Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Nesting Birds

Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Nesting Birds

There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solvetoday's puzzlebefore reading further!Nesting Birds Constructor:Beth Rubin Editor:Amanda Rafkin OLIVES (2D: Black or green ingredients in chivito) Chivito is a sandwich of grilled beef (known as churrasco), mozzarella, ham, tomatoes, and black or green OLIVES. Chivito is a national dish of Uruguay. MAR (18D: National Soup It Forward Day mo.) Since 2018,National Soup It Forward Dayhas been celebrated each year on MAR. 3. The focus of this day is to spread love and practice generosity, specifically by sharing soup with others. LAO (66D: Khao piak sen cuisine) Speaking of soup, khao pak sen is a rice noodle soup that is a traditional dish in LAO cuisine. Fresh rice noodles are cooked in pork or chicken broth, along with galangal (similar to ginger and turmeric), lemongrass, and kaffir lime leaves. ANGIE (9A: Bette and Tina's daughter on "The L Word")The L Wordwas a Showtime TV drama that aired from 2004-2009. Two of the main characters, Bette (Jennifer Beals) and Tina (Laurel Holloman), had an on again, off again relationship throughout the series. Their daughter Angelica Porter-Kennard aka ANGIE was born during the season two season finale. She appeared in the remaining seasons ofThe L Wordas a baby and then toddler. On the sequel series,The L Word: Generation Q(2019-2023), ANGIE is portrayed by Jordan Hull. ANKA (15A: "Puppy Love" singer Paul) "And they called it puppy love / Oh I guess they'll never know / How a young heart really feels / And why I love her so..." Paul ANKA recorded"Puppy Love"– a song that he wrote – in 1960. Donny Osmond recorded a version of"Puppy Love"in 1972. Both versions of the song were hits. THE MUPPET SHOW (40A: Variety sketch program starring Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear, etc.) "It's time to play the music / It's time to light the lights / It's time to meet the MUPPETs on THE MUPPET SHOW tonight..." As a tremendous fan ofTHE MUPPET SHOW, I was delighted to uncover this central theme answer.THE MUPPET SHOW, which was hosted by Kermit the Frog, originally aired from 1976-1981. HENS (47A: Coop residents) This feels like a bonus in a "Nesting Birds" puzzle. NIA (60A: Actress Vardalos) NIA Vardalos starred as Fotoula "Toula" Portokalos inMy Big Fat Greek Wedding(2002),My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2(2016), andMy Big Fat Greek Wedding 3(2023). She also wrote the movies, and directed the most recent one. COFFEE MUG (67A: Container for a cup of joe) Have I mentioned that I collect COFFEE MUGs? (Though mine usually contain tea or ice cream.) My husband built a MUG rack for me several years ago. It brings me great joy to pick a MUG each day that matches my mood. MANTA (69A: Type of ray with the largest brain-to-body ratio of all fish) Here's a fun ANIMAL fact served up with your daily crossword.MANTA raysare intelligent and known for their curiosity and ability to learn and solve problems. Some studies suggest that MANTA rays may also be self-aware (some studies suggest they are able to recognize themselves in mirrors). MALALA (1D: Youngest Nobel Prize winner Yousafzai) MALALA Yousafzai is a human rights activist known especially for her work advocating for the education of women and children in Pakistan. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 at the age of 17. If you haven't read it, I recommend checking out her autobiography,I Am MALALA(2013). Parts of it are hard to read (or listen to if you choose the audiobook as my husband and I did). After all, at the age of 15, MALALA Yousafzai was the target of an assassination attempt by the Taliban. Ultimately, it's a story of perseverance and the importance of standing up for the things you believe in. NAE NAE (10D: 2010s dance craze) The NAE NAE is a dance move that involves holding one arm in the air and swaying side to side. In the 2010s, the NAE NAE became popular on social media along with the song that gave it its name,"Drop That NAENAE"by We are Toonz. MEOW (27D: Sound from a tabby) My cat, Willow, is a calico rather than a tabby, but nonetheless, in response to this cat content she says, "MEOW!" PHI (42D: Letter after upsilon) PHI is the 21st letter in the 24-letter Greek alphabet. PHI is preceded by upsilon and followed by chi, psi, and omega. CHO (44D: Stand-up comic Margaret)Margaret CHOis described on her website as "Comedian. Actor. Musician. Advocate. Entrepreneur. Artist." Her comedy often addresses social and political issues. She has dubbed herself the "Patron Saint of Outsiders." ANIMAL (52D: Panda or penguin) I enjoy seeing the examples constructors choose for clues such as this when there are a myriad of choices. I applaud the choice to go with alliteration here, and it's also fun that both of these ANIMALs are black and white. A few other clues and answers I especially enjoyed: SLED (74A: Calvin and Hobbes' wintertime conveyance) GUESS WHO (11D: Playful question asked while covering someone's eyes) THEN (40D: "That was ___, this is now") LIVE MUSIC (17A: What concertgoers get to enjoy) THE MUPPET SHOW (40A: Variety sketch program starring Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear, etc.) COFFEE MUG (67A: Container for a cup of joe) NESTING BIRDS: Each theme answer contains the word EMU: LIVE MUSIC, THE MUPPET SHOW, and COFFEE MUG. As a three-lettered word with two vowels, the word EMU is helpful in crossword construction. This means the EMU is one of our crossword friends that frequently shows up in the puzzle. It's fun, therefore, to see the EMU as today's theme, NESTING in each of the theme answers. Thank you, Beth, for this enjoyable puzzle. USA TODAY's Daily Crossword Puzzles Sudoku & Crossword Puzzle Answers This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Crossword Blog & Answers for July 2, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher

byAlpha World

in

July 01, 2025

Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Nesting Birds

Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Nesting Birds There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solvetoday...

Read More

Jury in Diddy's sex trafficking trial to resume deliberations after reaching partial verdict

Jury in Diddy's sex trafficking trial to resume deliberations after reaching partial verdict

NEW YORK (AP) — The jury inSean "Diddy" Combs'sex trafficking trial is set to resume deliberations Wednesday after reaching ayet-to-be-disclosed verdicton all but one of the five charges the hip-hop mogul faces. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian ordered the jury to continue its closed-door discussions for a third day afterthe panel of eight men and four womensaid Tuesday that it was unable to reach consensus on the top count: racketeering conspiracy. The judge agreed with prosecutors and Combs' defense team that less than 13 hours of deliberations was too soon to give up on reaching a verdict on all counts. The jury's decision on the other charges — two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution — remains under wraps for now. In a note to the court late Tuesday, the jury said "unpersuadable opinions on both sides" among some jurors had prevented the group from reaching a unanimous verdict on the racketeering conspiracy charge. Racketeering conspiracy is the most complicated charge in the trial and carries a potential maximum sentence of life in prison. The sex trafficking charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life. Transportation to engage in prostitution carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The disclosure of the jury note about the partial verdict seemed to put defense attorneys and their client in a dour mood even before it was read in open court by the judge. Eight defense lawyers formed a half-circle behind Combs as the smiles and lighthearted mood that accompanied the arrival of other jury notes over two days seemed absent as the attorneys contemplated the possibility that jurors had reached agreement on counts that carry the heaviest sentencing penalties. Combs, 55, appeared morose as his lawyers spoke with him. At one point,the hip-hop mogulsolemnly read a piece of paper that attorney Marc Agnifilo handed to him. After the jury came in for instructions and then exited the room, a subdued Combs sat in his chair for a few minutes. As he stood to leave, he faced his relatives and supporters in the audience, blew a kiss and tapped his heart, as he frequently has done at the start and end of each day. Then he paused before his mother and exchanged a few words, telling her, "Love you" and "I'll be all right." Marshals then led him from the room. Earlier in their deliberations the jury asked to review testimony fromCassie, the R&B singer who was Diddy's former longtime girlfriend, as well as from Daniel Phillip, a male stripper Diddy is accused of paying to have sex with Cassie. Prosecutors say Combs coerced two girlfriends into drug-fueledsex marathonswith male sex workers. Lawyers for the Bad Boy Records foundercontendprosecutors are trying to criminalize Combs' swinger lifestyle. They say his conduct, if anything, amounted to domestic violence, not federal felonies. Combs, whochose not to testify, has pleaded not guilty.

byAlpha World

in

July 01, 2025

Jury in Diddy's sex trafficking trial to resume deliberations after reaching partial verdict

Jury in Diddy's sex trafficking trial to resume deliberations after reaching partial verdict NEW YORK (AP) — The jury inSean "Diddy...

Read More

Daughter of assassinated civil rights leader sees painful echoes of political violence in America

Daughter of assassinated civil rights leader sees painful echoes of political violence in America

Jackson, Miss. (AP) — More than60 years aftera white supremacist assassinated civil rights leader Medgar Evers, his daughter still sees the same strain of political violence at work in American society. "It's painful," said Reena Evers-Everette. "It's very painful." Evers-Everette was 8 years old when her father, a field secretary for the NAACP, was shot to death in the driveway of his home in Jackson, Mississippi. A few months after Evers' killing in 1963, President John F. Kennedy was gunned down. The deaths of civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, and U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy followed later that decade. Now, experts say the level ofpolitical violence in Americaover the past few years is likely the highest it's been since the 1960s and 1970s. The past year alone has seen the assassination of aMinnesota state lawmakerand her husband, the killing of twoIsraeli Embassy staffers, and twoassassination attemptson then-presidential candidateDonald Trump. At a four-day conference celebrating Evers' life just before what would have been his 100th birthday on July 2, his daughter was joined by the daughters of slain civil rights leaders: Kerry Kennedy, the daughter of Robert F. Kennedy, and Bettie Dahmer, the daughter of civil and voting rights activistVernon Dahmer. The 2025 Democracy in Action Convening, "Medgar Evers at 100: a Legacy of Justice, a Future of Change," was held in Jackson. "I just was feeling so much pain, and I didn't want anyone else to have to go through that," Kennedy said, recalling that after her father died, she prayed for the man who killed him. "I was saying, 'Please don't — please don't kill the guy that killed him.'" Two-time Georgia gubernatorial candidate and voting rights activist Stacey Abrams spoke at the event, denouncing efforts by the Trump administration tostrip the names of activists from Navy vessels, including possiblyEvers. "They want to take his name off a boat because they don't want us to have a reminder of how far he sailed us forward," Abrams told the conference crowd. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has undertaken an effort tochange the names of ships and military basesthat were given by President Joe Biden's Democratic administration, which often honored service members who were women, people of color, or from the LGBTQ+ community. Abrams drew parallels between acts of radical political violence and the Trump administration'suse of military resources againstprotesters in Los Angeles who were demonstrating against immigration enforcement actions. "Unfortunately, we cannot decry political violence and then sanction the sending of the Marines and the National Guard to stop protesters and not believe that that conflicting message doesn't communicate itself," Abrams told The Associated Press. "What I want us to remember is that whether it is Medgar Evers or Melissa Hortman, no one who is willing to speak for the people should have their lives cut short because of what they say." In addition to her father's life and legacy, Evers-Everette wants people to remember the hatred that led to his assassination. "We have to make sure we know what our history is," she said. "So we don't repeat the crazy, nasty, racist mess."

byAlpha World

in

July 01, 2025

Daughter of assassinated civil rights leader sees painful echoes of political violence in America

Daughter of assassinated civil rights leader sees painful echoes of political violence in America Jackson, Miss. (AP) — More than60 years af...

Read More

Woman arrested for allegedly leaving 100 cats in a U-Haul

Woman arrested for allegedly leaving 100 cats in a U-Haul

A woman was arrested after leaving over 100 cats inside a U-Haul in a Southern California parking lot, according to the Merced County Sheriff's Office. Jeannie Maxon, 69, was arrested on Sunday after deputies were dispatched to a parking lot of a Taco Bell in Santa Nella, California, to "check on the welfare of several cats in a U-Haul van," the sheriff's office said in a statement on Monday. Once on the scene, the deputy observed "at least 20 cats in distress" through the window of the vehicle, officials said. Animal control then responded to the scene and located 106 "extremely emaciated cats, as well as 28 deceased cats" in the vehicle without food or water, officials said. Photos from the scene show the felines pressed against the front windshield of the van, with others found in cardboard boxes inside the vehicle. All of the cats -- which ranged from one week to 8 years old -- were seized and taken to the Merced County Animal Shelter, officials said. MORE: Good Samaritan speaks out after stopping couple from 'dumping' kittens in dirt field Once the cats are medically cleared by veterinary staff, they will be available for adoption, officials said. Maxon, who is from Long Beach, California, was charged with 93 counts of animal cruelty and booked into the Merced County Jail. The sheriff's office said the investigation remains active and they will provide updates regarding the adoption process of the cats. Officials reminded the public of the dangers of keeping an animal inside an unattended vehicle, especially on a summer day. "On a warm day, temperatures inside a car can soar to extreme levels in just a few minutes, even with the windows open. Please ensure that when you're traveling with your pet, they're provided with a cool place to stay, offering plenty of shade, lots of water and food," the sheriff's office said in a statement. It is unclear whether Maxon remains in custody as of Tuesday or whether she has an attorney that can speak on her behalf.

byAlpha World

in

July 01, 2025

Woman arrested for allegedly leaving 100 cats in a U-Haul

Woman arrested for allegedly leaving 100 cats in a U-Haul A woman was arrested after leaving over 100 cats inside a U-Haul in a Southern Cal...

Read More

Barbra Streisand Reveals Her and Husband James Brolin's 'Different Schedule' and Why They Go to Bed 'Very Late' (Exclusive)

Barbra Streisand Reveals Her and Husband James Brolin's 'Different Schedule' and Why They Go to Bed 'Very Late' (Exclusive)

Kevin Mazur/VF19/WireImage Barbra Streisand says she and husband James Brolin "love the silence of the night" The couple therefore goes to sleep "very late" Streisand's new album,The Secret of Life: Partners, Volume Twois out now WhenBarbra Streisandanswers the phone to chat with PEOPLE, it's just after 2 p.m. local time in Los Angeles — but for the legendary star, the day is just beginning. "We go to bed very late, so I'm still in bed," Streisand, 83, explains in this week's issue of her routine with husbandJames Brolin, 84. "We have a different schedule. We love the silence of the night." The EGOT-winning singer, actress and director has long built her life around sound, first through hit songs like"The Way We Were"and movies likeFunny Girl; these days more through the giggles of her grandkids. So it's understandable why she'd appreciate some peace and quiet. Streisand and Brolin married in 1998 after meeting two years earlier at a dinner party orchestrated by friends. In recent months, she's been focused on family (TheYentlstar is mom to sonJason Gould, 58, with ex-husbandElliott Gould, and grandma to a brood that includes stepsonJosh Brolin's two young daughters Chapel, 4, and Westlyn, 6, and stepdaughter Molly's son Soli, 3). Kevin Mazur/Getty She celebrated her27th wedding anniversarywith Brolin on Tuesday, July 1, writing on Instagram, "We met on a blind date 29 years ago tonight, and we married 27 years ago today. I love you honey. B xo. ❤️" Brolin joked on theTodayshow in April that he and his wife'sbest investment over the yearswas their mattress. "Don't misunderstand me. We're both lazy. We love to sleep late," he said. "We do a lot of our work on the phone, on paper, reading, right next to each other." Streisand — who released her bestselling memoirMy Name Is Barbrain November 2023 — is currently wading back into the spotlight with a new duets album,The Secret of Life: Partners, Volume Two, which she released on June 27. The record features an impressive roster of collaborators, includingPaul McCartney,Bob Dylan,Tim McGraw,Ariana GrandeandMariah Carey. Streisand says that McCartney, 83, was the first person on board when it came time to recruit singing partners. "He was so sweet to me when I first came to London. I was there in the '60s, I think, and he invited me to his house with his wife Linda," she recalls. "It was just so kind of him, and he's so wonderful. He's such a great writer and I admire him, so that's a no-brainer. [He] was the first one." Kathryn Boyd Brolin The Secret of Lifemarks Streisand's first new album in seven years, followingWallsin 2018. The star says all of the "wonderful people" who performed with her on the new album were catalysts for her return to the studio — and she's not done yet. Does the 10-time Grammy winner have another album in her? "God, yeah. As long as I have a voice, I love the privacy of recording," she says. "I love standing there in front of the mic and the music in my ears and singing. When I was 18 years old, I made my mother call up publishers to get free music. I still have that person inside, that kid. There are more songs I want to sing." The Secret of Life: Partners, Volume Twois out now. For more on Barbra Streisand, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands everywhere now, or subscribehere. Read the original article onPeople

byAlpha World

in

July 01, 2025

Barbra Streisand Reveals Her and Husband James Brolin's 'Different Schedule' and Why They Go to Bed 'Very Late' (Exclusive)

Barbra Streisand Reveals Her and Husband James Brolin's 'Different Schedule' and Why They Go to Bed 'Very Late' (Exclusi...

Read More