Category Archives: Progress

FORT MYERS Rays RHP Alex Cobb took another step Saturday in regaining his pre-Tommy John surgery form.

"The progress I made this week going into this start versus last week's start I'll take hands down," he said after pitching 31/3 innings Saturday during a 63-pitch outing in the 2-1 loss against the Red Sox.

Cobb said early in camp that he wanted to pitch the way he did in 2013. While he returned last September after missing nearly two years, he couldn't find that rhythm.

Against the Red Sox, he impressed manager Kevin Cash with how he threw his changeup and curveball.

"I think that was a big step in the right direction for Alex and for us," Cash said. "He's continuing to make progress. I think he feels that he's close, and that's good."

How 'bout Archer

RHP Chris Archer drew rave reviews inside the Rays clubhouse after throwing four perfect innings Friday against Colombia in the WBC.

Said Cash: "It was fun to watch. I thought it was great for him, great for the Rays and great for Team USA."

Said 3B Evan Longoria: "He looked competitive. I think that's the guy we're looking forward to seeing this year."

Said CF Kevin Kiermaier: "He looks very confident right now, which you need out of your frontline guy, which is what he is for us. I think he's going to have a dominant season this year, I really do."

Hitters, too

Longoria said Cash's remarks Friday about pitchers needing to step on the gas should also apply to position players.

"I think it's just about intensity and intent," Longoria said. "There definitely comes a time where the excuse of it being March 11 or it only being spring training starts to kind of become an excuse for poor performance, essentially."

Here to compete

RHP Jumbo Diaz, claimed Friday off waivers, has a chance to earn a spot in the opening day bullpen once he joins the team after pitching for the Dominican in the WBC.

"When that day comes and he gets here we'll welcome him here and get him in the mix," Cash said.

Lights, camera, action

Alex Corddry makes her Fox Sun Sports debut this afternoon, taking over for Todd Kalas as the in-game reporter, during the first TV game of the spring. Dewyane Staats has the call. Brian Anderson is scheduled to debut this spring on March 25 vs. Boston.

Rays' Cobb optimistic about latest progress 03/11/17 [Last modified: Saturday, March 11, 2017 9:01pm] Photo reprints | Article reprints

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Rays' Cobb optimistic about latest progress - Tampabay.com

On Saturday night, people at more than 2,200 events around the nation tuned in for the inaugural event of People Power, a new platform harnessing nationwide grassroots resistance to the Trump administrations assault on our Constitution and our values. At the event, we announced Freedom Cities, a campaign that provides a concrete plan for the People Power team to play offense in cities and towns across the country.

Watch the Recording

Even before Freedom Cities, our grassroots activism has borne fruit, as evidenced by the incredible protests around the country that brought defeat to President Trumps first attempt to ban Muslims and refugees. We will resist with equal strength Muslim Ban 2.0, along with any other unconstitutional and un-American policies that flow from the White House.

While we resist, however, we must also play offense, and work to paint a picture of the type of country we want to be. More than 170,000 people have already signed up on the People Power platform ready to lead the movement we need. And the Freedom Cities campaign provides a playbook for tackling some of Trumps most harmful policies.

Freedom Cities encourages and supports grassroots activism aimed at driving policy change at the local level. It allows individuals and groups to come together to actively shape how we treat vulnerable communities, how we cherish and safeguard fundamental freedoms, and how we respond as a society to the needs of our families, friends, and neighbors.

Make the place you live and work a Freedom City, or a Freedom Town, or maybe a Freedom County. In doing so, you can help win the fight to protect our civil liberties and promote equality and justice in the age of Trump one neighborhood at a time.

Freedom Cities is a sustained, multi-issue campaign that strives to generate tangible and lasting policy change change that reaffirms our values and counters backward ideas that undermine the Constitution and American values. Freedom Cities will help advance issues we hold dear, like the protection of LGBT communities, equal pay and fair housing, and policing reform.

The first issue the Freedom Cities campaign will tackle is immigration.

President Trump has already caused massive harm through his immigration policies. He has outlined, through executive orders issued his first week in office, a blueprint for a mass deportation machine, which will pull families apart and uproot hard-working, law-abiding individuals who have lived here for decades. The impact of this agenda is plastered in our newspapers daily, whether through the detention of a father of five U.S. citizen children who has only worked hard and obeyed the law since his arrival 15years ago, or a domestic violence victim in Texas, who sought protection through our judicial system, but fell prey to Trumps henchmen apparently based on a tip provided by her abuser.

The Freedom Cities campaign will allow us to make American communities welcoming again.

Building on the work of countless groups around the country who have labored for years on these issues, and with the guidance of law enforcement leaders who are committed to smart policing and placing local communities first, we have developed model local policies that we hope to see adopted in every city and town nationwide. Instead of scrambling to react to each outrage that sees our neighbor hauled away to a privately run detention camp, we will systematically work to disable Trumps deportation machine. Some of these model policies and rules are already on the books in certain places around the country, yet there are plenty of ways for most cities, towns, and counties to become more immigrant-friendly. And even once a community has adopted the full set of rules, activists will have additional opportunities to lend a hand on related issues or in neighboring communities.

During the March 11 event livestreamed from Miami, we provided a Freedom Cities Action Guide to the People Power team, which included a plan for activists to use in their local communities, along with useful strategic and tactical advice. This roadmap is meant to get people started, but the movement is yours. The United States has always been, and remains, what we make it.

So if you have not already joined the People Power team, the door is open. Sign up, receive the Action Guide, and take the first step in the plan. I have a hunch that a big group of people is waiting to tag team with you in your neighborhood.

Lets do this.

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The Freedom Cities Campaign: Resistance through Progress at ... - ACLU (blog)

The White House pressed to unite House Republicans behind the ObamaCare-repeal bill Saturday, with President Trump firing off a hopeful tweet and Vice President Mike Pence glad-handing in the heartland.

We are making great progress with healthcare. ObamaCare is imploding and will only get worse. Republicans coming together to get job done! Trump tweeted as the GOPs American Health Care Act faces deep divisions in the House.

Pence talked up the plan to a crowd of about 100 at the Louisville, Ky., headquarters of an HVAC contractor as twice as many people protested outside.

The ObamaCare nightmare is about to end, Pence vowed.

Citing spiking premium costs, fewer insurers and an expanded Medicaid program, he called the state a textbook example of ObamaCares failures.

He made pleas to two conservative local congressmen whose opposition could doom the plan. He also gave a shout-out to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who did not attend the event.

After a good and vigorous debate, we know Kentucky will be there, and we will repeal and replace ObamaCare once and for all, Pence said.

He didnt mention Kentuckys junior senator, Rand Paul, who has led right-wing opposition to the GOP plan.

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Trump touts 'great progress' on healthcare overhaul - New York Post

Elk Crossing Nursing and Rehabilitation was recently recognized as an Oklahoma Association of Career and Technical Education (OKACTE) Partner for Progress. Red River Technology Center nominated the company for their outstanding dedication to the community and its employees.

Elk Crossing Nursing and Rehabilitation was established in Duncan, Okla., by owner and CEO Jeff Gregston, and opened its doors on Jan. 4, 2016.

The 120 bed long-term care and rehabilitation center is one-of-a-kind and is recognized as a five-star facility by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) setting it apart as a modern provider of high-quality long-term care and rehabilitation services that promotes overall health and improving quality of life.

The state-of-the-art Elk Crossing Nursing and Rehabilitation facility focuses on promoting residents rights and independence, all while creating a home-like and community atmosphere. Designed to look like a Main Street, the buildings main entryway features a chapel, ice cream store, salon, meeting room, company store, and child development center all of which allow residents the opportunity to choose from daily activities centered on their social, physical, mental, and spiritual health, and overall well-being.

Red River Technology Center collaborates with Elk Crossing Nursing and Rehabilitation to offer training to meet the increased demand for employees and continuing education needs for this facility.

Prospective and current employees train in the areas of Practical Nursing, Long-Term Care Aide, Restorative Care Aide, Certified Medication Aide, and Advanced Certified Medication Aide. RRTC also offers monthly courses of Continuing Education for Certified Medication Aide.

RRTCs education coordinators and administrators depend on the advisement of the facilities professional staff, through regular advisory committee meetings, to modify curriculum and technology according to the current trends in nursing care and rehabilitation.

The partnership between Red River Technology Center and Elk Crossing Nursing and Rehabilitation is vital to the growth of not only the local workforce, but also the continued economic development of Duncan and its surrounding communities.

For more information about Red River Technology Center and its programs, visit http://www.rrtc.edu or call 580-255-2903.

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Elk Crossing Nursing and Rehab receives Partner for Progress Award - Duncan Banner

The Ganassi team switched from Honda to Chevrolet for the 2014 season, but after Scott Dixon earned his fourth IndyCar title in 2015, the team suffered a relative slump in form last year, scoring just two wins to Team Penskes 10. For 2017, team owner Chip Ganassi returned to Honda Performance Development, and CGR drivers Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Max Chilton and Charlie Kimball will start the St. Petersburg season opener in second, sixth, seventh and ninth.

Hull told Motorsport.com: We had, by Chip Ganassi Racing standards, a very mediocre season last year and we had to really step up our game. We needed to look inside ourselves and figure out how to be better.

So we had a come-to-Jesus meeting with everybody and asked them to evaluate where we needed to be going forward and then we worked really hard this past winter to really improve our product. And I think whether it was the Honda product or the other [Chevrolet] product, I dont know if that was as important to us as the contribution made by everyone on the team to get us where we are today.

But were really happy with Honda as a partner because we match up well with them vocationally in all the different engineering areas and management areas. We wanted to get everything we can out of our partners and the result in qualifying and throughout the two days of practice, in fact has proved that point.

Although Honda missed out on top spot in qualifying, with Team Penske-Chevrolets Will Power claiming his seventh St. Petersburg pole position, Honda took nine of the top 12 positions on the grid. Asked if this was an indicator that an HPD-powered team could challenge for the title this year, despite Hondas aerokit being renowned for suffering greater drag than its Chevrolet equivalent, Hull replied: If you look at the Honda aerokit, you know theres going to be some racetracks where well be really good and some racetracks where we wish we had the other kit.

But I think for street racing, Honda has a good product, and they have a great engine program and great engine techs, too. They take a lot of pride in what they do and theyre so down-to-earth about telling us where we stand and how they can help us. We appreciate that very much and we try to give back. Its a good proper partnership.

As for the engines, each one has terrific advantages in certain areas. We cant make a direct comparison because we dont know where Chevrolet stand right now. All we can do is just work really hard to tune the product as best we can, and Honda will do the same.

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Hull credits Honda and Ganassi team for offseason progress - Motorsport.com, Edition: Global

While the debate about King Countys new proposed youth jail and courthouse continues, the county announced Friday that it is continuing to make strides in reducing the number of youths who are incarcerated. It also announced modest progress in reducing racial disparities.

The number of youth incarcerated in King County fell by 16 percent last year and the percentage of youths of color who were incarcerated, while still disproportionately high, fell as well, county officials announced Friday.

The change comes as the county continues to move forward on the construction of a new youth jail and courthouse, despite prominent protests and challenges from local activists who object to youth incarceration.

There were, on the average day, 51 kids in detention in the county last year, a decrease from 61 in 2015, and the lowest number in at least two decades, the county said. In 1998, for instance, the county held 187 juveniles in detention on an average day.

About half of youth in detention were black, a decrease from about 59 percent in 2015. Although they represent progress, those numbers are still far higher than the proportion of black people in the population: Only about 13 percent of King Countys residents are black.

The juvenile-detention numbers do not include about 20 in the county who due to their age and specific crimes have been charged as adults and are being held in adult jail.

Juvenile-justice officials tout their emphasis on restorative-justice programs offering more rehabilitative programs rather than punishments and incarceration. On Friday, they focused on a new program intended for youth arrested for violence against a family member.

The program, called Family Intervention and Restorative Services, gives young people a place to go overnight, to cool down and to get counseling to help them reunite with family.

Before the programs launch in early 2016, youth often had to be charged with a crime and possibly stay in detention before they could get support services.

The program served more than 200 families in 2016, the county said, and helped cause a 62 percent drop in juvenile domestic violence case filings, compared with 2015.

Those are the type of programs, county officials say, that will be housed in the new youth jail and courthouse building.

Public outrage over that facility continues.

Earlier this year protesters shouted down King County Executive Dow Constantine over the issue and held a rally outside Seattle Mayor Ed Murrays house.

Last week, a legal challenge to the project was dismissed on procedural grounds.

The new complex, estimated to cost $210 million, was approved by King County voters in 2012, although Murray recently asked county officials to take a second look at the project. About 75 percent of that cost is for the courthouse, as opposed to the jail, county officials said.

The county has approved a contract to begin construction of the facility this year and it is expected to open in 2019.

Laura Inveen, presiding judge for King County Superior Court, said that while it would be cost-prohibitive to change the basic structure of the building, we want to know what the community wants within those walls.

The new building would have more courtrooms and only about half as many detention beds (112) as the current facility, which officials say is outdated and lacks heat and air conditioning.

Wesley St. Clair, the countys chief juvenile-court judge, said most of the juveniles who remain in detention in the county are in for gun-related crimes. The vast majority, he said, were incarcerated for murder, sex offenses or robbery.

Jimmy Hung, the juvenile-unit chair for the prosecutors office, said that while the countys goal of zero youth incarceration was something it continues to aspire to, it remains, for now, a goal.

There are kids who have done some pretty awful things and they need a humane place, a therapeutic place, for them to spend some time, he said.

Right now the detention facility was built in a time when I think we as a society were more punishment-focused, versus rehabilitative.

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King County is jailing fewer youths, making some progress on racial disparity - The Seattle Times

PORT ST. LUCIE The radar gun was turned off at First Data Field. So much for that data.

For Matt Harvey, its not about speed right now. He believes that will come. Tim Tebow was the sideshow. Matt Harvey was the main attraction Friday.

Scouts registered Harveys fastball at 91-92 in the first inning and he did reach 93 in his three innings of work, but regaining velocity is one of the challenges following thoracic outlet syndrome surgery.

Its just the way it is, and Harvey has come to grips with it for now.

Its better, definitely an improvement from the first one, Harvey said of his second spring start. He gave up a long home run to lefty swinging Reid Brignac, the Astros No. 8 hitter in the third inning of Houstons 7-6 win.

I think its just a matter of time before things click and mechanics click and the timing clicks, said Harvey, who allowed that one run and two hits, one walk and two strikeouts over his three innings.

The Dark Knight needs to be more of a pitcher than just a superhero blazing fastball like he once was thats just the way it is these days and Harvey seems to have the right approach that is needed at this early stage of his second surgery comeback.

Getting out there, getting comfortable. I threw some good sliders, I threw some good changeups, obviously the fastball was up in the zone a little bit early, but then in the outing it was starting to come back down and I was starting to figure out the timing a little better, Harvey said.

As for his stiff neck he said, it was 90 percent better than it was before.

Manager Terry Collins said he was encouraged.

I liked a lot of what I saw, Collins said. I liked the changeup today, he had some life on his fastball. Hes getting his strength back, we need to get his release point down so he gets his command.

Collins said he had no idea who turned off the radar readings on the scoreboard.

I havent the faintest idea, he stated.

Clearly the Mets dont want Harveys head to get wrapped around radar gun readings at this point. Come back at your own speed, dont worry about the gun.

Harveys fastball is going to take a while to return thats what pitchers who have had the surgery have told me.

When this guy was right even though he had the ability to throw real hard, this guy was a pitcher, Collins noted.

Harvey has got more feel this year because last year he lost the feel in his fingers.

He couldnt feel his seams on the ball, Collins said.

Harvey said: Its coming along, I dont know what the speed was, but Travis [dArnaud] back there said it was coming in good. Talking to some of the different guys and talking with [pitching coach] Dan [Warthen], I think its about feeling comfortable with your mechanics out there with the hitters and all of that will fall into place.

I think with any surgery you cant go out there and think too much. I had 18 months after Tommy John before I played in a game so that was a little bit different story, but the strength is there. I feel great in between starts not getting sore at all, doing my long toss normally.

I wish it could be there right away, but youve got to build up strength. Definitely today was a step in the right direction.

Obviously its nice to go out there and throw 97 to 100 or whatnot, but you have to figure out how to pitch and pitch at what you have that specific day, so paying attention to that and being out there, its been a while since Ive faced hitters and have been in competition like that, but for me, I think its only going to be a matter of time.

Maybe someday soon the Mets will have the velocity readings back on the scoreboard when Harvey is on the mound.

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Mets like Matt Harvey's progress, despite no radar gun - New York Post

Construction crews are hard at work as the Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater project continues at a quick pace.

CHAUTAUQUA The new Amphitheater is shaping up according to plan thanks to the temperate weather.

According to a recent update from Chautauqua Institution, the steel work for the structure is nearly complete, the back-of-house area is completely enclosed and the concrete is curing.

The Amp is well on track to being ready for the 2017 season, wrote Jordan Steves, director of communications. As the forecast calls for cooperative weather in the coming weeks, the construction team continues to evaluate and improve the project sequencing and schedule. A major upcoming milestone is the completion of the steelwork. As the large steel-swinging cranes exit, they will open several routes on the site for other trades.

The team is also anticipating other project elements like bench manufacturing and making sure the work is properly progressing. The construction crews generally begin work at 6 a.m. and work as late as 10 p.m. six days a week. Some crews even work seven days a week, Steves wrote.

For those who live on the grounds or plan to visit during this time, the South Lot is currently being used as a staging area for materials and parking for workers, however, parking is available for visitors and residents at the Hall of Christ just down the road. The main gate is temporarily a two-way road, and the bus gate is also open during construction hours.

The next update on the project will be released in early April, however, progress of construction can be seen at ciweb.org/amp-cam. Still photography can be viewed on the website and on Chautauquas Facebook page. The photos accommodate for what is blocked from view on the video by the roof.

For more information, visit http://www.ciweb.org.

A group of students from SUNY Fredonia are among five finalists competing today in New York City to design a mobile ...

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Amphitheater project making swift progress - Evening Observer

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BRANFORD, Conn. (WTNH) Officials at the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter in Branford have provided an update on Hope, the dog they have been nursing back to health.

On Monday, a woman saw a dog struggling to walk near the Big Y Plaza on Route 1 in Branford. She brought the dog to the shelter where officials say she had been starved for two to three months. They named her Hope.

The community has rallied for Hope, sending donations to the shelter and sharing her story in the hopes of finding who is responsible for leaving her in such terrible condition.

The shelter has been seeing progress in Hopes health. On Friday afternoon, they posted another update. They said Hope is maintaining her body temperature, is eating and drinking, and is continuing to gain weight.

She is still under 24/hour care and will be for awhile.

There is a $9,010 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the responsible party. If you want to donate, you can do so online here or mail in checks, with Hope in the memo, to 749 East Main Street, Branford, CT 06405.

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Branford shelter says Hope continues to make progress - WTNH.com - WTNH Connecticut News (press release)

One of the most emotional stories of this hockey season was that ofCraig Cunningham, who collapsed on the ice before an AHL game late last year.

Cunningham, who spent time in the NHL with the Bruins and Coyotes, went into cardiac arrest just prior toa Tucson Roadrunnersgame in November. His hearted stopped beating for two days before doctors were able to save his life through a complicated procedure that involved a ventricular assist device and an oxygenator that served as an artificial lung.

That procedure affectedhis circulation, resultinginCunningham losingpart of his left leg, ending his playingcareer.

Despite the amputation, many people close to Cunningham have relayed that the 26-year-oldhasremained in good spirits and is just thankful to be alive. On Wednesday, it was also revealed that hes making outstanding progress in his rehabilitation.

TSN reporter Ray Ferraro shared thisvideo of Cunningham walking on his prosthetic leg with the help of a walker.

It obviously cant be easy for a pro athlete to have their lifetime passion and livelihood taken from them in such swift fashion, especially the wayit was taken from Cunningham. But its pretty inspiring to and uplifting to see how he seems to be making the most of the tough hand that was dealt to him.

Heres hopingCunningham will make his way back to full healthand find a way backinto the hockey world.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports | Brad Penner

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Ex-NHLer Craig Cunningham makes amazing progress after leg ... - FOXSports.com