Latest news with #Freep
News18
31-07-2025
- Health
- News18
Choose Health, Choose Yoga: 10 Easy Asanas To Start Your Journey
1/10 Tadasana (Mountain Pose): This basic standing pose improves posture and balance while grounding your body. How to do it: Stand upright with your feet together and arms relaxed at your sides. Evenly distribute your weight across both feet, engage your thighs, lift your chest, and gently lengthen your spine. (File Photo) Balasana (Child's Pose): A restful pose that stretches the lower back and helps calm the nervous system. How to do it: Lower yourself onto your heels, touch your big toes together, and gently fold forward. Extend your arms in front of you or keep them alongside your body. Let your forehead rest on the mat and take slow, deep breaths. (File Photo) 3/10 Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog): This rejuvenating pose stretches the spine, hamstrings and is great for relieving tension. How to do it: Start in a tabletop position, tuck your toes under, and lift your hips up to form an inverted V-shape. Keep your hands shoulder-width apart and gently press your heels toward the ground. (Image: Freepik) Vrikshasana (Tree Pose): A gentle balancing posture that enhances focus and strengthens the legs and spine. How to do it: Stand upright and shift your weight onto one leg. Place the sole of your other foot on your inner thigh or calf, avoiding the knee. Bring your palms together at your chest or extend them overhead. (Image: Freepik) Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose): Ideal for strengthening the spine and opening up the chest. It also helps with posture correction. How to do it: Lie face down with your hands placed beneath your shoulders and elbows tucked in. As you inhale, engage your back muscles to lift your chest off the ground, keeping your pelvis firmly rooted to the mat. (File Photo) Marjaryaasana-Bitilasana (Cat-Cow Pose): This moving asana warms up the spine and syncs breath with movement. How to do it: Begin on all fours. Inhale as you drop your belly, lift your head and tailbone into Cow Pose. Exhale as you round your spine, tucking your chin toward your chest for Cat Pose. (Image: Pexels) Setu Bandhasana (Bridge Pose): Strengthens the back, opens up the chest, and stimulates the lungs and thyroid. How to do it: Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet placed hip-width apart. Press your feet into the mat and lift your hips upward, keeping your thighs aligned and parallel. (Image: Freepik) Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend): It's a calming stretch that relaxes your mind, body and lengthens the back of your body. How to do it: Begin in Mountain Pose, then exhale as you hinge at the hips and fold forward. Allow your head to hang freely, and if needed, keep a gentle bend in your knees. (Image: Freepik) Baddha Konasana (Butterfly Pose): A relaxing seated pose that helps open the hips and thighs. How to do it: Sit with your legs stretched out in front of you, then bend your knees and bring the soles of your feet together. Hold onto your feet and allow your knees to gently drop to the sides. Take deep, steady breaths. (Image: Freepik) Shavasana (Corpse Pose): The final relaxation pose that calms the mind and allows the body to absorb the benefits of your practice. How to do it: Lie on your back with arms relaxed at your sides and palms facing upward. Gently close your eyes, breathe naturally, and let each muscle in your body soften from head to toe. (Freepik)
Miami Herald
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
GM skips EVs to expand pickup, Escalade production in Michigan
According to recent reports by the Detroit Free Press and Reuters, General Motors further revealed new plans for a key facility that was initially intended to make electric vehicles. In a statement, the automaker said that it will move production of the Cadillac Escalade luxury full-size SUV to the Orion Assembly plant in Michigan, while also adding capacity for the gas-powered Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks. Currently, the Escalade is produced at the Arlington Assembly plant in Arlington, Texas, alongside its mechanically related cousins, the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, as well as the GMC Yukon and Yukon XL. According to the automaker, the added Silverado and Sierra production at Orion is intended to supplement existing production capabilities in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The announcement comes about a month after General Motors announced multi-billion-dollar investment plans to support domestic auto manufacturing. On June 10, GM announced that it would invest about $4 billion over the next two years to support its U.S. manufacturing plants and efforts to produce gas and electric vehicles. Although the automaker did not specify how much money each plant would receive, it said that the $4 billion would help reconfigure facilities, including the Orion Assembly, the Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas, and the Spring Hill Manufacturing plant in Tennessee, for future GM vehicles. Originally, Orion was set to be reconfigured for electric vehicle production; however, slowing EV demand triggered delays in restarting the plant. As a result, GM designated the Factory Zero electric vehicle plant in Detroit as the dedicated facility for manufacturing the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, Hummer EV, and Cadillac Escalade IQ. Currently, the Orion assembly manufactures battery modules for full-size EV vehicles made at Factory Zero. In a statement to the Detroit Free Press, a GM spokesperson said that to keep up with customer demand, it will begin production of the gas-powered trucks and SUVs at Orion in 2027. "GM will begin production of the Cadillac Escalade, as well as the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra light-duty pickups at Orion Assembly in early 2027 to help meet continued strong customer demand," the GM spokesperson told Freep. "GM is proud to call Michigan home, and these moves will further strengthen our manufacturing footprint." Although the details of General Motors' production decisions were announced when the automaker announced its multi-billion-dollar domestic manufacturing investment nearly a month ago, the timing could not come at a better time. Currently, the Trump administration's tariffs on vehicle imports are putting direct pressure on the auto industry, and his latest round of double-digit tariff threats is being directed at trade partners, including Mexico and South Korea, countries where the automaker makes some U.S.-market vehicles. Previously, GM indicated that these tariffs would cost the company between $4 billion and $5 billion this year, which prompted executives to revise GM's full-year earnings guidance. In addition, the recently signed "Big Beautiful Bill" contained provisions that eliminated fines for automakers failing to meet Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) rules, making it easier for automakers to build more gas-powered vehicles. According to a 2023 Reuters report, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) fined GM more than $128.2 million for failing to meet CAFE rules during the 2016 and 2017 model years. Pickup trucks and full-size SUVs are some of the most profitable and best-selling vehicles for General Motors. According to a slide deck on GM's website, the first half of 2025 was the best first half for both its pickups and full-size SUVs, while data seen by GM Authority shows that overall Chevrolet Silverado sales improved by 2.15%, with 283,812 of them leaving Chevy dealers from the beginning of the year. Though the Big Bill eliminates CAFE fines, it also contains provisions eliminating the $7,500 federal tax credit for electric vehicle purchases, which could dent General Motors' Equinox EV and Blazer EV sales numbers come September. We will have to wait and see. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
As a gay couple, we worried about acceptance in conservative Michigan town
My husband and I were married two years ago this August, after dating for 11 years. Neither of us had been in a hurry to tie the knot. We've always had a loving and easy relationship, and formalizing it didn't seem all that changed in June 2022, when I was infected with COVID-19 and double pneumonia. After spending nine days in the hospital, I returned home to recover. As my husband was hooking up my oxygen, it struck me — this was the most important person in the world to me. He was, and still is, the kindest person I know. I looked at him and said, 'Do you want to get married?' He said, 'Sure.'The next year, we had a small wedding attended by close friends and family, and we started to plan for the future. One of those plans included buying a cottage on a lake. We focused our search on the Irish Hills region of Michigan, not far from our home in Detroit. But we ended up falling in love with a house on a beautiful and peaceful lake in Hillsdale, Michigan, just outside the Irish Hills. More from Freep Opinion: Democrats better hope Michigan Gov. Whitmer changes her mind about presidential run To be honest, we were surprised. So were most of our friends. Hillsdale is known as one of the most conservative areas in Michigan. Our friendship circle in Detroit is diverse, and mostly leans progressive. After the purchase, I had questions: Would we fit in? Would we be accepted as a gay couple? Would we feel welcome, and find other LGBTQ+ people? Yes, we probably should've asked those questions before buying. But the truth is, we were taken in by the countryside's beauty — we both grew up in rural areas, and it felt like coming home. Now, after 15 months in Hillsdale, we couldn't be happier. We've built a community of friends from across the political spectrum, and have met other LGBTQ+ couples on a nearby lake. One of our neighbors is Japanese, and we trade information about favorite restaurant and grocery stores in the metro Detroit area. And the most important lesson I've learned? Our neighbors in Hillsdale are just like our neighbors in Detroit. They're kind. They work in all sorts of jobs. They have families. They look out for each other — and for us. Our neighbors in Hillsdale ― like in Detroit ― have keys to our house, and take the trash out or bring the can up when we aren't there. We realized we don't have to necessarily be in a community of LGBTQ+ people. We just needed to be in an accepting community. More from Freep Opinion: Ghost of Brooks Patterson and specter of Donald Trump collide in Oakland County Soon after buying the house, there was a storm and tornado warning. I contacted one of our neighbors to check on the house. She texted back an image of a rainbow over our house and the comment, 'It must be a sign of welcome to the neighborhood.' In today's uncertain world, we've found a sense of comfort here that mirrors what we feel in Detroit. Our experience in Hillsdale has challenged the assumptions I once held about 'red states' vs. 'blue states,' or conservatives vs. liberals. Most people, it turns out, fall somewhere in the middle. Some lean left on certain issues; others lean right. But what I've seen is that at the end of the day, what really matters is how we treat each other. I hope that one day soon, we can all move past the constant divisions and labels. Let's focus on relationships, on building community, and — perhaps most importantly — simply being kind to one Dick is a proud gay man living with his husband in Detroit's East English Village, and part time in Hillsdale, Michigan. He spent 18 years with the City of Detroit, most recently as Chief Operating Officer. He joined Wayne State University in the fall of 2024 as Sr. Associate Vice President and Deputy Chief Business Officer. Submit a letter to the editor at and we may publish it online and in print. Like what you're reading? Please consider supporting local journalism and getting unlimited digital access with a Detroit Free Press subscription. We depend on readers like you. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan gay couple finds home in conservative Hillsdale | Opinion
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
U-M Dearborn's Black Celebratory honors students who've achieved so much
What's in a name? In most cases, simply replying 'a lot' would suffice. But in the case of an annual event held at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, a name represents more than I could ever have known. Since 2012, U-M Dearborn's annual Black Celebratory has been held on the last Thursday of April, a few days ahead of the university's commencement ceremony. This event is the highlight of my year, and as a U-M Dearborn alum, I've had the privilege to either host or co-host the Black Celebratory each year since its inception. The Black Celebratory is unique and sacred, and it accomplishes three things: 1) Recognizes and celebrates the academic success of African American students, 2) Provides an opportunity for campus faculty, staff, family and friends to honor graduating seniors. 3) Serves as a reunion-like reminder that upholding black excellence is a collective responsibility. Minutes after the program is over, especially in the early years, I'll often be asked by students' parents why I want to host or be part of this event every year. I smile, and tell them the simple answer: It's fun, and it's not about me, it's about the students. As host or co-host, it's my job to read each student's name and accomplishments with enthusiasm ― and this comes easily and naturally to me, simply because of what each name represents. Many students also add notes about their academic accomplishments, post-graduation plans, or details about their lives. The students each make their way down the illustrious red carpet, then onto the stage where they are greeted by a faculty member from the African and African American Studies department and given an authentic Kente stole, made in Ghana, that officially becomes part of their graduation attire. More from Freep Opinion: DEI isn't about hiring quotas. It's about opportunity. U-M Dearborn has the same high academic standards as the Ann Arbor campus, but it attracts a different student body. Students at U-M Dearborn may be making their families proud by being the first to graduate college. Others are nontraditional students who began their education, and then returned years later to finish and receive their degrees. Or they may be working professionals seeking degrees to advance career or personal goals. As a commuter campus, it's a good fit for students who are juggling life and college. Many, if not all, of the graduates worked and went to school while maintaining academic scholarships, their standing on the dean's list and other academic honors, and participated in clubs or other campus groups. Some accomplished this in addition to being husbands, wives, mothers and fathers. In the early years of the event, the students being recognized were primarily receiving undergraduate degrees. But, over the years, those receiving their master's and doctoral degrees have participated in the celebratory. I have had the honor to read their names, too, totaling well over 500 individuals since 2012. Black excellence, indeed. More from Freep Opinion: Detroit principal teaches students about character, opportunity — and college But this year was extra special. There's the underlying current of diversity, equity and inclusion being challenged by the current presidential administration. In fact, in weeks prior to the Black Celebratory, the University of Michigan announced the closure of its DEI office, leaving students faculty, staff and alums, including myself, stunned. Monies absorbed within DEI efforts were shifted to the Go Blue Guarantee and the Wolverine Pathways program to help low-income students. I was momentarily concerned about the effects this DEI decision might have on programming such as the Black Celebratory. But the university raised no objections to holding the Black Celebratory, and, as the saying goes, the show must go on. Everyone involved with the event remains committed to celebrating the students who worked so hard to get to this moment. We decided to let the value of the celebratory speak for itself, woven, like Kente, in the words and speeches of students and guest speakers that night. And I'd argue the 10-year anniversary of the unexpected passing of the professor who was the brainchild of this event could not have been timed more perfectly. During this year's celebratory, the video of Dr. Ahmad Rahman, a professor of African and African American studies, was played. The video showed Rahman at the first-ever Black Celebratory in April 2012, giving a speech to explain the significance of Kente. He encouraged graduating seniors to 'remain tight' like Kente, and that all of us should 'lift as we climb.' Timely advice then, and certainly timely advice now. The celebratory has proven its worth and importance on its own. All I literally must do each year is show up, ready to celebrate and honor the latest group of African American students to cross the stage at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. I opened this year's celebratory with this African proverb: 'The river may dry up, but she keeps her name.' Changing circumstances and challenges are inevitable, but a name and its meaning never change ― and that alone will always be worth celebrating. Leah Olajide is the newsletter editor for the Detroit Free Press and a university lecturer. Submit a letter to the editor at and we may publish it online and in print. Like what you're reading? Please consider supporting local journalism and getting unlimited digital access with a Detroit Free Press subscription. We depend on readers like you. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: U-M Dearborn's Black Celebratory recognizes achievement | Opinion
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
With 2027 NFL draft set for DC, will Trump push league to abandon diversity rule?
As Trump attacks diversity and seeks to dismantle organizations that promote it, I ask one simple question. Will Trump require the NFL to abandon the Rooney Rule if they want the draft in the D.C. area? (Editor's note: The NFL's Rooney Rule, adopted in 2003, requires teams to interview one minority candidate for the QB coach position, and at least two minority candidates for vacant head coach, GM and coordinator positions.) Paul Sherzer Livonia More from Freep Opinion: Trump's crypto, the Qatar jet ― will supporters finally admit something's wrong? It is incredibly disappointing to see Republicans in Congress negotiating legislation that would cut Medicaid for millions of Americans while seeking to expand funding for the inhumane immigration policies of this presidency. We do not need to spend billions of dollars to tear immigrants, the vast majority of whom have committed no civil or violent crimes, from our communities and send them to a foreign gulag, all while shredding the U.S. Constitution in the process. By choosing to cut Medicaid to spend billions on harmful mass deportations, our politicians issue a terrible double blow to our healthcare infrastructure — families will lose health coverage and we will lose immigrant health workers. Medicaid finances 41% of births in this country and helps many working Michiganders pay for nursing care and elder care and allows rural hospitals to stay afloat. These cruel policies will harm thousands of Michiganders, and make our communities more vulnerable. Cassandra Williams Farmington More from Freep Opinion: Ghost of Brooks Patterson and specter of Donald Trump collide in Oakland County If you have been searching for some of that $1.89 gas the president has been bragging about — forget it. Per GasBuddy, statewide it is a mirage. Anyone who drives a car knows those numbers are wildly wrong. How is it that this man thinks we can't read gas pump signs? His deviations from reality are not new — factcheckers have found that President Donald Trump has made tens of thousands of false or misleading claims in his first and second terms. The Washington Post documented 30,573 false or misleading claims during his first presidential term. One theory proposed is that by rapidly flooding us with distorted facts and figures, we won't be able to keep up, and will not be alarmed by any one event. The one event may be heavy cuts to Medicaid. We did not vote for these kind of mind games. We must continue to implore the U.S. Congress to intervene and return sanity to our government. Randy Parmec Redford Submit a letter to the editor at and we may publish it online and in print. If you have a differing view from a letter writer, please feel free to submit a letter of your own in response. Like what you're reading? Please consider supporting local journalism and getting unlimited digital access with a Detroit Free Press subscription. We depend on readers like you. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Trump, price of gas, Medicaid cuts, NFL draft, Rooney Rule | Letters
