Latest news with #NorthStars
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Frank Chopp, a force that reshaped Washington's political landscape
House Speaker Frank Chopp delivering remarks in the House of Representatives on Jan. 11, 2016, the first day of the legislative session. (Photo courtesy of Legislative Support Services) Frank Chopp, a citizen activist who became the state of Washington's longest-serving House speaker, spent a half-century relentlessly agitating for social change. It seemed fitting then that Chopp, who died in March, would deliver a final call for action to hundreds attending his memorial service in Bellevue on Sunday. 'We have made so much progress, but let us also remember how lucky we are,' he says in a taped excerpt of a speech on the opening day of a legislative session. 'None of us go without a paycheck, none of us go hungry, none of us go homeless, none of us lack health care, none of us lack the opportunity to get an education.' 'The people we represent just want what we have,' he said. 'So we have a lot to do. Let's get to work.' Applause and cheers erupted through the crowd of lawmakers past and present, community leaders, current and former governors, and family friends gathered in the Meydenbauer Center to celebrate Chopp, whose death March 22 at the age of 71 stunned them, coming less than three months after his political retirement. For two hours, they told stories and paid tribute to the mustachioed maestro of politics, a streetwise and strategic solon who sought no higher office than the Seattle legislative seat he occupied for three decades. A Democrat, he managed to be both high-profile and behind the scenes, fomenting change without leaving visible fingerprints. 'With Speaker Chopp, we witnessed a rare fusion: the heart of an organizer, the strategy of a legislator and the savvy of a political mastermind,' said Teresa Mosqueda, a King County Council member. 'Frank blended these elements into a force that reshaped our social contract.' Former Gov. Jay Inslee said Chopp's blend of personal passion and strategic ability was the 'rocket fuel' that drove significant housing, health care and social justice policies across the finish line. Though only one person with one vote, his role in pushing the state to strengthen the social safety net, build affordable housing and improve public schools is unmatched, they said. 'Frank Chopp was the greatest legislator in the last century. Period,' proclaimed Lt. Gov. Denny Heck, a close friend and fellow Democrat. Chopp had two North Stars. There was his family: Nancy Long, his wife of 41 years, and Ellie and Narayan, their children. Chopp would tear up when he'd mention them on the House floor, for they were his touchstone. He was 'an equal partner at home,' doing the laundry and shopping and 'showing up for the small stuff,' Long recounted. Amid the steady seriousness of the job, she said he was funny and 'sometimes downright goofy.' His other North Star was adapting government to serve the state's most vulnerable. 'His daily focus from the time he was in college to the very day he died was improving the lives of others,' Long said. 'Frank started with no connections, no positional power, no money, no real standing. What he had were these very adaptive personal traits, a very solid understanding of history, a curious and amazingly agile mind and a total disregard for the status quo.' Chopp was first elected to represent Seattle's 43rd Legislative District in 1994, an election that proved catastrophic for many other Democrats. His party lost more than two dozen seats, going from a near supermajority in the House to a 62-36 minority. He ascended to leader of the House Democratic Caucus and, in 1999, became co-speaker with Republican Clyde Ballard of East Wenatchee when there were equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans in the House. Democrats won a special election in Snohomish County in 2001 to gain control of the chamber and installed Chopp as speaker in 2002, a job he kept until stepping aside in 2019. He won two more elections before retiring last year. Chopp understood persistence and patience could achieve lasting progress while impatience could trigger a political recoil. 'He believed it only mattered to be right if you were getting results,' Long said. As speaker, Chopp's sometimes cautious approach, or pragmatism, depending on one's perspective, incited the pique of the caucus' more caffeinated progressives. 'He was not an incrementalist,' declared Mosqueda, who emceed the portion of the memorial devoted to building on Chopp's legislative and political legacy. 'He knew that bold, progressive victories require smart, strategic steps. He was relentless in his drive to dismantle inequity, and his strategies were thus layered and often multi-year.' Inslee said Chopp recognized the potential that a temporary victory could derail policies and cause Democrats to lose seats. 'He made sure that we didn't get too far out ahead of the people,' he said. Chopp was the grandson of Croatian immigrants. His father began working in the Roslyn coal mines at age 12 and later became a union electrician at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. His mother served as a school cafeteria employee. She left school at 14 to work but earned her high school diploma from Green River Community College at age 65, according to his obituary. He grew up in Bremerton and graduated from the University of Washington. He served several years as executive director of the Fremont Public Association, now known as Solid Ground, which offers resources such as food banks, housing and employment programs. In his 30 years as a lawmaker, he focused heavily on housing and homelessness, working to increase the amount of affordable housing across the state, improve access to homeownership and house people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He helped start the Seattle Tenants Union and the Cascade Shelter Project, living in a geodesic dome in a rented parking stall to bring attention to the need for affordable housing in the area. He helped lead efforts to set up the state's Housing Trust Fund and its Apple Health and Homes program, which uses Medicaid dollars to fund housing. Creation of the state's covenant homeownership program was one of the crowning achievements of his tenure. Chopp also pushed policies to expand behavioral health care facilities, child care access and student financial aid for more Washingtonians. Yona Makowski, a longtime budget analyst with the House Democratic Caucus, said Chopp was 'willing to break tradition and adapt government procedures' to achieve broader objectives. 'I'll lose my composure if I talk about what Frank meant to me,' she said, instead offering what her family members thought of him. 'They knew him from me talking about him at the dinner table.' 'My son thought he was a great strategist in getting meaningful things done to help disadvantaged people. My daughter compared him to the Wizard of Oz behind the curtain, but if the wizard was actually the hero,' Makowski said. 'And lastly, my late husband perhaps said it best, Frank was a very good man.'
Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Keira Kelly, who will study marketing at Kansas, sees soccer as easy sell at St. Charles North. ‘Hard to leave.'
Keira Kelly watched the past four years at St. Charles North flash right before her eyes. The senior midfielder was caught in a whirlwind of emotions, memories and sharp reflection. 'I think it's incredible to be with this group of girls,' Kelly said afterward. 'It's going to be really hard to leave this team. I've learned being part of this program that we stand by each other. 'And we fight for each other.' That fight, for now, came to an end Friday for the North Stars in a 6-0 loss to Wheaton Warrenville South in the Class 3A Glenbard West Sectional championship game in Glen Ellyn. Kelly generated four shots on goal for St. Charles North (11-6-3), which was aiming for a third straight sectional title. The bittersweet result didn't dull a remarkable career and legacy for Kelly. As a sophomore, the three-year varsity regular played in the supersectional. She also saw action last spring in a state championship game setback to New Trier that was decided by penalty kicks. 'I was placed in different roles throughout the years,' Kelly said. 'I think this year, it was really about how to keep the team going. It was about how to help players if they had problems off the field or just be that confidence boost for the girls. 'I think that made me very communicative.' Senior defender Courtney Suhr fought back tears talking about a friendship with Kelly that began when they played together in a recreational league at age 5. The two are set to be roommates at Kansas, where they both hope to participate in club soccer. 'We've seen each other grow,' Suhr said. 'We've been on club teams where we've been torn apart and now our high school team. Keira is one of my favorite people ever. 'She's very strong and courageous and it definitely translates onto the field because nothing ever gets past her. She always dominates on the field.' Kelly finished the season with two goals and an assist, but St. Charles North coach Brian Harks said her impact transcends numbers. She was the connecting thread and an emotional spark. The intangibles told everything. 'She does so many little things that help make her teammates look good,' Harks said. 'She makes the play or the pass that sets up the play that leads to a big goal. 'It doesn't matter the stakes of the game or if it's a practice, Keira is a tremendous competitor who leads by example.' While subtle in being a difference-maker, Kelly brought a distinctive quality to her style of play that carried larger consequences. 'I like to pass and give-and-go quickly,' she said. 'I think I'm a very strong player, on and off the ball. I think I connect with the team really well. 'We all hang out together outside of soccer. We bond a lot, and I'm very supportive and helpful.' Her brother Liam, is four years older and was a standout for the boys soccer team at St. Charles North. He was her earliest inspiration. His manner and ease brought her to the game. 'I actually wanted to play because of him,' she said. 'I wanted to become who he was on the field. I watched him, and he was a huge reason why I fell in love with the game,' Creative off the field, Kelly and Suhr managed the team's social media accounts and came up with original material. Kelly also draws and paints when she's not playing the game. Kelly, who intends to study marketing in college, has always found joy in playing soccer. 'This is your family, you play for them and you love the game,' Kelly said. 'You play for the little girl you once were and for those who want to be you.'
Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Matt Kelly delivers first extra-base hit of season to spark St. Charles North past Batavia. ‘Pretty neat to see.'
St. Charles North third baseman Matt Kelly is one of those seniors who had to wait his turn to contribute at the varsity level. And as it turns out, that wait has been totally worth it. After the North Stars graduated 16 players from last season's team, Kelly knew the opportunity would be there to make a difference this spring, and he has taken advantage. 'I didn't really play at all,' Kelly said of last year. 'I spent all winter training for this, getting bigger and stronger. I expected to be the third baseman, a leader for this team, and I think I've done so.' Kelly came through yet again Thursday in the North Stars' 10-2 win over the host Bulldogs, hitting a two-run double as part of a five-run first inning in a Class 4A Batavia Regional semifinal. While Kelly finished 3-for-4 for St. Charles North (21-12), Ben Auer added two hits, including a two-run double. Mason Netcel had two doubles and Matt Ritchie went 6 1/3 innings for the win, striking out eight and allowing two runs, one earned, on seven hits and three walks. Liam Darre and Nolan Zimberoff each tallied two hits for Batavia (15-20-1). Kelly has been a mainstay in the lineup for the North Stars all season, but one thing had eluded him until his first career postseason at-bat. 'It was his first extra-base hit of the year,' St. Charles North coach Todd Genke said. 'He's had a lot of hits for us, but not the extra-base type. He got into that ball. 'I'm really proud of him. Coming into the year, we were hoping he'd be the guy he is, but we just didn't know. He didn't have a whole lot of opportunities last season. It's pretty neat to see that.' Kelly was excited to get the North Stars going Thursday. His double broke a 1-1 tie in the first. 'That was awesome, just to get some runs on the board,' Kelly said. 'It meant a lot to me.' Batavia was a pitch away from getting out of the first up 1-0, but the Bulldogs wound up giving up five unearned runs and had to chase the rest of the day. 'We knew we'd have to weather the storm the first few innings,' Batavia coach Alex Beckmann said. 'That's kind of how playoff baseball games go. They did a better job of doing that than us.' The North Stars only had three senior returnees for this season, including the inexperienced Kelly. Genke stressed to the group there were opportunities to be had — and for Kelly in particular. 'You've seen other guys come through and be leaders like Jackson Spring and Mike Buono,' Genke said. 'Now it's your turn. He really grabbed that. He's a very unassuming kid, super smart. 'To see stuff like that, a kid come back and say I'm going to do my role and be that guy, is awesome. We pushed him. He's worked his tail off. He's seeing the benefits.' Ritchie also settled in Thursday after a rocky start. That was no surprise to Kelly. 'They jumped on Matt, but he beared down and shoved for us and we got the bats going,' Kelly said. 'I always have confidence with him on the mound. I know he's going to perform.' So does Genke, which is why he put Ritchie in the position to help St. Charles North reach the regional final. The North Stars play at 10 a.m. Saturday against South Elgin (22-10). 'I think he was a little nervous,' Genke said of Ritchie. 'I went up to him about the fourth inning and was like, 'Are you settled in now?' He said, 'Yeah, I'm good coach.' 'He's a big reason why we're here.' Kelly, meanwhile, got his first playoff game under his belt. And now, he's ready for more. 'I'm so excited,' Kelly said. 'It will be awesome to get a chance to win a plaque.'
Chicago Tribune
7 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
All alone in front of the net, St. Charles North's Kaitlyn Nudera cashes in. And how. ‘Definitely felt the rush.'
A unique moment for St. Charles North's Kaitlyn Nudera unfolded right before her eyes. With the ball at her feet, the junior forward found herself in front of a wide-open net. 'In games like this, there's so few shooting opportunities and so few chances that you could take,' Nudera said of her scoring scenario in the 51st minute Tuesday night. 'I definitely felt the rush. 'Knowing I was going to get that goal really helped with my momentum and confidence.' Nudera converted the game's only goal in the second half , lifting the fourth-seeded North Stars to a 1-0 win over archrival St. Charles East in a Class 3A Glenbard West Sectional semifinal. It was the seventh goal of the season for Nudera, who pulled senior goalkeeper Sidney Lazenby off her line. It helped St. Charles North (11-5-3) advance to play second-seeded Wheaton Warrenville South (18-1-2) at 5 p.m. Friday for the sectional title. Freshman forward Mya Leon had scored all four goals in the previous two games for St. Charles East (19-7-2). She finished her debut season on the varsity with 34 goals. Sophomore Aubri Magana was the primary defender shadowing Leon, who also scored a hat trick for the Saints in a 3-0 win over the North Stars on March 29 in the championship game of the Rose Augsburg-Drach Invitational. It was the third time the two teams played each other this spring and the seventh consecutive season they have played each other in a state playoff game, something that Nudera embraced. 'I think we all went into this game knowing what we could bring and how hard we could push,' she said. 'That's what really solidified our performance and helped us want it even more.' Nudera, a second-year varsity regular, helped St. Charles take second in the state last spring. Despite dealing with the complications of a shoulder injury, she had five goals and three assists. She's gone two better in the goal department this spring as a strong complement to senior forward Kaitlin Glenn. Their ability to cash in on their chemistry makes the North Stars' attack flourish. 'You probably caught up on it, but she's fast,' Glenn said of Nudera. 'Any ball I play her, she is able to slip through and beat defenders or the goalkeeper. 'We work so well together. She has a positive attitude and a strong mindset. It's hard to play 80 minutes. She keeps working, never gives up and helped us win.' Following the graduation of multiple attacking players, Nudera saw the chance to expand on her offensive role for the North Stars. 'I think she just dedicated to challenging herself in the offseason,' St. Charles North coach Brian Harks said. 'She got stronger and more physical, and that has definitely paid off. 'As fast as she is, she gets fouled a lot. She's learned to shake herself off, go back and do it again.' Last year marked the third time in program history the North Stars played in a state championship game. And that history matters deeply to Nudera. 'I'm doing this for the people now and those who played before us,' she said. 'The legacy is something we've been trying to uphold. The people and the program are what made it. 'I've been with some of these people since I first started playing.' According to family lore, Nudera played in her first soccer game at the age of 18 months. She was a trailblazer, the first in her family who take up the sport. Now, Nudera is incapable of considering an alternate path. 'I come from a very competitive family where they get mad if you lose,' she said. 'It always matters if I play as hard as I can. I'd be more upset if I didn't think I brought my full potential. 'Winning or losing, what makes me really happy is how hard I fought.'
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Has Polaris always been the North Star? How Earth's 26,000 year cycle changes the 'pole star'
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Polaris, also known as the 'Pole Star' or 'North Star', is arguably the most famous stellar body to hang in the western hemisphere's night sky. For centuries it has served as a vital waypoint for explorers navigating both Earth's physical oceans and the celestial starfield above. Its apparent importance is reflected in the fact that the entire night sky appears to revolve around it. This happens because Polaris' location happens to be closely aligned with Earth's north rotational axis, which is known as the celestial pole when projected outwards into space. However, Polaris isn't the first North Star to shine down on humanity, nor will it be the last. Earth is engaged in a constant gravitational tug of war with the moon and sun, which over time has created a bulge at our planet's equator, according to NASA. As a result, Earth's axis of rotation has developed a distinct wobble - known to scientists as axial precession - which sees the celestial pole trace a wide, lazy circle over a roughly 26,000 year period, coming close to several other prominent stars besides Polaris. Read on to discover more about the past, present and future North Stars, including how to find them for yourself in the night sky in the northern hemisphere. Amateur stargazers new to the night sky may want to make use of our guide to the best stargazing apps available in 2025, many of which have free functionality, and make use of augmented reality tech to help you find Polaris and navigate the stars. Polaris is the logical starting point for any North Star tour, given that it is the reigning title holder and a key waypoint for many attempting to find their way around the night sky. The current North Star can be found easily by locating the Big Dipper asterism in Ursa Minor, which is high overhead this time of year. Draw an imaginary line from the magnitude 2.3 star Merak, which forms the outer base of the 'bowl', through Dubhe, the star positioned as the 'pouring tip' of the asterism. Follow that line outward and the next similarly bright star you find on this path will be Polaris. This bright point of light is in fact a triple star system, though only two of the stars are visible through a backyard telescope. The largest of the stellar trio is a supergiant star that burns over 2,000 times brighter than our sun, according to NASA. Polaris will continue to be the pole star for a few thousand years to come, until Earth's rotational axis wanders inexorably away on its 26,000-year wobble. Jumping back in time, Thuban was positioned as a North Star some 4,700 years ago, as early civilizations thrived in Mesopotamia and Egypt, according to NASA. Thuban is located some 270 light-years from Earth in the constellation Draco - hence its official name of Alpha Draconis - and is comprised of a pair of stars known as an 'eclipsing binary.' In 2020, a team of scientists revealed that these two ancient stars regularly eclipse one another over the course of their 51-day orbital period from the perspective of Earth, leading to periodic dips in brightness based on data from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite. A good way to find Thuban is to locate the bright stars Phecda and Megrez that form part of the 'bowl' of the famous Big Dipper asterism in the constellation Ursa Major, which is located high overhead at this time of year. Draw a line from Phecda through Megrez out into space continuing for twice the distance separating the two guide stars and you will find the patch of sky containing Thuban. Both Kochab and Pherkad were close to the celestial pole around 3,00 years ago, granting them the moniker of 'Guardians of the Pole', according to stargazing website Kochab came particularly close to the celestial pole between 1700 BCE-300 CE, and may even have been referred to as "Polaris" by some in antiquity, according to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The stellar duo are particularly easy to find once you know the location of Polaris, as all three belong to the same constellation of Ursa Minor, or the 'Little Bear'. Ursa Minor boasts a pan-like outline featuring a 'bowl' and 'handle', with Polaris is located at the end of the handle, while Kochab and Pherkad form the outer edge of the 'bowl'. Some archaeologists believe that the Ancient Egyptians may have orientated the Great Pyramids of Giza to face an alignment of the stars Kochab and Mizar - a star in the Big Dipper asterism - which were on opposite sides of the celestial pole around that era. However, there is contention as to which stars were used to orientate the pyramids - an important distinction as it has a direct bearing of our understanding of when exactly they were built, per the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias. The K-type star Errai - or Gamma Cephei to give it its official name - is the first future North Star on our list. In just 2,200 years Errai will be situated a mere 3 degrees from the north celestial pole in the night sky, according to The University of Virginia, putting an end to Polaris reign. Gamma Cephei is actually two stars, a binary star system located some 45 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cepheus. Its primary star plays host to a Jupiter-like gas giant, the discovery of which was first announced in 1988, before being swiftly withdrawn due to a lack of confidence in the data, according to NASA. Its existence was confirmed by a later study, and had it not been withdrawn, the planet - named Gamma Cephei A b would have been forever known as the first exoplanet ever discovered beyond our solar system. Errai can be found using the same trick used to locate Polaris. Simply draw an imaginary line from Dubhe - the tip of the bowl in the Big Dipper asterism - through and past Polaris. The next bright star on that path will be Errai. In around 5,000 years, Alderamin - another star in the constellation Cepheus - will be crowned the North Star, per the Royal Museums Greenwich website. Many observers have likened the five stars of Cepheus to a child's drawing of a house. Following that visualization, Errai marks the top of the roof, while the magnitude 1.5 star Alderamin forms the lower right foundation. It can be found by locating the stars Shedar and Caph in the 'W' shaped constellation Cassiopeia. Draw a line from Shedar through Caph and beyond, and Alderamin will be directly on this path. The magnitude 1.2 star Deneb passed close to the celestial north pole 18,000 years ago according to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and will again around the year 9,800 CE, at which point it will be around seven degrees from the pole. To spot it, simply look to the Eastern sky after sunset during spring, where you will see the trio of bright stars that form the Summer Triangle asterism. Deneb will form the lower left point of the triangle relative to the horizon. The celestial north pole pointed to the bright star Vega some 14,000 years ago, at a time when our hunter-gathering ancestors roamed the Earth. NASA has estimated that Vega will become the north star once again in around 12,000 years from now, as Earth's rotational axis continues its lazy wobble through the stars. Vega is one of the brightest stars in the northern hemisphere, whose claim to scientific fame came in 1984, when scientists discovered the first evidence of what turned out to be an almost 100-billion-mile-diameter disk of dusty planet-forming matter in orbit around the star. Vega is the fifth brightest star visible in the northern hemisphere. Vega forms the top point of the famous Summer Triangle. Night sky lovers hoping to get a closer look at the night sky should check our guides for the best binoculars deals and the best telescope deals available in 2025. Our guides on the best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography can also help immortalize your stargazing sessions! Editor's Note: If you would like to share your astrophotography with readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@
