Latest news with #LaborDay
USA Today
13 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Where does famed college football sportswriter rank UNC ahead of 2025 season?
Can UNC put together a complete season on the football field this fall? In just over a month, you'll be glued to your couches watching college football. Week Zero will kick off August 23, featuring Iowa State and Kansas State in the Aer Lingus Classic from Dublin (Ireland), then your North Carolina Tar Heels face TCU on September 1 at 8 p.m. UNC enters its 2025 campaign with heightened expectations, due to the offseason hiring of Bill Belichick as head coach, but also plenty of unknown. North Carolina replaced a good portion of its starters through the transfer portal, most notably with quarterback Gio Lopez, while also landing freshmen expected to make immediate impacts from Day One. Speaking of the Tar Heels, where are they ranked ahead of this coming season? In the following On3 Sports article, Phil Steele ranks UNC 57th. North Carolina is one spot behind Arizona, which finished 2024 with its sixth losing season in seven years, plus a slot ahead of Tulane – coached by Jon Summrall. The Tar Heels will be tested early in their schedule, hosting 2022 CFP runner-up TCU at 8 p.m. on Labor Day. UNC should have two easy wins after playing the Horned Frogs, with a trip to Charlotte and a home date with Richmond on September 13, then face a tough challenge at UCF before a bye week. North Carolina will host Clemson on October 4, then enter its second bye week. California and Virginia are two beatable teams, then a road date with Syracuse on Halloween will be testing. Stanford, Wake Forest, Duke and NC State close out the Tar Heels' schedule. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
The Hill
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Cuba is in crisis — the US has a chance to act
This spring, thousands of Cubans gathered in Havana's Revolutionary Square to mark the nation's Labor Day celebrations. Only this year, there was nothing to celebrate. Cuba is experiencing a national catastrophe, and the Cuban people are growing increasingly desperate. In the midst of likely the most severe economic crisis to affect the island, on May 1, the Cuban government pressured its citizens to attend the annual gathering. It's been reported that some 600,000 were present in Havana, with millions attending similar ceremonies across Cuba. But participation in such rallies is hardly voluntary — it is the price one pays for access to state benefits, including employment, housing, education, food rations and other necessities. Despite drastic shortages of water, food, medicine and fuel that have crippled Cuba in recent years, on this day, all assets of the government were used to facilitate attendance at the Revolutionary Square event. And that's because this gathering, like others, was intended to serve as an act of political will, meant to convey a public message of support for the ailing Cuban government. Although Cuba's leadership changed in name in 2019 to Miguel Diaz-Canel, Raúl Castro is still believed to be in charge behind the scenes. Despite turning 94 last month, he appears to remain the center of power, wielding significant influence over political, economic and military matters. Under his guidance, social control measures remain all-encompassing, beginning at the community level with the neighborhood Committees in Defense of the Revolution, the Brigades of Rapid Response, the National Revolutionary Police, the Revolutionary Armed Forces, and the Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A., which facilitates the Cuban military's control over the economy. All of these government structures, reminiscent in some cases of George Orwell's writings, have ensured the continuation of Cuba's one-party system for the last 66 years. Today, the greatest concerns of the Cuban government are the incessant electricity outages. Once largely restricted to Cuba's outlying provinces, the blackouts are now also frequent in the capital. They are the direct result of government incompetence that has led to fuel shortages and aging infrastructure; without a doubt, they make daily life extremely challenging. In March 2025, following a major failure at a substation, much of the country was without power, leading to vast work and school closures. This was the fourth such national outage in six months. For a country already suffering from abysmally low monthly incomes, no functioning economy, and decaying living standards, it's no surprise that the population has grown increasingly discouraged. Although the Cuban government continues to blame the nation's challenges on the U.S. economic embargo, the aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and changes to U.S. travel policy, each day it appears fewer and fewer Cubans accept these excuses. In the last several years, an estimated 1 million Cubans have emigrated, representing a loss of roughly 10 percent of Cuba's population. And protests, once extremely rare, have become a relatively more common occurrence. In early June, students at the University of Havana began protesting a sharp hike in internet and cell phone service fees set by the government-run telecommunications company. This entity, largely owned by Cuba's military, is said to be well financed by Cuban exiles who purchase cellphone packages for their families on the island and represents an important revenue source for the Cuban government. For Cuba's leadership, these price hikes are also likely intended to curtail internet usage — an important strategy for a government that aims to control all access to information. Another government concern is the lack of access to foreign and hard currency reserves to facilitate trade, specifically for the import of much needed food and medicine. Once the recipient of financial support from the former Soviet Union during the Cold War, followed by Venezuela under President Hugo Chávez, today Cuba is without an economic benefactor. Although Cuba still benefits from political support from Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and others, these allies cannot (or will not) effectively assist Cuba economically. Add to that Cuba's foreign debt, which is said to be extremely high, leaving the country severely constrained when it comes to trade. Against this background, the new Trump administration has made changes to U.S.-Cuba policy. As part of his sweeping cuts to USAID, President Trump cancelled Radio and TV Martí, two longtime stalwarts in the U.S. soft assault against Cuban communism. Since taking office, the Trump administration has also moved to redesignate Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, and approved the re-creation of the Cuba Restricted List, which prohibits transactions with companies associated with the Cuban government. In late January, the administration also announced that it had opened the door via Title III of the LIBERTAD Act, to 'bring private rights of action involving trafficked property confiscated by the Cuban regime.' More recently, following record-setting outward migration from Cuba, the Trump administration moved to end the 'humanitarian parole' program that had allowed a designated number of Cubans to enter the U.S. under temporary legal status. On June 4, the U.S. announced a partial travel ban on Cubans wishing to enter without an existing visa. And Trump's 'big beautiful bill' includes a tax on remittances, affecting Cuba's largest source of foreign revenue. Today, Cuba is facing a devastating moment. Over six decades of revolution have taken their toll. Cuba's leadership remains unwilling to enact the commonsense democratic reforms necessary to alleviate suffering and return dignity to its people. As Cuban citizens continue to find small, but meaningful ways to express their discontent, it is time for the international community to raise awareness of Cuba's desperate reality — and to demand change from its leadership.
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Jack Ciattarelli's Chances of Beating Sherrill and Flipping New Jersey—poll
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Democratic nominee Mikie Sherrill maintains a lead over Republican Jack Ciattarelli in the race for New Jersey governor, according to a new internal poll from the GOP candidate's campaign. The survey results align with other recent polls, which show Sherrill consistently ahead of Ciattarelli by margins ranging from 5 to 20 percentage points. Newsweek reached out to both campaigns via email for comment. Why It Matters New Jersey's gubernatorial race is one of only two such national contests in 2025, drawing national attention as a bellwether ahead of the 2026 midterms. Democratic Governor Phil Murphy is term limited, providing both parties the opportunity to view the race as a crucial test of their platforms—and of President Donald Trump's influence in the region. Though New Jersey has reliably supported Democrats in statewide races, gains for the Republican Party and shifting voter attitudes on economic issues have narrowed margins. Competition over cost of living, taxes and the potential impact of national political figures heighten the significance of this year's election. New Jersey Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli at his watch party on November 2, 2021, in Bridgewater, New Jersey. New Jersey Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli at his watch party on November 2, 2021, in Bridgewater, New To Know The most recent internal survey conducted for a pro-Ciattarelli super PAC and published by the New Jersey Globe showed Sherrill ahead of Ciattarelli by 5 percentage points—47 percent to 42 percent, with 11 percent of voters undecided. The poll, conducted by Kellyanne Conway for the Change NJ super PAC, attempted to mirror past general election turnout demographics. The pollsters also found that more than half of respondents (53 percent) believe New Jersey is on the wrong track and 52 percent want "major change." A separate Rutgers-Eagleton poll released in early July found Sherrill leading Ciattarelli by 20 points—51 percent to 31 percent, with 13 percent undecided. Ashley Koning, an assistant research professor and director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, told Newsweek via phone on Thursday that the average New Jersey voter likely isn't paying much attention to the race yet. She expects enthusiasm on both sides to ramp up following Labor Day. "I think inevitably this race is going to tighten," Koning said. "It's just a matter of when and also, this race is going to be competitive no matter what margin we may be seeing. In our polling from a month or so ago we show that there is a notable number of those who are voter models are a best educated guess. Nobody knows this unknown population of who is going to turn out by Election Day." The Rutgers poll found Sherrill performing particularly well on issues of cost of living and affordability, though her advantage on taxes diminished, with just a 5-point edge among registered voters. Independents, who often swing statewide races, broke for Sherrill 45 percent to 28 percent (or 51 to 34 percent when leaners were included), but up to one-fifth of the group remained undecided. The poll's methodology showed Sherrill viewed as moderate or somewhat liberal by most voters, while Ciattarelli was seen as more conservative. While 45 percent of voters trust Sherrill to handle cost of living, 29 percent favor Ciattarelli, according to Rutgers polling. On taxes, voters went 39 percent for Sherrill and 34 percent for Ciattarelli, with the remainder undecided or distrustful of both. "'Affordability' is definitely the buzzword of this election within New Jersey and I'd like to think that New Jersey has a unique brand of of politics that still has many issues at the state level that are unique to the Garden State," Koning said. "I think affordability is an umbrella term [for] many of these issues that New Jerseyans have perennially been concerned about, first and foremost taxes and property taxes. "We have the highest property taxes in the country, and New Jerseyans have been telling us in our 50-plus years of polling that that's typically their No. 1 problem. In our most recent poll, taxes were followed by cost of living and affordability." Other issues are more run-of-the-mill come election time, including the broader economy, jobs, health care and child care. While Ciattarelli will focus heavily on taxes, a particularly salient issue for Republicans, Sherill will do the same for child care and housing affordability, which have been linked to Democratic ideals. There is one figure that may ultimately sway the New Jersey race: Trump. Koning said that in their pre-primary polling, half of Republican respondents said that an endorsement for Republican candidate by Trump would make them more likely to vote. Half said it wouldn't make a difference. But it may also galvanize anti-Trump voters, including independents, against Ciattarelli, whom she said started to somewhat disavow and distance himself from Trump in his 2021 race against Murphy, homing in more on kitchen-table issues like the economy and taxes. It made the race a lot closer in the end, with Murphy winning by about 3 percentage points. "President Donald Trump is going to loom very large over the election," Koning said. "As of right now, that doesn't necessarily seem to be working in Ciattarelli's favor. We don't know if that's going to change. Obviously, the impact of the national political landscape over the next several months—particularly the economy, the impact of the statewide political landscape, the impact of regional politics with the New York City mayoral race—all of that could have an influence on the New Jersey governor's race. "But obviously [Trump] seems first and foremost kind of like the biggest influence as of right now, and it does not seem to necessarily be a plus-1 for the Republican side." Polling conducted by American Principles Project in June showed Sherrill leading Ciattarelli, 50 percent to 43 percent, among 400 likely voters, consistent with other surveys showing single to low double-digit advantages for the Democrat. A SurveyUSA poll recording Sherrill at 51 percent and Ciattarelli at 38 percent, with a significant percentage of voters either undecided or supporting other candidates. What People Are Saying The Ciattarelli campaign told Newsweek in June: "Make no mistake that this is a 'CHANGE' election and Ciattarelli is the CHANGE candidate. A majority of New Jersey voters (54 percent) believe that the state is heading in the wrong direction, while only 33 percent believe things in New Jersey are going in the right direction. Notably, Ciattarelli leads Sherrill by a whopping 72 percent to 14 percent margin among those wrong-track voters, and an even stronger 87 percent to 6 percent among voters who want a governor who will 'shake up Trenton.'" What Happens Next The New Jersey gubernatorial election will be held on November 4. Both campaigns are expected to intensify voter outreach and messaging on key economic issues as Election Day approaches. A significant undecided voter bloc and the influence of national politics will continue to drive developments in the final months of the campaign.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
7 natural swimming spots in NY worth the summer road trip: See the list
Nothing says summer quite like splashing near a waterfall or natural swimming hole. There are many natural swimming spots around New York state - in lakes, streams and ponds and others at the base of waterfalls or tucked along a favorite hiking path. Sure, traditional pools are fun, but there's something special about taking a dip in a spot carved out over the years, created by Mother Nature. Many popular natural swimming spots don't allow swimming legally - whether deemed unsafe by police or located on private property - but that doesn't stop folks from taking a dip. Some spots are enforced more aggressively than others. Beating the summer heat in a natural swimming spot may at times feel nostalgic, but its usually a hit - a must-do on your summer bucket list given its unique draw. Here are seven such spots scattered around the state. Robert H. Treman State Park Located just outside Ithaca, Tompkins County, the natural swimming hole in Robert H. Treman State Park is in a wide-open area at the base of Enfield Falls. Swimmers can cool off in the stream-fed pool beneath the park's 70-foot-tall Lower Falls when a lifeguard is on duty. The pool's diving board is often busy - and a great backdrop for unique photos - while other swimmers prefer to splash near the base of the falls. The pool is 1 to 12 feet deep and can feel a bit chilly. Changing rooms and restrooms are located near the swimming hole. Entry fee to the park is $10 per car. Address: 105 Enfield Falls Road, Ithaca, Tompkins County Kershaw Park Kershaw Beach, the focal point of Canandaigua's Kershaw Park, opened for the season over Memorial Day weekend and will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Labor Day, weather pending. The nine-acre park at the north end of Canandaigua Lake in Ontario County is a popular swimming and gathering spot. In addition to the swimming beach, the park has a bathhouse, a playground, a small craft launch area and public dock with a boat pump-out station. More serious swimmers can also "swim the buoys" just outside the designated beach area, but be sure to check in with lifeguards before swimming in the open water. This year, city officials said there will not be an entry fee for beach-goers. Address: 155 Lakeshore Drive, Canandaigua, Ontario County Taughannock Falls State Park One of several parks that offers swimming in Cayuga Lake, Taughannock Falls State Park also has the tallest free-standing waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains at 215 feet. That spot alone is a huge draw for tourists and locals. But the swimming beach - located roughly 20 minutes north of Ithaca - is open daily in the summer. There's a wooden flotilla about 100 feet offshore that offers a fun splash zone for more experienced swimmers. Lifeguards are on duty. Outside the designated swimming area, visitors may only wade ankle-deep into the lake. There's a bath house with changing stalls and showers, a large playground and picnic spots nearby. Entry fee to the park is $10 per car. Address: 1740 Taughannock Blvd., Trumansburg, Tompkins County Eagle's Cliff Falls A 41-foot-tall waterfall at the center of a wide amphitheater-shaped rock wall showers people in the knee-high water at Havana Glen Park in Montour Falls, Schuyler County. The spot has a natural eagle-shaped formation at the top, the large rock cathedral makes the 15-foot-wide waterfall look small from a distance. The hike from the lot to the falls is short - roughly 20 minutes - but you will pass several smaller cascades along the trail. Posted signs prohibit swimming but many hikers still wade into the water or stand under the spray of the cascade. The park has a campground and daily parking rates are $3 per car. Address: 135 Havana Glen Road, Montour Falls, Schuyler County Fillmore Glen State Park A roped-off section of Dry Creek is the main attraction when open. Water levels change depending on the rainfall and time of season. Swimming is allowed in the stream-fed swimming space, but only when a lifeguard is on duty. The park offers changing rooms and restrooms. Entry fee to the park is $10 per car. Address: 1686 State Route 38, Moravia, Cayuga County Green Lakes State Park Located in Fayetteville, Onondaga County, Green Lakes State Park is best know for its two glacial lakes that are surrounded by upland forests. The turquoise waters cover a freshwater reef, which is exceedingly rare. Parts of the reef are visible from the shore, and it is fascinating to observe. The Green Lakes are meromictic lakes, meaning there is no seasonal lake mixing, and have a high potential for evidence of ancient plant and animal life. A large swimming beach is located at the north end of Green Lake. A bathhouse and nature center are located nearby. Visitors may not enter the water near near Dead Man's Reef. Entry fee to the park is $10 per car. Address: 7900 Green lakes Road, Fayetteville, Onondaga County Minnewaska State Park Preserve Minnewaska State Park in Ulster County has two swimming beaches - one of Lake Minnewaska with a pebble surface beach and one on Lake Awosting where there is a rock surface beach. You need to hike or bike 3 to 5 miles (distance depends on your route) to reach the Lake Awosting beach, making it a swimming spot you need to earn. The park is on the dramatic Shawangunk Mountain ridge, more than 2,000 feet above sea level, and is surrounded by rugged, rocky terrain. State Park entry is $10 per vehicle. Address: 5281 Route 44-55, Kerhonkson, Ulster County Swimming tips Swimming tips Please remember: There are risks associated with any water source, natural or otherwise. Some of these watering holes do not have certified lifeguards on duty. Anyone entering the water, at any time, does so at his or her own risk. The New York State Department of Health recommends the following: Always swim with others. Never swim alone, no matter your experience. Do not consume drugs or alcohol while swimming, Both slow reaction time and can impair judgment. Be aware of any medical conditions that may impact someone's ability to navigate the water. Do not dive into water less than 8 feet deep, or into water where you aren't sure of the depth, conditions Recognize that currents cannot be seen and may prove risky for even the most experienced swimmer. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: 7 swimming spots in NY worth the summer road trip: See the list Solve the daily Crossword
Time Out
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
An immersive floral fantasy has taken over ARTECHOUSE in Chelsea
This summer in New York City, experience the unbelievable beauty of nature—without actually having to go outside. Head over to ARTECHOUSE in Chelsea Market now until Labor Day and immerse yourself in a new botanically inspired multi-sensory exhibition, " Blooming Wonders." This pixelated ever-moving landscape featuring psychedelic pink daises, fluttering butterflies and some abstract surpises is accompanied by calming, dreamlike ambient music. The new 40-minute experience lets you hang out inside the 270-degree, floor-to-ceiling 18K-resolution digital canvas inside of the historic market's 100-year-old boiler room, while experiencing the fleeting beauty of spring and summer blooms come to life with immersive, interactive technology. While you're there, don't forget to grab a "Blooming"-inspired drink from the bar upstairs, like their take on an Aperol Spritz (think less Aperol and more "peachy" flavors). After drinks, head downstairs into the main room, find a floor cushion or open bench, enjoy some air-conditioning and get lost in the rich florals. Once you've finished the experience in the main gallery, you can head back upstairs past the bar to the small gallery on display, where you can find two different video games set up for you to mess around with. You can also get a bird's-eye view of the main room over the balcony while you're up there. Plus, it's a great excuse to partake in some shameless people-watching. "Blooming Wonders" builds upon ARTECHOUSE's established history of collaboration between artists (like Refik Anadol, Yuko Shimizu, and Vince Fraser) and outside collaborators (Pantone, the United Nations Foundation, the Society for Neuroscience, and the Nobel Prize Museum) with ARTECHOUSE's own team of designers, architects, producers and storytellers. Together, they are able to bring new concepts to life—making ARTECHOUSE an innovative leader in digital and experiential art. So if you need a break from the heat of the city and are looking for an indoor activity for the day, "Blooming Wonders" is a must-see. You can grab some lunch in Chelsea Market after, or go back for round two at ARTECHOUSE and see their other summer experience: " Rolling Stone Presents: Amplified, The Immersive Rock Experience." General admission tickets start at $24.50. For children, ages 15 and under, tickets are $18 for time-slots before 6pm. Discounted rates are also available for students, seniors, military, first responders, and small groups of 4-9 people. and on site at the venue.
