Latest news with #Smokehouse
28-05-2025
- Politics
Hall of Famers. A Heisman winner. An MMA fighter. Tuberville is not the only sports politician
AUBURN, Ala. -- Tommy Tuberville is a U.S. senator and wants to become the next Alabama governor. But his new campaign paraphernalia recognize his old job: coach. 'Y'all see the name on the hat,' Tuberville told supporters this week at Byron's Smokehouse, his favorite barbecue joint when he was the head football coach at Auburn University. 'They've called me 'coach' for four-and-a-half years in D.C.,' the senator continued. 'You're gonna call me 'coach' here as governor.' It was the same aw-shucks manner the 70-year-old Republican wielded over a long career of glad-handing boosters, fans and players. It's also a deliberate branding tactic that demonstrates how figures like Tuberville transition from athletics to politics. Michael Giardina, a Florida State University professor and expert on sports in American culture, called sports 'connective tissue that runs throughout the country, binding together disparate groups.' So, he said, it is not a surprise when politicians embrace sports figures as validators or when coaches and athletes themselves run for office. Giardina noted, however, that sports fame does not ensure electoral success. 'It's gives them a leg up,' he said, not unlike actors, businesspeople or other celebrities — President Donald Trump included. Here's a look at Tuberville and other sports figures-turned-politicians. Tuberville coached at Auburn from 1999-2008. After ending his career at Cincinnati in 2016, Tuberville told friends in Alabama that he might run for governor in 2018. His plan was stymied, though, when a term-limited governor resigned, elevating then-Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey and setting her up to run. Tuberville shifted his attention to the Senate, where he campaigned as a staunch Trump ally in 2020 and cruised to victory. The mere fact he could start his career toggling so easily between top statewide offices reflects the familiarity Alabamians had with the former Auburn coach. 'I've been in every high school in the state,' he said Tuesday. Now, Ivey is term-limited and Tuberville has returned to his original pursuit. Tuberville has played up his football days the whole way. His official Senate portrait shows him with a football and he's free with the football metaphors. 'I'm a recruiter,' he said Tuesday, promising to bring new jobs to the state. Many U.S. presidents leverage sports on the job. Barack Obama played pickup basketball with NBA stars. Ronald Reagan enjoyed being called 'The Gipper' after his role in a 1940 football movie. Trump attends many events — NASCAR, mixed martial arts fights and the Super Bowl. But the most accomplished Oval Office athlete was Ford, the 38th president, who played football at the University of Michigan from 1932-34. The Wolverines won national championships in 1932 and 1933, with Ford as a center and linebacker. In 1934, he was voted team MVP. Ford had NFL offers but opted for law school at Yale, where he doubled as a football assistant coach. As president from 1974-77, Ford often asked the Marine Band to play Michigan's fight song, 'Hail to the Victors,' instead of 'Hail to the Chief.' Ford's moderate-to-liberal politics were on display in his playing days. Willis Ward, the second Black player at Michigan, was Ford's closest teammate. During the 1934 season, Georgia Tech officials told Michigan the Yellow Jackets would not take the field in Ann Arbor if Ward played. Michigan decided to sit its leading scorer. Ford protested by refusing to play. He relented only when Ward urged him not to sit out. Michigan won 9-2, its only win of the season. Osborne was a Nebraska hero, winning three national championships as head football coach for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers. He retired after winning the 1997 crown and launched a congressional campaign three years later in the district where he'd grown up. Osborne coasted in 2000, 2002 and 2004. The 2006 governor's race was different. He entered as the presumed favorite against Gov. Dave Heineman, who took office in 2005 after his predecessor resigned. But Heineman, who'd won statewide elections previously as treasurer and lieutenant governor, overtook Osborne's advantage around Omaha and Lincoln to hold on to the office. Like Osborne, Walker was a homegrown football hero. A generational talent at running back, he carried the University of Georgia Bulldogs to the 1980 national championship and won the 1982 Heisman Trophy before a successful professional career – during which he became friends with Trump. Walker ran for U.S. Senate in 2022 with Trump's backing and the Bulldogs' red and black as campaign colors. He broadcast ads of his endorsement from his UGA coach, Vince Dooley, a beloved Georgian. Walker outpaced GOP rivals with more conventional political resumes, but questions about his business interests and personal life proved fatal to his campaign. 'Voters ultimately have to assess these former sports figures as political figures,' said Giardina. Not all athlete-politicians embrace the 'jock' image. Bill Bradley is in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He was also a U.S. senator and Democratic presidential contender. Certainly, his career for the NBA's New York Knicks helped when he won a New Jersey Senate seat in 1978, a year after his basketball retirement. But in Washington, Bradley established himself as a serious policy maker, including as a forceful advocate for universal health insurance. He ran for president in 2000, running to then-Vice President Al Gore's left in the primaries. Jim Bunning pitched his way into the Baseball Hall of Fame for the Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies and others, and helped solidify the Major League Baseball's players' union. After baseball, Bunning returned to his native Kentucky and, unlike many sports stars who enter politics, started at the bottom: He became a city councilman, then a state senator. He won the Republican nomination for governor in 1983 but lost in November. In 1986, he was elected to Congress, serving six terms before a promotion to the U.S. Senate, where he served 12 years. Bunning was outspoken in urging congressional investigations into steroid use in professional baseball. Davids, a Kansas congresswoman, competed as an amateur and professional MMA fighter and played up the experience in her 2018 House campaign. 'This is a tough place to be a woman. I've been put down, and pushed aside, knocked out. Truth is, I've had to fight my whole life ... but I didn't let anything get in my way,' she said in one ad showing her training in the gym. Men dominate the ranks of U.S. politicians from the sports world. But Giardina, the Florida State University professor, said that is shifting, especially with the rise of team leagues like the WNBA. 'As women's professional sports continue to grow in popularity, the likelihood that former athletes will run for political office and win necessarily increases, given that they will have had a more prominent platform,' Giardina said. Stars like the WNBA's Caitlin Clark, whose college career at Iowa propelled her to the national stage, and Olympian swimmer Katie Ledecky, he said, 'are completely normalized' for younger sports fans who, in turn, will help shape future electorates. 'Could we see Sen. Caitlin Clark from Iowa or Indiana' where she plays professionally, Giardina asked. 'It's certainly possible.'
The Courier
29-04-2025
- Business
- The Courier
Futtle Brewery team take over East Pier Smokehouse in St Monans
When the future of one of Fife's best-loved seaside restaurants hung in the balance, many food lovers feared the worst. But East Pier Smokehouse in St Monans has found vibrant new life thanks to the award-winning team behind Futtle Brewery. And one week into its new era, the signs are more than promising. The Futtle duo, Lucy Hine and Stephen Marshall, already renowned for their organic brewery and bar at Bowhouse and their bottle shop and bar on Dundee's Commercial Street, have stepped in to run the Smokehouse as their third venture. Their impeccable taste and ethos – rooted in sustainability, seasonality, and natural production – earned them Brewer of the Year at The Courier's 2025 Food and Drink Awards. Now, they're bringing that same quiet excellence to St Monans' shoreline, in collaboration with acclaimed chef Elaine Chalmers. And what a location it is. St Monans, with its pastel-painted harbourside houses and stunning views stretching towards the Isle of May and Bass Rock, feels like a secret, timeless place. Just a 45-minute drive from Dundee, it's a beautiful journey that feels like a true escape, particularly when rewarded with a meal at East Pier. The Smokehouse has built a reputation over the past 15 years for informal, joyous seafood: lobster eaten out of cardboard boxes, dogs lounging at their owners' feet, salty air whipping around. It was casual, but it was special. When news of its potential closure surfaced recently, loyal fans braced for disappointment. Instead, the Futtle team have revived it – with the help of a chef who knows exactly how to honour local produce. Elaine Chalmers, originally from Dundee, returned to Scotland after years of working in London's demanding food scene. Before arriving at East Pier, she made her mark at Hospitalfield House in Arbroath, where she crafted seasonal, creative menus that championed Angus and Fife's produce. East Pier's new menu keeps the spirit of the Smokehouse alive while refining it. Lobster still features, and local sourcing is the order of the day, showcased in a selection that is both simple and sharp. On a visit with my mother, her husband, and my daughter, the menu's sense of place was immediate – and intriguing. A starter of simple radishes and butter (£6.50) caught my eye. It might sound overly plain, but in Elaine's' hands, it became something quietly thrilling: a plate of perfect, glossy radishes, fresh from nearby fields, their leaves as vibrant and edible as the roots. The radishes were juicy, peppery, and cleansing, with a pat of good butter and a sprinkle of sea salt to accompany them. If anything, a whipped soft cheese might have clung better to the cold radishes, but the dish's straightforward honesty was a delight – a literal taste of Fife in early summer. Other starters hit equally high notes. Graham's whitebait (£8), lightly fried and golden, disappeared in minutes, while my mum's Denhead asparagus on sourdough (£13) with a perfectly cooked egg was a triumph. The Scottish asparagus was so tender and sweet that it barely needed anything else. The bright green pea shoots were slightly tougher than ideal, but didn't detract from the dish's vibrant freshness. The lobster (£30 for half) was as good as ever, fresh and deliciously sweet accompanied by tarragon mayo and really good chips. I went for the dressed crab (£27), but since I am gluten free I couldn't have the bread that comes with it. Instead they offered me a choice of replacements and I chose the potato salad. I was so happy I did, I'm a huge fan of a tattie salad this was one of the best I've had, with crunchy capers and so much flavour. Other options on the extensive menu were Cullen skink (£10), mussels in fennel, bay, white wine and cream (£16), fish supper (£18) and hot smoked trout (£23). The drinks menu, unsurprisingly, has had a serious upgrade under the Futtle stewardship. Expect to find their own organic beers on tap and an adventurous list of natural and organic wines. My mum enjoyed a bright French Chardonnay (£8) followed by a lively sparkling wine (£7), while Graham opted for a couple of pints of Futtle's own beer (£5 a pint) and then a robust red (£7), with the staff keen to guide us through the different choices. This informative, easy-going wine service feels central to the new East Pier experience – expanding horizons without a hint of pretension. For dessert, we couldn't resist the homemade pavlovas (£8) we had seen arriving at other tables. They were magnificent: chewy at the core, airy at the edges, topped with clouds of cream and a sharp, seasonal rhubarb compote. A simple but blissful finish, washed down with excellent coffees. We sat inside the cosy upstairs space, watching the tide lap full around the harbour walls. All areas of restaurant were busy, even the outdoor seating, popular with dog-walkers and visitors braving the Fife breeze, buzzed with happy diners. Clearly, word has spread fast: the East Pier Smokehouse is not only open, but thriving. There's still a sense that the team are finding their rhythm, with small tweaks to the menu likely as the season progresses. But the essential formula is already locked in: superlative local seafood and produce, natural wines and beer, thoughtful service, and one of the most spectacular backdrops in Scotland. The East Pier Smokehouse's rebirth is a triumph for anyone who loves Scottish-grown food at its best and we can be assured that this beloved spot is in safe, capable hands. I'll be back soon – and often. Address: East Shore, St Monans Ky10 2Ar Telephone: 01241 878104 Website: When: Thursday-Sunday Lunches, Friday & Saturday Dinners. Disabled access: Downstairs toilet and sheltered seating downstairs – no access to upstairs fully covered seating Dog-friendly: In outdoor seating areas Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Surroundings: 5/5 Price: £150 for three starters, 3 mains, two desserts, three glasses of wine and two beers.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas House passes bills related to the Smokehouse Creek wildfire, await Senate OK
Just after the one-year anniversary of the largest wildfire in Texas history — the Smokehouse Creek Fire - state lawmakers are working to take steps to ensure such a fire never happens again. Lawmakers like State Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian, have put forward bills that have passed out of the Texas House and are up for consideration by the Texas Senate to help shore up Texans' readiness for the next crisis and ensure a fire like Smokehouse won't happen again. Dig Deeper: One-year anniversary of Smokehouse Creek Fire highlights Texas wildfire threat King, who also chaired the Texas House Investigative Committee on the Panhandle Wildfires, along with now Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, released a report in mid-2024 about how the fire started. The committee also released several recommended actions for this legislative session to look at, which King has made good on with two legislative items that were approved with bipartisan support in the House on April 1. "Wildfires affect not only the Panhandle, but the entire state of Texas," Burrows said. "It is good to see Republicans and Democrats come together and support such critical, important bills for our first responders and emergency management." The first bill, HB 143, aims to ensure that electrical power lines serving well sites and surface facilities involved in oil and gas operations are constructed, operated, and maintained according to the National Electrical Code or relevant Texas codes. This bill stems from the committee's finding that there has been an increase in wildfires in the state since 2006 due to "a regulatory no-man's land that permits irresponsible oil and gas operators to neglect fuel loads and dangerous electrical safety problems on and around well site locations, where exposed wiring and other dilapidated electrical equipment make for ready ignition sources." Dig Depper: Unregulated oilfield power lines are suspected of sparking Texas wildfires Burrows said that an area deemed as no-man's land is when an electrical line off-shoots from other power lines to help power the wells and that there was some confusion on who regulates them. "The Public Utilities Commission thought it was the Railroad Commission's responsibility to regulate and inspect and make sure that those offshoot lines were actually up to par and the Railroad Commission thought it was the Public Utilities Commission," Burrows said. However, after the House concluded its investigation, PUC and the commission drafted a memorandum of understanding on how to best proceed in regulating that area. Burrows said HB 143 seeks to codify the MOU into law. Others are reading: Xcel Energy confirms company's infrastructure likely started Smokehouse Creek fire There was also another realization that the committee discovered last year, which spurred the creation of HB 13. "Through hours of testimony, it became abundantly clear that the underlying problem was lack of communication," King said on the House floor on April 1. It is through HB 13 that King said the state would create the Texas Interoperability Council to help facilitate the communication between first responders in emergency events by developing the necessary infrastructure to do so, along with the council creating a statewide strategic plan to do so. The bill would also task the new council with overseeing a grant that would help fund local governments' purchase of necessary emergency equipment and infrastructure to achieve this goal. According to King, the rider for the bill to fund the grant equates to $500 million every two years. Others are reading: Fairly's bill aims to make statewide database for fire depts. to better fight wildfires The council would be formed by six appointees, two each from the governor, the House speaker, and the Lt. Governor. It would not be subject to Texas open meeting laws because King said the council would handle sensitive critical infrastructure for the state. Although this bill stems from the House's investigation, Burrows said HB 13 would address issues found during another House investigation into a deadlier event three years ago. "We found some of the same issues in our investigatory committee from the Robb Elementary School shooting," Burrows said. "We have learned from that that when we have emergency situations, different departments and law enforcement agencies use different equipment, and so an emergency comes up, they cannot talk to one another." The bills now head to the Senate, where they will be debated. If passed, they will then head to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk to be signed and become effective Sept. 1, 2025. Mateo Rosiles is the Government & Public Policy reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Got a news tip for him? Email him at mrosiles@ This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas lawmakers seek to prevent more wildfires, support emergency services
