3 Sep 2024

How the Gophers are handling star prospect Koi Perich

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The top recruit in the Gophers’ 2024 recruiting class was on the field for the first play of the new season Thursday against North Carolina.

True freshman Koi Perich, a four-star prospect from Esko, Minn., served as a front-line blocker on the U’s kickoff return team at Huntington Bank Stadium. Throughout the 19-17 loss to North Carolina, he continued to play special teams, including on punt units.

“We just want to make sure Koi is ready to play when Koi has to play,” Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck told the Pioneer Press on Monday. “He’s a really good football player. He’s still developing and has a lot to learn, but we want him to be able to learn on the fly.”

Fleck said the program has not yet made any decisions on whether Perich will redshirt this season. In only one season, players can take the field in four regular-season games (plus a fifth appearance in a bowl game) and not use that year of eligibility.

Perich, who is listed at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, is primarily a safety, and the Gophers relied on Aidan Gousby, Coleman Bryson and Kerry Brown at that position against the Tar Heels. Veteran safety Darius Green, who is coming back from an off-season ailment, was sidelined in Week 1.

“You just don’t know how it’s going to play out,” Fleck said. “And if you do get to him, where he becomes ready to play, and you have to play him, then he’s ready to play. That’s what we’re working on right now.”

The Gophers hope a little taste against an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent in Week 1 can go a long way towards Perich’s overall development.

Offensive line issues

The Gophers’ O-line allowed five sacks and the right side received the lowest pass-blocking grades from Pro Football Focus. Guard Quinn Carroll was pegged at 56.6 and tackle Martes Lewis was at 51.5.

“I think there was just inconsistency across the whole line,” Fleck said. “I don’t think it was just one guy, but I think the whole line, especially on that right side, is something we’ll always look at.”

Fleck said fifth-year Lewis, who has moved from guard last season, and sixth-year Carroll, who moved inside from tackle, as well as redshirt freshman Phillip Daniels and redshirt sophomore Ashton Beers have all made improvements since last season. Lewis initially won the starting job over Daniels in fall camp.

“It’s made it harder,” Fleck said about the overall level of competition improving. “It’s not like, ‘Oh, we didn’t get any better.’ Everybody’s gotten better. So now it’s, ‘How do we, moving forward, put the best five out there? And then how do we create the best five throughout the game?’ If that means we have to rotate people, then we rotate people. We’ll make those decisions as we keep going.”

Four debuts

Besides Perich, three other Gophers made their on-field debuts Thursday, including Daniels, Samuel Madu and Alan Soukup. All four played on special teams, with true freshman Soukup serving as the new long snapper. True freshman Madu also plays cornerback.

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3 Sep 2024

Here are readers’ pets featured in the Morning Report in August

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We featured one parrot, nine dogs and 10 cats in our weekday newsletter in August.

“Thanks for bringing joy with your pet photos you publish!” wrote one reader.

Subscribe to the Morning Report or any of our free newsletters at twincities.com/newsletters.

Want to see more cute pet photos? Here’s a slideshow from July.

Friday, Aug. 30

Gus

“Gus was not a happy kitty when he moved in with me but we worked it out,” Steve writes.

Wednesday, Aug. 28

“It’s been a while since I’ve sent in a photo of my grandpuppy, Cali, so here are a couple,” writes Linda of Rochester.

“Here she is on a hike in the mountains by Les Diablerets, Switzerland. My daughter said she was tempted to sing ‘She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain’ when she took the photo.

Cali in Switzerland.

“The second photo is an example of an after-hike nap. Looks pretty cozy to me!”

Cali

Tuesday, Aug. 27

Pepper and Charlie

Meet Pepper and Charlie.

(Pepper is the Siamese and Charlie is the orange tabby.)

“They were both fosters through Ruff Start Rescue and I’m a foster fail,” writes Kelly of Mendota Heights. “Pepper loves playing with his toy mice and following Mom around the house. Charlie loves to look out the window and watch for birds. Curious Charlie!”

Monday, Aug. 26

Geri sent us another photo of Sookie, her rescued granddog.

Sookie

“This is an annual fundraiser for a Seattle shelter,” writes Geri of Sookie’s 5K.

How’d it go?

“It went fine,” Geri replied. “Sookie completed the 5K and was motivated for the treat after the completion.

Friday, Aug. 23

Herbie

“Hi, I’m Herbie the Cat and I found my forever home with Patty on Albemarle Street in my hometown of St. Paul,” writes Herbie (with Uncle Richard’s help). “I was homeless but not anymore! I hope that I can be a star in your newspaper! Love, Herbie.”

Thursday, Aug. 22

The cats of Twin City Cat Fanciers, Inc., at the Minnesota State Fair.

“These are some of the cats that will be at our State Fair booth in the Pet Pavilion starting Thursday: American Curl, Oriental Shorthair, Bengal, Maine Coon, American Shorthair, Egyptian Mau, Birman, Havana Brown and even household pets who are also included prominently at cat shows, ” Jill writes. “One or two breeds will be featured each day. Watch our Facebook page (Twin City Cat Fanciers, Inc.) for the breeds that will be there each day. People can talk to their owners, get information on the breeds, cat care and cat shows, like our show coming up Sept. 28-29 at RiverCentre in downtown St. Paul.”

Wednesday, Aug. 21

Layla and Ozzy

“Layla, our half-Boxer, and Ozzy, our son’s Brindle Boxer, love to dance and play when they are together,” Sandy writes.

Tuesday, Aug. 20

Henry Cabot Henhouse III

“This is Henry Cabot Henhouse III, named after the 1960s cartoon, ‘Super Chicken,’” Julie writes. “He goes by Cabot. Cabot is a cockatiel and is 19 years old. Along with his seed and pellets he enjoys vegetable treats such as cucumber, peppers, peas and corn.

“Larger birds can live 75+ years and many can be very loud, so do your research before committing. Don’t think of parakeets, cockatiels and smaller birds as ‘starter birds.’ As you can see by his age, Cabot has put up with me for 19 years. He requires attention such as wanting neck scritches, especially when he is molting.

“There is an expression that says dog and cat people agree on one thing: Bird people are weird. I prefer the quote attributed to Mark Twain: ‘She was not quite what you would call refined. She was not quite what you would call unrefined. She was the kind of person that keeps a parrot.’”

Monday, Aug. 19 (Memorial)

Nikki

“My dog, Nikki, loved water and playing Frisbee,” Pam writes. “She was a rescue and the best dog. Her spots on her back looked like an outline of Mickey Mouse. We lost her to cancer in 2019 and miss her terribly.”

Nikki

Friday, Aug. 16

Maple May at Birch Lake Animal Hospital.

“We have a new grand dog called Maple May!” Laurie writes. “She is a chocolate Lab and just adorable. We thought this photo from the vet (Birch Lake Animal Hospital) was so funny! She is a great sleeper and trying to be a good friend to her brother Prince the cat. I have always thought that if Labs stayed puppy size it would be so awesome.

Maple May and Prince.

“Thanks for bringing joy with your pet photos you publish!”

Thursday, Aug. 15

Else and Bailey

“Else is a Golden Retriever who just turned seven years old and has recovered from a near fatal leg accident a year and a half ago, ” writes Michael of Minneapolis. “Bailey, who is four years old, is her brother who keeps her on her toes with her playful antics. He is known for chasing cars along the fences at the dog park. Legend has it that he can run 40 mph. They have been great companions to me and my wife. I never had dogs before them and they mean the world to me!”

Wednesday, Aug. 14

Sadie

“This is my newest grand dog,” Sue writes. “Her name is Sadie, she was a rescue from Coco’s Heart. She was surrendered after having been used to produce puppies. She came to my daughter scared but she has made great progress. We are happy to welcome her to our family.”

Tuesday, Aug. 13

Finn

“Our son-in-law, Todd, had left his backpack open overnight,” Georganne wrote in July. “Finn decided he would take this chance to see if it would be a ‘Take Your Cat to Work Day.’ Cute ploy, but it didn’t work. Maybe another day, Finn.”

Monday, Aug. 12 (Memorial)

“A photo of our granddog, Molly, was published in Daily Doggo on May 14, 2021,” Rita writes.

Here is that photo again, with Molly and her toy friend, Steve, sunning themselves in Roseville:

Molly

Now, three years later, Rita has a sad update:

Molly and Jeff

“This photo was taken just a few weeks ago, picturing a Molly who had gotten old and weary. She was suffering from frequent seizures, loss of appetite, confusion and a poor quality of life in general. Her family made the difficult decision to send her over the Rainbow Bridge on July 15. Their home just isn’t the same without her. Notice that her friend Jeff was with her to the end!”

We are so sorry for your loss, Rita and family.

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3 Sep 2024

Could mass protests in Israel over the hostages persuade Netanyahu to agree to a cease-fire deal?

by | posted in: Politics | 0

By TIA GOLDENBERG Associated Press

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israelis were plunged into grief and anger this weekend after the military said six hostages were killed by their captors in Gaza just as troops were closing in on their location. The rage sparked massive protests and a general strike — the most intense domestic pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since the start of the war nearly 11 months ago.

Many Israelis blame Netanyahu for the mounting number of dead hostages and are calling for a cease-fire agreement to free the remaining roughly 100 captives — even if that means ending the conflict. Sunday’s demonstrations were the largest show of support for a hostage deal since Oct. 7, when Hamas-led terrorists stormed into Israel and kidnapped 250 people. Hamas has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, Canada and the European Union.

But Netanyahu has faced fierce pressure to reach a cease-fire agreement before, from key governing partners to top security officials and even Israel’s most important international ally, the U.S. Yet a deal to wind down the war in Gaza remains elusive.

Here’s a look at how the public outcry in Israel could affect Netanyahu’s next moves in the war:

Netanyahu’s position

Throughout the war, critics have claimed Netanyahu has put his political survival above all else, including the fate of the hostages. His rule relies on support from two ultranationalist parties that were once at the fringes of Israeli politics but now hold key positions in government.

Headed by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, they oppose any deal that ends the war or sets free Palestinian prisoners convicted of killing Israelis. They have vowed to topple the government should Netanyahu agree to a cease-fire — a step that would trigger elections that could remove Netanyahu from office.

“What he cares about is his political survival,” said Reuven Hazan, a political scientist at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University. “His political survival with Ben-Gvir and Smotrich doesn’t allow him to end the war and bring back the hostages.”

Netanyahu blames Hamas for the lack of a deal.

Looming over the prime minister is also his ongoing trial on corruption charges. If Netanyahu is voted out of power, he will lose his platform to rail against the judicial system, which he accuses of being biased. He also wouldn’t be able to move ahead with his government’s planned changes to the legal system that critics say could affect the trial and help him avoid a conviction.

Netanyahu says he has the country’s best interests in mind and insists that the military operation in Gaza is the best way to bring about the hostages’ freedom. He also wants any deal to keep Israeli troops in two strips of land in Gaza, and reaffirmed his insistence that he will never agree to a withdrawal from one of those areas on Monday.

Hamas has rejected those demands as dealbreakers — and the condition has prompted clashes with Netanyahu’s own defense minister, who says a deal that frees the hostages should be a priority.

As the toll of the war in Gaza has mounted — with tens of thousands killed and whole swaths of the territory decimated — Israel has become increasingly isolated internationally. On Monday, when asked if Netanyahu was doing enough to negotiate a deal, U.S. President Joe Biden responded, “No.”

Biden, who has never seen eye to eye with the Israeli leader even though their nations are close allies, has grown increasingly critical of his counterpart’s leadership. But the timing on Monday’s remark was particularly pointed, coming as it did after the demonstrations and outpouring of grief for the hostages.

The largest show of support for a hostage deal

Many Israelis accuse Netanyahu of obstructing a deal to stay in power and say that by not ending the war, he is putting the lives of the hostages in danger.

“Hamas was the one that pulled the trigger, but Netanyahu is the one who sentenced (the hostages) to death,” said an editorial Sunday in the liberal daily Haaretz.

Israel has seen weekly protests in solidarity with the hostages since the start of the war. But over time, as Israelis have tried to return to a semblance of normalcy or have been preoccupied by fears of a regional war with Iran or the militant group Hezbollah, the protests have dwindled in size. That has eased pressure on Netanyahu and talks toward a deal have repeatedly fizzled.

But on Sunday, hundreds of thousands of people poured into central Tel Aviv, banging drums and chanting “Deal, now!” About 100 hostages remain in captivity in Gaza, roughly a third of them said to be dead. Israel and Hamas have been mulling a three-phased proposal that would set them free and end the war.

It was the largest demonstration Israel has seen at least since before the war, when Israelis took the streets weekly to protest a plan by Netanyahu to overhaul the judiciary. While the protests coupled with a general strike prompted Netanyahu and his government to walk back or soften some decisions, the overhaul was only put on hold when the war broke out.

The limits of public pressure

The current public outcry has its limits. Sunday’s protest failed to break longstanding political boundaries and appeared to be largely made up of the same liberal, secular Israelis who protested the overhaul and against Netanyahu’s leadership while on trial for alleged corruption. Many of Netanyahu’s supporters say relenting on any position in talks now after the deaths of the six hostages would signal to Hamas that it can reap rewards from such violence.

Similarly, Monday’s strike reflected those same political divisions. Liberal municipalities in central Israel, including Tel Aviv, joined the strike, leading to public daycares and kindergartens closing as well as other services. But other cities, mostly with conservative and religious populations that tend to support Netanyahu, including Jerusalem, did not join the strike. And a labor court cut the strike short by several hours, hobbling its efficacy.

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Without large sustained protests across a broader swath of society, it’s hard to see how Netanyahu will feel enough pressure to change his approach, said Hazan, the political scientist. And so long as his government is stable, he may stick to his demands in the negotiations to appease his coalition and ignore the protests entirely.

Still, relatives of the hostages found killed in Gaza expressed hope that the protests marked a turning point in the war that might force progress on a deal.

In a eulogy for Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American who became one of the most high-profile captives, his father spoke of the emotional resonance the deaths might have.

“For 330 days, mama and I sought the proverbial stone that we could turn over to save you,” Jon Polin said. “Maybe, just maybe, your death is the stone, the fuel, that will bring home the remaining” hostages.

Associated Press writer Zeke Miller contributed from Washington.

3 Sep 2024

NYC Housing Calendar, Sept. 3-9

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City Limits rounds up the latest housing and land use-related events, public hearings and affordable housing lotteries that are ending soon.

Dept. of City Planning Documents

A rendering of the Arrow Linen site proposal. Brooklyn Community Board 7 will hold a public hearing on the plan next Monday.

Welcome to City Limits’ NYC Housing Calendar, a weekly feature where we round up the latest housing and land use-related events and hearings, as well as upcoming affordable housing lotteries that are ending soon.

Know of an event we should include in next week’s calendar? Email us.

Upcoming Housing and Land Use-Related Events:

Tuesday, Sept. 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: The Department of Housing, Preservation and Development’s (HPD) “Outreach Van” will be located at 4023 Broadway in Manhattan, between 169th and 170th streets, offering information and resources about how to apply for affordable housing, lodge complaints about building violations and more. More here.

Wednesday, Sept. 5 at 1 p.m.: City agencies will host an online webinar about flood preparedness, including a hurricane season forecast, tips about emergency preparedness and obtaining flood insurance. More here.

Wednesday, Sept. 5 at 1 p.m.: The Federal Reserve Bank of New York will host a virtual event and panel discussion about flood risk to low-and-moderate city income households, including the impact on basement housing. More here.

Monday, Sept. 9 at 1 p.m.: The NYC Planning Commission will hold a review session, the agenda for which has not yet been published. More here.

Monday, Sept. 9 at 6:30 p.m.: Brooklyn Community Board 7 will hold a public hearing on a land use application for a proposed rezoning at the Arrow Linen Supply Co. site (441 & 467 Prospect Ave.). More here.

NYC Affordable Housing Lotteries Ending Soon: The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) are closing lotteries on the following subsidized buildings over the next week.

14-09 31st Avenue Apartments, Queens, for households earning between $87,429 – $181,740.

1308 – 1314 Lincoln Place Apartments, Brooklyn, for households earning between $102,686 – $181,740

967 East 167th Street Apartments, Bronx, for households earning between $87,635 – $181,740