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  • Too much Atlantic in Atlantic City: Beach erosion has casinos desperately seeking sand by summer
    on March 18, 2024 at 7:18 pm

    ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — The ocean and beaches have always been a part of Atlantic City’s identity: from salt water taffy to Miss America bathing beauties to the name of the place itself, the city has been marketed as a place to have fun by the sea. But there is a little too much Atlantic in Atlantic City this year as the crucial summer season approaches. Weeks of winter storms have badly eroded beaches in the northern section of town, leaving little if any sand on which to play during all but the lowest tides. Executives with the three northernmost casinos: the Ocean Casino Resort, Resorts and Hard Rock, are pressing the federal and state governments to expedite a beach replenishment project that was supposed to have been done last year. But under the current best-case scenario, new sand won’t be hitting the beaches until late summer, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the agency that oversees such projects. And that has the casinos concerned about not having an essential element of their tourism appeal. Atlantic City has long said its beaches set it apart from the plentiful gambling options elsewhere in the region and the country. Without them, it could be a harder sell in attracting tourists and gamblers. “One of the highlights of coming to Atlantic City has always been the beaches and the Boardwalk,” said Mike Sampson, general manager of the Hard Rock casino. “It’s going to be a challenge.” Hard Rock lost its popular beach bar to repeated winter storms. “It was totally destroyed,” Sampson said. “Parts of it washed out to sea; debris remained on the beach and had to be disposed of.” He said Hard Rock is hopeful it can still rent out beach cabanas and umbrellas this summer, albeit on a smaller beach. Sampson said that “unless someone can intervene, it’s probably going to be a post-summer fill.” Anything that might make people less likely to come to Atlantic City is bad news for the gambling resort, which still has not recovered from the COVID-19 outbreak. Only three of the nine casinos are winning more money from in-person gamblers than they did in 2019 before the pandemic hit. And while internet gambling and sports betting has added new revenue streams to the equation, that money must be shared with partners such as tech platforms and sports books, and is not solely for the casinos to keep. That is why the casinos consider money won from in-person gamblers to be their core business — and why they need usable beaches. Last summer, the Ocean Casino spent $600,000 to truck in and dump sand on its beach, which was not in as bad a shape as it is this year. “How do you run a beach resort without a beach?” asked Bill Callahan, Ocean’s general manager. “It’s a tough pill to swallow.” And an expensive one: that sand quickly washed away, and even less is left there now. At high tide, the ocean waves lap up against the dune, which itself is badly eroded. “By the end of summer, all that sand was gone,” said Ian Jerome, project director for Ocean’s effort last year. “That is not a sustainable option.” Of the dozen beach entrances spanning the three casinos, only two are accessible, he said. The rest just dead-end in mid-air, with treacherous drop-offs that could cause serious injury — or worse — should anyone fall from them. Atlantic City last received beach replenishment in 2020, and was due for additional sand last summer. But Congress failed to approve funding for the project then. This year, $25 million in federal funding is available toward the $30 million cost, of which the state pays a smaller percentage. But the government contracting process does not lend itself to quick fixes. Stephen Rochette, a spokesman for the Army Corps, said a contract for the work will be put out to bid in April or May, with the work starting “sometime this summer or in the fall.” He said the agency is aware of the tendency of Atlantic City’s northern beaches to erode at a more rapid rate than other ones, and is studying the situation to see if any engineering improvements can be added to the eventual project design. Mark Giannantonio, president of Resorts casino and of the Casino Association of New Jersey, said the casinos want at least some of the project to be carried out in early summer — what he called a possible “beach-lite” option. “Everyone realizes the importance of getting this sand,” he said. “The sense of urgency is real.” ___ Follow Wayne Parry on X, formerly Twitter, at www.twitter.com/WayneParryAC Brought to you by www.srnnews.com

  • Sports Illustrated will continue operations after agreement reached with new publisher
    on March 18, 2024 at 7:18 pm

    Sports Illustrated will continue operations after the company that owns the brand agreed with a new publisher for its print and digital products. Minute Media took over on Monday after reaching a licensing agreement with Authentic Brands Group. On Jan. 19, Authentic announced that it was revoking The Arena Group’s publishing license after Arena failed to make a quarterly payment. Authentic had been in negotiations with Arena, Minute Media and other publishing entities over the past two months. Authentic will acquire an equity stake in Minute Media, which also publishes the online sites The Players’ Tribune, FanSided and 90min. Other terms, including the length of the deal, were not announced. “Sports Illustrated is the gold standard for sports journalism and has been for nearly 70 years across both print and digital media. The weight and power of that distinction cannot be understated. At Minute Media, our focus will be to take that legacy into new, emerging channels, enhancing visibility, commercial viability, and sustainable impact, all while ensuring that the SI team is inspired to flourish in this new era of media,” Minute Media founder and CEO Asaf Peled said in a statement. What this means for the writers and others who produce Sports Illustrated remains to be seen. Minute Media will begin meeting with SI employees over the next couple of weeks as it determines how much of the staff it will retain, according to a person with knowledge of the transition. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak publicly about them. SI co-Editor in Chief Stephen Cannella told employees in a memo to continue operating as if it were business as usual for now. “We have said from the start that our top priorities are to keep Sports Illustrated alive, uphold the legacy of the institution and protect our union jobs. We look forward to discussing a future with Minute Media that does that,” said Emma Baccellieri, an SI staff writer and vice chair of the employee union that the NewsGuild represents. The Arena Group acquired publishing rights from Authentic in 2019 for at least 10 years, but it had many hurdles. In December, it fired chief executive officer Ross Levinsohn when the magazine’s alleged use of AI-generated stories drew public backlash. Sports Illustrated has had a rough six years. It was acquired by Meredith Publishing in 2018 as part of the purchase of Time Inc., which started the magazine in 1954. Less than a year later, Meredith sold the magazine’s intellectual property to Authentic for $110 million. Authentic owns the intellectual property of many brands and stars, including Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Muhammad Ali and Reebok. Once a weekly publication, Sports Illustrated was reduced to biweekly publishing in 2018 and became a monthly in 2020. “In Minute Media, we have found a partner that will honor SI’s lauded legacy and exceed fan expectations for the future. As Minute Media shepherds the SI brand across a rapidly evolving media landscape, our priority at Authentic is — and has always been — to protect its journalistic integrity and longevity,” Daniel W. Dienst, Authentic’s executive vice chairman, tactical ops, said in a statement. “Minute Media has successfully proven that they are leading the way in a new era of sports storytelling, and we are excited and optimistic about this partnership and the future of Sports Illustrated as the preeminent lens into sport.” ___ Associated Press Media Writer David Bauder contributed to this report. ___ AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports Brought to you by www.srnnews.com

  • The Media Line: US and Israel Leadership Discuss Gaza War in First Call Since February
    on March 18, 2024 at 6:20 pm

    US and Israel Leadership Discuss Gaza War in First Call Since February By The Media LineThe Media Line Staff US President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, discussing the ongoing conflict in Gaza during their first known communication since February 15. The White House confirmed that the leaders discussed “the latest developments … including the situation in Rafah and efforts to surge humanitarian assistance to Gaza.” A detailed readout of the call is expected to be released soon. This conversation was the 20th between the two leaders since the onset of the Gaza war on October 7. The dialogue comes following remarks made last week by Sen. Chuck Schumer, the most senior Congressional Democrat, who called for early elections in Israel. Schumer criticized Netanyahu as an “obstacle to peace,” grouping him with Hamas, the Israeli far-right, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Biden has acknowledged the frustration felt by many Americans, though he emphasized that the decision for elections lies with the Israeli populace. This also comes as the US actively pursues a temporary cease-fire through a hostage deal, aiming for a longer-lasting truce and a comprehensive regional initiative. This plan includes reconstructing Gaza with the support of Arab allies, reforming the Palestinian Authority, normalizing ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel, and establishing a roadmap towards a Palestinian state. However, despite the US’s assertions of Israeli cooperation with the hostage deal, Netanyahu’s stance suggests resistance to any agreement that might lead to broader regional realignment, given his coalition’s opposition to a two-state solution. Brought to you by www.srnnews.com

  • An Afghan refugee has been convicted of murder in a case that shocked Albuquerque’s Muslim community
    on March 18, 2024 at 6:18 pm

    ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — An Afghan refugee was found guilty Monday of first-degree murder in one of three fatal shootings that shook Albuquerque’s Muslim community during the summer of 2022. Muhammad Syed faces life in prison for killing 41-year-old Aftab Hussein on July 26, 2022. He also will stand trial in the coming months in the other two slayings. During the trial, prosecutors presented cellphone data that showed his phone was in the area when the shooting occurred, and a ballistics expert testified that casings and projectiles recovered from the scene had been fired from a rifle that was found hidden under Syed’s bed. Defense attorneys argued that prosecutors had no evidence that Syed was the one who pulled the trigger. They said others who lived in his home could also access his phone, the vehicle and the rifle. The defense called no witnesses; Syed tearfully declined to testify in his own defense. Prosecutors on Monday said they were pleased that jurors agreed it was a deliberate killing. However, they acknowledged that no testimony during the weeklong trial nor any court filings addressed a possible motive or detailed any interactions that Syed might have had with Hussein before the killing. “We were not able to uncover anything that we would indicate would be a motive that would explain this,” Deputy District Attorney David Waymire said outside the courthouse. “As best we can tell, this could be a case of a serial killer where there’s a motive known only to them and not something that we can really understand.” Defense attorneys said the conviction would be appealed once the other two trials are complete. They too said a motive has yet to be uncovered. The three ambush-style killings happened over the course of several days, leaving authorities scrambling to determine if race or religion might have been behind the crimes. It was not long before the investigation shifted away from possible hate crimes to what prosecutors described to jurors as the “willful and very deliberate” actions of another member of the Muslim community. Syed, who speaks Pashto and required the help of translators throughout the trial, settled in the U.S. with his family several years before the killings. Prosecutors described him during previous court hearings as having a violent history. His public defenders argued that previous allegations of domestic violence never resulted in convictions. Syed also is accused of killing Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, a 27-year-old urban planner who was gunned down Aug. 1, 2022, while taking his evening walk, and Naeem Hussain, who was shot four days later as he sat in his vehicle outside a refugee resettlement agency on the city’s south side. Muhammad Afzaal Hussain’s older brother, Muhammad Imtiaz Hussain, was there Monday to hear the verdict. He has been following the cases closely and like others in the community is troubled that there’s still no answer as to why his brother and the others were targeted. A student leader at the University of New Mexico who was active in politics and later worked for the city of Española, Muhammad Afzaal Hussain had a bright future, his brother said. They had come to the United States from Pakistan for educational and economic opportunities. He said the life they had planned was just starting to come to fruition when his brother was killed. “It was a big loss,” he said. Police also identified Syed as the suspect in the killing of another Muslim man in 2021, but no charges have been filed in that case. Authorities issued a public plea for help following the third killing in the summer of 2022. They shared photographs of a vehicle believed to be involved in the crimes, resulting in tips that led to Syed. Syed denied involvement in the killings after being stopped more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) from Albuquerque. He told authorities he was on his way to Texas to find a new home for his family, saying he was concerned about the killings in Albuquerque. The judge prohibited prosecutors from directly introducing as evidence statements Syed made to a detective while being questioned. Defense attorneys argued that Syed’s rights were violated because the detective, through an interpreter, did not adequately inform Syed of his right to a court-appointed attorney. During the trial, prosecutors gave jurors a rundown of what happened the night of the first killing: Hussein parked at his apartment complex at around 10 p.m. and had just stepped out of his vehicle with his keys still in his hand when gunfire erupted. “He stood no chance,” prosecutor Jordan Machin said during closing arguments. Machin said Syed had been lying in wait and that he continued to shoot even as Hussein lay on the ground. Officers found Hussein with multiple wounds that stretched from his neck down to his feet. Investigators testified that some of the high-caliber rounds went through his body and pierced the car. Prosecutors showed photos of Hussein’s bullet-riddled car and said the victim was killed nearly instantly. Brought to you by www.srnnews.com

  • Former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan will not run with No Labels as it seeks a 2024 candidate
    on March 18, 2024 at 5:19 pm

    NEW YORK (AP) — Former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, a leading contender in No Labels’ push to recruit a presidential nominee, has ruled out a 2024 bid. Duncan, a Republican, had been in communication with the centrist group in recent weeks about running for the White House under the No Labels banner this fall. The well-funded organization has already secured ballot access in more than a dozen states. “After careful deliberation, I have withdrawn my name from consideration for the No Labels presidential ticket,” Duncan said in a statement. “It was an honor to be approached, and I am grateful to all those who are engaged in good-faith efforts to offer Americans a better choice than the Trump vs. Biden re-match.” The former Georgia leader becomes the latest would-be candidate to turn down No Labels, a list that includes Republican former presidential candidate Nikki Haley, Republican former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and Democratic retiring West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin. No Labels has been working aggressively — and privately — to field a so-called “unity ticket” designed to provide voters with an alternative to former President Donald Trump, a Republican, and President Joe Biden, a Democrat, in the general election. Polls suggest many Americans don’t want a 2020 rematch, a dynamic No Labels sees as an opening to offer a bipartisan ticket. But Democrats are especially worried that a No Labels candidate would undermine Biden’s reelection. Duncan, who has been critical of Trump, said he would continue focusing on efforts to improve the GOP “so we can elect more common-sense conservative candidates in the future.” Duncan’s announcement comes less than two weeks after No Labels’ delegates voted to move forward with the process of nominating a candidate. No Labels did not immediately respond when asked to comment on Duncan’s announcement. ___ Follow the AP’s coverage of the 2024 election at https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024. Brought to you by www.srnnews.com