Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

OSU Athletics

OSU’s vision plan still just a concept

OSU’s athletics department unveiled a $325 million vision plan. The presentation kicked off with a dramatic eight-minute video intended to get the juices flowing.

Ben Hutchens Staff Reporter

Behind a lectern in Boone Pickens Stadium, Chad Weiberg fielded questions but didn’t offer any real answers.

That’s not because the OSU athletic director was being evasive. In fact, his replies were generally thoughtful. It’s just that he didn’t have answers. Monday morning, amid much promotion,

OSU announces plans for new softball stadium

will be relied on for funding.

Sam Hutchens Staff Reporter

The Cowgirl softball team will get a stadium to match its recent success. Oklahoma State announced plans to build a new stadium, according to a Monday press release. It will be partially located where Allie P. Reynolds Stadium stands.

It is one of 10 projects unveiled as part of OSU’s Athletics Vision Plan. While there was no time frame included in the report, OSU promises a toptier venue to house the Cowgirls.

“The new home of Cowgirl Softball will provide modern amenities suitable for a premier collegiate softball program and will include championship caliber player-development areas,” the press release said.

Weiberg said no projects have priority when starting construction. OSU is not willing to incur debt, so donors

Cowgirl softball has three consecutive WCWS appearances and has emerged as one of the nation’s top programs. The program’s success has led to a stadium consistently overflowing with fans.

Cowgirl Stadium, OSU’s current stadium, has a capacity of 750. The overflow capacity is 1,374. It was built for $2 million and opened in 2000. A new stadium would give OSU an opportunity to house many more fans and provide luxury tickets.

“Typical chair back seating, tailgating corrals, and family friendly areas to enhance the fan experience are planned,” the press release said.

Coach Kenny Gajewski has expressed his desire for the new stadium to look “like a mini O’Brate” to match Cowboy baseball’s premier O’Brate Stadium. The plans include demolishing Allie P. Reynolds Stadium. There will be more space for parking when OSU’s previous baseball stadium is leveled. sports.ed@ocolly.com

Plans for a new softball stadium, football facility, and indoor track facility highlight one of the largest financial campaigns in OSU history. But once the video ended and the questions began it became clear the vision is far from reality.

OSU has no timeline, priority order or lockedin donor support. As Weiberg put it, the plan is still in “conceptual stages.”

Here are the elements of the plan: Softball Stadium

A new softball facility partially located on the former site of Allie P. Reynolds Stadium. The

new home of Cowgirl softball will provide modern amenities suitable for a premier collegiate softball program and will include championship caliber player-development areas. In addition, typical chairback seating, tailgating corrals, and family friendly areas are in place to enhance the fan experience.

Following the demolition of Allie P. Reynolds Stadium, the project will also create opportunities for additional parking for on-campus residents.

Human Performance Innovation Complex and Football Center

In December of 2022, Oklahoma State University announced its new Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institute with the goal of impacting every community in Oklahoma.

OSU releases plans for indoor track and field facility

priority of what changes are made when.

Ashton Slaughter Staff Reporter

The national champion gets champion-level upgrades.

According to an OSU Athletics press release, upgrades will be underway for the Pedigo-Hull Equestrian Center as part of the estimated $325 million athletics vision plan, timeline unknown.

“Building off the historic 2021-22 season in which the program captured its eighth Big 12 Conference title and its first overall NCEA

Jaiden Daughty

national championship, several updates to Pedigo-Hull Equestrian Center are planned,” OSU Athletics said in a press release.

A covered arena similar in both size and scope to the Atherton Family Arena will be added to the PedigoHull Equestrian Center.

“Currently the primary practice arena, the Atherton Family Arena is a 135x270 square foot covered arena.”

In 2021, a new multipurpose team building that includes a lounge with a study area and a fueling station was completed, these new upgrades will now add to Cowgirls facilities. sports.ed@ocolly.com

Adam Engel Editor-in-Chief

OSU pole vaulter

Ariadni Adamopoulo won a Big 12 championship on Saturday. The Cowgirls beat No. 1

Texas to win its first Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Oh, the team doesn’t boasts its own indoor facility. On cold days, Adamopoulo and her fellow field athletes practice in an annex gym at the Colvin Recreation Center.

Only team in the Big 12 without one. No official plans for one.

Until now.

Soon Dave Smith, OSU’s Director of Track and Field and Cross Country and his perennial power will have a home. The timeline is to be announced. The donors are also not announced.

OSU Athletic Director Chad Weiberg said donors will determine the

OSU’s plans for an indoor track and field facility were one of several released along with its $325 million athletics vision plan on Monday. All plans are in its “conceptual stages.” OSU Athletic Director Chad Weiberg called the vision a “roadmap.”

“We can go from contending for national titles in cross country to contending for national titles in indoor track, cross country and outdoor track,” Smith said.

No more semi-frequent trips to Arkansas — one of the closest Division I indoor tracks.

The plan proposes an indoor track facility south of OSU’s outdoor track and field complex, according to a press release. McElroy Road will border the facility to the north, the Sherman E. Smith Training Center to the south, the Michael and Anne Greenwood Tennis Center to the west and North Knoblock Street to the east.

See Track on page 2

OSU unveiled plans of updating the Pedigo-Hull Equestrian Central along with several other facility updates in its $325 million athletics vision plan.

OSU announces upgrades to the Equestrian Center

Track...

Continued from page 1

“I’m super excited for this,” Smith said. “I think this can be absolutely revolutionary for our program. Elevate us very, very quickly to one of the programs in the country through all six sports — men’s and women’s cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field.”

During warm weather, the team practices in its outdoor track and field facility. The facility doesn’t have bleachers so no meets are hosted. Only OSU’s Greiner Family Cross Country Course hosts spec-

tators. Smith said there was a question regarding whether the team upgrades its outdoor facility or builds an indoor facility.

“For me, the huge difference maker is an indoor track,” he said. “That changes everything.”

Smith said the inability to have its own facility always made recruiting hard, especially for the “explosive athletes” — jumpers, sprinters and throwers.

“For large parts of the year, they don’t get to practice,” Smith said. “Under our current situation, we have no place for them to go. When we do get kids that we bring in and start to develop, they start seeing the places we are traveling to and think, ‘Man, wouldn’t it be nice to be in a place where I can actually have a warm, dry place to do my events during the winter events.”

The proposed facility features a 200 meter

banked track, spectator seating, indoor field event space, athletic training rooms, team meeting spaces, locker rooms, athlete lounges and coaching offices. The facility includes a village plaza that feature a daylight creek, linear park and about 150-200 surface parking spaces.

Smith said the program had donor money ready for a facility in 2008 but the recession resulted in lost money and spoiled plans.

OSU cross country hosted the 2022 NCAA Championships and the teams earned podium finishes.

“Our dreams are big,” Smith said. “We don’t want to be as good as anybody else. We want to be better than everybody else. We want to show that we are a nationally relevant program.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of OSU

OSU released plans and photo renderings of an indoor track and field facility.

Vision...

Continued from page 1

Due to available space and to maximize efficiencies, the institute headquarters will share a roof with the new operations home of Cowboy Football and will be located immediately adjacent to the existing practice fields and the Sherman E. Smith Training Center.

Sharing the same footprint will maximize efficiencies of key elements of the Human Performance And Nutrition Research Institute and the Cowboy football program.

Vacated space in the west end zone of Boone Pickens Stadium creates benefits for student-athletes in every sport and accommodates an athletic department that has grown in recent years to include new areas dedicated to student-athlete success, mental and physical wellness, leadership and professional development.

While the institute itself is funded by the university, the Cowboy football program will have its own space within the building paid for by athletics funds and private donations.

Indoor Track and Field

The men’s and women’s track and field programs support more than 100 student-athletes. These athletes require year-round training and competition space. The vision plan proposes an indoor track and field facility south of the existing outdoor track and field complex.

The proposed site is bordered by McElroy Road to the north, the Sherman E. Smith Training Center to the south, the Michael and Anne Greenwood Tennis Center to the west, and North Knoblock Street to the east.

The parcel of land is ideally sized for a full indoor track program. It will include a 200-meter banked track, indoor field event space, spectator seating, athletic training rooms, team meeting/theater spaces, locker rooms, player lounges, and offices for coaching staff.

In addition to strengthening training and development for the track and field programs, this new facility will act as a new recruiting tool for a nationally-prominent program.

Wrestling Practice Facility

OSU wrestling is the most successful program in the history of the NCAA, regardless of sport. The Cowboys wrestling program has won 34 team national championships, 143 individual NCAA championships and produced 475 All-Americans. The plan proposes an addition to the existing facility, which would support the ongoing success of the program.

While the program recently received an upgrade to its locker room, additional space is needed to sustain the success of the program.

This addition will increase the size of the wrestling room, allowing for additional mat space and championship-level team amenities. While the team will always compete inside Gallagher-Iba Arena, the training facility will feature a dedicated space for spectators intended to enhance recruiting and donor visits. This training facility will also house office and meeting

spaces for the coaching staff.

Basketball Practice Facility

While having the benefit of utilizing the game court and backdrop of Gallagher-Iba Arena for practice can be an advantage for both the men’s and women’s programs, at times the teams are displaced during other athletic and campus events. A new practice facility can help both programs continue to recruit, develop and train studentathletes.

The vision plan proposes an addition on the south side of the arena, which will feature two practice courts, and other championship-caliber training spaces.

Pedigo-Hull Equestrian Center

Building off the historic 2021-22 season in which the program captured its eighth Big 12 Conference title and its first overall NCEA national championship, several updates to Pedigo-Hull Equestrian Center are planned.

Similar in size and scope to the Atherton Family Arena, an additional covered arena will be added to the Pedigo-Hull Equestrian Center.

Currently the primary practice arena, the Atherton Family Arena is a 135x270 square foot covered arena. The team also uses the Totusek Indoor Arena, a 100x200 foot climate-controlled facility. The Pedigo-Hull Equestrian Center consists of a saddling barn that includes coaches’ offices, locker rooms, a tack room and an athletic training satellite office. It also has a 24-stall horse barn with outdoor runs and several paddocks and pastures.

A new multipurpose team building that includes a team lounge with study area and a fueling station was

completed in 2021.

Karsten Creek Golf Course

Opened in 1994, Karsten Creek Golf Course was quickly named the “Best New Course” in the country by Golf Digest. While the course and related amenities have stood the test of time, renovations to improve the facilities infrastructure, create a more challenging course, and enhance the skills of the student-athlete are proposed.

Course enhancement will include new irrigation, drainage, fairways, cart paths, and greens. Bunkers and tee boxes will be adjusted to increase the difficulty of play and advance the skills of the golfers. The practice facility will also be renovated to improve the tee boxes, landing zones, short game area and practice putting greens.

Originally constructed in 1997, the indoor practice facility will be upgraded to include state-of-the-art equipment.

Gallagher-Iba Arena Welcome

Plaza

Since 1938, Gallagher-Iba Arena has been known as one of the great venues in collegiate athletics. This project seeks to revive the east side entrance, creating an enhanced welcome for OSU fans.

The plan also proposes adding premium parking and tailgating experiences to enhance the fan experience from the moment they arrive for an event.

The proposed Gallagher-Iba Welcome Plaza parking expansion will create approximately 250 new parking spaces nestled in a park-like setting. See full story at ocolly.com

Courtesy of OSU Athletics

In December 2022, OSU announced its new Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institute with the goal of impacting every community in Oklahoma.

Courtesy of OSU Athletics

In December 2022, OSU announced its new Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institute with the goal of impacting every community in Oklahoma.

Facility upgrades are on the horizon for OSU men’s and women’s basketball programs.

In a Monday press release, OSU Athletic Director Chad Weiberg un-

veiled an athletics facility visions plan, which includes an estimated $325 million in upgrades to facilities across several programs.

The vision plan includes additions on the south side of Gallagher-Iba Arena, featuring two practice courts and “other championship-caliber training spaces.”

There is no timeline, and Weiberg said construction will take place as funding is made available for individual elements.

“We will take our time on this,” Weiberg said, “and we will not move on any of this until the funds are there and the funds are available because

we’ve got to keep our debt service below where it is now.”

Both basketball programs use the GIA game court and nearby auxiliary gym as a practice facility, but athletic and campus events can cause interruptions. A new training space will eliminate that problem.

With the location and proximity of the addition to GIA, existing locker rooms will be used. Also, with additions to other athletics facilities, the GIA weight room will become designated for men’s and women’s basketball, creating a facility specifically for those programs.

“It will give us the ability to

kinda centralize our programs,” Weiberg said.

Basketball offices are located on the west side of GIA, behind the screen in the east end zone of Boone Pickens Stadium. Those offices will be relocated to the south-side addition, adjoining the practice and training facilities.

“Our basketball offices are sort of disjointed where they are,” Weiberg said. “I think what this does is give us the ability to sort of bring all of that together and give OSU basketball, men’s and women’s, Cowboy and Cowgirl, a home.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy

Assistant

Sport Editor

OSU unveils upgrades to Karsten Creek as part of Athletics Vision Plan

the golfers. The practice facility will also be renovated to improve the tee boxes, landing zones, short game area and practice putting greens.”

PJ Tikalsky Staff Reporter

Karsten Creek, the home of OSU golf, is due for major upgrades as part of OSU’s Athletics Vision Plan, per a press release.

“Course enhancement will include new irrigation, drainage, fairways, cart paths, and greens,” the release said. “Bunkers and tee boxes will be adjusted to increase the difficulty of play and advance the skills of

Most recently hosting the NCAA Division I National Championships in 2018, Karsten Creek is home to nine individual national champions, 11 team national championships, and several Big 12 Conference championships across both the men’s and women’s programs. In addition to upgrades on the course and outdoor practice facilities, upgrades to the indoor practice facility, constructed in 1997, are planned as well.

Unlike most of today’s announcements which are still entirely conceptual, the plans for Karsten Creek are further along. Construction dates are not set in stone, but plans have been

laid and active conversations with donors are being held.

“It’s not a wholesale rebuild,” said men’s golf head coach Alan Bratton, “But when you change your irrigation system, you’re putting in new kinds of turf, then you’re re-designing the greens as well. You’ve got an opportunity to keep things up to current technology and try to see a vision for the future to set up Oklahoma State golf to be in a really good place again for the next 50 years.”

Despite his retirement from the athletics department, Bratton also said former athletics director and golf coach Mike Holder will be a big part of the conversation as well.

“He’s obviously a huge asset that we would be crazy not to tap into,” Bratton said. “He has great relation-

ships with our donor base; he’s the most successful college golf coach there’s ever been. He’s absolutely very involved in those decisions and in every way he can.”

OSU is still “working through” costs for the project per Athletic Director Chad Weiberg, but with respect to the other facilities in the vision plan, Weiberg said he expects construction to start “relatively soon.”

During the renovations, the men’s and women’s golf teams are expected to use a variety of courses for play practice. Stillwater Country Club, Oak Tree National and Southern Hills were specifically mentioned. Training and practice facilities at Karsten Creek are expected to remain open. sports.ed@ocolly.com

The 25-year-old Karsten Creek Golf Course will be renovated as a part of OSU Athletics’ Vision Plan.

sports

OSU Athletics announces expansion to Cowboy wrestling facility

Fast forward, additional restorations are being made.

Various sports will be receiving significant facility upgrades funded by an estimated $325 million facility expansion, according to an OSU Athletics press release. One of those being Cowboy wrestling.

tail. But a nice facility, a nice locker room that we have now, it’s made a difference.”

In 2020, OSU broke ground on a new-look wrestling facility and locker room.

“We want to put a good product on the mat each and every year,” coach John Smith said in a statement. “Part of that process is facilities. Most of it is hard work. Most of it is busting your

Renovations include drastic special increase to its new locker room and expansion to the main wrestling room. The updated training facility will feature a dedicated space for various spectators with a goal of enhancing recruiting and donorship. Additionally, it will offer a meeting space for coaches, athletes and various staff members.

“Cowboy wrestling is the most

successful program in the history of the NCAA regardless of sport,” as stated in the press release. “Entering the 2022-23 academic year, Oklahoma State wrestling had won 34 team national championships, 143 individual NCAA championships and had 475 All-Americans. The plan proposes an addition to the existing facility, which would support the ongoing success of OSU wrestling.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

HIMALAYAN GROCERY STORE

Courtesy of OSU Athletics

On Monday, OSU announced a $325 Million athletics vision plan that includes a new wrestling facility.

Daniel Allen Staff Reporter

OSU Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institute unveils plans

work:

OSU recently announced plans to build new headquarters of the Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institute.

Industry expert Lance Walker was named the center’s inaugural Rick and Gail Muncrief Executive Director in December. In a presentation to the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents this week, Walker explained how the institute would advance OSU’s landgrant mission by uniting the academic expertise of our human performance and nutrition experts with data-informed strategies and resources from the university’s athletic partners.

“Every day, we are building and expanding the scope of the Human Performance

and Nutrition Research Institute with the ultimate goal of providing practical, evidenceinformed solutions to improve lives,” Walker said. “We will leverage our academic and athletic partnerships for the benefit of OSU’s elite college athletes, students and ultimately, for the well-being of all Oklahomans.”

HPNRI is an academic institute that will develop preventative therapeutic strategies to combat obesity and chronic disease. They provide practical, research-based solutions with the goal of improving health outcomes across Oklahoma. The institute will be located on Hall of Fame Avenue adjacent to the Sherman E. Smith Training Center. Building specifications are currently in the conceptual design phase and will be finalized following the selection of an architectural firm this spring. Final building specifications will

be subject to Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents approval.

“Seeing the concept of the new facility and the ambitious scope of Lance’s vision for this institute brings us a step closer to reality,” OSU President Kayse Shrum said. “This first-of-a-kind institute is sparking collaboration between our academic, medical, veterinary and sports research experts to elevate the very definition of a land-grant university system. Our goal is to generate a greater understanding of human performance, and then take that knowledge to positively change health outcomes for all Oklahomans.”

The institute secured an initial $50 million funding package from the State of Oklahoma through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Provisions of that act aim to use this funding to treat diseases and disabilities related to changeable behaviors.

“The brand new Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institute at OSU is already garnering attention in Stillwater, at the state Capitol and even globally. Lance Walker has an international reputation working with such organizations as the NFL, NCAA and Nike,” Regent Chair Jarold Callahan said. “His contagious energy and unsurpassed passion in this field, and the number of world-class researchers from different departments working together to spark new ideas, will quickly catapult this institute to national prominence.”

The institute will operate under the mantra “Driven by science. Powered by humans.” Its mission is to discover, develop and deliver scientific knowledge to empower people of all abilities to achieve optimal performance.

There are three strategic pillars to guide the institute’s

1. Investigate and innovate human optimization

2. Teach and inspire the next generation of students, service providers and solutions

3. Extend and amplify outreach that empowers individuals’ performance and health HPNRI will form a scientific advisory council later this spring composed of leaders in the human performance and nutrition industries to join OSU experts in bringing new thoughts and discoveries to this sector. An inaugural summit is also being planned this year to highlight and raise awareness for the goals and vision of the institute as a springboard for the institute’s work.

To learn more, visit hpnri.okstate.edu.

news.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of OSU Athletics

In December 2022, OSU announced its new Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institute with the goal of impacting every community in Oklahoma.

Lendsey Stinnet

Staff Reporter

‘Cocaine Bear’ review

Jaycee Hampton Staff Reporter

Witnessing a bear do copious amounts of cocaine is probably not what you intended to be in store for 2023. Who would want to see that? But what comes with ginormous production risks, are ginormous rewards.

Based loosely on a true story, “Cocaine Bear” is a horror comedy set in the Chattahoochee, Georgia, National Forest. In 1985, Andrew Thornton botched a drug dealing operation. Traveling via plane with more than 800 lbs of cocaine, the popular theory is that Thornton believed detectives were onto his operation. This caused Thornton to throw hundreds of pounds of product out of the plane, while also taking millions worth strapped onto him when jumping out. Things obviously did not go according to his plan.

After Thornton was found deceased in a driveway in Knoxville, Tennessee, because of a parachuting accident, the terrors that soon follow in this film were up to the writer’s imagination. Director Elizabeth Banks and writer Jimmy Warden took the film in a direction that gave the bear its own point of view, a revenge story.

The tone of the film was set perfectly at the start. Each scene was shot beautifully, and the suspense and anticipation build up you feel was one of the best parts of the film. The pacing was done nicely in the beginning and the plot stayed intriguing continuously, but it fell short at the end.

The film started off strong and was graphically disturbing through the first half, but it died down dramatically and never picked back up again. Aside from the bear, the film introduced a second antagonist, Syd (Ray Liotta), when it was almost too late. What led to the anti-

climactic ending was extremely disappointing based on how it was set up from the start. It felt like there was something missing.

If you are sensitive to gore and violence, this is probably not the film for you. Although there are certainly more gruesome films out there, there were still scenes that were uncomfortable to watch and would only appeal to a specific audience. Nevertheless, “Cocaine Bear” was hysterical and definitely worth the watch. The chemistry between each character was admirable, each actor was able to make you feel all different kinds of emotions and nothing felt too forced.

Margo Martindale (Ranger Liz) and Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Peter) portrayed quirky park rangers and huge lovers of animals. Their comedic timing has always been on point, and continues to do so. Isaiah Whitlock Jr., O’Shea Jackson Jr., Keri Russell and Christian Convery all portrayed hilarious, lovable characters that inevitably made the story even better.

The film is dedicated in the loving memory of Liotta, who died peacefully in his sleep at 67 after filming finished.

Many love him and his legacy will continue to be cherished for generations. Everything about this movie has simply been iconic, and it is a wonderful tribute to Liotta’s insanely talented career.

The thought of a bear dying under these circumstances is upsetting, and although it is unsure what truly happened after ingesting many pounds of cocaine, feeling sympathy for the bear is not something anyone is shy of. This was an extremely fun film to watch and deserves recognition. Today, the real Cocaine Bear is on display at the Kentucky Fun Mall in Lexington, Kentucky.

entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of Universal Pictures/Tribune News Service

Universal Pictures’ “Cocaine Bear,” a horror comedy, is in theaters now. An official movie poster for Universal Pictures’ “Cocaine Bear.”

Edited by Patti Varol and Joyce Lewis

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APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR BOTH SUMMER SEMESTER 2023 and FALL SEMESTER 2023

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

THE O’COLLY

Applications for both Summer Semester 2023 and Fall Semester 2023 Editor-in-Chief of The O’Colly will be accepted from now thru Friday, March 3, 2023.

Applications are now available in the Paul Miller Journalism and Broadcasting Building, room 106. Applicants must return their completed applications to room 106 no later than 4:30 p.m. Friday, March 3, 2023.

This application process involves two separate positions, EIC for Summer and EIC for Fall. Applicants can apply for one or the other, or both positions. Be sure to indicate which position(s) you wish to be considered for on the application form.

To be eligible for Editor-In-Chief, the applicant must be a student on the Stillwater campus of Oklahoma State University, be in good academic standing (i.e., not on academic probation), have a grade point average of not less than 2.5, and have completed at least 60 hours toward a degree. Applicant must show evidence of having worked one semester in an editor position on The O’Colly. Students serving as an Editor-in-Chief may take up to 6 credit hours of independent study in consultation and approval of their major advisor.

An internship on a newspaper in a newsroom capacity may be substituted for one semester of service on The O’Colly. The internship must meet the requirements of the School of Media and Strategic Communications’ current internship course.

Daily Horoscope

Nancy Black

Tribune Content Agency

Linda

Black Horoscopes

Today’s Birthday (02/28/23). Financial growth flowers naturally this year. Dreams come true with steady, disciplined practices. Springtime insights inspire alternative plans for summer investigation and exploration. A shared financial bonus brightens this autumn, before winter news requires diplomacy and sensitivity. Conserve the windfall fruit that fills your basket.

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 an 8 — You’re exceptionally quick and charming. Friends help you make valuable connections. Avoid assumptions or illusive promises. Test theories before sharing. Stick to reliable data.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is an 8 — Avoid impulsive expenses. Beware scammers and cons. Protect your digital security, passwords and data. Ask for what you’ve been promised. Monitor accounts closely.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is a 9 — Take extra time for yourself. Don’t launch a personal initiative until you’re ready. Ignore haters and trolls. You’re the author of your own story.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 7 — Review plans and budgets. Figure costs before choosing. Do the extra credit problems. Don’t fall for a hoax now. Tricksters abound. Savor peaceful rituals.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 7 — Strategize carefully. Don’t rely on unstable sources. Communication and teamwork can resolve and even advance projects. Form resilient friendships. Show up for each other.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 7 — Focus to resolve a professional puzzle. Provide reliable services and support. Do the homework. Avoid pitfalls and vague promises. Strengthen stable foundations.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 7 — Adventure calls. Research your route and destinations carefully. Things are not as they seem. Illusions, tricks and distractions line the trail. Confirm reservations.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — Hunt for hidden efficiencies and find them. Invest for growth. Find ways to simplify. Don’t get sidetracked, despite complications. Collaborate for shared gain.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is an 8 — Strategize and collaborate for ease and efficiency. You and your partner are on the same wavelength. Support each other around a challenge. Provide stability.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 7 — Balance physical efforts with selfcare. Stay hydrated. Follow advice from respected coaches. Don’t waste energy on illusions. Focus on what you know works.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is an 8 — Romance is in the air. Don’t fall for empty promises. Connect with people you love. Creative projects enchant. Write letters and posts. Have fun.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is an 8 — Home draws you in. Avoid travel or traffic. Discuss domestic possibilities with your household. Align on improvements. Settle on practical ideas. Action gets satisfying results.

Doug Peterson

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

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