April 29

Thursday, April 29, 2021

Aaron McKnight Story of a Balanced barista

By Bryanna Nickel Staff Reporter Aaron McKnight, a business management sophomore, is one of the newest employees at Balanced Coffee Co. and is enjoying every moment of his new job.

“It has never felt like work yet,” McKnight said.

“I honestly forget that I’m getting paid just because the owners, Mike and Lexi, just treat me so well.”

McKnight said that he never feels overwhelmed, but he always feels relaxed on the job because he gets to do things that he loves: working with coffee, talking to customers and getting to know people.

“I love Balanced because, for me, I just think See Aaron on pg. 4

File photo

CDC: Wearing masks outside not necessary for vaccinated people

By Tribune news service WASHINGTON — The Biden administration said Tuesday there’s no need for people who are vaccinated against COVID-19 to wear face masks while outdoors unless they are in crowded, large-group settings.

Fully vaccinated individuals do not need to wear a mask when exercising outdoors or attending small and medium-sized outdoor gatherings, according to new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky pointedly did not define how many people constitute a small or medium-sized gathering, because that can depend on the space, how much distance separates people and local COVID-19 caseloads.

She told reporters it is also safe for fully vaccinated people to dine at an outdoor restaurant with vaccinated friends from multiple households while not wearing masks.

Unsplash

Walensky said most virus transmission currently happens indoors, with less than 10 percent of virus transmission traced to exposures outdoors.

Unvaccinated people should still wear a mask when attending a small outdoor gathering with other unvaccinated people to reduce the risk of severe

disease, Walensky said. But an unvaccinated person can feel safe walking, running or biking outdoors without a mask on.

The CDC also says it’s now safer for vaccinated individuals to attend certain indoor events with a mask on due to increased vaccination rates and decreased community spread. A fully vaccinated person wearing a mask can feel safe attending a worship service and singing in the choir, visiting a hair salon, shopping indoors, visiting a museum, riding public transportation, participating in an indoor exercise class or going to a movie theater.

A person is fully vaccinated two weeks after a second dose of receiving the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines that were authorized in the United States, or two weeks after getting the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

President Joe Biden touted the guidance as a See CDC on pg. 2

Page 2 Thursday, April 29, 2021

News

Gage Skidmore/Flickr

CDC...

Continued from pg. 1 sign of the success of the U.S. COVID-19 vaccination program and called on more Americans to get the shot.

“The bottom line is clear. If you’re vaccinated, you can do more things safely, both outdoors as well as indoors. So for those who haven’t gotten vaccinated yet, especially if you’re younger or think you don’t need it, this is another great reason to go get vaccinated,”

Biden said while speaking from the White House on Tuesday.

Since Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration, the U.S. has put 250 million shots in arms, the president said.

Biden also noted that 67 percent of seniors are fully vaccinated, and at least 80 percent of seniors have had at least one short, which has resulted in significant drops in COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations among older Americans.

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra also said the guidance should encourage more people to get the shot.

“The message is clear.

You’re vaccinated, guess what? You get to return to a more normal lifestyle.

You’re not vaccinated, you’re still a danger,” Becerra said.

Over half the adult population has received at least one dose of the vaccine, and shots are now available to everyone 16 and older, but vaccination rates are stagnating. Several states, including Georgia, Mississippi and Montana, are struggling to figure out what to do with excess vaccines.

Both vaccinated and unvaccinated people should continue to wear a mask in

most indoor settings, according to the CDC. The U.S. is still recording upward of 50,000 new COVID-19 infections per day, and it’s very hard to identify who is vaccinated and who is not, Walensky said.

The CDC previously declared that fully vaccinated people could safely take off their masks when gathering indoors in private settings with other fully vaccinated people. Vaccinated people also can safely gather with unvaccinated people from a single household indoors and without a mask on, according to the agency.

Page 4 Thursday, April 29, 2021

Lifestyle

File photo

Aaron...

Continued from pg. 1 it’s a very friendly place. All the workers and the owners, they’re just so welcoming and kind.”

The job was difficult to obtain, however, McKnight said that the process took him about five months and that Balanced Coffee Co. does not have a lot of employees, due to its reputation for high quality coffee and because it doesn’t stay open as late as most coffee shops.

“I think they chose me because I was persistent,”

McKnight said.

McKnight went to Balanced Coffee Co. all the time to study and hang out.

Through this, he formed relationships with the employees and showed them his love for coffee.

“I showed them how much I wanted it,” McKnight said.

Now that McKnight is a barista at Balanced Coffee Co., he has found one of his new favorite drinks: Red Bull Italian Soda.

“Why I really like this drink is two things: how it tastes and the process it takes to make it,” McKnight said.

McKnight described the drink as a sweet,

creamy energy drink-nothing like a normal Red Bull. The drink looks like a beige root beer float in a clear, tall glass mug. McKnight said that he loves this because the drink gives off an artsy look.

The process includes adding flavors of blackberry and vanilla, pouring in a can of Red Bull and then watching the flavors fizz together. McKnight also said that this is a great choice because the mug holds a large amount of the drink.

Outside of working at Balanced Coffee Co., McKnight said that the place is simply an overall great business.

“What makes Bal-

anced a really good company, and an overall really great coffee shop, is that they really care [about their coffee,]” McKnight said.

Balanced Coffee Co. sends their baristas to Onyx Coffee Lab, a high-end coffee business in Arkansas, in order to get fully trained, because they want their baristas to love coffee and be equip to make outstandingly well-rounded coffee.

“That’s where their name comes from: a balanced cup of coffee. That’s what they want. That’s what they strive for,” McKnight said. entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

sports

Claire Boomer

Texas’ Pierceson Coody hit his bunker shot over the green on the 18th hole in the final round of the Big 12 Championship at Prairie Dunes in Hutchinson, Kansas.

His next shot went back over the green, Coody finally tapped in for a tri-

ple bogey, seven, on his final hole. Oklahoma State’s Austin Eckroat bogeyed his 18th hole, which he played alongside Coody. What was a two shot lead for No. 3 OSU and No. 6 Texas over No. 1 Oklahoma became a just a one stroke lead for OSU, and Texas fell into third, with only one group left on the course.

Bo Jin, OSU, and Cole Hammer of Texas had just one hole left, and both the team and individual championship rode on the hole. Hammer needed to beat Jin by one or tie the hole to clinch the individual title, Jin needed just a par to clinch the tournament for OSU. Jin and Hammer both parred the hole. Hammer (4-under) won the individual title one stroke over Jin (3-under).

Jin clinched the Big 12 Championship for the Cowboys.

It is the 56th conference championship in the program’s 74-year history.

The Cowboys join the OSU women’s team as 2021 Big 12 Champions.

Four of the Cowboys five golfers in the event finished in the top 10, Jin (second), Austin Eckroat (fifth), Eugenio Chacarra (tied 10th) and Aman Gupta (tied 10th).

The Cowboys will now make a run for another NCAA Championship starting May 16-19 at the NCAA Regional, which OSU will host at Karsten Creek. sports.ed@ocolly.com

Page 6 Thursday, April 29, 2021

sports

The Beard-Signal Standlee saves the day, Cowboys avoid sweep how he finished his outing pitching out of that bases loaded jam, it just kind of tells you who he is. He’s a leader and a program driven kid and he Ben Hutchens performed that way Staff Reporter today,” Holliday said.

The effort The Beard-Signal Standlee expended was went up last night herculean. He couldn’t when OSU pitching remember the last time coach Rob Walton told he had thrown 117 Brett Standlee he was pitches. starting.

“I feel like I just When Batman is got done fighting 12 needed most, he rerounds in a boxing sponds to the Bat-Sigring,” Standlee said.” It nal in the sky. Oklatakes a toll on you, but homa State sophomore I just had to compete pitcher Brett Standlee extra today. For the isn’t identified by a bat guys it was a must win in the sky, but rather situation in my mind his beard. so I’m glad the bats Standlee respondgot going and gave me ed to the call in OSU’s some extra cushion 7-3 victory over Texas. cause we needed it but He threw a gutsy six I’m thankful to grit it innings, surrenderout and get it done.” ing only two runs and Batman alstriking out a careerways saves the day. high 10 batters.

Standlee’s effort on “As we sit here limited notice saved today in the circumthe Cowboys from stances our team was being swept for the in, really needing a second consecutive File Photo victory and having weekend and gave fought through some them something posidoubleheader Saturday. little bit my roots and nothing new right here, tive to think about tough losses and havStandlee, who has just pretend it was two dig down and really ing some pitchers not heading into a three years ago,” Standlee appeared in 17 games reach that next level of game Bedlam series available, our team said. this season as a refocus and concentraneeded him,” OSU next weekend.

Standlee got in liever, reverted back to tion and just trust your head coach Josh Hol“Today was a his 2019 ways when he some trouble in the stuff and you’ll be able wildcard and luckily liday said. was a starting pitcher. sixth inning when he to get out of this like Injuries to norBrett Standlee was the walked two batters and “I’ve gotten used you used to,”’ Standlee ace. He just pitched mal starting pitchers hit another, loading up said.

Parker Scott and Justin to coming out of the one of the most couthe bases with no outs. bullpen this year, so Standlee retired Wroboleski put the rageous games I’ve Walton visited the the next three LongCowboys rotation in a that was kind of my probably seen in a long mound for a chat. horns, two of them via time,” Holliday said. bind Sunday, especial- comfort zone but it’s “(Walton) was the strikeout, ending ly considering the No. something I did in the like, ‘You’ve been in past was start, so I the threat.

3 Texas Longhorns had this situation before “Just a complitaken both games of a just kind of had to go back to my old ways a coming out of the pen, ment to him and really sports.ed@ocolly.com

Page 8 Thursday, April 29, 2021

FOR RELEASE APRIL 29, 2021

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counterparts, on scoreboards 4 Looks at phone pics, say 11 Stew ingredient 14 Remote battery size 15 Pedicure focus 16 Burning 17 Wrongly-named winner in a 1948 headline 19 MD treating canals 20 Rival of ancient Athens 21 Remove from its box 23 Use a block and tackle on 24 Egg head?

27 Bridge positions 28 To the point

Church Meetings Join the New Covenant Fellowship for service every Sunday at 10am and share in our passion for Jesus Christ!”

__-brainer!”

32 “Exodus” novelist 33 Common game piece 34 Floppy 37 Felt under the weather 39 Spy in “Spectre” (2015) 40 “Skylanding” artist 41 Record concern 42 Pique condition?

44 Teamworkinspiring motto 48 Plant anew 49 Fleet VIP 50 Cutlass model 53 Stella __: Belgian brew 55 College member 57 Minute 58 Drifters in some Western scenes ... and a hint to the three other longest puzzle answers 61 PC linkup 63 Musk of Tesla, e.g.

64 Yearbook sect.

Daily Horoscope

Level 1

By George Jasper

4/29/21

65 inadmissible 66 Truck weight unit

Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved

DOWN 1 “You betcha!”

2 Google rival 3 New Zealand natives 4 Two-time NL home run leader Giancarlo 5 Damage, so to speak 6 On a big streak 7 Capital __ “Better Call Saul” 9 Stead 10 Cunning 11 “Be my guest!”

12 Relatively famous physicist?

13 Bore witness 18 Minor accident 22 Cornfield cry 25 Leapt 26 Legal memo opener 29 “Fantastic Mr. Fox” author Dahl

2

3

©2021 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

4/29/21

43 IndyCar venue 45 In addition 46 Silvery food fish Thing” crooner 35 Where peripheral 47 Learn about vertigo originates 51 “Not my first __!”

52 Burning desire?

36 Bastes, as 54 “Fine with me” turkey 56 “Star Wars” 38 Original site of princess 59 Extinct emu-like Classic bird 39 “No arguing!”

60 Stout server 41 Cast a spell on 30 “Ta-da!”

4

Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency Today’s Birthday (04/29/21). Reach new professional heights this year. Apply changes this spring, before landing a new summer income source. Discover new personal dreams this winter, before a windfall raises family accounts. Infuse your work with love.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is a 7 — Travel fantasies entice, but doors aren’t open yet. Write, research and explore virtually. Discover a hidden treasure.

Talk about dreams and future potential.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is an 8 — Count and tally. Monitor income Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is an 8 — Stick to practical priorities with your partner. Fantasies dissipate. The reality may not look like what you imagined.

Romance could arise in conversation.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is an 8 — Accuracy matters. Keep practicing for a physical goal. Let go of expectations or preconceptions. Show up and focus on details. Dreams come true through disciplined efforts.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8 — Romance may not look as imagined.

Release fantasies for a clear view of current affairs. Exchange views. Invent new possibilities. Connect on a deeper level.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is an 8 — Domestic messes grow faster than you can clean. Still, the messy results could be delicious. Unexpected gifts rise spontaneously. Savor family conversations and fun.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 7 — Send practical messages to coordinate connection. Write, illustrate and post the news. es. Talk about your dreams and passions. Focus on practical details, like marketing and sales. Put deals together.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 9 — You’re especially strong and on practical personal priorities while chasing dreams.

Articulate your vision for what could be possible. Determine the practical details required. Unexpected synchronicity, resources and connections arise in conversation. out the best way forward. Friends provide encouragement, valuable connections and resources. Imaginative solutions can spark spontaneously.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is an 8 — Focus on practical professional priorities. Share a career dream and discover new possibilities. Take advantage of

4/29/21 Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9.

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