“Four Die In I-10 Crash - The Ledger” plus 4 more |
- Four Die In I-10 Crash - The Ledger
- Amtrak Ridership Down, but Still Near Record High - ABC News
- Pac-10 power rankings - ESPN.com
- Woman has life-threatening injuries after morning crash - Argus Leader
- San Diego (San Diego, California) - Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
| Four Die In I-10 Crash - The Ledger Posted: 11 Oct 2009 11:12 PM PDT Sponsored by: Authorities said four people were killed on a Panhandle stretch of Interstate 10 when a pickup crossed the centerline and crashed into their car. The Florida Highway Patrol reported that 22-year-old Zubon S. Sims was heading east on I-10 through Jackson County on Saturday morning when he lost control of his truck and ended up in the westbound lane. He crashed head-on into a car carrying four DeFuniak Springs residents. Troopers said all four people in the car were killed. Their names had not been released. Sims was taken to a nearby hospital in serious condition. Authorities said charges are pending an investigation. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.
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| Amtrak Ridership Down, but Still Near Record High - ABC News Posted: 12 Oct 2009 09:42 AM PDT
Amtrak said Monday its ridership dropped by more than 1 million passengers during the past year, but was still the second-highest year in the railroad's history. Figures released by the nation's intercity rail operator show Amtrak carried 27.2 million passengers during the 12 months ending Sept. 30. Amtrak's record was 28.7 million passengers during the previous year, a period coinciding with record high gas prices. Still, ridership was up over two years ago by 5.1 percent. Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman blamed the decline on the weakened economy, although travel was up on some short distance routes and on the railroad's 15 long distance trains. "In a difficult year for the economy — particularly in the travel industry — Amtrak ridership has remained strong albeit with some regional variation," Boardman said in a statement. "In particular, reduced business travel along the Northeast corridor prevented us from reaching the ridership we achieved last year." The number of passengers Amtrak carries increased steadily from 2002 to 2007 before the sharp spike last year. This year's ridership appears to be a resumption of the previous growth trend, Boardman said. Amtrak said ticket revenue for the past year was $1.6 billion, down 7.8 percent from last year but up 5.3 percent from two years ago. Some short distance corridors that saw increased traffic over the past year: — Chicago-St. Louis, up 6 percent — Harrisburg-Philadelphia-New York Keystone Service, up 2.7 percent — Raleigh-Charlotte Piedmont, up 3.8 percent — Washington-St. Albans Vermonter, up 1.9 percent. Also, the Los Angeles-Seattle Coast Starlight ridership was up 22.3 percent from the previous fiscal year, recovering from a 15-week service disruption in 2008 that closed a portion of the route in northern California. This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
| Pac-10 power rankings - ESPN.com Posted: 12 Oct 2009 09:42 AM PDT October 12, 2009 10:25 AM Read comments or leave a comment October 12, 2009 9:03 AM Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich There's starting to be a pattern here. At the top, anyway. At the bottom? It's a whole new world in the ACC. Brace yourself: 1. Virginia Tech (5-1, 3-0 ACC; LW: No. 1) -- Nobody in the ACC is playing as well as the Hokies are right now. Against Boston College, they looked capable of beating anyone. With their only loss being to Alabama, the ACC finally has a true national title contender. 2. Miami (4-1, 2-1; LW: No. 2) -- The Canes showed signs of maturity on Saturday by continuing to play like a top-10 team instead of playing down to their opponent, Florida A&M. If they keep that focus and discipline each week, there's no reason the ACC shouldn't have two teams in BCS bowls this year. 3. Georgia Tech (5-1, 3-1; LW: No. 3) -- At some point, those defensive problems are going to catch up with the Jackets, but because Florida State's defense was worse, they got away with it in Tallahassee. Quarterback Josh Nesbitt has this offense running smoothly now, though. 4. Wake Forest (4-2, 2-1; LW: No. 5) -- The Deacs are suddenly the frontrunners in the Atlantic Division, and the reason for it is because the offense is much better than it was a year ago. The entire team, including a young defense, has rallied around veteran quarterback Riley Skinner. 5. Boston College (4-2, 2-2; LW: No. 4) -- The only reason the Eagles are still in the top half of the rankings this week is because two of their wins were against Wake Forest and Florida State, both Atlantic Division opponents (nobody ranked below them has two conference wins). After the way they played against Virginia Tech, though, they should be a few spots lower. They can take some solace in the fact they were embarrassed by a top-5 team. 6. Virginia (2-3, 1-0; LW: No. 11) -- Indiana isn't a great team, but it's still a program that almost beat Michigan on the road and played a semi-respectable game against Ohio State. And Virginia gave the Hoosiers and old fashioned whoopin' on Saturday with a 47-7 win. After wins over UNC and IU, the Cavs have earned back some respect. 7. Clemson (2-3, 1-2; LW: No. 7) -- The Tigers had a bye week but are below the Cavs because Virginia's wins were over a Big Ten team and a Coastal Division opponent on the road. The Tigers beat Middle Tennessee and Boston College at home, and had an unacceptable loss to Maryland. We'll see if the break paid off this weekend when Clemson hosts Wake Forest in a key Atlantic Division game. 8. North Carolina (4-2, 0-2; LW: No. 9) -- Wins over East Carolina (3-3) and Connecticut (3-2) aren't carrying much clout anymore. The Tar Heels beat Georgia Southern soundly, and got more points from their offense AND their defense in the process. But doubts remain after a poor start in Coastal Division play. UNC has a bye week to continue working. 9. Duke (3-3, 1-1; LW: No. 12) -- Quarterback Thaddeus Lewis put on a one-man show in the Blue Devils' win over NC State, and Duke showed improvement in all facets of the game, including defense. The question now is can the Blue Devils keep it up? Maryland is next on the schedule, which leads me to believe yes, they can. Before Duke skyrockets in the rankings, let's see some consistency against better opponents than Army and NC Central. 10. NC State (3-3, 0-2; LW: No. 6) -- Russell Wilson can't do it all, especially when the Pack's secondary is holding the door open for opposing quarterbacks. The most impressive win on NC State's resume is against Pitt, but it's the conference play that counts, and the Pack are off to another poor start there in Tom O'Brien's third season. 11. Maryland (2-4, 1-1; LW: No. 10) -- Quarterback Chris Turner has been sacked 22 times. It's amazing he's still walking. Skinner had his way with the Terps' secondary, and the defense allowed 516 total yards. Right now, Clemson is Ralph Friedgen's best friend. 12. Florida State (2-4, 0-3: LW: No. 8) -- I warned you to brace yourself. Look, no other team in the conference is off to a worse start in ACC play. Maryland is the only other team that has four overall losses. This program doesn't get by on its name -- or Bobby Bowden's -- when it comes to winning football games. This is just the beginning of a downward spiral in Tallahassee. Read comments or leave a comment Big 12 power rankings: Surging Cornhuskers move to No. 2 in poll October 12, 2009 9:02 AM Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin 1. Texas: It wasn't pretty, but the Longhorns' 38-14 victory over Colorado was a good lesson as they prepare for the Red River Shootout. The running game struggled mightily, producing a season-low 46 yards as top backs Vondrell McGee and Tre' Newton both were dinged up. Those absences only paved the way for a career night for Jordan Shipley, who is becoming one of the nation's top receiving/return threats. And the Longhorns are playing some stringent defense after limiting their last three opponents to an average of 15 yards rushing per game. Colorado produced only 127 yards, giving the Longhorns two efforts of holding opponents to less than 130 yards this season for the first time since 1952. 2. Nebraska: The Cornhuskers' defense played at a dominating level against Missouri as it gradually wore down the Tigers before their 27-12 triumph. Ndamukong Suh had a huge game to key a brutal pass rush that won the game for the Cornhuskers. Zac Lee was streaky, but still came up big during a stretch of 3 minutes, 32 seconds early in the fourth quarter when the Cornhuskers took the lead against the fading Tigers. It won't get any easier for Nebraska this week as Texas Tech's explosive offense comes to Lincoln. The Cornhuskers rank second nationally in scoring defense, third in pass efficiency defense, 14th in pass defense and 15th in turnover margin. But Tech has won the last three games of the series, scoring 70, 37 and 34 points against Nebraska. 3. Oklahoma State: The Cowboys had a gritty effort against Texas A&M, claiming a 36-31 victory despite not having Dez Bryant (suspension) and Kendall Hunter (ankle). Keith Toston filled in for Hunter with 204 total yards, and a group of receivers stepped up to replace Bryant in the comeback victory. Improved quarterback pressure helped Oklahoma State notch four sacks in a big step forward after its first conference game. A tough game with Missouri is up next as the Cowboys need to continue their recent balanced offensive success. 4. Kansas: A huge aerial effort by Todd Reesing, Kerry Meier and Dezmon Briscoe powered the Jayhawks to a 41-36 victory over Iowa State. It wasn't pretty, but it was still a win. In coach Mark Mangino's own words, the Jayhawks were exposed by Iowa State's underrated offense. Kansas had enough offense to win the game and escape with a share of first place in the Big 12 North. Can the Jayhawks do the same against the better offenses they will be facing in the future? 5. Oklahoma: Sam Bradford is back and the Sooners appear to have things on an uptick heading into the Texas game. Bradford was outstanding in his first game back, passing for 389 yards despite having 11 passes dropped by his receivers, including three in the end zone. The Sooners allowed Baylor third-string quarterback Nick Florence to carve them up for 262 yards, so their defense is a concern heading into the Texas game. They must show more consistency in the red zone and play better defensively if they have any hopes of claiming the upset Saturday at the Cotton Bowl. 6. Missouri: What happened to the Tigers in that driving rain in Columbia last Thursday night? After dominating play for three quarters, the Tigers fell apart late as they allowed the Cornhuskers to roll up 27 points in the final quarter to steal the victory. Blaine Gabbert threw two crucial interceptions in the fourth quarter and the Tigers couldn't run the ball consistently enough to take pressure off Gabbert. The defense played well until collapsing after all of the turnovers in the fourth quarter. And it won't get any easier as the Tigers visit Oklahoma State. 7. Texas Tech: A big effort by Texas Tech's first backup quarterback to start for Mike Leach should help contribute to Leach's first QB controversy. The offense sizzled with Steven Sheffield in charge, scoring nine touchdowns on their first 10 possessions to blow open a 66-14 victory over Kansas State. The Red Raiders did a nice job of neutralizing leading KSU rusher Daniel Thomas, who was limited to a season-low 49 yards on 11 carries -- with only 15 of those yards coming after the Wildcats' first offensive series. Leach was playing coy on who his starting quarterback will be, but the Red Raiders will face a huge challenge in Nebraska with whoever is chosen as the starter. 8. Baylor: The Bears moved the ball well in Florence's second start, but were done in by their inability to score against Oklahoma's stingy defense in the second half. Baylor produced only two first downs with five three-and-outs and two turnovers. The defense wasn't bad as it limited Oklahoma to four field goals on red zone possessions to start the second half until Bradford's late touchdown. The Sooners wore down the Bears before producing 592 yards to extend their winning streak over Baylor to 19 straight games. It was a definite step back after all of the excitement for the Bears during their 3-1 nonconference performance, showing them how much more competitive Big 12 play will be. 9. Texas A&M: After a promising 3-0 start, the Aggies have fallen apart with disappointing losses to Arkansas and Oklahoma State. The struggling trends in those losses make bowl aspirations seem like a fleeting hope. The Aggies struggled protecting Jerrod Johnson against Oklahoma State, allowing four sacks. And the Aggies' defense couldn't make a play down the stretch to get the Cowboys off the field as they ran the clock on their final possession to wrap up a 36-31 victory. Mike Sherman can only hope these games will help build experience for his young team that featured seven freshman starters on Saturday. 10. Iowa State: Just when it seemed it couldn't get any more excruciating for Paul Rhoads and the Cyclones, a game like Saturday's loss to Kansas happened. After losing the previous week against Kansas State by a missed extra point, few expected the Cyclones would match up with No. 16 Kansas. The Cyclones gave the Jayhawks everything they wanted and came within an overthrown pass from Austen Arnaud to Darius Darks at the end of escaping with an upset victory. Alexander Robinson's return helped rejuvenate the offense after he rushed for a career-best 152 yards, despite recovering from a strained groin muscle. The kicking game must improve after Grant Mahoney missed two extra points, and a 26-yard field goal never was kicked because of a low snap. The Cyclones can't afford those kicking-game errors in close games. 11. Kansas State: The Cyclones took a huge step backward after getting blown out in a 66-14 loss at Texas Tech -- the most points ever allowed by a team coached by Bill Snyder. The KSU defense came into the game ranked seventh against the pass, but allowed eight TD passes -- most ever against a team in the school's history. Grant Gregory started, but the broken plays that he turned into touchdowns last week against Iowa State resulted in sacks against Texas Tech. Carson Coffman may have won his starting quarterback job back, but that determination will be made in practice this week. The huge loss has made a bowl trip a virtual impossibility unless the Wildcats claim home victories in the next two weeks against Texas A&M and Colorado. 12. Colorado: It was one of the Buffaloes' best performances this season, but still not good enough against Texas, who ran them out of the stadium late in a 38-14 victory. The Buffaloes were undone by critical mistakes on special teams and turnovers. Perhaps the most interesting development was when coach Dan Hawkins decided to play backup quarterback Tyler Hansen, effectively ending his chance to redshirt this season. Hawkins said he's settled on Hansen as his starter. It will be interesting to see if that move settles Colorado's offense. Read comments or leave a comment October 12, 2009 9:01 AM Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson 1. Boise State: The Broncos had the week off, but maintained their high ranking and control over the non-AQ BCS bowl berth. This week's game against Tulsa might be one of the final hurdles for the Broncos to secure the undefeated season. The Golden Hurricane have just one loss this season and only have lost once at home since Sept. 21, 2007 and that was in last year's Conference USA title game. 2. TCU: Saturday's win over Air Force wasn't pretty, but as coach Gary Patterson said, a win is a win. And while the sloppy effort in freezing conditions knocked the Horned Frogs down a few spots in the national rankings, it's still in prime position for a BCS bowl berth if it stays undefeated especially with both Utah and BYU now appearing in the national rankings. 3. Notre Dame: The Irish had a bye week in preparation for what could be the biggest game of their season. Notre Dame has lost seven consecutive games against USC, but a win this week would catapult the Irish up of the national rankings and into position for a possible BCS bowl berth. 4. BYU: The Cougars aren't really in the spotlight much anymore, but they just keep winning and quietly hanging around. BYU has yet another gimme game against San Diego State before the much anticipated game against TCU. The best news for the Cougars after this weekend was the quarterback Max Hall didn't have any turnovers. 5. Utah: The Utes finally got back into the national rankings after being absent since their loss to Oregon. Utah got past a tough game with Colorado State and is in just as good of a position as TCU or BYU to have a shot at the conference title. Colorado State might have been the toughest game outside of the meetings with the Cougars and Frogs. 6. Houston: The Cougars might not have set out to prove that they're a better team than the one that played against UTEP, but they did with it's come-from-behind win at Mississippi State. Now, it's just about Houston learning how to beat teams within its own conference because that's all that are left. 7. Central Michigan: The Chippewas continue to destroy its MAC opponents, but the first three they've played have combined for a 3-13 record so far this season. They might get more resistance this week against a Western Michigan team that had a big and unexpected win over Toledo. 8. Idaho: The Vandals are one win away from their goal of bowl eligibility, but the way they're playing they're not going to stop there. This team is one of the best teams in the WAC and that winning streak should continue with another winnable game this week against Hawaii. Idaho is playing like a team with something to prove and that's a scary proposition for WAC opponents. 9. Tulsa: The Golden Hurricane lost their only worthwhile game this season against Oklahoma, but have a chance for another potential upset against Boise State this week. Two weeks to prepare will help, but Tulsa will still need to be at its best to topple a talented Boise State squad. 10. Navy: The Midshipmen have lost to the two automatic qualifying teams on the schedule so far this season, but have handled the rest of their foes with relative ease. Last week's 63-14 win over Rice was Navy's largest margin of victory since 1975. Things could get interesting during the next month as the Mids face four consecutive teams with winning records. Read comments or leave a comment Big Ten power rankings: Week 7 October 12, 2009 9:00 AM Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg The top four spots remain unchanged after a week that featured no upsets in conference play. There's somewhat of a drop-off after No. 4, and there's not much separation between Nos. 5-8. No one should question the three teams at the bottom. 1. Ohio State (5-1, 3-0) -- The Buckeyes won a weird game against Wisconsin, proving that big plays can overcome very inconsistent offense. I don't see a more complete unit in the league than Ohio State's defense, and with the offenses struggling around the Big Ten, it's tough to see any team scoring many points against the Scarlet and Gray. Ohio State will need Terrelle Pryor to win a conference game or two at some point, but the Buckeyes remain the team to beat. 2. Iowa (6-0, 2-0) -- Some were surprised that Iowa didn't beat Michigan by more, but the Hawkeyes once again showed their resiliency by rallying from an early deficit and making big plays down the stretch. Defense and special teams have carried Iowa this season, and those units need to be sharp for upcoming road games against Wisconsin and Michigan State. 3. Penn State (5-1, 1-1) -- A pathetic nonconference slate is finally complete, and we'll finally learn more about Penn State in the coming weeks. Quarterback Daryll Clark has turned in back-to-back strong performances, and the defense is getting production from its standout players (Navorro Bowman, Jared Odrick). Penn State now must elevate its play another level against better competition. 4. Wisconsin (5-1, 2-1) -- Sure, the Badgers lost by 18 points at Ohio Stadium, but they showed why their 5-0 start wasn't a fluke. If Wisconsin can clean up the major mistakes, it should go on to a strong season. The Badgers need to get running back John Clay back on track, but they have to love what they're getting from senior defensive end O'Brien Schofield right now. 5. Minnesota (4-2, 2-1) -- With upcoming trips to both Penn State and Ohio State, Minnesota desperately needed to beat Purdue and the Gophers came through. Plus, they rediscovered their rushing attack thanks to Kevin Whaley and others. It's tough to see Minnesota winning these next two, but the Gophers still should be set up for a strong finish toward a bowl berth. T-6. Michigan State (3-3, 2-1) -- The Spartans' defense delivered its second consecutive strong performance against Illinois, and the offense did some nice things before being hampered by injuries. Michigan State's margin for error remains slim after the slow start, and it needs to continue the momentum this week against Northwestern before Iowa visits Spartan Stadium. T-6. Michigan (4-2, 1-2) -- Despite a 1-2 Big Ten mark, Michigan remains a dangerous team because of its talent level and ability to hang around in games. The Wolverines have some obvious flaws, including a lack of depth and way too many defensive breakdowns, but they should continue to make progress throughout the season. Head coach Rich Rodriguez needs to effectively manage quarterbacks Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson this week against Delaware State. 8. Northwestern (4-2, 1-1) -- The rsum still looks extremely weak for Northwestern, which has beaten three FBS teams that own a combined record of 1-16. It didn't help that the Wildcats struggled to put away a bad Miami (Ohio) team on Saturday. The defense appears to be coming around, but an offense without a consistent run game or many big-play threats needs to find a better rhythm Saturday against Michigan State. 9. Indiana (3-3, 0-2) -- What the heck happened to the Hoosiers in Charlottesville? Players and coaches undoubtedly are wondering the same thing after an embarrassing performance against Virginia. The 3-0 start seems like a distant memory, and Indiana must get back on track at home against Illinois this week. The Hoosiers' veteran-laden defense needs to bounce back fast. 10. Purdue (1-5, 0-2) -- The Boilers aren't really this bad, right? A team that outplayed Oregon on its home field and nearly knocked off Notre Dame? Well, the beauty of football is you tend to get what you deserve, and Purdue deserves a four-game losing streak after committing 20 turnovers this season. Major mistakes are cropping up in every game, and Danny Hope needs to get things fixed fast. Things don't get any easier with No. 7 Ohio State visiting Ross-Ade Stadium on Saturday. 11. Illinois (1-4, 0-3) -- There's obviously a preparation problem for Illinois, which has yet to score a first-half touchdown against a BCS opponent. Quarterback Juice Williams clearly isn't the problem with the offense, which continues to waste talent at wide receiver. It's simply stating the obvious, but Illinois must beat Indiana on Saturday to have any chance of salvaging the season. Read comments or leave a comment October 12, 2009 8:00 AM Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low The top of the SEC power rankings are beginning to look awfully familiar every week. Alabama and Florida both have legitimate claims, but the Crimson Tide did nothing last Saturday to warrant being bumped out of the top spot: 1. Alabama: The Crimson Tide (6-0, 3-0) are going to be hard to beat on a neutral field. For that matter, they're going to be hard to beat anywhere. They bullied Ole Miss 22-3 on the road and turned a game that was supposed to be a tough matchup into one that wasn't much of a matchup at all. It's difficult to find anything resembling a weakness on this team. 2. Florida: The Gators (5-0, 3-0) have their first quality win under their belt after going to Baton Rouge and taking care of No. 4-ranked LSU 13-3 in the toughest of environments. Charlie Strong's defense took it to another level against the Tigers and has allowed just two touchdowns all season. The Gators may well deserve to be No. 1 at this point. Ultimately, they're going to get a chance to prove it on the field. 3. LSU: What a gutsy performance by John Chavis' defense. The Tigers (5-1, 3-1) played well enough on that side of the ball to win the game against Florida. But if they don't get it figured out on offense, it's not going to matter how well the defense plays the rest of the way. The Tigers have too many talented players on offense to be this ineffective. 4. South Carolina: Quietly, the Gamecocks (5-1, 2-1) have been working their way back up the rankings after losing that heartbreaker on the road to Georgia the second week of the season. Quarterback Stephen Garcia grows up a little more every week, and some of the younger players like Alshon Jeffery are starting to come through. We find out a lot more about the Gamecocks this week at Alabama. They looked shaky in their 28-26 escape against Kentucky. 5. Auburn: The Tigers (5-1, 2-1) had probably benefited a little from a soft schedule the first five weeks, so their loss to Arkansas last Saturday wasn't a huge surprise. This team will be back. Gene Chizik and his staff have done a nice job, and the Tigers are going to move the ball and score points against just about anybody they play. The concern is the defense. Can they stop anybody the rest of the way? 6. Ole Miss: This ranking for the Rebels (3-2, 1-2) is based in large part on the assumption that they're better than they've played to this point. In defense of Tyrone Nix's defense, Ole Miss has actually played well on that side of the ball. Somehow, though, they've got to get Jevan Snead out of his funk and give him some time to throw. The Rebels are going to have to start proving on the field that they're an upper-echelon team in this league, because they've yet to beat anybody that counts so far. 7. Arkansas: The best news for the Hogs (3-2, 1-2) is that Willy Robinson's defense came to life last Saturday in the 44-23 win over Auburn. It's really the only thing that's been holding this Arkansas team back from being one of the top five or six teams in this league. Quarterback Ryan Mallett looks like a million dollars throwing the football. Now, let's see if the Hogs can keep up their defensive resurgence. Doing so at Florida won't be easy. 8. Tennessee: The Vols (3-3, 1-2) are a team that could be ranked a lot higher if they had taken care of their business at home earlier this season against UCLA. They're coming off their best game of the season in a 45-19 pummeling of Georgia, and Monte Kiffin's defense has played lights out all year. They're off this week and then close the month of October with telltale games against Alabama on the road and then South Carolina at home. A winning season looks a lot more realistic after that rout of the Bulldogs. 9. Georgia: The Bulldogs (3-3, 2-2) have beaten a couple of teams ranked ahead of them -- Arkansas and South Carolina -- but it's hard to rank this team much higher than ninth coming off that miserable performance in Knoxville last Saturday. Georgia's defense doesn't look a lot better than last season. The Bulldogs have given up 37 or more points in three of their six games, and their offense stunk it up against the Vols with just three points. Georgia has managed just four offensive touchdowns in its last three games. 10. Kentucky: The Wildcats (2-3, 0-3) have put up a pretty good fight these last two weeks and had a great chance to knock off South Carolina in Columbia. The knee injury to quarterback Mike Hartline was a downer. He'd played some of his best football against the Gamecocks before getting injured. If the Wildcats are going to get back to a bowl, they need to make some hay these next five weeks. In order, they face Auburn, Louisiana-Monroe, Mississippi State, Eastern Kentucky and Vanderbilt. 11. Mississippi State: There hasn't been a harder luck team in the league than Dan Mullen's Bulldogs (2-4, 1-2). They lost for the third straight week last Saturday, 31-24 to Houston at home, and had a couple of tough calls go against them. At this point, the Bulldogs just need a win, any win. They've improved offensively even though they're limited at quarterback, but have struggled against a demanding home schedule. They travel to Middle Tennessee this coming weekend. 12. Vanderbilt: After such a breakthrough season for the Commodores a year ago, it can't get much worse for them right now. They lost 16-13 in overtime last Saturday at Army and continue to struggle mightily on offense. But the most puzzling thing about this edition of the Commodores (2-4, 0-3) is how mistake-prone they've been. Freshman running back Warren Norman lost a fumble inches from the goal line in overtime, and Vanderbilt has been whistled for 24 penalties in its last two games. Read comments or leave a comment This content has passed through fivefilters.org.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Woman has life-threatening injuries after morning crash - Argus Leader Posted: 12 Oct 2009 09:56 AM PDT An early morning crash has sent two people to a Sioux Falls hospital, one with life-threatening injuries, according to the Sioux Falls Police Department. Emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle accident at Russell Street and Western Avenue just before 5:30 a.m. A 40-year-old Sioux Falls woman was ejected from her car and suffered serious, life-threatening injuries. A 46-year-old man from Crooks sustained minor injuries. Police say the man, driving a 1996 Mercury Mystique, was traveling east on Russell Street approaching Western Avenue. The woman, driving a 1990 Honda Civic, was heading south on Western as she entered the intersection at Russell Street. The driver of the Mystique had a flashing yellow light, while the southbound driver of the Civic had a flashing red light, police say. The southbound Civic entered the eastbound Russell lanes in front of the eastbound Mystique, causing a T-bone crash, police say. Russell Street, which was closed to traffic while investigators worked the scene, was reopened at 10 a.m. Speed and alcohol do not appear to be factors in the crash, and police are continuing their investigation. This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
| San Diego (San Diego, California) - Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel Posted: 12 Oct 2009 09:21 AM PDT As the U.S. hospitality industry struggles through one of the worst financial periods in more than 20 years, hotel managers are moving beyond the usual discounts and offering creative promotions to attract business. Some deals offer big savings for guests, while others are simply meant to generate publicity. The 27-room Crane's Beach House in Delray Beach, for example, offers "The Bed-in for Peace" package,linked to a John Lennon photo exhibit at the nearby Old School Square cultural center. The package included champagne, fruit and other goodies to make your own breakfast without leaving the room. In California, the Hotel Erwin on Venice Beach is offering an "Ink and Stay'' package that includes $100 toward a tattoo and a bottle of tequila to numb the pain. At the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego, guests who get the "Hard Rock and a Hog'' deal can roll through the city on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle that comes complimentary with two nights' stay. If this all sounds desperate, it's for good reason. Occupancy rates nationwide have been hovering at below 60 percent this summer, the lowest levels since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Hotel revenues per available rooms have dropped by nearly 20 percent this summer, to less than $60, the steepest dive in 22 years, according to industry reports. Promotions and package deals have long been a staple of the hotel industry, particularly during slow periods. But industry experts say more hotels are now relying on special packages and promotions to survive the recession. South Florida hotels are pitching some of the most creative package deals ever, even rewarding guests for their age. At the 124-room Atlantic Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, a "Cheers for Years" deal gives a restaurant or spa credit equal to the age of the oldest in the room. A guest age 54, for example, gets $54 credit per day, after showing their drivers license as proof of age. To fill its 392 luxury rooms, The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club in Aventura now offers guests a "Future Floridian" package: Hunt for a South Florida home, and you receive a preferred list of realtors, GPS to navigate the area, valet parking plus two, one-hour massages for "tired footsies." Buy a home in the area, and Turnberry will throw in a resort discount for "future house guests." One reason for all the promotions is that hotel owners are trying to draw business without cutting room rates - a move that could lead to a backlash from customers once the hotels try to raise the rates during better economic times. "We are seeing a lot of deals and discounts,'' said Sam Shank, chief executive of dealbase.com, an online search engine for hotel deals. "The hotels are doing anything they can to increase usage without reducing prices.'' Not all promotions result in substantial savings for guests. Shank noted that some of the promotions, such as the "Ink and Stay'' deal, are meant to draw attention to a hotel. For example, the tattoo deal at Hotel Erwin starts at $399 per night. But if guests buy the $269 room, $100 tattoo voucher, $20 bottle of tequila, and lotion and ice for the pain, the total would come to $404. (Prices for the tequila, lotion, and ice were estimated.) Other notable hotel deals include: "Haunted BeachHouse" in Delray Beach: Get a scary movie rental and snack pack, pumpkin with carving kit, pumpkin pie for two and a VIP pass to the Halloween Twitter-Tweet party. Friday and Saturday rates are $199 a night, with additional nights at 25 percent off with this October package at the 27-room Crane's BeachHouse. "Pose" in Vero Beach: Enjoy a boudoir photo session for one, professional hair and make-up, a bottle of champagne and fresh strawberries, and a souvenir "Pillow Book" of the photo session. The one-night package costs $600 weeknights through Feb. 18 at the 94-room Costa d'Este Beach Resort, owned by South Florida's music mavens Gloria and Emilio Estefan. The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles, where your stay comes with the free use of a Mercedes, Porsche, or a BMW convertible. Information from the Los Angeles Times was used in this report. Doreen Hemlock can be reached at dhemlock@sun-sentinel.com or 305-810-5009. This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
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