Latest news with #Rohrbach
Chicago Tribune
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Libertyville's Bode Rohrbach, grandson of a former Chicago Cubs catcher, shows he can be ‘unbelievable'
Baseball is in Libertyville junior third baseman Bode Rohrbach's bloodlines. His grandfather Ken Rudolph was a catcher in Major League Baseball for nine seasons, including four with the Chicago Cubs. His uncle Mason Rudolph, also a catcher, was selected by the New York Mets in the 17th round of the 1988 MLB draft. But Rohrbach didn't start playing baseball until he was 10 years old. 'I started out pretty late,' he said. 'One of my best friends got me into baseball and just wanted me to try it out. I went to the tryout and actually didn't make the team but worked hard, came back and made the team, and I've loved baseball ever since.' Rohrbach might have been a later arrival to the sport, but he has caught up, and he's making a difference for the Wildcats. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Rohrbach had two hits, including his first home run of the season, in second-seeded Libertyville's 7-0 victory over 16th-seeded host Hoffman Estates in the Class 4A regional semifinals on Wednesday. Rohrbach, a North Suburban Conference honorable mention, is batting .333 with a .420 on-base percentage, eight doubles, 12 RBIs and 18 runs scored for the Wildcats (30-4), who will play either seventh-seeded Highland Park or 10th-seeded Rolling Meadows in the regional championship game at noon Saturday. 'Bode did a great job last year for us defensively,' Libertyville coach Matt Thompson said. 'But our biggest thing this year, we wanted more out of his bat. He's a lot more comfortable at the plate. He didn't have bad at-bats last year but didn't get the results he wanted. 'This year he's doing really well defensively, but nice to have his bat going for sure. He took good swings today.' Rohrbach, who also plays outside linebacker and safety in football, said his home run over the left-field fence was a confidence booster after a strong regular season. 'Last year, I kind of struggled at the plate, so that was what I wanted to work on in the offseason because I knew my fielding was there,' he said. 'I've been working on my two-strike approach and just looking for a ball I can crush. 'I did that with my home run. I was looking for a good pitch to hit and found it right in my zone up and took it over the fence. It was my first in a while, so it felt good.' Libertyville senior shortstop Cole Lockwood, a Valparaiso recruit, said Rohrbach's defense is well-established. 'He's always been a leader out there, and I love playing on the other side of him because we bounce off each other with the same energy,' Lockwood said. 'We communicate well. I know how far he can go, and we have that unspoken chemistry. 'Now at the plate, he's been unbelievable.' Libertyville senior pitcher/first baseman Joshua Holst, an Air Force recruit who also plays football with Rohrbach, appreciates having him at third too. 'It's good on the mound for me knowing that any ball that gets hit to third, he will make a play,' Holst said. 'He's improved a lot since last year and now has the experience of two years. He's very confident in the field, and that's nice for me as a pitcher.' Rohrbach said he isn't done improving. 'I still have another year to show myself,' he said. Rohrbach hopes to continue to follow in his family footsteps. 'My grandfather worked with me ever since I started baseball,' he said. 'He's really had a great impact on my game, and I really look up to him and am trying to go to the stop he was at.'
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 NBA playoffs: Predictions for every first-round series
The first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs begins Saturday. Who will advance to the conference semis? Here are our staff predictions for every series: EAST WEST EASTERN CONFERENCE (2) Celtics vs. (7) Magic Dan Devine: Celtics in 4 Vincent Goodwill: Celtics in 5 Tom Haberstroh: Celtics in 4 Morten Stig Jensen: Celtics in 4 Ben Rohrbach: Celtics in 4 Dan Titus: Celtics in 5 Advertisement The Celtics have too much firepower. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, even at 80%, are better than Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner at this point. And then there is Boston's depth. How are the Magic going to score with them? — Rohrbach Who's gonna challenge the Boston Celtics? They've toyed with the Knicks this year, their assumed second-round appointment unless Detroit crashes the party. So clearly the biggest challenge is the team that's led the East from end-to-end, those Cleveland Cavaliers. — Goodwill Celtics-Magic series preview, key matchups and schedule (3) Knicks vs. (6) Pistons Devine: Knicks in 7 Goodwill: Knicks in 7 Haberstroh: Knicks in 6 Jensen: Knicks in 7 Rohrbach: Knicks in 7 Titus: Pistons in 7 Advertisement BetMGM puts the Knicks as heavy favorites (-425, 81% probability to win), but Detroit's Cade Cunningham has been a problem for New York all year. The Pistons are well-coached with a balanced roster that can knock down 3s, bang in the post and lock down defensively. It's Detroit vs. Everybody on the road to claim its first postseason series win since 2008. — Titus The Pistons have been every bit as good as the Knicks for four solid months now — better over the past couple! — and are playing like a group with a defined identity that knows exactly who they are, what they need to do, and how they need to do it. ... That said: New York does have the talent advantage at the higher end — especially if Karl-Anthony Towns can replicate the kinds of postseason performances he turned in for the Timberwolves in last spring's opening rounds. — Devine Knicks-Pistons series preview, key matchups and schedule (4) Pacers vs. (5) Bucks Devine: Pacers in 6 Goodwill: Pacers in 7 Haberstroh: Pacers in 6 Jensen: Pacers in 6 Rohrbach: Bucks in 7 Titus: Bucks in 6 Advertisement Giannis Antetokounmpo reminds us that it is unwise to pick against him in the playoffs, averaging around 40 points per game in a seven-game victory against the Pacers, which would count as an upset, according to BetMGM. Will a first-round victory be enough to convince Antetokounmpo that Milwaukee is still a long-term home for him? That I don't know. — Rohrbach Consecutive first-round losses to Indiana could prompt questions about Milwaukee's and Giannis' future. The Bucks can't waste another MVP-like campaign from Giannis, especially after beating the Pacers by a margin of nine points in their three regular-season wins. — Titus Bucks-Pacers series preview, key matchups and schedule WESTERN CONFERENCE (2) Rockets vs. (7) Warriors Devine: Warriors in 6 Goodwill: Warriors in 6 Haberstroh: Warriors in 7 Jensen: Warriors in 6 Rohrbach: Warriors in 7 Titus: Rockets in 6 Advertisement Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. But I've yet to see this Rockets core win a seven-game series, and I've seen Steph and Draymond get a game on the road and eventually break a more athletic team, I've seen Jimmy tilt matchups against favorites, and I've seen both of those things a lot. Houston suffers the same fate as countless postseason debutantes across NBA history, and Golden State keeps rolling. — Devine Are we sleeping on the Rockets? The Warriors, the second seventh-seeded team favored in a first-round series since 1988, bring unmatched experience and a championship pedigree. Then they added Jimmy Butler. However, Houston's top-five defense thrives on physicality, wearing opponents down. With a frontcourt edge and defensive grit, the Rockets could disrupt Curry's rhythm — something we've seen Houston do to Steph before. — Titus Rockets-Warriors series preview, key matchups and schedule (3) Lakers vs. (6) Timberwolves Devine: Lakers in 6 Goodwill: Lakers in 6 Haberstroh: Lakers in 7 Jensen: Lakers in 6 Rohrbach: Lakers in 7 Titus: Wolves in 7 Advertisement Luka Dončić owned the Timberwolves as a member of the Mavericks in last season's Western Conference finals, and now he has LeBron James at his side. Together they can solve Minnesota's defense. Barely. — Rohrbach I don't know what to expect from JJ Redick, Luka Dončić, LeBron James and Austin Reaves in their first foray together. Same goes for Jimmy Buckets and the pressure cooker of playing in San Francisco with Draymond Green and Curry. All bets are off. — Haberstroh Lakers-Wolves series preview, key matchups and schedule (4) Nuggets vs. (5) Clippers Devine: Nuggets in 7 Goodwill: Nuggets in 7 Haberstroh: Clippers in 6 Jensen: Nuggets in 7 Rohrbach: Nuggets in 7 Titus: Clippers in 6 Advertisement This version of the Clippers absolutely can win this series, but this version of Nikola Jokić isn't outgunned against anybody. That, plus home court, tilts me slightly in Denver's favor. — Devine Nikola Jokić and Kawhi Leonard engage the world in a battle of non-emotional chess and treat us to one of the most compelling first-round matchups we've seen in years. — Goodwill Nuggets-Clippers series preview, key matchups and schedule
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Weed to soon be allowed in New York movie theaters? Cannabis officials say not so fast
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Scott Pukos with The Little Theatre told News 8 the sale of beer and wine out of concessions has gone really well since it was introduced in late 2024. 'We have teamed up with local breweries. So Rohrbach, Strangebird, it's a really nice pairing for movie to either grab a wine or a beer,' Pukos said. 'People really enjoy that anything that can help enhance that experience is something that we're interested in.' Recently signed in New York State, a Special Events Bill that would eventually allow cannabis events to take place across the state and outside the retail dispensary environments. This prompted an off-topic discussion on if we could one day see cannabis sales in the movie theatres. OCM Senior Policy Director John Kagia sat down with News 8 to explain the bill and its potential. 'This bill builds on a program that we had run in 2024 called the Cannabis Grower Showcase Initiative, which allowed retailers to partner with cannabis growers and cannabis manufacturers, product manufacturers, to showcase and sell products across the state, and now it is codified into law that we will be able to host these types of events across the state,' Kagia said. Kagia said OCM is now working on developing the regulations for how this program is going to be effectuated. 'Now we're going to be developing the regulations that will actually bring this program to life,' Kagia said. The law is quite clear about where these special events can take place, according to Kagia. 'One broad category of venues that these events will be permitted are farmers markets, and so in cases where a canvas business is able to participate in or and secure the authorization from a farmers market to showcase at said farmers market, that would be one area where these would be able to occur,' Kagia said. 'And then the second broad category would be independently organized events that are run by the licensees themselves. So, you know, the bill is quite clear that this is not going to be a format or a type of permit that would authorize the sale of cannabis at festivals or fairs or adding on this to existing events. These will be permitted exclusively at farmers markets or at standalone events that are organized by the licensees themselves but could not be piggybacked onto concert festivals or other type of preexisting events.' News 8 wanted to clarify a current, independently owned business — such as a movie theater — cannot currently add that on. 'That's right. So, either if it's not happening in a farmer's market, or if it's not being kind of organized specifically by the licensee, by the licensee permitted by the Office of Canvas management and who would be organizing and running the event, then it currently would not be permitted, at least based on the way this law was written,' Kagia said. Kagia also said this when clarifying if a current business can apply to be a licensee and couple its titles together. 'There's not currently a kind of application window for businesses that aren't already in the application pool to apply for a cannabis license. We will be notifying the public when the next licensing rounds will be happening,' Kagia said. 'We've got really healthy supply chain, and we're building a really robust industry. But given that we haven't yet finished processing the applications from the last round of applicants. We're not quite ready yet to open up a new round of applications.' Kagia said the signing of the Special Events Bill is a testament to the work that has been done here in New York. 'New Yorkers are already spending between five and $6 billion a year on cannabis, but most of that was taking place in the shadows,' Kagia said. 'Part of the reason why we're particularly excited about the events bill and the sunlight that it is bringing to this industry is there's a huge amount of innovation taking place in our market right now. The types of products that you're seeing in this market look very different than the types of products that were available in the quote, unquote, illegal market five or 10 years ago. So, as we're going to the warmer seasons, as we're going to the to the summer season, the things like the beverages that we have available now are truly world class, and there's incredible innovation happening there. ' OCM said the law has been passed, and now it's incumbent on the office to develop the regulations. 'This is going to be a process. We will propose regulations, we will solicit public comment, and we encourage the public to weigh in on how they think that. These events should be regulated, so we're not quite ready to go live with these events yet. We're hopeful to get this ball rolling as we get later into the summer.' While theatres like The Little will have to wait a while before they can start thinking of ways to introduce cannabis, Pukos said if and when the time comes for the discussion, he'll be ready for creative ways to implement use. 'It'd be a good opportunity to partner with others in the community to do pop up events, or, anything where we could bring in another business to The Little and help with that experience,' Pukos said. 'The whole experience has changed so much, and just the film industry has, in general. Ever since 2020, now films go to streaming more often. So, what we have to do as a movie theater, and particularly an art house movie theater, is find ways to bring people in. And I think one of that really is the communal experience, like you can't get that experience watching a movie at home.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
CON repeal, a Morrisey priority, fails again as WV House strongly rejects discharging bill to floor
Dels. Matthew Rohrbach, Brandon Steele and J.B. Akers discuss House Rules at the speaker's podium on Friday, March 28, 2025, as confusion dominated the debate to discharge House Bill 2007 from committee to the floor. (Perry Bennett | West Virginia Legislative Photography) Another nail was hammered into the coffin of Certificate of Need repeal on Friday, as the West Virginia House of Delegates overwhelmingly voted down — after a drawn out 'fiasco' over rules and procedure — a motion to discharge House Bill 2007. With 10 members absent and not voting, lawmakers in the body voted 72-15 against discharging the bill. The discharge motion, if successful, would have brought the original version of HB 2007 — a bill to totally repeal the Certificate of Need process in the state — to the House floor, where the full body would have considered it for the first time. The bill died last month in the House Committee on Health and Human Resources when lawmakers voted 13-12 against it. Del. Chris Anders, R-Berkeley, made the motion to discharge the bill from committee and to the floor, saying members should support his motion because HB 2007 'will end the government created monopoly on health care.' In response to Anders, Del. Carl Martin, R-Upshur, immediately made a motion to table his discharge motion. But Martin's motion, said Del. Matthew Rohrbach, R-Cabell, who was acting as speaker, was out of order and not allowed based on rules of the chamber. This is despite a motion to table a discharge motion previously being successful earlier this session. That previous motion and vote, Rohrbach said, should have been out of order as well. Del. Brandon Steele, R-Raleigh, called for a motion to overturn Rohrbach's ruling, which was supported by House counsel as well as the House parliamentarian and House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, who was not present Friday. 'What are we even doing here?!' Steele exclaimed, before his motion failed 58-31. With that failed vote, and after several back-and-forths regarding the technicalities of the House Rules as well as Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure — the rulebook that dictates House actions this year alongside the chamber's own rules — Rohrbach's ruling that Martin's motion to table the discharge motion was out of order stood as the rule of the chamber. The body then voted down Anders' original discharge motion, laying HB 2007 to rest yet again. Repealing Certificate of Need in West Virginia was one of only two health care policies that Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced as priorities for his first legislative session this year. The other policy — adding religious and philosophical exemptions to the state's vaccine mandates — failed on the House floor earlier this week. During his State of the State, Morrisey called the Certificate of Need process 'big government activism at its worst' and promised that by repealing it, the state would 'move toward the free market.' Bills to repeal CON have been introduced in the Legislature annually since at least 2017. This year marked the second time ever that the bill made it to a committee, as well as the second time it was voted down by that committee. CON is a regulatory process, overseen by the West Virginia Health Care Authority, that requires entities looking to create or expand health care services in the state to receive a legal document proving those new services fit an unmet need in the area. Through the Health Care Authority, those interested in obtaining a Certificate of Need receive technical assistance before applying to see what need they are meeting. Services are approved through a needs methodology and different services — such as hospice care, ambulatory centers, clinics, private practices and specialty services — have different methodologies. Proponents for the repeal believe that doing away with the laws will allow more competition in health care across West Virginia. Those against repeal worry that doing away with the process will hurt West Virginia's more rural and vulnerable populations, where a lack of regulation could threaten what services are offered to the 75% of residents who are government payers, meaning their health insurance comes from Medicare, Medicaid or the Public Employees Insurance Agency. While the House's version of the bill to repeal Certificate of Need seems relatively dead — all bills must be at least on first reading on the floor in their chambers of origin by Sunday — another bill has been introduced in the Senate that would do the same. Lawmakers there, however, have yet to touch it and seem unlikely to do so. In past years, there have been Hail Mary attempts to amend a total repeal of certificate of need into other bills that deal with the same section of code. It's possible the same could happen this year, as several bills that touch on Certificate of Need are still circulating as crossover day approaches next week. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
