The Iola Register, Aug. 8, 2023

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Tuesday, August 8, 2023

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Help abounds for child care expenses

By VICKIE MOSS

The cost of child care rivals the cost of college, Logan Stenseng, an advocate with Thrive Allen County points out.

Plenty of effort is made to help families understand how scholarships, grants and other assistance programs can help them afford college.

So why aren’t more families aware of a program that provides financial help to pay for child care?

A report from Child Care Aware found that Allen County families with a toddler pay an average of $7,193 per year for child care.

“I think we associate K-12

Iolans hit disc golf

education as the time when the public gets involved. But when children are between

the ages of zero and 5, there’s still a social stigma that child care should be entirely on the

family — and that’s not true,” Stenseng said.

“There are programs that we as a community agree should exist for young families.”

Stenseng points out a couple of facts about the Child Care Subsidy Program, administered by the Kansas Department of Children and Families:

∙ A family of four can earn up to $75,000 a year in income and still qualify for financial help to pay for child care.

∙ And if a family qualifies for a child care subsidy, it can be used to pay not just a licensed daycare or preschool center but also a grandparent or other family member who

is approved by the state.

The child care subsidy helps a variety of families pay for child care, particularly lower-income families who are working. However, the child care subsidy has much higher income limits than other types of public assistance programs, which means more families qualify. Eligibility increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and, unlike other pandemic-era assistance programs, it remains at the higher level.

How much assistance is provided will vary depending on the size of family and number of children in daycare or preschool. The subsi-

Tech breakthrough boosts geothermal efforts

By ALEX BROWN The Kansas Reflector

Lawmakers in some states have been laying the groundwork to add geothermal power to the electrical grid and pump underground heat into buildings. Now, a technological breakthrough could dramatically expand those ambitions — and perhaps unleash

Trucking giant Yellow Corp. declares bankruptcy

NEW YORK (AP) — Trucking company Yellow Corp. has declared bankruptcy after years of financial struggles and growing debt, marking a significant shift for the U.S. transportation industry and shippers nationwide.

The Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which was filed Sunday, comes just three years after Yellow received $700 million in pandemic-era loans from the federal government. While a Chapter 11 filing is used to restructure debt while operations continue, Yellow, like oth-

er trucking companies in recent years, will liquidate and the U.S. will join other creditors unlikely to recover funds extended to the company.

Yellow fell into severe financial stress after a long stretch of poor management and strategic decisions dating back decades.

In 2019 two trucking companies, Celadon and New England Motor Freight, file for bankruptcy protection and liquidated.

Former Yellow custom-

See YELLOW | Page A6

Movie night fun

Organizers estimate more than 100 residents attended a free movie night on Iola’s square last Friday. The classic film “The Sandlot” was shown on a giant movie screen, which viewers enjoyed with free popcorn and water. The night was such a success organizers hope to do it again. Plans are in the works to show “Little Rascals” on the evening of Friday, Sept. 8. The Register earlier incorrectly mentioned Sonic Drive-In as one of the event sponsors, but it was Sonic Equipment. We regret the error.

a new wave of policies to tap into geothermal sources.

Last month, a company announced the successful demonstration in the West of a new drilling technique that it says will greatly expand where geothermal plants could be built. And in the Eastern half of the country, where geothermal’s potential is mostly as a heating and

cooling source, a community recently broke ground on the first utility-run thermal energy network.

Some officials say those advances show great promise. A handful of states approved laws this year and others are considering measures that would provide money and regulations to help the industry.

“There have been enormous technological breakthroughs in geothermal,” Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis said in an interview with Stateline. “More geographic areas are now eligible and capable of producing inexpensive geothermal energy. You’re seeing more

See GEOTHERMAL | Page A3

Water Wars set for sudsy return

HUMBOLDT — Before area youngsters begin trudging back to school in the coming weeks, they’ll get another opportunity to beat the summer heat with Saturday’s Water Wars.

The water-based event is sponsored by A Bolder Humboldt.

Activities kick off at 11 a.m. with a water parade circling the downtown square, where water-themed floats and fire trucks wage battle on bystanders with water guns of various styles and sizes. The crowd is actively encouraged to return fire.

The end of the parade brings mayhem elsewhere, with downtown Humboldt converted into a veritable water theme park. A block-long slip and slide, bubble making stations, a foam pipe and kiddie pools return.

Also back are the water balloon dodgeball competitions, polar plunge tanks, water bottle rockets, inflatable water slides, water balloon slingshots, fire truck tours and hydrant sprinklers.

Food trucks will offer assorted treats, and the Water Wars Beer Garden returns.

For those hoping to stay dry, organizers have established the DMZ — Dry Man Zone — for a variety of stage acts through the afternoon. The only pause will be for a watermelon eating contest.

The event concludes at 3 p.m. with the Barrel Blaster, featuring teams of firefighters and civilians blasting streams of water at an overhead barrel in an attempt to push it to the other side.

Most families leave money on the table when it comes to financial aid for child care. A family of four can make up to $75,000 a year and qualify for state funds. PIXABAY.COM

Kansas hospitals see summer COVID surge

By RACHEL MIPRO Kansas Reflector

TOPEKA — A national summer uptick in COVID-19 cases has arrived, but Kansas physicians are still waiting to see if cases in the state follow national trends.

Across the U.S., hospitalizations have been on the rise since the beginning of July, the first increase seen this year, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. The organization reported 8,035 new hospital admissions for the week ending July 22, marking a 12.1% increase compared to the week prior. The CDC has stopped tracking cases of infection, so hospitalizations are now the primary indicator of COVID-19 spread.

For the past three years, summer surges in COVID-19 have

Scammers trick more Americans out of money

NEW YORK (AP) —

happened because of increased movement and travel. While the increase in cases isn’t near the levels seen during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, state physicians recommend taking summer booster shots.

The University of Kansas Health System reported treating 15 COVID-19 patients this week. Dana Hawkinson, director of infection prevention and control at the system, said it may be too soon to say there was an overall “summer surge” in Kansas. “Whatever community you’re living in may be different than the next community over, or something that is further away from you, so I think we just need to wait about that, as far as the overall numbers,” Hawkinson said during a Friday news briefing.

Murrow family reunites

Descendants of Hugh and Jessie Burnett Murrow gathered at El Charro Mexican restaurant in Iola July 16.

Enjoying catching up with one another were:

Mary Ellen Stanley, Ken and Carla Hunt, Steve Stanley and Jenny and Brynna Ellis all of Iola;

Police news

David E. Stephens was eastbound on U.S. 54 Thursday when his sport utility vehicle struck the back of a truck-and-trailer rig driven by Mesa E. Martinez, who was turning into the Pump N Pete’s parking lot in the 1700 block of East Street, Iola police officers said.

Stephens suffered possible injuries, officers said.

Theft reported William Keithly told officers Sunday somebody took items from outside his residence in the

Carlyle news

Carlyle Presbyterian

Church Pastor Steve Traw’s message Sunday, ”A Generous Heart,” came from Proverbs 11:15-25.

“Where’s the basis for generosity in our lives?” Traw asked

The Old Testament Book of Proverbs contains Solomon’s words of wisdom for his day as well as for today. You can watch the church service at 10 a.m. Sundays via Facebook.

Myrna Wildschuetz played “Ten Thousand Years” for the prelude and “Lonely Road! Up Calvary’s Way” for the offertory.

Bible study with Pastor Traw is at 3 p.m. Tuesdays on the New Testament Book of Matthew.

With the help of technology, scammers are tricking Americans out of more money than ever before. But there are steps you can take to keep your money and information safe.

In 2022, reported consumer losses to fraud totaled $8.8 billion — a 30 percent increase from 2021, according to the most recent data from the Federal Trade Commission. The biggest losses were to investment scams, including cryptocurrency schemes, which cost people more than $3.8 billion, double the amount in 2021.

Younger adults ages 20-29 reported losing money more often than older adults ages 7079, the FTC found. But when older adults did lose money, they lost more. Many retirees have assets like savings, pensions, life insurance policies or property for scammers to target.

Scammers are tricking Americans out of more money than ever before, but there are steps you can take to keep your money and information safe. PIXABAY.COM

or excitement — ‘I just won a million dollars from Publishers Clearing House.’” Once the sense of urgency is established, the target’s defenses are down.

Vicky and Tim Weilert of Chanute; Jeff Hoggatt of Wichita; Brett and Christina Schaefer of Augusta; Seth, Rocky and Jaxon Snavely of Topeka and Rob and Melody Martin of West Plains, Mo.

The next reunion will be held July 21, 2024 at Riverside Park, Iola.

100 block of South Tennessee Street without permission.

With the rise of the digital economy, scammers now reach targets by social media and text, as well as phone and email. Online payment platforms, apps, and marketplaces have also increased opportunities. Still, many of their tactics and strategies are similar.

“The first thing they’ll do is get you into a heightened emotional state, because we can’t access clear thinking when we’re in that state,” said Kathy Stokes, director of fraud prevention for the AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

“It could be fear, panic,

Public notices

“When approached with urgency, give it an extra three-second pause,” said Amanda Clayman, a financial therapist who works with digital payment network Zelle around issues of fraud. “When someone is trying to get us to take action quickly, that’s usually a red flag indicating we should do the opposite.”

Here’s what else to know to keep your money and information safe:

What are some common scams?

Simply being aware of typical scams can help, experts say. Robocalls in particular frequently target vulnerable individuals like seniors, people with disabilities, and people with debt.

“If you get a robocall out of the blue paying a recorded message trying to get you to buy

something, just hang up,” aid James Lee, chief operating officer at the Identity Theft Resource Center. “Same goes for texts — anytime you get them from a number you don’t know asking you to pay, wire, or click on something suspicious.”

Lee urges consumers to hang up and call the company or institution in question at an official number.

Scammers will also often imitate someone in authority, such as a tax or debt collector. They might pretend to be a loved one calling to request immediate financial assistance for bail, legal help, or a hospital bill.

Romance scams

So-called “romance scams” often target lonely and isolated individuals, according to Will Maxson, assistant director of the Division of Marketing Practices at the FTC. These scams can take place over longer periods of time -even years.

Kate Kleinart, 70, who lost tens of thousands to a romance scam over several months, said to be vigilant if a new Facebook friend is exceptionally good-looking, asks you to download WhatsApp to communicate, attempts to isolate you from friends and family, and/or gets romantic very quickly.

“If you’re seeing that picture of a very handsome person, ask someone younger in your life — a child, a grandchild, a niece or a nephew — to help you reverse-im-

age search or identify the photo,” she said.

She said the man in pictures she received was a plastic surgeon from Spain whose photos have been stolen and used by scammers.

Kleinart had also been living under lockdown during the early pandemic when she got the initial friend request, and the companionship and communication meant a lot to her while she was cut off from family. When the scam fell apart, she missed the relationship even more than the savings.

“Losing the love was worse than losing the money,” she said.

What should I do about text and email scams?

“I think anyone who has participated in the digital economy has received multiple attempts daily that have some sort of scheme, whether that’s, ‘Your account has been locked’ or ‘Your package delivery is delayed,’” Lee said. “Again — just take a breath — and verify.”

Lee urges people never to click an unusual link in a text or email, and instead go to the site in question directly, or call the number listed on the official site.

“It’ll take 30 or 40 seconds longer, but go ahead and do that because it could save you a lot of money every time,” he said.

Some indications to be extra wary could include an unrecognized sender, unusual wording, or a tell-tale misspelling.

the petition. All creditors of the decedent notified to exhibit their demands against the estate within four (4) months from the date of the first publication of this notice as provided by law, and if their demands are not thus exhibited, they shall be forever barred. TINA KELLEY, Petitioner JOHNSON SCHOWENGERDT, PA Daniel Schowengerdt

P.O. Box 866 Iola, Kansas 66749

Truck hit

Geothermal: Breakthrough boosts efforts nationwide

Continued from A1

and more states addressing geothermal opportunities with the urgency that Colorado is.”

In the West, some states see geothermal power plants as a crucial source of “always-on” clean electricity — a resilient energy supply to bolster grids supplied by wind and solar.

At the same time, some lawmakers in Eastern states believe networks of underground heat could replace gas-powered furnaces for many neighborhoods, campuses and commercial buildings.

In both cases, supporters believe the transition to geothermal could draw on the drilling and pipeline construction expertise of oil and gas workers.

Still, it will take a lot to expand geothermal power. Exploratory drilling is expensive and uncertain, and industry leaders say government backing is required to make that initial phase manageable for companies.

Meanwhile, the drilling technique of injecting water to fracture rock has proven controversial in oil and gas operations. While geothermal projects don’t use the same chemicals that have been linked to groundwater pollution, other concerns — such as increased seismic activity — could challenge new proposals.

Unleashing potential

Last month, Texas-based Fervo Energy announced that its pilot plant in Nevada had successfully demonstrated the first

Firefighters killed in helicopter collision

CABAZON, Calif.

(AP) — Two firefighting helicopters collided while responding to a blaze in Southern California, sending one to the ground in a crash that killed all three people on board.

“Unfortunately, the second helicopter crashed and tragically all three members perished, which included one Cal Fire Division chief, one Cal Fire captain and one contract client pilot,” Cal Fire Southern Region Chief David Fulcher told a news conference early Monday. Fulcher did not identify the victims.

Cal Fire and Riverside County Fire Department resources had been dispatched to a structure fire near the intersection of Broadway Street and South Ronda Avenue in the community of Cabazon, Fulcher said. That blaze spread into the surrounding vegetation and a full wildland fire dispatch was initiated, which included fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.

commercially viable enhanced geothermal technology. Historically, geothermal power — which brings steam to the surface that powers turbines — has relied on sites with naturally occurring heat, fluid and permeable rock. Enhanced systems use oil and gas drilling techniques to create artificial reservoirs.

Sarah Jewett, the company’s vice president of strategy, said locations with permeable rock are limited and unpredictable. Horizontal drilling technology can be used to create that permeability and pump water into hotspots underground.

“This is the thing that really unleashes the potential of geothermal power, but it’s never been demonstrated on a commercial level in the U.S. before,” she said. “A lot of people said it couldn’t be done. This opens up massive new geographies (for geothermal power production).”

The plant will connect to Nevada’s grid later this year, providing 3.5 megawatts of electricity to power Google data centers. Fervo has started construction on another project in Utah that is expected to provide 400 megawatts by 2028. That’s enough to power 300,000 homes. Geothermal provides less than half a percent of the nation’s electricity. Supporters believe that advances in technology will eventually

enable it to power as much as 20% of the U.S. grid.

Fervo’s announcement could supercharge the ambitions of some Western states, which have been working to bring more geothermal power online. The Western Governors’ Association, chaired by Polis, has spearheaded an initiative on the issue and recently issued a report outlining several policy recommendations.

Industry leaders have called for clear policy guidelines and wellstaffed permitting regimes, as well as public funding to support exploratory drilling, which can be financially risky for companies. They also urged more regulators to issue “clean firm” power standards such as California’s 1,000-megawatt order in 2021, which directed utilities to build out more projects from on-demand resources like geothermal.

In Colorado, lawmakers passed a slate of geothermal measures this year, including a framework for regulators to approve new geothermal operations. Under the measure, the state’s Oil and Gas Conservation Commission was renamed the Energy and Carbon Management Commission and given oversight of geothermal projects.

“They now have an expedited approval process for geothermal drilling,” Polis said. “There really hadn’t

been an easy way to do that before.”

Other bills signed by Polis will create a $35 million tax credit for geothermal electricity projects and allow gas utilities to establish thermal energy networks. Lawmakers also provided funding to help Colorado Mesa University expand its geothermal heating and cooling system.

Earlier this year, New Mexico state lawmakers passed a measure to provide loans and grants for geothermal projects and a funding increase to help state regulators speed up permitting decisions. The bill sailed through the legislature with near-unanimous support, but Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declined to sign it, surprising backers.

“New Mexico has some of the easiest access to hot rock because of our geology, and we also have an availability of drilling rigs now in the oil and gas industry that can be put to use,” said state Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, a Democrat who sponsored the bill.

Ortiz y Pino said lawmakers are hoping to meet with Lujan Grisham, address her objections and revive the bill next year. The governor, who cited fiscal responsibility in her veto of a tax credit package that included geothermal projects, did not respond to a request for comment.

Meanwhile, West Vir-

ginia leaders passed a law last year to establish a regulatory program for geothermal energy. The state has underground hotspots at relatively shallow depths compared with other Eastern states.

“We wanted to have the groundwork in place so if companies wanted to look at West Virginia, it wasn’t an unknown,” said Del. Adam Burkhammer, a Republican who sponsored the bill. “We’re not overregulating, we’re just establishing a clear path forward.”

Earlier this year, drilling began on the state’s first geothermal test well.

Thermal networks

In many Eastern states, the underground hotspots needed to produce electricity are many miles below the surface, making power production impractical with existing technology. But heating and cooling through geothermal can be achieved at much shallower depths, and many lawmakers see great promise.

“The potential is wildly exciting,” said Maryland Del. Lorig Charkoudian, a Democrat who is drafting legislation to enable geothermal heating networks. “This is a really important piece of the transition from fossil fuel to non-combusting clean energy.”

Geothermal systems bring heat from underground using piped fluids, then use a heat exchanger to transfer it to a building’s ventilation system. In warm months, the same process can cool buildings by sending excess heat underground.

Such systems are gaining momentum as a solution for individual homes and even large campuses. But Charkoudian and others want utilities to run pipelines to create thermal energy networks through towns and cities, taking advantage of an existing workforce and rate structure.

Charkoudian is drafting a bill that would allow gas utilities to build networked geothermal systems, focused first on marginalized com-

munities. She expects to introduce the measure next year.

“When you combine super-efficient groundsource heating and cooling with a networked system, you get the most efficient way possible to heat and cool an entire neighborhood,” she said.

Such networks, she noted, also could allow high-energy users like data centers to transfer “waste heat” to nearby buildings that need it.

The push in Maryland follows a law passed in New York last year to establish a regulatory structure for thermal energy networks. New York lawmakers also voted overwhelmingly this year to expand the drilling depth for such systems below 500 feet, which backers argued was necessary to install them in dense neighborhoods.

Earlier this year, Framingham, Massachusetts, broke ground on the first utility-run geothermal network pilot project in the country.

And in Vermont, lawmakers hope to advance next year a proposal to create a regulatory structure for such thermal energy networks. As just one gas utility covers a third of the state’s area, the bill would also allow such networks to be managed by towns, nonprofits or homeowners associations.

In addition to lowering emissions, backers say the bill could help with heating prices, as rising fuel costs are a major concern in a state where nearly half of residents rely on heating oil.

“There are ways to build local (geothermal) wells and have communities own and operate their own local energy supply,” said Debbie New, lead coordinator with the Vermont Community Geothermal Alliance. “There are municipalities that are interested and saying they really need this bill to pass in order to move forward.”

This story was produced by Stateline, an affiliate of States Newsroom.

The Steamboat Hills Geothermal Power Plant in Nevada pipes steam from underground to produce power. Some states see massive potential to expand geothermal operations. FLICKR/THINKGEOENERGY

Backyard farm offers fresh, free food

By EVAN LASSETER The Atlanta JournalConstitution (TNS)

Tucked away off Main Street in College Park, Georgia, not far from the train tracks that run through the city a few miles south of Atlanta, is a three-story Victorian home with a wraparound porch and narrow driveway. A few times a month an unassuming “free food” sign is posted out front.

The driveway leads to a backyard agricultural oasis of sorts, with 5 acres of tomatoes, sweet potatoes and other fruits and vegetables planted throughout.

Near a large array of 32 solar panels are sunflowers as tall as most people. Hoop houses, large greenhouse-like tents, nurture more crops. Beehives are toward the back.

Here is the home of the Metro Atlanta Urban Farm, a living demonstration of sustainability that provides a bounty of free produce, community garden space and agricultural workshops for its neighbors.

College Park and East Point have numerous census tracts where more than 33% of the population lives at least a half mile from a supermarket, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. These tracts are more colloquially known as food deserts. The Urban Farm received a federal grant of nearly $300,000 last year to boost its educational programs and help increase access to fresh foods in underserved areas and promote careers in agriculture.

“What the grant is doing is to help me keep my doors open,” said Bobby Wilson, the nonprofit farm’s CEO and co-founder in 2009 by Wilson and his wife Margarett.

Last week, Wilson and and his team set up a free food stand outside Atlanta Good Shepherd Community Church in Atlanta’s West End. The

farm also has regular food giveaways on-site, attracting dozens of neighbors.

At this giveaway, two plastic tables laden with the farm’s apples, onions, and cabbages were offered to as many as 60 people who came by. They were also welcome to free meats, boxes of Clif energy bars, bagged chips and water. Recipients walked back to their cars or back down the block, carrying paper bags full of food.

One West End resident, Mia Reid, saw the stand from the Interstate 20 overpass by the church, then pulled in and loaded up a food bag. While there, she talked with Wilson about wanting to home grow food. Reid, who says she has dreams of starting her own farm, said she will visit the Metro Atlanta Urban Farm to start learning.

“Just being out in the community and him willing to take the time to speak with me even though he’s busy,” Reid said, “it just speaks volumes about who Mr. Bobby is, and I appreciate it.”

While the farm’s grant project is just kicking off, Wilson’s name and operation are well-known across the urban agriculture landscape. The USDA’s Urban Grower’s webpage features a picture

of Wilson with USDA employees. Wilson was honored as a CNN Hero in 2022, and promotional posters from the honor are sprinkled across the farm.

Arthur L. Tripp Jr., director of Georgia’s Farm Service Agency, recalls hearing of “the infamous Bobby Wilson” back in Washington, D.C., where Tripp worked for U.S. Rep. David Scott, D-Atlanta, on agricultural policy issues.

“When we were discussing urban agriculture, the gentleman Bobby Wilson continued to come to the forefront because of his expertise and experience in the field,” Tripp said. Tripp says Wilson has a penchant for cultivating community by making visitors feel welcome.

Sharonte Williams, management and program analyst for the USDA’s Urban Agriculture and Innovation Office, visited the farm in June to check on the grant project, which started up this spring.

“I am looking forward to seeing what they will accomplish between now and the next year,” Williams said.

At the honey harvesting event, Wilson joked about going to space as participants donned the protective suits, which resemble something astronauts might wear. Wilson streamed the event on Facebook Live and riffed throughout the morning.

“We’re getting ready to go to space, y’all,” Wilson said at one point. “Our equipment

Global food prices rise after actions taken by Russia, India

LONDON (AP) —

Global prices for food commodities like rice and vegetable oil have risen for the first time in months after Russia pulled out of a wartime agreement allowing Ukraine to ship grain to the world, and India restricted some of its rice exports, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization said Friday.

The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly traded food commodities, increased 1.3% in July over June, driven by higher costs for rice and vegetable oil. It

was the first uptick since April, when higher sugar prices bumped up the index slightly for the first time in a year. Commodity prices have been falling since hitting record highs last year in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Disrupted supplies from the two countries exacerbated a global food crisis because they’re leading suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other affordable food products, especially to nations in parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia where millions are struggling with hunger.

has been tested.”

Event attendees often stay for conversation after programs end, and many return for future workshops, Wilson said.

One member of the metro area’s network of urban farmers is Bill Crumpler, also known as “Bill the Beekeeper.” Crumpler, who led the honey harvesting workshop, has his own urban farm in Fayetteville and monitors some of Wilson’s hives.

“I think spaces like this are needed everywhere, on every corner,” Crumpler said. “Because not everyone has a backyard that they might be able to grow their food.”

The farm offers a community garden for neighbors to grow their own food. One, Carolyn Frazier of Southwest Fulton, has been tending her plot for 7 to 8 years now. She learned about the farm from her neighbor and the two have bonded over gardening tips, Frazier said.

One afternoon, a group of visiting students came by the garden and talked with Frazier, who was able to share some of those tips with them. Frazier said the garden has given her a place for more than just growing food — it’s where she meditates, connects with nature, and makes friends, too.

“I appreciate Mr. Wilson for that, I really do appreciate it,” Frazier said. “Otherwise I would not be gardening, because I do not have a space here at the house to do it.”

out food that was not kept at a safe temperature. PIXABAY.COM

Prepare your fridge for the next storm

The recent stormy weather in southeast Kansas has left some without power for several days this month. In addition to losing power, this meant that some also lost food when their perishable food was not able to be refrigerated properly. So, how can you prepare to keep food safe during the next storm? Check out these tips from FoodSafety.gov:

• Put an appliance thermometer in your refrigerator and in your freezer. The temperature in your refrigerator should be 40°F or below and the temperature in your freezer should be 0°F or below. In the case of a future power outage, these thermometers will help you figure out if the food in your refrigerator and freezer is safe.

• If the power does go out, try to keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed. If unopened, a refrigerator will keep food safe for four hours. A full

Clara Wicoff Extension Agent for Nutrition, Food and Health

freezer will maintain its temperature for 48 hours (or 24 hours if it is half full).

• Once the power is back on, check the temperature on the appliance thermometers in your refrigerator and freezer to see if the food was kept at a safe temperature. Perishable foods which were not kept at a safe temperature should be thrown away. Never taste food to test if it is safe. When in doubt, throw it out.

To learn more about keeping food safe before, during, and after emergencies, visit bit.ly/preparingforthestorm. Please contact me with questions at clarawicoff@ ksu.edu or 620-3652242.

The world is still rebounding from those price shocks, which have increased inflation, poverty and food insecurity in developing nations that rely on imports.

Now, there are new risks after Russia in mid-July exited a deal brokered by the U.N. and Turkey that provided protections for ships carrying Ukraine’s agricultural products through the Black Sea. Along with Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports and grain infrastructure, wheat and corn prices have been zigzagging on global markets.

William Crumpler II, known as “Bill the Bee Man,” shows a section of a bee hive during an educational event to learn harvesting honey and beekeeping at Metro Atlanta Urban Farm, Thursday, July 6, 2023, in College Park, Georgia. (HYOSUB SHIN/THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION/TNS)

I think spaces like this are needed on every corner, because not everyone has a backyard where they might be able to grow food.

— Bill Crumpler

Opinion

~ Journalism that makes a difference

Letter to the editor

Dear editor, Over the past two weeks we’ve seen a couple of articles about the Allen County Landfill and recycling — or the lack thereof.

The first concerned the problem of blowing trash at the landfill and the problems that causes. Once again, the problem was most likely light-weight and 100% recyclable plastic bags.

The solution this time was different from the last solution but the answer was the same — spend money on a solution that will mitigate a problem but not necessarily solve it.

This time, Allen County commissioners decided to spend $300,000-plus for a new hydroseeder that will spray water and fire-retardant on the top layer of trash. It will also reduce the amount of soil needed to bury said layer.

All well and good, I suppose, but couldn’t there be a better use for water in these dry times? I also seem to hear a lot about fire-retardant chemicals and their potential dangers. I hope that the new machine can conserve water and that the chemicals are non-toxic, what I read didn’t comment on that.

The second article was about a business that has promoted itself as a recycling business that targets tires, a needed service for sure. However, collecting recyclables and actually recycling them are two different things.

The tire recycler has been collecting lots of tires but not recycling them — to the tune of almost 2,000 tons of shredded tires going right into the local landfill.

The county is charging the tire recycler $5.50 per ton, a profit for the county of nearly $11,000.

But that profit comes at a cost of filling up of our landfill.

Meanwhile there is a faithful, hard-working group right here that actually does recycle. It’s called Allen County Recycling and it’s a not-for-profit entity that has existed for the past two years.

We recycle all that can be recycled, even if it means holding it for two years while the prices rise to make it worth our time and effort. Even if it means looking for the companies and places that will take our baled recyclables.

We have gone to both city and county leaders asking for the resources, time, people — anything! — to help us make recycling more viable and available to Allen Countians. What we have received so far is pushback about the feasibility of recycling and how they can’t possibly be of help.

The only actual money we have received is from the city — a $500 credit on our utility bill — a gift that is very much appreciated.

But we have received nothing near what commissioners approved for the hydroseeder, which does nothing to address the root of the problem. Thank goodness many continue to faithfully recycle because those efforts help keep our landfill from overflowing even more.

If the city and county would invest in recycling it would pay off in so many ways, including:

• Extend the lifetime of the landfill;

• Provide a service many citizens greatly value;

• Save water;

• Prevent excess chemicals from being added to the landfill,

• And, most important, it would be the right thing to do for a planet that human activity has ravaged over the last 100 years.

If you are one of the many locals that already are doing what I call front-line volunteering — bringing your recyclables to our facility behind Pete’s on Highway 54 — thank you. You can do more, too.

Call, write, or talk to your county commissioners and city council members and ask them to invest in recycling.

It will be money well spent. Thank you, Dan

Davis, president, Allen County Recycling

On Aug. 14, Dolly Parton is coming to Kansas to celebrate the statewide success of her Imagination Library program.

Dolly’s Imagination Library is an example of how music, art, and culture can intersect with social change.

Through her deep commitment to education and literacy, Dolly has shown that celebrities can be powerful catalysts for positive transformation.

Founded in 1995 by Dolly Parton herself, the Imagination Library is a unique book-gifting program that provides free books to children from birth to five years old with the mission of fostering a lifelong passion for reading.

The program runs in all 50 U.S. states, including our very own Kansas, and has gifted over 200 million free books across the globe.

The Imagination Library has had a significant positive impact on childhood development and literacy skills for Kansas’ children.

Alexandra Middlewood Insight Kansas

achievement levels in later grades.

The Imagination Library has also become a significant force in leveling the playing field for young readers.

By delivering carefully selected books tailored to each child’s age and interests, Dolly’s Library has equalized access to education for children irrespective of their socio-economic backgrounds.

The Imagination Library ensures that every child, regardless of their family’s socio-economic status, has access to books from an early age.

While Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library provides an incredibly important service for children ... it also is indicative of a concerning societal shift towards the outsourcing of public services.

Research has consistently shown that early exposure to books and reading positively influences a child’s cognitive development, language skills, and emotional well-being.

Children who have participated in the program have demonstrated better preparedness for school, stronger reading and math skills, improved vocabulary, and increased levels of reading comprehension.

Some studies have indicated that children who participated in the Imagination Library program are more likely to perform better academically throughout their school years. Improved early literacy skills have been associated with higher

By providing free books directly to children’s homes, the Library ensures that even those in underserved and disadvantaged communities have access to quality literature. This reduces educational disparities and helps bridge the gap between different social and economic groups, promoting inclusivity and equal opportunities for all children.

While Dolly’s Imagination Library provides an incredibly important service for children, and certainly earns the praise it receives, it is also indicative of a concerning societal shift towards the outsourcing of public services.

Rather than coming together in collective action and making demands on government — like increasing funding to local libraries — citizens are relying on private entities to provide public goods — like sending

free books through the mail.

When public services are outsourced to private entities, citizens may feel less connected to the provision of those services. They might also perceive their role in contributing to the common good as diminished.

Research on civic engagement suggests that this leads to a reduced sense of civic duty, which results in a less engaged, informed, and active citizenry.

Civic duty refers to the responsibility and obligation citizens feel to actively engage in the democratic process and contribute to the well-being of their communities.

When citizens experience a weakening of this sense of duty, it can lead to reduced levels of participation in several ways: a decline in political engagement, decreased interest in public affairs, and lower levels of volunteering and community involvement, just to name a few.

Citizen involvement is essential for a robust and thriving society. Historically, such involvement has pressured government to create comprehensive and equitable social safety nets that address the broad spectrum of societal needs.

Charitable organizations like the Imagination Library can complement and enhance government efforts, but a collaborative approach between the public and private sectors is most effective in achieving lasting social change.

So, while charitable organizations like Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library provide an important service to young children, they should not be viewed as a replacement for government-provided public goods.

About the author: Alexandra Middlewood, PhD, is an assistant professor of political science at Wichita State University.

Congress considers whether UFOs a threat to national security

By TYLER COWEN Bloomberg Opinion/TNS

Last week’s congressional hearings on UAPs, more popularly known as UFOs, were unusual even by the standards of U.S. politics — in both content and style. Not only did members of the military and intelligence community claim, under oath, that truly inexplicable events occur on a regular basis, but members of Congress from both parties treated them with respect.

In all, the proceedings restored my faith in one of my favorite maxims: Sincerity is the most underrated motive in politics. The hearings themselves send the signal that it is OK to talk and even speculate about this topic — and may even help us get closer to the truth.

That is not to say that I believed everything I heard.

I do not think that the U.S. government has the remains of alien spacecraft, for example, including some alien bodies, as claimed by retired Air Force Major David Grusch. But the rest of the evidence was presented in a suitably serious and persuasive manner. It is clear, at least to me, that there is no conspiracy, and the U.S. government is itself puzzled by

the data about unidentified anomalous phenomena.

The most notable claim from the hearings, including from former F-18 Navy pilot Ryan Graves, is that there have been repeated sightings of highly unusual craft over eight years or more — confirmed by a mix of consistent radar, infrared and eyewitness data. These craft, some of which take the shape of a sphere encompassing a cube, can both hover and move very fast without any visible signs of propulsion. Of course, there will always be people who lie, suffer from delusions or are

otherwise unreliable. But none of these claims is news to those of us who have been following the UAP debate, and it is striking that none of the elected officials in the room challenged the Graves claims. (There was, in contrast, pushback against Grusch’s claims.)

Members of Congress, to the extent they desire, have independent access to military and intelligence sources. They also have political ambitions, if only to be reelected. So the mere fact of their participation in these hearings shows that UFOs/ UAPs are now being taken se-

riously as an issue.

The Pentagon issued a statement claiming it holds no alien bodies, but it did nothing to contradict the statements of Graves (or others with similar claims, outside the hearings). More broadly, there have been no signs of anyone with eyewitness experience asserting that Graves and the other pilots are unreliable.

As is so often the case, the most notable events are those that did not happen. The most serious claims from the hearings survived unscathed: those about inexplicable phenomena and possible national-security threats, not the hypotheses about alien craft or visits.

The U.S. military is a huge bureaucracy that is programmed to respond to potential national-security threats. If so many insiders believe that the U.S. does not control its own airspace, and in the proximity of its own military equipment, that is a crisis of sorts, even if those insiders are misunderstanding the data.

The system will not do nothing indefinitely — and these hearings are best understood as an attempt to do something. Some people in government had the idea that hearings would be use-

ful, and no one had a better idea. If you listen to the beginning of the hearings, you will hear a good articulation of the position that possible national-security and aviation-safety threats cannot go forever uninvestigated. It is striking how often the discussion turned to national security.

Every now and then, it’s appropriate to take the government literally.

I suspect that, from here on out, this topic will become more popular — and somewhat less respectable. A few years ago, UAPs were an issue on which a few people “in the know” could speculate, secure in the knowledge they weren’t going to receive much publicity or pushback. As the chatter increases, the issue will become more prominent, but at the same time a lot of smart observers will dismiss the whole thing because they heard that someone testified before Congress about seeing dead aliens.

I am well aware that many people may conclude that some U.S. officials, or some parts of the U.S. government, have gone absolutely crazy. But even under that dismissive interpretation, it is likely that there will be further surprises.

Dolly’s reading program can’t replace government’s role

David Grusch at the House Oversight Committee hearing titled “Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency.” (DREW ANGERER/GETTY IMAGES/TNS)

Yellow: Trucking giant files for bankruptcy, ends service

Continued from A1

ers and shippers may face higher prices as they take their business to competitors, including FedEx or ABF Freight, experts say — noting Yellow historically offered the cheapest price points in the industry.

“It is with profound disappointment that Yellow announces that it is closing after nearly 100 years in business,” CEO Darren Hawkins said in a news release late Sunday. “For generations, Yellow provided hundreds of thousands of Americans with solid, good-paying jobs and fulfilling careers.”

Yellow, formerly known as YRC Worldwide Inc., is one of the nation’s largest lessthan-truckload carriers. The Nashville, Tennessee-based company had 30,000 employees across the country.

The Teamsters, which represented Yellow’s 22,000 unionized workers, said last week that the company gave legal notice for a bank-

ruptcy filing and shut down operations in late July following layoffs of hundreds of nonunion employees.

Teamsters general president Sean O’Brien called the news “unfortunate but not surprising” in a July 31 statement — pointing to the financial chaos at Yellow. “This is a sad day for workers and the American freight in-

dustry,” he said.

The Wall Street Journal and FreightWaves reported in late July that the bankruptcy was coming — noting that customers had already started to leave the carrier in large numbers and that the company had stopped freight pickups.

Those reports arrived just days after Yellow averted a strike from

the Teamsters amid heated contract negotiations. A pension fund agreed to extend health benefits for workers at two Yellow Corp. operating companies, avoiding a planned walkout — and giving Yellow “30 days to pay its bills,” notably a total of $50 million owed to the Central States Health and Welfare Fund. A Yellow spokesperson said

Tuesday that the company previously request a short-term deferral of the pension contributions plus interest, but the funds denied that request.

Yellow blamed the nine-month talks for the demise of the company, saying it was unable to institute a new business plan to modernize operations and make it more competitive during that time.

The company said it has asked the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware for permission to make payments, including for employee wages and benefits, taxes and certain vendors essential to its businesses.

Yellow has racked up hefty bills over the years. As of late March, Yellow had an outstanding debt of about $1.5 billion. Of that, $729.2 million was owed to the federal government.

In 2020, under the Trump administration, the Treasury Department granted the company a $700 mil-

lion pandemic-era loan on national security grounds. The Teamsters supported the $700 million loan when it was first announced.

A congressional probe recently concluded that the Treasury and Defense departments “made missteps” in the decision and noted that Yellow’s “precarious financial position at the time of the loan, and continued struggles, expose taxpayers to a significant risk of loss.”

As of June 30, Yellow had paid $67 million in cash interest on the loan, which is due in 2024, the company said.

The financial chaos at Yellow “is probably two decades in the making,” Stifel research director Bruce Chan said ahead of the filing late last month, pointing to poor management and strategic decisions dating back to the early 2000s. “At this point, after each party has bailed them out so many times, there is a limited appetite to do that anymore.”

Help: Subsidies for child care, preschool costs available

Continued from A1

dy may cover just a portion of the cost of care.

“It’s surprising how many people are just absolutely not aware that the program and assistance exists,” Stenseng said.

And it’s not just parents.

Providers also may not realize they qualify for the program.

Stenseng offered an example of an area church that operates a daycare program: “They thought because of their religious affiliation, they weren’t eligible. So it’s really important to educate providers as well as families.”

Even those who watch children for a family member might be eligible. An example could be a grandparent who wants to help loved ones by providing free or lowcost child care. That grandparent and the family could both apply through the state program. If approved, the grandparent could be compensated for their time.

“Grandparents love spending time with their grandkids but they should also be compensated for the care they’re delivering,” Stenseng said.

Of course, there are restrictions to the subsidy program. A family cannot have more than $10,000 in resources — but that does not include the home, furniture, tools or some personal items. Currently, parents who are full-time students are not eligible. Parents also must agree to pursue child support against the non-custodial parent, something that may deter those in abusive situations. Stenseng said advocates are working to change those last two requirements.

The stigma surrounding public assistance is another reason some families

don’t apply, as well as the “red tape” associated with filling out an application.

There’s help for that, too, Stenseng said.

Families who want to learn more or need help can contact one of Thrive’s health care navigators. They are trained to help area residents

apply for various types of assistance programs.

“The best step is to reach out and schedule a meeting,” Stenseng said. “It’s good to have someone help you navigate through any road blocks you may face as you’re going through the application.”

KANSAS HAS ramped up efforts to address early childhood care and education, offering grants and other programs to increase opportunities for those areas.

Locally, child care providers, advocates and community leaders formed an early childhood coalition to address the issue.

That’s because it affects not just families in the short term, but the entire community for generations to come, Stenseng said.

“We now understand that most brain development happens between the ages of zero and 5. Massive amounts of transformational learning and development are happening that affect our social-emotional skills, our cognitive health, our fine motor skills — all the things

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that are the foundation for interacting, living, working in the world,” he said.

Businesses are starting to notice, too.

“They’re looking at this not only as a shortterm workforce issue so that families have stable child care so they can work and be productive employees,” Stenseng said. “They’re also thinking long-term as far as what skills do we want them to have in 20, 30 years when these children are grown.”

Particularly since the pandemic, there’s been a shift in thinking about the value of child care and the pressure it puts on women in the workforce.

“Historically, the value of caregiving and service work has been undervalued. Now that it’s really impacting our economy, it’s sort of

hitting this threshold where it needs to be addressed.”

Taking advantage of assistance programs such as the child care subsidy pay off in the long term for society, as well.

Stenseng said studies have shown higher quality care in early childhood translates to lower incarceration rates, fewer issues such as mental health struggles or drug addiction, and fewer high school dropouts.

“Many of our government programs and services are reactive to adult problems,” Stenseng said. “By making strategic investments in our youngest children, we will reap the benefits later. By being proactive, we won’t spend as many taxpayer dollars on these reactive services.”

Yellow Corp. trucks are seen at a YRC Freight terminal July 28 in Kansas City, Mo. AP PHOTO/CHARLIE RIEDEL

Sports Daily B

Lucas Glover wins title at Wyndham

GREENSBORO, N.C.

(AP) — Lucas Glover looked to the sky and held back tears after winning the Wyndham Championship on Sunday, sending him to the PGA Tour postseason with more opportunities ahead of him.

Justin Thomas fell to the ground, stunned that his birdie chip hit the base of the pin and stayed out, leaving him out of the FedEx Cup playoffs by about the same small margin that kept his ball out of the cup.

Such were the range of emotions at Sedgefield, the final tournament before the lucrative postseason for the top 70 players.

Glover is one of them, closing with a 2-under 68 for a two-shot victory over a faltering Russell Henley and Byeong Hun An. He started the week at No. 112, and the victory — his first in two years — moved him to No. 49. Another good week in Memphis, Tennessee, would set him up for the all the signature $20 million events next year.

The timing couldn’t have been better for the 43-year-old Glover. Sunday would have been the birthday of his late grandfather, who got him into the game and sent him to the late Dick Harmon to hone the skills of a future U.S. Open champion.

“Tried not to think about it too much until the end there,” Glover said. “Like to think I had a leg up on everybody today because of that. Still had to do what I had to

See GLOVER | Page B3

Messi sparkles again

FRISCO, Texas (AP) —

Each time Lionel Messi lined up for a free kick in his first road game for Inter Miami, thousands of fans packed into a stadium in the searing Texas heat stood and held up their cell phones, ready to record.

They all got video of a repeat of history.

Messi scored on another mesmerizing free kick in his third consecutive two-goal game for Inter Miami, a tying tally that led to a victory over FC Dallas on penalty kicks in a Leagues Cup elimination game Sunday night.

Messi’s goal in the 85th minute for a 4-4 tie was reminiscent of the

See MESSI | Page B3

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Iolans compete at Katy Days tourney

great shot keeps us coming back for more,” said Chandlee. “It’s such a great sport for anyone.”

Gonzalez placed ninth overall after shooting a 121 in the mixed amateur 2 group.

Coltrane followed Gonzalez by carding a 132, good for 12th place overall.

“Disc golf is very addictive. Once you make a more long distance shot and you hear the chains, you keep coming back for more,” said Coltrane. “You can also play a course in a much shorter period of time than regular golf, it’s not a half-day event.”

Hartford finished in second place with a score of 120 in the mixed amateur 3 group.Hammond placed sixth with a score of 132, Chandlee was eighth with a 134, and Booth’s 144 score was good for 13th place.

By QUINN BURKITT The Iola Register

PARSONS — A group of Iolans competed at the PDGA Katy Days Open disc golf tournament at Tolen Creek in Parsons Saturday.

Nathaniel Hartford, Carlos Gonzalez, Logan Booth, Brian Coltrane, Jason Chandlee and Aaron Hammond competed across mixed am-

ateur groups. “It was exciting to play with more people from the league because I could watch their styles and how well they were doing,” said Gonzalez. “It brings back the competitive spirit I had when I was younger. I don’t know another sport for all ages that puts on as many tournaments,” added Chandlee.

The event drew disc golfers from all over the region and is considered one of the toughest courses in southeast Kansas. The Tolen Creek disc golf course is about two-and-a-half years old.

Iola’s disc golf team meets for league meets every Sunday at the Elm Creek Park on South Washington.

“The feeling of making a

“I think we have a great thing going with how many of us show up to tournaments together,” said Chandlee. “It’s an individual sport but having our group competing together makes it much more enjoyable.”

Those interested in joining Iola’s disc golf league can come out to Elm Creek Park on Sundays at 6 p.m.

It’s not conference realignment; it’s consolidation

By RALPH D. RUSSO The Associated Press

Don’t call it conference realignment. Call it college football consolidation. Recent history suggests few are safe from being the next to get squeezed out.

And even if your school makes the cut it can come with a cost.

What was once a Big Six in major college football conferences became a Power Five and is now down to four after the Big 12 and Big Ten, motivated by a dwindling pool of television network dollars, carved up the Pac-12 over the course of about 36 hours last week.

The last time college football lost a power conference was right before the Bowl Championship Series was

transformed into the College Football Playoff in 2014.

Don’t think it is a coincidence the latest hit came one year before the CFP — and the revenue it creates — expands.

“Once USC and UCLA went to the Big Ten (last year), I knew this was all going to happen,” former Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese said. “We now have total chaos.”

The Pac-whatever might survive, but it will never be the same.

Tranghese has been through this before. The Big East was a so-called BCS conference back in the day, and the first deemed dispensable.

The Atlantic Coast Conference did the majority of the damage over a span of about a decade, starting with poaching Miami, Boston College

and Virginia Tech in 2003.

“I held a press conference and I said my great fear is that people are going to look around and say we can do this,” Tranghese told AP.

“Here it is, some 20 years

later and people are moving around like there’s no hesitancy in moving. None whatsoever.”

Tranghese kept the Big East afloat and relevant in foot-

See CONFERENCE | Page B4

Anderson, Ramirez face suspensions after fight

CLEVELAND (AP) — Tim Anderson dropped his glove. José Ramírez dropped Chicago’s shortstop.

Ramírez landed a looping right hook to Anderson’s jaw when the infield stars squared off and started throwing punches at second base Saturday night in the sixth inning, triggering a wild brawl before the White Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-4.

Anderson and Ramírez are likely facing suspensions for their roles in a lengthy

bench-clearing melee that led to six ejections and heightened bad blood between the AL Central rivals.

“From the second I set foot in the clubhouse, I could tell these teams don’t like each other,” said Cleveland starter Noah Syndergaard, who was acquired in a trade last week. “And I don’t think it’s going to be resolved anytime soon.”

After Anderson and Ramírez squared off, both benches and bullpens poured onto the field, leading to some chaotic moments in

one of the nastiest fights in the majors in recent years.

“It’s not funny, but boys will be boys,” said Guardians manager Terry Francona, who was ejected following the fracas, which began after Ramírez slid headfirst into second base between Anderson’s legs.

Anderson kept his tag on Ramírez’s back as he stood over and straddled him. Ramírez seemed irritated and, after getting up, he pointed his finger in Anderson’s face and yelled. The two

then squared off like boxers in a ring.

Anderson took off his glove and threw the first punch and then another that missed before Ramírez countered with his haymaker to the Chicago star’s jaw, dazing him and knocking him on his rear end on the infield dirt.

“I felt I was able to land one,” Ramírez said through a translator.

“He’s been disrespecting the game for a while,” Ramírez added. “When he

See MLB | Page B4

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh holds the Big Ten Championship trophy. JUSTIN CASTERLINE/GETTY IMAGES/TNS

Lane Huffman takes a shot on the 13th hole at the Tolen Creek disc golf course Saturday at the Katy Days Open. REGISTER/QUINN BURKITT

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Illinois to ban advertising for guns marketed to kids

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.

(AP) — Illinois will soon outlaw advertising for firearms that officials determine produces a public safety threat or appeals to children, militants or others who might later use the weapons illegally, as the state continues its quest to curb mass shootings.

Gun-rights advocates say the plan, which Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker has pledged to sign into law, is an unreasonably vague decree that violates not only the constitutionally protected right to own guns but also free speech.

The prime exhibit in Democratic Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s effort is the JR-15, a smaller, lighter version of the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle advertised with the tag line, “Get ‘em One Like Yours.” The maker says it is deliberately made smaller, with added safety features, to fit younger shooters as they learn from adults how to safely maneuver such a weapon. Raoul says it’s marketed to children and potentially entices them to skip the adult supervision and start firing.

Opening the door to court challenges is part of ongoing efforts by Democratic lawmakers who control the Statehouse to eliminate gun

violence, made more complicated by the U.S. Supreme Court’s expansion of gun rights a year ago. Pritzker also signed a ban on semi-automatic weapons this year, a law that gun-rights advocates continue to challenge in federal court.

Illinois would be the eighth state to approve legislation that allows such lawsuits against firearms manufacturers or distributors. The legislation comes after the deadliest six months of mass killings recorded since at least 2006 — all but one of which involved guns.

Raoul finds precedent in the 25-year-old settlement with large tobacco companies and more recently with advertising for vaping.

“We’ve gone after the marketing that has historically driven up the consumption by minors for those products that are harmful to them,” Raoul said. “The firearms industry shouldn’t be immune to the standards that we put on other industries.”

Except that other industries don’t produce constitutionally protected products, counters the National Shooting Sports Foundation, an industry trade association that has filed federal lawsuits in nearly every state that has approved a similar law.

Megan Rapinoe leaves final World Cup with pride

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Megan Rapinoe wanted a different finish for her final Women’s World Cup. Even with the disappointing conclusion, she was grateful for her wildly successful run with the U.S. national team.

Rapinoe’s World Cup career ended on Sunday in the Round of 16, when the United States lost to Sweden on penalties after a scoreless draw. The outspoken 38-year-old announced last month that this would be her last international tournament.

“I wish we were moving on and I could guarantee a championship and all that,” she said.

“But it doesn’t take anything from this experience, or my career in general. I feel so lucky

and so grateful to play as long as I have, and to be on the successful teams that I have.”

Known for her bright hair colors, Rapinoe teared up as she spoke to reporters after the match. She missed her penalty kick, as did teammates Kelley O’Hara and Sophia Smith.

“I’m ready in a lot of ways to be done,” she said. “I feel at peace with that. So it’s sad but I’m OK.”

At this World Cup, Rapinoe had taken on more of a reserve role. She made her 200th appearance with the team as a substitute in a 3-0

victory over Vietnam to open the tournament. She was also a sub in the final group match against Portugal, a disappointing scoreless draw.

After the loss to Sweden, captain Lindsey Horan and defender Julie Ertz were among those who embraced Rapinoe on the field.

“I just said I love her,” Horan said, welling up. “It’s been a journey with her,” Ertz said. “She’s been an incredible player for so long.

I just wanted to make sure I was able to tell her that.” It was the team’s

Glover: Wins Wyndham Championship; Thomas’ season ends

Continued from B1

do.” What he did was keep his poise amid a twohour storm delay when he had four holes left and was locked in a battle with Henley. Glover finished with four pars, getting one good break when his tee shot on the 18th bounced off a cart driven by security and went into the rough, keeping it out of the trees.

Thomas needed one more birdie to get into the top 70. His birdie chip checked and hopped against the base of the pin and stayed out. Standing at the back of the green, he saw a video board project him at No. 71. He missed by nine Fe-

dEx Cup points. Now he has to wait three weeks to see if his worst season — this is the first time Thomas has failed to make the playoffs — will cost him a pick for the U.S. Ryder Cup team.

“I did everything I could,” Thomas said when he finished. “I don’t want my season to be over.”

Glover now has five PGA Tour wins separated by 18 years, and there might not have been another except for deciding to switch to a long putter, a move inspired by Adam Scott. He had been battling the yips, and he made every important putt at Sedge-

field Country Club. It was the second time in three years that Henley let one get away at Sedgefield. When play resumed, he took the lead with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 15th, and then everything went wrong in a bogey-bogey-bogey finish. His mediocre tee shot on the par-3 16th came down the slope at the front of the green and took one more turn into a deep divot hole. He chopped that out to 35 feet and made bogey. He sent his tee shot on the 17th into the trees, and his next shot buried in a deep hole in thick rough. He had to scramble for bogey. He

shot 69.

“Just never got comfortable, felt a little jittery out there, just never got into a good sync with my swing,” Henley said. “Just didn’t do a good job of handling the restart.”

Henley tied for second with Byeong Hun An (67). Billy Horschel, who shared the 54hole lead with Glover, didn’t make a birdie until the final hole. He shot 72 and finished alone in fourth.

Winning is what mattered more to Glover, especially having his two children, Lucille and Lucas Jr., come out to the green. “Daddy, you won!” the son said. His daughter was in tears.

Messi: Scores tying goal; beats FC Dallas

Continued from B1

game-winner in his Inter Miami debut, both on free kicks from just outside the penalty box in the waning moments, both sneaking past the goalkeeper into the upper corner of the net.

This time, the left-footed superstar was to the right of the net, and beat FC Dallas’ Maarten Paes to the near post the same way he did from the left side in a 2-1 win over Mexican club Cruz Azul in his Inter Miami debut.

“I think it’s not much to say. I think everyone can see,” FC Dallas coach Nico Estévez said. “It’s obvious that for him a free kick around there is like a PK for another player. You have to pray that the ball goes out of bounds or he fell in the run to kick the ball.”

The victory in the round of 16 sent Inter Miami into the Leagues Cup quarterfinals against the winner Monday night between Charlotte FC and Houston. The second of Messi’s three consecutive twogoal games came in the first Leagues Cup elimination game, a 3-1 Miami victory over Orlando City that was delayed by an hour and a half because of a torrential rainstorm in Florida.

The fifth match in Texas in Messi’s illustrious career had a kickoff temperature of 100 degrees (38 degrees celsius) on the 14th consecutive day of triple-digit heat in the

Dallas area. Because of the high temperatures, teams took a heat break near the halfway point of each half.

Messi’s first goal outside of Florida for his new U.S. club was another left-footed strike outside the penalty area in the sixth minute, on a pass from former FC Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba. It was initially disallowed on an offsides call that was overturned on review.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and World Cup champion for Argentina has scored in all four matches for Inter Miami, with seven goals total. His new U.S. club is 4-0 — all in the Leagues Cup — after going winless in nine consecutive MLS matches before the 36-year-old arrived.

“We are very glad to be moving on and these types of games help us to continue to develop as a team and fix our mistakes,” Miami coach Gerardo Martino said through an interpreter. “We still have a long way to go to be at the level we want but in the end, I am glad that we obtained the victory.”

Messi had the first penalty kick with a slow-moving approach to his shot into the right corner. The difference was Paxton Pomykal missing over the crossbar on the second FC Dallas attempt.

Benjamin Cremaschi, who scored in

the 65th minute, had the clincher as Miami finished with a 5-3 edge in the shootout.

FC Dallas had gone ahead 4-2 on Robert Taylor’s own goal in the 68th minute, but Dallas gave an own goal right back in the 80th minute. Marco Farfan put a header into his net on a cross from Messi on a free kick from outside the left corner of the penalty box.

Soon after, Taylor had a moment of redemption when he was fouled by Eugene Ansah, setting up Messi for a replay that sent the crowd of 19,096 into a frenzy.

Miami co-owner David Beckham saw the first one at home 17 days ago. He was here for this one, too, in a stadium where tickets that normally go for about $40 were selling for hundreds of dollars, and in some cases listed for more than $1,000.

Facundo Quignon and Bernard Kamungo scored in the first half for FC Dallas to erase the 1-0 deficit from Messi’s early goal.

Alan Velasco, a native of Argentina who grew up idolizing Messi, made it 3-1 with a bouncing free kick that eluded several defenders and keeper Drake Callender in the 63rd minute.

“I accomplished one of my biggest dreams today,” the 20-year-old Velasco said. “It was such a surreal experience that after many

years of watching him play, I finally got to share the field with him.”

Two minutes after Velasco scored, Cremaschi pulled Inter Miami within a goal to set up the wild finish. Messi had a hand in Cremaschi’s goal, sending a pass that Alba kept from going over the end line before passing to Cremaschi.

“To have players like him here will make our players better,” Estévez said of Messi. “When you have to face this kind of level, you have to do better. And you can see FC Dallas today, how some of our players raised their level.”

“I’m too old to be on the road this much,” Glover said. “I’ve been busting my hump to be with them, be with my wife. I’m so happy.”

Thomas made a 15-foot eagle putt on the 15th hole, only to catch a strong gust as storms were moving in on the par-3 16th, sending his ball down the hill and leading to bogey. He looked to be in big trouble on the 18th when he pulled his tee shot onto the pine straw, blocked by trees. But he hit a hard hook, twisting his body 180 degrees on impact, just short of the green. The pitch took a few hops and looked like it

would disappear into the hole until the base of the pin kept it out. He had to settle for a 68 and a long three weeks of waiting.

Zach Johnson gets six captain’s picks, and the question is whether Thomas has done enough in his two previous Ryder Cup appearances — or showed enough in one week — to merit a pick.

The 70th and final spot went to Ben Griffin, who missed the cut. He finished nine points ahead of Thomas. Adam Scott closed with a 63 and missed the postseason for the first time since the FedEx Cup began in 2007.

The United States’ Megan Rapinoe (15). PHIL WALTER/GETTY IMAGES/TNS

See RAPINOE | Page B4

Basketball’s Ricky Rubio taking break; cites mental health

By TIM REYNOLDS The Associated Press

Ricky Rubio of the Cleveland Cavaliers announced Saturday that he is taking a break

from basketball to focus on his mental health, a move that comes as his Spanish national team prepares to defend its title at the FIBA World Cup that starts later this

month.

Rubio was the MVP of the most recent World Cup four years ago, leading Spain to the championship and an 8-0 record in the tour-

nament. The veteran point guard was also expected to be part of Spain’s team that will look to defend that crown in the World Cup that starts Aug. 25 in the

Rapinoe: Closes out soccer career

Continued from B3

earliest exit from the World Cup. The United States won the last two tournaments and four overall, most of any nation. The team had never finished lower than third.

At the 2019 World Cup in France, Rapinoe scored six goals, including a penalty in a 2-0 victory over the Netherlands in the final. She also finished with three assists and claimed both the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball for the best overall player.

Her victory pose, arms outstretched, became one of the iconic images of the dominant U.S. run.

Rapinoe also led the U.S. women’s long fight for equal pay with their

male national team counterparts. Both teams reached contracts with U.S. Soccer last year that paid them equally and split tournament prize money.

As a fierce advocate for social justice issues, including gender equity and LGBTQ rights, she was awarded the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, by President Joe Biden last year.

After joining the national team in 2006, she finishes her international career with two Women’s World Cup titles and an Olympic gold medal. She also won the Ballon d’Or and the Best FIFA Women’s Player awards — the game’s top individual

honors — for her play in 2019.

“I don’t think there’s enough words to talk about Megan and her impact on this sport,” forward Lynn Williams said. “From equality, to human rights, the list goes on and on. So that’s going to sting a little bit, not to see her on this team and wearing the crest anymore.

“I can’t wait to see what she’s going to do in her next life, her next career.”

At her final World Cup, Rapinoe was the elder stateswoman on a team that had 14 players appearing for the first time in the tournament. Like former teammates Abby Wambach and Carli Lloyd, she now will step aside to make

way for the next generation. Rapinoe is not necessarily done with soccer. She has said she will play out the season with her club team, OL Reign in the National Women’s Soccer League. She may say goodbye to fans back home in a few more U.S. matches to wrap up the year. But her tournament days are over. In her 202 overall appearances for the United States, she has scored 63 goals.

“I feel really proud, really proud of this team, really proud of all the players I’ve played with. I’ve just loved every moment of my career,” she said. “I’ll just miss it to death, but it also feels like the right time. And that’s OK.”

Conference: Realignment a consolidation

Continued from B1

ball. Dismayed by the experience, he left the job and was not around when the ACC circled back to finish the job.

By the time the CFP was unveiled in 2014, the Big East was out of the football business. The American Athletic Conference was birthed from its remnants, quickly confined to the so-called Group of Five conferences and cordoned off from the largest piles of cash TV networks were willing to pay for top-tier college football.

Now the line is about to be redrawn. The TV networks have less money to go around, and have come to realize that paying for Washington State and Oregon State doesn’t make sense when all they really want is Washington and Oregon.

“It’s interesting that the Big Ten and the SEC have separated themselves, and now it’s the race to who’s going to be third,” said Karl Benson, who oversaw the Western Athletic Conference as it was torn apart by realignment in the late 1990s and 2000s.

The Big 12 was a winner in this round of realignment, but what about next time? It’s already apparent the next match of this survivor series will pit it against the ACC, where Florida State is telling everyone its not happy. The ACC’s contractual obligations seem to be the only thing keeping it from being raided. If deals don’t hold, everything about the trajectory of college sports over the last decade points toward the SEC and Big Ten stripping the most valuable parts of the ACC and the Big 12 picking through the leftovers.

But why stop there?

At what point do networks decide they’re done paying for Purdue and Indiana to get Ohio State and Michigan in the Big Ten? When do Georgia and Alabama look across the table during an SEC meeting at Missouri and Mississippi State and ask, “What would you say you do here?”

Where is the NCAA in all this? Lobbying Congress for laws to rein in how college athletes can earn money from

their fame. Athletes cashing in and having more freedom than ever to choose where they play has literally become a federal issue.

Missouri football coach Eli Drinkwitz pointed out the hypocrisy over the weekedn.

“I thought the transfer window, I thought the portal was closed,” he said a day after five Pac-12 schools announced they were leaving next year. “ Oh, that’s just for the student-athletes. The adults in the room get to do whatever they want, apparently.”

For the sake of better football matchups and the money they generate, scores of athletes at those new West Coast Big Ten schools will now be making regular cross-country trips to play sports that get a fraction — if that — of the attention of football.

“Traveling in those baseball, softball games, those people, they travel commercial, they get done playing, they got to go to the airport. They come back, it’s 3 or 4 in the morning, they got to

go to class. I mean, did we ask any of them?” Drinkwitz said. He makes good points, but it is difficult for anyone who makes a living off college sports to grab the moral high ground. Missouri abandoned the Big 12 for the bigger money and prestige of the SEC 11 years ago. Drinkwitz’s latest contract extension will pay him $6 million in 2023. He is 17-19 leading the Tigers.

The SEC and Commissioner Greg Sankey have only observed the Pac-12’s demise over the last 14 months, lamenting the potential damage and publicly encouraging peace — while also having tipped the first domino by taking Texas and Oklahoma away from the Big 12. The two storied programs arrive next year.

How college sports got here is nobody’s fault because it’s everybody’s fault.

Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.

“I have decided to stop my professional activity to take care of my mental health,” Rubio said in a statement distributed by the Spanish Basketball Federation, or FEB.

“I want to thank all the support I have received from the FEB to understand my decision. Today #LaFamilia makes more sense than ever. Thank you.”

Rubio also asked that his “privacy be respected so that I can face these moments and be able to give more information when the time comes.” He left the Spanish team camp earlier in the week and did not play in the team’s 87-57 exhibition win over

Venezuela on Friday in Madrid.

There is no indication how long Rubio’s break will last. NBA training camps open in about two months.

“We were informed today by Ricky and his representation that he has decided to step away from his illustrious basketball career to focus on his mental health at this time,” Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman said Saturday. “We understand how difficult of a decision this was for him and will balance providing whatever support we can while simultaneously respecting Ricky’s request for privacy.”

The Spanish team will play a pair of games in Malaga, Spain next weekend,

MLB: Brawl breaks out

Continued from B1

does something like that on the bases, he can get somebody out of the game. So I was telling him to stop doing that. After he tapped me really hard, more than needed, he said he wanted to fight and I had to defend myself.”

Anderson was not available for comment afterward.

Francona wasn’t exactly sure what prompted the Anderson-Ramírez bout, but said that before the brawl, Anderson had been told by one of the umpires to stop jawing at Guardians rookie Gabriel Arias.

On Friday night, Anderson pushed Guardians rookie Brayan Rocchio off the bag at second following a slide, leading to a call that was controversially reversed by the umpires.

Francona, thirdbase coach Mike Sarbaugh and closer Emmanuel Clase were tossed along with Chicago manager Pedro Grifol. There were multiple flare-ups on the infield and in foul territory, and it took 15 minutes before or-

der was restored. After he was knocked down, Anderson had to be forcibly taken into the dugout by members of the coaching staff before he returned to the field several minutes later. Chicago teammate Andrew Vaughn then wrapped his arms around Anderson and physically carried him down the dugout steps. Sarbaugh and Clase were the primary figures in subsequent escalations during the delay.

Tempers temporarily calmed before Francona and Grifol had words, leading to pushing and shoving by players and coaches on both teams as the crowd roared.

“I think he was more yelling at me and I yelled back,” Francona said.

Grifol didn’t want to comment directly about the ugly incident.

“There are a lot of people upset,” he said. “Thank God I haven’t heard of any news out of the trainer’s room. I’m not going to talk about it. I’m going to let MLB figure this out. They’ve got some work to do.”

See RUBIO | Page B6

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Parent fears son-in-law will waste gift

Dear Carolyn: I have decided to give a sizable cash gift to each of my children and their spouses each year. My son and daughter-in-law have already told me what they are going to spend the money on: doing house repairs, paying off their car, etc.

My concern is with my daughter and her new husband. They are both teachers in their late 30s. He has a history of overspending (apparently it runs in his family). He had a lot of debt when they met and my daughter helped him navigate paying down loans and credit cards. She has shared all of this with me. She said he still likes to spend on frivolous things.

They are expecting. I was unhappily surprised when I asked about summer plans and they are just taking it easy with no plans to earn extra money. I don’t want to attach any strings to this money, but I cannot stop thinking about him using it unwisely. What do you think about my asking

Carolyn Hax Tell

my daughter how they plan to use the money? Or should I just get over it and let them handle it? —

Concerned

Concerned: There are lots of options between butting into their business or enabling their business. You could give them (some of) the money in a trust, for example, to both couples, to avoid a judgy look. Or you could set up an education savings account, one you control, for your coming grandchild. These may seem like “strings,” but they are darn generous ones, and they are smart.

I like this one the best: Since your daughter shared his history with you, you can talk to her about what she would prefer. Not in a controlly, “tsk at your unwise spending” way, but in a

way that acknowledges a reality that your daughter has managed responsibly and trusted you enough to share.

Tell her you are mindful of how hard she and her husband have worked on excess spending and debt, and therefore want her input on this gift. Specifically, say you want to avoid putting her in a bad spot with a windfall, but you also want avoid interfering or attaching strings. Encourage her to give it some thought and come back to you with ideas, and offer her some starter ideas as well. An education account for the baby? A trust that pays out over time?

The main element of finding the “right” answer here, whatever it turns out to be, is not the money or the spending or the husband. It is your relationship with your daughter. If it is a good one, if she has shared her financial circumstances with you freely, then you are in a position to say credibly that you are asking for her input.

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Former Jets cornerback Revis in Football Hall of Fame

CANTON, Ohio (AP) — Revis Island has a new home in “Football Heaven.”

After Joe Klecko and Fireman Ed got the green-clad crowd roaring “J-E-T-S! Jets! Jets!

Jets!” four-time All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis took his spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.

“It’s an honor to be here, to stand among the greats,” the soft-spoken Revis said.

A first-ballot inductee, Revis was so dominant that opposing quarterbacks stopped throwing the ball his way.

He won a Super Bowl in his only season with the New England Patriots before returning home to New York and finished his career with seven Pro Bowl selections.

“To the Jets fans, for all the boos and cheers when I was drafted 14th overall to burning my jersey when I signed with the Patriots to now being here in Canton, I guess it’s safe to say we’ve been through a lot together,” Revis said. “You expected great things out of me every single game and I accepted the challenge. Thank you for believing in me and supporting me every step of the way. You will always have a place to stay on Revis Island.”

Klecko, a fan favorite in New York, also was among nine members of the Class of 2023 that included local hero Joe Thomas who were enshrined during a fourhour ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

Klecko went from working at a trucking company and making a semipro team as an unpaid player with a fake name to earning a scholarship to play at Temple.

Drafted in the sixth round in 1977, the hardnosed, tough guy from a gritty town in Pennsylvania is the only player in NFL history to be selected to the Pro Bowl at three positions on the defensive line: end, tackle and nose tackle.

Klecko was the heart of the dominant “New York Sack Exchange” defensive line in the 1980s along with Mark Gastineau, Marty Lyons and Abdul Salaam.

“I pray that I treated everybody with respect,” Klecko said. “I want to be remembered as a player who gave it his all. I wanted to win every down, every battle. I always felt that if you’re not mad at yourself if you lose one bat-

tle, you don’t belong on the field.”

An underwhelming crowd filled with mostly Jets and Browns fans came to see Revis, Klecko and Thomas during a week of festivities that included Cleveland’s 21-16 victory over New York in the NFL preseason opener on Thursday.

Thomas got the biggest ovation from hometown fans wearing orange-and-brown No. 73 jerseys. His speech had the “Dawg Pound” barking a few times.

The six-time All-Pro left tackle played a record 10,363 consecutive snaps before torn triceps ended the streak and his career in 2017.

“That number 10,363 is special to me, and not just because it’s an NFL record, but because it shows that I was there for my brothers 10,363 times in a row,” Thomas said. “Loyalty, consistency, something bigger

Rubio: Taking a mental health break

Continued from B4

Aug. 13 matchup against USA Basketball — which is ranked No. 2 in the FIBA world rankings, behind the reigning World Cup champions. The games in Malaga are part of Spain celebrating its federation’s 100th birthday.

“People come before results,” Spain coach Sergio Scariolo said, doing so in a social media post. “All my love and support for Ricky, and my admiration for his transparency and through it his ability, once again, to lead by example.”

The 32-year-old Rubio is the oldest and, in terms of NBA years, the most experienced player on Cleveland’s roster. He has played in the league for 12 seasons, appearing with Minnesota, Utah, Phoenix and the Cavaliers.

He missed the majority of the past two seasons while recovering from a torn left ACL, and returned to the Cavs primarily as a reserve for 33 games at the end of this past season.

The Spanish federation said it “wishes to express its respect, admiration and affec-

tion for Ricky Rubio. #LaFamilia will be by the player’s side at all times.”

Rubio has averaged 10.8 points and 7.4 assists in his NBA career. He had a team-high 20 points in Spain’s 2019 World Cup final win over Argentina.

Rubio — who played his first pro game in Spain in 2005 when he was just 14 — was drafted No. 5 overall by Minnesota in 2009, and actually joined the Timberwolves two years later. He is a three-time Olympian and threetime World Cup team member for Spain.

than yourself, showing up for someone else.”

Ronde Barber, a threetime All-Pro who spent all 16 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was the third cornerback inducted in this class.

“I wasn’t Darrelle Revis. I wasn’t that guy,” Barber said. “Not all of us are anointed or can’t-miss prospects, proclaimed to be future Hall of Famers on day one of our careers. ... After today, there will be 23 corners in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And I’m not like any of them because I couldn’t be. I’m here because I refused to be just a guy. Ordinary was not an option.”

Zach Thomas, the five-time All-Pro linebacker for the Miami Dolphins, kicked off the speeches.

The 5-foot-11 Thomas, only the third linebacker under 6 feet to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame, thanked everyone from Hall of Fame coach Jimmy Johnson and former teammates Dan

Marino and Jason Taylor to Bills, Jets and Patriots fans who “screamed” and “threw things” at him. He choked up when he mentioned fellow Hall of Fame linebacker Junior Seau, who committed suicide in 2012.

“When I was 2 years old, I was run over by a pickup truck,” Thomas said. “And you know what saved me that day? Dirt. If it was concrete or pavement, I wouldn’t be here right now.

“My life has taken a lot of dirt roads to get here.”

Thomas was presented by Johnson, who drafted the undersized linebacker in the fifth round in 1996.

“I’ve drafted, recruited and coached 17 Hall of Fame players,” Johnson said. “Of all those players, Zach was the hardest working.”

DeMarcus Ware, the four-time All-Pro outside linebacker, talked about growing up in a tough environment in Alabama and once having a gun held to his head when he was in college at Troy. He thanked his mother for providing for her family as a single parent and forgave his dad for not being there.

“I was blinded by my environment as a child, domestic violence, drugs, and gangs but those surroundings taught me to be relentless, limitless and resilient,” Ware said. “The reality is you are a product of your own thinking, your own mind, and you must to learn how to persevere.”

A first-round pick in 2005, Ware set a franchise record with 117 sacks in nine years with the Cowboys. He got

another 21 1/2 sacks in three seasons with the Broncos.

After frustrating playoff failures in Dallas, Ware got a call from Peyton Manning to go to Denver in 2014. He played an instrumental role in helping the Broncos beat Carolina in the Super Bowl a year later.

“My teammates were unstoppable, and I’m proud to be a part of that legacy,” said Ware, who had two sacks in a 24-10 win over the Panthers.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones presented Ware, who was selected in his second year of eligibility.

“He’s a rare combination of physical gifts and high, high, high moral character,” Jones said.

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Ken Riley was inducted three years after his death. Riley, a dual-threat quarterback at Florida A&M, was moved to defense by coach Paul Brown after he was drafted in the sixth round in 1969 and finished with 65 interceptions in 15 seasons, all with the Bengals.

“Even though he never played defense until they drafted him, he ended his career as the No. 4 all-time interception leader. Today, 40 years later, he’s No. 5,” said Riley’s son, Ken Riley II. “He was a true professional from start to finish.”

Chuck Howley, the only Super Bowl MVP from a losing team, was inducted 50 years after he played his last game. The 87-year-old Howley, a five-time All-Pro linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys, couldn’t attend the ceremony.

Former New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis. ANDREW MILLS/NJ ADVANCE

MEDIA/TNS