Washington
Washington High School may launch esports team
WASHINGTON — School officials widely expressed optimism about the prospect of a high school esports team, despite several questions about the logistics of such a newly conceived extracurricular activity.
At a Washington school board meeting Wednesday night, District Activities Director Nathan Miller said a poll of high school students and incoming freshman showed 33 kids interested in joining such a team next year.
Of those, he said the “vast majority” were not involved in any of the school’s other activity rosters. That makes it an ideal way to get kids involved who might otherwise not make such connections.
“One of the main goals that I’m looking at, as activities director, is how do we engage more kids within our school,” Miller said. “This is an opportunity where we could engage kids in something else we don’t currently have, that may meet a clientele that would love to be part of a group or activity.”
The competitive video game scene is a somewhat new concept, as far as school activities go, but those involved say it’s growing fast. Much like with traditional sports, students would try out for the team, compete in divisions based on experience, and seek to bring home trophies for their school at tournaments.
Also like other school activities, members would need to maintain passing grades to compete, and come to class in order to attend practice. Washington would be the fourth school in its conference to establish an esports roster.
Competitions are not only a source of entertainment for viewers. Schools say they’re a wellspring of scholarships and academic achievement for students.
Fairfield senior Carter Stutzman made headlines in April, when he signed on to Northwestern College’s Rocket League Team, where he’ll play the viral “vehicular soccer” game. And in November, New London’s esports team qualified for states, where they played Nintendo-produced fighting game Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and the mythology-inspired arena title SMITE.
“I actually sat in on an esports presentation … and there’s more scholarship money available in colleges than they can give out right now,” Miller said. “This is something that could not only impact our kids now, with a connection to school, it could provide avenues and opportunities after high school.”
The activity is sanctioned by the Iowa High School Esports Association. Miller said Washington would start competing in Super Smash Bros. in the fall, and Mario Kart in the spring, but not participate in other events or in the winter season, at least at first.
Instead, he said the school would stick to online tournaments in its first year, rather than traveling to distant venues. Startup costs would include four Nintendo Switch consoles, high-end controllers, subscriptions to Nintendo Switch Online — a service required to access multiplayer features in the games — and paid coaching positions in the fall and spring.
The activities director said the team would likely raise funds through events and local business sponsorships.
“There are events, eventually, that we could travel to,” Miller said. “There is actually a kid in our high school who is one of the top 10 or 15 players in our country for Fortnite … but we’re not going to go to these big tournaments if we’re just going to get stomped on at first. That’s why we want to start small.”
More out of curiosity than skepticism, school board members had several questions for Miller about the activity. Things like, “what does an esports practice look like,” and “how is it coached?”
With a vote on the proposed program expected next month, Board President Troy Suchan said he was excited about its prospects
“It’s another way to get another subgroup involved, same as when we started archery,” he said. “It’s getting people involved, making them feel like they’re part of the school.”
Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com
DE Dawuane Smoot, LB Foyesade Oluokun, TE Brenton Strange, S Eric Murray, and S Antonio Johnson speak with the media after practice on Thursday ahead of the Wild Card Matchup vs. Bills.
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DUBAI, Jan 11 (Reuters) – Iran warned President Donald Trump on Sunday that any U.S. attack would lead to Tehran striking back against Israel and regional U.S. military bases as “legitimate targets”, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf told parliament.
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Washington
Washington National Opera cuts ties with the Kennedy Center after longstanding partnership | CNN Politics
The Washington National Opera on Friday announced it is parting ways with the Kennedy Center after more than a decade with the arts institution.
“Today, the Washington National Opera announced its decision to seek an amicable early termination of its affiliation agreement with the Kennedy Center and resume operations as a fully independent nonprofit entity,” the opera said in a statement.
The decoupling marks another high-profile withdrawal since President Donald Trump and his newly installed board of trustees instituted broad thematic and cosmetic changes to the building, including renaming the facility “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.”
The opera said it plans to “reduce its spring season and relocate performances to new venues.”
A source familiar with the dynamic told CNN the decision to part ways was made by the opera’s board and its leadership, and that the decision was not mutual.
A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center said in a statement, “After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to part ways with the WNO due to a financially challenging relationship. We believe this represents the best path forward for both organizations and enables us to make responsible choices that support the financial stability and long-term future of the Trump Kennedy Center.”
Kennedy Center president Richard Grenell, who was appointed by Trump’s hand-picked board, said on X, “Having an exclusive relationship has been extremely expensive and limiting in choice and variety.”
Grenell added, “Having an exclusive Opera was just not financially smart. And our patrons clearly wanted a refresh.”
Since taking the reins at the center, Grenell has cut existing staff, hired political allies and mandated a “break-even policy” for every performance.
The opera said the new policy was a factor in its decision to leave the center.
“The Center’s new business model requires productions to be fully funded in advance—a requirement incompatible with opera operations,” the opera said.
Francesca Zambello, the opera’s artistic director, said she is “deeply saddened to leave The Kennedy Center.”
“In the coming years, as we explore new venues and new ways of performing, WNO remains committed to its mission and artistic vision,” she said.
The New York Times first reported the opera’s departure.
Founded in 1956 as the “Opera Society of Washington,” the group has performed across the district, taking permanent residency in the Kennedy Center in 2011.
The performing arts center has been hit with a string of abrupt cancellations from artists in recent weeks including the jazz group The Cookers and New York City-based dance company Doug Varone and Dancers who canceled their performances after Trump’s name was added to the center – a living memorial for assassinated President John F. Kennedy.
The American College Theater Festival voted to suspend its relationship with the Kennedy Center, calling the affiliation “no longer viable” and citing concerns over a misalignment of the group’s values.
American banjo player Béla Fleck withdrew his upcoming performance with the National Symphony Orchestra, saying that performing at the center has become “charged and political.”
The Brentano String Quartet, who canceled their February 1 performance at the Kennedy Center, said they will “regretfully forego performing there.”
CNN has reached out to the Kennedy Center on the additional cancellations.
The opera said, “The Board and management of the company wish the Center well in its own future endeavors.”
CNN’s Betsy Klein and Nicky Robertson contributed to this report.
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