makes it harder for habitual armed offenders to obtain weapons. “We need everyone to come to the table with less talk and more action.”
Former Mayor Rahm Emanuel also added that there is still much work to be done in Chicago's neighborhoods. “All of us know this is not the Chicago we saw, all of us who love this city and call it home have a responsibility to heal our neighborhoods. There is a shortage of values about what is right and what is wrong.” Emanuel noted that the issue of gun violence is not solved by pointing one finger at one person.

Anti-violence protests continue in Chicago where protestors have shut down highways to voice their outrage. They may try and shut down O'Hare International Airport as well in an attempt to
make their voices heard. Rev. Michael Pfleger, one of Chicago's most outspoken anti-gun violence activists, told CBS Chicago that the bloody weekend is outrageous and uncalled for. “It is a state of emergency in our city.”

Former Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said that while police have worked on removing illegal guns from the streets, seizing over 5600 weapons this year 60 more over the bloody weekend, there is still a lot to be done. “While investigators have several good leads, so far no arrests have been made. I urge anyone with any information to come forward.” This may not happen since many residents fear retaliation by gang members.

Two shootings were reported in the Lawndale neighborhood. In one shooting, two gunmen exited a vehicle and shot four people at a party before fleeing the crime scene. According to WLS-TV, all four victims were taken to the hospital and are in stable condition. In the other incident, two gunmen approached a group of people and opened fire, the Chicago Tribune reported. A 17-year-old girl was shot in the face and died at the scene. Five other victims were rushed to the hospital.

In the Gresham community, eight were wounded when several gunmen opened fire outside of a building on West 76th street according to Chicago Police. Five female victims and three male victims were all taken to the hospital and listed in stable condition. The victims suffered gunshot wounds to the legs, buttocks, hands, and a graze wound to the head. No suspects were arrested.

The widespread gun violence has drawn the attention of President Trump and his lawyer, Rudy Giuliani. Both have blamed the continued violence on Mayor Rahm Emanuel's longtime “Democratic rule.”

The former mayor of New York City endorsed mayoral candidate and former Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy. McCarthy was fired by Emanuel in 2015 after dashcam video footage showed a white police officer shoot a black teenager, Laquan McDonald not just once, but 16 times.

Misspelling Emanuel's last name, Giuliani tweeted that McCarthy can do a whole lot better than Emanuel who sits and fiddles while Chicago burns.

Coronavirus fears shut down college postseason

For the first time in 81 years, the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, known as March Madness, as well as the women’s basketball championship, will not happen over fears the coronavirus could spread. The tournaments were originally going to be held with only essential personnel and the families of players allowed in the arena. That all changed on March 12. The National Collegiate Athletic Association announced the cancellation of all remaining winter and remaining spring championships. This includes the College World Series and the Women’s College World Series.

As many sports fans know, March Madness is a big deal. Office pools spring up as people place their bets on who they believe will be the champion of men’s college basketball. I admit to betting on games as a kid. Even as I got older, I continued to fill out a bracket.

The selection show for the NCAA tournament was scheduled for March 15, with the National Invitation Tournament selection show to follow. It’s not just the NCAA tournament that is cancelled. The collegeinsider.com tournament and College Basketball Invitational tournament have also been cancelled.

Many college championship tournaments have also been cancelled for both the men’s and women’s teams. This is all over fear the coronavirus could spread.

In a statement published on ncaa.org, NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors said the decision was based on the ongoing public health threat of the coronavirus, the ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities.

You can find the latest news by going to ncaa.org and information about ticket refunds by going to ncaa.com.

Rodeo Houston shuts down 11 days early

I’m sure most of Houston has heard the news by now. If not, then be prepared for a sad update. RodeoHouston, the biggest revenue generator for the city, has officially shut down. As of 4pm on March 11, the grounds officially closed.

What does this mean for those who purchased tickets for the remaining concerts? It still is being worked on how refunds will be distributed. I’ve heard that if you bought tickets through the rodeo’s website, you will get a refund. I have not heard about refunds being distributed through independent websites or smartphone apps.

I did not buy my tickets to see Cody Johnson through the rodeo’s website, but instead used an app on my phone to purchase them. Whether or not I will get a refund is unclear. This is a lesson learned. If something like this happens, you are better off purchasing tickets through the event website rather than an independent vendor.

The closure of RodeoHouston is a huge blow to many kids who are involved in the 4H and Future Farmers of America programs. These kids have worked for a year to raise livestock for showing at this year’s livestock show. The winners in each category are awarded scholarships to use toward furthering their education. RodeoHouston has said they will still award the scholarships, but it is unclear how much will be given out.

The reason for the sudden closure? The corona virus and the fear it could spread due to the massive crowds that attend the different events at NRG Park and NRG stadium. People also started a petition to shut down the rodeo over fears of the corona virus.

RodeoHouston draws more people in a three week span than the Houston Astros do for the entire baseball season. It’s not just the public that is outraged, Vendors who rely on the rodeo for income will be going home with half of their normal earnings. Performers who were scheduled to give concerts will also have to get reimbursed.

In all, this is a huge blow to the city and the local economy. I hope the city can recover from this and get back to normal.