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Column: Tales from the PGA Tour in a year mostly about money and surprises

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:07 GMT

More than six months have passed since PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and Yasir Al-Rumayyan of Saudi Arabia’s national wealth fund appeared publicly for the first time.It was in a television studio, not a federal courtroom. That was the first surprise.They spoke of a proposed business partnership, which no one saw coming because negotiations had been held in secret. Even now, no one is sure where it will lead. Tiger Woods used the word “murky” to describe how he envisioned the immediate future of golf’s landscape.As for the immediate past? Money was at the center of almost every conversation, from $20 million purses to how much it would take to lure a top player to LIV Golf ( Jon Rahm won’t say ).But the game marched on inside the ropes (too slowly for some) and provided new major champions, new stars and plenty of memories for this year’s version of “Tales from the Tour:”___The Genesis Invitational was the perfect place for a photo opportunity, and not just because Tiger W...

Saleh, Douglas and Rodgers will be back, so focus turns on bouncing back next season for the Jets

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:07 GMT

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The focus now is on the future for the New York Jets.And it will include both Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas — and Aaron Rodgers — at least for one more year.Owner Woody Johnson’s endorsement of his coach and general manager to return for a do-over settled the Jets’ biggest question entering the final stretch of this season and the offseason. Johnson told the New York Post before the Jets’ 30-28 win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday he already decided to keep both Saleh and Douglas moving forward.Johnson highlighted “some very positive moves” along with an improved culture and a strong defense, but also acknowledged “the offense needs a few pieces.”Rodgers’ return from a torn Achilles tendon is a major piece of that, of course. But this season has certainly been a painful reminder that one player can’t be the sole focus of a franchise.Saleh acknowledged Monday the Jets built this season’s roster around Rodgers’...

Falcons’ successful switch to QB Heinicke may not help in decision on coach Smith

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:07 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons’ best offensive showing of the season may not provide much clarity in team owner Arthur Blank’s decision on coach Arthur Smith’s future.Smith’s third quarterback change of the season, benching Desmond Ridder for the second time and starting Taylor Heinicke in Sunday’s 29-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts, led to the offensive success. The Falcons (7-8) committed no turnovers and gained 406 yards while protecting their longshot playoff hopes.“It helps. He’s got a lot of experience, and you could feel it,” Smith said of Heinicke.Heinicke’s turnover-free game against the Colts prompts an obvious question: Would the Falcons be in better playoff position if the veteran had started the previous two games, devastating losses to Tampa Bay and Carolina?Ridder’s failure to show progress through his second season are negatives for Smith and his offensive staff. Opening the season with Ridder as the starter made...

Man killed in parking lot after dispute with coworker: Thornton police

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:07 GMT

THORNTON, Colo. (KDVR) — A dispute between two coworkers at a Thornton Topgolf location resulted in one man's death on Dec. 23. The man has now been identified by authorities.Bryce Holden, 22, was pronounced dead at a local hospital after he was shot in the early morning hours on Saturday. A Wheat Ridge man was arrested in connection with Holden's death. ID released for Adams County deputy killed in crash that injured woman and 2 toddlers According to a Thornton Police Department arrest affidavit, officers were initially dispatched to 16011 Grant St. in Thornton, a Topgolf, at about 12:50 a.m.According to an investigation conducted by Thornton police, the suspect and victim both worked as dishwashers at the business. According to police, a kitchen manager noticed that Victor Salazar Guarache, 26, of Wheat Ridge, had punched out from work at 11:42 p.m. before his shift was scheduled to be over.According to an arrest affidavit, Guarache went to his car in the parking lot and drove a...

Zoo Miami welcomes 60th baby giraffe in zoo’s history

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:07 GMT

Zoo Miami gave a warm welcome to its 60th baby giraffe born inside the zoo on Thursday, Dec. 15.The female giraffe weighed over 120 pounds, which is on the smaller size for newborn giraffes, and stood tall at 5 feet. She is the eighth calf for both her 13-year old mother giraffe and 6-year-old father giraffe.Zoo officials said initial results from her neonatal exam showed that the newborn giraffe will be strong and healthy.The newborn giraffe was welcomed by her other siblings as they each took turns smelling and licking the newborn giraffe.“The calf seems to be unfazed by all the attention and has spent the last few days exploring her new habitat where she can now be seen daily with the rest of the herd,” Zoo Miami officials said in a statement. Officials said giraffes in the wild are currently listed as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature because of significant reductions in their populations over the last several years.

Disney says in lawsuit that DeSantis-appointed government is failing to release public records

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:07 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Disney has filed a lawsuit claiming that the oversight government for Walt Disney World, which was taken over by appointees of Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this year, has failed to release documents and properly preserve records in violation of Florida public records law.Disney said in the lawsuit filed Friday that the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, often referred to as CFTOD, has been so slow in fulfilling its public records duties that it has failed to respond completely to a request the company made seven months ago when it paid more than $2,400 to get emails and text messages belonging to the five district board members appointed by DeSantis.Disney, DeSantis and the DeSantis appointees already are battling for control of the government in two pending lawsuits in federal and state court.The public records lawsuit is asking a judge to review any documents that the district claims are exempt from being released, declare that the district is violating ...

Elderly man dies from injuries suffered during Newton house fire

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:07 GMT

A man who suffered serious burns during a house fire in Newton earlier this month has succumbed to his injuries, according to officials.The State Fire Marshal’s office said the victim, described as a man in his 70s, died on Saturday, Dec. 23 – over a week after a fire broke out at his home on Allen Avenue.The Newton Fire Department said it was initially called to the address around 10 a.m. on Dec. 13, where authorities discovered an occupant was able to escape, but another was trapped inside the burning, single-family home.The trapped man, who was said to have mobility issues, was found by firefighters and rescued from the building before being taken to the hospital for serious burn injuries.“On behalf of the Newton Fire Department, I want to express our heartfelt condolences to the family who lost a loved one,” Newton Fire Chief Gregory Gentile said in a news release. “This is a terrible loss for them and for the community, especially during the holiday season. I want ...

In Austin, Texas, appreciating the luxury tucked into the weirdness

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:07 GMT

Alan Behr | Tribune News Service (TNS)AUSTIN, Texas — Business travel being to travel what business writing is to literature, drawing a bit of elegance out of a business trip can sometimes take effort. Now that several of us had moved on to Austin after all useful nuggets had been mined from the conference we had been attending in Houston, key differences quickly made themselves known between this, the state capital, and the purposefully commercial city we had just vacated. “Keep Austin Weird” is the official slogan of the Austin Independent Business Alliance, and the city seems to be on a collective mission to reach that sensible objective.That helps explain why our first activity was to go bat watching. A 1980 renovation of the Congress Avenue Bridge in the center of town turned it into an ideal home for migrating Mexican free-tailed bats — a rodent ponte vecchio. We arrived punctually, just before sunset, at the purpose-built observation platform off the northern bank of the Colo...

How Taylor Swift took over the travel industry in 2023

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:07 GMT

Lacey Pfalz | (TNS) TravelPulse“Once upon a time, the planets and the fates and all the stars aligned…” — Taylor SwiftGlobal superstar Taylor Swift isn’t only one stealing fans’ hearts around the world with her Eras Tour: She’s taking center stage in a global tourism boom, and everyone from tour operators to world leaders to travel advisers are taking notice.Those who travel know that entertainment, such as sporting events and concerts, are intrinsically tied to the travel industry, but there’s been nothing like this before. Swift’s U.S. tour, which spanned 20 cities across five months, brought in $5 billion in direct spending.The U.S. Travel Association estimates the entire impact of her U.S. tour could be as high as $10 billion. QuestionPro compares the initial $5 billion as greater than the gross domestic product of over 50 countries.The city of Pittsburgh, for example, reported 145,579 people in attendance for Swift’s two weekend concerts, which were in June. O...

Drunk wrong-way driver from New York City allegedly kills grandfather, grandson in crash on Somerset bridge

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:07 GMT

A drunk driver from New York City killed a grandfather and grandson when he allegedly drove the wrong way and struck their vehicle on a Somerset bridge late Christmas night, according to Massachusetts State Police.A third individual who had been in the vehicle, a 2014 Infiniti QX50 SUV, at the time of the crash, is in critical condition, while a driver and passenger of another car that was struck suffered injuries authorities considered not life-threatening.Troopers from the State Police-Dartmouth Barracks responded to the crash on the westbound side of Veterans Memorial Bridge, part of Route 6, at 11:10 p.m. Monday.Initial investigation findings indicate the wrong-way driver, identified as Adam M. Gauthier, 41, of New York City, was driving a 2023 Land Rover SUV easterly on the westbound side when he allegedly struck the Infiniti and a 2019 Honda Accord.All six individuals involved in the crash, including Gauthier, were rushed to area hospitals, Massachusetts State Police said in a...