download slots game Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title when he hit a major league-best .366 for the Atlanta Braves, has died. He was 85. Major League Baseball , the players' association and the Braves paid tribute to Carty on social media on Sunday. No further details on Carty's death were provided. “Carty was one of the first groundbreaking Latino stars in the major leagues, and he established himself as a hero to millions in his native Dominican Republic, his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris, and the city of Atlanta, where he was a beloved fan favorite,” the players' association said in its statement . The Braves said Carty left an indelible mark on the organization. “While his on-field accomplishments will never be forgotten, his unforgettable smile and generous nature will be sorely missed,” the team said in its statement. Carty made his big league debut with the Braves in September 1963. He batted .330 with 22 homers and 88 RBIs in his first full season in 1964, finishing second to Dick Allen in voting for NL Rookie of the Year. The Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta after the 1965 season, and Carty got the franchise's first hit in its new home on April 12, 1966, against Pittsburgh. Carty had his best year in 1970, batting .366 with 25 homers and a career-best 101 RBIs. He started the All-Star Game after he was elected as a write-in candidate, joining Willie Mays and Hank Aaron in the NL outfield. Carty batted .299 with 204 homers and 890 RBIs over 15 years in the majors, also playing for Cleveland, Toronto, Oakland, Texas and the Chicago Cubs. He retired after the 1979 season. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

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No one has right to break law: BJP on Sambhal violenceWASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday named Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, to be U.S. attorney general just hours after his other choice, Matt Gaetz , withdrew his name from consideration. Bondi is a longtime Trump ally and was one of his lawyers during his first impeachment trial, when he was accused — but not convicted — of abusing his power as he tried to condition U.S. military assistance to Ukraine on that country investigating then-former Vice President Joe Biden. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. She's been a chair at the America First Policy Institute, a think tank set up by former Trump administration staffers. “For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans - Not anymore,” Trump said in a social media post. “Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again.” Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr. told Fox Business on Sunday that the transition team had backups in mind for his controversial nominees should they fail to get confirmed. The swift selection of Bondi came about six hours after Gaetz withdrew. Gaetz stepped aside amid continued fallout over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation's chief federal law enforcement officer. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Tough laws ‘strike back’ at criminal teensUNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The team looking for a missing Pennsylvania woman believed to have fallen into a sinkhole has determined that an abandoned coal mine is too unstable for people to safely search underground, authorities said Wednesday while still expressing hope Elizabeth Pollard will be found alive. Rescue workers continue to search for Elizabeth Pollard, who is believed to have disappeared in a sinkhole while looking for her cat, Wednesday in Marguerite, Pa. Emergency crews and others have been trying to find Pollard, 64, for two days. Her relatives reported her missing early Tuesday and her vehicle with her unharmed 5-year-old granddaughter inside was found about two hours later, near what is thought to be a freshly opened sinkhole above the long closed, crumbling mine. Authorities said in a noon update that the roof of the mine collapsed in several places and is not stable. The sinkhole is in the village of Marguerite, about 40 miles east of Pittsburgh. “We did get, you know, where we wanted, where we thought that she was at. We’ve been to that spot," said Pleasant Unity Fire Chief John Bacha, the incident's operations officer. “What happened at that point, I don’t know, maybe the slurry of mud pushed her one direction. There were several different seams of that mine, shafts that all came together where this happened at.” Trooper Cliff Greenfield said crews were still actively searching for Pollard. “We are hopeful that she’s found alive,” Greenfield said. Searchers were using electronic devices and cameras as surface digging continued with the use of heavy equipment, Bacha said. Search dogs may also be used. Rescue workers search through the night in a sinkhole for Elizabeth Pollard, who disappeared while looking for her cat, Tuesday in Marguerite, Pa. On Wednesday afternoon, machinery was removing material from the area around the hole while police and other government vehicles blocked a clear view of the scene. Sinkholes occur in the area because of subsidence from coal mining activity. Rescuers had been using water to break down and remove clay and dirt from the mine, which has been closed since the 1950s, but that increased the risk “for potential other mine subsidence to take place," Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson Trooper Steve Limani said. Crews lowered a pole camera with a sensitive listening device into the hole, but it detected nothing. Another camera lowered into the hole showed what could be a shoe about 30 feet below the surface, Limani said. Searchers have also deployed drones and thermal imaging equipment, to no avail. Marguerite Fire Chief Scot Graham, the incident commander, said access to the immediate area surrounding the hole was being tightly controlled and monitored, with rescuers attached by harness. The top of a sinkhole is seen Tuesday in the village of Marguerite, Pa., where rescuers searched for a woman who disappeared. “We cannot judge as to what’s going on underneath us. Again, you had a small hole on top but as soon as you stuck a camera down through to look, you had this big void,” Graham said. “And it was all different depths. The process is long, is tedious. We have to make sure that we are keeping safety in the forefront as well as the rescue effort.” Bacha said they were “hoping that there’s a void that she could still be in.” Pollard's family called police at about 1 a.m. Tuesday to say she had not been seen since going out at about 5 p.m. Monday to search for Pepper, her cat. The temperature dropped well below freezing that night. Her son, Axel Hayes, said Pollard is a happy woman who likes going out to have fun. She and her husband adopted Hayes and his twin brother when they were infants. Hayes called Pollard “a great person overall, a great mother” who “never really did anybody wrong.” He said at one point Pollard had about 10 cats. “Every cat that she’s ever come in contact with, she has a close bond with them,” Hayes said. His mother worked for many years at Walmart but recently was not employed, he said. “I’m just hoping right now that she’s still with us and she’s able to come back to us,” he said. Police said they found Pollard's car parked behind Monday's Union Restaurant in Marguerite, about 20 feet from the sinkhole. Hunters and restaurant workers in the area said they had not noticed the manhole-size opening in the hours before Pollard disappeared, leading rescuers to speculate that the sinkhole was new. “It almost feels like it opened up with her standing on top of it,” Limani said. Searchers accessed the mine late Tuesday afternoon and dug a separate entrance out of concern that the ground around the sinkhole opening was not stable. “Let’s be honest, we need to get a little bit lucky, right?” Limani said Wednesday. “We need a little bit of luck on our side. We need a little bit of God’s good blessing on our side.” Pollard lives in a small neighborhood across the street from where her car and granddaughter were located, Limani said. The young girl “nodded off in the car and woke up. Grandma never came back," Limani said. The child stayed in the car until two troopers rescued her. It's not clear what happened to Pepper. In an era of rapid technological advancement and environmental change, American agriculture is undergoing a revolution that reaches far beyond the farm gate. From the food on consumer plates to the economic health of rural communities, the transformation of U.S. farming practices is reshaping the nation's landscape in ways both visible and hidden. LandTrust explores how these changes impact everyone, whether they live in the heartland or the heart of the city. The image of the small family farm, while still a reality for many, is increasingly giving way to larger, more technologically advanced operations. According to the USDA, the number of farms in the U.S. has fallen from 6.8 million in 1935 to about 2 million today, with the average farm size growing from 155 acres to 444 acres. This shift has profound implications for rural communities and the food system as a whole. Despite these changes, diversity in farming practices is on the rise. A landmark study published in Science , involving data from over 2,000 farms across 11 countries, found that diversifying farmland simultaneously delivers environmental and social benefits. This challenges the longstanding idea that practices boosting biodiversity must come at a cost to yields and food security. The adoption of precision agriculture technologies is transforming how farmers manage their land and resources. GPS-guided tractors, drone surveillance, and AI-powered crop management systems are becoming commonplace on many farms. These technologies allow farmers to apply water, fertilizers, and pesticides with pinpoint accuracy, reducing waste and environmental impact while improving yields. However, the digital divide remains a challenge. More than 22% of rural communities lack reliable broadband internet access, hindering the widespread implementation of AI and other advanced technologies in agriculture. While technology offers new opportunities, farmers are also facing significant economic challenges. The USDA's 2024 farm income forecast projects a 4.4% decline in net farm income from 2023, following a sharp 19.5% drop from 2022 to 2023. This financial pressure is compounded by rising production costs and market volatility. Climate variability adds another layer of complexity. Extreme weather events, changing precipitation patterns, and shifting growing seasons are forcing farmers to adapt quickly. These factors could reduce agricultural productivity by up to 25% over the coming decades without significant adaptation measures. But adapting requires additional financial resources, further straining farm profitability. In the face of these challenges, many farmers are turning to diversification as a strategy for resilience and profitability. The Science study mentioned earlier found that farms integrating several diversification methods supported more biodiversity while seeing simultaneous increases in human well-being and food security. Agritourism is one popular diversification strategy. In 2022, 28,600 U.S. farms reported agritourism income, averaging gross revenue of $44,000 from these activities. Activities like farm tours, pick-your-own operations, and seasonal festivals not only provide additional income but also foster a deeper connection between consumers and agriculture. The changing face of agriculture is directly impacting consumers. The rise of farm-to-table and local food movements reflects a growing interest in where our food comes from and how it's produced. If every U.S. household spent just $10 per week on locally grown food, it would generate billions of dollars for local economies. However, the larger challenges in agriculture can also lead to price fluctuations at the grocery store. The USDA's Economic Research Service projects that food-at-home prices will increase between 1.2% and 2.2% in 2024. Looking ahead, several innovations are poised to reshape agriculture: The transformation of American agriculture affects everyone, from the food we eat to the health of our environment and rural communities. Consumers have the power to support sustainable and diverse farming practices through our purchasing decisions. As citizens, they can advocate for policies that support farmers in adopting innovative and sustainable practices. The challenges facing agriculture are complex, but they also present opportunities for innovation and positive change. By understanding and engaging with these issues, everyone can play a part in shaping a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable food system for the future. This story was produced by LandTrust and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Here we are with another guitar review. I usually open these reviews with this explanation when I post guitar reviews because I know our focus is consumer technology. While I love technology, particularly TVs, laptops, mobile phones, and audio equipment, I really love playing music and the guitar. So, naturally, when Fender asked me to review the Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster, I could not refuse. I mean, would you? This is basically the step below Custom Shop, hint Fender, LOL. Estimated reading time: 14 minutes The new Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster piqued my interest not only because, well, because it’s the flagship consumer guitar from Fender, but also because of its features and specs. I was particularly interested in the 10′′ to 14′′ compound radius neck. The last Fender I reviewed had a 7.5′′ fixed radius, and I really get along better with fretboards 10′′ and above. So I had to take a look at this thing, let’s jump into it. The Quick Take Listen, I am a fan of Fender guitars. I prefer the Telecaster over the Stratocaster, but they’re all pretty fantastic machines if you ask me. The Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster is the company’s flagship series, right below the Custom Shop. If you want better than this from Fender, you’re going to pay a lot more. Here’s what I liked and I didn’t like. What I liked: Amazing build quality and materials throughout Wonderful neck profile, very comfortable Outstanding compound radius fretboard, love the feel Good weight and balance Locking tuners Interesting pickups this year, these are thicker than I am used to in a Strat with some interesting tones. Not at all what I was expecting from a Fender Strat. What I didn’t like or could be improved: I really like the look of the anodized aluminum pickguard and backplate, but it felt a bit foreign to me when playing. Not a dealbreaker, and certainly very subjective. The Deluxe Molded Case is fantastic, but I love the classic tweed cases and I wish this would have come with that instead. The pickups are not bad, I actually love them. But some Fender Strat players may find them very different. Best to go play this thing for yourself and have a listen. Overall, the Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster is a fantastic guitar. I mean, why wouldn’t it be? It is their flagship guitar, and it’s built like it. The price point, $2,199, may be a bit high for some, but it’s a fair asking price. Specifications The Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster comes with the following features and specifications: Body Material: Select Alder Body Finish: Gloss Urethane Body Color: Ultraburst Body Shape: Stratocaster Neck Material: Quartersawn Maple Neck Finish: Ultra-Satin Urethane Neck Shape: Modern “D” Scale Length: 25.5′′ (64.77 mm) Fingerboard Material: Ebony Fingerboard Radius: 10′′ to 14′′ Compound Radius (254 mm to 355.6 mm) Number of Frets: 22 Fret Size: Medium Jumbo Nut Material: Graph Tech TUSQ Nut Width: 1.685′′ (42.8 mm) Inlays: White Pearloid Dot – 7mm Side Dots: Luminlay Truss Rod: Bi-Flex Controls: Master Volume (with S-1TM Switch), Tone 1. (Neck/Middle Pickups), Tone 2. (Bridge Pickup) Switching: 5-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup, Position 3. Middle Pickup, Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup, Position 5. Neck Pickup Pickup Configuration: SSS Bridge Pickup: Ultra II NoiselessTM Vintage Strat® Neck Pickup: Ultra II NoiselessTM Vintage Strat® Middle Pickup: Ultra II NoiselessTM Vintage Strat® Hardware Finish: Nickel/Chrome Tuning Machines: Deluxe Cast/Sealed Locking (all short posts) Stainless-Steel Saddles on 2 point trem/bridge Ultra Rolled Fretboard edges Pickguard: 1-Ply Gold Anodized Aluminum Control Knobs: Aged White Soft Touch Knobs Switch Tip: Aged White Strings: Fender® USA 250L Nickel Plated Steel (.009-.042 Gauges), PN 0730250403 Case: Deluxe Molded Case (Included) What’s In The Box Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster Black Deluxe Molded Case Adjustment Tools Tremolo Bar Manuals and Documentation Design If you’re familiar with the Stratocaster, then the new Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster is going to look very much like the ones you’ve seen before. There are some differences and updates, but at first glance, this looks mostly like every other Strat out there. The most significant differences will be in the materials used for the construction of this guitar, as well as some minor contouring differences. Otherwise, there’s really not much Fender is going to do to change the look and shape of the iconic Strat. This body has been copied by countless other makers because it is timeless. Let’s start at the headstock. Fender has played with the shape of the Stratocaster headstock over the years, and I haven’t always liked what they’ve done. The headstock on the American Ultra II Stratocaster is right up my alley. This design stays true to the classic slimmer headstock and does not adopt the larger, more swooping and fat newer designed headstock. Fender also brands this guitar with its classic logo and does not kill the vibe with the thicker logo. I know it’s a bit childish, but no matter how great the guitar plays, to me, if it has the newer larger headstock, it’s a pass. So thankfully, the American Ultra II Stratocaster sticks to tradition. You get one string tree and a set of Fender Locking Tuners with all short posts, and these tuners hold tune very well. They also make string changes a bit faster and easier. Moving down the neck, this made from quartersawn maple, which is fantastic. The neck finish is a satin finish, and I feel like this neck will patina nicely over time. The neck also has “ultra rolled edges,” which I really love. The fretboard is made of ebony, I like ebony a lot, but I wish Fender would have made this roasted maple. I really love the look and playability of roasted maple. Still, ebony is nicer than rosewood, to me, so in terms of playability, I am happy. I just think roasted maple would have looked killer. The fret markers are white pearl dot inlays, nothing new here, and I would expect that. There are 22 medium jumbo frets, but the fret wire isn’t stainless steel. It would have been nice to have stainless-steel frets, but also not a dealbreaker. The side markers are very cool as they are Luminlay markers, these will glow in the dark. Great for onstage and dark settings. The neck is bolt-on with four sturdy bolts holding it in place and a nice branded Fender neck plate protecting the finish. There is a nice contouring on the body near the neck joint. This is a newer feature from Fender, and it’s great for reaching the upper register. On the back is a generous belly-carve, which is really nice to have for comfort purposes. As with all Strats’, the American Ultra II Stratocaster has a backplate that provides you with access to the trem block, strings, grounding wire, and trem claw. This backplate is made from anodized aluminum and colored in gold. Flipping the American Ultra II Series to the front, there is your anodized aluminum pickguard, three single-coil Fender pickups (with antique white covers), controls in antique white, 2-point tremolo bridge system, and the input jack. The color of this American Ultra II Stratocaster is Ultraburst, I had asked Fender to send me the Solar Flare color because it looked far more interesting. But they sent me this. I don’t care for the Ultraburst color. It’s too traditional for my taste. If I were to buy this guitar, I’d go for Solar Flare. You do get six colors to choose from, Ultraburst is the most boring, but that is subjective. Overall, the Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster is a well-designed Strat with all the normal things you would expect of a Stratocaster. Just don’t be boring and choose the traditional and overdone burst color. LOL, I kid, I kid....sheesh, calm down Fender! Out-Of-Box Setup This Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster came out of the box not in tune at all. While I don’t expect these guitars to be in perfect tune, this one a bit wonkier than others I’ve reviewed. Not a huge deal, but I know some people want to know how the tuning out of the box was. It is essential not to remove your guitar from its case when you get it from Fender. Let it rest, acclimate to your environment, and settle the wood. Best to give it at least 48 hours before ripping it open, easier said than done. The fretwork is excellent, the fret ends feel spectacular, the fretboard was clean and oiled, and everything that was supposed to be in order was. The knobs, tremolo, and all moving parts feel of high quality, and there were no issues. The action was almost where I like it, it could have been slightly lower but still excellent. Action and setups will be very subjective. We are all different humans, and we all like our guitars set up differently. So while this fits into my range, you may find that you will need to make some adjustments. Overall, I loved the out-of-box setup on this Strat, but if you dislike yours, a simple setup with a local luthier should get you playing quickly. Sound/Playability The modern D-Shape neck of the Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster is the first I believe I’ve ever used. I have to say that I really enjoyed this neck. The shape and the satin finish made it very comfortable to get around the neck almost effortlessly. The rolled edges make this even better. The nice fretwork and the ebony fretboard were very comfortable and made chords easy and bends feel like butter. I am usually a 24 fret type of player, but the 22 frets here were just fine, and the sculpted heel joint makes getting to those frets easy. The sound is something different. It was not at all what I was expecting. I have used Fender’s S1 switching before, but these pickups sound thick. Even with configurations that are supposed to give more treble, this just sounded beefy and thicker than most Strats I’ve played. This is not a bad thing, I really loved the sound. I would like to say that it reminded me of a PRS with more of a Humbucker sound, but it’s not that either. The sound of the Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster pickups are their own thing. It’s really difficult to explain, but they really have a lot of versatility but also give you something different from normal Fender tones. I liked these pickups and the switching a lot. Here’s what Fender says about the S1 Switching and the Noiseless Pickups on this guitar. S1 Switching Fender Noiseless Pickups The Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster is a remarkable sounding guitar. I can’t remember ever playing a Strat that sounded like this. It has a unique voicing and I enjoyed playing with the tones it offered. Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster Gallery Price/Value The Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster is priced at $2.199.99 . That is pricey, but this is the average price for an Ultra Series guitar, they are the flagships. I think the value is there with the added, very nice, hard case. Add the fact that this guitar has some things I really love. The compound radius, the locking tuners, the S1 switch, and many other features make this guitar worth it. Wrap Up The Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster is a fabulous guitar and the king of the Strat world, below the Custom Shop gods, that is. This is a really nice guitar and I think it is suited to all sorts of playing styles, from blues to metal. In some of our articles and especially in our reviews, you will find Amazon or other affiliate links. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. Any other purchases you make through these links often result in a small amount being earned for the site and/or our writers. Techaeris often covers brand press releases. Doing this does not constitute an endorsement of any product or service by Techaeris. We provide the press release information for our audience to be informed and make their own decision on a purchase or not. Only our reviews are an endorsement or lack thereof. For more information, you can read our full disclaimer .

Ahmil Flowers tallied 14 points for Ferrum (7-0, 2-0 ODAC). Bryant Wall added 11 points and eight rebounds. Lynchburg (5-3, 1-1) made four 3-pointers to Ferrum’s 17. MEN Queens 81, VMI 78 Leo Colimerio scored 15 points to lead the Royals (4-5) past the host Keydets (5-6). VMI’s Robert Peters (12 points) made two free throws to cut the lead to 79-78 with three seconds left, but Asjon Anderson sank two free throws with one second to go. Rickey Bradley Jr. scored 19 points for VMI, while TJ Johnson had 17 points and four 3-pointers. Augustinas Kiudulas added 15 points. SVU 76, Eastern Mennonite 66 Tyler Kartchner scored 18 points to lead the visiting Knights (5-2) past the Royals (3-5). DJ Green had 14 points for SVU, while Eli Ballstaedt and Christian Goode added 13 points apiece. WOMEN SVU 63, Mary Washington 51 Aysia Foster had 13 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks to lead the visiting Knights (7-2) past the Eagles (3-7). Abigail Snyder had 13 points and 11 rebounds for SVU. Maria Savvun added 13 points and six assists. Hollins 66, Averett 61 Cabria Mutz had 13 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks to lead visiting Hollins (6-1, 2-1 ODAC) past the Cougars (1-7, 0-3). Ariana Gutierrez also had 13 points for Hollins. Grayson Alfano added 12 points. Ny’Kerasia Coleman scored to give Averett a 61-60 lead with 1:13 left, but Averett never scored again. Randolph-Macon 74, Roanoke 54 Catherine Kagey had 11 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks to lead the host Yellow Jackets (7-1, 2-0 ODAC) past the Maroons (2-6, 0-2). Mariah Cain and Ashley Fowler had 15 points and seven rebounds apiece for Roanoke. Bridgewater 39, Ferrum 36 India Dailey tallied 11 points to lead the visiting Eagles (9-0, 3-0 ODAC) past the Panthers (4-2, 2-1). Aisha Martin had 13 points for Ferrum, while Kleiauna Riddick added 12 points. Riddick made two free throws to tie the game at 33 with 3:13 to go. But BC answered with five straight points.