Latest news with #Hinebaugh
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
ESPN Makes Savannah Bananas Announcement Before MLB Takeover
The Savannah Bananas have spent recent years drawing huge crowds and creating viral baseball moments, but they're going bigger this summer. ESPN PR announced Monday that the network will broadcast 10 Banana Ball games this summer, giving fans across the country a front-row seat to one of the fastest-growing shows in sports. The games will air on ESPN, ESPN2, Disney+ and ESPN+ between April 26 and August 15. Advertisement Since launching their high-energy 'Banana Ball' format in 2018, the Bananas have built a loyal following with a version of baseball that trades tradition for nonstop entertainment. For fans tired of the slow pace of the old, pre-pitch clock MLB, it's been a breath of fresh air. 'That's awesome news,' one X user wrote. 'The Bananas are must-watch.' The 2025 slate features seven games at MLB stadiums, two at NFL venues and an April 26 opener at Clemson's Memorial Stadium. The July 5 game at Boston's Fenway Park and the August 1 showdown at Baltimore's Camden Yards will air in primetime on ESPN. Banana Ball isn't just a new way to play the game—it's a full-on fan experience. And with the ESPN deal locked in, the excitement around the 2025 tour is building quickly. Advertisement 'Ok! That's cool,' another fan reacted. 'You guys are makin' waves!!' The Savannah Bananas compete against the Party Animals in a banana ball Hinebaugh/The News-Press/USA Today Network-Florida / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Jesse Cole, the team's founder and CEO, called the ESPN partnership a major step forward. He sees it as part of the long-term vision for Banana Ball, which includes the launch of the Banana Ball Championship League in 2026. For fans, the mix of showmanship, competitive spirit, and packed stadiums is enough reason to tune in—or show up in person. One fan summed it up simply: 'So excited!!!!! 🥰' Related: Savannah Bananas Catching Attention for Response to MLB's Torpedo Bats
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hearing held on bill to change state wildlands designations
ANNAPOLIS — Distrust and lack of transparency were repeatedly mentioned as one bill after another in the Maryland House Thursday addressed land protections threatened by power companies. Several hearings were held before the Economic Matters Committee including for HB1270, sponsored by Del. Jim Hinebaugh and cross filed with Sen. Mike McKay's SB0399. The legislation aims to strip wildlands designation from Big Savage Mountain Wildland, Bear Pen Wildland and Dan's Mountain Wildland for NextEra Energy Transmission MidAtlantic to build new overhead transmission lines. Hinebaugh said the electrical pylons would carry high-voltage current for roughly 105 miles over land from southwestern Pennsylvania to Virginia. 'More specifically of our interest, it'll run through Garrett and Allegany' counties, he said. Hinebaugh said farm bureaus in Garrett and Allegany counties as well as the state endorse HB1270, but added he doesn't believe 'anybody wants to have a new power line going through their area.' Construction of the transmission line is 'a pretty sensitive issue,' Hinebaugh said. 'I knew it was going to be very controversial and stir up a lot of emotions,' he said. 'I tried to look at the big picture and not just look at my district in particular,' Hinebaugh said of regional electrical demands. 'I'm convinced that this is absolutely necessary.' Friday, Maryland Department of Natural Resources Media Relations Manager Gregg Bortz said the organization hasn't taken a stance on the bill. 'The department is monitoring this legislation and does not have a position at this point,' he said. 'Very gun-shy'Questions from the Economic Matters Committee included whether the proposed project in the wildlands would be illegal and/or jeopardize funding on a federal level. A policy note on HB1270 from DNR 'advises that state wildlands are partially managed using federal grant monies received under the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act.' According to DNR, 'the bill may jeopardize a portion of the funding it receives annually under the act because it would permit the installation of overhead transmission lines on land that is currently part of existing state wildlands.' Del. Jesse Pippy said HB1270 has some support as well as opposition whereas 'everybody is unanimously against' plans for the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project that proposes to construct a high-voltage electricity transmission line across roughly 70 miles of land in Baltimore, Carroll and Frederick counties. 'I'm very gun-shy about supporting any bill related to a transmission line at this point because the last nine months have been nightmarish in Frederick County dealing with this transmission business,' he said. 'But it was interesting to see that you do have support from elected officials ... that is in stark contrast to what we're dealing with.' Route pushbackT. Lee Beeman, Allegany County's attorney, testified at the hearing on behalf of the county's three-member board of commissioners. 'At this point and time the commissioners aren't supportive of this exact route,' Beeman said. 'But they are supportive of the legislation that's necessary to have this route be considered and to ultimately voice their opinion through the (Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity) process where they believe it would be most appropriate.' He said the commissioners support the bill because infrastructure to support data centers is necessary. 'It has to go somewhere,' he said. Discussions with NextEra have included consideration of a new substation in Allegany County, Beeman said. Violates COMARGarrett County resident and farm owner Steve Storck testified against the legislation. 'I've spent the last 40 years teaching people about stewardship of wild and natural places and providing data products to help inform policy and protect and preserve them,' he said. '(HB1270) is a direct affront to that work.' Policy notes attached to the draft include 'all the things wrong with this bill,' Storck said, adding that the proposed law violates the resource protection statue in the Code of Maryland Regulations. 'The more I learn about this bill ... it's likely a concession or some other downstate interest,' he said.
