15 KAWAGOE, Japan (AP) — Four feet between his golf ball and the cup was all that separated Xander Schauffele from an Olympic gold medal, and he couldn't help but let his mind wander. For Schauffele, it would be as special as a major, the championships that have eluded him far too many times, most recently at the Masters. For his father, an Olympic medal to share after his own aspirations ended in a horrific car accident that cost him his left eye. Schauffele bowed his head and closed his eyes to snap back into the present. “I just reminded myself, this is just a 4-footer," he said Sunday. “All you have to do is make it. No big deal." He made it. It was a big deal. With more pressure than he needed, Schauffele got the prize he wanted in a conclusion to men's golf so wild that nine players were still in the mix for a medal as the last three players measured their putts on … [Read more...]
Beto O’Rourke Is Back From the Political Graveyard
Beto O’Rourke is back in his natural state: rallying packed crowds, raising piles of cash, and grabbing headlines. But the reason he’s back has nothing to do with getting himself elected to office. For now, at least. The former Democratic congressman from El Paso—who won liberal hearts with his near-upset of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) in 2018 and lost a few of them during his subsequent bid for the White House—has gone all-in on stopping a push from Texas Republicans to enact legislation that could restrict avenues to the ballot box. In a conservative stronghold with a thin bench of prominent Democrats, O’Rourke’s national profile—and prolific fundraising ability—have provided a sorely needed boost to the flagging state-level efforts to mount resistance. “ — Last week provided a big example: O’Rourke’s personal political action committee, Powered By People, cut a $600,000 check to the group of Texas Democratic legislators who fled the state earlier in July in a … [Read more...]
China has 5 of the world’s tallest buildings. New concerns mean they won’t build any higher.
It resembled a scene from a disaster movie. As the 70-story skyscraper swayed above them, thousands of people ran screaming through the heart of the major Chinese city of Shenzhen . Footage of the May 18 incident outside the 1,167-foot SEG Plaza quickly went viral and the U.S. Consulate in nearby Guangzhou advised Americans to stay away from the area. The building's board of directors said in a statement July 15 that an investigation had concluded the building was safe “and can continue to be used.” It added that investigators believed that removing the building’s mast could “solve the issue of perceptible vibrations in the building." WATCH: People flee Chinese skyscraper as it sways for no apparent reason May 21, 2021 00:48 The report came less than two weeks after China began to enforce new rules on the construction of skyscrapers, which banned new buildings above 1,640 feet. Proposals for buildings above 820 feet will also … [Read more...]
Rebeca Andrade wins the vault, Brazil’s first gold in women’s gymnastics.
With two high-flying vaults that made complicated, gravity-defying moves look simple, Rebeca Andrade won the vault final on Sunday at the Tokyo Games, bringing Brazil its first gold medal ever in women’s gymnastics. Her Olympics just keep getting better. Last week in the all-around final, Andrade, 22, won the silver medal, finishing just behind the American Sunisa Lee. She dedicated that silver medal, the first Olympic medal of any color for Brazil in women’s gymnastics, to her country, her coaches and her medical staff, which had helped her get to these Games after yet another serious injury to her right knee. Andrade won with a score of 15.083 points. MyKayla Skinner of the United States, who is retiring after these Olympics, finished second, for the silver medal. Yeo Seo-jeong won bronze for South Korea, and is the first medalist for South Korea in women’s gymnastics. Artistic Gymnastics: Women’s Vault Final › Result Gold Rebeca … [Read more...]
Crews battle Hungry fire in northern Los Angeles County
Crews on Saturday were fighting a fast-moving wildfire in northern Los Angeles County dubbed the Hungry fire, county and state fire officials said. As of 7:20 p.m., the fire in Gorman had burned about 340 acres and was 30% contained, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The fire’s forward progress had been halted, the department said. Hours earlier, the fire department said the fire, near the area of 36000 Quill Lake Rd., did not pose an immediate threat to any structures. Officials at the Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area, located in the Tejon Pass, evacuated and closed the park due to the fire. Advertisement The warm, dry and windy conditions fueled the rapid growth of the fire, the the National Weather Service said. Three helicopters with Los Angeles County Fire Air Operations Section also helped battle the fire from the air. The cause of the fire is unknown. … [Read more...]
Millennials are driving San Francisco’s coronavirus surge
Coronavirus cases are surging in San Francisco and infections among adults aged 25 to 39 are the main driver of the increase. In May, 25- to 39-year-olds accounted for just over 35% of monthly new cases, but in July, they’re up to 50%. This surge is part of a general spike in the number of coronavirus cases in San Francisco, which has outpaced the statewide infection rate. “It’s a perfect storm,” said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a professor of medicine specializing in infectious diseases at the University of California San Francisco. That storm, he said, is a mix of the relatively lower rate of vaccination among those age groups and their general tendency to be social, combined with the proliferation of a the extra-contagious delta variant. The delta variant began spreading like wildfire in the state soon after the state reopened June 15, eliminating or relaxing virus-related restrictions. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending once again that all … [Read more...]
