But the Canal and River Trust has said that while it understands concerns about the eyesore it does not have the resources to remove the weeds.

Spokesman Zoe Stringer said in a letter to group members: I share and understand your frustration at seeing litter along the waterways, especially collected within or behind the weir boom.

"It is an eyesore. Sadly, this issue is not isolated to the boom above Sprotborough Falls and despite the Trust spending 1million every year on litter removal, we are simply unable to clear every site when problems arise.

"The Trust is a charity with 2,000 miles of waterway and thousands of structures such as locks, bridges and weirs. We must carefully allocate budget as we simply do not have enough funding to resolve every issue as quickly as we, and others, would like to see.

Clearing weir booms is costly due to several factors.

"Access is an issue, requiring specialist contractors.

"Waste disposal is another one, with the debris being a mix of vegetation and plastic waste which needs to be separated before disposal.

"When waste is scooped out it is inevitably wet, which poses an issue of increased weight compared with clearing litter and vegetation on land.

" I appreciate that you have approached the Trust expecting immediate action, however this is simply not possible with our limited budget. With the challenges that we face, it is unfortunately not a simple task, and so would not be possible without external funding.

We are sadly unable to collect litter from every bankside and location along the waterways; in some places it cannot be collected safely, or would incur great expense bringing in specialist contractors. Clearing litter is only a temporary measure. Our preferred approach is to work to tackle the issue at source, to work with other organisations raising awareness of plastic waste and the need to keep litter out of the environment.

"There is no concern that this debris is significantly affecting water flow. I appreciate this is not the answer you were looking for but hope you can understand our position.

Lynne Walker, the groups secretary, said: We are increasingly concerned about the unsightly mess and pollution on the River Don, where the water flows towards the boom, just prior to the weir, known locally as Sprotbrough Falls.

"Over time, debris has gathered in front of the boom and it has continued to gather, so much so, that we now have a land mass of weeds and pollution plastic bottles, wood and logs.

This land mass of weeds, plastic bottles and other debris is a completely disgusting mess, in an area known for its natural, outstanding beauty. I very much doubt that if this location was in Surrey or Berkshire, the Cotswolds - Bath or any other desirable place in the country, it would have been allowed to have become this unsightly mess before the Canal and River authorities would have acted!

The Don Gorge Community Group has concerns that the weeds, debris and pollution piled up in front of the boom will not only hinder the natural flow of the river but, that the debris will only continue to gather unless some action is taken to remove it.

Its unsightly its disgusting and we do not want to see this mess on the river in an area known for its outstanding beauty. Its not acceptable that this is allowed to continue without the Canal & River Trust taking some steps to clear it.

She added: I wonder just how much of a mess it needs to get into before they will take any action?

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Dangerous 'fake' land on Doncaster river won't be cleared due to cost issues - Doncaster Free Press

L

ondon firefighters who have spent weeks tackling grass fires - followed by hundreds of calls to flash flooding on Wednesday - are urging vigilance with more dry weather on the way.

The incredibly busy time has led London Fire Brigades (LFB) assistant commissioner to issue an appeal, urging people to take care with barbecues and cigarettes.

Firefighters saw a huge spike in call-outs after prolonged dry weather led to drought and tinder-dry conditions.

In the first week of August alone, London crews tackled 340 grass and open land fires - more than eight times as many as the same week last year.

In July, on the UKs hottest day on record, LFB saw its busiest 24 hours since the Second World War.

But heavy rain this week didnt improve things for the busy service.

Two women dip their heads into the fountain to cool off in Trafalgar Square

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A police officer givers water to a British soldier wearing a traditional bearskin hat, on guard duty outside Buckingham Palace

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People take pictures of the sunset from Greenwich Park view point

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Empty shelves in the water aisle of Sainsbury Nine Elms in London

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A man cools off in a fountain during the hot weather in London

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People sit and lie in the sun and shade backdropped by Tower Bridge

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Children cool off in the Southbank Centre fountain

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A man uses a newspaper as a fan whilst travelling on the Bakerloo line

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Two people under an umbrella in Londons Regents Park

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Sunrise over London

Jeremy Selwyn

Swimmers soak up the sun at Charlton Lido in south east London

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A sign warning passengers of traveling in the heat on the Bakerloo line

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A police officer poring water water on a police horse on Whitehall i

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Western lowland gorilla enjoys an ice lolly at London Zoo

A person holds a thermometer at Oxford Circus station of the London underground

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Commuters on London Bridge feel the heat at 8.30am

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A young family of Tufted ducks run past a soldier from the Queens Guard on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace during warm weather

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Commuters in London

Jeremy Selwyn

LFB typically takes about 450 calls a day but, on Wednesday, as thunderstorms hit London causing flash flooding, it received 1,290 calls - 40 per cent of which were related to floods.

The intense period of call-outs has sparked a plea from LFB Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne, who said: Its been an incredibly busy time for firefighters and control officers who have been working around the clock with our partners to keep Londoners safe, whether that be from the intense grass fires weve seen or flooding.

When the ground is incredibly dry its harder for water to be absorbed, which is why weve seen flash flooding as the water pools on the surface, but it also means that grasslands are still parched.

In the coming days were expecting more dry weather, so please continue to help us prevent grass fires by not barbecuing on open land, clearing away rubbish and glass and safely disposing of cigarettes.

Read more here:
From fire to floods to fire: London Fire Brigade warning as more dry weather due - Evening Standard

FDR Park will add a 33-acre wetland area to address regular flooding and pursue a path to a climate-resilient future.

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, along with the Fairmount Park Conservancy and Philadelphia International Airport, announced the beginning of construction on Aug. 18, which will create a native forested wetland in the southwest corner of the 348-acre park. Officials say the $30 million project will reclaim high-quality habitat in the park and reintroduce native ecosystems to the land for the first time since the park was completed in 1914.

FDR Park is a home to so many rich Philadelphia communities, from birders and hikers, to youth athletes, cultural institutions and naturalists, said Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell. The wetland project and Nature Phase of the Park Plan will deliver for those who love FDR Park today, while building a sustainable, resilient foundation that will allow future generations of South Philadelphia families to enjoy FDR Park for years to come.

The new wetland area will occupy an area that was previously inaccessible to the public. A coastal forested wetland is native to the FDR Park site. It was once the primary landscape along the Delaware River watershed in South and Southwest Philadelphia.

Returning part of FDR Park to wetland is an important step toward creating and maintaining a world-class public park that is built on the Delaware River watershed, said Maura McCarthy, executive director, Fairmount Park Conservancy. The wetland and creek project will make FDR Park a paradise for birds and local birdwatchers, and open up a section of the park that has been inaccessible for decades.

The project will take about 12-18 months. It will rebuild and enhance the riverbank areas adjacent to Shedbrook Creek, reduce flooding, and provide new opportunities to explore both creek and marshland in the park. The wetland will expand habitat for native flora and fauna and will include boardwalks for public access to view the scenic nature.

According to officials, the area will be cleared of current growth to remove invasive species. Then, 7,000 new adapted trees and 1,700 bushes and woody shrubs will be planted. Two new tide gates will be installed to prevent tidal flow to the parks creeks and lagoons. Excavated soil will be preserved on 10.6 acres of the former golf course for future use in elevating the park above sea level. The soil will be planted with natural grasses and wildflowers.

A lot of work has already gone on behind the scenes to get this project to the groundbreaking stage, said Philadelphia International Airport Division of Aviation Interim CEO Keith Brune. We are excited for the work at FDR Park to be underway. When completed, this project will improve the park for the entire community, by removing years of debris, planting thousands of trees and shrubs, improving drainage and clearing clogged pipes.

The wetland creation is the first of 12 projects for the $45 million Nature Phase of FDR Park. Other upcoming projects include the restoration of Shedbrook Creek stream and riparian buffers, 23 acres of Sedge Meadow with boardwalks and overlooks, a kayak and canoe launch, Wildflower Hill, Nature Playground, Two Treehouse Woods projects including a high-quality forest and canopy structure for explorations, 5 miles of soft surface trail network with signage, a plant nursery and land care facility, a trailhead comfort station and meadow and forest restoration.

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Wetland area coming to FDR Park - South Philly Review

In the same way as climate-related performance is material to share price and asset valuations, that is exactly what is going to happen in the nature space, said Will Symons, the Asia-Pacific climate and sustainability leader at Deloitte, which last week issued a report titled Banking on Natural Capital.

The report will help financial institutions focus on quantifying the value of nature, both the hidden risks associated with nature loss and opportunities associated with its replenishment.

The World Economic Forum has estimated more than half of the worlds economic output, or $US44 trillion ($61.7 trillion), is moderately or highly dependent on nature. It is an issue melding into Australias consciousness given bushfires, floods and the degradation of coral reefs.

TNFD obligations will push banks towards being nature positive, requiring them to invest more into nature to offset the impact on biodiversity loss or land clearance from activities within their lending portfolios; the nature equivalent of scope 3 in the emissions space.

This is coming fast. Many organisations will have to start disclosing in a year and many organisations are really early wrapping heads around this, Mr Symons said.

Deloittes Banking on Natural Capital report points out that the destruction of natural ecosystems is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, and that nature plays an essential role in combatting climate change. It also shows that climate change and nature loss are linked and should be tackled concurrently.

We are moving from a state of understanding climate credit risk to actually doing something about it, and for many organisations, some decarbonising will be through nature-based solutions, which can provide a most cost-effective way of taking action now, Mr Symons said.

As well as de-risking existing investments and assets, the TNFD will also help banks create new green lending products and activate new markets, including a push towards trade credits attached to nature.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia, in its inaugural climate report issued last week, cited natural capital as a core focus area for next year.

There is increased interest from customers, regulators, government and investors on the banks approach to climate change, biodiversity and natural capital, the report said.

CBA joined the TNFD this year and said it had designed a high-level road map to guide our approach to natural capital.

In the coming year we aim to set our priorities related to natural capital and explore metrics to measure our progress, the bank said.

For banks, a key challenge is working out where loaned funds are being spent. This will be necessary to determine if customer activity is happening in areas where biodiversity may be impacted. However, many banks dont record the geolocation of lending activity.

Another issue is understanding the precise nature of the activity being conducted with money lent, which may require banks to ask more questions about the purpose of loans. For example, borrowing to buy tree felling machinery could point to land clearing, which may support an agricultural industry but be nature negative from a deforestation perspective.

Deloitte says banks need to begin mapping, measuring and monitoring risks, impacts and dependencies of lending with established risk assessment and disclosure frameworks. It suggests conducting nature-related stress tests of current and projected balance sheets, and integrating biodiversity into sustainable finance policies.

Opportunities will emerge in trading credit attached to protecting and improving the natural environment. Many of these markets, such as those for biodiversity credits in NSW, are fragmented. But Deloitte predicts a coherent, regional market will emerge based around natural capital assets. These could include co-benefits attached to carbon credits.

It suggests banks and other financial institutions collaborate on creating a nature-based equity exchange.

We are inviting the financial services industry to take a role designing and driving that marketplace, The scale of opportunity, and potentially the wave of risk for the sector, is too great to be handled on an institution-by-institution basis, said Guy Williams, Deloittes Asia-Pacific and global nature lead.

Deloitte acknowledges governments play a key role in catalysing and scaling private sector investment in natural capital. But pressure to adopt TNFD will not only come from consultants and regulators, but also financial sector investors.

Deloitte quotes Jessica McDougall, the director of BlackRock Investment Stewardship, in its report, who said careful management of natural capital would become a core component of a resilient, long-term corporate strategy for companies that rely on the benefits that nature provides.

She said investors were increasingly interested in contributing capital to companies that not only mitigate nature-related risks, but consider natural capital opportunities aligned with their strategy.

Mr Williams said recent conversations with European sovereign wealth funds suggest TNFD disclosure is going to move quickly.

Read more here:
Big banks CBA, NAB, Westpac, ANZ and Macquarie in push to disclose the impact of lending on nature - The Australian Financial Review

Wednesday, August 17, 2022 4:10PM

HOUSTON, Texas -- The Coast Guard and Texas General Land Office (GLO) are responding to a pollution incident in Tabbs Bay near Baytown.

The Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston received a report at 10:30 a.m. Monday of oil spilling from a flow line in Tabbs Bay. Pollution responders were sent to the site, where they estimated up to 420 gallons of crude oil entered the water.

More than 2,000 feet of hard boom and sorbent boom were placed around the affected areas to help contain and recover oil product.

Officials say they haven't found any impacted wildlife at this time. They add that the cause of the pollution has been identified and the source is secure.

Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story you think we should cover? Send it to ABC13 using the form below. If you have a video or photo to send, terms of use apply. If you don't, just hit 'skip upload' and send the details.

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Coast Guard helping to clean up oil spill in Tabbs Bay near Baytown - KTRK-TV

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. The 26th annual Tahoe Summit brought together local government, public agencies, activism groups and local residents to discuss the progress and challenges that are happening in the Lake Tahoe Basin and the surrounding forests.

The event was hosted Tuesday, Aug. 16, at Sand Harbor by Nevada Sen.Jackie Rosen. The event was put together by a multitude of agencies and featured booths throughout the Sand Harbor parking lot with representatives ready to share their knowledge and promote their organizations, providing informational handouts and freebies aimed at reducing waste in the basin.

I just want to take a moment to thank the many organizations, agencies, and advocates who work tirelessly to make sure that Lake Tahoe remains the beautiful and spectacular place that it is, Rosen said.

The event was started with an address from Rosen, followed by an invocation from Washoe Tribal Elder Dina Pete and a welcome from Washoe Chairman Smokey.

I want to acknowledge Tahoes first community, Rosen said. Those who have been protecting and preserving and honoring the beauty of this area longer than anyone else; the Washoe Tribe. Theyve been the stewards of Tahoes land and water for thousands of generations and the Washoe Tribe has been invaluable partners in our efforts to protect and preserve this national treasure, our national treasure.

Throughout the event, representatives that were in attendance included White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy, representatives from the forest service, and elected officials from both California and Nevada, including Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, California Sen. Alex Padilla and US representatives Mark Amodei and Tom McClintock.

This years summit theme was Protecting Lake Tahoes Future and much of the remarks made by public officials revolved around the effects of climate change and lack of adequate forest management in the basin.

Climate change is an existential threat not only for Tahoe, but for all of our communities, Padilla said. That is why I am proud of the work being done by the Tahoe Conservation Coalition, which has set the standard for interstate environmental improvement and drawn hundreds of millions of dollars to the region. Whether it be through the appropriations process or with the recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, we are renewing Americas commitment to protecting our planet and its special ecological places, like the Lake Tahoe basin, for our children and future generations.

The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden during the summit in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, was mentioned by multiple speakers throughout the event, given its massive impacts it should have on climate change not only in the basin, but the entire country.

Climate change is impacting the Tahoe Basin, and we need to take action to protect these treasures for our residents, our future generations, our tourists, and our economy, Sisolak said. We need to take action now; not in 10 years, not in five years, but today. Nevada remains committed to protecting the long term sustainable health of Lake Tahoe and counties to deliver strong results.

Sisolak praised Nevada workers and officials for their extensive work to clean up the forests for fire prevention, along with focusing on the quality and clarity of the lake water and creating healthy and resilient forests with sustainable recreation.

The work is more critical now and more important than ever as the impacts of climate change continue, said Sisolak. Were excited to see the climate provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act that President Biden will sign in just a few minutes.

While many of the public officials attribute much of the environmental issues, including increased amount of fires and low air quality due to smoke to climate change, others like U.S. Representative Tom McClintock believes that lack of proper forest management and properly allocated funds to forest management projects is what creates fire danger in the basin.

The climate didnt change, the laws changed, McClintock said. So whatever else we do, we have to protect Tahoes forests if were going to protect Tahoe. Fifty years of experience with these laws should warn us that theyve not only failed to improve the forest environment; theyve drastically harmed it. The modifications that we were able to make in those laws have made a real difference here in the Tahoe basin among other things.

The firefighters who have served in the Tahoe Basin, many during the Caldor Fire in 2021, were honored during the event for their efforts to protect the national forest land and prevent future fires multiple times by speakers, and were given a copy of remarks made by McClintock to thank them and honor them in the House of Representatives.

The event was attended by local agencies from all around the Tahoe/Reno area, including The Tahoe Fund, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Sierra Nevada Alliance and their volunteers, and members of the new University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe campus including UNR President Brian Sandavol.

Sierra Nevada Alliance Executive Director Jenny Hatch and her team were excited to attend the event and spread awareness on ways to promote conservation in Lake Tahoe.

The Summit is a really great gathering place to reconvene every year, said Hatch.

The SNA team brought Lake Tahoe Ambassador Program participants to the event, where they helped as needed, along with AmeriCorp members that helped run the event.

Its great to have conservation with conservation leaders from both states, federal agencies, and the nonprofit community, and just remember what were all working for, Hatch said.

To watch the full Lake Tahoe Summit, visit tahoefund.org/2022-lake-tahoe-summit.

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Tahoe Summit explores highs, lows of progress on the lake - Tahoe Daily Tribune

The Tennessee Titans made a few additions to their secondary this week, one of which involved claiming former Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Lonnie Johnson off waivers.

A former second-round pick of the Texans in 2019, Johnson spent three years in Houston before being traded to the Chiefs earlier this offseason. However, Johnson was unexpectedly let go in the first round of cuts.

The Titans are already quite familiar with Johnson, who has faced Tennessee on multiple occasions during his three-year career. Adding to that, Johnson worked under defensive backs coach Anthony Midget in Houston.

Johnson didnt wait long to make an impact in training camp. During his first practice on Wednesday, which was also the first joint session with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Johnson recorded an interception.

Its just a blessing to be here, Johnson said after practice on Wednesday, per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online. I wasnt expecting it but I got a good connection with [head coach Mike Vrabel], got a good connection with the DB coach [Anthony Midget] here.

First day out, I was blessed to get a pick the first play I was in, so just doing what I can, Johnson added.

Johnson brings some versatility with him. He can play at safety, cornerback, and has experience on special teams. Tennessee may also give him a look in the tight end matchup role previously held by Dane Cruikshank.

As the Kentucky product continues to get acclimated and tries to earn a spot on the roster in Nashville, hes just happy to be joining a winning culture in Tennessee.

Just get in where I fit in and just get ready to work, Johnson said. I know [the Titans] got a winning culture here. They want to win, they want to get to the Super Bowl This team works hard, got an excellent running back, QB; everybody just doing what they can to get to that next level, that next stage.

While Johnson is facing an uphill climb in making the roster after joining the Titans so late in the offseason, he has a better shot to make the cut than most would in his position after Tennessees depth options in the secondary were lackluster in preseason Week 1.

See the article here:
Lonnie Johnson talks joining Titans, connections with coaching staff - Titans Wire

JONESBORO The Arkansas State University Faculty Association will recognize 28 individuals, whose names have been selected for inclusion on the Distinguished Faculty Wall of Honor, during the fall Faculty Conference Wednesday, Aug. 17. The recognition is scheduled to begin about10 a.m.in Centennial Hall of the Reng Student Union.

Recognition of Distinguished Faculty began during the universitys Centennial Celebration in 2009-10, when the Faculty Association selected the First 100 Distinguished Faculty.

Through a faculty committee nomination process, the association selected the retired faculty who have made long-term significant contributions to Arkansas States success. A second group of 31 was selected and recognized in 2014; selection of the current group was delayed by the pandemic.

As president of the Faculty Association, it has been a pleasure to work with the historical committee to receive nominations from each college for the Distinguished Faculty awards, said Donna Caldwell, associate professor of medical imaging and radiation sciences and Faculty Association president. This is the highest honor bestowed to faculty by Arkansas State University and the Faculty Association. I am honored to be a part of honoring and recognizing these 28 amazing key faculty members.

Dr. John D. Hall, chair of the Faculty Association Historical Committee, cited former history professor Lee A. Dews book,The ASU Story: A History of Arkansas State University 1909-1967, as the source of a line reproduced on the Wall of Honor: The most vital part of any college is the faculty, for without a skilled and competent faculty no college can function effectively. The Wall of Honor is in front of Centennial Hall.

These 28 retired faculty members who have most recently been nominated by their colleagues and selected by the Faculty Association Executive Committee according to the Faculty Association by-laws represent a most distinguished group of skilled and competent faculty, Hall added. These faculty, like those selected before them for this high honor, have moved their departments, colleges, university and disciplines forward in an exemplary manner.

During the brief ceremony, each newly Distinguished Faculty member, or a representative, will receive a certificate signifying their selection for the prestigious recognition.

Here are the 28 newly designated Distinguished Faculty:

Thomas M. Adams, Ed.D., Professor of Exercise Science, 1981-2016

Neale K. Bartee, Ph.D., Professor of Music, 1973-2014

Sandra K. Bevill, Ph.D., Professor of Business Communications, 1991-2021

Lew E. Brinkley, Ph.D., Professor of Agricultural Economics, 1969-2005

David W. Cox, Ed.D., Professor of Educational Leadership, 1992-2014

Carole L. Cramer, Ph.D., Professor of Molecular Biology, 2004-2018

William R. Crumpton, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Agricultural Engineering, 1980-2006

Robert D. Engelken, Ph.D., Professor of Electrical Engineering, 1982-2016

David E. England, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Political Science, 1988-2006

Richard K. Freer, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Social Work,1994-2014

Anne A. Grippo, Ph.D., Professor of Biology, 1995-2021

Julie J. Isaacson, MSN, Associate Professor of Nursing, 1987-2016

Craig H. Jones, Ed.D., Professor of Psychology and Counseling, 1977-2017

James Howard Keene, Ph.D., Professor of Animal Science, 1964-1995

Coy N. London, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Accounting, 1970-1996

Gregory B. Meeks, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Teacher Education, 2003-2018

Richard A. Neeley, Ph.D., Professor of Communication Disorders, 1987-2018

William C. Payne, MS, Associate Professor of Microbiology, 1988-2019

Jeffrey R. Pittman, J.D., Professor of Business Law, 1983-2021

Daniel F. Ross, DMA, Professor of Music, 1973-2018

Robert F. Rossa, Ph.D., Professor of Mathematics, 1969-2004

Ralph Ruby Jr., Ed.D., Professor of Computer Information and Technology, 1979-2020

Pat S. Shackelford, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Agricultural Engineering, 1976-1998

Russell E. Shain, Ph.D., Professor of Journalism, 1990-2010

Robert P. Smith, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Mathematics, 1969-2008

Curtis E. Steele, MFA, Professor of Graphic Design, 1978-2017

Dennis W. White, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Speech Communication, 1974-2007

Raymond F. Winters, M.S., Associate Professor of Radiological Sciences, 1995-2018

Nameplates, complete with each individuals academic title and years of service, are being added to the recognition wall for public view beginning Wednesday.

Press Release

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A-State Faculty Association Will Salute 28 Additions to Distinguished Faculty Wall of Honor - NEA Report

Brody Malone

Though bonus was a big factor in how the rankings ended up playing out in the first night of senior mens competition at U.S. Championships last night, it didnt matter much for Brody Malone, who relied on clean, consistent gymnastics to finish his first night separated by more than three points ahead of the rest of the field, with or without bonus.

Malone leads the field with an 88.942, which is 3.462 points ahead of second-place Asher Hong, competing in his first national competition as a senior. But without the bonus (given to athletes as a way to reward higher-difficulty skills that are inherently riskier and which the athletes would otherwise be less likely to perform), while the rankings below Malone shift pretty drastically, he actuallyincreases his lead to 3.55 points, with an 86.750 to Yul Moldauers bonus-free 83.200.

Starting on rings, Malone performed what is a pretty low-difficulty routine for him well enough, he hit a very strong Kaz 1 on vault, looking just slightly off directionally with a hop to earn a 14.45, and he did beautiful work on p-bars. His work on both high bar and floor was very strong, getting him to first- and second-place finishes on these events, and while some of his floor landings could use some tidying up which held his execution back a bit his skills overall look so solid and dependable. To cap off his night, he hit one of his better routines on pommel horse, with no major mistakes or even slight hesitations there, getting him a third-place finish.

Hong ranked second with an 85.480 with bonus, though drops slightly to third with an 83.000 without the additional help. He got off to a massive start on vault, where he scored a 16.630 (1.78 bonus) for his tsuk full-in double tuck. Its one of the most difficult vaults being done in the world right now, and he followed it up with an equally difficult Kaz 2, making him the only gymnast who has competed two 6.0-rated vaults this year. The latter came up a bit shy in rotation and is definitely at risk of being downgraded, and he could use a little clean-up on both, but its very impressive work, especially given his age.

Vault aside, Hong had pretty great routines, including an impressive combination of high difficulty and mostly brilliant execution on floor to top the field there, and he looked super solid on both rings and p-bars, but his weakest events pommel horse and high bar both got to him here. On pommels, he struggled a bit throughout with form breaks in addition to falling, while on high bar, he started his routine with a hard fall very early on the Kolman, though I was glad to see him get back up and finish strong with no other major issues.

Donnell Whittenburg placed third with an 84.774 with bonus, picking up a significant amount thanks to his difficulty on floor, rings, and vault. However, without the bonus, he came in at just an 81.950, falling to ninth place. This is largely because of his lower difficulty on his weaker events pommels, p-bars, and high bar, though he hit all three relatively well here but also due to a rough floor routine.

One of his key apparatuses, Whittenburg put his hands down on his opening front double full to double front and then again on his arabian double front half-out, in addition to some otherwise hoppy landings. Thankfully, he got over that quickly enough to come back with the best rings routine in the field by a mile, and he hit a super powerful tsuk full-in on vault with a bounce to the side on the landing, though he looked great in the air.

In fourth, with or without bonus, was Shane Wiskus (84.423 officially, 82.950 with bonus removed). It was an okay meet for Wiskus, who started with clean work on his Kaz 1 and in a mostly beautiful p-bars set, though he started to lose focus a bit after that, beginning on high bar. He was a bit rushed there, with a couple of his releases barely scraping by and his Tak full finished under the bar, and he also had some weak landings on floor, coming up shy of an execution score wed usually expect from him. He continued to be plagued by some form issues on pommels making him look a bit off there, but he finished strong on rings and should be happy to have made it through his day without any falls, though I hope he can tighten up a bit to show more of what hes capable of on day two.

Maybe it was a little surprising to see Moldauer down in fifth place with an 84.276 after hes spent the past five years as one of the leaders of the national team, but unlike a lot of the guys here who were trying to impress with difficulty here, his focus was on hitting clean, leaving behind some of the harder skills he tried out at classics a few weeks ago. When you remove everyones bonus, he jumps up to second place with an 83.200, showing that his simpler but cleaner work is still going to add major value to the U.S. team at worlds.

It wasnt Moldauers best day, with little things on almost every routine holding him back slightly, including on all of his best events floor exercise, pommel horse and parallel bars, with a fall on the latter. I think overall, his gymnastics looks tight and strong, and thats going to be what keeps him afloat this season, but I do think the lack of consistency this year especially on his key events where the team will need to rely on him most is something that needs attention. Again, hes good enough that he can rank second with a fall, so the situation isnt dire and hell be at worlds pretty much no matter what, but a fall-free competition could be helpful in his preparation.

Rounding out the top eight in the official standings are Fred Richard in sixth with an 83.880, Colt Walker in seventh with an 83.846, Ian Lasic-Ellis in eighth with an 82.950, Taylor Burkhart in ninth with an 82.573, and Khoi Young, who is dealing with an injury and not at a hundred percent, in 10th with an 82.444. But again, when you remove the bonus here, quite a few of these standings shift, with Richard dropping all the way to 11th, while the rest of the guys climbed, including Lasic-Ellis who had no bonus added to his scores ending up fifth, Walker in sixth, Young in seventh, and Burkhart in eighth.

One of the most exciting additions to the senior national field this year, Richard had a few mistakes throughout his day, including several mistakes in addition to a fall on pommels, a few rushed skills on high bar, and some short landings on floor, where he opened with a double double half-out, but thanks to the difficulty bonuses, he still managed to finish second on high bar and third on floor.

Among the specialists finishing in the top three on each event, Ian Skirkey was first on pommels with a 15.743 (a 14.55 without bonus), ahead of world champion Stephen Nedoroscik in second with a 15.693 (a 14.7 without bonus), while Curran Phillips finished first on p-bars with a 16.999 (a 15.35 without bonus) ahead of Blake Sun in second with a 15.992 (also a 15.35 without bonus), and Alex Diab was second on rings with a 15.245 (a 14.35 without bonus).

Day 1 Rankings With Bonus

1. Brody Malone 88.9422. Asher Hong 85.4803. Donnell Whittenburg 84.7744. Shane Wiskus 84.4235. Yul Moldauer 84.2766. Fred Richard 83.8807. Colt Walker 83.8468. Ian Lasic-Ellis 82.9509. Taylor Burkhart 82.57310. Khoi Young 82.44411. Dallas Hale 81.85012. Riley Loos 81.50413. Garrett Braunton 81.22214. Landen Blixt 79.65015. Cameron Bock 79.55016. Isaiah Drake 79.20017. Daniel Simmons 78.25018. Evan Hymanson 78.05019. Michael Artlip 77.90020. Kameron Nelson 77.72921. Jeremy Bischoff 77.10022. Garrett Schooley 76.95023. Toby Liang 76.65024. Matt Cormier 76.56925. Colin Flores 76.40026. Taylor Christopulos 75.80027. Joshua Karnes 75.75528. Asher Cohen 73.60029. Anthony Koppie 72.45030. Landon Simpson 72.00031. Cole Partridge 70.80032. Maxim Bereznev 70.05033. Caleb Melton 68.666

Day 1 Rankings Without Bonus

1. Brody Malone 86.7502. Yul Moldauer 83.2003. Asher Hong 83.0004. Shane Wiskus 82.950 Ian Lasic-Ellis 82.9506. Colt Walker 82.9007. Khoi Young 82.2008. Taylor Burkhart 82.1009. Donnell Whittenburg 81.95010. Dallas Hale 81.85011. Fred Richard 81.30012. Riley Loos 80.80013. Garrett Braunton 80.70014. Landen Blixt 79.65915. Cameron Bock 79.55016. Isaiah Drake 79.20017. Daniel Simmons 78.25018. Evan Hymanson 78.05019. Michael Artlip 77.90020. Kameron Nelson 77.50021. Jeremy Bischoff 77.10022. Garrett Schooley 76.95023. Toby Liang 76.65024. Colin Flores 76.40025. Taylor Christopulos 75.80026. Joshua Karnes 75.65027. Matt Cormier 75.45028. Asher Cohen 73.60029. Anthony Koppie 72.45030. Landon Simpson 72.00031. Cole Partridge 70.80032. Maxim Bereznev 70.05033. Caleb Melton 68.300

Article by Lauren Hopkins

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Malone Takes Sweeping Lead at U.S. Nationals, Bonus or Not - The Gymternet

Nelson Agholors first year in New England did not steal the show. After signing a two-year, $22 million contract last offseason, he posted just 473 yards and three touchdowns.

Entering Year 2, Agholors future with the Patriots was questionable due to his contracts structure. Plus, with the addition of second-round pick Tyquan Thornton, who shares a similar skillset as the veteran, many thought Agholor could be moved.

While trading him would help the Patriots in the finance books, hes proving a potential move could hurt them on the field. Agholor has been the teams best receiver at times throughout training camp. That was again the case against the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday, where he highlighted his strong showing by hauling in a slot fade over three Carolina defenders in the end zone.

Mac gave me an opportunity and put the ball in the air, and I just went to go get it, Agholor said after practice. Thats what we talk about in the receiver room and as an offense. If the quarterback gives you an opportunity, you got to do whatever to get it. Its you or nobody.

In their second year together, Agholor and Jones continue to show their chemistry, one they have spent the last calendar year building.

Weve been having conversations since last year continuously. How do things look? Whats going on? We also have a really good friendship that allows us to talk about things like what went right, what couldve been better. I love the fact that we have an open line of dialect back and forth, Agholor said.

As for Jones, he spoke highly of Agholors football knowledge.

I dont know if Ive seen a receiver who understands football as well as he does in terms of just general knowledge, Jones told reporters Wednesday. Hes almost like a quarterback out there. We put in a lot of work together in the offseason. He was at all the throwing sessions. Thats what we are trying to grow from.

On Wednesday, the highlight-reel snag was just the start of his day. Agholor caught another touchdown from Jones on a similar route out of the slot, beating Myles Hartfield. He also shook free from a pair of Panther defenders in 1-on-1 drills and drew a hold later on.

After lining up in the slot for just 65 snaps last year, compared to 691 out wide, Agholor has often worked out of the slot this summer. Hes had success working out there as of late as his familiarity within the system continues to increase in his sophomore campaign as a Patriot.

Whatever I need to do to help out and show versatility. Inside, outside, it doesnt matter, Agholor explained. I think Im more comfortable this year than last year. More familiar. But just like any other year Im just trying to get better.

Despite the strong early returns of offseason additions DeVante Parker and Tyquan Thornton, trading Agholor may not be the best move for New England. While the $14.9 million cap hit is one thing, the 29-year-old has proven his ability to make plays at an important position in the NFL. He should also continue to be a prime benefactor of the Patriots streamlined offense.

Agholor does not see the crowded wide receiver room as competition, but rather as a chance to elevate his growth as a receiver.

Its actually what you need, Agholor said. Growth happens when theres competition within the group and competition across the ball. I know those guys are going to make a play every opportunity they get, so it reminds me any opportunity I get to make a play.

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Patriots wide receiver Nelson Agholor looks primed for second-year leap - Pats Pulpit