The O'Colly, Monday, March 11,, 2024

Monday, March 11, 2024

HIV testing under OSU grant recommended for all demographics, including women

Access for sexual health care is expanding, especially for women.

The Office of Women’s Health, a branch under the U.S. Department of Health and Human services, leads National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on March 10 to encourage prevention, care and treatment for the female population.

At-risk populations, including men who engage in sexual activity with other men and those who use drugs by IV needle, are at the forefront of the conversation. Despite the importance of addressing at-risk populations, it can be harmful for women to be left out of the discussion.

Women make up 18.4% of the people living with HIV in Oklahoma, according to AIDSVU. Nationally, women make up 23%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2021, 19% of new diagnoses in the United States were women.

Melinda Caldwell, OSU grant coordinator, said she encourages everyone, despite identity, to test for HIV, but she acknowledges women are a part of that everyone.

“It’s recommended that everyone get tested, regardless of risk, but I will say, especially women who are participating in risky behaviors, such as the use of IV drug needles,” Caldwell said. “I think it’s just being aware of if you fall

into those risky behaviors, or if you have multiple sex partners and you’re unaware

of their status, you probably want to get tested.”

Students bring electrifying, lit-up performances during annual SUAB talent show

Hayden Alexander Staff Reporter

There is no doubt about it: Oklahoma State University’s got talent.

Nine talented Cowboys and Cowgirls took to the stage to compete in the Student Union Activities Board’s annual Talent Show. They put their hearts and souls into every note and move in a fantabulous showing. Annisa

Clark danced the night away to open the night’s performances. Clark is not one for putting herself out there, but for dancing; she’ll brave the crowds.

“It’s one of my favorite things to do,” Clark said. “I’m usually very reserved.”

Clark wasn’t the only dancer of the night.

Pratikshya Paudel floated onto the stage. The Nepali native paid tribute to her culture with her beautiful pink ensemble and a traditional Nepali dance. Her

mashup of modern music and traditional moves led to multiple rounds of applause. Dancing is a form of expression, and Paudel said it doesn’t matter if the music is modern. The dance always adapts.

“I think the language or communication, it doesn’t matter so you can dance to any song,” Paudel said. “The music doesn’t matter for dancing. You will just express yourself when you dance.”

President Biden’ State of the Union address could point to contentious trail to November

instead about the war between Russia and Ukraine. He called on Congress to pass a bipartisan act to strengthen Ukraine, because of Europe and the rest of the free-world being at risk from Putin.

To say expectations were running high for President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address would be a drastic understatement.

Americans were hoping to hear the president talk about the economy, which 64% of Americans do not feel confident about, according to AP poll.

President Biden’s mental health is also a major issue with the populous, and 6 of 10 Americans think the President is in severe decline, according to AP poll.

With these major issues alongside a laundry list of other worries Americans have, this was Biden’s moment to reaffirm to the country that he is the right choice in this upcoming election.

The State of the Union address began with Joe Biden being escorted to the podium 26 minutes late, which was the first of many highs and lows throughout the rest of his address.

The first issue the President addressed was not about domestic, but

Joe then transitioned into mentioning Jan. 6, 2021, and how it was the biggest threat to American democracy. He called on the country to uphold democracy when it comes to voting in the upcoming election.

He mentioned the former president not by name, but in reference to the mistakes that were made during the pandemic. The President then stated that the COVID vaccine is being used to fight cancer.

On the economy front, Biden reassured voters.

“American consumer spending confidence is up,” he said. Other than that brief moment, the economy was mentioned sporadically in passing breaths about new acts his administration had passed throughout his presidency.

Biden continued his address on the topic of Roe v. Wade, talking about how the Supreme Court got it wrong, and with re-electing him, he would restore it as the law of the land.

File Photo

The Double Violets performed Fence’s “Destroy Boys” with the duo’s fangirl in the crowd, Sadie Cowan’s niece.

Raynee Howell Staff Reporter

Jake Hernandez Staff Reporter

3 takeaways

OSU opens Big 12 play with series win at Baylor

Parker Gerl Staff Reporter

In a series that was dominated by each squad’s pitching, No. 7 Oklahoma State traveled down to Waco for its first Big 12 opener and got the better of the No. 14 Baylor Bears.

The Cowgirls picked up a 3-2 win in the rubber match Sunday and won the series, 2-1, coming from behind in both victories. It was a competitive series all weekend between two ranked teams, and the pair of wins puts OSU at 20-3 overall.

Here are three takeaways from the series:

Timely hits lead to wins

In game one of the series on Friday, OSU’s Tia Warsop scored from second base on a fielder’s choice in the seventh inning to even it up at 1-1 and force extra innings. Both offenses and their swings had been cold through regulation.

Then Claire Timm, one of the many young Cowgirls on an early tear, had the biggest swing of the evening with a no-doubt, two-run home run over the right field wall. It put OSU up 3-1 before Rosie Davis added some insurance with an RBI single to put the Cowgirls past the Bears, 4-1.

OSU shortstop Megan Bloodworth was the next Cowgirl to be a late game hero.

Sunday’s series finale saw an even 2-2 contest until Bloodworth cashed in a RBI single in the top of the seventh. One of her biggest hits of the year, OSU followed it by quickly getting three outs to go on and win the series.

Kilfoyl’s strong weekend

Like she’s done multiple times this season, OSU pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl pitched a complete game in the first of the three contests. Eight innings, six strikeouts, no earned runs and a win. She tacked on four more innings of work to her weekend by entering the rubber match on relief. In those four, she totaled three strikeouts, two hits and one earned run.

In both of OSU’s wins, Kilfoyl recorded the final three outs and picked up her eighth and ninth wins in the process.

Cowgirls dominance in Big 12 opening series continues With OSU’s series win over the Bears, it’s the seventhstraight season in which it has won the opening series of Big 12 play. The Cowgirls also improved to 7-1 in league-opening series under coach Kenny Gajewsk.

The series and its three neck-and-neck games gave the Cowgirls their first test over a span of multiple days since the Clearwater Invitational. Despite the Bears’ having a lead in each of the three contests, OSU again found a way to open league play with a series win.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Oklahoma

Courtesy cowgirlsb X/Twitter

State opened Big 12 play with a series win for the seventh time under Kenny Gajewski.

sports

OSU finishes runner-up at Big 12 Championships, scores largest total ever for second-place team

Braden Bush Sports Editor

TULSA – The TV at the end of the southeast tunnel inside the BOK Center stole John Smith’s attention and validated his takeaway from the Big 12 Championships.

Smith, Oklahoma State’s coach, stopped to watch Iowa State’s Yonger Bastida upset Wyatt Hendrickson, Air force’s top-seeded and 24-0 heavyweight, in the finals. Bastida was undefeated himself, and the No. 2 seed, but Hendrickson was the reigning back-toback champion. Smith was impressed.

“We, by no means, we didn’t lose the tournament,” Smith said. “Iowa State won it.”

The Cowboys wrestled well. Daton Fix won his fifth 133-pound title. Three others placed second, and two placed third. Most years, OSU’s 141.5 points would have been good enough for a title – 21 of the past 26, to be exact – but this year, it wasn’t. The Cyclones finished with 152.5 points, making OSU’s score the highest for a runner-up in Big 12 history.

“We scored a lot of points,” Smith said. “If you told me we were gonna score 140s, I would have told you, ‘We

won the tournament. We’re gonna win it.’”

For the most part, OSU and Iowa State were even on the weekend. The Cowboys sent four to the championship round, and the Cyclones sent five. OSU went 31-14 in matches, while ISU finished one match better, 32-13.

OSU had just one champion, Fix, while Iowa State had two. The Cowboys had to win two more finals matches than the Cyclones entering Sunday night, so OSU ended up needing to win all four finals matches to win the team title. It didn’t happen.

Where ground could have been made up was bonus points. ISU earned bonus points in 20 matches over the course of the weekend. Only nine for the Cowboys. That’s a big separation in bonus points, especially in a tight tournament. But all season, OSU lived on grinding out wins rather than bonus points.

“You saw all our matches this year,” Smith said. “I mean, we had to fight to win dual meets. We had to fight to win matches.”

For the third year in a row, OSU left Tulsa without a Big 12 title. That’s not what Smith or the Cowboys wanted, but Smith said, overall, he was pleased with the performance.

THURSDAYS

takedown in the finals that cost him the crown. Jordan Williams (149) made a run to the finals as a No. 4 seed before injury defaulting. Two freshmen in the finals is a good sign for OSU.

Dustin Plott (184) was dominant other than his major-decision loss to Parker Keckeisen, who Smith said Plott will have to go through at NCAAs, in the finals. Heavyweight Konner Doucet found offense in his last match and finished fifth with an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships. Brayden Thompson (174) and Izzak Olejnik (165) each made runs in the consolation brackets to finish third.

In a tough loss, there was plenty of positive for OSU. There are moments to learn from, but nationals is the most important tournament. A Big 12 title would have been nice, but Smith can live with the results this weekend. All eyes are now ahead.

“We’re gonna have to take some things from here and get better,” Smith said. “We had good effort. Again, I’ll emphasize that Iowa State won this tournament. We didn’t lose it. They won it.”

Troy Spratley (125) gave up a late

For the third year in a row, OSU left Tulsa without a Big 12 title.

Carson Benge had a thought in his head as he jogged toward the mound in the top of the ninth inning.

“They’re done,” he said.

After Benge had launched a solo home run to the corrals in right-center field, the game had settled into a pitcher’s duel, with no runs scored until Mercer (106) scored three in the top of the sixth. But the Cowboys (10-6) came back with a late-inning rally to win, 4-3, and take the series.

A ground ball rolled between first baseman Colin Brueggeman’s legs and tied the game for Mercer. That was followed up with a line-drive single to center field, which scored another run, and a double off the wall that scored one.

The 3-1 lead carried into the bottom of the seventh, when Tyler Wulfert laced a double down the third-base line to cut the lead in half. Then, in the eighth inning, Ian Daugherty was hit by a pitch and made his way to third on wild pitches.

Zach Ehrhard lined a double to the left-center wall, and Daugherty scored easily.

Then, with one out and facing a new pitcher, Benge fired a single up the middle, and Ehrhard, with his speed, came around to score the game-winning run.

OSU starting pitcher Janzen Keisel (2-1) seemed to run into plenty of contact in Game 3 against Mercer. Of his 16 outs recorded, 13 were fly outs. He pitched 5 1/3 innings, with three strikeouts. And with winds blowing toward left-center and facing a Mercer starting lineup that came into the game with 19 home runs on the year, all of his fly balls stayed inside the park.

“It’s been really good seeing (Keisel) grow a lot while he’s been here,” Daugherty said.

“Last year, you didn’t really know what you’re gonna get. This year, he’s way more consistent, and it’s good to see him grow as a pitcher.”

OSU coach Josh Holliday said he’s seen Keisel’s consistency improve, too.

“It’s important to stabilize in the starting rotation, because

then it allows the bullpen to stay intact,” Holliday said. “... One of the things that…you’re always looking at with your starters is their ability to make pitches to both righties and lefties… and also the ability to get through the lineup more than one time… So from that standpoint, there’s been some growth for Janzen for sure.”

Robert Cranz came in relief but only faced one bat-

Monday

ter and gave up a run before Brennan Phillips came in to pitch. Phillips, who threw 2 ⅔ scoreless innings in Game 2, went another 1 ⅓ innings. Drew Blake also made his second appearance of the weekend, facing six batters in his inning of work and earned the win.

Then, after a single, Benge took the mound in the ninth. After giving up a double, he snagged a come-backer for

the first out of the final inning. Benge then tossed two strikeouts to close out the game.

“He’s a special, special player,” Daugherty said.

“He’s super talented, very unique.” Holliday said. “Most guys would love to have one of his skills, let alone a guy that flashes four or five of them like that. He’s pretty special.”

Andon Freitas

Carson Benge hit a home run, then closed out the ninth inning on the mound to seal OSU’s win against Mercer on Sunday, clinching the series win.

SUAB . . .

Continued from 1

On the drums, Carter White played the bucket drum with a twist. After setting up his bucket drum, White took a step back. With two claps of his hands, the lights went out, and his drumsticks lit up.

With his multicolored sticks illuminating the room, White gave the audience an upbeat and powerful performance.

Sadie Cowan and Lauren Spohn form the duo Double Violets, continuing the instrument trend with their guitars. The two let their electrifying skill ricochet through the crowd while covering Fence’s “Destroy Boys.”

The rockstar’s most diehard fan cheered them on from the crown, Cow-

an’s niece.

“She’s adorable,” Cowan said. “It’s like having your biggest fan here, and she’s funny. She’s always yelling.”

Cowan’s niece cheered even louder after the Double Violets took home the third-place trophy. Bekah Beasly brought in her acoustic guitar to play a beautiful melody she composed herself. The mechanical engineering major writes and takes any chance to perform in her free time.

“I love getting to entertain people, and so it was everything I hoped for,” Beasly said.

Her original song, “Winter Again,” is an ode to her own experiences.

“It’s kind of about my journey and what I accept for myself,” Beasly said. “Things can only be given so many chances.”

Singing “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables, Sam Barrie drew inspiration from her mom to capture the

essence of the Broadway musical.

“I’m trying to follow in my mother’s footsteps,” Barrie said. “She played the role of Fontaine and Cosette in college and said it was her favorite song she ever performed in front of people.”

Makayla Federline sang a cover of Reneé Rapp’s “Snow Angel” for her talent. For Federline, the night was a moment to fall back into her passion.

“I love coming out here,” Federline said. “I quit theater when I left high school, and so it was nice to see all my friends come out and support me.”

Her angelic rendition captured the hearts and minds of the judges, landing her in second place.

Each performer stole the show, but only one won the night.

Drumroll, please. . .

The winner of the SUAB Talent Show was Bekah Bowman.

Bowman took home the first place trophy and the “fan favorite” award for

her cover of “Killing Me Softly” by Fugees, a song she and her mom love to sing in the car together. Her passionate performance and raw talent won over the judges and the crowd.

“I am so excited,” Bowman said. “I just feel very honored that I got chosen.”

Bowman’s friends and family’s cheers rang out across the theater.

“I have never been more proud in my entire life,” Ali Fritts said. “I love her dearly, and I am so excited that she won because she’s been singing since she was really young so this is a big deal for her.”

Bowman won the night and the people’s hearts. She took home her first trophy and a memory she will never forget.

“I’ve never won anything before, so I feel like I’m on a sugar high or something,” Bowman said. “It’s so crazy.”

O’Colly Media Sales Manager Needed

The O’Colly Media Group is now accepting applications for a full time summer Account Manager, Media Sales. This position is responsible for contacting and selling local, University and Oklahoma businesses OMG advertising opportunities. Specifically print, online and mobile and video streaming service.

Job duties include developing sales, marketing and promotional strategies and create materials to support this effort and propose additional special issues and revenue streams and implement said issues and revenue streams.

Qualified applicant should be able to work with and train students, develop advertising and agency expense budgets, create and monitor daily revenue goals, determine credits and adjustments for advertising errors, serve as liaison between O’Colly and local retail community, university advertisers and other college newspapers. Serve as part of a long term strategic planning to further determine marketing strategies and additional revenue opportunities. Build relationships with prospective clients by attending local Chamber of Commerce meetings and making non sales calls.

Send resume to Lori@ocolly.com for consideration.

File Photo

Carter White performed with a bucket drum and light-up drumsticks Thursday night.

Thursday.

Biden . . .

Continued from

for not passing his border bill. This led to members in the audience heckling him, to which Joe Biden snapped back at

On the major topic of his age,

for

Throughout the entirety of the address, it was Vice President Kamala Harris, and House Speaker Mike Johnson who were the stars of the show. After every point, Harris would stand up, applauding him. On the other hand, Johnson sat, shaking his head in disappointment. Poetically, those two individuals

showed the divide of our nation, and how polarized it has become.

Many questions Americans had went unanswered, while some concerns were addressed. The main takeaway from the address is that the time between now and November will be one of the craziest election cycles throughout our history.

news.ed@ocolly.com

One week to go

Tips to survive midterms, daylight savings

Kennedy Thomason News & Lifestyle Editor

With five days until spring break, there are two obstacles students face.

Midterms and daylight savings. It’s a nasty duo.

The two coincide this semester, with daylight savings moving the clock forward an hour on Sunday and midterms happening all week.

Here are three ways to pull yourself toward Friday.

1. Keep a consistent sleep schedule

With losing what will feel like an hour of sleep on Monday (and the rest of the week), it is easy to decide to take a “quick” afternoon nap.

Unfortunately, doing so could make the transition feel worse. Instead of allowing your body to naturally adjust to the time change, fighting it with sporadic sleep will do the opposite.

In this case, it might be best to white-knuckle your way through the

first few days as you adjust to the new schedule.

2. Study outside

Although a spring-time daylight savings means it will feel like you lose an hour of sleep, it also means the sun will be out for longer. Take an extra walk, sit outside the Student Union or find a spot in Edmon Low next to a window.

As you work your way through the week, soak in the extra sunlight you didn’t have last week.

3. Reward yourself with a sweet treat

A sweet treat never hurt anyone. Certainly not after an hours-long study session. This week, take a little time for yourself. Between last-minute spring break preparations and cramming for your midterms, make sure to reward yourself as you work hard.

Show yourself some love and nibble on something delicious as you knock the week out.

news.ed@ocolly.com

GOD’S WONDERFUL LOVE GIFT!

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Ro.5:8 NLT)

One of the important foundations of our faith is the extent of God’s love for us. It is how far He would go to help us in our sinfulness. If we were to face the righteous judgment of God without his help, we all would be eternally lost; separated from God and all that is good, and it would be forever.

John 3:16 expresses that simply. “ God so loved the world! God went to great lengths to supply a way for us “not to perish;” not to be separated in eternal regret from all that is good and wonderful. It is God who took the initiative. We are so dead in our sins that we did not even see our need fully. To save us, God sent his Son, Jesus, to die for us; to pay the

penalty that was rightfully ours, so that we, humans, could go free.

What does he ask from us? When we learn (hear) the message of God’s love, of Jesus’ sacrifice for us; we trust him, admit our need(our sin), and honestly thank him for his love gift. God forgives all our sins and declares us righteous in his sight.(Ro.5:1) He also gives us a new life within. We are “born again”, and we begin a new and real relationship with God. It is a love relationship; “We love him because He first loved us.” (1 Jn.4:19)

“How great is the love the Father (God) has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 Jn.3:1 NIV) Not by any works we have done, but receiving freely Gods love gift. It is free to all!

File

As

Raynee

Howell

HIV . . .

For women in Oklahoma, testing can be stigmatized and inaccessible. Oklahoma was one of seven states with the highest rural burden for HIV in 2022, the year the grant became funded.

Caldwell said the lack of accessibility for testing and care in Oklahoma is a problem she has hoped to solve with Project G.R.O.W., the OSU Wellness Community Program grant.

five-county area, the five counties we were funded to work in,” Caldwell said. “Which includes Payne, Pawnee, Osage, Okmulgee and Creek County.”

People 13-24 are the target population for the grant, but all ages and genders can benefit from its resources.

Project G.R.O.W hopes to destigmatize HIV testing by encouraging the entire population to test, providing multiple ways to access testing.

For students on campus, the Colvin Recreation Center vending machine, where students can find free self-test kits and other sexual protection items, such as condoms and lube, is one of the resources the grant provides.

accessible option. The testing kits at the events test for HIV, Hep C, Syphilis, Chlamydia and Gonorrhea. For students and community members 17 or older, there are self-test kits that can be mailed to their home through H.O.P.E. testing. The privacy and speed of the results can help reduce the uncomfortableness that some may feel about testing. People can also request to pick up an at home test at any of the testing events.

also provide case management and follow up with that student,” Caldwell said. H.O.P.E. reaches out to students to connect them with appropriate resources, whether that be the nearest health department or H.O.P.E. for an additional confirmatory test.

After the second test, the next steps are resolved with the state to manage the student’s health.

“Through this grant, we were able to partner in contract with H.O.P.E. testing out of Tulsa, that provides on-site testing, free and confidential, within the

The on-site testing events, which Project G.R.O.W., OSU Wellness and H.O.P.E. testing hold, can be another

H.O.P.E. testing will help those who use its services through Project G.R.O.W. beyond testing. Caldwell said H.O.P.E. works alongside students who test positive. “They provide the education to students while they’re getting tested, and then, should there be a positive, they

Project G.R.O.W. and H.O.P.E. testing will continue to provide resources to bring awareness to HIV and its impact on rural areas in Oklahoma. For OSU students, the next testing event on campus will be on March 27.

Contact Caldwell at (405) 5642825 to find out more about how students can get tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Continued from 1 news.ed@ocolly.com

Classifieds

Business Squares

Come check out the wide variety of elegant clothing at Formal Fantasy!

Located on

121 E. 9th Ave, Downtown Stillwater

The best selection of beer, wine and liquor that Stillwater has to offer! Perfect for all your game day needs, come to Brown’s Bottle Shop located on 128 N. Main

“The Original Hideaway, located on the corner of Knoblock and University. Serving quality pizza and more since 1957.”

Murphy’s Department Store

815 S Main, Downtown Open 10-6

Monday thru Saturday

Houses for rent

O’Colly Media Sales Manager Needed

The O’Colly Media Group is now accepting applications for a full time summer Account Manager, Media Sales. This position is responsible for contacting and selling local, University and Oklahoma businesses OMG advertising opportunities. Specifically print, online and mobile and video streaming service.

Job duties include developing sales, marketing and promotional strategies and create materials to support this effort and propose additional special issues and revenue streams and implement said issues and revenue streams.

Qualified applicant should be able to work with and train students, develop advertising and agency expense budgets, create and monitor daily revenue goals, determine credits and adjustments for advertising errors, serve as liaison between O’Colly and local retail community, university advertisers and other college newspapers. Serve as part of a long term strategic planning to further determine marketing strategies and additional revenue opportunities. Build relationships with prospective clients by attending local Chamber of Commerce meetings and making non sales calls.

Send resume to Lori@ocolly.com for consideration.

Cowboy Calendar

Monday, March 11

Borracho Bingo @ 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Location: EM Curators of Craft https://curatorsofcraft.co/pages/weekly-events

Littles On The Move @ 10 - 11 a.m.

Location: Stillwater Public Library

https://stillwaterok.gov/506/Calendar Speed Bingo @ 10 p.m. - 12 a.m.

Location: College Bar

Trivia Night @ 7 p.m.

Location: Stonecloud Brewing Company

Tuesday, March 12

Education Career Fair @ 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Location: Wes Watkins Center OSU http://hireosugrads.com/Employers/Events-EducationCareerFair.aspx

Cowboy Tennis @ 5 p.m.

Location: Greenwood Tennis Center

https://okstate.com/sports/mens-tennis/schedule

Memories & Inspiration: The Kerry and C. Betty Davis Collection of African American Art @ 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Location: OSU Museum of Art

https://museum.okstate.edu/art/memories-and-inspiration.html

Some Recent Apparitions | Andy Mattern @ 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Location: OSU Museum of Art

https://museum.okstate.edu/art/some-recent-apparitions.html

Organ Recital By Members of The American Guild of Organists Cimarron Chapter @ 12:05 - 12:50 p.m.

Location: First Presbyterian Church-Stillwater https://stillwaterfpc.org

Painting Cookies with Natural Colors @ 6 - 8:30 p.m.

Location: Round House Bakery

Admission: $45

https://www.theroundhousebakery.com/workshops1/p/painting-cookies-with-natural-colors

Trivia Tuesdays @ 7 - 9 p.m.

Location: EM Curators of Craft https://curatorsofcraft.co/pages/weekly-events

Live Trivia @ 7 - 9 p.m.

Location: Iron Monk Brewing Company https://www.ironmonkbeer.com

Wednesday, March 13

Beginning Acrylic Painting w/ Mark Crow @ 6 p.m.

Location: Prairie Arts Center

Admission: $70

https://artscenter.okstate.edu/adult-classes/draw -

27

45

of degrees

50 Suffix with percent

51 Florida NBA team, on scoreboards

52 CrossFit units

53 Wood stove output

55 “Works __ time”

57 Carrying capacity of a cargo ship

60 Trig function that models light waves

61 Hypothetical space stuff that doesn’t interact with light

64 Not taken in by

65 Figure of speech

66 Word repeated after “Que” in a classic song

67 Locksmith’s supply

68 Canadian honker

69 Private chats, briefly, and what 17-, 29-, 45-, and 61-Across literally are

DOWN 1 Diane of “Chesapeake Shores”

Daily Horoscope

Nancy Black

Tribune Content Agency

Linda Black Horoscopes

By

2 The “E” of the Great Lakes HOMES mnemonic

3 Careful about what one reveals

4 Historic fort in South Carolina

5 Numbered musical work

6 Part of UCLA

7 Singer DiFranco

8 __ room: place for a foosball table

9 Square footage

10 India’s largest city

11 Inventor Thomas who co-founded General Electric

12 Accept, with “for”

14 Antioxidant berry

18 How software was once sold

21 Dueling steps

23 Angsty genre

24 Composer Shostakovich

25 Zero

27 Woolly mama

28 Agreeable reply

30 Open with a pop

31 Despise

33 Tangerine coat

36

Today’s Birthday (03/11/24). Fortune follows creativity, communication and connection this year. Develop talents, passions and skills with disciplined practice. Extra bounty benefits shared accounts this spring, before unexpected summertime expenses require resolution. Autumn brings personal discovery, before wintertime financial challenges require collaborative solutions. Share news, information and resources. 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 6 — Maintain a mystery. Don’t reveal all your secrets, with Venus in Pisces. Savor peaceful privacy. Imagine enticing fantasies. Plot to realize a dream.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is an 8 — Social activities benefit your career. You’re extra popular for the next month, with Venus in Pisces. Group activities go well. Share what you love.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is an 8 — Watch for career opportunities. Take charge, with Venus in Pisces. It’s easier to advance your professional agenda this month. Your status and influence rise.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 9 — Set objectives and plan your next adventure. Travel, explore and study over the next month, with Venus in Pisces. Discover beautiful new worlds.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8 — Find a sweet deal. Review family finances this month, with Venus in Pisces, and discover ways to save. Collaborate to grow shared resources.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is an 8 — Collaborate on creative projects. Partnerships flow with greater ease, with Venus in Pisces over a month. Compromise on details. Rely on each other.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is an 8 — Prioritize health and fitness. Physical efforts win, with Venus in Pisces. Enjoy a fun work phase. You’re growing stronger. Practice looks good on you.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 9 — Get creative. You’re especially lucky in love this month, with Venus in Pisces. Create works of beauty. Savor hobbies, passions and talents. Share your heart.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is an 8 — Feather your love nest. Beautify your place, with Venus in Pisces for a month. Nurture yourself and family with domestic comforts and homemade flavors.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 9 — Creativity surges. Write, express and share your views, with Venus in Pisces over the coming month. Words flow with ease.

Illustrate, post and publish.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 9 — Gather new income. The next month, with Venus in Pisces can get especially profitable. Discover your peak professional performance zone. Simplify expenses. Stash savings.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 9 — Advance personal passion projects. You’re especially popular,

©2024

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41 Test for M.A.

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Solution to Saturday’s puzzle

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk