Wednesday, July 31, 2024
The vehicle shown is a data collection vehicle used by CIVE’s Dr. Joshua Li and his team. The vehicle is equipped with
is shown at highway-rail grade crossing location.
CEAT professor focuses on safety while researching highway rail-grade crossings
Research in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering focuses on public safety in all aspects of society.
One research project currently underway with CIVE’s Dr. Joshua Li is studying safety around highway-rail grade crossings, or railway crossings that are at the same height as the road they cross. Li’s current research is studying strategies and technology that can aid in warning, detection and
prevention of drivers trespassing near highway-rail grade crossings. Oklahoma has more than 3,475 public, atgrade crossings, and Li said the state ranks in the top 10 in the nation for the number of wrecks at these crossings. Li has been involved in multiple research projects on safety at these crossings, from
studying post-accident data, analyzing risk-prone events and near misses to researching simulationbased safety evaluations.
This project is geared toward studying the factor of human behavior and the impact it has on wrecks near highway rail crossings, especially trespassing at these sites.
According to the Fed-
OSU football position preview: Wide receivers and tight ends
The O’Colly is previewing the eight Oklahoma State football position groups during the next four weeks. Next up: wide receivers and tight ends. Oklahoma State knows what to expect, perhaps everywhere, for the 2024 season — pass catchers included. According to ESPN, the Cowboys brought back 79% of their offensive production from last season, which ranks 15th best in the NCAA. And among those returnees is the trio of receivers Brennan Presley, Rashod
Owens and De’Zhuan Stribling — returning quarterback Alan Bowman is probably pleased. When opposing defenses look to stop Ollie Gordon II, the Cowboys will have plenty of options out wide to counter. Experienced and talented ones. And it’s why their receiver room should have another year as a strong
complement to Gordon and the ground game.
“Experience and reps is something we feel like you can’t really replace,” OSU head coach Mike Gundy said during spring ball. “You learn on the run, and we have a lot of maturity in that room.” Presley, heading into
eral Rail Administration, 94% of all rail-related fatalities and injuries occur due to trespassing at these crossings. Trespassing also accounts for 70% of all railroad-related deaths, many within 1,000 feet of a highwayrail grade crossing. Due to crashes at these crossings being sparce, it hasn’t been
researched heavily. Li said the trend of crashes at these crossings has been going up, even though there is a notable decrease in crashes when there have been new federal standards adopted for safety. He said there is not a consensus for why the number of crashes has been slowly trending up.
See
Gus Malzahn saw ‘gold mine’ in UCF, now hopes to awaken sleeping giant
Gus Malzahn saw something others didn’t.
When UCF athletic director Terry Mohajir came calling about the Knights’ head coaching vacancy shortly after the end of the 2020 season, Malzhan couldn’t resist the opportunity.
The resources. The passion of the fanbase. The location and area. All of it made for a perfect storm. One that Malzahn has made use of since his hiring.
Heading into Year 4 of his tenure in Orlando and Year 2 of UCF in the Big 12, Malzahn has lofty expectations for his Knights. Perhaps loftier than most. But in his mind, it comes with a good reason.
“This place is a gold
mine,” Malzahn said during Day 2 of the 2024 Big 12 Football Media Days. “I’ve said it before; this is a sleeping giant.” Some might call that far-fetched. But not Malzahn.
The Knights went 6-7 in their first season in the Big 12 and 3-6 in conference play. Right where most national media members pinpointed them preseason of last year. Still, that wasn’t good enough for Malzahn.
UCF, albeit a young Division I program only in its 30th season at the D-I level, has endured an abundance of success. From 2017-18, the Knights went 25-1, including two AAC conference championships and a Sugar Bowl win over Auburn to end the 2017 season, when Malzahn was still the head coach of the Tigers. In 2019, the Knights followed with a 10-3 season, coming
Courtesy of OSU News
File Photo
Oklahoma State’s top two receivers in 2023, Brennan Presley and Rashod Owens, are returning for the 2024 season.
Courtesy of OSU News
Daniel Allen Staff Reporter
Parker Gerl Staff Reporter
Butler’s Gold wheat variety celebrates Oklahoma Olympian
Courtesy of OSU News
In 2020, as Oklahoma State University wheat geneticist Brett Carver prepared to release the OSU Wheat Improvement Team’s latest variety, he had a creative idea for its official name.
It was the first summer of the pandemic, and the Olympic games in Tokyo had been postponed. When an article in “The Oklahoman” about James Butler, a former OSU track and field star and 1980 Olympic hopeful, caught Carver’s eye, he branded the wheat variety, Butler’s Gold.
Four years later, the Olympic games in Paris are underway, and Butler is reflecting on how his namesake in OSU Agriculture is golden redemption for the Olympic start he never made.
“When I hear the name Butler’s Gold, it always makes me smile,” he said. “It was such an honor when Brett reached out to me. It’s special, and it feels good to know someone wants to recognize my efforts 40-plus years later.”
A standout athlete at the early age of 7, Butler quickly gained the support of his community in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. Neighbors on his block helped arrange for him to compete in a track and field meet in the nearby town of Idabel, and he won almost every event that day, kickstarting his athletic career.
“I wasn’t allowed to mess up. I had every eye
in the city watching to make sure I did the right thing at all times,” Butler said. “If I didn’t, my mom heard about it. I was pushed and encouraged by a lot of people, and I felt like I owed it to them to give it everything I had and win.”
He also credits Howard Minor, his high school track coach, as one of the “most inspirational people he’s ever met.”
“He tirelessly worked with me to help me transition from just an average high school sprinter to a world-renowned sprinter,” Butler said. “For this, I owe a huge debt of gratitude.”
Under the coaching and mentorship of OSU’s then track and field coach, Ralph Tate, Butler established himself as a sprinter at the collegiate level. After winning the 200-meter dash at the 1980 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, he was poised to compete for gold at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. However, his dreams of an Olympic medal were dashed when President Jimmy Carter announced the U.S. would boycott the games due to the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan.
“It was a huge letdown for me and everyone in my town who said, ‘Our guy is the best guy in the world,’” Butler said. “I’ve won American records, but it’s not the same stage as the Olympics.”
That same summer, he won gold in the 200-meter dash at the Liberty Bell Classic, an alternative track and field meet for countries that had boycotted the Olym-
pics. Butler also received a Congressional Gold Medal for his Olympic qualifying performance and continued pursuing his sprinting career. He won the 200-meter dash at the 1982 Men’s Division | Outdoor Track and Field Championships and competed in other professional track and field events into the late 1980s, but nothing relieved the sting of his Olympic miss.
“Every Olympics always brings back that feeling of what I could have done,” Butler said. “It’s me not being able to prove myself until you stack up against the best in the world.”
Butler’s Gold feeds others
While Butler didn’t get to take on the world on a track, the wheat variety named after him feeds the world in golden fields spread across the Southern Great Plains. Butler’s Gold wheat continues to gain popularity among producers for its:
High yield potential
Optimal planting window in late November
Strong protection against stripe rust, leaf rust and other diseases
Minimal delay of harvest with delayed planting
Preferred milling and baking characteristics
“I was looking for a name that captured the notion that this new variety could sprint to the finish, even after a late start,” Carver said. “Butler’s accomplishments captured that idea perfectly and gave us the added opportunity to shine some light on OSU history that seemed to me to have gone unnoticed. This was
not just a naming opportunity, but an educational and enlightening one.”
Four decades later, Butler is a father of four and a successful technical support analyst at a software company in Florida. He communicates regularly with Carver and the OSU Wheat Improvement Team, and he returns to Oklahoma frequently to visit family who reside in the McCurtain County area.
The director of OSU’s prominent wheat breeding program, Carver manages some of the country’s top wheat genetics targeting disease resistance, grazing tolerance and yield potential. Increased kernel size, clean-label inspired flour quality and proven enzyme activity extend the impact of OSU’s wheat program beyond the field to the marketplace in Oklahoma and around the globe.
OSU Ag Research has significantly expanded its wheat variety lineup during the past 20 years with Carver selecting distinguished names as a nod to the legacy of other OSU champions, including Smith’s Gold and Gallagher after legendary OSU wrestling coaches John Smith and Edward Gallagher.
“As Olympic winners, some guys might be pictured on the Wheaties box, but I’m in the box,” laughed Butler. “I’m still taken aback that people remember my hard work 40 years later.”
The
Butler’s Gold,
Oklahoman, former OSU track star and 1980 Olympic qualifier James Butler.
Courtesy of OSU News
James Butler was an Oklahoma State University track and field star who qualified for the 1980 Olympics in the 200-meter dash.
CEAT...
Continued from page 1
“The consequences are more severe compared to highway crashes,” Li said. “Of course, we don’t want to see the highway crashes, either, but crashes around rail-grade crossings are more severe.”
The objectives of the research cover many bases. Li’s team has reviewed literature from the U.S. and around the world on the safety at these crossings as well as researched the technology and regulations related to safety at highway-rail crossings. His team also conducted an online survey of all 50 state agencies to learn what procedures are in place to prevent trespassing. They’ve also provided recommendations on those strategies to help improve safety as well as trying to find the root causes of the weaknesses found by the research.
Li said the aspect of studying human behavior in crashes around these crossings is an important factor to research in determining the best safety practices and technologies that are needed.
Previous research on the topic included studying post-accident data at these crossings and identifying the most significant factors to help decisionmakers develop and select the most cost-effective engineering solutions. Li has also studied riskprone events and near misses at highway-rail grade crossings, using video and Light Detection and Ranging to then develop AI-based evaluations using machine vision data.
Li worked with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to survey the corridor from the Texas border to the Kansas border, the busiest stretch in Oklahoma with about 250 high-way rail grade crossings, to map the profile of the road surface around these crossings.
He said using a data collection vehicle, which can be driven at highway speed, he used laser triangulation to map the profile of the road surface. This allowed the team to study certain types of road profiles with the data of the number of crashes at those locations and make recommendations.
Li said he also wants to study vehicle types that get caught on part of a crossing due to their shape or size.
“Then we can develop some kind of software that is able to know what kind of vehicles could get hung up on the crossing for a certain kind of shape of a road profile,” Li said. “So therefore, this information was sent to ODOT,
and ODOT can work with Google Maps or some kind of navigation company to put a marker there saying, ‘This one could be a problem.’”
Li is now studying driver behavior through simulation-based safety evaluations. He said his team is using computeraided simulation and traffic simulators equipped with sensors to simulate traffic scenarios and monitor driver responses. This can simulate the effectiveness of proposed solutions
before being implemented physically, as well as test emerging technology such as autonomous vehicles.
“Right now, in my lab, I’m trying to get all this set up with the traffic simulator, so that will move another step forward,” Li said. “With a video camera or LIDAR sensor, you can see the current condition for an intersection.
“In the simulator, we can simulate the current design and make improvements to see how that will
impact when the vehicle approaches these crossings, so we are able to know those deficiencies before we take engineering action or implement strategies to improve them. We can try multiple strategies and prove them in the simulator before implementing improvements.”
The research into safety at highway-rail grade crossings has been a multi-tiered approach. The levels range from simple to rigorous, which
allows for the team to research the situation from four different angles and come up with a more defined conclusion. He believes this approach was helpful in securing funding for the projects.
“The idea is, because we are engineers, this is applied engineering, so civil engineers want to solve a real problem.” Li said. “Our approach is to try to match how the industry, such as the DOT, thinks.”
With the ability to
study scenarios that improve public safety, Li said this provides benefits to a state or community.
“These projects yield direct benefits, including reduced costs for operating and maintaining infrastructure systems, enhanced infrastructure performance, significant reductions in crashes and overall improvements in transportation safety, which saves lives and reduces traffic congestion,” Li said.
Courtesy of OSU News
Dr. Joshua Li
sports
OSU football position preview: Running backs
Calif Poncy Staff Reporter
The O’Colly is previewing the eight Oklahoma State football position groups during the next four weeks. Next up: running backs and fullbacks.
All eyes will be on Ollie Gordon II this fall.
Coming off a Doak Walker Award-winning season where he rushed for 1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns while averaging over six yards per carry, Gordon is ready to lead Oklahoma State into the 2024-25 season, especially considering head coach Mike Gundy said Gordon won’t miss any time after his DUI arrest.
Gordon has gone from a widely unknown member of Oklahoma State’s three-headed snake running back room to central casting when pinpointing the best college football player in less than 12 months.
His role as OSU’s bell cow is certain to be retained this season, but the duo of Jaden Nixon and Elijah Collins, who served as his backups last season, have both moved on — Nixon to Western Michigan and Collins to the Cincinnati Bengals’ training camp. New faces have arrived to replace them, and the load falls primarily on Indiana transfer Trent Howland.
Howland’s job was originally intended for Arkansas transfer AJ Green, but Green is
expected to miss most of the season after suffering a leg injury during spring practice.
Howland comes to Stillwater after leading Indiana in rushing last season in his first year of high-level action. He ran for 354 yards and 2 touchdowns on only 75 carries for the Hoosiers. Standing at 6’3 and being listed at 240 pounds, someone of his physical prowess could come in handy should Gordon deal with nagging
injuries like he did toward the end of last season.
Gordon and Howland are expected to carry most of the load, but redshirt freshman Sesi Vailahi could serve as somewhat of a party crasher for Howland. Vailahi got limited snaps last season, but when he got on the field, he passed the eye test, seeming to tack more yards than expected to his total whenever he had the ball. Fullback is a dying
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!
breed in football, but the Cowboys still have one listed on the roster. The nod for starting fullback is expected to go to senior Jake Schultz, who has zero carries in his three seasons at the college level. He did record one catch for six yards last season against Arizona State.
With physically dominant backs in Gordon and Howland, the need for a fullback has never been less in Stillwater, so it
will be interesting to see how often Schultz takes the field for an OSU team that is projected to pound the rock early and often. Behind one of college football’s best offensive lines, Gordon should pick up where he left off last season. Howland is very different from Nixon or Collins, but he may very well be an upgrade, and the sea of opportunity makes for an interesting battle for the third running back spot, although
Vailahi is the prohibitive favorite.
Can Gordon repeat one of the most dominant season-long rushing performances in recent college football history? Only time will tell, but between the experience on the offensive line and comfortability of the one handing him the ball, all the pieces are there for another historic season.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
File Photo
Ollie Gordon II is the leading man is OSU’s backfield heading into the 2024-25 season. he Doak Walker award winner rushed for 1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns last season.
Malzahn...
Continued from page 1
just one game short of a third consecutive appearance in the AAC title game.
“This program has won a lot,” Malzahn said. “A lot more than people might realize.”
And success in the win-loss column isn’t the only area where they have been successful.
Since its inception in 2018, the transfer portal has been generous to UCF. The Knights have struck gold with prospects such as former starting quarterback John Rhys Plumlee from Mississippi, running back Isaiah Bowser from Northwestern and defensive back Jarvis Ware from Missouri. Most recently, such success with the portal has featured wide receiver Kobe Hudson from Auburn and star running back RJ Harvey from Virginia. This year, Malzahn and Co. inked former Arkansas starting quarterback KJ Jefferson and Toledo star running back Penny Boone. That has also been visible at the high school level.
Since the Knights accepted an invitation to join the Big 12 in 2021, they have garnered 15 four-star recruits, according to 247 Sports. Currently in their 2025 class, UCF has seven pledges from four-star prospects,
The power of having a Power Five – or Power Four – logo. Mix that with being embedded in the heart of the Orlando market, and perhaps most importantly, in the hotbed state of Florida, and such success was only a matter of time.
In December 2020, shortly after an abrupt
exit from his former head coaching station at Auburn, Malzahn took time to explore his option. In his mind, he was far from finished in his coaching career. He wanted the right fit for his next stop. And so far, he believes his
current home is the right fit.
The Knights are 24-16 through three seasons under Malzahn. The program has shown glimpse of elevating as a program in that span.
This year, Malzahn
believes his group can take that coveted next step as a program. Now, in his mind, it’s merely a matter of putting the pieces to the “puzzle” together.
“I’m really excited about the playmakers we have,” Malzahn said.
“We’re a run, play-action team with an emphasis on throwing it deep and playing fast. “When you can run the football, (it) opens up everything. We got RJ (Harvey) and Penny Boone… KJ (Jefferson) is a run threat, too. And,
of course, we got play makers at wide receiver with Kobe Hudson (and) Xavier Townsend. So, really, we’ve got the pieces to the puzzle, we just got to get it done on
THURSDAYS IN AUGUST
THURSDAYS IN AUGUST
Stop in
the field.”
Courtesy of UCF Football via Twitter
Gus Malzahn called this year’s UCF team “a sleeping giant” at Big 12 Media Days. The Knights are 24-16 through three seasons under Malzahn.
‘America’s Sweethearts’ show depth behind stereotyped exterior
Kennedy Thomason Editor-in-Chief
Review
There were a lot of mixed emotions as I watched one of Netflix’s newest docuseries: “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.”
I didn’t grow up dancing or cheering. I played sports like lacrosse or cross country. Initially, I was not drawn into the series.
But when the docuseries began to pop up on my social media feeds, I couldn’t help but be curious. It wasn’t something I thought I would enjoy watching. The fear of it being episode after episode of girl drama was enough to make me steer clear for a while.
Despite this, I found myself entranced by the storylines of “America’s Sweethearts.”
The episodes explored some of the cheerleaders’ journeys with the Cowboys, their external motivations and how much more they were than the pretty girls on the sideline.
Whenever I hear someone talk about the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, a specific image comes to mind. It’s a tall,
skinny blonde woman wearing a tiny white and blue outfit.
Although that description fits some of the team members, it’s a shallow explanation of who those women are. The show takes you through the emotional rollercoaster of tryouts, training camp and maintaining a position on the team.
Most of the cheerleaders have day jobs and spend their nights practicing. They are orthodontists, nurses, florists and much more.
One part of the series that I keep coming back to is how many of the cheerleaders equated wearing their uniform to being Wonder Woman.
Previously, I had viewed the outfits as a way for a football team to sexualize and profit off of talented young women. Although there might still be some truth to that, I can see the more nuanced meaning behind it now.
The docuseries shows the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders squad as an elite group of women who are uniquely talented at the type of dance they perform. It also explores the other complicated parts of their lives like working a full shift at their job before jumping into practice. It seems to be an allconsuming part of the cheerleaders’ identities, despite the other responsibilities they have. Some of the episodes feature former cheerleaders, who relive their glory days and taut them as “the best
days of their life.”
This inevitably puts more pressure on the squad members, who are already working to maintain or advance their status on the team.
The episode styles remind me of Netflix’s
popular docuseries
“Cheer,” which takes viewers on a behind-thescenes viewing of one of the most accomplished junior college cheer teams in the nation. Many of the themes were similar. There were
battles of overcoming self-doubt, external pressure and expectations. But at the end of the day, the message seems to be that the cheerleaders find family with each other through the tears and mental battles of
living up to the expectation of a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.
And I walked away with a greater appreciation for the women who perform all season long with the Dallas Cowboys.
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders get to tell their story in a new Netflix docuseries which released June 20.
Back from a broken left wrist, De’Zhaun Stribling can be one of the key components of OSU’s offense in the 2024–25
Continued from page 1
his fifth season, is coming off a career year in which he caught 101 balls for 991 yards and six touchdowns. He’s a featured part of OSU’s offense and is 69 receptions away from becoming the Cowboys’ all-time leader in career receptions, a
mark currently held by Rashaun Woods (293). OSU likes to move Presley around pre-snap and finds different ways to use the slot receiver’s dynamic skills. That should continue in 2024, as Presley remains one of the Cowboys’ top playmakers. Next to Presley come Owens and Stribling. Owens burst onto the scene in 2023 with a 10-game stretch in which he averaged 86 yards per game
when the Cowboys were thin at wideout. He then turned the opportunity into an 895-yard season and cemented himself as a matchup problem deep ball threat for OSU.
Stribling’s first season as a Cowboy was cut short, but his potential was noticeable.
Before suffering a broken left wrist, which was first reported by The O’Colly, Stribling caught 14 passes for 198 yards and a touchdown in three
COPPER CREEK NOW
games. He looked like a potential go-to target and is just one of Bowman’s talented options out wide.
“(We want to) show the world why we should be ranked the No. 1 receiving core,” Owens said after OSU’s Texas Bowl win over Texas A&M in December.
At tight end, the Cowboys are expected to start Ohio transfer Tyler Foster, who transferred to OSU after catching 20 passes for 211 yards for
the Bobcats in 2023. He stands 6-foot-6, giving Bowman a big target that could be a weapon in the red zone.
Although it’ll be his first season as a Cowboy, Foster fits the experienced bill OSU has at wideout with his five years of collegiate experience.
“He has maturity, is physical and learning,” Gundy said of Foster during the spring.
With Presley, Owens and Stribling back, the
Cowboys hold one of the top receiver rooms in the Big 12 — a conference that is far from thin in receiver talent.
OSU had a strong year through the air last season, finishing fourth-best in the Big 12 in passing. But another year with the returning trio of wideouts next to Bowman could prove to be more successful.
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Cowboy Calendar
Wednesday, July 31
Bingo Wednesdays @ 8 p.m.
Location: Louie’s Bar & Grill
https://louiesgrillandbar.com/locations/stillwater/ Boots & Badges Honoring Stillwater’s First Responders @ 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Stillwater Community Center
https://www.yourbloodinstitute.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/660408
Eskimo Joe’s Vacation Photo Content @ All Day
Location: Eskimo Joe’s https://eskimojoes.com/
Lake Research & Science Experience @ 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Lake Carl Blackwell
Admission: $225-325
Kids’ Night @ 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Location: Louie’s Grill & Bar
https://www.facebook.com/LouiesStillwater
Showstoppers Dance Studio Summer Classes: Ladies Only @ 6:30 - 7:45 p.m.
Location: Showstoppers Dance Studio https://showstoppersdancestudio.com/ Singo Wednesdays @ 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Baker & Gambill’s EM
https://curatorsofcraft.co/pages/weekly-events
Team Trivia Live @ 10 p.m. - 12 a.m.
Location: College Bar
Wednesday Bingo Night @ 9:30 p.m.
Location: The Union Beverage Co.
https://linktr.ee/theunionstilly
Wednesday Weaving @ 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: OSU Museum of Art
https://museum.okstate.edu/learn/programming.
html Live Trivia @ 7 - 9 p.m.
Location: Iron Monk Brewing Company
https://www.ironmonkbeer.com/’
Louie’s Bingo Night @ 8 p.m.
Location: Louie’s Grill & Bar
https://www.facebook.com/LouiesStillwater
Open Mic Night 2024 Competition @ 7 - 9 p.m.
Location: Bad Brad’s Bar-B-Q
https://badbrads.com/
Summer Farmers Market @ 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Location: Prairie Arts Center
https://www.stillwaterfarmersmarket.com/
Thursday, August 1
2024 Life At Lake Blackwell Photo Contest @ 12
a.m.
Location: Lake Carl Blackwell
Daily Horoscope
Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency
Linda Black Horoscopes
Today’s Birthday (07/31/24). Pull with your team for victory this year. Disciplined, coordinated partnership builds financial strength. Conditions rearrange summer travels or studies, before ample autumn profits benefit family accounts. New creative projects flower this winter, leading to springtime bounty and profits. Collaborate with friends for common gain.
To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.
By Zachary David Levy
Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is a 9 — Focus on income generation to maintain positive cash flow. Adjust spending. Not everything goes as planned. Keep expectations realistic and scheduling flexible. Delegate when possible.
Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 9 — You’re generating buzz. Enjoy a self-confident phase. Take action for what you want. Fortune favors personal initiative. Use your power responsibly. Lead with heart.
Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is a 7 — Organize and prepare now for increased productivity later. Listen more than speaking. Sort, file and discover buried treasure. Make repairs and handle messes.
Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is an 8 — Confer with allies and listen with intent. Find common ground on tough issues. Cultivate leadership. Put in a good word for someone else.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8 — Consider professional priorities. Take advantage of a lucky break to advance. Spontaneous opportunities can have lasting benefits. Keep an open mind. Review options and choose.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is an 8 — Get into an adventurous phase. Explore near or far. Study and investigate. Costs can vary widely. Don’t waste funding on something you don’t need.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 9 — Collaborate to reap opportunities you didn’t see before. Seek and discover lucrative possibilities. Completion leads to profits. Beat a deadline and win a prize.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — Collaborate with your partner. Stick to familiar routines. Listen to loved ones and especially children. Enjoy simple pleasures together. Listening nets more than speaking. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 9 — Practice your moves before a performance. The possibility of mechanical or technical error is high. Keep things simple and elegant. Slow and rest after.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 9 — Spread seeds of generosity. Love blossoms when least expected. Entertaining distractions abound; take care of business first. Express your artistry and creative ideas. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is an 8 — Discuss home renovations or changes with your family. Pay attention to everyone’s needs. Go over options. Don’t touch savings. Work up a practical budget. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 7 — A
and choose words carefully. Anticipate
your persuasive arts.