Latest news with #Magana
Chicago Tribune
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Quiet at first, Baylee Geni begins to speak up — and open up — for West Aurora on defense. ‘Hear me a lot more.'
The voice of West Aurora's Baylee Geni is cool and authoritative, with perfect pitch and volume. From her position, the senior outside defender also has an ideal perspective to see and feel every aspect of the game. 'I've definitely become more of a leader in using my voice,' Geni said afterward. 'My freshman year, I was so quiet and scared — I don't think I said a single word. 'Now, I'm the one who's talking and you hear me a lot more.' Geni made her presence felt Tuesday night against junior midfielder Ximena Magana to key the host Blackhawks to a 4-1 Upstate Eight West victory over Elgin in Aurora. Sophomore forward Giselle Perez scored three goals and junior midfielder McKenzie Pearch added a goal for West Aurora (11-2-1, 5-0). Sophomore midfielder Michelle Ayala scored Elgin (15-3-1, 2-3). However, the strong defensive play of Geni helped neutralize Magana, who entered the game with 19 goals and 10 assists. West Aurora's defense has recorded more shutouts with nine than goals allowed with eight. Geni, a Waubonsee recruit, has started every game and played almost every minute this season. 'It was fun to watch Magana play,' Geni said. 'She's a very talented player and it was fun to battle against her. I always think of myself as a very clean player. I just wait for their mistakes and honestly look to break them down. 'You want to stop the other team from scoring and give everyone up the field an opportunity. Any goals we have come from the defensive line on the field.' Defenders in soccer are tasked with preventing goals but also start the offensive attack. West Aurora coach Jorge Espana said Geni has made dramatic strides in that part of her game. 'One of the conversations we had last year was that we really struggled connecting the attack from the outside,' he said. 'Seeing her from last year to this year, Baylee has really improved her technical skills to read the game and know how to anticipate plays. 'She is a big part of our ability to connect with the outside midfielders.' Geni's ability to blend the physical and technical have marked her value to the team, according to James Madison-bound senior midfielder Olivia Del Toro. 'Baylee has that great mentality of not letting anything by her,' said Del Toro, who chipped in with an assist Tuesday. 'She understands the mentality of attacking players who are trying to get defenders off guard and score. 'She's a very fun and highly energized person. She's always positive, very encouraging and supportive.' After running cross country her first three years, Geni took a leap of faith and tried flag football in the fall. Her defensive instincts in her preferred sport carried over. 'I played safety, so the farthest back defender, which is a lot like my position here,' she said. 'I was able to use my hands, but it was the same style of play, just getting your body in there and intercepting the ball. 'I've got long legs and I'm very good at getting my body in between all of the other players.' Before the game, Geni and Del Toro were part of six players who celebrated senior night in a special ceremony. It gave her a moment to reflect upon her career with the Blackhawks. 'It felt a little bittersweet, honestly,' she said. 'A good win felt very nice, but I'm also sad that the season is coming to an end. The four years have gone by super fast. 'I've grown so much more comfortable with the other girls, knowing they'll welcome me and hear what I have to say and listen to me rather than attacking me for what I'm saying.'
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Federal USDA cuts hit food banks, up to 300 distribution sites across Kern
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is cutting back $1 billion in funding and that is hitting Kern. 'The USDA bonus loads that we get through our TEFAP program have been cancelled.' said Susana Magana with CAPK, 'This equates to right around 3.5 million pounds and $4.5 million dollars.' The Emergency Food Assistance Program, or TEFAP, is funded by USDA. The Community Action Partnership of Kern, known as CAPK's food bank, already has lost 13 scheduled USDA deliveries. Hunger continues to grow in Kern. 'From 2023 to 2024 we've seen a 200% increase.' said Susana Magana, 'So we were seeing right around 120,000 people a month, and now we're at about 200,000. Those lines are just going to get longer, and longer. Food insecurity is going to increase.' In 2024, that equated to 22.5 million pounds of food that were distributed. Distribution sites that are going to feel the losses. 'We have a network of about 250-300 partners that are churches and other organizations that do the distribution, so those organizations are going to be affected and obviously we serve the entire county,' said Magana. CAPK asks the community to reach out to local, state, and federal representatives to bring awareness of how impactful these cuts can be. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Stock growers react to Colorado wolf killed by Wildlife Services in Wyoming
DENVER (KDVR) — A collared gray wolf was killed by federal wildlife officials in Wyoming and stock growers in both states have questions. The wolf was one of the 15 captured and transported to Colorado in January as part of the reintroduction program approved by Colorado voters. The United States Department of Agriculture Animal Inspection Service branch said they responded to five sheep that had been killed on private land in north central Wyoming on March 15. USDA confirmed Wildlife Services shot and killed the wolf, then returned the wolf and the GPS collar to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. AOC, Bernie Sanders host rally in Greeley in first of two Colorado stops Middle Park Stockgrowers Association President Tim Ritschard said he has questions as to why there was no notification of the wolf's movement and Wyoming Stockgrowers Associate Executive VP Jim Magana felt that they should have had a heads up. 'Had we been aware of it we might have been able to get word out to livestock producers in that part of the state to be careful, or be aware of it, but I don't think it would have changed the outcome,' Magana said. Wolves are known to travel great distances when searching for food or mates so the distance, was not as surprising, something both states saw coming. Here in Colorado killing a wolf is generally illegal unless you catch it in the act of killing, but in Wyoming, that's not the case. 'The reality is in most of Wyoming is once the wolves are here they are predators. They can be taken at any time, but anyone on any land, they don't have to be in the process of killing livestock,' Magana said. 'The fear is going away from them right now and that's the nonlethal part of it. When you start, I mean I hate saying it shooting at them or killing one or two its like. A crow, if you kill a crow they're going to disappear,' Ritschard said. The Canadian wolves were supposed to be less of a risk to livestock, claiming that before they had had minimal interaction with livestock. Ritschard felt this shows, that may not be a contributing factor to future depredations. 'It's interesting because maybe then that kind of tells us they've been around livestock or maybe they've figured out that it doesn't matter if they've been around livestock, food is food and they are going to find what they need to survive and that's what this one did,' he said. CSU Rams fans revel in NCAA tournament victory Regardless, Wyoming stockgrowers expect if another wolf crosses, it may meet the same fate. 'Given what our laws are in Wyoming, any Colorado wolf that crosses the border is going to be at risk of being killed,' Magana said. Wyoming Stockgrowers also plan to ask if Colorado will reimburse the sheep's owner as they do for local ranchers who lose livestock to wolves. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
05-02-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
San Joaquin sheriff reassures migrant farm workers amid deportation fears
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY — The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office spoke with migrant farmworkers to mitigate any fears some might have about President Trump's deportation efforts. Sheriff Patrick Withrow wanted to make it clear to them that if they've done nothing wrong, they have nothing to worry about. "We just want you guys to know you don't have to worry about the sheriff's office or the police," Sheriff Withrow told workers at a vineyard. Sheriff Withrow tried to calm their nerves while reassuring them that the sheriff's office is there to serve them, no matter their legal status. "We hear people who are victimized and we hear, 'If you call the cops, they're gonna deport you,' " he said. "That breaks my heart because we're here in law enforcement to protect people." Farmworker advocates like Luis Magana say these workers needed this as they have been filled with so much uncertainty and questions about what might come. "If you're robbed, or something really dangerous, they'll intervene. It doesn't matter. It has nothing to do with your immigration status," Magana said. Magana added that what Sheriff Withrow did "made a lot of people relax." Magana was there and helped coordinate this meetup. The sheriff's office brought two deputies who spoke Spanish to help translate and answer questions. There are fears in the migrant community of mass deportations or round-ups by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Social media posts and photos of ICE in the county have been spread around, sparking more questions. "Don't surround yourself with rumors or lies. They're only looking for people who are dangerous. Criminals," Magana said. Magana said farm workers are returning to work on alert but with fewer fears. "They need to fear us if they're lawbreaking but if they're not, then we are going to protect them from the bad guys," Sheriff Withrow said.
