South
Annual cheese rolling race attracts thousands to England's Cooper’s Hill
- Dozens of racers chased 7-pound wheels of Double Gloucester cheese down the steep Cooper’s Hill, near Gloucester in southwest England, as part of an annual tradition. The races have been held at Cooper’s Hill since at least 1826.
- Dozens of people also competed in the safer and slower uphill versions of the race, which are traditionally held on a late-May national holiday.
- In the nearby town of Tetbury, competitors carried sacks of wool weighing up to 60 pounds up and down Gumstool Hill. The Tetbury Woolsack Races have been held since 1972.
Dairy-loving daredevils threw caution to the wind Monday for one of Britain’s most extreme annual events: cheese rolling.
Cheered by several thousand spectators, scores of reckless racers chased 7-pound wheels of Double Gloucester cheese down the near-vertical Cooper’s Hill, near Gloucester in southwest England. The first racer to finish behind the fast-rolling cheese in each race gets to keep it.
The races have been held at Cooper’s Hill, about 100 miles west of London, since at least 1826, and the sport of cheese-rolling is believed to be much older.
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The rough-and-tumble event often comes with safety concerns. Few competitors manage to stay on their feet all the way down the 200-yard hill.
This year’s hill was especially slippery and muddy after recent rain. Members of a local rugby club lined up at the bottom to catch the tumbling competitors.
Tom Kopke from Munich, Germany won one of the three men’s races. He said attitude was more important than technique.
Participants take part in the annual cheese rolling at Cooper’s Hill in Brockworth, England, on May 27, 2024. (Jacob King/PA via AP)
“You start and then the adrenaline takes over and you just go, go go,” Kopke said.
“Look at this event, look at this hill,” added the muddy, breathless winner. “England is mad. I love it.”
Local competitors Josh Shepherd and Dylan Twiss from Perth, Australia won the other two men’s downhill races. Abby Lampe from North Carolina triumphed in the women’s race with a lighting-fast roll that left the rest of the field far behind.
“You just have to roll,” said Lampe, a graduate of NC State who also won in 2022. “There’s a little bit of pain, but it’s just going to be temporary.”
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Dozens of children and adults also competed in safer and slower, but no less grueling, uphill versions of the race, which are traditionally held on a late-May national holiday.
About 20 miles away in the town of Tetbury, competitors carried sacks of wool weighing up to 60 pounds over a 240-yard course up and down steep Gumstool Hill.
The Tetbury Woolsack Races have been held since 1972, drawing on a local tradition dating back to the 17th century in the historic wool-trading town.
Dallas, TX
Dallas Mavericks’ Anthony Davis facing possible season-ending surgery on hand
Dallas Mavericks star big man Anthony Davis might be facing season-ending left hand surgery after being injured in Thursday night’s game against the Utah Jazz, ESPN reported on Friday.
Davis reportedly underwent an MRI exam on Friday that showed ligament damage in the hand. Davis reportedly will seek a second opinion to see if surgery is needed.
ESPN reported Davis would miss at least six weeks if surgery is avoided.
Davis was injured with 2:52 left in the 116-114 loss while defending Utah star Lauri Markkanen on a drive to the basket. Davis was in obvious pain after the play and left the contest with 2:08 remaining after he was holding the hand and unable to defend Markkanen’s next basket.
The timing of the injury could affect Dallas’ trade plans. The club reportedly planned to shop Davis prior to the 5 February trade deadline.
Davis hasn’t even been with the Mavericks for a year yet. He came over in the controversial and disastrous deal in which star Luka Dončić was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Davis, who turns 33 in March, is making $54.1m this season. He is due to make $58.5m next season and has a player option for $62.8m in 2027-28.
Davis has played in just 29 games for the Mavericks – nine last season and 20 this season.
He is averaging 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots this season. He is a 10-time All-Star.
Miami, FL
Tributes grow as police investigate Hollywood Beach killing
New details are emerging in the death of a woman whose body was found on Hollywood Beach the day after Christmas.
Police say 56‑year‑old Heather Asendorf was discovered by a passerby. People who frequent the beach say she was a familiar sight at the bandshell near Margaritaville, where she danced most nights in brightly lit shoes.
Harrison, a frequent visitor who did not want to give his last name, said he saw her nearly every day.
“She was very friendly, polite. She loved to dance,” he said.
Suspect arrested four days later
Four days after she was found, Hollywood police arrested 28‑year‑old Brandon McCray and charged him with sexual battery, kidnapping, and battery by strangulation.
McCray was taken into custody at a Hollywood motel off Federal Highway. His permanent address is listed in Coconut Creek, where no one answered the door when approached for comment about his arrest.
Police are still working to determine how Asendorf’s path crossed with McCray’s.
Tributes pour in from friends
Tributes for Asendorf are pouring in, especially from the annual State College Townie Reunion community in central Pennsylvania, where she had deep roots.
Among the messages shared:
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“A beautiful friend forever in our hearts.”
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“Unforgettable. A sweet soul.”
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“I still can’t wrap my mind around this one. She was so amazing.”
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“One of our shining stars has left the stage.”
Investigation remains active
Hollywood police say their investigation is ongoing, and McCray could face additional charges as detectives continue to piece together what happened.
Atlanta, GA
Flood watch expands into metro Atlanta ahead of severe storm threat
Friday evening forecast: Rain train en route
A powerful weather system is currently moving through North Georgia, replacing unseasonable record warmth with heavy rain and potential severe storms. The FOX 5 Storm Team is tracking a “rain train” of moisture that could dump over 4 inches of rain in some areas, prompting active flood warnings across the region.
ATLANTA – A powerful weather front is moving into metro Atlanta, prompting officials to expand flood watches as “wave-after-wave” of heavy rain threatens to saturate the region through Saturday.
The FOX 5 Storm Team warn that storm totals could reach four inches in some areas, with isolated spots in North Georgia potentially seeing up to six inches.
Flood Watch in northwest Georgia
What we know:
A Flood Watch is currently in effect through Saturday evening for a large portion of North Georgia. The region is bracing for widespread rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches. Some areas could see locally higher amounts reaching up to 6 inches before a cold front moves through Saturday afternoon to end the threat.
“The rain train is wide open and here it comes,” said FOX 5 Storm Team chief meteorologist David Chandley. “We got waves of rain tonight and storms. They’re going to be with us tonight and right on through Saturday.”
In the northwest, the watch includes Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Dade, Dawson, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Lumpkin, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Towns, Union, Walker, White, and Whitfield counties.
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Flooding risk, high winds
Local perspective:
Thunderstorms expected overnight and into early Saturday morning are a primary concern.
The primary concern for North Georgia remains damaging winds and heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding. While the threat of severe weather is lower Friday night, the FOX 5 Storm Team expects conditions to change as the front arrives Saturday morning.
“Flooding [is] possible in Northwest Georgia with that severe threat,” Chandley said. “I expect we may see some of those [flash flood warnings] across North Georgia late tonight and early tomorrow because that ground is going to be saturated.”
A Level 1 “marginal risk” for severe storms has been issued for most of the area, though regions near Columbus face a slightly higher “slight risk.” Forecasters noted that while the atmosphere currently lacks the instability for massive thunderstorms, a “brief, spin-up tornado” cannot be ruled out on Saturday.
What’s next:
Sunday: Windy and much colder, with highs struggling to reach the 40s and 50s.
Monday: Temperatures are expected to plummet into the 20s by Monday morning.
The Source: This article contains an original forecast by the FOX 5 Storm Team.
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