Sportico


				













	Seeking to capitalize on the sports “eatertainment” trend, Mexican baseball simulator maker Batbox has raised $7.3 million in venture capital to bring its casual eats and entertainment concept to the U.S.Personalized Baseball Development App Raises $3M Seed Round




	Batbox combines food and beverage with a baseball simulation pitching and hitting cage—patrons swing in a batting cage against an actual baseball that flies out of a computer simulated pitcher’s hand, for instance. The Series A fundraising, announced by the business Tuesday, saw participation from two venture capital firms, U.S.-based food and beverage-focused Emerging Fund and Monterrey, Mexico-based private wealth manager MG Partners.




	The...

Baseball-Themed Restaurant Batbox Raises $7.3M in VC Funds to Enter U.S.

New York City, NY

Writers represent independent, third-party users who have joined our contributor program and self-verified their accounts. Writers are expected, like all users, to adhere to our Community Standards.

writer

Cheryl E Preston

Yesterday was the third time this year that an ad stating Chelsea Clinton lives in a beautiful Virginia home popped up on my laptop. My computer did not warn me this was a dangerous site, so this time, I clicked on the link.

Chelsea Clinton is rumored to be living in Virginia but probably still in NYC

Chicago, IL

Foodie in Chicago

Shortly before 3 AM, people in the Chicago area may have felt their houses shake as a 3.4-magnitude earthquake occurred about 60 miles west of the city. (CHICAGO) The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported a 3.4-magnitude earthquake around Somonauk, IL. Somonauk is in DeKalb and LaSalle Counties, 64 miles west of Chicago.

Did You Feel the Earthquake?

Florida State

Akeena

Let’s dive into some recent restaurant drama involving Hooters, a chain that’s been a staple for many but now finds itself in a bit of a pickle. It seems the restaurant world’s rapid changes and evolving consumer preferences are proving tough for Hooters to handle, especially as they try to stay afloat in today’s competitive market.

Troubled chain shuts down Florida restaurants, fails to make crucial payment


				













	Omar Raja will continue his dual role as a behind-the-scenes decision-maker as well as an on-screen voice for ESPN’s growing social media team under a recently signed, multiyear contract.Sporticast 366: Athletes Are Revolutionizing  Olympics Coverage




	Financial details of the deal were not made public.




	Raja previously founded House of Highlights as a college student in 2014, which was acquired by Bleacher Report in 2016. Raja joined ESPN in 2020 and has since helped the TV sports superpower extend its reach on new social media platforms.




	ESPN’s official accounts now boast more than 125 million combined followers across X, Instagram and TikTok, where...

ESPN Signs Social Media Star Omar Raja to Multiyear Extension

Illinois State

Every year, new laws that were passed the prior year go into effect on July 1. In 2024, a number of new laws will begin this Monday. Among them include higher wages for tipped employees, a gas tax increase, and driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants.

New Laws July 1: Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Migrants, Raises for Tipped Workers, and More

Denver, CO

Contributors represent independent, third-party users who have joined our contributor program and self-verified their accounts. They have also demonstrated their experience writing hard news for other outlets. Contributors are expected, like all users, to adhere to our Community Standards.

contributor

David Heitz

In addition to collecting more than 8,000 used needles in the past year from Denver drug users, the Harm Reduction Action Center passed out 10,000 meth pipes and “snort kits,” according to a newsletter sent to its supporters Thursday. They also connected about 1,700 people to medical, mental health and substance abuse treatment.

Denver group hands out 10K meth pipes, ‘snort kits,’ connects 1,700 to treatment annually

Kentucky State

Northern Kentucky Tribune

Kentucky’s Community Actions Partnerships have announced the starts date for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Summer Subsidy, aimed at helping Kentucky households offset summer cooling costs.

LIHEAP Summer Subsidy program to help with summer cooling costs to begin enrollment July 16


				













	Attorneys for former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden filed a petition with the Supreme Court of Nevada late Monday evening in the Pacific time zone for what amounts to “instant replay” of his recent defeat in court to the NFL. Copa América Final Ticketing Chaos Triggers Several Lawsuits 




	Gruden, 60, seeks an en banc reconsideration, which, if granted, would mean all seven justices on the Court will review his case.




	Gruden sued the NFL in 2021 claiming that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell or someone on the commissioner’s behalf tortiously interfered with his Raiders employment contract. Gruden accuses Goodell of leaking to The Wall Street...

Gruden Throws Hail Mary to Save Case Against NFL, Goodell

MOD Pizza has over 500 locations across the country with 22 restaurants in Illinois. The Washington-based chain offers fast-casual fare known for its customized, artisan-style pizzas. Customers can choose from over 40 toppings and 8 sauces to create their own masterpiece.

Bankruptcy Looms for Major Pizza Chain With Chicago Suburban Locations

Las Vegas, NV


				













	Cosm, a movie theater-type venue for watching sports and other entertainment, has raised $250 million in a fundraising round that includes billionaire sports investors Marc Lasry, David Blitzer and Dan Gilbert.Baseball-Themed Restaurant Batbox Raises $7.3M in VC Funds to Enter U.S.




	The business, which recently opened its first location in Los Angeles, said in a release Tuesday that its Series B round took investment from Lasry’s Avenue Sports Fund, Blitzer’s Bolt Ventures and Gilbert’s Rock, as well as from mutual and investment fund manager Baille Gifford. Adding a follow-on investment to his undisclosed earlier funding is real estate tech billionaire Steve...

Marc Lasry, David Blitzer Among New Investors in Sphere-Like Cosm

Colorado State

A bill quietly introduced this spring in the Colorado legislature to decriminalize the possession of drug paraphernalia obtained by harm reductionists has become law. As low-key as the legislation was introduced, the bill was signed into law without fanfare June 6. It garnered little to no media attention.

Colorado legalizes needles, pipes for meth and crack if obtained by harm reduction group

Bucks County Beacon

Conservatives have done the United States a huge favor by explaining in detail what they’ll try to do if Donald Trump is reelected. Project 2025 , a “presidential transition project” of the Heritage Foundation, helpfully lays out how a group of former Trump officials would like to transform the country into a right-wing dystopia where the rich thrive and the rest of us die aspiring to be rich.

Project 2025’s Plan to Gut Medicare and Medicaid

J. Souza

Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas, a $1.35 billion behemoth of the sea, has recently been introduced to the world since its maiden voyage on July 19th. The ship, boasting nearly 5,700 passengers and a crew of over 2,200, offers an array of amenities designed to cater to multi-generational families on shorter 3- and 4-day itineraries.

Cruise Passengers Not Happy About Feature on World's Newest Mega Ship

Newark, NJ

Paterson, NJ

Morristown Minute

NEWARK, N.J. – Jasmine McGregor, 32, and Jhenelle Lewis, 35, both of Paterson, New Jersey, have pleaded guilty to conspiring with a physician to distribute oxycodone, a powerful opioid, without legitimate medical justification. The announcement was made today by U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger.

Paterson Residents Conspired with Physician to Illegally Distribute Opioids

Uncovering Florida

Most people are guilty of doing it at least once in their lives, many people do it by accident, some do it because they find it fun, and others do it for reasons like honoring loved ones. Regardless of the situation, just about everyone has released a balloon. The difference is that intentionally releasing balloons is now illegal by House Bill 321’s standards.

Law Signed By DeSantis Makes It Illegal To Release Balloons In Florida

Gov. Andy Beshear sent a letter to Anne Milgram, administrator for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on Wednesday, expressing his support of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ recommendation that the DEA ease restrictions on marijuana.

Gov. Andy Beshear pens letter to DEA in support of easing federal restrictions on marijuana


				













	Ken Griffin raised his stake in Sphere Entertainment to 5.3%, according to a Monday SEC filing. The hedge fund titan previously owned 1.6% of the Sphere through his investment firm Citadel but added more than 900,000 shares since April 1, and now holds 1.5 million shares.Sporticast 363: Jim Dolan Has Thoughts on NBA's New TV Deals




	Griffin boosted his position at the same time as another hedge fund giant was investing in the Sphere. Last month, New York Mets owner Steve Cohen disclosed a new 5.5% stake in Sphere Entertainment in an SEC filing for his hedge fund Point72 Asset Management....

Citadel’s Ken Griffin Boosts Stake in Jim Dolan’s Sphere

New Jersey State

A new initiative aims to provide housing for vulnerable Medicaid members, enhancing community wellness and support. MORRIS COUNTY, N.J. - In a significant move to tackle housing instability among Medicaid recipients, New Jersey's Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman, along with Community Affairs Commissioner Jacquelyn A. Suárez, today announced the availability of $95 million in funding for developers. This initiative, part of the Healthy Homes program, is designed to create affordable housing opportunities for NJ FamilyCare members who are either homeless, at risk of homelessness, or currently living in institutional settings.

$95 Million for Healthy Homes: Housing for Medicaid Members

Two immigrants from south of the border told the City Council Monday they were harassed when using hotel vouchers for shelter in Denver. Speaking through an interpreter, Leivy Ortega and Henry Aguilar said they received vouchers for hotel stays from an unnamed non-profit. But they had problems using the vouchers, they said. Ortega said she came to Denver from Connecticut and lived in her car for 15 days. She received a three-day hotel voucher, she said, but hotel staff initially would not honor it. She did not name the hotel. She said staff finally looked at her paperwork and gave her a room, but they wanted to charge her. for it. She said they initially weren’t going to allow her to stay because she has a service animal.

Immigrants allege Denver hotel staff mistreated them

NewsBreak

OneTeam Partners Mulls $75 Million Venture Fund


				













	OneTeam Partners, the commercial venture created in 2019 by the NFLPA and MLBPA, is looking to launch a $75 million fund to invest in early-stage businesses...

OneTeam Partners Mulls $75 Million Venture Fund

Comments / 0