Test comes 1 week early for women’s basketball
The Wisconsin women’s basketball team will take its 10-1 record on the road tonight as the Badgers square off against in-state opponent UW-Green Bay at the Resch Center.In what will likely prove to be one of the Badgers’ toughest tests so far this season, UW (10-1) hopes to carry over its strong performance from Sunday’s game against Albany.”I thought we were able to get a lot of people some experience,” Wisconsin head coach Lisa Stone said of Sunday’s game. “We attended to the boards defensively and had more energy than we did against UIC. We were plagued by turnovers, and that’s a concern of ours and something we’ve talked about.””We’ve got to stay focused on some things that we didn’t do against Albany, especially our turnovers,” junior guard Jolene Anderson said. “That’s one thing we need to cut down, and hopefully just play our style of basketball.”UW-Green Bay (5-3) has already fared well against Big Ten opponents this season, with convincing wins against Minnesota and Iowa. The team will look to continue its solid play against the Badgers and hope to go 3-0 against the Big Ten, something the Phoenix have never done in program history.”What jumps out is what they did to Iowa and holding them to 29 percent shooting,” Stone said. “It’s something that we certainly are aware of, and it just shows that they play hard.”All five UW-Green Bay starters have been putting up big numbers so far this year. The Phoenix offense is led by senior forward Nicole Soulis, who was recently named the Horizon League Player of the Week. Also making significant contributions have been a trio of guards, junior Kayla Groh, senior Natalie Berglin and sophomore Rachel Porath.”I think Natalie is a terrific point guard,” Stone said. “She’s the engine of that team. If you put her with a great post player in Soulis, you’ve got a great point guard and a great post player that have been playing together for four years. They know how each other work, they both run the floor in transition, and they can both shoot the three.”Defensively, Stone plans to put UW guard Janese Banks on Berglin, Anderson on Porath and point guard Rae Lin D’Alie on Groh. On the post, Caitlin Gibson will have the tough task of matching up with Soulis.Similar to the Badgers, Green Bay’s team is one that can provide great depth down the stretch, with skill at all positions.”They’re five strong, and then eight or nine that come off the bench,” Stone said. “They’re deep, they’re solid, and they run their system really well. They’re well coached, and they’re a team that doesn’t quit. They play hard for 40 minutes, and they play really well together.”Even though the game will feature two Wisconsin schools, Stone isn’t approaching it differently than any other game.”I don’t like to use the word rivalry,” Stone said. “I think there’s a tremendous amount of respect for both programs. I don’t treat it as a rivalry; I just treat it as an opportunity to see two really good teams go at it and see whose game play is the best.”Stone’s team echoes that mentality and continues to take the season one game at a time.”I think our team just looks at it as another game for us to get better,” Anderson said. “It is Green Bay, it is in-state, but that’s something that we can’t focus on. It’s just another game for us to play.””It’s really important for us to come ready for this game,” Gibson added. “They’re very competitive. They’re a really good team, and they have a lot of weapons. We just want to play our hardest, and I know we’ll have the outcome that we want if we play our hearts out.”With tonight’s game and Friday’s contest against Harvard, only two games remain before the Badgers enter the Big Ten schedule. Stone and her team are hoping for a strong finish in their out-of-conference schedule.”It’s going to be a chess match of sorts,” Stone said. “It’s going to be a close game, and I think it’s the perfect time for this. They’re going to bring out our best, and hopefully we can bring out their best.”
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Facebook Twitter Google+ Boston College’s Martin Clark missed a free throw with four seconds on the clock. The Eagles held just a one-point lead. Syracuse forward Sean Kerins grabbed the rebound and passed to Washington, who dribbled past a defender and threw up a half-court heave. A longshot. A prayer. He launched the ball toward the net, his body past the half-court line and himself into Syracuse lore with the game-winner.“It was a lot of fun playing in the Carrier Dome and certainly against players like Pearl Washington who are special,” said Gary Williams, who at the time of the shot was the head coach at Boston College. “The really good players have an impact on the game.”RELATED STORIES:Storify: Sports world mourns the death of Pearl WashingtonPearl Washington’s top five moments as a Syracuse basketball playerJim Boeheim pays an emotional tribute to Pearl Washington Published on April 22, 2016 at 4:26 pm Contact Chris: cjlibona@syr.edu | @ChrisLibonati Related Stories Pearl Washington’s top 5 moments as a Syracuse basketball playerJim Boeheim pays emotional tribute to late Syracuse great Pearl WashingtonGallery: Pearl Washington throughout his Syracuse careerKenny Smith on Dwayne ‘Pearl’ Washington: ‘He made (New York City basketball) what it was’Storify: Sports world mourns the death of Syracuse basketball legend Dwayne ‘Pearl’ Washington Moments like that were what fans tuned in for. Boeheim likened Washington’s audience to Steph Curry’s in that people would stay up just to watch him. Washington helped get ESPN off the ground. The fledgling television network picked up college basketball games, specifically Big East games, which helped with the network’s rise in popularity.His NBA career was about as short as his college career. Neither lasted more than three seasons. And yet, he was one of the few busts that escaped the smudges on their shine. Washington was viewed as an innovator, with his ankle-breaking crossover that was passed down from NBA guard to NBA guard.“You couldn’t defend it. You couldn’t stop it. You couldn’t stop him,” Harried said. “He did what he wanted and when he wanted and he knew it. He was way ahead of his time.” Sam Blum | Senior Staff PhotographerAnd of course, there’s stories about Pearl Washington, the man. Boston Globe reporter Adam Himmelsbach shared on Twitter how Pearl once showed up to a local Syracuse park where Himmelsbach worked and cleaned toilets to make the park look better. There are various stories on Pearl’s Gofundme page from fans that are just happy to have met him in autograph lines and on basketball courts.Pearl is not defined by one shot, because Pearl Washington is an era of Syracuse basketball and college basketball. But that shot is forever on repeat, the ball perpetually hanging before it swishes through the hoop and the play starts all over again. On YouTube, in the Carrier Dome before basketball games.Watch the shot again. The focus doesn’t leave the celebration. The man who made the shot bolted through the tunnel prematurely before anyone could truly congratulate him. In his wake, he left a shocked Boston College team, screaming fans and a lasting legacy.The man, unlike the shot he took, is mortal. For the final stretch of Pearl’s battle with cancer, his fight has been predetermined. One last prayer that would land just a little bit right or left of the rim.But in the end, legends are remembered for the shots they do make, not the ones they don’t.“I think people know the legend,” Boeheim said, “There aren’t really many legends.” Comments Few things have ever publicly reduced Jim Boeheim to tears or the hunch in his back as he plodded all 13 steps out of the Hall of Fame wing of the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center and into the practice gym.Maybe he’s defended a player, like he did Gerry McNamara, or gotten testy at the podium, but nothing brought out the human side in Jim Boeheim like the death of Dwayne ‘Pearl’ Washington.“It’s been a really tough day,” Boeheim said on Wednesday, “I think we’ve all known this was coming, but it doesn’t make it any easier.”Washington, a Syracuse legend, died Wednesday after battling a malignant brain tumor since the summer of 2015. He had a previous brain tumor scare in 1996, but doctors removed it. From 1983-86, Washington was the lifeblood of the SU basketball program. A player that helped Boeheim mold Syracuse basketball into the program it is now and make the Carrier Dome a nationally recognized venue. A player who was Syracuse’s counter to Georgetown’s Patrick Ewing and St. John’s’ Chris Mullins.“I knew he was special the first time I met him just because of the aura he had around him,” said Herman Harried, a former teammate of Washington. “… He’s the Pearl.”AdvertisementThis is placeholder textFor most players, there’s a moment when they go from Michael Jordan to M.J., from Kobe Bryant to the Black Mamba, from Dwayne Washington to Pearl. Even though he was nicknamed well before “The Shot,” that was Pearl’s moment.
Facebook Twitter Google+ Published on March 20, 2017 at 9:57 pm Contact Paul: pmschwed@syr.edu | @pschweds With the dust settling after Mike Hopkins’ departure for Washington and Jim Boeheim’s contract extension, the next step for Syracuse is to hire a third assistant coach to replace Hopkins on its coaching staff.Boeheim, the Orange’s 41-year head coach, said he’s not worried about filling Hopkins’ void because of his confidence in SU’s two other assistants, Adrian Autry and Gerry McNamara. Still, Hopkins was Boeheim’s longest-tenured assistant and a key to Syracuse’s recruiting efforts.“He knew a lot of ins and outs of things. Contacts (for recruits), just his attitude, what he brought was great,” Boeheim said of what Hopkins provided SU. “It’ll be tough (to replace) so we’re going to look for an experienced guy that can duplicate some of those things if he can.”Hopkins, who had been an assistant with Syracuse for 22 years, worked with the Orange’s centers while Autry primarily works with the forwards, and McNamara with guards. Both Autry and McNamara were hired as assistants in 2011, but Autry previously worked as an assistant coach at Virginia Tech. Without a head coach-designate, Syracuse promoted Autry to associate head coach because of his experience over McNamara. Boeheim said it was “an easy decision.”While Boeheim said “ideally” he hires someone to work with the centers, he’s open to bumping someone to that spot to best fit all three. Boeheim mentioned how both himself and Hopkins started as assistant coaches working with guards before moving to big men. He added that because of Autry and McNamara’s proven skills as recruiters, “we probably don’t need a great recruiter.”AdvertisementThis is placeholder textFollowing Hopkins accepting the head coaching job at Washington, it was important to Boeheim to retain both Autry and McNamara with the Orange to keep continuity in the program and with recruits. He said both assistants received offers from other schools since Saturday. Neither planned to leave with Hopkins, Boeheim said. The UW coaching staff will be filled by former Syracuse player Jason Hart, Tim O’Toole and Will Conroy, who was already with the Huskies, according to The Seattle Times.Between Boeheim, Hopkins, Autry and McNamara, Syracuse’s staff consisted entirely of SU alumni. But Boeheim said having previous ties to the program isn’t a prerequisite for the new assistant while mentioning prior assistants who didn’t fit that criteria either.“Never has. We try to get the best guy. If he happens to be a Syracuse guy, that’s great,” Boeheim said. “He doesn’t have to be. Troy Weaver was a great assistant coach as was Rob Murphy. I could name a few others. We will get the best we can get for this position.”Boeheim said he’s not in a rush to hire the new assistant, saying it could happen either “tomorrow” or within the next two weeks.Boeheim plans on calling whomever he wants to hire and seeing if they’re interested rather than interviewing candidates.“I learned a long time ago you bring three people in for an interview and you like all three, then how do you decide?” Boeheim said. “So I don’t like to confuse myself.”Compared to earlier in his career, Boeheim said each assistant talks to their respective position groups more during practices and games. But in terms of making in-game decisions and running practice, nothing has changed in his head coaching career.Boeheim didn’t single any candidates he has in mind, but said he thinks Syracuse is in a good position no matter who he hires.“We will get somebody else in here,” Boeheim said. “We will hire a very good assistant coach and move forward.”Senior Staff Writer Connor Grossman contributed reporting to this article. Comments
The Catalan giants booked their place in Europe’s showpiece event last night after a 5-3 aggregate win over Bayern Munich.They’ll play the winners of tonight’s semi-final, with Juventus travelling to face Real Madrid with a 2-1 first-leg advantage to defend.The action kicks-off at 7:45.
AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to FacebookFacebookShare to TwitterTwitterShare to MoreAddThisAlpena — Congressman Jack Bergman participated in a site visit at Decorative Panels International off the shores of Lake Huron on Wednesday afternoon.Just yesterday, President Donald Trump signed the America’s Water Infrastructure Act into law, a move that Bergman applauds and has several implications with the 1st Congressional District. The passing of the bill will allow funding for a new Poe-sized lock in Sault Ste. Marie which has been one of the biggest priority for the former Lieutenant General since he came into office.It also continues to advance a number of moves in dealing with the eradication of invasive species, monitoring contaminates like PFAS, and ending toxic algal blooms.“President Trump and everybody realizes that this is the right way to go for America, and it’s great for Michigan great for the Great Lakes,” said Bergman.Funding for the new lock still needs to be appropriated by Congress. The estimated cost sits just under a billion dollars. Bergman noted that this piece of critical infrastructure relies on multiple parties including national security like the Army Corp of Engineers to help carry, complete, and operate a structure like a new lock. While a new lock looks to encourage more industry and commerce in the Great Lakes region, Northeastern Michiganders have taken note on the spread of PFAS and invasive species facing the waters on the sunrise side.“The quality of the water that we drink, that we utilize has got to be number one,” said Bergman. “There is money in the water infrastructure bill to make sure it’s monitored and kept safe. Number two, invasive species… if we don’t control whether it’s cormorants or zebra mussels, [and] all of those things the health of our waters will cut into our economy.”With election season in full swing, Bergman will be traveling throughout the 1st district up until election day. Meanwhile other Republican candidates will rally in Alpena on Friday at the new Alpena County GOP headquarters on Chisholm Street. Senate Candidate John James who is up against current Senator Debbie Stabenow will be in attendance. Current State Representative Sue Allor and current State Senator Jim Stamas will also attend. The event takes place from 9:00 A.M. until 10:00 A.M. at 1201 W. Chisholm St.AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to FacebookFacebookShare to TwitterTwitterShare to MoreAddThis Tags: alpena, America’s Water Infrastructure Act, Asian Carp, CONGRESS, Donald Trump, GOP, Great Lakes, Invasive Species, Jack Bergman, Lock, PFAS, Republicans, Sault Ste. Marie, Soo Lock, Upper Peninsula, Zebra MusselContinue ReadingPrevious What’s Trending on October 24Next Anti-bullying Relentless Tour comes to Alpena
UK plans Brexit celebrations but warns businesses may suffer LATEST STORIES It’s too early to present Duterte’s ‘legacy’ – Lacson And although he didn’t realize it until looking closely at a class photo taken in the third grade, he was often the only black kid in class, a circumstance that in later years would expose him to repeated episodes of ugly racism, no matter his fame or success, that would leave deep emotional scars that sometimes took decades to heal.So he kept his game face on, both on and off the court, and persevered through setbacks and successes.“I did the book because I thought that the process that I went through could be very useful for young people right now,” Abdul-Jabbar told The Associated Press during a wide-ranging interview this week at the offices of the Skyhook Foundation, the charitable nonprofit he created several years ago to provide educational opportunities for elementary school children, the same group he targeted his book for.After its publication, sports broadcaster Roy Firestone, a longtime friend, suggested he share those experiences directly with live audiences, telling him his words would not only resonate with young people today but provide a chance for Abdul-Jabbar to clear up some lingering misconceptions dating to his playing days. The clipped, seemingly curt answers he often gave during postgame interviews, for example, frequently came across not as shy but as surly, especially coming from someone who stood an intimidatingly tall 7 feet, 2 inches.“And that was very unfortunate,” Abdul-Jabbar says softly now. “I think it kept me from a head coaching job and commercials and stuff because people wanted to assume the worst.”ADVERTISEMENT MOST READ Nueva Ecija warehouse making fake cigarettes raided, 29 Chinese workers nabbed Phivolcs records 2 ‘discrete weak ash explosions’ at Taal Volcano “Well, you know, seeing how there is no alternative — I’ll take it,” he says of turning 70 last year. “But I don’t know about that ‘life begins at 40’ stuff. What happened at 40 is I started getting old.“There is something wrong with that scenario,” he adds, laughing again.Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next In this Monday, Feb. 12, 2018 photo, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar poses in his office, in Newport Beach, Calif. Abdul-Jabbar has been a best-selling author, civil-rights activist, actor, historian and one of the greatest basketball players who ever lived. This fall Abdul-Jabbar will embark on a cross-country tour as part of “Becoming Kareem,” a stage show in which he’ll discuss his life, answer audience questions and talk about the key mentors in his life he says helped him achieve his goals along the way. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has been a best-selling author, civil-rights activist, actor, historian and one of the greatest basketball players who ever lived.One thing Abdul-Jabbar has never been — at least not in public — is chatty.ADVERTISEMENT Phivolcs records 2 ‘discrete weak ash explosions’ at Taal Volcano Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. 
Sea turtle trapped in net freed in Legazpi City Lights inside SMX hall flicker as Duterte rants vs Ayala, Pangilinan anew Not that he hasn’t had a storied life and career before and after basketball.Abdul-Jabbar played on six NBA championship teams, was an assistant coach for two others, won a record six MVP awards and is the leading scorer in NBA history with 38,387 points, a mark that’s never been seriously challenged in the 29 years since he retired.He’s written more than a dozen books ranging from children’s adventure novels to histories of prominent African-Americans to crime novels featuring the adventures of none other than Mycroft Holmes, older brother of Sherlock.“I enjoyed Sherlock Holmes from when I was a kid,” he recalls, adding with a robust laugh that until high school he actually believed the master detective was a real person. Learning he was Arthur Conan Doyle’s creation, he concluded the author gave short shrift to Mycroft and set out to fix that a few years ago. His second Holmes book came out last year, and he’s working on another.“That and this tour will hopefully keep me pretty busy,” he said as he sat in a chair in his spacious office.It’s an office filled with memorabilia commemorating not only his basketball career but his African-American roots and his work as a civil-rights advocate. Sitting near NAACP Image Awards are dozens of basketballs, many autographed by members of the Showtime-era Los Angeles Lakers teams he helped lead to five championships in the 1980s. On the walls are posters of him launching his signature skyhook shot over the likes of Charles Barkley and guarding Bill Walton.The sounds of jazz, the beloved soundtrack of Abdul-Jabbar’s life, play softly through the office until he silences them to talk. (His father, Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, whose name he shared before changing his in his early 20s upon his conversion to Islam, was not only a New York City police officer but a talented jazz musician.)If not as shy as he once was, Abdul-Jabbar is still somewhat guarded in conversation, although he can be playfully funny as well.Yes, he confirms with a grin, it’s true that after President Donald Trump sent him a name-calling note for criticizing Trump, he crumpled it into a ball and skyhooked it into a wastebasket.Although he suffered from leukemia that’s now in remission and underwent quadruple bypass surgery three years ago, Abdul-Jabbar looks little different than he did during his playing days, appearing trim and athletic in Tommy Hilfiger jeans and an open-necked shirt. Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard PLAY LIST 02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award Radio host loses job after sexual comments on teen Olympian “I’m not known for being a blabbermouth, you know?” the soft-spoken Abdul-Jabbar concedes with a smile, something else he was never particularly known for during his playing days. But, he adds, still smiling, his public can expect to see that change — and soon.This fall Abdul-Jabbar will embark on a cross-country tour as part of “Becoming Kareem,” a stage show in which he’ll discuss his life, answer audience questions and talk about the key mentors he says helped him achieve his goals. Among them: civil rights heroes Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, his legendary college coach and lifelong friend John Wooden, and fellow superstar athletes Muhammad Ali and Wilt Chamberlain.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSTim Cone, Ginebra set their sights on elusive All-Filipino crownSPORTSGinebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup titleSPORTSAfter winning title, time for LA Tenorio to give back to Batangas folkThe tour was inspired by the 2017 best-seller “Becoming Kareem,” a memoir of his years from childhood to age 24.Inspirational, poignant, funny and occasionally heartbreaking, it recounts the coming of age of a bright and hardworking but painfully introverted kid, one who was always the tallest in class. Steam emission over Taal’s main crater ‘steady’ for past 24 hours GALLERY: Barangay Ginebra back as PBA Governors’ Cup kings View comments
… Garrido-Lowe calls for greater understandingAmid much pomp and ceremony, and an array of spectacular cultural performances, Amerindian Heritage Month 2016 was officially launched at the Heritage Village at the Sophia Exhibition Centre, on Thursday evening.President David Granger received a token to commemorate Heritage MonthThe huge benab, however, could hardly contain the massive crowd of Guyanese from all walks of life, who joined President David Granger; Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo; Minister of and Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock and Valerie Garrido-Lowe; other Ministers of Government and members of the diplomatic corps, to celebrate with Guyana’s first people.All who graced the podium, whether to bring greetings or give addresses, registered the resounding call for unity and a deeper appreciation of the Amerindian way of life.President David Granger, delivering the feature address, lamented the significant threats which face Indigenous communities and which prevents them from reaching their “God given potential”.“The cultural heritage of our Indigenous communities unfortunately is under threat. The slow pace of economic growth threatens communities, limited economic opportunities over the last two decades has caused distress and migration to other nearby countries. It has also had a harsh effect on education, and health, environmental degradation through mining and logging, in some cases there has been alcoholism, Trafficking in Persons (TIP)”, the Head of State said of the state of affairs of Amerindian communities.“Our Constitution says that Indigenous peoples shall have the right to the protection, preservation and promulgation of their languages, cultural heritage and way of life. That is a right”, the Head of State told the massive crowd.He reminded that every year in September, Guyana renews its commitment so that these rights are not diminished in any way.The Head of State said Indigenous people are the custodians of the hinterland, as it is they who protect the country’s natural assets and who,through intimate relationships with nature and sustainable agriculture in fishing, forestry, hunting and mining, passed down the customs and practices for centuries.President Granger, however, noted that these can only be preserved and protected if there are cohesive communities, free from the threat of social decay and economic decline.He acknowledged that the Indigenous communities are generally remote and distant from the main population centres, and consist of many settlements, many of which are isolated and scattered.“The management of scores of these communities is compounded by the complexity of development issues,” the President said, stressing that these communities therefore need very strong structures of Government.He said because of the small numbers of communities and the large and great distances between them, it is often difficult to give them the quality of service they need and deserve.The President explained, “These threats, if left unchecked will hasten disintegration and the hinder the ability of Indigenous communities to propagate their values, traditions and way of life. We need therefore some administrative agency, which will ensure that decisions which are made by the National Toshao’s Council and the National Assembly through the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs are implemented”.According to him, while culture is important, it would be under threat unless there are apparatus and mechanisms to ensure that the communities are prosperous. He again proposed the establishment of the National Indigenous People’s Authority (NIPA) to ensure all decisions are implemented.“Implementation is the muscle of progress. Intentions will remain wayward without implementation”, the President said.Meanwhile, Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Valerie Garrido-Lowe, urged those present to take time to learn about all Guyanese culture.With that done, she said, it will to some degree prevent the spewing of misconceptions as was done by Pandit Deodatt Tillack, who at the interfaith service on Wednesday evening, ranted about his preconceived way of life of Amerindians.“How else would you learn to love and care or each other and how else would you learn to give, and achieve social cohesion… during my childhood in the hinterland, I have never met a person who willingly offered their 12-year-old girl children to warm men’s bed. That is a crime known by all nations,” Garrido-Lowe said, noting that the pandit erred on Wednesday evening during his remarks.“Guyanese, let us learn about each other, try to understand each other and celebrate together this special Indigenous Heritage month”, she urged.
On Friday, September 26, 2014, President Barack Obama extended Protected Status (DED) to certain Liberians, who fled a brutal civil war and entered the USA before October 2002. While it is commendable that this group of Liberians have been protected, there are over 7000 similarly situated Liberians excluded from this “foreign policy” inspired immigration relief, whose plights have been overlooked for over a decade. Additionally, as winter approaches in North America, there are thousands of vulnerable (Africans) Liberians, Guineans and Sierra Leoneans stranded in America because of Ebola who deserve temporary protection. In our efforts to fight Ebola (www.fightebola.us), I call on President Obama to exercise compassion and on humanitarian grounds designate Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone as countries appropriate for Temporary Protected Status (TPS/DED). This request is consistent with the Immigration Act of 1990 (“IMMACT”), P.L. 101-649, established by Congress to provide TPS to immigrants in the United States, who are temporarily unable to return to their home country because of ongoing armed conflict, an environmental disaster, or extraordinary and temporary conditions.The world is witnessing the height of the Obama Administration’s foreign policy initiatives overseas, which includes “Operation United Assistance”-the deployment of 3000 American soldiers ($500 million dollars) to fight the worst Ebola epidemic in the world and a bombing campaign ($7.5 million dollars daily) against a brutal Islamic terrorist organization called ISIL to protect ethnic and religious minorities in Syria and Iraq. Even so, President Obama’s foreign policy inspired immigration relief must also be inclusive, compassionate, and humane.Among those excluded from President Obama’s immigration relief are over 7000 Liberians, including Liberian mothers of American children who accompanied their American born children evacuated over a decade ago. Also at serious risks are citizens of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone stranded in the United States because of the deadly Ebola epidemic.It may be recalled that in June 2003, President George Bush ordered “Operation Shinning Express” to protect US Embassy in Monrovia and evacuated Americans citizens to safety. The young Americans are still without protection for over a decade. There are no justifiable reasons why vulnerable people from Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone stranded in America this winter because of Ebola and Liberian refugee women and American children evacuated by the US Military over a decade ago should continue to suffer denial of protection, despite repeated pleas from many, including the late Senator Edward Kennedy-D-MA.There are at least six compelling reasons why designating Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone for TPS is an urgent necessity:1. There is an existing statute; the Immigration Act of 1990 (“IMMACT”), P.L. 101-649, established by Congress to provide TPS to immigrants. 2. There is a clear and present danger facing these people both in their homeland and in America as winter approaches.3. Unlike the deployment of 3000 Troops ($500 million dollars) and the bombing of ISIL (Up to $10 billion in a year), TPS costs US tax payers nothing. In fact TPS generates revenue for government ($350 per person). 4. The equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution supports equal treatment of people in similar situations.5. Commonsense dictates that if America protects ethnic and religious minorities overseas, America ought to also protect its own citizens and Africans stranded by Ebola on American Soil.6. Justice and fairness by American policy makers represent potent and cost-free complementary arsenal of ammunition in the fight against terrorism overseas.The worsening Ebola Outbreak ravaging West Africa has killed over 3000 people and infected over 6000 people and it seems to be getting “out of control.” There are no vaccines for Ebola. To contain Ebola, a state of emergency is in effect in Liberia- all schools, hospitals, government offices and borders are shut down. Flights have been cancelled. Many nationals from the worst hit countries stranded in the USA cannot return home. Designation of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone for Temporary Protected Status (TPS/DED) would bring relief and work permits to stranded nationals in the USA. If there were no other reasons for compassion, fairness and justice in granting temporary protection which opens access to the basic human needs of food, clothing and shelter to vulnerable refugee women from Liberia, a former colony of the United States or affording protection for American children evacuated from Africa to safety in America or for extending protected status to Guineans, Liberians and Sierra Leoneans stranded in America because of Ebola- one thing is certain: At a huge cost, America is risking the lives of American Service men and women to protect ethnic and religious minorities in Iraq and Syria.This fact begs the question: So who is going to protect vulnerable Africans and African American children in the winter of 2014 on American Soil, if the Obama Administration fails to grant temporary protection which costs American tax payers nothing? Not Russia, Not Cuba, North Korea, Not China and certainly not Venezuela. Alas, “Charity begins at home.” Mr. President, I ask that you kindly consider designating Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone countries appropriate for TPS/DED. Thanks and God bless America!Rev. Torli H. Krua is founder of the Universal Human Rights International (UHRI) and YOUNG-Africa Inc. UHRI promotes immigrant rights in the USA and democracy through ballot initiatives in African countries. Rev. Krua may be contacted:www.fightebola.us or UHRI-20 Roche Brothers Way Suite 6-182 North Easton, MA 02356 or tkrua@young-africa.orgShare this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
In the badminton portion of the Games, representing Fort St. John were Jesse Plamondon and Esther Li. The two did relatively well with Plamondon finishing 11th in boys singles, and Li taking fifth in girls singles.In biathlon, in the junior boys individual event, Caribou-Northeast athletes Ryan Elden and Tristan Langan took first and second place. In the junior girls individual race, Anni Kurta of Caribou-Northeast finished in first. In the senior boys races, Bobby Kreitz finished third, and Mark Hartley took fifth. Claire Lapointe and Kyra Teetzen took second and third respectively in the senior girls individual race.On the ice Emma Bajestani finished in 16th for the Caribou-Northeast region in the juvenile girls figure skating event. In the pre-novice ladies event Kirstyn Beech, and Dawn Henley finished in 16th and 17th respectively. Justim Hampole took first place in the pre-novice men’s competition.- Advertisement -Staying on the ice, in speed skating Renee Kalkman and Eryn Stickel of Fort St. John finished third and fourth respectively in the girls under 14, 400 metre race. Kalkman and Stickel were second and eighth in the 200 metre pursuit, first and fifth in the 1,500 metre, and seventh and eighth in the 3,000 metre. Kaden Hagen was 15th in the 400 metre, 17th in the 200 metre pursuit, and 17th in the 3,000 metre race. Colton Johnson took fourth in the 3,000 metre mixed relay.In karate, Alyssa Waddell placed in the semi, while Natalie Shearsmith, and Taranjot Jainpuri also took part in the competition.All of the above results were taken from the BC games website. If someone you know that took part in games is missing, send an email to sports@moosefm.caAdvertisement