Latest news with #Berman
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Meet Mitchell Berman, a Democratic challenger taking on Bryan Steil for Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District
MADISON – Racine County resident and Veterans Affairs emergency nurse Mitchell Berman is taking a shot at unseating Republican U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil from Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District seat. Berman told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he is joining the Democratic primary for the seat because the working class needs a better advocate to fight for them. Berman is set to face Randy Bryce in the Aug. 11, 2026, primary election. "Right now people are struggling. Bryan Steil has made a lot of promises and he had four terms to come through on them. And he hasn't," Berman said, adding that he knows what it's like to live paycheck to paycheck because he worked three jobs to put himself through college. Berman, a board certified emergency nurse, said one of his top issues is affordability, noting that Steil's vote for President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act reduced Medicaid and food assistance programs many Wisconsinites depend on. Democrats across the country are making the legislation a focal point of 2026 midterm campaigns. About one in five Wisconsinites receive health coverage and services through Wisconsin's Medicaid programs, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. If elected to office, Berman said his main goal is to focus on "kitchen table issues" that "resonate" with people across the district, which includes access to affordable health care, child care and groceries. "I think that working in nursing really transitions well into being a representative in Congress. My sole job as a nurse is to identify problems and take care of people," Berman said. "As a nurse, I'm the last line of defense for the patient ... I'm the patient's advocate. In the same way a representative in Congress is fighting for their constituents." While Berman has never run for public office prior to this race, he has been an active community member at the local level. In 2024, Berman filed a suit in Racine County Circuit Court alleging the Raymond School District's board violated open meeting laws. As part of a resulting settlement, board members conceded that a board retreat in December 2022 violated state law. Berman told the Racine County Eye in December 2024 that the case is a "reminder of the indispensable role community members play in holding elected officials accountable." Earlier this year, two Wisconsin Elections Commission complaints filed against former Raymond School officials by Berman related to election integrity were dismissed. WEC determined both do "not raise reasonable suspicion" under state law, writing in its closure letter that Berman 'has not done anything more than make a general allegation, unsupported by details or evidence, that the affidavits submitted by signatories who wished to have their signatures removed from the recall petition contained false information." Republican Party of Wisconsin spokeswoman Anika Rickard told the Journal Sentinel Berman has entered the race after these complaints were dismissed to "determine which political activist is more radically left" in the Democratic primary. "Steil is running for reelection, and he will win. Just like last cycle when Peter Barca was propped up by millions of dollars in out-of-state dark money, and Steil still won by more than 10 points," Rickard said. Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District and 3rd Congressional District, represented by Republican U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, are considered the most competitive in Wisconsin. Aides to Steil and Bryce did not respond to a request for comment. This story will be updated. Anna Kleiber can be reached at akleiber@ This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Mitchell Beman launches bid for Steil's Wisconsin Congressional seat Solve the daily Crossword
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Bad blood, big trade, bitter rematches: 2025 NWSL rivalry weekend storylines
The stakes are high, but emotions will be running higher as the NWSL enters rivalry weekend Friday. The 2025 NWSL Golden Boot race is heating up and the NWSL Shield is up for grabs as teams jockey for playoff positioning following a month-long break for international play. Now, add a sprinkle of bad blood to the mix. Seven intense rivalries are on the lineup for Week 15, capped by the record 43rd meeting between the Portland Thorns FC and the Seattle Reign FC, "the longest rivalry in the history of the league," NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman told USA TODAY Sports. "There's been some players chirping this week about how much the players in Seattle hate Portland and how much the players in Portland hate Seattle," Berman said. "We know it's gonna be a fierce competition." The NWSL welcomes rivalry because it's crucial to growing viewership and engagement in any league. Think of the new audience the Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese rivalry brought to the WNBA or what the decades-long battle between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics did for the NBA. "Giving people an extra reason to watch is really the key to growing the league," Berman told USA TODAY Sports. "Luckily we have some of this inherent competition that exists between these various different clubs. And so I think it's really important to our league and I think just gives players an additional reason to care and just put themselves out there." Berman said the league was "definitely intentional" about scheduling rivalry weekend after the second half of the season resumed because the "games matter even more." Here are the best storylines heading into the NWSL's rivalry weekend: Utah Royals FC vs Kansas City Current Ally Sentnor and the Utah Royals meet again. Exactly one week after Sentnor blockbuster trade from Utah to the Kansas City Current, the two teams are set to face off against each other in rivalry week. Sentnor joins a red-hot Current team that is atop the standings with a 10-point lead in the NWSL Shield race. Current forward Temwa Chawinga is closing in on the Golden Boot leader Esther González with nine goals on the season after finding net in the Current's 2-0 over Racing Louisville in Week 14. Chawinga was also nominated for the 2025 Women's Ballon d'Or, an annual award presented to the best player in the world by France Football. Meanwhile, the Royals are looking for a big win to spark momentum. The team has struggled with a record of 1-10-3. Gotham FC vs Washington Spirit The New York Knicks aren't the only team with a "celebrity row." The rivalry game between Gotham FC and Washington Spirit, a rematch of the 2024 NWSL semifinals that ended in a a penalty shootout, is set to attract A-listers like Kylie Kelce, Cierra and "some other surprise guests," Berman told USA TODAY Sports. We can't forget about the superstars on the pitch. Washington forward Trinity Rodman returned to the field for the first time in nearly four months in epic fashion with a stoppage time game-winner. Gotham also has Golden Boot leader Esther González (10 goals) back in the lineup. González also picked up a 2025 Women's Ballon d'Or nomination. Gotham is fighting to stay in playoff contention and need to stake up some wins. Expect fireworks. San Diego Wave FC vs. Angel City FC Who is the best team in California? "Every game is personal, but this one is extra personal," said Angel City rookie forward Riley Tiernan, who leads the team with seven goals this season. Angel City hasn't got off to the best start and is currently outside the playoff picture in 11th place, but all that goes out the window on Saturday when they face their nemesis San Diego. The Wave are currently in fourth place and will be looking for points to close the gap between the Current. The first and only matchup of the season between the San Diego Wave and Angel City ended in a draw in March. Look out for Wave forward Delphine Cascarino is coming off a strong performance in UEFA Women's Euro in Switzerland, where she scored two goals for France in the tournament. Portland Thorns FC vs. Seattle Reign FC The NWSL may have saved the best rivalry for last. The Cascadia rivalry, which stems from Seattle and Portland's close proximity, dates back to the North American Soccer League (1968 to 1984) and remains as passionate and intense as ever. No other teams in the NWSL have played each other more than the Thorns and Reign (42) and their head-to-head series is dead even at 16 wins and 10 draws each. The Reign won the first meeting of the season 1-0 in Seattle in April. Sunday's matchup, however, will be held in Portland, giving the Thorns a slight advantage as they are undefeated at home this season. Portland will have to watch out for USWNT star and Reign forward Lynn Biyendolo. She's scored 13 career goals against the Thorns, the most against the Thorns by any player in league history. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
Business Insider
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
'Why is your Pilates place the hardest club to get into right now?'
Tera Studio & Pilates Club is barely a year old, but it's already harder to get into than New York mainstay hotspots like Torrisi and Carbonne. Its address in New York's SoHo neighborhood is a closely-guarded secret. (Its distinctive red front door, which pops up on Instagram for those in the know, offers a clue.) The only way in is through a direct referral from one of its 300 members. But Tera, where a 55-minute class costs $65, is selling more than exclusivity. "With the referral, we're almost filtering our clientele to be somewhat of the same person," says Georgia Wood Murphy, Tera's founder. By that, she means someone "that wants to invest in wellness, that wants to be on trend, and a part of what's hot in New York right now." Murphy, who previously taught at Forma Pilates, the celebrity-beloved studio that Vogue christened "Los Angeles and New York's most exclusive exercise class," says the referral model allows her to keep classes to around six people and get to know everyone personally. She follows all of Tera's clients on Instagram. "I'm super interested in where they went to dinner Friday, because I probably want to go there as well," she says. For an elite few, working out at an exclusive, invite-only studio is the latest chapter in Gen Z and millennials' obsession with the gym. Gen Z, the swolest generation, has been flocking to gyms to lift weights and make friends. Along with millennials, they make up more than 80% of gymgoers. But this influx has meant that gyms are getting crowded, with members queuing up for a squat rack at the gym or dodging limbs in a packed class. Now, more than a great workout, zoomers and millennials are looking for exclusive fitness communities with like-minded members who are serious about their workouts and willing to pay a premium for a more bespoke experience. And these studios take the job of curating their membership seriously. "Would you post flyers on the street to invite someone to a dinner party at your house?" says Colette Dong, co-founder of the trampoline-fitness studio the Ness, which vets members before they're allowed to purchase a membership. "You wouldn't. You would curate the vibe." Alice Berman, a 33-year-old novelist and a longtime client of Wood Murphy's, is among Tera's chosen few. She works out at the studio seven days a week and appreciates that she can get into any class she wants. The referral requests flooding Berman's Instagram DMs are proof of Tera's success. "Why is your Pilates place the hardest private members club to get into in New York right now?" one message read. There are currently 150 people on the waitlist, and an untold number of friends and strangers hitting up members in their DMs. But Berman is ambivalent about being a Tera ambassador: she says she's referred just one person. "It sounds bad, but it's hard enough to get one of six spots in an 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. class," she says. "I can't be competing with more people." It's the same logic she applies to the two other Manhattan clubs where she's a member, Casa Cipriani and Chez Margaux, which has a restaurant run by Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. "It's not about feeling special because you're a member," she said. "It's about actually enjoying a really good Pilates class or cozy dinner at Jean-Georges." The Ness, Dong's trampoline studio in the nearby neighborhood of Tribeca, was also invitation-only when it first opened in 2019. Dong, a former professional dancer, hoped to cultivate an intimate community for the high-intensity, low-impact workout. But then the Ness got popular, and they relaxed this policy. Now, anyone can attend a drop-in class for $48. But extra amenities like the infrared sauna and cold plunge are reserved for members — who must apply and who are judged on the energy they bring to class and how they interact with other members and staff. There are currently just 35 openings — membership tiers range from $160 to $720 a month. Even the biggest spender could be turned away for giving out the wrong vibes. Negative body image talk is an immediate strike against you. "If they come in the door and they're like, 'I just ate 10 cookies, I need to sweat. I need to get skinny in 10 days, I'm going to the beach.' That for us is always a no," she says. "We don't want any of that energy in our community." "Fitness in New York can feel very transient," Dong explains. "There are so many studios and classes, and people often hop around." She likens the experience to dating. "Your first visit might be like grabbing coffee or taking a walk—not a steak dinner. That kind of deeper investment comes later, when there's a mutual commitment," she says. "Our membership works the same way. It's reserved for people who are truly engaged with what we offer and who feel aligned with our community." Dogpound, a boutique Manhattan gym where Karlie Kloss, Taylor Swift, and Hugh Jackman have been known to work out, is already exclusive. Until recently, Dogpound had planned to move to a referral-only model, says Xander Hodge, the gym's general manager. Instead, Dogpound discontinued the most affordable — $708-a-month — membership, which covered just four personal training sessions a month. And they added a top membership tier that allows for unlimited sessions and costs $100,000 a year. The idea, says Hodge, is to preserve the feel of a committed, tight-knit community while ensuring the privacy of their A-list clientele. On a recent afternoon, I was invited to try a group class. The all-black space was smaller than your standard commercial gym, sleek, but there were no frills — not even showers, though Hodge tells me they hope to add some as part of a planned expansion. After two sessions with the same trainer, clients are required to rotate to someone new, part of the gym's strategy to make sure everyone gets to know one another on a first-name basis. There were just three of us — a mom of three who said she has worked out at Dogpound two times a week since 2020, and her friend, who occasionally tags along for a class. ("She is our reigning member," Hodge says of the mom after the class ended. "Anytime we have a charity event, she is the first one there bringing three friends!") The workout was tough, a mix of dumbbell and bodyweight exercises and cardio. With so few of us, the individualized instruction was great. The class was also fun. I was surprised at how open my classmates were to socializing in between sets, chatting about weekend plans and bad dates. Two personal training sessions were happening nearby, and every instructor who passed our class introduced themselves with a friendly fist bump. One did a handstand. It all felt remarkably warm and welcoming. Unlike the oversubscribed gyms and full-to-capacity SoulCycle classes I was used to, here I felt like I was working out among old friends. It was intimate and, yes, luxurious. As I left, I caught myself running the math to see if I could swing becoming a regular. The next night, I joined Dogpound's Tuesday night run club on a running path along New York's Hudson River. The club is free and open to the public, but the seven other people who showed up were all current or former Dogpound members or staff. As we made our way past Battery Park, with a view out to the Statue of Liberty, half the group kept up a competitive pace — one was a serial ultramarathoner — while I hung back with the more talkative runners, keeping a more leisurely pace. Corrie Aune for BI I struck up a conversation with a fellow first-timer. She had joined Dogpound as a 30th birthday gift to herself and strength trains at the gym twice a week. Her enthusiasm echoed the feeling I'd had the night before: With fewer people around, it's easier to meet and bond with like-minded people. It was a very different experience from Equinox, her previous gym. There, she says, she and her sister had split a single $325 membership card, passing it back and forth for months. The front desk, she said, never realized they weren't the same person.
NBC Sports
25-07-2025
- Business
- NBC Sports
Eagles survey season-ticket holders regarding new stadium
The Eagles have talked openly about the possibility of replacing their home stadium. They're now openly asking their season-ticket holders about it. Via Zach Berman of PHLY, the Eagles sent an email to season-ticket holders regarding the future of the stadium. 'To help guide this vision, we're exploring potential updates to Lincoln Financial Field — including both renovation options and the possibility of a brand new stadium in the region,' the email explains. As Berman notes, the current lease runs through 2032. Also, if (as owner Jeffrey Lurie has said) the goal is to play a Super Bowl in Philadelphia, a dome would be needed. 'I love outdoor football,' Lurie said in February, per Berman. 'I love the cold games. I like the hot games, like the snow games. On the other hand, Philadelphia deserves to host the Super Bowl, NCAA Final Four, lots of great events. It's an incredible sports city. Does it deserve it? Yes. So we have to balance all those things.' Tipping the balance may be the cold, hard cash that comes from playing in nice, warm dome. Especially if it brings a Super Bowl to town.
The Citizen
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
SANCA Wedge Gardens uses hoodie art to empower clients in recovery
SANCA Wedge Gardens uses hoodie art to empower clients in recovery Clients at SANCA Wedge Gardens recently participated in an unconventional occupational therapy session that asked them not only to express themselves but also to colour their identities. Held in June, the exercise sparked creativity as clients unleashed their artistic sides. Led by occupational therapist Caryn Berman, the design-your-own-hoodie activity gave each participant a drawing of a hoodie with prompts such as 'a word to describe myself', 'something I love', and 'my dream holiday destination'. ALSO READ: SANCA's Kick Your Habit Challenge: Test your willpower this June After thoughtfully answering the questions, the real fun began, with clients colouring and decorating their hoodie designs to reflect their personalities, dreams and inner journeys. 'The men embraced this activity. It was amazing to see how creative they became once they started engaging with the exercise. Some answers were funny, some touching, but all were honest,' said Berman. The centre now showcases a colourful gallery of hoodies, each telling a unique story. ALSO READ: Sanca shows how to overcome substance abuse There are tributes to family, aspirations to become motivational speakers, dreams of visiting faraway places and reminders of the simple joys of life, from pizza and music to self-respect and helping others. Each hoodie offered a glimpse into a life in recovery, a life filled with challenges and hope. 'It would be wonderful to have these made into real hoodies one day. 'They are so much more than artwork; they're personal roadmaps that reflect courage and creativity,' said Berman. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
