Latest news with #McGrew
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New playground for kids of all abilities opens in south Wichita
The city of Wichita opened its first accessible playground on Wednesday, marking the first of a series of planned improvements to L.W. Clapp Memorial Park. At a ribbon-cutting late Wednesday morning, city leaders celebrated the opening of the playground and the installation of a piece of public art. 'This space is designated so that children of all abilities can play together side by side,' Reggie Davidson, Wichita Park and Recreation director, said. 'It's a place where everyone feels welcome, where every child belongs.' The art, a sculpture titled Voxel Clouds, was created by Brooklyn-based artist Osman Akan. Made up of steel and glass boxes, it is inspired by the video game Minecraft and by playgrounds of earlier decades, said Sonia Greteman, chair and creative director of the Greteman Group, a Wichita-based public arts consultant group that worked with the city. A dog park located on the other end of the park, which was supposed to open at the same time, remains closed to the public. It is littered with debris following flooding on Tuesday but city leaders said that after some cleanup, it will also open for use. Megan Lovely, the city's communications manager, said Wednesday afternoon that there is not yet an estimate for when it will open. The playground, dog park, sculpture and improved trails make up an initial phase of the city's upgrades to the park. The Wichita City Council approved the full scale $28 million plan in 2021. It includes restaurant and farmer's market spaces, a bandshell and an 'aviation hill' for spectators to watch planes flying to and from McConnell Air Force Base. This phase of the improvements cost about $6 million, according to the city's Capital Improvement Program. Clapp Park, formerly a golf course, is west of Oliver between Harry and Mount Vernon. Local residents and City Council member Mike Hoheisel, who represents District 3, where the park is located, said the area needed a safe place for kids to play. Jerry McGrew, a member of the District 3 advisory board who has lived across the street from the park for 25 years, said it was important to residents that the park remain a green space amid the improvements. 'This is what we need,' McGrew, a self-proclaimed 'nature lover,' said. McGrew said the area is 'a metropolis, all concrete and street lights.' 'But this is right in the middle of the city,' he said, praising the park's walking trails. 'It's comfortable, it's safe.' David Collier, another local resident, said he's excited to take his dog to the park when the dog park opens. 'I won't have to go all the way to a different dog park to have my dog enjoy the open spaces safely,' Collier said. Hoheisel said that part of the planning process involved consulting students at nearby Griffith and Colvin elementary schools. 'That's always great to bring the kids and the youth in and let them have some say in their playgrounds as well,' he said. 'Childhood is something we only get to experience once, and it is a fleeting experience. The memories made help develop us into who we become and what we give back to society as a whole. And every child should get a chance to enjoy being a child, especially when it comes to access to safe places to play.' Hoheisel said the city aims to increase the amount of accessible spaces for children, like the new playground. Previously, the only ADA-compliant playground in the area was at Sedgwick County Park. 'A parent on the south, north or east side shouldn't have to load up their child and drive over to the west side at Sedgwick County Park just so their child can play,' Hoheisel said. 'We're continuing to work on increasing accessibility to all residents in all areas, but it's appropriate that we celebrate the steps we make.'
Indianapolis Star
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Already a power, Fishers basketball adds one of state's top players, Indiana Junior All-Star
A core Indiana Junior All-Star, Kai McGrew helped Lawrence North to a semistate final this past season. Including his freshman year in Colorado, McGrew is closing in on 1,000 career points (911). McGrew has a scholarship offers from Mississippi State, San Francisco, UT-Arlington and Louisiana Tech. One of the state's top high school basketball players is on the move. Kai McGrew, who was named a core Indiana Junior All-Star at Lawrence North this season, will start classes at Fishers High School starting Tuesday, according to his family. The 6-9 McGrew averaged 14.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists as a junior to help the Wildcats to a 22-7 season and Class 4A semistate championship game appearance. 'The change was made due to his mother's recent single parent status and the challenges she has encountered with transportation and support,' said McGrew's uncle, Brandon Lee. 'Kai's residence is now approximately five minutes away from Fishers, which will alleviate some of her burdens.' Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Assuming McGrew is granted full eligibility, he will join a Fishers team that figures to return two of the top guards in the state next season in juniors-to-be Jason Gardner Jr. and Cooper Zachary, but will lose most of the other main contributors from a team that finished 30-1 and Class 4A state runner-up after winning the 4A state title in 2023-24. McGrew attended Smoky Hill High School in Aurora, Colo., as a freshman, before moving to Indiana prior to his sophomore season. He averaged 10.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocked shots a sophomore on a team that went 25-4 and won a 4A regional championship. 'When we first moved here two years ago, we were staying with my brother closer to LN,' said Keela McGrew, Kai's mother. 'The last two years, we've lived in the Fishers area. This works better for me and my son. I'm able to get him back and forth to school easier and my job is closer. It honestly has nothing to do with basketball.' McGrew has 911 career points, including his 212 as a freshman in Colorado. He has a scholarship offers from Mississippi State, San Francisco, UT-Arlington and Louisiana Tech. 'Our hope is that he will continue to excel academically, which is his primary objective,' Lee said. 'Kai has always prioritized his studies. We shall see where basketball will take him in this new road as well.' The IHSAA's first-time transfer rule is expected to be fully implemented after the board of directors meeting next month and go into effect on June 1. That rule change allows for athletes to have full eligibility who transfer before they have completed their junior year.
USA Today
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
The anti-book club, book club: Why people are loving silent reading events
The anti-book club, book club: Why people are loving silent reading events NEW YORK – A Wednesday night at Lofty Pigeon Books in Brooklyn is an introverted reader's dream with cushioned chairs, ambient music, snacks, books and – for an hour – absolutely no talking. This is a silent book club. It's a book club in name only. In practice, it is anything but the lively, let's-discuss ethos you'd expect. In a silent book club, participants don't have to read the same book. They don't necessarily have to discuss. It's an excuse to quietly read alongside other readers. As the official Silent Book Club LLC puts it, 'it's BYOBook,' and it's catching on at Lofty Pigeon and many businesses around the country. The trend reflects a growing post-pandemic need to connect in person while also being mindful of social batteries. Data provided to USA TODAY from Eventbrite shows a 223% increase in silent book club events from 2023 to 2024, especially in cities like Chicago, Indianapolis, New York City, Seattle and Atlanta. But there are hundreds of locations all around the world – you can find one near you on the interactive map. Sometimes billed as 'reading parties,' these events are particularly popular with young adults, many of whom have found their reading community online through BookTok. According to another survey from Eventbrite, 95% of young adults want to explore their online interests and communities through in-person events, and 62% say they prefer lightly structured activities. Silent book clubs remove traditional book club pressure Brooklyn resident Ariya McGrew has come to nearly every Lofty Pigeon silent book club since it started in June 2024. She describes the community atmosphere using the famous 'Cheers' theme song – it's a place 'where everybody knows your name.' Traditional book clubs were never a good fit for her because they felt too rigid, but silent book clubs have only strengthened her reading habits. The monthly dedicated reading time helps her focus, especially to start off a new book on the right foot. 'I'm an avid reader, but the pandemic lockdown threw my reading for a loop because I was so used to reading on the subway during my commute and I found it hard to focus (at home),' McGrew says. As an introvert, silent reading time also helps her balance her desire to be around others without spending the whole time talking. Lofty Pigeon's events have an optional 30 minutes of socializing at the end. At Dorothy, a lesbian bar in Chicago that has hosted monthly silent readings since October 2022, everyone is 'the weirdo in the corner reading their book,' owner Whitney LaMora says. 'Not only are we more introverted than ever, but a lot of new queer people who are coming to our bar are still more introverted than ever. So the ability to come to something where you don't have the pressure, nobody's going to put a microphone in your face, it's not going to be your turn eventually,' LaMora says. 'A lot of us do want to gather and do want to be with others, but are still reeling from being ripped out of society (during the pandemic)." There's also no stress to read at a certain pace or by a certain date. 'That is a beautiful thing if it works,' LaMora says. 'I've never been a part of a book club that has lasted more than six months ever in my almost 39 years and to have a silent book club that is thriving almost a year and a half later is pretty awesome.' Readers are hungry for low-cost, accessible third spaces Silent book clubs and the bars and bookstores they inhabit are examples of 'third spaces,' or important community gathering spots that aren't home or work. Briana Parker, one of the co-owners of Lofty Pigeon Books, started hosting silent book clubs at the request of her customers. She was skeptical because she enjoys reading alone at home, but then she participated alongside her patrons and found herself relishing in the 'wonderful celebration of reading' that made her feel like she was a part of something bigger. LaMora has seen similar excitement with her customers at Dorothy: 'Our first few months, the response was so large that before we would open the doors, there would be a line of people, all with their books.' The events are usually free, but it's still a business and community-building opportunity for those who host. Lofty Pigeon encourages participants to shop local with a 10% off discount on silent book club nights. Dorothy partners with local bookstores, collects donations for the nonprofit Chicago Books for Women in Prison and has the Chicago Public Library come in to register library cards. Above all, it offers readers a chance to slow down. 'People have a lot of demands on their time and energy. This is an hour that's just for them to set aside and read,' Parker says. 'We're constantly hearing from our customers they just don't have as much time to read as they would like. So this is a way of scheduling it in and giving that gift to yourself.' Looking for your next great read? USA TODAY has you covered. Taste is subjective, and USA TODAY Books has plenty of genres to recommend. Check out the 15 new releases we're most excited about in 2025. Is dystopian your thing? Check out these books that are similar to 'The Hunger Games' and '1984.' Or if you want something with lower stakes and loveable characters, see if a "cozy mystery" or "cozy fantasy" book is for you. If you want the most popular titles, check out USA TODAY's Best-selling Booklist. Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY's Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you're reading at cmulroy@
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Yahoo
Thousands of dollars fly from boat in Pekin, most still unaccounted for
PEKIN, Ill. (WMBD) — It's a story of lost belongings and a good Samaritan. Kimberly Hobbs and her husband are Pekin residents, and Hobbs' husband was buying a boat from his friend for $5,000. After he bought the boat, he decided that it needed too much work, and asked his friend if he could return the water vessel back to him and get his money back. His friend obliged, but after Hobbs returned his $5,000, he put it in the boat and didn't realize it was there when he left. On Tuesday at around 5:30 p.m., James McGrew a fellow Pekin resident, was driving behind Hobbs as he was driving the boat down Derby Street, helping his friend put it in storage. 'As I crested the hill,' McGrew said. 'The sun was shining in my eyes and at first I thought it was a bunch of junk mail flying out of the back of the boat.' But as McGrew soon realized, it wasn't junk mail that was flying out of the boat. 'I kind of look in,' he said, 'and I noticed that there's money all over the ground and you think it's like, 'That's not real money. Those are $100 bills.'' Pekin Police Chief awards six officers for their work in the field McGrew, and others, jumped into action, picking up as many bills as he could to take to the police department. Only $800 was returned, which is the amount McGrew took to the police. 'That's somebody else's money,' he said. 'You never know. That could be really important to them. They could need it for bills or groceries or really anything.' McGrew made a Facebook post to raise awareness about the money so that it could be brought to the Hobbs', which got around 200 reactions and 42 shares. Even though he acted in good conscience, he doesn't consider himself a good Samaritan. 'I thought about deleting the post because there's a lot of attention towards it,' he said. 'I didn't stop and help for attention. I just saw an opportunity where somebody could use some help and stepped in.' With $4,200 still unaccounted for, Kimberly is hopeful the community will show up for her family. 'I'm just hoping that somebody is going to have a heart and just be honest and give it back to the police so we can get our money back,' Hobbs said. If you or anyone you know have any information regarding this matter, you can contact the Pekin Police Department by phone at 309-478-5330, or by visiting their website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
OpenAI's former chief research officer joins Mira Murati's AI startup
OpenAI's ex-chief research officer quietly joined Mira Murati's AI startup as an advisor, per its website. Thinking Machines Lab, founded by Mira Murati, includes many former OpenAI team members. The startup aims to advance AI with a $1 billion funding goal and a $9 billion valuation. OpenAI's former chief research officer has joined Mira Murati's AI startup, Business Insider has learned. Bob McGrew was quietly added to Thinking Machines Lab's website as an advisor, alongside former OpenAI researcher Alec exact timing of when McGrew joined Thinking Machines Lab as an advisor is unclear, but a webpage archived on the Wayback Machine shows McGrew was mentioned on the company's site for the first time last month. McGrew joins a growing list of former OpenAI staffers who have taken up roles at Murati's new company. Thinking Machine Lab lists 38 people on its website that make up its founding team. An analysis of their backgrounds by BI found that exactly half — 19 members — previously worked at OpenAI. Murati tapped OpenAI cofounder John Schulman as chief scientist, while the chief technology officer is Barret Zoph, a co-creator of ChatGPT. Murati's startup emerged from stealth in February when she unveiled it to the world in an X post, stating that its goal is to "advance AI by making it broadly useful and understandable through solid foundations, open science, and practical applications." BI reported in February that the startup was aiming to raise $1 billion at a roughly $9 billion valuation. McGrew announced his departure from OpenAI in an X post last September, a day after Murati said she was leaving, noting that he shared the same message internally at the time. He described his eight years at the company as an "awe-inspiring journey," and said it was time for him to take a break after he supported the research team's transition over the following two months. Thinking Machine Lab, McGrew, and Radford didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. McGrew and Radford joining Thinking Machine Lab was first reported by TechCrunch. Read the original article on Business Insider Sign in to access your portfolio
