The House of Representatives on Friday approved the historic $2 trillion stimulus package that passed the Senate earlier this week, overcoming last-minute drama by using an unusual procedural move to thwart a demand by a conservative Republican to force members to vote in person. read more
Fred "Curly" Neal, the dribbling wizard who entertained millions with the Harlem Globetrotters for parts of three decades, has died. He was 77. The Globetrotters said Neal died in his home outside of Houston on Thursday morning. "We have lost one of the most genuine human beings the world has ever known," said Globetrotters General Manager Jeff Munn. "Curly's basketball skill was unrivaled by most, and his warm heart and huge smile brought joy to families worldwide". Neal played for the Globetrotters between 1963 and 1985. The exhibition team introduced the sport of basketball to millions of people around the world for the first time. "It was Curly's magical ball-handling, shooting, charismatic smile and iconic bald head, in more than 6,000 games in 97 countries, that made them start to play and fall in love with the game," the official Twitter account of the Globetrotters said.
The Indianapolis 500 scheduled for May 24 has been postponed until August because of the coronavirus pandemic and won't run on Memorial Day weekend for the first time since 1946. The race will instead be held Aug. 23. The Indianapolis 500 began in 1911 but did not run in 1917, 1918, and from 1941-45 because of World Wars I and II. Tony Hulman bought the neglected speedway after the second war and the Indy 500 returned Memorial Day weekend of 1946 and has been scheduled for that weekend every year since. Although weather disrupted other runnings of the prestigious race, it had never been outright rescheduled until Thursday. It was an inevitable decision but still had to be difficult for Roger Penske, who completed his purchase of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar in January and has already pumped millions into capital improvements to ready the historic venue for its first 500 under new ownership. read more
The White House and Senate leaders struck a major deal early Wednesday morning over a $2-trillion package to provide a jolt to an economy struggling amid the coronavirus pandemic, capping days of marathon negotiations that produced one of the most expensive and far-reaching measures in the history of Congress. read more
The 2020 Olympics in Tokyo will be postponed due to the coronavirus and likely will not take place until 2021, according to a news report from USA Today. The report quotes a phone interview with International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound who said that while logistics are still being worked out "the Games are not going to start on July 24, that much I know." read more
And it's signed! Love that he is handing out pens.