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USA Today
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Tony red carpet: USA TODAY'S Ralphie Alversa talks Sarah Snook and more
Tony red carpet: USA TODAY'S Ralphie Alversa talks Sarah Snook and more USA TODAY'S Ralphie Alversa recaps Sarah Snook, George Clooney and more at the 2025 Tonys red carpet.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
This Iowa motorsport race was just ranked among the best in the country
An Iowa motorsport race recently made USA TODAY'S 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards list as one of the best in the country. With 10 raceways around the state and Iowa hosting high-profile races like the NASCAR Cup Series and Sukup IndyCar Race Weekend, it is safe to say Iowans have an affinity for motorsports. Advertisement So out of all the races in Iowa, which one in the state is one of the best in the country? What Iowa motorsport race is one of the best in the country? The NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals placed second in the Top 10 best motorsports races in the country, according to USA TODAY 10BEST. The south-central Iowa race beat out the Dayton 500, Indianapolis 500 and the Las Vegas Grand Prix for Formula 1. More: 15 sports-related things to do in Iowa this summer from marathons to baseball games The only race ranked better than Knoxville's is Sick Week in Orlando, Florida. What is the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals race? First held in 1961, the race draws more than 20,000 spectators annually across four days in early August. Drivers earn points with every lap they complete, and the competitor with the highest point total at the end takes home $1 million. Advertisement The track was initially used for horse racing and is located on the Marion County Fairgrounds. The first automobile race was held in 1901. When is the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals Race? The 64th NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals begins Aug. 6 and runs until Aug. 9. The current champion of the race is Kyle Larson, who has won the Knoxville Nationals in 2021, 2023 and 2024. Tickets are still available for all four days, and they start at $54. More: Kyle Larson revels in time at Iowa Speedway, Knoxville Raceway during off-week Register reporter Kate Kealey contributed to this report Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@ or follow him on X @CooperAWorth. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Knoxville Nationals ranked among the best motorsport races in U.S.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Yahoo
Hocking Hills ranks among most beautiful spots in US, says travel magazine
Add another honor to the list for this Ohio park. Hocking Hills State Park ranks among "The 50 Most Beautiful Places in America," according to Condé Nast Traveler, joining places like the Grand Canyon, the Badlands in South Dakota, the Everglades in Florida, Crater Lake in Oregon and many more. And it's not the first time the park in Southeast Ohio has been noticed by a national publication. Here's what Condé Nast Traveler said about Hocking Hills State Park and the other honors it has received. Snap a selfie: Hocking Hills named the top Instagram landmark in Ohio. See the list The travel magazine has this to say about Hocking Hills in its unranked list: "Open (and beautiful) all year round, Hocking Hills State Park is packed with hiking trails that pass by waterfalls, cliffs, thick forests, and gorges canopied by hemlock trees. The trail leading to the Whispering Cave—a 300-foot-wide recess cave with gentle waterfalls—is particularly lovely." "What an honor," the Ohio Department of Natural Resources said about the ranking on Facebook. WOW! Condé Nast Traveler named Hocking Hills State Park as one of the most beautiful places in America! What an honor 🥰... Posted by Ohio Department of Natural Resources on Friday, February 28, 2025 Can't get out at Hocking Hills? Here are 5 ways to enjoy the area indoors And if the detail that there are 50 spots makes you think the publication just chose one from each state, think again. Arizona, Colorado and Wyoming, among others, get multiple mentions. Sites in states neighboring Ohio to make the list include Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky, Indiana Dunes National Park, New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan. In 2024, it had the Best Hiking Trail in the nation, as decided by readers in USA TODAY'S 10Best ranking. Forbes listed it among the Best Places to Travel in 2023. Also, Hocking Hills topped U.S. News & World Report's Best Places to Visit in Ohio that same year. Whispering Cave is one of several trails at the park. According to the 10Best article, the 5-mile loop takes hikers over a swinging bridge and features the second-largest cave in the region, with a 105-foot seasonal waterfall flowing to the floor below. Whispering Cave beat out trails in Yellowstone National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the trail to the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles, a fact the Ohio Department of Natural Resources bragged about on Facebook. "Well, well, Hills State Park beat out some impressive hikes to claim the top spot for USA TODAY's 2024 Readers' Choice for 10 Best Hiking Trails!" Hocking Hills offers seven hiking trails, according to its website, with Whispering Cave being the longest. The other trails range from a quarter mile to two miles in length, and from easy to difficult. Apart from hiking, Hocking Hills offers boating and fishing at Rose Lake, mountain biking on two 2-mile trails, hunting in designated areas, stargazing at John Glenn Astronomy Park, and an archery range, among others. The newest state park lodge in Ohio, Hocking Hills State Park Lodge offers modern accommodations in a rustic setting, according to its website. It has 81 guestrooms as well as 40 cabins (some pet-friendly) available to rent, as well as several restaurants and pubs. The venue is also available for weddings, retreats, meetings and other events. The lodge is among seven named Best in Lodging in Midwest Living magazine's 2024 Best of the Midwest list, which lists the 25 best Midwest spots for lodging, food and drink, and more. "As the first new state park lodge in Ohio in more than 30 years, it's a transformative addition to a region known for hiking but not big hotels," the magazine wrote. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio park ranks among the 50 most beautiful places in America. Here's why
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Yahoo
Hocking Hills ranks among most beautiful spots in US, per travel magazine. Here's why
Add another honor to the list for this Ohio park. Hocking Hills State Park ranks among "The 50 Most Beautiful Places in America," according to Condé Nast Traveler, joining places like the Grand Canyon, the Badlands in South Dakota, the Everglades in Florida, Crater Lake in Oregon and many more. And it's not the first time the park in Southeast Ohio has been noticed by a national publication. Here's what Condé Nast Traveler said about Hocking Hills State Park and the other honors it has received. Snap a selfie: Hocking Hills named the top Instagram landmark in Ohio. See the list The travel magazine has this to say about Hocking Hills in its unranked list: "Open (and beautiful) all year round, Hocking Hills State Park is packed with hiking trails that pass by waterfalls, cliffs, thick forests, and gorges canopied by hemlock trees. The trail leading to the Whispering Cave—a 300-foot-wide recess cave with gentle waterfalls—is particularly lovely." "What an honor," the Ohio Department of Natural Resources said about the ranking on Facebook. WOW! Condé Nast Traveler named Hocking Hills State Park as one of the most beautiful places in America! What an honor 🥰... Posted by Ohio Department of Natural Resources on Friday, February 28, 2025 Can't get out at Hocking Hills? Here are 5 ways to enjoy the area indoors And if the detail that there are 50 spots makes you think the publication just chose one from each state, think again. Arizona, Colorado and Wyoming, among others, get multiple mentions. Sites in states neighboring Ohio to make the list include Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky, Indiana Dunes National Park, New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan. In 2024, it had the Best Hiking Trail in the nation, as decided by readers in USA TODAY'S 10Best ranking. Forbes listed it among the Best Places to Travel in 2023. Also, Hocking Hills topped U.S. News & World Report's Best Places to Visit in Ohio that same year. Whispering Cave is one of several trails at the park. According to the 10Best article, the 5-mile loop takes hikers over a swinging bridge and features the second-largest cave in the region, with a 105-foot seasonal waterfall flowing to the floor below. Whispering Cave beat out trails in Yellowstone National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the trail to the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles, a fact the Ohio Department of Natural Resources bragged about on Facebook. "Well, well, Hills State Park beat out some impressive hikes to claim the top spot for USA TODAY's 2024 Readers' Choice for 10 Best Hiking Trails!" Hocking Hills offers seven hiking trails, according to its website, with Whispering Cave being the longest. The other trails range from a quarter mile to two miles in length, and from easy to difficult. Apart from hiking, Hocking Hills offers boating and fishing at Rose Lake, mountain biking on two 2-mile trails, hunting in designated areas, stargazing at John Glenn Astronomy Park, and an archery range, among others. The newest state park lodge in Ohio, Hocking Hills State Park Lodge offers modern accommodations in a rustic setting, according to its website. It has 81 guestrooms as well as 40 cabins (some pet-friendly) available to rent, as well as several restaurants and pubs. The venue is also available for weddings, retreats, meetings and other events. The lodge is among seven named Best in Lodging in Midwest Living magazine's 2024 Best of the Midwest list, which lists the 25 best Midwest spots for lodging, food and drink, and more. "As the first new state park lodge in Ohio in more than 30 years, it's a transformative addition to a region known for hiking but not big hotels," the magazine wrote. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio park ranks among the 50 most beautiful places in America. Here's why
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hadley Duvall's courage to confront sexual assault trauma inspired millions
Just four years ago Hadley Duvall, 23, had every intention of leaving her trauma and her life as sexual assault survivor in her past. But when the opportunity came to share her story to advocate for sexual assault victims and reproductive rights for women, she never hesitated. Even when it meant speaking to millions of Americans at the Democratic National Convention in August 2024. Duvall's courage and selflessness has earned her recognition as the Kentucky honoree for USA TODAY'S Women of the Year. Her pure grit began with a simple "yes" after four-minute phone call in July 2023 when Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's office asked if she'd film an ad against his opponent in the election, former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron. At the time, Cameron opposed allowing abortion exceptions for rape and incest. Duvall endured nearly a decade of sexual abuse from her stepfather, and became pregnant at the age of 12 after he raped her. That pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, but she began speaking out on social media about her experience when the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. After Beshear won re-election, Hadley continued sharing her message as part of President Joe Biden's campaign for re-election and later for Vice President Kamala Harris. Now that the election is over, she continues to help women access the health care they need in the post-Dobbs v. Jackson world. The following interview has been lightly edited for context and clarity. Hadley Duvall: This is way more than politics. This is reality. Growing up, I didn't know who the president was and what Congress was, but I was still going through the abuse. I didn't know what laws were in place, and I didn't even know what Roe v. Wade was, but I was still being abused. That didn't change. It's not political for a lot of people. We are not the ones who made it political. Survivors are not the ones who made it political, and we're the ones paying the price of it being political. Duvall: I am working on some community healing … I am just still trying to make sure that the community of survivors and allies and women just know that we are all still here. Just because the election is over doesn't mean we lost our strength. We didn't lose our resilience. We didn't lose our team. We didn't even lose Kamala Harris — we still have her. We still have so many amazing leaders. We still have the community that we built. Nobody can take that from us, and we can't let anyone take that from us. ... There will always be work to be done and you can take a break and that work is still going to be there whenever you're recharged. So we're recharging and then showing people that this is still our fight. It was still going to be our fight, even if the election went another way. So now we just have to strategize, get our plan and stick together. Duvall: I was at a campaign event in Owensboro and someone came up to me who worked for New Beginnings Sexual Assault Support Service. I went through there for my advocacy stuff, for the forensics, and the legal aid and everything (after the abuse.) And they said that after my ad dropped, that my name turned their door into a revolving door. So many people were reporting abuse. The prosecutor who handled my case also reached out to me and said there have been so many people just finding their voice (after the ad), not just in Kentucky, but everywhere. Knowing that someone can sit at home and watch me on their phone or TV, and they can feel the realness. Not only feel it, but get up and then take their power back. I couldn't think of anything that would make me say I'm more proud. Duvall: To me, courage is you when have the smallest bit of doubt, whether it's from you or from somebody else, but you do it anyways. Even if you hesitate. Even if your voice shakes when you do it. You're still there doing it. Maggie Menderski is a reporter for The Courier Journal in Louisville, which is part of the USA Today Network. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Hadley Duvall is USA TODAY'S Women of the Year Kentucky honoree
