NEWS

NEWS NEWS

Cincinnati City Manager Sheryl Long

PHOTO: GOVERNMENT PHOTO

Cincinnati City Council Confirms Sheryl Long as New City Manager Cincinnati City Council Confirms Sheryl Long as New City Manager In December while still mayor-elect, Pureval announced that he would In December while still mayor-elect, Pureval announced that he would launch a national search to ll the position. launch a national search to ll the position. BY ALLISON BABKA

BY ALLISON BABKA

The city of Cincinnati has a new manager.

Cincinnati City Council unanimously approved Sheryl Long as city manager during a Sept. 1 special session. Mayor Aftab Pureval had recommended Long for the position after conducting a national search.

In Long’s role as Cincinnati’s 18th city manager, she will oversee about 6,000 employees and nearly 20 departments. She had been serving as assistant city manager since 2019.

“In her years of public service, Sheryl has proven herself to be a gifted, compassionate, and innovative leader,” Pureval said. “We have a lot of work ahead of us to grow Cincinnati and improve opportunity for our residents, and I’m con dent that City Manager Long is the best person to execute on our vision in the years to come.”

Long’s voice trembled with pride and gratitude as she explained what she planned to do as city manager and why the role was important to her.

“I’m honored for the privilege of being chosen as city manager and the opportunity to continue to do great work for our mayor and city council,” Long said after she was sworn in at City Hall. “I am proud to be the city’s youngest female city manager and second Black female to ll this role. It’s rare to have a woman rise to the level of in uence in city government and even more rare for it to be a woman of color.”

“And to this amazing city: I became the person I am today thanks to relationships I built here within a community. I love this city and promise to all Cincinnatians we are here for you,” Long said. “We will strive to make the best place to live, work and visit. No matter where you come from, we are in this together. e administration is committed to serving you and moving Cincinnati forward.”

Prior to her work in Cincinnati government, Long was the city administrator for North College Hill, serving as its communications lead before that, according to Long’s LinkedIn pro le and government biography. She has a bachelor of arts from Miami University and a master of arts in marketing from

The city of Cincinnati has a new manager. Cincinnati City Council unanimously approved Sheryl Long as city manager during a Sept. 1 special session. Mayor Aftab Pureval had recommended Long for the position after conducting a national search. In Long’s role as Cincinnati’s 18th city manager, she will oversee about 6,000 employees and nearly 20 departments. She had been serving as assistant city manager since 2019. “In her years of public service, Sheryl has proven herself to be a gifted, compassionate, and innovative leader,” Pureval said. “We have a lot of work ahead of us to grow Cincinnati and improve opportunity for our residents, and I’m con dent that City Manager Long is the best person to execute on our vision in the years to come.” Long’s voice trembled with pride and gratitude as she explained what she planned to do as city manager and why the role was important to her. “I’m honored for the privilege of being chosen as city manager and the Southern New Hampshire University. In December while still mayorelect, Pureval announced that he would launch a national search to replace Paula Boggs Muething once his administration took o ce. On Aug. 17, Pureval said that his team began with 21 applicants, interviewed ve and then selected Long and John Curp as nalists. He recommended Long as his choice Aug. 26. Curp had been serving as interim city manager since January after Boggs Muething left the role. A former city solicitor and partner at Blank Rome law rm, Curp had been appointed by former Ohio Gov. John Kasich to the Ohio Public Defender Commission. “I want to thank John Curp for his hard, commendable work as Interim city manager for the past eight months. He came in with a vision for a more communicative, transparent government, and he succeeded in carrying out that tremendously important objective,” Pureval said after announcing Long as his pick. “I will always be grateful for his work and desire to make a di erence in our community.”

opportunity to continue to do great work for our mayor and city council,” Long said after she was sworn in at City Hall. “I am proud to be the city’s youngest female city manager and second Black female to ll this role. It’s rare to have a woman rise to the level of in uence in city government and even more rare for it to be a woman of color.”

“And to this amazing city: I became the person I am today thanks to relationships I built here within a community. I love this city and promise to all Cincinnatians we are here for you,” Long said. “We will strive to make the best place to live, work and visit. No matter where you come from, we are in this together. e administration is committed to serving you and moving Cincinnati forward.”

Prior to her work in Cincinnati government, Long was the city administrator for North College Hill, serving as its communications lead before that, according to Long’s LinkedIn pro le and government biography. She has a bachelor of arts from Miami University and a master of arts in marketing from Southern New Hampshire University.

In December while still mayorelect, Pureval announced that he would launch a national search to replace Paula Boggs Muething once his administration took o ce. On Aug. 17, Pureval said that his team began with 21 applicants, interviewed ve and then selected Long and John Curp as nalists. He recommended Long as his choice Aug. 26.

Curp had been serving as interim city manager since January after Boggs Muething left the role. A former city solicitor and partner at Blank Rome law rm, Curp had been appointed by former Ohio Gov. John Kasich to the Ohio Public Defender Commission.

“I want to thank John Curp for his hard, commendable work as Interim city manager for the past eight months. He came in with a vision for a more communicative, transparent government, and he succeeded in carrying out that tremendously important objective,” Pureval said after announcing Long as his pick. “I will always be grateful for his work and desire to make a di erence in our community.”

U.S. Agencies U.S. Agencies Approve Updated Approve Updated COVID-19 COVID-19 Booster to Fight Booster to Fight New Variants

New Variants BY TINA HESMAN SAEY, BY TINA HESMAN SAEY, SCIENCE NEWS SCIENCE NEWS R evamped COVID-19 vaccines are poised to do battle with the super-contagious omicron variant. On Sept. 1, U.S. health o cials greenlit the rst major update of the mRNAbased shots, reformulated to recognize both the original version of SARS-CoV-2 and the recently circulating versions of omicron. ose mRNA vaccine boosters could start going into arms within days. “ ey can help restore protection that has waned since previous vaccination and were designed to provide broader protection against newer variants,” Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a statement after endorsing a vaccine advisory committee’s approval of the shots. Both Moderna and P zer and its German partner BioNTech created boosters that contain instructions for making the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron subvariants’ spike protein as well as the original virus’ spike protein (SN: 6/30/22). ose two variants now account for nearly all the new cases in the United States. e U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization for the shots Aug. 31. e CDC action means the P zer booster is now OK’d for those 12 and older; Moderna’s shot is for those 18 and older. e European Medicines Agency and Health Canada also authorized use of an updated booster vaccine on Sept. 1. at one, made by Moderna, contains mRNA instructions for building the original coronavirus spike protein and the spike protein from the omicron BA.1 subvariant. e United Kingdom, Switzerland and Australia have already given the nod for use of that dual, or bivalent, booster. Here’s what to know about the new R evamped COVID-19 vaccines are poised to do battle with the super-contagious omicron variant. On Sept. 1, U.S. health o cials greenlit the rst major update of the mRNAbased shots, reformulated to recognize both the original version of SARS-CoV-2 and the recently circulating versions of omicron. ose mRNA vaccine boosters could start going into arms within days. “ ey can help restore protection that has waned since previous vaccination and were designed to provide broader protection against newer variants,” Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a statement after endorsing a vaccine advisory committee’s approval of the shots. Both Moderna and P zer and its German partner BioNTech created boosters that contain instructions for making the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron subvariants’ spike protein as well as the original virus’ spike protein (SN: 6/30/22). ose two variants now account for nearly all the new cases in the United States. e U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization for the shots Aug. 31. e CDC action means the P zer booster is now OK’d for those 12 and older; Moderna’s shot is for those 18 and older. e European Medicines Agency and Health Canada also authorized use of an updated booster vaccine on Sept. 1. at one, made by Moderna, contains mRNA instructions for building the original coronavirus spike protein and the spike protein from the omicron BA.1 subvariant. e United Kingdom, Switzerland and Australia have already given the nod for use of that dual, or bivalent, booster. Here’s what to know about the new shots: shots:

Should I get a booster shot?

Should I get a booster shot? Probably. e CDC now recommends Probably. e CDC now recommends that all fully vaccinated people 12 and older get the bivalent shot, provided it has been at least two months since their last vaccine dose. “If you are eligible, there is no bad time to get your COVID19 booster and I strongly encourage you to receive it,” Walensky said. at recommendation comes regardthat all fully vaccinated people 12 and older get the bivalent shot, provided it has been at least two months since their last vaccine dose. “If you are eligible, there is no bad time to get your COVID19 booster and I strongly encourage you to receive it,” Walensky said. at recommendation comes regardless of how many boosters people have less of how many boosters people have

already had. already had. “If you perceive this as big change … you’re right,” Evelyn Twentyman, who leads CDC’s vaccine policy unit, said Sept. 1 during the vaccine advisory committee meeting. “We want to emphasize we’re no longer looking at total number of doses,” she said. From now on, the agency hopes to transition into a more regular schedule for COVID-19 vaccines, similar to getting annual u shots. e original vaccines will still be used for the rst two doses, but bivalent vaccines will replace the old boosters for all but 5- to 11-year-olds. P zer’s original vaccine booster is still available for that age group but bivalent vaccines may come later this year for children as young as 6 months old. ere was another big di erence this time around: e decision to move forward with the BA.4/5 boosters was made without data from human trials. Such trials are under way, but results won’t be known until the end of the year. In authorizing the new boosters without clinical trial data, the agencies are treating COVID-19 vaccines more like annual u vaccines. Data collected from people immunized with the BA.1 boosters and data from studies of mice inoculated with the BA.4/5 vaccine were used as evidence of the new boosters’ likely safety and e ectiveness. e European Medicines Agency said in a Sept. 2 press brie ng that it would also use the BA.1 “If you perceive this as big change … you’re right,” Evelyn Twentyman, who leads CDC’s vaccine policy unit, said Sept. 1 during the vaccine advisory committee meeting. “We want to emphasize we’re no longer looking at total number of doses,” she said. From now on, the agency hopes to transition into a more regular schedule for COVID-19 vaccines, similar to getting annual u shots. e original vaccines will still be used for the rst two doses, but bivalent vaccines will replace the old boosters for all but 5- to 11-year-olds. P zer’s original vaccine booster is still available for that age group but bivalent vaccines may come later this year for children as young as 6 months old. ere was another big di erence this time around: e decision to move forward with the BA.4/5 boosters was made without data from human trials. Such trials are under way, but results won’t be known until the end of the year. In authorizing the new boosters without clinical trial data, the agencies are treating COVID-19 vaccines more like annual u vaccines. Data collected from people immunized with the BA.1 boosters and data from studies of mice inoculated with the BA.4/5 vaccine were used as evidence of the new boosters’ likely safety and e ectiveness. e European Medicines Agency said in a Sept. 2 press brie ng that it would also use the BA.1 booster to evaluate the new shots. booster to evaluate the new shots.

Why do the shots target the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron subvariants?

“We very deliberately picked BA.4/5,” Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, which oversees vaccines, said in a news brie ng Aug. 31.

Both companies have tested vaccines based on the omicron BA.1 variant in humans. But BA.1, which caused the massive surge earlier in the year, is no longer circulating in the United States. As of the week of Aug. 21-27, BA.5 was projected to cause about 89 percent of COVID-19 cases, with BA.4 variants responsible for about 11 percent of cases.

“ is gives us a variant that is most up-to-date, and most likely looks closer to something that may evolve further in the fall,” Marks said. “ e more up-todate you are, the better chance we have of [the vaccine] working for what comes afterward.”

All omicron subvariants share common mutations. But the shape of BA.4/5’s spike protein looks much different to the immune system than other omicron subvariants do, the CDC’s

Natalie ornburg said at the advisory committee meeting. ose di erences may train immune cells to build a wider variety of antibodies that can latch onto a broad array of variants. Mice inoculated with a BA.4/5 containing booster had fewer viruses in their lungs than mice given a BA.1 boosters, Moderna’s Jacqueline Miller said at the CDC meeting. e mice make a human version of ACE2, the protein on the surface of cells that the Why do the shots target the coronavirus uses to gain entry. Mouse BA.4 and BA.5 omicron studies of earlier variant boosters corsubvariants? responded well to levels of protection “We very deliberately picked BA.4/5,” Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, which oversees vaccines, said in a news brie ng Aug. 31. Both companies have tested vaccines based on the omicron BA.1 variant in humans. But BA.1, which caused the massive surge earlier in the year, is no longer circulating in the United States. As of the week of Aug. 21-27, BA.5 was projected to cause about 89 percent of COVID-19 cases, with BA.4 variants responsible for about 11 percent of cases. “ is gives us a variant that is most seen in human clinical trials, Miller said, so the company is hopeful that the BA.4/5 booster will provide good protection, too. Bivalent vaccines perform better — raising antibody levels higher in people and animals — than ones that contain just the original spike protein or only a variant spike protein, Miller said. e spike protein that grabs onto human cells is a three-pronged claw. With the bivalent vaccine, each prong could be either an original or an omicron version. e mixed claw may expose parts of the spike to the immune system that are normally hidden, Miller suggested. up-to-date, and most likely looks closer to something that may evolve further in the fall,” Marks said. “ e more up-todate you are, the better chance we have of [the vaccine] working for what comes afterward.”

All omicron subvariants share common mutations. But the shape of BA.4/5’s spike protein looks much different to the immune system than other omicron subvariants do, the CDC’s Natalie ornburg said at the advisory committee meeting. ose di erences may train immune cells to build a wider variety of antibodies that can latch onto a broad array of variants. Mice inoculated with a BA.4/5 containing booster had fewer viruses in their lungs than mice given a BA.1 boosters, Moderna’s Jacqueline Miller said at the CDC meeting. e mice make a human version of ACE2, the protein on the surface of cells that the coronavirus uses to gain entry. Mouse studies of earlier variant boosters corresponded well to levels of protection seen in human clinical trials, Miller said, so the company is hopeful that the BA.4/5 booster will provide good protection, too. Bivalent vaccines perform better — raising antibody levels higher in people and animals — than ones that contain just the original spike protein or only a variant spike protein, Miller said. e spike protein that grabs onto human cells is a three-pronged claw. With the bivalent vaccine, each prong could be either an original or an omicron version. e mixed claw may expose parts of the spike to the immune system that are normally hidden, Miller suggested.

The revamped COVID-19 boosters will target the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron subvariants.

PHOTO: ANNIE SPRATT, UNSPLASH The revamped COVID-19 boosters will target the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron subvariants.

PHOTO: ANNIE SPRATT, UNSPLASH

Why now? Why now?

ough the mouse data suggest the BA.4/5 booster will work, some of the CDC advisers said they’d be more comfortable having data from the ongoing human clinical trials before recommending the new shots. at data could be available in a couple of months, so why not wait? e wait could cost lives and money, computer projections suggest. e COVID-19 scenario modeling hub, a consortium of pandemic forecasters who predict COVID-19 patterns over the next six months under varying conditions, considered what would happen in the United States if the boosters were given in September or not until November. Waiting would lead to 137,000 more hospitalizations and 9,700 more deaths, the researchers projected.

An early fall booster campaign could save more than $62 billion in direct medical costs, an analysis from the Commonwealth Fund projects. ough the mouse data suggest the BA.4/5 booster will work, some of the CDC advisers said they’d be more comfortable having data from the ongoing human clinical trials before recommending the new shots. at data could be available in a couple of months, so why not wait? e wait could cost lives and money, computer projections suggest. e

COVID-19 scenario modeling hub, a consortium of pandemic forecasters who predict COVID-19 patterns over the next six months under varying conditions, considered what would happen in the United States if the boosters were given in September or not until November. Waiting would lead to 137,000 more hospitalizations and 9,700 more deaths, the researchers projected.

An early fall booster campaign could save more than $62 billion in direct medical costs, an analysis from the Commonwealth Fund projects.

Is it safe? Is it safe?

Based on studies with the BA.1 bivalent booster, yes. at shot produced similar side e ects to the original shots.

And it’s also safe to get u shots and other vaccines, including ones used against monkeypox, at the same time as the COVID-19 booster. In fact, doctors should o er all vaccines for which a person is eligible at the same visit, Elisha Hall of the CDC said.

Some data indicate that the chance of serious side e ects, like heart in ammation called myocarditis, happen at similar or lower rates with boosters than with the second doses of the mRNA vaccines. e side e ect is rare; CDC has veri ed 131 myocarditis cases out of more than 126 million booster doses given, Tom Shimabukuro of the CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Unit reported. e rate of myocarditis is 1.8 to 5.6 times higher after a COVID-19 infection than after vaccination for 12- to 17-year-old males — the group for which the condition has the highest risk, the CDC’s Sara Oliver said. Spacing the booster at least two months

after the last dose of vaccine may help to head o any increase in myocarditis, Marks said in the FDA press brie ng. “We have a tremendous amount of experience with the monovalent, original vaccine,” the FDA’s Doran Fink said during the CDC advisory meeting. at experience made the FDA comfortable extrapolating data from the BA.1 booster trials to decide that the new shots are also safe. “We don’t usually have too much clinical information … when we are thinking about changing in uenza vaccines,” said Sarah Long, an infectious Based on studies with the BA.1 bivalent booster, yes. at shot produced similar side e ects to the original shots. And it’s also safe to get u shots and other vaccines, including ones used against monkeypox, at the same time as the COVID-19 booster. In fact, doctors should o er all vaccines for which a person is eligible at the same visit, Elisha Hall of the CDC said. Some data indicate that the chance of serious side e ects, like heart in ammation called myocarditis, happen at similar or lower rates with boosters than with the second doses of the mRNA vaccines. e side e ect is rare; CDC has veri ed 131 myocarditis cases out of more than 126 million booster doses given, Tom Shimabukuro of the CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Unit reported. e rate of myocarditis is 1.8 to 5.6 times higher after a COVID-19 infection than after vaccination for 12- to 17-year-old males — the group for which the condition has the highest diseases pediatrician at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia. Much like the u vaccine remodels last season’s version, the updated COVID-19 booster is built on the same sca olding as the original version. “It’s part of the same roof. We’re just putting in some dormers and windows.” Pablo Sanchez, a pediatric infectious diseases doctor at e Ohio State University and Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, cast the sole dissenting vote against recommending the BA.4/5 boosters. Other committee members voted to recommend the boosters, but they voiced reservations about those votes. “I really don’t want to establish a precedent of recommending a vaccine that we don’t have clinical data on,” Sanchez said. He added, “I’m comfortable that the vaccine will likely be safe like the others,” but having the human data may help counter vaccine hesitancy. risk, the CDC’s Sara Oliver said. Spacing the booster at least two months after the last dose of vaccine may help to head o any increase in myocarditis, Marks said in the FDA press brie ng. “We have a tremendous amount of experience with the monovalent, original vaccine,” the FDA’s Doran Fink said during the CDC advisory meeting. at experience made the FDA comfortable extrapolating data from the BA.1 booster trials to decide that the new shots are also safe. “We don’t usually have too much clinical information … when we are thinking about changing in uenza vaccines,” said Sarah Long, an infectious diseases pediatrician at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia. Much like the u vaccine remodels last season’s version, the updated COVID-19 booster is built on the same sca olding as the original version. “It’s part of the same roof. We’re just putting in some dormers and windows.” Pablo Sanchez, a pediatric infectious diseases doctor at e Ohio State University and Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, cast the sole dissenting vote against recommending the BA.4/5 boosters. Other committee members voted to recommend the boosters, but they voiced reservations about those votes. “I really don’t want to establish a precedent of recommending a vaccine that we don’t have clinical data on,” Sanchez said. He added, “I’m comfortable that the vaccine will likely be safe like the others,” but having the human data may help counter vaccine hesitancy.

is story was originally published by is story was originally published by Science News, a nonpro t independent Science News, a nonpro t independent news organization. news organization.

Cincinnati Police Department Fires Officer Rose Valentino for Using Racist Slur on Duty

BY MADELINE FENING

City o cials have approved the termination of Cincinnati Police Department O cer Rose Valentino, who was caught using a racist slur while on duty outside of Western Hills University High School in April.

“I want to be clear; this type of hateful speech will not be tolerated by anyone who works for the Cincinnati Police Department, sworn or civilian,” interim police chief Teresa eetge said in an Aug. 29 news release announcing the o cer’s termination.

According to a report, Valentino, who is white, was caught on her body camera footage saying, “Fucking n******s, I fucking hate them!” while pounding her st on the steering wheel of her cruiser. e o cer also complained about being caught in tra c outside of Western Hills University High School, which is part of the Cincinnati Public Schools district.

An internal report noted that Valentino said the n-word after a student ashed the o cer his middle nger, a claim that is only supported by Valentino’s testimony. Body camera footage o ered a narrow view of the area where Valentino was driving, so the student mentioned in the report was not visible to viewers.

“O cer Valentino was extremely frustrated due to the tra c and individuals not taking her seriously,” the report read.

According to U.S. News & World Report, Western Hills University High School has an enrollment that is nearly 70% Black and more than 87% nonwhite or minority. e ACLU of Ohio recently spoke out against Valentino’s actions, calling the incident “inexcusable.”

“As the Interim Police Chief, I must also weigh O cer Valentino’s future ability to police a diverse community that relies upon an impartial party to protect and serve,” eetge said in the Aug. 29 news release. “O cer Valentino’s clear loss of her emotions and ready use of the racial slur tarnished her ability to work with any community member.” e report said Valentino immediately sought treatment after using the slur, with Valentino saying she had been “a ected by her profession” and was “desensitized to racially o ensive language by music and hearing people talk in the street.”

According to the city manager’s o ce, Valentino has the right to ask the Fraternal Order of Police, CPD’s union, to le a grievance with the city to appeal the termination. It is unclear if Valentino plans to appeal the decision.

Former CPD officer Rose Valentino.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY CPD

Valentino, who is white, was caught on her body camera footage saying, “Fucking n******s, I fucking hate them!” while pounding her st on the steering wheel of her cruiser.

City may enact a zerotolerance policy for o cers

Some city leaders are pushing for a change to City Code 25 to include a zero-tolerance rule for uses of racial or ethnic slurs: “Except when approved by a supervisor, any use of a racial or ethnic remark, slur, epithet, word or gesture requires dismissal on the rst violation,” the proposed policy change reads. e rule would apply to all city employees, but it has been proposed with cops in mind. CPD o cers were the main point of discussion in an Aug. 8 meeting about the policy between the department and city leadership.

“I do not want my son to run into a cop that doesn’t treat my son like they treat me,” retired CPD o cer Donald Jordan said during the meeting. “I am for a zero-tolerance policy. If you can’t come to work for 10 hours a day and be professional, you don’t deserve this job. Period.”

Cincinnati Sports Briefs

Ahmad Gardner’s “Sauce Sauce” is now available at Buffalo Wild Wings locations.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY INSPIRE BRANDS

Former UC Bearcat Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner Joins Bu alo Wild Wings to Create ‘Sauce Sauce’

Former University of Cincinnati Bearcat Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner has launched a limited-time hot sauce with Bu alo Wild Wings, and it’s predictably called “Sauce Sauce.”

In an Aug. 29 press release, Inspire Brands – which owns Bu alo Wild Wings – said that Gardner collaborated with the national restaurant chain’s culinary team on the new condiment. It’s “a smokey, sweet and spicy BBQ sauce which intercepts your taste buds and takes it to the house on your favorite wings and sandwiches,” Inspire said.

Sauce Sauce has been available at BWW locations beginning Aug. 31 – Gardner’s birthday. During a launch party in Wayne, New Jersey, the following day, Gardner met with BWW rewards members to sign autographs in – what else? – sauce.

“I have always known that everything is better with sauce, so who better to develop my own avor than the sauce experts at Bu alo Wild Wings,” Gardner said in the release. “Nothing says football like wings covered in your favorite sauce. I am excited to launch my own signature ‘Sauce Sauce’ just in time for the season kicko .”

Gardner recently celebrated his sauce on social media with a BWW video that features him declaring “I love sauce.” In the video, he stands near a wall of dozens of hot sauces, slathers sauce on everything from wings to fries and pulls out a miniature bedazzled sauce bottle. “Even sauce on sauce,” he says to the camera.

Gardner, who was a lauded cornerback for UC and who gave up no touchdowns during his college career, was selected by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the NFL draft this year. His Jets contract gives him a guaranteed $38.7 million over four years. e rookie will begin his regular-season NFL career when the Jets take on the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 11 during the team’s home opener at MetLife Stadium.

Cincinnati Reds to Battle Every MLB Team for First Time Ever in 2023

e Cincinnati Reds are looking at a whole new ballgame.

Major League Baseball’s 2023 season schedule comes with a big twist – each team will meet each other on the eld at least once. In addition, all 30 franchises are scheduled to play opening day on March 30 – the rst time every team will do so on the same date since 1968.

More interleague play, fewer division games

For 2023, the Cincinnati Reds will take on each of the other 29 MLB franchises at various points during the season, including all teams in the American League. As a National League team, the Reds typically have played just 20 games a season against American League teams; in 2023, that number will increase to 46.

Teams will play a total of four games against their “natural” interleague rival, which is a team from the opposite league that’s within close distance. For the Reds, that means taking on the Cleveland Guardians from the AL.

“ e new balanced schedule will feature all 30 Clubs playing each other for at least one series in 2023,” MLB chief operations and strategy o cer Chris Marinak said in a release. “ is new format creates more consistent opponent matchups as clubs compete for postseason berths, particularly in the recently expanded wild card round.”

According to MLB, the 162-game season will become more “balanced” by moving away from heavy division play. In 2023, the Reds will play 52 games against other NL Central teams instead of the 76 division games they have now. ey’ll meet each Central opponent 13 times (for four series total), down from 19 games per division opponent now. e Reds will have 26 division home games and 26 division away games. e Reds still will play National League teams outside of the Central, but those are slightly decreasing in number, too. Cincinnati will face o 64 times against non-Central opponents within the NL, down from 66. ey’ll have six games against six NL opponents and seven games against four NL opponents. Previously, teams had done the reverse: six against four and

seven against six. e changes “rebalance” the previous division-heavy schedule that was implemented in 2001, MLB said. For more than two decades, division opponents typically have taken up nearly half of each team’s schedule.

Highlights for the Reds’ new season

e Cincinnati Reds will kickstart the 2023 season with a home opener against NL Central opponent the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 30 at Great American Ball Park. e teams will have March 31 o before continuing the series April 1 and 2. e Reds then immediately will welcome division opponents the Chicago Cubs for a three-game series April 3-5. e Reds will take on “natural” interleague rival the Cleveland Guardians in Cincinnati Aug. 15 and 16. e teams will meet again in Cleveland Sept. 26-27 for a series billed as the Ohio Cup.

Other AL opponents fans can see at Great American Ball Park include the Tampa Bay Rays (April 17-19), Texas Rangers (April 24-26), Chicago White Sox (May 5-7) and New York Yankees (May 19-21), Toronto Blue Jays (Aug. 18-20), Seattle Mariners (Sept. 4-6) and Minnesota Twins (Sept. 18-20).

All MLB teams will take a mid-summer break for the 93rd All-Star Game, scheduled for July 11 at T-Mobile Park, home of the Seattle Mariners.

2023 spring training schedule set

With the Reds’ playo hopes likely ushed down the toilet for 2022, it’s already time to start thinking ahead to 2023. MLB announced that spring training would begin Feb. 24.

“2023 Spring Training will o cially begin on Friday, Feb. 24 with a pair

of Cactus League games before all 30 Major League Clubs play in Cactus and Grapefruit League games on Saturday, Feb. 25,” MLB said in an Aug. 31 press release.

“Select games featuring World Baseball Classic teams will be played at various Spring Training facilities on Wednesday, March 8 and ursday, March 9,” MLB continued. “Additional information, including WBC team locations, will be announced in the coming months.”

The Cincinnati Reds will open the 2023 season with a home opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 30 at Great American Ball Park.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY REDS

- Allison Babka