Latest news with #Weissman
CBS News
05-05-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
What is beep baseball? Boston team of blind athletes plays America's favorite pastime
The Boston Renegades baseball team plays beep baseball, an adaptive version of America's favorite pastime, designed specifically for blind and visually-impaired athletes. From afar, it might look like any ordinary softball practice—players warming up, bats cracking and coaches shouting encouragement. Beeping balls and bases But take a few steps closer, and something remarkable comes into focus: blindfolded athletes, beeping balls and bases and a team united by passion, perseverance, and an unwavering competitive fire. For Joe McCormick, a standout player for the Renegades, it's become more than a game—it's a life-changing pursuit. "From the first contact of the bat, I was like, this is my future," said McCormick. McCormick's journey into the world of beep baseball began with personal loss. In his senior year of high school, he was diagnosed with Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy, a rare genetic disorder that caused him to rapidly lose his vision. Players guided by sound In 2012, while studying at Harvard University, McCormick discovered beep baseball. The sport, which relies on sound to guide players, opened up a new realm of possibility. Since that day, he's been a key player for the Renegades, one of the most competitive teams in the National Beep Baseball Association. "This is my 13th season now playing here and it's hard to turn it down. Every summer it's like, yup, I want to get back out there with the guys." At the heart of the Renegades is longtime head coach Rob Weissman. For Weissman, coaching beep baseball isn't just about wins and losses—it's about helping athletes redefine what's possible. "Some of the things that they've been through and the way they've handled it is truly amazing," said Weissman. "It's something that I wish I could do and I draw off from them." Games are intense, filled with the crackle of anticipation and bursts of action. Players track a beeping ball by sound alone. When they make contact, they sprint toward buzzing bases while fielders rush to stop them—relying entirely on hearing, teamwork, and trust. "It gives me the ability to combine a lot of different things that I like," said Weissman. "It gives me the ability to stay in the game, be a part of baseball and it gives me the ability to help people." Though victories are celebrated, McCormick says the true rewards lie in something deeper: creating lifelong friendships and showing the world what they can do. "I think there's just this community that people don't realize is there both if you're in the blind community or not," said McCormick. "And so I think one of the big things we want to do by having this event is to get the word out to both blind and sighted folks."
Forbes
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Celebrate The Kentucky Derby With This At-Home Menu By Joshua Weissman
Joshua Weissman showcases his Kentucky Derby At-Home menu, featuring playful twists on Southern ... More classics like mac and cheese, chicken biscuits, and salted potato chip cookies. The Kentucky Derby finally gets underway this Saturday, May 3, at the legendary Churchill Downs in Louisville. The event billed as 'the most exciting two minutes in sports' draws upwards of 150,000 trackside, making it the most-watched and attended horse race in the United States. And while it's known for elaborate fascinators, bold bets, and mint juleps, the spread is also a crowd pleaser. This year, Churchill Downs tapped chef and digital creator Joshua Weissman to take the party from the track to your kitchen with a new Kentucky Derby At-Home menu. Weissman, a New York Times bestselling author with a knack for internet-breaking recipes, was given full creative license to craft a menu that reflects the Derby's tradition-driven but never boring energy. 'Food is such an important part of Derby Day festivities,' he said, 'so I was excited to curate a selection of approachable dishes that honor both the tradition and unexpected nature of the race, all with some fun twists.' The result is a mix of Southern comfort and cocktail pairings with clever updates like baked mac and cheese, honey butter chicken biscuits, salted potato chip chocolate chunk cookies, and Boulevardier Negroni. Whether you're tuning in for the horses or just here for the caramel corn, Weissman's menu makes it easy to keep the vibes high and the kitchen stress low. He spoke to Forbes about the tasty collaboration. Joshua Weissman's honey butter chicken biscuit brings Southern comfort to your Derby Day spread. I think all of the dishes capture that balance. For example, classic southern foods like fried chicken and biscuits are elevated with unique flavors and techniques in my Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit recipe. The honey butter, which is emulsified then drizzled generously all over the top, gives the dish a mouthwatering finish. Generally, I love taking classics that people know and love and making them wildly better than people remember. There's nothing worse than hosting a party and feeling like you're not even able to enjoy it. Where's the fun in that? The Kentucky Derby is such an iconic event and while the race itself only lasts two minutes, people at home will be hosting parties that last far longer. When developing the Kentucky Derby At-Home menu for this year, my priority was making everything elevated yet easy: dishes that are fun and exciting yet easy to make at scale, and easy to set up on a platter, plate, or hot tray. This way, hosts can actually enjoy the festivities too and hangout while people grab bites through the day. For the Perfectly Baked Mac and Cheese and Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit, I focused on doubling down on what makes them great while emphasizing technique to make them far above the average mac and cheese or chicken and biscuit. For example, the honey butter in the Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit being properly emulsified makes a huge difference in both the flavor and texture of that sauce which alone changes the whole experience. I'm excited for fans watching the Kentucky Derby at home this year to try out these recipes and impress their guests. Cookies and popcorn are classic, timeless snacks but my unique twists on them are unexpected and exciting, just like the Kentucky Derby! While the race is a quintessential American sporting event, it's filled with surprises, and I wanted my dishes to mirror that energy. Easy-to-eat snackable items are also the perfect Kentucky Derby party food, allowing guests to eat while enjoying the races and company of others. Joshua Weissman's Boulevardier Negroni is a bourbon-forward twist on a classic. A Boulevardier Negroni goes good with everything in my opinion, and pairs very well with anything on my Kentucky Derby At-Home menu. Even though it's so simple to make, it feels like an elevated drink that can enhance your Derby celebration. It makes you wanna stick that pinky up when you sip. There's a way to prep everything on my Kentucky Derby At-Home menu in advance. Make the cookie dough and chill it. Make your biscuit dough ahead. Marinate your chicken, make your breading for the chicken and keep it in a clear plastic bag waiting. Set yourself up so all you're doing is a quick cook or assembly on the day of so you can enjoy Derby Day experience with family and friends. Have fun with presentation and be creative. The final step in each of the recipes for my Kentucky Derby At-Home menu includes a recommendation for plating. For example, with the Cobb salad, I suggest arranging single rows of each ingredient to make the different colors pop out: the green of the lettuce and avocado, the yellow of the egg, and the red of the tomato. Similarly, with the crudité, I recommend using a shallow bowl and standing the vegetables up to give the dish an elevated look. The worst thing you can do when hosting or cooking is to not find ways to have fun. Mistakes can happen. Just try your best but always remember to have fun. From the food to the fashion and of course, the race, the Derby is such a cultural event with so many different elements for fans to have fun with. My favorite thing to do is to make the full recipes anyway and have leftovers! While your party may come to an end, you can still transport your tastebuds to the racetrack after guests are gone. Alternatively, you can pick 1-2 recipes and cut them in half. For any Kentucky Derby celebration, I would highly recommend you toss the salted potato chip chocolate chunk cookies in though.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill to assist with Colorado rape kit backlog clears Senate committee
(Tek Image/Science Photo Library via Getty Images) A bill that would add additional transparency in the Colorado Bureau of Investigation's progress working through a backlog of rape kits passed unanimously in its first legislative committee Wednesday, following months of concern over the lengthy wait time to have a kit processed. Senate Bill 25-304 now heads to the Senate Appropriation Committee for consideration. 'What our criminal legal system needs — and what, more importantly, our survivors need — is for things to get done quickly,' said bill sponsor Sen. Mike Weissman, an Aurora Democrat. 'The reason that we should care about quickly turning around sex assault evidence kits, to use that bloodless term, is because we owe one survivor justice, and maybe if we do that quickly enough, we can catch somebody and the next one or two or 10 survivors don't have to become survivors in the first place.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The bill is partially modeled on legislation from the Colorado Legislature's Joint Budget Committee that was never introduced. It would create a coordinator position at CBI to oversee the agency's process and progress of completing the sexual assault kits, which include DNA samples and other evidence from survivors to aid in a criminal investigation. Colorado's forensic services are facing a historic backlog of the kits due to reduced staff capacity and ballooning fallout from the discovery that former CBI forensic scientist Yvonne 'Missy' Woods manipulated more than a thousand DNA test results over her career. As of March, there were 1,424 kits in the backlog with an average turnaround time of 558 days, according to a recently implemented data dashboard. The backlog means delayed justice for survivors, as DNA evidence can often be critical for a criminal conviction. 'The impact of this growing delay in turnaround time for sexual assault evidence kits to be processed and analyzed is devastating for individual survivors, as so many of you have heard this spring, but it's also destructive to public trust in our institutions and systems,' said Elizabeth Newman, the policy director for the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault. The coordinator considered under Weissman's bill would report annually to the Legislature on data including the number of kits completed, the number of cases in the backlog, the capacity of state crime laboratories and the amount of additional DNA collected from crime scenes not captured in a kit. The coordinator would also assess and make recommendations on the efficiency of the testing process. That would ultimately bring a 'cross-silo awareness' of what is happening at the state level lab and various local labs, Weissman said. He said the coordinator position's roles and responsibilities will likely change through the amendment process as he speaks with stakeholders. The coordinator position would be paid for with a $150,000 grant using state general fund money. The bill would also create a new notification requirement under the Victim Rights Act that would require a law enforcement agency to update a survivor on the status of their kit every 90 days. It also sets a turnaround goal of 60 days. The agency's current goal is 90 days, which it expects to achieve in 2027. 'To be real clear, I don't think that we're going to get there next month, but I do believe that we can build up our system to where we can get here, and I believe that we should make that promise to the impacted people in our state and to our future selves by putting it in statute,' Weissman said. Lance Allen, CBI's deputy director of forensic services, told lawmakers that he does not think the bill as written would reduce turnaround time for rape kits. He outlined recent actions from the agency, including using $3 million of repurposed funds to outsource processing for about 1,000 kits and hiring a third-party contractor to assess best practices. 'We have a plan to get rid of the backlog and fortunately have received funding to address a good portion of that, and then with the training that we are doing at the state level, we will be increasing our resources and be able to handle that capacity at the state level,' he said. 'I wholeheartedly acknowledge that CBI is in the process of rebuilding trust. We know that.' CBI currently has 16 scientists working at the state lab and is training 15 more. So far, Weissman is the only sponsor on the bill. If it passes the Senate Appropriations Committee, it will move to the entire Senate for consideration, and then the House. The lawmaking term ends on May 7. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Gigantic Mars inflatable breaks free, rolls away from Kennedy Center installation
WASHINGTON () — Washington, we have a problem, well, had a problem. It was a relatively short-lived one Thursday, but several people in the area of the Kennedy Center recorded video and took pictures as a 30-foot-tall version of the planet Mars rolled away from its place in the installation. The Mars inflatable got free from its moorings because of wind. Elizabeth Weissman shared a video of the planetary movement with In the video, you see the inflatable rolling past the building while traffic moves in the foreground. Washingtonian Problems posted a video compilation . In addition to Weissman's video, the compilation features other angles as the gigantic ball rolls and eventually comes to a stop. Staff members at the Kennedy Center recovered Mars, getting it back into alignment with the other celestial bodies that are part of the exhibition on REACH Plaza and around the REACH grounds. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
31-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Breaking down the Lions picks in the latest PFSN 7-round Mock
Breaking down the Lions picks in the latest PFSN 7-round Mock Breaking down the Lions picks in the latest PFSN 7-round Mock, which sees Detroit double up on DL early Most mock drafts run through one round, maybe two or three. But this weekend, Brentley Weissman of Pro Football and Sports Network went through every single pick in all seven rounds for his latest mock draft. That gives us a chance to talk about multiple picks for the Lions and how Weissman views a potential path on draft weekend. Let's dive in. No. 28: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon "Derrick Harmon helped himself this season after a strong year with the Ducks," wrote Weissman. "He is a highly disruptive player who possesses great length and athleticism. "Inserting Harmon into this Detroit Lions' defensive line would be unfair. He is a legit interior rusher who would get a lot of 1-on-1 looks, with Hutchinson occupying much of the double teams. I would love this team/player fit." Harmon has the looks of being a force on the inside and the Lions have continued to build from the inside on the defensive line. Harmon would give the Lions plenty of depth to go with DJ Reader, Alim McNeill, Levi Onwuzurike and Roy Lopez. No. 60: Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss "The Lions double-dip here on the defensive line after drafting Harmon in Round 1 and now taking Princely Umanmielen in Round 2. Umanmielen oozes with burst and bend and has legit sack potential at the next level." The Lions continue to build here in the trenches with Weissman's second pick as they add much-needed depth at defensive end. The Lions have brought back some depth pieces but need a true running mate with Aidan Hutchinson. Umanielen had 10.5 sacks last season for the Rebels. No. 102: Dorian Strong, CB, Virginia Tech "The Lions signed D.J. Reed this offseason and still returned Terrion Arnold, so their starters are set, but they certainly could use some depth. Dorian Strong is an instinctive corner with good length and quickness." The Lions have also added Rock Ya-Sin and Avonte Maddox but will look for more depth. Strong had 32 tackles and two interceptions last season for the Hokies. No. 130: Pat Bryant, WR, Illinois Bryant was the leading receiver for the Illini in 2024, catching 54 passes for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Lions have room after their top 3-4 receivers for depth. No. 196: Jaylin Smith, CB, USC The Lions double-dip at cornerback with Smith, who recorded 58 tackles, three interceptions and two passes defended for the Trojans. No. 228: Caleb Ransaw, CB, Tulane It's a hat trick of defensive backs in this mock for the Lions. Rensaw had 24 tackles and three passes defended in his lone year with Tulane after three years at Troy. No. 244: Tyler Cooper, OG, Minnesota The Lions brought back Kayode Awosika and are likely set to have second-year guard Christian Mahogany run with the first team this offseason. A player like Cooper, with his length and pass protection skills, can be an intriguing developmental option in the 7th.
